Amazing food! I had the chicken wings and pork belly for appetizers. For entree I had the octopus and scallops bi bim bop bowl. The Kim chi in the bowl totally made it! Every time I come to Chicago I seek out new Korean food and this is the best I've had. My new favorite!! Great service and fun intimate atmosphere. read more

One of my fav spots in the city for Korean food. Authentic, fun vibe and really good food of course! Korean food is my favorite food and Jin Ju does a great job at delivering. I'm a vegetarian and they do an amazing job of accommodating! I order Kimbap and Chopchae and I usually have to ask for the Effie option. This menu has it already on it! Love that!!! Third time ordering food from here and will def be back soon. Thanks to the amazing owner and chefs! Can't wait to be back soon read more

Jin Ju - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was delicious and totally new to me and my girlfriend. Unlike anything we've had before (and we make a point of eating a wide array of cuisine), but I know we'll be coming back for more! Service was great. Our waiter was really nice, gave us lots of attention and answered every question we had about the menu. Great dining experience. read more

I went here for the first time with my cousin and his wife and I was very skeptical about trying Korean food anywhere but a cheap takeout place. I was very impressed firstly by the overall decor, very chic. Also, the drinks were fantastic. I tried the E.O. which is a cucumber martini and I'd probably go back just to get this drink. We had the daily special appetizer which was the Korean take on steak tartare, which was fantastic. I also had a squid dish as my entree (whose name I will butcher, so I won't even try), and this too was great. Overall, great atmosphere and good food and drinks. A little on the pricey side maybe. Has changed my outlook on Korean food, would definitely go again. read more

I was expecting overpriced korean food for white people. Why did I go here? I was STARVING and CRAVING korean food and just happened to drive by... I know... recipe for meal disaster, right? The result? Overpriced for sure, but better tasting (cuz I was starving? maybe.) than I expected. Friendly staff (waiter, host, bartender...), LOVE the pajeon. Like the loungy atmosphere. Good drinks. read more

I give it 4 stars for service but the food was just alright. My Kalbi was so tough I couldn't chew it and ended up spitting half if it out. Luckily, our server was very generous and accommodating asking if I would like anything else instead. Since I pretty much filled up on the little appetizers I said no and he took it off the bill. When I think Korean food, I pretty y much only think of Kalbi. I figure if the Kalbi is good, everything else should be. It was actually the opposite here, the Kalbi wasn't great but the Bulgogi was wonderful! I will definitely be back to try the martini's everyone's talking about and try other stuff. If it weren't for the great service, I don't know if I'd give this place another shot! read more

I like Jin Ju. I have come many times since their opening with a variety of friends and we always have a good time. I like the vibe inside and always have a tasty meal. read more

Expensive Korean food in a very pretty place. And so, sooo good. A great place to go for a splurge. AND, try out a cocktail with the sweet potato vodka - very smooth! read more

We had a drink at the Hopleaf before heading to Jin Jun and I kinda wish we just stayed there for dinner also. The waiter sold us with a ridiculous amount of talk on the steak tartare appetizer. It was good but not enough to continue taking his recommendations. I got the dolsot bi bim bop which was just so-so. The rice never got crusty. The portion was plenty big though. My friend got the chap chae and she loved it. Overall, the food is good. But Im surprised the reviews as high as they are. There are enough other tastier/better priced spots in the area for me not to return. read more

Had reservations but had to wait - who cares when there's room at the bar and delicious cocktails. Once we sat down the server was attentive and helpful. Food was really good. Kinda dark in there but besides that a nice meal. read more

Place rocks. Food is insane and best lollipop wings in the US.

Pros: It's the only contemporary Korean restaurant I've ever heard of in the States. The interior design is sleek, well thought-out and executed. Their cocktail menu includes drinks you will not see anywhere else. I give them a lot of credit just for a good, clean concept. Cons: Food is a little bland and overly spicy. It's like they used red pepper to add flavor rather than really building any base of flavor. For Korean food especially, it seemed that some of their dishes lacked any real layering of flavors. Also, I was rather disappointed with their wine selection. And the martini I ordered was WEAK. Oh, and it is NOT Vietnamese at all. read more

I like this place. The staff was welcoming and helpful. Had some great vegetarian options. I ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop sp?, the kitchen made mine with Tofu, and it was tasty."Thanks" guys. My friends enjoyed their food as well. The drinks were great too. I'll definitely be back. read more

I'm not one for semi-swank places, so Jin Ju's atmosphere didn't sway me either way. The pajun (scallion pancakes), however, left a very favorable impression -- leave it to me to crave something involving fried onions. For an entree, I had a basic chicken bulgogi that was fine but far more forgettable. This is an appropriate place for a date and a foofy cocktail, I suppose, but it's also not high on my repeat list. read more

We have been going to Jin Ju for around 2 years now and the food has been very consistently and very very good. The decor has a very chilled out, lounge feel and the waiters are very attentive and very helpful especially for those who are venturing forth to eat Korean food for the first time. They have a good selection of wine, but for those of you who want to try something different, i would recommend trying some Soju (Korean grain liquor), either as shots or in a cocktail. For appetizers, I highly recommend the Korean batter fried chicken (Dak Gan Jang), Kim Chee Pajun and the steamed Kim Chee Mandu. For the main course, the Dak (chicken) Bulgogi is spicy and excellent as always while the Bulgogi is a flavorful, less spicy dish for the red meat lovers. The only negative that I can think of is the absence of an appealing dessert menu, but then the rest more than makes up for it. read more

Korean food for yuppies who need their hands held with adjusting to a food that they have nil experience with. I brought my father who's Korean here and he said some dishes were overwhelmingly spicy to the extent that he couldn't eat it. The owner claimed that it as being a method unique to Jin Ju....whatever. The place is simply a rip for the clueless Korean food virgins. read more

The food is hardly authentic. Great atmosphere for dates but disappointing in taste. We asked for bean paste, the waiter didn't know what it was!? Brought us this watery brown liquid that tasted hardly anything like bean paste. I had the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop, I'll have to say, it's pretty flavorful but the portions i'm used to do not compared to these portions. Side dishes were very fresh. Parking may be a bit of a hassle. read more

Upscale Korean. As in, in exchange for higher prices, you get better ambiance. It's totally up to you. The food was good - bulgogi was tender and well flavored, and my sojutini was awesome. Who knew? It was definitely dark inside but service was good and I liked the lively crowd. read more

"Upscale Korean" (I guess), and more like 2.5 stars. All I've had is the bibimbop. It's not bad but there is better to be found on Lawrence. I do like the atmosphere and don't mind Jin Ju for a quick bite. Wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

The food is always fresh and delicious. The soju martinis are amazing, and we have never had to wait long for a table. Wonderful service, and a nice take on Korean food. Even as a vegetarian, I feel as though there are a few options for everyone. read more

This is the type of Korean place you can bring non-Koreans to and get a somewhat decent Korean food experience at. I wouldn't say it's the best Korean in the city by any means. However, the ambience is nice: dim-lights, cozy, relaxed. And the service is 100x better than what you'd get at a Korean place in k-town. If you're going to eat here, make sure to get a Korean dish. None of this Mongolian beef, etc nonsense. I'd say this place is better for small groups and dates rather than large groups of friends. Also, street parking is pretty easy to find from my experience so feel free to drive up. read more

My girlfriend and I enjoyed the food. The beef dishes were awesome. I waiter was very helpful and our drinks were nice and strong!

The food was just OK considering the price. It made me wish I went to the "typical" mom/pop, more authentic (less fusion) Korean restaurant. Wish there were more pork dishes and less beef. Probably won't be back. But it was jus ok, so if your hungry and like more Americanized Asian cuisine, then give it a try. read more

fThe menu is a little bit on the expensive side; but, that said, this place is hottt. Bring a date here. For real, you'll get some. I did.

I know this sounds weird but if you're going to go the hip Korean food route, i wanted it to be hipper. The food was ok, not a huge selection and there is definitely better. But the restaurant felt like a bar with a loft overlooking it. It was too "metally," too open, not dark enough, etc. It just didn't hit the mark on the food or the atmosphere, and I was willing to give up a little on the food to like it...but I didn't really. On the plus side, I took my grandmother for her first taste of Korean food and she loved it. So I guess it's a good entree into that world for the hesitant. read more

Atmosphere was nice and more trendy compared to most Korean restaurants you find but the food is nothing to rave about. Bim bim bop was ok and the kal be was dry. They only provided a few small plate sides. There is way better Korean food in the city for less money. read more

Okay WOW!!! I have been going here for years and just finally got the soup and really wondering why I waited so long. I really love this place!! read more

Don't be fooled by the fancy lighting and techno music....bad food is bad food. Great ambiance, music, good service, mediocre food. It seems like you just can't just find a place that has it all...good ambiance and good food. Perhaps it's the holy grail of restaurants? Although the lighting and the design of the place is very nice, they really need to work on their food, it does not even remotely taste like real korean food or even half as good. If it is 'fusion' as they claim I don't know where they got the other half... read more

Friendly staff and delicious food. This place is far more accessible than your many Korean joints. Also, more polished with more sophisticated presentation. The staff is patient and is happy to answer questions. read more

It was way too shi shi in my opinion. The food was okay, the portions were small. I don't know why, but I just didn't feel it. Maybe it was when the latino waiter asked me if I had BiBimBop before. (btw, I look so Korean) read more

Cool atmosphere with a friendly, flirty staff. The portions are huge so sharing is recommended. Food was great and it was reasonably priced. Check it out! read more

Wow! I like this place! The food, the service, the location...I decided to go with my fail-safe satisfaction method of ordering multiple appetizers (tapas-style) instead of staking my claim on one entree. I dined on succulent and delicious chicken wing lollipops, crab and cucumber salad, and steamed dumplings (shoulda got fried) with a decadent sesame soy dipping sauce. The plating was appealing. And the location is perfect for Andersonville people watching through their large panoramic windows. I definitely want to go back to try some of the cocktails on the menu and dig into more of the tasty vittles. read more

I need to come back here, I came here sometime last year and I still remember this restaurant! The food was so good! Pancake app to share which was great. I remember eating the classic dish (first one on the menu) in the cast iron skillet and it was yum! Green tea after dinner aids in digestion well. The atmosphere was really cool, dark and trendy! read more

Oh Jin Ju... i've bookmarked you to try for over 3 months and finally found the opportunity to satisfy my cravings tonight... after what has been a tremendously long work of week, i wanted someplace relaxing to wine and dine well. in reading other yelp reviews, i knew we were paying a small premium to have someone do the kbbq for you but as my bf hates having to pay to cook for his own food, jin ju seemed like the perfect place. strolled in right before 6 to find the place completely to ourselves (guess we beat rush hour as we were able to find street parking right in front). quick scan of the drink menu and found the winner: kiki lychee martini! 5 minutes later, my martini came filled to the brim and the server amazingly did not spill a drop (they must practice this or something) with a sweet lychee in the middle. the drink was good and definitely hit the spot. i saved the lychee for the very end. sweet endings make me happy lately. but onto the meatier portion of the meal: food. we ordered the battered chicken wings as the appetizer and jab chae and kalbi for entrees. chicken wings were quite good. the wings are more like the mini drumstick part of a chicken wing and they came with a side of pickled radish diced into cubes. wings were crispy with a slightly spicy sauce which went well with the pickled radish and mi martini. yum. i was really excited for the main entrees that were to follow. however, sadly, that is also where disappointment came about. the jabchae entree is relatively small and not that unique... yes, i know it's a fancy place but you can spare a few more noodles... i'm not even asking for more meat, just a bit more noodles or at least make the jabchae better than what i can get elsewhere for half the price. it came with the traditional thinly sliced carrots, onions, mushrooms, minced beef and also a few thick cuts of sesame grilled beef on top (that was a nice touch.. but still i want more noodles). BF's kalbi was also disappointing - it came on top of a salad, which is definitely a twist to eating the kalbi with lettuce wrapped around it in the traditional kbbq places. however, the kalbi was missing the essence of kalbi... where is the taste of freshly grilled ribs? the kalbi is served with meat off the bone and sliced for ease of eating. however, it tasted just like it had been stir-fried and not actually grilled. we were quite disappointed especially reading the reviews about it. also the panchan dishes are lacking - you get some kimchee, more pickled radish, some sesame broccoli (i ate it just cuz i wanted some more veggies but it had no taste) and potato salad (this was actually quite good as it includes granny smith apples for a slight sour punch). but thats it... 4 dishes. and this is why i can only give it 3 stars. its awesome that you can have a great drink here but the actual food may be a hit or a miss. yes, the service is excellent compared to what you get at korean bbq places and it is a very soothing atmosphere but until they spice up the menu, theres not enough here to make me venture back. read more

Easily becomes a favorite. The service and food were amazing; the decor is sexy-minimal, but rich. Low light adds to the experience. read more

Jin Ju - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was very suprised by how great this place was. I saw it on TV on 190 North and had to check it out. I have never had anything that tasted like the food here! Definitely try the chicken wing appetizer, it was the best thing there. Our waiter was very helpful with the menu and suggesting dishes for us to try and also pointing out what exactly each thing was that we were eating. Spicy! read more

I love it here every time I go back. Yeah, it isn't the most authentic, but it is damn good. I usually either get the bulgogi or the tilapia dish, and they are both pretty stellar. And I love the sojutinis. read more

I'm usually not a fan of Asian fusion, but this place definitely sticks to its Korean roots. Came here on a Saturday at 8pm and place was still pretty full. I thought all the dishes were on point. The squid, kimchi jigae, tilapia, kalbi were all really well made and delicious. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes Korean food but is looking for something a little different read more

Korean food in Andersonville? I was very skeptical as a Korean food purist...but overall, I am happy to say that I was pleasently surprised. Not much complimentary banchan and the kimchi was nasty but the service was excellent, the setting was fun, and the appetizers/main dishes were very good. The fried chicken wings w/ Korean spicy sauce were excellent (ordered 2 of them!) and the special of the day kalbi-jim was great (it takes hours and hours of prep for that dish). The food is a little on the sweet side than normal but it may have been made a little more Americanized but overall, very good. Would go back for sure. read more

I haven't had a lot of Korean food and Jin Ju was amazing! We started off with the Daeji Kalbi (yummy spare ribs) & Dak Gan Jang (super yummy chicken wings). For my entree I had Bulgogi, which seemed like a small portion but I left stuffed for sure! My favorite was the soju martinis. I had the cucumber, ginger and peach. The cucumber was very refreshing, the ginger was on par with what I expected and the peach was surprisingly mellow. Usually a peach martini would be super sweet, but this was a very well balanced drink that I could have several of in one sitting. read more