Budnamujib Gangnam: Michelin Plate Beef
It made it onto the Michelin Plate list in 2021. Maybe because of the prices, it didn't quite get a Bib Gourmand, but I'm still happy to see a restaurant I love make the cut.
If I had to pick one of the most delicious restaurants from when I lived in Gangnam (a major district in Seoul) as a kid, it would be Budnamujib. Even now, whenever our family has something big to celebrate or we really need to treat someone well, we drive a long way just to go there. Despite the really expensive meat prices and the fact that they grill and cut everything for you without you having to lift a finger, it still has the bustling, noisy vibe of a neighborhood BBQ joint. I found out they have a branch near my office, so I went there for lunch.
As expected, the prices here are pretty steep. The cheapest item on the menu is the 12,000 KRW sogogi gukbap (beef soup with rice). My companions ordered the cheapest thing just to test the waters, but it only cemented the fact that this place isn't just expensive for nothing. I also like that they don't give you any attitude for ordering the cheapest dish. Well, it's not actually cheap, to be honest... And if the lunch menu costs this much, the price of BBQ meats like jumulleok (marinated beef) is just terrifying.
There was a rumor I heard from the adults back in the day that Budnamujib has an employee union and shares its profits as incentives. They praised the owner's mindset to high heaven, saying we need more restaurants like this, though I'm not sure if it's actually true. Whatever the truth is, the service mindset and attitude of the staff here could easily be used as a training manual for "How to Serve at a BBQ Restaurant."
I visited the Budnamujib branch again on Malbok (the last dog day of summer).
Since it was Malbok, I ordered the slightly more expensive galbitang (beef short rib soup) this time. They have Hanwoo (premium Korean beef) and US beef options, priced at 28,000 KRW and 23,000 KRW respectively. The Hanwoo was completely sold out! Even though it's really expensive, it seems to sell at a terrifying speed. I asked the staff, and they said it usually runs out before 12 PM, so you have to come before then. Plus, the prices go up every year—a restaurant truly optimized for capitalism.
But even the US beef is incredibly delicious.
Since this is a restaurant we go to when there's something good to celebrate, I have a lot of extra photos. This is the BBQ we ate at the main branch with my family before going to see The Lion King musical.
