Diners' Choice: Korean restaurants in Chicago / Illinois

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Korean cuisine in Chicago / Illinois? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Kozy

4.8

4.8 (16)

$50 and over

Korean

Mundelein

About the restaurant

From our kitchen to your glass, Kozy brings the warmth of Korean hospitality to Illinois. Enjoy traditional recipes reimagined for the modern palate, complemented by a full-service bar. Pull up a stool, share a plate, and stay a while—the best conversations happen over great food and even better drinks.

Top review

Kyle

Dined 7 days ago

Been twice now and it has been fantastic both times. Great appetizers and drinks! The Kozy old fashioned has been choice so far. The entrees have so much flavor and have been cooked perfectly both times! We will be back again.

Ttowa

4.7

4.7 (251)

$30 and under

Korean

Arlington Heights

About the restaurant

Ttowa is a family owned restaurant led by husband and wife - Dong Ju and Og Eun Park. Ttowa welcomes new and returning patrons to enjoy a comforting Korean family meal served by the Park family. "또와" (Ttowa) means "come again" in Korean and we hope the food will indeed want you to dine with us again.

Ttowa is currently BYOB. Please enjoy your beverages with our complimentary "banchan" (side dishes) served with all entrees. Please don't hesitate to ask us for refills!

Signature Dishes:
- Dak Buns (Fire Grilled Chicken Buns)
- Dduk Bokki (Rice Cakes)
- Dolsot Bibimbap (Hot Stone Rice Bowl)
- Jjambbong (Seafood and Pork Noodle Soup)
- Samgyupsal (Sauteed Pork Belly)

Top review

ElizabethGold

Dined on May 5, 2026

Great place and family owned. BYOB for booze was nice

PERILLA korean fare

4.8

4.8 (589)

$31 to $50

Korean

West Town

About the restaurant

Located in the West Loop of Downtown Chicago, PERILLA fare offers Korean American cuisine centered around a communal dining experience inspired by classic Korean flavors and traditional ingredients. With an emphasis and focus on quality and premium selection of meats for Korean BBQ, Chef Andrew Lim and the team proudly works with local farms and quality importers to provide our guests with an adventurous culinary experience. We offer an expansive beverage list which includes handcrafted cocktails, craft beers, a curated wine list, and hand selected imported sojus and makgeolli. Our menu accommodates all dietary restrictions with a focus on vegetarian options including locally sourced mushrooms. We are excited to welcome you in to our warm and inviting space featuring artwork from local artists.

Located in River West / Fulton Market area

Top review

ScottGold

Dined 6 days ago

Great neighborhood vibe, delicious food, and excellent service. The à la carte options are great. The scallion pancakes are amazing!

Discover more

Experience

Father's Day

Mother's Apron Korean Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (101)

$30 and under

Korean

Deer Park

About the restaurant

Welcome to Mother's Apron (“eomma-ui apchima” in Korean), where the spirit of maternal cooking thrives. In many cultures, mothers pass down cherished recipes, embodying traditions and flavors that nurture familial heritage. In Korean culture, "hand taste" (“sonmat”) captures the unique touch that comes from a cook’s skill and love.

With this in mind, the partners of Mother's Apron aim to deliver an exceptional Korean culinary experience that evokes the warmth of mom's cooking.

With over 30 years in the restaurant industry, we proudly introduce ourselves as pioneers of Korean BBQ in the greater Chicagoland area, led by our esteemed founder, a local icon known as the godmother of Korean cuisine. Our journey redefines Korean dining through authentic flavors and unmatched hospitality. Join us to savor our signature dishes and discover why we are celebrated as a culinary legacy.

Top review

JennyGold

Dined on May 20, 2026

This was our 2nd trip to Mother's Apron Korean Cuisine and it was just as wonderful as the 1st time we came. The staff even took the time to decorate our table for our anniversary celebration. The food was delicious and we just highly recommend this restaurant. It is a great experience.

New Village Gastro Pub

4.7

4.7 (19)

$30 and under

Korean

Glenview

About the restaurant

Join us at New Village Gastro Pub for delicious food and drinks! Looking for an extra fun time? Book one of our private karaoke rooms for up to 2 hours!

2024 50 Best Restaurant by Chicago magazine
2024 30 Favorite things to eat right now by Chicago magazine
2024 Yelp Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.
2025 Banchets Award Nominee

Top review

GloriaGold

Dined on May 12, 2026

Love their market chicken, and various korean stews! Service is fast! You press the button and they come right away.

Discover more

Experience

Big Private Karaoke Room at New Village Gastro Pub

Experience

Private Karaoke Room at New Village Gastropub

Mister Tiger

4.7

4.7 (263)

$31 to $50

Korean

West Town

About the restaurant

Mister Tiger was born from a simple idea. To share the comfort and flavors of home-cooked meals our grandmother and mother lovingly prepared for us throughout our childhood.

We created a contemporary space that’s welcoming and approachable for all, with subtle touches of Korean tradition. Our menu features unapologetically authentic Korean dishes, flavors and recipes passed down through generations, recreated and perfected from memory.

Whether you're familiar with Korean cuisine or discovering it for the first time, our goal is to offer a warm, nostalgic dining experience that brings the comfort of an authentic Korean meal, just like the ones we enjoyed at home.

Top review

Matthew

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food and atmosphere! Great horchata drink.

Discover more

Popular dish

Korean Fried Chicken 닭강정

4.7

4.7 (42)

$31 to $50

Korean

Logan Square

About the restaurant

⚽ FIFA World Cup Viewing at Palilgu ⚽
From June 11 through July 19, 2026, Palilgu will be showing FIFA World Cup matches live.
During this period, reservations will be available for booth seating only. All other seating will be first-come, first-served, and walk-ins are welcome.

We recommend arriving early for the best available seating.

Located heart of Logan Square, Palilgu offers traditional and modern Korean dishes with powerful bold and spicy flavor on the plate.
In addition to its diverse menu, Palilgu offers a selection of Korean beverages, including
premium soju, makgeolli, and a variety of Korean-influenced craft cocktails and beers.

Top review

Don

Dined on Apr 3, 2026

The seafood scallion pancake was the best I’ve ever had!! A must

PERILLA korean steakhouse

4.6

4.6 (424)

$50 and over

Korean

Downtown / Loop

About the restaurant

PERILLA Steakhouse is a modern Korean steakhouse in downtown Chicago, reimagining the city’s classic steakhouse tradition through bold Korean flavors. Featuring custom tabletop grills and an intimate Chef’s Counter tasting experience, the restaurant is led by a team with MICHELIN-recognized experience.

Top review

Tahani

Dined on May 27, 2026

The decor is beautiful and the food was phenomenal! Highly recommend the dumplings, octopus, Caesar salad, and the steakhouse sets. My picanha was cooked to perfection table-side. Our waiters service was the cherry on top. Thanks Perilla Team for a wonderful evening!

Discover more

Experience

PERILLA steakhouse Pre-Theatre Prix Fixe Menu

Experience

Chefs Counter

Experience

Fire & Form: Class Act x PERILLA Steakhouse

Daebak Korean BBQ - Wicker Park

4.5

4.5 (181)

$31 to $50

Korean

Bucktown / Wicker Park

About the restaurant

Offering modern Korean BBQ using traditional recipes, we have simple menu combos for those who are new to Korean BBQ and premium packages for those who want a complete experience with extensive variety.

Top review

MatthewGold

Dined 2 days ago

Always love this place! Awesome service, incredible food with delicious banchan, K-pop music videos. It’s the best don’t miss out!

TAK Korean Bistro

4.6

4.6 (82)

$30 and under

Korean

South Loop

About the restaurant

A Korean pocha restaurant in South Loop Chicago is a lively and casual eatery that serves up traditional Korean street food dishes and drinks. Pocha, which translates to "street food tent," refers to the popular outdoor food stalls found in South Korea, and this type of restaurant aims to recreate that experience in an indoor setting.

At a Korean pocha restaurant, you can expect to find a variety of small plates, or "anju," that are meant to be shared among friends while drinking soju or beer. These dishes can include popular Korean bar snacks like fried chicken, spicy rice cakes, and seafood pancakes.

The atmosphere at a Korean pocha restaurant is usually laid-back and social, with a focus on hanging out with friends and enjoying good food and drinks.

Overall, if you're looking for a fun and flavorful dining experience in South Loop Chicago, a Korean pocha restaurant is a great choice. With its vibrant atmosphere and delicious street food, it's sure to be a memorable meal.

Top review

Ava

Dined on May 24, 2026

10’s all across the board!!! This place was so fun! We booked a private room for the Karaoke and staff was so helpful and kind while showing us the room and how to use everything,where the drink menu was,Etc. the food was amazing,I highly recommend getting something while there! We also had an excellent rice wine strawberry slushy!!! 10/10,we will be going back! On a side note, it would have been nice for the Korean songs to have romanized lyrics so you could sing along as a native English speaker who loves K-pop!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Chicago / Illinois

Explore more Diners' Choice lists