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Such good authentic Korean food!! It's hard to find in Chicago so I'm glad there is a place to get chicken ginseng soup. The cold noodles was so flavorful and yummy. The bulgolgi was okay but would definitely come back!
We ordered Uber Eats for lunch and tried: - Seafood Pancake - Cha-O-Reum Samgye Tang - Yukgae Jang At first I was questioning the prices, but the portion size doesn't miss. Everything was essentially two servings. Surprisingly the seafood pancake was my favorite, it was absolutely packed with shrimp, octopus, and more. I wouldn't personally say the Yukgae Jang was spicy. It reminded me a bit of kimchi spice, but it was still good. Definitely give them a try, especially when it's cold outside!
I ordered delivery. The food was exceptionally delicious. The fried dumplings were nicely filled and flavorful. The BBQ beef ribs were so well seasoned. They were delicious. The Royal Rice great. Nice serving of all ingredients. The beef and rice cakes were very tastes Definitely ordering from here again.
The food here comforts you and makes you feel like you're getting a lovely home cooked meal. If you're looking for authentic Korean food, then this is the spot for you. The owners give it a cute mom and pop feel. We ordered their signature chicken soup with ginseng and herbs. It had a lovely aroma that felt like it could cure your body and soul. It was a little on the pricey side, but we did enjoy it. The grilled mackerel was extremely flavorful and a bit salty, but it paired so nicely with the white rice it came with. The steamed egg was fluffy and warm; I highly recommend getting this on the side. The banchan were tasty and a good pallet cleanser. The service wasn't bad; the lady took our order pretty quick. She got straight to the point and didn't seem as welcoming. I wish we knew if we could get a refill on the banchan, but I wasn't sure enough to ask. The ambiance is very simple; there are a lot of ginseng references in the wall. They pride themselves on using it, so I love that! It's a small restaurant on the corner, but I love the vibe it gives if you're looking for a simple comforting meal.
I had this place bookmarked and finally went with a friend and we had such a delightful meal here. I liked the banchan, especially the tofu skins. But my absolute favorite thing was the seafood pancake (haemul pajeon). My friend loved their samgyetang (the chicken soup) that I'd heard they are known for. I probably would skip the sweet beef stew soup I got (I forgot the name), but I'd definitely come back here. I also liked how crispy their mandu was, and I don't always like the mandu at other restaurants.
The food is very tasty very tender and nice portions service was excellent and the ambience of the place gives you a taste of nostalgia retro New York Overall, I would recommend this place if you see it and you think that it is a shut down warehouse trust me it is not food is priced relatively well and again services pretty speedy. The waiting staff is very patient and they do not overwhelm you constantly asking you if everything is OK until you can get your food in your mouth, but yes eat here. Come here and enjoy.
Really delicious! Took my friend out for lunch last weekend. I've been to a lot of the Korean restos in the area, but not this one. We kinda went all out...we got the chicken and ginseng soup they're known for, pan-fried mackerel, steamed eggs, and japchae (because I love it). Everything was absolutely delicious. We rolled out of there completely stuffed, but not in a gross way.
Giving this spot a 3 since we came for the Korean fried chicken but they sadly no longer have it. Their service is fairly good and the restaurant is spacious. There are a few parking spots behind the restaurant but other than that it is street parking. For food I would recommend getting at least their seafood pancake. I would say it is one of the best I've ever had. Other than that everything else was standard Korean food.
Their Samgye Tang is so good...I'm still craving it now... My friends and I ordered a seafood pancake, a stir fried squid, and one Samgye Tang for each of us. All were so amazing!!! The only thing that we were not super satisfied with was their service speed. We waited for nearly a half hour for the dishes to come. Others were good, especially their dining environment, not greasy like some other places at all.
This Korean restaurant is very clean and the food came out very fast. The food was fresh and the food was very good. Not salty and very healthful. The bibimbop veges were really good and authentic and super fresh. And I am mostly vegetarian but can eat high quality low fat beef or chicken. And the beef in the bibimbop was super low fat and very tasty and not salty but still flavored like bulgogi. There's another room for diners which can also act as a private party dining area if needed. The bathrooms were very clean also with paperless hand drying and it was odorless. They even had a bench inside that came be used to place bags or to sit. This place has great food and it's very clean and the parking on the street is free. Will definitely come back.
10/10 recommend!!! Such a really great Korean spot!!! Highly recommended coming for the soup/stew!
3 years ago
Came by for an early lunch. Service was pleasant, ambiance cozy and food was GREAT. I had wondered what an average Korean home cooked meal might be like after watching various series. Naturally I went looking and found this place which in my opinion delivers. Certainly will be back and btw Bulgogi was amazing. read more
2 years ago
Highly recommend! Very good and local Korean food. Great place for family and friend gatherings. read more
5 years ago
Been craving this for so long and finally came to eat samgyetang and spicy pork belly. The food came really fast and the service is super good!! The food was delicious and perfect for a cold winter's day! Super authentic Korean food :)) read more
[Ssyal] A Michelin Recommended authentic Korean restaurant specializing in ginseng This is one of my favorite foods. Pictured is two different kinds of korean ginseng chicken soup (chicken stuffed with rice, herbs, ginseng, etc in a broth). One is the Ssyal Samgye Tang which is their regular and Cha-O-Reum Samgye Tang which is more of a medicinal herbal flavoring. Each soup is sort of naturally flavored and one can adjust their flavor of the soup with their specific fragrant salt that comes with the soup Also comes many side dishes such as kimchi, scallions, purple rice, etc Restaurant set-up inside was so nice and pristine 4201 W Lawrence Ave Chicago, IL 60630 read more
Ventured out to the burbs to visit this mom and pop shop. It's currently open for dine in and the tables are all very spaced apart. It's quite a popular spot with a wait time of 1 party or so and a good amount of takeout customers. Food (8.5/10) Seafood pancake - Like everyone else, I ordered the seafood pancake. It was well worth. One of the better ones you can find in Chicago imo. The portion size is for 3-4 people. I'm ordering this every time I come back. Samgye Tang - I ordered the more deluxe version with the herbs for that extra soul healing. This dish is like American chicken noodle soup when you're feeling crummy or hungover - but better. Like actually, it's better for you. The broth and chicken are so clean without any unnecessarily added ingredients. The chicken is also stuffed with rice. It comes with onions and salt on the side. Galbi - this is a dish you can find anywhere. The marination and grilling were well done. I'd say the quality of the meat itself was standard. Comes on a bed of lightly sautéed onions. The side dishes were more fresh and higher quality than other Korean restaurants. However not as plentiful in variety as other establishments. As seen in my photos there were 4. Each person is given a bowl of rice. Atmosphere (7/10): I don't often eat out in the suburbs but you can tell this place does not have a commercialized setup and feel. It's very mom and pop. Very calm instrumental music covers playing in the background. I wouldn't bring a group of rambunctious friends here out of respect. Mainly families or couples from the area I assume dine here. The wait time for ordering can vary bc the grandma runs all the front end work (orders, serving, cashier, takeout) so be patient if you hit peak hours. Street parking was free and very accessible. Value (7.5/10): I'd estimate about $25-30 per person. Very reasonable considering the quality of the food. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Only place to get Samgyetang in Chicago! Hot herbal chicken soup in the winter to warm your body read more
I love SSYAL. It's authentic with a traditional Korean menu that will sure please all taste buds of different ages! It's super cozy inside and the ladies remind me of my own Aunt and grandma. They take great care of you and make sure you have all the banchans and make sure you're never low! The grandmother is super sweet and she's so cute. You can't go wrong with whatever you order. All are solid but if it's your first time, you must try their Ginseng chicken soup. This Cornish hen soup is so soothing for the soul. Full of flavor with a rich broth that is full of healthy ingredients that is good for your health. They serve salt on side and you're supposed to garnish the broth per your taste. I suggest sprinkling a bit in the broth, and leaving the rest so you can dip the chicken lightly into the salt to enjoy it Korean style. I don't usually care for the pancakes but their pancake is my favorite in the city besides my own. Super crispy and comes out on a sizzling plate. I love their spicy chicken soup but it can take awhile so feel free to call ahead! This place is clean, and perfect for families, group of friends, and date nights. They also have a traditional Korean coffee machine by the entrance and it's the perfect end cap to your meal. Enjoy and always tip 20%!!!! read more
5 years ago
Food & service is overpriced. 1) I have no idea how this place has been recommended by the Michelin Guide. Sorry, but my mom (+ all the other moms) cooks better and they should all be recommended too. 2) we ordered spicy rice cake for appetizer. I've had spicy rice cake in so many different places and I was disappointed that this didn't come with fish cakes. Note: menu description specifically says it comes with fish cakes. The rice cake was also over cooked. They should just take it out of their menu. 3) we went around 1:15PM ish and the place was not busy. Waited about 40 minutes for our food, which is understandable. Also waited about 20 minutes just to pay for our food and get out of there. read more
5 years ago
{just a heads up, I almost never give 5 stars} I had such a pleasant time here. First off, the people working here are very sweet. They make you feel so welcomed and so appreciated. That alone was warming. This was the first time here and really, my first time ordering Korean food. I asked for the ginseng chicken soup. And woah. It initially looked bland to the eye. It was also still boiling (which was actually pretty cool). But once I started to chow down, I quickly realized that the broth was quite complex and immediately knew this was made with love and care. I'm sure I made a fool of myself eating it but I did not care. It was damn good. I also later learned that this particular dish is extremely good for you; so win win! Long story short, go here and get the chicken ginseng soup. read more
2 years ago
I was so worried I would be late to the reservation because I was driving from out of town but she was very sweet. We had the seafood pancake and I had bulgogi and both were amazing! The sides were also delicious! The restaurant was spacious and very clean! I have nothing negative to say. read more
My boyfriend was sick with a nasty cold and sore throat and was in dire need of some good, nutritious soup.... so coming to Ssyal for lunch was an easy decision. The place was clean and quiet, despite a good number of people being there. Although the service was not very inviting, it was prompt and we were taken care of. He ordered the samgyetang (chicken ginseng soup), which was $16, and I ordered the soondubu (tofu stew), which was $10. The price is great for lunch especially with the amount side dishes and hot tea. The banchan comes when the entrees are ready to serve. Overall, everything tasted delicious. The samgyetang was absolutely wonderful: the chicken was tender, the soup was clear and flavorful, and it was filling! The soondubu was also quite good. There was a decent amount of seafood, but the egg is scrambled into the stew. I'm used to the egg being cracked into the bowl right before serving, but it is delicious either way. Looking forward to future visits here! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Was driving by passing by, heard many good things about it and it didn't disappoint. Tried bulgogi dolsot and it was phenomenal. Service is nice and environment cozy. Strongly recommend for someone who wants to try authentic Korean food. read more
We came here for dinner during Memorial Day. We ordered : Ginseng Milk shake, seafood pancake, Dae-gu Tang, and Ginseng chicken soup. The ginseng chicken soup was okay. ..could only taste some ginseng flavor and we forgot to put salt into our soup..lol I would NOT recommend the ginseng milk shake, it tasted pretty watery... The seafood pancake was the best dish of the overall, very crispy with the right amount of seafood on it. The Dae-gu Tang was okay , nothing special and I would not recommend. Service: service was good compared to other restaurants I have been...while I was taking pictures, one of the staffs came by & told us that if we check in and give reviews, they will offer free soda or dumplings. *They have free parking on the back. read more
3 years ago
Visiting from Hawaii this was the best Korean food I've tasted in Chicago. You must try it! read more
2 years ago
This is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Everything is soo good ! should try samgye tang here. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Come here the service is amazing the Sam gyap tang is amazing and the Galbi tang is amazing. The lady is so nice too! read more
2 years ago
Just had dinner here for the first time - absolutely delicious! Loved the warm tea I was welcomed with & the food was fresh and so flavorful. 10 out of 10 would recommend! read more
Homey, authentic Korean restaurant. The decor of the restaurant was very traditional with calming music and the space was spread out, clearly prioritizing customers' safety. I was heading somewhere so I grabbed a tteokbokki to go and it was scrumptious! They cooked it up in under 10 minutes (I was the only one in line to be fair) and when I had it almost an hour later it was still steaming hot! The sauce they used is more flavorful and spicy than sweet, which was the downfall of other restaurants I've had, and they definitely were generous with their vege and fishcake servings. Once covid dies down, I will be eager to return here with friends to dine in and try other items on their authentic menu! read more
3 years ago
super yummy and great service. will be back for sure! :) free dumpling if you post a picture read more
This is my new favorite place. I've only ordered the bibimbap because it's sooo good. I've been here twice for dine in. Each time we were the only people in the restaurant. There is no outdoor seating. I also ordered takeout once. I'll say the the dine in experience for the sizzling bibimbap is much batter than the takeaway but still good! read more
3 years ago
We have been coming here for long time. Great place. Their chicken soup is definitely a must try. read more
4 years ago
The two of us ordered the Jjim dak (Korean braised chicken). The dish was flavorful, and the chicken was very tender, but I kinda wish the meat absorbed more of the sauce (if that makes sense). We ordered the two serving size portion- and we were left very full with leftovers. The side dishes were OK - nothing spectacular - and a little disappointed that they didn't offer us as many. The main reason for the 3 stars is the service. The waitress was RUDE. I watched her push a cart of to-go boxes/bags to a customer, and when the child with the customer left his mask in the store and came back; she angrily pointed to it. To us; she was also not friendly at all. It kinda dampened the mood honestly. Overall, I still recommend this restaurant if you want decent Korean food- we enjoyed how clean the place was and how the food had that "homemade style". Def better than the traditional Korean food you find directly in the city. read more
3 years ago
I got discharged from the hospital for digestive issues a week ago and this Cha-O-Reum Samgye Tang is what I love to eat when I am sick. It's soo flavorful, authentic, healthy and comforting! read more
3 years ago
Price - Expensive. 3/5 Japchae - Sweet. Nice portion. Could've sworn it was supposed to come with meat. Good dish, but not knock your socks off good. 4/5 Chicken Galbi - Spicy, but not overwhelming. Moist. Tons of chicken. Shareable. Somewhat sweet towards the end. 4/5 Cucumbers - Amazing 5/5 Slaw - Meh. Pretty bland 2/5 Ssyal is an authentic Korean restaurant that is welcome in the Chicagoland Area. It is highly rated, but I wasn't that impressed. The restaurant itself is small albeit not cramped like in yuppie areas. When I was there it was lifeless (a symptom of this relatively new COVID era) with me being the only person there aside from what I later discovered to be an employee eating at the table next to me. I believe they even asked for my vaccination card in-order for me to dine in. The presentation of the food is ok & for the most part the dishes are good except for the slaw. The bathroom is nice although there is an odd bench in there for some reason (is someone else supposed to wait there watching you while you do your business or what? Plus it's made out of pleather so no doubt it's soaked in whatever fluids have come out of people's bodies.) The apparent michelin recommendation comes with a price as some menu items will set you back. It's worth nothing that if your order liquor, they will give you the entire bottle or at least that's what they did for me. This makes sense because the prices are pretty much the same if not a little less than the retail bottle. At least now I have a bottle of Soju in my cellar. 3.5 out of 5 stars read more
4 years ago
Ordered delivery and needless to say, it's a rip off. Got their kalbi tang (beef rib soup) the portion size is TINY compared to other Korean restaurants. $20 for a soup that doesn't taste like anything. Literally tastes like water with a hint of radish and green onion flavor. They gave 3 chunks of huge radishes and just 2 pieces of small ribs. Would not recommend ordering from this place. read more
6 years ago
I got the dak dori tang which was super good, with lots of potatoes and meat. It's a spicy chicken stew, highly recommend. Would definitely come back in person soon to try other items on the menu. read more
After spending a much needed day at King Spa recuperating, it was only appropriate to keep the healthy wellness train going with some Korean for dinner. I had heard of Ssyal for a while and finally got the opportunity to try it recently. Low and behold, I think I've found another great spot for Korean here in Chitown! Their call to fame comes down to their Ssyal Samgye Tang (1A), which is a whole chicken with ginseng, jujube, garlic, and mixed grain sweet rice in natural chicken broth. For $17, it was definitely sharable between 2-3 people. I gotta say that this soup blew our expectations right out of the water. The pieces of chicken were not only fragrant but tender and easily fell apart in our mouthes. This is an absolute must here. We also ordered some of their Spicy Pork Bulgolgi and Spicy Squid. The pork was some of the best I've had in Chicago and you absolutely get them served on a steaming stone plate mixed in with onions. Both dishes come with a side of rice and the small bowls they have here is something to note! My friend also ordered the Ginseng Milk Shake but wasn't too much of a fan of this drink. Too healthy I suppose! Ssyal ended up being a fantastic treat. With amazing service from our lovely waitress, we were well taken care of throughout the entire night. Even though we stretched passed their closing time, they did not rush us as we quickly wrapped up our meal. Definitely would recommend anyone looking for a great Korean restaurant to consider this joint. read more
4 years ago
Great spot to go when you need to warm your soul! Make sure to get a ginseng shake to round out your palette! read more
7 years ago
This place is a hidden gem!!! Can't go wrong with anything on their menu!! Their ban-Chan is always fresh, delicious and the presentation is outstanding! They also offer black rice which is my fav... many places do not have this option!!! The owner/server lady is extremely friendly, sweet and welcomes everyone with her warmth, smile and laughter!! Ambience of the restaurant is cozy, modern and clean!! Highly recommend this place!! read more
I see that Ssyal Ginseng House offers delivery on Yelp, and I'm wondering how much money I could pay to get them to deliver to Minneapolis... Eating Ssyal's samgyetang brought me back to South Korea. Samgyetang is a whole chicken/hen stuffed with sweet rice, garlic, jujubes, and most importantly: ginseng. It's then stewed to fall-of-the-bone perfection in an herbal broth. You customize the salt/flavor with your own seasonings on the side. Fun fact: Koreans eat hot soup like this in the summer because they believe raising your internal temperature is best to combat hot external temps. But hey, I would eat samgyetang all day every day all year if I could. It's so comforting and nutritious. The service at Ssyal was fantastic and authentic. The menu is in both Korean and English, with what seemed to be an all-Korean staff. Service was really friendly, and I didn't have to wait long at all for the whole delicious spread (several banchan/side dishes included). I'll try to make this a stop on the way to/from O'Hare everytime I visit Chicago! read more
3 years ago
This is my second time here and I came with some friends. I ordered the Spicy Rice Cake, Japchae, Soon Tofu Stew, and Yukjae Jang. It was very good, my favorite dish was the spicy rice cake. Last time, I ordered the jjim dak and it reminded me of one of my mom's dishes. I can't wait to visit again. read more
7 years ago
It's definitely worth our trip. We ordered the famous chicken soup and Neul Chan Jjim Dak. While the Samgye Tang tastes as great as everyone else has already reviewed. The latter was also suprisingly delicious. The sauce that came with the braised chicken was on point. You can taste a little bit sweetness in the soy sauce. We love this place so much! read more
More info about Ssyal
4201 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
Albany Park
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(773) 427-5296
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https://www.ssyal.com
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Ssyal - korean - Updated September 2026
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