Korean BBQ Guide: How to Eat Korean BBQ Like a Local

Full transcript

Annyeong! It's Yul. First time at a Korean BBQ restaurant? Don't panic. I'll teach you how to eat like a local.

Step one. Choose your meat. The most popular is samgyeopsal, thick slices of pork belly. Then there's galbi, marinated short ribs, and moksal, pork neck. Most restaurants require at least two portions.

Step two. The side dishes, called banchan, arrive first. Kimchi, salads, pickles, sometimes a steamed egg. And here's the best part: in Korea, banchan refills are free. Just ask, yeogiyo, banchan deo juseyo!

Step three. Grilling. Often the staff will help, but at many places, the youngest person at the table grills. Use the scissors! Yes, scissors. Koreans cut meat with scissors right on the grill.

Step four. Make ssam. Take a lettuce leaf, add a piece of meat, a little ssamjang paste, grilled garlic, and kimchi. Wrap it and eat it in one bite.

Step five. Don't stop yet. Order a final dish, like naengmyeon, cold buckwheat noodles, or doenjang jjigae, soybean paste stew, with rice. Koreans say the meal isn't finished without it.

Yul's tip! When someone pours you a drink, hold your glass with two hands, especially if they're older. And when you pour, never fill your own glass. Fill your friends' glasses, and they'll fill yours. That's Korean friendship. Jalmeokgesseumnida! Thank you for the meal!