Bulgogi Baby!

Bulgogi is probably one of the best foods made in Korea.  It's probably one of their most well known too.  It's beef that is marinated for hours in soy sauce, sesame oil, onions, garlic, pepper, and a host of other yummy ingredients.  The meat is generally prime cuts of beef, so it's tender and juicy and the marinade combines to make a savory yet surprisingly sweet dish.

Stepping into a bulgogi restaurant is like stepping into a sensory overload.  The smells, the tastes and textures, and the overall ambiance of bulgogi restaurants are captivating.  Since this is a popular meal in Korea, often times bulgogi restaurants are very crowded, but Korean food service is surprisingly fast and efficient.  The wait is never long, but even if it were, the wait is so well worth it!




Of course, Korea is well known for their side dishes, so bulgogi is usually served with rice, kimchi, pickled radish, etc. that help to offer an hearty and delicious meal.  While beef can be expensive in some areas of Korea, bulgogi is still something that one should splurge on.  Generally, the price ranges from around 7, 000-12, 000 KRW per serving, which in my opinion isn't very expensive.  But when compared to other meals such as bibimbap (which can be had at 4, 000-6, 000 KRW) or kimbap (which can be had at 1, 000-3, 000 KRW), bulgogi can be a bit pricey.

I've sampled both grilled and pan cooked bulgogi and they're both exceptional.  Next stop?  The Bulgogi Burger.