50 Best Korean Restaurants near Riverwoods

“10/10 will come back next year.“

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

“Good food, great customer service“

“CM Chicken in Vernon Hills is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere and music set the perfect vibe, and the lovely gentleman who always serves me makes every visit feel welcoming and personal. I recently discovered this location and I’m already in love—this is my second visit just this week.

You must try the honey garlic chicken (it’s incredible), unless something else on their impressive 10-sauce menu catches your eye—honestly, you can’t go wrong. Everything I’ve had has been fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked.

I truly hope to enjoy this spot for a very long time. Do yourself a favor and stop by to support this fantastic Korean restaurant. Highly recommended!“

“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!!“

“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 😉“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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 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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“Always amazing food and super nice owners“

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

“I’m so happy for that they’re bringing back their original taste, quality and also upgraded menu. New recipes are so yum. Really good. Our whole family loves this place. Also the owner lady’s service is lovely ☺️
If you craving something like sweet and spicy, I highly recommend this one. I love their Tteokbokki, original wings, my kids love their bibimbap, original chicken burger, fries and of course their boba drinks. I can promise their whole menu is so yum 😋.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

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

“​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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“One of the best sushi spots in the suburbs 😍“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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!“

“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“

“We ordered the shrimp fried rice, orange chicken, and honey shrimp. The fried rice was really good — flavorful with a generous amount of shrimp. The orange chicken was excellent, almost perfect — crispy, saucy, and packed with flavor. The honey shrimp had good flavor too, but the texture was way too hard, likely from being over-battered or double-fried.

Overall, it’s a solid spot for Chinese takeout — good portions, tasty food, and friendly service. Definitely a place I’ll keep in my back pocket for when we’re craving takeout again!“