The Place I have heard so much about Hanwoo beef that a visit to Born and Bred was on my agenda way before my trip to Seoul. Born and Bred is a Michelin Guide restaurant located near Majang Meat Market, where the restaurant is known for serving Hanwoo beef, one of the most highly prized beef type in Korea. It is also Number 64 on the latest Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, where the restaurant takes up a spacious building offering three different types of dining experiences.  

It was my first time back to Seoul after more than two decades, and one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways I found to get from Incheon International Airport to the Seoul is via the limousine bus service which I booked on Klook.

The basement level is a speakeasy dining concept where diners can enjoy the Signature Tasting Menu at KRW 380,000 per person, and you can think of this as a Hanwoo beef omakase experience. Level two is a casual dining concept where you get to choose from an ala carte menu, or you can go for the Casual Dining Course at KRW 165,000 per person. Level three is a private dining room concept with Tasting Menu from KRW 200,000. In case you are wondering, level one is simply the butcher lounge and reception area.  

Since it was my first time, I went for the level two casual dining concept after hearing some recommendations from foodie friends that they had a great experience here. I like the space at level two which has ample natural lighting in the day, and I was lucky to be assigned a table beside the window.

There is also ample space between tables, so it does not feel too packed at all.  

The Food I went for the default Casual Dining Course (KRW 165,000 per person), though you also have the option to add on any items from the ala carte menu if you have space for it.  

Here is what to expect from the Casual Dining Course I had:  

The meal started with a wide mix of Banchan, a variety of small side dishes where the kimchi is outstanding for me.  

Korean Style Raw Beef “Yukhoe” 
The first course proper is a seasoned raw beef which is well-marinated with sesame oil, delicious! 

Today’s Assorted Beef Platter 
Next up is the main highlight of the meal where I had a good mix of various beef cuts such as sirloin.

The great part about the dining experience here is that the grilling of the meats is done by the professional staff, so you get very dedicated service with much precision when it comes to the optimal grilling time of the different cuts.  

After the meat is grilled, it is then let to rest, before it is served individually to each diner.  

Safe to say, I really enjoyed the flavour of each cut of the Hanwoo beef, which is not too fatty yet flavourful enough for me to crave another mouthful of it. Seasoning of the meat is also just right for me and is not too salty overall.  

Brisket Hot Pot Rice With Soy-Bean Paste Soup 
After the series of wonderful meat, I thought I would not be able to finish this rice course, but I did. You get copious amounts of sliced marinated beef in the delicious rice which I suspect is fried with beef fat as the rice boasts a rich flavour.  

The accompanying soy-bean paste soup is comforting too!   

Born & Bred Signature Pho 
The last savoury course is a Korean take on Vietnamese pho, where you get slices of the flavourful beef in a rich pho broth.    

Icecream (Vanilla/Chocolate/Raspberry) 
Dessert is nothing too fancy, just a choice of one flavour of icecream and it works after the rather heavy meal.  

Rants With a dedicated staff grilling the meat for you, you do lose control of the dining pace you prefer as well. Of course, I do think you can request to DIY the grilling yourself, though I would rather leave it to the good hands of the staff.   

Will I Return Again? If you have not had Hanwoo beef before, Born and Bred is definitely a good starting point in my opinion. I like how attentive the service is, the comfortable dining ambience, and of course you can expect a good quality meal here. I want to be back again for more of the beef goodness.  

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5

Born And Bred 
1 Majang-ro 42-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea 
Tel: +82 2-2294-5005

Opening Hours 
Thursday to Monday: 12pm to 3pm; 6pm to 10:30pm 
Wednesday: 6pm to 10:30pm 
Closed on Tuesday 

Ranted by The Ranter