50 Best Korean Restaurants near Buffalo Grove

“Great food- meats , sides dishes could’nt ask for more. Service excellent . We loved the decore.“

“I had dinner here on 4/25/26 because it'd been warm recently and I was craving mul naeng myeon. I was surprised to find it almost empty. I was seated right away and offered hot tea and water. The place is cozy, like a family restaurant instead of a chain. They had K-Pop music videos playing lightly in the background and on a large TV screen, which was a fun touch. I ordered and was served immediately with 5 different banchan options. My order took a reasonable time to prepare, given the required components.

It was plated beautifully, in a simple and traditional bowl with plenty of slushy frozen broth (not just ice cubes). Lots of freshly toasted sesame seeds. The waitress offered to snip the buckwheat noodles with clean scissors, which I happily accepted. I sipped the icy broth first, and it was freaking delicious. Exactly the flavor and cooling umami freshness I needed!

The egg was perfectly jammy, the apple/pear was sweet, and the radish was just crunchy enough to create some contrast of textures. There were 2 perfect slices of brisket. I've seen reviews complaining about the lack of meat, but IMHO this was just the right amount to balance the many layers of flavors. Some dishes are meant to showcase a variety of carefully prepared ingredients, each playing its role. I slurped through more than half of my bowl before I remembered to add more vinegar and mustard to punch up the rest. The banchan was tasty and not overly salted. I lifted the bowl with both hands to drink the rest - no need to waste the tangy broth!

The owner came over to introduce herself personally, remarking how happy I looked after my meal. I thanked her profusely for the wonderful food and excellent service. We had a delightful conversation and I felt truly welcomed into their restaurant! ♡♡♡“

“Food is amazing. Great place to get a lot of protein.“

“Good food, great customer service“

“Had a great experience at CM Chicken! The service was outstanding. The menu has SO MANY options, which could be overwhelming, but the staff was super helpful and patient while we figured it all out. I went with the chicken sandwich, which was fresh, juicy, and exactly what I was hoping for. My wife got the cheese curds, and they were clearly hand-breaded with an amazing cheese pull (always the test, right? LOL). A little on the pricier side, but honestly worth it for the quality and experience. We’ll definitely be back!“

“This place is perfect for Korean BBQ lovers. The unlimited grilled meats and authentic Korean flavors make every visit worth it. The bulgogi and galbi were packed with flavor, and the corn cheese and egg casserole sides were delicious. Great atmosphere, great food, and a fun dining experience every time.“

“Delicious your food 🍱 very friendly !!!!“

“Visiting from LA K-town and happened to find this restaurant from google search. Their food was delicious and I highly recommend this place! Especially the seafood pajeon/pancake; even better than the ones in LA. It was crispy, crunchy and full of seafood. Their do-gani tang is a must! Friendly service and excellent food 👍🏻“

“The quality of the meat here is truly exceptional—fresh, tender, and full of flavor. You can immediately tell they take pride in what they serve. The side dishes are just as impressive: everything is clean, well-balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. They honestly remind me of my mom’s homemade cooking, which says a lot.
One of my absolute favorites here is the mul naengmyeon. The broth is incredibly refreshing and perfectly balanced, and the noodles have that ideal chewy texture. It’s easily the best naengmyeon I’ve had in Chicago—nothing else even comes close. Every visit here feels like a comforting, high-quality dining experience.“

“Everything was perfect!“

“Amazing experience at Mother’s Apron Korean BBQ! Fantastic food quality, generous portion sizes, experienced and kind service, and an upscale atmosphere. We got the Mother’s Queen Set and there was plenty left over with 3 people. The meat was high quality and the banchan was also delicious. Worth the price. Our waiter Patrick was awesome! Can’t wait to come back again.“

“Love the vibes and food! Come here with your friends!!“

“Such great food! Love the Cup Bap with clear noodles and spicy pork. Yum!!“

“It is a different level of service when you visit blue house. It is a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere and all of the food is the best here! authentic and fresh. So grateful to visit this lovely resturaunt. Worth every dollar and then some!“

“Lately, I’ve been moving away from the ayce kbbq and trying the ones that are a la carte. This one uses oak wood charcoal vs gas-powered/electric grill that most of the Illinois Korean restaurants use. The verdict is that the meat comes out really tasty. When you come in, you might have to reserve a table especially on the weekend. We didn’t reserve, but we were lucky to get a table for 3 on a Saturday night at 7 pm. The restaurant is small so seating can be limited. Parking is sufficient since it’s a shared lot.

The service was very attentive and friendly. This is a family owned and run establishment. We ordered the combination platter (bulgogi, kalbi fingers, and pork belly), mo dum jun (combination platter for appetizers, ggo ri gom tang (oxtail soup). This was more than enough food for 3 people. Banchan is refillable. I would say this is one of the best kbbq restaurants in the Chicagoland area and I wouldn’t mind coming back.

-combination platter 5 - this is good for 2-3 people as long as you have other dishes. Meat cooked fast.
-mo dum jun 5 - fried squash, shrimp, oysters, and stuffed peppers. The stuffed peppers were my personal favorite. Make sure you dip them in the sauce provided.
-oxtail soup 5 - light broth not too robust. Oxtail meat was tender, not chewy. It’s big and shareable.“

“Food is fantastic. For sure one of our favorite restaurants“

“Their expansion from Golf Mill to their own establish is such a wonderful improvement. The staffs are just as wonderful and the food is excellent.
They deserve the praise and the expansion to their own place in a good plaza.

I will come back again“

“This place has amazing food. One thing I’ve noticed in the area is that many restaurants don’t really put much care into Korean side dishes (banchan), which is disappointing because they’re such an important part of the meal. That was not the case here at SGD Dubu So Gong Dong.

My experience was fantastic from start to finish. My waitress was polite, kind, and patient, and she absolutely hooked it up with the banchan. Everything felt intentional and well-prepared.

The food itself was incredible. No matter how much I practice at home, I can never get my beef bulgogi, kalbi, or banchan anywhere close to the quality they serve here. You can really taste the difference.

If I lived closer, I would be here all the time. The price is completely worth it for both the quality of the food and the level of customer service. Highly recommend.“

“Yummm! Was looking for a good place to eat nearby and came here based on the reviews--it did not disappoint! We got the corn cheese, budae jigae, and modeum suyuk. Everything was very tasty! There are a lot more things on the menu I'd like to try, but we stuffed ourselves full and still had leftovers.

Bonus points for the private booth seating and will definitely come here again for karaoke (and dessert) at some point.“

“Chungkiwa is one of the most authentic Korean BBQ restaurants I’ve tried. The meat quality was excellent — fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. You can really taste the authenticity in every bite. The side dishes were also incredibly fresh and delicious, which made the whole dining experience even better.

Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for real Korean barbecue!“

“The Food Overall is on point & The service is Perfect 👌 Always We Love ❤️ eating the Variety of Choices Thank you for always serving Fresh Food 🥘 🙏😉😷 5 Star in our Book 😉“

“It taste the best 🍱🍚🦐😋 recommended even if I have to drive 25 minutes 😁“

“Easy access to the main road with ample parking. The food was very home-made and delicious. The hostess was very pleasant and she came by to ensure we had everything we needed. The ox bone broth was very good. We greatly enjoyed our dinner!!“

“All the food we ordered was alll delicious!!“

“This is my second time coming to CM Chicken, and it never fails to disappoint! I’ve been to other locations, but this is the definitely the best. The staff members are very nice and accommodating, and the food tastes great! My personal favorites are the Soy Garlic Green Onion Chicken and Curry Tikku Chicken. The space is large and good for groups of any size. Came here for a New Years Party, and everyone had a great experience!“

“I'm from Korea and I can guarantee that it's so delicious that it could even be popular in KOREA!
Especially the Spicy stir fried pork!!
The retro interior design is cool, and the service was perfect! Staff is super friendly!
Recommend this restaurant without a doubt.“

“Always amazing food and super nice owners“

“This place is so good not only did i leave a Google review, but now a Facebook one as well. Hands down the best KBBQ place around. The food is so good. All the meats are amazing even the vegetable sides are delicious. The owners are so nice and sweet it makes you feel like you're eating this world class meal in a family members home. Cant wait to go back!“

“Wow, Kow is a great place to get some Korean bbq. I've been to many Korean bbq to include in Korea. I like Kow. Very modern cool feel to the place. Now I've only been here during slow early hours but the food is the same I'm sure. They have a small ramen bar to get you started if you want, but maybe hold some space for the rest. We had the dinner meal and it had everything we could want and more. Did I say all you can eat? We ate too much, but left happy. If you don't know Korean bbq, you Grill your own food so it is just the way you like it. The servers are happy to help if you need it. Other than the overfull stomach we left with, have nothing but good things to say. Even liked the giant video screens around the restaurant. Check it out. 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

“My wife and I were so happy to visit this Korean restaurant when we were craving some Korean food. The chilly weather was just the right setting to enjoy some warming Korean soups, and we were really looking forward to trying it out.

To make sure we didn’t miss anything, I had already looked over the menu and made my choice.

Overall, we had great service, and the food was absolutely delicious. I’m already looking forward to coming back and trying their other soups, which I’m sure are just as amazing.“

“I visited Kong Dog Rolling Meadows today and had the best meal!! Hot Cheeto dog, Dorito dog, and potato, they were so fresh! We also tried the ramen and Tteokbokki - they were so delicious! We will be back very soon!! Staff was so sweet and food didn’t take too long to make!“

“Stumbled upon to Claypot by happenstance with my fiancée a couple years ago and have been going back since! I thought I wrote a review already but better late than never. This is by far one of our FAVORITE lunch/dinner spots to go to. The food is so flavorful, healthy, and abundant. The service is very attentive. There are some days where it may be slower because they are busy, but it’s a small location with only a few servers so give them grace if that’s happens with you. I brought a party of 12 one time which took basically a quarter of their restaurant on a busy night. Anyway, I’ve brought a majority of my family members here and they all love it!! You not only leave full and happy, but you feel energized rather than groggy/lethargic like other places. Will not stop going to, bringing people to, and recommending this spot ever. Wishing lots of prosperity and business to them.“

“Our go to restaurant.. the. best kimchi ever 😊“

“This is the second time in a week that we've chosen to eat at this restaurant. It is so delicious. I could go back 200 times and always pick something different. And I'm sure every single time it would be hot, spicy, perfect, and delicious. Such great choices. I highly recommend this Korean chicken and boba restaurant.“

“Fabulous and authentic! The staff were kind and helpful with recommendations and explaining the menu. I settled on a noodle dish. It was a large portion, very fresh and delicious. I also enjoyed the fresh packaged to-go items and took some snacks for later. Friendly and casual atmosphere. Easy parking.“

“We had Korean Café cater a dinner for over 150 adoptees (transracial/transnational), the menu was amazing! The food was fantastic and everyone loved every item. Mrs. Oh was so helpful determining the portions. It was an excellent experience working with them.

Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian and vegan options!“

“​I was craving authentic Korean food during my travels, and this place provided the most perfect meal I could have asked for. The flavors were so deep and authentic that all my travel fatigue vanished from the very first bite.
​Everything from the main course to each and every side dish was prepared with such care. It felt as though I had discovered a top-tier restaurant back in Korea. The food was clean, perfectly balanced, and incredibly satisfying without being overpowering.
​Beyond the delicious food, the warm and friendly service made this experience truly unforgettable. If I had to give a reason to visit this city again, it would undoubtedly be to eat at this restaurant. This will be the very first place on my list to revisit whenever I return to this town!“

“Korean bar feeling. They have Korean language in the menu and translation on the menu isn’t perfect. Best to grab the Google translator app. They are very friendly and the food is great. Tteabbokki (sorry idk how to spell it) is great here! Best spot to get it. Just a nice hangout bar place.“

“Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Glenview. Even if you are unfamiliar with Korean food there is something to like for everyone. Service is fast, the food is fantastic and consistent and the prices are extremely fair. The atmosphere is also unmatched with karaoke booths or private self cook tables alike. Can’t wait to return.“

“Good and highly recommend“

“This restaurant has the best rose tteokbokki I've ever had! The bulgogi and ramen are also delicious! The staff is very patient and will guide you through your menu selections. If you don't like your food too spicy, they will also adjust it to your liking. Very cute spot. Wonderful for date night.“

“This place is under new ownership and there specialty is spicy bean sprouts with eel and it's very good large portions and also squid with thinly sliced beef in a spicy sauce sautéed but the interior needs a face lift but over all a good new restaurant you got to try will be back again“

“First time having Korean BBQ. I could not have a gone to a better place! Everything was so good! The severs are very attentive and were very nice! Enjoyed my meal!“

“10/10 will come back next year.“

“If you are looking for the absolute best Korean dining experience in Chicago, look no further! The food here is top-tier and authentic, but what truly sets this place apart is the incredible service. The waitstaff are not only professional but also incredibly witty and humorous—they had us laughing and smiling throughout the entire meal. It made our dining experience truly memorable. If you I cannot recommend this place enough as your starting point!“

“This spot is amazing, one of the best Korean BBQ spots I've been too! It is a traditional Kbbq spot with traditional bonchon, but the quality of meats, sauces, and sides is amazing. For $32 ayce, it includes two types of short rib, marinated pork neck, pork brisket, and prime brisket and beef belly, that is the best bang for your buck I have seen and the quality is superb. I will definitely be coming back!“

“Absolutely amazing Korean food. The owner and the atmosphere are great. I had driven by this place countless times and had no idea that it was anything special -- it is.“

“I was wanting to try Korean style fried chicken. I was not disappointed. The chicken is crispy, moist and just the right amount of spice. The menu looks so good, I had difficulty deciding what to get. I will definitely come back.“

“This place was AMAZING! The food, service, and atmosphere was all 10/10. First off, the owners were incredibly kind and helped us and checked in with us. Also the food was so delicious. You can tell they spend time making their food and it was all definitely fresh. All of our food came out piping hot and fresh and was so delicious also great prices by the way. Also the atmosphere of Manooben was so cozy and cute. Loved this place, definitely recommend, and will be coming back!!“

“I have spent 4 months in South Korea and was luckily able to experience and enjoy authentic KBBQ during that time. Since then, this restaurant has been the only one in the Chicagoland area that has been able to, not only match, but exceed my expectations. The food is authentic and super yummy (a solid 12 on a scale of 1-10). The customer service is beyond expectation and the atmosphere is perfect as well. I would absolutely recommend to anyone. I have been here on multiple occasions and I have had a fantastic experience every single time. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! If I had the money to eat here every single day, I would. 최고입니다!!“