Backyard BBQs at my house probably look a little different than your typical Midwest grill out. Of course, we grill up barbecue staples like Wisconsin-style beer brats, grilled burgers, & BBQ chicken, but our favorite local-style Hawaiian dishes are always on the menu, too. That’s just what happens when your dad is born & raised in Wisconsin & your mom is born & raised in Hawaii!

You know it’s a really special occasion when Mom preps Hawaiian kalbi (local-style grilled Korean short ribs). They’re her all-time favorite & I honestly can’t blame her for that – there’s nothing not to love about them! Thinly sliced beef short ribs soak up a seriously flavorful marinade made with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, brown sugar – basically all the best things in the world! – & grill quickly, resulting in smoky, caramelized, & fall apart tender beef short ribs with the BEST rich sweet & savory flavor. They are so good!

So fire up your grill & get ready for the most simple, flavorful short rib recipe – perfect for grilling season!

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Hawaiian Kalbi Recipe vs. Korean Short Rib Recipe

One of the amazing things about Hawaii is how many people, cultures, & traditions you can find from all around the Pacific Rim. The islands are a melting pot, & there’s no better way to witness that than by enjoying the local Hawaiian food scene. Food in Hawaii is as culturally rich & diverse as the local population. You can taste everything from fresh poke to the best Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, & Korean food you’ll ever eat! 

So how do a Hawaiian kalbi recipe & Korean short rib recipe compare? Let’s break it down.

What is kalbi? ⇢ Kalbi is a term describing the marinade used in a traditional grilled Korean short rib recipe. But the kalbi short ribs found in Hawaii will have more sweetness in the marinade than a Korean marinade.

Both styles rely on staple ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, & other aromatics in the marinade. A Korean kalbi marinade will then typically use Asian pear, which gives a subtle sweetness & acts as a natural tenderizer for the short ribs. A Hawaiian kalbi marinade is made with brown sugar, which creates a bold sweet & savory flavor found more commonly on the islands.

While my family’s grilled kalbi recipe leans more Hawaiian-style, you can easily add Asian pear & gochujang for a more traditional Korean flavor profile.

These Korean Short Ribs Start with an Easy Kalbi Marinade

Amazing Korean short ribs start with a killer kalbi marinade, & my Easy Kalbi Marinade is no exception. This kalbi marinade recipe was passed down to me from my mom’s mom, my Grandma Marian. It is made with a handful of Asian pantry staples & loads of fresh aromatics – it’s seriously the best!

Note: Full Ingredients List, including measurements, is included in the Recipe Card, below.

Suggested Marinating Time

The marinade adds a lot of flavor to the short ribs & it also tenderizes the meat. This tenderization is key, especially since these Korean short ribs grill so quickly. Cooking these kalbi short ribs is much different than “low-and-slow” braised short ribs, for example. The best way to get tender, juicy Korean short ribs is with a longer marinating time.

Suggested Marinating Time for Kalbi Short Ribs ⇢ For grilled Korean short ribs with maximum flavor & tenderness, it’s best to marinate the short ribs as long as you can! Submerge the short ribs with the kalbi marinade, cover, & marinate in the refrigerator at least 12 hours or up to 3 days – the longer the better! 

Meal Prep Tip ⇢ If prepping beyond the suggested marinating window, you can mix up the kalbi marinade marinade & store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to begin marinating, simply give it a shake, pour it over the short ribs, & let it sit in the refrigerator until it’s grilling time. Seriously easy!

How to Grill Korean Short Ribs 

One of the best things about kalbi short ribs is that they are very easy to grill. Perfect for a busy weeknight or when you’re playing host at a backyard BBQ!

Full Recipe Directions, including step-by-step photos, are included in the Recipe Card, below.

Start by prepping your grill for direct high heat grilling. This is a good time to take the short ribs out of the refrigerator as well so they can get closer to room temperature. Once the grill is hot, take the short ribs out of the marinade & place them on the grill grates. Since they’re so thinly sliced, they grill up in just a couple of minutes per side.

(Note: Don’t be discouraged if your kalbi creates lots of flare-ups on the grill. Since beef short ribs are well-marbled, flare-ups are expected. Honestly, the extra caramelly & charred bits are the best part of Hawaiian kalbi, anyway!)

Serving Tips for Hawaiian Kalbi Short Ribs (Grilled Korean Short Ribs)

The quick cook time makes these Korean short ribs great for weeknight grilling, while the ease of preparation makes them the perfect easy dish to prep for summer dinner parties with friends. (They’ll be so impressed!)

Serving Suggestions. ⇢ There are plenty of options depending on what serving style you’re looking for. It’s easy to make Hawaiian, Korean, & American-inspired sides work with these tender kalbi short ribs! Serve your kalbi short ribs alongside your favorite summer sides or banchan (Korean BBQ side dishes). At my house, we plate kalbi short ribs Hawaiian-style with rice, mac salad, & kimchi.

I can’t wait for you to try a taste of Hawaii with these grilled kalbi short ribs. They’re a family fave at my house for very good reason and I know you’ll love them too.

If you do give them a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your PWWB creations! Happy cooking! ♡

Craving More Hawaiian Flavors? 🤙🏼🌺

Try These Local Favorites:

• Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls
• Best-Ever Kālua Pig (Hawaiian-Style Pulled Pork!)
• Grandpa Clarence’s Hawaiian Beef Stew
• Easy Baked Manapua (Hawaiian-Style Char Siu Bao)
• Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
• Mom’s Hawaiian Mac Salad (Local-Style Macaroni Salad)
• Best-Ever Spam Musubi
• Grilled Huli Huli Chicken
• Shoyu Ahi Poke (Hawaiian Tuna Poke Recipe)
• Mom’s Chow Fun (Hawaiian-Style Pork Chow Fun)

Hawaiian-Style Kalbi (Grilled Korean Short Ribs)

★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Jess Larson
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Marinating Time (Inactive): 12 hours – 3 days
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: serves 4-6 1x
• Category: Main Dishes, Beef Recipes
• Method: Grilled
• Cuisine: Korean, Hawaiian, Asian-Inspired

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Description

My family’s Hawaiian-Style Kalbi recipe (aka homemade grilled Korean short ribs) is the best! Thinly sliced beef short ribs soak up a local-style Hawaiian-meets-Korean kalbi marinade made with soy sauce, brown sugar, & loads of fresh ginger & garlic. They grill up quickly & result in smoky, caramelized, & fall-apart tender short ribs with the perfect balance of savory, sweet, & umami flavor.

Serve with your favorite banchan or a couple scoops of rice & mac salad for the perfect quick & easy summer meal!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 pounds flanken beef short ribs
• ½ cup shoyu or soy sauce (see Recipe Notes)
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons mirin (see Recipe Notes)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• optional: 1 tablespoon gochujang
• optional: 1 small Asian pear, peeled & finely grated
• 1 small yellow onion, peeled & finely grated
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 2-inch piece fresh ginger, finely chopped or grated (about 2 tablespoons grated)
• kosher salt & ground black pepper, to season
• for serving, as desired: rice, Hawaiian mac salad, kimchi or other banchan of choice, etc.

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Instructions

1. Prep the kalbi marinade & marinate the short ribs: Add the soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine, sesame oil, sesame seeds, gochujang (if using), grated pear, grated onion, green onion, garlic, ginger to a baking dish. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt & ground black pepper as desired. Whisk to combine. Add the beef short ribs to the baking dish, pressing down to ensure they are completely submerged in the kalbi marinade. Cover & marinate in the refrigerator at least 12 hours or up to 3 days – the longer the better!
2. Prepare the grill: About 30 minutes before you’d like to begin grilling, pull the short ribs from the fridge to let them come up to room temperature as the grill preheats. Prepare the grill for high direct heat grilling, 550-600 degrees F.
3. Grill the kalbi short ribs: Working in batches to avoid overcrowding the grill, place the marinated kalbi short ribs on the grill, shaking off any excess marinade into the baking dish (discard excess marinade). Be sure to place them on the grill such that they’re positioned perpendicular to the grill grates, which prevents them from slipping through as they grill or as you handle them. Grill 2-3 minutes per side, until charred as desired.
4. Serve immediately: Serve grilled Korean short ribs immediately, with your favorite banchan or BBQ sides. At my house, we enjoy these grilled short ribs Hawaiian plate lunch-style, with rice, macaroni salad, & kimchi. Enjoy!

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Notes

• Ingredient Notes:
  • Shoyu is the Japanese-style soy sauce used most commonly in Hawaii. Its flavor is a little more rounded & mellow than the most readily available soy sauces sold on the mainland. Aloha Shoyu is my go-to. If you do not have shoyu on hand, feel free to substitute with soy sauce. You can also swap it out with tamari for a gluten-free dish.
  • Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine. It’s similar to more well-known sake, though it tends to have a higher naturally-occurring sugar content (from fermentation) & lower alcohol content. You can find mirin in the “international” aisle of most conventional grocery stores these days, though it’s also readily available at Asian grocery stores. Imperfect-yet-quick substitutes for mirin in this recipe include dry sherry or dry vermouth.
• Storage & Reheating: These Kalbi short ribs are best served fresh off the grill, though leftovers will keep for a couple of days. Transfer cooled kalbi to an airtight container & store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Easily reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
• 15-Minute Meal Prep: If you’d like to prep beyond the suggested marinade times above, simply prep the kalbi marinade in advance. Prepare according to Step 1, storing the kalbi marinade in a jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days – the flavors meld together even more as the marinade sits. When you’re ready to start marinating (12 hours – 3 days before grilling), simply give the kalbi marinade a shake & pour it over the beef short ribs as described in Step 1. Easy!

Keywords: kalbi short ribs, korean short ribs, hawaiian kalbi, kalbi marinade, beef short ribs, hawaiian recipes, korean bbq, easy, grilling & smoking, tender, summer

Recipe & Food Styling by Jess Larson, Plays Well With Butter | Photography by Rachel Cook, Half Acre House.

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