Gome Lamb in Samseong-dong: Proper Lamb BBQ in Seoul

2018-09-25 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Personally, I'm not a big fan of lamb. The lamb skewers I've had in Korea never really suited my taste, so I tend to hesitate when people suggest going out for lamb during company dinners or drinking gatherings. My prejudice that "lamb doesn't taste good" was broken when I traveled to Russia and Greece. The lamb I ate as shashlik in Russia and as steak in Greece was on a completely different level from what I'd had in Korea. The gamey smell wasn't strong, and it had a unique flavor distinct from pork or beef, along with mouth-watering juices. It felt like my eyes were opened to a whole new world. I tried to find that taste after coming back to Korea, but I always ended up shaking my head at the signature gamey smell—until I finally found a restaurant that comes close to the taste I experienced in Europe.

It's located on the second floor, making the entrance a bit hard to find, but there's this cute lamb pattern drawn on the stairs.

A black sheep head decoration and a purple neon sign are hanging on the wall.

An information sign with an introduction and a table setting photo of Gourmet Lamb, a Hokkaido-style charcoal-grilled lamb specialty restaurant. — Yes, so they say.

A menu from Gourmet Lamb restaurant showing various lamb cuts and prices. — The prices aren't exactly cheap. Since the weight includes the bones, even if you order the mixed platter, the portion feels a little small for two people.

A bottle of Hallasan Original soju and a red kettle placed on a marble table.

A marble table set with side dishes, sauces, and individual plates around a meat roasting grill.

I ended up waiting quite a while because my friend arrived late, but thanks to that, I got a good look at the interior and the meat grilling process. Unusually for a BBQ joint, there's a bar seating area. The staff grills all the meat for you, so if there are two of you—especially if you're on a date—you can sit at the bar and enjoy the novel experience of watching your meat being cooked. There's nothing truly extraordinary about it, but it's definitely unique having someone grill meat right in front of you instead of a bartender handing you wine or cocktails.

A staff member is holding a wooden pepper mill and sprinkling pepper on raw lamb.

Raw lamb served on a black plate with small wooden signs indicating the names of the cuts. — The pepper-seasoned meat comes with cute little labels explaining the cuts. As they grill, they explain the different parts and tell you which ones to eat first, so you don't need to worry much even if you don't know anything about lamb. The only thing you need to worry about is the money.

Grilled lamb chops are being cut with tongs and scissors on the grill.

Lamb chops, onions, garlic, and cherry tomatoes are being grilled on the grill.

Two pieces of grilled meat and three kinds of seasonings are placed on a round bluish plate.

A piece of grilled meat and three kinds of seasonings are placed on a bluish plate.

A piece of bone-in grilled meat and seasonings are placed on a bluish plate.

The dipping sauces weren't mind-blowingly delicious (though the fresh wasabi is quite good), but pairing the meat with Hallasan soju is absolutely fantastic. To enjoy the Hallasan properly, I specifically requested a room-temperature bottle instead of a chilled one from the fridge, and they happily brought it over. It's located in Samseong-dong (a major business district in Seoul), but rather than just calling it expensive, the quality, interior design, and service are simply outstanding. It's best to just comfortably think of it as an upscale restaurant. Seeing how writing this makes me want to eat it again, I'm worried I'll start finding any excuse to go, let alone becoming a regular.

Sure enough, I started coming back whenever my energy levels dropped;;;;;

An open menu showing the prices of lamb and side dishes. — This time, I took photos of the parts I missed on my last visit.

Finely chopped green onions and a generous amount of red seasoning are topped on rice. — I also ordered the Gochu Myeongran Bap (rice with chili and pollack roe), which I didn't try last time. They said the chili was spicy, so I asked for it on the side and mixed it in little by little—it was really delicious. The generous topping of pollack roe is incredibly satisfying and pairs perfectly with the lamb.

A dark red bowl contains a red broth jjigae (Korean stew) with sliced green onions. — However, there was one surprisingly amazing dish: Gome's Soup. The photo makes it look like half-eaten food waste, but that's entirely my fault, not the food's. I highly recommend this one. Especially if you're feeling under the weather and came for lamb to regain your strength, you absolutely must eat this. Even if you're full, it's so delicious that you'll easily polish off a bowl of this soup.