Daedo Sikdang Gangnam-daero (Seoul, SOUTH KOREA) ★★★☆☆

Try google "best Korean BBQ in Seoul" and you should find the name "Daedo Sikang" always near the top of your search results. When it comes to Korean barbecue in Seoul, Daedo Sikang is an institution having been in the business for over half a century. The locals love them but not many tourists know about them. 



It was almost 7pm on a Monday but Daedo Sikdang Gangnam-daero was already packed with customers. All local Seoulists except us.



The granddaddy of Korean barbecue houses in Seoul. I'm already looking forward to their barbecued meat the moment we stepped through these doors.



The no-frills interior is a sign of a good Korean barbecue house. At the very least, it won't be a tourist trap.



The menu features only a handful of items, sirloin beef (42,000 won), beef tartare (25,000 won), sweet potato noodles with fermented soy bean paste (5,000 won), fried rice (4,000 won) and porridge (4,000 won). 



And some seasonal items including Bulgogi (marinated slices of beef stir-fried and served on steamed rice), hamburger steak and Korean beef soup.



We came here on a mission - Korean beef and lots of them please. This portion serves around 3 to 4 people.



It's always nice when you can sit back, relax and let the waitress do everything for you!



The waitress would come around every 15 minutes or so to check up on us and if there were empty plates, she would start throwing sirloin beef onto the frying pan.



Once she finished, she put all the beef up on the rack to let the oil drip.



These were pretty tasty and I love having them with the bed of Korean leeks.



The meat was definitely very very tender. It obviously doesn't have the same well-marbled texture possessed by Japanese beef (nor the rich flavors) but it was succulent enough for us.



Some complimentary milk ice-cream after the meal.



One thing I learned about Korean barbecued beef over the years is that, nothing beats succulent beef on a charcoal grill. The barbecued sirloin at Daedo Sikdang wasn't bad but it was done on a frying pan and you just don't get the smoky flavors of charred meat on frying pans.

P.S. I was told the quality of meat was way better at their original location in Wangsimni (since 1964). I will try to find out the answer of that next time I come to Seoul.




Food Rating: 5/10
Price: ₩₩₩
Address: 567, Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Closest Metro Station: Nonhyeon
Tel: +82 02-544-9772
Website: www.kitchenborie.com
Opening Hours: 11:00am - 10:00pm daily