Chef Ae's — Restaurant in Spartanburg

Wish I could give this place 10 stars…. What an unexpected experience in Spartanburg. I’ve been in S-burg off and on for 2 years and just got around to trying it- ‘that little place we always pass on Magnolia w/ the train on the building’ as my girlfriend and I call it.

First off, the menu is very unique, unlike anything you’re likely to find in Spartanburg. Great fusion of American sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads with a Korean flare that results in amazing flavors you won’t find anywhere else.

I ordered The Duo burger (w/ Panang Curry pork on top) and added kimchi and my girlfriend just had a regular cheeseburger. As we waited, chef Ae brought us some complimentary chicken and rice soup she had just made, which was not just delicious (w/ bits of ginger and cilantro), but also very welcome on a chilly day. If that wasn’t enough, she turned around and brought out some fresh made-from-scratch egg rolls w/ a Thai chili sauce that were to die for.

Both our burgers were very fresh and cooked perfectly, and the Panang curry had killer flavor! The fries might be the best fries in Spartanburg (see photos).

On top of all that, Chef Ae herself has the best personality and a her passion for cooking and providing her customers over-the-top dining experiences was a breath of fresh air. It goes without saying that I will be back soon and would highly recommend this place if you haven’t been (and like good...

We had a terrific lunch at Chef Ae's. The rad na noodles came in a broth studded with broccoli, carrots, chicken, and whole garlic cloves, atop of which perched a stunningly beautiful nest of fried noodles. The tuna sandwich was a creative and tasty riff on classic salad nicoise; it had whole steamed green beans and a hardboiled egg nestled into a heap of delicious tuna salad on a grilled brioche bun. The grilled pimento cheese was equally delicious, served on griddled sourdough. Chef Ae's handcut french fries were a treat, seasoned with flaky salt. The staff, which is small, was welcoming and friendly, and we appreciated that Chef Ae took time to explain which dishes were spicy and which were mild so that our party could order according to dietary needs. We did not order a burger this visit, but they looked amazing. I am excited to return and try the Thai green curry. We are so happy to have found a terrific lunch spot, and will definitely return. Kudos to Chef Ae and staff for a brilliant menu of expertly crafted food. The world needs more places like this. Thank you for a...

What a great find! A very casual restaurant with a super interesting menu! The Bang Bang Bahn Mi sandwich was a perfect mix of interesting flavors - juicy and spicy chicken, spicy-sweet sauce with refreshing veggies. I don't know how they get the sweet potato fries crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside....but it makes a delicious fry. My husband had the Mr. Duo burger that was even more interesting than my sandwich - panang pork on a burger was a delicious twist. His onion rings were not the typical batter-fried rings. They were crispy with maybe Panko crumbs? Very tasty!

We went in the middle of the afternoon where you order and pay at the counter and the food is brought to your table. Through the whole meal we kept remarking, This is so good. Definitely will go back - have to try the Crispy Duck Sandwich, Fried Korean Sandwich....Hand-Cut Fries (if the Sweet Potato Fries were that good, imagine regular fries!)...well, I'll just say several...