bopNgrill

"When this spot opened in 2009 in Evanston, they were one of the only Korean fusion restaurants, and the Black Eyed Peas had everyone saying “you’re so 2000 and late.” All of that has since changed—BopNGrill is now based in Rogers Park and Lakeview, Korean fusion is no longer novel, and we’re a little bit closer to the year 3008 that Fergie famously rapped about. But one thing remains constant: the delicious food at this casual Korean burger joint. The patties are juicy and loaded with toppings like cheese, kimchi, and a fried egg. Sure it’s sloppy, but hey, that’s why some genius invented napkins. Crispy kimchi cheese fries are also a must-order." - john ringor, adrian kane

"BopNgrill has two locations (Lincoln Park and Rogers Park) and it’s the kind of casual, delicious place that you need to have in your burger rotation. And while the duxelle burger with truffle mushroom mix is the flashy move, it’s not the best one. Instead, direct your attention toward either the kimchi burger (loaded with a ton of caramelized kimchi), or the bNg, with fried egg, jalapeño, cheese, and bacon. Be warned, these burgers are sloppy—so plan on getting a lot of napkins involved." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"There are two locations of Bop N Grill in Chicago, and this is the original. It’s a counter-service spot that focuses on two things—burgers and Korean food—and does them both very well. And though we do like their bibimbap or fire chicken rice bowls, you’ll most likely find our hands full of one of their burgers. They’re juicy and loaded with toppings like cheese, kimchi, and a fried egg—which means that things will probably get sloppy, but hey, that’s why some genius invented napkins. Make sure to also get their fries topped with caramelized kimchi and cheese, which somehow manage to stay crispy the entire time you’re eating them." - john ringor, veda kilaru

"BopNgrill uses a hefty portion of caramelized kimchi cooked with rendered pork fat, cheese sauce, bacon, scallions, sesame seeds, and truffle to make this side dish the star of the show. It’s just the right balance of spice, fat, and umami. The Korean fast-food restaurant has locations near Loyola and in Lakeview." - Ashok Selvam, Naomi Waxman

"BopnGrill’s four burgers - from the classic to the truffled-mushroom duxelle to the kimchi - are available for delivery or pickup. But be warned, these burgers are sloppy. And since you’ll be eating them in your house, it’s your responsibility to clean up after yourself. In other words, if you’ve ever considered eating a cheeseburger in the shower, now’s the time." - adrian kane