Korean Restaurants Chicago

[Margo]

My sister-in-law and her partner are headed to Chicago next weekend to celebrate her birthday. She's especially interested to try Korean food--and while I've lived in Chicago and remember there was a street with a plethora of Korean restaurants, it was so long ago as to be useless. Like I don't even remember the street name.

Feel free to point me to the thread if this has been discussed. And thanks!

(And this is off-topic, so you can PM me: is Andersonville still girls' town? And is there a decent hotel in the area?)

[ronnie_suburban]

IMO, the 2 best Korean places in town are Hae Woon Dae and San Soo Gab San, both of which use live charcoal, not gas, for their tabletop bbq. Panchan, soups and non-bbq dishes are also outstanding at both places.

FWIW, I believe the street you're thinking of is Lincoln Ave, which is home to many Korean joints.

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Hai Woon Dae

6240 N California Ave

Chicago, IL 60659

773 764-8018

San Soo Gab San

5247 N Western Ave

Chicago, IL 60625

773 334-1589

[Bret Beall]

First, the restaurants:

Drive along Lawrence. Many Korean spots along there, and everyone you ask will have a different opinion regarding which one is best.

Secondly, a hotel:

Heart O'Chicago is very basic, but affordable. I have not been there personally, but drive by it often, and have seen many people on many different board recommend it, plus it is just north of Andersonville:

http://www.heartochicago.com/

Thirdly, Andersonville is still in some ways "Girls' Town," but it is rapidly becoming "Boys' Town North." Great vibe, great people, great "scene."

Have fun!

Bret

[ronnie_suburban]

First, the restaurants:

Drive along Lawrence.  Many Korean spots along there, and everyone you ask will have a different opinion regarding which one is best.

Secondly, a hotel:

Heart O'Chicago is very basic, but affordable.  I have not been there personally, but drive by it often, and have seen many people on many different board recommend it, plus it is just north of Andersonville:

http://www.heartochicago.com/

Thirdly, Andersonville is still in some ways "Girls' Town," but it is rapidly becoming "Boys' Town North."  Great vibe, great people, great "scene."

Have fun!

Bret

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Lawrence is a great culinary street, not just for Korean but also for middle-eastern, Chinese, Cuban, Mexican, pizza, etc. I highly recommend it.

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[Margo]

Lawrence, right. Where's the wistful sigh emoticon?

I'll point them to these recs, and any others forthcoming. I'll try to get a report back.

Thanks so much!

[mind bender]

I would like to throw Solga in the hat as a recommendation. My korean friends brought me there and i was the only caucasian in the place. it is a bit nicer than most and i find that there cuts of meat generally come to the table looking better than san soo or others than i have been to. Not to say that i do not enjoy the others (san soo is great at 3 in the morning) also Solga is byo and there is nothing better than austrian gruner veltliner or austrian riesling with korean.

[nr706]

As Ron mentioned, I'm a huge fan of Hae Woon Dae. It's a bit smaller than San Soo Gab San, and maybe a bit less discovered - so on weeknights, it's not uncommon to be able to get a private room. Meats are great, panchan is vast, and service is friendly. (And I'm not in the least bit biased because they have my picture - along with many others - on the bulletin board as you walk in.)

[ronnie_suburban]

I would like to throw Solga in the hat as a recommendation. My korean friends brought me there and i was the only caucasian in the place. it is a bit nicer than most and i find that there cuts of meat generally come to the table looking better than san soo or others than i have been to. Not to say that i do not enjoy the others (san soo is great at 3 in the morning) also Solga is byo and there is nothing better than austrian gruner veltliner or austrian riesling with korean.

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Yes, Solga is another excellent choice, IMO.

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