Chicago's Top Japanese Charcoal Grill! 35-Year-Old KALBI Spot 🫡

It’s hard to find real charcoal-grilled BBQ in Chicago these days 😂 Chicago Kalbi BBQ is one of those hidden gems I keep coming back to again and again. The server kindly let us in on a secret menu item: thick-cut beef tongue 🐮👅 Just ask for the “tongue steak” — it’s incredibly fragrant and tender! Their thin-cut wagyu beef tongue is also amazing (it’s actually not that thin 😅). If you love beef intestine, just order it — those who like it, LOVE it! (And it’s not greasy at all!) They clean and split it open nicely, so it’s easy and enjoyable to eat — so satisfying! Their lemon sauce for beef tongue and their grilling sauce are pretty solid too. For appetizers, I recommend the super well-balanced beef tartare and banban tofu. 🥟 The gyoza is skippable — just okay and inconsistent. The Korean grandma’s homemade side dishes and scallion pancakes go perfectly with rice! 💡 Best to book an early slot — like 5 PM — because the uncle might even help grill your beef tongue for you! This place is truly a treasure in Chicago, the kind of spot you’ll crave and return to. #BBQ #JapaneseGrill #StudentLifeEats #Wagyu #JapaneseFood #HiddenGemChicago 🍖