Kokomo Korean - Evanston

I don't believe LTH has a dedicated thread for this restaurant, so I will post here. I enjoyed the lunch we had. I thought 2 of the dishes were outstanding - (1)Hot Stone Bibimbop and (2)Seafood Pancake and 2 of our dishes were good, but unmemorable - (3)Hot and Spicy chicken wings and (4)Vegetable fried dumplings.

1639 Orrington Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 425-0045

I've been here a few times and found it merely OK. The tonkatsu is comically large and good for a few bites, but after a while the sauce (mostly sugar and starch) begins to congeal and the whole thing becomes stodgy and boring. The panchan are likewise nondescript.

They have a lunch buffet, which although fairly lackluster is unusual for a Korean place; for one thing, there's a make-your-own bibimbap station. Combining that with some kimbap and/or soup makes for a reasonable lunch.

I'd be interested in trying the dolsot bibimbap.

It was a good lunch.

Highlights:
Good variety of seafood, including only slightly chewy octopus.

An excellent version, served on top of the heating elements built into the table. Inexplicably, the Gochujang sauce was served from a repurposed mustard container.

Wings were competent, but didn't reach the levels of Chicago's best.

Dumplings were generously plump, but a bit on the bland side. Not as much banchan as some of us are used to at other Korean joints.

Overall, a very good Korean restaurant, a few high points, a few items that were just good. Worth checking out if you're in Evanston with an itch for Korean food.

Not that it’s really that important but does anybody know why the “Kokomo” in the name? Asking as a former Kokomo, Indiana resident many years ago.

I asked the owner the same thing and he showed me the results of their brainstorming session:

Thank you, cilantro!

I live to serve, Rick.

By the way, the dolsot bibimbap was good, although in fairness it’s hard to screw up dolsot bibimbap. The meat was rather overcooked, but I still think if I end up here again this is what I’ll order. The panchan never seems to change and is pretty unexciting, although I do like their kimchi.