We've stopped here twice when I Champaign and have enjoyed the food, drinks and excellent service. Large portions and fresh tasting. Ordered chicken bulgogi box, enjoyed very much, and had about half leftover. Really enjoyed the soojung Gwa - a cinnamon-y drink that is excellent for a hot day. read more

A hidden gem for authentic Korean dishes. Service was impecable and dishes came out hot. We ordered a variety of dishes such as: *Squid & Scallion Pancake $16 (filled up the entire plate) *Fried Kimari $7 (Crispy seaweed with sweet potato noodle) *LA Galbi $31 (Grilled Rib) *Bibimbob $14 (Veggy over rice) The meal was enough to feed a small party and the had a great time trying out all the delights from San Maru. Free Parking in lot and highly recommend. read more

The food is goated!! I was in Champaign, visiting my sister, and she recommended this restaurant "San Maru". We went there and were mind blown on how delicious it is, in Champaign that is. Not only that the service was relatively great. The granny cashier is kind :3 Although a little far from the main city I would still say it's worth the drive read more

San Maru - We tried the Squid Bokkeum, Kimchi and Squid Korean Pancake, Seafood Soondubu Jjigae, Bulgogi, and you should too! - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

First, the food is unmatched. Second, the service is so welcoming despite being so busy. Don't know what we'd do without this gem. Perfect to eat by self or with family/friends. Would eat here everyday if I could. read more

I was looking for an excellent spot to eat lunch with my colleagues. I guess this place made me curious, so we went and ohhhh yay it's worth it. The food was incredibly good... the ladies were friendly and could help with our 5-to-go order. The place was cute, and it gets crazy busy... yup better to try them its a legit Korean food. read more

See all

The true highlight is their bingsu--a refreshing, beautifully presented shaved ice dessert that perfectly balances sweetness and texture. It's not just delicious, it's unforgettable, making it an absolute must-try for anyone visiting. read more

San Maru is located near the southern portion of Champaign and probably my go to for Korean food in the Champaign area. Seafood soondubu had great flavors and the chili spice had a nice roast to it. My wife ordered bibimbop and it had good flavors as well. Only drawback is I wish San Maru gave more banchan options. The restaurant dining area is somewhat small, so I would recommend going early for lunch or dinner to make sure you get seating. read more

San Maru - Seafood Soondubu Jjigae - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

Great food and even better service. Some of the best Korean food we have had. Great value.

The first day we went (Friday lunch), the food was fantastic! My mother got the spicy tofu soup with seafood, and I got the bibimbap. I also got the dukboki which was delicious yet. Service was wonderful, the ladies were super friendly. It was so good I decided to go back the next day with my mom. Night and day difference. I got the spicy pork Bulgogi and it had the weirdest taste... Like old meat. I'm not sure how you even achieve that flavor. We also ordered the mung bean pancakes , on the menu next to the item, it noted "fresh". It was the furthest thing from fresh. They were burnt, like they had made a large batch of them days before, and refried them as people ordered. If I had this experience the day before, I would never have come back. Extreme disappointment. read more

San Maru - Ddukboki and dol sot bibimbap-- I forgot to take a picture before digging in. - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

We stopped by on a Friday around 4pm. Since we were traveling from Chicago, we called in to order a few dishes so we could have a quick pit stop before driving the rest of the way to Nashville. We called about fifteen minutes before we arrived, and the food came out within five minutes for us. I appreciate the fact that they were able to accommodate our tight schedule. The service was decent, but there wasn't much table service after the waters and the food came out. The food was average, especially for the price. We had the bossam, which is a cooked pork that you wrap to eat with napa cabbage and some radish kimchi. They substituted the cabbage with romaine lettuce. We thought that the pork could've been cooked a little longer. We also ordered the galbi tang and dogani (tendon) tang. The galbi-tang was not a true galbi tang. It was more of a radish soup with some beef pieces in it. The dogani-tang looked a little better, but my parents had to add salt to taste. It's a decent Korean restaurant for the middle of some cornfields, but we'll probably check out some other place the next time we're near UofI. TLDR - 3.5 stars for me; it's good Korean for Champaign Urbana read more

See all

Best Korean restaurant in Champaign. Their Tangsuyuk is the must-go menu. Fishes are reasonable. Pajeon is excellent. You should also try their dessert as well. read more

San Maru - a plate of food on a table - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

San Maru is fantastic and a great way to introduce people to Korean food. The staff is friendly and great at recommendations. I came on Tuesday with a group of friends and had the kimchi jjigae and a kimchi pancake. Then I came back on Thursday evening with my wife and had the same thing! Great place and we'll be back again soon! read more

San Maru - Kimchi Kimchi and Squid Korean Pancake - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

We were in Champaign for a couple of nights and sought out a Korean restaurant. We frequently eat Korean in Chicago and suburbs.. San Maru was a great find! Very authentic flavors, friendly service, and almost exclusively Korean diners, which is always a good sign of authentic food. We were two of the few Caucasians there. The decor is bright, clean, and cheery. read more

Even though the wings weren't as meath as I thought they would be. The spicy teriyaki was absolutely amazing. Will I try again? Yes read more

San Maru - Spoon,napkin. Toothpick baggie - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

My friend liked the dishes very much, but I think there's still some space to improve. The seats are limited inside especially in rush hour. We ordered the San Maru Wings, the Bulgogi, and the Ddukboki, we finished them all and felt full, and the prices were reasonable. read more

See all

I've heard good things about this place from my friends, so my boyfriend and I decided to try it out ourselves! First, the service here is AMAZING. It was fast and caring all at the same time. When we came in, we were so hungry we were munching on the side dishes while we waited for our entrees and they gave us free refills instantly when they noticed that we finished the side dishes... My boyfriend got the jja jjang myeon and I got the LA galbi! We felt that the jja jjang myeon could have used a different type of noodles becauae im pretty sure it was (?) but otherwise there was a generous amount of meat and sauce and etc., The GALBI was where it was at!!! It was probably the most well-seasoned and cooked galbi in CU area. We also had the bingsoo for dessert and THEIR BINGSOO. IT melted in my mouth! It was soft, Flavorful and sweet. I would definitely come here again just for the bingsoo. read more

See all

Was driving through the area and decided to stop here for lunch. They have great lunch specials. I had the bulgogi box and my hubs had the katsu box. It came with the protein ordered, rice, cabbage salad, and 5 small portions of banchan. It was a good amount of food, flavor was on point and the price was right. Highly recommend trying this place out, especially for lunch during the work week. read more

San Maru - Katsu lunch box - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

My bestfriend and I are big fan of Korean foods and I can definitely say that this place is surely authentic. Their staff's are so friendly! An aspect we loved. They were also patient and attentive while accommodating us. My orders were beef bulgogi, tofu stew, and the Red Bean Bingsu. They were served in a fair amount of time, it was well cooked and purely delicious! I would definitely love to come back. Highly recommend this place! read more

Best Korean food in Champaign IL. Period. Ari-Rang on Campus was my go to but this is superior.

Great flavors, friendly service! We had the jabchae and dwenjang jjigae (tofu paste stew). The jabchae had more flavor and more veggies than many iterations I've tried before. It was just the right size, and not overly oily. It made a great lunch. The dwenjang jjigae had a comforting flavor and nice mix of textures. Even on a warm day, it really hit the spot. The banchan were good - all fresh and complemented the meal well. The prices are quite reasonable and the staff is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is clean, modern, and inviting. As a nice touch they were playing Korean music to set the atmosphere. I'll visit again when I'm in the area. read more

San Maru - Jebchae - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Mandoo and bulgogi were very well done. Pork was tender and very well seasoned. Dumpling had a great fry to it and well stuffed. Obviously main focal point but the sides were less impressive. Potato jorim and cjabchae were a little underwhelming. Potato likely simply steamed with a pre made sauce drizzled on. Noodles were simple that with maybe a piece of core and two shreds of carrot read more

San Maru - Bulgogi Take Out Boxes Veggie jabchea Potato jorim Veggie Mandoo - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I ordered the beef bulgogi with cucumber salad. The beef tasted great and the dish itself was tasty. The cucumber salad was plentiful but a little lacking in flavor. My partner got the chicken bento box and tempura Cali rolls. The bento box came with a good amount of food and it tasted great. Same as the rolls which came steaming hot and fresh. Great service and great Japanese food. As a lowkey place for freshly made Japanese food, I would highly recommend! read more

We just moved here from Washington and California where we have amazing Korean restaurants so I am judging this place based on how it is compared to other Korean places specifically around Champaign/Midwest. This is my go to place for Korean food. Their haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) is probably the best I've ever had. In my opinion, this is the best place for everyday Korean food in Champaign. The only reason for 4/5 stars is their banchan (side dishes) is disappointing. They don't taste good and offer too little of it. read more

Friendly, quick service with amazing homemade quality. Everything was delicious! My husband, two kids and I all shared the steamed meat mandoo, fried kimari, jabchae, chicken bulgogi and don katsu. Everything was incredible! 10/10 read more

Picked up some beef bulgogi and an order of fish cakes, and everything was delicious and surprisingly hot considering I picked it up about 15 minutes after it was ready and then drove it home for another 15 minutes. Location feels a bit hidden but parking was easy. Restaurant itself was very clean and bright. read more

San Maru - Container of fish cakes, some rice, and beef bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

I've tried most of the Korean restaurants in Champaign-Urbana, and while there are some options in town, San Maru is easily my favorite. At this point, I've tried maybe ten items off the menu, and each have been great. My favorite is the Dolsot Bibimbap, which comes in a hot stone bowl, thereby giving you crispy bits of rice that are really outstanding. I get it with beef bulgogi, which is similarly excellent. I also love the fried kimari. They're a perfect start to the meal. I wasn't the biggest fan of their chicken wings, although when I ordered them, it was for takeout, and wings really need to be eaten right away. I'd recommend ordering them only if you're dining in. If you're new to Korean food, the beef bulgogi entree is a safe choice. It's salty, sweet, and tender - pretty much exactly what it should be. Finally, we should discuss the Banchan (small side dishes that accompany the meal, complimentary in this case). They're fantastic. I don't know what they're all called, but they all taste amazing and add a lot to the meal in terms of giving you some flavor and texture variety. My only complaint is that the kimchi is fairly mild. It has great flavor, but I'd like even more spice. I don't think it's actually fermented. Whatever. It's a small issue, and I'm sure more people in Champaign-Urbana will like this style. Overall, San Maru is a perfect choice if you're in the mood for some East Asian cuisine. The quality of the food and the serve justify the prices. Highly recommended. read more

Went to dinner here for the first time. I had no idea what to order so I brought a friend who loves Korean food. Needless to say, it was excellent. The young man who served us was incredibly kind and the food was amazing. I forgot what everything was called so will just describe- the egg soufflé was delicious, the beef bulgogi to die for and the seafood soup was spicy but tasty. Highly recommend. read more

Good food and service friendly staff. Great view on the outdoor seating. I've always been satisfied every time I go there.

Food is so good - fresh and homey. We love it. We have been going to it for many years. A great hidden gem in Champaign .

San Maru shines with exceptional Korean food and exceptional service. The food was fresh and served at the optimal temperatures for the different dishes that I ate at the restaurant. This is not fast food. This is a meal with banchan. The restaurant has a pleasant clean palette of green and white. read more

Oh my god where do tI even begin? SO SO good. 3 of us had the Bimbibop in the hot stone bowl. One person had beef bulgogi. It was hot and perfect. The sides of Kimchi, potatoes, radishes, and sprouts were to die for. The fried dumplings are a MUST. They are so crispy. They come with a dipping sauce and the jalapenos were to die for! Best meal I've had in a while. The tea was such a perfect way to finish dinner. Our waitress recommended wonderful things. Everything she said was spot on. I definitely recommend asking her what to get! read more

Most authentic Korean food in town. And the folks running this place are kind friendly and helpful

Great selections of Korean foods. Ordered most of dishes. Everyone is tasty. Service is good.

Best wings in the county. Get the spicy & regular combo. But logging on s good too. The pickled turnips they serve on the side are a treat.

Definitely recommend the homemade veggie mandoo (dumplings)! Got the bulgogi beef which was just okay to me and some of the sides weren't as spicy as I'm used to (guess that's the American part of the Korean-American cuisine). The best part of eating here is the casual, laid back atmosphere and amazing service. The co-owner/cashier/server was kind and genuinely friendly, which made the experience greater. Will have to come back to try their bingsu desserts. read more

San Maru - Bulgogi beef, veggie mandoo, sides - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

A good place to enjoy a Korean meal while visiting U of I. The place was clean, food not too "Americanized", and the host was very friendly and hospitable. I wanted to return to this place but discovered it was closed Sunday and Monday. I would definitely return. read more

I used to be a fan of San Maru and being there many times. However, I went today with my friends, and the service was bad. I waited in the front desk for 5 minutes asking to pay and they keep ignoring me. That's the first part. Also, the food did not have enough taste to it for both the starter and entree, and I have to ask the waiter to take it back to the kitchen. After I got home, i had diarrhea after the dinner. This is the first time that I am so upset with a restaurant and leave a review. read more

We moved out of Champaign/Urbana (Savoy) a few years ago, but every few months we find ourselves looking for an excuse to return and San Maru is a MUST have when we do. The taste and care they put into each dish is definitely worth the hours it takes to return. Our young girls also enjoy the food. Portions are good and price is reasonable. Chambana, you don't know how lucky you are to have what you do in this and many other small businesses/restaurants. read more

San Maru - Maybe difficult to tell, but this picky 2yo can't get enough of this dish (Jjajangmyeon) and the dumplings - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

See all

I really love this place and the food is excellent but the serving sizes for takeout and delivery are wildly inconsistent. The first time I ordered it was a generous portion of meat and a great value, the next time it was tiny. I just ordered a third time and paid for extra meat to compensate and they obviously didn't include it. The side order was also incorrect. I'll probably still eat here though because it's fantastic ‍ "extra" meat pictured below read more

San Maru - Spicy pork - Korean Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

San Maru is located in the Village Green Place shopping center. Near my family's home yet they had never stopped in. So on the occasion of my father's birthday, I suggested that we go. I actually wasn't that hungry so I ended up getting wings and dumplings. My bro got Bibimbop ($10.99): Colorful vegetables, bulgogi, and egg arranged over rice and served with red pepper sauce to mix. Served with Kimchi, Kkakdugi, Bean Sprouts, and Potatoes/Fish cake. My mom got Jabchae ($12.99): Stir-Fried Korean sweet potato noodles with beef, egg, and vegetables. My dad got Yukgaejang ($12.99): Spicy beef soup with scallions and other vegetables. I didn't think that my wings were that great, but the dumplings were very nice. Everyone really liked their food. It was not busy so it was very chill and service was quick. read more