There are plenty of samgyeopsal spots in the metro. But if you’re looking to try a good variety of Korean dishes, check out Zhu Ba Jie in Malate, Manila.
Zhu Ba Jie is famous for its gamjatang or Korean pork backbone stew. But besides its hearty stews, you’re also going to love this restaurant for its Korean retro-style interior.
80s-inspired interior.
Image credit: @zhubajieporkstew
Zhu Ba Jie’s Malate branch mimics modest restaurants in South Korea. Its tiled counter and table tops as well as the decorative steel roll-up doors will make you feel like you’re dining at a restaurant alley in the land of K-drama. This is your spot to become the main character.
Image credit: @zhubajieporkstew
The interior is also peppered with retro-style posters but with your present-day K-celebrity faves, including the K-pop girl group New Jeans and BTS‘ Jin.
Gamjatang.
Image credit: @pavon_eats
This Korean restaurant is best-known for its gamjatang (starts at P1,199, ~USD21.74 for 2-3 people) – a type of pork backbone stew with meat that’s fall-off-the-bone tender. It’s served with rice, pickled radish, pickled onions, and napa cabbage kimchi.
Other than this, they also serve other Korean pork stew dishes such as dak bokkeumtang (spicy chicken stew) and several kinds of kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew).
Anju.
Image credit: @jaredeating
You can also go to Zhu Ba Jie for drinks.
They offer a wide variety of soju brands and flavors from P270 (~USD4.90). You can also make a Filipino-Korean fusion somaek (a mix of soju and beer) with Filipino beer.
Enjoy your drink with a variety of anju (Korean drinking snacks) or pulutan in Filipino. These include mareun ojingeo (dried squid) and seafood pajeon (scallion pancake) (P400, ~USD7.25 each).
BGC branch.
Image adapted from: Alfonso Hortaleza, zhubajie bgc
Zhu Ba Jie also has another branch in BGC, Taguig, if you live or work near the business district.
This branch serves the same menu as their location in Malate but has the typical, modern-day Korean restaurant interior. It also has a semi-private dining area that’s ideal for family gatherings or company dinners.
With plenty of Korean restaurants in the metro, there’s no need to fly to South Korea to try Korean dishes other than samgyeopsal.
At Zhu Ba Jie, you even get to travel back in time with its retro-style interior!
Malate branch
Address: 1779 M. Adriatico Street, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
Contact: 0995 638 6478
BGC branch
Address: The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Opening hours: 10am-3am, Daily
Contact: 0966 336 8811
Zhu Ba Jie’s Facebook | Instagram
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Cover image adapted from: @zhubajieporkstew, @pavon_eats
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