TAK Korean Bistro & Karaoke — Restaurant in Chicago

We chose TAK as our dinner together on a friends' trip to Chicago because of the great reviews and its reasonable proximity to our hotel. We eventually found street parking about two blocks over (garage prices were ridiculous because of a nearby concert) and walked, though I'd honestly recommend taking public transport or Ubering as it was a challenge to find a spot. Our mistake, lol.

Anyway, this place has a sort of speakeasy vibe as it's in the basement/underground of another business and you have to ring an intercom to be let in. We were let in promptly and descended into a total vibe. It was dim in the restaurant save for the brightly illuminated tv, which played fun and popular K-Pop songs all evening long. You can also rent a private karaoke room if that's your thing; we mostly just wanted to eat and enjoy the atmosphere and each other's company, so we got a table in the main room. The bar looked nice too. We were able to be seated immediately without a reservation on a Saturday evening around 7:00 P.M. The menu is very large and has a lot of variety; I thought prices were moderately high but I'm not super familiar with Chicago pricing so YMMV. The quality was clearly high on everything we ate.

The atmosphere was truly fantastic and we could barely get my friend to leave to go back to the hotel, despite an early flight the next day. I'd describe the service as pleasant but a little inattentive. It took a very long time for us to be able to place our food order and only when I made direct eye contact with our waitress did she come and ask what we'd like to eat. Food came out in a timely manner, but I don't think we were asked if we'd like a second drink and we had to ask for a dessert menu ourselves. Still, the interactions we did have were warm and polite. I accidentally knocked a pair of chopsticks I wasn't even using off the table and a waiter who wasn't ours immediately ran to replace them. He was very gracious and nice.

The food and drinks were quite solid! Husband had a Korean beer that he enjoyed trying. Our friends tried a glass of blackberry wine and some type of cooling cucumber cocktail; I tried a sip of both and found them quite enjoyable, though perhaps not for the price tag (more a me thing though as I just don't drink very much). We split a chive pancake to start. It had crispy edges and a subtle but delicious soft and slightly chewy interior. Perfect amount of chives and not too greasy. The standout was the dipping sauce, though -- smoky and a little spicy. I hoarded it after the pancake was gone to dump into my entree for extra heat.

Hubs had Yangnyum Korean fried wings, I had the beef dolsot bibimbap, and our friends shared an order of soy garlic wings and galbi jim. Everyone enjoyed their food! Hubs said the wings were some of the better he's had and enjoyed the balanced tangy and sweet flavors. My bibimbap was loaded with veggies and was delightfully hot (temperature-wise) the whole time I was eating it. I wished it was a little spicier but nothing the sauce I saved from the pancake couldn't remedy. Pal and her husband enjoyed their meal too, especially the galbi jim, which looked super tender and succulent. We cleaned our plates for the most part! Yay.

We wound up wanting dessert and asked for a menu; the waitress informed us that they currently only had one dessert item and jr was new: a dessert pancake with ice cream and honey drizzle. We got two orders (one for each couple) and enjoyed it! The pancakes were filled with I think adzuki beans and had a subtly sweet and nutty flavor. They were incredibly tough though and took some sawing to get through. The ice cream and honey were amazing though, and overall we liked the dessert!

Overall, this was a fun and super cool experience to share with friends on our visit to the city....

I gave Tak a low rating because of our last experience using their karaoke. Their karaoke rooms are clean and quite expensive. But I'm not complaining about the price because the hourly rates are clear. My problem is that they charge a 20% "non-tip admin fee" for karaoke if you have 6 or more people. I saw this after the fact in small font on the website. We were definitely not aware of this. My friends and I (total 6 people) went for dinner + karaoke a few days ago and were charged an extra $75 because of this fee, which we were never informed of. I get the gratuity fees restaurants add for big groups. And honestly, if they were more upfront on this "admin fee," I would be more understanding since we would be agreeing to the fee by using the karaoke room. Our total for the night was over $500 and we tipped them $100. We would not have tipped that amount if we knew we were getting charged another 20%. Also, what is this admin fee even for? What is point of charging the astronomical $135-150/hr for karaoke if you're adding another 20% fee? Anyway, we only realized this charge the next day when we looked more closely at the receipt. Many customers drink while using the karaoke, so I think it may be easy for customers to miss this when paying (which was us). I wanted to post this review so people are aware and not surprised like we were when paying. This is just too expensive to justify using the karaoke for me and friends so we will not be going back.

Other than that, I would recommend this place if you don't really care about the food and price, and just want Korean drinks with a nice, clean ambiance. There aren't many Korean pubs in the city so I guess we can't be too picky. I've been here a couple of times with friends and the food is a hit or miss (Korean black sausage is pretty good, but the Samsun Nurungji Tang and the School Ttukbokki were really bad). The employees are very nice and...

Tak Korean Bistro has firmly established itself as my go-to destination, having been drawn back more than a dozen times. It's not merely the consistent excellence of its Korean cuisine that declares it the best in the Midwest but also its dynamic menu, offering a continual adventure in flavors and dishes. The creativity and reverence for traditional Korean culinary arts are evident in every dish, blending classic favorites with innovative twists that both surprise and delight the palate.

The ambiance within Tak adds significantly to its charm, with a vibe that's both vibrant and inviting. The intimate and cozy dining space creates the perfect backdrop for the culinary journey that awaits, making every meal feel like a special occasion.

Each visit to Tak is a voyage through Korea's rich culinary heritage, with dishes that tell their own unique stories. The menu's evolution ensures there's always something novel to discover, from the succulent and perfectly seasoned bulgogi to the latest inventive creations. Their kimchi, a revelation in itself, achieves a sublime balance of flavors, enhancing every dish it accompanies.

The exceptional service at Tak Korean Bistro complements the dining experience, with attentive staff who make you feel genuinely welcome. Tak is more than just a restaurant; it's a destination for those seeking an unparalleled Korean dining experience, where the passion for food and hospitality is evident in every detail. For anyone with a love for Korean cuisine or the culinary curious, Tak Korean Bistro is an essential visit, promising memorable experiences with...