Bulgogi (marinated grilled meat)
불고기 Bulgogi
Thin slices of beef in a sweet soy marinade, grilled or pan-cooked.
- Bulgogi
- Spice: Not spicy
- Contains beef
At a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Thinly sliced beef, soy sauce, sugar or honey, garlic |
| How it's served | Grilled or pan-cooked at the table, or brought on a hot plate, with rice and side dishes |
| Spice level | Not spicy — No chili heat. |
| Diet | Contains beef — Beef or beef stock is a standard ingredient. |
| Allergens | Soy · Wheat · Sesame |
| Ask about | Marinades may include pear or other fruit juice; glass noodles and mushrooms are often added. |
| On the menu | 불고기 (Bulgogi) |
| Also called | bulgoki · bul gogi · Korean BBQ beef |
| Region | Nationwide |
Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.
How to eat Bulgogi
Let it cook through
If it cooks at the table, staff often stir it for you. Ask the staff when it is ready to eat.
Wrap it in lettuce
If lettuce comes with it, put a few slices on a leaf with a little rice. Fold it and eat it in one bite.
Spoon the juices over rice
The sweet soy juices collect in the pan. Spoon some over your rice, or eat the beef and rice together.
How to order it
Order it as 불고기. Table-cooked bulgogi often has a two-serving minimum, but a set meal with rice (불고기 백반) serves one person.
- On the menu: 불고기
- Usually sold: Often 2 servings minimum at the table; 1 serving as a set meal with rice
Where it comes from
It was once called neobiani, meaning meat sliced wide. The word was used at the royal court and in noble homes in Seoul. Traditional Korean grilled meat is traced to maekjeok, meat grilled on skewers over an open fire. One view holds that once grill grates came in, skewers were no longer needed, and this became today's bulgogi.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)
Questions about Bulgogi
Is bulgogi vegetarian?
No. Bulgogi contains beef, the main ingredient of the dish, and a meat-free version is rarely served.
How spicy is bulgogi?
Not spicy. The sweet soy marinade has no chili heat. Pork bulgogi is a different dish that is often made with chili paste.
Can you eat bulgogi alone?
Usually yes. A set meal with rice serves one person. Restaurants that cook it at the table often ask for two servings or more.
- By Jason Kim (Bumsoo)
- Last reviewed October 10, 2026