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    Lai Lai

    3.7 (47 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese, Seafood, Korean
    Closed Closed

    Lai Lai Photos

    LAI LAI ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Chachangmyun and Chambong
    Michelle M.

    We had lunch here today... it was okay. They have the Chachangmyun and Chambong in one split bowl which was my attraction. The Chachangmyun was okay but the Chambong could've used more spice. Upon taking my order the sweet lady did ask my spice level. I responded with a little spicy. She wrote down MILD. I corrected her and asked for medium. She assured me that there would be enough spice. She was wrong. I can imagine the dish tasting better with a bit more. My son got the #10. Some kind of seafood dish. It was... underwhelming. My husband got the sweet and sour pork - Korean style. That was the best part of our meal. The service was sweet. But would I eat here again? Sorry but no.

    #6 Seafood, vegetables, & white rice
    Georgey Z.

    #4 seafood with vegetables and white rice was very smooth, fresh, and not overly filling #6 shrimp fried rice was good but a little pricey. Egg rolls are amazing. No sauce needed. A little greasy but greta flavor 2 for $4

    #15- noodles are good but didn't care for the tough beef and the super sweet sauce
    Lily F.

    I'm going to have to return to this restaurant because I did not care for the tangsuyuk (sweet and sour beef) combo. It was just too sweet for me and I found the beef to be pretty dry. I only had a few bites of it to be honest because the sauce was such a turn off. I've been trying to figure out if it's just the dish that I don't like or if it's their interpretation. Regardless, I think I would just stick to their noodles and stews next time as the noodles were pretty tasty. Not really as chewy as I would have liked but decent. I also didn't like the radish it came with. I've never not liked a pickled radish before but theirs had a funny taste to me. It tasted like the sour and salted plum "candies" that my mom use to eat.

    Soo-Hyun S.

    The texture for their noodle dishes, such as Jjampong, jjajjangmyun, beats a lot of the new places in my opinion! It's awesome how they have jjam/jjang, for people who want best of both worlds, heheheh!! The flavors they provide are stellar! Flavorful, never too over powering, filling, as well as comfortable. Don't judge till you give this place a try, as you'll miss out on some truly spot on Korean Chinese cuisine that this place has to offer. Have you ever heard of Lee's Mandarin? It used to be located off Dempster/Elmhurst Road in1990s', 2000s. The best part is... the food still remains legendary, now at Lai Lai.

    Yummy Jja jahng myun
    Jen P.

    The first time I ate at the Assi Plaza / Market food court, I ate at Lai Lai to try out their famous half & half Jjahm Jja Myun (1/2 Jjahm Bbong & 1/2 Jja jahng myun). Ever since I tried the half & half + Tahng soo yook, I have been hooked. I went back yesterday for jja jahng myun & Lai Lai did not disappoint. The lady who helped me this time was even more friendly than the first lady who helped me the first time I was there. Even though it's a bit of a drive, I plan on returning to this spot again often.

    Jjajangmyun

    Omg their tangsuyuk (sweet and sour beef) was the best one I've ever had. SO GOOD. Korean-Chinese restaurants typically make the meat really tough to chew, but Lai Lai's version was much softer and tender. The beef tasted fresh. It even had a good crisp on the outside. The sauce had a perfect amount of sweetness. I hate it when the sauce is way too sweet. Jjajangmyun (black bean noodles) didn't have a lot of meat. I didn't mind, but most people like a lot of meat in their jjajangmyun. The sauce was also a bit watery because they didn't drain the noodles well, but it was still pretty good. A bowl of jjajangmyun with a plate of tangsuyuk are enough for two people to share. I'm definitely coming back for another tangsuyuk! [Located inside Assi Plaza's food court]

    Half jjajangmyun and half jjambong! Sooooo good!!

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    Jin Soo Korean BBQ - Rare cut

    Jin Soo Korean BBQ

    4.4(69 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Jin Soo KBBQ was such a solid spot for a full-on Korean BBQ experience…read more From the start, the table setup was on point -- a generous spread of banchan like kimchi, fish cake, creamy salad, and dipping sauces that all complemented the meat perfectly. I love when the sides keep coming and actually taste fresh, and these definitely did. The grill experience was the highlight. Watching the marinated beef sizzle over the charcoal while it caramelized and crisped at the edges? Elite. The meat was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor -- especially dipped into the sesame oil sauce or that savory soy-based sauce with scallions. Every bite wrapped in lettuce with garlic and sauce was chef's kiss. And the yukhoe (beef tartare) was beautifully presented -- layered with avocado, topped with a glossy egg yolk and garlic slices. It was fresh, rich, and buttery with just the right amount of seasoning. Mixing it all together made it creamy and flavorful without being overpowering. Overall, Jin Soo delivers on quality meat, great sides, and that interactive KBBQ vibe that makes the meal feel like an experience. Definitely a spot worth coming back to when you're craving good Korean BBQ in Chicago

    More and more KBBQ joints are finally opening in the Midwest. Saw this place being reviewed on "The…read moreHungry Hound" on TV and had to come try. To be transparent, only had the meat and haven't tried the naengmyun (cold buckwheat noodles) yet. So this review may update after then. We made reservations, making them were easy. Staff is kind and attentive. Restaurant is tastefully decorated and well lit. Perfect for a KBBQ spot. There were a lot of diners but it wasn't too loud. It was easy to get attention of the servers. The meat was good. Especially the non-marinated beef with the special matcha salt. NOT AYCE. Banchan (side dishes) were good and authentic. I would come again but not necessarily a WOW I MUST come again. If that makes sense. Decent KBBQ joint.

    Photos
    Jin Soo Korean BBQ
    Jin Soo Korean BBQ
    Jin Soo Korean BBQ

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    336 Korean Wet Aging BBQ House - Seafood pancake

    336 Korean Wet Aging BBQ House

    4.5(103 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Cozy spot. This place has such a warm and inviting vibe. The narrow, long space is decorated…read morebeautifully with soft lighting and thoughtful touches that make it perfect for chilling with a few friends or a small family group. The appetizers were a highlight, unique and bursting with flavor from a perfect spice blend. Not too spicy at all, just the right amount of kick to keep things exciting. The mains delivered that classic tangy, savory twist I love in Korean BBQ. The beef and pork came sliced super thin and tender, melting in your mouth. The grill was a touch oilier than I'm used to (probably to keep the meat from sticking), but it bother me slightly although most people would probably enjoy it. All in all, a real gem with great flavors and a relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be back to try more items and bring friends or family along.

    Always always fantastic going here, service is very very prompt and everyone's nice when we go in…read more The servings are good and the sides are fantastic and they'll refill them occasionally as you finish. We've got been twice so far and both times we're very satisfied overall with all the food. The second time the un- marinated brisket seemed like it was cut a little too thin or the grill was a little too hot, so there was more sticking to the grill than expected but overall everything still tasted really good great kimchi, great potato salad, lots of veggies, lots of flavor. Soda wise they have Pepsi if that impacts your restaurant choice.

    Photos
    336 Korean Wet Aging BBQ House
    336 Korean Wet Aging BBQ House - Pork belly

    Pork belly

    336 Korean Wet Aging BBQ House - Appetizers of the day which come the meal

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    Appetizers of the day which come the meal

    2 pigs karaoke

    2 pigs karaoke

    3.7(15 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    Fun times all around- great drinks and singing karaoke!!…read moreEasy to order drink menu but wish there were some more options. We didn't try any food since we came from a late dinner but I could see how it would add to the ambience. Dropped a star due to confusion/miscommunication with staff when we were directed to our room. We were a group of 10 that booked a small room but were seated in the large room. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we didn't think anything of it. When we went to pay, we realized that it was not a complimentary upgrade and were charged for the large room ($20 more per hr). The issue was able to be resolved but at the end of the day, this was an easy issue to prevent from the get-go.

    My friends and I came to try the food. The restaurant space is big with plenty of nice karaoke…read morerooms surrounding. The place is decorated well with k pop music videos playing on tvs throughout. Because it just opened, we were one of the few groups yet service was still pretty slow (we kept looking for a button to call the waiter as many korean restaurants have). We ordered the following - prices were a bit high overall: - kimchi fried rice: the cheese made this nice and savory and this was the best bang for your buck because of the portion - galbi: pretty tasty but small pieces - chicken feet stew: this came out cold so we had to send it back- they had forgotten to bring out the portable burner that comes with the dish. Otherwise this was very spicy (which I liked) and a big portion - bossam: my favorite dish. Lots of sides that came with the pork belly, which was great because none of the other dishes came with banchan or kimchi. Rice is usually an extra cost, but the server gave it to us complementary during this visit. I'm glad I tried a lot of dishes and had tasty Korean bar food! I'd recommend giving it a try.

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    2 pigs karaoke
    2 pigs karaoke
    2 pigs karaoke

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    Korean Beef Soup - Spicy pork bulgogi

    Korean Beef Soup

    4.6(25 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    A small food court tucked inside J Plaza Niles/Park to Shop Supermarket (formerly Assi Plaza). I…read moregrew up coming to Assi, so it's definitely a nostalgic spot for me, and I'm so glad it stayed consistent through the years. I recently stopped by with my boyfriend while passing through the area, and Korean soup hits differently when it's freaking cold outside. I ordered the "mix" soup (seollungtang with meat and tendon), and it came out boiling just the way it should be. The bowl includes thin flour noodles, tender meat and tendon, and is topped with green onions. It also comes out with kkakdugi (diced radish kimchi), regular kimchi, a dipping sauce for the meat, and salt to season the soup to your liking. All of that plus a Diet Coke came out to $33.99 for both of us. In this economy? That's a solid deal. The lady and the man working behind the counter are always sweet, which is a plus. The food was comforting and much needed. I'm so thankful this place still exists and is standing strong even after Assi is gone. A place I'll always come back to when I'm near the area and craving a warm bowl of soup.

    So this is in the food court at the former Assi Market, which is now the Park to Shop. The food…read morecourt itself is showing signs of revitalization as new vendors replace old ones... so that's a good sign. Korean Beef Soup is a quaint little soup shop in the corner. You order and wait and then your order appears from behind the curtain. I don't know all about Korean cuisine, but the goat soup does have great flavor. It doesn't seem to have dumb'ed down just to appease the locals (ha ha). I've been here twice and the little side dishes appear to rotate slightly so they weren't the same both times (I confess I ordered the goat soup both times). I see a lot of past reviews mention the oxtail. I wish I could get some of that. There is bulgogi and rice on the menu too. The spicy pork bulgogi was plentiful, but it wasn't as spicy as the soup. I promise I'll try a different soup next time. Maybe.

    Photos
    Korean Beef Soup - Food court counter

    Food court counter

    Korean Beef Soup - Goat soup

    Goat soup

    Korean Beef Soup - The goat

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    The goat

    Lai Lai - chinese - Updated May 2026

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