01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Juicy pork belly sizzles on the hot grill plate, sending up appetizing aromas across the dining room. Located in Ueno 2-chome, Arenmoku is particularly well known for samgyeopsal, featuring generous thick-cut pork grilled to a golden finish by the staff and cut into bite-sized pieces with shears right before your eyes. Wrapped in sanchu lettuce or perilla leaves alongside seasoned green onions and garlic, each mouthful balances luscious richness with crisp, pungent freshness.
Crisp Savory Pancakes and Hearty Side Dishes
Pancakes loaded with fillings make their way to nearly every table. The seafood scallion jeon is seared crisp and fragrant on the outside while staying tender inside; despite its substantial portion, dipping it into the accompanying sauce keeps every bite light. Diners can select small or large portions according to group size, and alternative options such as plump oyster jeon or chewy potato jeon showcase different textures.
The wider menu offers plenty to pair with drinks, from tender boiled bossam pork slices and conveniently cut jokbal pig's trotters to soy-marinated ganjang gejang crab and spicy stir-fried octopus.
Satisfying Hotpots and Soups for the Finish
Towards the end of the meal, piping-hot soups and communal stews rich with savory broth bring a comforting finish. Soft sundubu-jjigae, balancing delicate bean curd with heat and seafood savor, pairs effortlessly with rice or can be bulked up with ramen noodles. Larger gatherings often center around budae-jjigae, slow-simmered gamjatang pork-bone stew, or bulgogi and octopus hotpot, rounding off every drop with udon or a rice-and-egg ojiya porridge.
Lively Multi-Level Dining for Group Gatherings
Spread across a multi-floor building, the restaurant buzzes with high energy and ample seating. Drinks range from draft beers and wines to an assortment of makgeolli, with course meals and all-you-can-drink plans readily available. Operating until 0:00 late at night from Monday through Friday and until 23:00 on weekends, it is a venue best visited with a reservation. With fragrant grilled meats and steaming stews at the center of the table, lively gatherings unfold naturally.
