Korean Seoulfood Cafe (Reported Closed)

Recommends

badgerfan60612

Joined 3 years ago

Really Good Buffet (get there early!). I go with my co-workers about once or twice every two weeks or so. We go Wed-Fri when they have the buffet. In my year or so of going there, I have never not had enough food to eat. I should qualify this by saying that I always go right at 11:30 or by noon at the latest. Maybe it's crazy busy between noon and 1, but this has been my experience. The buffet is solid and well priced. The spicy pork is their best buffet dish. In fact, I don't recommend the spicy pork off the menu because I think it tastes different (not as good).

From the regular lunch menu, I also like their spicy soup dishes. In particular, the Yuk Gae Jang is pretty good. It likely has msg in it, but I think it's about as good as most places in korea town (on lawrence). Their cha chiang myun (noodles with black bean curd sauce) still needs some work though. I don't yet recommend this dish.

Service has been outstanding. I noticed they hired another waitress so they now have two people in addition to the owner who usually assists. If you had one bad experience there, my suggestion is to give it another try.

My korean and non-korean friends would go more often, but a buffet is not exactly forgiving on the belt buckles...

Doesn't Recommend

cyntil8

Joined 5 years ago

Not worth your time. Stopped in today for the $8.99 buffet. There was not enough food being replenished. People sat around staring and waiting for the staff to put out more food. Most customers waited for a good half an hour and finally gave up. They didn't seem to care that so many people left unhappy and will most likely never return. It's not a buffet if there is only enough food for one trip. Restaurant is run horribly. There's a kitchen at the front and back of the restaruant yet somehow nothing was produced. It was just a lot of panicked running around by the staff. It was curious that the staff just kept staring at the buffet hoping that food would magically appear. I guess no one told them that their role was to actually put out more food for customers. I asked the waitress to put out more rice and she begrudgingly did so. Don't go here if you want to get your money's worth for a buffet. It was such a time waster waiting to see if anything would be brought out.

Doesn't Recommend

maxwell2727

Joined 4 years ago

maxwell2727. We were completely shocked when food was delivered and we got the bill! Im Korean and I know what other restaurants charge for the same food. Outrageous!!! At least other Korean restaurants make their food in the kitchen and not buy it at the H-Mart (Korean grocery) and serve it as their own. I have lived in the city for over 10yrs, been to more restaurants than I care to remember but never been so outraged by price and such bad food. Im very upset that they serve store bought Korean food and serve to non-Koreans who might not recognize it.

Doesn't Recommend

mlv4718

Joined 5 years ago

If you are in a hurry- TURN AROUND. The food is ok at the most. The service is just horrible. One waitress that can barely handle 2 tables without looking aggrivated and yelling at the kitchen staff. When I asked for soda the answer was "we dont have any soda, I told him (the owner) we didnt have any this morning but he didnt get it so we have water". When I asked for tea I was brought a glass of tea with what I thought was sugar since it was in a sugar container, but endedup being salt! Took an hour to get my food after I told them I was in a hurry.Needless to say, I do not recomend this restaurant to anyone wich is a shame since the south loop only has a select few choices.

Recommends

eattolive80

Joined 5 years ago

Best Korean food around!. If you want not only healthy but absolutely delicious Korean food, this is the place to be. It's a Chicago secret! The best bibimbop you will ever eat! It comes in so many varieties you can have one each day of the week. And you have to try the chicken teriyaki. I've been to dozens of Japanese restaurants, but this place has the best homemade sauce hands down. AUTHENTIC! I've even seen people buying the sauce to take home. Another favorite of mine is the bulgogi, grilled beef, cooked right in front of you and make sure to get a nice steaming bowl of kimchi jigae right along with it! The wait staff is kind and courteous and the karaoke is a blast!

Recommends

ncsc

Joined 5 years ago

Great Food! Great Place!!. I love to dining at Korean Restaurant...but not many in Chicago downtown. I can enjoy one great Korean Restaurant in my town now. Try Spicy Fofu Soup in a ware bowl (if you don't like too spicy then you could ask for a mild soup^^) with their many vege side dishes...Delicious!! And people are very friendly!!

Doesn't Recommend

meatmountain

Joined 5 years ago

Meh. I recently moved here from San Francisco, and I enjoy good Korean food. This place was more expensive than what I am used to, and, quite frankly, was extremely dissapointing. I do not think it's easy to screw up Korean food, but this place manages to do that.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Near West Side eatery challenges foodies' definition of Korean food.. In Short
A black-and-white banner shouts the presence of what could otherwise be another storefront among office buildings. Inside, patrons side on black wooden chairs with a view of a flatscreen behind a long, illuminated bar, while copper-toned walls accent brown paneling and light-skinned booths. Those seeking "Seoul" food dive into house specials like hot spicy stir-fried pork belly and squid. For the not so adventurous: chicken teriyaki with white or fried rice and veggies.