Spoon House Korean Kitchen — Restaurant in Champaign

Spoon House is hands-down one of the best Korean restaurants on Campus! Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a comforting meal, this place delivers incredible flavors, generous portions, and top-notch service.

I had the pleasure of trying several dishes, and each one was bursting with authentic Korean flavors. However, the absolute standout for me was the Jjam Bbong (Seafood Soup)—a steaming bowl of rich, spicy broth packed with fresh seafood and vegetables. The balance of heat, umami, and deep seafood essence was perfection. If you love bold flavors and comforting spice, this is a must-order!

Other Highlights from the Menu: • Beef Bulgogi – Thinly sliced, tender beef perfectly marinated in a sweet-savory Bulgogi sauce and stir-fried with vegetables. Served with rice, this dish was juicy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. • Regular Bibimbap – A beautifully arranged bowl of rice, seasoned vegetables, and a fried egg, served with a spicy-sweet Bibimbap sauce. The textures and flavors blended perfectly, making it a great choice for a balanced meal. • Korean Fried Rice (Beef Bulgogi) – This dish was a delightful surprise! The fried rice was well-seasoned, packed with vegetables, and topped with a runny fried egg that added extra richness. • Taco with Spicy Pork – A fun fusion dish! The spicy, gochujang-marinated pork was incredibly flavorful, wrapped in a soft tortilla with crisp lettuce and a zesty house sauce.

Atmosphere & Service

The restaurant has a warm, inviting atmosphere, and the staff is super friendly and attentive. Despite being busy, they made sure every table was well taken care of, and the food arrived fresh and hot.

Final Verdict:

Spoon House is a gem that truly delivers on authenticity, quality, and value. Whether you’re a fan of Korean cuisine or trying it for the first time, this place is a must-visit. I was always back for more of that amazing seafood soup!

Highly recommend—5 stars...

When I walked in here I was new to Korean food. But when I walked out I had the best experience of my life. I ordered sweet and crispy and chicken and it was pretty good. But the chicken wasn't the only thing that was crisp. I have never and I say NEVER had anything this good before. The water quality and temperature was absolutely impeccable. The filter was clean and the water was crisp. I was moved beyond words at the sheer quality of the water. I would come back just for it. I spent countless minutes researching water filters and little did I know that spoon house Korea had just what I was looking for. When enjoying water there are a couple of criteria that needs to be met. The atmosphere and what you look at are crucial towards the experience. And trust me. They delivered. While hearing k pop I was able to gaze upon various authentic Korean cuisine. If this is what Korean water drinking is like, I'd like to move to Korea immediately. If I was in a desert and dying from dehydration and there was ice mountain water right next to me and this water 20 miles away. I would sprint the 20 miles for this water. I would like to thank management for maintaing this water quality as I had numerous cups and the quality did indeed stay consistent. This has revolutionized my life and I. WILL. BE. COMING....

So I was confused between going to Nanjing Bistro / Jipbap / Spoon House and I choose Spoon House. Bad Decision. The dish I ordered costed me 15 USD approx. (what you'll pay when ordering via a premium service like doordash with the taxes involved. This whole dish was way expensive)

I placed an order for Sweet and Spicy Chicken at 6.45 PM. There were close to 7 people that came into the Restaurant after that, and all 7 got their order ready within a few minutes. I got mine, half an hour later at 7.15 PM. I thought this must be a special dish or they must be understaffed. I waited and when I got my order, I regretted. The chicken was a sloppy stir fry with chunks of big veggies and a watery sauce over it, barely covering the chicken pieces. The least they could have done, for charging me so much was to fry the chicken in batter and coat it with a thicker sauce. I barely could get the rice and chicken down my throat as the flavors were missing and the chicken at this point was bare, with no coating to hold the sauce. All in all? Delayed order, lazy dish, poor flavor and premium rates.

In my opinion, if you want to have quality Korean food - please go to Jipbap, which is half the price as this and double the flavor, as well as double the portions. Don't waste your time and money on...