Chicago is a vibrant city known for its diverse culinary scene. If you’re a fan of Korean cuisine, you’re in luck! Follow us and discover the best Korean restaurants in Chicago, offering mouthwatering dishes that satisfy your cravings. From crispy Korean fried chicken to traditional bibimbap and flavorful barbecued meats, these restaurants will surely delight your taste buds. Join us on this culinary journey and discover the hidden gems of Korean cuisine in the Windy City.
1. Crisp: A Heaven for Korean Fried Chicken
If you are a fan of fried chicken, Crisp is the place to be. This Korean restaurant is located in Chicago and serves the best Korean fried chicken in town. Crisp’s Seoul Sassy and Spicy BBQ wings are known for their crispiness, generous portions, and explosive flavours. The combination of sweet and spicy sauces perfectly complements the perfectly cooked jumbo wings. Additionally, the restaurant offers open seating, allowing you to immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere. However, if you prefer a more relaxed dining experience, you can order at the counter, then take out and enjoy your meal.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
Plain Jane; Whole Jumbo Wings; Seoul Sassy
- Per Capita: $5 – $10
- Address: 2940 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
- Business Hours: Open Tuesday – Sunday: 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
2. Chicago Kalbi: Authentic Korean Restaurant
For an authentic Korean dining experience, head to Chicago Kalbi Korean Restaurant. Indulge in their seafood pajun, a savoury pancake that will transport you straight to the streets of Korea. The Kalbi (barbecued beef short ribs) and bulgogi (marinated grilled beef) are perfectly cooked, offering various flavours. Don’t forget to try their traditional Korean alcoholic beverage, Bek-soju Baek-soju is a Korean glutinous rice-based fermented alcoholic beverage flavoured with a variety of herbs, ginseng most prominent among them, which also on the menu. , which pairs well with the delicious dishes. Whether you’ve traveled to South Korea or not, Chicago Kalbi Korean Restaurant will make you feel like you’re dining in the heart of Seoul.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
Mul – Nengmyun; Kimchi-chige; Pajun
- Per Capita: $50 – $100
- Address: 3752 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
- Business Hours: Open: 5:00 pm – Midnight (Last order 11:00 pm)
Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays
3. Ahjoomah's Apron: Vegetarian friendly
Ahjoomah’s Apron Korean Restaurant is a haven for both meat lovers and vegetarians. While their Boodae Chigae soup and Bibimbop are highly recommended, don’t miss out on the opportunity to try their Kimchi stew and homemade Kimchi. The explosion of flavours in each bite will leave you craving more. What sets this restaurant apart is its commitment to providing vegetarian-friendly options, making it an ideal choice for those with dietary preferences. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, Ahjoomah’s Apron Korean Restaurant is a must-visit for a memorable dining experience.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
Kalbi; Chicken Bulgogi; Ramyun Soon Tofu
- Per Capita: min $100
- Address: 218 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
- Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
LAST CALL 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO CLOSING TIME
4. Gogi: Hidden Gem for Korean Food Enthusiasts
Nestled in the heart of Chicago, Gogi is a hidden gem that will captivate your taste buds. Indulge in their signature dishes, such as Bibimbap, King Shrimp, Bulgogi, and Kimchi Fried Rice, which are all bursting with authentic Korean flavours. The Vegetable Pancake appetizer and the OB pilsner beer are also highly recommended. Gogi offers excellent food and service that will leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re a Korean food enthusiast or are trying it for the first time, Gogi promises an unforgettable dining experience.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
ASSORTED K-BBQ PORK SPECIAL(Pork Belly, Pork Jaw, Pork Neck)
- Per Capita: $50 – $100
- Address: 6240 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60659
- Business Hours: Open:4:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays
5. Amitabul: Vegan Heaven
Amitabul, a Korean vegan restaurant, has fantastic food with great flavours. Health comes through in each dish and drink. Amitabul is a Korean Buddhist saying meaning “The Awakening.” The environment is lively yet in an excellent, happy way. The walls are loaded with Buddhist art and sayings. Their table had a prayer for our meal, which was a nice touch. The food had a Korean touch and was delicious. There is not even honey as a sweetener since honey is also an animal product of the beautiful bees. The Kimchi Tofu Stir Noodle and chose rice noodles over whole wheat. It was pretty spicy but not heavy on garlic, like most kimchi.
The veggies were cooked properly, and the dish was excellent. Super Shitake Wonder Noodle Soup, was of superior quality, 12 Mandoo Vegan Dumplings was superb, especially with the addition of a light plum sauce. The service was outstanding. Amitabul is the best vegetarian restaurant I’ve ever eaten in. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
MAHA PYOGO; BUDDHA’S 3 LUCK; GREEN AND GREENER NIRVANA
- Per Capita: $50~$100
- Address: 6207 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60646
- Business Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 12:00pm – 9:00pm
6. Jin Ju: Korean Food Culinary
Jin Ju offers a delightful culinary adventure with its extensive menu and cozy ambiance. Start your meal with the mouthwatering daeji kalbi, a dish of barbecued pork spare ribs marinated in a spicy-sweet red pepper sauce. Follow it up with their kalbi, succulent beef short ribs marinated in a sweet soy sauce.
The pork belly appetizer was so well seasoned and delicious, and the spare ribs entree was fantastic! Also, the kimchee was super fresh-tasting and very good. The attentive service and reasonable prices make Jin Ju a favourite among locals and visitors. Don’t forget to try their signature cocktails, such as the refreshing lychee drink, to complement your meal.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
Daeji Kalbi; Sang Sun Jun; Kim Bap Te Gim
- Per Capita: $10~$30
- Address: 5203 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
- Business Hours: Tue, Wed, Thu and Sun, 5-9pm. Friday and Saturday 5-10pm
7. Cho Sun OK Restaurant: Tradition Korean Resaturant
Look no further than Cho Sun OK Restaurant for a taste of traditional home-style Korean cuisine. The Korean restaurant has been serving traditional, home-style Korean cuisine since 1980. Located in Chicago’s trendy Lincoln Square area, this ever-popular, authentic Korean restaurant has served classic, signature dishes for over 30 years. Look no further than this neighbourhood gem for a sumptuous experience to delight your palate. Chadol is thinly sliced beef, which is the best to cook on the table. Good portions and side dishes are plenty as well. Once the meat is cooked, fried rice is offered. Serve it with Nengmyeon, cold noodles. The only downside is that the place is getting too popular, so making a reservation in advance is recommended.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
Yeolmu Naeng Myeonn; I-myeon-su Gui; Galbi Gui
- Per Capita: $50~$100
- Address: 4200 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
- Business Hours:
Mon-Sat: 10:30am – 9:30pm
Last Call: 9pm
Sunday: 10:30am – 9:00pm
Last Call: 8:30pm
8. Del Seoul: Popular Korean Restaurant
Del Seoul on Clark St in the Linkoln Park area of Chicago. The Korean restaurant is not very big and often stays busy, but the service does a good job getting everyone taken care of. Del Seoul is a Korean BBQ fast-casual restaurant with inside and outside tables. They serve Korean Fusion street food, which you order at the counter, and bring your food to your table. They are very careful and must wait for the staff to assign seats. We had BBQ pork tacos, shrimp tempura tacos, short rib tacos, steamed dumplings, and Kim Chi. Some people may don’t like the steamed dumplings but it depends on personal tastes. The lollipop Chicken wings are one of the most popular dishes. We will order that next time. The bibimbop was my favourite, and it came with a ton of food. The tacos are also worth a try, especially the sesame chilli shrimp tacos and Kalbi tacos. Overall, customers could have a great meal and will come back whenever they are in the area.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
Kalbi Poutine; Kid’s BBQ Plate; Spicy Tofu Hotpot (Haemul Soontofu)
- Per Capita: $50~$100
- Address: 2568 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
- Business Hours:
MON-THURS 12PM-8:30PM
FRI-SAT 12PM-9:00PM
SUNDAY 12PM-8:30PM
9.BopNGrill: Korean BBQ Teaste
located at 6604 North Sheridan Road in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, near Loyola University, it is a Korean fast food restaurant that opened in 2009 that has caught the fancy of college students and other patrons. Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, it has turned kimchi into a household word. It is a traditional, slightly spicy Korean sauerkraut made from salted and fermented vegetables, usually napa cabbage, chicken radish and carrots, with garlic, ginger and Korean chilli added for flavour, as in Kimchi fries made from caramelized kimchi cooked with rendered port fat, cheese sauce, applewood smoked bacon, scallions and sesame seed truffle. The BBQ chicken rice place with marinated Korean BBQ chicken served with a side salad, dressing and sesame seeds with double meat, kimchi and fried egg are highly recommend. And the main event, the signature burger, the Duxelle burger, a custom blend of 100 percent fresh short rib, brisket and chuck Angus beef with Umani packed truffled mushrooms, duxelles, togarashi mayo, applewood smoked bacon and smoked Gouda. It doesn’t sound like peanut butter and jelly, but it tastes good.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
bulkogi beef; fire chicken; classic 2.0 cheeseburger; kimchi fries
- Per Capita: $50~$100
- Address: 6604 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626(LOYOLA)
- Business Hours: Mon – Wed 11 AM – 9 PMThurs – Sun 11 AM – 10 PM
10. Parachute: Korean Sea Food Enthusiasts
Some foodie friends recommended the Korean restaurant in Chicago. Don’t be discouraged by a location; once you get inside, you will love it. Great food, drinks and impeccable service, only minus – the wine-by-glass menu can be a bit more extensive. We recommend you order baked potato bing bread, tuna, and steak. It was five out of five, and the smoked mackerel dish was solid. The dessert was seasonal, as you can’t find it on the online menu. Every season, you can taste new desserts. Most guests will be back again.
Recommend Dishes and Business Hours
baked potato bing bread; tuna; steak
- Per Capita: per person $90
- Address: 3500 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
- Business Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 5-9 PM
Friday-Saturday: 5-10 PM
Sunday-Monday: CLOSED
Chicago offers a wide range of culinary experiences. Whether you are a fan of Korean fried chicken, barbecued meats, or vegetarian-friendly options, these restaurants have delicacies for everyone. From the authentic flavours of Chicago Kalbi Korean Restaurant to the vegan delights at Amitabul, each establishment offers a unique dining experience that will transport you to the heart of Korea. So, the next time you find yourself in Chicago, don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the city’s best Korean cuisine.
FAQ
A Koreatown, labeled “Seoul Drive”, exists along Lawrence Avenue between Kedzie Avenue and Pulaski Road.
1.Kimchi.
2.Bibimbap.
3.Red rice cakes (tteokbokki)
4.Bulgogi.
5.Korean stew (jjigae)
