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BBQ Yul is a Korean BBQ restaurant that specializes in pork, and it was the first restaurant we went to in Seoul. We took the limousine bus from the airport (click here to read more about the arrival in this post), settled into our Airbnb, and went there for lunch. The craziest part is that we loved it SO MUCH that every restaurant after it didn’t reach the level of Yul. We even went back. Of course, we loved our meals in Seoul, but this one set the bar really high.
Our First Visit
Lunch there was amazing, exactly what I imagined Korean food would be like before coming to Korea. They bring the fine cuts of pork to your table and grill them for you. There were many sides already set on the table when we arrived. As the meat started grilling, the waiter showed us how to pair the sides and which ones to try together. All the ingredients felt really fresh, and every pairing was delicious. Later, a cold noodle dish with perilla oil that we ordered arrived, and the waiter mixed it with some of the oil and told us to have it with the garlic paste, which was divine.
Every bite was delicious, and the quality of the food was incredible.
The 4 Side Combinations at BBQ Yul
There’s a little card on the table with the four combinations the owner recommends, and trying all of them is half of the fun. Here they are:
- The classic: pork with garlic paste and Maldon salt.
- Pork with seaweed, pickled celtuce stem (gungchae), and wasabi: a sharp, pungent bite.
- Pork with pickled chili peppers and braised young radish kimchi (yeolmu): the “finishing touch.”
- Perilla oil noodles with pork and garlic paste.
The first and the last were my favorites because I LOVE garlic, but all of them were incredible.
Why We Went Back: The Sides
So, what makes it so good? Well, the sides. Compared to other places, the first thing that stands out is the wasabi. Not all places serve it, and to me it’s now a MUST with barbecue. The first time I had it with meat in Seoul, the combination was so good that I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it before. Then there’s the garlic: at Yul, they make the minced garlic perfect for pairing, while most other places serve raw cloves of garlic. The other sides with vegetables and spices, including the kimchi, are flavorful but not overly spicy.
What I love is that, with so many pairings, each bite is special in its own way, so you never get sick of it. It’s like going to an amusement park with different rides that you can take turns on, with no lines. That’s why we went back.
If you only have time for one Korean BBQ in Seoul, I’d make it this one.
You can make a reservation at BBQ Yul through CatchTable, a popular restaurant reservation app in Korea.
More Seoul Guides
- Incheon Airport to Seoul: Limousine Bus Guide (Plus My Air Premia Flight Review)
- Mullae-dong: The Cool Café Neighborhood in Seoul
- Where to Drink in Seoul: The Best Cocktail Bars
- Things to Do in Insadong, Seoul: Souvenirs and Traditional Korean Food
- Best Cafés and Bakeries in Seoul
- Bingsu in Seoul: Korean Shaved Ice Desserts to Try
- The Best Korean BBQ in Seoul Is in Gangnam: BBQ Yul
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Korean Barbecue in Seoul is BBQ Yul
Our favorite Korean barbecue in Seoul is BBQ Yul, in Seocho, Gangnam. They specialize in pork, grill the fine cuts at your table, and serve sides like wasabi and minced garlic that make every bite a different combination. We loved it so much that no other restaurant on our trip reached its level.
BBQ Yul is a Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul that specializes in pork. They bring the fine cuts to your table and grill them for you.
Yes. It was the first restaurant we went to in Seoul, and we loved it so much that every restaurant after it didn’t reach its level. We even went back.
The sides. Many places don’t serve wasabi, which is a great pairing with the meat. At Yul, the garlic is minced and made for pairings, while most other places serve raw cloves.
Yes. The staff grills the pork at your table, and the waiter shows you how to pair the sides with each bite.
Not overly. The sides with vegetables and spices, including the kimchi, are flavorful but not very spicy.
The pork cuts they grill at your table, and the cold noodle dish with sesame oil. The waiter mixes it with some of the oil and recommends having it with the garlic paste, which was divine.
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