Korean barbecue (often abbreviated KBBQ or Gogigui) is a popular method of grilling marinated meat, vegetables, and other ingredients right at your table. Meats like beef short ribs called kalbi are common proteins cooked using this style. Kalbi is typically marinated in a sweet soy sauce mixture with flavors like sesame, garlic, ginger, and other spices. The meat is grilled on a built-in gas or charcoal grill at your table and sliced into bite-sized pieces as you eat.
One of the best parts of having Korean BBQ at home is that you can serve up an array of flavors and textures alongside that flavorful grilled beef. Korean barbecue lends itself well to lettuce wraps, rice, noodles, vegetables, and dipping sauces that all complement the savory, slightly sweet kalbi beef. Read on for plenty of ideas for tasty things to serve alongside your DIY Korean BBQ night.
Appetizers and Small Plates
Get your Korean barbecue meal off to a delicious start by preparing a few appetizer-style dishes for grazing. These Korean-inspired small plates make great pre-dinner nibbles to enjoy with drinks.
Korean BBQ Meatballs
Make a batch of flavorful meatballs to enjoy before breaking out the grill. Combine ground beef or pork with minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, and scallions. Roll into small balls and pan fry until browned and cooked through. Skewer with toothpicks for easy snacking.
Kimchi Pancakes
These savory pancakes are made with the staple Korean side dish kimchi and flour. The spicy, fermented cabbage adds tons of flavor. Other add-ins like scallions, carrots, or shredded pork make the pancakes even more hearty. Serve with a soy-vinegar dipping sauce.
Spicy Cucumber Salad
A refreshing salad balances out any Korean meal. Thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion are tossed in a mix of rice vinegar, sesame oil, gochugaru chili flakes, and sugar for a pop of spice and crunch.
Steamed Edamame
Grab a bag of frozen edamame beans and steam until warmed through and bright green. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt and serve warm. These make a healthy starter to snack on.
Seaweed Salad
Seaweed salad offers great texture and ocean-y flavor. Buy it pre-made or make your own blend of seaweed with carrots, cucumber, rice vinegar dressing, and sesame seeds.
Mandu (Korean Dumplings)
While these are traditionally fried, you can pan fry or steam mandu (Korean style dumplings) to enjoy as a pre-grill bite. Fill store-bought wonton wrappers with ground pork, kimchi, scallions, and other finely chopped veggies for an appetizer everyone will love.
What to Serve with Korean BBQ Beef – Side Dishes
The array of banchan (side dishes) at a Korean barbecue restaurant is always a highlight of the meal. Recreate that delicious variety at home by prepping some classic banchan to accompany your DIY KBBQ.
Kimchi
No Korean meal is complete without some spicy, funky kimchi. This fermented napa cabbage condiment adds flavor and probiotics to any meal. Serve it as a banchan or use it as a topping for Korean tacos or lettuce wraps.
Namul (Seasoned Vegetables)
Namul refers to seasoned vegetable side dishes typically made with spinach, bean sprouts, radish, cucumbers or other veggies. Toss the vegetables in a blend of sesame oil, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and toasted sesame seeds.
Japchae (Glass Noodles)
These sweet potato starch noodles are a quintessential Korean side. Boil the noodles until just tender, then mix with thinly sliced beef and vegetables like spinach, carrots, mushrooms, and onions. Toss everything in a savory sauce with soy, garlic, and sesame.
Korean Potato Salad
Give this American BBQ staple a Korean makeover. Swap the mayo for a blend of rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and a touch of sugar. Toss with halved baby potatoes, ham, peas, and hard boiled eggs. Garnish with sliced scallions.
Korean Coleslaw
For a lighter slaw, use a rice vinegar and soy dressing instead of heavy mayo. Toss shredded cabbage and carrots with garlic, ginger, scallion, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili paste, and sesame oil. Let it chill to let the flavors meld.
Stir Fried Vegetables
Quick-cook vegetables like bok choy, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, or asparagus. Toss in a hot pan with some oil, garlic, and soy sauce for an easy vegetable banchan.
What to Serve with Korean BBQ – Noodles and Rice
Some starchy carbs are essential for enjoying Korean BBQ to the fullest. Cook up some rice, noodles, or wraps to complement the smoky meat right off the grill.
White Rice
Steamed white rice is simple but essential. Cook up some short or medium grain rice like you would for sushi in a rice cooker or on the stovetop. Fresh rice helps soak up the Korean BBQ sauces beautifully.
Bibimbap
For bibimbap, start by sautéing thinly sliced vegetables like spinach, carrots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, or zucchini. Serve the veggie mix over warm white rice and top with a fried egg. Mix everything together at the table with gochujang chili sauce.
Dolsot Bibimbap
For this sizzling rice dish, cook rice with vegetables and a bit of beef stock in a hot stone pot called a dolsot. Let it crisp up at the bottom before mixing in spicy gochujang chili paste. The socarrat crunch takes this bibimbap to the next level.
Japchae
The classic sweet potato glass noodle side dish makes a stellar main as well. Increase the amount of noodles and vegetables for a filling carbohydrate alongside the Korean barbecue.
Korean Fried Rice
Transform leftover rice into delicious Korean fried rice, or bokkeumbap. Sauté it in a hot pan with kimchi, carrots, peas, eggs, and soy sauce for an easy one-pan meal.
Ramyun Noodles
Instant ramyun noodles prepared with boiling water make an ultra convenient side. Jazz it up by topping the noodles with a fried egg, sautéed vegetables, or leftover kalbi beef. The packaged seasoning powder packs a flavor punch.
Rice Cakes
Chewy ddeok rice cakes can be sliced and pan fried, tossed in sauce, or added to soups. They make a nice alternative to typical rice or noodles with the rich, sweet kalbi beef.
Toppings and Extras for Korean BBQ Beef
Don’t forget about all the toppings and extras that can take your Korean barbecue spread over the top. Stock up on these condiments, sauces, wraps, and garnishes.
Lettuce Wraps
Lettuce leaves like butter or romaine are perfect vessels for assembling Korean BBQ “tacos”. Place a slice of grilled meat, a bit of steamed rice, kimchi, and sauce inside, then wrap up and devour.
Ssamjang Sauce
This spicy, funky Korean sauce is ideal for lettuce wraps. Mix gochujang (Korean chili paste), doenjang (fermented soybean paste), rice vinegar, garlic, and sesame oil to taste.
Slices of Raw Garlic and Chili Peppers
These raw additions help balance and cut through the richness of Korean barbecue. Guests can add them to any dish for extra flavor and heat.
Scallions and Sesame Seeds
No Korean meal is complete without these garnishes. Chopped scallions and toasted white sesame seeds add crunchy topping to any dish.
Soy Sauce and Vinegar
Simple dipping sauces are clutch for kalbi beef right off the grill. Provide small dishes of soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili vinegar, or chile oil.
Hot Sauces Like Gochujang
Spicy Korean chili pastes like gochujang and sriracha add a flavorful kick. Offer them tableside so guests can amp up the heat.
Quick-Pickled Cucumbers
Slice cucumbers and let them pickle briefly in a blend of vinegar, sugar, salt and chili flakes for a fast fridge pickle.
Steamed Eggs
Make onion-marinated soft boiled eggs to top bibimbap, ramyun, or any other dish for extra protein.
Korean BBQ Sauce and Marinade Ideas
One advantage of DIY Korean barbecue is getting to flavor your beef just how you like. Whip up a tasty kalbi marinade or sauce with these ideas:
- Soy sauce, honey, rice wine, toasted sesame oil, garlic, ginger, scallions, and black pepper.
- Asian pear or apple puree, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, sesame oil, and ginger.
- Gochujang (Korean chili paste), soy sauce, honey, garlic, pear, and onion.
- Soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, green onion, pear, sesame seeds, and garlic.
- Soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine, brown sugar, minced garlic, and pepper flakes.
- Soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, ginger, sesame oil, Asian pear, onion, and honey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Serving Korean BBQ at Home
What is the traditional Korean BBQ meat?
Thinly sliced beef short ribs known as kalbi or galbi are the quintessential Korean BBQ meat. Pork belly or samgyeopsal is also popular. Marinated chicken can also be cooked Weber-style.
What do you dip Korean BBQ in?
Lettuce leaf wraps with ssamjang sauce are very traditional. Plain soy sauce and vinegar work well too. Chili paste and sesame oil based dipping sauces are also common.
What should I avoid serving with Korean BBQ?
Skip starchy sides like pasta, mashed potatoes, or bread that will fill you up too fast. Light sides like green salads and kimchi complement the rich beef better than heavy comfort foods.
What meat should I not barbecue Korean style?
Tougher meats like brisket, skirt steak, or flank steak don’t work as well. They need slower cooking rather than the fast, hot grill. Stick to thin cuts of beef or pork that cook quickly at high heat.
Is Korean BBQ healthier than American BBQ?
It can be! Skip fatty pork ribs and brisket in favor of lean beef short ribs or thinly sliced pork belly. Load your plate with vegetable dishes like namul and kimchi instead of heavy sides.
Should I let guests grill their own meat?
Absolutely! Part of the fun of Korean barbecue is that interactive, cook-it-yourself experience. Let each guest grill up their own to their desired doneness. Provide tongs for everyone.
Make Your Own Memorable Korean BBQ Night
Backyard Korean barbecue offers a chance to gather friends and family around an interactive, impressive meal. The variety of flavors and textures from grilled kalbi beef, spicy chili sauces, cool vegetable sides, warm rice, and crisp lettuce wraps make for endless delicious combinations. Set out an array of flavorful banchan and provide individually marinated cuts of meat for guests to grill themselves for a hands-on culinary experience. A DIY Korean BBQ dinner party is sure to be a hit and provide wonderful memories around the table.