50 Best Korean Restaurants near Evanston

“Papa Bop offers warm, prompt service, and their food is delicious and cooked to perfection. The seafood ramen is now one of my favorite ramen dishes ever!“

“Always delicious, consistent, fast and fresh. Prices are still reasonable to match the portion sizes. Not huge but not small. Even though the place is smallish and seating can be somewhat limited, guests move in and out regularly and there is rarely much of a wait for a table if any. This is my go to for Korean.“

“Got the green onion chicken tenders. They were delicious. Also got the smashed pear drink. It was also great“

“Chicken was on point! Had the Chili buffalo chicken sandwich and Nashville hot wings. Definitely recommend“

“The perfect spot for hungry students craving good Korean cuisine! This place gets super busy at dinner time, and the wait can be a bit long, but it is definitely worth it. There were lots of different options, ranging from more traditional to street-style Korean food, and everything we got was delicious. The menu was a bit pricey, but the portions were huge, which made up for it. We all enjoyed the stone pot bibimbap, the spicy pork, and fried pork cutlet. If you’re looking for authentic Korean food in Evanston, do not hesitate to check out Koco Table!“

“Very tasty sundubu, delicious sides, and good service.“

“Had a great time!! The staff were really kind and the service was great. The food is delicious, pictured is the Garlic Chicken Wings and fries.

As for the karaoke, the mics are definitely better than more expensive places I’ve been to as it can pick up your voice better. Selection is limitless since it’s connected through YouTube!

Will be coming back!“

“Good food and great service. I will definitely be returning.“

“Ordered the spring rolls, beef bulgogi and a chicken noodle dish (I do not recall the name) - all were delicious - even the 3rd time around.

Short wait time, ambient lighting, and kind staff.

Thank you for a delicious meal. 🌻“

“Korean food so good it almost made a grown woman cry. Our many thanks to the staff for their kindness, attention to detail, and delicious food!

We ordered the sundubu jjigae, bulgogi kimbap, seafood pajeon, and fried chicken. The jjigae was especially great - pure comfort in a bowl!“

“We had a fabulous dinner last night at Chicago Kalbi with Cummins Peru, Komat'su, and the VPs from Antimina copper mine.

Such a great place, where you cook the wagyu & kobe beef at your table. The food was delicious ?

Isao Tozuka, the chef and his wife Chiyo-san, are fabulous hosts, very friendly, and really happy to help and show you how things are do e.

I would definitely recommend coming here. It's a unique place. Make sure you book though ad it can be busy.“

“been here a few times, each is better experience that the last, attempt to try most of their items on menu. So far, my favorite is their Mango smoothies with cloud cheese, as drink. Their cloud cheese is really good and a balance of salty taste with the sweetness of the mango, the tapioca in the drinks is plentiful but not overpowering the water content. I had it in other Chinatown restaurants, some had too many tapiocas that my teeth were tired chewing them. Cuckoo is not. Their Don (Japanese rice bowls) and their bibimbap (Korean rice bowls) are excellent. Have not decide which is better because each have their own uniqueness and tastes; I had 2 types of their bibimbap before and only 1 type of their Don. So far, I am leaning towards the Don but there is excellent amount of veggie in their Bibimbap, which is ideal for weigh concise person. Wish they have a loyal customer rewards style of drinks incentives, much like some restaurants, for example, buy 9 and get 1 free drink, or some % off after 5 drink purchases, and give customers an advertisable nice pocket size reward card to keep track of their purchases. That may also work with food item purchases as well. Crossing my fingers that this may happen soon. With summer in Chicago, cool refreshing drinks is ideal and as loyal customers, return for more drink purchases with rewards will be even better.“

“Our Saturday lunch at Rice’N Bread was great. They have a tight menu of Korean and Western diner style food. We had the Buldak and Spicy Yang Nyum Chicken that were generous portions with rice and coleslaw and very tasty. Efficient service. Well priced. The washroom situation is a little different, walking through the tight kitchen. There is a liquor store next door for BYOB. A great find in the neighborhood. No frills, just good authentic food.“

“Parachute is one of my top ten favorite restaurants I’ve ever been lucky enough to enjoy! I think a lot about Chef Kim’s gem lettuce and fish sauce salad, I still Remember it four years later! I can’t wait to go back and to check out Wherewithall!!“

“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.“

“I've been to many Korean BBQ's within the states and I have to say this was the best customer service we received. This place is pricey for the small portions you get. I'd definitely come back for the service tho.“

“Wonderful food & service! Highly recommend!“

“We visited Dancen on a Saturday night and it was super busy but we got seated at the bar immediately! Got a front row view to the grill and service was great.

It was our first time here and we were blown away by the food - everything had so much flavor and want too spicy. Truly incredible, every dish was amazing. We got the fire chicken with cheese, spicy rice cakes, spicy pork skin, and the seafood pancake. The pancake was our favorite but you truly can’t go wrong. Will definitely be back!!“

“I mean, it’s just real.
There’s a limited menu, and what I got was the spicy beef and vegetable soup. Amazing flavor, only obstacle is not burning myself eating too fast. Seems like most of the other dishes are the more nutritious and rich sullungtang-style soups that can be less flavorful, so if you’re looking for a soup with more spice mine was i n c r e d i b l e. comes with banchan and the little grandma watching k-dramas in the back room. this place has amazing food and reviews to match yet never seen more than 1 group in here at a time. it’s like a magic place that picks you, not the other way around. if cho sun ok is the legendary place for korean barbecue, this is the legendary place for korean soup.
(i will say as someone with a dietary restriction i was a little scared because there was almost no information provided whatsoever. so for anyone wondering about gluten free, the soups come with glass noodles, probably made from sweet potato)“

“Definitely one of the best burgers I’ve had!“

“Authentic made by family Korean food. Consistently good food and service.“

“I really enjoyed both the Bulgogi Soy Pork and the Jeyuk Spicy Pork! The portions were generous, the prices were very reasonable, and the owner was incredibly friendly. What I loved the most was how quickly the food was prepared—I received my order in about five minutes. Even after bringing it home and eating it 30 minutes later, it was still warm and delicious. I truly appreciate the excellent quality at such an affordable price and would highly recommend it!“

“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.“

“Specialty Korean restaurant that offers several classic Korean dishes for a competitive price.

The restaurant has plenty of seating parties between 2-4 people.

The chicken bento box was a good value for the portions but it could've used a little more spice in the chicken bulgogi.

The service was consistent and the food came out promptly.

There is limited street parking. This restaurant is best accessed by public transit or by foot.“

“I loved this place! Excellent food and service. Very friendly atmosphere. Store front is well lit and nicely organized. Our table was clean. The plates were very nice.
Only room for improvement may just be deep cleaning aspects. Otherwise, I will be coming back for the authentic food!“

“KFIRE spicy BBQ sauce is delicious. I use it on everything from chicken to steak. I highly recommend it.“

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

“During my visit, the limits of my spice tolerance were tested and thoroughly surpassed. Despite the weakness of my taste buds, the food was delicious! The service was great, too - the waiter who served me very kindly helped me decide between two dishes and explained the differences between them. I had the tteokppoki and the soon dubu jjigae. I want to visit again sonetime to try the scallion pancake and the kimchi fried rice.“

“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.“

“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.“

“I finally tried CM after years of walking by it and it was fantastic. I walked in and ordered the Curry Chicken to go. Took about 10 minutes and I sat down at the bar for a beer while I waited. Service was great and will definitely be going back.“

“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.“

“Second time at Seoul Taco in Lakeview and it absolutely delivered again. I ordered the two chicken tacos and the elote bites, and everything was incredible. The spice level, fresh chives, tender chicken, and the sauce all came together perfectly. The flavors are bold and balanced, and every bite hits. If you're in the area and want something unique, this Korean-Mexican fusion spot is a must. I’ll definitely be back.“

“A true hidden gem for comforting, home-style Korean food, tucked inside Joong Boo Market and reminiscent of a classic Korean food stall. It’s no-frills, just hearty dishes with great quality at an excellent value. We especially loved the codfish soup and tteokbokki. It’s always a treat to grab some groceries and enjoy a quick bite at the snack corner.“

“After a day of hiking within the Indiana Dunes National Park, my friends and I came here under the recommendation of one of us within the crew who was from Korea, referencing this establishment as her favorite Korean restaurant in Chicago, and it did not disappoint. We ordered some dishes that I normally wouldn't order in Korean restaurants, and it was the right move.

I am certain that the fact we were hungry played a role in elevating the taste for us, but everything to me tasted good. The free pancakes were too oily for me, and the free banchan was good in the most standard manner. The short ribs (galbi) didn't have enough salt on it, but had enough pepper which helped preserve some of the taste. Since it was Korean beef short ribs, I was already happy just having some available. These are just the dishes that I felt less passionate about relatively.

Apart from the dishes mentioned above, everything else was a hit. The charbroiled mackarel had really good flavor along with just the right level of crispiness, and adding a hint of lemon juice gave it a new level of flavor that elevated the dish even more. The pan broiled octopus dish had really tasty base sauce, which had a good amount of gochugaru and probably gochujang. I even mixed some of the base sauce with extra rice. The beef soup with ox blood contained solid blood chunks that had very good texture, and the soup itself was seasoned very well. Finally, the babyclam soup noodle wasn't too salty, and had the right type of ingredients to make this dish a very comforting experience after a long day of hikes in the winter season.

I noticed that some of the reviews mentioned that it was difficult to locate a spot. That wasn't my experience. The store was nearly empty when my friends and I arrived on a Wednesday evening at roughly 6pm, and the owner was able to point us to the round table since we had 5 people in total. He was pretty clear about a party of 4 using a rectangular table and a party of above 5 using a round table, in classic Asian grandpa fashion, and I loved it.“

“Great experience, very friendly environment.“

“amazing food and great service“

“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!“

“Was my first time here and I like it! 10.26.2018“

“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.“

“We went to the commerce to eat at a different restaurant and did not have a good experience. Tony D. stepped up and was so willing to help and made us some amazing food! The cauliflower is amazing and the bowl with white rice was perfect. I will definitely be going back when I’m in the area!“

“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 :)“

“Good Buffalo chicken strips and onion rings!“

“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!“

“Wife has gluten allergy, was super excited to find a place that was fully gluten free. 4 of us all ordered various versions of the steak bowls, all 4 of us LOVED the food. Also had an order of the fries which were cooked to perfection. We ordered online for pick up, easy process and was ready 5 minutes earlier than expected. Great service at pickup, super friendly!“

“February 2026 ( the update)

After long 8 years of not visiting we decided to come over and try it again. It was amazing. This restaurant is an Urban Decay Restaurant style type of the venue. In Seoul or Tokyo you will pay a premium $ to experience a fake urban decay, but here it is real - run by real people!
The food was amazing!
The service was brutal by Korwan ladies and amazing equally to the food!
But the atmosphere was one of the best I have experienced from Paris to Doha to Seul to Tokyo and all the way back. I know a spot in Cape Town with the similar vibe (not telling). Open your mind and experience. Be emotionally stable.

8 years ago feom 2026
This is our second time at Cho Sun Ok. BYOB. Super crowded! Bulgoki was excellent. However, pan chan spread was mediocre at best, even kim chi was not good -with no flavor and not correct fermintation. I would go back just for bulgoki.“

“Great server, highly recommended“

“The best coffee shop in Highland Park/Deerfield area! Best customer service and perfect atmosphere for work meeting, reading a book or grabbing coffee with a friend!“