Paik's BBQ

Food

• Wagyu Short Rib
• Wagyu Scotch Fillet
• Wagyu Oyster Blade
• Marinated Beef Rib
• LA Galbi
• Seafood Pancake
• Kimchi Stew
• Corn Cheese
• Steamed Egg

The Good

The Wagyu Short Rib was the pick of the combo. Exceptional marbling and flavour big enough that seasoning felt redundant. Cooking over real charcoal is the whole pitch here, and the smoky char on this cut shows why. The Wagyu Scotch Fillet was a close second, with the same excellent marbling and clean beefy flavour that needed nothing on top. The Wagyu Oyster Blade fell in line with the rest of the wagyu: rich, well marbled and flavoursome straight off the coals.

Off the grill, the Seafood Pancake was slightly crisp with a generous amount of seafood and good flavour, and not mushy, which is the usual failure. The Kimchi Stew was loaded with meat and tofu. Hearty, and easily worth the spot on the table.

The Mediocre

The Marinated Beef Rib was perfectly fine, but it sat in the shadow of the wagyu and didn’t leave much of an impression. The Corn Cheese needed more cheese. A hit of salt and pepper got it to quite nice, but it’s still a side. The Steamed Egg was interesting, and not something I’d seen served like this before. A curiosity more than a craving.

The Bad

The LA Galbi was the weakest cut by a distance. A bit tough and thin, and it did not belong on the same grill as the wagyu.

The Verdict

Paik’s BBQ is expensive, but the wagyu justifies most of the bill. Charcoal grilling gives the marbled cuts a smoky edge that gas grills can’t fake, and the short rib and scotch fillet are good enough to eat without any sauce. The kimchi stew and seafood pancake are solid support acts. Come for the wagyu, give the LA galbi a miss, and don’t expect the sides to steal the show.

Would Penguin Eat Again?

Yes, for the wagyu. Order the marbled cuts, skip the LA galbi, and treat the sides as supporting players.

Penguin Rates