Kimchi Pop by Chef Son
Korean restaurant · Noble Square ·
Authentic Korean fare: BBQ, bibimbap, stews, and banchan.
Authentic Korean fare: BBQ, bibimbap, stews, and banchan.
"This Korean spot has two locations (there’s another one in Uptown) but West Town’s is the original. And we like coming to this little place for their stew—particularly the soondubu and the army, which are both antidotes to a gloomy winter day. We’re also fans of their chewy tteokbokki and crispy kimchi pancakes. You can order all this to-go, but we actually like coming here because there’s a little self-serve banchan station that we appreciate." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"If a few rounds of karaoke (and soju and beer) lead to you feeling like a less-than-functional human the next morning, revive yourself at Kimchi Pop. This tiny spot is on a quiet strip of Glenwood and makes delicious stews, bulgogi, and kimchi pancakes. The soondubu is packed with umami, a little spice, and silky tofu—the perfect remedy for a hangover. We also like their kimchi fried rice with spam, as well as the ddeokbokki. There isn’t a lot of room in their space filled with Thomas Kincade-esque paintings and colorful paper lanterns, but the unlimited self-serve banchan is worth grabbing a seat." - john ringor, veda kilaru
"Stews and soups are some of the homestyle dishes available at Kimchi Pop, which has two locations (the original in West Town and a second in Uptown). This is a small spot for a weekday meal (or a hangover lunch to go on the weekend). Often they’ll have Army Stew (Budae Jigae) on special. Crammed with sausage, Spam, and other items found on military bases during the Korean War, it’s one of the tastiest things on the menu. They have recently replaced it with a kimchi version." - Ashok Selvam
"With three and a half Starbucks locations, it’s easy to find mermaid-branded coffee in Rogers Park. Classic Korean dishes, less so. Unless you know about Kimchi Pop, a tiny spot on a quiet strip of Glenwood that’s making delicious kimchi fried rice, ddeokbokki, and stews. We especially like the soondubu—packed with silky tofu, umami, and a little spice, it’s the perfect remedy for a gloomy day (or hangover). You’ll notice some people getting take-out, but we like sitting in their tiny space, helping ourselves to all the self-serve kimchi and bean sprouts our banchan-loving hearts desire." - john ringor, adrian kane
"Homestyle Korean food is the name of the game at this quaint restaurant on Ashland. Staples like bulgolgi (marinated ribeye) and tteokbokki (rice cakes) are wonderful, but indulge in one of the soups and stews. These restorative broths are spicy and unique. The Army Base Stew features hot dogs, Spam, cheese, kimchi, and more." - Eater Staff