Wu's Korean BBQ
Wu’s Korean BBQ pairs premium, tender meats and plentiful banchan with a lively, modern basement setting overlooking the Riverwalk, canal, or Lake Michigan. Servers are notably attentive—often guiding first-timers and grilling everything for you—while Corn Cheese, Bulgogi Kimchi Fries, BBQ Combo Set A, and Seafood Tofu Stew are popular picks for groups. Be aware that some diners question its Korean authenticity, weekend lunch pricing, and allergy accommodations.
What 73 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“As a Korean living in the Chicago area, I’ve tried my fair share of Korean BBQ spots, and Wu’s Korean BBQ truly stands out. Josie always welcomes us with a smile and gives us the best service every time. The staff is incredibly attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. I even learned that they were all trained by a special Korean chef, which really shows in the execution. The food was outstanding, with great cuts of meat and the banchan sides were plentiful and delicious. Quality is top-notch across the board. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, and that premium feel you expect at this level. Ignore reviews that claim that the food here isn’t good or authentic because this is honestly the best KBBQ in the city. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to go back!”
“We recently tried Wu Korean BBQ since it just opened, and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent from start to finish, fresh ingredients, great cuts of meat, and everything cooked perfectly. But the real highlight of our visit was our server, J. From the moment we sat down, he was friendly and attentive, and he genuinely listened when we told him how we liked our meat cooked. He paid close attention throughout the meal, making sure everything was grilled just the way we wanted, and he checked in without being overbearing. It’s rare to get service that thoughtful, especially at a new restaurant still finding its footing. J made the whole experience even better, and it’s service like his that turns a good meal into a memorable one. We will absolutely be back, and next time we’re requesting J again. Great food, great service, and a great experience overall. Highly recommend!”
“As a Korean native who grew up in Southern California and spent countless nights in LA Koreatown, I was honestly skeptical about finding real-deal KBBQ in Chicago. But Wu’s KBBQ in Streeterville completely delivered. From the moment you walk in, the energy feels familiar—the bustling tables, the sizzle of premium meats on the grill, and that unmistakable smoky aroma that takes me straight back to my favorite spots in KTown. The banchan is on point: fresh, well-seasoned, and generous (the kimchi and mung bean sprouts especially hit the spot). We went the beef combo and the meat was tender, flavorful, with that ideal char. The service was attentive, and the quality of the meats felt premium. Some folks (including a few Koreans) call this place inauthentic (IGNORE THEM, news flash to them the culinary arts is open to ALL), but for me this is the real thing—tastes just like home. Highly recommend if you’re craving genuine Korean BBQ in downtown Chicago. Will definitely be back!”
“Rafly is the best!! We had a great time!! Highly recommend”
“My friend and I checked out Wu’s Kitchen BBQ after hearing it had recently opened, and we were really impressed. The rt is in the basement, but once you walk in, the space is modern, stylish, and has a great atmosphere. The service was excellent everyone was friendly and even helped grill the meat for us, which made the experience much better. The quality of the meat was also top-notch. Overall, great food, great service, and a beautiful space.”
“nice venue... nice decor... good k-music... great food... excellent service... we sat next to the window overseeing the canal... tables are nice and big, made for korean bbq... we ordered an appetizer and two soups... prices are reasonable for the level of service we received... we will be back”
“Wu’s Korean BBQ serves some of the highest-quality Korean BBQ I’ve had. The meat is incredibly fresh, tender, and full of flavor. Every bite was delicious! One of the best parts is enjoying your BBQ while taking in the beautiful views of Lake Michigan. It creates such a relaxing and enjoyable dining experience. The service was outstanding. The staff were friendly, attentive, and grilled everything for us from start to finish, so we could simply sit back and enjoy our meal. Overall, this was an amazing experience. The quality of the food, the excellent service, and the stunning lake view make this restaurant feel worthy of a Michelin recommendation. I would definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago!”
“The staff are super attentive and helped us grill the meat perfectly! This place has amazing meats and a fantastic, lively atmosphere”
“Been waiting for this place to open up for several months. We loved everything the Streeterville area and this place is right by the river. We ordered beef combo for 2 to 3 people. We also ordered stir fried squid dish. Quality of meat were great and stir fried squid was delicious but little bit on the spicier side. What made this place more attractive is the fact that the servers cook the meats for you. It makes dining much nicer since no one needs to cook while dining. We asked to sit by the window which overlooks the river walk and very scenic for nice photos. Beef combos come with one side dish and plenty for all four of us to be full. We will definitely go back.”
“A phenomenal meal and we can’t wait to come back! Everything was amazing and perfectly cooked. Kevin took excellent care of us! Thank you so much”
“I went with friends for Saturday brunch, and the experience was mediocre at best. We were seated near the window by the entrance. Even though it wasn’t a particularly hot summer day, it was quite warm there with very little airflow. There were also plenty of available seats downstairs with much better air conditioning. The menu was also misleading. It has two pricing tiers, lunch and dinner, but weekend lunch is the dinner price. No one mentioned this to us, and it was only after we pointed out the “wrong” price that the staff explained it. But they did apologize and offered us a gift card. The food was okay, and the portion was decent. Our server was nice and gave us refills on the side dishes every time we asked for them. Toward the end of our meal, there were also quite a few flies and other bugs constantly flying around us and the food. So overall, I will not consider going back.”
“I have to say that I was disappointed in multiple ways. I'll start with what was good, which was the kindness and attentiveness of the staff at the bar. Also, the cleanliness of the bar and the general area of where I was sitting. So, note, I didn't sit at a grill. I was at the bar for apps. Now, let's move on to what was disappointing. I looked up the prices before coming here and knew they were on the high end. What surprised me was the small portion for what I was paying. I ordered Bulgogi Kimchi Fries for $21. At this price, I was full-on expect to have a pretty decent amount of bulgogi atop my fries, but instead the bulgogi was more like a garnish. Fries and kimchi together would be $10 max. Max! So this was audacious to me. I could get a generous serving of bulgogi alone for $21. Then, something was off about the kimchi. I am a kimchi fan that's had my friend's mother's to tasting many different types at emart grocery in Yongsan, Seoul. The red pepper ratio was too much and dominated the taste of the whole plate. I also got a plate of pork dumplings, which were good, but again didn't match up with the price. Very disappointing. Atmosphere-wise, it looks nice inside but completely Japanese. There were noren with sakura prints and faux sakura in vases, which is the national flower of Japan. Then you have the large bamboo image behind the host desk and the cloud motif in the light display above the bar. Again, audacious. It comes across as a Japanese place that decided to capitalize on the popularity of Korean food while not honoring the Korean culture at all. Given the history between the two countries, I don't see how this isn't offensive. Lastly, I could see dinner and lunch prices for mains and grilling. However, that doesn't make any sense for the appetizers to me. Add on cocktail recipes that use sprite priced at $16+ and 5 pieces of shrimp for $30. I imagine that location has a high rent, but the offerings need to align with the price point. In comparison, Carson's Ribs just halfway down the block is charging $19 for 4 jumbo shrimp in a delectable Mediterranean sauce, $37 for a full slab of ribs with sides, and $20 for a heaping pulled pork sandwich with... 2 sides! Carson's is a highly rated steak and bbq place at that. There's just no way I could justify coming back here, having lived in Streeterville for about 3 years, knowing how many other great places exist with prices that make sense. I was looking forward to this place opening for a while, but it fell far from my expectations. I'll gladly still travel out for Korean BBQ from people who respect serving it.”
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