Elite Event: LNY at Arang

It’s never too late to write one of these, right? :) So when you’ve got a case of the Mondays at work, it’s always so nice to be able to look forward to a Unilocal Elite Event in the evening! It was my mother’s first one, so I really enjoyed being able to share the experience with her. Finding parking in the area was tough, but no biggie. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this restaurant — from the k-​pop music playing in the background, to the painted mural going up the stairs, to all the sexy black light wall art on the second floor.
The staff of Arang was so wonderful to us, answering all our questions and making sure everyone was well-​fed. Personally, my favorites were the sashimi salad and the curry chicken with rice cake. I loveee my dishes spicy, and they definitely delivered. The meatballs and pancakes were very tasty, too. I regret not trying the Yuzu Makegelli, as I was busy having at least four servings of their Pomegranate Soju because it was so delicious. Great vibes that night, met some really cool new people. Many thanks for throwing another fantastic event~!

you ‘RANG? couldn’t resist… makes no sense, but the pun was there, sooo…
any/​s/​way…
in a galaxy faraway, faraway. from Manhattan… is a borough named Queens that is home to many wondrous diverse eateries… including ARANG, a Korean restaurant/​bar/​lounge that moved recently-​ish from NYC’s Ktown to its new Flushing digs.
taking the subway to Arang is a bit tough from Manhattan. your best options are driving – or taking the LIRR from Penn to the Broadway stop which is a short walk from the train. no matter how you travel to this Korean joint – short or long – the journey is well worth it!
after checking in with Queen’s Presidente Jando, i glided into the space’s sleek modern first floor. long narrowish lowlit dining space with banquette seating flush on the left and right side. kitchen in the back. there’s also a large bright screen playing Kpop. tables had been cleared out obvi. so plenty of room to move around. the décor is relatively simple and lowkey – it provides for a modern restaurant feel without coming off too sterile. exposed brick and light woods are nice touches/​flourishes.
the upstairs is where we got the signature cocktails and beer from… this space is a bit different than the downstairs as it’s very loungey. dark. the walls are adorned with «sexy» tasteful art. there’s a bar in the front of the space then smalls tables and lounge-​ier seating appear as you move in deeper.
first off, i tried both signature cocktails: 1) Pomegranate Soju — light pomegranate-​y. clean taste. lots of sweet taste bud appeal without being cloying. 2) Yuzu Makgeolli was my favorite. It was the perfect mix of Yuzu – hints of citrus; light creamy smoothness of the Makgeoilli; sweet notes were rounded off with the booze… it really was an incredible drink concoction that will go well with the warmer days of Spring and the hotter days of Summer. Tiger Ale was also offered, which is a solid thumbsup.
headed back down to where the food was being passed by the hardworking staff and owners. glad i did that because the food is on point!
the sashimi salad nice starter. tasty fresh veggies and seafood paired together with a spicy note.
the ddukboki w/​cheese though! talk about flavor/​savory explosion. tiny pilllowy rice cakes soaked in spices, sauce, and pork (i think) – blanketed by a ooey gooey layer of cheese. had multiple helping of Arang’s signature dish and the first bite was as great as the last. so much flavor. YUM! probably my favorite eat of the night!
kimchi pancake and beef meatballs provided the perfect interlude of tasty bites before some other heavier eats. the kimchi pancake hit spicy, fried, and savory notes without being too oily or carby. and the beef meatballs were a nice compact protein. had to control myself around these two skewered eats because Sunny, one of the owners, told me to save room because they had two more dishes coming out. i do want to note how great the staff were – they served copious amounts of food without breaking a sweat, answered q’s about all the food on the trays, held food up for food pornography, and bussed the remnants of our savage eating superquickly.
the next two dishes were the chicken curry ddukboki & bulgogi over rice. these two filling eats tied for second fave of the night. the chicken curry was cooked perfectly – add the rice pillows and you’ve got another WINNING combo! bulgogi over rice? you had me at BULGOGI… throw in the rice… BONUS! two really strong items on Arang’s menu. Encourage you to order both and share them at your table OR hoard them for yourself! lol
the owners were supercool. circulated amongst us Unilocalers. and did a great job of speaking to folks about the different foods to us. though they moved Arang from Manhattan to Queens… the value, quality, and ambience is there in this new locale. staff as i mentioned were doing everything – and did so with a smile. felt very at home at Arang.
Jando and his merry team of Unilocal help did an amazing job orchestrating this event. big thank you’s to them for bringing us to Arang to enjoy food, dranks, and laughs! i now have a multiple reasons to return to Flushing to explore this restaurant, but this area as well.
drops mic, so i can operate these chopsticks like a bawsss and throw some rice cakes in my mouth! this joint is a «Queens high straight Flush» in my book… #seewhatididthere
i out!
zzzz

Two levels of non-​stop fun — what more can you ask for? As soon as we arrived, the staff informed us that they will be serving cocktails and beer on the 2^nd floor and food on the first floor. I made my way upstairs and started my night off with a Pomegranate Soju. It had a bit of a sour smell to it, but when I sipped it, it had a kick. I don’t drink Soju often so it caught me off guard. It was very nice. Since I am not much of a beer drinker, I tried the Yuzu Makgeolli. I absolutely loved that drink. It was sweet and light, which is how I prefer it.
The staff walked around and offered us yummy bites. The kimchee pajun was crispy and had a good amount of kimchi. Next, I tried The KJD (sautéed kimchee, pork, and rice cakes with cheese). It reminded me of baked ziti at first glance. They brought out another rice cake sample called the Curry Chicken Ddukboki. It consisted of curried chicken and rice cakes with cabbage, yams and sesame leaves. I would say that dish wins for the most unique dish I’ve tried there! Both were decent, but my favorite was the Donkatsu Bulgogi Dupbap (breaded fried pork cutlet and Bulgogi over rice). It was sweet, but that was OK. The pork cutlet was crispy, moist and very flavorful; I might have to come back just for that! I also got to try the beef tempura meatballs, which were good.
In addition to the great food, drinks and company, we found out that this is a woman — owned business. I love supporting my fellow independent ladies! I will let all my friends know that Arang is the place to be!
Thanks Jando, Nelson and the Unilocal team for throwing another success event.

Well executed event. Excellent move on setting up the bar upstairs while serving food downstairs. I wasn’t too sure about it in the beginning because stairs and alcohol are mortal enemies. However, after seeing the logistics in motion, I witnessed a steady flow and good crowd control.
One of the owners, Sunny, was very thoughtful. A couple of us were chatting in the front, and she noticed we hadn’t had any food. Since the hoard snatched all the servings before it got to us, she made it a point to grab a few Hwae Muchim, or spicy assorted sashimi salad, for us.
As the evening progressed, more food made its way to where I was standing. The winner of the night was the Curry Chicken Ddukboki (sauteed spicy curried chicken and rice cakes with cabbage, yams, and sesame leaves). I legitimately wished I had a full dinner serving of this.
You can never go wrong with soju; next to water, it is my favorite beverage. The Yuzu Makgeolli was my beverage of choice; it was milky and smooth with a hint of that citric blend. Divine.
I used to think I was the only nutty person who trekked from ‘the South’ to Queens events. I got to meet some Long Island folks who came from deep within; a true testament to Jando’s ongoing efforts. Keep up the good work, Arang; I will definitely be back.

My 2^nd Elite event literally in 3 years. I had butterflies in my stomach like I was going on a 1^st date, that being said I would like to Thank Chun whom I never met in person till that night for 1^st reminding me to RSVP for this event. I forgot how Awesome and fun Unilocal events were. It felt great to be surrounded with Amazing and fun people. The crowd was full of positive energy and the restaurant full of delicious Korean treats.
I really applaud and appreciate the Owners of Arang! The owners are comprised of 3 beautiful women — Sunny, Taylor and Sue who are passionate about their restaurant and took the time to explain to us each dish that they were serving out of the kitchen. Thank you ladies and your staff for your gracious hospitality.
Arang has a very cool, hip and modern vibe! The «K-​pop» music and video were cranked up. Arang is a bi-​level restaurant with a full bar located on the second floor. The second floor also houses some very «interesting» art paintings. All I can say about the Zodiac painting was the depictions are 100% inaccurate! Listen, I’m a Pisces and I never ever attempted that position! or that, or that or this… well, Maybe that :)
Now the food was insanely delicious! The signature dish as «Sunny» told me was their «KJD» — A mix of rice cakes with spicy kimchee and cheese. Now I know why it’s their signature dish, absolutely delish! A very nice assortment of food was served that night. I also had the Kimchee pancake, Curry chicken DDukboki, beef tempura meatballs and a spicy sashimi salad. I know I had other dishes that night but I can only remember these. I can’t speak on the cocktails and alcohol that night since I make it my policy not to drink and drive regardless of how little alcohol I ingest, but I saw many fellow Unilocaler’s were raving about the quality of the drinks.
It was great to meet many Elites that I never met before other than on cyberland. Thank you Chun and Lori for being there and helping me ease back into the flow of things. I was excited to meet new friends like Kevin C and Hansel and really excited to finally meet my Elite Unilocaler Superstar friends in person like Chun M, Lori L, Win C, Yu Z, Sally L, Rich W. and Marissa M. I also recognized many others but didn’t have time to meet you all.
As always a Big Thank You to you Sir, our «CM» Jando for organizing this event and Nelson for taking pictures. A Big Thanks again to Arang for your gracious hospitality and Kick Ass food! I appreciate the takeout menu you handed us as we left and for marking the food items we ate that night, it definitely will make it easier for us to order when we come back, you guy’s are AWESOME! As you say in Korean Thank You — «Kamsahamnida»!

It takes a very special event and a very special venue to get folks traveling on a Monday evening from as far as the southern reaches of Brooklyn and Long Island — but of course if it’s a Queens Unilocal Elite Event by Jando, one makes sure to attend!
Thanks to Jando and his team for discovering such a wonderful restaurant! It was a pleasure to present at such a great event!
Arang is nestled on Northern Blvd, not in the most public transportation friendly area, but oh it is so worth the trip! As soon as I arrived I was greeted by two of the co-​owners, Taylor and her mom Sue, who welcomed me as though I was an old friend being invited into their home. That is how they run their restaurant, as though you are being welcomed into their home for a great time!
The food was fantastic! Starting with a tasty sashimi salad (Hwae Muchim) my taste buds were in Heaven! The Kimchi pancakes (Kimchee Pajun) were light and delectable. Fantastic bites of pork bites and curry chicken creations bedded in a nest of cheese and rice noodles, along with beef tempura meatballs rounded out a stomach stuffing experience. The food came so quickly there was no way one would go away hungry.
If the experience was just food, the event would have 5 stars, but the drink selection and the fantastic upstairs lounge venue brings the total experience to 5+++ stars! Great professional bartenders served Pomegranate Soju and Yuzu Makegeolli that were so refreshing and one almost did not feel you were drinking an alcoholic beverage, but you did get hit by them!
The lounge upstairs was nice and chill with great house music playing, where smaller more intimate conversation could be had away from the din of the crowd downstairs.
Thank you very much to the owners of Arang and its staff for having us! Arang is a wonderful place of flavors to be discovered and experience. A fantastic dinner spot, and also a place to hang for a drink and a wonderful date spot as well. I will be back and urge others to go to this great restaurant!

Omo! Another fantastic home run event for Unilocal Queens! Easy to get to (drivers and brave commuters alike), spacious and great looking décor, super accommodating staff, and most important of all, yum yum delicious food and drink!
My first rave is for the fantastic yuzu makgeolli. I could drink this ish allll day. It was perfectly foamy, sweet but not overbearing, a captivating hint of citrus, and ended with a smooth roundness from the cool liquor. I know a lot of people liked the pomegranate soju cocktail, which was also really great, but it was all about the makgeolli for me.
My second rave is for the food. There was tons! It kept streaming out of the kitchen! And this is what I love about Queens events, I tend to get fed! My top choices were the two beef ones: the tempura (as I heard one server oddly describe it) and the bulgogi with pork over rice with green onion. A lot of other dishes, including their signature cheesy stew dish towards the beginning, were also really good. It’s hard to really call the beef dishes clear winners since all the food was bang up delicious.
My final rave is for the ambience and crowd. The upstairs bar is a really cool lounge area. It’s got an edgy yet tasteful Manhattan design sensibility written all over it. Yes, I think I could argue this even with the foreplay on the walls! I could definitely see myself trying to convince friends and colleagues to make the trek and come kick it in the lounge during happy hour. And I could also see myself enjoying late night food while I bounce around in my seat and bop my head nostalgically to the K-​Pop videos played on the large projector screen. I love all the different Unilocalers I chatted with tonight, but forgive me if I looked to be ignoring you at any point, cause I was truly about to break out in song and dance alongside Girls’ Generation. The recovering k-​pop addict in me was once that obsessed!
The verdict is that this is another slam dunk YEE, one that makes me appreciate all the other pockets of great food & nightlife in the city beyond Manhattan and Brooklyn. While it does take some extra planning, there is a hell of a lot to do in Queens and Brooklyn, which has long long since past frontier status, with outstanding food waiting to be ingested and good times to be enjoyed. Thank you Jando and Team Unilocal for allowing me to clog my arteries and stress my liver so! I feel the love! Keep it coming! :)

My experience is limited to fried chicken when it comes to Korean food so when the Elite posting was for Arang I was super excited!
The cocktails served at the sassy bar and lounge upstairs. My favorite was the Pomegranate Soju. the Yuzu Mak was also good.
The food served was plentiful.
I tried the Kimchee Pajun, Donkatsu Bulgogi Dupbap, both delicious.
The KJD was suprisingly very tasty.
The curry Chicken Ddukboki is very good.
The Beef Tempura meatballs was adicting… has too many.
And one of my favorite was the Hwae Muchim (spicy assorted sashimi salad).
The three owners are very friendly and helpful; especially Sunny. She is a great host!
This Monday Elite was worth the trip to Flushing.
Great event Jando.

Great Monday night YEE at Arang filled with great cocktails and appetizing bites. Arang was one of my favorite Ktown restaurants in the city, so after hearing their move to a new location, I knew I had to make it out to this one. Arang is a bit further out in Flushing, so if coming from Manhattan, you will need to take the LIRR, if not by car. Otherwise, worth a trek. Thanks again Jando, for organizing another amazing, fun Queens event at one of the best Korean spots in my book.
Speaking of the space, not as big as the original, but still carries the same charm. The restaurant portion is on the first floor, the second floor is more sexy lounge. Interesting choice of artwork to decorate the space. Three types of complimentary libations were served on the upper floor — Pomegranate Soju, Yuzu Makgeolli, and Tiger Beer Lager. I am not one to go for the sweet, girly drinks, but the Yuzu Makgeolli was incredibly delicious. I decided to grab a few of those for the night, and that was definitely the highlight in the drinks category. Regarding food, appears there was a decent variety passed around, though I was only able to try the spicy rice cake (dukbukki), fried meatballs, and marinaded bulgogi. Of course, my favorite was the duk, and that should be everyone’s favorite too. The best dish at Arang is hands-​down, their dukbokki.
Last but not least, I will note that the service was really great at this event. Their bartenders and their owners are just super friendly. Thank you Arang for such a lovely evening of complimentary drinks and food at your wonderful establishment. I will be sure to return on a regular night for your delicious spicy dukkbokki and makgeolli cocktails.

Let me arrange my thoughts on Arang… umm ZANG! Sorry, pardon my «Wayne’s World» reference.
All kidding aside, this was one of the greatest times I had at a Queens Unilocal Event/​restaurant.
Gosh, I love being Unilocal Elite. I am always so spoiled at these events. Between the food, drinks and company… I’m lucky to be a Unilocaler!
I couldn’t be happier to see Jando, and see his smile. He is the most welcoming person in the world. And he ALWAYS has unbelievable events to introduce.
I parked pretty close and walked up to the block of restaurants on Northern Blvd. I was so prided (as always) to see the «Private Unilocal Event» flyer in the window. Of course I was greeted with a huge hello, and made my way into the restaurant.
If I could sum the place up in one word (maybe two) it would be, super chill. I was ushered upstairs where drinks were being served at the lavish bar. For a girl from LI, I swear I felt like I was in Manhattan. I strolled over to the second floor windows and just stared out. I love views. I love lights. The upstairs of Arang had a rustic yet homey, clubby, sexual (he he) feel with the brick walls, loud music, flashing lights and of course, the sex position pictures on the wall. Hmmm! Not complaining!!! Great underground club-​esque-​feeling.
The bartenders and staff were beyond attentive and friendly. The restroom upstairs was immaculate and very private. I felt as if I found a secret room when I discovered it. Cool Beans.
As I made my way downstairs, I encountered a little bit of food heaven. The aromas first of all lured me down the staircase but, I already knew I’d be headed to a delicious nirvana.
I was handed a super fresh sashimi salad with a spicy sesame flavor, atop lettuce and crab meat. It had a kick and was beyond yummy. Great start! I then tasted the kimchee pancake and it was delish. In all honesty, I never had kimchee before. Of course I have heard about it, but never tasted. Yeah, I am a fan. This Irish lassie likes!
I was also treated to something called «ddukbokkii» which is a rice cake. At first, I thought it was a scallop. lol. Whoops. It was so good. I love being pleasantly surprised. The spice factor was on point and loved eating it with chop sticks.
Everyone’s fav seemed to be the deep fried crispy beef tempura. I saw the peeps flocking to that sample like moths to a light. I controlled myself. It was so good I need to savor that, another time, alone, or with someone special.
I can’t give enough praise to the amazing ladies who run Arang. You go girls! Seriously, I had a great time, the food was spectacular, the staff, I can’t say enough! Thank you for such a great night!

It’s been a rough month.
High volume of work and I really just wanted to go out.
Elite party pass arrived Monday afternoon to save the day! Thank you Jando, Unilocal crew, and Arangs’ owners!
It was a Great way to spend a Monday night. I met so many fun and intriguing Unilocalers!
The Cocktails of the night were the Yuzu makgeolli and pomegranate soju. The Yuzu was rich, slightly sweet and milky. Pomegranate soju was sweet and acidic. Couldn’t taste the soju at all. Drinks were flowing like water from the bar upstairs.
Plenty of small bites went out from the kitchen and there was more than enough for everyone to have a bite. My favorite bite was the Kjd, which is their signature dish.
Cheesy rice cakes with Kimchi. I had no idea how amazing this dish was until our two friends insisted we come back for dinner.
Thank you Sunny for hosting us!

I have never been so excited on a Monday night… except when there is a Unilocal Elite Event! Last night, Unilocal Elites took over Arang. Cocktails, delicious food, and passionate foodies are the three factors that made last night so amazing!
That Yuzu Makgeolli was so heavenly! Oh boy, after leaving Arang last night I dreamt about it, thought about it at work, and now still drooling over it! I am a very big fan of Yuzu and I was so amazed how delicious it was combined with Makgeolli, a Korean rice wine! I absolutely loved it! When Taylor, one of the all-​girl-​owners team (Yay! Girl Power!) asked me for feedback about it, I said «I WANT TWO PITCHERS!». Haha, Taylor told me that it actually doesn’t come in pitchers but in fancy pots! Okay, I’ll take two pots! :)
Ddukbokki with Cheese particularly won my heart over. I am not normally a cheesy fan but I am delighted to report that it worked with the spicy rice cakes! There was kimchi, zucchini, and bits of meat. Spicy rice cakes were so soft and had a nice chewy texture. Loved it!
Kimchi pancake is an honorable mention, too! Great proportion between the kimchi and dough. I loved the flavor and had a tiny bit of spice.
Thank you Jando, Nelson, Unilocal Queens, Unilocal Elites, and everyone at Arang for making this another memorable event! Once again, welcome new Unilocal Elites!
I hope to come back to sip some more Yuzu Makgeolli!!!

I have never been to Arang before but I’ve heard about it when they had a location in the city. Once you walk in you’re mesmerized by the really cool wall paintings and chandelier. After being scanned in and leaving our coats aside we headed upstairs for drinks. They served four drinks (tiger beer, ob beer, pomegranate soju and yuzu makgeolli). I tried the pomegranate soju first and thought it was pretty tasty. I’m usually not fond of soju either. But I loved the yuzu makgeolli and stuck with that throughout the rest of the night. It was sweet and didn’t taste like there was any hint of alcohol in it. If you didn’t go upstairs to grab a drink from the bar, there were waitresses going around handing out drinks.
We made our way downstairs to sample their food. The waiters brought out a spicy sashimi salad first. It was so delicious and tasty. The sashimi was fresh and it went perfectly with the salad dressing. Next we sampled the KJD which was spicy kimchee, pork, and rice cakes with cheese. It was a little more on the spicier side but I still enjoyed it. The scallion pancakes were great as well as the beef tempura meatballs. The last dish was the donkatsu bulgogi dupbak which was pork cutlet and bulgogi over rice. After all that food, i was pretty content.
The owners were great and very welcoming. They came around a few times to make sure everything was good and to see how we were doing. I will definitely be back to check out their happy hour and dinner specials! Thanks Jando & Arang for everything!

I think this was a great event. I don’t normally come out to this part of Flushtown but when I do I always have a great time.
The TL: DR Version
Pros:
1) Nice space. Trendy. Modern. Sexy
2) Good Food. Ddukbokki is definitely their best dish
3) Sexy lady bartenders. This one girl with that tattoo. I don’t normally Yellow Fever but for her, I wouldn’t hesitate.
4) The owners especially Sunny was über friendly and very accommodating.
5) Food/​Restaurant is downstairs and lounge/​bar is upstairs. I like the option without being attached.
6) Good date spot.
7) Sexy artwork
Cons:
1) Street parking always hard to find in Flushtown
2) LIRR is your closest public transportation next to the bus. Still it is still hard to get here from the subway.
***** The Reading Version *****
The space is actually 2 floors. 1^st floor is the kitchen and most of the dine in options would be taken care of here. I’m sure they can and do bring food to the second floor which is separated by a staircase that leads from the same door as the main entrance shared at this space. But for dining purposes I’d say go to the first floor. There are classy, sexual depictions all over the wall which really is my kind of place to begin with. Add that to good Korean food and you just might find a regular patron or a few dozen.
The 2^nd floor is the bar/​lounge, I do like the clever idea that they had to separate the two as sometimes people just want one or the other and not a fusion of some kind. Yet, after dinner you do have that option to continue the date or night out to explore some drinks and just enter a different vibe without having to travel far. It is directly up the stairs. See how convenient that is? The space upstairs has a more speakeasy kind of vibe. Very dim lit but in a sexy way not in a I’m trying to save money on the electricity bill way.
The food itself was pretty okay. Nothing really stood out for me BUT I think their Ddukbokki is their best dish. Very flavorful and I would highly recommend ordering that here.
The drinks on the other hand was spot on. The Yuzu Makgeolli drink was fantastic. By now I’m sure you all know how much I LOVE Yuzu in my cocktails or just eating them in general. Ah I miss Hawai’i…This cocktail is on the lighter side in potency but perfect for after dinner. The Pomegranate Soju is the evil cousin. It packs a slight punch if you drink 2 or 3 but still keeping it tasty with really pomegranate fruit pieces in it. Also, pomegranate juice is good for you anyway so it’s a win-​win.
This Arang is the same one that closed down in KTown Manhattan. Although, I don’t know the exact reason, if I had to guess it probably was due to the «rent too damn high». But even in Flushtown going through a complete gentrification period, I would expect Arang to be here for the duration. And believe me you will want to come visit here.
FAN.

Flushing — always a journey for me coming from Jersey, but always worth it for good Korean food. This time didn’t disappoint. The atmosphere and the vibe of this place was pretty cool. Arang is located about 1.5 miles from the Main St. subway stop.
The bar/​lounge area is upstairs and the main restaurant is downstairs. We were offered three different types of drinks throughout the evening. Pomegranate soju, yuzu makgeolli, and tiger beer. I liked the yuzu makgeolli the most, with the pomegranate soju coming in second. I didn’t drink the tiger beer at all, and mostly drank the flavored makgeolli. I usually drink makgeolli straight from the bottle, so the flavored makgeolli was both different and interesting. I found out from one of the bartenders, that the drink included citron and a little sprite added to the makegeolli.
For food, I tried the sashimi salad, the cheese dukbokki (rice cakes), and the kimchi pajun (pancake). All were very good. I especially liked their signature dukbokki with cheese. Since I was my getting my drink on upstairs, I unfortunately, didn’t get to sample the meatballs and bulgogi.
The owners seemed friendly and the staff was great. The drinks and the lounge area upstairs, was the highlight of the evening, as well as the Unilocaler company.
Thank you Jando, Arang, and everyone involved, for a hosting a great event.

Alcohol buzzed reviews are the best reviews, and I’m still feeling that Pomegranate Soju after getting home.
Many thanks to the owners of Arang; it’s always a little bit of a chore to trek anywhere the subway doesn’t stop, but for this event is was undoubtedly worth it. Arang is an unsuspectingly hip spot on Northern that transports you from that inner Queens chokehold and makes you feel like you’re chillen in the city. Interestingly enough, they used to be a Manhattan locale, but unbearable rent prices gifted Queens with these very awesome owners and this chill venue.
Perfectly decorated with edison bulbs and blacklight fluorescing karma sutra posters on the upper floor, Arang is an ideal location for grabbing drinks with friends or belting out some karaōke (on special nights). They showcased some delicious food items; between Kimchi pancakes, sashimi salad, and kimchi rice cake dishes, the food was on point. The owners know that anyone commuting to this part of Queens better feel like it was worth it, and the food states this on its own. Textures, temperatures, and flavors were all there, and this would be an ideal spot for a birthday get together or what have you. Apparently this place is poppin’ Friday-​Sunday, so if you want a bit more of a lax environment, be sure to swing by on a weekday. The food alone is worth it, and the owners are some of the most personable people I’ve ever met.
Thanks to the friendly and cordial staff, and the owners for having us. This won’t be the last time I’m at Arang, that’s for sure.

As soon as I stepped foot into the venue my expectations were met. Swanky. Stylish. Sensual. Tasty Symphony of flavor. Jando nailed it for a LNY venue. Smack dab on Northern Blvd amongst a plethora of restuarants, Karaōke bars and markets is Arang. A warm intimate restaurant and lounge. The 1^st floor was for dining and the 2^nd floor was for cocktails, a modern and unique lounge with soft lighting and a hard core sensual flare. With artwork to match.
The bartenders are skilled here. The 1^st cocktail I sampled was the Pomegranate Soju. Fresh pomegranate tossed right in the cup. A symphony of fruit and liquor. Very well blended. Not overbearing. Meticulous mixology. I also had the Tiger Beer lager. Deliciously refreshing. The Yuzu Makgeolli was just… beyond words!!! What they did with rice wine was magic. The presentation of the food was aesthetically pleasing. The passing of the food like cocktail hour at a formal event kept things organized and displayed 5 Star Service.
I am familiar with the neighborhood but have never had korean cuisine here. I have been to K TOWN in Manhattan but now I know I don’t have to take a 45-​min subway ride for the overall experience. All of the food was ORGASMIC. I really loved the Curry Chicken. I have tried Jamaican style, Trinidadian, guyanese and Indian curry. BUT THIS!!! …This was out of this world!!! The fresh spices are unmatched. I met with Sunny who is 1 of the owners, she asked my opinion of the cuisine. I explained to her that I will be back! Like Arnold Swarzenegger. I believe I also had the pork tempura meatball. Well seasoned. Perfection. There were sooo many familiar faces and I really enjoyed everyone’s company. The music selection set the mood and was well enjoyed. I love that this venue is Female and Family owned. GIRL POWER! (My inner Spice Girl came out) It’s very comforting to know that the owners moved to Flushing so that they would never lose their authenticity and overall quality of their cuisine trying to keep up with the tourist traffic flow in Midtown K-​town.

I hauled ass after work to get here on time, all the way from Sunset Park, BK. I friggin’ love Queens events! As do many others — there were a good showing of elites from other boros who made the trek too.
The venue isn’t the biggest but there are two floors. Drinks were served in the bar upstairs and the food downstairs. I broke my no drinking cleanse and had a nice and fruity pomegranate soju. I got to try a sip of the yuzu drink later which was infinitely better — total summer drink. I don’t even like yuzu so much but this was too good. Unfortunately, I only allowed myself one tonight!
There was a nice sampling of food offered — sashimi salad, two versions of spicy rice cake (curry+chicken and kimchi w/​cheese), kimchi pancake, beef meatballs and bulgogi over rice. Everything was delicious! The sashimi in the salad was super fresh, binded with a spicy dressing. The spicy rice cake w/​kimchi+cheese was also yummy and indeed spicy — I’ve never had it with cheese but I found that it worked very well with the dish. So dangerous! My favorite bite of the night was the kimchi pancake though. It was so crisp! Crispiness is key!
The owners were super friendly, mingling and even serving throughout the night. It’s good to hear them doing well in this new location. Thanks Arang and Unilocal NYC for a wonderful Monday evening. The week’s off to a great start!

My FIRST Unilocal Elite event in the books! :D I met and talked with lots of new people. Saw some familiar faces. I just jumped into random conversations, and everyone was super chill. Finally met Jando, really cool dude.
The event venue at Arang was a great choice! Location is right on Northern, short walk from the LIRR. Plenty of residential parking on either side of Northern Blvd. Inside, it’s not a big place, but there was food downstairs and a neat bar upstairs.
Upstairs, I felt at home. loll Loud deep house playing, with a nice beat. Bartenders were really nice. Interesting erotic artwork hanging on the walls. haha I was driving, so I didn’t drink much; had a Yuzu Makgeolli, which was a rice/​wheat based alcoholic drink w/​a slice of orange in it. It was nice, subtle, not too strong and very drinkable.
Downstairs, every now n then, servers walked around with trays of food. I tried pretty a little bit of everything. Salad w/​a few pieces of sashimi was a nice start. There was a dish with rice cake, kimchi and a layer of cheese on top (Supposedly what Arang was well-​known for). It was delicious! I thought the cheese was an interesting component to it, but it def worked in the dish along with the other ingredients. Had an interesting Curry chicken w/​rice cake in it. Was very tasty, with a little bit of heat in it and curry wasn’t overpowering. I could def see myself eating a whole bowl of that! :D
I got there a little late, and I had to leave early, but in the short time I was there, had lots of fun! Ate some delicious food, had a tasty drink! I think my first Unilocal event was an excellent experience! Can’t wait for the next one! :-)

Great start to the week. Heading out to Arang in Queens was a great establishment to go to. Wonderful staff and great owners that are now based in Queens. 2^nd level is a nice lounge area with a large bar. They mix up great yuzu drink’s that were really flowing throughout the night. Let’s just say more than one is to be had.
Downstairs is the food area where the seated restaurant is. They make great rice cake type dishes and the standout was the rice cakes with kimchee and melted cheese on top. Other highlights were the seafood pancake. Lots of seafood filling and crispy, the tuna salmon sashimi salad (super fresh), and the flavorful marinated bulgogi with rice dish. Plenty to go around and the kitchen did a great job keeping us fed. Definitely a spot to check out again as it’s a great staff here that really takes care of their customers.
As always Jando and the Unilocal team did a great job hosting and getting this put together for us on a monday.