We saw a post on FB asking for support and we love Korean food so...that was enough to send us to Arirang. We ordered Beef Bulgogi, Pork Bulgogi, Kimchi Pancake, Fried Rice and Egg Rolls. The food was all delicious! The Bulgogis each had that deep rich flavor that you hope for. The pork had a little more spice but not too much. The pancake was flavor packed but wasn't overly spicy or "pickley". The fried rice and egg rolls we also classically delicious. Six egg rolls in an order! The staff is still working on getting processes and systems locked down. The hours on Yelp are not 100% accurate. They are going to get prep, systems and flow dialed in and will soon been as great as their food. read more

The 3 dishes we had were very good my wife loved the Mackerel, we both enjoyed the Ojingeo Bokeum. The service was personal and very nice read more

Wow I basically found the St. Paul equivalent of Don Yang (Columbia Heights), our favorite Korean deli. The difference is that at this place the prices are actually reasonable, whereas other Korean places in Minneapolis have lost their minds on pricing. It's located in a non-descript building on 7th in the Dayton Bluffs neighborhood by Metro State U. The food is fantastic and they are just a Korean family with a Latino helper that crank out authentic Korean fare. I ordered the Kim Chi Stew (#17) which comes with Kim Chi, Pork, Rice Cake, Veggies, and Tofu in a spicy broth. The meal comes with white rice, and the usual assorted pickled Korean goodies. Beware this is Korean spicy, so it builds as you eat. You might sweat...a lot, depending on your spice tolerance. For non-spicy diners there are plenty of choices as well. I would recommend getting the Beef Bulgogi (#6) of course, or the Dok Bulgogi (#8) (BBQ Chicken breast.) Service was quick and cordial, you order at the counter, there is zero ambiance in the place, typical of these types of Asian Deli's. I loved it and definitely will be back when I'm in the neighborhood again read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - #17 Kimchee Stew - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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This is a hidden gem in St.Paul for Korean food. If you have been to Korea, the food and service is exactly like in Korea. I go here for Korean comfort food that is not Americanized. The place has 10-12 tables. The decor is beautiful, nothing spectacular, but the place is clean. They have 1 TV usually playing Korean entertainment. The menu is big and for those not familiar with Korea they have pictures of the dishes posted with descriptions of the dish. They have a selection of soda and Korean drinks. They also have a water cooler for free water. Portions are big. One dish is good for a very hungry person or 2 light appetites. They really are a 3 person operation, so during busy times expect to wait to have your order taken. Staff is nice, quiet, and not overly friendly or chatty. I promise the food is worth the wait. Also their credit card machine is slow. I'd bring cash, but not necessary. Kids: No specific kids menu, but Korean food is family style. There are plenty of options for kids on the menu. I only wish they didn't use styrofoam cups and takeout boxes. The utensils are metal which is a big plus. read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - Kimchi soup and sides! - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

You've got to eat here if you enjoy Korean cuisine. My husband and I decided to give it a try, not knowing what to expect. It did not disappoint. Food arrived quickly and was perfecly flavored and hot. Not one bad dish in this hideaway of a restaurant. If you prefer fancy settings, don't come here. The cooks are about the food. We will be back. Well worth the journey to East Side, St. Paul. read more

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I love this place so much! We have ordered twice from here in the past couple months and we always order too much So we can have leftovers. The seafood pancake is a must have and we always get it! There is so much seafood in it and the dipping sauce is delicious. The beef bulgogi is my personal favorite! I absolutely love the sauce and the amount of onions in it! Mmm! And the rice that comes with it-just white and yet SO GOOD! We also always get the Bimbibop and the kimchi accoutrements are always changing and very delicious! The kimchi is too spicy for me and my partner loves it! I appreciate that this place has strong and delicious flavors. One day in the future I hope to be able to eat inside. Until then I will keep getting take-out from one of my favorite neighborhood spots! read more

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Overall (1.9 stars composite score): Great food and nice portions. Horrible service and we almost froze to death due to their not wanting to turn on their heater. They also did an awful job with Covid prevention. I'm overriding my 2 star to 1 star because they put their customers in danger by not respecting Covid precautions. Food/Drink (80% 1.5 star total): 1.2 stars Curry pork cutlet. Meat was overcooked. Sauce was decent Dogani Tang. Ox bone stew with sliced beef and tendon. SO tasty. Clear noodles and big taste. Teok Kuk. Beef soup with rice cakes and veggies in an egg flower base. Super homestyle and very warming. Service (0% of 1.5 star total): Super unfriendly service. The chef/server spoke very little English and didn't seem to care about us. We wrote an item down wrong and got the wrong item. When we mistakenly said the item was wrong, the lady pushed the notepad back at us with contempt. Not nice . Server came to our table with mask below his nose. DUDE Covid!!! They don't block off tables for social distancing as well. On top of that, the kitchen helper was walking around the room with NO mask on at ALL. No one in the kitchen was masked, making food preparation a concern. Value (70% of 1 star total): Good sized portions for the money. Korean food is usually more expensive than other foods. Atmosphere (0% of 1 star total): It was freezing inside and they refused to turn the heater up. Bad move given it was below zero outside. 40 degrees inside isn't helpful for the ambiance This place is small and cramped. Bathroom was dirty and the light didn't work. read more

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I'm so happy and excited that there is now a place to get Korean food on the Eastside (besides Gangnam in Maplewood). For those who have been to Korea Restaurant at the U of M for delicious Korean food- this is the same owner and sister restaurant. Since they just opened- it was pretty busy and service was a bit slow when we went for dinner but we were able to get a table, plus overall still the same great flavors and selections as the one by the U. How to order: menu is on the wall, you say your order and pay, you will get your receipt with a number, once your order is ready your number will show up on the number board for you to pick up (you will here a ding like sound), when you pick up your food there is also napkins and utensils on the size. Pros: -Great authentic Korean food -friendly staff -good selection/good size menu Cons: -you get less sides than the one by the U -no parking lot, just street parking (located on a weird intersection) -small place, only 8-10 tables read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Finally stopped in after considering this place a few times. It doesn't look like much from the outside (or really the inside either) but the food is delicious and the people are wonderful! We had the kim bob, seafood pancake, and beef bulgogi - all so, so good! Then the proprietress brought us out a fresh and delicious egg drop soup just because! She is delightful and earnestly wanted us to enjoy the food. Which we very much did! Leftovers were even better the next day - plus no "surprise" visits to the bathroom, if you know what I mean ;) read more

It's a small homey hole in the wall you don't want to miss. The pork was spicy but I like that. Staff was busy but super nice. I enjoyed my visit and will go back again! read more

The food here is delicious! Beef bulgogi! Short ribs! Kim bop! The kimchi is superb! Brings back memories from lees Korean bbq in Las Vegas! Just wish they had parking. read more

Started out very promising based on the tasty food, but we had a very weird experience with the bill which drops this down from four to two stars. Be sure to check the bill before you leave the table...our dishes were 12.99 on the menu but 13.99 on the bill. We were going to let that slide but the guy didn't want to give us our change. The whole "you don't need change, do you?" seemed very weird when we gave him a $50 for what should have been a $35 meal, tops. When I insisted, he finally showed us the bill which had an automatic 15% gratuity. Maybe I missed that on the menu, but if the customer asks to see the actual bill and wants her change back, please just give it back! read more

Their sign says no credit card but they accept Venmo and Paypal. I tried to pay with Venmo and Paypal and the guy working there told me cash only. Okay... But your sign says otherwise. Guess I'll eat somewhere else. read more

I came into this place for an early dinner after missing lunch. I was one of two tables so you know the time to visit. There was ample street parking. I had the dolsot bi bim bop and paid for extra meat. I didn't need to because they were so generous with everything else. I couldn't finish the food. I love the crusty rice in the bowl. You also get a bowl of soup. The seasoning was great and it was on par with any of the good places in the Twin Cities. The value is amazing. The restaurant is no frills. The bathroom as expected. read more

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My updated review is right, but the rating was wrong. Also an update: They now have the cook from the original Korea Restaurant. The interior has also come a long way, as they painted and added a TV that plays K-pop. read more

Korean Cuisine is without a doubt one of my favorite Cuisines in the world. Thankfully the Twin Cities has a few Korean Restaurants to choose from. But I felt that during the past few years many of those Korean Restaurants have been losing their touch and many of them taste too similar. And the prices I feel are kinda steep for what I am paying for. This restaurant however isn't one of them. A small place located in a mostly Hispanic part of town, it really kinda hides itself as there isn't a big sign or really much on the outside to advertise it's existence. However if you do find it and go in you will be greeted with the smells of Korean soups and grilled foods. Their seating area is small but their menu is diverse with legit authentic Korean food items, such as Sundae a delicious Korean blood sausage! I ordered the Budae Chigae and my sister was in the mood for the Jajang Meon. For the prices we were expecting smaller portions but instead we got generous portions of food, more than most other Korean restaurants would give you, especially for the price! Also we each got our own sets of Banchan (diverse and tasty Korean side dishes)! Thankfully when we came it wasn't busy so we got a table. The Budae Chigae aka Army Stew was fantastic! Served up in a simmering shallow pot it is both spicy and slightly sour. I am guessing the broth is of a Kimchi base as it does have that sour kimchi flavor to it and there is kimchi in the soup. Also in the soup is various veggies, tofu, noodles, beef, spam, hot dogs, and sausage. Probably doesn't sound good to most folks but all these items soaked in that broth is a winning combo for me My sister got a big and I mean big generous portion of Jajang Meon (Noodles in a black bean sauce) all to herself. I am not a fan of Jajang Meon but my sister loved it and said it was the best Jajang Meon she has ever had! The place is very much self serve which I like, no need to wait for someone to tend to your needs. They also got a tv playing various Korean music videos but it was on mute when we were there. The owners seem nice and the food as stated earlier is great! So for the quality, portions, and price I would have to say this is my new favorite Korean restaurant in town! read more

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I miss this restaurant so much! Never failed to have an incredible meal here. Wonderful restaurant with amazing cooks, staff and menu. Much gratitude to everyone who made this restaurant the gift that it was. read more

Decent place to dine in if you are looking for some Korean food on the east side of Saint Paul. Very limited street parking. Fast service. The food is cooked right front of you, so be prepared to come out smelling like Korean food. The portions are extremely large so I suggest sharing food. read more

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First time trying this place, I ordered the Japche dish yesterday after perusing the menu for quite a bit, and wasn't impressed. It was a generous amount of food, but was lacking in taste and had no pop, (like I've come to expect from Korean music and food). It was a one note dish. $15 is also few dollars more than some other places around town serving much better tasting food. I will say the people there were really friendly. I'm probably try it again, definitely a different dish next time though. read more

This place is literally a hole in a wall. If you weren't actually looking for this place, you might've passed it up. Honestly though everything here is so cute and quaint. The food here taste like home made and it is also very delicious. I came here with a friend and I have enjoyed everything we ordered. From the spicy rice cake to the kimchi pancake. Their side dishes are delicious too! read more

We are very very glad, the best Korean restaurant in twin cities stil here. We thought they retired when their location in U campus closed . This establishment is very authentic Korean !, For those craving for real Korean food , like us. We used to be only going to Chicago or to the Coasts to look for Authentic Korean years ago. We drove from South Metro to come here. read more

Food: ** Atmosphere: - Service: * I'm judging this place lightly. I mean it really is a hole in the wall. I suggest take outs. The food was ok, but there's really 2 Korean place in the maplewood area, this one and Gangnam. While Gangnam goes for the light flavor approach, Korea eatery enhances everything. We enjoy the stew the most. The galbi meat needs to be more tender and the seafood pancake was quite doughy for my taste. Sides are limited and seems old. But refillable for free! read more

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This whole-in-the-wall Korean place was pretty decent. I enjoyed the tofu japchae (portion was very generous). Didn't get that much banchan with my to-go order but that's alright. Prices were a little more than my usual spots in town. read more

I'm only giving a 3 star rating due to the fact they totally forgot one of my orders till they finished everyone's after mines. And also they are still getting used to the flow and rush hour times that'll be coming in since they're new in town. The food is not as up to par as their main one in Minneapolis, but I bet in time they'll get it going. I believe also trying to get used to the flow and figuring out orders and rushing to get things out can alter the taste of the foods that was being pushed out. I'd say give them about a month or so they get a feel of everything, then I will give them another try and update my review. All in all im sure as hell glad they finally opened one up here in the east side of st Paul!! I don't have to drive far since im a few blocks down harrah's read more

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The owners--two elderly individuals who, I assume, don't understand English--were quite sweet and adorable, and the food was just amazing. The only things that made the service different from other places were that we had to get our own menus, we could choose where to sit, and we had to get our own sodas. The atmosphere was very sweet and calm. One of the owners misunderstood one of our orders, which is understandable given that he doesn't actually know English, but it was still a little issue. read more

Pretty good food for the price, if you're looking for a korean quick stop or to get a quick craving fix. This place is worth checking out. Environmental was calm. Seafood tofu with egg soup - $9.95 Korean short ribs - $15.65 read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I use to go to their previous restaurant at the U of M all the time. This was my first time coming to this location. When my date and I got there we were asked if we wanted to dine in or do take out. We said dine in so we were told to pick a seat and he went to go get water for us. We didn't know we had to grab the menus in the front so I went to grab the menu for us. While we were already eating a customer came in and sat down too but was not served or talked to for about 10 minutes. We saw him just sitting down waiting for service so we told him he has to grab the menu in the front. I'm not sure if that's the norm there but good thing we caught on quick and was able to notify the other customer. I'll start with the con on the food since the pro outweighs it. The shumai we ordered was not warm, it was room temperature. If only it was warm or hot it probably would've tasted better. The pros - the beef boulgogi was amazing. It was flavorful, had a good amount of meat in there. The dish came out hot and ready to eat. The spicy squid was my favorite. It has a real good spice on the dish which I loved and the food was cooked perfectly. The sauce was not overpowering. The seafood pancakes complimented the beef and squid perfectly. We were not able to finish all of it so we got it to go. I would recommend anyone who wants to eat Korean food to come eat here because the food is amazing. The workers there are nice, but service wise, you may need to pick up the menu yourself and you may need to go up there to order yourself if they don't come get your order. It's worth it tho! read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - Top: Beef Bolgolgi Middle: Shumai Bottom: Spicy Squid Right: seafood pancakes Price - was about $52 I believe. - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Everything we ordered was delicious, fresh and full of flavors. By far, best authentic Korean food in town. We order Kalbi, black bean noodles and Kim-bop for my kiddos, spicy pork bulgogi, kimchi soup for hubby and I and the wonton soup for my PILs. All so delicious! Will definitely be returning! read more

This place is very much an authentic Korean restaurant. I got the tofu bibimbap and thr presentation was wonderful! It came in a hot stone dish and was sizzling. The sauce was a little plain but good. Vegetarian potstickers were very good and my boyfriend said his beef bulgogi was great! The service was very friendly and positive. read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - Bibimbap, beef bulgogi, vegetarian platter dishes, and veggie potstickers. - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Well.. the haemul pajeon ($12) and the portions in general are extremely large in comparison to anywhere else. The side though are the exact opposite and are small but very tasty (except the kimchi). The spice level is higher than some Korean establishments, but it is refreshing since it is not "watered down" The bulgolgi ($12) is a great blend of sweet and salty. Unfortunately it is a little oily and the meat can be slightly tough. The yukgaejang ($12) which is one of my favorite dish has a nice spicy kick but is overpowered by black pepper. It was a fantastic surprise to find a few pieces of spare ribs in the broth! The kimchi items have a strong flavor of vinegar, which in my opinion is when they need to be used for soups, and not sides. The atmosphere reminds me a little bit of Korean restaurants from the motherland. It is a more serve yourself/clean up after yourself experience than some people might be used to. On a side note it is extremely dirty (tables, floors, dishes everywhere, mussel shells, etc). Sometimes the dirtiest places have the best food though ‍ Currently overal 3/5 3.5 /5 if it was cleaner read more

korea eatery been open for a bit now and they've got their shiz together now! my experience was good!! Order at front counter, pay, wait for your number to come up. they have a lil screen on the wall that shows which # order is up, and you will hear a 'ding' noise each time new order is ready. can be kind of easy to miss if you not paying attention. Sign at front say you dont need to tip because everything is self service. i really like this, it reminds me of being in korea. there is a cart with utensils, napkins, takeout boxes and a water machine with cups. Kimchijeon is one of best i have ever had in america. good flavor, crispy, and delicious onions. good size pancake. Really liked the gimbap here, would order again. Tteokbokki is good. right amount of spice, sauce is nice and thick Jjajangmyeon here is not my favorite. I have had better noodles at other places, I prob wouldnt order again here. too salty for me. I like that they add an egg tho and its a big portion. Good foods tho, will come again and try more stuff read more

Arirang Korea Restaurant - Kimchijeon (pancake) - Korean Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Our party of five all ordered something different and we all enjoyed everything. The staff was very friendly and did everything they could to make us comfortable. Definitely coming back! read more

Food taste just like any other Korean restaurants. Price is over priced and the owners or people who work cashier are extremely rude. It runs like a fast food, menu on wall, you walk up and tell them what number you want and pay up front (like fast food). At this point I didn't even get my food yet so I put down 0 for the tipping section (I have cash and will tip on table). Lady yelled at me and said "why no put tip? You need to put tip". Taken off guard and surprised, I wrote down $5. Super weird how that happened. Probably won't go back because of this experience. Never had anyone demand me for tip before. But overall, food was decent. read more

I. Will. Return. As far as Korean in the Twin Cities goes, this is the place for me. Having close Korean friends on the East Coast, we have been at some great Korean restaurants in NYC. We have experienced that a Korean meal is not just a meal, it is an experience. With that said, let's get to the nitty gritty... The food here is fantastic! It's exactly what I hoped for. Fresh, hot, and the spicy food has the kick I wanted. We waiting a couple of months to make sure they got the kinks worked out with service, and it was good the day we went. There are two reasons I didn't award 5 stars, 1) It should be cleaned and organized better. It just left me feeling like they don't care so much about their customers. 2) This was a Korean meal, not an experience. There were only 3 side dishes. We are used to 10 to 15. The food was great, but there was no experience. For that, I deduct one star. All-in-all, this restaurant has a lot of potential. I hope they can elevate their game, and it could be a destination. read more

Airang is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant and not just my favorite Korean restaurant. Each dish is prepared to order and ingredients are fresh and so flavorful. The kimchi pancake is Korean comfort food and the vegetables and shrimp tucked inside the pancake are divine. JapChae is full of delicate mung bean noodles and small pieces of seasoned beef and onion that are out of this world. Thank you for brightening the East Side! read more

Korea Restaurant 2 is pretty good despite all the negative reviews. I get it; they're new, there's a hype, blah blah blah but like any restaurants, when there's a line, they're trying to meet everyone's expectation/need and therefore they may not meet yours. I stopped by when it was super slow, and I cannot tell you how sweet the cooks and waitress are. I really love their food and their kimbap -- oh to die for. I think they're doing an excellent job and would definitely keep going back. I love mom & pop restaurants, that's what makes them unique. I'm so glad they're close to home and would highly recommend that you stop by. If you have an issue with waiting, I'd say go at slow peaks. Their sister location by the U of MN just as good! K2 being on the Eastside saves me the drive, that's for sure! read more

Little hole in the wall. You order at the counter, sit down, and wait for your number to be called. Water is self serve. Food is really good. The space is really tiny. It gets really hot and stuffy inside. read more

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- Food: 3.5/5 - Parking: HORRIBLE place to find a spot to park. Go around a couple of times and you'll find one. -Service: HORRIBLE Why? I heard this place was so good, I had to try it. So I called to place an order for pickup. The guy told me to "wait a minute." He puts down the phone and starts cooking, then I hear him taking orders from another customer that was physically there. Then it was quiet. You could hear another person cooking in the background. This went on for 10 mins!! I decided to call back and now it was busy. I called 15 times, still had their phone on to busy so I went there physically. Not even busy at all (one couple there only). The worker tells me they take CASH ONLY!!! Since I was there I placed my order and asked if he can confirm the number of items I ordered. He didn't understand me due to little knowledge of English. It made things a little harder for me. So I just said never mind. I'll come back and grab my food in 20 mins. I went to the ATM then came back. FINALLY got my food. All of this happened in ONE HOUR!!! Yeah you could say it took a lot of patience out of me. I'll say this... I now know how their food tastes (+ no side dishes at all!!) you usually get them on a big order. NEVER AGAIN!!!! read more

We called ahead of time to see if they were open. They answered yes and when we got there they told us that they're not serving. I know it's two elderly people but we were waiting about 20 minutes just to order our food just to get an answer that they closed. Btw it was not busy. Just be prepared to go back home. read more

The food is okay but I'm not a fan of the customer service you receive in the phone. The phone rep tends to hangup and don't place the order. This has happened 3 times where my order wasn't placed even though I called to place the food order. Again, the food not bad just the service that really kills it for me. read more