Let the pros grill for you！Authentic Korean BBQ in Kaohsiung – happiness in every lettuce wrap with pork belly

Text and photos byShadow

Influenced by Korean pop culture, Korean restaurants have been popping up everywhere, so you no longer need to visit Korea to enjoy authentic Korean cuisine. For instance, a newly opened Korean BBQ joint on Huaron Road is run by a genuine Korean who has lived in Taiwan for years. Craving the flavors of home, he decided to open his own restaurant. This time, we dined at I’m Gogi Korean BBQ, the owner’s second eatery.

The entrance is next to a pharmacy, marked by a bright yellow roof. Go straight up to the second floor to find the restaurant counter, where staff will guide you to your seat.

The second-floor space is spacious, with small sectioned seating areas. It’s great for group diners who can be seated together. Fans of Korean BBQ will recognize the pull-down exhaust vents. Most of the utensils, grills, and oil-draining chairs here are imported from Korea to deliver an authentic Korean BBQ experience.

The lids of the oil-draining chairs can be opened to store bags and belongings, saving space and adding convenience. The window seats on the second floor offer great views, letting you enjoy the street scene while dining.

Next, the staff explained how to dine. The menu offers “Sister” and “Little Sister” set meals, differing mainly in portion size. The Little Sister set is designed for those with smaller appetites, and you can also order à la carte items in addition to the set.

The four side dishes are unlimited refills, including Busan fish cake, cold onion salad, Korean kimchi, and cold scallion salad – perfect accompaniments to the grilled meat.

The plating is quite unique – a long shape with lettuce on both sides and onions, enoki mushrooms, and king oyster mushrooms in the middle for grilling. There’s plenty of lettuce for wrapping meat, but extras come at an additional cost.

Don’t worry if you didn’t order drinks – the restaurant serves unsweetened barley tea.

Sister 2-Person Set: NT$998 (plus 10% service charge)Includes two types of pork of your choice, a hot pot (miso/seared seafood), a mixed lettuce and mushroom platter, grilled egg on the pot edge, cheese-grilled corn on the pot edge, and side dishes.

The cheese-grilled corn and grilled egg on the pot edge aren’t unlimited, but the cheese corn has a sweet mayonnaise flavor and stretches deliciously when pulled.

The grilled egg is simply made with beaten eggs and is surprisingly tasty.

Grilled garlic is also great on its own or paired with meat.

We chose the seafood hot pot, loaded with bean sprouts, shrimp, clams, and seasoned with Korean chili paste.

Before long, the seafood hot pot turned a fiery red – though not too spicy, it’s mild enough for those who can handle a little heat.

The set includes plain white rice. The restaurant offers three dipping sauces, but I found the grilled meat so flavorful that extra sauce wasn’t necessary.

For the rest of the meal, the staff took care of the grilling while we focused on eating.

Pork belly (200g): NT$290 (à la carte)

This is completely unmarinated pork belly, with a perfect fat-to-lean ratio. The slices are slightly thicker than other meats, so they take a bit longer to grill.

The result is mouthwatering – the juicy, fatty aroma spreads in your mouth, making the experience truly satisfying.

Wrap the pork belly in lettuce, add some scallion salad or grilled garlic – there’s no fixed way to eat it, so just go with what you like.

Marinated plum pork (200g)

According to the staff, all the meat marinades are developed by the owner, giving them a unique flavor. This plum pork is pre-marinated with a taste closer to Taiwanese-style BBQ.

The meat slices are placed on aluminum foil before grilling to prevent burning. At first, I worried this method might make the meat soggy and lacking in grill aroma, but my concerns were unfounded.

The staff grilled the plum pork meticulously, cutting it into bite-sized pieces at the end. The aroma was irresistible, and the slightly thicker slices were incredibly satisfying.

I initially worried this method wouldn’t feel like real BBQ, but the result was delightful – the savory sauce and meat flavors were captivating, and the thickness of the plum pork made it especially enjoyable.

Spicy Sauce Pork Belly (200g)

Among Korean BBQ, spicy sauce is our favorite. Rather than being spicy, it’s actually not very hot at all. It’s also placed on aluminum foil and grilled on the tray.

With staff helping to grill the meat, we could really relax and enjoy big bites of meat.

The spicy sauce pork belly has a slightly sweet flavor, with the aroma of fat paired with a hint of smokiness and the spicy sauce—truly delicious.

Seasoned Chicken Thigh (150g) 180 TWD / À la carte

The tender chicken thigh is marinated in flavorful sauce, making it just as tasty as the pork.

Seafood Pancake 180 TWD / À la carte

The thin pancake comes as one whole piece, not pre-cut. Whether you use chopsticks or tear it by hand, it’s fine—in Korea, that’s how it’s traditionally eaten. Dip it in the slightly tangy, appetizing sauce, and you’ve got an authentic traditional Korean pancake.

The restaurant offers sugar-free barley tea, but if you want something special, there are options on the menu—you can just ask the staff.

● 《ET News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

Korean Yuzu Soju 250 TWD / À la carte

This soju is nothing new to us—a fruit-flavored soju that changes our impression of traditional soju. Although the alcohol content is higher, drinking in moderation won’t cause any discomfort the next day. (Excessive drinking is harmful to health)

The restaurant’s BBQ was even better than we expected. With no need to fumble with grilling ourselves, the attentive table-side service ensures every piece of meat is perfectly grilled. Plus, the spacious dining environment makes us want to come back again. For those who love Korean barbecue, this is a must-visit spot—we highly recommend it.

Address: 2F, No. 283, Huarong Rd., Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-5539228
Business Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30–14:30; 17:30–22:00 (last order one hour before closing)
Sat–Sun 11:30–15:00; 17:30–22:00 (last order one hour before closing)
Notes: Dining time is limited to 120 minutes, 10% service charge applies, outside food and drinks not allowed

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