01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At LOBUTA Honten, staff grill the samgyeopsal at your table, then use the same hot plate to prepare fried rice to finish the meal. The signature Japanese fresh samgyeopsal is around 180 g per serving and costs 1,680 yen. The menu says the pork is sourced fresh in Japan every day and is never frozen. For a thicker cut, try the pork shoulder loin, around 250 g for 1,980 yen; it is another option for those who want to savour the meat.
Some diners mention having the meat grilled for them; others enjoyed it with lettuce leaves and grilled kimchi. Set meals combine meat with jjigae, lettuce salad, Korean pancakes and a finishing dish, making them a convenient choice for groups deciding what else to order. The Seoul Set for two costs 6,220 yen, while the Busan Set, which includes three portions of meat, is listed for 9,900 yen and serves 3–4. There are several ways to round off the meal: the menu lists kimchi fried rice cooked on a hot plate, as well as minari fried rice with water dropwort. One diner had fried rice after the meat and added cheese. Cheese is an optional extra, rather than something to assume comes as standard.
Another feature is chukmi samgyeopsal, which pairs baby octopus with samgyeopsal in a special sauce. Listed at 2,680 yen, it can be topped with water dropwort, cheese or glass noodles, among other options. One diner commented on the octopus’s chewy texture; this is a tempting choice for anyone looking beyond a meat-only combination.
At lunchtime, there is also a sundubu-jjigae set meal. Five varieties of jjigae, simmered with vegetables and soft tofu, are listed at 1,000 yen. Choose the type and level of heat to suit your preference. It is an option for lunch centred on Korean soup dishes, distinct from an evening meal built around grilled meat.
