Papa Bop

We went for a quick early dinner and quick it was. Food came very fast and very hot from the tiny kitchen. There's not a lot of choices, but everything we took was delicious. We took 1 starter and 2 main dishes. Portions were big, probably too much for 2 people. It is a bit pricey, but portions were big. I'd go there again with more people so we can share family style.

Hello! I really love the food but I would like to shard with you that last Friday, we ordered 3 meals from you and one of it was the Hae Mul Pajeon. I ate half from the office and brought half for home and shared with my husband. Unfortunately, while he was eating, a blue rubber band came out. Your chef should be more careful. The band was still intact. We finished the food still.

This truly is a hidden gem a bit away from the main traffic. The Seafood Pajeon, Soft Tofu Soup, and LA Galbi were amazing - the best we’ve had in a while…and we live in Korea 😂. The restaurant was clean and well organized with friendly service to top things off. Overall, it was a great Korean food dining experience and would definitely recommend.

great local authentic food! We stopped because we wanted a good Bibimbop and we were not disappointed. The food came quick and it was delicious. It is a first-come-first-serve so be ready for that. The order comes with traditional starters and they all were really good! The service is nice overall but they are direct which can come across as not nice but we really didn't feel like they were trying to offend anyone. Overall, highly recommend and will be back!

Possibly the best pajun (seafood pancake) I have had in Chicago. It wasnt crispy as I wanted but they used good quality big size shrimps and seafood, and thick size. Lot of korean restaurants these days, just to make it crispy, its very thin and almost has no seafood. Bibimbap was pretty standard, good portion. Army stew can be better, they just need to add baked bean and it will make their broth better. And its cheaper than most other places, so it was nice. It is a perfect small mom and pop restaurant with good service and good food.

Papa bop is the best Korean I’ve had in the Chicago area! My favorite is their budae jjigae (army soup). We’ve also tried their kimchee pancake, japchae, kimchee fried rice, and bibimbop and they’re all delicious. It’s run by a small family with super warm/cozy vibes, would highly recommend!!

The foods were amazing! We loved all of them but especially the hibachi chicken and fried rice were just amazing. The service was great as well and fast. The foods come out really fast too. You can park around the corner and of course the restaurant is clean. It’s open kitchen so it gives you peace of mind that your everything is clean. You have to go through the kitchen for bathroom so just go to it somewhere else. Lovely experience!

1st time at the Newish Papa Bop. Completely exceeded the already high expectations. Online ordering was easy. order was ready in 15 min. owners were all smiles and very friendly and welcoming. The food however was spectacular. This will be my first choice for eating out from now on. Bibimbop was so delicous tge papa bop sauce was awesome. The mandoo du.plings crispy and so good. Love the marinated vegetables on the side. Thank you for a perfect lunch.

Very yummy! We ordered the soondubu jiggae, LA galbi, and seafood pancake. The galbi was very flavorful and fatty. Seafood pancake was large and loaded with a mix of protein. They have a small menu but the items were very good. Nice clean ambiance. Service was also fast.

You know the food is going to be amazing if the sides dishes blow you away, which they did! I devoured the whole bowl of potato, which was perfectly cooked and savory. The turnip kimchi was a little sweet with a slight kick from the spice. I got the tofu soup with kimchi and bulgogi. It was delicious and came with an egg as well. The yolk was runny and went really well with the rice and proteins. The soup is perfect for a cold winter day and it will warm your soul up. This may be my new go to dinner spot when I'm craving Korean food. I definitely want to try the bibimbop, the kalbi and seafood pancake next time. The restaurant itself is smaller, with tables sitting 2-4, but it's nice and cozy. Service is pretty prompt and efficient. After you sit down and look at the menu, they get your order and bring you water shortly after. This place is a great addition to Evanston.

great local authentic food! We stopped because we wanted a good Bibimbop and we were not disappointed. The food came quick and it was delicious. It is a first-come-first-serve so be ready for that. The order comes with traditional starters and they all were really good! The service is nice overall but they are direct which can come across as not nice but we really didn't feel like they were trying to offend anyone. Overall, highly recommend and will be back!

The food is decent, but not fab. Although I took my parents there for dinner because of their proximity and a decent Yelp rating (after haircuts in Skokie), olits unlikely I would do so again. again. Parking was easy to find at 5 p.m., but I had to download a Park Evanston app because I didn't want to search for a parking meter kiosk. Service was okay. It was obviously a mom and pop, with the son working as the server, and while his English seemed serviceable, he said Korean was easier for him... while he is taking my order of Bibimbop ($17.99). I got bulgogi as the protein. He didn't seem to know the Korean words for fatty meat, though... as I told him I didn't want any. My 'rents got seafood tofu ($13.99) and rice, so the bill was about $34, I left $40, but they gave me a coins and a $5 bill as change, and it spilled all over.. I should have said I didn't need any. I just left it. It's more a takeout than sitting in, though there are about 6-7 tables. I didn't like that all the banchan that was provided was some potatoes and radish kimchi cubes. Very skimpy, and he wanted to give us one set vs. 2, but I has sat at a different table so he grudgingly have me my own. Lame

Amazing Korean food! It's a fairly small menu but with powerful options! We also had the pork and vegetable dumplings which were the best I've ever had. It's a small nicely decorated restaurant in Evanston.

If you're looking for great food this is a place you want to be the portions are great the service is fantastic and I recommend the bulgogi and I also recommend the pot stickers

Papa Bop is a newer family -owned and -operated Korean eatery in the Evanston 'hood. Their menu offers various appetizers, KBBQ meats, rice combos, bibimbops, noodles, and beverages. We had a to-go order, and ordered: +the Kimchi Jeon - while not crispy, this was one of the better kimchi juhns I've had - filled generously with well-fermented kimchi, this was thick and yummy; there was no dipping sauce that came with, but really didn't need as it was flavorful on its own +the regular version of the Bibimbop - topped with an over easy egg; this was your standard bibimbop, but prepared with fresh ingredients; very generous in portion (looks can be deceiving!) and can be easily shared between two people! +and, a Real Strawberry Milk - prepared with fresh strawberry purée and organic milk; handcrafted on the spot, this was just okay for me; the hubs enjoyed it more The place is small with a handful of seating; it was definitely packed to the brim during the lunch rush. Staff were super friendly and kind! +Kimchi Jeon +kind staff!

The food here was incredible and the service was great. It's a very homey style feel in the restaurant where everything is close proximity. If you're looking for comfort Korean food I'd highly recommend. What was not pictured is the lemon lemonade that I suggest you try for a fun twist! Super delicious. Pictured is the army soup, japchae and bulgogi bibimbap. I'd definitely get the japchae and bulgogi bowl and I'd recommend the army soup if you can tolerate some spice! Great restaurant overall in this part of Chicago

Best Korean food in Evanston, hands down! This cozy mom-and-pop shop serves up delicious dishes. The portions are good, and everything is flavorful. It's the kind of place where you feel good supporting a small, family-owned business. If you're craving Korean food, this is the spot to check out--you won't regret it!

Great Korean food, my favorite is the Bibnbop with Bulgogi, served in a hot stone bowl. The vibe here is very chill and the the service is friendly and prompt. I've been here several times and the food is consistently good.

Hubby and I wanted to stay local one night for dinner. We searched for places in the area and agreed to try the newish Korean restaurant in our neighborhood called Papa Bop. It's on the small side but the restaurant interior is modern. The space is clean and the service is good. We were greeted by the hostess and got seated right away for a 6pm weekend dinner. The menu is traditional Korean and we ordered LA galbi, Hae Mul Pajeon (a crispy style egg seafood pancake with scallions) and Tofu Bibimbop. Everything was delicious and even the homemade drinks were refreshing! I got limeade and the husband got strawberry milk which I plan on getting next time. It was creamy and delicious. I like that they kept large chunks of strawberry in the milk. When driving in, street parking is the only option. As of August through early October 2023, Chicago avenue is undergoing street construction with updates to the water main. It's challenging finding a space but you'll have better luck snagging a spot on the intersecting side streets. Note, the bathrooms are located behind the kitchen. It's a slight inconvenience but there is a bathroom.

r u looking for some korean food try some papa bop 3p's product 9 price 9 presentation 9 9/10

I really have to eat here again, like really soon. First, they were ready to go at it once we walked in, a friendly greeting, ice water and when we mentioned that we brought beer - he brought out 3 chilled glasses. I was really enjoying the service and attention to detail. We tried to order everything to get a good idea of their cooking so we got not one, but two seafood pancakes, that's sooooo delicious, crispy and soft on the inside, with that almost teriyaki like dipping sauce. By the way, you get radish Kim chi and potato in sweet soy sauce as ban Chan (small appetizers). Of course, you have to try their mandoo (pot stickas) and that was generous. Also, the chap chae with the vermicelli rice noodles was very delicate and wonderfully light with beef and scallions. We tried their spicy seafood soup and if you add a little white rice, that'll make it a little bit more palatable and less hot. I had the bi Bim bop (rice with veggies, bulgogi beef and egg bowl) and that was excellent!! It also came with three sauce types (nice and cold and straight outta the fridge). I don't mix up the ingredients by the way. Our server asked if I wanted some of those sauces, so I got all three to go along with our left overs.

Extremely clean facilities. Literally not a crumb on the floor. Clean atmosphere, very zen-like with plants and white walls. Soft piano music playing cover songs from the Beatles and Billy Joel. Service: Quick, efficient. Very good. The waiter is also a co-owner. Food: Everything is made fresh every day and into the night. Even the teriyaki sauce is homemade. Teriyaki chicken: 5 stars Bibibop: 5 stars Soup: 5 stars Will definitely eat here again. They have 5 tables and a bar table against the wall with some stools.

Delicious food with quick and friendly service! Loved the Hae mil panteón and LA Galbi!

I had a great experience all around. From the moment I walked in, I really appreciated all the little things this restaurant cares for when it comes to the diner's experience. It was quaint inside. The waiter immediately greeted us and gave us a menu. I liked that our water came from a filtered water cooler. We got the seafood pancake, the tofu stew (soon dubu, and the bibimbop in a regular bowl. All the food was great. A highlight for me was the seafood pancake: crispy and a substantial amount of fillings. I also really liked the sauces provided. Besides the typical gochujang sauce that goes on bibimbop, the waiter gave us 3 other types of housemade sauce. Service was fast and friendly. The waiter was very attentive and quick to fill our water cups or get us anything we needed. He also helped us pack our extra food. I highly recommend this spot!

Tiny little cute place with a super nice owner. The bibimbop in the hot bowl was delicious! Let it sit in the pot for a while and the rice will crisp up on the bottom. The owner is so sweet. When I was full he came over and scraped the bowl and said "one last bite" with a smile. Great spot

Just stopped in for lunch and had the Army Soup and Mandoo. The free kimchi pickled radish and potato's were a great touch as well. The Army soup was perfect on a cold Chicago day and the perfect amount of spice. Service was fast and super friendly. Will definitely be coming back!

I will give this place five stars. Great service and the food was excellent. I have been in a Korean kick and I will say this just helps continue to be obsessed with Korean food. The place is decently medium sized where you can fit quite a few folks, but I'm sure when this place gets busy that it may be limited in spacing. Inside is not fancy or anything, but it's still a good nice small Korean restaurant. Can't ask for anything more. Seafood pancake was amazing. Korean BBQ beef was amazing let's just face up. The overall food was really great. I would definitely recommend if you want to stop by.

The restaurant owner is very kind and welcoming, pleasant to talk to. He gave good suggestions as well. I tried the bibimbap and my friend got a sundubu. Both were very tasty. Try their house special drink! (Showing in the picture.) I forgot the name but it was very refreshing.

The people are super friendly. Service is fast. We started with the seafood pancake. A large thick crispy pancake. A mixture of shredded carrots cabbage green onions squid and big shrimp. There was about 4 shrimp. I think it would be better if the shrimp were cut up in pieces and spread around. Lots of flavor. We also had the oxtail soup. 3 large pieces with pot stickers. And large pieces of turnip. The food at other tables looked great.

Not from around the area drove 20 minutes just to try it out and it was amazing food well deserved 5 stars

Ok let me start off by saying this place ain't even fire ITS LAVA! Grapefruit-ade LAVA!!! Bulgogi LAVA!!! Everything LAVA!! It just really good here and if you can you should come. Why are you waiting, GO! BANGER!

This is a great hidden gem. If you enjoy Korean food, this is a must for you. Expect a very casual minimal interior. It's all about the food. Thank you Pardon the photos but it was that good!

Got the stone bowl with bulgogi, budae jjigae and also the japchae. Good portion sizes and it's nice that they were flexible with bringing all three sauces to the table for you to try. Yes, as a small place you're only getting two kinds of banchan. (stewed potato & carrot, pickled spicy radishes) It's nice to have seasonal dishes like the budae jjigae and we felt the portions were good. Probably could have used a few more pieces of dduk/rice cake - or go thinner slices. Spice and broth was good middle ground for my non-Korean palate. For the stone bowl - as a specialty, would need to be hotter. None of the rice really crisped up. A primo spot would be able to have the bowl hot enough to crisp the rice more than once. But if one says this just isn't their specialty, then downgrade to a regular bibimbap is fine. For the three of us we might have been able to get by without the chapjae, since it was quite filling and we took home some of the bibimbap. Can get by with maybe two big entrees for $30 + tax and tip, which is more than reasonable for an Evanston small diner. Friday night...rolled in at 5:45 p.m. just the second table out of 6 (?) with counter top still open. Street meter and free residential parking easily available.

First time trying this Korean restaurant in Evanston. It's a smaller location and all the tables were full so we grabbed a seat at the bar counter. To start, I split the kimchi pancake. It was the perfect texture and had a good kimchi flavor! Not very spicy and I would've liked to have the bibimbap sauces on the table to dip it in. We were brought out miso soup, radish, and potato. I really liked the radish, but it would've been nice to have a couple more side options. The hot stone bibimbop came out steaming hot with a perfectly cooked egg. I really enjoyed it especially with the 3 different sauces. I noticed fresh strawberry milk on the menu and would like to try that next time.

Everything was fantastic. The Soondubu Jjigae was phenomenal. It says "medium spicy," but, according to my pallet, very spicy. But manageable, and delicious. The bibimbop was great too. They have three wonderful sauces you can add to the dish. I recommend trying them all and then dousing the dish with your favorite. Absolutely amazing! The restaurant is SMALL, so be warned! You may have to wait for a table. You could also be at at a bar instead of a proper table, which isn't ideal. But trust me, the food is worth the wait and slight bit of discomfort that may come from sitting at a bar. It's BYOB. Their (virgin) drink menu is house made.

O M G is all I can say. Some of the best food I have ever tasted. Only tried the BimBop because it is so good I am not willing to try anything else. The owner is fabulous.great service, great price. I have already been here 3 times in two weeks. I am ADDICTED.

I rarely if ever say this about food I've eaten, but the food here was amazing. Best meal I've eaten in a while. I had the bibimbop with bulgogi (beef) in a regular bowl. My son had the kimchi fried rice with bulgogi. Both dishes were awesome. It came with a small potato and carrot dish in sauce, some other type of slightly spicy vegetable dish in sauce (not sure what it was), and a small bowl of miso soup. Food was served quickly ~10 minutes or so. The place kinda looks like a hole in the wall restaurant, but it was clean and comfortable. Less than $40 out the door (including tip); we drank water. Highly recommend it. Will definitely be back.

Incredible food. Unbelievably tasty. My favorite was Kimchi Pancake. It was wildly good. Living in my dreams. Cute little sit-down area but we've used it only as a takeout spot. Some of the best food in Evanston.

A quaint hole in the wall serving up amazing affordable Korean food and super addictive hibachi entrees! My wife and I tried the traditional bulgogi bibimbap and i had the chicken stone pot bibimbap. Both came with a great variety of vegetables and the most perfectly fried egg. Sauce choices were between the sweet and spicy gochujang, a ginger hibachi sauce and teriyaki. We both went with the traditional gochujang and thought it was perfect! My son had the steak entree which was served in a huge portion of steak with mushrooms, mixed vegetables and a very generous serving of hibachi fried rice. This stuff was so addicting! The absolute sleepers on the menu were these drinks that they make in house. We had a grapefruit-ade and the strawberry milk. Both I would recommend. I would absolutely include this into my dinner rotation if I lived in the area. Food was great the owner and his wife are so nice and have the warmest smiles. Really felt like I was part of the family when I ate here.

Stopped in at Papa Bop on Chicago Ave in the space where Evanston Grill was. Such a great addition to SE Evanston! The room is well lit, great service. The menu is not overwhelming and the food is delicious! If you like authentic Korean food, this place should not be missed!

We stumbled upon this place after trip to the auto dealership next door. My wife and son needed a bite to eat earlier in the day so they picked up Bibimbop to go, a delicious Korean dish. They added the Bulgogi for their protein choice. My wife was so impressed the made me drive back to Evanston for dinner. We ate in and ordered the same dish however this time in the hot stone. I have been back a half a dozen times since. One of the times the car salesman next door walked in and said Papa Bop is about the only place employees go for lunch and dinner. When I thought I was finished, our waiter picked up my spoon and scraped the rice stuck on the hot stone bowl yielding even more delicious rice. The staff is so friendly and inviting. I think they definitely need to expand to the storefront on either side but they might like it as is. It's an intimate setting. I love this place.

First time here with husband and a 10month old. It was fantastic. I got the bibimpop w bulgogi and he got the ramen noodles - spicy. Also got the crispy pot stickers - I loved that these seemed more pan seared instead of deep fried, so I could actually have some!! I can't have oily food but those crispy pot stickers 100% recommended. Everything was fantastic. Could have used more spice, but the condiments are there, the house sauce is fantastic. My baby had my miso soup and some of the beef from my plate. Service was fantastic, they have fresh cold water right when you sit! With it being so hot outside I appreciate that as soon as we sat.

authentic Korean place The owner is warm and welcoming Not a fancy environment, but that's just normal Love the food!

This place is absolutely amazing! The food is delicious, and you get a lot of it! The service is so speedy, and everyone is incredibly friendly. It is clean and quaint. They have secured a customer for life!

Food was so good! Highly recommend the LA Galbi, seafood pancake, japchae, and the potato bonchon. Service was also amazing.

Possibly among the best Korean food in Chicago. For homemade feel. Their army stew is authentic and reminds me of my childhood. Good quality and attentive service.

Absolutely DELICIOUS food with a really great staff. Beef bulgogi and bibim bop are as good as it comes.

Dining in at Papa Boo was a pleasant way to spend a light rainy day. The Spicy Ramen had the right portion of noodle to egg and veggie ratio. The broth was warm and ready to drink or sip. The spice was just under a 4 . Cute purple glassware and potted plants to add a healthy home ambience to a cozy corner table. The server was familiar and efficient. A culinary all star spice to twist up a staple in noodle knowledge. My partner and I were happy to eat and enjoy with Papa Boo and patrons.

The food here is authentic and plentiful! Owner is funny too.. good Korean food in a clean environment, great spot for lunch or dinner. Think they close a little earlier so get there soon!

Pretty good Korean food! I wouldn't say this is THE best Korean food ever but you get what you pay for: warm and delightful bites when you're feeling a bit homesick for the motherland or family dinners :-)

Taking over from the Evanston Grill for a second act, this place is a gem. Family run and with a simple menu, this place serves up all the Korean classics. The freshness of the vegetables and tasty meats indicate that this place will be around for a long time. With a Binny's steps away, BYOB is also a nice feature.

My belly is full and happy after having a Korean brunch at Papa Bop. I'd heard about this place from neighbors who raved about it. Everything was fresh and delicious - I had the Hae Mul Paejeon (seafood pancake) and mandoo (dumplings). Halfway through my meal the owners treated me to a sample of their homemade Kimchi and Japchae. Let me tell you...that Kimchi is the star of the show! It's perfectly balanced with a pronounced sesame flavor that makes it really stand out.

Loved the hot stone bibimbop with tofu and seafood options. It also came with all three sauces to try different flavors. The papa sauce is so good. It added such a rich flavor to the dish. We loved the side dishes as well. The radish kimchi was so fresh and bright and sweet. The kimchi pajeon was thick and fluffy. It was a different texture than what I'm used to as a Korean, but it was a welcome change. It kind of reminded me of Bing Bread. They also have a cool selection of homemade soft drinks! The limeade tastes like sprite, and the lemonade is a refreshing sparkler as well! We're definitely bringing our kids for the natural sodas and their favorite, ramen!

Excellent good and service! Our 4yo loved the ramen ( which they helpfully reduced the spice level when we asked for). The bibimbop and accompanying sauces was excellent as was the beef fish. The kimchi and potato cubes at the start were yummy too. We will definitely be back!

Really awesome food, super convenient and friendly. This place is going in the rotation for sure!

Hidden Gem. Best hot stone in the north shore. Great service, excellent food, and kind people.

Authentic food and Delicious. BYOB. Friendly staff. I was inspired to try Korean food other than barbecue after reading the book"" crying at H mart". This place was the perfect choice. Highly recommend