Ariari

Step into Ariari and you’re transported to another era entirely. This East Village gem channels serious retro vibes with its vinyl-covered chairs that wouldn’t look out of place in a 1970s sedan. From the team behind Atoboy, this Korean restaurant draws inspiration from Busan, the coastal city on South Korea’s southern tip, which means seafood takes center stage in spectacular fashion.

The menu reads like a greatest hits of unexpected flavor combinations. The scallop DIY gimbap lets you play chef, wrapping impossibly fresh scallops in crispy seaweed with apple kimchi and salted squid. The octopus arrives perfectly poached, tender as steamed lobster, dressed in tangy seaweed vinaigrette. For those who want something fried, the soft-shell crab comes encased in a batter so light and crackly it practically shatters. And the glazed sea eel? A sweet-and-sour masterpiece you won’t soon forget.

Don’t overlook the non-seafood options either. The lamb-stuffed fried peppers deliver a pleasant kick tempered by cool perilla yogurt, while the hap-cheon soup arrives as a bubbling cauldron of porky goodness kept simmering tableside. Pair everything with one of their inventive house cocktails like the barley-infused bori-cha, and before long you’ll find yourself swaying to the K-pop soundtrack alongside the friendly staff who greet every newcomer.

Reservations are essential here—showing up without one is a gamble that rarely pays off. But once you secure a table and start working through the menu, you’ll understand why repeat visits are practically mandatory. Every dish brings something new to discover, making Ariari the kind of place where you keep coming back until you’ve tried absolutely everything.