Galbi is marinated beef short ribs grilled over charcoal. The best versions use top-graded hanwoo cattle, butchered in-house and cut thick to the bone.
Galbi (short ribs) has been part of Korean food culture since at least the Goryeo dynasty, when beef became associated with ceremonial and celebration food. The marinade of soy sauce, Asian pear, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and sugar is a Joseon-era development recorded in court cooking texts. Suwon in Gyeonggi Province is historically associated with the most generous galbi cut: the claim is that Suwon galbi is cut longer and thicker than anywhere else in Korea. The post-war premium galbi tradition was codified by restaurants like Byeokje Galbi, which began sourcing top 1% graded hanwoo cattle and doing in-house butchery in the 1980s.
2 editor picks for Galbi (Grilled Short Ribs) in Seoul, ranked by editorial score. All Seoul signature dishes · Galbi (Grilled Short Ribs) across every city.
Byeokje Galbi ★ 4.5
Seocho-gu · 89 Donggwang-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul
In the Michelin Guide and on 50Best Discovery, Byeokje Galbi has served premium charcoal-grilled hanwoo short ribs since 1986, handling its own butchery.
Maple Tree House ★ 4.2
Itaewon · 26 Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Maple Tree House in Itaewon serves premium hanwoo (Korean beef) and Jeju black pork belly over charcoal in a polished room frequented by international guests.