This is hands down the best Korean restaurant in Cville. Not even close. I may be cheating a little bit because I've been here prior to this review and have some preconceived notions about how good the food was here. But to be completely honest my partner in crime was not enamored by the experience. I may have a little bit of trouble convincing them to come back. On a separate note though, the mixed drinks here are fabulous. And our sever was excellent, even if she did trick me into ordering more drinks. read more

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One of my favorite places in downtown Charlottesville. Super fresh food and great service. A friend and I stopped in about 30 minutes before they closed and the staff was more than accommodating. They served our drinks and lunch without rushing us. The yuzu ginger tea is absolutely fantastic. My favorite table is the booth in the front window so you can watch the Main Street foot traffic as you dine in! read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Hot Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

My friend went here roughly six years ago and couldn't stop thinking about it so we took a roadtrip to come back to this place--and she was not disappointed a second time around. She got a ramen-like dish that looked incredible. I'd want to try it myself if I wasn't vegan! It was called Korean army stew. If they could make a vegan version of that I'd be in heaven. Those noodles looked amazing! I got the spicy soondubu jjigae. It was one of the vegan options on the menu (they also had vegetable dumplings). I was pleased their menu clearly indicated what was vegan, what was gluten-free and what was spicy. That was super helpful! Staff were also knowledgeable, kind and helpful. The space is located in the heart of downtown, lots of other shops, bars, etc. to explore before or after. Great for a date night or walk about with friends. We got ice cream after and it was a nice little evening strolling around. read more

Dinner at Maru was marvelous :). Not a SINGLE thing we ordered tasted bad. I got the grapefruit soda, it was slightly tart but still sweet and yummy! For appetizers we got the Maru fries and their Korean Fried Chicken wings -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND! And a bonus is that their fries are gluten free yet still taste amazingly soft and savory. I ordered the Bibimbap with beef and my boyfriend had their beef bulgogi plate. 10/10, no notes :) Our tummies were full & happy at the end of the night. We came around 7:30 and they close at 8:30 during the week, so they delivered our food super fast, hardly had to wait. The restaurant is super cute inside, we got sat at a cozy booth near the door and it was lovely. The only reason I subtracted one star is because our server was kind, just not attentive at all. He took our order and then disappeared. I understand it was close to closing and he was probably ready to go, but he didn't even ask if everything came out okay or if we needed anything. Not a huge deal though -- our overall experience was great and I would 100% go back again and I think everyone visiting Charlottesville should try this spot. They also do have takeout if you wanna grab a yummy bite but don't want to dine ;) read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Maru Fries, Korean Fried Chicken wings, Beef Bulgogi, Bibimbap (beef), Grapefruit soda - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Came here for lunch and everything was good but I wasn't blown away. Charlottesville has so many great restaurants so the competition is stiff. I had a yuzu ginger soda which was yummy and bibimbap with tofu which was pretty average compared to other bibimbaps I've tried. The service here is kind of random but I do enjoy that they have outdoor seating! read more

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The food was delicious and the hot stone bowls were a special treat. Service was excellent and she explained the menu to us. This is a small place but there is outdoor seating. We went 30 minutes before closing and they didn't rush us. Very kind!! read more

You must go here the next time that you are in Charlottesville. They offer indoor and outdoor seating so you have plenty of options. There is an extensive menu and everything is labeled so gluten free, vegetarian, and vegans can get whatever they need. They also label things as spicy, but we have a high spice tolerance so did not think that their spicy food was overall spicy at all. They greeted you right away and even on a Sunday night (well during a holiday weekend) had a line nearly to the door. Service was fast and they made sure we had what we needed. Got the bimbibap, fries, crunchy tofu, and soondubu and it was perfect for four very hungry people. They had pillows on the booths to make it comfortable and plenty of seating. There were parties of 1-6 so looked like they could accommodate. read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Banchan - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The food was so good. We went late on Saturday night and it was easy to get a seat. Started with the pork fried dumplings then I had the dulsot bibimbap with spicy pork and my partner had the bbq chicken plate. The spicy pork was amazing and the experience of the bibimbap was so good but the bbq chicken plate was the winner by a small margin. Would also definitely get the dumplings again. read more

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this has been my go to Korean restaurant since 2020. I was shown by my mom's friend and I'm so glad that she showed me it. It is the best dumplings and best Korean food in all of Charlottesville. The workers are extremely kind and remember me and my friends who go to visit. and they're always well-timed for how busy it is in there. I love the restaurant and the outdoor seating is very nice as it has a beautiful view of the mall. overall 10 out of 10 would recommend. read more

I visited this restaurant when I was in town last week with family. We went Sunday afternoon and sat outside. The vibe here was awesome! Close to the university, lots of shops, restaurants, very lively area. The food is absolutely delicious here! We had a chicken appetizer that came with cheese on top and I also ordered a chicken and rice dish! Service was great! If we come back to this area, this is a place we will definitely come back to! read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Staff extremely kind and inviting. Attentive to the table and helpful deciding with the menu. Food was fantastic! I will be dreaming about this place, seriously! Got the chicken skewers as an appetizer, 8.6/10. Beef plate was 9/10 (high protein option). Bibimbap (the hot one was 9/10) wish I lived closer so I could go again. Restaurant was quaint and cozy. read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Beef plate - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Yum, yum and more yum! I ordered the chicken bbq platter with daily banchan. Everything was so good but my favorite was the sweet potato noodles. Perfection! I would eat those every day. The waitresses are very attentive. Putting this on my list of fave's for when I return. The only thing that I was missing was cucumber salad or pickled radishes. I've always received these with my meal at any other Korean restaurant. read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

My family really likes the food at Maru, but the tip "culture" drives down the star rating significantly. We often order food that we pick up (which isn't easy, given the location on the downtown. You've got to find parking and then walk a few blocks.) If you don't leave a tip on the online order, they will hand you a receipt/bill, and ask you to sign. Of, there's a blank line for a tip. Highly suggestive. If you do leave a tip online, you are not asked to sign anything, and can walk happily out the door with your food. Definitely seems like they are pushing hard for tips, on pickup orders. Uncomfortably so. read more

I'm pretty spoiled when it comes to Korean food, so the food has to be pretty authentic to win my approval. Maru's doenjang jigae (soybean paste stew) and kimchi won me over! The doenjang (soybean paste) tasted flavorful and not too salty! The soup was also really hearty because it had ample vegetables, beef, and tofu! Definitely met my high standards! The other dishes that we got were good, although they didn't taste the best. The kimchi fried rice could have used more gochujang. It wasn't very red and the kimchi flavor didn't really come through. The bbq chicken plate has good flavor and the meat tasted fresh. But it reminded me of chicken teriyaki, not really a Korean dish. The udon noodles were also good and I'd recommend it if you're craving udon noodles! Overall, I'd come back here. Def one of the better Korean restaurants in cville and it's so nice to see more Korean restaurants in cville! read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Udon, bbq chicken, doenjang jigae, and Maru Kimchi Fried Rice - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Located in the Downtown Mall, this restaurant is convenient only if you're already hanging out in the area. Otherwise, street parking can be difficult, especially when the nearby parking lot is full. We decided to try out Maru for the first time for Restaurant Week. The restaurant was packed, and although bar seating and outdoor seating were readily available, we were going to wait 30 minutes for a table since it was sweltering outside and the bar was in a tight, hot, high-traffic area. However, they realized they could immediately squeeze us in the back of the restaurant, which wasn't to my surprise very compact. It was quieter and cooler back there, and about three other groups were already dining while 3 add'l tables (including ours) were empty. I liked this windowless area better than the busy front. The drinks, appetizers, and entrées came out really quickly which was good because we were starving, everything was scrumptious, and we were eating fast. The desserts took awhile and were told the kitchen was backed up, but we appreciated the extra time to make room for dessert. We ordered: + Maru Soda: Grapefruit. Extremely sweet but refreshing and delicious. + Maru Soda: Ginger Honey. Mildly sweet, earthy, and light. + Vegetable Dumplings: not part of Restaurant Week. Piping hot, deliciously greasy, crunchy yet chewy dough, mild-flavored filling. Served with incredible soy-like sauce. + Korean Fried Chicken: Soy Garlic. Crunchy, sweet, garlicky goodness. The pickled radish and carrots paired perfectly. + Nokdu Jeon: Korean savory pancake made with ground mungbean, kimchi, and vegetables. Incredible, savory goodness with a nice fried crisp. + Galbi: these short ribs were marinated in a sweet delicious sauce and fire grilled with a nice char. They're tougher than braised short ribs of course but I found the texture work well with the flavors. It's served on a bed of onions which soaks up that bomb marinade, and the ribs are topped with a few pieces of grilled asparagus which I hated that I loved so much because, you know, the asparagus aftereffects... + Dolsot Bibimbap: served in a stone pot, the contents were still sizzling miiiiinutes after served, and this allowed the rice to get nice and crispy. The bottle of sweet and spicy gochujang sauce they provided was my favorite. + Bingsoo: the shaved ice topped with cream and mixed fruit was like a mash-up of a snowcone, bowl of cereal, and a milkshake. Served with a ramekin of corn flakes and a small jar of condensed milk. Don't skip these because it takes this awesome dessert to the next level. + Tteok and Omija Tea: I LOVED THIS. Chewy, sweet, and nicely dense and doughy. One was filled with a sweet liquid which caught me off guard in the best way possible. The tea was chilled and had so many layers of interesting nuances. I was full but finished it off anyway - it was THAT good. Big thanks to all the staff who accommodated and took such great care of us tonight. Mihir was our server and he was so kind and helpful the entire time. read more

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Okay. It's restaurant week. I looked through all 19 of the spots for 2022 and this one jumped out as the best option. Three courses for $29. The moment you walk in, you will be blown away by amazing smells. I was hungry when I arrived....I was famished after the smells. The smells.... Our waitress gave us the RW menu and selections were pretty easy. Fries wings, a spicy chicken dish with cheese and apple pie on a hot plate. The service was great. My water glass was always full. (I had 5 glasses because I had just worked out). The food was better than the service. So the food was great, plus! The wings were super crispy and they reminded us of Michael Simon's recent throw down of Korean wings. They were full of flavor and hot and JUICY. I would bet money they were brined. Impossible that they were that juicy out of the package. The main dish was piping hot and flavorful. The collision of flavors - spicy, slightly sweet and salty..topped with cheese...I ate every morsel. Then came dessert. Honestly, I hate crumble. But this pie was "en pointe." I never had Korean BBQ before. Trust me, I am going back here to try myriad menu items. If restaurant week is designed to get new customers for an eatery....count this one as a success. I can't wait to get back there. UPDATE: I returned to see if the first experience was real. It was even better the second time. Yummmm!!!! read more

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The food at Maru is very good, however the service leaves a lot to be desired. it look them quite a while to seat us when the restaurant was half empty and once we were seated, it took twice as long as the seating wait for someone to come over and take our order. Once we ordered the food it did come quickly but when we never saw anyone again. We ordered a beer for oke of the members of our party and we never received it. When it was time to leave for my party to leave, I had to go looking for staff to pay my bill (which no one was visible when I went back in to see). Despite the good food, the long wait doesn't make me want to go back. read more

The best Korean in Cville without a doubt. Family owned and operated so you know it's good. We usually go with the Korean Fried Chicken appetizer and the Kimchi Jjigae and Dolsot Bibimbap with spicy pork. Sometimes we'll switch it up and get the Maru Fried Rice or the Tteppoki. The banchan is also great. read more

Maru makes really good Korean food. I recommend the crispy squid for an appetizer. It's always the thing I look forward to the most when I go. I also usually get the bulgogi beef plate which is always amazing. Last time I went there was a weird film in the water cups. We asked for new water and the film was still there. I'm not sure what it was. The location is quite tiny and crowded since it's in the downtown mall. Because of this, they have small tables that don't fit much on them and are uncomfortably close to the people next to you. This drives me crazy when I go but the food is worth it every so often. read more

Amazing bibimbap! We got the veggie one, but we'll def be returning for the tofu one next time we're in town. Service was quite good as well. Great atmosphere! It's kind of funny, a couple (I'd like to use the word "couple" loosely here,) was sat next to my boyfriend and I. They seemed to be on a first date. The woman said she wasn't that hungry, but then the guy ordered TWO apps that looked very good, but we also quite large. He also ordered tofu bibimbap for them to split. All of their interactions were super awkward. He kept trying to talk to her about things and she was like "yeah." I don't know, it was just comical how strange and uncomfortable that "date" seemed to be. Maybe it ended up going well, hard to tell. But it seemed like a weird time. Gentlemen - do not order a bunch of food (not even to split,) if the lady says she's not all that hungry. Just my two cents. A bit of schadenfreude for us. -- Look that word up, it's worth knowing. read more

Pleasantly surprised! The food came out pipping hot and sizzling. Side dishes were excellent. I really liked the candied potato shreds. All 5 of our dishes came out quickly, we didn't have to wait long. Only issue was the pork belly was a little dry and the lettuce leaves that came with it weren't cleaned thoroughly. Covid situation: outdoor seating is in the middle of the downtown mall. Around 6 large tables so I'd make a reservation if possible. read more

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This was the worst service that I have ever received in my life. My boyfriend and I went on a Friday evening for dinner. We were seated immediately in the middle area of the restaurant, and they were not that busy at the time we went. We sat at our table for a long time waiting for our server and tried to wave our hand at servers who walked by. Everytime, we were given the response "we will be with you shortly." It took 20 minutes for our order to even be taken, which was so frustrating. We watched other people who came in after us get their orders taken and food before our order even got taken. We shared a bibimbap and bulgogi plate. However, we weren't given rice with the bulgogi plate because they were still cooking it. We waited patiently for 20 minutes to realize we'd probably never get our rice. We had to wave servers again just to get rice that was supposed to come with the food. At this point, the bulgogi was cold. The food was okay, and we were really unhappy eating it due to the poor treatment. I'm really disappointed, and I will not be coming back. Charlottesville has other Korean restaurants with better service and food. read more

This place is phenomenal. I didn't have a single complaint about the food here. The bbq ribs are a must get. The meat was seasoned well and tasted great. read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Pork Dumplings - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

We stumbled upon this restaurant last night. There were a few tables open and the food looked and smelled terrific. We were not disappointed. Prices are very reasonable too. With so many interesting new dishes on the menu, we will be back. read more

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This is my favorite place in Charlottesville!! Maru has become my comfort food already. So far I've tried the bibimbap, udon, and fried rice and all have been a hit. Tiny restaurant but they will squeeze you in wherever they can. The ladies running this place are absolute girl bosses. The manager even personally offered us a special smoothie tonight only. read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Visited for restaurant week for $29. We really liked their chicken wings and calamari- both crispy. Entree-wise, the galbi and the pork belly bbq plate were alright. We personally prefer Doma. The both meats were chewy and the pork belly wasn't as fatty for the cut. Our desserts were simple but really good, I liked the rice cake balls. I didn't really appreciate that they added 20% tip on though, because we were ignored the entire night and our table was never cleared. Our setting got really crowded when they decided to leave our completed appetizer and entree dishes on our small 2-too while also trying to serve us dessert- it seemed a bit rushed. read more

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We went for Charlottesville Restaurant Week. They had amazing service. Everyone was very nice and even gave us more noodles/sprouts/kimchi. The wings and dumplings were really good. The korean bbq could have used a little more flavor, but the sauce that went with it was good. read more

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The restaurant was SUPER busy when we went but the staff was still able to give us service at a reasonable time. The food was incredible especially the KFC . It's also located at the heart of downtown making this a fun date idea. read more

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We are from out of town and stumbled here randomly with our two toddlers. Caveat: I cook and eat a lot of Korean food so I may be overly critical. It was crowded and there was a long wait but that's our fault since we didn't have a reservation. We ordered dumplings and the seafood pancake for appies. Dumplings were very crispy and good. Pancake was so-so. I like my pajeon a bit crispier and less doughy. For dinner, the husband ordered the galbi beef ribs and that was seasoned very well. I had the seafood soondobu and the flavor was lacking. Also ordered udon for the kids and it was ok. Overall, I'd probably stick to the meats if we go back since it seems like they season it well here. The banchan was ok, the cucumbers seem a bit mushy instead of being crispy. The vibe was nice and the service great so points there. read more

Me and my fiancé ate here just for an appetizer and drink and we're pleasantly surprised. Our server was very helpful and made some good recommendations. I specifically asked her about the soju drinks they had and she explained what it was and how people normally drink it in Korea. We got the lemon soju, which was delicious, as well as the fried dumplings, which we LOVED. We will definitely be returning for an actual meal here. Seating is pretty limited so just be aware of that. read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Fried dumplings - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This restaurant dinner transported me to Seoul, South Korea as it was authentic and delicious! read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Chicken Skewers and Kimchi pancakes - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I really wanted to like this place but couldn't find any reason to other than the kind customer service. It's definitely a great addition to the food scene here with popular Korean dishes such as Korean Fried Chicken and bibimbap bowls. I don't know if it was a good idea to stop in on a Friday evening because the strip is super busy! I was able to get a table for one. It was hot and loud. Also, don't mind coming out smelling like fried food, it's one of those kitchens and space. I went with the fire grilled chicken on a stick, fries, and rice. The chicken was a bit tough, I imagined it to have a char grill taste but it was just large chunks of chicken breast. The fries tasted like regular fries, although it had Korean-inspired season on it. I regret not getting the Korean Fried Chicken instead. read more

Arrives around 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday night and there were still a few tables available. Interior decor is modern and hip. Korean music is playing in the background, which was nice to listen to while eating. Ordered appetizers kimchi arancini and dumplings. The kimchi arancini was a creative concept but tasted just okay. They were covered with panko bread crumbs but not very crispy. The spicy gochujang aioli sauce they were covered in was tasty. The inside was a creamy rice filling with a very small amount of cheese. The dumplings were fried well. The filling was not very salty, which went well with the salty soy dipping sauce. For my entree, I ordered a spicy pork plate, which comes with grilled onions, scallions and with a bowl of rice, banchan, lettuce, carrots, ssam sauce. The pork had a nice chargrilled taste but was not spicy at all. The ssam sauce was also not spicy. The lettuce and carrot slices served with it were fresh, but the carrots were sliced way too thick. The banchan tasted okay. You only get 3 sides, including kimchi. At a more traditional Korean restaurant you get more sides. The dessert bingsoo was unremarkable and disappointing. We tried the berry one, which was served with plenty of strawberry slices and blueberries. Some of the blueberries were not fresh. There was way too much shaved ice and it was not flavored with condensed milk or syrup like traditional ones usually are. So you're basically eating spoonfuls of flavorless shaved ice. The vanilla ice cream topping was a generic brand. The two chocolate wafer sticks were a nice touch though. Anyway, you would be better off to skip this dessert. Service could be improved. Our waiter was not attentive and also messed up our bill. Don't forget to check in on Yelp to get a discount! Which our waiter forgot to put on our bill. Unfortunately, I forgot to double-check the bill before my companion paid, so he was already charged for the meal without the discount. When we brought the error to our waiter's attention, he said he asked the point-of-sale manager to correct it and all she said was she was too busy to take care of it. We were not impressed. In the end, the waiter was able to recharge us the correct amount. read more

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Their food and drinks are excellent and their service is friendly and fast. We got soju and a soju cocktail with Yuzu. They have delicious Korean fried chicken wings, though they could be a bit more crunchy. The bibimbap and pork belly plate were excellent as were the side dishes. read more

Obsessed with tteokbokki. The best thing they have, get with ramen. Better than other Korean places in Charlottesville. Twice they didn't have it and I was so devastated. Bibimbap was not my favorite (ordered when they didn't have my stew) but every time we go it seems to be a favorite of others. Love the short rib and bulgogi beef, but particularly the short rib. Apps: definitely order arancini and the small order of their fried chicken (I usually don't care for fried chicken but it's lightly fried and yummy sauce and I love it). Don't love the dumplings (not bad but not special) and fries are fries. read more

Amazing stir fry udon noodles! I had them with spicy pork, which was excellent. The noodles themselves aren't spicy so the little kick in the pork was a nice flavor enhancement. As someone who only likes mild/moderate spice, it was a perfect level of heat. I ordered for pick-up and it was ready very quickly. Great location in downtown Charlottesville and patio seating available. I would return and recommend to others. Thanks! read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Udon Bokkeum with spicy pork - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Lovely ambiance, open kitchen, yummy food. Definitely a great spot for those at Cville who miss some Korean food! read more

Maru Korean Restaurant & Bar - Bing soo - Korean Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Every time a new Asian place opens in town, my heart does a little happy dance. Being a huge fan of Doma, I was excited to see what Maru would bring to the budding Korean food scene here in Charlottesville. The first menu item I tried was the soondubu jjigae (spicy tofu soup), which was satisfyingly spicy and came sizzling with soft tofu and a fresh uncracked egg and fluffy white rice on the side. My small qualm with it was it had button mushrooms, which is not a traditional soondubu ingredient and detracted from the otherwise authentic taste of the dish. Maru makes a well-balanced, warm dolsot bibimbap (stone pot mixed rice). I was also very excited to see that they offered haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) as an appetizer, though a little disappointed the portions were very small. Though not strictly Korean, Maru fries are perfectly fried with just the right touch of spice. Overall, a solid option for hearty Korean food, with some small imperfections. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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I must say, very good korean food, kalbi and fried rice were amazing, must try, best place in Charlottesville, hands down. I also want to add service was better than all the other places in the mall, citizens had good service too but they only have burgers. Other places around here had mediocre service. This place maru def won me over. Sierra and Dana did superb. Came back here twice in one day because we liked it so much :). Dumplings , kimchi jeon, and kalbi were the best. read more

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Ordered here recently wanting some Korean food. We actually tried the food here the following weekend from DOMA. And here is my review! Food: B We ordered the kimchi fried rice and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste soup) as well as the galbi dish (short rib). We were pleasantly surprised at the taste of all the dishes and were happy to just have some more Korean foods in the area. The one thing I would improve on with all the dishes were lowering the salty levels. A bit saltier than expected and not as spicy as I would have liked. But otherwise enjoyed our dinner very much. Staff: A Staff was cordial and friendly and had no issues whatsoever. Vibe: A- The place seemed to have ample seating and will have to try and sit-down for our next time we are here. The restaurant was cozy and had a generally solid vibe for dinner-time. Parking: A- We had no issues with parking, getting in and out for our order in less than 5 minutes. Overall: B+ We will come back again and overall just happy to know Korean restaurants are in the are despite not being near a major metropolitan area. read more