Chodang Tofu Restaurant

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃! This rating encompasses four categories: Atmosphere, Price, Service, and Taste. Atmosphere (2.5/2.5): The restaurant boasts warm ambient lighting, ample natural light from large windows during the day, tasteful decor, comfortable seating, and well-kept furniture. The visuals of the food are truly mouthwatering. Price (2.5/2.5): Their soon tofu stews, priced at $14.49, offer a choice of rice, spiciness level, and a variety of side dishes. Additionally, for aficionados of beef short ribs, $28.89 secures a combo including soon tofu stew, rice, spiciness level choice, assorted side dishes, and a generous portion of meat. Service (2.5/2.5): The staff operates efficiently and courteously, with the owner personally attending to each table, ensuring all needs are met and soliciting feedback on the dining experience. Taste (2.5/2.5): The flavors are exceptionally rich and satisfying, with the warmth of the food not only evident externally but lingering pleasantly after consumption. Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try!

I had oyster soondubu with regular spicy which was extremely tasty. Side dishes served with were also very Korean. Attentive service made my visit a worthwhile. I am wondering if there is a better soondubu place in Chicago than Chodang.

My entree combo meal package, which included Korean barbecue and tofu soup, arrived scorching hot. The beef short ribs had a subtle sweetness and were flavorfully seasoned. It was cooked to perfection; the meat retained its juicy texture and was tender. The ribs go really well with the seafood tofu soup. The soup has a pleasant spice touch and is rich and savory. Silky tofu, clam, and headless shrimp made comprised the soup's ingredients. It's less, but because it was fantastic, it doesn't really worry me.

Great restaurant for soft tofu stew! I had the combo meal of seafood/beef tofu and beef. The stew was packed with flavor and was delicious while not being too spicy. You can also select between white rice and various (healthier) types of rice - I got the brown rice and it was excellent. The atmosphere is relaxing, and the service is really good. I recommend checking it out!

I usually don't rate 5 stars unless something really stood out. I did so today because I just had a humbling experience I'd like to share. It's about 2 o'clock and I walked in while the staff was having lunch. Fast forward... I watched as one of the kitchen workers was leaving. She and the other staff members seemed to have a bit of a language barier, yet she was greeted by everyone so genuinely that it made me want to work there. I also realize that I, too, was treated like they wanted me there, not only as a one and done customer. The food was not a 5, but still one of the best Korean food I've had. Compliments to the owner and the managers that run this place! You sure know how to treat human beings.

You get a lot of bang for your buck in this soondubu jiggae joint. They have combo meals where you can enjoy both piping hot soup and your choice of meat PLUS a bowl of rice and banchan.

Family friendly, Friendly staffs with average service, edamame was offered once seated, but sever never check on us once the foods arrived on our table . Our little one loves fried dumplings and Chodang ribs, ribs are flavorful and tender, beef tofu stew with Udon noodles with great flavor, great for this chilly weather. Hubby enjoys his seafood and beef tofu stew with Steamed rice on the side .

Been here several times for both lunch and dinner. Delicious soon doubu varieties. The dumplings are plump and juicy, the galbi is so tender, banchan are all well made especially the kimchi. Service is kind and personable - I believe it is a family run restaurant. Definitely will be back when I’m in the area.

Amazing. The food here is super flavorful and good, as on the day I ate this scrumptious meal I had a stomachache, and this meal made it feel better. The service here was very friendly. The restaurant itself is a cozy Korean soul food place where I wanted soon doo boo. I love this place. At the end, I put the corn tea inside my dolsot rice, making a nurungi to end off this delicious meal. I recommend the seafood soon doo boo, white level of spice ( non spicy), and regular rice. The rice is the best here.

A no frills clean korean restaurant to get some comfort food. I liked how they had lettuce for wraps available as a side purchase option, and their banchan was also tasty. The kimchi steamed dumplings were very good and homemade as well. The other dumpling options are store-bought so we didn't order them. I got the combo spicy tofu stew, but should've ordered the spiciest version because it wasn't very spicy. There were barely any pieces of seafood or meat too. Otherwise, service was great, and the food hit the craving.

I was craving cold noodles and this place was IT! The food was soooo good and the people are even better. They are super nice, check it out!

My entree combo meal package, which included Korean barbecue and tofu soup, arrived scorching hot. The beef short ribs had a subtle sweetness and were flavorfully seasoned. It was cooked to perfection; the meat retained its juicy texture and was tender. The ribs go really well with the seafood tofu soup. The soup has a pleasant spice touch and is rich and savory. Silky tofu, clam, and headless shrimp made comprised the soup's ingredients. It's less, but because it was fantastic, it doesn't really worry me.

Just ordered again! So good! The food, service, and atmosphere top notch. I had their mung bean pancakes and steamed kimchi dumplings for the first time. So good! Will order again from this restaurant!

I ordered the nutritious rice and kimichi jjigae, bulgogi, and bibimbap and I left with the biggest smile on my face!!! This place is a 10000/10 and will be coming again, HIGHLY recommend!! This is the type of food that will change your entire day.

We absolutely love this place. I think recently the restaurant changed ownership however I think the cooks are still the same. Food is healthy and service is great! Noise level is to a minimum. You can feel the comfort as you walk inside. Restrooms are clean. My kids love to go there. Tofu and dumplings are their favorite. You can adjust the spice level which is a plus for us. Lots of vegetarian options.

A little gem along a strip mall. Stopped by for lunch after landing in ORD one at to Schaumburg. Service was fast and food was delicious. The soon doo boo came out bubbling hot and you get to crack your own egg into the boiling soup. Monday late afternoon (2:30pm) still had 3 other tables of patrons. Clean and fresh atmostphere - doesn't smell of bbq.

Enjoyed the clean and bright dining environment, homey vibes, friendly service, and yummy tofu dishes here. Parking is very easy in the open lot. We got Pureed Soybean Porridge, Chodang BBQ Short Ribs, and two Tofu Soup with Rice. I really like my creamy and flavorful porridge - tasted like a bowl of smashed tofu. The black rice is served in a hot bowl and is soft and nutritious. The side dishes are also good - I like the kimchi here a lot. The bbq ribs are thin, soft and juicy - a good option to share. Overall, we recommend this place if you are in the area and look for Korean food.

Delicious!!!! We went to this little whole in the wall because we couldn't get in to another place nearby. This was a blessing. This place is amazing. We all had something different and we were silent and eating because it was so good. I had a soy bean porridge (?) and I could eat it weekly. So delicious.

I don't often write reviews unless it's really bad or it's really good. As you can see this is only my second review that I have done on Yelp! 1. Service - My biggest concern when visiting a Korean restaurant is the "Ahjumas." They can often times be rude and try to rush you out when it's busy but to my relief this was not the case. I was there 8/19/2023 for lunch and the restaurant was very busy. Even though the restaurant was super busy the waitresses were very attentive and checked on us numerous times. Even the owner stopped by to ask if everything was good. Excellent service and a very wonderful experience. 2. Food - Now Soon Tofu is a Korean comfort food that I really enjoy. I usually get Soon Tofu two or three times a month. There are two main places that you can get it in the Suburbs. SGD Tofu or Cho Dang. My preference is Cho Dang and not SGD Tofu. The main reason is because SGD just has that I am a chain restaurant with a corporate recipe flavor with lots of MSG and too be honest it doesn't have that deep flavor. It's not to say that SGD Tofu is not good. I do like SGD but Cho Dang has that homemade taste that grandma used to make. I live in Northbrook about 5 minutes from SGD but I will drive out of my way to go to Cho Dang. You are limited to so many meals in your lifetime and I would like to make every one of them count. I also really enjoyed the Mool Neng Myun. The Cold Buckwheat Noodle with Beef Broth was also fantastic. The Marinated Beef Short Ribs were also cooked perfectly, not too sweet and just the right amount of flavor. 3. Overall a great experience and I will be returning very soon!

It's been 11 years since I stepped foot in here, but I was delighted to see that the restaurant survived Covid and that business was still good. I picked up a carryout dinner of their combo Korean BBQ with seafood & beef tofu soup ($28.99). I got the combo with white rice and with a mild spice level on the tofu soup. The tofu soup and BBQ entrees were hearty, with deep flavor, and simply delicious. The flavor was the best part, but the portions were on the somewhat skimpy side. There wasn't much seafood or beef in the tofu soup. The carryout came with 3 banchan - kimchi, bean sprouts, and cucumber. Overall, a delicious meal that I'd be happy to have again, and maybe all I saw was the effect of our rampant inflation on the serving sizes. The dining room was vibrant at about 70% capacity, with 100% Korean diners, and t'was nice to see.

I visited Chodang Tofu House over the weekend. A cozy and homey vibe. It's been a long time and I'm more of a firm tofu gal, but there are rare occasions when I crave soft tofu stew because of its visuals. I usually go to SGD, so it's been a while since I've been to this location. I ordered the spicy silken tofu stew with kimchi and beef and my papa got the regular silken tofu stew with everything. They start you with a potato salad, four different side dishes including kimchi, some radish and squid dish, mung bean sprout side dish, and pickled cucumber. All are well-seasoned and delicious! If their side dishes are good, then many times, you don't have to worry about their food. The stew comes boiling for your raw eggs. Crack your egg in and let it cook in the boiling stew while you scoop your rice into the bowl. Then add hot water to the scorched rice in the bottom to eat it at the end with some kimchi! The flavors were perfect. I did leave some soft tofu because there's a lot in there. Service was great and it really hit the spot. I need to go back to try their summer special, Naengmyun and Kalbi combo!

One of the best home style korean meals I've had in a while! We ordered the combo entree with the seafood and beef tofu stew and the small plate of korean BBQ for $24.99. I think the meal set is supposed to be for 1 person, but we split the meal between 2 people and purchased an extra bowl of rice for $4, which we found to be decently filling, especially if you are not super hungry. Everything that came out was good, including the banchan, the tofu stew, and the kbbq. The complimentary tea was also light and refreshing and a good compliment to the meal. This is a popular restaurant so if you are coming here, just be aware that sometimes you will have to wait to get a table during the dinner rush. We came at 5:45 pm on a Saturday night and sat down at the last table in the restaurant.

Delicious food, nice staff, and fairly priced. I'll definitely be recommending this place and will go back!

Spicy bulgogi is as spicy as it gets!! Try their short ribs, theyre tender and juicy. Got our meal as take out and our meal also came with sides of kimchi and pickled veggies. Will be back for a sit down meal this place soon! Thank you for the food experience!

I have loved this restaurant for many years. The tofu soup is delicious and flavorful. I like the balance among all the side dishes and eggs in the soup. I love the nuroongji (crispy bottom rice part in a stone pot).

Incredibly disappointing experience. I've been going here for so long but admittedly, haven't gone in a 2-ish years. I was craving soondooboo and galbi so badly and had my husband pick it up from Chodang thinking it was going to be the same quality that it was just a couple years ago. Although taste was fine, the portions are shocking small. I poured the soup into bowls to heat up the soup in the microwave, but I actually had to change bowls because they barely filled the larger bowls I had chosen. I had to move the soup into much smaller bowls that I often only put rice in. I would say it was 1/3 of the size of SGD. For their dwenjanggook (bean paste soup), it was 1/4 of what you would get anywhere else. I really hope the photos portray the shocking small portions. If the portion size doesn't deter you, their soup also lacked the basic ingredients that were listed. My husband ordered beef and tofu soondooboo, but as you can see my picture, there is no seafood. My dad ordered bean paste soup which claimed to have clams, but there was just one clam shell. Did we get someone else's leftover meal? I honestly feel scammed and so disappointed. I really hope they fix this asap but they have completely lost my trust.

This is by far the best sundubu place in Chicago. If you have never had sundubu, soft silky tofu soup with optional meat/seafood or veggies you must try it. I would argue it warms the soul even better the chicken noodle soup with its rich flavor, silky soft tofu and spicy kick. When you dine in you receive unlimited panchan (korean side dishes) and your rice is served in a traditional korean hot bowl where if you left it sit, it will get crunchy at the bottom. If you don't get to the bottom of the rice til the end of your meal, it is so hard to scrap off. I found the key is as soon as you get the bowl, use your spoon and run it along the bottom. The rice will still stay crispy but won't stick to the bowl. The star of the meal is definitely the sundubu, but their panchan is some of the best as well. Most restaurants have a few standout panchan and the rest are very pedestrian but not at Chodang. Pickled cucumbers: the best! great pickling with very robust sour and sweet with a nice crunch Bean sprouts: a nice soy/sesame oil flavor Kimchi: good heat with some crunch, could use a little more sour Soybeans: love the sweet/savory glaze Chodang also has wonderful service and they are great with food allergies.

I just ordered food for to go, We ordered beef short ribs (the most expensive dish in the menu I guess) spicy tofu soup, spicy pork bulgogi. Very small portion. Beef kalbi was just 6 tiny thin sliced ribs which is 3 of them separated from the bone already. Tofu soup was half of the smallest soup bowl ( usually other korean restaurants serve for rice cup or soybean soup) I paid $85 for this meal and it is not acceptable. I called them as soon as opened the boxes but they are asking me to come pick up some more beef short ribs to fix this, which I was very busy to pick up the food by myself so I paid extra for doordash with my original order. Very cheap portion I have never experienced this kind of experience with the restaurants before. They charging maximum amount and giving this smallest portion. Almost like cheating for people who is ordering for to go?!!

We went there in the afternoon. Great service, seriously great tasting soups. We also had bbq ribs, bulgogi, bibimbao, all that we ordered were delicious. Staff were friendly and warm, place was very clean, well lighted. Definitely worth repeats.

Great food, side dishes, and service. My go to spot for soondubu.

Went on. Tuesday night - plenty of seats and very clean. Good prices and delicious food. Go to there.

Their Google business hours are until 8:30 pm, so I arrived in front of the restaurant entered the store at 7:27 pm, and also the open sign was on, so when I went in, a person working at the restaurant came out and said that the business was over as she drew an X with her hand. Very very unpleasant and rude!! Change Google Business Hours. Don't let other guests fool you.

The food was good. They give you a lot. The service is nice and attentive. Quiet little spot.

We dined at Chodang the other day, and it was better than I remembered! Since my last visit a few years ago, I've noticed Chodang spruced up the interior, menu offering, and serving bowls. We've become regulars of So Gong Dong since it's closer to our place, but I had forgotten how good Chodang is. Service was friendly. They were generous with the side dishes, which I always appreciate. I ordered the kimchi + pork soondubu, and it was most excellent. The hubs was excited when he saw curry soondubu on the menu; he equally enjoyed his choice. I also loved the new black rice option. Overall Chodang's broth is heartier and more traditional than SGD imo, and the dining experience is definitely cozy and homey. Quite a contrast from the lines and hustle and bustle of SGD. Both places are solid, but I'd give Chodang an extra notch.

First time here and was so impressed! The staff are friendly and our food was delicious . I can't wait to come back and get the healthy rice with the seafood & beef tofu soup!

I got the tofu soup with mushrooms and an order of kimchi pancakes. It was all great. The banchan was simple and so good along the soup. I love the kimchi pancakes too - crisp and perfectly kimchi-y.

I think this restaurant is amazing. Everything here positively surprises: food, prices, service, decor. I recommended this place, I will visit it more often myself.

I love this place because the menu isn't over-complicated. Instead of having a huge Korean menu, they have one main specialty, tofu soups with just a few other options. But as a fan of variety with each meal, I appreciate the fact that you could get a small order of soup with a small order of marinated grilled beef as a combo for lunch. It was the perfect meal. Another reason why this place gets a 5 from me is the care and dedication they have for rice. People often overlook the importance and the wonderfulness of rice. Make it well, and it can define a meal. Make it bad and it will ruin it. So for Chodang to serve their variety of rices in a separate containers and take the time to cook it perfectly made Lily F. very happy. Also, the ladies running this place are all really nice. They seemed to have a lot of repeat customers.

The menu selection is not big. In fact it has only a few appetizers (3), some soups, and few combo,along with a few other items I cannot think on top of my head. However, their food is delicious. We ordered the fried beef dumplings,a scallion pancake , and spicy tofu seafood soup for each of us. It comes with your choice of rice. The pancakes were crispy. It's not the typical pancakes I'm used to but it's fine and tasted great. The beef dumplings were tasty as well. I ordered a "hot" level spicy seafood tofu soup. The spice was on point. It was a delicious bowl of soup. The black/purple rice was very chewy and has a nice texture. Matches well with the soup. I love how the waitress offered to refill our bonchons/sides. Also, they included raw eggs for the soups we ordered. Super nice staffs! The food came out quickly and I love to come back when I have time.

This was my first time at Chodang. I came with a friend that understands complexities of Korean cooking. I had never cracked a raw egg before in my boiling porridge but I am here to tell you it was especially delicious. Highly recommend for the excellent food and friendly service.

I'm not too well-versed with Korean food, but I like to try different things. Chodang Tofu Village is highly-rated by my Korean friends so I'll take their word for it. They have several options, including seasonal items, like the cold noodle, which my friends raved about, as it's a great summer dish. I'll take their word for it. The way it works is, you pick your rice, tofu soup, and meat. Or you can not go the tofu soup route and just order a normal entree which are either ribs, bibimbop or bulgogi ssam bop. I went ahead and ordered the Case Iron Skillet BibimBop, which was a hearty-sized portion of food. It consisted of tofu, rice, and beef bulgolgi with assorted vegetables. It was delicious. I also ordered some white rice with seafood tofu soup. the seafood tofu soup was fantastic and included a decent amount of shrimp, oysters, clams, and mussels. My friends enjoyed their meals as well. While you wait for your food, which comes out super-fast, they give you some Banchan, which are tiny little appetizer side dishes. I've had better Banchan quite honestly, that included fish cake. No fish cakes here unfortunately. BATHROOM REVIEW: Located past the kitchen, the bathroom is rather small and dimly lit. Definitely not my favorite bathroom I've been in. Sit or squat? Squat.

Great food at reasonable prices !! love this place ! excellent service too. great tofu soup in super hot bowls ! don't touch !

I've gone here consistently for the past 7+ years and have always loved it. The prices are reasonable and the soondubu is just amazing. I've gone to numerous Korean restaurants in the Chicagoland + DC/VA area (has a large population of Koreans) and never have had soondubu as good as this place. The side dishes are also just exceptional. I absolutely love the mung bean sprouts and the cucumbers. I'm going to miss this restaurant so much when I move :(

We come here quite often even though we're from out of town. Love their soondubu and the fact that their rice comes in a hot bowl as well (and the rice gets crispy at the bottom). A lot of places we've been to just give you the soondubu in a hot stone bowl. So that's the biggest plus for us here. Oh, and the egg that you get to crack into the soondubu yourself. They also give a good amount of unlimited pan chan (don't know how to spell it, but the side dishes they bring to your table). The soondubu itself is hot and comforting, but to be 5 stars for me, it would prob have to be a bit more flavorful than spicy (if we get anything less than the regular amount of spice, it isn't tasty enough for me). The only slight set back we've ever run into is that my husband always wants to combine diff meats (sausage and beef) which isn't one of the set combinations, but they don't allow it...ha. Besides that, our meal is always great. And will keep coming back.

Very nice place and friendly service. Food was great especially the steamed rice. Even though we thought of the portion of BBQ wasn't worth $14. I would still recommend you come to this restaurant to have some hot soup.

We were seated right away on a Saturday evening about 30mins prior to close. The staff were super friendly and the food looked amazing!! I ordered the spicy tofu soup with beef, my hubby ordered the Bimbap and my kids split the bulgogi dinner. Everything was amazing. Lots of wow factor with the bubbly cauldron of soup and it tasted like heaven -- smooth tofu, spicy broth and the beef was great. The apps were spicy and packed full of flavor. My kids gobbled up their bulgogi, leaving no leftovers. Such a comforting place to eat --- I only wish that we lived closer. This truly is authentic Korean!!

A small but nice and clean restaurant. The food is authentic and fresh. We had a half order of bulkabi and beef tofu soup, seafood and beef tofu soup, spicy pork and purple rice. All of the dishes and condiments are delicious and freshly made.

They are now offering pick and delivery options through Grubhub and Doordash! Hours have been adjusted to 11-6:30pm being the last order they will take before closing the kitchen until they are able to open to dining in again. Food options are still great, just a couple things that can't offer at this time, menus have been adjusted on those websites thank you for staying open and supplying my Korean taste bud needs.

This is a nice, homey Korean tofu restaurant. They make a really good galbi here and I recommend getting a combo with the tofu soup and galbi- both are a smaller portion size but a great way for one person to try two excellent dishes. I also tried their bulgogi- it's quite spicy and a tad on the salty side for me. They provide a bunch of fresh leafy veggies to wrap the bulgogi in. There will be no leftovers.

Love love Chodang!! Hands down they have the best soon dobu and galbi around. The servers who worked are also the nicest and loveliest ladies. We ordered takeout due to covid and the food did NOT disappoint as always. The taste/quality of food is just the same as if we were dining in. I'm sure some can relate, but you know you're going to have amazing korean food when their kimchi and side dishes are also delicious! Give Chodang a try if you haven't yet!

Consistently some of the best service and food that I've ever received from a restaurant. Incredibly clean too.

This place really has some good tofu selections. They also have tofu and meat options too. I had the sausage tofu with black rice. Very good. Don't be in a hurry though, the bowl comes out boiling hot. Friendly people inside too.

Best soondubu EVER!!! You can't go wrong here getting the tofu with beef, seafood, or both! It was worth driving an hour from the south side of chicago.

This is a more traditional Korean restaurant, no decoration, but people here seems to only understand Korean, so I can trust that it's authentic Korean food. I like the beef short rib, very delicious, wished that they provide you with scissors to cut it, so you don't have to struggle with chewing it, and can eat more ease.

I was looking for a new spot to try for lunch today, I've been driving past Chodang for years. I hopped online and noticed that today, Tuesday, there was a Mushroom tofu soup lunch special. Yes!! I LOVE mushrooms and tofu, my coworker looked at the menu and noticed that there was more than just tofu here and decided to join me. Upon arrival we were immediately greeted and seated it 11 and they had just opened, we were amongst the first. After reviewing the menu my coworker decided to try the beef curry and I went with the lunch special. While we waited several small side dishes were given to us, there were pickled bean sprouts, 2 different kimchi's, red beans and cucumbers. All of them were delicious my favorite being the bean sprouts and cucumbers. Our meals arrived and we were surprised to see that my coworkers beef curry was actually a soup too. We immediately cracked eggs that were given to us and let it cook in the soup. My soup was perfect, it had plenty of mushrooms and lots of tofu. I asked for it to have a regular spice level, so it had a nice kick. It came with a side of rice (of my choice, I picked white). I dumped my rice into the soup and slowly ate it. They both were served in an extremely hot stone bowl. The soup was generous, I had leftovers I took back to work with me. While we ate the server and owner helped my coworker figure out how to eat his food, it was his first time eating Korean soup from the stone bowls. They were friendly and helpful even the people sitting next to us joined in and made conversation with us. Lunch was very enjoyable by the time we were done eating the restaurant was packed and I could see why. The food is authentic and delicious, the service was wonderful and the establishment was clean (the kitchen looked good too, I peeked while I paid).

Surprising good tofu house! I would never have ventured out to this area if not for a friend's recommendation. After trying this out, I will definitely come back, as the food are really awesome! When you see the Korean "auntie and uncles" here, you know this is the spot to have your Korean fix, as even the natives approve it! We ordered a mild tofu soup and it was exactly that, but still filled with flavors from the tofu and bean paste. It came boiling hot so you can add your raw eggs in. The beef ribs were absolutely delicious, cooked to perfection and the sauce that came with it was fingerlicking yum! The Pa Jeon (scallion pancakes) batter were delicious and just fried to perfection, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I love the option of having different color of rices, white, black, brown, or nutritious. The flavors, texture and nutritiousness of each are different, and I love the the black rice is free upgrade! Brown would cost extra. Try it out. But obviously, white is the most popular as its stickiness, aroma and texture is the best to down with the beautiful Korean sauces. Service is quick and comes with a smile. Only complain is extra rice costs $4! Other than this, I should be back soon!

Very delicious and flavorful! The soups were so itchy for a cold day. The spicy pork is delicious. We loved everything we got tonight. We will be back again!

Chodang is so dang good! Their soondubu is perfection, crafted with silky, house made tofu and packed with next level flavor. Medium spicy is just right. You could tell by the taste and quality that this food is made with love. The soup and kalbi bbq combo is my favorite and a very satisfying dinner. If you're in the northern Suburbs, this is a great stop, and I even drive the 30-40 minutes when I've having bad cravings.