What's in it
Minced beef and pork, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil.
More about Tteokgalbi
The name means "rice cake galbi": the meat is cut from the ribs, chopped and pressed back into a patty, a dish said to come from royal court cooking. Damyang serves it with bamboo shoot side dishes, and Songjeong in Gwangju has a whole street of tteokgalbi restaurants.
Good to know
Small tteokgalbi patties also turn up in set meals and lunch boxes.
New to Korean BBQ?
See how to eat Korean BBQ: the cuts in English, who grills, how to wrap ssam, prices and what to order to finish.
Special diets and allergies
- Vegetarian: no — beef and pork are part of the dish.
- Pork: contains pork.
- Allergens: Wheat / gluten, Soy, Sesame.
Recipes vary between restaurants. If an ingredient matters to you, ask before you order — or show a diet card.
Quick answers
What is Tteokgalbi?
Minced beef, often mixed with pork, shaped into patties and grilled in a sweet soy marinade — a specialty of Damyang and Gwangju.
Is Tteokgalbi spicy?
No — it is not spicy.
Is Tteokgalbi vegetarian?
No — beef and pork are part of the dish.
Does Tteokgalbi contain pork?
Yes — it contains pork.
Is Tteokgalbi gluten-free?
No — it usually contains wheat (gluten). Recipes vary, so ask if you need to avoid it.
What is Tteokgalbi called in Korean?
떡갈비, pronounced “tteokgalbi”.