The best Korean food in Chicago. The dishes like galbi, bibimbap, pajeon all have the special home cooked meal" comfiness. The samgyetang will revitalize your soul. Get a shot of ginseng wine and feel your inner self become at peace. Lovely, kind folks behind the counter, call ahead and make a res because this place gets very busy at meal time. Smaller venue so you'll hear the neighbors talk about how good the dishes are. Very homey. read more

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This meal was so comforting to eat. I haven't had authentic Korean food in a loooong time. This cute mom and pop shop deserves all the love. Spicy rice cakes: Some of the best I've had. The consistency of the rice cakes were perfect. Not too spicy. Adding cheese elevated the taste! Seafood pancake: I almost always order this whenever its on the menu cause its my favorite. Its huge by the way so great for sharing! Ginseng milkshake: So refreshing and light! Def get this for the summer! Cha-Oreum Samgye Tang: I believe this is the Korean version of chicken soup. A simple soup loved by many. This would be great to eat when sick. However, the broth was lacking alot of flavor despite me adding alot of salt and pepper. Chicken was very tender. Han-Ah-Reum Bulgogi dolsot: Get this!!! Super delicious and flavorful. And if you love glass noodles, this soup is for you! read more

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This Korean restaurant quickly became one of my favorite places to eat. The first time I went, I ordered two appetizers instead of a main dish, and they were both very delicious. The seafood pancake was a 10 out of 10, and the japchae - stir-fried glass noodles with beef and vegetables was amazing. I also ordered a ginseng milkshake, and it's a must-try. The next time I visited, I ordered Ssyal Samgye Tang, a whole cornish hen soup. The broth was clear and tasty, and the chicken, stuffed with rice, spices, and garlic, was very good. The soup comes with multigrain rice and a variety of pickled vegetables. I really love this restaurant! read more

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Such good authentic Korean food!! It's hard to find in Chicago so I'm glad there is a place to get chicken ginseng soup. The cold noodles was so flavorful and yummy. The bulgolgi was okay but would definitely come back! read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ordered Uber Eats for lunch and tried: - Seafood Pancake - Cha-O-Reum Samgye Tang - Yukgae Jang At first I was questioning the prices, but the portion size doesn't miss. Everything was essentially two servings. Surprisingly the seafood pancake was my favorite, it was absolutely packed with shrimp, octopus, and more. I wouldn't personally say the Yukgae Jang was spicy. It reminded me a bit of kimchi spice, but it was still good. Definitely give them a try, especially when it's cold outside! read more

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I ordered delivery. The food was exceptionally delicious. The fried dumplings were nicely filled and flavorful. The BBQ beef ribs were so well seasoned. They were delicious. The Royal Rice great. Nice serving of all ingredients. The beef and rice cakes were very tastes Definitely ordering from here again. read more

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The food here comforts you and makes you feel like you're getting a lovely home cooked meal. If you're looking for authentic Korean food, then this is the spot for you. The owners give it a cute mom and pop feel. We ordered their signature chicken soup with ginseng and herbs. It had a lovely aroma that felt like it could cure your body and soul. It was a little on the pricey side, but we did enjoy it. The grilled mackerel was extremely flavorful and a bit salty, but it paired so nicely with the white rice it came with. The steamed egg was fluffy and warm; I highly recommend getting this on the side. The banchan were tasty and a good pallet cleanser. The service wasn't bad; the lady took our order pretty quick. She got straight to the point and didn't seem as welcoming. I wish we knew if we could get a refill on the banchan, but I wasn't sure enough to ask. The ambiance is very simple; there are a lot of ginseng references in the wall. They pride themselves on using it, so I love that! It's a small restaurant on the corner, but I love the vibe it gives if you're looking for a simple comforting meal. read more

Ssyal - Chicken Soup, Steamed Egg, Grilled Mackerel, and Banchan - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service and food was so fire ! Great hang out spot to catch up w friends! it was pretty empty when we came so the ambience was very chill and cozy read more

Ssyal - Seafood pancakes, bibim naemyeong - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had this place bookmarked and finally went with a friend and we had such a delightful meal here. I liked the banchan, especially the tofu skins. But my absolute favorite thing was the seafood pancake (haemul pajeon). My friend loved their samgyetang (the chicken soup) that I'd heard they are known for. I probably would skip the sweet beef stew soup I got (I forgot the name), but I'd definitely come back here. I also liked how crispy their mandu was, and I don't always like the mandu at other restaurants. read more

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The food is very tasty very tender and nice portions service was excellent and the ambience of the place gives you a taste of nostalgia retro New York Overall, I would recommend this place if you see it and you think that it is a shut down warehouse trust me it is not food is priced relatively well and again services pretty speedy. The waiting staff is very patient and they do not overwhelm you constantly asking you if everything is OK until you can get your food in your mouth, but yes eat here. Come here and enjoy. read more

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Their Samgye Tang is so good...I'm still craving it now... My friends and I ordered a seafood pancake, a stir fried squid, and one Samgye Tang for each of us. All were so amazing!!! The only thing that we were not super satisfied with was their service speed. We waited for nearly a half hour for the dishes to come. Others were good, especially their dining environment, not greasy like some other places at all. read more

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Really delicious! Took my friend out for lunch last weekend. I've been to a lot of the Korean restos in the area, but not this one. We kinda went all out...we got the chicken and ginseng soup they're known for, pan-fried mackerel, steamed eggs, and japchae (because I love it). Everything was absolutely delicious. We rolled out of there completely stuffed, but not in a gross way. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Giving this spot a 3 since we came for the Korean fried chicken but they sadly no longer have it. Their service is fairly good and the restaurant is spacious. There are a few parking spots behind the restaurant but other than that it is street parking. For food I would recommend getting at least their seafood pancake. I would say it is one of the best I've ever had. Other than that everything else was standard Korean food. read more

Ssyal - Squid Stir Fry - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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10/10 recommend!!! Such a really great Korean spot!!! Highly recommended coming for the soup/stew! read more

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This Korean restaurant is very clean and the food came out very fast. The food was fresh and the food was very good. Not salty and very healthful. The bibimbop veges were really good and authentic and super fresh. And I am mostly vegetarian but can eat high quality low fat beef or chicken. And the beef in the bibimbop was super low fat and very tasty and not salty but still flavored like bulgogi. There's another room for diners which can also act as a private party dining area if needed. The bathrooms were very clean also with paperless hand drying and it was odorless. They even had a bench inside that came be used to place bags or to sit. This place has great food and it's very clean and the parking on the street is free. Will definitely come back. read more

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Our favorite in the area. The food is always fresh and flavorful. My favorites are the Yukgae Jang or the pork bulgogi. My kids eat the seafood pancake. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! read more

Great food ! It's very homely and perfect for cold rainy days which there are so many in Chicago ! Would def recommend the original or the premium chicken ! Would def come back ! read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ambiance - traditional, simple home cooking restaurant Service - super attentive owner, made sure you were taken care of Food - Soup - came out bubbling hot, included lots of seafood Spicy chicken Galbi - make sure u get with the cheese!! Galbi - nice and tender, definitely more on the sweeter side read more

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Ssyal is really good for comforting Korean food. Their galbi tang surprised me -- the soup is very clear and flavorful, and the beef short ribs are super tender. You can actually taste the quality of the meat, not just salt or MSG. The dumplings are also great -- big, juicy, and very homemade style. Not the cheap frozen kind. They match perfectly with the soup dishes. The place is simple and clean, service is friendly, and the food comes out pretty fast. Price is a little high, but for the portion and quality, I think it's worth it. I'll definitely come back when I want something warm and nourishing. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cozy place for authentic Korean food. My favorite is the Korean ginseng chicken soup and galbi tang. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a late lunch here yesterday. The food was very good and the service was great. I had the samgye tang. She had the chaoreum tang. Delicious and warming on a blustery, chilly day. We split an order of steamed eggs as an appetizer and I have to learn how to prepare eggs with this method. Clean and comfortable and satisfying. Nice read more

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We came here for dinner and ordered: - dumplings: crispy and satisfying. Meats, vegetables and glass noodles. - yuk gae Jang: a spicy, hot beef soup with vegetables and clear noodle. It wasn't too spicy (I ordered spicy). It was a great, hearty soup. The meat was so tender. - sayal samgaetang: came with a ginseng on top and felt like healing in a bowl. A good soup to sweat out to in summer. - bulgogi jeongol: was a perfect balance of sweet and salty. Service was fast. Only wait time was for the soups. Very clean and pretty spacious! read more

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You don't find places like this often! I came here for the Korean ginseng chicken soup -- my go-to dish whenever I want something hearty to boost my energy and immune system. I ended up staying because all their dishes, like the Galbi and spicy beef soup, are just as amazing. The broths are so flavorful. While the menu isn't huge, but what they will meet your expectations. They don't have many side dishes but they are good and elevate your main dish. The service is quick, and the staff are very kind. read more

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느슨한 삼계탕판에 긴장감을 불어넣는 집. 추천합니다. The best authentic korean restaurant. Highly recommended. read more

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This is possibly the best Korean restaurant I have ever been to. It's definitely better than any in my hometown, and if I lived in Chicago, this would be a regular on my list of eateries to visit. It was a Wednesday late morning when I realized my original plans to go to the Art Institute were dashed because it was in fact closed. I decided instead to explore some Chicago neighborhoods. It was also nearing lunch time, so I decided to seek out a Korean place, and the easiest one to get to was Ssyal. So I made my way by bus, the L, and a long walk through neighborhoods to work up an appetite. I found my destitation, and upon entering I was greeted warmly by the lady working. I went with my typical order for Korean places: Dukbokki (Spicy Rice Cake) and Dolsot Bibimbap. Although I was tempted to order the seasonal Naengmeyon (Cold noodle soup) that I became familiar with after watching K-dramas... but I stuck with my usual. And I went with a peach soju as well. I was the only one in the restaurant, and enjoyed the quiet calm meal. The lady was like close friend's eomma, and I felt like more than just a patron. It is truly one of the few places where I felt valued as a person enjoying some really good homecooking. The banchan were really tasty - there was some jalapenos, cucumbers, fish cake, and what I think was kkakdugi - cubed daikon kimchi - and it was SO good. The dukbokki was not to sweet, which was to my liking, and I savored the texture of the chewy rice cakes. I know that some don't like this, but it is one of my favorites if the sauce is done right. It was spicy, but not too spicy. I enjoyed these and my soju while I waited for the main dish. I was not disappointed when the lady rolled it out on a cart and it was sizzling like no other dolsot bibimbap I've ever had. I let it sit for probably 10 minutes to really let the rice crisp up and it was SO worth the wait. The dish was shallow and wide allowing for a thinner layer of rice that crisped up to perfection! I was pleasantly surprised that the beef was not fatty at all (that's the way I like it) and the egg was fried to perfection. I let it cook and get nice and hard. I was really in foodie heaven. What I love about Korean food is that it is healthy, and while I was indulging in a large lunch by myself, I didn't feel guilty for eating it all up. It was just so good. While I was eating, I noticed that my host was prepping strawberries, and I was so surprised when she brought my a small dish of strawberries. Perfect for a summer afternoon finisher. It paired well with my soju and I delighted in this simple gesture of generosity. I was so please with my experience here. I can't imagine a better dining experience. The atmosphere was homey and cozy and the service was amazing. Again if I lived here, I would undoubtedly be a regular. Please go and try it!! read more

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Outstanding traditional Korean spot specializing in herbal Cornish hen soup. We also got the spicy chicken galbi for protein and it was also outstanding. Great service and attentiveness. Food came out in less than 15 mins. It is on the pricier end for a casual sit down but it is well worth it! read more

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Have been wanting to check this place out and finally did! I was so excited to eat here and it did not disappoint. We ordered the seafood pancake, spicy pork Bulgogi, and of course the Dolsot Bibimbap. Each was excellent. The bibimbap was so large I had left overs to take home. The staff is friendly and attentive without being overly so. Will definitely be back. read more

Ssyal - Dolsot Bibimbap, Spicy Pork Bulgogi and sides. - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Galbi, spicy rice cake and seafood pancake are our favirotes. All finished before remembering taking photos. Good service! read more

Ssyal - Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon), spicy Royal Rice Cake (Royal Tteokbokki), Galbi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing authentic specialty Korean food! Came here with my bestie for a fantastic Korean lunch feast. We're visiting Chicago and I've been craving good home style Korean food and this place was a home run, hit my taste buds just right! Everything is made to perfection. Reminds me of a chicken soup restaurant near the palace in Seoul. We shared the dumplings, seafood pancake, spicy stir fried squid, and the premium chicken soup (Cha-Oreum Samgye Tang). The food tastes like grandma's cooking, w/love & attention to freshness and seasoning that shows in everything that's served, including the rice & banchan (side dishes). This is definitely Royal Korean cuisine. Even my toddler (who is raised on home cooked Korean food) ate everything (minus the spicy squid). Loved this gem! read more

Ssyal - Highly recommend: premium chicken soup, seafood pancake, spicy squid stirfry! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

5 stars all across the board! Didn't even matter that service was kind of slow because the food was as authentic as authentic Korean gets ! Being a last minute decision driving by, we saw a couple people walking out and decided to try it since I had heard all good things. It was wonderful! The best rice cakes we have found in a while. Their bimbop hot stone pot was delicious with extra crunchy rice at the bottom. Flavors were on 10 and enjoyed every single delicious bite ! read more

Ssyal - The perfect rice cake does exist - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very nice owner and super hospitable service. Chicken ginseng soup had a great depth of flavor. Dumplings were extremely crispy and had a good amount of filling. read more

Ssyal - Fried Dumpling (Gun Mandu) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here on a weekday lunch. We were seated immediately. The place is known for their ssamgyettang (korean chicken soup) but their other Korean food items are delicious as well. Definitely great Korean food! Ordered the pajeon (seafood pancake), ssamgyettang (Korean chicken soup) and yukgaejjang (spicy soup) and all were good. Parking: Free parallel parking around the store but they also have a free parking lot. Costs: The costs may be on the higher end or maybe average these days but the portions are big so you'll leave full and content. Worth the drive for Korean food or soup based menu items on a cold day. read more

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Ssyal, what a treat it was! Let me get into it. It's been a while since I have been able to have Korean style chicken soup. It brought back memories of when I lived in South Korea and could get it anytime I wanted. The food was hands down as good as when I had it in Korea. Maybe not 100% identical. I do think the soup base was really good and the egg dish was amazing and the seafood pancake was good but, seemed like the batter they used was really fluffy and made the pancake really thick. The service was okay. The shorter waitress really seemed kind of rude to my friend and I. The taller waitress was very friendly and kind. I did like how they had eye catching things in the walls and the music was very nice to hear. Overall, I will say give Ssyal a try if you want home style Korean chicken soup. It will make you feel better instantly! read more

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The tofu soup was fantastic. The right size portions, helpful service, clean place, and first-class bathrooms! Will definitely return.

Food was great! All three of our dishes were delicious, would come again! The owner was very kind and I would come again! It was clean and quiet. read more

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Really delicious first meal in Chicago! We ordered the seafood pancake, tteokbokki, and ssyal ginseng soup. The seafood pancake was one of the better ones I've had, throughly cooked and not soggy in the middle. Lots of squid and shrimp inside. Crispy edges! The tteokbokki was sooo soft. It was just a bit too spicy for me. The chicken ginseng soup was delicious. Broth thick and flavorful, with very tender chicken. Banchan could improve with more variety. The service was also quite slow, they definitely need more than 1 staff member to manage all the tables and food deliveries. read more

Ssyal - Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wow! I'm really impressed with this place! Came in on a Monday evening around 7pm and there were only a couple other parties. By the time we left closer to 8, the place was pretty much packed. Seems like a very small family operation, probably pretty thin on staff on weekdays since it was mostly one lady working all front of house things from taking orders, serving, bussing tables, etc. So definitely be a little patient as she gets through the tables, but she was definitely hustling and the food came out at a pretty decent clip. Also, the space itself is nice. They have a giant tube to show off the ginseng which was interesting, but also the restaurant itself is very clean and well maintained. Ok, onto the food! Ssyal Samgye Tang ($20.99, I think usually $22.99, but they had some summer promo going on): This definitely seems to be the most popular item on the menu and was also featured on an Eater episode. It was my first time trying this soup, but it was a super comforting dish. The Cornish hen falls off the bone and make sure to split it open so the rice and other good bits mix into the soup. The soup itself is hearty, but not seasoned with salt (how a lot of Korean dishes like these are), but comes with some green onions and flake salt to season to your liking. It was a great dish and definitely will be something I crave when I want something homey or feeling under the weather. Soon Tofu Stew ($14.99): I'd say this is your standard soondubu jjigae. Kinda hard to mess up as long as you get the paste that makes the stew flavor right. This one only had one shrimp which was a bit of a letdown, but quite a bit of squid in it (and obviously lots of silken tofu). Solid! Japchae ($13.99): I just love japchae in general and this one was well executed. The noodles well cooked, lots of veges, not overly salty, and good sesame oil aroma. Seafood Pancake ($16.99): Definitely more expensive than your standard pancake, but it was pretty big! They don't cut it up for you like some spots which my dad was being a bit of a baby about, but just break it up with your chopsticks. Banchan: There were only a few side dishes/banchan that came which was slightly disappointing, but what we did get was solid. Gamja jorim (braised potatoes) or gyeran mari (rolled omelette) would've been nice. Rice: I don't usually comment on the rice, but they do serve both white and mixed grain rice so keep that in mind. I thought both were kind of mushy, but maybe that's just preference. Overall, I really enjoyed this place! Would definitely come back here again to get the ssyal samgye tang again and try some of their other offerings. They serve most of the run of the mill Korean dishes, but they're all well executed. They also do takeout and are on Uber Eats/GrubHub/DoorDash if you didn't feel like leaving your doorstep. Give it a try! read more

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Went on a Saturday for lunch and parking was super easy. Ordered the Ssyal Samgaetang. Quite tasty and authentic. Wish there was a bit more rice inside the cornish hen and stronger ginseng flavor, but enjoyed it. The banchan/side dishes were also delicious! Excited to return to try other dishes on the menu. Service was friendly but was difficult to get a hold of the server at times, likely because there was just 1 for the entire restaurant. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place has nice ambience, family and friends type. The food tasted great. Great options of traditional Korean dishes. Service was pleasant. One of my favorite Korean place! Parking in the back and free parking around the are. read more

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We got the ginseng chicken soup and the seafood spicy Ramen. Very bland.. there was nothing special about the rice either I think the broth has not been marinating for a long time and giving us a side of salt with our meal is really not ideal. We were looking forward to trying a different restaurant, but Soban Korea is much better. read more