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. read more

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Authentic (as in truly Korean, not the colloquial meaning of authentic as a synonym for nice or sympathetic) family run noodle and bibimbap shop. Too clean (Korean clean if you know what I mean) to be called a hole in the wall, but it's certainly not fancy. Service is very good, but in a Korean sense, they don't do the fast rushed obsequious style of mainstream American places. Generous spread of bancha, that warming hot corn tea in season gratis, I so wish we had authentic Korean in Milwaukee. You get a small free Korean pancake but the fresh to order seafood pancake is better. Love the noodle soups here. read more

Ban Po Jung - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Although I enjoyed the banchan, the service was slow and inconsistent. We were lucky to grab the last table in the restaurant during lunch. Our orders were placed quickly but we waited for 30 minutes before anything came out. Other tables received barley tea and side dishes as they waited while we sat quietly. The side dishes came out with our mains and we had to wave someone down to get some tea. *Banchan: came with a selection of bean sprouts, potato salad, sesame cucumber, cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, traditional cabbage kimchi and fish cakes. The vegetables were crisp and seasoned well. The kimchi had good gochujang flavoring and fermentation. The potato salad and fish cakes offered subtle sweetness and creaminess. *Kimchi Jjigae: on the saltier side. Could be a bit more tart and strong with the kimchi. This had a similar profile to Korean bean stew as opposed to kimchi stew as there was some acidity missing. The included tofu was also on the denser side. *Soy Marinated Crab: very little meat. The marinade was predominantly soy sauce and it was missing fragrance from onions, peppers, and apples. The bodies of the crabs lacked any filling and extremities were poorly handled. It was difficult to enjoy any of the flesh given how chopped up the parts were. The entrees unfortunately had one dimensional flavors and only the side dishes were worthwhile. The poor and slow service just worsened the overall experience. read more

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A very home-y Korean restaurant with authentic dishes!! Love the free pajeon appetizer. The Korean members of my extended family love to come here, and for a good reason. The soups are hearty and comforting, and the radish kimchi is especially delicious. Heads up that this place is cash only. read more

Food:The food has a very homestyle taste--cozy and comforting. It truly feels like a home-cooked meal. Btw, the small pancake appetizer is my favorite and it's free!!! Ambiance: Cozy. My Korean friend shared with me that the restaurant has been around for 21 years. What's even more impressive is that they haven't raised their prices since the pandemic, unlike most other restaurants. I have so much respect and admiration for their dedication and consistency. Service:When I first walked in, I was a bit confused because no one greeted or attended to us. The owner seemed more focused on his phone than running the business, and I almost missed out on trying their amazing pancakes and noodles. However, once we sat down, things improved. The lady came out and asked us in Korean if the food was tasty, which completely turned my mood around. Price: $32 for 2 and stuffed read more

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We loved the food here ag this mom and pop! The seasoning was perfect. The chilled noodle was delicious. The beef w ox blood soup was also delicious. We had one of the freshest bonchan and also I got a plate of seafood pancake which was crispy on the outside and soft and tasty on the inside! The restaurant was empty when we arrived but noticed there were a lot of carry out orders. The food came out super quick and the owner highly praised the chilled noodle which was def delicious. read more

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Nice little Korean place. Modest but clean. Good service. And you know it's good because most of the clientele are Asian. My fave is the Bi Bim Bap, with all the pickled side dishes. but also have enjoyed the seafood pancakes and more. Whenever I have a job that's either near there or it's easy for me to stop in for lunch on my way to or from a job. I'll go there. read more

Ban Po Jung - BiBimBop with side dishes, seafood pancake, soup - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'd been meaning to dine in at this hidden gem for a while and finally found the opportunity to last Saturday. It's probably the closest to feeling like im actually in a local restaurant in Korea that I've been able to find in Chicago. I believe it's a small restaurant run by an older husband and wife. They're both so sweet, checked in on me as I enjoyed my meal, and offered PLENTY of additional food as an added bonus. I ordered the raw marinated crab in soy sauce and received that alongside a complementary 파전(savory pancake), 된장찌개(soybean stew), and plenty of 반찬(side dishes). I was so full by the end and had to take some home with me! I will definitely be back!!! read more

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Whole in a wall, family-owned, down to earth, no frills Korean restaurant - very delicious flavours and the sweetest owners! I really loved how warm they are to their customers. Portion sizes were good and side dishes were also delicious. A little out of the way if you're travelling from the loop but definitely worth checking out! read more

Ban Po Jung - 57. KKo-ri-jjim() - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The free appetizer (haemul pajeon) is always a pleasant surprise! It was SOO crispy! I have been wanting to try the dakbokumtang (very large portion) forever and finally found a friend to share it with. It was so flavor and mild spicy! The vegetables were nice and soft and chicken cooked through. Got to enjoy some more at home! I do wish this came as a soup option for solo dates. read more

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This place is amazing. Chung Gook Jang was absolutely incredible. Also their side dishes are so good too. read more

Ban Po Jung - Chung Gook Jang - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was delicious came out fast and hot. I ordered the bulgogi. The picture shown is how it came out. I was definitely full!!! Great place to go !!! will come back again. Lovely mom and pop restaurant!!! I have only photo of my sides but ate most of that too. Came for lunch. Will come again read more

Ban Po Jung - Sides for the bulgogi!! Ate all of the bulgogi good size will definitely get full. Went here for L3. Bul-go-gi Lunch Special () - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We were a few out-of-towners who were craving Korean food. Found this on Google and tried it out. Service was friendly by the male owner who welcomed us and also served us. There was a homey feel to the place probably because most of the customers at the time seemed to have a personal relationship with the male owner. Food-wise, nothing to complain about. Appreciated the complementary seafood pancake which came out crispy and hot! Standard variety of side dishes. Prices were pretty reasonable as well. Pleasant experience. read more

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Sometimes the best Korean food is the hole in the wall, mom & pop run restaurants in a strip mall. Ban Po Jung is a hidden gem. HUGE portions. Highly recommend the Korean Seafood Pancake - crisp on the outside, chewy and savory with perfectly paired sauce Beef & chicken bulgolgi that comes with all thr bonchon! Enough to share and extremely affordable. All meals come with hot tea & soup! Lovely service that's quick and attentive. Will def be back! read more

Ban Po Jung - 4. Haeimul-pa-jeon() - Korean pancake with seafood - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ban Po Jung serves up homemade-style Korean food that's incredibly comforting. The Banchan was refreshing, and they even offer a complimentary pancake! Among the dishes we ordered, the Naengmyeon stood out with its refreshing and well-flavored clear beef broth; the charbroiled mackerel was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the fried kimchi & pork belly had a great kick of spice, balanced with tofu pieces. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and definitely look forward to coming back for more. read more

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This Korean restaurant is a hidden gem. We ordered soft tofu soup, streaming potstickers, kalbi, bulgogi beef, and spicy marinated blue crabs. These dishes are great. Taste like Korean home cooking food. This is the first time I tried the spicy marinated blue crabs. The husband and wife that serve us were nice. Service is friendly There is plenty of parking space in the front of the restaurant. read more

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Food is super good and will make you full. Traditional food from Korea Uncle is kind and friendly. You can not understand what's he saying read more

Ban Po Jung - Love the rice, love the beef sauce - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place felt so authentic! As a Korean, I loved how this felt like the hole in the wall Korean restaurants you'd find in Korea that serve the best food. The interior was simple and looked like the older restaurants in Korea run by families for generations, but those are the places that serve the best food. The owner was a lovely Korean grandpa who was so sweet and kind to me. He saw how I was by dining myself and was just so kind to me. He felt like another Korean 할아버지 to me! I ordered the 청국장 (chung guk jang) and it hit the spot. The funky, fermented soybean smell and taste really felt comforting and as if I was back home or in Korea again. The service was quick and perfect size and portion for the lunch special! The side dishes were fine, but nothing to rave about. Still, the kimchi was refreshing and that's all that mattered. 9.5/10 for food, service, and overall read more

Ban Po Jung - 15. Chung-guk-jang() - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

MY CHICAGO HIDDEN GEM! The people here are so sweet, and they always serve the best meals and provide amazing service! I don't think any other place can beat this one when it comes to yukgaejang! Korean food can be pricey, but they keep it really affordable! Plus, they give a free pancake appetizer too. read more

Solid choice for some quality food. Had the bimbibop, ox blood soup and kalbi. It was all so good and the price was right. It was nice to eat at this friendly place. read more

Walked in at 8:10 but Kitchen closes at 8pm just FYI for people. Was super sad because we drove 40 minutes to get to the restaurant /: wish they would've at least allowed us to get to go. read more

This is definitely your go to place for simple Korean food. It is a small family owned restaurant. I see the same person cooking and serving this place the past 8+ year. You don't go here for great service and ambiance, you go here because they make you feel like you are in someone's home and they are serving your their home cooked meal , and your mostly funny uncle (depending on his moods) serving you. The food is good and consistent and they are reasonably priced. Today I went back for and decide to try spicy marinated raw crabs. The thought of eating raw crabs was kind of scary but if I have to try it for the first time I want to try at the place I trust. Luckily, they also have it there. It was very well seasoned and a bit on the salty side, but and I enjoyed eating it. I ate it all and finished all my rice. read more

Ban Po Jung - Spicy raw marinated crab.. so much flavor!!! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Not many place in Chicago area offers good Korean Marinated Raw Crab. They have soy sauce version and red chili sauce version. I had the red spicy version, the crabs were fresh and tasty. Seafood stew was fine. The portion was generous. Side dishes were good and the free Korean pancake was surprise. Service was good and the place was casual and comfortable. I'll come back for the marinated raw crab. read more

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They have delicious dishes. Love their marinated crab! Yum. I see many older korean people frequent it, so it's a good sign the dishes are authentic. Or i love the minari! read more

I really really wanted to like this restaurant, but my experience with the food here have been exceedingly average. The ambience is very cute and it's clear it's a mom and pop shop. Service is efficient but nice. There were lots of locals eating here when I last visited for lunch. I ordered the clam kalguksu and it sadly only contained two (TWO!!) small clams. The noodles did appear to be hand made though - so that was nice! The banchan were also a little over salted for my taste. Overall, good enough for when the hankering hits and when you're looking for a mom and pop atmosphere, but there are better options. read more

Ban Po Jung - a bowl of soup on a table - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really hate leaving a bad review for a mom/pop kind of place, but in the same token, some times these places feel they can do dishonest business without any accountability, and I think our experience tonight needs to be shared. Happened to be in the area today and called in a pick-up order at 4:30pm well before the dinner rush, with two kiddos in tow. The owner is an older Korean guy who's run this place for years, took our order by phone - we ordered a den jang jigae, bulgogi, pajeon seafood pancake, and a soondubu with added pork. Arriving to pick up my order, the owner jotted down a bunch of numbers and charged me $61, then gestured his head over to the table where my order was sitting without saying anything. There were no other carry out orders. I don't expect an effusive thank-you but basic courtesy for paying customers isn't an unreasonable standard... I knew at that moment it would be wise to check my order but with two kids in the car with my husband, I wanted to be quick and jetted out. My mistake. Note- DO NOT GIVE THIS DISHONEST OWNER THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, AND CHECK/DOUBLE CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE LEAVING. We don't live in the area so by the time I got home, it was an hour after we had left - the order was completely wrong, and worst of all the entire soondubu was missing. He charged me extra for the pork in this dish, and yet the entire dish wasn't even in there. What makes this guy dishonest is the fact that I immediately called this place upon discovering the issue, and he has screened my phone calls all night long. There is no one else who picks up the phone at this place, this dude KNOWS he messed up my order and worse, is hiding and unwilling to correct the issue. We're down $61tonight but what's worse is feeling like someone deliberately stole from us. Again, I want to support mom/pop places but this dude literally thinks he can do dishonest business and not face up to it bc there's no accountability for him. Plus the arrogance and basic rudeness shown to paying customers... the only way to make this right would be to show up in person to confront him and he is chancing it that we aren't crazy people who would actually do that and worse. There's a special place for people who cheat customers deliberately. Hope this guy gets what he deserves. read more

Ban Po Jung - $16 for what was supposed to be soondubu with extra pork... instead got bland crushed tofu soup. Owner refuses to correct - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sadly, the food and customer service have really gone down hill in the past few years. Perhaps it's because we are not Korean and we are therefore treated differently. For example, we got water instead of tea. The dumplings were pretty burnt. We asked for the dumpling soup with rice cake without eggs and it came out with eggs. When we asked for it to be served without the eggs, they strained some eggs out and left some back in. Overall, it was a disappointing experience. I'm sure the service will be better if you were Korean. read more

Ban Po Jung - Burnt dumplinga - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good Korean food in a cozy setting, although I wish they turned the tv down because the Korean version of American Idol was turned up way too loud while you're trying to eat. Portions are good, you get a free veggie pancake to start off, which was a nice touch I haven't seen at other places. The banchan was good and plentiful. We ordered kalbi, beef bulgogi, cold noodles with sushi (mostly raw marinaded crab), and the seafood pancake (wouldn't have ordered if we knew we got a free app). Everything tasted good, and service was decent. read more

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We ordered delivery and everything came packaged nicely. The food was fresh and great quality. The free side dishes are generous portions! (I wish they included the potato salad) The rice cake and dumpling soup is light and tasty, but I recommend eating it all while it's fresh (reheating will be disappointing bc the soup gets absorbed into the rice cakes and loses its chewiness). The kimchi, tofu and pork soup is flavorful, and the beef mandus are fried perfectly. Definitely would order again and try some meat dishes! read more

Ban Po Jung - 1. Goon-mhan-du(), 30. Dduk (mahn-doo) guk(), 25. Kim-chi-jji-gae() - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The owner CAN speak English, but he refused to speak it and pretended he can't speak English. Extremely racist and didn't want us to dine in. Just kept us waiting at the door. RUN fast as u can if u r not a Korean read more

Small mom and pop restaurant. Great find. The service and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.

Very disappointed with the service. They refused to seat or serve us because we didn't speak Korean, even though we used a translator and tried to communicate politely. There were clearly empty tables, so space was not the issue. This kind of discrimination is unacceptable. read more

The lunch special menu lured me. Great pricing for all you get. Bulgogi is nicely seasoned, not too salty. Perfect, nor overwhelming, portions. Banchan side dishes are tasty and the owner couple older gentlemen and wife are very friendly... Lady was happy to see we finished mostly every side dish in addition to our entrees. Our dishes sat morsel-less. All the kimchi wiped out, along with several second helpings. Their barley tea, with its delicate flavor, felt like home sweet home. A rush of childhood memories rush in when I bring it to my mouth. Complementary soup was light and flavorful. Simple decor, tv in the background and single diners thoroughly enjoying their feast of side dishes complementing their entrees. I come back to dine in and take-out is so very nice. All the side dishes are included as well. Going back to try the grilled mackerel. Been craving it. Maybe will try the neng myun. read more

This is the quintessential mom & pop restaurant. Like literally owned by a mom and pop, as there was an old man working the front a while and old woman was cooking in the back. They had a TV on playing Korean news in the background. When we arrived for dinner, there were a lot of people but we did notice a lot of pick up orders being placed. This restaurant is on DoorDash and I think that works to their benefit as many delivery people stopped by during our meal. We ordered the seafood casserole and stir fried octopus. While the seafood stew had plenty of fresh seafood ranging from crab, shrimp, fish and mussels, the broth was severely lacking. It was pretty bland so I was a tad disappointed there. However, the octopus was delicious and flavorful, and the banchan that they gave was very classic of an old-school Korean restaurant. We had some leftovers so that was nice. I would maybe come back here again but probably order something else. I would stick to their smaller dishes than order a large casserole again. read more

Ban Po Jung - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'd been missing a Korean restaurant on Bryn Mawr near Kedzie that closed a couple years ago that I'd loved for Bi Bim Bop with all the pickled side dishes. Yesterday I was on my way home from a job in Humboldt Park and did a Yelp search for Korean restaurants near me and found this little gem on Foster. It's a small family run place. No frills interior but clean and bright. And they had my favorite as a lunch special, Bi Bim Bop for a very reasonable price and all the trimmings. Generous proportions and when I told her that, I was so glad to find this place after losing my old go to lunch spot, she said, "let me know if you need any more"... Offering to add to my already generous meal. But I didn't need it, I was full. The husband and wife team running the place were friendly and gracious, and the wife even sat down with me and chatted with me while I ate,after visiting another couple from out of town also in for the first time. They have a new regular now. read more

For authentic Korean food, this place is good. THEY served raw crab marinated in soy sauce! It looks like a mom-and-pop restaurant and you know it is good when you have older Korean customers come in. I tried their Soleyuntang (sp) and my daughter had galbitang and for the price, I can't complain. They have barely tea, soju and soda for drinks. This place is not a high class priced place but very good and authentic Korean dishes. I say, go there and try, it will be worth your time. read more

Ban Po Jung - Ban Po Chung signage - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Hit up the suburbs for authentic Korea food as friend have suggested. It's a mom and pop shop run but a Korean grandma and grandpa. I'm all smiles when I walk in and see the big TV showing the Korea news. The grandpa is making conversation with a table of other Korean grandparents that you can tell are long time friends. Another group of grandparents come in and it's like another family reunion of greetings and banter. Seems like a social spot for the local Korean ajimas and halmeonis and halabeojis. Food (8/10): We ordered a seafood pancake only to find that there are complimentary pancakes (same thing but with no shrimp or squid basically). A more fried and oily take rather than the more doughy versions I've had. I actually prefer it more fried and crispy. Kalbi ribs - was pleasantly surprised by the kalbi. A classic dish. This was above average as the meat was tender and not too fatty and chewy which often happens. Seafood stew - has an exciting presentation that makes you feel as if you're feasting. Served in a broad pot that makes it look extravagant. Labeled on the menu to be for 2 people. Looks like it can feed 4. It's rather shallow though so will feed 2 hungry souls. You can definitely share amongst 3 if you also eat the complimentary pancake and banchans with rice served on the side. The variety of seafood is there and we'll balanced. I would order again. Value (7/10): Pretty fair pricing if you consider the side dishes and pancake. Comes out to about $15-20 per person after tax. Service/Ambience: Again very authentic Korean mom and pop shop feel. It's funny bc the service is actually not so good in the sense that we had to wait to take our order, pay the check, etc. But bc it was run by Korean grandparents serving their friends and chitchatting I wasn't surprised. It's not a commericalized vibe with commercialized consumer demands. It's like coming into their house to hangout and grab a bite. read more

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Stopped by while on a road trip to the west coast at the strong recommendation of the Yelpers. Oh how I have never been more disappointed with a 4.5 star Yelp rating! Service is clearly the best thing about BPJ. Wonderfully pleasant people providing the service. Prompt and courteous. As for the food, only positive is that the ingredients appear and taste fresh, but that doesn't make it delicious! NO FLAVOR! Everyone (5 folks at my table) were adding soy AND hot sauce to get something appetizing. I ate everything as served, a total bore. The chicken was very dry despite being in various sauces. What a waste of $75. Sorry, the Yelpers are clearly wrong on this one! read more

great authentic mom-and-pop korean restaurant! Great food at amazing price. sometimes they even give you fried pancake as free appetizer (we have also seen fried whole fish sometimes). the sizzling pots are all pretty good, we particularly liked the intestine one, the soup is very tasty, and the noodle is great the bulgogi as well as the beef short ribs are very good read more

It's just okay. Definitely authentic Korean food however not too much of a wow factor. We ordered naengmyeon (cold noodles) and bulgogi along with spicy raw marinated crab. The crab was just okay unfortunately and it had a couple fishing lines in it... side dishes were meh. Service was meh. It overall was okay. read more

Ban Po Jung - Cold noodles, bulgogi and raw marinated crab - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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