Near Northwest 'Burb Asian

I feel well-informed, thanks to all y'all, about wonderful places to go for Korean and Vietnamese food if I want to head into the city from my perch on the NW rim of the city.

But what if circumstances suggest a near-by 'burb [like Niles, Morton Grove or Des Plaines] is the best idea for dinner? I feel like Elephant Thai serves all of my local Thai needs quite well [and Siam's House is good, too, I guess, altho I've only had take-out there]. I suspect that there's good Korean in them there 'burbs, but I don't know where. There's the place next to Periyali been recommended once or twice, but it sounds a bit formal & I'm not a formal girl most nights.

The only Vietnamese that I've noticed in the area is Nam Viet on Northwest Highway, but I gave up on that years ago. Like I've given up on decent Chinese in the area.

My taste buds thank you in advance.

Giovanna

Places worth checking out:
* Although you said you're happy with your Thai choices, do try Lai Thai, 7168 Dempster St - (847) 966-8216. Outstanding flavors, including the elusive golden noodle soup.
* There are a lot of Korean places in the Golf Mill area, I don't have a favorite. Actually, I did, but it's been gone for years
* Twin Dragon at Golf Glen shopping center is pretty good (nothing stellar) and there are several other ethnicities in that same shopping center if it doesn't float your boat

Well, Lai Thai is left in the dust by Elephant imho, so I'd suggest you try them some day.

Can you give me more info on the Golf Mill area Korean? Any have live coals for grilling? Any do dolsot dishes?

Giovanna

Also in the Golf Mill area, actually the mall across the street where REI is: Le Saigon de Manila (decent Vietnamese) and Himalayan.

Giovanna wrote:Can you give me more info on the Golf Mill area Korean? Any have live coals for grilling? Any do dolsot dishes?

It's been a while since I've eaten at any of the handful of places within a mile of Golf and Milwaukee, and the one I think had dolsot's just changed names. None of the places I'd been in had live coals. The only one that's still got the same name since I've been in it is Kimchy Cabana on Greenwood south of Church, and I never liked that one much (getting served nearly-raw pork once is enough).

Sorry I'm so sketchy on details.

Here are some short takes on a few of the near NW suburban Korean places:


Cho Dang Tofu Restaurant
847/956-8638
1719 W. Algonquin Road
Mount Prospect

I haven't eaten here but VI has mentioned it favorably.


Cho Jung Restaurant
847/742-1111
Olympia Shopping Center
952 Harlem Ave.
Glenview

A small, pleasant storefront. We liked the pea pancakes, miso soup and dolsot bibimbop.


Great Beijing
847/673-5588
6717 N. Lincoln Ave.
Lincolnwood

Chinese/Korean. Some people here have praised the chachiang mein, a dish of thick noodles with a hearty brown sauce of black-bean paste, pork and vegetables. They have decent potstickers and I like the eggplant with spicy garlic sauce, full of water chestnuts and shiitake mushrooms


Happy Kitchen
847/679-1717
4706 W. Touhy Ave.
Lincolnwood

Small, no frills, counter-service storefront offering short-order versions of dishes such as bulgogi, bibimbap and kimbap. Very good pan-fried mandoo.


Kimchy Cabana Restaurant
847/827-9020
Greenwood Plaza
9020 Greenwood Ave.
Niles

Unlike Joel, I've had some good meals here. The menu is mostly grilled items, cooked at table on cast iron, but they do very good dolsot bibimbop and bibim naengmyon. However, entrees are served with a minimal amount of banchan and skip the hard, dry mandoo.


Pal Do Kang San
847/808-8822
Forest Lodge
1250 S. River Road
Prospect Heights

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=39900&


Jang Choong Dong Restaurant
847/768-5884
Golf Glen, 9078 W. Golf Road,
Niles

A dimly lit, unfriendly and mediocre eatery specializing in pork dishes.


Sh*n J*ng
Golf Road
Mount Prospect

The rules of this board do not allow me to explain in detail why I now avoid this place.