Ban Po Jung Korean Restaurant — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

I brought family here to celebrate my birthday and left embarrassed. 😩 Don't be fooled by the website, reviews, or large menu.

🔴 Galbi and bulgogi - dry 🔴 Mandu - burnt 🔴 Fried rice - no soy sauce (?!), forgot to add kimchi as asked 🔴 Sundubu jjigae - came with only 2 clams 🔴 Ojingeo bokkeum - squid came with the same, out-of-place vegetable medley used in the fried rice, forgettable. I have high standards after having AMAZING ojingeo bokkeum 🙈

🟡 Dol sot bibimbop - nice large pieces of beef, average 🟡 Japchae - missing more sesame oil, average 🟡 Ox tail soup - no salt was brought to the table, under-seasoned. I've never had it before, so not sure if it's supposed to be game-y. But it's not offensive.

🟢 Mul naengmyeon - cold noodle broth was very flavorful, which was great because the vinegar and mustard they served with it were flavorless.

I called several times over 3 days to tell them we were coming in, but no one answered the phone. They might have been surprised, but the poor quality is inexcusable.

🧑‍💼Service was below average, but I've come to expect that from Korean restaurants in Chicago.

⏳No wait for a large table on a Sunday evening. Food came out at a decent pace.

🚗They have a small parking lot and free street parking on the...

This is the best Korean restaurant in Chicago believe it or not I'm talking in city limits. Very reasonably priced and they are always giving lots of side dishes and they are always there as a reliable place to have a great meal. This restaurant is where we go most of the time when we go out and I'm half Korean and my mother comes there with me and she is full Korean. My daughter love this restaurant. God bless these people who own it they are good people please go there and try the food the soups are excellent. I recommend jajang myon soup. That is if you like spicy it is a beef soup with spicy vegetables a Korean mainstay. If you don't like spicy then have these solong tong soup which is a beef based tripe soup not much stripe in there but I think it has beef tongue in just a little tripe. If that sounds yucky to you then have the kalbi tong soup. That is a beef soup made from short ribs beef. If you don't want to try the soup then just do the kallbi or bulgogi it comes with lots of side dishes. Those are both beef dishes. Their prices are completely reasonable I'll be usually is quite a bit more at most restaurants in this...

We live across the street and have dined in about once a month for 13 years. This is a literal mom and pop spot that has 3-4 people working tops at any time. The “waiter” is the husband owner and his wife owner does the cooking. He gets a bit overwhelmed at times, but is super generous. His wife is so nice and they both love babies/kids. Our children are 9 and 10 now, but when they were young they would carry them around the restaurant. They still give them a special snack at the end of the meal. We love all the soups, japchae, and bibimbap (we’re pescatarians). The complimentary pancake is delicious as are all the side dishes. Side dishes are much better than when I get them at Joong Boo and that’s not meant to be a jab at Joong Boo either. The prices are insanely cheap. This is home cooking by...