Haeundae Korean BBQ with ₩3,000 kimchi stew: Seokok Galbi

I visited Busan with a friend again for the first time in three months. 😉 Apparently, Busan is famous for pork ribs too? I did not get to try them on my last Busan trip, so I was determined to have some this time. While looking around, I found a local favorite whose signature is tender pork ribs scored 2,125 times, so we hurried right over. 😆

What is Seokok Galbi near Jung-dong Station like?

Seokok Galbi is said to be a Haeundae pork rib specialist opened by someone with experience running Seokjeong Galbi, which was selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey for seven consecutive years. It is only a two-minute walk from Exit 7 of Jung-dong Station, so it is super easy to get to. 😏👍 Haeundae Beach is nearby too, making it nice to take a light walk by the sea after eating to help digest. 🤎

Even the exterior, decorated with a hanok (traditional Korean house) feel, was sooooo my style. 😍 Inside, the traditional hanok atmosphere and the modern black-and-white decor came together beautifully; it was very clean and pretty. ❤️

We reserved for opening time on the weekend, and even though it was early, several groups were already eating. A true local favorite! 😆👍 Under the seats were tableware, tissues, water cups, and more, ready to pull out whenever needed. Rather than drawers beside the table, they used the space underneath, so it looked much neater and was such a clever idea. 👇

Pork ribs and meal menu lineup

As you would expect from a pork rib specialist, there were just two meat choices: marinated ribs and fresh ribs. They also had meal items that go well alongside them, including kimchi stew, naengmyeon (cold noodles), and pot rice.

A pre-set table and kiosk ordering

Since we came with a reservation, the table was already set according to our booking time. 😉 There were even vitamin C tablets for the number of people at the table. 😆 We got a variety of sauces and side dishes, and you can take as many additional side dishes and ssam vegetables as you want from the self-service bar.

You order through the kiosk installed at each table. We ordered three servings of marinated ribs, MinSaeng kimchi stew, and Hamheung-style mul naengmyeon (cold noodles in broth). And it was only ₩50,000 even with all that... Such amazing value! 😆👍

Marinated ribs scored 2,125 times

As soon as we finished ordering, they set up the charcoal grill right away! Usually at charcoal barbecue places, it can be disappointing when the heat dies down over time, right? But here, if the fire weakens, they can relight it to bring the charcoal heat back up. 🔥

Soon, the pork ribs—the star of the day—arrived too. They really had been scored 2,125 times: the marinade had soaked all the way in, and just looking at them, they seemed incredibly tender and soft! 🤤🤎

₩3,000 MinSaeng kimchi stew and first-come pot rice

Before we even got a chance to grill the meat, our kimchi stew arrived too. Wait, this is ₩3,000? 😱 Only one can be ordered per table, so I guess it is offered cheaply as a service for diners. It looks like something they should charge ₩12,000 for, but they sell it for ₩3,000. The value is insane. 😳

While the kimchi stew was boiling, just as we were thinking, Shall we really get started on the meat now? the pot rice came out! It turned out they offer it as a service to just the first 10 teams after opening. 👀

The pot rice is Seokok Galbi's summer-only signature menu, topped with Chodang sweet corn. The nutty aroma unique to freshly cooked rice was honestly so good. 👍 You cannot say no to pot rice. 😆😆😆 We set aside the rice, then poured hot water into the pot to make sungnyung (scorched-rice tea).

Pork ribs, kimchi stew, and pot rice... this table is about to collapse from the weight! 👀 But you know what? The cold noodles had not even arrived yet... 🤣 My friend and I said we had to start grilling before the noodles came, and got right to it. Hahaha

My favorite meat-watching time. 🔥 They were browning and sizzling away—this look is insane, right??! 😛 They were so tender that even when cutting them with scissors, I barely had to use any force; they sliced right through so easily. 👇

Oh, the pork ribs were truly tender, sweet, and savory—so delicious. They were great plain, great with wasabi, great wrapped in ssam... honestly, they were delicious however you ate them. 😋

From mul naengmyeon to ramen noodles in kimchi stew

Just as the meat was nearly cooked, the naengmyeon arrived at exactly the right time! Oh, perfect timing. Hahaha

Of course, cool mul naengmyeon is the thing to have with pork ribs. 👍 This is a combination that cannot possibly taste bad. ❤️

The seasoning was spot-on without adding vinegar or mustard, and it was sweet-tart, refreshing, and so good. 👍

The kimchi stew started bubbling away too, so we added ramen noodles. No... even the kimchi stew is delicious... oh my goodness.

The kimchi was nicely aged and the broth had a pleasant spicy kick—it tasted like something from a dedicated kimchi stew restaurant. ❤️

For the rice we set aside, you mix in the butter and curry powder that came with it. The gentle curry aroma plus the nutty buttery aroma made this combination much better than I expected.

It was delicious wrapped with the braised radish or seaweed that came with it, and it also went so well alongside the pork ribs or kimchi stew!

Sungnyung is the perfect finish, right? 😉 I tried topping it with pork ribs too, and the combination of nutty sungnyung and salty pork ribs was actually pretty good.

A Haeundae pork rib restaurant that takes care of you to the end

Ah... everything was seriously delicious that day, so the two of us ate until we were bursting. Hahaha And it was still only ₩50,000. Ahh~ On your way out, you can use the dental floss and fabric deodorizer set out on the counter, and grab a yogurt for the road as a final touch. Hahaha Perfect until the very end. 😆

I heard the owner holds Korean, Western, and Chinese cuisine cook certifications and previously ran Seokjeong Galbi, selected for the Blue Ribbon Survey seven years in a row. Maybe that is why everything—from the pork ribs to the kimchi stew and pot rice—was genuinely delicious, with no misses at all. 😋 If you want a hearty, affordable serving of pork ribs, kimchi stew, and cold noodles in Busan, I recommend Seokok Galbi. 👍👍👍