Soban Korea

Korean restaurant · Evanston

Soban Korea

Korean restaurant · Evanston

1

819 Noyes St, Evanston, IL 60201

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Soban Korea by Matthew Kang
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Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null
Soban Korea by null

Highlights

Soban Korea is a cozy family-owned gem in Evanston, dishing up delightful, authentic Korean comfort food that's perfect for warming up chilly days.  

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819 Noyes St, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

@sobankoreaevanston

$20–30 · Menu

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819 Noyes St, Evanston, IL 60201 Get directions

+1 847 869 4344
@sobankoreaevanston

$20–30 · Menu

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Jul 9, 2025

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"Seafood staple Soban can do no wrong, serving up an amazing array of banchan to begin each meal. The menu features terrific raw crab dressed one of two ways, either in a garlicky soy sauce or thick spicy red pepper sauce, as well as pan-fried fish and spicy braised black cod (or opt for the spicy beef short ribs instead)." - Cathy Park, Matthew Kang

The 20 Best Korean Restaurants in Los Angeles
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Yao Hemming

Google
Great food, everything was great especially the Japchae, probably the best I've ever had! Service was friendly and professional, all the staff member seemed very nice and helpful! Love the cozy and comfortable atmosphere, exactly what I expected from a family-owned Korean restaurant! There were many North Western staff and students there eating as well, and they look like regular customers. I had eaten at a lot of Korean restaurants, this is definitely Top 5! Will definitely go there again! Highly recommended!

Sofia Quintana Baez

Google
I had the bibimbap with beef and beef bulgogi. Both were delicious. I also think that the miso soup was a great addition too. However, my bibimbap came with ground beef. I personally prefer the longer pieces of beef with that sort of dish. I also wish that they had more of a dessert menu. They only had ice cream available today. I think having Korean sweet treats would be a great addition to the menu. The flavor was great, and the food came out fast. I had great service. Will definitely be coming back ☺️

Kaylee Henry

Google
Popped in for lunch last week, and was surprised with how good the food was. We got the sundubu with seafood, seafood pajeon, and yukgaejang. Everything was delicious!

Pew Pew

Google
A very mom and pop store, The lady serving was very respectful and nice The food though, everything else dimmed in comparison. The food was out.of.this.world. On the first bite I was planning on bringing my family and friends to this place. I'm in love. The craving I had was satiated so well. Can't wait to come here again and try more of their food. 10/10 !!!!!!!!!

Meghan Mayo

Google
The BEST Korean food in the Chicago area. My sister and I stopped by for lunch 2 months ago and since then, we’ve been back multiple times. We even had our birthday dinner here. Absolutely love the kimchi jeon, dolsot bibimbap, spicy bulgogi, Sundubu-Jjigae. Also the kimchi is delicious- I’ve bought 2 tubs to take home and each one I’ve eaten within 1 week myself. Obsessed!!!

Ivan Nev

Google
Amazing Korean restaurant with excellent food and pleasant atmosphere. They are busy but food is worth waiting for. Don't forget to BYOB

Nighat Ansari

Google
Delicious Korean food! We were in Evanston and this was the perfect dinner on a chilly evening. We ordered the rabokki, the sundubu with beef, and the 10 mini fried veggie mandu. The rabokki was so spicy and rich, while the sundubu was piping hot and packed with soon tofu. The banchan was good too

Sebastian Knott

Google
Warning for vegans/vegetarians/allergies - this restaurant has zero actual vegetarian options. The first two times we went they told us several of the soups were vegetarian and did not contain fish sauce. On the third visit, we asked them which soups were vegetarian again (we had forgotten) and the waiter told us all the broths have fish sauce and mocked my vegetarian partner for asking. We were so put off that we just left Really weird experience and disappointing, since the food here is actually quite good

Crystal S.

Yelp
Just come and eat! It's real authentic homestyle cooking. Small menu, but each item is carefully thought-out and ... did I mention traditional Korean home cooking??It's family owned and very popular with the local area. Though I do not eat meat I am told what dishes can be made for my diet, and I love the cold noodles, season, tofu, and the udon is the best of ever had.

Audrey W.

Yelp
SO YUMMY! Nothing beats Sundubu-jjigae on a cold day. My girlfriend and I came here after being outside for a while and we were freezing. We got the tofu sundubu, udon, and bulgogi. The sundubus were amazing and the tofu was so fluffy and the perfect texture. It also had the perfect spice level and tasted extremely well with the rice. The udon is not that good, I would suggest ordering this when you come here. And the bulgogi was so good-sometimes it can be really oily though. The service was amazing. I believe it is a family owned business as well. Everyone was friendly and nice. They checked on us multiple times to make sure everything was good. Inside the restaurant it was pretty nice. There were both booths and tables. Additionally they had coat rack holders outside every booth which was so convenient. Overall, this restaurant was so good. I highly recommend coming here, especially on a cold snowy day!

Dan W.

Yelp
Decent Korean food in the Evanston area! I just got back from a trip to Korea and was craving Korean food. Ordered the dakgangjeong (fried chicken wings) with soy garlic glaze as well as the naengmyeon with beef and spicy sauce. The cold noodles were nice and chewy, the sauce I found to be too sweet and a bit overwhelming! I would probably try something else next time. I liked the wings. They had crisp and crackly coating that was almost like caramel. If you like things that are sticky sweet, you will enjoy these! The side dishes were standard fare, some kimchi, bean sprouts, marinated tofu, and fish cakes. The service was great, the lady running the front of shop was very sweet and attentive. The shop is very clean. Seems popular with kids in the Northwestern area! Maybe next time I'll try one of their soups--the budaejigae looked good.

Auston T.

Yelp
A well-priced and quiet place to enjoy bibimbap or other select Korean dishes. It's conveniently right next to the Noyes stop on the purple line, so it's easy to get here if you live near a CTA station. This was very tasty and the order arrived quickly, no more than 15 minutes. Be careful with the spicy sauces on the table though, it's very easy to put too much on your food and be in agony for a couple minutes! Just use a conservative amount and enjoy the flavors that come with the bibimbap, if you get that.

Dawn A.

Yelp
Lovely Korean spot next to Noyes Station. I came here craving naemyeong (cold noodles) and they had a spicy beef option with sauce or a non-spicy version with broth. I was so glad they brought out scissors right away without me having to ask in order to cut the noodles. Service was super fast and the banchan was great. Kind staff and great music!

Robert H.

Yelp
Great little spot near Northwestern, small and tidy with a few tables and booths. Seems to be Korean-owned which is always a good sign in a Korean restaurant. We arrived at 8:30pm and even though they close at 9pm and were about to close the kitchen, we promised to order and eat quickly so they let us sit down. The food was solid and authentic. We had budae Jjigae and yukgaejang and both were spicy and had the right ingredients. Nice unexpected find and I would definitely return.

Steve L.

Yelp
Real deal Korean food. Super tasty - love their kimchee pancake and bibimbap. Popular with northwestern students

Mike B.

Yelp
Brilliant Was going to Dave's Italian - but was full So jumped in to Soban Great food Great prices excellent services

Cindy L.

Yelp
Soban Korea in Evanston offers a nice experience with some tasty dishes. Their bibimbap and kimchi are good, with authentic flavors. The portion sizes are satisfactory, providing decent value. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, and the service is friendly and attentive. A solid choice for Korean cuisine in Evanston

Shai M.

Yelp
RACIST I came here with a small group of students. While, I definitely enjoyed the food, the portions were entirely too small for the price that was paid. From the moment I walked in, the waiter was rude. He took a long time to get back to us and was generally unpleasant. I had a very similar experience as other people who rated the restaurant lowly about slow service and unpleasant staff. At the end of our dining experience, the owner ran out after us yelling at us about the tip we left and then told us we could not come back to the restaurant. We wouldn't return anyway.

celina t.

Yelp
Soban was a good experience. Was our first time going there. We got their beef bibimbap, tofu bibimbap, soondubu, and also the beef bulgogi. The banchan was lacking compared to other Korean spots in town. Only giving us 4 side dishes which were: some sweet soy beans, fish cake slices, kimchi, and some tofu pieces with soy sauce. The bibimbap was good and egg was a perfect over easy. The drinks there were not worth the price. Green tea was a typical green tea from a bag and their Yuzu was simply citron tea from jars. Overall the food was good, would not recommend getting teas here. The service was good and the scenery was very home like.

Rhen P.

Yelp
I usually don't find myself in this part of Evanston, but I will happily be returning after this. For such an unassuming spot, I was surprised to see a crowd for a weekday lunch, but I try and take it as a good sign. For the price you pay, you get great portion sizes (and banchan.) The ramen tteokbokki (Rabokki) was some of the best I've had, and I can already tell this is going to be my favorite spot in the winter!

Kikue H.

Yelp
I've lived in Evanston for four years now and across the street from Soban for two. For the price, quality and quantity, this is definitely the best Korean food I've had in E-Town. My favorites are the sundubu, gimmari, either jeon (seafood or kimchi and always perfectly crispy) and the dukmandu-gook. When my boyfriend visits from out of town he always wants to stop by -- that's how great this place is. Now this is definitely a personal preference but I love the look and feel of the place. It's pretty dimly lit and all the tables, chairs and lamps look like they're from an old dive bar. It's eclectic but I like it. Sometimes the service is a bit slow, but that's generally only when they're understaffed. For the most part, they're quick to help you out whenever you need. Pro tip: finish your first round of banchan quickly and ask for refills, they always give you more on the second round!

Sophia P.

Yelp
Soban has a lot of various foods (soups, meats, etc.) and the staff is always attentive. The ambiance overall is cozy but lively, and it's a place where you can enjoy your alone time or catch up with friends. My picture doesn't do a lot of justice because I took it after I started eating, but they really put effort into all their dishes even side dishes/banchan (the kimchi is insanely good). I've been coming back and will continue to Only improvement I could think of is maybe offering a sweet drink/one dessert item!

Vincent N.

Yelp
It was my first-time visiting Soban Korea here at this area. I didn't realize there was a Korean restaurant that was so close to my office. The place is very busy and lots of customers the time I visited but they still managed to give all of their customers a good service. I ordered some of their food such as, Rabokki, the Sundubu with beef, and also their Gungjung tteokbokki. All of it were just perfectly flavored and so tasty. Everything at this place is top-notch! The atmosphere is inviting, staff is friendly, and the food is delicious! I'll be back and will recommend this place to all of my friends and relatives!

Kristianne B.

Yelp
I was in the area and discovered this place. Small restaurant located in downtown Evanston. For the appetizer, we ordered the gimmari. It was small but still good. I ended up ordering the beef sundubu and it was good. Spicy but good. My sister ordered the rambokki which was also good. We got it a little spicy because the waiter said it's spicy. Good to know though. What I love about eating at a Korean restaurant is the banchan. They had tofu, kimchi, bean sprouts and fish cakes. They were all good but very small portions. I would for sure come back to try other things on the menu. Street parking.

Sydney B.

Yelp
Such a cute little quaint place on the street corner! Feels super authentic and intimate. The waiter was super helpful and informed me that the Rabokki was going to be really spicy so he gave me the option to make it less spicy and it was the perfect spice! And it was sweet and flavorful as well! Sundubu was good as well as the banchan! The kimchi is spicy though! Def recommend if you want a quick authentic dinner. Street parking.

Krystal O.

Yelp
Bottom line: if you're in Evanston and have a hankering for some Korean food, try Soban! Food: I ordered the budae jiggae. The portions were generous. Spicy, flavorful, and comforting to the stomach on a cold day in January. If you're not familiar with budae Jiggae or Army stew, I recommend trying it here. From what I understand, it's a dish that came to prominence during the Korean War born out of scarcity. In it you'll find, spam, hotdog, rice cake, cabbage, ramen, tofu, and other things. Though born out of scarcity, the flavor is robust and it will leave you craving more-- especially if you try it here. I also shared a plate of chicken wings with my friends. The portion was small so it's debatable if it was worth the price paid but the flavors in the chicken were great. We chose the spicy and sweet gochuchang flavoring. The panchan (or side dishes) were the smallest portion sizes I've ever witnessed in America so that was a bit disappointing but quite tasty. Service: service was okay. Our waiter was friendly enough but you could tell he'd rather be somewhere else and that's not the vibe I like to go for while eating hence the four star review. Atmosphere: it's a cute restaurant. In this time of COVID, they have opted for plastic spoons, and paper cups. I can't fault them for their decision if it has to do with safety but it's a little annoying eating soup with such a weak and shallow spoon (hence 4 stars instead of five). I would have given 3.5 stars if I could because service and atmosphere but I rounded up because the quality of food was high here. Try this restaurant today!

Hannah Y.

Yelp
Soban is a winter quarter go-to for their affordable, cozy soups! I can't speak to the authenticity of these Korean dishes but I've enjoyed everything I've tried. Service is also typically friendly and fast. Last Dined: November 30, 2022

Caroline C.

Yelp
The family working here is so sweet and reminds me of loved ones in LA. The food is homey and the ambiance of the restaurant is very nostalgic for me as someone who grew up with a large Korean American community.

Michael M.

Yelp
I love this place. The Bibimbop and bulgogi are sooooo delicious. I feel like I wish I lived next door. Please stay open forever

Jamie P.

Yelp
I went with my friends, and we shared the Kimchi-jigae ($11.99), Dakgangjeong ($13.99), Bulgogi ($13.99), and Dolsot Bibimbap ($11.99). The food tasted really authentic, and they even gave us side dishes like a traditional Korean restaurant (which I haven't seen elsewhere in Evanston)! My only criticism would be the service because we waited over an hour for our dinner. My friends and I were understanding since it was a Friday night and they were severely understaffed in both the kitchen and on the floor, but it wasn't ideal. So if you want to eat at Soban, I suggest going at a less-busy time and day or ordering takeout in advance.

Steven L.

Yelp
I love this place. Adjacent to the Northwestern campus and attracts lots of students. Not a huge menu- but all the greatest hits are nicely prepared and the service is excellent. I am writing the review from the restaurant having enjoyed a kitchen pan joon and a hot stone bi bim bop! Great to have such great Korean food in my neighborhood!

Tyler L.

Yelp
Small, Korean spot near Noyes station that appeared to be unassuming. Being a Korean from Los Angeles and having a grandma that cooked amazing Korean food all my life, my expectations were low. But boy was I wrong!! Soban is a great spot to get authentic Korean food at an affordable price. It honestly felt like I was at home, eating well prepared Korean dishes. I ordered the Budae Jigae and omurice and thought the flavors were spot on. A decent amount of spice for the Budae Jigae (definitely on the high side). Service was also fast and servers were helpful. Soban is the go-to spot for great Korean cuisine at an affordable price.

Momma V.

Yelp
Soban is always consistent. We love Korean food and have been to Korean restaurants in a 15 mile radius. While other restaurants will offer more banchan and selection, this is our go-to Korean restaurant because the service is good, the restaurant is tidy and the menu and food is consistent. It's a good place to take novice Korean food eaters. We are not novices and we like it a lot.

Sofia A.

Yelp
Amazing! True Korean food none of that fusion stuff. The tteokbokki was amazing as well as the gimmari and mandu. They are not joking when they warn you about the spice though. The staff was super polite as well. The ambiance was a bit older but very cosy.

Anthea L.

Yelp
DELICIOUS FOOD! I'm sad I didn't find out about this place earlier!!! So affordable and great portions too! Will def be coming back!!!!

Kevin N.

Yelp
This place used to be Mandarin House. This change to Soban Korea is hopefully for the better. I have heard that the old Mandarin House was relatively subpar in terms of quality, but I can only judge Soban Korea for its own merit. ATMOSPHERE/ARCHITECTURE: 8/10 The inside is nice, with large amounts of seating, mostly booths. It's not too spacious, but makes for a cozy space with nice large glass windows along the front for good natural lighting or a nice street view. SERVICE: 7/10 Service was good enough. I ordered online for pickup and the order was correct and done in a timely manner. There were no issues at all. The cashier was nice as well. FOOD: 6/10 - Bulgolgi: The bulgogi did not really taste like any bulgogi that I had ever had before. The meat was rather dry and it only really tasted like beef cooked in bulgogi sauce. Nothing special here. - Ddeok Bokki: This was the weirdest ddeok bokki I have ever had in my life. It was in like a soup. I don't know if this is the traditional way or not, but I have had this dish many times in several cities and I never had it made in this way before. I did not like it. VALUE: 7/10 PROBABILITY OF RETURN: 6/10 I might come back here if I really wanted to try some more Korean food but otherwise, I don't know if this is a priority to retry. TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT: If you're a big fan or Korean, you might like it. I think there are better options though. OVERALL: 7/10

Gina M.

Yelp
This is the best restaurant on the Noyes strip by far! I love the spicy bulgogi and the tteokbokkki so much, plus many other tasty dishes. Plus the service is great!

Laura Z.

Yelp
We recently had lunch here. The food was excellent. My daughter ordered a soup with ramen, bacon, tofu and a variety of other things. It was spicy but very good. My bibimbap was equally good. The kimchi pancake as an appetizer was also very good. I would have given it a five star if it were not for the slow service.

Claire L.

Yelp
Conveniently located right off the Noyes purple line stop, Soban is definitely the best Korean restaurant near the Northwestern campus that I've tried thus far! The dolsot bibimbap has that characteristic and delicious crispy rice crust from the piping hot stone bowl in which it is served. The yukgaejang, which is basically a savory and spicy broth filled with vegetables, noodles, and shredded beef, is incredibly flavorful and makes for a perfect dish on a cold Chicago winter day. The only qualms I had were not related to the food, but rather the service. I assume some of the staff are just local students, but that's no excuse for being impatient and terse with your customers. For example, when I asked for a container of ice water for our table, that I also noticed other tables got, our waiter promptly rejected that idea -- with no rational reason for why. Anyways, hopefully the service is better next time I go, since I am looking forward to trying some of the other dishes on the menu.

Jennifer R.

Yelp
During the recent SNOWSTORM in Evanston, I was walking over to my friend's place after we canceled dinner plans. We thought about ordering something to be delivered, but when I saw Soban, I knew my body needed some warm Korean food. I walked in around 5:40 and asked for a table for 2. My friend walked in about 5 minutes later, and we placed our orders before 6pm. The place started to fill up with other NU students escaping the snowstorm, so we were glad we got here somewhat sooner. Around 6:15, we asked the server if we could please have our side dishes, but she said that the side dishes come with the first menu item. We were pretty upset because we were STARVING but it is somewhat understandable since they do free refills for side dishes. Another 15 minutes passed, and we still didn't receive our food. At that point, we were getting quite hangry because tables that arrived after us were getting their food before us. 34 minutes after we placed our order, the food finally came. I went through three glasses of water before the food even arrived. The budae jigae was underwhelming. Even though it contained rice cake, ramen, sausages, spam, and green onions, it felt too light to be a budae jigae. Also, the ramen was barely cooked when it came out, and the soup was not nearly hot enough to cook it for much longer. The bibimbap was good though. It comes with a bottle of red pepper paste based sauce that is more sweet than hot. I would recommend putting in little by little and adding more as you go, because it can easily overpower the other flavors in the dish.

Ethan L.

Yelp
Honestly, this is one of the best Korean restaurants near by. The food is really delicious and tastes very authentic. I Iove their appetizers such as japchae, gimmari, and pajeon. As for the entrees, I really enjoy their dolsot bibimbap, rabokki, bulgogi, and sundubu! Today's dinner was very tasty as usual and they were really really busy! (+5 stars) However, this place has a lot of flies that lands on our food and is overall really hot inside. The aesthetic of this place is nice though. (-1 star) I have mixed feelings about the service here. Sometimes it's really good and other times it's terrible. Didn't have a good dinner with my friends the other day when we were served by buzz cut lady server! She was very fake and a bit annoying and it made us feel very uncomfortable. Also had a time last week where I couldn't really understand the server and ended up getting the wrong order but I was too disappointed about the service to care anymore. (-2 stars) I'm really glad that the cute nice server is back now. She makes me and my friends I feel welcomed and taken care of. Plus she dresses really well and is amazing for working with those heavy Balenciaga shoes. I don't know how she does it but she always manages to memorize out huge and complicated orders! Thank you! Also see some new faces around, the new guy servers were very laid back but seemed pretty chill. (+1 star) Regardless, we love the food here and will continue to come often despite the disappointments in certain aspects. Soban really reminds me of home sometimes. Thank you!!!

Christina W.

Yelp
Absolutely wonderful family run little gem of a restaurant near Northwestern. Very warm service. We had the Mandu (dumplings) which were delicious. DH had the Sundubu with beef which was very spicy and divine. Our son had the stone bibimbap with beef and it was seriously delicious. I had the Yukgaejang, with beef which was ) ) less spicy than the Sundubu (was not wanting very spicy) and was huge and fantastic. Had to take half of it to go. We have great Korean food in So Cal and this place was definitely on par.

Daniel P.

Yelp
Small, relatively nondescript restaurant with excellent food. The tofu appetizer was delicious, as was the beef bulgogi.

Antoinette S.

Yelp
We loved soban Korea. Had dinner last nite while in Evanston. Small gem in Evanston. Friendly welcoming staff. We enjoyed the Mandu, seafood paejon, spicy squid bulgogi, Korean style fried chicken and ramen noodle soup. Generous portions and the food was very delicious. Thanks soban Korea for a delicious meal. Will certainly return back next time we are in Evanston.

Kurt C.

Yelp
The bibimbap sizzled for the better part of the meal and the rice in the bowl became crunchy like a Persian tadig, and it was delicious! The gungjung tteokbokki had a delectable mildly flavored sauce covering the rice cakes, carrots, cabbage and some other green vegetable. The cold Royal Milk Tea with 25% milk was very tasty also. The service was prompt, courteous and joyful. This place is a rare gem.

Stephanie M.

Yelp
As someone who has never tried Korean cuisine before, I must say I loved it! The food is delicious and warm and served with cute little side dishes--a great way to try different dishes for free! As a bonus the restaurant is BYOB with a comfortable home ambiance in which to enjoy catching up with good company. It is walking distance to the Noyes stop and has free parking for those who drive. I now find myself craving Soban and go nearly every week. Update: I wrote this review and then had to come again tonight Side dishes (Banchan) are refillable you just have to ask! I always eat so much cucumber kimchi

Christian C.

Yelp
Food was decent - decent but not great but not bad. Service was very good! The over easy egg was a little over cooked and the beef felt a little dry.

Jason C.

Yelp
Finally made it to Soban Korea in Evanston and it was a decent experience. It is conveniently located by the Noyes purple line and there is decent amount of street parking. The service was ok. It still feels they are working out the kinks after being open for so long. They had a decent variety of food on their menu. We got the Jap Chae,Duk Mandu Gook, Beef Sundubu, Dakgangjeong, Dolsot Bibimbap, Gungjung Ddeok-bokki for four people and it was just the right amount of food. The portions are individual portions. We got two variety of banchans, eggplant and tofu. We were expecting at least five different ones so we were slightly disappointed. As for the food I enjoyed the Jap Chae, Duk Mandu Gook, Dolsot Bibimbap and the Gungjung Ddeok-bokki. The Jap Chae was tasty but issue was that it was on the greasier side. The Duk Mandu Gook was great. It had two types of dumplings and the the rice cakes were nice and chewy. The Dolsot Bibimbap was good. The egg came out raw. You had to smash and mix everything together. The bowl made the rice nice and crisp on the side. I would recommend the Dolsot Bibimbap. The Gungjung Ddeok-bokki was good. It had some beef that was super tasty, dumplings and rice cakes As for the Dakgangjeong, it was way tooo spicy. I could not eat it. It doesn't specify on the menu with the red pepper so we ordered it and it was way too hot. I didn't try the beef sundubu but the table all said it was good. The tofu was nice and silky and smooth. The plain white rice that came with the dishes were unfortunately raw or maybe over cooked? It was hard and just not good. Overall the restaurant is decent. Everything is acceptable and I probably will come back. I just think there are a few things they can improve on.

Lynn S.

Yelp
I was super excited when I saw this place opening. It's like 5 minutes walk from the Northwestern campus. The location is truly unbeatable. And now the food. There are not a lot of places that serve good dolsot bibimbap in Evanston. When it comes to dolsot bibimbap, I have several judging criteria- The egg: I thought egg would be the easiest part of all. But obviously it wasn't true at this place. When placing my order, I double checked that the egg would come out sunny side up. But unfortunately, not only wasn't the egg cooked as how I required, it came with a suspicious puddle of oil sitting on top of it. It was so overcooked that the yolk was no longer runny and honestly ruined my bibimbap experience. The sides: They were... OK. It was just weird to find cucumber as one of the sides. The sides were supposed to be warm and paired with the rice. And you can imagine how wilted cucumber tasted like when the cucumber was mixed with the hot rice. Oh, and did I mention that the octopus on top was cold? The crispy crust: I had to give Soban Korean full credit for its crust. It's the best among the ones I have tasted in Korean restaurants around Evanston. The crust was so crispy that I could literally eat it by itself lol. And on top of that, the crust was not oily or greasy at all, which could be a common issue when chefs brush way too much oil on the bottom. Nice done, Soban Korean! All in all, I believe it's a place with potential. AKA there are a lot of room for improvement. And as for now, they really need to step up their game.

Gina M.

Yelp
Love the Spicy Bulgogi! The food is great and the staff very helpful. This place is right around the corner, so my husband and I eat here a couple of times a month and enjoy it every time.h. It is by far the best restaurant on the Noyes strip.

Madison O.

Yelp
The food is all homemade and so good, but the service is slow. The waiter did acknowledge the slow service and apologized, which I appreciated. Of course, had I taken advantage of BYOB, the service time may have seemed fine. I ordered the dumpling soup which was just the comfort food that I needed and I already know that if I ever get sick I'll be ordering it to go. Also, the portion was big enough to take home leftovers!

Amy H.

Yelp
It's like my mom's cooking, but like, a lot better. Since discovering Soban 2 weeks ago, I've had dinner there 4 times (oops), and I started taking advantage of their BYOB starting the second time :) I've had the Kimchi-Jjigae, Ramen Ddeok-bokki, Dakgangjeong, and Spicy Nang-Myeon. The first two were pretty spicy, and they were all super good!

Mindy P.

Yelp
New Korean restaurant in Evanston? I knew I had to check it out ASAP. Located on Noyes, it's a quaint and small restaurant in a quiet area of Evanston. The menu and available food choices were what drew me to Soban. Prices seemed reasonable too. I decided to go for the budaejjigae, or army stew, which was only $12.99. I've been to places where they are $20+ and minimum for 2 people. At Soban, you get an individual portion. Although, I was forewarned by previous Yelp reviews, I was still a bit disappointed by the lack of banchan (side dishes). We were only served two kinds of banchan. One of my favorite things about Korean food is the variety of banchan, but at Soban, you'll find it lacking. The budaejjigae was fine. The stew had a good amount of meats, tofu, and ramen noodles. Service was great as well. The owners were very friendly and welcoming. There are street parking spaces nearby and a public parking lot near the train station. If you're looking for home-cooked style Korean food, I would definitely recommend checking out Soban. It may not be fancy and special, but it's definitely worth a try.

Sylvia M.

Yelp
I was visiting IL from Las Vegas and was craving authentic Korean food. Let's just say I hit the jackpot with Soban! Saying my boyfriend and I enjoyed our meal is an understatement. The service, the flavors, the portions - all of it was exceptional and reminded me of home. Thank you for being one of the best I've ever had.

Emalee W.

Yelp
We came here on a whim around 1pm - missed the lunch crowd which we didn't mind due to covid. Very clean. Staff attentive and polite. We ordered dolsot bibimbap, beef bulgolgi and budae jigae. Came with side dishes (pickled cucumber, lightly seasoned tofu, fish cakes, fermented beans, miso soup) and rice. Everything was delicious! The 3 dishes tasted different (you know how sometimes at restaurants, everything can all taste the same?) but complimented each other well. Would highly recommend!

Kohl F.

Yelp
This place is hands down homemade Korean food at its best . Everything on the menu is authentic and delicious. Highly recommend the tofu appetizer and dumplings!

Danielle A.

Yelp
I LOVE this place!!! The food is delicious and authentic. The wait can be long and the meal can be expensive, but I think it is absolutely worth every minute and penny. The soy garlic friend chicken is my favorite plate. I could probably eat that every day for the rest of my life. I also really enjoy the dolsot bibimbap! The rice at the bottom gets to crunchy. I cannot recommend this place enough! If you're in Evanston and craving Korean food, choose SOBAN!