Samgyupsalamat Ayala Malls South Park — Restaurant in Muntinlupa

The Ayala Malls South Park branch of the Samgyupsal restaurant chain. For those of you who, by some miracle (or by living under a rock), aren't aware of the Samgyupsal craze that has hit this country, it's a version of the hotpot style, where you're given various ingredients, and cook them in the center. But in the case of Samgyupsal, it's a Korean version where there's a grill in the middle, rather than a pot of boiling broth. Although there might be some exceptions, these restaurants are usually eat-all-you-can, which is why they're generally packed at all hours. Despite my arriving for a very late lunch, I just barely got the last table. I can only imagine how long the waiting line must be during the lunch and dinner rush hours.

When it comes to the main meats and seafood that are served raw for you to cook, there is really nothing much to distinguish them from other Samgyupsal restaurants, but it's their side dishes that I like. The waitstaff tend to be hassled, which is understandable given the crush of diners, but they are remarkable attentive,...

Our go-to branch!

PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF THE RULES. Don't blame the crew for implementing their own rules. There's a reason you need to have your name written down, and why your name will be skipped if you don't respond after three times (they call out more than three times, usually). Be mindful of your number and the names before yours so that you know if your turn is near.

The branch is a bit small, and the waiting area is therefore smaller too. It's a bit hard to wait when raining because the branch opens outside (not inside the mall) so it's a bit risky when you go inside the mall to wait. My tip is, if you decide to go inside the mall to wait, go back to check every 30 minutes. If your turn is up within 5 names/numbers, stay near the vicinity (or at least one of you should).

The crew are good and serve well though sometimes the kitchen might get too busy, so give your next order before your current plate(s) of meat run out.

Don't eat rice if you want to maximize what you're...

No gimmicks - just plain ol’ good samgyupsal.

For P599 per person, you get unlimited meat (pork, beef, and chicken - both thin and thick options), rice, lettuce, steamed egg, soup, and a batch of side dishes, + a pitcher of iced tea. With different dips including real cheese (not the cheap stuff other restaurants use).

Everything on the table was good. Liked the yangnyum beef and spicy soup in particular.

Staff is super attentive. Refills are fast.

It’s no wonder Samgyupsalamat has survived the pandemic. This is a reliable brand to visit for...