Chicago's BEST Japanese Charcoal BBQ 🥩

📍 Chicago Kalbi The name might make you think KOREAN BBQ, and they DO serve lots of banchan like Korean spots (was too immersed eating, forgot pics 😅). Apparently the owner is Japanese and the owner's wife is Korean? But the FLAVOR? AUTHENTIC, AMAZING Japanese charcoal BBQ! I ALWAYS forget to take pics once the meat arrives—too busy (immersed in meat heaven) 🥩 🥚 KAKITAMA - Oyster omelette! MUST ORDER! WHOLE oysters wrapped in egg, paired with their special sauce—EVERY bite is SO satisfying and aromatic. Only downside? NOT ENOUGH lol 😂 🐄 MOTSU-ITAME - Beef tripe stir-fried with green onions. Simple ingredients, but SEASONING IS NEXT LEVEL. Tripe is SUPER chewy, paired with onions for that refreshing kick! 🍲 Miso Soup - It's FREE but they ask if you want it first—SAY YES! I'm OBSESSED with their spicy miso soup—could easily devour a whole bowl of rice with it! 🍚 🥩 KOBE SHORT RIB! ABSOLUTE MUST-ORDER. We ALWAYS order extra after finishing—JUST LOOK at that marbling and you KNOW it's gonna be delicious. Red and white intertwined, SO tender without being too greasy! 🤤 🐄 KALBI - This short rib is a bit less impressive than the Kobe version, but still TASTY! 👅 JO-TONGUE - Two types of beef tongue—ORDER THIS ONE, skip the Kobe version. CRISPY texture with tangy lemon juice—TONGUE LOVERS REJOICE! 😩 🐷 TON-TORO - SUPER chewy pork cheek/neck meat. Idk the difference between cheek and neck, maybe pigs have connected faces and necks? When you ask the owner lady for pork recommendations, she points to her OWN face and says "cheek cheek"—SO ADORABLE! 🥹 🥓 BACON - Sliced pork belly. Grilling pork over charcoal requires SERIOUS focus—the oil drips and FLAMES UP, gotta move FAST or it turns to charcoal. Requires EYE-HAND COORDINATION at its finest! 👀💨 🥭 MANGO SORBET - Surprisingly AMAZING! Ice cold, sweet and tangy, PERFECT palate cleanser after BBQ. Served in an actual mango peel—TOO CUTE! 🥭 Other meats? Go wild with choices! Their seasoning is very subtle, letting the MEAT QUALITY shine. Even though it's a bit far from downtown, I STILL come here regularly! 🙌 #ChicagoEats #ChicagoFoodie #ChicagoRestaurants #Chicago #ChicagoEatsGuide #ChicagoDaily