Was in Chicago for only one day and my go-to Korean BBQ place is closed on Tuesday, so we thought I would give this place a try. It is a little quant place with cute decor. We were the only ones there when we arrived, as it was early for dinner. We ordered 2 orders of the GalBi and an order of the Spicy Rice Cake. The GalBi was very tender and flavorful, and highly recommended. My guest said the Spicy Rice Cake was very authentic, I thought it was pretty good; with egg, cabbage, and few other ingredients. All of the side dishes you get when ordering the BBQ we're also very good, with a nice variety. I do wish they had a little bit more of a selection of meats, possibly squid or shrimp. The waitress was very polite and helpful, but maybe a little too helpful. She continued to help us cook the meat on the grill, but at a much faster pace than what we were wanting to eat at. We like to take our time and enjoy the food and the experience, it just felt like she was rushing us. read more

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After dining in for lunch here twice, I'm underwhelmed. For starters, and as noted in other reviews, this place is pricey for what you get. I think if the food was off the chart and the ban chan was amazing, I'd pony up every once in while. As it is, I'm going to pass, even with the dearth of great Korean bbq in Chicago. The food here is just ok. I think the people are really nice, and service has been good during both our visits, but it's not enough for me to want to return. read more

Excellent, old-school charcoal grill run by a kind owner (and her helpful family). This is probably the best Korean BBQ restaurant in town. The kalbi (galbi) is the crown of KBBQ and this is the place to get it. I saw a lot of comments about card fees/etc - be sure to ask about fees BEFORE you order if you want to know. BUT - they actually don't charge you for automatic 18%-20% that most KBBQ restaurants charge across the country. They MAY if it's a large party but I didn't seek out the info on the menu carefully. Remember, KBBQ is not cheap food - it takes days to cut/prep/marinade and every firing is way more expensive than other gas cooking methods. Needless to say, insurance premium for having live fire on every table is probably significant as well. Expect to pay $35-$50 per adult before tax/tips if you get live-grill KBBQ. If you are looking for just good old Korean cuisine (without the grill) - it's actually a quite affordable restaurant. Skip Cho Sun Ok. Go here - far nicer people, less automatic fees, better side dishes and most importantly - better galbi/kalbi. read more

BEST KOREAN BBQ I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. Customer service is phenomenal, this place is basically a hidden gem. If u like spicy do medium spicy it'll clear ur nasal airways lbs read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Spicy chicken and beef - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I came here for dinner a few nights ago and really enjoyed the food. The service is very fast, and the waitresses kept checking up on us to make sure we were doing ok (and low-key also to make sure we didn't mess up cooking the meat I suspect). We ordered 2 different kinds of meat to grill, and really enjoyed the meat and all the sides. 2 orders of meat was plenty for 2 people to split, but I'll admit it was pretty expensive. One plate of meat was almost $32. I've been to some all-you-can-eat restaurants where you can eat as much meat as you want for $40, so the $90 bill at the end of the night was pretty painful, but not too shocking. We will probably not be coming back here (or at least not for a long time) because of the price, but if you have a more flexible budget, this is a great spot for Korean Bbq. read more

Fantastic family run Korean BBQ place! Not too far from downtown if you drive or Uber, and the place usually doesn't get too busy. I find that the service is much better than other Asian restaurants in the city, and they will kindly teach you how to cook the meats if you're a KBBQ newb! I usually get the samgyeopsal (pork belly) and the galbi (beef short rip). Both are so tasty and the bonchon (side dishes) compliment them very well. If you go with a larger group I recommend trying out some of their kimchi soup dishes that come boiling in a pot, the Korean chive pancakes, and more of the BBQ meat of course! Whatever you order, you will not leave this place unsatisfied or hungry. read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really good food for a good price point. Highly suggest ordering soju with the meats that you cook. I liked that the cook surface was a charcoal cauldron type grill for a more Smokey flavor. read more

Highly recommend the Korean BBQ Gal Bi or the Sait Sal. If you're interested in other things other than barbecue then the jap chae or bibim bap. Great customer service and very friendly staff. read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Dining area for large party - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time trying this place, smaller space. This Korean BBQ spot is NOT all you can eat it is a La cart. For this reason our party decided to share the meal, however, the host/waitress was very judgmental about this. She kept saying the portion is only good for one person. This was not the case when the meats came out it had plenty to share. We also were waiting for two more members of the party to join so just wanted to order a little at the moment. We felt rushed (although waiting on our other friends to order and at this time the restaurant was not busy either). When the food came very minimal instructions were given on how to cook food or anything. Since the space was small the Smoke was very heavy, they had vents however did not work well. A few of us including other customers had to step out multiple times due to the smoke build up. Overall i would say the food was delicious, just felt like I was rushed and disregarded by staff. read more

We used to live in Milwaukee and would drive for an hour for this food. Now we live only 5 mins away so it's awesome. Fantastic service, really nice people that treat their customers like families, and great food. This is definitely our go to Korean place! read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The galbi tang was delicious and very filling! I've ordered soon dubu jjigae from here as well and remember it being quite good. While I recommend both, I find this restaurant to be on the pricier side. The website menu hasn't been updated with the current prices, which are higher now. The galbi tang, for example, is now around $26. Just a heads up for anyone ordering off the website menu. read more

Tried them all and Woo Chon is still our favorite Korean BBQ place! I've brought dozens of extended family and friends both new to Korean food and veteran eaters and they all rave about the taste and the service. Even my extended family from central Wisconsin who have very limited exposure to ethnic cuisine, loved the experience and request going back! Which I'm still kinda surprised by. I do think the price has gone up over the years we have been coming here, but considering what you receive, still well with it! read more

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A hidden, underrated Korean "Diamond in the rough" restaurant. I had an opportunity to try this delightful Korean Restaurant and I was impressed. I had tried so many Korean restaurants when Koreans used to live in Chicago back in the 1980's and 1990's and this was in quiet, quaint and underrated. The staff was very amiable and not rude like most Korean restaurants in Chicago and some Suburbs. I will not name them. Anyways, their "Bulgogi" is phenomenally delicious and fresh. We also did Korean Barbecue and it was just as wonderfully tasty. Next to Soon Tofu Soup we had and the "Hae Mool Pa Jeon "or Seafood Pancake as appetizers. The ingredients we're fresh and not too sweet or not to salty (or loaded with any MSG). The food was savory which IMO was excellent. We also did the Korean Barbecue but if you do that you have to order 2 entrees since the servers cook it in front of you over a stove with charcoal range. Almost similar to Japanese Hibachi or tippenyaki but not on a griddle with no knife show. Just quaint cooking. Also as usual in Korean hospitality in Restaurants they give you several varieties of Kim Chi. I liked the broccoli Kimchi which was seasoned in a flavorful fermented sauce as well as the egg plant kimchi which was tasty too they offer. I give 5 stars because of the quality but beware of prices or cost as this is not your average tab. I would come back here for special occasions. Not your typical Staple Korean cuisine restaurant that one can afford to treat a date but one to try well you are in the mood for the best or something special. read more

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This was my second time trying Korean food and it was a great experience! Our party decided to order items from the menu and chose not to do the grill it your self Korean bbq. The atmosphere was pretty empty for a Saturday night but still had a relaxing vibe. Our server was a sweetheart as she poured us some delicious tea and was very kind and helpful. We ordered the fried mackerel, spicy rice cakes, jap chae, and bulgogi. I highly recommend the mackerel as it was very moist and flavorful and also the jap chae (noodle stir fry) which was delicious. The bulgogi was not as appetizing as I had hoped and was very bland. I always enjoy the small plates/appetizers they give with the food and you can always ask for refills! Overall, a great experience and highly reccommend if you have never tried Korean food. read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Yummy food from Woo Chun! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my first Korean BBQ... I had no idea how expensive an experience can be! Final bill? We will wait. First off, the small place is in a cozy spot of California and Lincoln with about 30 seats, give or take a phew. For a Saturday evening, people were constantly coming in and out. The means the food has to be authentic right!? So one does not go to Korean BBQ without getting barbecue, correct. The meats for table grilling barbecue range from $22-$29 AND you have to order two. That is already half a bill right there, and the meat you get really only serves a couple as you get a million dishes on the side. Pictured is the Gai Bi, thin slices of beef with a rib bone on the side (mainly for presentation). This is the typical meat you see if most photos on instagram. The meat was really fresh, and the fire on table really cooks the meat fast- so you have to keep flipping the meat!!! We also got marinated chicken as our second meat... I was pretty disappointed about the chicken quality. It was on the fattier side, and the breast was diced up but still together. Since we had a party of 4, we had to order a couple entrees at ~$15 each. We split the 2 amongst all of us to fill each of us, along with the bbq and sides. We had Bibim Bap (a variety of rice, vegetables and beef with a couple eggs on top) and Bugolgi (marinated beef and vegetables). Both dishes were delicious. Everything was delicious and authentic! What was really cool in my opinion was the large pieces of lettuce and radishes, which you can make tacos with using the meat and rice. Our server insisted we do not put the appetizers in the taco, but I did anyway. I LIKE A FAT TACO. As far service, our server took care of us. She cooked our meat and gave us all her advice. One thing was that she tried cutting my cooked meat with scissors that already been used to cut raw meat. We quickly stopped her, but she was really busy that night with only 2 servers available. We let it slide, but it was a really close one right there... Anyways, food was enough that all 4 of us wasn't bloated! The total billl ended up being over $100 without tip. At least we didn't leave hungry... 7/10 read more

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It's hard to find good quality Korean BBQ, but we are so happy we ventured to a new place to us this evening. While the kalbi is on the expensive side, it was perfectly marbled and tender with a delicious marinade. Importantly, we loved the real smoldering charcoal brought to our table for the grill. The staff was friendly and was happy to replace pan chan as we ate it. We will be back soon! read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Beautifully marbled and tasty marinated kalbi - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I can't believe I haven't rated this restaurant yet. It is one of my absolute FAVORITE Korean restaurants (and I eat at Korean restaurants frequently and everywhere I travel in the U.S.) I love eating here. The staff is charming and the food is so yummy. Even the banchan is so yummy I want to eat it all up and get more. I leave there so full and happy! read more

I remember dining in at Woo Chon several times when I was younger with the family. I havent revisited in quite some time other than just recently for a quick take out order to satisfy the prego sister cravings. Its hard to sort and rate korean restaurants. I feel so spoiled and privileged living in north park having all the good korean spots basically at my doorstep. While most complain about not being able to make it "up north" to all the korean restaurants Im within walking distance of most. Not to mention the fact that I co-managed a korean restaurant at one point. But thats neither here nor there.. Regardless, how could you ever go wrong with a bevy of raw meat at your table. A coal fueled grill at your fingertips providing you with fresh cooked meat. Good banchan. Good customer service; meaning non-korean friendly (thats probably the harder to find at times). Decent portions and decent prices. Oh and how could i forgot, to authenticate the experience, the parting gift of the "I just had korean bbq" musk. I cant say where my allegiance lays among the korean restos..but if it were a hit or miss question, Woo Chon is definitely a hit. read more

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Usually I'm not a fan of places that make you cook or schlep your own food. If I'm cooking, I get to strip down to my underwear, and hang out with my dog, and I'm oh . . . at home cooking food I already bought for much cheaper. I'm not at a restaurant cooking my own food and then paying for it - jigga whaa?! Who do I think I am, Anthony Bourdain? *snaps out of daydream* Okay . . . where was I? This place though, I'll let slide. Something about slapping a bunch of meat on a small grill and then snagging it right off said grill with chopsticks when it's done, is really appealing. Plus . . . kids like to cook. It's fun!! Ohhhh, and did I mention the MEAT?! Chicken, tongue, beef, delish. The squid was problematic. Tough and chewy. But everything else was delicious. I ate like an unabashed, starving pig. I also like the side dishes, kim chee, salads, bean sprouts et. al. This place also has really yummy potstickers. Everything is very fresh, and the restaurant itself seems clean. I want to go back and sit in one of the little rooms. Leave behind that "Juicy Fresh" Wrigley gum knockoff that's at the counter, though. Tastes like plastic infused with cheap perfume. The price: unbelievable. 4 people, tons of good food, one giant beer and sodas = under $100. The company? Priceless. read more

Service was fast, food was fresh. Family of five enjoyed the experience. My son really liked the kalbi.

I love Korean BBQ. We go every year for my sister's birthday but this time we went with some friends. Don't tell her - she'll be mad! We ordered a ton of food and were not disappointed. The Kal Bi was great and so was the spicy chicken. If you wrap it in the tremendous pickled radishes, it won't burn your mouth off. Bonus! It wasn't super busy so we had two waitresses cooking for us. They were very fun and naturally thought we were too. This place is great for groups and the food is delcious! read more

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Kalbi is alright. Nothing I would brag to anyone about. Woo chon was pretty good three years ago. Today, its just another kalbi restaurant. I avoid going in the winter season, I've always felt its uncomfortable, turn up the heat!! I never take dates, this is only for ugly meat eating. That is: couple guys, don't feel like spending alot of money, dressed lazily, just want to eat meat. With enough soju and beer, taste is alright. read more

We dine at Woo Chon for the first time, after seeing it featured on Chicago's Best. I have to say I wasn't greatly impressed with their food. However, I do think their service is friendlier than Cho Sun Ok. But i perfer Cho Sun Ok over Woon chon, because of high prices for everything. We had the typical Korean BBQ like Kalbi and some spicy chicken along with one order of prawns, it is $22.99 for kalbi that only feeds one adult. When I was told this by the waitress I was like very disappointed to find out $22.99 for kalbi would only feed one adult. So our bill was over $200 by the time we were done eating. It is a rip off if you ask me, when you can go to Cho Sun Ok spend about $100 to feed a table of 8 people to just two orders of their Korean BBQ Meat. The food at Woo Chon is very tasty and the radish wrap thing is nice, but not worth the ride or the price, sorry to say but that is how I feel. Leaving the place made us feel we would go right back to Cho Sun Ok for Korean BBQ. read more

I have been to this restaurant several times and I will continue to keep coming back periodically. The one item on the menu that stands above all other Korean restaurants is their Yook Gae Jang (spicy soup w/ beef, vegetables & clear noodles). The broth used to make their Yook Gae Jang is wonderful. It has a slightly thicker and heartier flavor, which make this the best Yook Gae Jang I have ever had. I think they use the sullungtang (beef bone) broth. I thought their galbi (marinated beef) was good, but pretty average in comparison to most other Korean restaurants. I thought the chaldolbaegae (thin sliced, non-marinated beef) was good. But I was pretty disappointed with the fried rice after the meats were cooked. I was expecting more of a kimchee/vegetable fried rice, but it was more of a vegetable fried rice, not very spicy at all according to my palate. The daegutang (fish soup) was average. Fulfilled my daegutang craving, but nothing to rave about. The chap chae (stir fried clear noodles with beef and vegetables) was below average, but not horrible. I'll be back because this place is solid. read more

To start, I thought the ban chan was on the sparse side, but I liked that it included a Korean pancake. You pay a little less and get a little more meat than San Soo, but the downside is it's just not as good SSGB. I also made the mistake of ordering one brisket and one bulgogi. Both dishes don't have optimal taste when cooked over charcoal. So the basics of Korean BBQ I learned from Jane P: 1. Chaldo baegi (brisket) best cooked on a stone pan or gas grill. 2. Bulgogi cooked on a skillet or pan in it's own marinade, so it doesn't dry out. 3. Kalbi over an open charcoal flame. read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been here couple of times. While the quality of the meats and side dishes are superb, I don't believe the price is worth it. I will only go again if it's a special occasion and/or if someone else pays lol I was debating to give a three or a four but the quality is so good and I want to support this small kbbq place. read more

Korean BBQ. Enjoy the whole experience here~ the boss is super nice to teach us how to roast the ! read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - The Korean BBQ ! Enjoy the food and the BBQ! The boss is so nice to show us how to BBQ ~ a lot sides were served! - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've never written any kind of reviews but this time I have to do definitely. The prices are to high for the BBQ 37$ per person, and it is only includes 5-6 bowls of small goods like kimchi etc... (for the table not for the person)for the rice you have to pay extra. I have compared other Korean restaurants in this neighborhood. I was ok to pay for all my guests but working stuff wasn't nice to us. After 30 min when we finished our BBQ they asked us to leave because this table on the reservation (allegedly). (They had 3 free tables at that moment) Excuse me, we were there not just eat and leave right away. I would never go back again! read more

What a wonderful experience we had for my birthday at Woo Chon! The pleasant staff, great selection of Korean beer and spirits, and the food. OMG the food. I have never tasted anything so fresh and delicious. The main dishes we chose were beef brisket thinly sliced and chicken. These are cooked at the grill at your table. The sides are a variation of kimchi, pickled cucumber slices with spicy paste, and salad with their own homemade salad dressing that I would buy in the store if it was available. The waitstaff were so polite and attentive. This was one of my favorite birthdays ever. read more

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Wow! AaaamAaazing! Enjoyed a lovely lunch here. This no frills Korean Bbq restaurant made me so very happy! From start to finish! We were welcomed with the upmost of hospitality. Which a lot can be said for that! We enjoyed the marinated short ribs, and chicken. Along with a sizzing bihimbop of beef with the carmelized crispy rice on the bottom. Yummo! This is not a fancy, nor especially esthetically pleasing place. Just a no frills, as good as it can get delicious Korean food restaurant. Which I will definitely return to! Everything, and I mean everything including the accompaniments were exceptional! I'm not the biggest fan of kimchi but theirs was excellent! The fish cakes, the potato salad, the eggplant etc.were all amazing! Korean bbq can be on the expensive side( for lunch anyway) with at about $30 per person excluding drinks but it was definitely worth it! The lady there even helped cook our food for us which was an amazing bonus. I guess we didn't look like we would know what we were doing! Not mad at all! Thank you kind lady it was awesome! read more

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The positive of this place is that its charcoal, which is hard to find. But the short rib kalbi is very thin, so for the price you don't feel like you're getting a premium product. The boneless strip meat is just intercostal rib meat that is usually sold really really cheap, but they charge the same as kalbi, which is terrible. Overall, not worth the money and way overpriced. Too bad Chicago has slim pickings when it comes to KBBQ... read more

Definitely my best Korean bbq experience in Chicago. Meat is fresh and so are the vegetables. Fast yet very friendly service. I'm making Woo Chon my default bbq destination going forward read more

Absolutely phenomenal 10/10 this place is incredible. Please try the spicy chicken and the short rib

I've come here a lot with my mom. It's really good bbq! They have lots of different bon chon. Def worth a try. I've tried one other dish besides bbq and it was kimchi chigae. read more

Love this spot! Charcoal grilling at your table. Delicious and plentiful sides. The meats are well seasoned and tender. A decent value for Korean. This is our go-to spot in Chicago for Korean barbecue! read more

Well, Korean American local to Chicagoland for 30 years. This is one of very few places that deserve a visit. At times, the place gets packed and service may take some time, but it's no different than any other hotspot restaurants. Services are above decent and food is one of few (top 10) K-food in the entire Chicagoland IMHO. read more

AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING! The food was sublime. I want to try every dish on the menu. Not cheap but this kind of quality rarely is. You owe it to yourself to make a pilgrimage here soon. read more

With my husband being half Korean, we definitely have a deep appreciation for Korean food. Stumbled upon this place as our first choice was not opened at the time and I'm glad it happened this way. We ordered the marinated Kalbi and to our pleasant surprise, they use real charcoal to BBQ instead of gas. The meat was permeated with a slight charcoal taste which added to the overall flavor. The marinated was not too heavy handed and thus not overly salted. The banchan were all very tasty. They also refilled the ones that we devoured. We also ordered the dukboki which IMHO is my favorite thus far served at a restaurant. Their kimchi pancake was filled with kimchi and lots of veggies and had a nice texture and flavor. We will most definitely be back and bring my Korean MIL there as well! read more

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This place is below average. I hate their service and food was meh. I would never go to this place again and would not recommend anyone going. Very disappointing place. I usually go to Hwangso grill but they somehow changed their open hours on weekends. Everyone should try Hwangso grill. They are so good not like here. read more

My first experience with Korean BBQ! Pretty good overall. Cass beer was really good, and a huge bottle for $7! We had the dumplings filled with beef and vegetables as an appetizer, I don't remember the name but I didn't like it. BBQ was awesome, love that you cook it yourself at the table! We had the marinated short rib. It comes with tons of little side dishes and they refill them for you of you want! Potato & apple salad is soo good. The salads that came with were good as well and everything was fresh! Great waitress as well, she went through all the side dishes for us and gave recommendations when we were ordering! read more

Woo Chon Restaurant - BBQ grill with side dishes - Korean Near Me - Chicago, Illinois