San Soo Gab San — Restaurant in Lake View Township

VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!! If I can give negative star, I WOULD!

Hear me out AND read others comments before you consider going here! Trust me there is so many other places that taste better with better service.

My friends and I went to this place not too long ago for the first time and would not go back. We are a party of 3 people. Our first time, of course, we had no idea what was going on. The ladies were giving us a good service (maybe b/c they succeeded in scamming us to pay unreasonable price🙄) We were looking in to Set B thought that it was 32.99$ for EACH person we didn’t see that it was “for party of 5 and up” and the lady didn’t give us any warning. She was pointing at each of us said that “You 35 and you 35 and you 35.” I will leave that to your understanding. She went and giving us food as described under SetB. In reality, if we knew we will be charging 2 extra in order to make it five, we wouldn’t order duh?! Because of the language barrier, they should know better after all the bad reviews.

We ate the food. When it is time for the bill, the lady bought us TWO BILLS stated that one was w/o tips which is 197$ (WHAT!) and the other one includes tips which is 233$. WE WERE PARTY OF 3!!! Tbh we were so confused because she didn’t tell us about the extra charge to make it party of 5. They being so SNEAKY with these bills and we were so uncomfortable. We thought it was PARTLY our fault by not knowing what we ordered exactly but we were okay to pay as a party of 5 even though we are a party of 3. We told her that we will tip in CASH and she nodded. But then she came back with about 77$ bills for each of us (3 people) and said that there was a “mistake and something wrong with the machine” which mean she proceeded to charge us with the one with 20% tips added WITHOUT OUR CONSENT! We left the restaurant feeling ripped off but we didn’t cause a scene or anything.

Noted that she didn’t give us back the bills or a copy or anything which is HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS. We came home and calculated the % of or check according to the information we remembered. Usually food taxes is about 11% in Chicago due to covid it could have been more idk. But the first bill she brought us was the “not included tips” was 197$ total but there is no way 32.99 times 5 would add up to 197$ (32.99 times 5 is 164.95$ and add 11% taxes is 183.09$) but how did it became 197$?! THEY DEFINITELY INCLUDED TIPS/SERVICE CHARGE ALREADY. This place is scamming us badly.

Not recommended if you can’t...

This restaurant will never get more than 4 stars because the service (and the parking lot) SUCKS!!! If you're a veteran customer of 10+ years like myself, then you know this is the norm. Just park down one of the side streets and walk the 50 feet. I love Korean BBQ b/c it's a great time for social groups, cooking it to my own personal preference, and I love meat! It can get pricey, anywhere between $25-$50 per person (depending if you're boozing or not).

FOOD: They give you about 20 small dishes filled with snacks. The potato salad is good, kimchi is my fave, and soybeans are always good for you! For appetizers, the seafood pancake is always a big hit amongst our group of friends. The mandoo (dumplings) are pretty good too. They come out crispy with a sweet dipping sauce (yummy!). I ALWAYS order the bulkoki (finely sliced marinated beef) and kalbi (thicker cuts of beef- they give you the bones to clean the grill). Those are my two staples here at San Soo. I have also had their spicy chicken, which is OK... I've also had their bacon that comes with an oil and seasoned dipping sauce. I only order this when I'm int he mood for it. Be careful when frying this, it can splash!! NOTE: You only get 1 rice bowl and 1 soup bowl PER ENTREE. Additional rice/soups must be charged for.

DRINKS: I don't ever drink ANYTHING here. Why? Because soju is only $6 a bottle at H-Mart, yet they charge $14. No pop, no tea, just water please. I'd rather save room for FOOD!

The bus boys are pretty attentive, they change the wood when necessary, they change the grill when it gets too cakey, they bring additional lettuce leaves and bean sauce when asked politely. I saw them more than I saw our own server (this was on Sunday evening). I work as a server at Solder Field during Bears games and I have to haul @$$! The management should know, if you're THAT busy- you're under staffed. OR they simply don't care... not sure, what it is?!?! Be warned that it can get smokey in the restaurant during the busy weekends and you may reek of the smokey scent when you leave, but the beef is phenomenal. That's the ONLY reason I keep coming back. I organized a 30 person birthday dinner and they were very accomodating. I try to keep this place for special occasions, such as completing my 2nd marathon. My legs might've been sore, but my arms had no problem lifting those...

Horrible experience. Let me be upfront right away, I am sure this post will "trigger" some overly sensitive person. Too many people let socio-cultural observations be called "racist."

I went there with my VIETNAMESE girlfriend early when the opened. The waitress had no smile, no hello, just pointed to the chairs for us to sit in (As told by my KOREAN martial art master, pointing is considered VERY rude in Korean culture so they always point with an open hand). There were only two other patrons inside.

I asked for "Set A" to which she replied, "Can't you read?" and pointed to the top of the menu "For parties of 5 or more." OK, my mistake, but why so rude?

I then placed my order. A short time later I asked for some salt. She seemed very bothered by this, "We have this." pointing to the traditional red bean paste, which I do love and "We have soy sauce, but salt? For what?" Now, I have eaten at A LOT of Korean restaurants and MOST have a bowl of salt at the table. But this lady seemed to having a TIA about it. I like red bean paste... I use it on my food there... I also like soy sauce and use it, but they each have their own distinct taste as does regular salt. OMG.

When the bill came, I mistakenly thought I gave $80 so I could have change for a tip. A different waitress came for the money and brought the change back. Again, I was mistaken, but at the time I genuinely thought I gave her $80 and I NICELY said to our original waitress the situation. She then LOUDLY calls out to the second waitress who then comes out VERY LOUDLY as well saying we only gave $60. I asked if they could count the register. Again, I ADMIT I was mistaken, but during that time I never gave any kind of attitude. Only from the waitresses. Despite all this I still gave a 18% tip.

My VN girlfriend agreed, that MOST (read that carefully people, I didn't say "all") Korean restaurants are rather rude to non-koreans. One restaurant I went to had the host even say to me one time, "You realize this is a Korean restaurant right?" "Um, yes, I've only been eating here for the past five years."

So, San Soo Gab San, your service sucks, to non-Koreans at least. And the pajun, it was burned, hence my wanting salt. Also, the food was VERY bland (Galbi, panjun, and dolsol bimibap) hence also my...