Ban Po Jung Korean Restaurant

Authentic Korean mom and pop restaurant, that was first on our stop after arriving in Chicago. The pancake was complementary and arrived promptly after we sat down. It had a nice crispy exterior and chewy interior. The spicy marinated crab was so fresh and the reason I came to this place. Next time I will try both flavors of marinated crab. The fried fish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The makgeolli (rice wine drink) and cold noodles were a refreshing break in between bites. The staff were very kindhearted, and I liked the Korean singing competition they had on. It was a place I could sit, hang out, and eat for hours.

Ban Po Jung serves up homemade-style Korean food that’s incredibly comforting. The Banchan was refreshing, and they even offer a complimentary pancake! Among the dishes we ordered, the Naengmyeon stood out with its refreshing and well-flavored clear beef broth; the charbroiled mackerel was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the fried kimchi & pork belly had a great kick of spice, balanced with tofu pieces. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and definitely look forward to coming back for more.

Everything we had was undersalted to the point of being bland. Complimentary panjeon was quite oily. Banchan spread had a decent variety but was tasteless with cabbage and radish kimchi being borderline frozen. Bulgogi was extremely dry and pan fried squid was unpleasantly chewy.

this was my first time at this place and the food was surprisingly cheap and really good. The spicy squid was so tender and tasty. They even have monk fish on the menu !! Will definitely be back.

An old couple runs this family owned restaurant. Can’t expect much for the price you paid. But I was not expecting 2 pieces of beef in my bim bim bop.

I brought family here to celebrate my birthday and left embarrassed. 😩 Don't be fooled by the website, reviews, or large menu. 🔴 Galbi and bulgogi - dry 🔴 Mandu - burnt 🔴 Fried rice - no soy sauce (?!), forgot to add kimchi as asked 🔴 Sundubu jjigae - came with only 2 clams 🔴 Ojingeo bokkeum - squid came with the same, out-of-place vegetable medley used in the fried rice, forgettable. I have high standards after having AMAZING ojingeo bokkeum 🙈 🟡 Dol sot bibimbop - nice large pieces of beef, average 🟡 Japchae - missing more sesame oil, average 🟡 Ox tail soup - no salt was brought to the table, under-seasoned. I've never had it before, so not sure if it's supposed to be game-y. But it's not offensive. 🟢 Mul naengmyeon - cold noodle broth was very flavorful, which was great because the vinegar and mustard they served with it were flavorless. I called several times over 3 days to tell them we were coming in, but no one answered the phone. They might have been surprised, but the poor quality is inexcusable. 🧑‍💼Service was below average, but I've come to expect that from Korean restaurants in Chicago. ⏳No wait for a large table on a Sunday evening. Food came out at a decent pace. 🚗They have a small parking lot and free street parking on the side street.

I have been coming to this place on and off for the past 10 years, the flavors never changed, and it has been the same owners over and over the years. One of the must try Korean food in the area.

Authentic Korean mom and pop restaurant. The food was all hand made at the restaurant. The kimchi and bonchon was very good. I was reminded of my childhood in Korea. I’d highly recommend this spot for good Korean eats.