San Soo Kab San

If you're like me, you've heard all kinds of stories about Korean BBQ and "OOOOH, look how many cute little dishes you get" and "OOOOOOH I can't believe all these little guys are free!" and "OOOOOOH I get to cook it myself on this cute little grill" and "OOOOH what is this weird vegetably thing?"

Yes, these are natural reactions to Korean BBQ from an American after eating there for the first time - so if you ever see them on a review, please disregard it. It's a very different style of dining from what we are typically used to in this neck of the woods - but after going a few times, it becomes all part of the norm, and although the appeal will never wear off, it's just another perk of the many perks of Korean cuisine.

San Soo Kab San is the only Korean BBQ place I've been to in the Chicagoland area, but after eating at many establishments in LA and New York, I can say that it does rank up there. It's definitely a no-frills place, but what it lacks in style and presentation, it makes up in taste and -how should I put this - memorability.

After a recent "facelift," a lot of the restaurant looks different and, well, orange. A very memorable paint job added to its appeal, but unfortunately they didn't go as far as to replace the desparately-in-need-of-replacing oversized vent hoods over every table. We happened to have a functioning one tonight, but the poor family next to us didn't, and with the amount of sauces, spices, and blood sticking to the burners, you're in for a smokey, effervescent evening.

After the 10-12 dishes of appetizers came to our table and we began to scarf them down, our Bulgogi arrived. It was a busy night tonight and we didn't want to wait extra long for the skilled hands in the rear of the kitchen to cook our meat, so we instructed them to bring it out raw and we cooked on the grill at our table. Our raw marinated beef plate came out, heaping with meat. This is possibly the biggest appeal of San Soo Kab San over the restaurants in NY and LA - you get A LOT. And Korean BBQ is never cheap, and it's always so tasty you never want to stop eating it, so it's good when you get a lot. After we started eating the beef, our bibimbap arrived in its hot stone pot. Bibimbap is basically rice with many small vegetables on top with a raw egg. After a quick dash of red sauce, you mix it all up until its nice and gooey and crispy all at the same time. This goes perfectly with some grilled meats, and soon the meal is really flowing with arms going everywhere, each taking their own from a family-style setting, different dishes being passed, and so on. While I expect there are better Korean restaurants in the US, and while I ask anyone to let me know if I'm wrong, I firmly believe that San Soo Kab San, at 5247 N. Western, could very easily be the strongest Korean BBQ Chicago has to offer. If you're looking for a place to go and have a GREAT time, eat and drink well, get a little pissed at the waitstaff, and come out smelling something awful, San Soo Kab San is the place for you.