Happy Samgyeopsal Day! Make the Most Out Of Your KBBQ Experience With These Tips

March 3 is Samgyeopsal Day in South Korea, and the good news is you can join in the fun without flying out! There are plenty of Korean restaurants in the Philippines that let you enjoy Korean BBQ, and you can find several of them at SM Supermalls. (See some of our faves here!) Before heading out, make sure to read these tips for a truly memorable and authentic K-feast experience.

Tip #1: Ready to grill? Start with the non-marinated meat.
With most restaurants having a variety of meats—and some of them even offering unlimited refills—it could be incredibly tempting to pile everything on the grill in one go. It’s best to space out the meats and cook the non-marinated ones first. This way, you get to savor the intended flavor of the meat and avoid burnt residues early on in your KBBQ session. On Jin Joo Korean Grill’s menu, you can find both non-marinated pork belly alongside a samgyeopsal set featuring four flavors: tangy-sweet Honey Lemon Sriracha, Cajun Spiced, Pesto, and sweet-meets-salty Hoisin.

Image: Facebook.com/JinJooKorean

Click here for Jin Joo Korean Grill branches

Tip #2: Grill the sides, too!
Yes, it’s not just the meat that needs some grilling, but the ingredients that go into your lettuce wrap, too. The slices of garlic are usually served raw, and while you can have them as is, you can also try roasting them for a couple of minutes to soften the surface and make the taste milder. You can also warm a heap of kimchi on the grill for added smokiness. Try these tips when you get the Barbecue meat sets at Bulgogi Brothers! Each set comes with slices of onions, garlic, and sweet potatoes served with the usual side dishes.

Image: Facebook.com/Bulgogi.Brothers.Philippines

Branch: SM Lanang Premier

Tip #3: Go easy on the flipping.
FYI: Flipping the meat countless times on the grill will not make it cook faster. To make sure that your meats are cooked well and evenly, it’s best to wait till one side is beautifully seared with a glistening golden brown color before flipping over. Also, consider your meat’s thickness—thinner cuts like beef bulgogi cook faster than pork belly, for example. Soban K-Town Grill has a grilling guide for their Samgyupsal, Dak Galbi (chicken thigh fillet), Yangnyeom Tohsisal (hanger steak), and Woo Samgyup (marbled beef belly).

Image: Facebook.com/Soban.KTown

Click here for Soban K-Town Grill branches

Tip #4: Enjoy your samgyeopsal wrapped.
No one’s stopping you from enjoying the meat on its own, but samgyeopsal is actually meant to be enjoyed in a bite-sized wrap. To assemble one, simply wrap a piece of lettuce around cooked meat that’s dipped in sauce—usually sesame oil with salt and pepper or ssamjang, a fermented soybean paste. Some even throw in some garlic, a bit of side dish, and rice into the mix for an extra hearty bite. At Awesamgyupsal, you can mix and match your meats and sauces to come up with all sorts of flavorful wraps. Plus, they serve bone marrow, which is sure to be a rich, buttery addition to your creation.

Image: AweSamgyupsal.com

Branch: SM City San Jose Del Monte

Tip #5: Add flavor to your wraps with perilla leaves.
Speaking of wraps, some KBBQ places also offer something other than the usual lettuce. At Masil Charcoal Grill Restaurant, you can add a nutty-meets-minty taste to each bite by wrapping your meat, rice, and sauce in a sesame leaf! Take note that you need to order a minimum of two items off the Charcoal Grill menu to grill the meat on your table. Pro tip: The staff can cook the meat for you!

Image: Shutterstock

Branch: SM Megamall

Tip #6: Don’t forget the cheese!
Cheese is a well-loved ingredient in Korea, and it has found its way in savory dishes like ramen and chicken. In recent years, modern KBBQ joints started offering the dip, too. Don’t forget to ask for Cheese Sauce when dining in any of Fantastic Baka’s branches, and dip the meat to your cheese-lover heart’s content!

Images: Facebook.com/FantasticBakaSMNorthTowers

Click here for Fantastic Baka branches.

Ready for a feast? You can dine-in at any of these restaurants serving samgyeopsal and more at SM Supermalls! For pick-up or delivery, call SM Customer Care hotlines at 8876-1111, 0917-876-1111, or 0908-876-1111. You can also order from select restaurants via the SM Malls Online App. For more food finds, follow SM Supermalls on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For updates on mall hours and entry guidelines, check here.