Informal eatery for Japanese-Korean barbecue grilled at the table & other specialties.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 3752 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: (773) 604-8183
Website: http://www.chicago-kalbi.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Chicago Kalbi – Chicago Kalbi
We specialize in Yakiniku, Japanese BBQ, with highest quality ingredients such as Wagyu beef, imported from Japan, Kobe beef, Berkshire pork, Free-range …
Chicago Kalbi Korean BBQ
One of the many food spots in Albany Park, Chicago Kalbi specializes in Japanese BBQ, also known as Yakiniku. Known for its selection of meats and dedicated …
Chicago Kalbi – Food & Wine
Chef Isao Tozuka and his wife, Chiyo, opened Chicago Kalbi (“rib” in Korean) in 1990. It was the Michael Jordan era, and reporters from all over the world …
Last Updates
Reviews
Ctgb2
Chicago Kalbi BBQ is a great spot when you’re craving interactive, grill-it-yourself Korean barbecue. The galbi is tender and well-marinated, with that sweet and savory balance that caramelizes perfectly on the grill. The banchan sides add variety and keep every bite interesting. It’s lively, a little smoky in the best way, and perfect for sharing with friends. If you’re in the mood for flavorful meat and a hands-on dining experience, this place definitely delivers.
… moreDamon McGhee
Enjoyed some amazing Kobe and Wagyu beef. Great service. Definitely will go back. Portions are not like what any American is used too, but the portions are sufficient. I recommend making a reservation, because it seems like a popular spot.
… moreFreddie Peng
Although the name of the store on Google listed its name as Korean BBQ. However, there was not a single sign says “Korean”.
When we walked into the restaurant, you will noticed it is literally a restaurant equipped with a traditional old-school Yakiniku vibe and interior design. Walls were hung up with signatures from celebrities. The restaurant owners are Japanese.
All the dishes are around $20-30, but the portion size was smaller than what you may expect. However, this is definitely the best meat quality that I have ever had in any BBQ restaurant in Chicago area. Be prepare, you are at least going to spend more than $50 if you want to be full. However, you won’t be disappointed about their meat quality!
I will recommend people eat a bit before you go there if you just sick of the low quality meat and miss the vibe you had before in authentic Japanese restaurant. Think of this as an Izakaya rather than a typical restaurant.
… moreWhen we walked into the restaurant, you will noticed it is literally a restaurant equipped with a traditional old-school Yakiniku vibe and interior design. Walls were hung up with signatures from celebrities. The restaurant owners are Japanese.
All the dishes are around $20-30, but the portion size was smaller than what you may expect. However, this is definitely the best meat quality that I have ever had in any BBQ restaurant in Chicago area. Be prepare, you are at least going to spend more than $50 if you want to be full. However, you won’t be disappointed about their meat quality!
I will recommend people eat a bit before you go there if you just sick of the low quality meat and miss the vibe you had before in authentic Japanese restaurant. Think of this as an Izakaya rather than a typical restaurant.
Eugenio Padilla
My wife and I got to Chicago Kalbi early on Friday, a few minutes after opening. I did not know you could make a reservation by phone, still, we got a seat shortly after arriving. The first thing I noticed was the countless pictures and autographed sports memorabilia proudly displayed throughout the restaurant. As a fan of the Bulls, it was captivating to see so much history and familiar names, such as Steve Kerr and Luc Longley. Cubs fans will appreciate it tenfold as there were even more Cubs players gracing their walls. I knew I was in for a treat.
Our waitress, who I believe was also a co-owner, took our drink order first. I got a Japanese white peach cocktail and my wife ordered a sweet Japanese plum wine. The cocktail was refreshing and subtle, and the wine was sweet like candy but still tasted great. After the drinks, we ordered food and got the pajun as our appetizer (Korean seafood pancake). For our mains, we ordered the hone kalbi, bulkogi, and Japanese sausage.
First was the pajun, a generous portion of food that could be shared among four people. It was light, fluffy, salty, and felt like it came straight off the heat with its freshness. On top of that, it had added texture from the squid, beef, and crunchy onions. The squid felt chewy, but everything else hit the mark. Once we finished the pajun, the staff prepared the grill at our table, and instead of a gas grill, we used a wood/charcoal grill to my delight! The banchan (Korean sides) shortly followed, and the meats. We were all set to start cooking and digging in!
Both the hone kalbi and the bulkogi were unbelievably tender. The bulkogi dipped into the sauce provided for us was a perfect sweet and salty bite. Mixed into the side of rice only made each bite feel more heavenly! The hone kalbi tasted of high quality yet was chewier than the bulkogi. The flavor was as great as the bulkogi, but it did not have the melt-in-your-mouth characteristic of the bulkogi. For my money, I would have ordered another bulkogi rather than the hone kalbi. As for the Japanese sausage, they were basically cocktail wieners and tasted fine; nothing that blew our minds. Between bites of meat, I tried each side, and they were all delicious. My two favorites were the kimchi and potato salad, which tasted made-in-house. If we had enough room, we would have asked for the wagyu beef menu they have available, but we were close to exploding by the end to try their wagyu. We saved it for next time!
Chicago Kalbi is a restaurant that’s great and knows it. It does not need a flashy sign or marketing to flaunt itself and has trusted its food, service, and word-of-mouth to stay in business for decades. My wife and I were lucky enough to get a table at this packed hidden gem, and I join the fray of people that chant their greatness. This place is the real deal and offered us a delicious meal with friendly service.
… moreOur waitress, who I believe was also a co-owner, took our drink order first. I got a Japanese white peach cocktail and my wife ordered a sweet Japanese plum wine. The cocktail was refreshing and subtle, and the wine was sweet like candy but still tasted great. After the drinks, we ordered food and got the pajun as our appetizer (Korean seafood pancake). For our mains, we ordered the hone kalbi, bulkogi, and Japanese sausage.
First was the pajun, a generous portion of food that could be shared among four people. It was light, fluffy, salty, and felt like it came straight off the heat with its freshness. On top of that, it had added texture from the squid, beef, and crunchy onions. The squid felt chewy, but everything else hit the mark. Once we finished the pajun, the staff prepared the grill at our table, and instead of a gas grill, we used a wood/charcoal grill to my delight! The banchan (Korean sides) shortly followed, and the meats. We were all set to start cooking and digging in!
Both the hone kalbi and the bulkogi were unbelievably tender. The bulkogi dipped into the sauce provided for us was a perfect sweet and salty bite. Mixed into the side of rice only made each bite feel more heavenly! The hone kalbi tasted of high quality yet was chewier than the bulkogi. The flavor was as great as the bulkogi, but it did not have the melt-in-your-mouth characteristic of the bulkogi. For my money, I would have ordered another bulkogi rather than the hone kalbi. As for the Japanese sausage, they were basically cocktail wieners and tasted fine; nothing that blew our minds. Between bites of meat, I tried each side, and they were all delicious. My two favorites were the kimchi and potato salad, which tasted made-in-house. If we had enough room, we would have asked for the wagyu beef menu they have available, but we were close to exploding by the end to try their wagyu. We saved it for next time!
Chicago Kalbi is a restaurant that’s great and knows it. It does not need a flashy sign or marketing to flaunt itself and has trusted its food, service, and word-of-mouth to stay in business for decades. My wife and I were lucky enough to get a table at this packed hidden gem, and I join the fray of people that chant their greatness. This place is the real deal and offered us a delicious meal with friendly service.
Paul Xumsai
Great place for Korean BBQ. The food is good but a bit on the expensive side. Like many Korean restaurants, side dishes comes with your meal. Friendly service. Alcohol is served here.
One complaint is that ventilation system. The restaurant is often smoky due to the indoor grill. Walking out, my clothes smell of smoke.
… moreOne complaint is that ventilation system. The restaurant is often smoky due to the indoor grill. Walking out, my clothes smell of smoke.
Victoria Vazquez
So this is a special situation because I came in looking for a soup and thought they still had there old soup menu. It was my first time and they didn’t treat me any different dispute the fact that It was just me. And when I asked for there soup menu they told me they only had miso but didn’t stop there the owner immediately went into thinking mode and made me the healthy most amazing dumpling vegetable soup with spicy sauce on the side. The beautiful woman fed my soul and not my hunger. I felt so taken care of. This is a mom and pop shop and it’s a Very special place. I will be back for the barbecue.
… moreBrent Grolla
I came here with a group of friends for dinner. This is definitely a place to dine together with folk, that way y’all can get several different things and share it around. Honestly, it might be impossible to make a wrong choice despite how large their menu is.
My party had a few appetizers, then had several of the meats for the main course. We then had Japanese sundaes for desert. I particularly enjoyed the bacon and heart meats.
… moreMy party had a few appetizers, then had several of the meats for the main course. We then had Japanese sundaes for desert. I particularly enjoyed the bacon and heart meats.
Wayne P Richardson
My first Korean BBQ and it was fun and delicious. This place is quaint and cozy. The service is great and you feel like you are sitting in your own dining room or kitchen. I loved it and so will you.
… moreQianye Wu
I’ve been to this restaurant several times before and generally had fine experiences, but this visit was very disappointing.
There were two of us dining, so there was no mandatory 18% gratuity policy applicable to our table. During checkout, the owner handled the entire payment process. I paid using Apple Pay, and she skipped the tip selection screen, so I was never given the option to choose or approve a tip amount.
Later, when I checked my bank account, I noticed an 18% tip had been added and charged without my consent. This was never communicated to me at the time of payment, nor did I authorize it in any way.
This experience seriously affected my trust in the restaurant, and I hope they address this issue and improve their checkout transparency.
… moreThere were two of us dining, so there was no mandatory 18% gratuity policy applicable to our table. During checkout, the owner handled the entire payment process. I paid using Apple Pay, and she skipped the tip selection screen, so I was never given the option to choose or approve a tip amount.
Later, when I checked my bank account, I noticed an 18% tip had been added and charged without my consent. This was never communicated to me at the time of payment, nor did I authorize it in any way.
This experience seriously affected my trust in the restaurant, and I hope they address this issue and improve their checkout transparency.
Nori Sakata
Quality cuts. Prompt service with attentive staff at hand. Prices reflect the premium meats. Desert selection was a delightful surprise. The entrance is graced with baseball memorabilia, which is a bit unique.
… more