Korean Food in Chicago’s North Suburb “Japanese Village” 🍲

🍽️ Kimchi Pancake The one I got was a bit overcooked — even slightly burnt. Might depend on the chef’s timing that day (maybe mine took a nap mid-cook? 😅). Flavor was okay, but the texture ended up dry and charred. Overall, it’s fine when done right — depends if you feel like rolling the dice. 🍢 Spicy Chicken Gizzards Pretty spicy and tasty with the dipping sauce (though I forgot what the sauce tasted like… it’s been a while 😂). Better than the version at the nearby Shin Shing Village (another Korean spot in the north suburbs). Priced reasonably for an occasional treat — recommended! 🥓 Boiled Pork Belly A classic Korean shared dish. Honestly, it’s just boiled pork belly. Not sure how other places do it, but this was my first time trying it at a Chicago Korean restaurant. It was acceptably greasy (and I usually avoid fatty meat), and not too tough. Personally, I wouldn’t order it again — not sure how to enjoy it best, and it’s a bit pricey for what it is. 📍 Location & Vibe: This spot is near the “Japanese Village” area, so the day I went, almost all customers were Japanese or Japanese-American — didn’t see any Koreans (maybe bad timing?). It’s set up like an izakaya — they start you off with Korean fish cake oden (basically fish cakes in seasoned broth). Service speed was decent. 🏮 Hanshin Pocha My rating: 4.0/5.0 Overall, it’s alright — nothing special, nothing terrible. #Chicago #ChicagoEats #ChicagoLife #ChicagoSuburbs #KoreanFood #ChicagoFoodExplore 🥢