Incheon Korean BBQ date: ugalbi and a cola for a mosquito, Sip Sam Dae

Hey everyone~ do you like ugalbi (thick-cut beef ribs)? I love it so much that I go hunting for good ugalbi places!! Sip Sam Dae (십삼대) in Guwol-dong, near Gil Hospital in Incheon, has outstanding meat, from ugalbi to beef to pork belly. The owner is a total meat nerd with deep knowledge, so he grills everything properly, and he is kind and funny too. I found a real, real gem with great meat and great service!!! ◟( ˘ ³˘)◞ ♡

Where is Sip Sam Dae in Guwol-dong? Hours and parking

Sip Sam Dae is at 32 Inju-daero 623beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, on the 1st floor, near Gil Hospital. It is open 11:30–22:30, with a break from 14:00 to 16:00 and last order at 21:30. Parking is free.

Here is the outside of Sip Sam Dae!! Can you feel the great-meat-place vibe from the exterior already? I came in the early evening for a date with my boyfriend, to eat Korean beef haha

Seating and waits at Sip Sam Dae: should you book ahead?

Inside, the tables are separated, so two people can sit comfortably, and there are also big seating areas, so I heard groups and company dinners come here a lot!! Reservations are possible, so I recommend booking ahead.

We came early in the evening so it was empty, but after we sat down the place slowly filled up, and later there was even a wait. A wait at a BBQ place? There's a reason. It's really good haha

What's on the Sip Sam Dae menu?

The menu has lots of meat, from the Premium Ugalbi Set to black pork Iberico and the Premium Set. There are also potato pancake, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and sul-bap (a rice dish) that work as drinking snacks or meals, so you can really eat until you burst haha (the doenjang sul-bap is especially good, psst)

When I visited, Sip Sam Dae was running a Naver receipt review event! Scan the QR code, write a receipt review, show it to the staff, and you get 2 glasses of house wine or cream cheese minami as a freebie!! A glass of wine with premium beef, isn't that an amazing value deal?!

Is the Premium Ugalbi A Set enough for two?

We ordered the Premium Ugalbi A Set!! It comes with 2 ugalbi ribs, 500g of special pork belly and doenjang sul-bap, a hearty set for two. Usually when I order a beef set I still feel hungry and add side dishes, but this time we ate only this and almost burst haha The table spread was generous too, from scallion salad to mussam (radish wraps), potato salad and housemade sauces.

Can you see the quality of the meat, everyone!? I've eaten a lot of ugalbi, but I've never seen ugalbi this good and this big!!

Who grills the ugalbi at Sip Sam Dae, and how?

The ugalbi fills the whole big grill!! At Sip Sam Dae the owner trims it himself and grills it perfectly haha The charcoal brazier is split in half with fire on one side, so you grill the meat over the fire and move it to the side, which keeps it from burning and warm until the end. That's a big plus.

The Coca-Cola Zero he gave me as a freebie after I swatted a mosquito!! He cheerfully said it's the house rule that you get a freebie if you catch a mosquito haha

The owner was so kind and grilled the meat so perfectly that I just got fed like a baby bird haha The ugalbi is such good quality that it melts in your mouth the moment it goes in, and it went so well with wasabi, the special sauce and salt.

How good is Sip Sam Dae's special pork belly?

While you're eating the ugalbi, Sip Sam Dae grills the special pork belly for you without being asked!! Can you see the size of that pork belly!! It's thick and a big rectangle haha

The owner grills the special pork belly himself too, locking in the juices so it's chewy outside and moist inside. Honestly, it was the best pork belly I've had lately haha He even cuts it into perfect bite-size pieces. Wow, Sip Sam Dae is a real Guwol-dong BBQ gem. Just try it, and once you do, you'll say "okay, this is a great restaurant" without even meaning to.

What does the doenjang sulbap in the set taste like?

The doenjang sul-bap (soybean paste rice dish) that comes with the Premium Ugalbi A Set!! It's a rich sul-bap packed with beef, tofu and vegetables! The deep doenjang with a slight spicy kick makes the rice go down smoothly, and it pairs perfectly with the pork belly, so I scraped the bowl clean hahaha

Would I go back to Sip Sam Dae?

"Truly a certified great restaurant" is exactly the phrase for this Guwol-dong BBQ place. From the meat quality to the side dishes everything is solid, and the owner grills so amazingly that I'd go back 120%. He even gave us candy to freshen up after the meal haha The best!!!! Sip Sam Dae, certified lifetime ugalbi spot!