How to Enjoy an Authentic Korean BBQ at Home

KBBQ, also known as Korean barbecue, has made quite a splash in recent years because of the unique and enjoyable dining experience it offers foodies. Everyone sits around a hot wire grill as generous servings of top-grade meat are served alongside platefuls of banchan or side dishes. It’s a great option for big groups – cooking together while sharing dishes, stories and drinks.

If you want to satisfy your Korean BBQ cravings but don’t want to wait in line at restaurants, you can easily recreate the authentic KBBQ experience at home with your friends and family. From the grill to use to meats and sides to try, here’s our guide to enjoying a full KBBQ meal!

Make cooking easy with a portable grill.

The hallmark of Korean BBQ is that it’s a communal affair, so choosing a portable grill you can set up anywhere, from your dining table to your backyard, is ideal. The Firebrand SHICHIRIN Japanese Grill is a compact, heavy duty grill that can cook for a remarkable amount of people for its size. It’s robustly made with a solid steel frame and can withstand high temperature grilling. The 2 air vents come with closable levers to control air intake into the firebowl and the weaved design ensures high performance cooking with minimal food contact during grilling. Buy it here (on sale for a limited time!) for $199.

Consider your heat source.

The secret to an authentic KBBQ experience is using charcoal on your grill. It’s the traditional way to get that mouthwatering, smoky flavour! Plus, you need that high heat for quick searing and hot and fast grilling style which is a hallmark of the cuisine. And you just can’t get those sorts of high temps with gas. 

Choose high quality fuel like the Firebrand Professional Hardwood Lump Charcoal or Professional Briquette BBQ Charcoal for a cleaner, longer burn and consistent high heat. Remember to grill in a well ventilated space, like your patio or backyard. Even though some restaurants do the indoor grilling experience, please don’t try this at home!

Ready your tools.

Tongs and scissors are two essential utensils for an authentic Korean BBQ experience. Tongs make it easy to flip the meat, while scissors are used to quickly cut larger pieces of meat into smaller, bite sized pieces as they are grilling. No need for a cutting board! 

Check out the AVANTI Stainless Steel Tweezer and Tongs Set ($24.95) here. These are perfect for use with the Firebrand SHICHIRIN Japanese grill and are designed to be lighter and more streamlined so you can better handle the delicate meat cuts used in Korean grilling. For heavy-duty shears, try the Napoleon PRO Poultry Shears ($34.95) here.

Choose your meat.

The best part of having a KBBQ at home is choosing your preferred meat – whether beef, chicken or pork – and having your fill! You can also choose whether you want to cook non marinated or marinated protein. Some of the most popular kinds of Korean BBQ meat include:

• Beef Brisket (Chadol Baegi) – These super thinly sliced cuts of beef cook very quickly, so they are a great choice when you need a quick bite. Just make sure not to overcook it, so it doesn’t become tough and chewy when left on the grill for too long.
• Beef Short Ribs (Galbi) – This type of meat is prepared by butterflying the beef short ribs into a long and thin flap that is still attached to the bone. It’s well known for its tenderness and is usually marinated to have a sweet and savoury taste. You can also opt for boneless short ribs or galbisal if you prefer non marinated meat.
• Bulgogi – These thinly sliced pieces of beef are usually cut from ribeye and sirloin steaks. The secret to this delectable dish is the marinade and quick grilling method, which seals in the meat’s natural sweetness and savouriness. 

• Pork Belly (Samgyeopsal) – This popular cut of meat is commonly grilled without marinade and sliced into smaller pieces for an easy feed. It’s also often paired with kimchi to balance out the fatty pork belly. For a marinated option, the meat is typically soaked in a red chilli paste sauce, known as gochujang, for a spicy kick.

• Chicken – The most popular option is bulgogi, ideally made with thigh cuts. Another is gochujang chicken – boneless cuts marinated in red chilli paste.
• Seafood – Shrimp, squid and salmon are great choices for a KBBQ if you want variety. It’s a nice option for pescatarians, too!

Grab your dipping sauce and marinades.

While non marinated protein tastes delicious off the grill, marinated meats take Korean BBQ to the next level. Top it off with dipping sauces, and you, your family and friends will have an unforgettable dining experience!

For starters, try WE RUB YOU’s Gochujang Korean BBQ Marinade here for $15.95. Use it as a cooking sauce or condiment! 

If you’re making bulgogi, try WE RUB YOU Original Korean BBQ Marinade here for $15.95. There’s also CHAM CHAM SAUCE Honey Pepper Ganjang, a Korean inspired soy glaze perfect for galbi! Buy it here for $16.50.

If you prefer a rub on your meat, Smokey Joes Korean BBQ Rub is made with gochugaru or Korean chilli flakes for that perfect balance of hot and sweet. Buy it here for $12.90.

Keep things authentic with dipping sauces like the CHAM CHAM SAUCE Green Chilli Ssamjang here for $16.50. You can also pair it with a simple blend of sesame oil, salt and pepper sauce.

Prepare your wraps.

The traditional way of enjoying Korean BBQ is wrapping the meat in leafy greens, like Korean lettuce (similar to romaine lettuce) and perilla leaves. Start by putting your leafy greens in your hand. Get a piece of meat, dip it into the sauce (typically the traditional Korean dipping sauce called ssamjang) and place it on the leaf. Add toppings like garlic, kimchi or rice (be careful not to overfill) and wrap it all up. Then, try to eat everything in one big bite!

Choose your side dishes.

Apart from the usual kimchi, you can also prep other side dishes to complete your Korean BBQ experience. Some easy to make options include:

• Spinach – Just blanch some spinach and season it with sesame oil, garlic, sesame seeds, salt and pepper.
• Cucumber – You can cut fresh cucumber into sticks and dip into ssamjang sauce. You can also season it with gochugaru or Korean chilli flakes, onions, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds.
• Potato salad – Mashed potatoes mixed with carrots, boiled eggs and cucumbers. This can be seasoned with mayonnaise, rice syrup, rice wine vinegar and salt.
• Korean pickled radish – These crunchy slices are often served alongside meat. The burst of tangy, sweet and salty flavours in your mouth are so satisfying and refreshing!
• Green onion salad – Typically paired with pork BBQ, thinly sliced green onions are mixed with a dressing made of soy sauce, raw sugar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, Korean red pepper powder, vinegar and minced garlic.
• Kimchi – no Korean BBQ is complete without kimchi. While spicy and sometimes pungent, this traditional Korean side dish, made from fermented napa cabbage, complements your meat with a sour, salty and tangy kick. You can even place it on the grill to unlock more flavours and texture!

Customise according to your preferences.

While the suggestions above are traditionally served during a KBBQ, you can definitely add or take out items according to your preference. If you want other options besides protein, you can grill vegetables like squash or pumpkins, onions, mushrooms, jalapeño, carrots and more. You can enjoy it with alcoholic beverages like soju, beer or rice wine or non alcoholic drinks like soda or cider. 

The most important thing is to enjoy the experience! Having a Korean BBQ at home means you can eat however you please while sharing a delightful meal with your loved ones. So stock up on your meat and your stories, and have a blast grilling! 

Prepping for a Korean BBQ at home? Drop by every Saturday between 9 am and 2pm and enjoy Super Saturdays at Sydney’s BBQ Mecca for big discounts – get 20% OFF all BBQ fuel and 10% OFF all pantry items – and live BBQ cooking demos and tasting! Check out our blog or sign up for our newsletter for more BBQ guides!