Here's a review of a Korean restaurant my BFF and I went to today. Ai-Ri-Rang Oriental Market on Eubank in Albuquerque, NM is a very small unassuming Korean grocery store barely bigger than a 7-11. But in back is 5 or 6 small tables with the family cooking of utterly amazing dishes. Now, I spent some of my formative years in South Korea as a USAF military dependent, and we lived off-base. This is some of the best Korean food I've had since being there. Food of my childhood, oh my goodness. Perfect sticky rice, kimchi, and beef bulgogi that nearly made me weep with the tender shreds and delicious carrots and onions. Just faintly sweet, not enough to set off the glucose monitor, LOL. Heart and soul-warming. I also loved the pan-fried dumplings (aka, Mandu) and burned my tongue rather than wait for them to cool off. Barley-corn tea cold in a cup to wash it down refreshingly. Love this treasure of a place and will totally be back as much as I can. 10 out of 5 stars, in my opinion.

The photos are of a plate of mandu (although several were gone by the time I got the camera out), the beef bulgogi with the onions and carrots in it, and the small bowls of sticky rice and kimchi.