K Cultures · Celebrity Food Trails in Korea 1/4
Price references checked on November 3, 2026. Menus, prices and opening hours may change. The series title covers BTS and international celebrities collectively; it does not mean that every person visited every venue. Some featured visitors are musicians or other public figures rather than Hollywood actors.
This guide covers Korean BBQ in Seoul at four restaurants connected to BTS members and visiting international stars, with menus, reference prices and a map for each stop.
A celebrity dinner in Seoul might bring to mind a hotel restaurant or an elaborate tasting menu. Yet Korean barbecue restaurants appear repeatedly in stories about visiting stars. Meat sizzling at the table, a server handling the grill, and lettuce wraps assembled to taste turn dinner into a hands-on introduction to Korean food.
This first installment follows the barbecue trail, from the pork restaurant visited by BTS members to garden-style dining and contemporary Hanwoo grill bars.
Geumdwaeji Sikdang: a stop for BTS members and international stars
Geumdwaeji Sikdang in Sindang is associated with visits by BTS members Jungkook and Jimin. Chris Hemsworth and David Beckham have also been reported among its international visitors. The MICHELIN Guide highlights its bone-in pork belly and pork neck, cooked on a cast-iron plate heated over coal briquettes.
For a first visit, start with the signature bone-in pork belly, add a different cut such as pork neck, and finish with kimchi stew. Try the meat with different accompaniments before wrapping it in lettuce: the variety is part of the pleasure. Allow time for a possible wait.
Maple Tree House: an approachable introduction to Korean barbecue
Maple Tree House’s Itaewon branch is known for a polished setting and staff-assisted grilling that can make the meal easier for visitors unfamiliar with Korean barbecue. The source video does not clearly identify a particular celebrity’s branch visit, so this guide uses the Itaewon branch for its verified address and menu information.
Aged Hanwoo sirloin is an option for beef lovers, while Jeju black pork belly offers a different flavor and price point. Choose according to the group rather than assuming every Korean barbecue meal needs to center on premium beef.
Samwon Garden: barbecue with room to celebrate
Samwon Garden combines Korean grilled meat with a landscaped setting suited to a more formal meal. Visits by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were mentioned in an interview with its general manager. Its appeal includes the setting and the occasion as well as the food.
For travelers planning a family celebration or a hosted dinner, the garden-style atmosphere offers a different experience from a busy neighborhood pork restaurant. Check reservation and seating arrangements when booking.
Dosan Hoikwan: Hanwoo meets a contemporary grill bar
Dosan Hoikwan serves aged 1++ Hanwoo over charcoal alongside seafood and other dishes. Its official introduction lists Kanye West among its visitors, and recent reporting describes a visit by Justin and Hailey Bieber. The restaurant combines the Korean table-grill experience with a bar-style approach to food and drinks.
This is a choice for diners who want to linger over premium beef and accompaniments. The price of one meat serving is only part of the final bill, particularly if drinks and extra dishes are added.
Menus, prices and addresses
| Restaurant | Menu & reference price (KRW) | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Geumdwaeji Sikdang | Bone-in pork belly, 150g: ₩19,000 Snowflake pork neck, 150g: ₩23,000 Pork kimchi stew: ₩8,000 | 149 Dasan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul |
| Maple Tree House, Itaewon | Aged 1++ Hanwoo sirloin, 150g: ₩62,500 Jeju black pork belly, 150g: ₩23,900 | 26 Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul |
| Samwon Garden | Traditional marinated beef ribs: ₩65,000 Fresh Hanwoo ribs: ₩130,000 Hanwoo bulgogi: ₩58,000 | 835 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul |
| Dosan Hoikwan | Hanwoo striploin, 120g: ₩58,000 Ribeye, 120g: ₩64,000 Beef tartare: ₩34,000 | 8-7 Dosan-daero 45-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul |
These are listed menu prices, not fixed per-person budgets. Additional meat, rice, side dishes and drinks can change the total substantially.
Which barbecue experience suits you?
Choose pork barbecue for a lively first introduction, a garden restaurant for a special gathering, or a Hanwoo grill bar for a slower premium meal. Celebrity visits are an interesting starting point; your budget, company and preferred atmosphere should decide where you sit down.
More from the Celebrity Food Trails in Korea series
- Part 2. The Korean Experience: Gwangjang Market food and Sam Smith’s noodle stop
- Part 3. The Hipster Foodie: trendy Seoul restaurants, cafes and vegan food
- Part 4. Eat Like a Local: Tom Cruise’s Seoul chicken and barbecue stops
Sources and photo information
Use the links beneath each map to see actual restaurant photos. The illustrated header is AI-created and does not depict an actual celebrity visit or restaurant interior.
- The Korea Economic Daily: BTS members and Beckham at Geumdwaeji Sikdang
- MICHELIN Guide: Geumdwaeji Sikdang
- Geumdwaeji Sikdang menu
- Maple Tree House Itaewon menu
- Newsway: interview with Samwon Garden’s general manager
- Samwon Garden menu
- Dosan Hoikwan official introduction
- Dosan Hoikwan menu
- Maeil Business: the Biebers’ Seoul visit
- Source video: celebrity dining in Korea