THUMBNAIL REVIEWS

Here are short descriptions and user ratings of the restaurants that fit your request.

Arirang House || Korean || Symphony Area || Boston
162 Massachusetts Ave, Boston 536-1277

While reviews on the food vary,the reason to come here is the all-you-can-eat buffet featuring more than 20 items of Korean food, including several types of kim-chi, cooked to all levels of spiciness. The meats are a tad fatty, and the jigaes a bit salty, but the pan-chan are good. The buffet dishes aren't labeled, so you should ask for help if you're wary of very spicy foods.

Overall Rating: NR || Overall Value: NR || Overall Service: NR || Overall Food: NR || Overall Ambience: NR

Cafe Han River || Korean || St Mary's || Brookline
1009A Beacon St, Brookline 739-6221

A Korean cafe that looks more like an industrial modern sandwich place: very clean, brightly lit, with a counter down one wall and a few tables. Order from the limited menu at the counter for both eat-in or take-out. Bibim-bop and bulgolgi on brown rice are recommended. Kimchee could be a tad spicier.

Overall Rating: 7 || Overall Value: 7 || Overall Service: 6 || Overall Food: 8 || Overall Ambience: 6

Chieko || Korean || Powderhouse Sq || Somerville
132 College Ave, Somerville 623-9263

Overall Rating: 7 || Overall Value: 8 || Overall Service: 7 || Overall Food: 7 || Overall Ambience: 6

Choe's Cafe || Korean || East Brighton/B.U. || Boston
957 Commonwealth Ave, Boston 783-8702

Choe's Cafe is a small Korean-Japanese spot in the BU West Campus area. While the sushi bar offers a good selection, the real highlights are the Korean dishes, with a wide selection of Bim Bap and other spicy entrees. The service is efficient, and the decor sleek and modern.

Overall Rating: 7 || Overall Value: 7 || Overall Service: 8 || Overall Food: 7 || Overall Ambience: 6

Hometown/Kohyang || Korean || Union Sq || Somerville
9A Union Square, Somerville 623-7220

Overall Rating: 5 || Overall Value: 8 || Overall Service: 7 || Overall Food: 6 || Overall Ambience: NR

Korea Garden || Korean || Central Sq || Cambridge
20 Pearl St., Cambridge 492-9643

A traditional, family-run restaurant with nothing too inventive on a fairly limited menu, Korean Garden offers consistent food with an emphasis on garlic. Lots of Koreans eat here. Service is friendly and low-key; the atmosphere is casual and relaxed.

Overall Rating: 8 || Overall Value: 9 || Overall Service: 9 || Overall Food: 8 || Overall Ambience: 7

Korea House || Korean || Aberdeen (Brighton) || Boston
111 Chiswick St, Boston 783-7030

The clientele is almost exclusively Korean, so the name is apt. Korea House does traditional dishes in traditional style. The Bul Go Gi and Kim Chee stew are among the best around. The sushi isn't. Service is a touch slow, as is the case with many family-run places.

Overall Rating: 7 || Overall Value: 7 || Overall Service: 6 || Overall Food: 7 || Overall Ambience: 6

Koreana || Korean || Inman Sq || Cambridge
154 Prospect St, Cambridge 576-8661

An ambitious variety of Korean food in a pleasant atmosphere with comfy booths and somewhat variable service. The sushi is fresh, especially the hamachi. The Korean food is fiery, though they will make it milder on request. Complimentary ginger cinnamon juice served after the meal. A pseudo-pub atmosphere, with seating at a combination of small tables and booths, and a small bar tucked away in a corner.

Overall Rating: 8 || Overall Value: 9 || Overall Service: 7 || Overall Food: 9 || Overall Ambience: 8

Seoul House || Korean || Newton Centre || Newton
57 Union St, Newton 244-6438

Overall Rating: 9 || Overall Value: 8 || Overall Service: 9 || Overall Food: 9 || Overall Ambience: 8

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