Korean Restaurants

I am new to Korean cuisine. I am looking for a good Korean restaurant that would be a good introduction. I would appreciate recommendations. Also, can you recommend a Korean Buffet that might provide a variety of foods to taste? Thank you

Welcome!

This thread on Korean BBQ is a good place to look, complete with pictures and great descriptions.

My two personal favorites are Hae Woon Dae and San Soo Gap San. I don't know anything about Korean buffets, but don't worry--at a Korean BBQ, you'll get plenty of food to sample--just take a group of at least four. You'll also be treated to a wide variety of panchan, little side dishes that accompany Korean meals. I've never counted, but you must get something in the range of a dozen or more different side dishes with any order at either of these places.

Hae Woon Dae
6240 N. California
Chicago, IL. 60659
(773) 764-8018

San Soo Gap San
5247 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 334-1589

My first experience was at Korean Garden Buffet, which is both a BBQ and a buffet (one side is entirely raw ingredients to be cooked at your table) I think it's a gentle beginning - though our first time we had a lovely bilingual server who was happy to help us figure it out - subsequently, when we took our families, though everyone was lovely, nobody spoke English - I'm guessing that this is a possibility no matter where you go. There's a lot of help on the 'net, as well; it's good to have a primer - I found this to be helpful.

My 7-year-old just made a list of his favorite foods, and "Korean" was at the top, followed by Japanese, Chinese, mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, and pesto pasta. Korean Garden was his first experience, too.

(We also shop and eat at H-Martquite often; it's a completely different thing, but fun as well)

Mhays wrote:My first experience was at Korean Garden Buffet, which is both a BBQ and a buffet (one side is entirely raw ingredients to be cooked at your table) I think it's a gentle beginning . . .

Unfortunately, Garden Buffet is now closed.

Noooooo.....

Thanks, it would have really been a bummer if we'd gone in search of BBQ. Too bad; I'd guess we'd do fine at another place, but it really was a nice intro.

gcappo1 wrote:I am new to Korean cuisine. I am looking for a good Korean restaurant that would be a good introduction.

Gcappo,

In addition to the numerous Korean restaurants discussed on LTHForum, the Reader's recent lineup of Korean restaurants, which can be found here, led by Mike Sula's piece on Chodang Tofu Village, is an excellent place to start.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote: the Reader's recent lineup of Korean restaurants, which can be found here, led by Mike Sula's piece on Chodang Tofu Village, is an excellent place to start.

The Reader's piece was great, and it's garnered the interest of a friend of mine, who was thrilled to see sul lung tang offered at Han Bat. Is anyone familiar with this soup? I've never had it before, and I'm wondering whether Han Bat's is a good example, and whether it can be found in other Korean restaurants here in Chicago.

GardenofEatin wrote:I've never had it before, and I'm wondering whether Han Bat's is a good example, and whether it can be found in other Korean restaurants here in Chicago.

Garden,

Han Bat is the only place I've had sul lung tang though friends who are more familiar with the soup say Han Bat's is a good example. I've only been 3-4 times, I tend to view sul lung tang as more of a restorative than a regular meal option, but occasionally find myself craving the neutral, yet elementally rich from long simmered bone marrow, broth.

I have a few pictures of Han Bat up, though they are from October 2002 and predate LTHForum.

Far as other restaurants serving Sol Lung Tang, I'm 90% certain San Soo Gap San does, as I sure do other Korean restaurants, though it's not a menu item I tend to notice.

Enjoy,
Gary

Han Bat Restaurant
2723 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
773-271-8640

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

G Wiv wrote:I have a few pictures of Han Bat up, though they are from October 2002 and predate LTHForum.

Far as other restaurants serving Sol Lung Tang, I'm 90% certain San Soo Gap San does, as I sure do other Korean restaurants, though it's not a menu item I tend to notice.

Thanks, Gary--the pictures were intriguing. I'll have to keep an eye out for it next time I'm at SSGS.