KOW — Restaurant in Maine Township

$33 for both AYCE ramen and kbbq with fresh and tasty meat + side dishes + sauces + chilled drinks, and the meat quality itself was on the positive spectrum of decent and good. I felt like I was robbing the restaurant with how much I ate with my group.

Wait time - minimal Service - very fast, kind, friendly, and considerate from everyone working the floor Music - enjoyable, fun, loud but can still hear people at my table while not hearing neighbors Food quality - fresh, tasty, great portion sizes (received steak pieces with about 1" thickness and lengths of about 6" before cooking); great sauce variety with both modern and traditional flavors; side dishes were all fresh, clean, and naturally-fermented foods were at a very tasty stage of fermentation that people generally enjoy; there is a selection of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood Drinks - beer came out crisp and cold with chilled glasses; tried a caiparinha soju mix and bartender today made a great balanced mix that would work for people who like alcohol and/or people who dislike alcohol-flavor Suggestion - if there's enough space to put up a small sign with quick instructions for the ramen (for customers who were told the 3 steps and forgot...)

Extra details: The caiparinha soju had a smooth sweetness, mild tartness, citrus flavor didn't fade over time, while the natural mild bitterness of (assuming) lime peel/skin balanced out the sweetness; the melting ice mellowed the flavors and turned it into more like a juice, but I did finish the whole drink within 10min of receiving the glass. My table requested a variety of sauces and butters - my personal preferences were: wasabi mayo with flat iron (seasoned) beef; garlic butter or sesame oil with salt and pepper with flat iron (plain, thinner cut) beef; plain pork had a natural sweetness that comes from fresh meat, and that was great with the 'samjang' (fermented soy bean paste mixed with other seasonings and spices) in a lettuce wrap; cooked some kimchi on the grill and ate it with the ramen, hardboiled egg (from ramen area) and kbbq...we had 3 people with almost 27 orders of different meats (no leftovers), and the wait time between ordering and service was less than 1min (special requests took around 1min-5min depending on what was asked for). If vegetarians are invited to an AYCE kbbq, I judge your group as a stranger - but the side dishes are all vegetarian. The ramens generally seem vegetarian but normal ones are meat broths, so people (in general) on different diets - please check the ingredients before making a...

My family and I stopped by this brand new Korean BBQ spot in downtown Des Plaines after a workout—and don’t let the “All-You-Can-Eat” label fool you. This place is on a whole different level. The meat was incredibly fresh, tender, and flavorful—I can still taste it!

We ordered the Flat Iron Steak, Serrano Bulgogi, and Pork Belly—every bite just melted in our mouths. Everything was seasoned perfectly and cooked right at our table. The Katsu sauce combo became my personal favorite—it tied everything together beautifully.

Our server, Ethen, was amazing—super friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. He had everything brought to our table before we even had to ask. On top of that, they use cool robots to deliver the food, which was such a fun surprise—especially for the kids!

We had an amazing time as a family. It was one of those meals that’s more than just dinner—it was an experience. We laughed, grilled, shared stories, and left with full stomachs and full hearts.

A major plus for us: This place is completely peanut-free. My nephew has a severe peanut allergy, and we usually have to be really cautious when eating out—but here, we were able to enjoy everything safely. That peace of mind meant so much.

Even though we were stuffed, my son wanted to try the complimentary self-serve ramen station—and, of course, I ended up stealing a few bites. It was warm, flavorful, and surprisingly good!

The atmosphere is top-tier. The restaurant is modern, spotless, and stylish—with shiny dishes, cool lighting, and an energetic vibe. The second-floor mezzanine with bikes on display, city murals, big screen, great music, and a full bar made the whole place feel alive and fun.

We’ll definitely be back. Easily one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. If you’re anywhere near Des Plaines—go check it out. You...

I came in with my friends and our baby. Not the first time we were here. First time they accommodated us to sit in the back since they blast they’re music for no reason. This time around, they couldn’t sit us in the back which was fine. I asked if they can turn the music down. They said they did but it was still pretty loud. I can barely hear our table and our servers talking. Honestly, there's no reason to blast music so loudly to the point you have scream to talk to your table mates and servers. People gather for dinner to eat, talk, and spend time with the people they came with.

The first time I was here, we were told to leave a 5 star review, which we did, and that if we showed our review next time, they’d honor us with a free drink. I asked the host to double check if that was true, he said that ended.

I feel we were lied to so they can get their rates up. Notice that majority of the ratings are 5 stars. Food is good, don’t get me wrong, but I was disappointed this time around. Don’t make customers leave a 5 star review and offer them a free drink on their next visit.

I went voiced about my concerns to our server, he had to check with his manager. He came and honored the offer from last time. I didn’t take it but I gave it to my wife instead.

Servers were amazing though. Very attentive to us after all these incidents. This all falls back on management and/or ownership. I know the servers and host don’t make the rules. I’m leaving a new review and rating is to the ownership of this place.

Deleted my previous review and...