• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • My Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Shop
  • Contact

The Flavor Bender

Master the Science of Delicious

  • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Desserts
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Candy & Bite Sizes
      • Chocolate
      • Cookies, Brownies & Bars
      • Frozen Desserts
      • Fruit Desserts
      • Puddings & Custards
      • Dessert drinks
      • No Bake
      • Pastries & Breads
      • Sweet Syrups & Spreads
      • Tarts & Pies
      • Cheesecakes
      • Healthy sweets
    • Breakfasts
      • Tarts, Quiches, & Pies
      • Waffles, Pancakes & Crepes
      • Quick Breads, Scones & Muffins
      • Breakfast Sandwiches
      • Pastries & Breads
      • Eggs
      • Breakfast & Brunch Drinks
      • Make Ahead Breakfasts
      • Healthy Breakfasts
      • Coffee and Tea drinks
      • Breakfast Smoothies & Juices
      • Breakfast Sides
      • Casseroles
    • Courses
      • Main Meals
        • Bread, Sandwiches & Burgers
        • Curries
        • Salads
        • Roasts & BBQ
        • Soups & Stews
        • Casseroles
      • Lunch
      • Beverages
      • Appetizers & Tapas
      • Sides
      • Dips & Condiments
      • Tea Time & Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Meal Prep
      • Cocktails
    • Cuisines
      • American
      • European
      • Australasian
      • Sri Lankan
      • East Asian
      • Mexican
      • Middle Eastern
      • South Asian
    • Sri Lankan
      • Main Meals
      • Drinks
    • Skill Level
      • Easy
        • Easy Desserts
        • Easy Cooking
        • Easy Breads
        • Easy Breakfasts
        • Easy Dinners
      • Intermediate
        • Intermediate Desserts
        • Intermediate Cooking
        • Intermediate Breads
        • Intermediate Breakfasts
        • Intermediate Dinners
      • Advanced
        • Advanced Desserts
        • Advanced Cooking
  • New? Start Here
  • Measurement Conversions
  • How-To Posts
The Flavor Bender Recipes Courses Main Meals Roasts & BBQ LA Galbi – Korean BBQ Short Ribs

LA Galbi – Korean BBQ Short Ribs

40 mins
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
910shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Disclaimer: The Flavor Bender is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. There are links on this site that can be defined as “affiliate links”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you) that will help support this website.

Author: Dini K.
Posted: 4/2/2018
Updated: 7/17/2018
LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Sweet and savory, tender and delicious grilled beef short ribs. A Korean favorite that your family will love! Perfect for BBQs, or regular family dinners. #BBQRecipes #KoreanRecipes #BeefRibs

There’s a reason why LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) is so popular! Marinated with a riot of sweet and savory flavors, the meat is tender and succulent with some caramelization. Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and grilling out with friends and family or cooking indoors on a griddle or stove top. 

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Serve Korean BBQ beef with Salad leaves and other side dishes for a great dinner or lunch.

The last time I enjoyed the experience of a full on Korean BBQ was years ago, when I was visiting Brisbane, Australia. I didn’t eat beef much at the time, but I loved the grilled chicken BBQ that we made. I’ve been eating more beef since then, and loving all of my favorite Korean dishes with beef even more now.

I introduced Korean cuisine to K with some Japache (noodles). Next, he tried Bulgogi and Galbi. It wasn’t until he tasted LA Galbi did he truly get hooked on Korean cuisine. Now it’s a regular in our house and if you guys know how flavorful this dish is, you wouldn’t be surprised!

Flanken cut beef short ribs

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Thin flanken cut short ribs are perfect for this LA Galbi version of traditional Korean galbi. These cook faster and are perfect for grilling and BBQs.

Traditionally, Korean Galbi is made with short ribs, or hybrid cut ribs, and then braised until deliciously tender. You could make galbi with English cut beef ribs too if you like. However, LA Galbi is a quicker version of the dish made with flanken cut short ribs. Flanken cut short ribs are thin cuts of meat that are cut LATERALLY through the rib section. The thin cuts are perfect for BBQs because they cook faster and marinate well. If you’d like to learn more about the different rib cuts available and the difference between English cut ribs, hybrid cut short ribs, and flanken cut short ribs, check out this article here.

The popular belief is that LA Galbi derived its name after the “LAteral” cut ribs. Another theory is that it’s named after Los Angeles, where it originated thanks to immigrants who used this particular cut of beef to introduce galbi to US patrons. Either way, I am just thankful that it exists! 🙂

Marinating the galbi

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Marinated Beef Galbi (Flanken cut beef short ribs). The meat tastes better after it has been marinating at least overnight, upto 24 hours.

These Korean BBQ short ribs are incredibly flavorful with both sweet and savory notes. The not so secret ingredient that makes this Korean BBQ dish stand out is the pureed Asian pears! It’s a classic addition in Korean cooking as you can find this ingredient in Bulgogi as well. The pear puree is thought to tenderize the meat, as well as add a fruity sweetness to the meat.

If you haven’t done so before, make sure to order LA galbi or any kind of Korean BBQ beef dish on the menu, next time you visit a Korean restaurant. The experience of grilling the meat over a grill yourself, and pairing it with all the flavorful side dishes (Banchan), and some Soju, together with friends and family is amazing!

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - After grilling the BBQ Short ribs, it can be cut into sections to be shared with your family.

Can I make this Korean BBQ short ribs recipe (Korean galbi recipe) with pork or chicken? 

The word galbi or kalbi means ribs. If you make this with pork ribs, it’ll be called Dwaeji Galbi.

This doesn’t mean that you cannot make this recipe with other cuts of meat. It just won’t be called galbi then. The marinade here is so delicious that I’ve tried it with boneless chicken thighs and it was fantastic!

I don’t have a grill at home. Is there another way I can prepare these Korean short ribs indoors? 

Absolutely. More often that not, I make these Korean BBQ short ribs indoors. You can make these on an indoor electric grill, OR a griddle. You can make these on the stove top too, on a non-stick pan or cast iron pan.

One of my favorite ways to cook this LA galbi is under the broiler. This way I can cook more at the same time as well.

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Korean BBQ beef just after they have been grilled. The sugar in the marinade makes the grilled meat shiny.

What if I can’t find flanken cut ribs to make Korean BBQ short ribs? 

If you can find hybrid style short ribs, then you are good to go. To grill the hybrid style (or small English cut ribs), you will need to “butterfly” cut the top meat of the short ribs (cut the meat away from the top of the bone) so that it’s a thin strip of meat with the bone at the end.

It’s a little more work, but once you have butterflied the short ribs, you can proceed with the LA galbi recipe.

Is there a substitute for Asian pears to make Galbi? 

While Asian pears are traditionally used for this recipe, you can substitute with Bosc pears if that’s what you have access to. You could also use a sweet apple for this recipe, like Fuji or Gala apples.

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Sweet and savory, tender and delicious grilled beef short ribs. A Korean favorite that your family will love! Perfect for BBQs, or regular family dinners.

The marinade for these Korean short ribs includes sugar and mirin (or a sweet rice wine), in addition to the pureed pears. These sweet flavors and ingredients help tenderize the meat AND give the BBQ short ribs a caramelized sheen after they’ve been cooked. I like to add some Soju (a Korean alcoholic beverage) to the marinade as well, but you can substitute that with water OR sprite.

Other flavors that go into this marinade are soy sauce, onions, garlic, ginger and black pepper. These flavors are essential to make classic LA galbi. However, I also like to add some gochugaru (a type of coarsely ground red pepper), which isn’t traditional, but we like the added heat. You can simply use cayenne pepper in place of the gochugaru, if you don’t have it.

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Sweet and savory, tender and delicious grilled beef short ribs. A Korean favorite that your family will love! Perfect for BBQs, or regular family dinners.

These Korean BBQ short ribs (LA Galbi) pack an incredible amount of flavor. They are,

  • both sweet and savory
  • perfectly tender
  • and can be paired with a variety of dishes!

K and I love to eat LA galbi with rice and kimchi, and other side dishes like salad or bean sprouts or vegetables, when we eat this for dinner.  I always make enough for leftovers, because then we can eat the leftovers in the morning as breakfast with a little rice and a sunny side up egg! Plus, these Korean BBQ short ribs are perfect in lettuce wraps! You will need to pull out the bone pieces before making the wraps, but they would be perfect as a light lunch with lettuce, carrots, and bean sprouts.

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Korean BBQ Beef served with Rice, kimchi and radish pickles.

Looking for more recipes?Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Sweet and savory, tender and delicious grilled beef short ribs. A Korean favorite that your family will love! Perfect for BBQs, or regular family dinners.
5 from 4 votes

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Beef Short Ribs)

Author: Dini K.
LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Sweet and savory, tender and delicious grilled beef short ribs. A Korean favorite that your family will love! Perfect for BBQs or regular family dinners.
Please note that there is a recommended 8 hour marinating time. 
Prep: 20 minutes
Soaking time: 1 hour
Cook: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Print Rate

Ingredients:

  • 3 lb flanken cut beef short ribs or butterflied short ribs
  • Cold water for soaking
  • Extra oil for brushing when cooking

Marinade

  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup mirin
  • ¼ cup soju or water or sprite
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil or vegetable oil or canola oil if you prefer a flavorless oil
  • 1 Asian pear or bosc pear Or Fuji apple
  • 6 cloves of garlic
  • ½ inch piece of ginger
  • ½ medium onion
  • 3 - 4 scallions spring onions
  • 1 tbsp gochugaru (korean chili powder) optional
  • 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
  • ¼ - ½ cup water

To Serve

  • Sesame seeds
  • Thinly cut scallions
  • Rice
  • Kimchi
  • Pickled radish
  • lettuce leaves

Instructions:

  • Optional step - soak the beef ribs in cold water for about 1 hour to remove the extra blood in the cut. This is an optional step. It helps tenderize the meat and let the marinade penetrate the meat well.
  • Carefully rinse the rib cuts under a gentle stream of cold water to rinse off bone dust. This step is definitely recommended to remove the gritty bone dust that could be on the meat.
  • Place the beef ribs on paper towels until you get the marinade ready.

For the Marinade

  • Peel the pear/apple and remove the core/seeds from the fruit. Place all the ingredients (including the cored pear/apple) in a blender. Only add ¼ cup of the water at first, and add the extra water only if needed.
  • Blend until completely smooth.
  • Place the beef short ribs in a box with a lid, and pour the marinade over the ribs. Make sure all of the meat is covered by the marinade (add more water and mix if needed).
  • Close the container and let the meat marinate for at least 1 hour. Overnight or up to 24 hours in the fridge is best.
  • Remove the meat from the fridge at least 30 minutes before grilling.

Grilling

  • Outdoor or indoor electric grill - preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill the short ribs for about 3 - 4 minutes per side (on an oiled surface) until the meat is cooked and lightly caramelized with grill marks. Baste with leftover marinade while cooking.
  • Coal BBQ - grill the short ribs on the preheated AND oiled grill. Quickly cook the short ribs on high heat on both sides. It shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes. Baste with the leftover marinade while cooking.
  • Oven cooking - set the broiler to 450°F. Place the ribs on an oiled broiler plate (with foil placed at the bottom of the oven to catch the dripping marinade). Brush marinade on both sides and broil each side for about 4 - 5 minutes, until the meat is cooked with light caramelization.
  • Let the cooked short ribs rest for at least a few minutes before serving. Cut the flanken cut ribs into sections. Sprinkle with spring onions and sesame seeds.
  • Serve with rice, kimchi, pickled radish and soju.

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

Did you make this?Tag me on Instagram!I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @TheFlavorBender or leave me a comment & rating below.

LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) - Sweet and savory, tender and delicious grilled beef short ribs. A Korean favorite that your family will love! Perfect for BBQs, or regular family dinners. #BBQRecipes #KoreanRecipes #BeefRibs

If you liked this LA galbi recipe (Korean BBQ short ribs), don’t forget to subscribe for new (and free) recipes by entering your email address on the side bar (and get all these recipes delivered straight to your inbox), so you don’t miss out on a thing. You can find me on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM,  PINTEREST, YOU TUBE and GOOGLE-PLUS too.

The Flavor Bender - Euphoria

 

 

 

910shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin

More Recipes You'll Love...

  • Habenero and Peach BBQ Pork Ribs - Marinated with a sweet and spicy habanero peach BBQ sauce, these pork baby back ribs can be cooked completely in the oven, or finished off on the grill for a glorious smoky flavour. This is a foolproof recipe that results in deliciously juicy meat with a rich, dark brown crust on top, that pulls off the bone cleanly. SAVE to repin. CLICK to get the recipe. #MyKCMasterpiece [ad] #TheFlavorBender
    Habanero and Peach BBQ Pork Ribs
  • How to make Instant Pot Short Ribs - This easy recipe makes delicious, tender and succulent short ribs with classic flavors!
    How to make the Best Instant Pot Short Ribs

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Aimee Shugarman says

    November 27, 2018 at 07:22

    5 stars
    So much flavor in these short ribs!!

    Reply
  2. Abeer says

    November 27, 2018 at 03:14

    5 stars
    I seriously loveeeee Korean food! This recipe looks so much like what I normally order at my favorite restaurant.

    Reply
  3. Tara Kuczykowski says

    August 26, 2018 at 14:55

    5 stars
    Mmm, great combination of flavors… Delicious!

    Reply
  4. Krissy Allori says

    August 26, 2018 at 11:30

    5 stars
    This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try making it!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hey there!

Hi! I’m Dini, a third culture kid by upbringing and a food-geek by nature. I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in New Zealand and lived in Australia, and then the US, before moving to Canada in 2019! My food is a reflection of those amazing experiences!

Read More
Secret Layer Cakes Cookbook
The flavor bender
cookbook
Buy now on Amazon!

Recipe Basics

Learn how to make Perfect Choux Pastry (Or Pate a Choux!) - The only recipe guide you will ever need to make choux pastry, with perfect results every time. Plus a troubleshooting guide for your choux pastry recipe.  Fool proof choux pastry to make profiteroles, eclairs, cream puffs and more.  #ChouxPastry #Profiteroles #Eclairs #Pastry #CreamPuffs

How to make Perfect Choux Pastry

Classic Chocolate Eclairs - A foolproof recipe for making perfect eclairs that are crisp and puffy and filled with chocolate or vanilla pastry cream. 

Perfect Classic Chocolate Eclairs (Foolproof Recipe)

How to make Marshmallows - Learn the art of making fluffy, soft homemade marshmallows with or without corn syrup! With tips and information to make the perfect Marshmallows in many flavors. 

How to make Marshmallows (tips and tricks for homemade marshmallows)

How to make the best Homemade White Bread that is soft and delicious. An easy to follow recipe for perfect homemade bread with step by step instructions.

The Best Homemade Bread (White Bread Recipe)

Homemade French Croissants (step by step recipe)

Classic Pound Cake - A complete guide on how to make perfect, delicious and moist Pound Cake even if you're a baking novice! Tips + Tricks and Troubleshooting guide. 

Classic Pound Cake (Tips for a Perfect, Moist Pound Cake)

Chocolate
Cakes
Bread
Sri Lankan
Breakfast
Drinks
Candy
Pastries
All Recipes
Featured On
taste of the World
Free recipe ebook

Get my curated collection of the Top 10 Flavor Bender recipes!

  • 10 delicious chocolate recipes
  • Creative ways to use chocolate
  • Desserts and savory recipes
Download now!

Reader Faves

How to make Instant Pot Short Ribs - This easy recipe makes delicious, tender and succulent short ribs with classic flavors!

How to make the Best Instant Pot Short Ribs

Buttery Lemon Slow Roasted Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce - Perfectly cooked, juicy slow roasted Salmon with a buttery tangy sauce! Delicious and versatile for any meal and occasion. 

Slow Roasted Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce

Unbelievably easy Rough Puff pastry - Quick and easy to make and tasted infinitely better than store bought (30 -45 minutes only)! No long waiting times, to make this amazing pastry and NOONE will know you took a shortcut!

Perfect Quick and Easy Rough Puff Pastry

Spicy Sweet Chilli Sauce Easy to make, absolutely delicious, with an extra kick of spice this is the BEST Sweet chilli sauce you will EVER have!

The Best Spicy Sweet Chili Sauce!

The flavor bender

I love baking, and I love cooking. I experiment with flavors, textures and ingredients, and I love passing on all my tips and tricks to you!

Read More
  • About
    • Meet Dini
    • My Book
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Browse
    • Recipes
    • Measurement Guide
    • Baking How-To’s
    • Shop My Faves
© The Flavor Bender
  • Privacy
  • Disclosure
  • Terms
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

Join the flavor bender tribe!

Join my FREE recipe challenge to receive new recipes and dinner ideas straight to your inbox!