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Name of Establishment: Arirang Market
Location: Unit 8, Phoenix Lanang Service Station, R. Castillo Street, Davao City.
Korean Grocery / Market
My wife has been trying to get me to eat kimchi for years.
Years.
And every time she’d put it in front of me I’d look at it, smell the fermented funk of it, and politely find a reason to eat something else instead.
I don’t know why exactly… but it just seemed like the kind of food that required a specific kind of courage I hadn’t developed yet.
… and I eat durian …
So, I finally said, okay… and totally regret the number of times I said no when I could have been enjoying kimchi for years.
Years!
Today we went to Arirang Market in Davao City, tucked inside the Phoenix Lanang Service Stationalong Bajada, and came home with a kilo of kimchi at a price that made me wonder why I waited this long.
The place is a quiet treasure for anyone who loves Korean food or is just starting to find their way into it.
Shelves of imported Korean goods, ingredients you won’t easily find elsewhere in the city, and yes… kimchi, fresh and affordable and exactly what my wife has been telling me about for longer than I care to admit.
Arirang is an Old Song
Arirang, as a small side note, is actually the name of one of Korea’s most beloved folk songs, more than 600 years old, with around 3,600 variations across different regions.
It’s so deeply woven into Korean identity that both South Korea and North Korea submitted it separately to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, South Korea in 2012 and North Korea in 2014. It’s one of the few things that unites a divided nation. Naming a Korean market after it feels exactly right.
And Now… the Kimchi.
Kimchi is fermented cabbage, typically napa cabbage, seasoned with chili paste, garlic, ginger, and salted shrimp or fish sauce.
It’s spicy, sour, pungent, and deeply savory all at once.
It is full of active cultures and probiotics that your gut genuinely loves.
There are so many health benefits associated with eating kimchi. And judging by the firm abs Koreans have… I’m willing to try it if only to develop those abs heheheh
Kimchi is rich in Lactobacillus bacteria, the same kind found in yogurt, which supports digestion and gut health.
It’s high in vitamins A, B, and C. It’s anti-inflammatory, potentially immune-boosting, and studies suggest it may help with cholesterol levels and even weight management.
It’s also low in calories, which means you can eat a generous amount alongside your rice and not feel guilty about it.
What does it taste like to someone who finally tried it after years of resistance?
Honestly… it tastes like a good decision I should have made earlier.
The sourness hits first, then the heat builds slowly, and underneath it all there’s this deep savory quality that makes plain rice suddenly interesting.
I ate more than I planned to.
My wife looked at me with the quiet satisfaction of someone who has been right for a very long time.
She has been right for a very long time.
And she’s being very smug about it.
Arirang Market, Unit 8, Phoenix Lanang Service Station, along Bajada, Davao City is open daily.
Give it a visit, the elderly lady owner is very nice and accommodating. You’ll probably end up buying more than just kimchi because she’s so nice.
