What’s so great about Korean BBQ? Meat, meat, and meat? The reason I love about Korean BBQ isn’t just about the meat but also the leaves. The leaves? YES! The lettuce wrap is an extremely popular Korean way to enjoy meat, with more greens and less guilt. Here are three Korean pork belly BBQs I had this summer, and I love it!
- Premium Pork Belly Combo Meal at 料韓男-韓國熟成烤五花肉
Don’t know what to order at a BBQ restaurant? The combo menu makes everything easier. My friend and I ordered a set for two, with a choice of meat (among pork belly, pork shoulder, and pork jowl), steamed eggs, soybean paste soup, Bibim Naengmyeon (Korean spicy cold noodles), a drink (Asian pear juice), lettuce, and of course, side dishes. As for the meat, you could grill yourself or ask clerks to help. We’re sure that the clerk knows better than us so we let her do the magic. And voila! The meat is perfectly grilled.
- Signature BBQ Combo Meal at VEGETEJIYA 菜豚屋
It is a Korean & Japanese mixed style BBQ place, as the menu is in Mandarin and Japanese. A Japanese friend and I ordered the signature BBQ combo which contains four choices of meat, lettuce/salad, grilled cheese, tortillas, seafood tofu soup, fried rice, Binsu (Korean style shaved ice), soft drinks, and side dishes. What makes this place popular is that they provide 3 types of leaves for wraps, Korean lettuce, Japanese lettuce, and Korean perilla leaves. What’s even better? They are all refillable. Moreover, did you notice that they serve grilled cheese and tortilla? At first, I was like, “really?” Yet, it tastes amazingly good.
- Pork belly BBQ at Manna韓式烤肉專門店
One weekend, I felt the craving need for Korean BBQ, however, it wasn’t mealtime and I was too lazy to ask friends, so I just went. Not surprisedly, I was the only person who dined in the restaurant alone, with crispy BBQ pork belly and spicy yet sweet and chewy cheese Tteokbokki (Korean spicy rice cake). What a satisfying meal.
BONUS! Gamjatang at 韓金館
Not many Korean restaurants in Taipei serve Gamjatang (Korean spicy pork bone and potato soup), and here’s one of the very few places does and does it well. The soup is flavorful and the meat is so tender that it can be separated from the bone easily. I had it in summer but I will definitely visit again when winter comes.
Do you like Korean BBQ? What’s your favorite Korean side dish?
