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Iru boston (@iru_boston) · Brookline, MA – Instagram
4.2K+ followers · 68 posts · The taste of a Korean home Established in 1978 in Japan Hanjeongsik style No DMs, please. From JAPAN @hajimeyamazaki_ …
Book Your Iru Reservation Now on Resy
Iru. 4.7. (211) reviews. Korean … Every dish, including the Samgyetang and var… Read more. Iru. 238 Washington Street. 238 washington St. Brookline, MA 02445.
Korean Restaurant Iru Is Now Open in Brookline Village | Eater Boston
Iru is located at 238 Washington Street, in Brookline. It is open from Tuesday through Saturday for dinner. Reservations are (barely) available here.
Reviews
daeuni
As a Korean-American from LA, I approve. This is probably one of the best Korean restaurants near the Boston area.
We got the Take set (a bunch of side dishes with japchae, samgyetang, scallop). Also, the service is amazing here!! They tell you the history behind the main dish when it comes out.
I don’t usually eat raw food but the scallop was really good and not fishy at all. It was so smooth and tender and tasted almost like a Korean acorn jelly. The side dishes (banchan) are all very well-seasoned and balanced. I loved the namuls (veggie side dishes), especially the spinach, squash and seaweed banchans. The kimchis pair well with the samgyetang. The anchovie banchan (멸치볶음) was really good too. The japchae was solid.
The samgyetang was such a comforting dish. The broth is clean and rich in flavor. The young chicken is so tender and the glutinous rice pairs well with it.
Google Maps took us to the wrong location so we had a 20 min detour but the staff were so kind and even gave us a free dish, bulgogi, which was literally one of the best bulgogis I’ve had. So tender and umami.
… moreWe got the Take set (a bunch of side dishes with japchae, samgyetang, scallop). Also, the service is amazing here!! They tell you the history behind the main dish when it comes out.
I don’t usually eat raw food but the scallop was really good and not fishy at all. It was so smooth and tender and tasted almost like a Korean acorn jelly. The side dishes (banchan) are all very well-seasoned and balanced. I loved the namuls (veggie side dishes), especially the spinach, squash and seaweed banchans. The kimchis pair well with the samgyetang. The anchovie banchan (멸치볶음) was really good too. The japchae was solid.
The samgyetang was such a comforting dish. The broth is clean and rich in flavor. The young chicken is so tender and the glutinous rice pairs well with it.
Google Maps took us to the wrong location so we had a 20 min detour but the staff were so kind and even gave us a free dish, bulgogi, which was literally one of the best bulgogis I’ve had. So tender and umami.
Hayden Leung
Upscale Korean food and worth the splurge.
The interior is small but cozy with probably around 20 seats. The menu is simple with sets ranging from $60-80. Each one comes with their famous samgyetang. I’ve had plenty of samgyetang in South Korea and beyond, and listen to me when I tell you this one hits different. The broth is incredibly flavorful with each ingredient (sticky rice, goji berries, chicken, ginseng) adding depth and flavor.
The banchan selection is quite vast and delicious too. Although the price could be considered steep, for the quality, taste, and service, it is justified (in my opinion).
… moreThe interior is small but cozy with probably around 20 seats. The menu is simple with sets ranging from $60-80. Each one comes with their famous samgyetang. I’ve had plenty of samgyetang in South Korea and beyond, and listen to me when I tell you this one hits different. The broth is incredibly flavorful with each ingredient (sticky rice, goji berries, chicken, ginseng) adding depth and flavor.
The banchan selection is quite vast and delicious too. Although the price could be considered steep, for the quality, taste, and service, it is justified (in my opinion).
H. Stella Park
We were able to walk in without a reservation at 5pm and sit at the bar (only a la carte offered at the bar). The food was fantastic. For 2ppl we ordered a bottle of soju, the large kimchi set, the small namul set, the scallop appetizer special, and the samgyetang. It was the perfect amount of food, and after tip it cost $98/person. As I was leaving another table got the galbi jjim and it smelled so good! I want to come back and have that.
The service was friendly and quick. We had a slight issue with the wrong entree, but they quickly fixed it.
One final note, as I’m scrolling through reviews, I find it interesting that almost all the Korean reviewers give this place 4 or 5 stars (myself included). That says something about the food and authenticity. Not saying everything is perfect (charging for banchan), but the flavors hit in the right way.
… moreThe service was friendly and quick. We had a slight issue with the wrong entree, but they quickly fixed it.
One final note, as I’m scrolling through reviews, I find it interesting that almost all the Korean reviewers give this place 4 or 5 stars (myself included). That says something about the food and authenticity. Not saying everything is perfect (charging for banchan), but the flavors hit in the right way.
Dennis Eum
Food was probably the most authentic and delicious I’ve had for Korean food in Boston. The kimchi was a little a bit different from what I’ve been traditionally used to (more pepper flake flavor), but everything else was great, and the samgyetang was on point. The soy sauce shrimp was amazing. Somewhat pricey, but worth for the great experience and the staff! And for the price, you definitely can’t find a better Korean place in Boston.
… moreChenzhe Cao
Dining at Iru was nothing short of an exquisite experience—a masterclass in refinement, balance, and understated elegance for a restaurant in Boston, with roots from Japan. From the moment we arrived, service was impeccable: attentive without intrusion, warm yet polished.
While the menu initially appeared extensive, it soon revealed itself to be a thoughtfully tiered prix fixe journey. We opted for the Matsu package, which unfolded gracefully through a progression of textures and flavors—from the delicate banchans and silky japchae, to a beautifully executed seafood course (shrimp or scallop per guest), and the pristine bossum, served clean and perfectly seasoned.
The centerpiece, samgyetang—a sticky rice–stuffed organic chicken infused with goji berries and ginseng—was deeply comforting, its richness elevated by subtle herbal notes. Definitely this is something you want during the cold and dark days in winter. While the broth leaned slightly on the salty side, it remained deeply satisfying, carrying that soulful warmth found only in truly well-made soups.
Portions are deceptively modest but cumulatively fulfilling, a testament to the kitchen’s precision and restraint. The ambiance, meanwhile, evokes modern Seoul: intimate, softly lit, and thoughtfully composed…though seating can feel snug at peak times.
Reservations are essential (they open on the 15th of the prior month), and for good reason. Iru is arguably the finest expression of Korean dining in Boston today—a restaurant that honors tradition while confidently embracing contemporary sophistication.
… moreWhile the menu initially appeared extensive, it soon revealed itself to be a thoughtfully tiered prix fixe journey. We opted for the Matsu package, which unfolded gracefully through a progression of textures and flavors—from the delicate banchans and silky japchae, to a beautifully executed seafood course (shrimp or scallop per guest), and the pristine bossum, served clean and perfectly seasoned.
The centerpiece, samgyetang—a sticky rice–stuffed organic chicken infused with goji berries and ginseng—was deeply comforting, its richness elevated by subtle herbal notes. Definitely this is something you want during the cold and dark days in winter. While the broth leaned slightly on the salty side, it remained deeply satisfying, carrying that soulful warmth found only in truly well-made soups.
Portions are deceptively modest but cumulatively fulfilling, a testament to the kitchen’s precision and restraint. The ambiance, meanwhile, evokes modern Seoul: intimate, softly lit, and thoughtfully composed…though seating can feel snug at peak times.
Reservations are essential (they open on the 15th of the prior month), and for good reason. Iru is arguably the finest expression of Korean dining in Boston today—a restaurant that honors tradition while confidently embracing contemporary sophistication.
Grace Maddox
So delicious! Absolutely worth a visit.
We got the Toku to try everything. It was definitely too much food for 2 women, but we were glad to try it all. We think we would go with the Ume next time where it’s just the branchans and the soup (Samgyatang). I’ve tried a handful of other Korean restaurants in the Boston area at this price point ($50-$100/person) and I think this place is my new favorite. Looking forward to coming back soon!
… moreWe got the Toku to try everything. It was definitely too much food for 2 women, but we were glad to try it all. We think we would go with the Ume next time where it’s just the branchans and the soup (Samgyatang). I’ve tried a handful of other Korean restaurants in the Boston area at this price point ($50-$100/person) and I think this place is my new favorite. Looking forward to coming back soon!
Anna Anna
TL;DR: A rip off. Overpriced, underserved, would not visit again, and wouldn’t recommend if you haven’t visited yet.
Long version:
First of all is the unreasonable pricing and serving portions. We were a table of four and were told we could only order the sets ($55, $60, $70, or $80 per guest). The sets were mostly small appetizers (banchan, kimchi and namul, which you usually get for free in other Korean restaurants) and then the chicken soup (samgyetang). We got the $55 set and added all the hot dishes on their menu as extra to try them out. These were supposed to be hearty, fulfilling Korean family food. Once served, we were surprised that the amount of food in the set did not increase with number of guests – the waitress told us four guests would get the same amount as two guests. And we only got one pot of soup. We have never experienced such a rip-off. If we knew this, we would rather split into two tables, spend the same dollar amount but get twice the food. The pricing is simply ridiculous. The more guests there are, the less sense it makes.
Was the limited amount of food any good? It was… meh. We have had better Korean food for far cheaper, and a lot more honest. The flavor profile of all the appetizers and hot dishes was bipolar, swinging between intense saltiness and toasted sesame oil, overshadowing everything else. The samgyetang was decent, a little salty to our taste, but at least had a little complexity of sweet and tart coming from the goji berries, heat from white pepper, and texture contrast between chicken and sticky rice. Was the soup $100 good (if we sat at the bar, the same one pot of soup would be $25 per guest, hence $100)? No no. The four of us jokingly came to the consensus that it was about $38 good. And they ran out of steamed rice at the peak hour of around 7:30pm, in a Korean restaurant, with 12 or 15 customers in total. Come on…
Adding salt to the wound, 1.5 hours into the dinner, another waiter came to our table and (passive aggressively) asked us if we wanted to take the soup to go while we were still eating. They then explained that they had a 2 hour time limit out of the blue and another group of guests would arrive soon. If they informed us when we made the reservation or upon our arrival, we would not say anything about it. At the end of the day, the waiters and waitresses didn’t set the time limit or the reservation times. The fault really falls onto the owner – how they train their employees to ensure clear communication, and how they should time their reservations properly. Again, if they charge fine-dining-like set menu prices, they should treat their customers accordingly. Unfortunately, we did not experience that. It feels like the owner is trying too hard to sell hearty Korean food in a Japanese set menu setting for a fat profit margin, but it just didn’t work for us.
Throughout the whole dinner, we all felt a clear misalignment between the expectation and the reality of the food, the service, and the price. Coming into the dinner, considering how the restaurant emphasized on its history and pedigree, we expected certain levels of care to food and service. That was not the case. We didn’t learn a thing about any of the dishes, including the soup, like how long it took to make, where the ginseng came from, or how come a Korean restaurant ran out of steamed rice. I mean, at least try to sell us the history and pedigree and justify the pricing.
I would recommend you save the trip and money and visit other more honest Korean restaurants further up Harvard Ave.
Oh did I mention they ran out of steamed rice?
… moreLong version:
First of all is the unreasonable pricing and serving portions. We were a table of four and were told we could only order the sets ($55, $60, $70, or $80 per guest). The sets were mostly small appetizers (banchan, kimchi and namul, which you usually get for free in other Korean restaurants) and then the chicken soup (samgyetang). We got the $55 set and added all the hot dishes on their menu as extra to try them out. These were supposed to be hearty, fulfilling Korean family food. Once served, we were surprised that the amount of food in the set did not increase with number of guests – the waitress told us four guests would get the same amount as two guests. And we only got one pot of soup. We have never experienced such a rip-off. If we knew this, we would rather split into two tables, spend the same dollar amount but get twice the food. The pricing is simply ridiculous. The more guests there are, the less sense it makes.
Was the limited amount of food any good? It was… meh. We have had better Korean food for far cheaper, and a lot more honest. The flavor profile of all the appetizers and hot dishes was bipolar, swinging between intense saltiness and toasted sesame oil, overshadowing everything else. The samgyetang was decent, a little salty to our taste, but at least had a little complexity of sweet and tart coming from the goji berries, heat from white pepper, and texture contrast between chicken and sticky rice. Was the soup $100 good (if we sat at the bar, the same one pot of soup would be $25 per guest, hence $100)? No no. The four of us jokingly came to the consensus that it was about $38 good. And they ran out of steamed rice at the peak hour of around 7:30pm, in a Korean restaurant, with 12 or 15 customers in total. Come on…
Adding salt to the wound, 1.5 hours into the dinner, another waiter came to our table and (passive aggressively) asked us if we wanted to take the soup to go while we were still eating. They then explained that they had a 2 hour time limit out of the blue and another group of guests would arrive soon. If they informed us when we made the reservation or upon our arrival, we would not say anything about it. At the end of the day, the waiters and waitresses didn’t set the time limit or the reservation times. The fault really falls onto the owner – how they train their employees to ensure clear communication, and how they should time their reservations properly. Again, if they charge fine-dining-like set menu prices, they should treat their customers accordingly. Unfortunately, we did not experience that. It feels like the owner is trying too hard to sell hearty Korean food in a Japanese set menu setting for a fat profit margin, but it just didn’t work for us.
Throughout the whole dinner, we all felt a clear misalignment between the expectation and the reality of the food, the service, and the price. Coming into the dinner, considering how the restaurant emphasized on its history and pedigree, we expected certain levels of care to food and service. That was not the case. We didn’t learn a thing about any of the dishes, including the soup, like how long it took to make, where the ginseng came from, or how come a Korean restaurant ran out of steamed rice. I mean, at least try to sell us the history and pedigree and justify the pricing.
I would recommend you save the trip and money and visit other more honest Korean restaurants further up Harvard Ave.
Oh did I mention they ran out of steamed rice?
Amber C
Iru is a great addition to the Brookline neighborhood. The food is great here, even though it is pricey. Consider where else can one find this style of cooking and high quality ingredients and we willingly pay up to be able to enjoy this tasty food.
The banchan variety was good, the seaweed, spicy cucumbers and kimchi were our favorites. The raw marinated shrimps were excellent, so sweet and delicious, wish there were more of them. The kalbi dish was tasty although there was a thick layer of oil on top that was not pleasant. Had to keep skimming the oil. The ginseng chicken soup was very tasty, like a comforting chicken and rice soup that didn’t have any medicinal taste at all. We did not leave hungry.
The only negative I would say is that the menu is a bit confusing. The dinner set price is per person but you still only get one chicken for a party of two or larger. We did notice, however, that the party of four next to us did get a larger chicken than our table of two.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here and look forward to returning soon.
… moreThe banchan variety was good, the seaweed, spicy cucumbers and kimchi were our favorites. The raw marinated shrimps were excellent, so sweet and delicious, wish there were more of them. The kalbi dish was tasty although there was a thick layer of oil on top that was not pleasant. Had to keep skimming the oil. The ginseng chicken soup was very tasty, like a comforting chicken and rice soup that didn’t have any medicinal taste at all. We did not leave hungry.
The only negative I would say is that the menu is a bit confusing. The dinner set price is per person but you still only get one chicken for a party of two or larger. We did notice, however, that the party of four next to us did get a larger chicken than our table of two.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here and look forward to returning soon.
R Tay
The place is cosy; staff were on point the entire evening. We ordered the Toku set since we decided to try everything as it was our first visit. Everything was so good; the scallops were outstanding; as was the galbi chim. I really loved everything. The least favorite dish was Bindaetteok; but since I ordered rice to go with the Galbi Chim, I was already full and that played a part for sure. I’m coming back for sure!
… moreMASTA B.
A must-try for authentic elevated Korean food! This place uses traditional, heartfelt home recipes with high quality ingredients—it’s easily among the best Korean dining I’ve had in the States. The experience was matched by impeccable service; the entire team was exceptionally nice and thoughtful.
… more