I Tried a Goldbelly Korean BBQ Meal Kit: 2023 Review
/I discovered Goldbelly when I watched a Facebook Live with one of my favorite chefs, Michael Symon. He was preparing the most delicious-looking pierogis, all crispy and smothered in butter and onions, and pan-frying artisanal kielbasa for a comforting, delicious home-cooked meal. As he cooked, Michael explained that you could purchase his restaurant's gourmet pierogis and kielbasa through a company called Goldbelly. They ship the products straight to your door so you can have an honest-to-goodness chef experience at home.
Since I love food, and especially love chef-y, gourmet food, I took a peek at Goldbelly's website.
Oh. My. Gosh.
Goldbelly sells meal kits and prepared foods from celebrity chefs, iconic restaurants, and elite food shops. If you've ever wanted to taste the culinary creations of chefs like Ina Garten, Rick Bayless, Guy Fieri, Nancy Silverton, Ming Tsai, Geoffrey Zakarian, or Marcus Samuelsson, Goldbelly can hook you up.
If you've dreamt of eating at renowned places like Gramercy Tavern in NYC, Frontera Grill in Chicago, McLoons Lobster Shack in Maine, or Shaq's Big Chicken in Las Vegas, then Goldbelly can help.
After about an hour of browsing tantalizing gourmet food, I decided to take the plunge.
My family and I love Korean BBQ and my kids would be home for the holidays so I purchased a Korean barbecue kit from one of the top Korean BBQ restaurants in the country - Antoya in New York City.
In this review, I'll share my experience signing up for Goldbelly, the ordering process, email communication about my order, and delivery. I'll also share how to browse Goldbelly to find chef-created meals that appeal to YOU. Finally, I'll share how my meal arrived, the quality of the individual components, how hard or easy it was to create a Korean BBQ dinner, and how it tasted.
Table of Contents:
What is Goldbelly?
How does Goldbelly work?
My Goldbelly Korean BBQ review.
Pros and Cons of ordering from Goldbelly.
Are other customers satisfied with their Goldbelly purchases?
Do I recommend Goldbelly?
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. This means if you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosures here.
This is not a sponsored post. I purchased the Goldbelly kit with my own money.
photo credit: Goldbelly
What is Goldbelly?
Goldbelly is an online marketplace that offers unique and delicious food items from famous restaurants, master chefs, and artisan producers across America. They specialize in shipping fresh, quality products nationwide. They provide a great way to experience some of the best food America has to offer without ever having to leave your home.
“We believe that food brings people together, so we’ve created a place that connects people with their greatest food memories, experiences, and desires. We’ve built a platform that empowers small shops, chefs & restaurants and inspires their passion.”
Some of the most popular items Goldbelly offers include fried chicken from the iconic Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville, TN, New York-style cheesecake from Junior's in Brooklyn, NY, and the award-winning Original Texas Chili from the Texas Chili Company in San Antonio, TX. Whether you're looking for a classic dish or something more unique, Goldbelly has something to satisfy your cravings!
With Goldbelly you can order restaurant meals or specialty foods from some of the top restaurants across the country. I was able to experience an authentic Korean BBQ from an upscale restaurant in New York City without leaving my Kansas City home. Goldbelly offers convenient delivery options and they make sure to pack the food in an insulated box with dry ice so it arrives fresh and delicious.
How does Goldbelly work?
Choose your food adventure!
Go to Goldbelly on a computer or mobile device and let the fun begin.
Search for a favorite chef, iconic restaurant, or particular type of food. I wanted to purchase a meal that was keto-friendly so I specifically searched for Korean BBQ. You can search for lobster rolls, Guy Fieri, or Commander's Palace restaurant.
Be inspired by upcoming holidays. I'm writing this in March 2023 and St. Patrick's Day and Easter food and beverage options are featured on the main page. Whenever you browse you'll see timely holiday inspiration.
Browse by categories. The Goldbelly website has many options when you're not sure what delicious food you're in the mood to order. Click on topics like:
Top Chef Kits
Iconic Eats
Desserts
Bestsellers
Date Night
and many others!
Find foods by region. In the mood for a dish from your hometown? Goldbelly has a clickable map for you to explore food by regions like the west, midwest, northeast, south, and southwest. You can also click on (or search for) popular foodie cities like New Orleans, Nashville, Boston, New York City, or LA.
I decided to purchase a meal that was keto-friendly so I specifically searched for Korean BBQ.
It's something my family loves and we've even made our own Korean barbecue feast at home a few times. It just takes FOREVER since the closest Asian market is an hour round-trip, I spend at least that long in the store browsing for meat and veggie options. I clean and slice veggies, make sauces, marinate meat and seafood, cook rice, and it's really almost an all-day process. By the time we sit down for dinner, I'm exhausted!
See exactly what food is included.
I love that Goldbelly allows you to see many photos (and often videos) of the gourmet food products you will receive. You can visualize what you'll be eating, learn exactly how to prepare it, how many people it will serve, and exactly what you'll get.
When I searched for Korean barbecue a few options came up and I looked at each one before deciding on the Korean BBQ Beef Galbi Kit from Atoya Korean BBQ.
There was an entertaining video showing all the items included in the kit, detailed photos of the marinated meat, and banchan (side dishes).
Contents of the Korean BBQ Kit. Photo Credit: Goldbelly.
See the exact ingredients in your meal kit.
I personally don't want any sketchy, artificial ingredients in my food so I love being able to see the ingredients in the Korean BBQ kit. Ingredients are listed for every meal or food item on Goldbelly.
Learn how to store, cook, and serve your meal.
Each food item will tell you how the food will arrive and how to store the food. For example, my Korean BBQ kit can sit in the fridge for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to two weeks. It mentioned the kimchi will keep in the fridge for up to a month.
Goldbelly also gives detailed cooking instructions.
Purchase your meal.
When you've decided on a meal to order, make any necessary selections (I was able to choose the type of soup), then:
Click ADD TO CART.
Enter your shipping address.
Choose a delivery date. Some items have free shipping, others will have a shipping fee that may vary according to when you want to receive your meal.
Enter payment information.
After you place your order you will receive a confirmation email with all the details.
You will receive Belly Reward points that can be used towards a future purchase.
You will receive emails from Goldbelly when your item ships, a UPS update with shipping status, and an email confirming when your product arrived.
My Goldbelly Korean BBQ review.
You've already heard how I browsed for and choose the Korean barbecue kit I did. Now I'll share photos of my Goldbelly food box (you may be shocked!), how I prepared the food, how it tasted, and would I recommend not only Goldbelly but this particular restaurant, Antoya Korean BBQ.
My Goldbelly shipment arrived exactly on time.
I was so excited (as was my pug, Meatball) to see the big box arrive on the date it was scheduled. We were both super excited to have our Korean barbecue meal.
When I opened the box I could see that the food was wrapped in foil insulation to keep everything cold.
But when I opened the foil package I was shocked to see sauce splattered everywhere!
There was a smaller, foil-wrapped package inside and that too had sauce splatters inside. This was really disappointing.
Looking at the meal components inside, I was certain the food would be safe to eat. Everything was cold. The meat packages were sealed and secure. The rice, soup, and kimchi containers were still sealed.
This is what came in the outer pack of my Goldbelly Korean BBQ shipment.
I also received a bonus. Do you see the entire roll of tape that was sent with my shipment??!! I was more than a little bit surprised to see packing supplies in my order.
The banchan and sauces were in the smaller foil packet.
I’m guessing the screw top jars of sauces failed and that's what caused the sauce explosion.
I'll be honest, I was really, really disappointed. I had a lot of clean-up to do.
I contacted customer service immediately and sent them photos of my box. I'll get to Goldbelly's customer support later in this post. In the meantime, let's talk about something fun - like preparing and actually EATING the Goldbelly meal.
It took just minutes to assemble our korean bbq at home.
My Goldbelly Korean BBQ meal was simple (and fast!) to prepare.
As I mentioned, I've prepared a Korean barbecue feast at home before. I love the bonding experience of grilling meats right at the table, sharing stories and laughs, sampling different banchan (Korean side dishes, often pickled items), creating our own one-of-a-kind plate with or without rice, lettuce wraps, and yummy add-ins like grilled onions or other veggies.
For me, a Korean BBQ novice, it takes TONS of time. Driving to the Asian market, shopping, prepping assorted veggies for grilling, marinating meat, cooking rice, making sure we have TONS of sesame oil (because we love dipping cooked meats into a sesame oil and salt mixture).
One thing I was most looking forward to with my Goldbelly Korean meal was an effortless feast. And it was.
Korean BBQ feast in 6 simple steps:
Ask a tall person to retrieve my tabletop grill and set the table. For Korean barbecue you want tongs for everyone at the table, and chopsticks for those who know how to use them, forks for everyone else. (This is the tabletop grill/hotpot I use and I purchased it on Amazon.)
Open packages and place banchan in bowls for the table.
Spread beef galbi (marinated beef short ribs) on a platter.
Heat the kimchi stew in the hotpot portion of the tabletop grill
Heat the precooked rice in the microwave.
Have your family assemble around the table, turn on the grill, and start cooking!
As you can see from the photo I did add a platter of shrimp and sliced an onion and a few mushrooms. Total prep time was less than 30 minutes.
The Goldbelly Korean BBQ meal was DELICIOUS.
We all loved the galbi marinated short ribs. The meat was tender, flavorful, and thinly sliced which is perfect for tabletop grilling. It was just like the high quality cuts of meat you would find at a Korean restaurant. I love that it was already marinated in authentic Korean seasonings which added flavor and also tenderized the meat.
I am the biggest banchan eater in my family. The guys all focus on the meats, while I love the spicy, or sweet, or acidic taste of pickled vegetables which also cut the richness of the beef short ribs. I enjoyed having a wide variety of sides without having to buy or make my own. This Goldbelly Korean BBQ kit included pickled chayote & jalapeno, pickled cauliflower (my favorite), white kimchi, radish kimchi, and pickled onion.
The kimchi stew was tangy and spicy, as you might imagine. It had chunks of tofu which absorb all of the pungent kimchi flavor. My son, Mark, loved it and I gave him the second package of kimchi stew to take home with him.
The kit also included rice, seaweed, samwon galbi dipping sauce (which I suspect is what leaked all over my meal kit), seasoned soybean paste , and Himalayan pink salt. I used the pink salt to mix with sesame oil for the dipping sauce my family loves.
RELATED: Curious how to eat keto at popular restaurants? See our Restaurant Guides.
Let the party begin! Sorry, people were taking off meat before I could get decent photos, lol.
The Goldbelly Korean BBQ meal was on par with an authentic Korean BBQ restaurant experience.
With the exception of having waiters bring platters of meat and dishes of banchan to the table, the Goldbelly experience was just like what you might expect in a restaurant. We had deliciously seasoned meat, and a wide variety of tangy, flavorful sides. It included rice and several sauces so each person can make each bite or bowlful exactly to their liking.
We were able to eat the meal on our schedule, rather than making a reservation or waiting for a table during the busy dinner rush. It was relaxed, and we could sit around the table chatting, cooking, and eating until we decided we were done. We didn't feel hurried because a restaurant needs to free up our table for other diners.
I liked being able to eat our meal in comfy clothes, having our pug wandering around underfoot, and enjoying the best parts of a Korean barbecue restaurant experience right in our own home.
Cleanup was as easy as washing my tabletop grill and throwing the serving dishes into the dishwasher.
Here is a delicious plate of authentic korean bbq.
The Goldbelly Korean meal kit was a little more than what we would expect to pay at a local Korean BBQ restaurant.
Prices for grill-at-your-table Korean BBQ varies by location (it's more expensive in large cities), and by the cuts of meat you order.
I paid $174.95 for the Antoya Korean BBQ kit which serves 4. I don't think we've ever paid more than $150 for a Korean barbecue experience at a restaurant, and I've enjoyed it locally (Kansas City area) and at a few locations in Las Vegas. I've spent about $125 when purchasing my own meats, sauces, veggies, and sides for a home-made Korean meal.
Goldbelly's mission isn't to provide you with the cheapest meal kit. Rather, they strive to give you an excellent restaurant experience right in your home. Will I ever eat at Antoya's in New York City? Probably not. But now I know the quality of their food and what a meal at their establishment in NYC is like.
Goldbelly brings you food you might never normally have a chance to experience.
Goldbelly Customer Service is next level.
Ok so back to the sauce explosion in my package. I did not question that the meat and meal components were still fresh and safe to eat. But when spending almost $175 for a meal I do expect it to arrive in pristine condition.
Obviously there was a packaging fail.
And did I mention there was an entire roll of packing tape inside my order??? This was a big MISS.
I contacted Goldbelly Customer Support immediately when my order arrived, which was December 28. I received an autoresponder message requesting photos and details, which I sent immediately.
On January 5 I received a response from Goldbelly. Normally I would like my complaint to be addressed sooner, but this was over the holidays. They offered to either contact Antoya Korean BBQ to have them reship a new order or they would credit my account with the amount I paid. I chose the credit.
Goldbelly does not offer refunds. I was happy to have a credit and it seemed like a fair resolution to me.
The kimchi stew was spicy and flavorful.
Pros and cons of ordering from Goldbelly.
Pros of Ordering from Goldbelly:
Choose from hundreds of delicious meals and food items from famous chefs and restaurants all over the country.
Convenience - meals are shipped straight to your doorstep.
Variety - Goldbelly offers a wide selection of different types of food.
Easy to customize - in many instances you can choose meal components and customize the meal to your liking.
You can send meal kits or gourmet food as gifts to friends or family.
Goldbelly has exceptional customer service.
Cons of Ordering from Goldbelly:
Some items ship free, but in other instances shipping costs can add up quickly.
Perishable items have a short shelf life.
Meals may not be as fresh as they would be when ordered directly from the restaurant.
Quality can vary depending on where the food is sourced from.
Items may not be packaged carefully enough to stand up to rough treatment during transit.
Are other customers satisfied with their meal purchases from Goldbelly?
Right now Goldbelly has over 43,000 reviews which average 4.7 stars out of 5. That's overwhelmingly positive. Customers mention the high quality of the meals and the large variety of gourmet food options available.
Additionally, customers have commented on the convenience of having their meals delivered directly to their doorstep. Overall, it seems that Goldbelly has been successful in providing a great customer experience.
I love reviews and encourage you to read the reviews for a meal kit or food item you plan to purchase from Goldbelly.
Goldbelly doesn’t just have savory meals. They also have the most decadent desserts!
Do I recommend Goldbelly?
I do recommend trying Goldbelly if you are looking to taste the food of one of your favorite celebrity chefs or try a meal from a region of the country you'd like to visit, or even sample a meal from an iconic restaurant.
Despite the packaging snafu and sauce explosion in my package, the quality of the food was excellent and it made for a quick and easy Korean BBQ restaurant experience at home, at my convenience.
Customer service responded timely and satisfactorily to my complaint.
I've already ordered from Goldbelly again, this time trying Michael Symon's famous pierogis and kielbasa. And I will be back for Maine lobster rolls!
If you choose to place an order from Goldbelly, click the link below (or any of the links in this post) to get $25 off of your purchase.
--The Keto Minimalist
