Restaurant Reviews: Go Ba Woo in Tappan

My lifelong love affair with Korean BBQ began in my college days. I was at UMass Boston, and my best friend, Ali, was at Columbia. I’d visit him on long weekends, and his Korean roommate, Kwon, would entice us with stories of his native cuisine. One late Saturday night, after a little too much fun, we asked Kwon where we should eat. He took us straight to New Wonjo in K-Town, and from that moment on, Ali and I were completely hooked on Galbi (marinated beef short ribs).

A Godsend in Tappan

While Rockland County doesn’t boast a New Wonjo, we have the next best thing— the true culinary treasure called Go Ba Woo.

Situated right on Route 303 in Tappan, Go Ba Woo is a godsend for my family, as we need our regular Galbi fix! The restaurant was established by the brother-sister team, Simon and Cris Han and their father. The Hans’ father, Mr Goang Han, who is the Master Chef of the restaurant, was already a renowned chef specializing in Pork Galbi  and ran a restaurant for decades in their native Seoul, Korea. The Hans moved to the US in 2000, and after Simon honed his Chef skills in various Manhattan and New Jersey sushi restaurants, the three of them opened Go Ba Woo in 2003. They struck gastronomic gold, quickly becoming a staple for the large Korean American community in Northern New Jersey and beyond.

The Experience: Fire and Flavor

Go Ba Woo has a warm, inviting atmosphere, but the secret to a great Korean BBQ experience is to ask for the Barbecue section (where the tables have built-in grills). That is the key to enjoying their specialties!

For this review, I naturally ordered the Galbi. The Han siblings also graciously suggested I try their Bulgogi (thinly sliced, soy sauce- and fruit-marinated beef) and their crisp, flavorful Mandu (fried dumplings, similar to Japanese Gyoza). The Bulgogi is served in Japchae; Japchae is a popular Korean dish of stir-fried glass noodles made from sweet potato starch, mixed with various vegetables and often meat. It is seasoned with a savory and slightly sweet sauce of soy sauce and sesame oil.

The Verdict: Best Galbi Outside NYC

I can confidently say that Go Ba Woo’s Galbi is the best I’ve had outside of New York City. Yes, at about $50 it is on the pricier side, but if you can afford it, I can safely assure you that this dish is worth every penny. You will not regret it.

Like all authentic Galbi establishments, Go Ba Woo serves their main course with the requisite Banchan (complementary side dishes). The selection rotates, and on this particular night, the table was covered with a vibrant spread:

– Lettuce: 50% of Galbi lovers like to wrap the BBQ marinated beef in lettuce and eat it that way.

– A fresh green salad

– Scallion onions in soy sauce

– Diced potatoes

– Refreshing cucumber kimchi (pickled cucumbers)

– Bean sprouts

– Tofu

– Ssamjang (a savory bean paste for wrapping)

I always pair this with a generous bowl of white rice, and though they also offer a complimentary steamed egg, I choose to skip it, because I only have eggs at breakfast. 

The Hans informed me that another of their most popular dishes is Bibimbop, which is similar to the Hot Pot concept, featuring rice, five to six vegetables, a choice of meat (either beef, spicy pork, chicken, or baby octopus), to which you can add a hot sauce and mix it all up. I was quite full so didn’t have any more room but intend to try Bibimbop on my next visit.

While the Bulgogi and Mandu were also excellent, Galbi remains my absolute staple choice. I am truly hooked—Go Ba Woo is now a regular, non-negotiable part of our dining schedule! I highly recommend Go Ba Woo to lovers of BBQ and Beef in particular. 5 stars!