Sariwon: Enjoy Quality Korean Barbecue in Manila

I feel like everything Korean has literally taken over my life now. Aside from living in a part of QC where there are more Korean establishments than convenience stores, I also find myself getting hooked with K-dramas (Hello, Nam JooHyuk!!) and Korean variety shows (i.e. 2 Days, 1 Night). I haven't been to Korea aside from the airport lol, but I think we got the best of Korea right here in Manila! One gastronomic contribution this culture has shared to us is their Korean Barbecue. I've honestly tried numerous K-BBQ places here in Manila - from small legit ones, to commercialized ones. But there's this one Korean resto in BGC that is definitely incomparable as regards quality and service and that is, Sariwon.

The name "Sariwon" was derived from small town in North Korea where Mrs. Bum Im Koo mastered a recipe for Korean Beef Bulgogi. Seventy years after Mrs. Bum Im Koo opened her first restaurant, Sariwon is now hailed as one of the best restaurants in South Korea. Recently, it opened its doors here in Manila, particularly in Bonifacio High Street in Taguig and Promenade in Greenhills.

During our recent visit at their Taguig branch, we were able to try out their Yangnyeom Galbisal (Marinated Rib Fingers) set for 6 (P3,900 per set or P650 per head). I've been craving for Korean for days before this visit so imagine my delight when I found out that we'll be visiting Sariwon. :) Anyway, this set includes unlimited banchan or side dishes consisting of kimchi, bean sprouts, nuts and anchovies, among others. When the banchan were served, I find them visually appealing. The colors were beautiful and they are actually equally delicious. 

Banchan!

The first main dish that was served was the Doenjang Chigae or Fermented Soybean Paste Stew. I definitely love their version of it! It's adequately spicy yet has a very mild taste. It actually filled me up right away. We were next served with salad which I wasn't able to taste any because I was saving my appetite for the marinated rib fingers lol. The Japchae or Korean Noodles were then served but I only had a few bites of it because I'm more of a rice carbs kind of person. It was really good though!

Doenjang Chigae

Salad

Japchae

Just like that, food came in pouring one by one! The Dolsot Bibimbap or Stone Pot Bibimbap, Dak Galbi or Spicy Stir Fried Chicken, and Gyeranjjim or Steamed Eggs were then served. I am a huge fan of the Dak Galbi! It was marinated overnight in their secret spice sauce. It was super juicy and flavorful. It was actually supposed to be really spicy, but this one's tolerable. Even kids could eat it. Since rice is life, I also fell in love with the Dolsot Bibimbap. I was able to try both the one mixed with mild sauce and the spicy one. I am not a fan of spicy food but I prefer the spicy mix over the mild one.

Dolsot Bibimbap

Dak Galbi

Gyeranjjim

Right when I was about to get full, the Yangnyeom Galbisal was brought out. Our server, Ron, was kind enough to cook the same for us in a table top ceramic charcoal griller. The beef was perfectly cooked after a few minutes. It's best eaten when wrapped in a lettuce with their special sauce. I find the beef extremely tender and yummy! I probably had a number of wraps already while the rest of the beef were being cooked.

Yangnyeom Galbisal

Thereafter, the Yooksue Bulgogi was cooked right in front of us. The griller was replaced with another table top cooker. It was definitely a great way to end our main course. The soup has a mild taste which helps cleanse the palate. The beef was thinly sliced and super soft. I also loved the noodles that come with it. It gives a refreshing taste after all the food that I just devoured.

To pair my meal with, I tried out their Sangria Soju. It is basically a mix of apple, orange, and lemon slices with red wine and soju. It was quite a strong drink since it was mixed with soju. I had to slow down and only take sips from it. It kind of makes the body feel warm. But since I love sangrias in general, I definitely enjoyed this drink. They also have other drinks mixed with soju such as Margarita Soju and Mojito Soju.

Sangria Soju

Before concluding our meal, we were treated to a complimentary Sikhye, which is a sweet traditional drink made of malt and rice. I loved this one!! But I think this one is particularly good because it was homemade, although I wouldn't mind buying one from a convenience store. We were told that this drink is also helpful with blood circulation and hangovers lol.

Sikhye

To cap off our night, we were able to try out their Sizzline Apple Graham. It consists of fresh apples on top of graham bed with vanilla ice cream, served sizzling. I am not a fan of fruity desserts but this one was a hit! Let's just say this dessert did not last two minutes. 

Sizzling Apple Graham

Prices at Sariwon are very reasonable considering the quality and quantity of the food you are getting. It is also conveniently located in Bonifacio High Street so it can be easily accessible to anyone. I think the place is quite small considering the number of people that goes in there. And since people would usually take time to finish their meal, I suggest you have reservations so that you would have secured seats. 

If you are looking for quality Korean Barbecue here in Manila, you definitely have to try out Sariwon! They are located at 7th Avenue corner 29th Street, Bonifacio High Street Central, Taguig City and at G/F Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City.

Follow them on social media:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SariwonPhilippines/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sariwonph/

XO, Mish

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