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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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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I've had this restaurant bookmarked for quite a while and finally met up with a friend to try it out! No doubt, they specialize in two chicken soups that are listed at the very top of their menu, and we knew we had to try it. Personally, I've never had it before so I was ready to try something new. I love Korean food in general, but had not had something like this! We received our banchan after our meals came out and really enjoyed everything. I do understand that the soup itself can taste a little bland/lacking in flavor, but mind you they give you little bowls of salt to add. Also, there is rice inside the chicken, so make sure to open that bad boy up and get the rice into the broth. Mmmmm. I felt really healthy and not overly bloated after eating this food which was a nice feeling. On a Tuesday night there were a steady amount of people dining here, but it was horribly packed or anything. They also have a small parking lot on the backside by the alleyway as well which is convenient for those who drive. I'll definitely be back! read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time trying this place after passing by for the last few decades. Got the beef soup, there was maybe one of two slivers of beef in it. The soup was ok, the sides were ok but I was very disappointed in the 1oz of meat that was put in my dish. Well, I finally gave them a try, for the first and last time. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fast service. Appetizers came out really quick. Very attentive and milkshakes came out fast. read more

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this place has some amazing yukgaejang !! i liked that there was an option to make it mild or spicy. i was able to ask for it to be extra, extra spicy. & they listened. the service was kind and she gave us nice tea that was very yummy. they did not give us any water though. more korean restaurants give you a little jug of water to help yourself throughout your meal, but we never got one. when we asked for water she asked how many (we were a party of 3). just bring it out for all of us? they ended up being little glasses and we had to ask for refills. this is just me complaining about something small, but most places have the jugs so it was a little odd. the location doesn't seem to be in the nicest of areas, but the ambiance inside is cute and warm feeling. I would definitely be back! read more

Ssyal - Yukgae Jang - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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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

Best Korean specialty food, period We ordered Samkyetang and seafood pajun ( korean pancake). They were so yummy and the pajun was extra crunch. read more

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

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A fellow elite yelper and I came here on a Tuesday night for their famed Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and it totally lived up to its hype! If you've never had samgyetang before, it's a chicken soup where a whole chicken stuffed with glutenous rice is cooked in a simple broth with ginseng, ginger, garlic and jujube. It's as comforting as its American counterpart but if you eat it expecting salty soup like chicken noodle soup, you might find it bland. Think of it more like a health food that's meant to reinvigorate you on the hottest days of the summer. Yes, that's right, it's a summer food! (We Asians like eating hot or spicy foods in the summer to combat the summer heat!) Ssyal's samgyetang was so wholesome and nourishing, I literally devoured the whole thing and my soul couldn't have been happier! Also, don't snooze on their banchan; the flavorful little side dishes were perfect to eat with the simpler samgyetang. I personally didn't think the soup was bland, but if you're a sodium fiend who always needs more NaCl, worry not bc they give you a little bowl of salt along with the bowl of soup. I'll definitely be back for more when my soul needs recharging! :) read more

Ssyal - Ssyal Samgye Tang and Spicy Rice Cake (Tteokbokki) - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food Great service Super authentic and accessible You can't get this anywhere in Chicagoland! read more

Ssyal - Chicken soup and Spicy beef soup.. absolutely delicious Great service Great people We come monthly all the way from Naperville!! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was perfect for a cold winter day. Staff was very nice and hospitable. Best Korean food I've had in Chicago.

First time in Chicago. Delicious food, great service, and definitely recommend getting the Cha-O-Reum Samgye Tang, steamed egg, and the Spicy Chicken Galbi. Will come back here when I'm visiting Chicago again :)! read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food! We went and got the spicy squid, premium ginseng soup, spicy beef broth soup, seafood pancake, bulgogi soup, mandu, and spicy rice cake with blackberry wine and the ginseng milkshake. The soups were the highlight!! The premium ginseng soup hits the spot on a cold winter day! Thick, clear broth with great chicken and herb flavor. It requires self seasoning (like most traditional Korean ginseng soup) and there is pepper and salt available to your liking. The spicy beef broth soup was amazing!! The beaten egg and veggies inside along with the tender beef were delicious. The spicy red level was also just right. The bulgogi soup was not my favorite as it was a little too sweet, but classic for this dish. It includes lots of veggies and potato starch noodle. The spicy rice cake and mandu were very good as well. The mandu seemed homemade and was evenly crisped all around. Interestingly the seafood pancake seemed to be made with like a tempura batter making it very light, airy than other pancakes I've had before. The ginseng milkshake was light and refreshing surprisingly while still maintaining a light ginseng flavor. The blackberry wine had a vinegar like tang to it but was enjoyable with the meal. Minus one star due to service. This was a busy night so they forgot/messed up some of our orders BUT they were SUPER NICE and comped their mistake. The table next to us had their soup accidentally given to us and were very snarky about us "having bad etiquette" for eating the soup without informing the workers (we ordered spicy beef soup and were confused at getting a non-spicy beef soup but we just decided to eat it and not mention it since we already tasted it by then-- we only realized the mistake after they handed us spicy soup and whereby they said no worries it was comped) and picked a fight. The workers didn't involve themselves. The encounter left a slight black smear to the end of the night, though the business can't help what customers they have. All in all a nice traditional Korean soup and dining place! read more

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Decent food that's tasty. Very slow server since they have limited people working. It would be if they hire more people so I can tip them better. Each tip is based on the service provided and so everyone needs to adjust accordingly. I would go visit during off busy hours or order before coming.. Just didn't like the service as you can see. It was a long wait before they took out order and there was only 4 groups of people with one order taker. I am not sure if the theme since they are focused on ginseng wine. Don't they have samples or a discount on the first drink to try this out. Pricing seems higher than expected. We will pay another visit on days and times that they aren't busy. Parking is in the back although we were lucky to find street parking. read more

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Fantastic, authentic Korean food. We couldn't believe there weren't places in Chicago that do kalguksoo, and then were so happy when we found this place. Their kalguksoo, samgyetang, and dakdolitang are fantastic. We will definitely be regulars at this place from here on out. (I can't believe someone complained about service staff not being enthusiastic about helping to take a picture. Read the room a bit. These types of places are run by family members that are always short staffed and very busy.) read more

Great food, great drinks, great environment, wonderful service. One of my favorite places to go on special occasions !!! read more

Ssyal - Galbi! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Waited more than an hour for a meal ordered an hour before. Made a bunch of to go for people that are not even there yet. And 30 mins later...i got home and got completely the wrong order!!!! read more

I was looking forward to trying out this spot as I heard some good things about here. It was pretty steady when my friend and I went, so when we went, service was a little slow. Ssyal Samgye Tang - my friend got this and described it as feeling comforted as eating it. The chicken meat was falling off the bone. My friend had added in all the salt that she was given. I tried some and it was okay. Naengmyeon - I had a taste for this for a while week before I was able to find it and order it. It honestly didn't really satisfy my craving which was kind of disappointing. read more

Ssyal - Naengmyeon - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This where I go when I need comfort food. The food always tastes amazing and the customer service is excellent. The portion is huge and reasonable for the price! We come here atleast once a week! Give it a try if you have not been here! read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Authentic food with wonderful flavors for everyone. We had kids on our party and they tried and loved everything. The owners are very helpful in helping us choose the food, and it was the perfect amount for all of us. We've been on a weekend and a weekday, and there has always been a happy crowd. read more

We ordered their Samgye Tang, Galbi and Toon Tofu Stew! Love their beer, soju and mango smoothie! Everything was on point and super delicious! Auntie took care of us so well! read more

Ssyal - We ordered their Samgye Tang, Galbi and Toon Tofu Stew! Everything was on point and super delicious! Auntie took care of us so well! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Clean place, and tasty food! Can't compare to those I had in Korea but the ginseng soup did bring back the travel memory. Totally fit the Fall weather! Hubby loved the spicy chicken stew he had, and he doesn't even like chicken! I told him to keep the sauce so I can use it for marinate :p read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Take out for first time here tonight. Yum. So good. So much flavor. Spicy Rice Cakes -- a little kick. Dakdori Tang -- Chicken so tender. Great stew. Galbi - Good beef. Menu looks like lots more to choose for next time. read more

I'm leaving this review because I really wanted Korean food and wanted to order here, but realized they were closed on Sundays and I got SO SAD. Honestly I'm happy the people here take Sundays off, because it's a well deserved day off. You can really taste the love in this food. If you're debating coming here do yourself a favor and just go. Absolutely wonderful quality and service. read more

Food is ok but not as good as I expected based on the reviews. But when I asked the waitress to help take a pic for our party, she rolled her eyes and showed impatience. Not a great experience! read more

Food was really good especially the Yuk Gae Jang (10/10). Everything was seasoned perfectly and the portion is very generous. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

9.2/10 Probably one of the few Korean restaurants in the city worthy of samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). The quality of the food lives up to its hype. For a hefty price of $20, you can get a rich bowl of chicken broth with a whole chicken to keep you warm during winter. The appetizer was a seafood pancake that opened up my appetite. This time, I got a simple soft tofu soup I'm medium spicy. Included were a rich broth, assorted seafood, and a poached egg. read more

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I love ssyal for both their dolsot bibimbap and samgyetang. The ginseng milkshakes are also awesome. I have been coming here for years for lunch and the atmosphere is always very chill. Highly recommend :) read more

Ssyal - Dolsot bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered delivery from DD- We got Japchae, Royal Rice Cake, and Spicy Pork Bulgogi. Great quality.. The japchae and rice cake dishes were light and meat was generous. My bf thought the dishes weren't seasoned enough, and while I understand what he means, I was fine with that. I appreciated nothing was over salted or greasy. The mixed black rice was a little hard though (stale, previously refrigerated/leftover?) Who knows, but the free side dishes made up for it! If I ever have the opportunity to dine in, I'd love to try Ginseng Chicken Soup and Neul Chan Jjim Dak, among others! read more

Ssyal - Japchae, Royal Rice Cake (Royal Tteokbokki), Spicy Pork Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Clean and friendly host! Very yummy with hot tea! They are Fast with food and good vibes read more

Ssyal - Galbi and Spicy pork. Delicious!!!!! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

HIDDEN GEM! Food is AMAZING and authentic. The ambiance is nice. And the staff are very accommodating! I will definitely come back here. read more

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The only good dish from this place is the spicy pork bulgogi. Everything else we've ordered has been disappointing. People working there are also combative and not customer-centric, so I'd suggest going to another Korean spot if it's your first time trying Korean food and/or like your food to have flavor. read more

We stumbled upon this cozy restaurant during winter. The Yugae jang is so tasty and just the right food for a cold night. read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My go to restaurant in Chitown for Korean food! Great food and service. And best ginseng chicken soup read more

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After driving past this restaurant for the last two years, we finally reserved a spot for eat-in on a Friday night. Ssyal has received a Michelin star for their authentic Korean food. Noticed that many people were ordering out instead of dining in at this time. Lots of to-go orders. Anyway, food was impeccable. The rice cakes are a must try! read more

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Amazing food!! Everything was super delicious and great price for the amount. Highly recommend read more

Ssyal - Galbi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the best korean restaurants in the Chicagoland area! Highly recommend their soups and stews on cold days! read more

Ssyal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very tasty verrrry veryyyyyyyyy goooooooooood You should try!!!!!!!!!! For recovery read more

Ssyal - Very tasty! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best samgaetang I've had! Ssyal is my go-to for Korean comfort food. Definitely give it a try! read more

Ssyal - Best samgaetang I've had! My go-to restaurant for Korean comfort food. - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois