“Not Steak, But Hanwoo — A Korean Christmas Dinner with Beef, Plum Wine, and Wasabi”

Not Steak, But Hanwoo

A Korean Christmas Dinner at Home

In Korea, a normal evening often means samgyeopsal and soju.
But this Christmas felt different. We wanted something a little more special.

So instead of pork belly, we chose Hanwoo, Korean beef —
more expensive, yes, but perfect for a once-a-year dinner.

Why Not Steak?

Many people associate beef with thick, juicy steaks.
We thought about it too.

But honestly, steak can feel a bit heavy for us.
Too rich, too filling.

As Koreans, we naturally returned to what feels most comfortable:
thinly sliced beef, grilled quickly, shared piece by piece.

Salchisal & Chimasal — Cuts You Might Know by Another Name

That night, we chose two cuts:

→ Closest to Chuck Flap / Denver Cut in the U.S.
Extremely tender, with fine, beautiful marbling.

2. Chimasal (치마살)

→ Similar to Skirt Steak
Rich beef flavor, slightly chewy, very satisfying when grilled.

What really stood out was the marbling.
The fat melted almost instantly on the grill, creating a deep, buttery flavor without any marinade.

The Price — Expensive or Worth It?

Here’s what we paid:

That’s roughly $130 per kilogram.

In the U.S., you can buy good beef for much less.
But Hanwoo isn’t just about price — it’s about scarcity, care, and texture.

What do you think?
Would you pay this much for beef if the quality was truly exceptional?

Plum Wine Instead of Soju

Normally, grilled meat means soju.
But this was Christmas, so we chose plum wine (Maehwaju) instead.

Even better —
we drank it from souvenir cups we bought during our trip to the Grand Canyon last year.

Same drink, different glass, completely different feeling.

Wasabi from Sapporo — A Small Detail That Changed Everything

One more surprise that night: fresh wasabi.

We bought it during our trip to Sapporo, Japan, earlier this year.
Just a small dab with salt and pepper was enough.

No sauce needed.
The beef spoke for itself.

More Than Just Beef

Every country has its own idea of “good beef.”
Steaks, roasts, barbecues — all delicious in their own way.

But if you ever visit Korea,
I hope you try Hanwoo, grilled the Korean way.

Slowly. Simply.
Shared across the table.

한국의 맛(Taste of Korea)