I forget how good meat is sometimes… I’m not a huge red meat eater, but Korean BBQ is always an exception! With the super thin slices and great marinated flavors, its even better when done right!

Yes, I love the fact that Cho Sun OK is BYOB. But even better is that we found out there is a Jewel right around the corner!

Authentic Korean BBQ in a nicely ventilated spot… a great combination!

Get the chadol begi because it’s the best thing on the menu—strips of raw beef that you fry on the skillet with garlic. Just be careful not to burn it. Their oyster kimchi is fantastic. The place is cramped, the, decor is weird and the waitresses are gruff old ajummas, so don’t expect to be pampered. But damn, the food is good.

Get the chadol begi because it’s the best thing on the menu—strips of raw beef that you fry on the skillet with garlic. Just be careful not to burn it. Their oyster kimchi is fantastic. The place is cramped, the, decor is weird and the waitresses are gruff old ajummas, so don’t expect to be pampered. But damn, the food is good.

Nothing but a positive experience here. Only downside is sometimes there’s a long wait if you have a group larger than 4.

great assortment of bahnchan. chal-dol-gui is da bomb and the rice they fry afterwards is yummy. best korean food i’ve had in chicago, besides the stuff i make at home.

if you’re looking for authentic korean, cho sun ok will deliver. located in a very cozy corner shop, this casual restaurant screams mom ‘n pop from its minimal english-speaking servers (w/their semi-chilly service) to its hustle-bustle feel in a simple, no-frills atmosphere. narrow “booths” line the wall, and big circular tables fill the center. (when we came, the place was unbelievably jam-packed w/koreans.)

be warned – you’ll come out smelling like BBQ (even if you don’t order it!)

I came here for dinner and had the most authentic Korean meal I’ve had in a long time. What made Cho Sun Ok so authentic?

• Real Koreans working there, who don’t speak much English
• Lots of meat grilling with poor ventilation, so your clothes will smell long after you leave
• Real Koreans eating there, and lots of them!

We came for a late Thursday dinner and still had to wait for a table. Service was brisk and very no-nonsense, and the menu was straightforward and simple.

One cool aspect of Cho Sun OK is that it’s BYOB, so you see lots of tables with bottles of premium liquor (Korean and American). The restaurant does sell beer (Hite) if you didn’t bring your own.

We ordered a ton of food, and I was grotesquely stuffed by the end of the meal (but in a good way). I’d definitely come back again for great Korean food. Hopefully they’ll add some more ventilation at some point.

Cho Sun OK was the first Korean BBQ I visited in the Chicago area. I have tried a few others, but Cho Sun OK is still at the top of my list. There’s something about their bulgogi that brings them a notch above the rest. The bi bim bop is also pretty tasty. The service isn’t always the friendliest, with waitresses basically taking over the cooking apparatus for you without saying a word, but at least it’s a learning experience. Once, I had one of the cooks watching me eat my bi bim bop and warning me about how how the sauce was that I was using. When I kept on adding it and saying that I liked it, he just laughed and laughed. I’m sure that novices like myself are pretty entertaining to them! The only downfall is that it’s pretty small (I’ve seen a line going out the door waiting for a table) and your clothes really reek of meat when you leave. None of those things will stop me from going back!

This is my favorite Chicago Korean BBQ joint as it offers great tasting traditional Korean BBQ food. Food wise, the flavors of the various meats were consistent with better tasting Korean BBQ joints. In addition, the menu offers a wide range of meal choices. Service wise, well it’s an Asian Mom & Pop shop so the service was typical of such establishments (i.e. definitely do not expect a fine dining experience). Cost wise, well worth the buck as the portion/cost ratio was quite reasonable; the added bonus of it actually tasting good makes it an even better buy. Decor wise, again don’t expect much.

All in all, out of all the times I dined here (this was a favorite amongst my group of friends), I’ve always had a delicious meal. And yes, I did get cravings for this place; and, that has got to be a sign of a good restaurant, no?

I can’t say I’m an expert with discerning tastes in Korean food, but I do know fresh ingredients when I eat it. The Korean BBQ is quite fresh, though I have to say, what won me over is the Raw Oyster with Asian Pears dish. The Asian Pears are julienned which made it look like daikon, and thus was pleasantly surprised when it wasn’t. The Raw Oysters were fresh, and the sauce wouldn’t have been able mask not-so-fresh food.

The place is cramped and the decor is uninspired (though tidy), but like all good places, the food is what speaks the most.

The Korean BBQ itself wasn’t head over heels distinguished, but it made for a meal that was worth your money.