Arirang Restaurant — Restaurant in Columbia

5 years ago this restaurant was hands down our favorite Korean restaurant, if not, our favorite restaurant period in Columbia. So its extremely sad for me to write this review.

Within the past few years, one particular waitress has been extremely extremely rude. We've been there maybe half a dozen times (never again anymore now) to give it a chance and without fail she has been very disrespect or rude every time.

Once I saw her yell and scold another customer (I didn't know the context as I wasn't listening to their conversation but the other customer was apologizing while the lady was yelling at her).

Another time, one of my extended family member was yelled at and scolded by her because he decided to use the gochujang sauce on one of his dishes. We also wanted to order a dish on the menu and she said no you won't like it and refused to let us order it. I can understand if she is trying to make a recommendation but to refuse someone from getting an item on their menu simply on her subjective opinion is not respecting the customer.

We also had an experience where she only gave us 2 cups of water when we had 5 people in our family, she would not give our kids any drinks. We ordered a few dishes which still came up to over $50 (we had 3 little children and 2 adults) as we weren't that hungry and she gave us the dirtiest look (context, there was NO ONE else in the restaurant at that time so its not like we were taking up tables and by the end of our meal only another customer came to dine in at the restaurant). She doesn't come to check on us, ask if we need anything, or even offer any refills. I wouldn't dare to ask anything as when I have it seems like she is infuriated you would even trouble her or ask for anything.

There used to be around 16 banchan dishes from the old management/owners but now they reduced it to 8 dishes. Not a problem as they can do whatever they want. Except that she gave us 6 dishes while another table next to us got 8 dishes. And within each of the dish she put just a few pieces in.

The quantity and quality of the food and service has declined dramatically since 5 years ago from a five star restaurant to zero stars.

All this, it feels like we are being micromanaged and told what to like, how to eat, what not to eat, how much to eat at her whim. If there are some arbitrary subjective rules it would be great if they were written on their menu so we know what to expect. I feel like I'm being controlled by a helicopter Mom and treated like a child and not an adult customer.

We've eaten at thousands of restaurants from all over the world and never have I been treated with such disrespect and unprofessionalism as this lady has treated 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...

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...