Saemaeul Original Korean BBQ SCBD — Restaurant in Jakarta

Here's another spot in the well-renowned "korean" complex of SCBD. In the midst of the more well known Mr. Park and Yongdaeri, and even the recently opened Chan Chan, there lies another korean BBQ restaurant called Saemaeul. This one is slightly different than the rest simply because it focuses on pork meat over others. Some of the food stood out in a good way, but some others fell flat.

I personally love pork - almost any cut of pork, as long as it is prepared correctly. Some of the highlights that left me wanting more was the pork jowl (hanjeongsal) and the pork belly (samgyeopsal). These cuts of pork were tender and prepared as it was supposed to be prepared. The outer crunch balanced the inner chewiness of these fatty cuts while also drenching the inner chambers of your mouth with fatty umami. If I were to go back, these would be the two I'd order again.

The other cuts, specifically the two different kinds of pork bulgogi (yeoltan bulgogi) didn't leave a good impression. It was thoroughly dry and overcooked (which could be a waiter issue, since they were the ones cooking it for us). If you were to try this dish, be sure to ask to cook it yourself on your own table so you can inspect how it's done and to ensure that the meats aren't overcooked.

The other complementary dishes were decent as well. The banchan that came with kimchi and bunch of other cold fermented veggies were of par with standard korean restaurants. The soups were a delight. The kimchi rice lunch box was also quite fun to make and shake - it adds a little excitement and entertainment while we wait for the rest of our orders to come.

Another note when coming to this restaurant is that parking costs Rp. 100k per car if you do not drive an electric car. This is the same for every establishment in the complex. You would need to park across the street in Lot 17 or Pacific Place or Electronic City in order to save yourself from the insane parking fee.

Despite all that, this is a decent restaurant to go to. Personally, I prefer KBBQ restaurants that also offer a variety of beef options as well, but if you love pork bellies and pork jowls and fatty cuts of pork, then this could be the...

Another Korean restaurant went viral on IG so of course we had to give it a try 😁 pleased to report that Saemaeul delivered in all the right ways, with a slight annoyance regarding parking.

Let's get that out of the way first. Located at the 'trendy' Foundry No. 8 behind Pacific Place, we entered the lot and received parking ticket as usual. However there was NO general parking spots available!! ALL spots are exclusive at 100rb each with a sign that said 'thank you for helping us to be green etc'. That ruined our mood instantly 😠 we care about the environment as much as the next person, but when you pay for parking you also expect to have general spots available instead of being forced to support initiatives. We drove out (paid 5rb) and parked at Pacific Place instead and walked back.

Now, onto Saemaeul. Food was great, we tried the samgyeupsal along with their signature spicy bulgogi and kimchi jigae. Everything tasted great and freshly cooked/grilled. Banchan was plenty and generous. Atmosphere was great, modern Korean vibe with Kpop music in the background. To top it off, complimentaru frozen yoghurt for dessert. Pricing was great and reasonable, expected to pay 50% more actually.

If you're a fan of Kbbq or cuisine in general, definitely should give Saemaeul a try. But be prepared to cough up 100rb for parking or a 5 mnt...

Came here on a Saturday with no reservation. Waited since 11:15 for their 11:30 opening and got seated at 11:20. They do have some slots for walk in (maybe like 5 tables) but i still recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

This place looks like kbbq restaurants in korea. There are a few private rooms on the first floor for larger parties. Service could be better eventhough there are plenty of wait staff standing around.

Ordered their: Yeoltan bulgogi (spicy): marinated pork in their special sauce. Really loved this! Not your typical overly sweet bulgogi sauce. Could still taste the umami of the meat combined with that charred flavor. Not spicy at all for me. Samgyeopsal: this was ok, nothing special. Abit on the chewy end i would say. Korean lunch box: this was also good! Similar to Kang Ho Dong’s in LA. Rasanya gurih and just so much umami in one bite! Paired with their amazing kimchi, perfection.

After you order, they will start bringing out side dishes. All their side dishes were good. Some worth mentioning are their kimchi, fishcake, eggplants. Also its really a bang for your buck. Very well priced!

Since its located at SCBD Park, parking can be a bit far unless you’re willing to pay 100k for non...