Chicago Kalbi BBQ — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

My wife and I got to Chicago Kalbi early on Friday, a few minutes after opening. I did not know you could make a reservation by phone, still, we got a seat shortly after arriving. The first thing I noticed was the countless pictures and autographed sports memorabilia proudly displayed throughout the restaurant. As a fan of the Bulls, it was captivating to see so much history and familiar names, such as Steve Kerr and Luc Longley. Cubs fans will appreciate it tenfold as there were even more Cubs players gracing their walls. I knew I was in for a treat.

Our waitress, who I believe was also a co-owner, took our drink order first. I got a Japanese white peach cocktail and my wife ordered a sweet Japanese plum wine. The cocktail was refreshing and subtle, and the wine was sweet like candy but still tasted great. After the drinks, we ordered food and got the pajun as our appetizer (Korean seafood pancake). For our mains, we ordered the hone kalbi, bulkogi, and Japanese sausage.

First was the pajun, a generous portion of food that could be shared among four people. It was light, fluffy, salty, and felt like it came straight off the heat with its freshness. On top of that, it had added texture from the squid, beef, and crunchy onions. The squid felt chewy, but everything else hit the mark. Once we finished the pajun, the staff prepared the grill at our table, and instead of a gas grill, we used a wood/charcoal grill to my delight! The banchan (Korean sides) shortly followed, and the meats. We were all set to start cooking and digging in!

Both the hone kalbi and the bulkogi were unbelievably tender. The bulkogi dipped into the sauce provided for us was a perfect sweet and salty bite. Mixed into the side of rice only made each bite feel more heavenly! The hone kalbi tasted of high quality yet was chewier than the bulkogi. The flavor was as great as the bulkogi, but it did not have the melt-in-your-mouth characteristic of the bulkogi. For my money, I would have ordered another bulkogi rather than the hone kalbi. As for the Japanese sausage, they were basically cocktail wieners and tasted fine; nothing that blew our minds. Between bites of meat, I tried each side, and they were all delicious. My two favorites were the kimchi and potato salad, which tasted made-in-house. If we had enough room, we would have asked for the wagyu beef menu they have available, but we were close to exploding by the end to try their wagyu. We saved it for next time!

Chicago Kalbi is a restaurant that's great and knows it. It does not need a flashy sign or marketing to flaunt itself and has trusted its food, service, and word-of-mouth to stay in business for decades. My wife and I were lucky enough to get a table at this packed hidden gem, and I join the fray of people that chant their greatness. This place is the real deal and offered us a delicious meal with...

I did not realize when I first suggested Korean BBQ that my friends who picked the restaurant actually suggested a Japanese version of Korean BBQ. Perhaps that was part of the issue....

Having only done Korean BBQ one other time, the key things that stuck out to me were the endless side dishes. In particular, the fish cakes. So much to my dismay, I disheartened to hear that the sides not only were not endless, but they rationed the portions. It's like this, there were 6 of us and we ordered 5 meats - we were told we could only have sides for 4 people. That was disappointing and the sides went quick. Plus, there were no fish cakes.

I may also have been expecting too much when I assumed that they may ask if this was our first time or perhaps give us a quick tutorial on how to cook the meat, but they didn't. Instead, we eventually got yelled at for doing it incorrectly.

On the plus side, the meat was delicious. However; again, the portions were not all that plentiful and when you're trying to be polite and not eat the last piece because you're sharing with friends, you wind up leaving a little hungry. Or maybe that's just me.

*Parking was easy. *They were able to accomodate a party of 6 plus a high chair, no problem. *It was baby friendly and I was a little concerned about the smoke and whatnot, but it wasn't an issue. *They also have cute little cubbies where you sit in a private little room; which if I went back, I would totally...

Chicago Kalbi is hands-down one of the most special dining experiences in the city. If you're looking for authentic yakiniku or Korean BBQ, this is the place to go — not just for the incredible food, but for the heart behind it: Chiyo, the lovely lady who owns the restaurant.

From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with warmth and hospitality that feels like you're visiting family. Chiyo makes every guest feel truly welcome. She checks in personally, makes thoughtful recommendations, and carries herself with a grace and kindness that adds something extra to the whole evening. It's rare these days to meet someone who runs a restaurant with such personal care — but Chiyo does, and it shows in every detail.

As for the food — absolutely phenomenal. The kalbi is perfectly marinated, the wagyu melts in your mouth, and the pajun (savory pancake) is crispy, flavorful, and filling. The charcoal grills at each table make it a fun, hands-on experience, and everything is fresh and top quality. The side dishes (banchan) are delicious too — from the kimchi to the potato salad, each one is well-balanced and made with care.

Don’t miss this spot. Chicago Kalbi is a rare combination of amazing food, genuine hospitality, and tradition. Thank you, Chiyo, for making it such a special place. I’ll...