If you’re unfamiliar with korean food, beef bulgogi is a pretty classic korean recipe that serves as a great introduction to korean food. Most of my non-korean friends that aren’t vegetarians enjoy it, and it’s usually their go-to when they order at restaurants. We prefer to make at home since it’s so easy!
This post may contain affiliate links, where we receive a small commission on sales of the products that are linked at no additional cost to you. All opinions are always our own. Read our full disclosure for more info. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Local Adventurer possible.
Last Updated: May 25, 2020
Korean Beef Bulgogi Recipe (Adapted from My Mom's Recipe)
This is probably one of our most used recipes at home. Most of the time, Jacob will marinate a bunch of meat in a large batch then freeze it into smaller portions. That way, anytime we’re craving bulgogi, we can just defrost it, cook up some broccoli and rice and have an easy meal. Neither of us are great cooks, so if we can do it, you definitely can!
Ingredients
- 1 lbs beef rib-eye or tenderloin, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 medium sized onion
- 2-3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon green onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons rice cooking wine
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1/2 cup of Coca Cola
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
- 5 baby carrots, thinly sliced (optional)
Directions
- Mix everything else but the beef in a bowl or tupperware to make the marinade.
- Add the beef and marinate for a few hours or overnight for best results.
- Grill, BBQ, or pan-fry until meat is cooked (approximately 30 minutes).
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve!
Chef's Notes and variations
- Instead of crushed pear, I used coke to tenderize the meat. It’s less healthy but was easier and tasted much better in my opinion. But if you want the healthier version use half a cup of crushed asian pear instead.
- Before you add the beef, taste the marinade to make sure it fits your tastes. Add more sugar or soy sauce to make it sweeter or saltier.
- We double or triple the recipe to make a large batch, so we can enjoy it anytime with little prep time involved! We just portion it out, and freeze, and thaw overnight when we’ll be eating it the next day.
- The quality of the meat is really important! We tried to make this with other types of beef, and it tasted pretty terrible.
- Asian stores have them pre-sliced, but if your beef doesn’t already come thinly sliced, ask the deli if they can thinly slice the meat. Should be about 1/8 inch.
- We ran out of regular onions in our pantry, so I also simplified the recipe even more by using five stems of green onions instead of both kinds, and it tasted great that way too.
- We used homemade soy sauce made by a friend of my mom’s. This takes about 6 months to make. If you’re interested in learning how go here. It certainly tastes amazing, but just for ease, I’m totally fine with buying the ones at the asian store.
Have you tried Beef Bulgogi before? Which restaurant had your favorite one?
Did you enjoy this post? Pin it for later
SEE MORE CITY RECIPES
⟡⟡⟡⟡⟡
“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
Katie L
8 Jul 2014The foodie in me is enjoying the sounds of this way too much! It looks SO good! I have never had Korean food before, but this sounds like a tasty introduction.
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014Thank you Katie! I hope you give it a try :)
Raewyn Smith
8 Jul 2014Yum! I will definitely have to make this. I love bulgogi!!
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014I’m excited for you to try it! :) Actually if you visit again.. you can come over and I can make it for you first! :P
Raewyn Smith
8 Jul 2014Okay!!! Maybe I will be able to come next time! I would love that! We have a bowling tournament and I’m not sure if we’re driving ourselves or with other people.
Esther of Local Adventurer
9 Jul 2014oh interesting! :) jacob loves bowling too actually. you’re in a league?
Raewyn Smith
16 Jul 2014I’m not but Iman is! We’ll be at Samstown next Saturday (the 27th?)
Esther of Local Adventurer
26 Jul 2014We’re out of town again right now.. let me know the next time you’re back!
Raewyn Smith
27 Jul 2014okay!!
Paulina Dombrowski
8 Jul 2014That looks so good!
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014Thanks Paulina! :)
Sierra
8 Jul 2014Ummm this looks AMAZING.
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014Thank you Sierra :D
Yvonne Marcus
8 Jul 2014Looks absolutely delicious.
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014Thanks Yvonne! :)
Ellie
8 Jul 2014The picture looked amazing and pulled me into this post. Then I saw where there is Coca-Cola in the recipe. Uhm Hello?! Where have you been all of my life. Printing this recipe NOW :)
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014:) Awesome! Please tell me how it turns out. It’s my first time cooking with coke, and I love it.
Miranda Ronevich
7 Jul 2014I have never had it before! But now I will definitely have to make this and Its something different to order! Thanks so much!
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014Let me know what you think! :)
Christina @ Hugs and Lattes
7 Jul 2014This looks absolutely delicious! I am going to cook this for my boyfriend and myself soon!
Esther of Local Adventurer
8 Jul 2014Thank you Nina! I’m excited for you to try it!
Deidre Emme
7 Jul 2014This looks so yummy!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014Thanks Deidre!
Joanna Sormunen
7 Jul 2014How delicious! I have never tried Korean food before but this sounds absolutely delicious! I definitely need to try this out!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014I hope you do Joanna! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Kristine Foley
7 Jul 2014This is one of our fav meals! We are def spoiled when my mom makes it, I’ve yet to try it myself. Thanks for the recipe!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014you’re so welcome!! is your mom korean? :) there’s nothing better than a homecooked meal. Plus LA had such good pre marinated bulgogi.. but now that there isn’t too much in Las Vegas.. I gotta do it myself!
Britt @ The Pinnacle Project
7 Jul 2014I LOOOOOOOVE bulgogi!
When I made it, I used kiwi and didn’t think to add Coke! Will definitely be making this again with aminos!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014oh kiwi?? interesting! :) Try it with coke!! and let me know how it turns out!
Britt @ The Pinnacle Project
8 Jul 2014Will do!!!!
stephanievmw
7 Jul 2014omg this looks amazing! i love bulgogi but i’ve never made it. definitely will try it
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014Thanks Stephanie!! Let me know how you like it :)
Anosa
7 Jul 2014I M a lover of all korean foods
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014:) What’s your fave kind?
Jemma Andrew-Adiamah
6 Jul 2014This looks amazing!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014Thanks Jemma!
Food Booze & Baggage
6 Jul 2014This looks so yummy!! What a great tip on being able to freeze it!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014Yeah.. that saves us SO MUCH TIME!! we have 6 meals ready in the freezer right now. Those types of recipes are always the best.
Shipra Taneja
6 Jul 2014I don’t eat beef, but this looks like a great recipe that I could try for chicken, as well! <3
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014oh i’ve never tried it for chicken! let me know how it turns out if you try it with chicken!
twolittlepigsdownunder
6 Jul 2014That looks sooo yum! We have to try it. It will be our first time cooking Korean food! Can’t wait :)
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014it’s super easy! :) if I can do it.. I think anyone can! :D
Sarah
6 Jul 2014So I’m really excited I saw this, I used to live on Korean food when I was in LA. You can’t get good Korean in Scotland and I never make it cause I’ve been worried it’ll be difficult but I’m making this for dinner 2moro night. I’m gonna read through your other food posts as well and see what else I can make :-)
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014korean food is so good in LA. it’s not great in las vegas either! let me know how it turns out! it’s super simple.
songbirdsandbuttons
6 Jul 2014Yumm! My goodness that looks DELICIOUS!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014thank you so much! :)
Rebekah
6 Jul 2014ooo I’ven ever had bulgogi before! Looks delicious!
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014you should try it!! even if you don’t make it yourself.. maybe there’s a korean restaurant around you?
Jenn
6 Jul 2014yum! this looks good, and so easy! pinning for later :)
Esther of Local Adventurer
7 Jul 2014yay!! if you do make it, let me know how it turns out! i know everyone has a different palette. :)
Elizabeth Georgian
4 Jul 2014Yum yum yum! I didn’t know how easy it was to make! Perfect.
Esther of Local Adventurer
4 Jul 2014Yup! Super easy! :) I’d love to hear your thoughts on how it turns out!
Shannon Kennedy
4 Jul 2014I am going to have to try this!
Esther of Local Adventurer
4 Jul 2014Let me know how it comes out!! :D
Hsiao-Ting
4 Jul 2014yum!! making me hungry! i should try to make this!
Esther of Local Adventurer
4 Jul 2014Buy the right kind of meat next time!! Makes a huge diff! :)
Hsiao-Ting
5 Jul 2014lol ok will do! i’ll go to the korean market when i come back. need to start cooking again!