The food court was definitely poorly lit and dining area was depressing. But with that said, this review is based on the availability & quality of the cuisine in the Loop area. It is always encouraging to find that majority of the patrons are Asians when going to an Asian food place. Ordered the P1 Dac Biet for $7.45: Broth, noodles, scallions, onions, steak, flank, tripe, and brisket. The bowl is large, there is ample amount of noodles and broth. There is probably 2 slices of steak, flank, & brisket with a small quarter size amount of tripe. The price for this is pretty low considering the location, but high considering the lack of protein. The noodles were cooked perfectly. The broth, while most yelp description has been "light & tasty" , I would argue that it's a pretty weak broth. The soul of pho is the broth and you want to have the subtle hints of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, and star anise in the broth. In addition, you get a small plate of bean sprouts, lime, jalapeño, and cliantro to add on your own. If you have a need for pho, this will fill your stomach, but not the craving. The plus side is when you leave the cafe, felling full... you don't smell like the broth. read more

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Great mom-and-pop shop in the food court basement of a building! Perfect for lunch breaks at work and the recent colder weather. My friends and I got their varying types of pho and we all loved it, especially the flavor of the broth. It was exactly what we needed and hit the spot, and it was also quite filling. They served the food quickly and I would love to try their Korean dishes in the future as well. Highly recommend! read more

Green Apple PHOever - P9: Pho Tal - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Having recently moved to Chicago for graduate school (therefore explaining my Yelp hiatus), I was craving some Korean food. In Hawaii, it wasn't very difficult to just drive to the nearest Yummy's or So Gong Dong, but in Chicago, Korean restaurants are pretty limited. It was also the perfect time to try something new since my girlfriend was visiting during her spring break. Despite the gloomy weather, she and I caught the pink line and got off at the Clark/Lane stop, just a few meters away from our destination. It was a good thing that we read prior Yelp reviews before arriving because there weren't any outdoor signs indicating this eatery's location. On the street corner where Popeye's, McDonalds, and Subway were located, my girlfriend and I entered this foodcourt. On the second floor of this dimly-lit foodcourt, was Green Apple. We approached the counter and viewed the limited menu selection. There were typical Korean goodies including bibimbap, japchae, and boogolgi, but there was also a selection of Vietnamese pho. Having just been rained on, a nice hot bowl of pho sounded rather decent. My girlfriend proceeded to order the japchae and beef bibimbap (choice of beef or chicken bibimbap). The friendly worker took our order and handed us a number placard to place upon our table so that they could deliver it to us when our food was ready. We found a small red table for two to sit down and patiently waited. Within five minutes, our orders came. The bibimbap came first and although it was presented inside a large take-out container, it wasn't filled to the brim as one might expect. Instead, there was about a scoop or rice with beef and colorfully chopped vegetables. There was also a side of gochujang, a Korean hot paste to mix with the bibimbap. Although the portion size was small, the flavor and freshness of the vegetables definitely made up for it. Next came the japchae. Again, it came in a large take-out box and only two sections of the take-out box were filled. This time, the large portion of the box was filled with a huge serving of japchae noodles and a small portion had a few cucumbers and lettuce. The main star of this entree was definitely the japchae--seasoned with enough sesame oil so it wasn't too overbearing, the right amount of vegetables for that added crunch, and a peppering of sesame seeds. The small salad was not worth eating especially since there was this fruity salad dressing that it was tossed in. Lastly was the pho. For $8, there was a generous serving of pho. It came in a large bowl accompanied with the garnishes of lime, bean sprouts, and parsley. It also came with hoisin sauce and hot sauce to add to the soup. The broth was full of flavor and had a very clean taste. And although the meatball was a typical spaghetti meatball, the slices of beef were generous. All in all, this was a terrific experience. I will definitely frequent this place more when I crave Korean food. read more

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This place gets the job done for a lunch time pho spot. The pho won't be the best you've ever tasted, but it's still yummy. The line is fast and efficient. I personally like to get the pho dac biet each time since the brisket is always warm and tender. Pro tip- bring your own bowl to save the extra $2 to-go charge. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Pho dac biet to go - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food court and its location is a turn-off but that isn't going to stop me from my search for acceptable Asian food in the Loop. Green Apple is run by Koreans. I think that's a trustable sign. I had the beef bibimbap for $7 and my friend had the pho for $8. Both portions are standard and rather generous, considering its downtown location. My bibimbap was served in a large plastic, carry-out container even though I had it dine-in. It had the usual contents of beef, cucumber, zucchini, spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, and semi-fried egg. The egg was slightly over-fried and the rice was a tidbit dry. The mildly spicy sauce served on the side was a good compliment to the dish. Certainly not the best bibimbap but it will do. read more

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This was a decent but unremarkable pho in an underground food court that is probably in need of some renovation. I knew from other reviews that it was in a food court so my expectations were pretty reasonable for ambiance. First, the menu prices have gone up significantly since the most recent menu photos were taken. The photos show all the pho dishes under $10. They're more like $15-$16 now. It took a while to order because nobody was at the counter or noticed us for a while. The food came out pretty quickly, less than five minutes. My pho was fine. The chicken was shaved pretty thin and there was not too much of it, but the noodles and plate of cilantro and bean sprouts were fresh. It was a bit bland, even after I added all the lime, jalapeño, oyster sauce and sriracha provided. My friend really liked her beef dish with cellophane noodles though. I had to get a to-go container for my leftovers, and that also took some time because nobody was manning the counter, and when the guy did come over, he was focused on something going on opposite the counter and didn't notice me. Overall, it was okay. You could probably do better, but this was close to our Air BnB. I would have walked farther if it meant better pho. Too pricy to be average, too average to be a destination. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Chicken P4. Pho Chicken - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Second time coming here for lunch and I brought along some co-workers this time to try pho for the first time. Located in the basement of some building, Green Apple is one of 3 restaurants. We arrived after noon on a Friday (big mistake), the line was at the door and we waited for probably 10 minutes before we reached the front. I ordered the Pho Tai (rare beef but here they call it steak pho), one co-worker tried the pho Tai, and another co-worker tried the chicken and vegetables. I have ordered the Korean before and I do not recommend it- no flavor and definitely not spicy. The broth was good and the noodles were the right amount of chewiness. However the beef was not cooked well done by the time it came to me. I'm used to pho Tai actually being rare beef. My coworker who tried pho Tai for the first time loved it My coworker who ordered the chicken and vegetables was enjoying her meal until she found a black hair in there, her hair is not black at all. They were going to make her a new dish, but she had lost her appetite so they did give her a refund and let her choose a free drink. If you work in the loop and are craving Vietnamese food this is a good stop. If not, I recommend just heading up to Argyle for Vietnamese food. After tax my bowl of Pho was 11.02$ read more

Green Apple PHOever - Pho Tai. Vegetable plate (bean sprouts, cilantro, - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My go to lunch spot. I love it. Every time I crave KBBQ I go to green apple. Everything is amazing.

This was my first time visiting! I ordered using the Ritual App and my food was ready when I got there. I ordered the beef bibimbap and although the flavors were good, my meat was a little tough. I also ordered a side of kimchi and it hit the spot! The flavors were all there and I really liked the chili paste it came with! I will have to try the pho next time! read more

Went back for the first time since 2013! The broth in the meatball pho is delicious. I asked the cashier if the meatballs were beef or pork, and it took him a while to choose which meat to tell me they were. After I started eating the bowl, I know why he didn't know....I'm pretty sure these are frozen swedish meatballs. Nonetheless, the pho was tasty and the portions were just as huge as they were years ago. read more

OH MY GOD!!!! I was skeptical at first because I wanted the beef pho, and the menu said the beef is rare. I'm not a fan of rare anything so when i placed my order i asked if it could be well done. The order taker didn't speak well english, but said ok. To my delight my pho was perfect, noodles were soft but not soggy, broth was very flavorful, beef was cooked no pink and the meatballs were very tasty. I normally don't like spending $10+ on lunch, but it was well worth it. Perfect for a chilly brisk day in Chicago! read more

Green Apple PHOever - Beef Pho - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A great place for a casual quick lunch. The restaurant is located in the basement of the building. The decor is simple and plain. The seating area is super clean and it gets quite packed down there during the lunch rush. The food is fresh and fast like typical Asian food. I got the Beef Bibimbap and thought it was decent for $10 including tax. If you pay cash you get a free bottle of water. It was strange to see lettuce leaves in it and they were kind of brown. As for the rest of the veggies they were pickled and seasoned nicely. The portion is decent and I was pretty full. I would definitely recommend coming here for a quick Korean/Vietnamese fix. They have a decent list of Pho options as well. read more

I'm SO glad I can get my pho fix while living in Chicago downtown. The pho doesn't taste authentic (Vietnamese) but nevertheless, the broth is super clean and good. I like how it's not oily and I don't feel too bloated after. I used to eat here during the summer almost every morning but now I eat here every Saturday morning because of my work schedule. The ahjushi that works there might not appear friendly at first but you jus gotta eat there everyday and I think I made him smirk once. Praise the lord hallelujah that this place opens early. I tried their chicken, galbi tang, pho and kimchi stew. I would say galbi tang and pho are the best here. PLEASE DONT EVER CLOSE!!! read more

Was great pre pandemic but now is the most plan Pho in the city. Will not be back. Bottled water has more flavor.

AUTHENTIC! We were visiting Chicago in this brutal winter weather, and found this gem on yelp. This was exactly what we needed! The flavors tasted like home cooked food; noodle soups came out hot and so delicious. We had a super satisfying lunch ! read more

Green Apple PHOever - Galbi-Tang - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was the best Pho ever! Perfect for these winter days. A delicious way to warm up. I highly recommend. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Chicken Pho with all the delicious fresh trimmings - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was surprised too many people here. After I ate this pho, I understand why people were waiting.Taste is way better than I expected. Line was long, but food came out quick. I will definitely visit again. :^) read more

Green Apple PHOever - P3. Pho Combination - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a hidden gem in an underground food court in the Loop! Got the kimchi stew which was delightful and hot - love when soup is served at the right temp, especially with takeout. And came with deliciously soft white rice. Will definitely be back / this place was bumpin and low key super cool!!! read more

This hidden gem came to me on a hungry lunch day. Downtown can be quite overwhelming with all of the choices you have. Anything you feel like eating seems like it is just around the corner. Which I found to be seriously true. I was this sign affixed on to a building saying "green apple PHOever" with an arrow pointing down into the building. This place is located in the downstairs of a random building so you wouldn't be able to see it from street level. If you blink, you might miss it. I get the special pho, it comes with meatballs and sliced brisket. The only thing I wished was tat it came with more meatballs since mine always comes with just one. The pricing isn't too bad considering that we are downtown. They also serve Korean rice plates such as Bibimbap, bugolgi with rice and veggies. The service is super quick and with all of the accouterments. As you might already know, I enjoy doctoring up my pho and it is conveniently on the table to add to my pho as I please. I like this place and its a great place to go for a quick bite to eat and not too hard on the pockets. Nothing too fancy for lunch, its perfect! read more

For being a Korean fast-casual spot in the Loop, this underground place is good enough for me! I had the bibimbap bowl (about $8.95): The portion size was pretty good, it came with all the classic toppings and the taste was pretty authentic. They also serve kimchi (the spicy pickled cabbage side), but that cost is extra (sad face). This place is not found outside on the street. You'll have to enter a building, follow the signs and go downstairs to find this. It shares space with 2 other fast casual spots. There is probably enough seating for maybe 10-20 people, mostly small tables. The food came out pretty quick, so this was perfect for lunch. read more

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Clean, cozy, delicious, and good price. We came here from the art institute and loved it.

I came here for lunch on a weekday and ordered #1, their traditional pho. I was initially worried it wouldn't be great due to some reviews saying that the pho wasn't very authentic, but I enjoyed it and thought the portion size was quite generous. The flavors of the broth were good and now I don't need to go all the way to Argyle for pho. One thing to note was that on the day I was there, there was a long wait not because they were incredibly busy but because they were having trouble using the credit card machine, and some people who didn't have cash ended up just giving them their card numbers so they could be charged later. The food comes out really quickly once you manage to order, though. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went during lunch break. Saw a lot of people ordering pho but stuck with the basic beef bibambop because I wanted a little more vegetable variety. When I arrived, there was a pretty significant line, but it moved very fast and I got my food quickly to eat at the food court. They have cups for hot water and tea and plenty of seating. Service is polite and friendly. There's also a person cleaning off the tables as people finish, just don't forget to bring the tray and dishes back when done. The food portions are substantial. The bowl was sort of an inverted bibambop - veggies on the bottom, rice piled on top then beef placed on top. I'm guessing this just speeds up the chain. The rice was hot and the beef was lukewarm. The bottom of the bowl had a puddle of broth/juices from the beef, which is different from the usual dry/crispy bibimbaps, but it blends nicely into the rice when mixed. A large bottle of red sauce is given to use. The tables also have Sriracha and hoisin sauce (for the pho mainly). The red sauce has a nice kick, but isn't too spicy - I drowned my rice in it and was fine. The veggies are fresh and well prepared. The beef is stir fried with some onions. The fried egg is a nice over medium/well though has definitely been sitting for a while - has a light sulfur taste. The center is still golden but it's not liquid. The dish does get cold pretty quickly though in the wide, metal bowl. I think kimchi is a side order - sadly it didn't come with my bibambop. Would have loved to get banchans with the order but I can understand that it might not be possible in such a fast pace environment. Definitely would love to come back to try the pho. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Beef bibimbap - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good asian food in the city. I wasn't expecting a basement level cafeteria style restaurant however the lady at the counter was very polite and curious. Food was okay and portions were good. Good place to grab a quick lunch during work. read more

I had a lunch here with my mom We both r so picky about food especially korean food I had kalbitang n my mom had pho Foods were amazing n radish pickles was awesome!!! I will definitely come back when i visit Chicago again!!! read more

Wonderful find! It's located in a basement in the heart of the Loop, but impressive seating area once you get there. There were Vietnamese and Korean options, and we went for the pho when we visited. HUGE PORTIONS. With the price we paid, we really didn't expect the portions that it came in. The taste was nothing super special, but the price/quantity ratio is amazing. We also loved that it seems to be owned & operated by an elderly Asian couple -- we love supporting small local businesses! We went for Saturday lunch. Don't know how the crowds are during week days (especially lunch hours), but considering that most businesses are closed on the weekends in the Loop, this is a good, quick fix if you find yourself in the area on the weekends. read more

Really like the punny name and the pho here. The Korean dishes are a bit on the weaker side, but I really appreciate the radish kimchi

Pho $9.95. For 1 bowl Plus Tax $1.12 = $11.12. I'm wasting my time and my money to eat this place. Because this place is Korean restaurant, it not VN Pho restaurant . Feel like the Korean miso soup with the noodles. horrible test pho read more

Green Apple PHOever - It's not pho - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The first time I was looking for this place, I was so lost and confused. This MIGHT be the only pho place you find in the loop. It's located in the basement floor of an office building so don't be fooled. I've only had the pho here, but they also serve the popular Korean dishes like bibimbap and bulgogi. The service is average. My reason for three stars is the actual food itself. The broth is on the light side and not as fragrant as a bowl you'd get at a legit Vietnamese pho shop. I usually order the Dac Biet and the amount of meat in the soup is a joke. My companion usually orders the chicken and veggies and always has to fish around for any signs of chicken. Yes they do get business, but probably because they are the only ones serving pho in the loop so can't complain too much those days you're craving it. read more

You know it's good (the pho) when its so packed for lunch in such a crappy building. I hope the owners of the building don't kick them out as with all the other tenants that have left. Edit: apparently all the tenants are required to leave as developers are turning the location into a hotel; that is, after these developers are done suing each other for money (see http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestate/20141126/CRED03/141129933/developers-plan-loop-hotel-then-squabble-over-200-000) I hope Green Apple finds a good home. read more

Similar to many other customers, I came here during a work lunch break - because it had a great Yelp rating, I actually walked 15 minutes just to try it. Green Apple offers both Vietnamese (Pho combinations with various toppings) and Korean (Sundubu, Bibimbap, Japchae) options. This review is for the Beef Pho, since I didn't get to try the Korean food. Although the pho was quick and satisfied my cravings for Asian food, it was definitely not as good as Tank Noodle in Argyle. I was disappointed that they were pretty stingy with their portions - the bowl is filled with a lot of broth, but there's a tiny portion of noodles and meat. Although I wouldn't make the trip here again, it's not a bad option for lunch if you're already in the area. read more

Awesome juices in the Pho. I got the chicken pho. The soup turned out extremely hot, the way it ought to be served. The proprietor was exceptionally decent. This little place is located in a building basement food court. The nourishment has dependably been brilliant. It's a pleasant break from the other food courts in the Loop. Mint, limes, sprouts and basil also provided with each pho dish. You can't go wrong with this place, large portions at a good price. read more

This is the second time I've been here and I got basically the same thing. I ordered the pho which wasn't exactly amazing but it works. There aren't many pho places in the Loop and this place almost hits the spot when it's cold and miserable outside. The owners/workers are Korean so Korean food might be a better bet? The service is quite quick though! read more

I wanted to leave Zero star but Yelp doesn't have that option. I'm a Vietnamese so I gave this restaurant a shot, I just ordered Banh mi and it's so bad. Please order only Korean food from this restaurant!!! read more

Blink and you might miss this place. Situated above the Mcdonalds and Popeyes, I've passed by this place who knows how many times but never noticed it until one day, bam! As this place is only 2 mins from my apt I was somewhat disappointed that I had not discovered it as I've been looking for a close by Pho restaurant. The restaurant itself has somewhat of an identify issue, it has a few names over its 2 counters. I believe the one on the right is just for pho whereas the one on the left is for the korean fixings. So ambience, definitely lunch-spot type of feel, you can sit there are eat while looking over the people rushing in and out of the fastfood joints in the plaza below. Food: 1) Pho- broth was good albeit a little cloudy, the beef was tender and delicious, the condiments were right on in terms of amount and freshness and the noodles were pretty good and standard. Now just to find Pho in the loop is already a challenge in itself, so I wasn't expecting the most amazing pho but it was definitely more than good enough to fill that craving. 2) Bibimbap- they have an assembly line setup where they put your choice of meat in a pre-made bibimbap container and slap one some condiments. Now at the time I picked it up it did not look appetizing but after tasting it, I have to say it's alot better than it looks, but by no means great. 3) Spicy Chicken- better than the bibimbap, comes with fried rice. For a nice cheap lunch in the loop you really can't go wrong with this place especially if you're in the mood for some Pho. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really want to like this place and give a good review, but it was very underwhelming. Got the bulgogi on a Friday lunch, for here. The meat came from a warming station, so not made to order. The flavor was very plain and generic. Neither sweet nor salty, nor very bulgogi at all. The portion of meat was satisfactory, but the heap of white rice was not enough. Ran out half way through. Comes with side of garden salad too. No kimchi on the side? Needs it. The white rice was also very poorly done. The quality overall is on par with Lai Lai, and at $10 for the meal, leaves me wishing there was a legit Korean option near the loop. read more

Green Apple PHOever - Bulgogi. $10 after tax - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food taste and quality is consistent with my prior review. This is the only legit Korean/Pho spot, so by default it's the best in the loop. However, prices have gone up, so expect to spend $11 after tax here for an entree, which is sort of obnoxious for a quick lunch. Location is much closer in the Loop center now so that's a plus for me (especially in the winters)! Location is easy to find. read more

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I ordered chicken pho for lunch and was thoroughly disappointed when I brought it immediately to my desk, opened the broth container, and it reeked of a sour smell. Unfortunately, the chicken was either spoiled or they did not contain it properly after cooking because it was a distinct rancid smell. As someone who eats Pho on a twice monthly basis from around Lincoln Park and Uptown, I was sad after my purchase. The one pro I will state is the reasonable price for the portion size. read more

Still not 100% sure what an authentic bibimbop sjould taste like but this was a good version. Lots of rice, veggies and chix made for a very good bowl. Service was fast and the dish was hot and fresh. $10 exactly. This location is in an odd food court in a downtown building and shares space with a Poke spot and LaBamba burrito. The pho looked good . I'll be back. read more

I was so happy to find this place. yah!!!!! The pho was really good (actually better than the one from Vietnamese town, I think) and the owner was very sweet. I will definitely go back. read more