Hey, Sikgu!
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Korean BBQ is famous around the world, but your first visit to a BBQ restaurant in Korea might still surprise you.
There’s a grill right in the middle of your table. Someone pulls out the kitchen scissors. And people wrap grilled meat in leaves before popping the whole thing into their mouths.
You’ve just eaten all that meat, and now you’re ordering MORE food?!
Welcome to Korean BBQ! Let me show you a few things that make the experience so much fun.
1. Why Is There a Grill IN My Table?!
Had Korean BBQ back home? A few things may feel different in Korea.
There’s a grill right in the middle of your table! The meat cooks right in front of you. Once it’s done just the way you like it, grab a piece and enjoy!
Ahhh… nothing beats meat fresh off the grill!
Samgyeopsal (삼겹살), or pork belly, and galbi (갈비), or ribs, are two Korean BBQ favorites. Bulgogi (불고기) is another popular Korean meat dish, although it isn’t always grilled at the table.
Abroad, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ is common. In Korea, you’ll usually order meat by the serving. All-you-can-eat spots (무한리필, muhan-ripil) exist, but they aren’t the default.
At many restaurants, staff will grill and even cut the meat for you; at others, you do it yourself.
Either way, grilling is part of the fun!
2. Scissors?! At Dinner?!
Scissors!
Yes, scissors. Like the ones you keep in your desk drawer.
Haha! Don’t worry. These are kitchen scissors made for cutting food.
We Koreans love doing things quickly. Why move the meat to a cutting board and grab a knife?
Tongs + scissors = Problem solved!
Hold the meat with the tongs and cut it into bite-sized pieces right on the grill.
And it’s not just meat. Kimchi, vegetables, noodles… you name it! Give them a try. You might never want to put them down!
3. Wait… That Whole Ssam in ONE Bite?!
Now, meet one of Korean BBQ’s best companions: ssam (쌈)!
Imagine wrapping a little gift in a piece of cloth. Except this time, you’re wrapping delicious meat and your favorite ingredients inside a fresh leaf.
We usually use lettuce or perilla leaves.
Add some freshly grilled meat, a little rice, a slice of garlic, and a dab of ssamjang (쌈장), or whatever you like!
Ssamjang is a savory Korean dipping paste made with ingredients such as fermented soybean paste and gochujang.
One Ssam, One Bite!
In Korea, we usually eat the whole ssam in one bite. It’s not a strict rule, but keep it small enough to fit in your mouth.
If you pile on too much… your mouth might not be quite as ambitious as your appetite! Start small, and enjoy your delicious little gift!
4. We’re Full… So Why Are We Ordering MORE Food?!
Okay, you’ve eaten plenty of grilled meat. Dinner’s over, right? Well… maybe not!
At a Korean BBQ restaurant, you might see 후식 (husik) or 식사 (siksa) on the menu. Husik usually means something you have after a meal, while siksa means a meal.
So, what’s for dessert? Ice cream? Cake?
Nope, nope, nope!
We’ve had the meat. Now, where’s the rice?!
At Korean BBQ restaurants, the husik section sometimes includes heartier options instead. Here are three popular ones.
| 🍲 Jjigae 찌개 | 🍜 Naengmyeon 냉면 | 🍳 Bokkeumbap 볶음밥 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is this? | Hot stew + rice | Cold noodles | Fried rice on the grill |
| Why order it? | Still craving rice? | Refreshes after fatty meat | One last bite of BBQ flavor |
Jjigae: Kimchi jjigae (김치찌개) or doenjang jjigae (된장찌개) usually come with steamed rice.
Naengmyeon is my personal favorite! Mul-naengmyeon (물냉면) comes in a cold, refreshing broth, while bibim-naengmyeon (비빔냉면) is tossed in a spicy, slightly sweet red sauce. Wrap a few strands of bibim-naengmyeon around a piece of grilled meat and take a bite. Ohhh… a whole new world of flavor!
Bokkeumbap: Sometimes, rice is stir-fried right on the grill with leftover sauce and ingredients. Not every restaurant serves it, but if you see it on the menu, give it a try.
The meat may be gone, but the meal isn’t necessarily over!
5. Ready to Order Korean BBQ in Korean?
Now that you know how Korean BBQ works, why not try ordering in Korean? You only need a few expressions!
Let’s Read Some Korean!
| Korean | How to Read It | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 삼겹살 | Samgyeopsal | Pork belly |
| 갈비 | Galbi | Ribs |
| 불고기 | Bulgogi | Marinated meat dish |
| 후식 | Husik | After-meal menu |
| 1인분 | Il-inbun | One serving |
| 2인분 | I-inbun | Two servings |
One useful word to remember is 인분 (inbun), meaning a serving. For example, 2인분 means two servings. The actual amount varies by restaurant.
Eating alone? Many BBQ restaurants have a two-serving minimum, so solo diners are often asked to order 2인분, and some places may not seat you at all. Ask first:
1인분도 돼요?
Il-inbun-do dwaeyo?
Can I order just one serving?
Ready? Let’s order!
① Ordering Meat
삼겹살 2인분 주세요.
Samgyeopsal i-inbun juseyo.
Two servings of samgyeopsal, please.
② Asking About Grilling
고기 구워 주시나요?
Gogi guwo jusinayo?
Do you grill the meat for us?
③ Ordering More
삼겹살 1인분 추가요.
Samgyeopsal il-inbun chugayo.
One more serving of samgyeopsal, please.
상추 좀 더 주세요.
Sangchu jom deo juseyo.
Could we have more lettuce, please?
④ Ordering Naengmyeon
물냉면 하나 주세요.
Mul-naengmyeon hana juseyo.
One mul-naengmyeon, please.
See? Not so difficult! Reading the menu and ordering yourself is part of the fun of traveling in Korea!
New to Hangul? Check out our beginner’s guide to reading Korean menus.
Ready for Your Korean BBQ Experience?
Sizzling meat on the grill. Snip, snip with the scissors. A delicious ssam made just the way you like it. And a refreshing bowl of naengmyeon to finish!
Korean BBQ isn’t just about eating meat. It’s about grilling, wrapping, sharing, and enjoying the whole experience together. So when you visit Korea, give it a try!
Until next time, Sikgu — enjoy every ssam!
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