Authentic Korean-Style LA Galbi (BBQ Short Ribs)

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Master the art of authentic Korean BBQ at home with these sweet and savory LA short ribs. Marinated to perfection, they grill up wonderfully caramelized and tender.

↓ The ingredients ↓ The steps

LA Galbi is a staple of Korean BBQ, distinguished by its unique lateral cut across the rib bones, which allows the marinade to penetrate deeply and cook quickly. The secret to its iconic tender texture and rich, savory-sweet flavor lies in soaking the meat to remove impurities, followed by a deeply aromatic soy and soju-based marinade. This is a must-have dish for any Korean grill night.

Caramelized Korean-style LA short ribs sizzling on a grill pan with onions and mushrooms.
Caramelized Korean-style LA short ribs sizzling on a grill pan with onions and mushrooms.
Prep25 mins
Cook15 mins
Total40 mins
Yield2–3 servings
DifficultyMedium
Calories650 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1Select the short ribs
    A gloved hand holding up a raw bone-in LA short rib, displaying its rich marbling and bone structure.

    To make authentic Korean BBQ, start with high-quality bone-in LA short ribs. Ensure the meat has good marbling for the best texture and flavor.

    Tip: Look for short ribs with a bright red color and even fat distribution, which will keep the meat tender during grilling.
  2. 2Soak the ribs
    Gloved hands washing raw bone-in short ribs submerged in a white container of water under a running faucet.

    Place the short ribs in a container and submerge them in cold water. Let them soak for at least 3 hours to draw out impurities and excess blood from the bone.

    Tip: Wash the meat gently to prevent the beef from separating from the bone.
  3. 3Wash the Ribs
    A gloved hand carefully rinsing bone-in short ribs in a tray of water to clean off excess blood.

    Gently wash the soaked short ribs in water to remove the blood completely, doing this three times. Be careful not to wash too hard to prevent the meat and bone from separating.

    Tip: Do not scrub too aggressively so that the ribs keep their structure intact.
  4. 4Add the marinade ingredients
    Raw bone-in short ribs in a patterned bowl topped with dark soy sauce, white sugar, and various liquid seasonings.

    Drain the washed ribs and place them into a mixing bowl. Add BBQ sauce, Mongolian soy sauce, sesame oil, beef powder, MSG, pepper powder, dark soy sauce, Jinro soju, white sugar, and minced garlic in sequence.

    Tip: Adding soju helps to tenderize the beef and remove any lingering raw meat odors.
  5. 5Massage and marinate
    A black-gloved hand thoroughly massaging a dark marinade into raw pieces of bone-in short ribs inside a bowl.

    Using your hands, mix the ribs thoroughly with the seasonings, massaging the marinade into the meat so every piece is evenly coated. Let the ribs marinate for at least two hours to allow the rich, savory flavors to fully absorb.

    Tip: Massaging the meat gently by hand helps the muscle fibers relax and absorb the marinade more effectively.
  6. 6Grill the marinated ribs
    Marinated beef short ribs sizzling on a hot black grill pan next to sliced white onions and mushrooms.

    Once fully marinated, place the short ribs onto a hot grill pan. Arrange your favorite vegetables, such as sliced onions and mushrooms, alongside the meat to cook in the rendered beef fat. Grill until sweet, savory, and perfectly browned.

    Tip: Ensure the pan is preheated before adding the ribs to get a good sear and lock in the meats juices.
  7. 7Cut the Cooked Ribs
    Tongs holding a cooked short rib while scissors slice it into smaller portions on a hot pan.

    Once the ribs are browned and cooked on the pan, use tongs and scissors to cut the meat into smaller, bite-sized pieces directly on the pan.

    Tip: Kitchen shears make it easy and fast to cut hot meat right on the cooking surface.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator
3-4 days
Store cooked ribs and vegetables in an airtight container.
Freezer
Up to 2 months
Freeze raw marinated ribs in freezer-safe bags for an easy future meal.
Reheating
5 min
Reheat gently in a pan over medium heat or in an air fryer to retain the caramelized crust.

Burn It Off

Running
~65 minutes at a moderate jog (~9 km/h).
Zumba
~1 hour 25 minutes of high-energy dancing.
House Cleaning
~2 hours 35 minutes of steady household chores.

Frequently Asked Questions

LA Galbi refers to the lateral cut of the short ribs, which slices through the bone. It was popularized by Korean immigrants in Los Angeles who adapted local meat cuts to traditional recipes.
Yes! While the recipe calls for a minimum of two hours, marinating overnight in the refrigerator allows the flavors to penetrate even deeper into the meat.
Soaking draws out excess blood and bone dust fragments left from the butchering process, resulting in a cleaner flavor and better texture.
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