Arirang Japanese Steakhouse

Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse offers an entertaining dining experience for families, friends and couples. It’s an ideal place to go if you’d like some easy conversation—with flames on the grill and sushi to share, it’s always natural to discuss the food.

Arirang offers ‘kids eat free’ nights, making this restaurant an ideal spot for families. Specials and ‘kids eat free’ nights do change, so call before arriving to learn more. If you arrive during one of these nights with kids, you’re certainly getting a deal. If you happen to dine on such a night without kids, you’ll notice that the comparatively high menu cost in fact compensates for all those free meals Arirang provides to children.

The bar at Arirang is clean and modern. It’s located conveniently near the host station so the host may find you easily when your table is ready. Arirang offers a happy hour from Monday-Friday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. To get the best value, arrive by 6:00 p.m. and enjoy an alcoholic beverage at the bar prior to your meal. The restaurant makes very sweet and tasty mixed and blended beverages such as the classic piña colada. Long Island Iced Teas here are semi-strong and well-blended.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages may also be ordered in a ceramic glass in the shape of various Japanese cultural items such as a samarai or geisha. For $3.50, you may order any beverage in this glass and keep the glass, though you’ll get significantly less drink for your money if you do so.

Sushi at Arirang is ideal for an American audience. Unlike traditional sushi served in Japan, it focuses more on the sweeter, breadier textures present in the sushi, such as tempura. This tends to overpower the taste of any meat or vegetables present. While a sushi aficionado might dislike this, it could be a great way to try sushi for the first time.

The wait time at Arirang may be considerable longer than it is at other hibachi steakhouses, even on weeknights. ‘Kids eat free’ nights are particularly popular, so you’ll want to set aside as long as four hours for your wait and dining experience. Because the wait may be difficult (especially if you are bringing little ones), you should try calling ahead for ‘call ahead seating.’ This isn’t a reservation, but it will get you seated faster than those who did not call ahead. Also, you don’t need to reserve a spot days in advance—you can call in on the same day and request a place in line hours in advance.

While it does have a slightly more commercialized, assembly-line feel, Arirang does provide a solid introduction to hibachi and may be more friendly than local alternatives for those experiencing the hibachi cooking style for the first time. The chefs are also extremely interactive with the audience and especially friendly to children. They are also considerate enough to ask whether any of the diners have allergies to products such as shrimp, fish or mushrooms.

Hibachi meals at Arirang include white rice, soup, salad (with choice of dressing—the creamy ginger dressing is delicious), main meal, vegetables and dessert. The green tea ice cream is especially popular and tastes like a Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks. The meal does not include fried rice, a hibachi staple. Fried rice costs $2.99 extra and is worth the extra cost.

HelloMetro Tip: Despite the long wait times and extra costs, the hibachi performance level at Arirang is phenomenal. The chefs even dim the lights during particularly fiery intervals and provide accurate orders cooked to taste and preference. The quality of seafood, chicken and steak at Arirang does match the price tag, including no uneven cuts or fatty spots.

- by Tara M. Clapper, Philadelphia Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Tara M. Clapper

Tara M. Clapper is a full-time freelance writer residing just outside of Philadelphia. Tara enjoys exploring traditional and historical locations in the city as well as quirky and innovative restaurants and attractions. Tara utilizes her background in academic, service-based and traditional publishing to create insider-perspective articles. Her topics of interest include travel, weddings, Irish American culture, and geek subculture.