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.
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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.
Cho Sun Ok consistently delivers — they serve up generous portions of banchan with plenty of varieties; for the main dishes, I couldn't get enough of the pork belly BBQ, raw oysters, seafood pancake, and japchae - everything is simply so flavorful. The fried rice they whip up after the BBQ finishes is also a tasty treat. The service is very efficient (they cook the meat for you!), and the cozy interior is ideal for chilly winter nights. I’d return here in a heartbeat!
Hands down the best hole in the wall in town. Known for their table cook tops and Korean BBQ — traditional beef short ribs — my favorite are the cold buckwheat noodles (add a couple of dashes of vinegar and a 1/2 teaspoon of hot mustard to bring the broth flavor to perfection). Always a myriad of vegetarian side dishes prepared in-house, including three different kinds of kimchi. If you’re eating at a table with a cooking area consider having the “leftover fried rice” (it’s prepared for you at the table with your leftovers). Be sure to arrive early on a Saturday evening or you will be in line for a good half hour to an hour (and the line wraps outside the door).
Joints like Cho Sun Ok in Korea is a dime for dozen. Nothing special, but in the US especially in Chicago，this type of traditional Korean stove top cooking joint is a hard find. Your know you are in the right place when you first entered and the waiting staff are all season veterans with attitudes and you are required to wash yourself head to toe after the meal, ventilation is non-existent.
Perfect comfort food, the speed of service was lightning fast, all of the food came out within 10 mins of order. The chap chae was one of the best that I have ever had, not too sticky. The pancake had the right amount of dough vs. food and fried to perfection. The Bulgogi was also seasoned perfectly, so whether you want the meat to be more tender or more crispy will be entirely up to you. Next time we will try the famous No. 1. Just remember, BYOB.
One of the authentic Korean restaurants in the city. Grilled meat is over a hot stone pot instead of over fire. My favorite dish is the pan fried octopus, it is sweet, extremely spicy and has a smoky flavor. They normally give you the stored bought kimchi, but ask for the restaurant made version, it is better.
Very solid Korean food and amazing BBQ. Highly recommended number 1 and 2 for BBQ because at the end of the BBQ they will throw rice on top of the grill and mix in a bunch of side dishes. The grill will make the rice super crispy and it just tastes heavenly. Highly recommend the seafood pancake as well, their batter is just different from all other pancakes I have had. Service is a hit or miss, it usually depends on how busy they are.
Good food, great service. The pork belly and Bulgogi Gui are delicious. The kimchi fried rice at the end is tasty and love the crunch from the stone bowl. Soon Tofu soup was perfect. Service was great. The lady probably realized we are noobs and had no clue where to begin, she practically cooked the whole meal for us.
Best Korean food in the town. It’s a busy restaurant so you need to have patience, but the food is worth it. I love the 열무김치.
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This place is AMAZING — the atmosphere transports you to Korea and is definitely bustling, the food is delicious you can’t go wrong with anything, and the staff took such good care of us. The stoneware for cooking was a nice touch for the Bibimbap, which got the perfect level of crispy rice on the bottom. The Bulgogi was so well seasoned and the Chadol-gui was great for a plainer focus on good cuts of meat. All the food came immediately! We were tentative with the grilling so it was very helpful when they came by to put all the meat in at once and stir a couple of times. When the first round was ready, they came and helped place it on our plates with the right method of dipping and pairing with some side dishes to show us the ropes.
Any reviews speaking poorly of the staff are just silly; they probably expected American service and misinterpreted anything different as rude. Don’t pay that any mind and please tip everyone well!
You’ve got to move quickly there for grilling; the staff are attentive and move at a fast clip so no one overcooks their food and to keep things moving as it is a cramped space.
Also, plan to get there early. There was a line out the door by the time we left!
Have the right expectations before coming, and you'll have a great time. It's going to feel like busy aunties running around preparing for a big family dinner - no time for niceties - and that's what's so great about this experience. Don't wait for them to ask you what you need, it's a fast-paced operation they have going! The food was amazing, and our server was excellent! She prepared and served our meats for us, minding our dietary preferences, and made the experience feel like home.
This place is worth the wait. You almost feel transported when you first enter. Service is quick and efficient with no frills.
The food here is just spectacular. It does what it does very well. I really enjoyed the marinated beef and octopus. Our table ate it up so so quickly. The banchan here are also great too because you get a superb variety. As always, I will recommend the Pajeon. This is a delicious seafood pancake that compares well to the others I have tried at different restaurants.
This will always be my first choice for Korean BBQ. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my experiences here and it will be the first place I recommend. Do yourself a favor and plan a trip for this fantastic gem in Chicago's Lincoln square area.
It was my first Korean BBQ and the food was good. However, the attitude of the staff was not professional in my opinion. They did not pay any attention to us and their serving was sloppy. I get it, they were very busy since there were only 3 waiters/servers, but I expected more. Also the portions were small for me.
If you want to eat there, go at least 30 minutes before because there will probably be a line outside.
Best KBBQ in Chicago! You come here to eat, not to hang which the staff will make abundantly clear. Focus up, get your order in, enjoy some amazing food. Portions are big. The staff will cook the meat for you if that trips you up. Be prepared to wait if you’re coming at a popular time. Recommend lunch when it’s less hopping.
First of all, food were authentic Korean! The seafood pancake was one of the best I have ever tried before. But the service was not so great. They alway gave you the vibe that "aren't you finished? aren't you done? What else do you want from me?" kind of vibe, which was not a joyful dine in experience for me.
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