Shokudōen

Watching the glowing charcoal inside a tabletop shichirin brazier sets an inviting tone the moment it arrives, heightening the anticipation of grilling each cut to your liking. At Shokudōen, that welcoming approach starts early with a complimentary serving of their house-made napa cabbage kimchi. The menu covers all the essential beef cuts, from delicately seasoned tongue with a pleasant snap to tender, deeply savory harami (skirt steak) and rich, marbled kalbi.

Diners looking for an upgrade can turn to thick-cut salted tongue, premium kalbi, and premium loin, which take on a fragrant char under the charcoal's far-infrared heat. Variety comes easily to the table: you might flash-sear thin slices for yaki-shabu, pairing them with grated daikon and ponzu or raw egg, or simmer whole cloves in a foil cup of bubbling garlic oil on the side. Glasses of cold draft beer, makgeolli, or highballs alongside plates of blanched namul and thinly sliced parboiled beef tripe (mino-sashi) make lingering over the grill an easy pleasure.

Midday dining is just as rewarding, with lunch sets featuring harami, kalbi, or loin alongside bottomless refills of rice, soup, and kimchi. The midday menu also includes satisfying alternatives like a rich beef curry paired with seaweed soup and kimchi, as well as refreshing cold noodles. Whether dropping in solo for a quick meal at the counter or gathering around a table with friends in the evening, Shokudōen offers a comfortable setting for satisfying charcoal-grilled barbecue whenever the craving strikes.