50 Best Korean Restaurants near Des Plaines

“One of the best Korean restaurants in the suburbs. Everything was delicious, the meats were very tender and marinated well and also, they serve this salad that is one of the best salads I’ve ever had. I don’t know what kind of dressing they put but it’s delicious!“

“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 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟“

“Great place for simple, home-cooked Korean food. Feels like Im eating in my grandmother’s kitchen. Not cheap but give generous portions. Friendly and attentive service. Also has prepared side dishes for sale. Bought a bag of their frozen dumplings“

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

“Good food, great customer service“

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

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

“As a Korean, i think this place has the best 해물파전 (seafood pancake). I truly loved how crispy it was without being greasy, and how packed it was with juicy vegetables and a generous amount of seafood. Everyone should order it here!

We also got the fish roe and spicy cod soups which were perfect in the cold winter weather.

The people here are very friendly and we had a great meals thanks to them! Would definitely recommend this place for authentic good Korean food in Chicago :)“

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

“This is my first time at this restaurant, and I was told it's good. So far, the Chicken Tender Lunch Special I ordered is great.“

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

“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 😉“

“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“

“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.“

“I've been wanting to try this spot. The meat was fresh and seasoned well. The ladies serving us were so kind. We got the Chungkiwa special, which included all the meats, sliced ribeye, spare ribs, chicken thighs, pork, shrimp and squid. The sliced ribeye and pork were the best! It was enough for 3 people for sure! The side dishes were excellent. Also the dumpling soup was light, flavorful and soothing!“

“Went in and love that its pet friendly. Had a good variety of hot dogs that I havent seen in other places, sandwiches and burgers, and bowls. I had the lemongrass grilled chicken bowl over rice. So good and unique flavors. The fries were crispy and delicious. Definitely returning with the pup.“

“As a Korean who lived in Chicago for over 20 years and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, I can say this clearly: this place is the real deal.

The food is exceptionally clean and well-balanced, made with high-quality ingredients and thoughtful seasoning. Nothing feels rushed or overly processed the flavors are subtle, honest, and comforting.

What impressed me most was that my in-laws, who recently came from Korea, said this place was better than many well-known restaurants back home. During their few weeks in the U.S., they liked it so much that we came back multiple times.

If you prefer bold, heavy, or highly seasoned flavors, this might feel a bit mild especially for younger diners who enjoy stronger tastes. But if you appreciate carefully prepared, wholesome food made with sincerity, this is absolutely a place worth visiting.

Highly recommended for anyone who values quality, balance, and genuinely good cooking.“

“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.“

“Always amazing food and super nice owners“

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

“I genuinely have nothing bad to say about this place. Both times I’ve gone, I’ve had amazing experiences. I highly recommend the yangji seolleongtang! :) I prefer it to the galbi tang. It’s a much milder broth and is still very filling.“

“Food here is great. I had the excellent spicy bulgogi bento box lunch. Prices are very high. If $25 for a quick lunch is the new standard on lake street then they will be competitive. I hope they make it. Otherwise you can get a nice meal at New Pot Thai across the street for about half the price.“

“This place is inside Hmart on the side by the checkout registers. The bacon cheese & egg toast was really good. It'd be easier to eat if the bacon was inside the sandwich instead of being right on top but not a big deal. They have corn dogs and tanghulu that alot of other people ordered but I didn't try those.“

“Among the restaurants in Chicago suburban, there were many good reviews, so I visited there for the first time with my wife. There was a little waiting time, maybe because it was the weekend, but the staff organized the table quickly, so I was able to sit down without waiting for long. The 'banchan' prepared when I ordered and waited for the food felt good about the type and taste and made me look forward to the main dish even more. Finally, the food I ordered arrived, and I was surprised at the amount that the chef thought I had made a mistake and decided when I tasted the food that was well-baked on the grill. 'I'll have to bring my parents next time!' And finally, while the servers are busy, their kindness in customer service remains very impressive.“

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

“This is a Korean Soup counter at the food court of the Park N Shop in Niles, IL. They have some of the best Korean Soups in the Chicago area. The Galbi Tang (Beef soup) is especially good. Also very goog beef and pork Bulgogi. All meals served with rice, excellent kimchi and soup (if ordering Bulgogi). We have been dining here or getting takeout here for 10 years and never had a bad meal.“

“I really enjoyed the food they served. It's was very delicious and my coworkers and I really liked the dishes. The service was amazing and they were very friendly and kind. I highly recommend this restaurant and I will be coming back here 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.“

“The view at this place is great! After a graduation celebration with family, we went here to have another round of drinks and party even more. We got some juicy fried chicken and a huge egg omelette. It paired well with our beers and it was just great night“

“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 recently had the pleasure of dining at JeonJu restaurant and it was an outstanding experience! The highlight of my meal was the Goat Meat Soup, which was incredibly flavorful and perfectly cooked. Providing excellent service throughout my visit. Additionally, the owner is incredibly humble and nice, making the overall atmosphere welcoming and pleasant. I highly recommend this restaurant.“

“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!“

“My husband and I we are KOREAN BBQ lovers and today we enjoyed the most delicious BBQ dinner in Chicago area, very good and delicious menu, nice and friendly service. We definitely recommend BBQ GARDEN to all our family and friends.“

“Had a great mini reunion with 2 surgical unit NSUH! Everything was good to parking, food, ambience and karaoke!“

“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 :)“

“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“

“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 was great! I ordered the dolsot bibimbap and the tteokguk and both came out exactly how I wanted and tasty.

This place really gives back what you put in, I walked in excited to try it and all the staff reciprocally seemed excited to have me. They were very kind, quick, and attentive. I was also able to ask about the dishes and they were able to explain to me in a helpful way so that I could learn more about Korean food! Can't wait to come back.“

“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!“

“Authentic Korean food with generous portion and reasonable price. Small intestine pot was really delicious. The pig feet is def more spicy than we thought so just be prepared for that. But once u got a hang of the spicy, immediately fell in love with it. Parking is easy.“

“Highly recommend. I had the most flavorful Miso soup I have ever had. Its a nice quiet cozy atmosphere and the lady serving us was extremely kind. I will be going back soon. Everything we ate was delicious. I recommend the Spring Train sushi roll.“

“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.“

“First, the food is DELICIOUS! They have a lot more flavors of chicken available than some other K.F.C. restaurants. The tteokbokki offers more flavors & add in’s as well. You can tell the company really cares about their food quality and customer satisfaction-eg they have steam vents built into the containers and the keep your to-go order propped slightly open until you pick up your order all so that your chicken remains crispy, rather than getting soggy waiting in a closed container! The staff are always very polite & conscientious. LOVE THIS PLACE!“

“GREAT RESTAURANT

The food is traditional and authentic. There are a lot of delicious menu options. The atmosphere is also great, and the interior design is in a traditional Korean style. This place has been around for a while, and they know what they’re doing.

There’s also a karaoke lounge in the back with varying prices. It’s not the best karaoke spot but they have most recent songs available.“

“Portions are huge! (The picture, cupbop of beef, does not do it justice) Should have read the reviews on that so I could have shared my bowl with my partner. Love how the meal came with a canned drink :)

Place is clean and spacious. The lady in the front is helpful and nice. Service is great“

“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!!“

“Everything tasted amazing food and drinks were very fresh ,my favorite drink is boba tea“