This past week, I was in Lalitpur for a food hunt. I strolled into Everest Arirang, anticipating a serious attempt to mimic the likes of Michelin-starred Korean places amongst the sea of restaurants. Trust me when I say this; I've never been happier to be proven so utterly incorrect.
While deliciously contemporary, each dish is genuinely inspired by Korean cuisine. The dimly lit Everest Arirang Korean Restaurant had a calm ambience. I was impressed with the restaurant's glass walls, which enable sunlight to rush in and enliven the space. The tables are a little smaller, so if you order multiple dishes, you'll have to cram them together.
Kimbap
For starters, I had kimbap, a roll consisting of rice, meat, tuna and veggies. Since protein is one of the main fillers, they undoubtedly work to give it a good value for your money. Seaweed, eggs, perilla leaves, carrots, cucumbers, pickled radish, and meat are all ingredients in kimbap. You will surely draw the confused looks of your Korean dining companions if you dipped your kimbap in wasabi and soy sauce. But, if you enjoy sushi, you will adore these rice rolls' delicate and somewhat nutty flavour. They are the ideal recipe for summertime lunches and picnics!
Bibimbap
The next dish was bibimbap, a delicious dish with a good serving and lots of flavours. The vegetables were crisp and fresh, and the gochujang sauce was just right—not overpoweringly hot. It arrived sizzling hot, and while the bottom rice may have gotten a touch burned, it was still fantastic. They even gave a side dish of kimchi and anchovies, which perfectly complemented the bibimbap. If blended straight away after being brought out, the soft-boiled egg yolk will be slightly more cooked. Bibimbap is not as hot when first served; thus, it does not produce the same crunchy layer underneath the bowl as Japanese mixed rice. To give the rice the consistency it needs to be blended, a sauce made with sweet chilli and a tiny bit of sesame oil is prepared.
Yangnam chicken
Well, if you're all about Korean fried chicken, this is it! Biting through the well-seasoned, crispy crust to the succulent chicken below is a gourmet delight. Perfect for those with families. The sauce that comes with the chicken, *chef’s kiss*! And since it's sourced from Korea, this is as authentic as it can be. Authentic Korean fried chicken with a thin, crackly crust and tasty soy garlic or red hot sauce glaze! Personally, I'm all about dipping, so that's a mess-free way to enjoy these!
Samgyeopsal
The restaurant recommended samgyeopsal, which was basically a portion of pork with veggies like potato and onions, lettuce and garlic. With this arrangement provided enough food for my lunch partner and me. Because the varied leaves (such as lettuce and shiso) cut through the pork belly's fattiness, the dinner was made a little bit healthier and much more appetising. Each marinated meat is presented attractively alongside the side dishes and vegetable wraps. If you're unsure where to begin, don't worry; the incredibly kind wait staff will assist with cutting and cooking the meat; all you'll need are some bated breaths and empty bellies.
Soju
A fantastic substitute for vodka, soju is a near-neutral spirit full of flavour. It does appear to be pure water with an alcoholic odour. The lightest type of dry vodka comes the closest to describing it. There is a very slight aftertaste of bitterness. It is like water to those who can drink it. It shares a smell with Chinese cooking wine as well. My taste in booze and other beverages has changed as I become older. It is a nice social drink, f you enjoy increased alcohol content, the aroma of vodka, or mixed drinks.
Vanilla and chocolate smoothie
I don't typically go looking for smoothies. This isn't because I dislike smoothies—in fact, I typically think they're rather good. It’s just that I usually choose ice cream when looking for a sweet, milk-based dessert. But my mind instantly changed once I tried their vanilla and chocolate smoothie.
This smoothie was INCREDIBLY delicious. It had the ideal balance of chocolate taste and slightly melted ice cream texture, but ice cream melts considerably faster. This smoothie kept me going for more than 20 minutes and hardly melted, despite my almost continuous returns to my straw. No matter how much I drank from it, the size of this "little" portion seemed to disappear.
Special thanks to Ahkram Ahamad for his generosity and hospitality. If you're ever looking for a decent Korean dining experience, you've GOT to visit this place once—you won't be disappointed.Every dish served was so good, leaving us no room for complaints. The staff there were also really humble and polite. They took care of all our needs, and the vibe this place gave off was immaculate! Definitely going for my next visit soon.
Text by : Anjila Khadka
Photos by: Bidyash Dangol
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