Korean BBQ Night at Home: Menu, Tips & Recipes in 1 Guide
Korean BBQ isn't just a meal; it's an experience. Everyone gathers around the table, the meat sizzles on the grill in the middle, and the evening stretches on for hours. Korea boasts a rich BBQ tradition that's gaining popularity in the Netherlands, and rightly so.
In this article, you'll learn how to host an authentic Korean BBQ night at home: the ambiance, the menu, the banchan (side dishes), the dipping sauces, and how to use The Rub Kitchen's Korean rub for the perfect result.
What exactly is Korean BBQ?
In Korea, BBQ is called "Gogi-gui," literally meaning grilled meat. The characteristic feature is that the grill is placed in the middle of the table, either built-in or as a tabletop grill, and everyone grills together while eating. There's no fixed order: meat, rice, and banchan (small side dishes) are served simultaneously and eaten interchangeably.
The three most commonly eaten Korean BBQ dishes are Bulgogi (marinated beef), Galbi (spareribs), and Dak Galbi (spicy chicken). At home, it's easiest to make with a contact grill, a cast-iron pan on high heat, or a regular outdoor BBQ.
In Korea, you never eat Korean BBQ alone. It's a social meal where talking, drinking, and grilling intermingle. The evening lasts at least 2 to 3 hours. Don't plan to rush afterward.
Setting the Mood
Korean BBQ is as much about atmosphere as it is about food. With a few small adjustments, you can set the tone for the evening.
Low lighting
Candles or dimmed lamps. No bright overhead lighting.
K-pop or jazz
Korean playlist on Spotify or calm jazz in the background.
Chopsticks
Korean metal chopsticks if you have them, otherwise regular wooden ones.
Soju or beer
Korean rice wine or a glass of soju. Or ginger lemonade for an alcohol-free alternative.
Small bowls
Serve banchan in many small bowls on the table. The more bowls, the more authentic.
Lettuce leaves
Koreans wrap the meat in lettuce leaves with rice and sauce. Place a bowl of fresh lettuce on the table.
The Menu
A Korean BBQ evening consists of three parts: grilled meat, rice, and banchan. Here's a complete menu for 4 people.
Dak Galbi Chicken
1.5 kg chicken wings or chicken thighs with The Rub Kitchen Korean rub. Sesame oil as a binder, minimum 4 hours rest time. This is the main course.
Steamed white rice
The neutral base of Korean BBQ. Rice absorbs the flavor of sauces and meat. Use japonica or sushi rice for the right sticky texture.
Fresh lettuce leaves
Butter lettuce or Lollo Rosso. Wrap meat, rice, and sauce in it for the traditional way of eating. Fresh and provides a break from the heat.
Grilled spring onion
Whole on the grill, 3 minutes per side. Eat them whole or chop finely over the meat. Nutty and slightly sweet after grilling.
More chicken inspiration? Also check out the Korean BBQ chicken recipe with gochugaru or the chicken cooking times guide.
Banchan: The Small Side Dishes
Banchan are the small side dishes that are served with every Korean meal. You serve at least three, but the more the merrier. They are shared by everyone at the table.
Kimchi
Ready-madeFermented cabbage with gochugaru and garlic. Buy at an Asian supermarket. The most indispensable banchan.
Cucumber salad
5 minutesThin slices of cucumber with sesame oil, rice vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and sesame seeds. Fresh and cool, a perfect counterpoint to the spicy meat.
Spinach with sesame
10 minutesBlanch spinach for 1 minute, squeeze dry. Mix with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame seeds. One of the most commonly eaten banchan in Korea.
Seasoned green beans
5 minutesBlanch green beans briefly, rinse with cold water. Mix with sesame oil, soy sauce, and a pinch of chili powder. Simple and delicious.
Pickled radish
Day beforeThin slices of radish with rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Let sit for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator. Adds freshness and crunch.
Fried tofu
15 minutesFry cubed tofu in sesame oil until golden brown. Serve with soy sauce and green onion. Good for those who don't eat meat.
You can find kimchi at Asian supermarkets and specialty stores, and at large supermarkets like Albert Heijn in the refrigerated section with Asian products. Always choose refrigerated kimchi, not the room-temperature variety.
The Dipping Sauces
Dipping sauces are essential for Korean BBQ. You dip the meat in them before wrapping it in a lettuce leaf with rice.
Ssamjang
- ✓ 2 tbsp doenjang
- ✓ 1 tbsp gochujang
- ✓ 1 tsp sesame oil
- ✓ 1 tsp honey
- ✓ 1 clove garlic, grated
The classic Korean BBQ dip. Buy doenjang and gochujang at an Asian supermarket.
Soy sauce-sesame dip
- ✓ 3 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium)
- ✓ 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- ✓ 1 tsp sesame oil
- ✓ 1 tsp honey
- ✓ 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
Easier to make and also the official dipping sauce for The Rub Kitchen's Korean rub.
Sriracha mayo
- ✓ 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- ✓ 1 tbsp sriracha
- ✓ 1 tsp lime juice
- ✓ Pinch of salt
Not traditionally Korean but immensely popular with Korean BBQ worldwide. Creamy and spicy.
Yogurt-garlic dip
- ✓ 200g Greek yogurt
- ✓ 1 clove garlic, grated
- ✓ 1 tsp lemon
- ✓ Salt and pepper
Cool and creamy, perfect for cooling down next to the 5,450 SHU Korean rub.
Preparing the Chicken: Step-by-step
With The Rub Kitchen's Korean rub, you'll make Dak Galbi, the spicy grilled chicken that is the heart of your Korean BBQ evening. Also check out the full Korean BBQ chicken recipe for more detail.
Evening before: apply rub
Pat 1.5 kg chicken wings or chicken thighs dry. Spread a thin layer of sesame oil over the meat. Rub 60g Korean rub firmly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
30 minutes before grilling
Remove the meat from the refrigerator. Prepare the banchan, set out the dipping sauces, and set the table. Start cooking the rice.
BBQ or grill to temperature
Heat to 175 to 185°C. Two zones: indirect for cooking, direct for the bark at the end. Never above 195°C due to the brown sugar in the rub.
Indirect grilling
Wings 20 minutes, chicken thighs 25 to 30 minutes. Lid closed. Gochugaru gives the meat a beautiful deep orange-red color. Flip halfway through.
Finish directly and serve
Last 4 minutes over direct heat. Core temperature 74°C — always use a meat thermometer. Spring onions directly on the grill, 2 to 3 minutes. Rest for 5 minutes, then everything on the table simultaneously.
The Korean rub has a heat of 5,450 SHU. That's distinctly spicy but fully edible. Always put the yogurt-garlic dip on the table for cooling. Not suitable for young children — for a family BBQ, it's better to choose Carolina Gold or Memphis.
Drinks with Korean BBQ
In Korea, you always drink something with BBQ: soju, beer, or a combination of both.
Hite or Cass beer
Korean lager beer, available at Asian supermarkets. Light and refreshing, perfect with spicy meat.
Soju
Korean rice distillate, 20 to 25% alcohol. Light and neutral in taste. Drink it cold and neat.
Iced tea
Cold-brewed green tea with ice cubes. Refreshing, slightly bitter, and perfect with grilled meat.
Ginger lemonade
Fresh and slightly spicy, the best alcohol-free alternative. Ginger complements the ginger component in the Korean rub.
In Korea, "somaek" is popular: a mix of soju and beer in one glass. Ratio 3 parts beer to 1 part soju. You say "Geonbae" in Korean for a toast.
The Complete Shopping List
Everything you need for a Korean BBQ evening for 4 people.
Meat and grill
1.5 kg chicken wings or chicken thighs, 60g Korean rub, sesame oil, spring onions, fresh ginger.
Banchan
Kimchi (bought), cucumber, spinach, green beans, radish, sesame seeds, soy sauce, rice vinegar.
Dipping sauces
Doenjang, gochujang, sesame oil, honey, garlic, sriracha, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime.
Other
Japonica rice, butter lettuce, soju or Korean beer, ginger lemonade, chopsticks, small bowls.
Frequently Asked Questions about Korean BBQ at Home
- → Korean BBQ chicken recipe Step-by-step with gochugaru
- → Chicken on the BBQ: cooking times How long and at what temperature per chicken piece
- → Marinating chicken How long and with what for the best flavor
- → BBQ with children Mild rubs and recipes for the whole family
- → The bark and the smoke ring How does the crispy crust form?
Ready for your Korean BBQ evening?
Want to get started right away? Order the Korean rub and make your next evening a success. Freshly mixed, delivered free throughout the Netherlands.
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