Galbi (grilled short ribs)

Meat dishes

• Beef (쇠고기)Usually in itOnly this one→

  Galbi originally meant beef ribs, but pork ribs are now often called just galbi or charcoal galbi as well. Ask which meat it is.

• Soybean (대두)Usually in itOnly this one→

  Marinated galbi soaks in soy sauce, and even plain grilled ribs are wrapped with ssamjang or doenjang, both made from fermented soybeans.

• Garlic (마늘)Usually in itOnly this one→

  Minced garlic goes into the marinade, and raw or grilled garlic cloves are tucked into the lettuce wraps as well.

• Pork (돼지고기)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Pork galbi made from pork ribs is also common and often goes by the same name, so ask which animal the ribs are from.

• Sesame (참깨)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Sesame oil and sesame seeds go into the marinade for seasoned galbi. Plain saeng-galbi is often dipped in gireumjang, the sesame oil and salt dip that barbecue restaurants commonly serve.

• Onion (양파)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Onion is listed among the marinade ingredients along with pear juice, which softens the meat before grilling.

• Wheat (밀)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Any wheat in galbi would come through the soy sauce marinade, since soy sauce brands differ on whether roasted wheat goes into the brew.

• Milk (우유)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Cheese back ribs come with melted mozzarella for the pork ribs.

• Asian pear (배)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Seasoned galbi often has grated pear or pear juice in the marinade to tenderize the meat. It is marinated in advance, so it is hard to leave out when you order.

• Apple (사과)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Some recipes also add grated apple or apple juice to the marinade.

• Kiwi (키위)Sometimes in itOnly this one→

  Seasoned galbi such as LA galbi sometimes has grated kiwi in 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 11 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.