Koreans form the largest expat community in Dhaka, making for very good Korean restaurants in town. The top two are Arirang and Sura, both in Gulshan. Recently I tried out both back to back, which allowed me to compare the two restaurants with ease. I was not responsible for ordering on either occasion, but funnily very similar dishes were presented both times, making my task of comparing even easier.

Arirang was the first to be occasioned. I have to admit that I went with a friend who is well known to both the owner and the wait staff at Arirang. We got special attention as a result, which might have resulted in better food.

My friend ordered for us. We got BBQ Chicken, BBQ cuttle fish and glass noodles. A standard set of five kimchis, my favorite part of Korean meals, came swiftly. We waited for the main dish while nibbling on the classic pickled cabbage with chili paste, sauteed greens with sesame seeds, bean sprouts, potatoes in a creamy mayonnaise, and pickled cucumber.

I was catching up with my friend after many months, making us concentrate more on the conversation than the food. Still, I was able to savor every mouthful, the various tastes and textures that makes Korean food unique.

The BBQ chicken and cuttle fish were prepared in a sweetened chili sauce on the grill at the table. The sizzling aromas that emanated were mouthwatering. The distinct firm-yet-soft texture of the cuttle fish, and it’s subtle flavor, made me keep going back for more. Eaten with a side of steamed rice, the BBQ chicken was also very flavorsome and quite distinguishable from the BBQ cuttle fish in it’s moist richness. The light gelatinous glass noodles with woody, chewy mushrooms made their presence felt in every morsel: bursts of flavor with plenty of bite.

The meal was completed with a palate-cleansing cinnamon drink which is very sugary and can only be gently sipped.

At Sura, we had additional appetizers such as shrimp tempura, which was more crumbed fried than prepared in tempura batter. For the mains, we had Beef Bulgogi instead of cuttle fish. We also had a chicken dish, which I found somewhat indistinguishable from the beef, in both texture and taste. But the glass noodles was as tasty as that of Arirang.

Overall, the experience at Arirang was better, but I cannot say whether it was due to the extra care and attention we got there, including complimentary dishes and wrapped gifts at the end, all thanks to my friend.