Light House Korean (Deung Dae) - North Park

I'm not sure this (almost literal) hole-in-the-wall is on the radar, but after two visits I think it merits a qualified mention. The very limited "for two" menu features gas-at-table barbecue and soups, accompanied by few but mighty panchan. There is a fish bar (exterior sign says Light House Fish, though Korean name/category online indicates great meat) which I have yet to see staffed or stocked, with a counter that looks like it dates from about 1907, and a $0.25 coffee vending machine. The owners are drolly charming. The above spicy barbecue pork belly was absolutely delicious, packed with fresh hot peppers and high quality cuts of meat, but is not a great deal at $25 out the door (is there any cuisine more punishing to solo diners than Korean?).

This is more of a zapiekanka / buldak / after-drinks kind of place vs. a take-a-date-for-dinner spot, but the cooking and ingredients seem good to me, and there is love for it elsewhere online; good to have for the North Side rehearsal Rolodex.

Light House
5542 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 539-9055
open late

Thanks for starting this Santander. Having gone to high school across the street I've been curious since hearing of its existence about a year ago.

I empathize with frustration with Korean options as a solo diner because of tilt towards large shared portions, especially because free refilled banchan is an uncapitalized upside that the solo diner can't offset.

Since you recommend it as late night, do they have full selection of alcohol? Yelp has 1 picture with shitty beer in the background, but that's all. Even though it's fattier than I would like, I will try their Samgyupsal with some decent booze. Gotta be better than So Gong or Korean Noodle Restaurant around the corner.