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    Iron Age Korean Steakhouse

    3.9 (774 reviews)
    PriceyKorean, Barbeque, Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Waitlist - Iron Age Korean Steakhouse

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    Iron Age Korean Steakhouse Photos

    Business Info

    IRON AGE KOREAN STEAKHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Iron Age Korean Steakhouse

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    Beef Brisket
    Mark T.

    I'm afraid Shinwa in Chinatown left me spoiled. Iron Age had some big shoes to fill, and I am sorry to say, they were unable to fill them. Don't get me wrong, the experience was fine, but the comparison causes accelerated loss of HP (hit points). I started the experience off with the beef brisket and plain pork belly. No issues with the pork belly, but the brisket was, to my surprise, frozen! Keeping it frozen doesn't affect quality, and it defrosted very quickly on the hot grill, just surprising is all. I also had an opportunity to try the Hawaiian (I don't recall if this was beef or pork). This cut was marinated nicely, and had great flavor after being fired fresh on the grill. The complaint here is that overall, the amount of meat was high. This is fine if you're a group of four, but as one person one can only eat so much. Even though I requested just a little of the Hawaiian, I was still brought out a hearty amount. Other than this tiny quibble, the service at Iron Age was phenomenal! Everything came out fast, and my server was unbelievably kind and attentive. The service staff also did a fantastic job switching out the grill plate frequently to prevent excess smoke or unwanted charcoal flavors from leftover fats or sauces. Speaking of sauces, this is an area where Iron Age vanishes when compared to Shinwa. Provided was a hilarious amount of salt and pepper in sesame oil, spicy mayo, a sweet chili sauce, and a sauce that was nondescript and too watery to adhere as it was. These generally did the job, but left much to be desired. As for the accoutrements (said with a French accent, of course), these didn't quite land for me. Other than the pink pickled daikon, I ate the rest, but not something I would ask for more of. Rather than have these, I would have loved to see some veggies on the grill. Some onion, for example, would have been perfect to cook up on the screaming hot grill. Final verdict (you can probably guess what's coming): Other than the above-and-beyond service, Iron Age falls short of a competitor. Quality, selection, and who could forget sauces is what will have me patronizing a different place.

    Myra Y.

    We came to Iron Age recently to celebrate a graduation in the family. Ordering is pretty straight forward with ordering banchan dishes as needed and 3 meats at a time with the server. The heat on the grills are pretty consistent, but beware of meats with sauces that cause the grills to burn and smile up pretty quickly. However even with that our server was attentive and would refresh as needed. As far as the meats, the pork belly, seasoned steak and the brisket were our favorites this night. We liked the steamed eggs and jap chae as well for the sides. For the restaurant itself the tables were a bit sticky. The overhead systems doesn't do as well controlling the smoke compared to other places I have been. The bathroom had a bit of a unpleasant odor and soap was running low across all dispensers.

    Pork belly
    Abigail P.

    We love Iron Age!!! It's the perfect friend hangout spot! Make sure to come hungry because they have a wide array of protein to select from and you will fill up fast. Gluten Free note: they change out the grill plate every so often so we grill the gluten free meat first and then do a non- GF meat second before they switch the plate. That decreases cross contamination!

    Kay D.

    Overall: Dissatisfied with the cold and dark atmosphere. Service was not super attentive, I felt like I was in a small warehouse building. I do enjoy the food though. Gave 3 stars for the Hawaiian Bulgogi, seasoned steak, and rice. - Would I return?: No, I would much rather go to the Glenview location if I wanted this specific restaurant. That location is vibrant, fun, and more friendly. My Food ---------- * Ordered- "Hawaiian Bulgogi", "Spicy Rice Cake side", "Seasoned Steak", "Vegetable side" * Flavor & Taste- I love the Iron Age Hawaiian Bulgogi so much that I usually order 2 servings. The steak is also delicious. The sauces are great along with vegetables, rice, and other additions. The white rice is excellent in my opinion. * Order again?- Yes, I would order everything again. * Portion Size vs. Price- Around $30 for each person, but I'm always extremely full at the end and feel like it's fair. * Menu Variety- Menu doesn't change much, limited options but the food is great. The Place -------------- * Atmosphere- Cold, dark, warehouse atmosphere * Service- Friendly but not super attentive * Crowd Levels- Tuesday, 7pm, moderate, 5-10 min wait time * Cleanliness- Smelly bathrooms * Location/Parking- In the city, walk through an alley for parking in a strip mall lot.

    After 10 servings
    Lexi R.

    Oh my gracious, how wonderful was it here! So delicious and the server was a darling. Need to take my boys here when they visit

    Gyamfua G.

    Omg...this place is an experience! The ambiance is dark with EDM party videos playing on various TV's. Great place for a date or a large group. Our waiter #23 had an amazing smile, was super fast and super busy. We ordered steak, beef bulogi, Hawaiian seasoned bulogi, pork belly...they were all really good, especially with the sauce provided. The food was really filling and the service great...overall an incredible value and experience!

    Meats mmm

    P good! I wish there were more veggie options or meat breaks, but for the price is was yummy! I do wish there were better sauces though, maybe more spices. The yum yum sauce is kinda cursed. The waiter was nice too lol very chill

    Nadiezhda M.

    Late lunch with my niece and sister. We had a great time cooking and trying all this different meats and vegetables. The service was amazing and the atmosphere was relaxed. I totally recommend this place!!

    Brisket with side dishes
    Eugene B.

    I nice casual AYCE place that's affordable. Since, we did not have reservations, we had a short one-hour time slot which simply had to do given our circumstances. I really liked our server. He went out of his way to make sure we had what we needed. Even though we were coming up on our one our deadline, he never made us feel rushed. Food wise, it was pretty good. I'd like to pay another visit in a more relaxing setting to get into the taste. I was more focused on my daughter. It was her birthday:)

    Seafood and beer.
    Esther C.

    Delicious! Seasoned meat, veggies and seafood bbq! Quick friendly service, Parking in the strip mall, no problem. Yummy!

    George L.

    Iron Age is delicious KBBQ located in a very nice neighborhood in Chicago. The food is fire, and the options are quite extensive. We came in at around 8 but needed to reserve a table which took about 75 minutes. While it was a long wait, we managed to get through after 45 minutes since others seemed to have skipped the line (which was like 14 parties long). Inside is typical of your standard KBBQ menu, you to get 3 meats (raw), cook it on the grill, and chat and wait. We recommend the bulgogi, pork belly, Iron age steak, for your first round, and you can keep ordering more and more rounds once you finish your first offering. Some people like chicken but that takes way longer to cook, in your 2 hour time limit that will take like 30 minutes compared to 5-10 with red meat. You'd get way more rounds in if you go with any red meat. The reason why it's a 4 and not a 5 is because the place had pretty dingy cups that weren't clean. It definitely has had better days, and service is not the fastest when getting to our table. For the price it was fair for its location. Overall, good spot for KBBQ in Chicago. Over

    They refused to seat our party together despite reserving in advance
    Skye A.

    We reserved for a party of 9, ready to throw down some meat and celebrate our friends' birthdays, some of who I hadn't seen in years. Instead, we got seated at two completely separate tables. Surprise! We were just far enough apart to be able to see each other--but not hear a single word, when we asked for a change, they said we couldn't push the tables together due the gas placement. Picture a birthday dinner where you have to yell to hear each other-- Not exactly the communal vibe we were going for. There were clearly long tables in the back that could've worked, but we were told they were "already reserved." Pro tip: If you're going to split a party like it's a family feud, maybe mention that when we book?

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    4 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Great place to be with friends and family. Food is great as portion was good amount , you'll definitely walk out super full and satisfied.

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    2 months ago

    Always the best Korean BBQ in Chicago. We always get pork belly, steak, bulgogi etc. Staffs are super nice especially Monina!

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    5 months ago

    Super delicious, fast quick service. Kind staff. Would absolutely go again and again!

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    Iron Age Korean Steakhouse Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Iron Age Korean Steakhouse

    Any salad bar or dessert bar included?

    no but there is salad on the menu and it's ayce (all you can eat)

    What time does it close on Saturdays. ? Here it says one thing Apple Maps says another.

    11pm

    Is it all you can eat? How much is it per person?

    Yes it's all you can eat (AYCE), $29 for nights and weekends. I can't remember exactly how much for lunch, but less than $29

    What are the different pickled/ fermented dishes that start on the table?

    There's only three on the table, one of them being pickled radish slices to wrap your meat. Don't expect anything extremely amazing from the side dishes.

    How many grills do you get for a party of 4/6 I have been multiple times and the grills are just big enough for 2 people per?

    My party of 10 people got 2 grills.

    Can I dine in alone? Or do they only take parties of 2+?

    You can dine alone. Enjoy!

    I am from LA where they have Gen Korean BBQ, and here they have rice paper. I was wondering if they serve rice paper here to go with the meat?

    I don't think so, I think they just have rice. I've been to Gen KBBQ before and it's probably a whole lot better there. Miss my LA KBBQ!

    Can you make reservations?

    You can call them if you have a party of 10 or more. But other than that, it's first come first served.

    Is proof of vaccination required?

    Yes, they do ask for your vaccine card and your ID.

    Do they really open for an hour a day? On Yelp it says they only open from 11 am to 12 am every day.

    11:00 am - 12:00 am = 13 hours i.e. 11:00 am to midnight

    Is this Zabihah Halal?

    I don't believe so

    How many sides can you order? And how many types of meat? Will they refill everything?

    When it's a smaller crowd (2-4) it's only about 3 plates of meat at a time. When there's a large crowd they're more lenient. You can order as many sides as you want and yes they refill pretty much everything

    Is it BYOB?

    No, but they have a variety of drinks to order from. Their soju cocktails are great!

    Are they open for dine in this week? Trying to make a reservation but they do not pick up the phone, so does anyone else know that do they open?

    They're open now! We had the same issue earlier

    Are you open for dine-in?

    They are

    Do they give the side of cheese corn at this Korean bbq?

    No, they don't unfortunately

    Is it all you can eat? Or how many options do you pick for $30

    It's all you can eat. You can order 3 meats per order.

    Do we need to make reservations due to COVID-19 or is it still a walk in experience?

    Generally walk in since they don't seem to answer the phone

    When will they re open?

    They are open

    Are they open during Covid 19?

    Nope

    View All 38 Questions

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    Recently stopped by Rossi's Liquors and this place is the definition of a dive bar, in the most…read moreauthentic way possible. After a quick ID check at the door, the bouncer let us know it's cash only (thankfully we came prepared). From the moment we walked in, dim lighting, loud music, and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds gave the vibe of a full-on frat party, but not in a bad way. It's chaotic, energetic, and unapologetically no-frills. There's even a self-serve cooler with drink prices clearly listed underneath. I grabbed a Sapporo Premium, brought it to the counter, and our friendly bartender broke our change and offered a chilled glass to pour it into. Simple and efficient. That said, it was loud, so loud that even whispering-distance conversations were a struggle. The space is small, seating is limited, and since we couldn't snag a spot, we ended up leaving shortly after finishing our drinks. This feels like a better weekday hang than a packed weekend night. Still, if you're looking for a classic, gritty, no-frills dive experience, Rossi's delivers exactly that.

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    Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

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    Happy hour $10 sparking rose. fantastic!

    Iron Age Korean Steakhouse - korean - Updated August 2026

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