As a Korean who finds immense joy in savoring delectable Korean BBQ, Baekjeong Lynnwood has quickly become one of my most frequented dining establishments in the Seattle area. The opening of Baekjeong in Lynnwood last year was a cause for celebration, and I’m delighted to say that they recently marked their first anniversary in October 2023. I’ve had the pleasure of dining there nearly 10 times in this past year.
As a Korean, I can say Baekjeong is pretty legit Korean BBQ place in Seattle area. Well, I think it is one of the best in terms of pricing, quality, and menu offerings. I even hosted my birthday party here! So I thought it makes total sense for me to write a review on Baekjeong Lynwood and I hope any of you who haven’t tried to pay a visit and experience the culinary delights this place has to offer! And let me make it clear that this endorsement is entirely unsponsored.
Baekjeong Lynwood
The restaurant boasts a spacious and inviting atmosphere, enhanced by the trendy music, often K-pop, that fills the air. The interior design complements the overall vibe as well.
Upon being seated, you’ll find the table set up in a manner that includes a convenient QR code for accessing the menu.
Additionally, as soon as you’re seated, you can expect a delightful assortment of banchan (side dishes) to be promptly served. These banchan offerings are thoughtfully chosen to complement the meat dishes, and typically include classics like kimchi, onion pickles, daikon pickles, a fresh salad, and a slightly spicy green onion salad.
One distinctive feature of Baekjeong’s grill setup is the clever partitioning of the sides. This practical arrangement separates the grill into different sections, with one side designated for cooking eggs (on the left in the photo), another for sizzling corn with melted mozzarella cheese (on the right in the photo), and leaving an empty space, often used for grilling kimchi or personalizing your barbecue experience in your preferred way.
We have tried several menus at Baekjeong Lynnwood so far, but I order Hodong’s Favorite Combo Small the most. It is known as the most popular combo at Baekjeong Lynwood and it consists of four main meats – Thinly sliced Beef Brisket, Boneless Short Rib, Pork Belly, Marinated Pork Steak. It well feeds two people!
Hodong’s Favorite Combo – Thinly Sliced Beef Brisket
The course starts with the thinly sliced beef briskets.These cuts are not only thin but also possess just the right amount of fat to impart the rich and savory flavors of brisket. Pairing them with the green onion salad is a brilliant choice, adding a fresh and slightly spicy contrast to the richness of the meat.
One of the good things at Baekjeong Lynwood is that the servers take care of the grilling process for you.
Hodong’s Favorite Combo – Boneless Short Rib
The second course features boneless short rib, known as “gal-bi” in Korea. This succulent cut is renowned for its delectable flavor, thanks to its generous marbling of fats, making it one of the most delicious choices on the menu.
Can you see the juiciness of it? So good. Looking at the picture now makes me hungry. I like to have the boneless short rib with onion pickle or daikon pickle. As they are quite fatty, they go really well with the freshness that pickles give.
The server does all the cutting for ya 🙂 Oh! And don’t forget to take the eggs and corn cheese from the sides!
The combo includes a soup, and you have the option to choose between Kimchi Stew and Beef Brisket Soybean Paste Stew. For some reason, I’m consistently drawn to the Beef Brisket Soybean Paste Stew. This hearty soup arrives in a main pot, allowing you to serve yourself as needed.
Hodong’s Favorite Combo – Pork Belly
Now, we’re transitioning to the third course, where we delve into the realm of pork. Yes, that’s right! The initial two dishes were beef, and now we’re about to savor the next two, which are all about pork.
Pork belly is undeniably a favorite, and there’s something truly special about the combination of succulent pork belly and grilled kimchi. The rich, fatty goodness of the pork belly perfectly complements the slightly tangy and charred flavors of the kimchi, creating a harmonious and mouthwatering pairing that’s hard to beat.
The attentive server also brought ssamjang, which you can see at the bottom in the photo. Ssamjang is a delightful mixture of gochujang and soybean paste, boasting a distinctive flavor that combines spiciness with a deeply traditional Korean taste. In my personal opinion, ssamjang pairs exceptionally well with pork belly, enhancing its flavors even more than with beef. It’s a combination that truly captures the essence of Korean cuisine.
Indeed, grilling pork belly to perfection often takes a bit more time, but you can relax knowing that the dedicated server is there to oversee the process. Their expert handling ensures that the pork belly is grilled thoroughly and just right, which is a big plus – a sincere thank you to the server for their attentive service!
The sight of neatly arranged, well-lined pork belly pieces is undeniably pleasing. 😌
Yes! This is the moment. Pork belly + grilled Kimchi. Yum! 💯
When I asked for the refill for the onion pickle, this time I got more thinly sliced onions.
The thinner slices of onions serve a specific purpose as they readily absorb the sweet soy sauce. This quality enhances their ability to complement the meat by moistening it and infusing it with a delightful blend of flavors!
Hodong’s Favorite Combo – Marinated Pork Steak
Even though I was getting quite full, there was still one more course to enjoy: the marinated pork steak.
It is slightly sweet soy sauce based, so goes really well with the white rice.
Cold Soup Noodle
With a stomach filled to the brim, I couldn’t resist the temptation of trying the Cold Soup Noodle, known as “Naeng-myeon” in Korean. This dish offers an addictive combination of sour and refreshing flavors, making it a perfect way to cleanse the palate after a sumptuous barbecue feast.
It usually comes with the white vinegar and mustard so you may add them per your preference.
And then shake a little so that the vinegar and mustard are well mixed into the broth.
In Korean dining traditions, it’s quite common to regard cold noodles as a sort of “dessert” following a hearty Korean BBQ meal. It might seem a bit unusual since the noodles themselves constitute another substantial meal, but that’s the unique cultural practice. This is why you might come across Korean BBQ places offering smaller portions of cold noodles.
Let me share a funny tip. Ther’s usually a half cut boild egg in every cold noodle. There is a fun (kind of) a tradition to eat the egg yolk part and fill the empty space with the broth and sip it. Basically using the egg as a spoon. 😁
Baekjeong Lynnwood Other Menus
Over 90% of the time, I would eat Hodong’s Favorite Combo but there are times that I tried different menus.
I’ve had dishes like Small Intestine (“gop-chang”) and Mountain Tripe Fried Rice (“Yang-bap”), which might not be as commonly ordered by non-Koreans since they feature less common parts of the meat. However, I found these dishes to be quite delicious and worth trying for those open to exploring new and unique flavors.
I also had the opportunity to sample Large Intestine (“dae-chang”), which was prepared in a separate grill pan. Personally, I found the large intestine to be less impressive compared to the other menu items available at Baekjeong.
Conclusion
That wraps up my comprehensive review, and I sincerely hope it proves valuable to anyone considering a visit to Baekjeong Lynnwood or searching for a top-notch Korean BBQ spot in Seattle. It’s a bit perplexing to see the Yelp rating fall under 4 stars, but based on my experience, I recommend giving Baekjeong Lynnwood a try!