Korean Restaurants
 

By demand, here goes a short list of places to go if you are in the mood for Korean style beef ribs.

Garden Buffet
5347 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago (strip mall)
773-728-1249
You cook your own meat that you choose at the food counter. You want to grab the meat that is wrapped around the bone "kalbi". They have many other things to try. Very big place.

Solliphana
243 W. Golf Rd. Schaumburg
847-519-1717
Once again, you want to order Korean barbeque "kalbi"

HaeUnDae Kalbi
6240 N. California Chicago
773-764-8018
Once again, you want to order Korean barbeque "kalbi"

KangNam Kalbi
4849 N. Kedzie Ave. Chicago
773-539-2524
Once again, you want to order Korean barbeque "kalbi"

Chicago Kalbi
3752 W. Lawrence Ave Chicago
773-604-8183
Once again, you want to order Korean barbeque "kalbi"

Gobawoo
2660 Golf Rd. Glenview
847-729-2505
Once again, you want to order Korean barbeque "kalbi"

I tried to pick some places all around Chicago. There are no places downtown that I know of. The one that I do remember WooLaeUk moved to the suburbs. You may run across something called "Kimchi" at these restaurants. This is fermented pickeled cabbage. ?????? you may think. There is a love hate relationship with Kimchi. You either love it or hate it. There is no in between. All I can say is try it. It is like a condiment in Korea. It has a very unique smell and is a little spicy. Make sure you cook the meat long enough in your haste to eat.

Good Luck!
Any questions or comments, mail me.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

One of my saddest days in Chicago was when I walked up to the old Sam Mee restaurant (right under the El tracks at Clark and Roscoe) and saw that it had closed. I had cooked my on bulgogi there more times than I can count. I got to know the owner's daughter and other folks there. Eventually, the rent got too high so they had to move out. It's now a parking lot for the bar next door. A very sad day.

But with these suggestions, I will get back on the saddle. Thanks again.

---------------
ChicagoBound - formerly PremEx2000 (wrong year, wrong status!)

I agree about Sam Mee, while it's not my favorite Korean restaurant, it was convenient. The loss of this place (and Woo lae Uk) leaves the entire Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Old Town and Gold Coast areas without a Korean restaurant (unless I'm missing one, which I hope is the case!)

Have you been to this place?

ChoSunOK
4200 N Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618-2902
Phone: (773) 549-5555

Smallish place, not too good service, but I found the food very good. They have burners on the tables.

Yse I have been to Chosonok. Yes the food is good. The reason I didn't mention it is that I thought it would be a bit uncomfortable for non-Korean speaking people.
There are many many places like this. I go there a couple times a year.

Yes, I was the only white customer there when I visited. My companion was Chinese. Neither of us speaks Korean except for a couple of phrases. But I think it is just a good experience to feel like a foreigner at times http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...orum/smile.gif

The optimal experience would be to go with a local if at all possible. This might get you a little better service. Korean restaurants don't mind you yelling (not too loud) for something that you want. Without knowing this, you would think that all Korean diners were rude. Kimchee rules!

Quick question on the braziers in use. Does anyone still use real coal? The Korean BBQ place in Newark, DE used to have coal as the heat source, now it is sadly a propane type affair.

G

I know, Worng state, but I'm curious if any of these places are truly authentic.

G

This place in Des Plaines, near ORD did:
http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...ML/000016.html

Actually, quite a few places use Korean charcoal which they continually replace throughout your dinner. Using charcoal definitely does taste better.

I ate at Boo Il on Bryn Mawr last night, and they used real coal. I would reccomend this place, as it was nearly as good as my favorite Korean joint ... New Seoul Garden in Southfield, MI. Our service was excellent ... the waitress actually ran back to the kitchen each time she came to our table!

BOO IL RESTAURANT
(773)588-3112
3346 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60659




[This message has been edited by UA835 (edited 03-25-2003).]

FYI, for those who are interested in Korean food, there is a Flyertalk get together at a Korean restaurant in the Chicago area coming up on Thursday night May 15th.

All are welcome.

The thread to reply if you are coming is in the Flyertalk Community Forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/003282.html

see you there!

Sam Mee Korean
 

The loss of that restaurant was very sad... I miss the Dol Sot Bibimbap... the mandu guk and the pan chan... I wonder what happened to Myung...???? if anyone knows, please tell her to reply to my post... i lost touch with her and she was a good friend....:confused:

Myung was great. I saw her riding the El one time a few years back. I think she said she was studying at the Art Institute. I'm still sad about Sam Mee and it's been, what, six years.

I'll have to try some of the other places listed. Thanks for bumping this post. My mouth is again watering.