How to Order Korean BBQ in Korea: A Beginner’s Guide
Korean BBQ is one of those meals almost everyone wants to try in Korea. But the first time you walk into a Korean barbecue restaurant, the table setup can look a little confusing.
There may be a grill built into the table, raw meat sold by the serving, scissors and tongs next to you, and several small dishes arriving before you have ordered much at all.
The good news is that Korean BBQ is easy once you understand the basic flow.
This guide explains how to order Korean BBQ in Korea, how many servings to start with, what meat to choose, what comes with your order, who cooks the meat, and what to eat afterward.
Quick Summary: Korean BBQ for First-Time Visitors
- Korean BBQ is usually a shared meal, with meat ordered by servings rather than individual entrées.
- Samgyeopsal (삼겹살), or pork belly, is one of the easiest choices for beginners.
- Do not panic if one serving looks small. Meat is eaten with banchan, vegetables, sauces, and other dishes.
- Rice is usually ordered separately.
- Depending on the restaurant, you may grill the meat yourself or the staff may cook it for you.
- Save room for extras such as gyeranjjim, doenjang jjigae, naengmyeon, or fried rice.
If ordering at Korean restaurants in general makes you nervous, start with my guide to how to order food in Korea when you don’t speak Korean.
What Is Korean BBQ in Korea?
Korean BBQ usually means visiting a gogijip (고깃집), literally a “meat restaurant,” where meat is grilled directly at the table.
Unlike a typical American restaurant where everyone orders a separate entrée, Korean BBQ is more communal. The table chooses meat together, grills it, and shares everything from the center.
The meat is only part of the meal.
Your table may also fill up with lettuce or perilla leaves, kimchi, garlic, dipping sauces, salads, pickled vegetables, and other small side dishes called banchan (반찬).
The Korea Tourism Organization’s VISITKOREA guide to Korean food also explains the Korean style of eating grilled meat with ssam, side dishes, stews, and noodles.
For a broader introduction to Korean food, see my guide to the best Korean foods to try on your first trip to Korea.
How to Order Korean BBQ in Korea: What to Choose First
You do not need to understand every cut on the menu.
For your first Korean BBQ meal, a few common choices are enough.
Samgyeopsal (삼겹살)
Samgyeopsal is pork belly and probably the most recognizable Korean BBQ choice.
It has visible layers of meat and fat and is usually grilled without a heavy marinade. Once cooked, it is commonly eaten with ssamjang, garlic, kimchi, or wrapped in lettuce.
If you have no idea where to start, samgyeopsal is an easy choice.
Moksal (목살)
Moksal is pork neck or collar.
It is generally meatier and less fatty than samgyeopsal, so ordering the two together gives you different textures without making the meal complicated.
Galbi (갈비)
Galbi means ribs and may refer to beef or pork depending on the restaurant.
Some are served plain, while yangnyeom galbi (양념갈비) is marinated and usually sweeter and more savory.
Beef BBQ can also be much more expensive than casual pork barbecue, so check the prices before ordering.
You may also see cuts such as:
- Hangjeongsal (항정살): pork jowl
- Galmaegisal (갈매기살): a leaner, chewy pork cut
- Chadolbaegi (차돌박이): thinly sliced beef brisket
- Deungsim (등심): sirloin
There is no need to order the most unusual cut on the menu. Start with what sounds good to you.
How Many Servings of Korean BBQ Should You Order?
Korean BBQ meat is commonly sold by one serving, or 1인분 (il-inbun). The menu may also list the weight in grams.
For two or more people, ordering is usually simple. As a general starting point, expect to order at least around one serving per person.
One serving can look surprisingly small, especially if you are used to American steakhouse portions.
Do not panic.
Korean BBQ is meant to be eaten with banchan, lettuce, kimchi, garlic, sauces, and other foods around the table. The whole meal is more filling than the plate of raw meat makes it look.
As a rough guide:
- An average adult woman may eat around 1 to 1.5 servings
- An average adult man may eat around 2 servings for a satisfying meal
Appetites vary, of course. The easiest approach is to start with a reasonable amount and add another serving if you are still hungry.
Rice Usually Does Not Come with the Meat
The banchan around the grill is usually included, but a bowl of rice is normally ordered separately.
If you like rice with grilled meat, kimchi, garlic, and sauces, order gonggibap (공기밥).
But you do not need to order a lot of rice at the beginning.
Rice can make you full quickly, so I prefer to start with the meat and side dishes, then decide whether I still want rice or would rather save room for noodles later.
If the first plate of meat looks small, remember: you can always order more.
Who Grills the Meat?
It depends on the restaurant.
At some Korean BBQ restaurants, customers cook the meat themselves. At others, the staff may place the meat on the grill, turn it, cut it, and tell you when it is ready.
The simplest rule is to watch what the staff does first.
If a server starts cooking, let them handle it. If they turn on the grill and leave the meat at your table, you will probably be cooking it yourself.
And the scissors on the table? They are for cutting larger pieces of meat into bite-sized pieces.
Tongs are generally used for handling meat on the grill, while chopsticks are used for eating.
What Are All the Side Dishes?
The small dishes around the table are called banchan (반찬).
What you receive varies by restaurant, but common Korean BBQ banchan include:
- Kimchi
- Pickled radish
- Seasoned vegetables
- Green onion salad
- Garlic
- Chili peppers
- Lettuce or perilla leaves
- Ssamjang
- Salt or dipping sauces
Some restaurants refill basic banchan at the table, while others have a self-service station.
These basic dishes are different from additional side dishes you order separately from the menu.
Side Dishes Worth Ordering with Korean BBQ
One of my personal favorites is gyeranjjim (계란찜), Korean steamed egg.
It is soft, fluffy, warm, and mild, which makes it perfect with salty grilled meat, kimchi, and stronger sauces.
I almost never eat Korean BBQ without ordering gyeranjjim.
Other common additions include:
- Gyeranjjim (계란찜): steamed egg
- Doenjang jjigae (된장찌개): soybean paste stew
- Gonggibap (공기밥): steamed rice
- Naengmyeon (냉면): cold noodles
- Bokkeumbap (볶음밥): fried rice, depending on the restaurant
You do not need to order everything at once. Korean BBQ is easier to enjoy when you add dishes gradually as you eat.
How to Eat Korean BBQ with Ssam
One classic way to eat Korean BBQ is making ssam (쌈), a lettuce or perilla leaf wrap.
A simple version is:
- Take a lettuce or perilla leaf.
- Add a piece of grilled meat.
- Add a little ssamjang.
- Add garlic, kimchi, or another topping if you like.
- Fold the leaf and eat everything together.
There is no strict formula.
You can eat the meat by itself, dip it in sauce, pair it with kimchi, or make a full ssam. Try different combinations and see what you like.
What Should You Eat After the Meat?
Korean BBQ often has a second stage after the grilling.
Once most of the meat is gone, you can decide whether you want something to finish the meal.
Popular choices include:
- Doenjang jjigae (된장찌개): soybean paste stew
- Naengmyeon (냉면): cold noodles
- Bokkeumbap (볶음밥): fried rice
- Rice with stew
This is another reason not to fill up on rice too early.
Regular Naengmyeon vs. Husik Naengmyeon
At many Korean BBQ restaurants, you may see both regular naengmyeon and husik naengmyeon (후식냉면).
The important difference is usually not the flavor.
Husik naengmyeon is a smaller after-meal portion, which is why it usually costs less.
If you have already eaten plenty of meat and only want a little cold noodle dish afterward, the smaller size may be perfect.
If you want naengmyeon as a full dish, choose the regular size.
Local Pro Tip
Do not judge your Korean BBQ meal by the size of the first plate of meat.
Think of the meal in stages:
Start with the meat → enjoy it with banchan → add rice if you want it → order more meat if you are still hungry → finish with noodles, stew, or fried rice.
And if you see gyeranjjim on the menu, I recommend adding it.
Starting slowly also helps you avoid getting full before the best part of the meal is over.
Can You Eat Korean BBQ Alone?
Absolutely.
The main issue is not necessarily eating alone. It is that many traditional Korean BBQ restaurants may not want an order of only one serving of meat.
So if you are dining alone and only want 1인분, you may run into a minimum-order problem.
But if you love meat and are happy to eat two or three servings by yourself, there is usually much less to worry about.
Order your meat and enjoy it.
If you have a smaller appetite, look for restaurants that specifically welcome solo diners or offer single-person sets.
You may also see the Korean term honbap (혼밥), which means eating alone.
Do You Need to Drink Soju with Korean BBQ?
No.
Soju and grilled meat are a famous combination in Korea, but alcohol is not required.
Water or another nonalcoholic drink is completely fine.
If you are eating casually with your own travel companions, there is no need to overthink Korean drinking etiquette just to enjoy a Korean BBQ meal.
Korean BBQ Etiquette You Actually Need to Know
You do not need to memorize a long list of rules.
For most travelers, these basics are enough:
- Share the grill with the table.
- Avoid using the utensils you eat with to handle raw meat.
- If the staff is cooking, let them manage the grill.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice.
- Use the table call button if there is one and you need service.
- Check whether water or extra banchan are self-service.
- Tipping is not customary in Korea.
When you finish, you will also often pay at the counter near the entrance rather than waiting for someone to bring the check to the table.
Do You Need a Reservation for Korean BBQ?
Not always.
For an ordinary neighborhood Korean BBQ restaurant, you can often walk in.
Popular restaurants in areas such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, or Seongsu may have long waits during busy dinner hours, so it is worth checking before making a special trip.
If you are planning to visit a very popular restaurant, read my guide to restaurant reservations in Korea and Catchtable Global.
Final Advice: Korean BBQ Is Easier Than It Looks
Your first Korean BBQ table may look complicated.
There is meat on the grill, scissors on the table, lettuce everywhere, and suddenly you are choosing between rice, steamed egg, stew, and cold noodles.
But the process is actually simple.
Choose one or two meats. Order enough for your table. Watch whether the staff or customers are supposed to grill. Eat the meat with whatever sides you enjoy. Then decide whether you want more meat or something like rice, gyeranjjim, naengmyeon, or fried rice.
And if the first plate of meat looks smaller than expected, do not worry.
Once the grill is going and the table fills with banchan, wraps, sauces, and side dishes, you will understand why Korean BBQ is not about one huge piece of meat.
It is about enjoying the whole table together.