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Korean BBQ · Itaewon

Mongtan

몽탄

Tourist favoriteBlue RibbonBetter with a group ⓘ

The barbecue that turned Samgakji into a food destination. Its signature is ude-galbi, a giant beef short rib on the bone, first smoked over burning rice straw for a deep, smoky flavor, then grilled at your table by staff. Finish with fried rice made in the drippings. Expect one of Seoul's longest lines.

서울특별시 용산구 백범로99길 50

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How it works here

🥢 How Korean restaurants usually work

Waiting

30-60 min wait
Just join the line

Put your name down at the door; on weekends waits of an hour or more are normal. Arriving before the late-morning registration opens, or a weekday afternoon, is your best chance.· 5 reviews

What to order

📖 What is Galbi?
  • Jjipbul ude-galbi (straw-smoked beef short rib)짚불 우대갈비

    The signature.

  • Jjipbul hangjeongsal (straw-smoked pork jowl)짚불 항정살
  • Yangpa-bokkeumbap (onion fried rice)양파볶음밥

    Fried in the meat juices at the end.

  • Bibim-naengmyeon (spicy cold noodles)비빔냉면

How much to order

  • 👤 2Two servings of ude-galbi, then onion fried rice.
  • 👤 3-4Ude-galbi and pork jowl, a bibim-naengmyeon, and fried rice to finish.

How to eat it

  1. 1Staff grill the straw-smoked rib and cut it off the bone for you; just wait until they say it's ready.· 2 reviews

Insider tips

  • Save room for the onion fried rice: many diners call it the real highlight.· 3 reviews
  • Mongtan also has branches in Jeju; this Samgakji restaurant is the original.· 3 reviews

Why it's famous

  • Tourist favoriteNamed in Seoul's 2026 Gourmet 100, the city government's list of the capital's best restaurants, in the grill category.· 4 reviews
  • Blue RibbonA repeat entry in the Blue Ribbon Survey, and featured on MBC's Omniscient Interfering View.· 4 reviews

Good to know

  • A few minutes from Samgakji Station (Lines 4 and 6), near the War Memorial of Korea. No parking; use the paid lots nearby.· 3 reviews
Where this comes from (26 reviews)

Summarized in our own words from Korean diners' blog reviews; each fact is backed by at least two reviews. Last checked 2026-10-28.