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Korean food in Chicago?

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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 11:40 AM
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Default Korean food in Chicago?

OK, so the past few trips to Chicago included 2 failed attempts to find a decent Korean restaurant. There are 2 kinds I'm looking for: Korean BBQ (must have a killer pork/chicken lineup since I don't eat beef), and Korean style hot & spicy tofu (Sundubu jjigae).

Any suggestions? I'm more particular to the tofu places than anything else, having been spoiled by no less than SIX different (but all awesome) tofu places in Irvine.
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Old Mar 25, 2007 | 07:24 PM
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For the soondubu, I'd have to say San Soo Gap San. It's at 5247 N Western Avenue, between Berwyn Ave & Farragut Ave. Food is great, they hook you up with the banchan, and it's open super late (til 5am?). I love to stop by here after a night of drinking, and have the jigae to calm down the tummy. Service isn't the greatest, or rather it's hit or miss, but since you've been to Korean restaurants before, you should be ok. Also, parking in their tiny lot can be a pain, but the food is worth it IMHO.

Korean BBQ without beef?! Blasphemy!
I'm not sure if I can help you there. Whenever I go out for kalbi or bulgogi, I never look for pork or chicken. My favorite spot is Song Do, on Lincoln Ave, between Foster Ave and Western Ave. But again, I only eat the beef, so while I can't say anything about their pork or chicken, their bulgogi is, IMHO, one of the best here.

One thing to note is that I haven't been to my favorite spots in a while, cause I'm just not in the neighborhood much. So assuming not a lot has changed, I think these are good places to start.
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 06:40 AM
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Check out http://lthforum.com/bb/index.php

They have everything you would want to know with pictures of many places.
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 12:00 PM
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the closest thing to the BCD tofu houses in LA is : Cho Dang soondooboo, but that's really in the burbs.

lthforum is indeed great, but there's much slanted few on K-food discussion with Hae Woon Dae, SSGS, Kang Nam as frequent mentions.

Solga is a very popular place w/ the local K-gals cuz it's clean, nice and pricey.

Songdo is ok for a buffet but... quality suffers at cost, obviously.

i personally stopped eating KBBQ in the city cuz the NW burbies have far superior offerings w/ Kim's Korean BBQ on Algonquin being my current fave and New Seoul not far behind. tcho82 and rustywave can both confirm how kick ARSE the sam gyup ssal was at Kim's. this place is pork heaven as they also have the sliced pork hock, etc.

enjoy.
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Old Mar 26, 2007 | 05:48 PM
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I agree with DV8. San Soo Gab San is excellent and it's open 24/7.

Get the dishes below
*Galbi (Beef)
*Boo Go Gi (Beef)
*Chop Chae (Glass Noodles in Vege)
*Mondu (Pork Potstickers)
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Old Mar 27, 2007 | 06:38 AM
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SSGS isn't open 24/7. the sign says they're open 24/7 but... i've been there at 4:30am and promptly got booted out.

the best thing about SSGS is the plethora of panchan. still unrivaled in this town in terms of quality/quantity. otherwise, there are really better offerings everywhere.
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Old Mar 30, 2007 | 04:47 AM
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For Korean BBQ buffet in chicago, my Korean buddy introduced me to Garden Buffet at 5347 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60625. I give this place 2 thumbs up!
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Old Apr 1, 2007 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by MAmorn,Mar 30 2007, 06:47 AM
For Korean BBQ buffet in chicago, my Korean buddy introduced me to Garden Buffet at 5347 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60625. I give this place 2 thumbs up!



San Soo Gap San
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Old Apr 1, 2007 | 08:21 PM
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Garden was so so for me Solga better
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Old Apr 2, 2007 | 07:58 AM
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^ htf do u compare the best bargain korean bbq against the "fanciest" korean restaurant in town?
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