The mean ahjumma experience at Cho Sun Ok is a staple of kbbq life if you know the local scene. Pricing is very fair so the business model probably revolves around training them to hurry your butt up, order, cook, and eat but hey whatever nothing personal as long as the food is it. For example if you take too long they will literally start cooking your meat for you. Banchan is surprisingly highly varied, and they do famously cook up the remainder of your food into a fried rice at the end which is delicious. Street parking is pretty convenient nearby as its not too busy most days but no specific parking lot. Interior is cozy and cramped. Main downside now is the clientele has gotten quite gentrified so the secret must be out. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Banchan - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I think this is probably one of the best places to get KBBQ in the city. It totally hit the spot for a cold day and is the perfect after-a-long-day-of-walking type of meal! My friends and I were visiting from out of town and were craving KBBBQ. The beef brisket was amazing and loved the kimchi fried rice and banchan! We didn't have a long wait but we came during a weekday night. I personally didn't think service was bad and didn't think any of the staff members were rude. Overall, I think this place is a great place to go if you're looking for good KBBQ. It's a little further away from the city center but worth it! read more

This is my favorite KBBQ place in all of Chicago! Whenever I'm craving 차돌박이 (chadolbaegi / thinly sliced brisket) + 물냉면 (mul naengmyeon) is the PERFECT combination. Also the end when they put all the banchan and make fried rice is very delicious. The workers are very hard working and they have no time to chitchat because so many people want to eat there. My family have been coming here since they opened in the 80's. Absolutely will keep coming here as long as I live in Chicago. read more

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Came with a group of friends on a rainy Saturday evening, when Korean barbecue just felt right. There was a line outside the door when we arrived around 7pm, but we were seated just about half an hour later, so not too bad. I've already heard about all the stories of the no-nonsense service by the Korean aunties, so I fully expected there to be little to no service. One of my friends is Korean and was able to order on our behalf, although I'm sure ordering in English would've been just fine as well. The four of us shared two cold noodles, two portions of beef brisket, and two portions of bulgogi. The beef brisket came first and was some of the most beautiful, marbled brisket I've ever seen at any Korean establishment. I'm really curious where they source their meat from. I wasn't really sure if we were supposed to cook it ourselves (like at most other Kbbq restaurants) because sometimes the waitresses would come and really quickly cook for us. As expected, the brisket was marvelous. The bulgogi was still good, but paled in comparison to the brisket. I quite enjoyed the cold noodles since it was actually hot inside from all the grilling and smoke. At the end of the meal, the waitresses will prepare you a kimchi fried rice in the grill, letting the rice absorb all the leftover fat from the meats. It very much seemed like they were supposed to cook it for us. Tragically, after the rice and other ingredients were dumped on the grill, they forgot about us and the whole thing just got super burnt. It was basically unsalvageable, with every bite just tasting completely burnt. Of course, there was absolutely no acknowledgement of this occurring by the Korean aunties. This was really quite a disappointment. I did expect the service to be average/mediocre, but somehow it was worse than expected because we were just completely forgotten about even though we were seated in the middle of the restaurant. Disappointment aside, I found the price to be rather reasonable, especially for the quality of meat provided. If I do come back, I would order more brisket and hope that the servers don't just forget about us and let the rice burn to a crisp. Food: 3.5/5 (4.5, then -1.0 for the burnt fried rice) Price: 4.0/5 Service: 2.5/5 Overall: 3.25/5 read more

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Best Korean bbq in the city. The ahjummas may rush you a little but the cuts are always glorious and I love the kimchi fried rice they make for you at the end. You get so many sides and can always ask for more. If you have a Korean friend, bring them because they tend to give you better service if you can speak Korean to them. The seafood pajeon (pancakes) is also so big and yummy. The wait times can be very long. It's BYOB so my friends and I always bring alcohol to drink inside (and allegedly in line). Don't wear anything white or nice, you're going to be smelling like meat for a while. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is absolutely legit 10 out of 10. The service is efficient (those ladies definitely hustle) but, like other reviewers have said, is somewhat abysmal. I don't think they're rude per se, there is definitely a language and cultural barrier, but otherwise you are kind of treated like a nuisance. The restaurant itself is small, and the heat from the bbq burners at the table are in-your-face hot so prepare to sweat a little bit. Overall, would I go back? In a heartbeat. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Bul-go-gi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This remains the best place to go for Korean. In the summer when it's hot the cold noodles naeng myun are the best and they are two versions. One with soup and the other without. Both are excellent. And no matter how red the noodles look -- they are not that spicy! It was my mom's birthday and a favorite cousin met us there -- some of the best sides, including the water kimchi, are very well-made. Dad ordered the Kalbi, which is his favorite, and mom requested that it be made in the kitchen so that we could roast beef brisket at the table. The servers are so amazing they recognize regular customers and even remember their orders. Our server took care of grilling the beef brisket in front of us. So skillful and swift. And when we were finished because we had ordered the brisket we were able to request that all our sides plus rice be turned into an amazing Fried Rice of everything. They do it right in front of you and there's no problem taking leftovers home. There's nothing we've tried at the restaurant that wasn't very satisfying. That's why we keep coming back. If you don't know this place keep in mind that it gets packed at lunchtime and that on weekends there's a line out the door... But the food comes quickly and it's worth the wait. Remember to tip the servers as well because they definitely provide attentive service. If you're looking for a lot of aesthetic decor this place has a traditional decor but it's a very down to earth vibe with nothing particularly fancy -- just homey. read more

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Although the service is a 0/5 (the ajuhma's here don't gaf), the food is a 5/5 hahaha The inside isn't very spacious but my friend and I were able to get seated right away. We were originally going to order some cold noodles but since they ran out, we ended up getting the Beef SunDuBu JiGae and the Galbi. The banchan here is fantastic- every dish tasted so fresh and delicious. The sudubu was very savory and flavorful, it's one of the best ones I've had in a while. As for the Galbi, the cut of meat is thicker than all the Korean restaurants I've ever been to but it's also one of the best one's I've had. Super tender and juicy- I still think about it from time to time haha. That being said, if you are expecting good customer service (even just OK/mid), this is not the place. Cho Sun Ok is strictly to just eat good Korean food and leave when you're done. Note: The restaurant says it closes at 9:30 and let me tell you, the ajuhmas and cooks are wiping down tables and putting up chairs by 9:20 so if you're coming in 30 minutes before closing, I'm wishing you the best of luck read more

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Go to Korean spot in the city. Has a wide variety of Korean classics, can never go wrong here. I'm a big fan of their Mul NaengMyeon 물냉면. I always walk away super full and satisfied. The wait is worth it. read more

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So I lived here for 20 years and have been here many times. I learned a few tips on what to do when coming to eat here. First off, street parking. 2 hours is $5 or close to it using the park Chicago app. Can find a spot right on Lincoln. Second, it's not a huge place. Come late lunch or early dinner. We are now living in Atlanta but we showed up at 5:30 and sat down to a half empty place but by 6 all tables were full. This place is historic. The same owner, the same servers, the same food. Yes, the prices have risen in the last 20 years but for a long time it was super affordable and the service and food quality is top notch. I suggest going with friends and sharing the meat (chadol) that is thinly sliced and cooked on a sizzling hot stone pot. In that pot goes garlic cloves to roast, and you dip the meat in sesame oil and salt which combined with the green onions and other stuff is just heavenly. They make a fried rice in the pot at the end with the leftover side dishes, and you watch as it cooks to crispy edges all over where it hit the pot. Scrape away the texture is divine and deliciously filling. If you like mul naeng Myun go for the chik naeng Myun. Arrowroot noodles and they're also unmatched! You can get in and out of here in just about an hour if you're focused on eating and giving the table to people waiting. Not a good spot to sit and catch up with people, Chatting. If you need anything, flag down a server. It's Korean style service, so just ask. Support small businesses! We have loved this place for years and will come back when in town. read more

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This was an amazing experience- go early because people are queueing up in 14 degree weather to get in! Know what you want before you go as the menu is in Korean- some Of the best kimchi I have had in years! Everything we had was amazing! Aunties were amazing working the table and making sure everyone got enough! read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Grilled beef and sides - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

oh my goodness this might be the best korean restaurant in chicago. there were three ajummas working nonstop in the front so u know its authentic. the restaurant itself is such a cozy little nook. and the food was absolutely amazingggg. scraped our plates clean. the meat was fresh and tender and didn't even need any sauces but was also really good with the ssamjang (gochujang + doenjang). the chadol-gui thin sliced beef was delicious, and the pork belly was so juicy. the ajumma cooked it perfectly for us. she said she's from busan! also such a wide variety of yummy banchan. we also got haemul pajeon seafood pancake, mul naengmyeon cold noodles, and soondubu jjigae but the barbecue was det the star of the show. at the end they use the leftover banchan to make a complimentary kimchi fried rice in the sizzling stone pot with the natural oils from the meat. thank you ajummas for bringing us back to south korea. will def be back. read more

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Came in on an August evening with a friend and his familial like units. It wasn't the hottest night outside but you feel the heat in this restaurant because of all the center BBQ stoves in the restaurant. It's a small restaurant but it feels intimate. The customer service is pretty, pretty bad. I genuinely don't know if they don't speak English or if it's just an act regardless they get that food out to you and they working those grills. Getting water. Like I said before it's not much room in here so the employees are all up in your proverbial grill. My group got bulogi dish, and a pork dish. The taste is great. There's also Korean pancake. We were all pretty hungry so we did not bring booze but looking around us other groups did. Also provided are like appetizers like kimchi, some kind of fruit salad. I would certainly return. Rice is like stir fried with the meats. They could have been more friendly+ welcoming I'm chalking it up to different cultural expectations. Food is good. read more

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I finally got to try this place out and I can't wait to go back in the future! I went on a Friday night with a friend and surprisingly only waited 5-10 minutes for a table but this is not the norm. From what I've been told, they usually have a long line. Service is brief and fast paced. The workers would cook our kbbq meat for us from time to time but we also cooked it ourselves. Love the banchan assortment they have. We ordered - brisket for kbbq - ddeok Mandu - I liked this soup however it was on the less salty side which kind of lacked in flavor - nakji bokkeum - flavorful and not too spicy read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Brisket, Ddeok Mandu, Nakji Bokkeum - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decent Korean bbq for the price, but definitely did not impress me overall. The service was...interesting. Waitress helped us cook, which was appreciated. She was a little rude though and didn't ever fill up our waters. Had to walk to the bar to get water. Restaurant is very smoky (as would be expected at a Korean bbq place), but it was way more so than any other I have been to. Highly recommend wearing clothes that are easily washable as the smell sticks. read more

food: context: came in pretty full already so didn't get to enjoy the grill which seems to be what they are known for, got the bulgogi which was great though, lots of side dishes, happy their is a Korean place that does actual dishes instead of just bbq all the time, on my list to come back to service: fast, staff was fine - not rude just very authentic Asian service haha ambiance: cozy read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Bul-go-gi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great KBBQ (and BYOB) that is hard to find in Chicago. They cook the meats for you which is super nice. Expect to wait as it can get very busy (especially weekends). The beef brisket and cold noodles are definitely a must try. Will definitely revisit! read more

This is a Chicago institution. Other reviews have made comments on the service, but you're going here for the food and the experience. They clearly have a well-oiled, no-fuss, no-frills operation, but that's what makes the food taste great. I recommend the chadol-gui (thinly sliced beef without marinade). Save the bottom layer of meat on the plate for the final fried rice to round out the meal. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place is your typical neighborhood staple. Even across town on the South side, when I ask a new Korean acquaintance where she goes for Korean food, she'll point me to Cho Sun Ok. Expect them to bring your food asap, but also expect them to want you to finish quickly for the next table. If you are slow at grilling, the waitress will come by to help you grill. The place is clean and you can get traditional dishes like boiled ox feet soup and beef tendon in dipping source. On some of the large dishes grilled in front of you, they'll bring rice to make kimchi fried rice and use up the rest of the banchan. I typically try to arrive a little before peak hours to find parking on the streets and to minimize the wait time for a table. There are 1-2 tables that can fit 6+ people, but most are small tables, so expect to sit close to your dining partner. read more

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My favourite kbbq around Chicago! Have to get the yukkejang and try the rice they make for you after you grill the meat. We had so many plates of side dishes there's no space on the table read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for a quick lunch. Staff were quick and nice. We got the bulgogi (cooked at the table), japchae, and dwenjang chiggae. The bulgogi and the japchae were a bit too sweet for me but the ingredient quality and overall flavor was great. Soup was excellent. They have plenty of tables at weekday lunch and the inside looks very close to a restaurant in Korea. read more

The Korean food here is probably the most authentic as you can possibly find in the city. Despite the reviews on the bad service, chaotic ambience, and the feeling of being rushed throughout your dining experience, these are one of the places where you kind of have to embrace the chaos. There's always a long line out the door, but it's so worth it! Their bonchon were top tier, soondubu jjigae was jam packed with flavor, and galbi was yummmy. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food: 7/10 Food was authentic homemade Korean dishes. I ordered some scallion pancakes (HaeMul PaJeon), Bulgogi (marinated beef), Galbi (beef short ribs), and Gun Mandu (stir fried dumplings). I really enjoyed the interactive experience of grilling my own meat. Galbi was the best meat bc it was juicy and tender. Come here if you want authentic K-BBQ! Service: 9/10 Very quick, as soon as you sit down, the servers set up the grill, give you utensils, and water. They were very quick in cleaning up. Took about 15-25 mins for food to arrive. Ambiance: 7/10 It has a very homey feeling. The wooden style gives off a feel of a mom and pop restaurant. It is clean, but old. read more

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* Very cute place - family owned restaurant * got the bulgogi and galbi (recommend) * service was fast and good but the price was a little over priced read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Bul-go-gi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A party with the same number of people behind us in line were seated before us. When we tried to ask why we weren't being seated and we were called "too big" and then were ignored. I waited in line for about 40 minutes with a group of 5. When it was our turn, our server kept coming out to ask the group of 5 people behind us how many there were and pushed past us to have the group behind us seated. We tried to explain that we had the same amount of people and that we were clearly had been in line before them but she would not listen or acknowledge us. One of our party very apologetically and politely tried to ask her if we had done wrong and asked if we would be seated next as there was another open table. Instead of telling us we'd be seated next or apologizing, she gestured to our friend saying we were too big to be seated at a particular table (the table was a round table and not in the corner) and made the motion over her stomach as if to say he was fat. She then made a show of going to another table to ask if they needed anything and ignored us. As a Korean American, I know 1st Gen immigrant run businesses can get a lot of flack for "poor service" and I always chalk it up to different cultural norms and possibly the language barrier. It can make things a bit tense and feel like they're being "rude" but I've always willingly looked past it here especially since I've been coming here since I was a child. But never EVER in my life have I ever had my friends or family been told we were too fat to be seated then refused service. I don't think I'm ever coming back and I'll be sure to tell anyone who asks where to get Korean food to avoid this place. read more

Get here before 4:30 and you should be fine to get a seat. BYOB & service is fast. Don't expect to spend a ton of time here because a line does form outside. Great options & one of the better kbbq spots somewhat near the city. The OjingUh Bokeum was a highlight - so tender and flavorful. We didn't ask for more banchan but upon reflection as I'm in a food coma, wish I did! The pickled daikon and the potato salad with apples were the showstoppers. TLDR - go early, come hungry, and go with a group so you can order multiple things. read more

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11/16/23 - I met my buddy here for lunch this afternoon. After the Yelp Elite Event I had a craving for Bibimop, unfortunately they didn't have bibimop. My friend doesn't eat very much meat so Korean BBque was not an option for him. Neither one of us is very versed in Korean cuisine but I'm really digging the different flavors that Korean food offer. It seems like they really are creative in blending different spices & textures especially w/things like the bibimop which I absolutely love it. That being did this is quaint little corner restaurant that serve a variety of different dishes. Like most Korean restaurants they serve an assortment of small Banchan dishes with the meal. We both ordered separately starting with/shared appetizer dishes of tofu seasoned with/onions, red peppers, green onions, sesame seeds, marinated onions in a fish sauce tasty snack. We also ordered pot sticker pan fried nice and crunchy. We then ordered separate dishes, he got some type of noodle dish w/clear noodle that o don't care for (didn't try them). I ordered a plate of beef bulgogi that was super tender & tasty. I would like to go back again w/someone that is versed in the Korean cuisine as neither of us was very knowledgeable about the dishes we ordered. Still the meal was very good w/good service I have eaten at a Korean barbecue before w/the little cooking pans below an overhead exhaust but unfortunately we didn't go that route due to my buddy not really eating meat. They do have this option here w/a variety of options that I would like to explore in the future read more

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Went there tonight with a friend for my birthday. Mostly great experience, got very crowded with a line out the door so they do something right. Raw oyster appetizer fantastic! Rib tips very good but a bit expensive $34 I think. But the octopus with vegetables was horrible and chewy which means it was not fresh. When I complained the staff which was not the friendliest gave me a dirty look as they sent two other people over who tried to tell me that was normal. Since my friend was paying, I wasn't about to cause a scene. I recommend the restaurant but don't get the octopus and I suggest they take it off the menu if they can't do it right. Maybe just get the table side barbecue where you can see the freshness of the protein. read more

I can't lie this place was really hyped up before I went but honestly I found it to be averagely good. So, maybe not a life-changing experience, but definitely still worth a visit! I went with three other friends for an early dinner on a wednesday. There is a bit of a rustic feel with lots of wood elements in the decor. It hadn't gotten very full yet, so we got particularly excellent service from the staff. We ordered the steamed mandu, with chadol gui and bulgogi for the meats. There were plenty of delicious appetizers to go around. After we finished, the server made a fried rice in the pot with all of the leftover meat and grease, adding some vegetables as well, and it was really good! The rice was perfectly crusted at the bottom too. I thought everything was yummy, and it certainly was worth the price, especially with us having no wait. I'm glad I went! read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Cha dol gui - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A friend of mine recomend this place so me and my friend check it up Service staff slow we order food for 2 person $70 plus tip they bring litle stove tthey turn on and off you cook your protein......... They bring lot sides Personal I like my meat well done...... But they turn off the stove before my meat was ready I ask for hot sauce they bring me some Sriracha but... Look like been in a plate for a while..... Maybe recycled I will never go back is more options around Tables are greasy too read more

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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. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.8/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5 read more

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From what I seen on TikTok, Instagram, and The Infatuation this place is considered one of Chicago's iconic spots. Since we love Korean food, we naturally had to check it out. When you step inside the interior is very traditional and transports you to a different world. The menu is extensive offering both friendly and more authentic dishes. The waiters' English is good enough to communicate with them and they are slightly rude, which means the food is going to be bomb lol. And the food exceeded our expectations. Lots of banchan, high quality meats, and a variety of flavors and textures. It's important to note that if you order a tabletop order of meat the waiter will make a kimchi fried rice after. We highly recommend this Cho Sun Ok, give this place a try! Also, it's BYOB! read more

+++Authentic home-style Korean food in Lincoln Square+++ This is my second time at this restaurant, I came back to try the rice on the stone pan. Please be aware that only tabletop entrées #1-3 are finished off with steamed rice cooked in a stone pan. (I ordered #4 last time) Food - 5/5 The banchans (small side dishes) were served within 30 seconds after we ordered. We ordered #3 ChaDol-Gui, which is thinly sliced beef without marinade cooked in a stone pan. (Verified this entree can feed 2 persons!) The portion is huge and comes in fresh, and you can start cooking after the stone pot is heated up. We ended our meal with rice over the stone pot. The rice soaked in all the beef flavor from the pot, and it mixed with Kimchi. Service: 4/5 There are only 3 waitresses in the restaurant, but they all work hard. Sometimes they might help you to flip the meat to prevent burning. Ambiance: 4/5 Just like Korea. If you have your coat, you can hang it on the coat rack at the back of the restaurant. Price: We cheap! We spent ~$ 50 for 2 person. We got in around 6:00, but there was a line when we got out of the restaurant around 7 p.m. read more

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Excellent traditional cuisine. No idea why their Yelp review isn't higher. Seafood pancake and galbi were as good as it gets and it was wonderful. read more

Very nice that this place is BYOB. The service is not welcoming to first timers. If you come here you need to know how to order Korean BBQ because they will not talk with you at all or be willing to consider you may appreciate suggestions. That being said it's a very popular place and the service is rushed because they're trying to flip tables. We ended up not liking the food we ordered which was marinated beef and octopus, was really chewy and overcooked but we didn't really know what to order and they did all the cooking for us, we didn't have a choice. Glad we tried it though! read more

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I love the side dishes here! So many delicious options they provided compared to other Korean BBQ places. We also ordered the seafood pancake. With the sauce so yummy! Cha-dol is the go-to meat for us. And the meal ended with delicious kimchi fried rice. What else can you ask. Well there is, just better service and cleaner environment. That's why it's missing one star from me. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great authentic food! The service is so so but is very much a part of the experience. Is a very much an old world, Korean style restaurant. As a reminder most of the women who are working there speak English as a second language so keep that in mind. read more

Very bad service. The waitresses are very rude and don't listen what you say. The food is very plain. Not friendly for first timers. Place is small and crowded. Not recommended read more

This is the most authentic Korean food you can get in the metro area. They have all the classics, like Doenjang Jjigae, that a lot of other more Americanized Korean restaurants do not have. The taste was on point and the prices are very fair. However, the service was definitely lacking. I am a Korean speaker & it was still lacking. I think this is because the place is truly full of grumpy ahjummas as another reviewer stated, hence the 3.5 rating. A thing to note: I saw a TikTok saying how Asian restaurants rated 3.5 on Yelp are the most authentic you can get & I'm starting to think this is true! The 4 star+ places always feel Americanized to me. Despite the unsatisfactory service, I will gladly return whenever I am missing mom's cooking. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Banchan (complimentary side dishes) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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best tofu soup ever!! I could never complain about this place it always exceeds expectations. read more

Cho Sun Ok Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois