San Soo Ka San
(773) 334-1589
5247 N Western Ave
Chicago,
IL
60625
41.9771
-87.689
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Far North Side
Reviews & Ratings for San Soo Ka San
19 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 19 reviews
Great Sushi!!!
by bella54330
November 03, 2005
This place has some of the best sushi around this neighborhood. It is fresh, and they only use the best cuts (which I find refreshing). The Bulgogi is so excellent, and when I mentioned to the waitress that I've never eaten Korean BBQ before, she sat down at my table and showed me how to do everything! She was very helpful, and actually, quite funny too! My husband had the sirloin tip (BBQ), and he loved that as well. The prices are very affordable, and you could feed an army with 2 entrees. I recommend this restaurant with 2 thumbs up! Hey, I'm going there again tonight!!! Yay!
- Pros: great waitstaff, fun expeience, sushi & Korean food
- Cons: not one!
Please avoid this restaurant
by oppamen
September 21, 2008
Im Korean and lived in Chicago for 15 years. Ive been to this restaurant since I was a kid so I know alot about their service quality. If your looking for restaurant with decent food quality then you can go to this restaurant but if you want decent food and service this is not the right restaurant for you. When I go out to eat I pay 20% or more on tips but not here. My max tip is 10% or NONE. Thats how bad this place is.
My last visit to this restaurant ended 1 month ago. I can go to different restaurant with better food and better service. Kang Nam on Kedie and Lawrence is 5-10 min drive from San Soo Gap San and you can get better food and service there.
- Pros: Nothing at all
- Cons: SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE
The servers hate you if you are white. They serve you hate beef.
by redheadache
June 21, 2008
We've been to this place approximately six times as it's close to our house and the food was, in the past, yummy. Every time I've gone the servers have been extraordinarily rude but I always go back because of the food and proximity to my house. They avoid eye contact, take 15 minutes to come to your table and have occasionally run over my foot with a dish cart - seemingly on purpose. If you are on the way to the restroom they will push you out of their way. I have gone in at 2am but have never been drunk, rowdy or loud. Last night was one of those nights when at 2am Korean BBQ seemed like the perfect thing. I went with my boyfriend and they seated us and again, took long enough to come to the table (approximately 15 minutes) that my guy went up to the counter and asked for a server. There were only two other tables with people in the place. After ordering they brought us food about 20 minutes later with 8 of the dirtiest most bland Korean side dishes I've ever seen. The beef they brought us was school cafeteria quality. It was a joke to say the least and we both felt like we were eating hate beef so we paid, and tipped and vowed NEVER to come back to this hateful place. I half expected to be throwing up all night.
- Pros: Nothing I can think of.
- Cons: Terribly Rude Servers, Dirty food
Bad Service! Rude!!!
by msk0627
May 06, 2008
I have been there couple of times for BBQ. Food is good, meat is average. Atmosphere is good for groups.
Service is unbelieverablely bad.... avoid peek time on Sat nights.
Once I was with couple of friends having BBQ. 4 guys and 1 girls, obviously will eat alot of food and finish fast. They rushed us to put the meat on the grill and we needed to asked them to refill the charcoals and a new grill so many times and they were trying to avoid us. Then, we saw the meat bones still have chuck of meat on it. So my friend just put the meat bones on the grill. Couple mins later, one waitress/ manager came to us and give us a look and said "haha, why are you eating that, are you a dog?! only dogs would eat that..." Then she laughed as she walked away........
What a insult? Well, all of us just looked at each other but didn't response to her "funny insult"
.... What kinda restaurant is that?!... so rude! I have gotten some bad service from other restaurants, but not like this time... and we paid for it.
- Pros: good meat, OK location, parking lot
- Cons: Service, Kinda expenesive for cook it yourself BBQ
BEWARE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!!
by epark2
February 17, 2008
The waitress' attitudes are horrible!!! They are rude and snap when you ask for simple things like another glass or extra side dishes. If you're looking for a nice Korean place to eat at without being treated like dirt and humiliated by the waitress look somewhere else!!!
Diners at this 24-hour Korean barbecue share a love of communal dining and plates upon plates of food--but don't miss the sushi bar.
by Valerie Moloney
December 17, 2007
The Scene
Discreet, partitioned booths create a sense of privacy perfect for lovers' rendezvous, but the crowd at this Ravenswood staple is equal parts family and couples on dates. Smoke floats over charcoal grills at each table, with the smell of kalbi permeating the air, despite the numerous, powerful vents. Or grab a seat at the sushi bar and avoid the smoke entirely.
The Food
Barbecue lovers be forewarned: Get ready for a parade of food. A stunning dozen or more sides--romaine lettuce, green onions, glass noodles, kimchee, beets, fish, bean sprouts, baby bok choy, rice and more--accompany marinated meats such as beef short rib, ribeye, pork, chicken and adventurous options like broiled octopus or squid. A sweet soy, ginger marinade flavors the meat, sizzling and tender right off the grill. Fried dumplings are standout appetizers, but with this much food plus miso soup, you might not need them. (Photo by Peter Behle)
So-So very average Korean. There are better to choose from.
by mrjustice
May 26, 2007
Compared to other Korean Restaurants, just average at best. On the plus side, they use real wood charcoal for BBQing the meats, and lots of panchans. On the negative, the panchans were not particularly spicy or interesting. Most dissappointing was the Service, which as is often the case at Korean restaurants, we were treated as something less than desired guests, not being Korean. They paid no attention to us whatsoever, no refill of water until we flagged someone down, no offer to replentish the panchans, no offer of assistance with the BBQ (not that we needed it, but novices would have) -- and, all this even after we displayed our affinity for Korean by ordering Soju (and, even by name -- Jinro SoJu). Much prefer KangNam, as our favorite Korean.
Chuck the sushi chef ROCKS!!
by kyclubdsm
May 24, 2007
We had sushi on the "quiet" side the other night, and it was wonderful. I highly suggest going there any night that Chuck works (He said he's off Wed.) and he'll treat you well. He made us some beautiful dishes, showed up some great tricks, and even sang us a few songs!! I can't speak for the Korean food yet because I havent tried it, but I'm sure I won't be dissappointed.
- Pros: Chuck is the man! Great sushi, very fair prices.
- Cons: Most crowed parking lot I've ever seen in my life. Good thing I have a Scion xB. At least it HAS parking though.
Almost like being in South Korea again!
by stermolen
April 29, 2007
If you haven't done Korean BBQ before, go to San Soo Gap San with someone who knows what they are doing. Korean BBQ is something that you cook yourself, and our waitress wasn't able to speak a lot on English. Lucky for us, we didn't need explanation. Although I don't speak Korean, I spent two months teaching conversational English in Taejon in 1995. I had been to Korean BBQ restaurants before. This restaurant was exactly like being in South Korea. It was loud, crowded, and had great food. We had bulgogi which is slightly garlicky and slightly sweet beef grilled and then wrapped in lettuce with little vegetables. Despite the fact that I kept the heat up too high for too long (Hey! I said I had done it before...not that I was an expert.), it was fabulous. I've been to several other Korean restaurants in Chicago, and I love most of them. However, this one is at the top!
- Pros: Great food and authentic Korean experience
- Cons: Loud and some waitstaff don't speak English fluently
Okay Korean Food
by kawali
April 19, 2007
The food here was good, but not as great as some of my friends have commented about. The seafood pancake was good as well as the many little appetizers, though other places give those appetizers out also. Overall, was an okay Korean BBQ place.
- Pros: Korean BBQ, Price
- Cons: Parking
Yummy, so Stop Complaining
by jaronh
January 02, 2007
Sure, the service was a bit slow and no nonsense, but the food was very yummy. My friend and I enjoyed some soon dooboo chigae (seafood tofu soup), boolgoki (marinated grilled beef off the bone) and the always delicious haemool pahjun (seafood pancake). For those of you who are seeking uber-friendly caricatures of other cultures, go to Disneyland. If you want excellent Korean food served by sufficiently polite staff, go to San Soo Gap San.
