Kalbi (Galbi) Korean BBQ Short Ribs
- By Amy Dong
- Updated May. 12, 2025
I’ve been making Kalbi Ribs for over 20 years and tried many variations. This is the recipe I always come back to, as it’s unparalleled in flavor and exceptionally tender. You may be surprised at our secret ingredient for making these grilled short ribs super tender. You’ll want to keep this one in your cookout and grilling recipes collection.
In This Article
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Video: Watch Us Make Kalbi
What is Kalbi?
Kalbi, or galbi, is a popular Korean BBQ dish that spotlights beef short ribs. The short ribs are cut super thinly, generally about ¼ inches thick, lengthwise. These specialty cuts are typically found at Asian grocery stores, and may occasionally be found at major grocery stores. Often, butchers can cut Korean style short ribs upon request. The thinly sliced beef short ribs are then marinated in a mixture that can include sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, rice cooking wine, and ginger. Marinated kalbi is cooked on a grill until both sides are nicely charred. The flavors are aromatic, sweet, and savory at all once.
Why This Recipe Stands out
- Prep them Ahead of Time: Kalbi Korean BBQ Short Ribs can be prepared the night before and grilled on the day you wish to serve them – the overnight marinade time brings out unparalleled flavors.
- Big, Bold Flavors: The flavors here are like no other – kalbi short ribs will stand out in flavor in your collection of party recipes.
- They Cook Quickly: Kalbi cooks up quickly, in just 3-4 minutes per side, which makes them perfect for sharing with friends.
- They’re a Healthier Asian Dish: With less grease than many other dishes, make a healthier meal by pairing kalbi with perfect brown rice, Asian pasta salad, or grilled shrimp skewers.
Key Recipe Steps
- Combine the marinade ingredients, which include brown sugar, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, rice wine, and soy sauce.
- Marinate kalbi beef overnight, for best flavor.
- Work kiwi into the meat during last 2 hours of marinating.
- Grill kalbi on outdoor or indoor grill just until cooked through.
Key Ingredients
- Beef Short Ribs: You’ll need super-thin cut short ribs of about 1/4″ thick. If needed, ask your local butcher to slice them super thin for you. The thinner, the better.
- Brown Sugar: Either dark brown or light brown sugar will work.
- Tamari Sauce or soy sauce: We prefer tamari sauce whenever possible, as it lends a more pure and deep flavor than regular soy sauce.
- Asian Sesame Oil: You can find the caramel-colored toasted sesame oil in the ethnic aisles of many major grocery stores.
- Garlic: Don’t be shy here. You can’t really overdo the garlic when it comes to kalbi.
- Rice Cooking Wine or Sake: Our preference is rice cooking wine, which is found at Asian grocery stores.
- Ginger Root: Use freshly grated ginger, as it tastes infinitely better than powders or pastes.
- Kiwi: This is our secret ingredient. More on this belo
Our Secret to Tenderness
The surprising secret ingredient here is kiwi fruit. Kiwi contains acidity levels that work as a potent tenderizer. If your beef short ribs are thicker than ¼ inches, you’ll want to let the kiwi juice soak into the meat for up to 4 hours instead of the specified 2 hours.
Pro Tips for Your Success
- The short ribs must be cut to ¼ inches thick; if they’re any thicker, they’ll need a longer marinade time and extra cook time. Thicker cuts will be less tender than thinner cuts.
- Always use clean paper towels to pat dry the meat, removing as much excess moisture as possible prior to starting the recipe.
- We highly recommend letting kalbi marinade overnight, allowing the beef to soak in all the fragrant flavors.
- Fresh kiwi juice/puree should be allowed to soak into the meat 2 hours prior to cooking. Do not let it go longer than 2 hours, as that can cause meat to break down beyond desired levels. The exception is when short ribs are cut thicker than ¼ inches – in that case, they will need to soak in the kiwi juice for 1-2 hours more.
What to Serve with Kalbi Short Ribs
The options here are endless. We love serving kalbi with jasmine rice or brown rice. It’s fabulous when paired with crisp salads, kimchi, rice dishes, or almost any Asian dish. Here are several of our favorite recipes to use alongside of Kalbi Korean Beef Short Ribs:
- Asian Sticky Rice – sticky rice is packed with umami flavor and so easy to make.
- Asian Pasta Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing – you’ll adore this dressing, as it’s bursting with aromatic flavors.
- Crunchy Asian Cabbage Ramen Salad – supremely crispy and tasty!
- Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice – make healthy brown rice in a fraction of the time.
- Easy Fried Rice – learn how to make fried rice with whatever you happen to have on hand.
- Grilled Shrimp Kabobs (Skewers) – these shrimp skewers are succulent and juicy, and a great pairing with kalbi short ribs.
- Asian Chicken Skewers – serve chicken skewers alongside kalbi short ribs, for an exciting, flavorful cookout.
Did you make this?
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Kalbi (Galbi) Korean BBQ Short Ribs
Ingredients
- 5 lbs beef short ribs, 1/4" thick*
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 10 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 10 tablespoons soy sauce, or gluten-free tamari sauce
- 3.5 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
- 3.5 tablespoons garlic, crushed
- 5 tablespoons rice cooking wine, or sake
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger root, minced
- 2 whole kiwi, peeled and pureed/juiced
- Optional Garnish: thinly sliced green onion
Instructions
- Place beef short ribs in a large pan. Sprinkle a light layer of kosher salt and black pepper onto both sides of short ribs. Set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, rice wine, and ginger until well combined.
- Pour marinade evenly over the short ribs; work it in so that every piece is well coated. Cover and place in fridge for several hours, preferably overnight. If needed, turn ribs over halfway to evenly redistribute marinade.
- Two hours prior to cooking, add kiwi juice and mix well so all short ribs are coated. This is amount of time is perfect for tenderizing beef, without breaking it down too much.
- Grease and preheat outdoor or indoor grill on medium heat. Drain and reserve marinade from short ribs. Cook beef until fully cooked through and lightly charred on both sides, about 3-4 min per side.* Keep warm.Meanwhile, bring reserved marinade to a boil, for use as a serving sauce.
- Serve kalbi beef with sauce. Garnish with green onions and serve in whole pieces, or cut into smaller pieces for a large party.
Notes
- Beef short ribs should be butcher-cut specifically for kalbi. The short ribs are cut lengthwise across the bones, 1/4-inch thick. If your short ribs were cut thicker than 1/4″, soak longer in kiwi juice (3-4 hours).
- Kiwi contains acidity that works as a potent tenderizer; do not let kiwi sit on short ribs longer than 2 hours, or it can cause beef to break down and lose texture.
- 10 TB is equivalent to 5/8 cups, if you’d prefer to measure in cups.
- Actual cook time depends on thickness of beef, starting temperature of beef, and temperature of grill.
- Listed prep time does not include passive marinade time.
- If you like a bit of heat, serve with some gochujang sauce on the side.
- Serves about 6 people for a main dish. For a large party, use kitchen shears to cut short ribs into smaller appetizer-size pieces.
- Meal Prep Tip: raw short ribs can be combined with marinade (minus the kiwi juice) in freezer bags and frozen for up to 2 months.
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ❤️
Nutrition (per serving)
Commonly Asked Questions
Kalbi is pronounced “KAHL-bee.” It’s sometimes referred to as “galbi” as well.
Traditionally, kalbi is cooked on a grill or barbecue, often over charcoal or an open flame. The ribs are grilled until they are tender and have nice grill marks, giving them a delicious smoky flavor.
Yes, you can still make kalbi without a grill. You can use a stovetop grill pan, broil the ribs in the oven, or even cook them on a regular frying pan. However, grilling over charcoal or an open flame is the traditional method and provides the best flavor.
Kalbi is typically made using beef short ribs. The ribs are cut across the bone, resulting in very thin, rectangular-shaped cuts.
Kalbi itself is not generally spicy. The marinade usually contains ingredients like soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and sesame oil, which provide a savory and sweet flavor. However, if you prefer spiciness, you can add chili paste such as Korean gochujang sauce or red pepper flakes to the marinade or serve it with a spicy dipping sauce.