SARIWON’s Bulgogi and Galbi Korean Barbecue!

The Korean craze in Manila just got even more interesting with the opening of the first branch outside Korea of the legendary Bulgogi of Mrs. Bun-Im Koo (from the Sariwon town in North Korea).

Most Filipinos are not familiar with the brand except for the Korean community that immediately patronized the restaurant. Filipinos tend to go for the Bulgogi and Galbi, while the Koreans enjoy the cold noodles.

Sariwon‘s Bulgogi and Galbi are better than those from Bulgogi Brothers, and I love that they use a smokeless roaster so you don’t smell like Bulgogi after eating.

Here are some notes, tips and recommendations if you plan to try it out…

Bonifacio High Street Central Restaurants:

• Jamba Juice Opens in Manila!
• SutrA Christmas Dinner: Our First Taste of BHS Central
• ARIA Mania in Manila?
• GEISHA, an Indian-owned Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant You’ll Love 🙂
• ELIAS and the Spirants
• Mango Tree: Finally, Thai Fine Dining in Manila!
• A Beso Cucina Vinoteka Date
• The Cake Club Dessert Haven
• A SLICE of Pia Cayetano
• SARIWON, Authentic Korean Barbecue – First Branch outside Korea
• Village Tavern, a Higher-End Friday’s?
• STELLA, Sister of Chelsea & the Star of BHS Central
• ‘CUE, Modern Barbecue
• NOLITA (North of Little Italy): A Taste of the Real New York Pizza in Manila?
• BHS Central: A Guide to the BEST Eats in Bonifacio High Street Central

Sariwon Menu: Origin of Sariwon | Art of Bulgogi | House Specials Barbecue | From the Grill | Art of the Grill | Other Barbecue Options | About Kimchi |  Soups and Stew, Hotpot | Other Specialties, Rice & Noodles | Wine Pairing | Red & White Wine | Beverages, Soju, Bottled Beer, Korean Wine | Sariwon Cocktails, Dessert

The configuration of Sariwon’s booth tables gives an illusion of privacy even if the restaurant is jam-packed.

Our sons were mesmerized by the dehydrated towel tablets that transform into hot towels when hot water is poured over them.

We liked the interesting eat-all-you-can side dishes–the boys just dove into them right after they were placed on the table.

I loved the mashed sweet potato ball and the crispy anchovies with chili. The kimchi was not too spicy (best to savor it slowly!). The vegetables were also good and healthy.

They used a mild sesame dressing for the salad, which was just ok. We would have preferred a sweeter sesame sauce.

★ Seng Galbi (P280g – P780 +10% service charge). Juicy and premium USDA Choice beef short ribs freshly grilled at the table.

A must-try is Sariwon’s Galbi. There are two versions — the Seng Galbi (which is freshly marinated meat) and the Galbi (which is pre-marinated already).

Nothing beats having the meat freshly prepared and grilled in front of you, but you do have to pay a premium for it.

Sariwon is happily kid-friendly. 🙂 I liked the fact that the entire meal experience captured our boys’ attention. They were occupied and interested in a lot of things: the towels, the side dishes, the cooking of the bulgogi, etc.

The Seng Galbi is best cooked medium-rare so that it is still soft when it cools. The waiters can cook it for you but it’s also interesting to learn to cook it on your own.

It is served with salt, sesame oil and meat sauce.

I prefer wrapping it in lettuce and sesame leaves, and dipping it in the spiced samjang sauce. Sarap!

The vegetables are eat-all-you-can, so it’s a healthier alternative to rice.

★ Sangria Soju (P195 +10% service charge). A refreshing blend of apple, orange and lemon slices mixed with red wine and soju.

The sangria has a strong alcoholic kick from the soju; you can get tipsy with just one glass.

The waiters are well-trained, pleasant and very helpful.

★ Galbi (280g – P545 +10% service charge). Juicy and tender marinated USDA Choice beef short ribs grilled at the table. Its exclusive cutting technique ensures the perfect texture and flavor.

The only difference with the Seng Galbi is that this one has been marinated for some time and it has more flavor.

The serving is good to share for 3-4 persons. The kids loved pairing this with rice. 🙂

Doenjang Chigae (P250 +10% service charge). Delicious and spicy stew made with soybean paste, tofu and vegetables. Served with rice.

This was like soybean sinigang with a small serving size (good for one only). It was not as spicy as I expected it to be. The spiciness levels in Sariwon seem to be tempered down.

The secret to the smokeless grill is this ceramic charcoal and its exhaust system. Be careful, though! Our curious boys almost touched this hot ceramic as it was being changed to a special set-up for the Bulgogi.

★ Deungsim Yangnyeom Bulgogi (150g – P495 + 10% service charge). Honey marinated slices of USDA Choice beef grilled at the table. Served with freshly made sweet potato noodles.

Sariwon’s Bulgogi is served with a healthy bulgogi soup and fresh sweet potato noodles.  We ordered this version (vs. Sariwon Bulgogi) because the meat is sweeter due to the honey marinade.

The Sariwon Bulgogi’s meat is not marinated because it is served with their signature healthy sauce made from 12 different fruits and vegetables with red wine and no sugar.

The sauce was developed for Mrs. Koo’s husband, who’s diabetic.

The special bulgogi sauce is not too strong in taste.

The honey-marinated meat is thinly sliced.

You put in the vegetables and cook the Bulgogi to medium-rare also — don’t cook it well-done.

The fresh sweet potato noodles are added last. (They say, in Korea, people eat noodles last.)

The grilled meat is best eaten with rice soaked with the sauce.

★ Sikhye (P60 +10% service charge). A traditional sweet drink home made with malt and rice. Nutritious and refreshing!

They serve a complimentary dessert drink; a second serving is charged P60. It was like drinking a sweeter gulaman with malt and rice bits instead of the usual sago.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal at Sariwon with their flavorful meat dishes, smokeless technology and friendly staff. We’ll definitely go back for the Galbi! We recommend eating the Bulgogi first (which is healthier and has a more balanced taste) and then the Galbi so that the taste experience builds up instead of being anti-climactic. We will try the hot pot next time. 🙂

Take note that most of the barbecue dishes are good to share with 2-3 people. Budget about P600/head.

SARIWON KOREAN BARBECUE
Awarded “Best Korean Restaurant” by the Seoul Metropolitan Government
7th Ave. corner 29th St. South, 
Upper Ground Floor, West Superblock 
Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Facebook: Sariwon Philippines
Mobile: +63 922 535-2446
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11.00am to 11.00pm

★ – Recommended

Bonifacio High Street Central Restaurants:

• Jamba Juice Opens in Manila!
• SutrA Christmas Dinner: Our First Taste of BHS Central
• ARIA Mania in Manila?
• GEISHA, an Indian-owned Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant You’ll Love 🙂
• ELIAS and the Spirants
• Mango Tree: Finally, Thai Fine Dining in Manila!
• A Beso Cucina Vinoteka Date
• The Cake Club Dessert Haven
• A SLICE of Pia Cayetano
• SARIWON, Authentic Korean Barbecue – First Branch outside Korea
• Village Tavern, a Higher-End Friday’s?
• STELLA, Sister of Chelsea & the Star of BHS Central
• ‘CUE, Modern Barbecue
• NOLITA (North of Little Italy): A Taste of the Real New York Pizza in Manila?
• BHS Central: A Guide to the BEST Eats in Bonifacio High Street Central

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Full Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. We paid for our meals. We are not connected with the establishment or any organization marketing the restaurant.

P.S. Sariwon was brought in by the next generation restaurateurs of the Tan family. Congrats and thanks for bringing Sariwon to Manila!