Craving Korean food? Offer your Korean neighbor $25 to make you something, even if you don't know what it is and they can't really speak english aside from hello or thank you. You'd still get better service than VIP.
My people can be lords of the douche. Quite often, "service" isn't exactly our forte. We come across as non-verbal, pushy a**holes sometimes. I get it. Perhaps apathy is a cultural thing that carried over. I don't know. However, VIP's staff (aside from the waitress) is just bad enough that it doesn't really encourage a second visit. I haven't experienced such turd bucket service since those 3 evenly-spaced visits to The Dish (pre-terrible commercial jingle era.) VIP has an attitude problem. It wasn't like this before the owner change years ago. She had bigger fish to fry, like opening Sushi Garden (pun intended), selling VIP to her jerkoff, self-righteous staff. The new VIP is on a high-horse because they have somewhat of a monopoly, & seniority. WelI, until they get their shit together, reclaim their golden years and quit being a-holes, I advise you in taking your business to Tofu House instead. The staff is nice (they acknowledge your existence) provide service, and the food is relatively consistent (not spectacular, but better than this place.) The owners are relatively new and deserve more customers than they're getting. I am not affiliated with Tofu House.
I am the non-confrontational, patient customer at restaurants. If a few things are messed up on my order, I really don't care. However if they deliberately fail at service when every element in the formula indicates they should not and assume they deserve your money while being jerkoffs - we have a problem, because "homey don't play that." If you sit in the back, you're forgotten. If you were "fortunate" enough to be in the banquet room, you might have to go and ask for refills on water, or tea. and the bill. pretty much everything. I'm surprised they don't hand you an apron when you walk in since It'd be faster for you to get everything from the kitchen yourself, since they don't give two shits. You might shatter the joy luck club bubble that the hostess and owner may be in while they eat and chat about familial gossip. As if you're bothering them. And they'll look at you with that deer-in-the-headlights face, in silence as you ask for water. Instead of "good" or "bad" service, this place just lacks service period.
They might not say anything as you leave the restaurant, and only say goodbye if you do first. But not before staying seated in silence, watching your party exit.
The owner might avoid greeting you if she sees you outside the VIP as you enter, especially if you happen to appear Korean. Also, she's not a very apologetic person, and may offer a sarcastic reply during your meal if you ask an employee what the owner's problem is.
The banchan has too much salt for Korean palates. It's more than likely they make a shit ton at once and add tons of MSG/salt to preserve it for extended periods of time (restaurant trick.). So if you thought it was too salty but, "oh, but maybe this is how it is, I don't want to be rude." Well, my culturally sensitive friend: you were right. VIP's food is saltier than the sea itself. This goes beyond cultural boundaries. It's carelessness like this that gives the impression that all Korean food is salty and unhealthy. No. This is why it's uncommon see Koreans eating out (ironic isn't it?)
Some of the food isn't too bad (for Anchorage that is) such as the dak galbi and bibimbap (nothing amazing, but just "ehhh it'll do.") though the happy family is too watery and sweet (why is it sweet?) but it's kind of a hit-or-miss with sodium content (such as the beef galbi.) The price is also kinda high, but it's Anchorage (although I agree $18 is a bit too high for the quality/quantity ratio.) In all honesty, I friggin' weep for the Korean restaurants in Alaska and wonder when they'll be...satisfying. People here deserve better, damn it. Eating out and genuinely enjoying the experience with good food...people in the cities have been spoiled. Stuck here with mediocre dining choices that we become accustomed to as being "good," franchises of frozen shit invading Tikahtnu. I swear someone needs to just take over Twin Dragon & actually put those personal cooking tables to use for hot pot or personal BBQ. Seriously. I wish menus would take a little more risk in having a signature item or something interesting, y'know? Starting a business is a risk in itself, but if they've got the guts to do that, why not be a bit more adventurous? With all the competition out there, they've gotta lure us in saying "shut up and take my money!" somehow, no? Stop this redundant copy-cat-menu-at-every-east-asian-restaurant bologna. One can only order the same "crunch roll" so many times. Sigh. Sorry you had to read that.
If you do see Koreans here they're probably tourists who won't know til it's too late. read more