Amazing little place. I normally would have thought they were closed just on the outward appearance. But a friend of mind said we should go there. The Spicy chicken buldak w/cheese was my favorite. However the Spicy BBQ pork ribs were also extremely good. I could also have eaten probably 3 plates of the Tteokbokki if given the opportunity. Also give the chicken kabob a shot if you just want a little bit more without ordering another entree.
We arrived at 5, right when they open. And almost immediately after we ordered this place became PACKED!. So plan ahead, this is a popular place.
The atmosphere was interesting. They play K-pol on a TV and on a projector, and the lighting is kept very low. But it adds something to the experience that felt very cozy.
When we went, they were only accepting cash and zelle, so keep that in mind.
Cannot wait to go again because next time I'm going for the Budae-jjigae.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Justine C
Hole in the wall Korean bar with tasty food and almost nonexistent service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Seasoned Rice Balls, Yogurt Soju U
Zoey
Food was great but not worthy. We have 2 people and ordered 1 pot, 2 dishes and 1 rice ball. The size is pretty small. The $35 dollar hotpot only has some ham, kimchi and noodle. Both of the dishes are over $20 but only a small plate. We cost over 130 in total.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Sasi Dzafa
The food is always great, but the service is always the worst. The server never comes to check in on you. If you need something, you need to walk to the counter where the server is playing with the phone and gives no shit about you but expects a good tip. Wired
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Natalie H
Never been to Korea but I grew up eating Korean food in Flushing, NY. Dancen is by far the best Korean food I’ve ever tried. This place is small and good for a date night.
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Spicy Rice Cake, Seafood Pancake
Miles Thompson
The food was good, and the vibe was cool, but styrofoam bowls and plastic cutlery? C’mon, that is cheap and gives a bad impression.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Kimchi Stew
Curtis Park
Dancen is amazing. I appreciate the staffs and managers kindness to me even though I have autism and their food is amazing and really good. Owner Sun is very nice. The restaurant is in good condition. Amazing Korean fried chicken. Must come back. 10/10.
Ania Malec
One of the oldest, maybe the oldest Korean restaurants in the city. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you love Korean food, this place hits different.
The kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae) is the best I’ve ever had in the U.S. no joke. It brought me right back to a little shop in Seoul where I first tasted something this bold, this comforting, this real.
Now, if you're looking for sleek interiors or fancy plating, this isn’t the place. The vibe is murky, the decor outdated, the plates are plastic. But if you can look past all that, and lead with your taste buds instead of your eyes you’ll be rewarded.
Because the food? It’s soulful. The service? Genuine. The experience? Unforgettable.
It’s not just a meal. It’s a reminder that the best things in life don’t always come pretty but they sure come with heart.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marissa S
Really disappointed with what I ordered. I got the fire chicken with cheese and it just tasted so bland. I saw people raving about it, so I thought it would be good but it's literally just chicken with melted cheese. Service wasn't good either. I don't think I would come back to try anything else.
Overall, the food was a tad undersalted for my taste. The fire chicken was tender, flavorful, and had a delicious smoky char though some pieces were burnt to the point of being inedible. I probably shouldn’t have ordered it with cheese, which made the dish overly rich after a few bites. The spicy sauteed squid was garlicky, saucy, and tasty. I just wish there was more squid. However, things went downhill with the extremely gamey chicken gizzards. I love gizzard but it was so bad I had to spit it out and left the rest untouched.
Cat J.
Feel like Korea!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Spicy Sauteed Squid, Fried Pork Skin, Spicy Chicken with Cheese, Pitcher, Yogurt Soju U
Jeanna Angeles
THE BEST PLACE IN TOWN! If you are craving for Korean cuisines, this one won’t fail you. Their soups are so light on the stomach yet so filling. I ALWAYS get their pork and kimchi soup. I love their pork cartilage with rice as well as their pork skin. This place is pretty much perfect especially for like intimate get togethers like catching up and stuff. OVERALL, you’re missing out if you haven’t eaten here yet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Seasoned Rice Balls, Fried Pork Skin, Beef Small Intestine Stew, Yogurt Soju U
Nancy M
Food is always amazing here and service is great. Favorite dishes are the kimchi pancake and sweet marinaded pork rib. The fire chicken with cheese is also delicious and the rice balls help combat the heat. Portions are more than enough for two people, with leftovers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Kimchi Pancake, Sweet Marinated Pork Rib, Seasoned Rice Balls
Michael
It's really good. Really good. They cater to those in the know, which seems odd for a place with such great food. But the whole menu is fantastic. If they moved to the heart of Lincoln Square, you'd never get in. It's that great.
Fired chicken was good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Amazing little place. I normally would have thought they were closed just on the outward appearance. But a friend of mind said we should go there.
The Spicy chicken buldak w/cheese was my favorite. However the Spicy BBQ pork ribs were also extremely good. I could also have eaten probably 3 plates of the Tteokbokki if given the opportunity. Also give the chicken kabob a shot if you just want a little bit more without ordering another entree.
We arrived at 5, right when they open. And almost immediately after we ordered this place became PACKED!. So plan ahead, this is a popular place.
The atmosphere was interesting. They play K-pol on a TV and on a projector, and the lighting is kept very low. But it adds something to the experience that felt very cozy.
When we went, they were only accepting cash and zelle, so keep that in mind.
Cannot wait to go again because next time I'm going for the Budae-jjigae.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hole in the wall Korean bar with tasty food and almost nonexistent service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Seasoned Rice Balls, Yogurt Soju U
Food was great but not worthy. We have 2 people and ordered 1 pot, 2 dishes and 1 rice ball. The size is pretty small. The $35 dollar hotpot only has some ham, kimchi and noodle. Both of the dishes are over $20 but only a small plate. We cost over 130 in total.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
The food is always great, but the service is always the worst. The server never comes to check in on you. If you need something, you need to walk to the counter where the server is playing with the phone and gives no shit about you but expects a good tip. Wired
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Never been to Korea but I grew up eating Korean food in Flushing, NY. Dancen is by far the best Korean food I’ve ever tried. This place is small and good for a date night.
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Spicy Rice Cake, Seafood Pancake
The food was good, and the vibe was cool, but styrofoam bowls and plastic cutlery? C’mon, that is cheap and gives a bad impression.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Kimchi Stew
Dancen is amazing. I appreciate the staffs and managers kindness to me even though I have autism and their food is amazing and really good. Owner Sun is very nice. The restaurant is in good condition. Amazing Korean fried chicken. Must come back. 10/10.
One of the oldest, maybe the oldest Korean restaurants in the city.
It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you love Korean food, this place hits different.
The kimchi stew (kimchi jjigae) is the best I’ve ever had in the U.S. no joke. It brought me right back to a little shop in Seoul where I first tasted something this bold, this comforting, this real.
Now, if you're looking for sleek interiors or fancy plating, this isn’t the place. The vibe is murky, the decor outdated, the plates are plastic. But if you can look past all that, and lead with your taste buds instead of your eyes you’ll be rewarded.
Because the food? It’s soulful.
The service? Genuine.
The experience? Unforgettable.
It’s not just a meal. It’s a reminder that the best things in life don’t always come pretty but they sure come with heart.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really disappointed with what I ordered. I got the fire chicken with cheese and it just tasted so bland. I saw people raving about it, so I thought it would be good but it's literally just chicken with melted cheese. Service wasn't good either. I don't think I would come back to try anything else.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Overall, the food was a tad undersalted for my taste. The fire chicken was tender, flavorful, and had a delicious smoky char though some pieces were burnt to the point of being inedible. I probably shouldn’t have ordered it with cheese, which made the dish overly rich after a few bites. The spicy sauteed squid was garlicky, saucy, and tasty. I just wish there was more squid. However, things went downhill with the extremely gamey chicken gizzards. I love gizzard but it was so bad I had to spit it out and left the rest untouched.
Feel like Korea!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Spicy Sauteed Squid, Fried Pork Skin, Spicy Chicken with Cheese, Pitcher, Yogurt Soju U
THE BEST PLACE IN TOWN! If you are craving for Korean cuisines, this one won’t fail you. Their soups are so light on the stomach yet so filling. I ALWAYS get their pork and kimchi soup. I love their pork cartilage with rice as well as their pork skin. This place is pretty much perfect especially for like intimate get togethers like catching up and stuff. OVERALL, you’re missing out if you haven’t eaten here yet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Seasoned Rice Balls, Fried Pork Skin, Beef Small Intestine Stew, Yogurt Soju U
Food is always amazing here and service is great. Favorite dishes are the kimchi pancake and sweet marinaded pork rib. The fire chicken with cheese is also delicious and the rice balls help combat the heat. Portions are more than enough for two people, with leftovers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fire Chicken w Cheese, Kimchi Pancake, Sweet Marinated Pork Rib, Seasoned Rice Balls
It's really good. Really good. They cater to those in the know, which seems odd for a place with such great food. But the whole menu is fantastic. If they moved to the heart of Lincoln Square, you'd never get in. It's that great.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
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