FOOD REVIEW: Gogi Marami Premium Unlimited Buffet & Korean BBQ

The Southies, as residents from the south of Manila are often called, have a new go-to spot for Korean BBQ, and it’s open 24 hours a day. Gogi Marami Premium Unlimited Buffet & Korean BBQ is located in the Madrigal Business Park area of Alabang, Muntinlupa and offers a well-rounded Korean BBQ experience with all the crowd favorites. For a reasonable price, you can cook and eat all you can for a couple of hours and create your own personalized flavor experience.

We’re used to seeing convenience stores and fast food chains open 24 hours a day; however, a KBBQ place? Not so much. This is a great addition to the booming food and beverage industry in Alabang, as the competition is only beginning to grow. Almost directly behind the Molito dining complex, this restaurant will probably always have customers coming, after all, it is surrounded by quite a few large office buildings and condominiums. 

Let’s talk food. My first observation is that the buffet station never had an empty platter, dish, or bowl. Every time something was halfway through or low, the staff would quickly refill it. And I noticed that as they refill, they also clean and wipe down the countertops or any spills that there may be. Keeping the buffet table tidy and well-stocked really speaks to the work ethic and commitment of the staff and management to giving their customers the best service and experience. The staff also kept an eye on the grills and promptly changed them out as well as adjusting the heat settings when the build-up of char and smoke was noticeable. 

The buffet section, although not very large, has all the common Korean favourites. I’m not sure if the buffet menu varies by day or month; however, when I was there, there was fried chicken, calamares, Korean pancakes, stir-fried pork, buttered shrimp, tteokbeokki, various kimbaps, japchae, and more. When it comes to the meat section for the KBBQ, there was quite a selection. They offered both regular and thinly sliced pork belly, jowls, pork collar, beef, and other cuts, either plain or marinated. 

For the sides, of course, there was lettuce to make your wraps. If you’re not craving the greens, that’s not a problem; they had marbled potatoes, bean sprout salad, fishcakes, enoki mushrooms, pickled radish, and two kinds of kimchi to choose from. When it comes to the condiments and accoutrements of cooking your chosen meat or creating your lettuce wrap, they have it all. Shredded leek, sliced garlic, chillies, onions, soybean paste, red sauce, and a few others. The flavor combinations you can make are quite endless. 

They also have an option to cook your own ramen noodles or soup if you would like. You can grab all the ingredients and necessary utensils, take them to your table, and cook them right by the grill. They also have a dessert and drinks station. The dessert at the time was a refreshing fruit salad and some type of cold jelly dish. For drinks, they had quite a few to choose from; however, not everything is part of the initial price you pay. If you plan to get sodas, beer, or soju, those will cost extra on top of the buffet price. 

The price is good value for money in my opinion, especially when you consider that the buffet station has a varied selection of dishes. For lunch, it is Php599 ($10) per head, and for dinner, it is Php699 ($11.50). On nights when you don’t know where or what to eat, try out this place. There’s a little bit of everything, from meat to seafood, vegetables, sides, and dessert. You’ll definitely leave satisfied. To add to that, it is located in a fairly quiet area during the day and night, especially on weekdays, and there are a few parking areas near the establishment, making it easily accessible.