Jeonju galbi restaurant serving yukhoe with cheddar cheese: Ubookgeum

Hi everyone :) I'd saved this place from a YouTube video, and turns out it's in Jeonju? So I went straight there with my family — here's my review of Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch, a raw beef rib spot in Jeonju, haha.

Jeonju has no shortage of meat restaurants, but Ubookgeum Saenggalbi felt different somehow. Places selling raw (unmarinated) ribs are genuinely rare, and this one is a real gem.

Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch: hours and parking

• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 23:00 (break 14:00-17:00, last order 22:30)
• Address: 26 Ongoeul-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, South Korea
• Parking: 2 hours supported at K Parking

We booked a table for dinner and used the K Parking the restaurant supports — it's right in the alley behind the building!

Next to Lotte Department Store in Seosin-dong: inside and out

Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch sits right on the main street next to Seosin-dong Lotte Department Store, so it's easy to spot!

Inside it's a classic BBQ layout — wood-tone tables with charcoal braziers set up — but the spacing between tables and the ventilation system are good, so we could eat comfortably without worrying about smelling like meat afterward.

There's more seating further inside and on the 2nd floor, so it can cover family gatherings, group meetings, and company dinners alike! They also have high chairs, so families with kids can visit comfortably.

What's on the menu at Ubookgeum Saenggalbi, and how much?

Looking at the meat menu first —

• Beef raw ribs (full plate) ₩58,000
• Beef raw ribs (half plate) ₩29,000
• Pork raw ribs (full plate) ₩42,000
• Pork raw ribs (half plate) ₩21,000
• Beef marinated ribs (full plate) ₩58,000

True to a raw-rib specialty restaurant, beef and pork raw ribs are the mains, and marinated ribs are also available if that's more your style. Using charcoal to bring out the meat's own flavor is this place's signature point!

Besides the meat menu, they also offer lunch specials like galbitang (short rib soup), yukgaejang (spicy beef soup), and seolleongtang (ox bone soup), so it seems worth coming for lunch too!

One plate of raw beef short ribs, then a second straight away

We ordered the beef raw ribs without hesitation. Even as it came out, the marbling was a work of art.

The basic side dishes filled the table too. That bean sprout salad is the real kicker. There's also a self-serve bar so you can freely help yourself to more!

The staff grilled the meat perfectly, so we could just eat comfortably. And seriously, the color of that meat is insane, T_T.

I took one bite and it disappeared after a few chews — pure magic. Since it's raw rib without marinade, you can really taste the meat itself, and it's tender... it also pairs really well with the bean sprout salad and myeong-i namul (wild garlic leaf) side dishes, so try eating them together.

It was so good mid-meal that we immediately ordered another plate of raw beef ribs — the flavor is clearly different from regular beef..! Two plates of raw ribs, done!

They even dug out the meat stuck to the bones for us, so we just had to go full chopsticks-mode. Total win — for family meals or company dinners, everyone can eat comfortably and deliciously here.

Yukhoe served with cheddar cheese?

As a side, we also ordered yukhoe (raw beef), and the meat was super fresh!

We popped the egg yolk and mixed it all up properly! Surprisingly it comes with cheddar cheese, and eating it together with the cheese was surprisingly good?!

Finishing with kimchi-mari guksu and plum tea

The kimchi noodle soup (kimchi-mari guksu) we ordered as a palate cleanser was exactly my style. The broth was exactly the flavor I wanted!! Icy broth, tangy kimchi, and a boiled egg on top made it perfect for cleansing the palate after all that meat. Highly recommend the kimchi noodle soup as a finish.

Before heading out after the meal, they offer a cup of plum tea or sujeonggwa (cinnamon-persimmon punch) — the perfect finish. I went with plum tea!

+ They're also running a dining support fund event, so make sure to join in! If you win first place, it's ₩200,000 free.. wow.

Final verdict on Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch

I'd searched a lot and watched YouTube videos because I wanted raw ribs, and after actually eating here, it was satisfying enough to go straight onto my list of Jeonju meat restaurants. Especially among Jeonju's beef restaurants, it's been a while since I found one this focused on the meat itself. Every single side dish showed care, and the finishing kimchi noodle soup made it a complete meal.

Who should book a table here

• Anyone looking for a genuinely great meat restaurant in Jeonju
• Anyone deciding on a spot for a family meal, group gathering, or company dinner
• Anyone who loves the pure flavor of meat itself
• Anyone who wants a meal with a perfect finish, right down to dessert

It's been a while since I visited a Jeonju meat restaurant where I already know I want to come back. If you're passing through Seosin-dong or traveling in Jeonju, I'd recommend stopping by Ubookgeum Saenggalbi Seosin Branch. Next time I'll have to try the pork raw ribs too!