So you finally got invited to Korean BBQ. You sit down, the menu has forty things on it, there’s a grill in the middle of your table, and everyone’s looking at you. Don’t panic. I’m a Korean guy living in LA, and I’m going to tell you exactly how Koreans actually do this — not the tourist version.

Skip the Bulgogi. Start with Samgyeopsal.

Most first-timers order bulgogi or galbi because that’s what they’ve heard of. Nothing wrong with those. But if you want to eat like a Korean? Samgyeopsal — thick slices of pork belly, grilled right in front of you. No marinade, no sauce hiding anything. Just pork, fire, and salt. This is the soul food of Korea. When Koreans say “let’s get BBQ,” nine times out of ten, this is what we mean. And it has a mandatory partner — soju. More on that in a minute.

The Minari Secret (Yes, Like the Movie)

Remember Minari, the movie that won an Oscar? Ever wonder what the title means? It’s a vegetable — water celery — fragrant, crisp, slightly peppery. And here’s what the movie didn’t tell you: minari is the single best thing you can eat with pork belly. The herb’s fresh aroma cuts right through the fat. Grill it next to the meat for a few seconds, wrap it with a piece of samgyeopsal, and it tastes like someone designed these two things to be eaten together.

My proof? Samgyeopjib in Cerritos (16430 Norwalk Blvd) — the name literally means “pork belly house.” They serve fresh minari with every order of pork belly, and the first time I had that combination there, I understood what “제대로 된 맛” (the real taste) means. If you’re anywhere near Orange County or southeast LA, go.

Soju Is Not a Shot — It’s a Rhythm

Here’s a culture difference nobody explains. Americans often drink standing up, no food, maybe chugging. Koreans? We eat first. You grill, you wrap, you eat — and when the pork belly starts to feel a little heavy and greasy, that’s the moment. Someone pours soju (never pour your own — that’s a whole other post), everyone raises a glass, “geonbae!” and the clean, sharp soju resets your palate for the next round of meat. Eat, drink, repeat. Soju without food is missing the point. The rhythm is the culture.

Oppa’s Real Talk

One warning, from someone who learned the hard way: samgyeopsal is delicious, and it is pork belly. That’s basically bacon’s thicker cousin. Don’t eat three servings just because you can. Your future self will check the mirror and have questions. Moderation, my friends — leave room for the kimchi jjigae anyway.

Quick Cheat Sheet

• Order: samgyeopsal (pork belly), 2 servings for 2 people to start
• Ask for: fresh minari if they have it (Samgyeopjib in Cerritos does)
• Drink: soju — but only after you’ve eaten a bit, and always with a toast
• Wrap: lettuce + grilled minari + pork + a dab of ssamjang
• Don’t: fill up on rice early, or pour your own soju