Bulgogi
Meat dishes
Thin slices of beef soaked in a sweet soy-sauce marinade, then grilled or pan-cooked and often wrapped in lettuce at the table.
Why this list cannot be complete
Many Korean restaurants are franchises whose recipes are not published, and shops create their own versions of the same dish. A menu name often does not tell you what is inside. This page covers the traditional recipe and the variations that have spread widely, not every shop.
When you are not sure what a shop puts in, show your card to say what you cannot eat, or show the list below and ask the staff to point to what is in theirs.
What usually goes in
이 음식에 아래 재료 중 들어가는 것이 있나요?
For the staff: does this dish contain any of the ingredients below?
The standard cut is thinly sliced sirloin or ribeye. When a menu just says bulgogi, beef is what it usually means.
Soy sauce is the base of the marinade, and the meat is left to soak in it before cooking, so it runs right through the slices.
Sesame oil goes into the marinade itself, and toasted sesame seeds are often scattered over the cooked meat as well.
Crushed garlic is one of the core marinade ingredients, so it is cooked into the meat rather than served on the side.
Pureed onion is often blended into the marinade along with pear to tenderise the meat, so it can be in the sauce even when no onion slices are visible.
Pork bulgogi, often made with pork belly, is common too and may be listed simply as bulgogi. Ask which meat it is.
Traditional Korean soy sauce is brewed from soybeans and brine alone, but other soy sauces are often brewed with roasted wheat — which one a kitchen uses depends on the bottle.
Osam bulgogi stir-fries squid with pork in a chili paste sauce.
Some menus add long-arm octopus to beef bulgogi, as in bulnak jeongol, or stir-fry webfoot octopus with pork.
Mushrooms are often stir-fried or simmered with the meat, and they are almost always in the brothy versions such as ttukbaegi bulgogi and Seoul-style bulgogi.
Grated pear or pear juice is commonly added to the marinade to tenderize the meat, and it dissolves into the sauce where you cannot see it.
Some recipes also add grated apple to the marinade.
Some recipes add grated kiwi to the marinade to tenderize the meat.
- Usually in it
- Most kitchens put this in. Assume it is there unless the staff tell you otherwise.
- Sometimes in it
- It depends on the recipe and the brand of sauce, so it is worth asking.
- Rarely in it
- The usual recipe does not call for it, but some kitchens still use it.
Checked 13 of the 33 ingredients this site covers. An ingredient that is not listed here has simply not been checked yet — that is not the same as it not being in the dish.
This page describes how the dish is usually made in Korea. Every kitchen works differently, so always show your card and ask the staff before you order.
Going on your card
- Beef (쇠고기)
- Soybean (대두)
- Sesame (참깨)
- Garlic (마늘)
- Onion (양파)
- Pork (돼지고기)
- Wheat (밀)
- Squid (오징어)
- Octopus (문어 · 낙지 · 주꾸미)
- Mushrooms (버섯)
- Asian pear (배)
- Apple (사과)
- Kiwi (키위)
Common variations
If you see one of these names on a menu, expect the ingredients below on top of the basic dish. Shops differ, so check with the staff.
- 돼지불고기Pork bulgogi
Adds: Pork (돼지고기)
Thin pork slices replace beef and are marinated in soy sauce or chili paste.
- 오삼불고기Squid and pork belly bulgogi
Adds: Squid (오징어), Pork (돼지고기)
Squid and pork belly are stir-fried together in a spicy chili paste sauce.
- 콩불(콩나물 불고기)Bean sprout pork bulgogi
Adds: Pork (돼지고기)
Thin pork belly and soybean sprouts are cooked together in chili paste sauce.
Diets
- VeganNot suitable
The dish is built around marinated meat, usually beef.
- Lacto-ovo vegetarianNot suitable
The meat is the dish itself, not a topping that can be left off.
- HalalAsk first
Pork versions go by the same name, so ask which meat is used and where it comes from.
- No porkAsk first
Beef is standard, but pork bulgogi is also common — confirm it is the beef version.
Other dishes with the same ingredients
- Galbi (grilled short ribs)Beef · Soybean · Garlic — Usually in it / Pork · Sesame · Onion · Wheat · Asian pear · Apple · Kiwi — Sometimes in it
- BibimbapSoybean · Sesame · Garlic — Usually in it / Wheat · Beef · Onion · Octopus (incl. long-arm and webfoot octopus) · Mushrooms · Asian pear — Sometimes in it
- JapchaeSoybean · Sesame · Garlic · Mushrooms — Usually in it / Beef · Pork · Onion · Wheat · Squid — Sometimes in it
Read more
- Soy in Korean foodWhere this ingredient hides across Korean food
- Sesame in Korean foodWhere this ingredient hides across Korean food
- Beef in Korean foodWhere this ingredient hides across Korean food
- Gluten-free travel in KoreaWhere wheat hides in sauces and broths
- Vegan dining in KoreaWhere meat and seafood hide in Korean cooking
- Emergency allergy help in KoreaWhat to do and say if a reaction starts
- Halal food in KoreaWhere pork, alcohol, and non-halal meat hide in Korean cooking
- Temple food and Buddhist vegetarian dining in KoreaWhere garlic, green onion, and other pungent vegetables hide
Sources we checked
Each finding on this page lists the recipes and references it is based on. Source titles appear in their original language and are not translated, and each link opens the other site in a new tab.
Show the 22 sources behind each finding
What usually goes in
Beef · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Soybean · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Sesame · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Garlic · Usually in it
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Onion · Sometimes in it
Pork · Sometimes in it
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Wheat · Sometimes in it
- Wikipedia, "Soy sauce" — made from soybeans and roasted grain; most Japanese soy sauces include wheat; tamari contains little or no wheat (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia, "Ganjang" — hansik ganjang is made entirely of meju and brine; gaeryang ganjang ferments soybean, soybean meal or other grains (opens in a new tab)
Squid · Sometimes in it
Octopus · Sometimes in it
Mushrooms · Sometimes in it
Asian pear · Sometimes in it
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「윤식당 불고기소스」 — 배 (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「불고기 늘 성공하는 양념」 — 배즙 (opens in a new tab)
Apple · Sometimes in it
Kiwi · Sometimes in it
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「불고기」 — 간 키위 (opens in a new tab)
- 만개의레시피, 「불고기 만드는법」 — 키위 (opens in a new tab)
Common variations
돼지불고기 · Pork bulgogi
오삼불고기 · Squid and pork belly bulgogi
콩불(콩나물 불고기) · Bean sprout pork bulgogi
Diets
Vegan · Not suitable
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Lacto-ovo vegetarian · Not suitable
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Halal · Ask first
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
No pork · Ask first
- Wikipedia, "Bulgogi" — sirloin or ribeye; marinade of soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, pepper, onions; pureed pear and onion as tenderisers; chicken and pork bulgogi also common, pork belly for pork bulgogi (opens in a new tab)
- 위키백과, "불고기" — 쇠고기 등 살코기를 저며 양념해 구운 음식; 간장 · 설탕 · 참기름 · 마늘 · 파 · 배즙 · 깨 양념; 돼지고기 등 다른 고기도 씀 (opens in a new tab)
Each dish is researched by hand from the sources we checked, and nothing here is generated automatically. Recipes vary from kitchen to kitchen, so always confirm with the staff before you order.