Cho Sun Ok Restaurant

“Restaurant is very small but still has an authentic feel to it.”

Restaurant is very small but still has an authentic feel to it. Service is okay at best, but the food is worth going back for. Definitely one of the most authentic tasting Korean places I’ve tried.

Hanzrami

Nov 2025

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a famous traditional Korean restaurant with authentic flavors and excellent service.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a famous traditional Korean restaurant with authentic flavors and excellent service. I really love the original taste and the nostalgic feeling of their dishes. Everything was perfect — I’m so happy to come back again!

Pete T

Oct 2025

“What an amazing experience I had.”

What an amazing experience I had. The food was amazing. I order the intestine dish, and it blew me away. Although the restaurant is small, it is very cozy. I definitely felt like I got to experience an authentic Korean meal. The staff were very attentive. Even though they had a full house, they kept checking on us and helping us throughout the meal. I would love to come here again.

Nam Do

Oct 2025

“As a Korean, I’ve been going here for four decades.”

As a Korean, I’ve been going here for four decades. The food has always been great, and the staff work so hard to provide great service. Best place in Chicago to have authentic KBBQ.

Y K

Sep 2025

“BEST Korean spot in the city to me and all my Korean friends here- closest kbbq flavors and dipping sauces to Seoul.”

BEST Korean spot in the city to me and all my Korean friends here- closest kbbq flavors and dipping sauces to Seoul. Too many reviews complain about service. It was packed when I was there, but the servers go around and cut the meat, fry the rice, etc. If you're used to small talk and smiles with your servers you might not like it, but this is very typical for a busy Asian restaurant imo. They don't rush you out, they're just rushing around themselves. If you want authentic, this is it.

Elizabeth L

Jul 2025

“Truly an ethnic dive - food is like you mother makes (if she grew up just south of the DMZ that is).”

Truly an ethnic dive - food is like you mother makes (if she grew up just south of the DMZ that is). No real ambiance and service can be brusque (ask early if you want more of anything like kimchi). Highlights from our latest visit were the seafood scallion pancake and japchae - absolute must order! Banchan and tabletop bulgogi are quite tasty and rounded out our meal nicely. Can vouch for their consistency - I’ve been eating here for more than 20 years. Notes: often busy with a line out the door (hardly any waiting space inside) - go early on a weekend. BYOB if you want beer, soju, etc.

Keith R

Jul 2024

“The food was great here.”

The food was great here. We had ordered bulgogi and another dish that comes with kimchi fried rice. The side dishes were just right and truly enjoyed it with our BYOB sake. Great atmosphere and very chill. Best to come on a weekday or before dinner as it gets crowded.

Gianne L

Apr 2024

“Cho Sun Ok was sooooooo good.”

Cho Sun Ok was sooooooo good. Very mom & pop, quite small and intimate. Every bite was so perfectly salty and oily and IMMACULATE. We did some beef and the beef bulgogi. Divine. We had some soups as well. DIVINE. Then the finish the night by friying up some rice with the remaining meat bits and pot juices oooooo we even added in some of the sides too. So good. There are a good bit of vegan/veg options as well. BYOB and a bring a group of friends for an excellent night of culinary lust.

Chris Eyo

Mar 2024

“We indulged in the Mul naengmyeon and the beef k-BBQ.”

We indulged in the Mul naengmyeon and the beef k-BBQ. We've been coming here for years and love this establishment. The assortment of side dishes is simply unmatched and the service is impeccable. The fried rice at the end of the meal is a fantastic bonus to an already great experience. I ate a lot! I would highly recommend, one of my favorite spots it's in Chicago.

Benjamin Kim

Oct 2023

“Joints like Cho Sun Ok in Korea is a dime for dozen.”

Joints like Cho Sun Ok in Korea is a dime for dozen. Nothing special, but in the US especially in Chicago，this type of traditional Korean stove top cooking joint is a hard find. Your know you are in the right place when you first entered and the waiting staff are all season veterans with attitudes and you are required to wash yourself head to toe after the meal, ventilation is non-existent. Perfect comfort food, the speed of service was lightning fast, all of the food came out within 10 mins of order. The chap chae was one of the best that I have ever had, not too sticky. The pancake had the right amount of dough vs. food and fried to perfection. The Bulgogi was also seasoned perfectly, so whether you want the meat to be more tender or more crispy will be entirely up to you. Next time we will try the famous No. 1. Just remember, BYOB.

D “Juanito” H

Oct 2023

“Among top Korean restaurants in Chicago, and probably the best KBBQ experience I've ever had-- I'll definitely be back.”

Among top Korean restaurants in Chicago, and probably the best KBBQ experience I've ever had-- I'll definitely be back! We came early at 5pm on Sunday and there wasn't much of a wait, but by the time we got out ~6:30pm there was a long line forming outside (so come early!) The inside is small, cramped, and quite hot from all the tabletop grilling. But the slight physical discomfort is 1000% worth it-- the meat is fantastic quality and their large spread of side dishes are unique, delicious, and pair nicely with the meat. Our group of 5 ordered 3 "tabletop cooking" meat platters, which ended up being a lot of food but we still demolished it all. For a group of 5, I would order between 2-3 depending how hungry everyone is. We got the Chadol-Gui and Bulgogi, which are definitely two must-try platters. Both are thinly sliced, intensely flavorful and aromatic cuts of beef, but the Chadol-Gui is beef brisket that's unmarinated since it's marbled and thus naturally fattier / juicier than bulgogi. We also got the Pork Belly which I was less a fan of-- it was too thick which made it harder to cook without getting too tough and chewy. Nonetheless, the flavors were still robust and delicious. Make sure to also save some room for the kimchi fried rice, which the servers make for you as the final course. I loved the sourness of the kimchi paired with the savoriness of the fried rice, though overall I felt it was a bit lacking in flavor (but maybe only compared to the rich flavors of the meat). The service is attentive, fast-paced, and efficient, which I personally appreciated, but if you're someone who prioritizes a chill, slow dining experience with over-the-top friendly service, you won't find that here. When first looking at the menu, the prices seemed pretty high, but for the sheer amount and quality of food we consumed, the value is excellent and it's more than worth it. The total for us ended up being ~$33 pp. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 4.8/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5

Mona

Oct 2023