In QC, a new premium KBBQ spot opens

Sogeum by Soban is everything you love about Korean BBQ and more. Enter the place and the stylish interiors will immediately tell you you're in for something a little more sophisticated than your usual KBBQ spot experience. The restaurant has a private room that can seat up to 12 guests in case your party has a lot of chika and tsaa to go with your Korean food.

And then there's all the premium meats Sogeuum by Soban has to offer. There's the Philippines' first-of-its-kind Mul Galbi (starts P990), a hearty stew with US beef short ribs as the star.

Together with flat glass noodles, rice cakes, and 11 types of vegetables, it's simmered in a collagen-rich broth made from bone marrow and boiled for over six hours making the Mul Galbi a must-order to be shared by the table. 

The Bo Ssam (starts P595) meanwhile is a Korean classic. The slow-simmered pork is tender, perfectly seasoned, and with just the right amount of fat to make it truly satisying. Wrap a slice in any of the array of greens it's served with, top it with kimchi, and use the house-made fermented baby shrimp dipping sauce, and you've got a total winner.

The USDA High Choice Saeng Galbisal (starts P1,350), the six distinct flavors of the Pork Samgyupsal (starts P285) or the Dak Ganjeong (starts P235) are excellent choices, in case you don't want to think too much. But please don't miss out on the super hearty Rose Tteokbokki (starts P380)— rice cakes with a creamy twist and the right amount of kick. The savory seafood pancakes (starts P415) make for good starters, as the super addictive and easy-to-love crispy fried chicken glazed in a sweet, caramelized sauce.

Sogeum means salt in Korean and at the newly opened restaurant, each table gets the signature trio of salts — thousand-day aged sea salt, the green tea salt, and Himalayan pink salt — signaling a lovely little lift to your usual Korean BBQ experience. 

The best part is how Sogeum's courteous and knowledgeable waitstaff will do the grilling for you, tying everything together for a truly premium experience.

Sogeum by Soban is the latest concept from The Happyfoods Group of Restaurants, a Filipino-owned company behind some of the country's beloved Korean restaurants including Sariwon Korean Barbecue, Soban K-Town Grill, Samsam Chicken Korean Cafe + Kitchen, and Sibyulee Unlimited Korean BBQ.

2/F Opus Mall, Bridgetowne Destination Estate, Opus, Bridgetowne Blvd corner C-5, Quezon City. 0927 069 2957

— LA, GMA Integrated News