Top 3 Samgyeopsal Grill in Makati City

Pork belly, the priciest cut of pork in the nation, is the only ingredient in the South Korean delicacy known as Samgyeopsal. In South Korea, it is so largely consumed that people eat it once every four days on average. The term literally translates to “three-layered meat,” referring to the three layers of the flesh that are visible. The dish’s name is made up of the Korean words sam (three), gyeop (layered), and sal (meat). Filipinos have been profoundly inspired by Korean culture. From their fashion to their food, including the ramyeon, kimchi, skincare items, and now the Korean Barbeque. As Samgyeopsal gained popularity in the Philippines, numerous restaurants started serving it. Due in part to the rising Korean population in Manila, Korean restaurants have been opening up all throughout the Metro. They frequently provide different kinds of seasoned beef, pig, and chicken. Mostly comes along with different side dishes.

Min Sok Restaurant

I was so hungry after we filmed a hostel in Poblacion. Timing that I also had my first visit of red-day (women code) and all I was thinking is Samgyeopsal. There were a lot of Korean Grill options around the area but what made me try this place is the cozy-homey ambiance of the restaurant. Moreover, the good reviews of the restaurant added up to my curiosity. Min Sok restaurant offers authentic ala carte Korean meals. However, if you’re a heavy eater and more into the Unlimited Grill, this might not be for you. Their Samgyeopsal costs Php 400 per order. What I like about it is the thickness and juiciness. It’s something that us Filipinos prefer in our meat especially if paired with rice.

We also ordered steamed pork/jjeongsik (Php 500) and two kinds of soups like Galbitang (Php 400) and Kimchi Jjigae (Php 300). Of course, only 2 kinds of meat will not be enough for us so I also ordered Chadolbaki/beef (Php 480) and Jumulleok/Beef Sirloin (Php 680). I definitely recommend the latter for the steak lovers, it was a little bit chewy though. They have haemul-pajjeon/seafood omelette (Php 400) that is good as appetizer or snack. No need to pair it with rice it’s already flavorful! In total, our meal set us back Php 2,800 that is already good for 4 people. We were so full and satisfied, just wish the Kimchi was older though all in all, I recommend this place. Everything especially the Samgyeopsal is worth a try here!

Jumong Korean BBQ Restaurant

I’m starting to think that Samgyeopsal is one of my comfort food. After another hostel filming in Poblacion, we looked for a Korean Grill again. There are just so many options in Poblacion and I would try all of it if I could. However, we just got enough budget and time to try some of them so I had to filter which ones we should pursue. One of the restaurants that caught my attention is Jumong Korean BBQ not only because of the familiarity of its name, but also because my friends recommended me to try it too. Just like the Min Sok, they serve ala carte Korean Dishes here as well. Of course, we bought Samgyeopsal that costs Php 400 per order. It was also thick and I can tell that the meat is premium by the looks of its color and texture. Very tender and easy to chew!

We love their Japchae/stir-fried glass noodles Php 350, it was very tasty and somehow a little bit sweet and salty! Just how my Filipino taste buds would like. One of my favorites is the Yukgae jang/bean sprout soup (Php 400) which is spicy but refreshing. It is best for hang-overs and cold rainy nights! They have generous servings or side dishes which I appreciate a lot. Kuddos also to the servers and managers for being attentive and helpful to our needs and requests. Jumong Korean BBQ started in 2011 and was named after the famous Korean novel. Our meal set us back Php 2,190 good for 4 people. Definitely recommended and worth a try!

Premier the Samgyupsal

Again this time, we went to a Samgyeopsal restaurant after a hostel shoot. I can’t help it, it’s becoming our go to meal after filming. A colleague suggested this to me as a hidden treasure in Makati and he wasn’t wrong! Premier the Samgyupsal is found on the second floor of The Rise Makati condominium. Now for those who like Unlimited Samgyeopsal Grill, this one is for you! They have different bundle options for the unlimited grill. Php 449 for Unlimited Chicken and Pork, and Unlimited Chicken, Pork, and Beef for only Php 600. All of these come with 12 kinds of side dishes and a soup! The price is just average considering they give premium meats and huge servings of side dishes. To top up to that, we were able to avail their Lunch promo of unlimited chicken, pork, beef, and side dishes for only Php 530!

If you also want to avail this promo, you might want to dine around 10 AM – 4 PM from Mondays to Sundays. I just can’t stress enough how I love their plating – the meat were on a wooden rectangular board making it look fancier. Despite how crowded the restaurant was, requests for needs and refills was not a big deal as there were a lot of attentive and friendly servers. They make sure that the exhaust is working well and the flame wasn’t too strong. Everything was just perfect! I suggest going around the floor too after you eat, it’ll be a good way to easily digest the foods after the feast. There are several beauty and clothing shops in the same floor of the building. Definitely recommended and worth a try, this is by far my best pick among the three!