I love Charim! I used to frequent this space way back when it was School Zone....and a decade later - under new ownership, the food is not only better, but the menu is way more diverse! Excellent kimbap!
Igor O.
Kimchi was not tasty and you have to buy a large container. Certain products like fried chicken are not available daily. When available they are not refrigerated and stand on a table at room temp. Not sure it’s safe to leave cooked food out on a table at room temp for the whole day, never seen any food service place do that. Either kept cold or warm like a hot bar. Calling for product availability is a waste of time.
Aaron S.A.
We are so lucky to have this in the area, and it’s a must visit. This is Korean food but made with the highest quality freshest ingredients.
No cheap chemical flavor enhancers or excessive sodium. It’s what your halmoni would make at home. You will taste vegetables and meat as they’re meant to taste.
And it’s worth every cent: it’s ridiculous to assume Korean food made at a high level with the best ingredients isn’t as deserving of its worth when people will show off they paid $40 for mediocre pasta or sushi or even lifestyle items. What I ate here felt like the cleanest, freshest food I’ve had in months and I just got back from Seoul.
Sandy the owner deserves praise and renown. She’s also incredibly friendly and talks about food with passion and joy.
Anthony Bourdain said he wished he had the Korean restaurants when he was growing up in this area. I wish he could’ve tried the gimbap here.
Pro tip: the table items are meant to be eaten as fresh as possible. It’s not convenience or grocery store food kept in a cooler. There’s a board behind the counter with various fully cooked dishes and meat like bibimbap, or lunch and dinner sets with bulgogi or kalbi, you can order ahead online.
JJ H
Clean, healthful, and carefully-made Korean food that makes you feel good. I travel all the way from Dutchess County, NY to shop here regularly. A bit pricey but totally worth it. Staff is super welcoming and nice too ?
Brian Chang
The food here is very good and of excellent quality. I believe the reason for people's responses varying so much (5 stars or 1 star) is because of people's expectations so I'm going to try to clarify the confusion for everyone: 1) Is Charim a restaurant or Korean foodmart? In my opinion, it's neither, or kind of like an in between. It's not a restaurant per se, but it's not an H-Mart or HanNam korean grocery market either. (I'll explain more in detail how Charim is different later.) So people who purchase on uber eats or grub hub thinking it's a restaurant, its NOT a restaurant. It's food that's been already made, but you have to heat it up yourself. But it's a LOT higher quality than a korean market. (NOTE: they also offer marinated raw meats and other dishes that need to actually cooked.)
2) The type of clientele and their expectations: We have one group of people who are looking for high quality food prepared with top notch organic ingredients and we have another group of people expecting korean H-mart prices and are not as concerned with the quality, MSG, etc. Analogy: 5 stars are coming from people who primarily shop organic at whole foods/trader joes and the 1 stars are coming from people who don't care or can't tell the difference b/w organic, GMO, MSG, etc.
I'm going to give an example that may help give a clearer picture of how Charim is different than other places. Japchae (korean noodle veggie dish), for example, most places (restaurants included) will just throw all the veggie ingredients and cook them altogether and make the noodle dish pretty quickly. BUT the proper and tastiest way of making japchae is to cook each type of vegetable separately with no cross contamination. That is why it is so time consuming to make properly. When japchae is made in this manner, the depth of flavor and layers of flavor really come out with each veggie ingredient. Each bite is unique in a sense. The quick easy way, cooking all the veggies together, the flavors are all mixed together and the japchae is a uniform flavor and not as good.
Charim takes the time to make it in this manner with organic top notch ingredients. For those of you with sensitive palates, or epicurists or true foodies, you will taste the difference from the japchae at charim vs other places.
Their quality of meat is also much better than even restaurants. Our toddler children prefer Charim's Galbi Tang meat over the restaurant's Galbi Tang. (I'll leave the name of the restaurant out, but it's very close by.)
So if you want cheap korean food, go to a korean mart and buy the MSG laden food and lower quality and be done with it. If you want high quality food, the type you would want and make yourself, then go to Charim.
Lilac Sky
Charim has a high-quality, organic, fresh food selection. Not to mention, it’s delicious! I’m budget conscious but their offerings are worth every dollar. After all, your health is your wealth.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sandy lee
I have a 19 month old and Charim is the only place I trust and regularly bring home banchan and soups for her ever since she started solids! I’m so thankful to the owner for giving my family the option for organic, clean, and tasty everyday Korean food. I especially love their japchae and always grab one
Diana J
Super expensive but yummy
Joshua Karchem
I splurge on stuff from here all the time. Everything they sell makes me feel like I just ate something incredibly nutritious. I have no idea whether it's "genuine Korean food" but everyone else shopping in there is always speaking Korean and they probably know what's up. I keep wanting to try all these cheaper places around there that look really good, but it usually leaves me feeling gross afterwards.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aleksey Katkov
I had the pleasure of experiencing the catering services provided by Charim, a delightful Korean restaurant, since they have opened in Fort Lee. Food is absolutely delicious, with each dish bursting with authentic Korean flavors that transported me back to the streets of Seoul. The presentation is always impeccable, showcasing not only the culinary mastery of the chef but also her attention to detail (I had great pleasure to meet her in person). Whether it is the perfectly marinated bulgogi, the flavorful bibimbap, or the mouthwatering array of banchans, every bite was a culinary delight. Additionally, the staff are always incredibly accommodating. I highly recommend Charim’s catering services. Whether you’re hosting a compnay event or a casual gathering with friends, their delicious Korean cuisine is sure to impress even the most discerning palates. Million stars! Thank you, Sandy!
Charim only serves high quality food with no additives like msg or preservatives. It's really like buying someone's home cooked food made with the best ingredients. Of course the price point is inevitably higher than the banchan you'd get at big Asian markets, but I think few dollars more per item is well worth knowing you're nourishing your body with high quality food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeanie Park
Charim is my go-to place when I am craving fresh, good quality Korean dishes. Some of my family’s favorites are the bone shank broth, kimbap, japchae, and popcorn tofu. I have been a regular since their opening and have always been impressed by the presentation as well as their daily efforts in creating exceptional dishes with the absolute best ingredients!On a side note: Sandy, the owner is a genuinely kind person and has always greeted me with a warm hello every time I stopped by. :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K K
I love going here for clean high quality food. My kid has many sensitivities to food and this is one of the few places where he doesn’t have flare ups (due to flavor enhancers, high cane sugar, high salt, etc). Also the owner is so honest and friendly.. she is transparent with the ingredients and helped a lot with food selections for my child. All the banchan and dishes tastes amazing and the quality is really incomparable to other places. Thank you for being so trustworthy and providing us with amazing clean food!How important food ingredients are to your health, so please always use organic, high-quality ingredients like you do now~ ❤️ You always welcome me with kindness and the food is clean and delicious.. Thank you so much!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karen Paek
I love this place so so much. Such clean, healthy Korean food but at the same time so delicious. My favorite are the jeon (pancakes) and the variety of stews that remind me of my mom's home-cooked meals (but healthier :D). Oh also the dumplings. I also truly appreciate that the food containers are made from cornstarch since I'm always worried about plastic chemicals leeching into my food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JH Youn
Highly recommend this place if you look for some high quality Korean homemade style food. Clean taste and fresh ingredients that those in the know will recognize. I'm so glad that there is a side dish store of this quality in this neighborhood. If cost-effectiveness is important to you, you may want to go to other side dish stores that smell of musty side dishes as soon as you open the door.
I love Charim! I used to frequent this space way back when it was School Zone....and a decade later - under new ownership, the food is not only better, but the menu is way more diverse! Excellent kimbap!
Kimchi was not tasty and you have to buy a large container. Certain products like fried chicken are not available daily. When available they are not refrigerated and stand on a table at room temp. Not sure it’s safe to leave cooked food out on a table at room temp for the whole day, never seen any food service place do that. Either kept cold or warm like a hot bar. Calling for product availability is a waste of time.
We are so lucky to have this in the area, and it’s a must visit. This is Korean food but made with the highest quality freshest ingredients.
No cheap chemical flavor enhancers or excessive sodium. It’s what your halmoni would make at home. You will taste vegetables and meat as they’re meant to taste.
And it’s worth every cent: it’s ridiculous to assume Korean food made at a high level with the best ingredients isn’t as deserving of its worth when people will show off they paid $40 for mediocre pasta or sushi or even lifestyle items. What I ate here felt like the cleanest, freshest food I’ve had in months and I just got back from Seoul.
Sandy the owner deserves praise and renown. She’s also incredibly friendly and talks about food with passion and joy.
Anthony Bourdain said he wished he had the Korean restaurants when he was growing up in this area. I wish he could’ve tried the gimbap here.
Pro tip: the table items are meant to be eaten as fresh as possible. It’s not convenience or grocery store food kept in a cooler. There’s a board behind the counter with various fully cooked dishes and meat like bibimbap, or lunch and dinner sets with bulgogi or kalbi, you can order ahead online.
Clean, healthful, and carefully-made Korean food that makes you feel good. I travel all the way from Dutchess County, NY to shop here regularly. A bit pricey but totally worth it. Staff is super welcoming and nice too ?
The food here is very good and of excellent quality. I believe the reason for people's responses varying so much (5 stars or 1 star) is because of people's expectations so I'm going to try to clarify the confusion for everyone:
1) Is Charim a restaurant or Korean foodmart?
In my opinion, it's neither, or kind of like an in between. It's not a restaurant per se, but it's not an H-Mart or HanNam korean grocery market either. (I'll explain more in detail how Charim is different later.)
So people who purchase on uber eats or grub hub thinking it's a restaurant, its NOT a restaurant. It's food that's been already made, but you have to heat it up yourself. But it's a LOT higher quality than a korean market. (NOTE: they also offer marinated raw meats and other dishes that need to actually cooked.)
2) The type of clientele and their expectations:
We have one group of people who are looking for high quality food prepared with top notch organic ingredients and we have another group of people expecting korean H-mart prices and are not as concerned with the quality, MSG, etc.
Analogy: 5 stars are coming from people who primarily shop organic at whole foods/trader joes and the 1 stars are coming from people who don't care or can't tell the difference b/w organic, GMO, MSG, etc.
I'm going to give an example that may help give a clearer picture of how Charim is different than other places. Japchae (korean noodle veggie dish), for example, most places (restaurants included) will just throw all the veggie ingredients and cook them altogether and make the noodle dish pretty quickly. BUT the proper and tastiest way of making japchae is to cook each type of vegetable separately with no cross contamination. That is why it is so time consuming to make properly. When japchae is made in this manner, the depth of flavor and layers of flavor really come out with each veggie ingredient. Each bite is unique in a sense. The quick easy way, cooking all the veggies together, the flavors are all mixed together and the japchae is a uniform flavor and not as good.
Charim takes the time to make it in this manner with organic top notch ingredients. For those of you with sensitive palates, or epicurists or true foodies, you will taste the difference from the japchae at charim vs other places.
Their quality of meat is also much better than even restaurants. Our toddler children prefer Charim's Galbi Tang meat over the restaurant's Galbi Tang. (I'll leave the name of the restaurant out, but it's very close by.)
So if you want cheap korean food, go to a korean mart and buy the MSG laden food and lower quality and be done with it. If you want high quality food, the type you would want and make yourself, then go to Charim.
Charim has a high-quality, organic, fresh food selection. Not to mention, it’s delicious! I’m budget conscious but their offerings are worth every dollar. After all, your health is your wealth.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have a 19 month old and Charim is the only place I trust and regularly bring home banchan and soups for her ever since she started solids! I’m so thankful to the owner for giving my family the option for organic, clean, and tasty everyday Korean food. I especially love their japchae and always grab one
Super expensive but yummy
I splurge on stuff from here all the time. Everything they sell makes me feel like I just ate something incredibly nutritious. I have no idea whether it's "genuine Korean food" but everyone else shopping in there is always speaking Korean and they probably know what's up. I keep wanting to try all these cheaper places around there that look really good, but it usually leaves me feeling gross afterwards.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the pleasure of experiencing the catering services provided by Charim, a delightful Korean restaurant, since they have opened in Fort Lee. Food is absolutely delicious, with each dish bursting with authentic Korean flavors that transported me back to the streets of Seoul. The presentation is always impeccable, showcasing not only the culinary mastery of the chef but also her attention to detail (I had great pleasure to meet her in person). Whether it is the perfectly marinated bulgogi, the flavorful bibimbap, or the mouthwatering array of banchans, every bite was a culinary delight. Additionally, the staff are always incredibly accommodating. I highly recommend Charim’s catering services. Whether you’re hosting a compnay event or a casual gathering with friends, their delicious Korean cuisine is sure to impress even the most discerning palates. Million stars! Thank you, Sandy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Charim only serves high quality food with no additives like msg or preservatives. It's really like buying someone's home cooked food made with the best ingredients. Of course the price point is inevitably higher than the banchan you'd get at big Asian markets, but I think few dollars more per item is well worth knowing you're nourishing your body with high quality food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charim is my go-to place when I am craving fresh, good quality Korean dishes. Some of my family’s favorites are the bone shank broth, kimbap, japchae, and popcorn tofu. I have been a regular since their opening and have always been impressed by the presentation as well as their daily efforts in creating exceptional dishes with the absolute best ingredients!On a side note: Sandy, the owner is a genuinely kind person and has always greeted me with a warm hello every time I stopped by. :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love going here for clean high quality food. My kid has many sensitivities to food and this is one of the few places where he doesn’t have flare ups (due to flavor enhancers, high cane sugar, high salt, etc). Also the owner is so honest and friendly.. she is transparent with the ingredients and helped a lot with food selections for my child. All the banchan and dishes tastes amazing and the quality is really incomparable to other places. Thank you for being so trustworthy and providing us with amazing clean food!How important food ingredients are to your health, so please always use organic, high-quality ingredients like you do now~ ❤️ You always welcome me with kindness and the food is clean and delicious.. Thank you so much!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love this place so so much. Such clean, healthy Korean food but at the same time so delicious. My favorite are the jeon (pancakes) and the variety of stews that remind me of my mom's home-cooked meals (but healthier :D). Oh also the dumplings. I also truly appreciate that the food containers are made from cornstarch since I'm always worried about plastic chemicals leeching into my food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Highly recommend this place if you look for some high quality Korean homemade style food. Clean taste and fresh ingredients that those in the know will recognize. I'm so glad that there is a side dish store of this quality in this neighborhood. If cost-effectiveness is important to you, you may want to go to other side dish stores that smell of musty side dishes as soon as you open the door.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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