This was my first time eating Korean food and it was absolutely amazing! I had the hot Bibimbap and ate every bit of it. I would have licked the bowl, but my tongue would have burned...lol! Thank you for the delicious food. I can't wait to see y'all again soon!
Micah Childress
Extremely rude woman at the counter (red hair and blue(?) eyebrows straight up would not let me order carry out or make modifications to any of the menu items because “it wouldn’t taste good”.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Yennhi Lam
I love this place. very low-key, the service is super nice. good always good and come out pretty fast too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sherrie Dow
I should have walked out after I was rudely spoken to upon my arrival. The food was very salty and poorly presented. The place is dated and dingy looking. I will not be returning to say the least,
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Robert Quaintance
I wish they find Mr. Lee and his mom and bring them back. Something tells me the new owner will not be in business much longer.
This is unfortunate because I used to love this place, but her attitude is atrocious.
Aidan Kim
Visited Arirang Restaurant twice recently and had a mixed, but overall positive experience. While the food ranged from decent to excellent, the interior and overall dining atmosphere left something to be desired.
Atmosphere & Service: The service was friendly both times. The woman serving us—possibly the owner—was welcoming and attentive. On our first visit, the restaurant felt pretty quiet and empty. During the second visit, they turned on a Korean TV channel, which helped liven things up a bit and added some warmth to the setting. One other note: the menu doesn’t clearly list added charges for certain items or modifications. It wasn’t a huge problem for us, but clearer pricing would definitely help avoid surprises.
Visit 1 Highlights: • Shrimp Fried Rice – Not bad, but a bit heavy on the sesame oil. It left my mouth feeling dry, which might just be personal preference. • Tteokbokki – This one wasn’t really to my taste. It might have been closer to a traditional preparation, so I won’t judge it too harshly. • Grilled Fish – Easily the highlight of the meal. Cooked to perfection—crispy outside, soft and flaky inside. • Kimchi Stew – Solid, with a well-balanced flavor. Nothing too bold, but comforting and satisfying.
Visit 2 Highlights: • Mandu Guk (Dumpling Soup) – Very enjoyable. The dumplings were excellent. The soup itself had a slight eggy odor, but that’s expected with an egg-based broth. Didn’t affect the taste much. • Galbi (Short Ribs) – Delicious flavor and great texture. The only downside was inconsistency—one piece had way too much fat. Normally a bit of fat adds richness, but this one was excessive and hard to eat around.
Side Dishes: Compared to other Korean restaurants, the side dishes here are on the smaller side, especially the kimchi and radish portions. Not a huge deal, but noticeable if you’ve eaten at similar places.
Final Thoughts: Arirang Restaurant has its strengths in the kitchen, especially when it comes to dishes like grilled fish, mandu, and galbi. If you’re here mainly for the food, some will likely leave satisfied. But the dated interior and lack of menu clarity hold it back from being a standout spot.
If they improve the space and tighten up their menu communication, this place could easily move up a star.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Era Pradhan
While the 부대찌개 (army stew) was authentic and soo tasty, the price was disappointing . In the menu, it was $39.99, when we were ordering the ahjumma suddenly increased the price to $44.99, and when I wanted to order plain rice separately , they said it’s $3.., ahjumma tried to explain why it was $3 but come on.. $3 for a plain rice?? I really liked the food, but their sudden change in price while ordering was disappointing, not sure if I will be returning
Anthony Perez
Been here many times this year and decided to come back for our one year anniversary of moving here. Same group of people have gone with us everytime and we always order the same thing. This time no appetizer dishes and when I asked about the woman helping us laughed and said something in her language. Unfortunately will not be going back because it felt like racism to all of us.
Wynn M. Pham
I've been coming to Arirang Korean Restaurant for years, but after this visit, I won't be returning. I went in with my mom, wife, and baby boy, expecting a great meal like we used to have here. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing short of disappointing.
First, after taking our order, the server noticed my son and pinched his cheeks--making him cry. Then, she offered him a lollipop... to an 11-month-old baby. Completely inappropriate.
My mom simply asked for hot water, and we were told they don't have any. How does a restaurant not have a way to heat water?
The real disappointment was in the food. This place used to serve 15 banchan (side dishes), but today we received only six, all in tiny portions. Prices have gone up, portions have shrunk, and the service has taken a nosedive. When I asked for more pickled bean sprouts--my favorite--the server refused, saying I had to finish all the other banchan first. What are we, adolescents? I didn't realize we needed to "clean our plates" before we could get a simple refill. That's never happened here or at any other Korean restaurant I've been to. The worst part? We always finish all the banchan dishes because that's what we look forward to the most when we come here. I lost my appetite after that.
On top of that, the service was terrible. She never once came by to refill our water or ask if everything was okay. When we finished eating, we had to flag her down just to ask for a box, because she was sitting at another table with her back turned, gossiping with two other ladies.
When I went to pay, I left no tip due to the poor service. The server then had the audacity to call me out, saying, "Tip is not included, you leave no tip?" I explained the bad service, specifically how she refused a simple refill, and she proceeded to argue with me--justifying it by saying food costs are high and that people waste banchan. That might be true for some, but we're not those customers. Making that assumption about us was insulting. Plus, you made my son cry. I don't know of many strangers who would touch a baby's face like that.
This place used to be a go-to for us, but they've completely lost our support. I love supporting small businesses, but when you start nickel-and-diming customers over basic hospitality and provide awful service on top of it, you ruin the dining experience.
Wynn Pham
I’ve been coming to Arirang Korean Restaurant for years, but after this visit, I won’t be returning. I went in with my mom, wife, and baby boy, expecting a great meal like we used to have here. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing short of disappointing.
First, after taking our order, the server noticed my son and pinched his cheeks—making him cry. Then, she offered him a lollipop… to an 11-month-old baby. Completely inappropriate.
My mom simply asked for hot water, and we were told they don’t have any. How does a restaurant not have a way to heat water?
The real disappointment was in the food. This place used to serve 15 banchan (side dishes), but today we received only six, all in tiny portions. Prices have gone up, portions have shrunk, and the service has taken a nosedive. When I asked for more pickled bean sprouts—my favorite—the server refused, saying I had to finish all the other banchan first. What are we, adolescents? I didn’t realize we needed to “clean our plates” before we could get a simple refill. That’s never happened here or at any other Korean restaurant I’ve been to. The worst part? We always finish all the banchan dishes because that’s what we look forward to the most when we come here. I lost my appetite after that.
On top of that, the service was terrible. She never once came by to refill our water or ask if everything was okay. When we finished eating, we had to flag her down just to ask for a box, because she was sitting at another table with her back turned, gossiping with two other ladies.
When I went to pay, I left no tip due to the poor service. The server then had the audacity to call me out, saying, “Tip is not included, you leave no tip?” I explained the bad service, specifically how she refused a simple refill, and she proceeded to argue with me—justifying it by saying food costs are high and that people waste banchan. That might be true for some, but we’re not those customers. Making that assumption about us was insulting. Plus, you made my son cry. I don’t know of many strangers who would touch a baby’s face like that.
This place used to be a go-to for us, but they’ve completely lost our support. I love supporting small businesses, but when you start nickel-and-diming customers over basic hospitality and provide awful service on top of it, you ruin the dining experience.
Food was over priced, felt we were taken advantage of far as cost goes.
Sylvia Cai
the new management changed a lot of things, especially the service and size of dish.
Kaiting Zhou
Pretty insane!!!👎👎👎👎We group of two were refused to order one combo special and Dukbokie. The reason for refusing is Combo special only service for one person and Dukbokie is appetizer. You can’t order an appetizer and a combo special with group of two. But need to order one more dish which is not appetizer!!? Won’t come back. anymore.
Edmond Liu
Place is super smalll and dark … prices are over priced and service was bad I walked out and went to Korean garden much better!!!
S Moon
First place we came to for Korean food in SC. Good food and nice owners.
This was my first time eating Korean food and it was absolutely amazing! I had the hot Bibimbap and ate every bit of it. I would have licked the bowl, but my tongue would have burned...lol! Thank you for the delicious food. I can't wait to see y'all again soon!
Extremely rude woman at the counter (red hair and blue(?) eyebrows straight up would not let me order carry out or make modifications to any of the menu items because “it wouldn’t taste good”.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
I love this place. very low-key, the service is super nice. good always good and come out pretty fast too
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I should have walked out after I was rudely spoken to upon my arrival. The food was very salty and poorly presented. The place is dated and dingy looking. I will not be returning to say the least,
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I wish they find Mr. Lee and his mom and bring them back. Something tells me the new owner will not be in business much longer.
This is unfortunate because I used to love this place, but her attitude is atrocious.
Visited Arirang Restaurant twice recently and had a mixed, but overall positive experience. While the food ranged from decent to excellent, the interior and overall dining atmosphere left something to be desired.
Atmosphere & Service:
The service was friendly both times. The woman serving us—possibly the owner—was welcoming and attentive. On our first visit, the restaurant felt pretty quiet and empty. During the second visit, they turned on a Korean TV channel, which helped liven things up a bit and added some warmth to the setting.
One other note: the menu doesn’t clearly list added charges for certain items or modifications. It wasn’t a huge problem for us, but clearer pricing would definitely help avoid surprises.
Visit 1 Highlights:
• Shrimp Fried Rice – Not bad, but a bit heavy on the sesame oil. It left my mouth feeling dry, which might just be personal preference.
• Tteokbokki – This one wasn’t really to my taste. It might have been closer to a traditional preparation, so I won’t judge it too harshly.
• Grilled Fish – Easily the highlight of the meal. Cooked to perfection—crispy outside, soft and flaky inside.
• Kimchi Stew – Solid, with a well-balanced flavor. Nothing too bold, but comforting and satisfying.
Visit 2 Highlights:
• Mandu Guk (Dumpling Soup) – Very enjoyable. The dumplings were excellent. The soup itself had a slight eggy odor, but that’s expected with an egg-based broth. Didn’t affect the taste much.
• Galbi (Short Ribs) – Delicious flavor and great texture. The only downside was inconsistency—one piece had way too much fat. Normally a bit of fat adds richness, but this one was excessive and hard to eat around.
Side Dishes:
Compared to other Korean restaurants, the side dishes here are on the smaller side, especially the kimchi and radish portions. Not a huge deal, but noticeable if you’ve eaten at similar places.
Final Thoughts:
Arirang Restaurant has its strengths in the kitchen, especially when it comes to dishes like grilled fish, mandu, and galbi. If you’re here mainly for the food, some will likely leave satisfied. But the dated interior and lack of menu clarity hold it back from being a standout spot.
If they improve the space and tighten up their menu communication, this place could easily move up a star.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
While the 부대찌개 (army stew) was authentic and soo tasty, the price was disappointing . In the menu, it was $39.99, when we were ordering the ahjumma suddenly increased the price to $44.99, and when I wanted to order plain rice separately , they said it’s $3.., ahjumma tried to explain why it was $3 but come on.. $3 for a plain rice?? I really liked the food, but their sudden change in price while ordering was disappointing, not sure if I will be returning
Been here many times this year and decided to come back for our one year anniversary of moving here. Same group of people have gone with us everytime and we always order the same thing. This time no appetizer dishes and when I asked about the woman helping us laughed and said something in her language. Unfortunately will not be going back because it felt like racism to all of us.
I've been coming to Arirang Korean Restaurant for years, but after this visit, I won't be returning. I went in with my mom, wife, and baby boy, expecting a great meal like we used to have here. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing short of disappointing. First, after taking our order, the server noticed my son and pinched his cheeks--making him cry. Then, she offered him a lollipop... to an 11-month-old baby. Completely inappropriate. My mom simply asked for hot water, and we were told they don't have any. How does a restaurant not have a way to heat water? The real disappointment was in the food. This place used to serve 15 banchan (side dishes), but today we received only six, all in tiny portions. Prices have gone up, portions have shrunk, and the service has taken a nosedive. When I asked for more pickled bean sprouts--my favorite--the server refused, saying I had to finish all the other banchan first. What are we, adolescents? I didn't realize we needed to "clean our plates" before we could get a simple refill. That's never happened here or at any other Korean restaurant I've been to. The worst part? We always finish all the banchan dishes because that's what we look forward to the most when we come here. I lost my appetite after that. On top of that, the service was terrible. She never once came by to refill our water or ask if everything was okay. When we finished eating, we had to flag her down just to ask for a box, because she was sitting at another table with her back turned, gossiping with two other ladies. When I went to pay, I left no tip due to the poor service. The server then had the audacity to call me out, saying, "Tip is not included, you leave no tip?" I explained the bad service, specifically how she refused a simple refill, and she proceeded to argue with me--justifying it by saying food costs are high and that people waste banchan. That might be true for some, but we're not those customers. Making that assumption about us was insulting. Plus, you made my son cry. I don't know of many strangers who would touch a baby's face like that. This place used to be a go-to for us, but they've completely lost our support. I love supporting small businesses, but when you start nickel-and-diming customers over basic hospitality and provide awful service on top of it, you ruin the dining experience.
I’ve been coming to Arirang Korean Restaurant for years, but after this visit, I won’t be returning. I went in with my mom, wife, and baby boy, expecting a great meal like we used to have here. Unfortunately, the experience was nothing short of disappointing.
First, after taking our order, the server noticed my son and pinched his cheeks—making him cry. Then, she offered him a lollipop… to an 11-month-old baby. Completely inappropriate.
My mom simply asked for hot water, and we were told they don’t have any. How does a restaurant not have a way to heat water?
The real disappointment was in the food. This place used to serve 15 banchan (side dishes), but today we received only six, all in tiny portions. Prices have gone up, portions have shrunk, and the service has taken a nosedive. When I asked for more pickled bean sprouts—my favorite—the server refused, saying I had to finish all the other banchan first. What are we, adolescents? I didn’t realize we needed to “clean our plates” before we could get a simple refill. That’s never happened here or at any other Korean restaurant I’ve been to. The worst part? We always finish all the banchan dishes because that’s what we look forward to the most when we come here. I lost my appetite after that.
On top of that, the service was terrible. She never once came by to refill our water or ask if everything was okay. When we finished eating, we had to flag her down just to ask for a box, because she was sitting at another table with her back turned, gossiping with two other ladies.
When I went to pay, I left no tip due to the poor service. The server then had the audacity to call me out, saying, “Tip is not included, you leave no tip?” I explained the bad service, specifically how she refused a simple refill, and she proceeded to argue with me—justifying it by saying food costs are high and that people waste banchan. That might be true for some, but we’re not those customers. Making that assumption about us was insulting. Plus, you made my son cry. I don’t know of many strangers who would touch a baby’s face like that.
This place used to be a go-to for us, but they’ve completely lost our support. I love supporting small businesses, but when you start nickel-and-diming customers over basic hospitality and provide awful service on top of it, you ruin the dining experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was over priced, felt we were taken advantage of far as cost goes.
the new management changed a lot of things, especially the service and size of dish.
Pretty insane!!!👎👎👎👎We group of two were refused to order one combo special and Dukbokie. The reason for refusing is Combo special only service for one person and Dukbokie is appetizer. You can’t order an appetizer and a combo special with group of two. But need to order one more dish which is not appetizer!!? Won’t come back. anymore.
Place is super smalll and dark … prices are over priced and service was bad I walked out and went to Korean garden much better!!!
First place we came to for Korean food in SC. Good food and nice owners.
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