Gogi-gui (Korean BBQ)

갈비 Galbi

Marinated beef short ribs grilled over charcoal or at the table.

Grilled Short Ribs
Spice: Not spicy
Contains beef

Galbi on a grill, seen from above — AI-generated image

At a glance

Fact	Details
Main ingredients	Beef short ribs, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, sesame oil
How it's served	Marinated ribs grilled at your table, often over charcoal, with lettuce, dipping paste 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 fruit juice; dipping pastes and side dishes vary by restaurant.
On the menu	갈비 (Galbi)
Also called	kalbi · sogalbi · Korean BBQ short ribs
Region	Nationwide

Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.

How to eat Grilled Short Ribs

Let the ribs grill
Staff often grill the ribs and cut the meat off the bone with scissors. The sweet marinade burns easily, so turn the meat often if you grill it yourself.
Wrap it in lettuce
Put a piece on a lettuce leaf with a little dipping paste (ssamjang), then eat it in one bite.
Finish with noodles or rice
After the meat, many people order a bowl of cold noodles, or rice with soybean paste stew.

How to order it

Order it as 갈비, or 소갈비 for the beef ribs on this page (돼지갈비 is pork). Many grill restaurants require at least two servings, so it is usually shared.

On the menu: 갈비
Usually sold: Usually 2 servings minimum

Where it comes from

Beef ribs are thought to have been eaten since the late Goryeo period. Suwon's cattle market was famous from the late Joseon period, so beef ribs were easy to get there. The city became known for its own galbi, seasoned with salt rather than soy sauce. Suwon galbi became widely popular from the 1980s.

Sources: Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (encykorea.aks.ac.kr)