Loved it! Was hesitant at first given location and look from outside but food is very good and quantity is spot on. Spicy chicken came with plenty of rice and kimchi which was also very good. I will be back! read more

Perfect little diner style place. Service was quick and welcoming. The food was exactly what I was looking for just before taking the train home. read more

Shut The Front Door, this is So Good! We ate at the restaurant for the first time tonight. We had KFC, bibimbap, bulgogi tacos and tteokbokki. I had had Korean food in many many places. We even make it at home sometimes. This place was HANDS DOWN the best we have ever had! Their tteokbokki is deep fried and skewered, which was wonderfully different than the pan fried version I have had many times. Also, shout out to the staff. They couldn't have been any more friendly. They were awesome. We are just visiting Chicago but we will definitely be back. read more

I have ordered dine-in pre-covid as well as takeout during Covid here. Food (7/10): Obviously the food dine-in is much better. I've eaten the meat lovers set and really enjoyed it. I'd say the brisket is probably one of the meats you could skip out on if you're having trouble deciding which ones to pick. Loved the side dishes especially the pickled cucumber. One notable mention is their tacos that I ordered for takeout. I had the kalbi, chicken and pork belly tacos. Let me say, I know this whole fusion thing can be uncharted territory, but this is it chief. Along with the fusion sauces, these tacos took me by surprise and are probably my favorite item about this place now. I will say the sauce to taco ratio can be important though as the tacos can be rather heavy. Value (7.5/10): Depending on what you order the value can be pretty good or standard. read more

Great new Korean joint in Chicago, fast-casual style. Not a large menu but we appreciated the simplicity, quality over quantity. We had the kalbi and spicy chicken; each order comes with rice and two sides. The kimchi was on the fresher side, which we really enjoyed although some people may like it more fermented. The radish side was super nice, bit of a different flavor than the usual pickling found at other Korean restaurants. The kalbi was a large chunk of probably one of the best cooked cuts of meat I've had in Chicago. Nicely charred but not overly so. Super juicy and literally fall-off-the-bone tender. Because the meat is so thick, the marinade flavor really only sits on the surface layer but extra marinade is provided on the side to pour on. But I enjoyed the meat so much I got through half my kalbi before even realizing there was extra sauce. Spicy chicken was also super juicy with solid flavor. Rice came with sesame seeds. Lots of food for the price, pretty good value! Service was quick, efficient. Water is self-serve. Place is clean, minimalist decor in line with a good chunk of the west loop restaurant scene Definitely worth checking out! https://s3-media1.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/_4OOOjBfUxeG-eyINImVAw/168s.jpg read more

SoJu BBQ - Kalbi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great little corner spot and very reasonably priced.

More like 3.5stars but we don't got that option here on Yelp so I'll round up in support of small business . Ambience weren't that great considering we were sober , maybe if we were hammered ... it ll be ok . It felt more like a take out grab and go restaurant than dine in . Food was ok 7/10. Wouldn't go out of my way to come here but if you live near by or maybe grub hub then it's not a bad option . Wings were crispy , flavor wise , it was just missing something . The bone marrow ribs were really tender , but it seems the clear noodles on the bottom soaked up all the salt and itself tasted really really salty . But rest of the stew lacked salt due to the noodles . The spicy chicken were pretty bland in my book , did not taste much of any bbq flavor and was just soaked in mediocre sauce . Service wise, there was one waitress who was on it and was friendly and another ... well she didn't even look at us while serving . We were given room temperature can sodas with no cup or ice or even offer to see if we want a cup of ice. I thought that was really weird . Who the heck wants to drink room temp soda lol no one read more

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This food was pretty good. I decided to come to this place because I watch a lot of Korean vloggers on YouTube so I've been wanting to try a Korean restaurant that wasn't a cook it your self KBBQ. We were going to a Blackhawks game and it was pretty close We ordered the green onion pancake which was too soft and kind of bland.. I prefer a more crispy pancake but it came with a spice to dip in for more flavor. We also ordered their jumbo wings that are not jumbo anymore (half spicy half savory) an order of 8 wings for $10.. they were pretty small. We also ordered the SoJu Ribs and Grilled Pork Belly. It came with rice and I got kimchi with it that was okay. The Pork needs more flavor but they have us a spice to dip/pour on it. We also got an order of Army Soup. It was spicy and pretty good. We got it with ramen rice cakes and pork belly. I've been to Korea and I remember their meat being so full of flavors which is why I'm giving this a 3 star review. I'd give them 3.5 if I could but it's not an option. The service was great though! Our waiter was so nice and very helpful. read more

SoJu BBQ - Green onion pancake and jumbo wings.. - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overall, not a bad spot! It's definitely a nice spot to grab food and catch up with friends, but still not quite the KBBQ I had exactly hoped for. Interior/establishment: You can tell that this establishment is fairly new. Not a bad thing though! There's a quirky quote along the wall to the right when you first enter, but aside from that there isn't much decor going on. The establishment itself is a relatively small space, so seating can get intimate if there's a lot of people in there at once. Service: Everybody is very nice and welcoming. Friendly and smiley hellos greet you the moment you walk in. Everybody was helpful with explaining the menu, what the portion size was, types of flavors/spices, and what they recommend and liked the best themselves. Only downfall for service I'd say is that the scallion pancakes (appetizer) took way too long. My friends and I ordered one to share, but we didn't get it until halfway through our meal. Based off of what I heard and saw around me, it seemed like a lot of other tables experienced the same thing. Food! Each order came in a 3-sectioned bento box with your choice of meat, white rice with black sesame seeds on top, and your choice of two sides. I had ordered the pork belly as my meat option. Flavorful with the salt/pepper seasoning, nothing super fancy, and it had that 'just off the KBBQ grill' flavor to it. Wasn't too fatty either, which I did appreciate. The rice was rice, nothing special. I was somewhat disappointed by the size and number of options of sides. In traditional KBBQ you get an entire table full of sides that are all different, whereas here, you select from four options. Scallion pancake was very well done. Though it took longer to get than our main entrees, I still can't dock points off for flavor. It did seem somewhat excessively oily, but it still tasted awesome. Wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to go unless I was with friends or wanted a quick KBBQ fix, but I would certainly come back! read more

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We picked up dinner today., Tofu bowl ,garlic rice, kimchi appetizer , sauteed brinjal The tofu was smelling of bad oil and drenched in flour. Found a long hair in my tofu bowl which reduced my appetite. And I stopped eating mid way. Looks like they used crystal salt to cook the garlic fried rice.the bite which had salt crystals was overwhelmingly salty...and the rest v bland without seasoning., The chef didn't mix and wait for the salt to dissolve. Very underwhelming and disappointed. read more

I stopped by this place and had a great meal! I ordered the dino sized Kalbi ribs which came out perfectly cooked. The flavorful meat also comes with a side of rice and your choice of veggies. I went with the kimchi and sliced cucumbers, which added some nice crunch to the meal. I saw that they also do delivery via Grubhub, Uber Eats, Caviar etc. so I'd recommend that if you can't make it to the restaurant. Looking forward to coming here again with friends to try out some of the other dishes! read more

SoJu BBQ - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I stopped by this place for lunch & I wanted to come back for dinner.. that's how much I loved it. The quality of the food 10/10, service 10/10 and the flavors 10/10. I've been looking for something just like this and I found it.. they also have an unlimited option for $25 which includes everything on the menu. What really blew me away was the Buffalo wings! The wings had a delicious crunch, perfect spice & good size. Can't wait to go back!! read more

SoJu BBQ - Wings - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a fast counter style Korean BBQ place. You don't cook the meat in front of you like other Korean BBQ places, but I don't expect that. The place is very efficient which I like and would be a very nice option for a quick to-go meal if it tasted better. They serve their bbq in three compartment bento boxes (see pictures). You pick a protein and two side dishes (note that options are limited - if you wanted non-spicy options you really only have two options - cucumber and radish - and two spots). I certainly would not give the food five stars. The kalbi was tender and seasoned well but it was overly charred (i.e. burnt). The green onion korean pancake was soggy and barely held together. read more

We went on a Friday night and the service was great; didn't have to wait long to be seated and food arrived fairly quickly. We ordered bulgogi, fries, medium spiced chicken wings -- all of which tasted good. It's the brisket that was a little too salty (they also ran out of the brisket sauce when we came), but not a deal-breaker. Overall, it's worth checking this place out. read more

If you want fast, tasty, and cheap (relative to almost anywhere else in downtown Chicago) korean bbq, then SoJu BBQ is your restaurant. When I first moved into the West Loop neighborhood, I ordered dinner from here almost everyday after work. And when it was too cold to do dine-in or pick up, I got them delivered and was not disappointed with how they prepare and package their to-go meals. My personal favorite thing from here is the grilled Soju chicken, which comes with rice and two sides. I'm a pretty simple and fit guy, so I go with the cabbage kimchi and pickled cucumber. You also HAVE to try the deep fried saucy tofu - it's the only tofu I'll ever eat haha. Give them a try next time you're in town. The owner there is extremely friendly and always likes to hear ways that he can improve the menu, service, and your experience there. Hope you enjoy! read more

SoJu was amazing. We had LA Kalbi, bulgogi beef tacos, chicken tacos, both garlic and kimchi fried rice. The Kalbi were the best I've ever had. It's super tiny so make a reservation if you want a table, but its super casual, with incredible food. read more

The young lady that came to the front when we arrived was very rude and let me know they were closed. We made a reservation on open table and they said it was an error. Then another employee tried to come over to smooth things over, after the initial employee was rude. Would not return based off of the customer service Instead of acknowledging the poor customer service, the person responding to reviews is blaming open table. We were understanding of issues with the reservation. However the service we received when we walked in was terrible and even when we asked to use the restroom we were met with poor customer service. read more

We came here a few weekends ago and it was amazing! We got the bimibap and grape soju. Both were awesome. Jake was our server and he was the man. Highly recommend this place! read more

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AMAZING food and service. The wings are out of this world and so are the dumplings. 10/10

Very good food and service! It's a small area but the atmosphere was nice. Will definitely visit when I'm in town again.

At Soju, you get treated like a king/queen. The service really elevates this place to the next level. Cindy and the rest of the team are so kind and really make you feel welcome. The food is delicious too. My favorites: Ribeye steak, AMAZING dumplings Fries Rice My least favorites: Kimchi (too spicy for me) Chicken read more

I've gotten almost everything on the menu and each item (expect the Kimchee fries which I found too sweet) was delicious, filling, and interesting. I recommend getting the Korean Army Soup for something filling and unique. read more

SoJu BBQ - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been looking for authentic Korean food for a long time in Chicago. This place is awesome. Suzi & Bailey provided great service. Hats off to the cooks. The food was superb. I will be back. read more

I've eaten here off and on since it's opened. This place has amazing quality food, a friendly owner, and has been great during quarantine. Personal favorites are the Galbi, Ribeye, and Brisket. Highly recommend the eggplant for sides. read more

The food was sooo amazing! Dumplings a perfect start. Chicken was my favorite, extra crispy and the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. We ordered sides and drinks everything was great. Staff was very attentive. Will definitely be coming back. Must try! read more

SoJu BBQ - Korean Fried Chicken Wings - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Disappointing food experience. Fried Chicken was similar to those frozen Tyson drumettes, just refried. The rice in the the Gimbap sushi was stale. The Budalkjjim (some kind of Bbq chicken poutine with mozzarella cheese) tasted ok, but some of the potatoes weren't cooked through. Ribeye steak was so chewy as heII. The frosting on the matcha cake was stale. My husband and I visited SoJu during restaurant week. This restaurant is like a lunchroom counter, but that didn't stop them from putting an 18% service fee on my bill. I paid waay to much for this disappointing food experience. I'll never go back. read more

So the picture doesn't look super appetizing, but the taste made up for it! The brisket had really good flavor with light salt and pepper. I wasn't a huge fan of the kimchis, think the seasoning was a little off or they weren't quite ripe. There's a huge mound of rice beneath the brisket - which I love - and had a lot of leftovers! read more

SoJu BBQ - Korean Style Brisket - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ever since Landbirds closed I have been trying to find a sweet soy crunchy fried Korean chicken wing and white rice this place is it the sweet soy chicken appetizer dish is amazing just order a side of white rice you get an amazing lunch!! read more

First time eating here. It was great to find a place serving halal Korean BBQ. We had the brisket, Ribeye sandwich, and Korean Fried Chicken. Very flavorful and the sauces are amazing. The staff is fast and polite. Highly recommend. read more

SoJu BBQ is one of the best Korean places in Chicago. I have ordered a couple of times from this place and it has never disappointed :) Absolutely love their fried chicken and garlic fried rice. Must try! Their prices are completely on point for the quantity and quality. Place is clean and the service is great! Highly recommended! read more

ordered take out a few times, but feels like the dine in option is better especially if you are ordering the KFC (Korean fried chicken). The dine in taste of the KFC is great, the outside is more crispy (probably due to not sitting in the take out box for a while) kimchi fried rice is pretty good, with a buttery taste the group deal with 3 proteins, sampled the kalbi, bulgogi, and spicy pork belly. The bulgogi is a bit too sweet, the kalbi is great, the spicy pork belly is so so read more

Such great kimchi and pickled radish. We had the pork belly and it was great too. We recommend stopping in!

Excellent option. Selected many items from the menu including kimchi dumplings c Korean fried chicken, rib eye sandwiches, brisket and a side of kimchi. Excellent recipes/flavor profile. They prepare halal items separate from other items. Would definitely visit again. read more

Every single dish I had at SoJu was divine. Korean fried chicken is unquestionably the highest form of fried chicken, and SoJu's execution is second to none. Everyone there is incredibly friendly and attentive and the vibes are read more

Not sure if this place has changed drastically since the last person reviewed, but came in on a Friday night and was pretty disappointed. Prices are VERY steep (most of their bbq meats are $12+) and portion sizes are pretty small compared to what you'd get for half the price on Taylor Street. We ordered the sampler platter tonight which consisted of their famous ribeye bulgogi, brisket, and pork belly. Although the flavoring was okay, the meat was way overcooked (beef), tough, and really fatty (pork). Other than about 4 pieces of meat for each type (so like 12 pieces of meat total) plus a MOUNTAIN of rice on a plate, there was a tiny amount of kimchi (meh), eggplant (which was okay-ish), and boiled spinach (cold). $35 without tax or tip for that amount of food...pretty steep prices for west side. Interior of restaurant also made this place lose a star for me. The place looked empty (barely any other customers), only had 2 employees (including the one guy grilling the meat), and in general had a very "cold" metallic feeling. Also every little thing is extra money, don't expect your entrees to come with the free cold dishes that most korean places have. Kimchi fries weren't even on the menu. Looks nothing like the pictures here. Wasn't impressed. read more

I have a love hate relationship with SoJu BBQ. I've tried most of their menu items since I moved to the neighborhood and I feel as though their meals are hit and miss, especially when considering how much they charge. I recommend getting their loaded fries or their ribeye bulgogi; however, I do not recommend paying $7 for their tiny bulgogi taco like my dumbass did. Some of their servings sizes make me feel as though I've been robbed, so with that being said make sure you go when you have some money to blow. read more

Their fried rice needs work. It's too wet and sweet and the cheese on top is not necessary read more

This place was absolute garbage. Food wasn't good and they didn't disclose at the beginning that we had to pay for leftovers. Ended up with a check that was three times bigger than it would have been if we hadn't gotten AYCE. Don't go here this place is a scam. Would give 0 stars if I could read more

Great food. Very tasty and good service. It was a little surprising how laid back the place was so maybe not the best for a work dinner but good food nonetheless. read more

I ordered wings, kimchi dumplings, kimchi fried rice, and kimchi fries through Grubhub. (Yes I love kimchi) This was the OKest meal I've had in awhile. Kimchi dumplings were decent. They didn't arrive soggy which is always a risk with delivery. However they really didn't have much filling. Kimchi fried rice was kind of bland and a bit mushy. I doctored up my leftovers with a bit of rice vinegar and gochujang and it was significantly improved. Kimchi fries were decent but they were very soggy in delivery. Fries for delivery are a risk too and I realize that they are probably best eaten at the restaurant. The delivery was on time and quite fast which was the highlight overall. Now let's talk chicken wings. Again, not bad and not great. When ordering I was excited to see that there are 4 options for flavors and you get to pick more than one flavor! Included in the photo, the menu says choose up to 4. I picked spicy gochujang and the soy ginger. But then the delivery came and I got this note. If you in fact only offer one flavor then why list four? If you can only do one sauce per order of wings then you need to say so on the website. Or I don't know... call the customer and let them know what they ordered isn't possible instead of sending a condescending and contradicting note. read more

SoJu BBQ - Condescending note - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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