Ottawa Foodies

1

The food at Alirang is absolutely delicious - I've never had anything here I didn't love - but when the craving for Korean food hits, I'll often choose to go somewhere else because the service is pretty inconsistent. It's probably a consequence of their being packed full of customers all the time due to the deliciousness of the food, but it gets tiring to deal with after a while. The wait times are (almost) always longer than at other places, and on more than one occasion when I've gone to Alirang with friends, one member of the party didn't even get their order.

3

Date of Visit: March 16, 2013

Alirang is a bit outside the concentration of eateries in the Byward Market section of Ottawa and is thus one of those places that the average diner will be unlikely to simply happen across. This is a bit of a shame really as the tiny Korean restaurant is a real little gem of a place and well-worth investigating…

The Food
Kimchi – Rating: 3 out of 5
Bean Sprout Banchan – Rating: 4 out of 5
Potato Banchan – Rating: 5 out of 5
Seaweed Salad – Rating: 5 out of 5
Mandoo (Korean Dumplings) – Rating: 3 out of 5
Pazeon ( Seafood Pancake) - Rating: 3 out of 5

Overall
My meal at Alirang was probably the nicest I had during my whole week long visit to Ottawa and I would be tempted to keep the place a secret except that it already enjoys a popularity that keeps it very busy already. The service was excellent, the surroundings comfortable and homey, and the food reasonably priced and excellent. I will be taking my wife there on our next visit to the city. Rating: 5 out of 5.

See full pictorial review at: sybaritica.me

The food is absolutely wonderful, the kimchi jigae and yukgaejang are both fantastic, and although the service is very slightly spotty from time to time, I come here way too often when I need comfort food.

Alirang is my favourite Korean restaurant in Ottawa. Only draw back is it is small and when it gets busy the food comes out a tad slow. Hopefully they will just expand in the near future.

Their Bulgogi jjigae is the best I have found anywhere.

I've been here a few times. The food is solid and very consistent. It's a very small place, but I've never had to wait for a seat. Great service, as well.

Great Korean restaurant in Ottawa. I had the Kimchi jjigae and it was pretty good. Not a super fan of overly sour kimchi but that's my own personal preference.

Banchan were solid. You gotta have at least three to be truly Korean. :D

The place can get packed and it is not huge. Will definitely come back to try some gamjatang.

One of the best Korean restaurants in Ottawa. I always order a vegetarian version of the Kimchi Chigae (spelling?). It is spicy, tangy, sour, salty - delicious! They also have the best kimchi in town. Yum!