A Cozy Claypot Oxtail Soup Spot in Chicago’s Northern Suburbs! 🍲🌿

Woke up early today and spent the morning thinking about what to eat. It’s sunny but still chilly — wanted something simple, light, yet hearty. Ended up choosing a Korean oxtail soup place up north called Claypot Seolleongtang. That area has a big Korean community — my Google Maps is dotted with green pins for Korean restaurants. Drove about 40 minutes (relaxing since the weekend tasks were done). Passed by the newly opened Del Sur (Filipino-French pastry fusion) but the line was crazy long — kept driving. As we got closer, Korean signs and an Hmart popped up. The shop is next to a senior center — how convenient for locals to enjoy authentic comfort food daily. For Asians living in the U.S., having genuine hometown flavors nearby feels both rare and lucky. Inside, the space was simple and bright, with several tables of elderly Korean friends chatting over soup.🙌😊 The walls were covered in marathon bibs — seems the owner is a runner. Two bibs had ages written: 14 and 39 — maybe the owner and their kid? The menu was straightforward: Front: various claypot oxtail soups — original, spicy, and special ones like black goat soup. Back: side dishes like fried squid cake, sizzling garlic gizzard, grilled beef, etc. We ordered: 🍲 Beef & Vermicelli Claypot Soup – Clear broth with napa cabbage, mushrooms, and red dates. Light, slightly sweet, no bones — easy to slurp up. Fresh and comforting. 🌶️ Spicy Beef Short Rib Soup – Thicker, rich but not spicy, with tender fall-off-the-bone ribs. Perfect texture — not too soft, not too tough. The banchan was good too — kimchi and strong, crunchy pickled radish paired nicely with the mild soups.😁👌 Overall, a solid, reliable spot — everything felt consistent and well-made. Safe to order anything! We finished every last bite — didn’t expect that! Stepped outside to walk off the meal in the sun. These days, lawns are full of dandelion flowers — pretty, but actually an invasive species here. Chicago has many beautiful native plants that support local ecosystems better, but early American landscaping copied European styles and overlooked local flora. Maybe next time I’ll look for some native blooms along the way. #ChicagoEats #KoreanFood #ClaypotSoup #ComfortFood #ChicagoSuburbs #HMartArea