ANJU — Restaurant in Charlotte

Visited on a quiet Wednesday night with my friend after coming in from Chicago. We found them through an influencer’s instagram post.

Service: 100! We were the only table tho. There were 3 others in the restaurant that we later learned was the owner, his helper / friend, but not sure about the 3rd that left early.

A lot of places closed early when we went out Tuesday night, so already a plus that they stayed open despite there being no one around. We were unsure about a drink, so they showed us the bottle and let us take a small sample of it!

They seemed like really down to earth gentlemen. It was easy to talk to them. It didn’t feel like they were talking to us just to get a good review.

Food: 90 We only order 3 dishes and 2 drinks. Seafood Pancake was flavorful but I didn’t quite like that it was a bit soggy. The Spicy Pork was delicious for what it is but the aftertaste was not entirely my cup of tea. The Spicy Stew was perfect! I loved it so much! The ingredients were plentiful and flavors did not lack at all. I travel a lot, been to Korea, and explored a good amount of Korean restaurants in Chicago and this stew definitely hit the spot.

Ambiance: 100 This is a small restaurant. Dark. Has a TV showing KPop videos. I don’t consider myself a KPop fan, but I think most can agree it is getting popular these years and the music is catchy to listen to and watch. It has everything you need for this type of Korean restaurant.

They opened only a couple months ago. It’ll be great to see...

If you ever visit Charlotte, you definitely shouldn't miss this place. I came to Charlotte for a vacation. Although I've tried a lot of Korean food in New York, which is trending there, I was quite surprised to find such clean and refined Korean cuisine in Charlotte. Living in Charlotte, if you ever crave Asian food, I would absolutely recommend this place. It seems like it hasn't been open for even a year, but I think it’s cleaner and more hip than anywhere in New York.

For those who think Korean food is too spicy, this place serves dishes that anyone can enjoy without worrying about the heat. The reason I’m leaving this review is because I was amazed to find such a place in Charlotte and I want to give them praise. The restaurant features an open kitchen, so you can see the cleanliness of the cooking area, and the staff, the food, and the chefs are all very clean and provide delicious meals.

I hope they continue to make more great food, and I definitely want to visit again whether for business or another trip. I want to keep this place to myself, but I recommend everyone to check it out.

For the main dish, you must try the Budae Jungol with rice. It's a popular Korean dish that will leave you very satisfied. Additionally, the Anju Tostada is something you and your girlfriend will love; it's a very clean and delicious appetizer. If you want to try something a bit spicy, go for the Jeyuk Bokkeum. Kalbi and Bulgogi from the meat selection...

I was grabbing a few bottles of wine next door and noticed this spot. I'm new to the area and haven't seen many Korean restaurants so i had to stop in and try. I was parked closer to Total Wine but there seemed to be plenty of parking available, even though it was peak dinner hours.

Upon walking in I noticed the place had a good atmosphere with Korean music playing and a medium level buzz of conversations coming from the mostly full tables. I sat at the bar and ordered the kimchijeon ($14), tteokbokki ($14), and a Sapporo ($8). The kimchijeon was pressed in a waffle press, so I was initially a little confused when it came out, but after trying it, I thought the different texture created by the waffle iron gave the kimchi "pancake" a fun twist while still hitting on the classic flavor notes that you'd expect. The tteokbokki was also delicious and tasted very authentic to me, which came as a pleasant surprise.

David, the bartender, was very attentive and cool to talk to. He explained the story of how Anju came to be and recommended some other spots in Charlotte to try since I am new to the city.

Anju was an unexpected joy, and I couldn't be happier that I decided to try this place on a whim. I already can't wait...