Arisu Korean Restaurant — Restaurant in Leominster

Eversince I started traveling for my job, I had been looking for authentic Korean cuisine. My 1st assignment in Pennsylvania was a 2-hour drive from Philly, and I didn't really want to go there unnecessarily. There was one in my last assignment in Indiana, but food was meh.

Now, I have been craving jjajangmyeon, and not the one bought at H-Mart. The last time I had jjajangmyeon was at Incheon Int'l Airport, and it was okay. The Korean restaurants in Denver and Aurora in Colorado do not serve this dish (not even in the H-Mart fastfood section). I've always seen how wonderfully presented jjajangmyeon is in Korean Dramas (Reply 1988 really made me want to try the real deal). When I saw that the jjajangmyeon had all the garnishes, I was delighted. It was tasty! I brought my jjajangmyeon home so that I can pair it with tangsuyuk (another dish I 1st heard in Reply1988 and later in Hospital Playlist). The bulgogi meal was so gooooooooooood!!!!! The beef was marinated deliciously! The sweetness and saltiness were wonderfully blended! There were 6 banchan, and I was happy to see the cucumber kimchi!!! I finally had one to myself alone! The sourness of the cucumber kimchi was delightful and refreshing. The radish kimchi was also tasty, not overtly sour nor very salty: it was perfect!

I haven't tried the tangsuyuk yet because I was saving it for dinner and for my meals the next few days. But I bet it is as scrumptious as the other meals I partook.

To the...

Great food! First time having Korean food! I know, right?! Being Asian, it's kinda like having McDonald's for the first time as an American! But the food was excellent! There is plenty on the menu to choose from & depending on what you get (or maybe it's just customary), there are 6 tiny sides that were all delicious. These included Korea's national dish...KIMCHI! Definitely recommend this to new palates of Korean dining or anyone with a taste for Asian cuisine but not in the mood for the oh-too-common Chinese or Japanese dishes or "shorties." wink, wink

Grades: Food: A Never had Korean before. Have watched Maangchi (& suscribed to her channel) on youtube & as a novice Asian "chef, foodie & writer," I had an idea of how the dishes would taste based on the ingredients. Only...it tastes so much better!

Service: A At first, I thought they might have been a tad unfriendly/unwelcoming, but I noticed that there was only one server for a few tables! This lady did extremely well for all of us!

Experience: A This is a small building on one of the city's main roads, but it wasn't difficult to get to, nor find. The ambience is nice. It's not a hole in the wall like some places one might experience & it's not too chic that one feels outta place. You don't feel rushed nor have the impression that the food...

Either I had really high expectations because of the reviews or got too spoiled by Korean BBQ AYCE, but I thought my experience was okay. That being said, there are a few highlights that helped boost it to the rating I gave it. First, I haven't seen that made side dishes since pre covid! Second, the menu looks expensive at first glance, but I believe the price is justified. I ordered the teppoki, salad, and LA Galbi. The LA Galbi seemed pricey, but it came with some fried veggies, small bowl of rice and steamed egg. They were all great portions too and because I wasn't expecting the egg, I'm surprised I finished it all! For the finisher, I finally got to try the Sujeongkha (waitress said I can try once I finish my current order lol). Turns out, it was Ginger Cinnamon Tea and am told it's good for my health. I personally hate cinnamon, but she was so sweet and gave me a sample, that I drank the one I ordered.

I'm not familiar with the area, but when there's more Korean than English spoken/written/playing in a restaurant, it's safe bet that you're...