50 Best Korean Restaurants near Des Plaines

“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.“

“Everything about my experience at Kow Restaurant was amazing! The food was outstanding, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was excellent from start to finish. Every dish was prepared perfectly and exceeded my expectations.

This place has quickly become my number one favorite restaurant. The staff made us feel valued, and the overall experience was memorable. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for great food and exceptional service. I can’t wait to come back!“

“​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!“

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

“Good food, great customer service“

“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 👍🏻“

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

“Went today for 1st time as this used to be another Korean restaurant called The Gangnam. It's a self serve style layout where you order at the counter, pick up and clear your own table. I would say it is priced into the food as it seems to be cheaper than similar places with a wait staff. I also appreciated the self service filtered water machine. The lunch specials are reasonable with soup or salad included. The chicken teriyaki was very good and the bulgogi was good but there were some pieces that were too tough to chew and swallow. I'll try some more dishes in the future as they do have a variety of Korean dishes.“

“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 😉“

“The food here was absolutely delicious. The meat was fresh, well-marinated, and very flavorful. The side dishes were also really good and refilled quickly. The staff were friendly and attentive. Definitely one of the best Korean BBQ places I’ve tried. I will come back again!“

“flaming hot chicken is legit 🔥, I will die over this“

“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!“

“This place never disappoints. Great service, amazing chicken and overall great atmosphere. Highly recommend!“

“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!!“

“If you’re checking the reviews to see which spot is best to eat at I recommend you give this place a shot.

I’ve tried almost every spot outside of the chicken spot in the front and I have to say that what a dumpling is by far my favorite. Reminds me of my grandmas and mother’s food. Homemade dumplings and the broth tasted great. It’s a complete different texture compared to the frozen ones.

The Noona that worked there was great as well and I observed that all the customers that ordered from there were satisfied as well. When you see empty plates and bowls you know that’s a good sign.

Support this business! :) I got the traditional one. No 7 I believe.“

“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“

“Had a fantastic meal at Seoul Ave in Oak Park. We ordered the Beef Short Rib, Rose Tteokbokki, Cheese Donkatsu, and Kimchi Pancake, and every single dish was outstanding.

The Beef Short Rib was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The Rose Tteokbokki had a rich, creamy sauce with just the right amount of spice. The Cheese Donkatsu was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and filled with plenty of melted cheese. The Kimchi Pancake was packed with flavor, crispy around the edges, and one of the best I’ve had.

Beyond the food, the service was warm, attentive, and welcoming throughout the entire meal. The restaurant delivers an authentic Korean dining experience with excellent quality and generous portions.

If you’re in Oak Park, this place is absolutely not to be missed. Highly recommended!“

“Was the best! Great staff; fast and friendly service. Food was amazing!“

“This is our second time dining at Hwang Soh Grill, and everything is just as amazing as we remembered. The food is absolutely phenomenal—fresh, flavorful, and consistently delicious. The service is outstanding as well. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always makes us feel welcome. It’s rare to find a place that maintains such high quality every visit. We’ll definitely be coming back every time we are in Chicago!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“I decided to visit again since it’s under new management, and there has definitely been a huge improvement! The new owner was the one that attended us, she was so sweet and very welcoming! She offered us a sample of goblin fries which were delicious!

Definitely coming back again :)“

“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.“

“I recently had a chance to stop into H-mart to do a bit of grocery shopping and grab some food from the food court. I ordered the beef bone soup, and it was a really comforting and satisfying meal. The broth was rich and milky with a deep, savory flavor, and the beef was tender and well-portioned for the price. It’s a simple dish but done really well. Definitely something I’d come back for.“

“The toast and dogs are amazing. French fries are crisp and delicious. We also tried the boba tea and it was good. Limited seating was a bit difficult but it is inside a store. A sign said tanghulu so we have it a try. It was frozen solid and almost impossible to eat. If delicious eat here again but probably pass on the tanghulu.“

“Been there couple of times for carry out. The waitress there super friendly and always smile. Not to mention the food is awesome compared to to other Korean restos and also you will get the portion way more than what you pay for! Absolutely strongly recommend this one!“

“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!“

“Unbelievably tasty! As a picky eater and someone who doesn’t clean chicken wings, I left nothing but bone! On top of that the service and packaging is beyond thoughtful :)“

“We were so excited to have found this new place for yummy sushi poke bowl! We adore that modernized look of the restaurant and there are a lot of variety of poke bowls to choose from. My boys like the mushroom and California rolls sushi while I enjoyed the spicy hot fish poke bowl a lot. The staff and owner were super friendly and nice. The place was stylish, neat and clean. The sashimi was fresh and delicious! The food was served fast and the price was reasonable too. We are definitely coming back!“

“Good and highly recommend“

“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.“

“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! ♡♡♡“

“Have had both regular and boneless. Forget Wing stop and Buffalo Wild Wings. DAK DAK is the real deal. Huge meaty wings. You have to try these and you won't go anywhere else. On top of all that, it's fun to say DAK DAK“

“We had steamed dumplings as an appetizer, and each ordered the hot stone bibim bap. The dumplings were perfect to tide us over until bibim bap arrived. The dumplings sauce was nice, but it could stand some additional spiciness. Remember to ask for the hot sauce to add to the sauce next time.
We also really enjoyed my favorite dish, bibim nap with it's variety of bulgogi beef, bean sprouts, spinach, etc and a generous amount of the gojujan sauce on the side. The small side dishes with pickled daikon radish, kim chi, marinated potatoes and marinated gluten always add additional flavors and textures the already delicious bibim bap.
I would recommend this restaurant for its flavorful and generous Korean dishes, good service, and homey feel to the place.“

“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.“

“Very nice place! The seafood ramen is the best I’ve ever tried. It has a lot of seafood and the portion is big. Special thanks for the appetizers — they are also very tasty. I always order this ramen whenever I come to this store. The service is excellent — everyone is friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend!“

“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!“

“Ate there for the first time tonight. I am vegan and my husband is an Omni. Chef Bill came out and waited on us personally, and gave us menu recommendations, all of which were delicious! The ambiance was so relaxing and peaceful; it was a nice respite from a busy day and I didn’t want to leave. Reasonably priced as well: shared appetizer, two teas, two entrees, and two desserts was $60. Will definitely be back for many more dinners!“

“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“

“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!“

“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.“

“This was such a great place to have dinner for my little family. The server was so pleasant, kind, and full of joy as she greeted us and promptly showed us our table. This was our first time eating out with our baby (also our first) and she made us feel right at home. Grabbed a high chair before we could ask!

The menu has several delicious options. We chose some sushi rolls, a tonkatsu dinner, and with a tempura appetizer. Everything was delicious…everything. The shrimp was cooked to perfection in the tempura, the sushi was excellent, and the tonkatsu entree reminded me of traveling through Japan. The whole experience reminded me of Japan. I felt like I had shifted locations for an hour as we sat in their cozy dining room brimming with Japanese decor.

A wonderful experience that makes me want to come back for more. Make sure you experience this little gem.“

“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!“