Dak Good — Restaurant in Portage

I decided to give this place a try after hearing about a positive experience from a family member, and it really was a pleasant surprise! I would like to give a comprehensive review for those of you on the fence because there are some aspects that could use improvement.

Facilities/Atmosphere- The restaurant was very clean and organized. All the chairs were pushed in and tables set. Floors were spotless and everything is good working order. The music was nice and it wasn't noisy at all so it was very easy to hold a conversation.

Staff- The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Our server was great and attentive. He was quick to get us refills and extra napkins as we needed them. He was helpful in our decision of what type of chicken to get and the flavors they offered. Overall, very happy.

Food- I ordered the 10 piece strips half and half with pickled radish. Overall, I was very impressed by the crispiness and quality of the chicken. The soy garlic flavor was delicious and is a bit misleading. It is honestly just a good tasting glaze that really doesn't have pronounce garlic or soy flavors, at least not to me. The spicy flavor is where things got interesting. I am not a huge fan of spicy flavors but partake from time to time. The spicy flavor is not beginner friendly and if you are spicy intolerant or on the fence just go with the garlic /soy or else you will suffer. As far as their side options of coleslaw and pickled radish, I was not impressed (as detailed in value section). I gave the pickled radish a try and it was not to my taste effectively making their sides for dinner a bust for me.

Value- This is where they kind of lose me. This place is a bit more expensive than surrounding chicken places whether that be regular wing places or other Asian spots. Their offerings also lack outside of their lunch special. Their lunch special runs 11am-3pm Monday through Friday. Focusing on strips, they will give you an 8 piece and a choice of side: French fries, rice, coleslaw, or pickled radish for $11.95 before tax. If you were to come here at any other time then they offer a 10 piece strip with choice of side: pickled radish or coleslaw for $14.95 before tax. Sure I can understand it being a bit pricier getting a couple more strips and it being outside of their special....but WHY do they limit the side choices too? If I wanted to copy the lunch special and get strips with fries it would come out to $19.20 before tax. If I am eating in I would also have to factor in drink and tip as well. I just don't see the value at that point. On top of that, many of my friends at work or even my family are picky eaters and the conversation about trying this place essentially just stops at 'coleslaw or pickled radish' as the sides. This place really needs to bring in familiar and safe sides to go along with their meals for every time besides their lunch special. As someone who did have their pickled radish and coleslaw, I gave it an honesty try but it wasn't to my taste. So all of a sudden I feel like I am paying for a full meal without getting one. Food for thought.

Extra details- They serve coke products. They give you chop sticks so learn how to use them.

Final thoughts- I really do like this place and that is why I spent so much time on this review. I really hope they see this and make the change to the sides so that they can make a wider range of customers happy and retain their value to the consumer. I know I would like to visit more after my experience but due to the points I mentioned previously, feel like I cant justify the value offered just yet. The moral of the story is visit during their lunch special to try it out and get the garlic/soy flavor.

I hope this helped....

A Flawless Feast at Dak Good: A Hidden Gem Worth the Hype

I recently had the pleasure of dining—albeit via Uber Eats—with Dak Good, a rising star in the local culinary scene. While our initial delivery experience was marred by logistical hiccups, the restaurant’s hospitality more than compensated. When we called in to sort things out, we were greeted by Ken, whose warmth and dedication stood out. He went so far as to promise he’d stay past closing to personally ensure our meal was prepared if the order was canceled again. That kind of service is rare—and deeply appreciated.

Now to the food: We ordered the Japchae, Bulgogi Fries, and a half-and-half portion of Soy Garlic and Spicy Wings.

The Bulgogi Fries were instantly addictive. The beef was perfectly cooked and richly seasoned, layered atop golden, crisp fries that held their texture beautifully under the savory toppings. A balance of indulgence and precision.

The Japchae was a standout entrée in its own right. The glass noodles had just the right chew, and the medley of vegetables and beef Bulgogi was harmoniously balanced. The dish delivered a complex yet comforting flavor profile—a symphony of umami, sweetness, and freshness that spoke to the chef’s attention to detail. Despite never having tried glass noodles before, I could tell these were made just as intended: thoughtfully and skillfully.

But the undeniable star of the evening was the chicken wings. Coated in a delicate, airy batter that remained crisp until the final bite, the chicken was so tender it nearly fell off the bone. The spicy sauce offered a nuanced build of heat—beginning with a sweet warmth and finishing with a satisfying, savory kick. Meanwhile, the soy garlic was a masterclass in flavor balance: umami-rich, slightly sweet, and utterly craveable. It’s the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite to appreciate the genius behind it.

If you haven’t yet discovered Dak Good, do yourself a favor: go. Run, don’t walk. After 15 years in the area, I can confidently say this is my new favorite restaurant. From the soul-warming hospitality to the unforgettable flavors, Dak Good is not just living up to its name—it’s setting the bar for what local dining should be. I can’t wait to see how this kitchen evolves and what else their talented team...

I went here for my birthday. I love Korean food, so when I saw we have another Korean joint I had to try it. We got the Bibimbap (bulgogi), Ramen with pork belly, Shrimp Shumai, and the Bulgogi Tacos. Everything tasted really good. I was a bit disappointed with the serving size of the shumai compared to the cost, and the dipping sauce was strange for it, but it was good overall. For the Bibimbap I asked for my egg to be fried instead of scrambled (because I like the runny yolk over my rice) and if they could add an extra fried egg on top of that and just upcharge it. They said that they could add an extra fried egg but they couldn't replace the scrambled egg with a fried egg, and their reasoning did not make sense to me, so that rubbed me the wrong way. Also, the fried egg that they did provide was not runny at all so that was really disappointing. Since that bummed me out I didn't think my experience would be that great with the food, but the taste overall of everything was really good. The ramen noodles were very silky and the broth was decent. Not a whole lot of flavor to the broth, but better than I expected. I will definitely be going back for more food.

Update: I've gotten the 8 piece chicken tender lunch special a couple times with half and half sauce. First time it was really good. Big pieces of chicken and juicy. Both sauces good and well coated on the chicken. The second time the chicken pieces are a lot smaller, and they were not juicy at all. Very dried out. I've bumped down to a 2 star because of this. Hopefully they get good again. I'll give them...