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Ban Po Jung

4.1 (324 reviews)
ModerateKorean, Soup, Seafood
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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BAN PO JUNG ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Ban Po Jung

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Pan Broiled Octopus with Vegetable
Jay S.

After a day of hiking within the Indiana Dunes National Park, my friends and I came here under the recommendation of one of us within the crew who was from Korea, referencing this establishment as her favorite Korean restaurant in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. We ordered some dishes that I normally wouldn't order in Korean restaurants, and it was the right move. I am certain that the fact we were hungry played a role in elevating the taste for us, but everything to me tasted good. The free pancakes were too oily for me, and the free banchan was good in the most standard manner. The short ribs (galbi) didn't have enough salt on it, but had enough pepper which helped preserve some of the taste. Since it was Korean beef short ribs, I was already happy just having some available. These are just the dishes that I felt less passionate about relatively. Apart from the dishes mentioned above, everything else was a hit. The charbroiled mackarel had really good flavor along with just the right level of crispiness, and adding a hint of lemon juice gave it a new level of flavor that elevated the dish even more. The pan broiled octopus dish had really tasty base sauce, which had a good amount of gochugaru and probably gochujang. I even mixed some of the base sauce with extra rice. The beef soup with ox blood contained solid blood chunks that had very good texture, and the soup itself was seasoned very well. Finally, the babyclam soup noodle wasn't too salty, and had the right type of ingredients to make this dish a very comforting experience after a long day of hikes in the winter season. I noticed that some of the reviews mentioned that it was difficult to locate a spot. That wasn't my experience. The store was nearly empty when my friends and I arrived on a Wednesday evening at roughly 6pm, and the owner was able to point us to the round table since we had 5 people in total. He was pretty clear about a party of 4 using a rectangular table and a party of above 5 using a round table, in classic Asian grandpa fashion, and I loved it.

Rohan D.

Authentic (as in truly Korean, not the colloquial meaning of authentic as a synonym for nice or sympathetic) family run noodle and bibimbap shop. Too clean (Korean clean if you know what I mean) to be called a hole in the wall, but it's certainly not fancy. Service is very good, but in a Korean sense, they don't do the fast rushed obsequious style of mainstream American places. Generous spread of bancha, that warming hot corn tea in season gratis, I so wish we had authentic Korean in Milwaukee. You get a small free Korean pancake but the fresh to order seafood pancake is better. Love the noodle soups here.

25. Kim-chi-jji-gae
Lam B.

Although I enjoyed the banchan, the service was slow and inconsistent. We were lucky to grab the last table in the restaurant during lunch. Our orders were placed quickly but we waited for 30 minutes before anything came out. Other tables received barley tea and side dishes as they waited while we sat quietly. The side dishes came out with our mains and we had to wave someone down to get some tea. *Banchan: came with a selection of bean sprouts, potato salad, sesame cucumber, cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, traditional cabbage kimchi and fish cakes. The vegetables were crisp and seasoned well. The kimchi had good gochujang flavoring and fermentation. The potato salad and fish cakes offered subtle sweetness and creaminess. *Kimchi Jjigae: on the saltier side. Could be a bit more tart and strong with the kimchi. This had a similar profile to Korean bean stew as opposed to kimchi stew as there was some acidity missing. The included tofu was also on the denser side. *Soy Marinated Crab: very little meat. The marinade was predominantly soy sauce and it was missing fragrance from onions, peppers, and apples. The bodies of the crabs lacked any filling and extremities were poorly handled. It was difficult to enjoy any of the flesh given how chopped up the parts were. The entrees unfortunately had one dimensional flavors and only the side dishes were worthwhile. The poor and slow service just worsened the overall experience.

Free Appetizer
Zoe D.

Food:The food has a very homestyle taste--cozy and comforting. It truly feels like a home-cooked meal. Btw, the small pancake appetizer is my favorite and it's free!!! Ambiance: Cozy. My Korean friend shared with me that the restaurant has been around for 21 years. What's even more impressive is that they haven't raised their prices since the pandemic, unlike most other restaurants. I have so much respect and admiration for their dedication and consistency. Service:When I first walked in, I was a bit confused because no one greeted or attended to us. The owner seemed more focused on his phone than running the business, and I almost missed out on trying their amazing pancakes and noodles. However, once we sat down, things improved. The lady came out and asked us in Korean if the food was tasty, which completely turned my mood around. Price: $32 for 2 and stuffed

Fried Kim chi with tofu and pork belly
Kit C.

We loved the food here ag this mom and pop! The seasoning was perfect. The chilled noodle was delicious. The beef w ox blood soup was also delicious. We had one of the freshest bonchan and also I got a plate of seafood pancake which was crispy on the outside and soft and tasty on the inside! The restaurant was empty when we arrived but noticed there were a lot of carry out orders. The food came out super quick and the owner highly praised the chilled noodle which was def delicious.

BiBimBop with side dishes, seafood pancake, soup
Jeff E.

Nice little Korean place. Modest but clean. Good service. And you know it's good because most of the clientele are Asian. My fave is the Bi Bim Bap, with all the pickled side dishes. but also have enjoyed the seafood pancakes and more. Whenever I have a job that's either near there or it's easy for me to stop in for lunch on my way to or from a job. I'll go there.

Raw marinated crab in soy sauce, rice, and banchan
Jess

I'd been meaning to dine in at this hidden gem for a while and finally found the opportunity to last Saturday. It's probably the closest to feeling like im actually in a local restaurant in Korea that I've been able to find in Chicago. I believe it's a small restaurant run by an older husband and wife. They're both so sweet, checked in on me as I enjoyed my meal, and offered PLENTY of additional food as an added bonus. I ordered the raw marinated crab in soy sauce and received that alongside a complementary 파전(savory pancake), 된장찌개(soybean stew), and plenty of 반찬(side dishes). I was so full by the end and had to take some home with me! I will definitely be back!!!

57. KKo-ri-jjim()
Carina L.

Whole in a wall, family-owned, down to earth, no frills Korean restaurant - very delicious flavours and the sweetest owners! I really loved how warm they are to their customers. Portion sizes were good and side dishes were also delicious. A little out of the way if you're travelling from the loop but definitely worth checking out!

Banchan
Asmah R.

The free appetizer (haemul pajeon) is always a pleasant surprise! It was SOO crispy! I have been wanting to try the dakbokumtang (very large portion) forever and finally found a friend to share it with. It was so flavor and mild spicy! The vegetables were nice and soft and chicken cooked through. Got to enjoy some more at home! I do wish this came as a soup option for solo dates.

#39 - charbroiled cjciken with teriyaki sauce
Ji B.

We were a few out-of-towners who were craving Korean food. Found this on Google and tried it out. Service was friendly by the male owner who welcomed us and also served us. There was a homey feel to the place probably because most of the customers at the time seemed to have a personal relationship with the male owner. Food-wise, nothing to complain about. Appreciated the complementary seafood pancake which came out crispy and hot! Standard variety of side dishes. Prices were pretty reasonable as well. Pleasant experience.

4. Haeimul-pa-jeon() - Korean pancake with seafood
Briana L.

Sometimes the best Korean food is the hole in the wall, mom & pop run restaurants in a strip mall. Ban Po Jung is a hidden gem. HUGE portions. Highly recommend the Korean Seafood Pancake - crisp on the outside, chewy and savory with perfectly paired sauce Beef & chicken bulgolgi that comes with all thr bonchon! Enough to share and extremely affordable. All meals come with hot tea & soup! Lovely service that's quick and attentive. Will def be back!

Chung Gook Jang
Rebekah H.

This place is amazing. Chung Gook Jang was absolutely incredible. Also their side dishes are so good too.

Bryan L.

Ban Po Jung serves up homemade-style Korean food that's incredibly comforting. The Banchan was refreshing, and they even offer a complimentary pancake! Among the dishes we ordered, the Naengmyeon stood out with its refreshing and well-flavored clear beef broth; the charbroiled mackerel was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the fried kimchi & pork belly had a great kick of spice, balanced with tofu pieces. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and definitely look forward to coming back for more.

Sides for the bulgogi!! Ate all of the bulgogi good size will definitely get full. Went here for L3. Bul-go-gi Lunch Special ()

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Small mom and pop restaurant. Great find. The service and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.

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The Tasty Crab

The Tasty Crab

4.1(86 reviews)
5.4 mi
Sports on TV
Casual dining

Down-to-earth prices for well-prepared seafood adds up to an incredibly good value. The décor has…read morea casual Gulf Coast vibe and the tables are covered with brown paper. Utensils are provided, but this shellfish paradise is essentially a finger-food fort. The napkin dispenser on the table sure does come in handy. You can get a generous glass of wine for $6.95 (I forgave our server for not knowing the difference between chardonnay and cabernet) and a beer for even less. The hush puppies melt in your mouth. My Missus enjoyed a bowl of seafood gumbo and a fried scallops basket. My colossal fried catfish basket contained 4 planks fried to perfection, a generous mound of fries, and salad with a very good ranch dressing, all for $16. Need I say more?

We went on a Saturday and this place was phenomenal. They had a special that included lobster,…read moreshrimp, snow crab legs, potato, and corn. We added sausage, crawfish, and blue crab. Started out with hush puppies and some fries. We went with the combo flavoring and medium spice. It was amazing. My son and I got all of this and split it. In hindsight we should have each gotten the special rather than the split. Our favorite was the lobster and if we both got the special we would have each gotten one. Shrimp were our 2nd favorite and the crab legs a close 3rd. The sausage was a great addition. It's a bit of work to get the food but well worth it. My first seafood boil and will definitely be back. They had quite a bit of fried food that also looked delicious. Awesome spot!

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The Tasty Crab
The Tasty Crab
The Tasty Crab - Shrimp and black mussels

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Shaw's Crab House - Oysters, East coast

Shaw's Crab House

4.2(2.8k reviews)
7.5 mi•Near North Side
•$$$

My husband and I returned back to Shaw's Crab House a year later, and it was still just as fabulous…read moreas it was before. We were lucky enough to get the same amazing waiter. He'd been there 32 years. Hope to get him next time we're back. Honestly, it's the freshest seafood around. They know how to shuck oysters and prepare them perfectly anytime of the year. The oysters were absolutely amazing. And then the crab legs....oh my goodness..delish. Everything was just so delicious. And I have to give a shout out to their sweet, creamy butter. Lastly, we love sitting in the thick of it where you get to see them preparing the oysters and all the seafood. Love this place. Thank you Shaws!

Incredibly delicious. Everything was as fresh as can be. Definitely come if you like crab!!…read more We were a little mislead by some of the pictures online / on the website of the Norwegian crab (not by any fault of their own, just a poor assumption from our side). When we received it we were a little disappointed by the size. But the pieces were still so juicy and delicious! Just want to give a heads up also that their menu is on rotation, what you see online may not be what you get! Love me some sushi, so I was excited to try the California roll, although it was hard to justify it being $18!!! The crab was very minimal, as you can tell by the pictures... it was missing the classic California roll taste given barely any meat. The Mac and cheese side was good. Nothing too special. plus. But standard is the best word I can think of. Shareable portion, which is a plus. Service was excellent. The server was friendly and personable. Ambiance is great, it's an elevated crab house aesthetic. There is a dress code to enter. Overall, I can't say we had the experience of the price we paid. They gave us free the dessert sampler for our anniversary, yay!!!

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Shaw's Crab House - Inside main dining room

Inside main dining room

Shaw's Crab House - Full Dozen Oysters

Full Dozen Oysters

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Stefani Prime - Cookie skillet

Stefani Prime

4.0(367 reviews)
2.5 mi
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I met a friend for Happy Hour at Stefani Prime. It's a great way to catch up on each others lives,…read morehave a drink, and share a few apps in a relaxed atmosphere before the dinner crowds fill the restaurant. We split sausage and peppers off the HH menu and I ordered a Hugo Spritz. We also split bacon wrapped dates off the specials menu and they provided us with a loaf of bread and butter. This was quite a lot to eat and so no need to order an actual dinner (although I must come back because the dinner menu has some very intriguing dishes!) The Red Wine Fettuccini in an Asiago cheese wheel and the Raviolini Pera sound delicious! Our server was very gracious and accommodating, as was all of the wait staff. Valet parking (can get very busy) but very nice! (Funny story: I made sure to bring cash to tip the valet (they do take Venmo) because last time I had no cash and my friend gave me $1 to tip the valet).

The Scottish Salmon with bourbon flame was some of the most delicious Salmon since visiting…read moreScotland! Absolutely perfectly cooked so that it melts in the mouth. No need for the beurre Blanc sauce which was on the side thankfully. Broccoli cooked to perfection on this one! The Ahi Tuna was seared 'blue' (term I wasn't familiar with, but waiter explained a quick sear each side to be near raw. Very tasty and then the sides of garlic sautéed spinach and mushrooms really were perfect accompaniment- Ambience want quite as amazing as the food quality and the waiter initially had a few misses on which wine taste was what wine and then on repeating back what we ordered, however the food came exactly as ordered and was superb!

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Stefani Prime - Seating

Seating

Stefani Prime - Red wine fettuccine parm wheel

Red wine fettuccine parm wheel

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Ban Po Jung - korean - Updated October 2026

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