Ssyal

353

389

2190

8 years ago

Ever since I was in Korea in 2014, I've been on a search for ginseng chicken soup in the US. The chicken is stuffed with rice. It's so hard to find on the menu but I found a place that is quite far from the city. It can't compare to Korea but that's expected. I'll take what I can get haha read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brian C.

373

4 years ago

Amazing food! Ingredients were fresh and the meat was falling off the bone. The food is definitely authentic and the portion size is plentiful unlike other Korean restaurants. Very delicious, no complaints. I recommend the jjim Dak as it's savory and soft. read more

Ssyal - Jjimdak chaoreum samgyetang and japchae - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Judy C.

Elite 24

332

411

5 years ago

I got the famous cornish hen with ginseng in soup (Ssyal Samgye Tang) for take-out. It was very good. Don't forget to cut open the chicken to let out the herbs and sweet rice inside. This is what flavors the soup. It compares very favorably to the frozen versions you can get at Korean grocery shops. Very filling too! The ban chan was tasty too and quite neatly organized. I loved the multigrain rice that came with it. Overall an excellent meal. read more

Ssyal - Ssyal Samgye Tang - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Joomi Y.

5 years ago

Small portion missing noodles in the jjimdak. side dish tofu was bad.. Smelled sour. I spit it out right away but I can tell their other side dishes were not made with care either. Their signature chicken soup is mediocre. read more

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Lihan C.

Elite 21

680

218

290

6 years ago

Went to this place at 4:30 pm on a Saturday, there was no one there, but I was on a mission bringing chicken soup for my sick friend!! This place has the greatest cornish hen soup. It was so tasty. Such amazing comfort food. The broth is thick and full of nutrients! You can taste the ginseng and you can tell they've really put the good stuff into it. The chicken is also super tender and the stuff inside is delicious. I love their black rice as well. It's really chewy and has great texture and is also very HEALTHY. Definitely a MUST to get you through Chicago winters. I don't know anywhere else that does the samgyetang as well. I love it and I must go back. I am cold right now and wishing I had this soup. read more

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Sy C.

4 years ago

A Traditional Korean restaurant with fresh ingredients and good taste,definitely worth to try!

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Daniel H.

592

2091

10618

13 years ago

Parking was on the street and plentiful when my friend and I were here. We came late around 8:30pm but there were a lot still here eating. The surrounding area of this place was dark so just be aware but you should be fine. The waitress was very nice but didn't understand what we asked her so she brought over the man working there to explain. Their menu was simple and easy to read in my opinion. I didn't know what I wanted at first but eventually decided. I ordered the Dol-sot Bi-bim Bap ($11.99) and my friend ordered the Gun Man-du ($6.99) because she wasn't hungry. It took awhile before our food came out to the table. The Gun Man-du was good and the Dol-Sot Bi-bim Bap was alright. It did remain hot for a very long time so that was good. lol I think it didn't have enough meat in my opinion but plenty of vegetables. I also had the bean sprout soup that came with the Dol-Sot Bi-bim Bap or at least I thought that was the name of it. lol The other appetizers that were brought to our table were good to me. I was full when I finished everything so I thought it was worth the money I paid. Good place for some Korean food and I would come back if I come back to Chicago. read more

Ssyal - Gun Man-du - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - Dol-sot Bi-bim Bap - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - Bean Sprout soup (I think) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tara W.

Elite 22

4 years ago

We had the fried chicken, dumplings, bibimbap, yukgae jang, and chicken soup. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I'

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Pam D.

Elite 21

185

876

6 years ago

I ordered lunch yesterday through Grubhub. I got the bulgogi. It was very good and everything was very well packaged. My only let down was the mixed grain that came with it. I should have chosen the white rice because the grain was the most tasteless thing I ever had. I want to try the soup in the future. I would not hesitate to order again. read more

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Genna G.

843

1146

6 years ago

We had take out from here. Not bad but definitely not as good as some other Korean restaurants we have tried. The seafood pancake, which comes in a pizza box, is really good, I'd give it "a" . We had the bulgogi which I'd give a B- , a chicken, potato and Japache noodle dish I'd give a C- and the bim bim bop which was ok at best but kjnd of flavorless- I'd give it another c-. Over all, fine at best ( besides the yummy seafood pancake). Order took forever ( well passed the promised time). 3 stars is on the generous side. read more

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European F.

5 years ago

I ordered the Dwaegi Galbi (Pork ribs) and Dumplings from Ssyal a few weeks ago and their food was extremely filling and well prepared! Everything they made was enjoyable and I had leftovers that carried into the next day. I hadn't noticed at the time but each entree ones with a bowl of rice and a cute, organized container filled with other sides. They also gave me a free drink which was extremely sweet of them to do. (It was a coke, lucky for me ) I made sure to tell my family about my order, and the next time they're free I'm going to drag them to Ssyal!! read more

Ssyal - the sides that come with each entree - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - Dwegi (Pork) Galbi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pat K.

2 years ago

The soy honey tossed chicken wings with green onions are beyond delicious!! They were very fresh & the take out service was very good!

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Vivian Ruoyan Z.

6 years ago

The soup is the best in Chicago area. We came all the way from Chicago downtown. People here are super nice. It's better to make a reservation for dinner during weekends. Will definitely come back for sure. read more

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

Ssyal - Cha-O-Reum Samgye Tang - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Gar A.

4 years ago

I've been coming here for over 20 years. They serve the best authentic Korean chicken soup (aka "sam-gar-tang") in town. Get it with Korean pancake ("hae-mool-pah-jeon") and ginseng soju. It's the perfect combo. Tip- order the pancake as soon as you're seated, it can take awhile. read more

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Jin H.

6 years ago

Unexpectedly great food! Their signature korean ginseng soup is amazing! Will be back again for sure! read more

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Mira C.

7.1 mi•River West, West Loop, Near West Side, West Town

124

190

13 years ago

Oh man, I love samgyetang! I'm so happy to have found a place in chi-town! This place is really cute! Simple, elegant, modern design. And the food tastes very clean and healthy. The samgyetang broth was yummy, but it could use more ginseng and dates, but it still hit the spot.:) My mom got the daegutang which also had a clean, tasty flavor, perfectly spiced. I wish there was more ban-chan variety, but the banchans available were fresh and yummy as well. read more

Ssyal - Samgyetang yum - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Biankha P.

7 years ago

In regards to the food, everything was absolutely amazing! We had the haemul pajeon, which was huge, crispy, and delicious! We kept talking about how wet would come back just to order it again! We also ordered the bibim bap (which could have used a little more seasoning) and the bulgogi (which was hands down our second favorite bite of the night!). Overall, it was a wonderful experience, except for it being extremely hot in the restaurant and it was difficult to ask for refills on water. And a heads up, they are technically BYOB, however if you ask for a glass, they charge $10, or so we were told. read more

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Pijuan Y.

4 years ago

This is very delicious. I very enjoyed these dishes. The environment is very quiet and relaxed. The waitress is vey friendly. read more

Ssyal - Han-Ah-Reum Bulgogi Fried Dumpling (Gun Mandu) Spicy Rice Cake (Tteokbokki) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nomundari B.

5 years ago

In fact that i ordered bulgogi with dakduritan Not with a rice cake specially spicy! Now that i have waited 2 hour finally got the food. Called in lady doesn't speak english or doesn't want the business go with me. hoping the owner manage this problem read more

Ssyal - Beef Bulgogi Spicy Rice Cake (Tteokbokki) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dave K.

Elite 21

285

244

774

9 years ago

Ever get a bad hangover and the one thing you crave is hot warm soup? Well I was looking up places to go when I had a bad hangover for hot warm soup and Ssyal popped up. And my goodness so happy I discovered this place. One thing I love about Korean food is when I actually have Korean style soup, I always feel my taste buds are fulfilled and I feel healthy. This place delivered both with flying colors. This place is known for their "Sam Gye Tang." It's Korean Chicken soup basically with rice inside the whole chicken. It normally is for eating in the summer time but my goodness I'll eat it all the time. The side dishes were great. You can ask for as much as you want. I always like to get the Kkakdogi (Spicy Radish) when I am eating Korean soup. It's the most perfect compliment ever. Anyways the Chicken soup was so refreshing. You also get a whole chicken with it along with ginseng. Ginseng I mean come on, I didn't come here to get revitalized but I guess I will! LOL If you never had this before, venture out and try it. You will definitely feel better if you are hungover haha. I will definitely be coming back hopefully as a regular and be able to try their other food on their menu. Everything looks great. Interior is also very clean and everyone is so friendly. MUST TRY! read more

Ssyal - So good. So healthy. - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - That whole chicken soup. - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Business owner information

Joo Kyung C.

Hello Dave. Thank you for your detailed review and explanation on Sam…

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Hannah C.

321

4 years ago

My favorite Korean soup go to place in Chicago. Ssyal never disappoints. My dinner is complete with the Cha-o-reum samgye tang. The seafood pancake was just the right texture. 10/10 for freezing winters read more

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Eva L.

Elite 24

275

4 years ago

I love Ssyal. Although I have only physically been to the restaurant once, I have ordered takeaway / pickup here probably more than 10 times. I will admit, the food here is not mind-blowing, but it is consistent and quite authentic. My go-to dishes are the seafood pancake, galbi (marinated ribs - SO GOOD), spicy tofu soup, and rice cake. These dishes are comforting and have a certain "home cooked" feel to it which I like. read more

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Jeanie C.

4 years ago

Traditional ginseng soup .. rarely available in Chicago .. healthy & delicious.. will try more thing next time when I return

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Lizabeth B.

6 years ago

I always ordered food at ssyal coz it was so good and the people there was nice and friendly. My favorite is their spicy pork bulgogi. Will never get tired of it. Lol read more

Ssyal - Spicy Pork Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Aaron K.

4 years ago

Great food. Decent atmosphere. Better neighborhood spot for pick up. I can't call myself a Korean food expert or anything but people not in my neighborhood said I have to try. So I believe this place has some word of mouth and I could see why. I recommend. read more

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Nghia L.

5 years ago

SPEND 3min reading this will save you a whole day. . No idea what this is. I couldn't tell if it's a restaurant or not. They left us in the corner at a dirty table for almost 30min (even though I asked em to clean it a couple of times) til the first small dish came out, then another 20min for a rest. We didn't even have a single refill for water AND had to continue asking for rice. Like, they didn't take it seriously. That ended up cost us over $100 for five dishes, and tbh the food wasn't good too. I was like hell nah, I won't leave em any tips, but 1 of my friend told me to give em the changes. But it seems like they didn't satisfied with that. After we stepped out of the restaurant, their waitress (lady w red hair) came behind and stopped us, asking for more tips; she yelled at us like they didn't get enough. We should give them more. That lady and I had a big argument there; she didn't leave; thus, my friend gave her more money to stop the fight between us. TOTALLY NOT RECOMMENDED. I wish I could give em 0 stars!!! read more

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Alice L.

5 years ago

Took my friend for her birthday. We ordered one appetizer and two main entree. The food was great! read more

Ssyal - Finally - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tamara P.

230

4 years ago

Authentic and delicious. The menu is simple, but every dish is so flavorful, comes with sides, and sll great for sharing. Love this place

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Fan S.

4 years ago

Very nice and authentic Korean restaurant in town! Must try place if you are around Albany Park. read more

Ssyal - Very nice and authentic Korean restaurant in Chicago! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ezra A.

136

7 years ago

Enjoyed the ssyal sam gye tang and the spicy rice cakes the first time around. The rice cakes were so soft. The sam gye tang made me feel good. I was tired from work when we came. The second time my husband and I went, we tried the seafood pancake and grilled mackerel which we both loved. They both remind me of filipino breakfast. We might try and come in for brunch one of these days. :) read more

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Ida D.

Elite 23

128

232

437

9 years ago

I was craving Korean food (and banchans) so I came here on a Saturday night around 5:50pm. And luckily did I come before 6pm because the place started filling up around 6pm with locals and Koreans. The women (who seemed like the owner) greeted us and was very friendly. Ginseng chicken soup (4/5): tasted very clean and healthy, though I feel like it is lacking some ingredients that were advertised in the TV video (no goji berries). The meat of the chicken was tender. Marinated sliced squid (4/5): this is one of my favorite korean dishes and this place made it just a-ok. Lots of veggies and not enough squid. Banchans were delicious -- love the seaweed one! When the bill came, the owner also brought us a small cup of sweet, cinnamon tasting drink. Delicious! read more

Ssyal - Chicken soup + marinated sliced squid - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Business owner information

Joo Kyung C.

Thank you Ida for the lovely picture of our chicken soup and…

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Michelle M.

Elite 20

369

7 years ago

Their spicy rice cakes, japchae and pork bulgogi were really flavorful with a bit of a kick to them. Their service was great and attentive. Restaurant was really clean. read more

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E H.

Elite 8

147

288

7 years ago

If you've never had korean ginseng soup, it's high time you start. There's nothing better on a cold day or when you're feeling under the weather than a piping hot bowl of chicken ginseng soup to give you a lift. Each bowl is served with a whole cornish hen stuffed with rice and jujubes. If you've room, make sure to order their seafood pancake before digging into your soup. It is one of the most well executed pancakes in town. read more

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Jennifer T.

9 years ago

When I'm feeling under the weather or just in the mood for some healthy soup in Chicago, Ssyal is always there to warm my heart, soul and stomach with their infamous samgyetang. Simply delicious. Highly recommend the haemul pajeon, which is the crispiest that I've had, and comes sizzling on a hot plate. Dwe-gi galbi was a bit too heavily marinated, but the meat was SO tender. The banchan seems to switch up a bit, which is nice. They always serve a cinnamon tea to end the meal, which is not only refreshing, but also serves a palate cleanser. Very nice touch. Ssyal. It's a hit! read more

Business owner information

Joo Kyung C.

Thank you Jennifer for your complimenting our place, and also for…

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M. M.

3 years ago

Excellent food, excellent service. I am happy to support them. Go get yourself some delicious food.

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Onno B.

4 years ago

Came here for samgyetang and I'm not disappointed it's delicious! I'd recommend this place if you are craving soul food that will warm up your body read more

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Dikai N.

5 years ago

THE PLACE to go to for ginseng chicken soup in Chicago!! Perfect for winter nights! Service may be a bit slow when they're busy on Friday nights but it was definitely worth the wait!! read more

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Jorge R.

4 years ago

Real Korean cuisine, you feel like visiting your grandparents, portions a perfect and taste on point. read more

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Michael W.

7 years ago

I'd been wanting to try. Was recommended as best Korean in the city. The dolsot bibimbap was some of the best I've had. Also, wonderful service. read more

Ssyal - Huge ginseng container! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Liz M.

Elite 10

360

224

245

16 years ago

I first saw Ssyal on a "Hungry Hound" segment, raving about their Ginseng Chicken soup. I had the opportunity to finally try it...my daughter had a homework assignment to eat in a Korean restaurant in "Korea-town" (why didn't we have such fun homework?) and with the winter weather...I thought "how perfect!" The Ginseng-Chicken soup "Sam-Gye-Tang" was $13.99. It was tasty & good..not $13.99 great...but good. We also ordered the Bulgoki ($11.99) also good but not great. The Dolsot BiBimBop (served in a hot stone-$10.99) just okay. What was great...was the service...outstanding. The manager/waitress and the "busgirl" absolutely wonderful. They got a little giggle that we took pictures for the homework assignment. Don't think I'll go back due to the price/portion ratio but I'm not sorry I did. read more

Ssyal - Sam-Gye-Tang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - Dolsot BiBimBop (in hot stone) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - Ginseng for sale - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ssyal - Hungry Hound article - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Page 5 of 10

4201 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
Albany Park
Directions
(773) 427-5296
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Visit Website
https://www.ssyal.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Ssyal open?

Ssyal opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

What time does Ssyal close?

Ssyal closes at 8:45 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Ssyal is closed on Sunday.

Mon-Sat 11:00 AM - 8:45 PMSun Closed

Payment methods

Does Ssyal take credit cards?

Yes, Ssyal takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Ssyal have catering options?

Yes, Ssyal does have catering options.

Does Ssyal have a happy hour?

No, Ssyal does not have a happy hour.

Does Ssyal serve alcohol?

Yes, Ssyal serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Ssyal allow dogs?

No, Ssyal does not allow dogs.

Does Ssyal have TVs?

Yes, Ssyal has TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Ssyal have bike parking?

Yes, Ssyal has bike parking.

Does Ssyal have parking?

Yes, Ssyal has parking options. Private Lot Parking, Street Parking

Other Amenities

Is Ssyal wheelchair accessible?

Yes, Ssyal is wheelchair accessible.

Does Ssyal have free WiFi?

Yes, Ssyal has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

🐓 Authentic Korean Cuisine in Chicago 🐓 Since 1988 | 30+ Years 🐓 Recommended by Michelin Guide

History

Established in 1988.

The name “Ssyal” translates to “seed” in Korean. As the name implies, we wanted to be sprout as a real Korean taste in the Chicago area. Since our humble beginnings as a ginseng farm, we have proudly become a staple of authentic Korean cuisine for the past 30 years. And as always, our mission of providing exceptional tasting Korean food and gracious hospitality to our neighbors in Chicago has remained unchanged.

Meet the Business Owner: Joo Kyung C.

Joo-Kyung is very proud to serve the great city of Chicago, and she looks forward to your visit! She prides herself on blending the exquisite tastes of authentic Korean cuisine with a modern and intimately chic atmosphere that's both fun and stylish. Come in and say "hello!" and Ask For Ginseng Chicken Soup!

Ssyal Reviews in Other Languages

Spanish
2 Reviews

Ask the Community - Ssyal

Do you have in person dining?

YES!

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We came to perilla as a group and we really enjoyed it! The meats were all high quality and…read moredelicious! Staff were super friendly, engaging, and helpful. Restaurant was clean, well designed, and you could tell management was actively engaged. Worth a visit if you're craving Korean BBQ!

Not much of the Korean fare. This place has a cute setting, clean, crisp and western atmosphere…read more Food is ok, but cannot say is amazing. The drinks were good. We had the Cloud 9 and Honey I strung the figs, both were quite unique and very good, surprisingly. What bugged me most was that the whole restaurant seemed to have only one waiter who takes orders. He was quite friendly and detailed in explaining.each and everything. But, that was exactly the problem. The waiter spent so much time on each table upfront. I got way impatient after a while waiting for him to come back to check on us. If we would have known better, we should have ordered and requested everything upfront. We did not expect him to have forgotten (or ignored) us for that long of time. In addition, I would have thought that the food, cooked and uncooked, would at least come out one after the other, at a steady pace. Well ok, they did come at a pace, but a very slow pace, very non-continuing. E.g the rice came out only when almost all meat was gone. So we never warmed up to the mood of having a satisfying meal as we have minimal on the table at any time to work on. Not quite satisfying as a dining meal experience. However, and however, If you want to come and take your time to chat and chat for the whole night, it might be the place. Have fun and enjoy your time with minimal interruption. No rush at all! I usually prefer good food first and then reasonably attentive service. So. I'd have to pass on this place. There are other better Korean fare for food out there.

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We went here for my birthday and had a nice booth for 6 of us. The service was fantastic and the…read morestaff was so nice. All the food we had was delicious. We really loved the Bibimbap in a clay pot, Chap Chae, beef bulgogi, the crunchy Tuna & Salmon rolls. They let us bring in our own cake and it was BYO which kept costs down. We will go back.

Take out order: Korean style pancake, SO DELICIOUS I couldn't get enough!! Miso soup was also…read morereally good, full of flavors and the bibimpap was a lot food and really delicious. I didn't like the mandu, had a weird flavor but my partner enjoyed that. I still can't get over the pancakes I didn't do the ordering so I can't say much about the service.

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Rented out a 3 hour karaoke session for work friends and the process was very seamless using the…read more"Open Table" app. I called a few days before just to confirm that the reservation for their largest room was still confirmed and there were no issues! The room that is meant to accommodate up to 25 people, in my opinion, feels small and would be able to accommodate COMFORTABLY 15. There were about 10 of us in the room and it felt nice and spacious but it was getting hot despite using their fan, so I couldn't imaging the room being filled with 25 total people. The food selection was awesome; we got Korean army base stew, fried chicken, corn cheese, fried rice, tteokboki, and a bunch more and it was all absolutely delicious! They have a great selection of pop songs as well. Afterwards, the server was able to help me itemize the receipt and separate the check so that it did not include alcohol purchased to ensure it was work appropriate; we greatly appreciated their help!

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3.9(100 reviews)

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From the best side dishes to the best atmosphere!!!

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Perilla korean steakhouse

4.2(192 reviews)

7.9 mi•The Loop

•$$$$

Locally owned & operated

Takes reservations

Had a wonderful business dinner here! The staff were extremely accommodating to our party of 6…read more Thank you to manager, Eric, for all his help. Great menu including cocktails and fun upscale KBBQ experience. A fun modern twist on a business "steak dinner".

Unfortunately, one of my worst dining experiences was in Chicago. Starting off, our food was…read moredelicious. I have nothing but praise for the kitchen team. For starters, we ordered the kimchi pork dumplings and grilled octopus, which both tasted great, but the kimchi flavoring did overpower everything. Our main course included the marinated short rib, wag rib eye, and a5 5 brisket which were all cooked to perfection by our server. However, my experience at Perilla Steakhouse was hands down frustrating. Upon arrival, things were off to a rough start when I could barely hear the server over the music. At times, I felt like our server was rushing us through our meal based on how much less attention he gave us versus the other tables. I'm not someone who needs my glass refilled every minute either to be clear, but things did feel off with how slow our meal was paced out and the general disinterest the server had in us. For reference, we arrived early to a nearly empty restaurant that hadn't started peak dining time yet. I recognize the steakhouse is an upscale, chic take on traditional Korean dishes and I admire the chef for sharing his culture with the city. I also understand restaurants are going to be more expensive, the closer you are located in relation to downtown. Even so, in comparison to other nearby high-end restaurants, the price to portion ratio for our meal felt off. For example, our $16 dumplings included 3 dumplings on a plate. Yes, there's an argument for inflation and the cost of quality ingredients, but I argue that at this price point we shouldn't have left hungry either.

Custom built-in table side grilling

Whipped Bone Marrow Set

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Bobijoa

4.3(66 reviews)

8.6 mi•Pilsen

Friendly spot that has quick service and delicious food- COMFORT. And come for the wings- sweet and…read morespicy are to DIE for. We love bobijoa!!!

rlly good kfc. small shop but quality food, would recommend! japchae is ‍ preferred it over the…read morejajangmyeon

Indoor seating

Tteokbokki Hotteok Bun Korean Fried Chicken Gimbap Roll Bobijoa Fries

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Jjajangmyeon

Chungkiwa Restaurant

4.7(530 reviews)

12.5 mi

I came here for the first time one Sunday afternoon in January. It was fairly busy as it was lunch…read moretime, but I was seated right away. I ordered the LA Kalbi. Like another reviewer mentioned, this was cooked and prepared (Mongolian style) in the kitchen. It came out on a sizzling skillet. It tasted delicious. The meat was really tender and juicy, but there were a couple of pieces with bone-in which I didn't really care for. I thought the side-dishes were really good. I completely finished the kimchi and pickled cucumbers. So good. I almost forgot about the miso soup. It was pretty standard (which is good) and hit the spot on a wintery day. Unexpectedly, for dessert, the server brought out a Haagan Daas ice-cream bar lol. I wasn't sure if this was normal or if it was just because I'm handsome? (found out later they do this for everyone... lol). I didn't really have room b/c I was full from the main dish and sides but ate it anyways (why not?). Overall I had a delicious meal. I can't remember the pricing off the top of my head, but I would say that it's reasonably priced. Oh, they also serve alcohol here too so if your looking for a spot for a group of people, that is an option. I personally had a large Cass to wash down my meal. Daebak!

This is a great spot for lunch. Authentic korean cuisine. Lunch specials. Friendly staff. Tasty…read moredishes. What else can you ask for?

Ice cream

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Parachute Hi Fi

4.4(41 reviews)

2.1 mi•Avondale

Run to Parachute HiFi! Chef Beverly Kim's recent appearance on America's Culinary Cup made me want…read moreto try her latest rendition of Parachute, Parachute HiFi. It's a more relaxed concept than the OG, serving Korean inspired bar food and inventive cocktails. While I liked the original Parachute, I am obsessed with Parachute HiFi. You must order the bing bread. It's what they are known for, and for good reason. It reminded me of a large doughy pizza roll, in the best way. I was also in love with the tapioca fritters with pepper jelly. The texture of the tapioca fritter was so unique and fun, and the pepper jelly was seriously out of this world. Bottle that stuff up and sell it! Whoever said the ttebokki pad Thai didn't taste like pad thai was wrong - it does and was a satisfying dish that I'd order again! I love twists on a classic and it was so smart to use rice cakes instead of the traditional noodles. The cocktails all sounded amazing, especially having names like pineapple upside down cake and black sesame. They got me intrigued for sure. Both cocktails were well balanced and enjoyable. Can't wait to return to try more from the menu (like that burger!)

My Chicago son (#3 of 4) and his fiancee were talking very complimentarily about this restaurant…read morecalled Parachute Hi Fi over in the Irving Park area of Chicago. They said it's basically a Korean restaurant with not much Korean food on the menu, but is really good. That immediately sparked my curiosity. I said let's go, it sounds interesting. We all met at 8:00 at Parachute that sorta, kinda sometimes takes reservations; and we did not have one. Not to fear, as the greeter-seater got us three stools at the bar, which by the way, were the best seats in the house. Parachutes menu was all over the place but my son particularly pointed out their hamburger, and I (then) knew why: Living in Los Angeles for a k-billion years, my favorite hamburger was at a restaurant called My Father's Office, owned by Sang Yoon, a Korean chef. His off-beat burgers were sensational! The burger here at Parachute were equally off-beat, so I immediately ordered it. Damn, was it delicious! There were so many things going on here that my head was buzzing, trying to put all these flavors together? And yes, their burger rivaled Chef Yoons burger in L.A.! The burger came cut in two with each side resting in mayo and BBQ sauce. Wow, was it bizarre, offbeat, unique, atypical and the adjectives keep on going; but the adverb used on the burger was - MESSY, and I loved it. I didn't need napkins to stay clean, I needed a beach towel. The fries I ordered were fantastic along with their banana based ketchup which again was strangely weird but excellent. My OB Korean beer paired perfectly with my "Perfect Storm" hamburger. My son and his fiancee went with a salad and Pad Thai Noodles with shrimp which was equally as delicious as my meal. Parachute Hi Fi was definitely an anomaly that I enjoyed very (very) much. And, yes, I'll be back!

Vibes

Brazilian tapioca and cheese bite

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Black Sesame Cookie cocktail

Del Seoul

4.3(2.5k reviews)

5.3 mi•Lincoln Park

food was SO good. we got the wings, the shrimp banh mi, the steamed dumplings, and some of the…read moretacos. I would reccomend everything. Will definitely be back.

4.5 stars in reality…read more Tried the vegan/vegetarian mushroom japchae. The portion size was gigantic, but the japchae itself consisted mostly of vegetables (carrots, onions, bokchoy, and of course mushrooms) so it was easy enough to finish the portion in one sitting. Despite its size, the dish was extremely light and flavourful and I had enough room for cheesecake at a neighbouring establishment. My friend ordered the pork bento box, and though I don't eat meat, the arrangement and plating of the food was a beautiful visual spectacle. We shared the spiced fries that came with a creamy aioli dip - the fries were perfectly spiced but perhaps not unique to this restaurant in terms of quality and flavour. There were many dishes on the menu that looked like they were veganizable, so I will definitely try them when I return. The ambience was unremarkable, though the restaurant was very clean. You need to order at the counter and the food is brought to your table. The servers were very polite. The food is on the pricier end in the context of a somewhat characterless ambience and the fact that you need to order at the counter. My friend and I travelled for nearly an hour to get to this restaurant, and were quite pleased on the whole. We will definitely be back, and I look forward to trying more vegan/vegetarian options!