koreatown?

I am fairly new to Chicago and have passed the sign that says Koreatown many times on the expressway... My husband and I are curious and have tried out the korean corridor outside of DC. Anyone have any good recommendations of places and what to order? (We have been to the Korean place in Hyde Park and liked it and have been to Sura in Wicker Park and were less than thrilled...)

I have lived in Chicago for thirty-seven years and I too have wondered about that sign on the Kennedy. Is there a place generally recognized as "Koreatown"? If so, where? Or is that sign essentially bought and paid for by the Chicago Korean Chamber of Commerce, assuming there is such an organization (and it's a safe bet there is, by some name or other)?

Korean Town is considered the stretch of Lawrence Ave between Pulaski and the river.

Thanks, JL. Two questions. 1) Is it "Korean Town," as you have it, or "Koreatown," as the sign on the Kennedy has it? And 2), Who considers that stretch of Lawrence to be "Koreatown/Korean Town"? I do see that a search on "Koreatown" turns up some results here, so I guess I'm out of it in not knowing there was such a place. But is the term widely known among Chicagoans? And, I guess, a third question: 3), Are there a whole slew of Korean restaurants along that stretch, equivalent in concentration to Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, and that's the reason for the name? Or is the existence of something called "Koreatown" more a case of wishful thinking on the part of the Korean-Chicago Chamber of Commerce (or whatever it's called)?

Places to look on the forum for Korean (not an exhaustive list:)

Suburbs:Kim's Korean
H-Mart Niles
H-Mart Naperville

Chicago:
San Soo Gab San
Hai Woon Dae
Korean Garden Buffet
Kang Nam Galbi

A list of places from the Kang Nam thread by GWiv:

Kang Nam Galbi
4849 N. Kedzie
Chicago, Il
(773) 539-2524
Live Coals

Hai Woon Dae
6240 N. California
Chicago, IL 60659
773-764-8018
Live Coals

San Soo Gap San
5247 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL
773-334-1589
Love Coals

Woo Chon,
5744 N California Ave.
Chicago, IL
(773) 728-8001
Live coals

Solga
5828 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL
773-728-0802
Gas w/live coals

Useful list, MHays. But parenthetically, I notice that only one place on it (Kang Nam Galbi) is in Koreatown as defined by JLenart. So, does that stretch of Lawrence from Pulaski to the river actually have more Korean restaurants (or more good Korean restaurants) than other places, or is the name a misnomer?

riddlemay wrote:Thanks, JL. Two questions. 1) Is it "Korean Town," as you have it, or "Koreatown," as the sign on the Kennedy has it? And 2), Who considers that stretch of Lawrence to be "Koreatown/Korean Town"? I do see that a search on "Koreatown" turns up some results here, so I guess I'm out of it in not knowing there was such a place. But is the term widely known among Chicagoans? And, I guess, a third question: 3), Are there a whole slew of Korean restaurants along that stretch, equivalent in concentration to Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, and that's the reason for the name? Or is the existence of something called "Koreatown" more a case of wishful thinking on the part of the Korean-Chicago Chamber of Commerce (or whatever it's called)?

For info on the above (including "Koreatown"), see:

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory. ... s/694.html

riddlemay wrote:Who considers that stretch of Lawrence to be "Koreatown/Korean Town"? I do see that a search on "Koreatown" turns up some results here, so I guess I'm out of it in not knowing there was such a place. But is the term widely known among Chicagoans?

This may not answer your question completely, but that stretch of Lawrence was honorarily christened "Seoul Dr" by the city a number of years ago. And no, I don't think the density of Korean places is anywhere close to the Chinese you'll find on Wentworth, Cermak or Archer. In fact, the designation is a little curious since it is such a vibrantly multi-cultural stretch, with prominent Latin American and Middle Eastern businesses all along the stretch.

From what I was told by Koreans who have been around Chicago and midwest area (who come to Chicago often for their Korean supplies), Lawrence Ave's Korean concenration has greatly diminished (and spread out) compare to just a decase to two or so ago. I'm guess the Koreatown sign was put up back then, and by now, that sign is as useful as the cubs parking sign on Kennedy.

but what about that stretch of Bryn Mawr just east of Pulaski, that certainly has a concentration of Korean businesses on it (that's where the tofu place is) and isn't that where they hold the Korean Street Fair every summer?

bjt

bjt wrote:but what about that stretch of Bryn Mawr just east of Pulaski, that certainly has a concentration of Korean businesses on it (that's where the tofu place is) and isn't that where they hold the Korean Street Fair every summer?

That would confirm, rather than refute, fenger's statement--namely, that "Koreatown" is not on Lawrence anymore, and therefore exists only nominally. (Unless we want to make Bryn Mawr east of Pulaski the new Koreatown, in which case the sign on the Kennedy needs to be moved a few miles.)

Fenger's hypothesis that the Koreatown sign once made sense, but ceased to make sense about twenty years ago only nobody told IDOT, clears up the mystery for me.