Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi — We always love to dine at a Korean BBQ buffet because we love eating meat. When we went to the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, we stumbled upon the Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi and found that they serve authentic Korean samgyupsal side dishes.
We went there last week to enjoy a buffet night for the second time. And we were not disappointed that the meat quality is still the same! Their side dishes are superb! For the net price of 599, you can have unlimited side dishes, rice, and meat for 120 minutes. What a great deal!
And just so you know, Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi has other branches in different parts of the world. The Ayala Malls Manila Bay branch is its 379th store.
One of our favorite Korean BBQ buffet
We arrived at half past 5 in the evening for an early dinner because we planned to do grocery shopping after eating. The servers greeted us as we entered the Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi. At that time, the restaurant was not yet packed, and we even got to choose where we wanted to sit.
Service: 4 stars
The servers were very attentive when it came to customers’ requests. They gladly refill side dishes as you busy yourself grilling your favorite meat. I gave a 4-star only because the servers did not serve some of our requests in the latter part of our dinner.
At around 6:30, Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi was jam-packed with some guests waiting in line, and every server was busy.
Food: 5 stars, Price: 5 stars
The Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi policy requires that your first order of meat should be galbi. After that, you may try out other meat choices. Just a heads up that the cooking grid they use for the galbi is different from the rest of the meat on the menu.
If you order thinly sliced pork belly, beef bulgogi, or samgyupsal, they will change the grill grate into stainless steel. I don’t know the reason, though (please share in the comments section if you know).
Klook.comSo, you might need to think about when to change meat orders, as changing the grill grate might take some time. The last time we were here, we tried the other three meat. However, since we loved Galbi the most, we only ordered it until we were full this time.
What we liked about this Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi Korean BBQ buffet restaurant is its choice to use charcoal in cooking. You get the best barbecue taste compared to the ones cooked using gas.
I’m sorry that my phone did not do justice to how the meat tasted. You can taste the sweet sauce that bursts inside your mouth as you bite through the soft meat galbi.
Wrap it in lettuce with kimchi, fresh garlic, ssamjang (Korean soybean paste), and a little bit of sesame oil with salt and pepper, and you get the best of everything.
You can also add the chewy, greasy, and sweet japchae (stir-fried sweet potato starch noodles) or rice with the mouthwatering galbi into your lettuce wrap. Finish off with a bite of the sweet and slightly tangy pickled radish to cleanse your palate, and you’re off to your next ssambap (lettuce wrap)!
I love it when Korean BBQ buffet restaurants include fish cake in their side dishes. I even thought about buying frozen packs from Korean groceries! But since some fish cakes do not taste so good, we are afraid of buying a whole bag without knowing the quality.
Thankfully, Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi’s fish cake does not have that fishy taste. We enjoyed the chewy and salty fish cake served at the buffet table. The best part is that I can get how much I want to eat!
I love Korean samgyupsal side dishes, and another one that they have is the lettuce salad! You will surely love this salad if you love a blend of sweet, sour, and spicy. Eat it to your heart’s content as long as your time is not up!
Do you like Korean rice cake? The restaurant also serves what is more commonly known as tteokbokki on its buffet table. The only downside is that the outer skin became toasted when we tried to cook it on the grill. It tasted not so bad, but we just prefer a softer tteokbokki.
We also got mashed potatoes as one of their side dishes. One reason that potato mash goes good with steaks is that their taste compliments one another. The first time we were here, they did not have potatoes offered, so I am not sure if they will serve it again the next time we come back.
If you feel that the meat, rice, and Korean samgyupsal side dishes are not enough, you can also order a la carte dishes. Choose among soybean paste stew, kimchi stew, and red pepper paste stew as add-ons.
You can pair San Miguel Light or Pilsen, and soju with your barbecue meat. They also offer soft drinks like Coke, Coke Light, Sprite, Royal, and Royal Grape.
Child-Friendly: 4 stars
I only gave the restaurant a 4-star because hyperactive toddlers might get burned from changing charcoals. We were always on the lookout whenever a server would change the charcoal per the customer’s request.
Other than that, the servers are very friendly to us and our toddler. They are also picking up tissues thrown by our little one. We appreciate the restaurant for having clean high chairs so toddlers can eat by themselves.
Ambience: 4 stars
During our first visit, we (even our son) enjoyed the music played in the background. When our toddler heard BTS songs, he could not help but dance along while eating. However, the music they played did not match the Korean vibes when we ate last week.
Nevertheless, the restaurant was clean, and at least the table we sat at was not so hot. The comfort room is tidy and has soap for hand washing, so I gave it a 4-star rating.
The exhaust fan on top of the grill is one thing to consider when dining at a Korean BBQ restaurant. In other restos, you would notice that the exhaust does not do its job by pulling the smoke and odor. At Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi, you would not smell like a barbecue after stuffing yourselves.
Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi Review Conclusion
One of the best things in life is being able to eat with gusto at a buffet restaurant. Myeong Ryun Jinsa Galbi might be one of our go-to Korean BBQ restaurants when we are in the area. Have you tried it out? Why don’t you share your experience in the comments section below?
Maybe we will try out their 2nd branch at Glorietta 3 Ayala Center San Lorenzo Makati soon! You should visit their first branch at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay so you can experience what we did. 😉
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