I completely forgot that I'd visited this place a few years ago. Came back for a late night dinner…read moreand was NOT disappointed. Ample flavor. Great serving size. Good service. And convenient location! I'd definitely visit again.

We had amazing Korean food and mocktails here in an unsuspecting place. We ordered the Guava…read moregetaway, Creamy Limeade, Kimchi Cheese Fries, Kangjeong (Boneless Wings), Spicy Squid and Pork Belly with rice, and Japchae. The drinks were blended very well and used fresh lime juice, which was nice. The appetizers -- the kimchi fries and the boneless wings were pretty standard. The fries were crunchy, but we felt like there was more cheese than there was kimchi and sauce, so we've had better kimchi fries elsewhere. The cheese was very gooey though. The boneless wings weren't as crunchy as they could have been, especially coming out in a stone dish, but the garlic soy sauce was still pretty good. Our mains were really good -- the japchae, which I ordered with fried tofu, had the right texture and flavor, and was delicious yet spicy. The tofu was a little bland though. My partner enjoyed the squid and pork belly dish and said that the sauce was similar to the japchae sauce. The portions were pretty normal and not too big, so we had a few leftovers but not too many. The prices were also pretty reasonable as well. Overall we were really happy with our food here and would come back if we ever visited again.

My husband and I have been visiting this restaurant on nights. We don't wanna cook since 2019. It's…read morevery clean. The owners are very attentive. Soft piano music nothing loud and overbearing and you can just sit there and talk and enjoy your food. No red carpet spectacular events happen when you enter. But you are greeted courteously, professionally, and kindly. I'd eat here several times a week if I could.

Cuisine: 8 Service: 7…read moreDecor: 6 Value: 8 Overall: 8 Is it possible to get proper Korean food in South Carolina? Why, yes you can. Not just decent, but actually excellent quality. Old lady serving the food also feels friendly and kind. I have been here a few times and always left very satisfied. My favorite so far has been the seafood soondubu, which is full of umami. The tofu is smooth, while there are plenty of seafood to make it tasty. This version is almost as good as any soondubu we have in NYC, maybe except BCD. Other things I would get again here includes their grilled galbi, kimchi pancake, and galbitang. I should also mention that the restaurant provides eight different banchan and they were all quite yummy. Since I can't find any good Chinese food here in Lexington/Columbus area, I will have to seek out my Asian fix from other places. This Korean restaurant may be one of my best options.

Oh my.... first, definitely make a reservation for this place, because when I went it was PACKED…read more The inside is absolutely beautiful, clean, organized, and nicely arranged. The menu felt nice and the pictures and details in the menu was great. Ambience was a 9/10. The food? Oh man! It was delicious. I got the lunch box w/ beef bulgogi and for the price? It is crazy! It has so much food with variations of side dishes that were all delicious. They give you plenty of meat as well which was amazing and the price was great! Lunch box w/ bulgogi was easily a 10/10. Just try it yourself. The beer I got was also very light and delicious; it was a citrus beer with Calamansi which is a Filipino citrus. The beer is made in Japan I believe. One of my favorite international beers I have had. 10/10. Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about this location. If you're ever in town this place is an amazing spot for lunch!

Made reservations online…read more We were seated right away. They were not over crowded but almost all the tables were in use. As tables were cleared, they filled up again. Expect to spend some money coming here. Some food is cooked tableside. We had an outstanding waiter. Our water carafe was kept full of cold water. He cooked our food and waited on other tables. Even with al.ost all of the tables full,it was no noisy. All of the food was flavorful. We took enough ho.e for another meal. This is a great place to eat for special occasions

The beef bulgogi is my favorite! I love Korean food so this is one of my go to spots. There aren't…read moremany Korean restaurants in Columbia that I know of, but this one is a gem

We were blown away by the food at this Korean restaurant! This was my second visit, and the food…read moretasted even better compared to my first visit. The service was okay. Our server forgot to bring our rice, but after we reminded her, she brought it out right away. The food was definitely the highlight of this place, and I loved all of the side dishes (banchan). The japchae, short ribs, and chicken were all delicious. The octopus was also good, but the portion was quite small. Even so, we really enjoyed our meal. After we finished eating, she gave us a melon popsicle, which was a refreshing way to end the meal. If you're looking for a great Korean restaurant, this place is definitely worth checking out!

I've been coming to Arirang Korean Restaurant for years, but after this visit, I'm done…read more First, the server welcomed herself by putting her hands on my 11-month-old son's face, pinching his cheeks and making him cry. I'm shocked she thought it was okay to touch a baby--especially when we're strangers. That was completely inappropriate. The server was rude, and when my mom asked for hot water, we were told they don't have any. Do they not have a kettle or a pot to boil water? That would have been more than enough. There were no accommodations at all. The food was another huge disappointment. If you look at older pictures, you'll see the huge variety of banchan they used to serve. Now, we only got six, and the portions were tiny. Prices have gone up, but the quality has dropped. We used to be able to ask for refills on our favorites, but today when my husband asked for more pickled bean sprouts, the server refused, saying we had to finish everything else first. That's just rude and unnecessary; we're not wasteful on food. We just simply asked for a refill on a dish that we favored more than the others. The service was terrible. The server never checked on us, and we had to flag her down for a to-go box while she was chatting at another table with her back turned towards us. When it was time to pay, my husband didn't leave a tip due to the poor service, and the server had the audacity to confront him about it. She argued with him, justifying her refusal to give a simple refill by saying food costs are high and people waste banchan. That might be true for others, but we're not those customers. This assumption was insulting and uncalled for. I don't know if it's new management or what, but the service here has gone downhill fast. This was once our go-to spot, but we'll be taking our business elsewhere from now on.

I've been coming to Arirang Korean Restaurant for years, but after this visit, I won't be…read morereturning. 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.

Had a wonderful dinner here. The food was great and I especially loved the sauce bar with sauce…read morerecommendations. It was fun making new sauces. The service was excellent, and I appreciated how they helped us start off cooking and took the time to explain the menu. They also had a great drink menu. Overall, a good experience. We will be back! Great places for celebrations or just a friend's night! Relaxed vibe.

Visiting for the weekend for a pickleball tournament and we had the day of rest. Came in Saturday…read morearound 1:30. Got sat in London's section. I think this has been by far one of the best services I've had in a long time at any restaurant. Very attentive in every aspect. Ask to sit in London's section. Food was good. If one gets the hot-pot, everyone is charged for the soups regardless of you eat it or not. Love that you get to cook it yourself and someone isn't cooking it for you. That way we don't feel rushed. Great options on the bar for your appetizers. The place is hopping very busy, pretty clean. Ambiance is loud, kid and family friendly. Didn't take any photos. Just tried enjoying the meal and being present. If you've been to a Korean BBQ place, it's pretty much the same. The difference is the service!

Sentí N was an outstanding server who truly elevated our entire dining experience. Attentive,…read morefriendly, and knowledgeable, they made sure everything was just right without ever feeling overbearing. Their recommendations were spot-on and added a personal touch to the meal. The food itself was just as impressive--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish was prepared with care, and you could really taste the quality in each bite. Combined with such excellent service, it made for a memorable and enjoyable dining experience from start to finish.

The food and service here is amazing. We came here on a Friday morning and got seated right away…read more Our server Kalen was amazing. Even though we know our way around typical kbbq and hotpot spots, she was still helpful and gave great suggestions. The kbbq and hotpot quality is stellar. So much variety and for an affordable price. Highly recommend for anyone new to trying kbbq and hotpot. Even better if you get Kalen as your server. She is stellar at her job and super friendly.

This used to be one of my FAVORITE restaurants in Columbia during college. It's a mom and pop show…read morerun by a Korean couple and the wife always remembers me and my order when I come (hot and spicy pork with only kimchi, apples and oranges, and glass noodles salad for sides). When I moved back to Columbia in 2016, it still tasted just as good as I had remembered it during my college years when I ate there (2009-2010) and I would eat here 3-4 times a week. I recently went again this past Sunday after not being here in over a year and was surprised to see they had remodeled, I didn't see the lady who owns the place and the food tasted nothing like I remembered. I was so disappointed. The hot and spicy pork was rubbery and the flavor from the sauce was severely lacking. The kimchi tasted pretty much the same but it wasn't cold. The apples/oranges and the noodle salad came out late because it was being made but the dressing was tart and tasted nothing like the creamy dressing I remembered. The waiter forgot to serve me the ginger salad at the beginning and when he bought it out after I asked for it, the ginger dressing was so watery. I have no clue what happened to my favorite restaurant.

The food was excellent, I had the Chap Chae (japchae) my wife had the hot bibimbap (dolsot) and we…read moreshared Korean egg rolls. I also had the boricha roasted barley tea cold. Everything was delicious! The restaurant itself is old and lacking in atmosphere but they make up for it in the taste of their food. Our waitress was Venezuelan and she was delightful and accommodating. We will definitely be back.