Seoul Eats :: Buchon Yukhoe

One of my highlights visiting Seoul was trying raw marinated beef at Buchon Yukhoe. I had been wanting to try yukhoe for a long time as I was curious about the texture and flavor.

There is a section of Gwangjang Market that is dedicated to several yukhoe restaurants. So much so that this well-established area is referred to as “yukhoe alley”. The most well-known and popular one is Buchon Yukhoe. This restaurant has been in business since 1965 and is frequented by many patrons. Spot the Michelin Guide sticker!

Below is the menu (picture taken 2017). Very tempting to order the other items here too, such as live baby octopus, Kalbi Tang (shortrib soup), Cow Head Rice Soup, Yukgaejang (shredded beef soup) but we came here specifically for the restaurant’s specialty.

The signature item on the menu is of course, yukhoe. The shredded raw beef was seasoned with sesame oil, with a raw egg yolk on top for a welcoming pop of color. This place of yukhoe was served atop a bed of matchstick pears. There is also a dipping sauce on the side and complementary banchan + soup.

The textural and flavor combination was outta this world. Firstly, the raw beef was shredded into long strips and had a nice toothy bite. The seasoning was aromatic but did not overpower the natural flavor of the beef. Eaten together with crunchy sweet pear matchsticks, this was a party in the mouth.

My dad tried the raw beef bibimbap for a more “substantial” meal. It is loaded with fresh veggies and from its appearance, it made for a guilt-free meal that’s reminiscent of a hearty salad bowl.

I also ordered raw beef heart and boiled tripe. Boiled tripe is something our family eat often, but the raw beef heart was a first for me. It looked somewhat squeamish but the texture was okay. Not sure if I’d order it again though, because frankly the quantity was a tad overwhelming.

All in all, I enjoyed this meal tremendously. I’d even go as far as saying yukhoe is more delicious than any beef tartare I’ve had. The service was brisk and the food was delicious. We were not concerned at all about rawness as we found the meat to be of high quality. Buchon Yukhoe uses fresh Korean beef supplied daily, ensuring a delicious nutty flavor.