If happiness came with chopsticks, this might be what it looked like. We wandered into this little Korean spot and before we could even ask for the menu, the table started filling up with little bowls of kimchi, bean sprouts, pickled vegetables, and enough side dishes to make you wonder if you'd accidentally ordered for twelve. The dumplings came out first--golden brown, crispy on one side, tender on the other, and disappearing faster than a politician's campaign promise. Then came a bibimbap still sizzling in its stone bowl, daring you to stir that runny egg into a mountain of fresh vegetables and rice. Finally, there was a kimchi pancake the size of a hubcap, crispy around the edges, soft in the middle, and just spicy enough to remind you it wasn't playing around. Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and made by someone who cared more about feeding people than impressing Instagram. The service was quick, friendly, and never let our drinks run dry. About the only disappointment was realizing we'd eventually have to stop eating. If you're looking for fancy white tablecloths, keep driving. If you're looking for authentic Korean food that'll have you planning your next visit before you've paid the check, you've found your place. Life's too short for bad dumplings--and thankfully, these weren't read more

PePeRo - Check out - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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Delicious food! Great service as well. Easy to find, the side entrance of the store. The service button on the table was a great add, we needed to get the check quick at the end of our meal and it came out quick. Food came out quick as well. Hot and delicious! Pork bul go gi was awesome. My friend loved her kim chi ji gae but said the side of kimchi on the table could've been spicier. We love this place! We will continue to come back! read more

PePeRo - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

WOW! Usually I go to SuperG for my Korean meals they were closed for an extended time and I decided to try out the famous PePeRo. First off service was great and relatively quick , I love that they have a button for you to press if you need something!! I wish most restaurants did that! Now into the food... I got the Jjolmyeon this is my specialty and my favorite dish I get it all year round at SuperG I will say it's a bit spicier which I LOVE and more liquidy which I'm not use to. Overall not bad definitely a great backup super good. 4/5 on that. Kimchi was really good , was perfectly fermented. then I finished with the Tteokbokki unfortunately I had no more room to finish but I think it's the best tteokbokki I've ever had and usually this is my least favorite dish, I liked it so much I took it Togo! might add cheese on top later for dinner. I also love that it was ACTUALLY SPICYYY usually when a Korean dish is labeled spicy it's not that spicy to me (it's the West African in me) but had a nice kick that I appreciated. 5/5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]ALSO CLEAN!!! really clean inside !!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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This is my first time ordering this soup at a restaurant but it really did impress. This is the perfect soup if you're feeling under the weather or if you're sensitive to strong flavors. It's milky and rich but simple umami flavor so it's not overwhelming. It's a bit under salted as well but I appreciated that. The addition of bits of beef and the noodles add nice sustenance to the dish without being heavy. This is a perfect dish to get if you're ordering other dishes that are heavily seasoned, such as the pancake, the mandu, the tteokbokki, etc. This is a very subtle flavored dish, don't try this expecting a punch of flavor. I have noticed other people calling this soup bland but really I think it comes down to understanding what you're ordering and going into it with realistic expectations. Also, this broth makes for great leftovers. I put this in my fridge and the next day it was a thick gelatinous texture- the telltale sign of a perfect bone broth. Heat it up in the microwave for a minute or two and it goes back to a rich milky liquid. Add some scallion, noodles, or leave it plain, and you have a perfect soup again. read more

PePeRo - Gul Rung Tang - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Pepero is such a gem. It's a tiny "hole in the wall" spot tucked inside a small Korean/asian grocery store, and the vibe immediately feels authentic and homey.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining area is small, but the service is genuinely some of the warmest I've experienced in Charlotte. Fast, kind, and attentive without being overbearing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the kimchi jjigae and it was fantastic. My friends got bibimbap and loved it, and we shared mandu to start, which came out hot and perfectly crispy on the outside. Portions are generous and pricing is very reasonable for the quality. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you're looking for shiny interiors or trendy décor, this isn't that. But if you want amazing Korean food, welcoming service, and a cozy local feel, Pepero deserves a spot on your list.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 5 stars. read more

PePeRo - Bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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I've been coming to Pepero Restaurant for a few years. The food is delicious every time! My favorite is haemul soon tofu. It tastes just as I remember it from my years in Korea. The service is always attentive and kind as well. If you want authentic home cooked Korean food, I strongly recommend here. Also, grab some kimpap from store attached to the restaurant. It's only available on weekdays I believe and goes fast. read more

PePeRo - Haemul Soon Seafood Soft Tofu Soup - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Be warned! There was no AC and it was HOT inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Seafood Pancake (5/5): Just a little bit of crispiness and a great ratio seafood, pancake, and green onion. Galbi (4/5): The marinade was very good, but the quality of the meat was just ok. Osam Bulgogi (4/5): I really liked how there were a lot of chewy pieces of said, but the dish was too saucy and the sauce was a bit overpowering (too much gochujang). Jabchae (2/5): Too much star anise flavor and not nearly enough beef. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this) read more

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Still the best traditional Korean restaurant in Charlotte area. Highly recommend. Traditional food don't look for a fusion here. Just get the food that your mother or mother-in-law used to cook is right here. read more

PePeRo amazes me yet again! I went and tried the O Jing uh Dup Bob (Spicy stir fried squid over rice) and it was delicious! The squid is topped with a spicy- sweet sauce that pairs very well with the white rice. I brought my family to try some Korean food for the first time here as well and they loved it so much that they want to stop by here every time we visit Matthews. Service was great as usual, the staff are always smiling, friendly and so welcoming! read more

PePeRo - Spicy stir fried squid over rice - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Heck ya to this airbrush Korean restaurant. It was all Koreans when we walked in, so I know it had to be good![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great service and good came out piping hot. I asked for more banchans and she refilled them generously! They'd a market attached and had all the basics for a delicious Korean meal, including snacks and drinks! read more

PePeRo - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This secret spot tucked inside a Korean grocery store is the real deal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You see a kid doing homework in the kitchen and instantly know the food's on point. Our food? Wasn't just a meal. It was a trip to another dimension... or should I say, dynasty? A must-visit for anyone craving authentic Korean flavor with a side of whole-in-the-wall perfection! read more

PePeRo - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

The portion sizes are large and the food is super authentic. If you don't know what to order, you can ask the waitresses, but they can be quite busy at certain times. read more

Such a wonderful gem. I've driven by the places 100's of times and had no idea there was an actual restaurant inside. Clean, attentive service with a little button to summon your server directly from the table. The food isn't cheap, but its value is high and portions are generous. Be brave, try it out! read more

This place is delicious!! Someone the best Galbi short ribs I've ever had! Amazing quality too without too much fat. Authentic Korean cuisine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Don't let the modest ambiance scare you.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is amazing. read more

I mean the best of the best. A classic staple in Charlotte. I usually get the dol sot bibimbap but tried the soft tofu soup and the mackerel is SO YUMMY. read more

PePeRo - Soft tofu soup with mackerel. Udon. Yaki Mandoo. - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Best Korean food in Charlotte. Kimchi pancake 10/10. Cold noodles I didn't like but my friend raved (I'm personally not a fan of cold foods). Spicy squid over rice soooo good. But then short ribs omg 100000/10 read more

PePeRo - Kimchi pancake, spicy squid and short ribs - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

If you are in the area I am telling you to RUN to PePeRo. I'm not gonna gate keep this place anymore . [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is always so so good , so cozy and the people working there are so nice and funny[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the food is always prepared so well and intentionally read more

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A hidden gem with delicious entrees. Great service and reasonable priced menu. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A hole-in-the-wall tucked inside a Korean supermarket.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Plenty of parking space. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Small restaurant with limited seats.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came at 1pm on Saturday afternoon and were seated right away but others that came after waited. Worth the wait. read more

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Service: This is the main reason for my 1-star rating. We were served by a woman. Her attitude was utterly terrible, which made me furious. Initially, the service was passable--just average. So when we decided to leave and try another place, I settled the bill and added a 15% tip. Later, due to the cold weather, we decided to return to the restaurant to sit for a while. It was only 7:03 pm, just three minutes after settling the bill. When I returned, half the seats were empty, so I asked if we could sit a bit longer. She said no, claiming many customers would arrive soon. However, after repeated requests and assurances that we would leave immediately if customers arrived, she finally allowed us to stay. At 7:40 pm, a customer finally arrived and sat in the empty seat next to me. The server immediately said we needed that seat and asked, "Can you leave?" I asked her where the customer was, but she didn't respond. She just kept repeating, "Can you get off?" When I left at 8:05 pm, my seat was still empty, and many other seats had opened up. I find this unacceptable. As a customer who had just finished dining and paid, I wasn't even allowed to sit for a moment longer in an empty seat. The staff's attitude shifted drastically before and after receiving my tip. They deceived me by claiming a customer was coming. This made me extremely angry. I am a 19-year-old Chinese person. I can't tell if they targeted me because I looked young and easy to bully, or if it was discrimination against Chinese people. We were the only ones repeatedly asked to leave and pressured to settle the bill early. Food: I ordered bibimbap, ddukbokki, and boodae jeon gol. The boodae jeon gol was quite good--the broth was excellent, but the fish intestines were awful, with a strong fishy taste and not very fresh. The ddukbokki was just average. The bibimbap was terrible; all I could taste was sauce and tough vegetable leaves. I'd give the food 3.7 stars. 通过DeepL翻译 (https://dee.pl/app) read more

Impulsively tried the Korean restaurant in the back of the store. The food was amazing. I had a bowl of spicy beef soup. It's called. Yookgaejang It was full of flavored ice beef wonderful soup. I really enjoyed it. Have a recommend this place. read more

PePeRo - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Quaint restaurant attached to a (Korean goods) grocery store. The smells pulled us in for lunch as we were browsing in the store. We were not disappointed. Ordered hot pot (crunchy rice!)- is like a bib bim bop but continually cooking. Was fun to see a wide range of folks enjoying Korean food- one older southern gentleman I'd imagine meeting at a local diner was there with his buddy joking with the waitress about the spice of his lunch burning on the way in..."and on the way out"... Good service, good food, small restaurant. We came at the end of a lunch shift. read more

PePeRo - Hot pot...,(!) - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Pepero is everything! No wait times, insanely fresh food, and the friendliest team ever. We've gone so many times they know our order by heart, iconic behavior, honestly. Every visit is a 10/10. We're obsessed with this place! read more

It's all about expectations. If you are looking for fine dining.....this is not your place. We came on a Sat night and the place was busier than I expected. We got a table no problem We ordered Dolsot Bibimbap ($13) and it was fine. The amount of beef bulgolgi was very small. I'd rather they offer more options (spicy pork or chicken) and provide more meat and charge more. Also got the seafood pancake ($10) and my bride seemed to really enjoy it. The sides were okay....my bride thought the pickeled vegetables were the best. Typically at a Korean restaurant the sides come immediately, but they came with the meal here. No alcohol. Service was good. read more

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This Korean restaurant has many great qualities that many restaurants need. For example their customer service is great and the waiters are very nice. The food is very amazing read more

Love this hole-in-the-wall! It is a grocery mainly with a small area set aside for dining. It is no frills. Craving some bi bim bob, I came here with some friends. Ample seating. We started with some veggie buns which were large and delicious. Our bi bim bob was sizzling when it arrived to our table and our waitress was even able to accommodate us by making sure our eggs were well done (which isn't the traditional way, but just how we needed them cooked in this instance). Our food was served with a variety of kimchi. There are some sauces to choose from, the red sauce had a nice kick to it. Great friendly service. There is a bell at your table that you ring if you need anything. Seemed to draw in a nice local crowd. I've never been near Korea, but this place seems about as authentic as you can get in Charlotte, NC! read more

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Authentic Korean food. No alterations to plates to keep authentic also. The picture speak for it self. It was truly delicious. I had the beef broth rib soup, it comes with glass noodle inside and scrambled egg. The north is delicious. I tried the pork and it was. so So good! I recommend . The soup also comes with white rice and it is big enough to share. I had it for lunch and diner. The ambience is original; and it's a super market with a restaurant in the back. Almost like a hidden jam. Service is fast and friendly. read more

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Authentic delicious Korean food! Service was amazing and our book club enjoyed our dinner here. Fair warning I wouldn't recommend if you are vegetarian or don't eat red meat as most of their menu options are pork/beef. read more

Food taste just perfect. I fell in love with everything they serve. Service is good.[[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is good[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] worst the wait. read more

This is a pretty good, authentic spot. Those that are both grocery store and restaurant. Went for the restaurant and was very very tasty, filling and good. Bought some Asian snacks in the grocery store on my way out. Only con is that it closes quite early! So plan ahead! read more

Very authentic spot, and was incredibly delighted we went. The food was fantastic, servers were very helpful for our first time. The sides they provided were extremely tasty and aided in elevating the meal further. Absolutely will go back. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The decor and ambiance is minimal, like a hole in the wall but it was clean and we'll kept.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Always fresh, always delicious! We love this place time and time again. The service is always friendly and quick, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the cute little tables/booths are cozy to enjoy your meal.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Family own, great food, always friendly service. Great spot to get your craving of Korean food.

My favorite favorite Korean place. This place is number one. It's a hole in the wall place, it's inside a grocery store but it's so so delicious. The price is so worth it compare to other places. I love all the little side dishes. I eat everything. The service is good. They are very fast. Never had a bad experience here and love making the drive for it even though it's far. read more

PePeRo - Spicy pork bulgogi and soon tofu soup - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

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I was looking for a Korean restaurant, not Asian fusion, and was pleased to find PePeRo. The grocery store and restaurant entrance is on the side of the building, not facing Monroe Rd. I enjoyed the spicy beef & vegetable soup (yukgaejang). My soup was served with a healthy portion of rice and four side dishes (banchan). The food is simple and delicious. Service is limited and efficient. read more

PePeRo - Korean Near Me - Matthews, North Carolina

Best and most authentic Korean food in Charlotte. No frills, just solid (and affordable) food that reminds me of my time in Korea like no other. read more

Nice stop for a quick lunch and Asian grocery shopping. All in one location. Not too expensive either. Service is fast and friendly.

SO...I introduced this place as THE most authentic Korean restaurant in Charlotte to a Korean friend that's fairly new to the area. I basically raved about the foods here...despite it being a "hole-in-the-wall" kind of a joint. Well, I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but the foods that we had today just weren't that great. In fact, they were barely good...bordering bad??? I was beyond disappointed with their Jjajangmyun and Tangsuyuk especially...given that those were the twin items that I loved in the past. Tangsuyuk was still good (but not AS good as they used to be?)...but the Jjajangmyun was just plain bad. Never thought I'd say this of a Korean dish, but it tasted SO DAMN BLAND. The Black Bean sauce barely had any flavor to it at all...plus, they were all soupy! Where were the chunky parts to this dish?!? Basically, we both ate less than half of our bowls. We also ordered the Fried Mandoo and Tteokbokki as sides...and they were just OK at most. Even the complimentary side dishes. We used to get at least 5-6...today, there were just TWO small side dishes (the Yellow Takuan Raddish and Kimchi). BTW, the Kimchi tasted awful as well. OMG?!? Honestly, I'm stumped. Do they have a new cook? Were they out of an ingredient or two?? Was it just an off day??? Ahhh...forgot! Maybe it's the aftermath of Covid???? I've been to Pepero many, many times in the past 2 decades, and I've NEVER had such bad Jjajangmyun, Tteokbokki, and even crappy side dishes! I was nearly shocked at how bad the foods were today. Seriously, what happened?!? As bad as this Jjajangmyun was today, I honestly don't know if I'm ever going to order this dish here again...I've lost faith! I'm just hoping that today was a fluke because this is a restaurant that I turn to regularly for its authenticity. If this is the new norm in their quality of foods, I'm beyond sad. Based on the quality of the foods we had here today, I can't rate higher than 2. In fact, based on just the Jjajangmyun and the 2 measly side dishes, I'd rate today a 1, but I'm a tad partial from my history here. All I can say is that I truly hope things get back up to speed, and that I'm able to upgrade the ratings on my next trip here. Fingers crossed! :\ PS**Luckily, the take-home foods from Pepero store turned out to be good...especially the Kimchi Pancake, so I've revised the review back up to at least 3 stars (but I still stand by today's assessment of the bland Jjajangmyun as no better than 1) read more

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Don't waste your time or money going anywhere else but here! If you want some great, flavorful, authentic, no frills, uncle, auntie, momma, daddy, grandma, grandpa is in the kitchen cooking, head to PePeRo. Don't let the diveyness of it deter you. Yes it's in a Korean Grocery Store and is a shows some age but that's a good sign. And when you're done eating or when you're waiting you can shop and bring some great eats to take home. If you're lucky you will get there at the right time to get some kimbap/gimbap to take home. It goes fast. So get some of that and grab a large jar of Kimchi on your way out. I've had the tteokbokki, seafood pancake, seafood tofu stew, dolsot bibimbap, spicy squid with rice, Soondae Soup, Fried Mandu, Gal bi tang, galbi and the kimchi pancake to name a few things. EVERYTHING is good, great or amazing. If you're a first timer and want to play it on the safer side go for the tteobokki, seafood tofu stew, galbi and mandu. And if you want to be adventurous try something you've never heard of before and are even a little afraid to try and then work your way through the menu. It's such a great place to get delicious eats and then browse the grocery store and adventure through the aisle to explore even more and expand your culinary horizons. They don't have an extensive beverage or dessert menu but you can head to the grocery store while you wait for your food and you can purchase something and bring it back to your table. Oh, and another thing I like is that there is a bell you ring whenever you'd like your friendly waiter or waitress to come to your table. The tables fill up quickly when they open but they turn them over at a great pace as well. Bring your appetite, your grocery bags and an empty belly ready to be filled with goodness and then go home and sleep like a baby. That is all! read more

I love this place! The food is authentic and delicious. You can't beat the prices especially as it relates to the food quality. Homemade and real! What a great spot in the CLT culinary scene! read more

Always enjoy a meal here. The service is always friendly. We ate the steamed mandoo, very flavorful filling, Woo guh ji gal bi tang (spicy beef short rib soup), so good and bursting with flavor. Nice spice factor, not too over powering. Gal bi tang (beef broth soup with short ribs). Hubby had this and enjoyed it. Baby girl had the Udon and this is her favorite place for it besides homemade. Bansang (banchan)was pretty good also. I didn't care for the cucumber kimchi but the Napa cabbage kimchi was pretty good. I'm a very picky kimchee eater. No one makes kimchi like my momma. We've been here before and will continue to go, for sure. read more

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