We indulged in the Mul naengmyeon and the beef k-BBQ. We've been coming here for years and love this establishment. The assortment of side dishes is simply unmatched and the service is impeccable. The fried rice at the end of the meal is a fantastic bonus to an already great experience. I ate a lot! I would highly recommend, one of my favorite spots it's in Chicago.
Among top Korean restaurants in Chicago, and probably the best KBBQ experience I've ever had-- I'll definitely be back! We came early at 5pm on Sunday and there wasn't much of a wait, but by the time we got out ~6:30pm there was a long line forming outside (so come early!) The inside is small, cramped, and quite hot from all the tabletop grilling. But the slight physical discomfort is 1000% worth it-- the meat is fantastic quality and their large spread of side dishes are unique, delicious, and pair nicely with the meat.
Our group of 5 ordered 3 "tabletop cooking" meat platters, which ended up being a lot of food but we still demolished it all. For a group of 5, I would order between 2-3 depending how hungry everyone is. We got the Chadol-Gui and Bulgogi, which are definitely two must-try platters. Both are thinly sliced, intensely flavorful and aromatic cuts of beef, but the Chadol-Gui is beef brisket that's unmarinated since it's marbled and thus naturally fattier / juicier than bulgogi. We also got the Pork Belly which I was less a fan of-- it was too thick which made it harder to cook without getting too tough and chewy. Nonetheless, the flavors were still robust and delicious.
Make sure to also save some room for the kimchi fried rice, which the servers make for you as the final course. I loved the sourness of the kimchi paired with the savoriness of the fried rice, though overall I felt it was a bit lacking in flavor (but maybe only compared to the rich flavors of the meat).
The service is attentive, fast-paced, and efficient, which I personally appreciated, but if you're someone who prioritizes a chill, slow dining experience with over-the-top friendly service, you won't find that here. When first looking at the menu, the prices seemed pretty high, but for the sheer amount and quality of food we consumed, the value is excellent and it's more than worth it. The total for us ended up being ~$33 pp.
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Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5
Food: 4.8/5
Ambience: 4/5
Service: 4.5/5
Overall Value: 4.5/5
Charlie Beneke / Chicago’s Best Realtor
+5
Ive been wanting to go to this place for a long time because every time I pass by it there is a line out the door! Even during the winter time and now I know why!
Cho Son Ok in Lincoln Square has great authentic Korean dishes and an even better atmosphere. You come in here and you automatically become a jollier person.
Normally I’m concerned about these type of places because you’re responsible for cooking the food however, they make it real easy to get the perfect amount of flavor and tenderness for the meats. This was especially difficult because we got the lamb and octopus. Usually the most difficult meats to cook to perfection.
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