Quality over Quantity: Sariwon Philippines

Manila has turned into one big Koreatown (한인마을) with several Korean barbecue joints opening left and right. There are a lot offering unlimited meat which I find quite tempting. But if I were to decide based on quality, I have a few places I go to and top of my list is Sariwon. 

Hello, Sariwon. 

Sariwon has been around even before the boom of Korean barbecue in Manila. Located at the prime Bonifacio High Street Central, Sariwon became a favorite by professionals in the area and a family destination on weekends. 

It opened back in 2012 offering premium Korean marinated meats, bibimbap, japchae, pajeon and its signature bulgogi. As a franchise of Sariwon Korea, it observes high standards when it comes to its meats. Sung Rah, founder of Sariwon, specified that only USDA Choice meats are allowed to be served to guests.  

Now on its 7th year, Sariwon made its anniversary celebration extra special by sending each guest hanbok, a traditional Korean dress, straight from Korea and treated us to a sword and drum dance show. 

We started our scrumptious feast with a glass of Sangria Soju (PHP250). The Koreanized sangria had that delightful kick of soju yet toned down by the sweet taste of fruit chunks. 

Tea was also served for those who prefer to start slow. 

Our first meat was a treat as we were the first ones to try Deung Shim (PHP1,050, 150g).  This USDA High Choice rib eye steak is served fresh so it is best to eat this with banchan, ssamjang, or one of those meat sauces. 

I also liked it more at medium well. 

One of my absolute favorites is Yangnyeom Wagyu Salchisal (PHP1,395). This 170g of premium Snake River Farms Chuck Flap Tail is bliss in every bite! Beautifully marinated for that mouthwatering glimmer, it was more than picturesque as each mouthful gives you this burst of sweet and savory flavors. I wouldn't mind having two servings of this in one sitting. 

If Yangnyeom Wagyu Salchisal's price tag is a bit too steep, Yangnyeom Galbi (PHP990, 250g) is a nice alternative. It has the same flavor and texture difference is almost negligible. 

Skip plain rice and grab a bowl of Dolsot Bibimbap (PHP380) instead to spice things up!

If there's one thing to order at Sariwon, it's Sariwon Bulgogi (PHP545). With recipe dated back in 1938, this is a classic dish Sariwon is very proud of. No sweetener is used and the delectable sweet taste of its broth is from a combination of 12 fruits. The 150g of thinly sliced fresh USDA Choice beef also go a long way. Make sure to have your spoonful with its homemade sweet potato noodles too!

Another sweet yet savory dish worth checking out is Japchae (PHP380). It's packed with snappy texture!

Haemul Pajeon (PHP380) is also an excellent dish to add to your meaty feast. Packed with shrimps and squid bits, this is a lovely break from all those succulent chunks!

And if you want something with heat, grab a bowl of Soondubu Chigae (PHP320). I was hesitant to try this tofu and pork soup it at first with its bright red color but it was manageable considering my low spice tolerance.

We capped our meal with a cup of Sikhye (complimentary). This chilled sweet rice and malt drink is the best way to end our meal as this is known to aid digestion. 

Overall, it was a fantastic meal and a festive anniversary celebration! 

Join the celebration and get a chance to win PHP1,500 worth of gift certificates from Sariwon! Just post a photo of your favorite Sariwon dish or a photo of you enjoying your meal at Sariwon. Tag Sariwon on social media and use hashtags #7YearsSariwonPH and #SariwonPH7. Contest ends on July 15.  

Sariwon is located at Upper Ground, Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.