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Name: San Soo Gab San
Address: 5247 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625
Telephone: (773) 334-1589
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.42

San Soo Gab San

5247 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625

(773) 334-1589
Store is closed

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San Soo Gab San Menu

Appetizers

Goon Mandu

Chop Chae

Hae Moul Pajun

Yuk Hwe

Goma-Ae
Soup

Sui Rung Tang

Do Ga Ni Taag

Kal Bi Tang

Yuk Gae Jaag

Heuk Yumso Tang
Barbecue

Wang Kal Bi

Seang Kal Bi

Joo Mul Luk

. Bul Ko Ki

Yang Gui
Sansdo Special Dishes

Boussam

Boussam

Sooyuk

Jae Yook Bokum

Sam Kyup Sal Bokum

Healthy Meal suggestions for San Soo Gab San

Appetizers

Goon Mandu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chop Chae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hae Moul Pajun [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yuk Hwe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Goma-Ae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup

Sui Rung Tang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Do Ga Ni Taag [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kal Bi Tang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yuk Gae Jaag [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Heuk Yumso Tang [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Barbecue

Wang Kal Bi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seang Kal Bi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Joo Mul Luk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

. Bul Ko Ki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yang Gui [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sansdo Special Dishes

Boussam [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Boussam [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sooyuk [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jae Yook Bokum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sam Kyup Sal Bokum [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Julie K.

Worst Korean BBQ restaurant ever! Ordered 2 types of meat. One was marinated which should not be. Another meat(Cha dol ba gi) was totally bad. It did not look like Chadol or tasted like Chadol at all. Such a poor quality but over priced. The charcoal was artifical so no reason to visit again.
(1)
Mia T.

Dinner with friends, our usual favorite cho sun oak had a line so we opted to go to Sam Soo... Great side dishes, they are known for many side dishes.. Had seafood pancakes, kalbi & juk ka jung soup... Not the best Korean BBQ but Americans like it a lot & very convenient... If you like to try Korean-American KOREAN BBQ then this is the place to go!!! Bon appetite!!!
(3)
Jenny K.

I think sometimes you just have to be in the mood for Korean, and tonight just wasn't for me. Nevertheless the group I was with left with a full kimchi and saki belly! Tons of leftovers. They only take reservations for parties of 9+ as it fills up quickly on a Saturday night. No worries, we arrived at 6 with 6 to fire away some beef. If you're not looking to cook your own meat, fear not - ample "regular" tables exist. Goon Mandu - dumplings Tendons and Tongue - we only had one taker Spam and sausage soup Sushi bar, new renovations and despite the the service you might think you'd get at a Korean BBQ joint, this place delivered. Water was refilled constantly, we were checked up on a number of times, including swapping out our grill plate at least 6 times
(3)
Kyle D.

Overall: 3.5 in reality, but a great place to enjoy lots of meat and options with a group. The good: Plenty of options to choose from, from meats to bipimbop to entrees. You won't leave hungry. The meats were great and marinated well. The bad: The servers were overwhelming in the beginning, and then as soon as we ordered everything covered the table. They hardly gave us time to get set up or even open our drinks. The restaurant had a not-so-clean feel. They didn't "pam" the grills so meat kept sticking. The pork belly bacon was frozen. On the more expensive side overall. Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Service: 7.5/10 Food: 7.5/10
(3)
Will T.

I came here for the first time in about 4 years. Food was ok. Had the marinated rib eye. Nothing to write home about but it wasn't bad. What was terrible was the service. The waitress want especially rude but it was impossible to get her attention. After the end if the meal we still didn't get our napkins. She brought the sauce I was supposed to eat my second dish with like 20 minutes after bribing the dish after it was almost gone. And the kicker- a mandatory tip on a party of 4 with the terrible service that came up to adopt 26%. Like this lady's math was WAY off.
(1)
Monica J.

I like this place because it is a no-frills restaurant for tasty Korean barbecue. I've been here about four or so times, and each time I make sure to sample all their offerings at the food stand. San Soo Gab San is a serve yourself, all-you-can eat place. It's also BYOB! The food stand area in the front area of the restaurant has soups, various Korean banchan (side dishes), lettuce leaves for making wraps, dipping sauces, and of course the raw marinated meat for you to grill on the table. You can ask for assistance cutting or even grilling the meat if it's your first time. I love all the side dishes, particularly the spicy miso soup, pancake (when it is available) and kimchi. The meat itself is well marinated, however I did find some of the beef cuts to have more cartilage than I like. I highly recommend the sesame oil and salt dipping sauce (my favorite!) Overall, I like coming here when I get Korean BBQ cravings. It's about $25-30/person (I don't recall the exact price), so come extra hungry and bring beer or other alcohol to get your money's worth.
(4)
Suvi H.

Came here for lunch today. Ordered bunch famous dishes. We ordered 2 soon tofu stews. But one of the order was way salty than other. How come the same meal can be taste differently? And also other place has better seafood pancake. Bibimbap was ok... By the way, the table were very very sticky! They should learn more about how to keep the table clean!
(2)
Vee V.

I ate here 18 hours ago, showered, changed clothes, and I still smell like a Korean BBQ. Holy shit people, get better vents in here. This place was smoky and loud. The servers yelled over to us and pointed at a table for us to seat ourselves. I read the reviews on the bad service. I also already know that Asian restaurants everywhere generally suck at service, I'm immune to it. Our table by the way, was next to the pile of dirty stinky shoes left from diners who sat in the authentic "Asian" area where they had to step up them down into. Gross. We did the BBQ of course with bulgogi and pork belly. I tried to order tempura oysters, but they said they don't serve it until 10pm, it was 9:46pm. The bulgogi, thin marinated beef, was very good. Pork belly, not so much. I wish they oiled the grill pan. My meat kept getting stuck, that was annoying. I usually love banchan (side dishes), but this was overkill. They covered our entire table with it. I could have done without the coleslaw, potato salad, black beans, and yellow pepper sides. I thought I was at a Korean restaurant here...what the hell was that shit? Our server never came back, I would have liked more lettuce to get my bulgogi wrap on. I also had to hunt her down to get our bill. Par for the course on service. Food was okay.
(2)
J C.

I used to frequent this restaurant back 10 years ago, but I had forgotten all about it after I moved out of the city. Recently, I have been bringing visitors who crave decent Korean food. When you first walk in, depending on the time of day, it can be quite smokey inside due to Korean BBQ. If you go during non-busy hours, it is pretty chill & quiet with fast service from the server ladies. Yesterday was one of the times when I experienced fast and decent service after the WIPEOUT RUN in Chicago. My husband, my good friend and I were all starving and ordered as soon as we could. They always bring out a huge number of ban-chan (side dishes) with small, yet perfect portions to enjoy along side the main dish. Waters were refilled quickly, and our orders came out fast as well. I ordered dol-sot bibimbap, my friend ordered gamjatahng, and my husband got the donkatsu. All of us thoroughly enjoyed our large portion-sized meals!
(4)
Celestina P.

okay.... so I said I would never try this place (see previous review)..... sure enough.. I ended up eating here with a few of my friends one night. Putting the rudeness of the person on the other end of the phone in the past, the quality and taste of their food meets my expectations for a typical korean restaurant. I ordered their Kalbi which came out sizzling on its plate. The service wasn't bad or great (typical for korean restaurants these days).
(3)
Elsie Y.

I have been to this place for several times. They have great appetizers with very big portion. Steaks are all good here! But it is hard to park! Anyway, it is a great place for hanging out with friends!
(5)
Rosa D.

We came around 7pm on a Tuesday night with a group of 5 people. Service was great, food was great, an all around awesome experience! This was my 2nd time and both times have had no issues with service.
(4)
Kevin V.

My absolute favourite spot for Korean BBQ in Chicago. The amount of side dishes and the flavour and selection of meats is truly astounding. Just the side dishes themselves may leave your table overflowing (potentially a con) but to those who love trying different things, it'll hit you up and add the best accents to your KBBQ. The meat themselves are wonderful and true, being cut thin enough to cook but plentiful enough to get succulent bites. My bulgogi was cut a little to big though, I wish I had asked for scissors (or been provided with some). To me, this San Soo Gab San hits the best cravings for KBBQ when my party can't handle All-You-Can-Eat or in general. The pricing is fair for KBBQ, and the location proximity to Asia on Argyle is pretty sweet. Definitely consider visiting for a non-AYCE and bountiful experience!
(5)
Rochelle R.

I would give this place 5 stars BUT the service is TERRIBLE! They're super nice but it's almost like because you cook you're own meat, they don't feel the need to come by and refill water or anything else. (They also add gratuity to your bill automatically.) The food itself is amazing, meat is always good and fresh, and the little sides they give are always great.
(4)
Julie T.

Usually Korean bbq joints have really bad customer service but I see this place working on becoming better. I really like the quality of the meat. It's hard to find any in the city. It was pretty expensive place to get kbbq but the quality won't disappoint you. I just wish they had better ventilation. I came home smelling like kbbq and I never have that problem with other kbbq spots I went to. Their pork belly was amazing! I just wished they didn't leave the bone in the meat.
(3)
Nektaria R.

I have wanted to go to this place for a long while. Is visiting a friend who's family member was having wake next door. So, being in the area, heck, why not. Never having Korean barbecue before, we didn't know what to expect.... She tried to explain things to us, and I think we got it, I think there should've been more meat for us to cook. They brought out a ton of small dishes of pickled goodies. It was an experience. Definitely need to go back with someone who knows how to properly order.
(3)
Emily L.

Mandatory tip?! There are three of us, NOT a party, less than 30 mins eating time. When the bill arrived, my husband found out a 15%-20% tip on there. We are surprised and asked the waitress about it, she said tip was included. If I was the one paying the bill, I won't even noticed that and pay an extra tip. Pay attention to your bills people! They won't mention a thing if you do not find it out yourself! Just did the calculation again, it was a 22% tip. I wish I took it back or captured a photo of that hand writing bill. Then I'll have my first yelp photo upload
(1)
Anthony N.

First Korean BBQ experience in Chicago and I wasn't disappointed. Don't go to KBBQ if you expect to not smell like meat after. It's just not possible. The banchan spread here was impressive in quantity and quality, and we had no trouble getting refills on the ones we wanted more of. The marinated kalbi was surprisingly very good. The meat was tender and had the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The pork belly was not as good; I found it to be overly dry. Charcoal grill adds that extra smoky flavor and plates were changed when needed without request. A lot of people are complaining about service. These folks just need to learn how to call servers over whenever they need something. Asian restaurant/food culture...get used to it. Averaged about $30pp for our two meat orders. It's pricey but we left very full.
(4)
Soo H.

Came here because our usual spot "Chon Son...?" On Lincoln was way too crowded. Being legit Korean, my standards were very high. First, the parking and seating situation is better than others, a lot more space (though parking still sucked just a little and had to find street parking). The amount of side dishes were enormous, never seen anything like it. They must of brought over 20 side dishes. Picture of my friend with side dishes They had TINY amount, but you can ask for more, but because there were SO much, we didn't end up asking for anything more. Ordered 2 Garbi, seafood pajan, and yookgaejiang. Lots of food. Everything was great. One downside is that I realized that I'm getting to like less and less 'cook your own meat at table" style of eating, stresses me out. The wait staff were VERY unattentative, typical Korean restaurant, you have to yell and make yourself heard in order to survive :) I will go back to my usual Cho Son place, but if I see a long line out the door, I will drive to this place without any hesitation.
(4)
Jeffrey T.

Well for me it's a three on the cleanliness. The food is there and you know what your getting. Service is fast. The soups are piping hot but you have to know what your ordering or you'll hate it. They really don't explain what your getting as their English is I have no idea. I've taken many a soup home for the trash. If you know what you want stick with that. Get the grill your safe with that but insist on a new grate. Otherwise you'll eat charcoal.
(3)
Cecilia P.

We were seated in the upper area where the tables were lower, had to remove shoes, and seating was more of an Asian style. Loved it cause many restaurants don't do that. I am visiting from Dallas btw. Pork belly was my favorite. Lots of sides. Very busy on a Saturday night. Ordered soju and plum wine. Staff was great since we were a party of 26.
(5)
Keith H.

The food was decent but the service was TERRIBLE. The waitress threw the menus (which was not enough menus for all of us at the table) at the edge of the table and walked off. Then when our food came, she leaves it at the same far edge of the table without saying anything, and walks off. Maybe that's just their thing. Bad service. But cheap prices. It's a good place, but I wouldn't head back there anytime soon. I'm thinking more this is a place that you stop when you are starving to death and have to stop for food.
(3)
Kris L.

What a horrible night! Me and my parents came in here for a quick fix of bbq craving since we are around the area. We would usually go to gyu kaku best place ever. Walked in the restaurant and have to wait 3 minutes for someone to notice and seated us to a table when it's not even busy. We then ordered pork belly, kalbi, and yukkaejang(spicy beef noodle soup). The pork belly was not seasoned, the kalbi was not the best of quality and the shredded beef from the beef had a weird taste to it, like being in the fridge too long. The side dishes were nice but I wish they could have oiled our grill a little bit more because the meat kept sticking to it. The overall experience was not good, if you want good quality and adequate service please go to gyu kaku and not even half as expensive. I got charged 120 plus tip on a shitty dinner like this.
(2)
Sumita B.

We came here on a Monday at 10 PM. Waited for 10 mins for a table. There were a couple of tables which left because they didn't get any service. We were tempted to leave, but then the wait staff gave us their table. We were hesitant to leave, but decided to stay since we have been here before. Since we only have 3 people with us we weren't allowed to order off the group special. Husband and I ordered pork belly and ribeye to grill. These were about 20 a piece. Received one steak and a small plate of pork belly. Pork belly stuck to grill and burned very easily. Made our table very smokey. Also ordered chop chae, this was okay. Not a lot of meat included. Price was about 9 dollars. We also ordered seafood chigae. This was a smaller bowl with some seafood. Be prepared for slow service. If you want something you have to waive someone down to get water and anything else. Plus side you get 20 + side bon chan....or side dishes :) Be prepared to smell like meat and charcoal!
(3)
Gary P.

food is okay. But the service is so bad. And they charged 20% tips for a table for 4. I won't come back again.
(2)
Mark Y.

My recent visit to San Soo Gab San was my first one to a Korean establishment in Chicago. Crisp and Del Seoul don't count. So, maybe it's not fair for me to compare this joint to other restaurants in other cities that easily have Korean restaurants at a much higher level. We ordered Korean BBQ, so my review is based entirely on this experience. First off, the grills here are complete ghetto. They use basically a mini fire pit with wood charcoal and top it off with a modified toaster oven rack. The "grill" wasn't seasoned like it should had been, so we basically lost 1/3 of our bulgogi to the grill. To note, the bulgogi plate probably had at the most 2/3 lbs of marinated meat on it at the most. For $22 plus, the value was horrendous. The ribeye ($27) was more abundant, definitely a much better value and cooked really well on the grill. Go figure, they skimp on the lesser quality bulgogi and give more pricier ribeye. Yes, sides are abundant, but they don't bother offering refills. Overall, the meat quality was average - on par with the $15 AYCE places in K-town in LA. I wasn't expecting any sort of service here, so I wasn't overly disappointed by the shit service received. I was bummed that they didn't have those red call buttons that you find at other Korean restaurants. The food was acceptable but the value sucked. I would consider returning down the road, but I'd stay away from the BBQ.
(2)
Doreen M.

Overpriced food. The restaurant is a bit dirty with the sticky table. Won't come back again. There is other better Korean restaurant.
(1)
Saina B.

Wanted to have some hot spicy soup along with a couple of dishes for myself and my sick sister. Food tastes okay but maybe we were both hungry and tired. But everytime we get there to eat we lose appetite because of those extremely rude, angry old ladies who work there. I literally beg, smile and be super nice to them to get something. And even tip them pretty good. But dont wanna go there again. Ever! Very unwelcoming and the worst service. Even I leave a bad review here, they prob dont give sh*t. Thats how they are!! What a shame!
(1)
Chi N.

So many complimentary side dishes that I felt like I could get full on them alone!! The experience is more authentic and casual than Gyu Kaku with much bigger portion. Service was a bit awkward but that's what you typically get in a native Asian restaurant I get haha. Also good when you come in a big group
(3)
Bianca D.

this place gets really busy. So busy the servers forget their manners. i thought our server hated us. What did I do? I pleaded mentally. Please tell me! The banchan, a HUGE amount of banchan. Not all so bad..some sketch. The grill I really admired. Loved the flavor that came from it. The lettuce in korean BBQ is really important for me. I saw some bruises. Let's just say the next time I chicago, it won't be in this establishment.
(2)
Sue M.

The food are good here, they give you a table of ban chon. But if you don't speak Korean, they are not going to give you good customer service.
(3)
Sharon L.

It doesn't make any sense .we hear about this place BBQ is very famous ï¼Œsearch online menu they open until 3:00ï¼ˆafter noon night ï¼‰ so we decided to try and so exciting , we spend an hour drive to arrive ...we came here at 12:50. And the waitress tell us they close at 1:00.if you already change you opening hour you should change you online menu ï¼Œor notice paper in front your door ã€at least let people know .you totally waste our time ï¼ï¼ we should sleeping at good dream not disappointed on the way back
(1)
Joy R.

This is one of the most famous Korean restaurant in Chicago. They have been here forever and many non koreans go here. Their food is authentic enough and tastes pretty good in general. They have plenty of spicy and non spicy options and you can't go wrong with table bbq. One draw back is their servers. They are often plain rude to simplest request at your table and if you dare to carry out Friday night you might feel like they hate you personally.
(4)
Alex C.

The food's pretty good; not amazing, but average to above average Korean BBQ. The service was garbage; they brought the food, then never came back to the table even once. Funny thing is, the place wasn't even that busy. No checks on whether there was sufficient water or whatever, no checks at all. The most beautifully insane part about that is they put in a service charge without telling you on the menu if you have 5 or more in your party. A service charge... even though there's no service. Wow. There are much better places to spend your money. This place should really be rated $$$ instead of $$ for pricing.
(1)
Jy L.

All the Waitresses are very rude !!!! They all look like they don't wanna be there. I am sure job is very hard but customers don't have to look at their ugly faces and get treated like crap OK?!?!?! There is a guy ( in blue shirt) is a manager who is even worse! The way he talks, and way his attitude is just unreal. I feel bad for the owner,because I know for fact that he is loosing alot of business because of his staff. Once at parking lot, i saw a waiter chasing out customers because they under tipped. So funny. They want ppl to tip them well when they don't give any service?!?! Whatever , i can write a book about this place but not worth my time.
(1)
Pha Nhia Y.

Awful rude service! Service I came on a Monday evening with a group of four ladies. We couldn't order the group special so we all individual ordered BBQ meat choices. As a former server, I know how difficult it is to serve and keep customers happy. When we arrived the restaurant was not busy at all but yet we were ignored for the first 15 minutes, then we never got drink refills unless we asked and we didn't receive our soup until after asking our server twice about. What really makes me mad and is after tipping our server $30 for our meal which rounded up to $200, she says to us "this is it, but your bill is so much". NEVER ask for tips if you're a server NEVER! I tossed another $20 bill down on the counter and just left. Food If it wasn't for the poor service, I would have enjoyed my visit more. The portions were great and the flavors were alright. I really enjoyed the different side dishes. Overall, its is unfortunate that they have some awful service, they would have so much more paying customers rather than drunk groups of people who treat them the way they threat their paying customers.
(1)
Sirirat M.

Included tip? there are just 4 of us.... it's 19% they charged us. It was shocked and very upset could happen there. We won't complained if the witness treats us as well and make us satisfy.
(1)
Teanna T.

So! The food is decent somedays are better than others but the thing that bugs me the most is when you leave there you reek! I hate how my hair & clothes smell afterwards. When you come here, plan on it being your last stop before home. You definitely need a shower after dining here. Also if you don't think about customer service when you dine out then their customer service won't bother you. After they take your orders and drop off food it's VERY difficult to get their attention for anything.. A drink, more food, Utensils..etc Overall, it's a fun place to go with friends and the experience of cooking your own food. If they can find a better ventilation system and adjust the customer service I'll be happy to come back.
(3)
Essie M.

Lol I hate this place. It's a joke & i won't be coming back anymore. 2nd time here because I decided to give them another chance. Service sucks ass and be careful when the check comes cause they try to be sneaky with the charges. They pre-charge you with an 18% gratitudity fee (3ppl) and it's scribbled on so people won't notice . They sure as hell didn't deserve that tip. Dishes were thrown on the table and the table itself was sticky. Check was thrown on our table before we were even done eating. The food was not worth the price whatsoever. Saw another pair of customers walk out when they were denied service just because they had a stroller.
(1)
Whitney J.

I had been to San Soo before for bbq and enjoyed my experience. I'm not generally too dismayed by poor service. It's annoying, but if the food makes up for it, I'll let it slide. We didn't have the experience of the auto gratuity on our party of four last time - I probably would have raised a fit. The waitresses did laugh at me because I asked what one of the side dishes was and said I liked it. She brought another waitress to my table and they stood right there and laughed and pointed and talked in Korean. I'm a customer. Not a sideshow, but thanks. However the most recent time i stopped in, it was just me and I wanted to place an order to go. I was completely ignored. I had to flag down someone after standing awkwardly in the entry way for ten minutes. Then they fought over who I needed to speak to to order. The last time I checked I was trying to give your business my money so.... Ok. I eventually got my food after again having to chase someone down to pay. As good as the barbecue is, their service really is the pits. It's unfortunate. This place could be the best thing in the neighborhood. If you want some entertainment, walk by when their minuscule parking lot is full and watch customers try to park. Side note: never park there. I've seen so many cars scratched and grazed by other customers who just ignore the fact they hit another car. Lol.
(1)
Christoph J.

The service issues that others have mentioned were definitely accurate. It took forever to get someone to take our drink orders. It then took forever for them to come. Same thing with the food. Terrible service. The entire staff seemed confused and just didn't listen. Like, "Where's that rice I asked for 25 minutes ago?" or "Where's that beer I ordered 10 minutes ago?"...You'll get a lot of that here, for sure. Some of the staff members were even yelling at each other right in the dining room! What the heck?! But the food was alright. The chicken and beef that came to our table was well-marinated and cooked up really nicely. I'm not sure it's the best quality of meat, especially considering what they charge you for it. This is definitely not a cheap place to eat, so keep that in mind. But you get lots of little things to nosh on. It was a fun experience, despite some shortcomings. And as others have mentioned, this place is extremely smoky! Good god, it's almost too much to handle. Perhaps they need better ventilation in there. I'm not really compelled to go there again, but it's not the worst place I've eaten. So if you are int he neighborhood and feeling adventurous, then give it a go. Or don't.
(3)
Youngjo K.

I entered the sotore and no any waitress paid attention to me for 10 mins. Waited them for 10 mins!!! What a aweful service is!!!! And they asked me to pay more tips!!!!! I already paid 10% because I was not satisfied with their service!!! And complained me that 10% is lower than minimum!!!! I really hate their manner!!! The worst korean restaurant ever!!!!!
(1)
Tina L.

The Wang Galbi is legit. If you're with a group of 5 or more, just get the Group special and get all orders of the Galbi. It tastes delicious grilled over the charcoal fire... They have an insane number of side banchan dishes. All of them are pretty good, too. I know all their other entree dishes are pretty good, too. So far I haven't been disappointed by their neng-myun dishes, or their yook gae jang soup.
(4)
Jacob K.

Come here pretty much only for their Korean bbq, which is the best I've had. The other food is so so, not bad, not great. They do give plenty of side dishes, as well. Service stinks, especially if you come during a busy time.
(4)
Chloe T.

Always delicious and fresh! Sometimes there is a little wait but it's wort it! I have been coming here for years and I always get the kimchi soup! Korean at its best. They actually remodeled the place, so it also looks much better!
(4)
Heejin H.

A sad disappointment. I was really looking forward to the food during my first visit. After seeing pictures on Yelp, and other reviews, I convinced people to visit with me. Turns out to be terrible quality of food. The variety of side dishes were just dry and sad. I'm not even going to waste my one writing a review for this place longer than this.
(2)
Darren L.

I came here with my momma for lunch time. They greeted us as soon as we walked in and sat us down immediately. My mom ordered the chap chae and I ordered the bibimbap lunch special. We also ordered the potstickers. The food came out in 10 minutes - super fast. Low and behold, they also brought out the ten mini side dishes for us (we didn't even order Korean beef). It was amazing and very generous of them! Good food for even better prices. Love this place - I will definitely be coming back soon.
(5)
Zeke W.

Easily the best Korean BBQ place in Chicago in my opinion. Me and my best friends have been coming here for years and we always get the Bolgogi and the kalbi beef dishes and they always fill us up! Their seafood pancake and fish cake sides are also addictive - the place is a little hidden gem in north Chicago! Smelling like this place is easily the best part about it!
(5)
John Y.

Simply, I believe this to be the all around best Korean restaurant in Chicagoland. Now this isn't saying much because Chicago is notorious for having some of the worst or mediocre Korean food in America. And some US cities like Los Angeles and New York, San Soo Gap San might review at three or four stars, but in Chicago it definitely deserves top ranks in my book.
(5)
Sean R.

Best Korean BBQ in Chicago. Keep coming back for more.
(5)
Britta B.

SO MANY side dishes they had to be stacked on top of each other! Id go back just to eat the side dishes all over again. the variety was like being back in Korea!
(5)
Pa Y.

I always come here for my korean bbq when I'm in chicago hanging out. One of the best, I must say. Love the place but their parking is extremely small so sometimes you might have to park in the neighborhoods nearby. Otherwise, service is alright but the food makes up for it. Be careful when looking at the reciept. They count tip with the total so be careful not to double tip unless you think they did a superb job.
(4)
Carla W.

Had lunch at this restaurant today. I should mention that I'm Chinese and I strong armed immigrant Asian relatives to go there as my guests, even though they would have preferred a traditional Chinese restaurant. I had been there once before. I was prepared for lack of ambience and rude service. No worries as long as the food is good. And during my last visit the food was good. We had two orders of marinated beef (maybe $23 per order) which came with copious amounts of Korean appetizers. Since there were 5 of us, we also ordered 3 additional small bowls of rice and 3 additional bowls of soup. We were told that we would pay extra for those. In spite of lack of ambience and rude service, we enjoyed cooking at our table, the food was excellent and everyone enjoyed it. WERE WE STUNNED WHEN OUR TOTALLY UNITEMIZED BILL CAME TO $85??? We asked for an explanation. We were told the additional charges were the additional rice and soup. Service at 18% was also added in. Near as I could tell, the additional rice and soup came to $19. The relatives were buzzing about how we were being cheated. I was hugely embarrassed, paid up quickly and got us out of there. In years to come, that will be their only memory of our lunch. (Hey, remember when Carla took us out to lunch and we got gypped?) Needless to say, this was totally an unsuccessful experience on many levels. Made me look like a fool and ruined my day. And the saddest thing is- I'll have to find another Korean barbecue. I can never go back there. So be forewarned. I don't know what you'll do different to keep from getting gypped by these people.
(1)
Joceline T.

Came here for the KBBQ on a Saturday night with 6 people. Wasn't too hard getting a table but it was busy. We had calamari, chicken, pork belly and steak. I think. Everything was seasoned very well, lots of flavor! Also, so many sides! I know people are mentioning the smelling of smoke once you leave, I was worried about this a lot before going just because I don't like the smell of smoke but it wasn't too bad and we stayed there a while. After a wash, my coat was good as new.
(3)
David P.

I have been going here for years, but have recently seen the quality drop, bummer. My girl, my son and I were here on Friday night and were disappointed by the quality. We ordered the Kalbi and BBQ spicy pork. The sides were plentiful, but the quality was bad, old tasting... The meat was really chewy and not very well marbled, the quantity was also less than usual, what a disappointment. I would agree with some of the other reviews that talk about the declining quality of service, in addition to the poor quality food. It's a bummer, but we have decided to find a new local Korean BBQ house. Let me know fellow Yelpers!
(2)
Marianne C.

Color me underwhelmed. I have had Korean BBQ before and this place was lame for Saturday lunch... service is non existent... so bad that the lady was talking on her cell phone as she passed out the waters.... well we handed each other glasses of water as she forced them at us. we had 3 main dishes and an order of pot stickers. Some how it cost us $32 a person and no one had any alcohol. Some of the little dishes were good - some were bland and some were meh. I liked the various sea weed, someone else liked the potato salad, the green beans or whatever they were ... not so much. it wasn't busy - there were 2 other tables - but the 3 waitresses just had other things to do - like eat their own lunch or gossip or just hang out at the table directly behind us. Beef was ok enough and we had a friend that enjoyed cooking it for us. I like Korean BBQ - and I will enjoy it some more - just not here
(2)
Chris C.

This place is a joke. I personally really like their food, but their service is pretty much garbage. I went with a group my friends a while back and the old guy never came to our table even when we are calling for him. I see him going to the table next to us so often just because there were older people. Just because we were young does not mean we need to get treated horribly. We pay for the food just like they do. Also, I went again the day after Christmas, no one was in front of the reception table. I understand that there were a ton of people that day, so I waited in the front with my friend for 10 minutes. No one came to help. Then these three older ladies come in and same that dude, that old man, walks over and sits them down. Are you kidding me? I know for sure that they didnt make a reservation since he asked how many of them there were and sat them down right away. This restaurant might be good but that old man is the most horrible employee ever. He seemed as if he was a manager or shift supervisor but, I've never felt so pissed going to a restaurant.
(1)
Neesa D.

Hands down, best Korean bbq place between Chicago kalbi and Chosun, yet to try Woori all you can eat Korean bbq. This place closes late which is very convenient for late work evenings for me. Their marinated meats Are always seasoned well and fresh. Service is not superb but it is okay. If you are not feeling bbq, they Great chop chae aka clear glass noodles stir fry with veggies, yum! And their soups are delicious! You can't go wrong with any selction here.
(4)
Hannah H.

My mom and I came here late one night for their Korean bbq - we had the marinated galbi. They had a lot of banchan dishes that came with, which was nice, including potatoes, ggaduki, black beans, steamed broccoli, bean sprouts, fish cake, pickled radish, potato salad, spicy cucumber, and radish. The galbi was okay in terms of its marination (a little bland), and the meat was kind of fatty. Service was very slow, and there seems to be a lot of people who come here for late-night eating. +fatty galbi +open late
(3)
James P.

The ladies here give excellent service! Been going here for a year and still no complaints. I even had my holiday party here and brought my clients here as well. Great place to bring friends! Ask for TNT for a good time!
(5)
Phil W.

Decided to try it out because I heard from multiple sources that it is supposed to be one of the better Korean BBQ places in Chicago but I must say that I was quite disappointed. Food: I ordered the Kimchi chigae (kimchi stew), a spicy cold noodle and a marinated Kalbi beef ribs. The stew and the cold noodle were average but the beef has a lot of room for improvement. The meat quality was subpar (especially for the price). The only positive thing I have to say about food is that they have an excellent selection of banchan (side dishes). I believe we got 23 different side dishes for two people. However, I don't think it's good enough to compensate for the quality of the entrees and the prices. Decor/atmosphere: It was clean and nicely decorated. However, they have very bad ventilation despite these huge vents that they have. At one point, my eyes were getting watery from all the smoke from the neighboring tables. Needless to say, my clothes were sooo stinky from dining there. Service: In short, the service was horrible. They were completely understaffed even though by the time i dined there (10PM on a Friday night) they had already closed down half of the restaurant. The waitresses/busboys were running around like headless chicken but somehow never got around to help anyone. Be prepared to wait for service if you ever go here. In short: Slow service + smoky environment + so-so food = An extremely unpleasant dining experience One last thing is that, I MAY consider coming back for lunch as I saw their lunch menu and their lunch prices are more reasonable. And usually people don't grill their meat at their table during lunch so hopefully the restaurant would be less smokey.
(1)
Tammy M.

This is a great place to go if you want kbbq in Chicago. They bring out a TON of banchan (sides) and each order comes with a sizeable amount of meat. They will keep bringing out your favorite sides if you ask. Of the meats, we really liked the chicken, the short rib kalbi, and the bulgolgi. (Side note: grill the kimchi. It gives it so much extra depth of flavor.) The price is what I would consider reasonable for a fun night out with alcohol. Six of us ordered about four or five meats and some soju (Korean liquor), and it cost less than 25 per person. I subtracted one star because service is a bit slow here. We had to wait awhile to get our rice and miso soup and when we asked for more stuff. However, this is less of a problem if you come here with a group, take your time, and just enjoy yourselves. If you are in a hurry, this is not the place for you. If you are chatting, eating, and drinking, you really don't notice the wait.
(4)
Yuki Y.

We went last Thursday night around 10:00 and had a so-so experience. We ordered two orders of Kalbi which come with 25 side dishes, soup, and rice. We also had a bottle of Soju, total bill $87. The Kalbi and sides were good, although the potato salad did appear to have been sitting too long unrefrigerated and I decided not to risk it and didn't eat any. The reason for two stars is the service, I should say, lack of service. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, or that I'm a non-speaking Korean in a Korean restaurant, or it was late on a week night, but whatever it was ended up unpleasant. Our waitress didn't offer to help cook the meat, like they do at Woo Chon, or offer seconds on some of the sides or see if we needed refills on beverages, etc. She didn't stop by our table at all after taking our order, we didn't see her again until the bill came.
(2)
Yuanjia Z.

Ohhhhh this place is awesome!!!! First of all, this is the first place that i've seen so many appetizers/small dish that get laid out all over the table. The BBQ meat quality was also very good. You can even BBQ squid or octopus! It's amazing. Very clean and organized. You won't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(5)
Nish R.

Cold, snowy Sunday a bit hung-over and we were craving Korean BBQ after a night of alcoholic beverages. So we walk in and it is stinky like all the Korean BBQ places. We all send our jackets back to the car so they don't stink (Tip). There were 7 of us and we didn't have a reservation but they sat us promptly. The lady serving us was serving us water and we asked for tea because it was snowing and cold. She promptly came back with jar of Tea and poured all of us hot tea. They give you a crazy lot of banchan dishes. I had my fair share of Kimchi, potato salad, seaweed etc. etc. The Miso soup had a bit of kick to it and hit the spot on a cold snowy day. Then the food start coming. My Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob was pretty good. Veggies were fresh but I could've used a little bit more sauce. I made do with the sauces provided with Banchan and hot sauce. My friends did BBQ with - Bul Ko Ki and Dai Ji Kal Bi and they were happy cooking the meat on the grill on the table and gorging themselves. They basically left us on our own after brining us our food. But no biggy we were perfectly capable of cooking our meat and refilling glasses with Tea. Overall, ok place and food's pretty authentic. I'd go there again. But given that I don't live around here not going be a regular.
(3)
Nathan L.

It's a struggle sometimes communicating with the waitresses if you're not Korean...and unfortunately I'm Chinese. On the bright side though the BBQ was absolutely delicious. I'm slightly bugged at the prices however. An extra bowl of rice is like $2.50 and the sauces that come with the BBQ aren't the best in the world. Highly recommend the short ribs!
(4)
Tianji L.

Waitress never came and you have to do almost everything youself. But meat is ok to me.
(3)
Jeana C.

Whenever there's korean bbq at a restaurant, prepare your whole entire body to smell like it. This place opens late (until 5am) so it's pretty nice for people who work late or are looking for a late night spot. Nothing amazing... but definitely try their bbq where you have to grill your own meat at your table.
(3)
Wayne H.

San Soo Gab San is an okay spot to grab some late night Korean food. It's not the greatest in the city, but it's good and open until 3am. The best thing about this place is the amount of banchan you get. You get so many! The service isn't the greatest, but that could be said about most Korean places. It's definitely worth it if you are having a late night Korean craving, but there are better Korean food options during normal dining hours.
(3)
KM V.

If you're looking for a very midnight dinner, I would recommend this place. They have plenty of side dishes, but the service is bad. The servers doesn't want you to adjust the fire for the grill, and they wouldn't refill your water not unless you tell them. There are 12 different side dishes and most of them are not what I was expecting.
(3)
sam k.

People don't do enough to describe what an amazing place this truly is. Even 2PM and many other Kpop bands have eaten here and enjoyed the stay! The food is unbelievably amazing and the quantity is abundant to the point where you get full from eating half of the food they bring out to you. Of course with great food, come with great expectations and frankly the expectations are just too high. The food is no doubt probably one of the best quality korean bbq in Chicago, but I am a little aggravated by the reviews that give this place a once star and as a regular to the restaurant, let me begin my rant. 1.) People come to restaurants and pay to eat food. They don't come to watch and evaluate the service. Don't mind the service if the food is great (in my opinion) But the service isn't even that bad. People just expect to be put on pedestals by these waitresses. I mean C'mon...you're not that special. 2.) People are rude to the waitresses and busboys. People talk about getting awful service when they are awful human beings themselves...Honestly I've seen people leave behind 5 percent tips after being tended to every one of their needs. I've seen people yell at waitresses and sometimes make racist remarks and wonder why they get bad service. Unbelievable. 3.) These workers work from morning to morning. Literally. No one gets the concept of putting yourself in other people's shoes before judging. These waitresses come from Korea to the U.S in hope of a dream for a better education for their children. They work from morning to morning to earn the money they can gather for their family. So what if you feel like you're not being served right. Life is hard and service should be the least of your worries. 4.) People expect these servers to do everything. Literally Everything. This restaurant gets unbelievably busy with nearly 200 people at one time with about 6 waitresses and 2 busboys. Water always gets around when needed, but if you want more food or the bill, you have to get the attention of one of the waitresses. It's jam packed, the servers are unbelievably stressed, tired, and busy. Give them a break, enjoy the food, and be patient. I swear you will be much happier. 5.) People are just plain out ignorant. I mentioned that these waitresses and workers are from Korea and the culture is completely different. English is their second language. Sorry if they talk Korean in front of you but honestly, you'd have to be a real jerk to deny them from comfortably talking in their own native language. What you may think is rude here is the norm in Korea. You want authentic, this is authentic as it gets. All in all, the food is amazing and the quantity is abundant. The service is mediocre, but there's a reason for everything. Most people are rude when it comes to manners. Is it too much to be polite and ask for something? Of course the servers are not perfect in a way that they tend to every one of your dying needs, but they get the job done. Understanding and enjoying the food is the key to success in eating at restaurants. That's all I have to say for this Korean BBQ.
(5)
Jin P.

Decent food, i like that they are open late, please fire everyone working the tables though. The server lady cleaned our table with a goddamn napkin until I asked her to clean it with wet cloth. Customer service here... is the worst.
(2)
Shan B.

Could not understand what the waiter is talking about, what's more, the boss cheat us on the price of sets and it costs us almost 300 for 7 people
(1)
Faith H.

This is the BEST place to go!....if you want to eat rubber bands. I used to love this place but it has gone down the drain. The side dishes were awful and the bbq....I don't even think it's qualified to be called bbq. As a Korean person, I feel I can say with confidence that the food they serve should not even be considered Korean food. Spending money here is such a waste of money. The meat should not be that rough and chewy and the seasoning should not be that bland. The service is awful too. The meat should come with soup and rice and they didn't even give us the soup until we told them. They also didn't change the bbq rack for us to make the meat. PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE do not go here if you value your hard earned money. Go to Cho Sun Ok or Gogi.
(1)
Anna L.

SSGS reminds me of an opium den - dimly lit, dark wood furnishings, plumes of smoke rising into the air, and KBBQ fragrance permeating throughout. Just don't wear your best clothes there, rather...I'd recommend you to dig out your dirty laundry from the basket. Interior is quite cozy. The best way to describe the booth seating is if you've been to a church, they look like those wooden pews with a huge table and a grill top in front of you. As for the banchan....overkill in a good way with tons of variety. So much that the plastic dishes have been singed by the grill since it circles around the entire tabletop. We ordered 2 types of meat - marinated short ribs and pork which was plenty for our table of 4 + baby. They still use actual charcoal which gives it that nice charred flavor as opposed to the conventional electric tabletop grills. I'd skip on the soups - they weren't outstanding to me, nothing that I would absolutely crave for. Otherwise, great family-type meal for around $60. I'd suggest you not to bring your lovely date here when she's just gotten her hair done. She'll come out smelling like Eau de KBBQ.
(4)
Monica E.

I don't get why you are forced to get two entrees but we did. We decided to go with pork belly and the rib eye beef. It was great. Meat was definitely fresh and full of flavor! My sister and I enjoyed the mass amount of sides that it comes with and really was excited to try different things especially the clear noodles. So cool! I warn all - do not expect great service from this place. Waitresses are rude and don't really check on you and from what I see everyone agrees but the food gets me to come back.
(4)
Lianxiang Z.

I have been here more than 5 times finally it is time for me to write a review of this place...lol, kinda late~ overall food is definitely good, either bbq or regular dishes. they gave u planety start dishes, sorry idk what is the name for those and also keep bring more to u if they see it is empty, for a big beer drinker, dats awesome! Service wise, if you are here on the weekend dinner time, please prepare that they wont be able to serve u as great as weekday, just be patient... this place is my first choice everytime when I want some K BBQ, hopefully u guys enjoy it as well!
(5)
Daniela V.

This is one of my fave spots for Korean BBQ. The place is not modern so to speak but it is authentic. Charcoal will grill your meat to perfection. Beer is tasty. Drop in a shot glass of Soju for tge perfect beverage.
(5)
Yvonne B.

San Soo Gab San was a roller coaster of an experience. It started with my reviewing Yelp reviews which resulted in my anticipation of parking problems. When I snagged free street parking on Foster a block south of the restaurant I gloated inwardly at my savvy only to discover that San Soo Gab San was equipped with a parking lot with available spaces. I shamefully returned to my car and moved it to the lot. Next, I knew from Yelp to expect absent servers who border on rude. You can only imagine my surprise when I was quickly seated in a sizable booth near the door (I appreciated the additional ventilation for the smoke) that was equipped with a red button for calling a server to our table. The button worked really well until San Soo Gab San became busy around 8:00 PM that Friday. The servers really weren't friendly and barely did their job. They didn't bring us change when we paid the bill - not even when we asked for it. In fact, we were told to leave after we paid the bill when they noticed we lingered a few minutes to chat and finish our drinks. We ordered two appetizers and three dishes: edamame, pot-sticker like things, pork, beef, and something with noodles topped with an egg. We loved the pot-sticker like appetizer. I also liked the beef. I could have easily passed on all of the dozens of small appetizer plates that they brought to our table. They were skimpy and forgettable. Seriously - one just had three small pieces of lettuce dressed in a vinegar-like red sauce. M thought that the noodles topped with the egg dish was better at Da Rae Jung. I normally dislike crowded places, but I liked the diversity of people who dined at San Soo Gab San. There were all ages and races of people each with good representation (no tokens). That was probably the best part of San Soo Gab San seconded by them having a parking lot. In the end, I did not appreciate the ups and downs of the evening. I could easily eat at many other restaurants - even Korean Barbecue restaurants - and have a more enjoyable meal. I got the distinct impression that San Soo Gab San is riding a long wave of hype of their outstanding Korean Barbecue and hoping that people don't notice that the crest has fallen or the strong under current of horrible customer service.
(1)
Susan C.

I went here many times for Korean BBQ and it's pretty good even though it's not all you can eat and the prices are not that cheap. But nonetheless I like their little side dishes that have and you can keep ordering more if you want more. I don't mind cooking the stuff since I don't BBQ at home myself so it's a treat for myself to do it. I would go back here when I have a chance to. The service and waitstaff is pretty decent for a Korean place.
(4)
Davin L.

No longer 24 hours? BOOOO... Used to love coming here after a long night of boozing and carousing on the northside. Glad to see the quality's pretty much stayed the same. And they always give more odeng panchan when I ask. A shame they haven't upgraded the charcoal hoods so you don't smell like meat when you leave, but that's the contract you sign when you eat Korean BBQ.
(4)
Lin C.

Review is based off of a table of 3 adults and 1 child( age 9). Date of visit: Sunday 10/5/2014 Time of visit: 5:00 PM Number of tables/diners when seated: 4 tables On staff: 6 ladies, wearing red shirts and 2 charcoal runners Review is based on: 1. Ambiance/ Cleanliness: The overall appearance of the establishment reminds me of an old Asian grandma's kitchen, with the delicious smell of grilled meats, plumes of charcoal smoke filling the room, dim lighting, and a film of grease on every possible counter top. It is the nicest way I can describe a hole in the wall vibe. Zero stars out of 1 for ambiance/ cleanliness. 2. Service: Our table of 4 was seated immediately in the booth, next to the bathroom. The remaining 2 booths in front of the entrance was empty. We wanted to sit away from the bathroom and was told this was how they seat guests from inside of the building out to accommodate the dinner rush.... It was 5 PM, on a Sunday night, with only 4 other tables with people in the entire restaurant. Menus, place setting, ice water was brought out immediately. Our table of 4 already knew what we wanted, and did the normal thing by folding our menus and waited for the staff to walk over. All 6 waitstaff stood around having a conversation with each other. Our table of 4 attempted to make eye contact to no avail. Our 9 year old saw that there was a red button to the side of the booth and pushed it. The button was a bell that signaled the waitstaff to come over. She took our 4 orders of Wang Kal Bi at $23.95 a plate. Everything was brought out all at once. We received the small plates, fermented bean paste condiment, rice, and 3 bowls of soup, and 3 bowls of rice. We had to ask for a 4th bowl of rice. Not sure why soup was brought out before the meats were, but regardless we never did get that 4th bowl of soup. We also had to ask for 2 forks, a pair of scissors to cut the meat because they do not have knives, and 4 of the sesame oil with salt and pepper dipping sauce. We only got 2 sesame oil dipping sauce because the waitstaff said it's enough to share. Zero stars out of 2 for quality of service. 3. Food: The amount of Wang Kal Bi at $23.95 a plate, you would expect to be at least the size of 16 oz steak per serviing. Unfortunately, the quantity is roughly 8 oz to 10 oz of meat and 2 giant pieces of bone. I'm not entirely sure on how one would judge the quality of meat being marinated. However, I have marinated beef at home for 4 to 6 hours and it comes out delicious and still red. The marinated meat had a dull gray color and flavor was lackluster. Zero stars out of 1 for quality of Wang Kal Bi. 4. The 20% gratuity charge on top of the bill. I read on a previous review that the gratuity charge was 18% . The charge our bill was clearly 20% on our 4 orders of Wang Kal Bi, for FOUR PEOPLE. Not entirely sure what the sales tax was for food, but we were charged $124.10 in total. Zero stars out of 1 for price paid for the experience. If it was possible to leave 0 stars, I would have not left any starts. My 1 star is out of the generosity of Yelp. On that note, it is illegal to charge gratuity. Google it. That $23.95 plate just had an additional 18-20% up-charge tacked on. "Automatic gratuities" added onto the restaurant bills of large parties will be treated as wages and not tips starting January 1, 2014, as a suspended IRS ruling finally takes effect. Many restaurants add these charges to groups of 5 or 6 or 8 or more to prevent their servers from being undertipped when handling large parties. taxfoundation.org/blog/iâ€¦
(1)
Raj D.

Everything here was amazing! Make sure you BBQ yourself to enjoy the experience!! Soju went down quite smooth too!!!
(5)
Sunny K.

It is often believed that if you go to a Korean restaurant and you happen to be a native speaker of the language, the restaurant might feel obliged to be a little more attentive, even if the restaurant is super busy. However, the wait staff couldn't give less a shit as to whether 1) my three non-Korean friends and I had all our side dishes 2) our grill was properly oiled (ours wasn't. Consequently, all the meats kept sticking to the grill / burning, resulting in a huge waste) 3) we wanted more meat or water or rice. At one point one of my friends needed a fork and I asked two different ladies if I could please just get a fork, and after ten minutes of waiting around for SOMEONE to bring me utensils I finally got up, walked to the kitchen area, and picked up a fork myself and brought it back to the table. They'd just forgotten about us! A whole table of guests! Same with side dish refills. Let me assure you, from a lifetime of growing up in a Korean family and visiting countless galbi / samgyupsal restaurants: THIS IS NOT HOW ALL KOREAN RESTAURANTS WORK. San Soo Gab San is ridiculous. Why do I need to beg more than three waitresses to please bring me another bowl of rice? Paying money to be treated poorly is just silly. I recommend you go elsewhere, but then again, Cho Sun Ok isn't much better.
(2)
James S.

Tried korean bbq for the first time. Doubt I'll waste my money here again. The group I was with decided to come here. Seems like they enjoy korean bbq. The place is way overpriced. As others have mentioned, it is mostly frozen meats and bad cuts. For the amount we were paying, I was expecting an amount of meat comparable to a steakhouse. Nope. More like 1/3 of the meat. Three of our meat dishes was placed on the same plate making me wonder about the difference in taste they're supposed to have. The Ribeye steak is small and frozen. The service was poor. Those korean ladies just rushed all the dishes at once and left promptly. Took us a while to hunt them down for a change of grill and more water (which they promptly left the whole pitcher on the table and didn't bother pouring.) Well, hey at least the meat tasted good, the severs came back 3 times for our checks with a 20% tip added, and the smoke left us smokey and with headache. All in all, would not recommend. I got full in water.
(2)
Maria V.

Extremely disappointed with the poor customer service. We complained about something and they didn't even bother to at least acknowledge the complaint. The actual taste was ok but the price for the portion is not worth it. Not to mention the fact that you end up smelling like smoke and you are on top of each other due to the lack of space. We had a large group and the bill only had two amounts the tax and the total. When we asked to clarify the charges just to make sure they looked at us as if we were going to leave with out paying. They almost stood next to us until the bill was paid. I would not recommend this place at all.
(1)
Victoria B.

Best Korean BBQ joint in the Chicago!! Open late night after the clubs and bars close! Food is fantastic!!
(4)
Ravi S.

Excellent tofu stew and short ribs. Stays open very late for a great late night food option in Chicago.
(4)
Daniel L.

A mutual friend recommended this Korean BBQ restaurant so our group of four came looking for a feast. The large interior included a tatami style dining area and was rustic, woody, smoky, and good for groups. We were offered more than 25 variations of banchan, and the ones I liked were the Minced Seaweed, Fishcake, Dried Tofu, Radishes, and Sweet Beans. It was a pleasant surprise to see the Clear-Colored Seaweed, but the rest were not fresh or striking like the ones experienced at other Korean establishments. We wanted to order their Combination Dinner that costs between $24-28 per person. However, we were told that we did not have 5 people to consume the large amount of food, and without wanting to augment the portions the owner had the audacity to offer to over-charge us for the missing person. It was quite an unusual policy and way of doing business. Instead, we ordered the meats separately. The Marinated Galbi ($21.95) turned out the best of the three meat dishes. The meat came in thick cuts, nicely marbled, perfectly seasoned, and bursts with flavor in each bite. On the other hand, the quality of the Marinated Bulgulgi ($18.95) and Sam Gyeop Sal ($17.95) were terrible. The Pork Bacon especially, was cut too thin and came with bones that ranged from chewy and rock hard from one bite to another. The Seafood Pancake ($12.95) was good. It came with a good amount of squid, octopus, oysters, mussels, shrimps, and green onion. The pancake was thick and held together really well. On the down side, it could have more oysters, and the edges could be cooked longer to give crispy textures to complement the fluffy pancake. I recommend it. Finally, the Galbi Tang ($10.95) came with a decent amount of short ribs, eggs, green onions, and radishes. I prefer the use of turnip instead of radishes, but was supported by a decent broth that could have come with a sweet surge at the end. For what we paid, the quality of the BBQ items was too similar to many of the All You Can Eat K-restaurants. Service was inattentive and our server had an attitude after I asked about the missing Dduck Bo Ssam and Sesame Leaves. It turns out that they did not have either items and instead required us to wrap the meat with plain lettuce. The bright spot was the hard working male server who constantly came to refill our water and change the grill for us. From service to food, there were simply too many disappointing performances for me to want to return. I do not recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Nadim S.

San sooo good. #107. Stopped in here because I smelled BBQ. Very unique set up and style. Excellent food.
(5)
Connie L.

If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. The service wasn't bad--the ahjummas kept checking on our table and refilling our waters. They also gave us a lot of different banchan. However, the chadolbaegi was sooo chewy and the tofu in the soondubu was cold. Overall, I'd probably go elsewhere since there are so many other KBBQ places in the area.
(3)
Eugene K.

Not bad but not great authentic Korean food. The price is a little high, the side dishes are small but the meats are pretty good. Don't bother with parking in that small lot in front if you have a nice car.
(3)
Holly L.

Been coming here for years as my go-to place for marinated kalbi since I always thought it was the best marinated kalbi for the cost. Yeah yeah, it's not the cleanest, and the service can be awful, but I love that they use plenty of real charcoal and give you up to like 13 different banchans (side dishes) to try, so it is really a good place to go to with your friends that may have never tried Korean food before. Or it was. I had some inconsistent experiences here before but never as bad as the last time. All the side dishes tasted old, and the worst of all, the meat was tough and chewy. I know this may not sound like a big deal, but that's a deal breaker. Kalbi is supposed to melt in my mouth, with all meat glory there is. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME SANSOO, I have always been on your side despite of what my friends have said about you. I would've given a two star for my last dining experience but for good time's sake I'm giving an extra star. All the known kalbi places around the city have their own expertise--Chicago Kalbi is definitely one of the nicer/ cleaner kalbi places in the city, but it has Japanese influences, and you do get less meat/ food than Sansoo would give you. Boo Il has amazing meat quality (like holy marbling) but it's market price so it can be more expensive, the atmosphere can be even a little bit more unwelcoming to take first timers, and it's more known for non marinated kalbi. But after this last time, I will be seeking out a new place to get my marinated kalbi fix... I'm not saying I'm never going back, but I'm definitely not going back any time soon. Also, if you're not going to get there kalbi or some appetizers, I don't suggest getting their other cooked foods like the meals and soups (unless it's platter stuff). You can go to many other Korean food places around and they'll have better quality meals/ soups there. Their specialty is really the marinated kalbi, but actually, I'm not even sure abut that anymore.
(3)
E J.

Please do yourself a favor and choose somewhere else. I am not coming back to this place never again because of the following reasons after a few times of visits : 1. Poor service. -- ALWAYS in hurry; the waitresses would throw dishes at you. NEVER check if the grilling pan needs to be changed or not. You'll have to ring the bell at least twice to get their attention if you need something. 2. Food is not fresh at all. The only time when my friends and I or whoever I was with got fresh food was probably 3 years ago. Every time I gave another chance on this restaurant, I was always disappointed. Go to Gogi or Woo Chon. They have better quality of food. 3. Overpriced. -- wait, how much are those two pieces of meat again? 4. Cleanliness. -- I am questioning about sanitation of this restaurant. Dirty floor, dirty table top, messy Banchan (side dishes), etc. I did not even bother going to the bathroom. If your first language is Korean like mine, you would clearly hear the waitresses complaining to each other in Korean. Speaking bad words in Korean doesn't mean no one understands. I felt so embarrassed taking my friend to this place who had never tried Korean food before tonight. I had to explain to him not all Korean dishes or restaurants are like this place... The only thing they were very prompt about was getting us a check.
(1)
Kino S.

DO NOT GO THERE! I'm Korean and I'm so embarrased that this place exist. The service is terrible and the food is not fresh. I used to go there for many years. I had a few great K bbq here but never consistant. Over the years the quality has definitely gone down and it's just unpleasant to be there. The waitresses throw dishes at you becase they are always in hurry. The presentation is messy. They think giving countless side dishes make up for all the bad things going on there. But I much rather have less but good and tasty side dishes than many dried up bad side dishes. You will be much better off at Gogi on California ave or Tozi in Bucktown. Solga is okay. I like Cho Jung in Glenview. Bad decor but real good authentic K food and good service. Cho Sun Ok is great and food is consistant but always packed and don't expect service here either. Unfortunatlly all the great K restaurants are in Los Angeles...... :(
(1)
Ronald K.

There was a lady, probably the owner, sitting at the corner of restaurant and shouting to everybody! She went off like a crazy lunatic to a Mexican cook; I could not understand a word she was saying. Is this place for real?? The menu selections are nothing to special, the meat selections are outweight by the vegetables and the god awful "KimChee". The waitress serve a half full glass of somekind of tea, and that was it, we were to get our own drink and no more napkins. The barbecue only contains of 3 type of beef, that looked more like crappy. There was no way for us to control the heat on our burner. I could go on and on about my bad experience in this dump and I will end it here. There are so many better Korean restaurants at the same neighborhood; go try those :)
(2)
Emma Z.

NOTE: Ban-chan (the little sample dishes) are given by what you order. I learned this the hard way. If you DO NOT order any time of grilled meat dish you will get a set of Ban-chan in white dishes and only about 10 of them. If you order any meat, you will get about 20 Ban-chan in luxurious brown dishes. As a fish eater, we spent about 60 dollars in seafood, but only got about 10 dishes...while we noticed that other people had carts taken to their table because there was so many ban-chan. We later ask and they said, most people already know this, especially if you are korean...we said it was our first time and didn't know...they said next time then. We ordered the Eel, pachan, soon du bu, crab stew soup, mackel. On the other hand they were nice enough to pack 2 more ban-chan in our leftovers. As a big authentic Korean food connoisseur, this place is a 6 out of 10.
(2)
Kristy F.

Wow. Just...wow. I was very surprised and excited by the numerous small plates they give out for free here (they will also refill your favorites for free) The service was laughable because it was blatantly uncaring and slow. l ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob and devoured the entire bowl...along with half of the appetizer plates. Food here honestly isn't all that delicious but it is just so easy to sit, talk and continue to shovel food into your mouth here. My friends ordered rib eye and we spent an hour cooking, eating beyond the point of fullness. The meat was very tasty and you can't go wrong with white rice and pickled veggies... Come with an appetite...or do like I did and don't. You will still eat too much and enjoy it. I'd like to return again =)
(4)
Nguyen d.

Good food but horrible service... They did not bring out our requested side dishes and took 15 mins to give us our bill. Never once did they smile at us. Poor service = not a happy customer
(1)
Julianne Z.

There is very little korean food where I go to school and a friend had a car, so we were finally able to trek all the way here. I had heard lots of great things about the food, and it was a bit pricey, but still delicious! They first, have an AMAZING amount of small dishes and we also ordered a seafood pancake to start. We ordered Hae Moul Pajun (seafood pancake) and we got 2 orders wan kal bi (marinated beef short ribs) and dai ji kal bi (marinated pork rib). I will say that the service is a bit slow and they are slow to change the grill and get us water. Also, the fans for some of the tables are really bad so I left smelling like smoke. The food is great though and I would def go again. it is worth smelling like bbq for a few days (although nothing wrong with that, right?)
(4)
Su Y.

Don't get the Gam Ja Tang, it was horrible, the meat was dry and it tasted gamey. Much better at the Niles Hmart food court. I would stick to the bbq menu.
(2)
Nancy C.

What? No longer 24 hours?! But that's what this place was known for! What a shame. A ton of banchan here! Yay for variety. The Kalbi is really good. Bulgogi is also good, but I don't like ordering bulgogi for korean bbq in general because it gets super stuck to the grill if you're a little less attentive. Price is meh. Not the largest portion sizes in terms of meat, but again, you can fill up on banchan if being full is your goal. Service is slow and poor, and that has been fairly consistent through the years I've been patronizing this place and per other reviews, so no surprise.
(3)
Wanying W.

Really nice food! The food is five star absolutely, but the four star is for the unreasonable waiting for hosting...no number card if you don't go talk to the right person and ask for one
(4)
Fred H.

This place is awesome. Original Korean flavor and decent amount. I did see a lot of Korean people in the restaurant. Will go again.
(4)
Paul N.

Food was great, we ordered Sam kyup and kimchi bokum, joomullul, and bulgogi. We went on a Saturday night so expect a little wait.
(4)
Heather L.

I guess a restaurant can stay in business no matter how bad the food is, as long as it caters to enough drunk people. This is probably the worst Korean BBQ we had by a landslide. The service aside (which has been hammered home by previous posters as horrendous), the restaurant still barely deserves one star. Expensive, frozen meat thrown on a plate is now a cuisine? Yes, you can find better cuts of meat at a run-down carniceria. Yes, the marinade is just salt and soy sauce. Yes, the banchans are so so mediocre. No, don't "try this place" if you are even half sober.
(1)
Karla U.

I visited San Soo Gab San for the first time. We were sat immediately (group of 3) as well as other guests that came arriving afterwards. One group that was sat next to our table (and others) got their order taken first. I tried to get a servers attention but they seemed not to care. There were guests in the restaurant but it was not a busy evening. There were at least 4 servers and 3 bus boys. After 20 minutes sitting down I was able to get someones attention who happened to be the manager. After explaining to her that we had been sitting down and no one had approached she didn't apologize at least, because we didn't get acknowledged and was more upset of the fact that I told her that we need to put in our order since others had and even got their food. What really bothered me is the manager kept yelling constantly across the restaurant to the bus boys (in Spanish, yes she's Korean) and was VERY RUDE to them. I find it DISRESPECTFUL because they were very attentive more than the servers busing tables, serving waters, bringing charcoal, changing the grills on the BBQ constantly, etc. It made me more upset because the manager does not set a good example for the restaurant. I was very offended by this, and thought the reason we were treated the way we did this particular evening was because we are not Korean :( . The servers were not attentive and were always running to a table after guests left to pick up the checkbook to get the TIPS .... DEFINITELY NOT COMING BACK.
(1)
Kenneth Y.

I went there with my family on a holiday and I was happy that it was open but I can't say much about the food. We ordered a variety of Korean dishes like Sam Gyup Sal, Galbi, Soon Doo Boo Ji Gae , & Gam Ja Tang. As we all took our first bites we all slowly glanced at each other with a big dissapointment on our faces. The jigaes were very salty and lacked a lot of flavor. My family could hardly finish all the food we ordered & the only thing we were able to finish was the Sam Gyup Sal. Everytime we tried to get their attention they were too busy talking to one another instead of taking care of their tables. We got the check at the end of our meal & what was even more dissapointing was the 20% gratuity that they added on the bill. My Family should decide how much tip we want to leave !!! I definitely don't recommend this place to anyone there is no passion in the Korean food here. The food, the service, I don't even want to give this place one star. We are never coming back here again. Go to Minaree on bryn mawr or Gogi on california; now thats real Korean food!
(1)
Dave O.

This is my go-to Korean restaurant in Chicago! They're reasonably priced, consistently delicious, and not too far from my home. I've actually been going here with family and friends for years.....The only negative is that some of the wait staff can be rude sometimes, and challenging to understand.....But, I highly recommend the Yuk Gae Jang, Hae Muhl Pah Jun, Chap Chae & Bul Go Gi. Also - their side dishes are always changing, and so well made. Yum Yum Yum!
(4)
Frank T.

Had night after Christmas dinner here. The selection of kimchi etc was amazing! Seaweeds I've never had before that were wonderful. A great introduction to at least 20 different items. The marinated barbeque beef was the star of the evening. THe best supporting dish was the chicken breast. We also ordered the pork belly that I would pass up the next time and just have a second order of the BBQ beef. The service was a little wanting. Had to wait to order drinks and then wait for the bill. But it was a good new experience.
(3)
Julie Y.

The most important lesson you can learn after a trip to Chicago/Evanston area: keep expectations low (especially if you're a native Angeleno who's eaten all the finest KBBQ since the moment you could use a chopstick). Keep them low dearest, and you'll be one happy Korean. Unfortunately. it took me two trips to learn this important lesson. My visit to San Soo Gab San was on my second trip. Things they do right, and by right, I mean conventional or traditional: nothing. Now I know what you're thinking. My god Julie, you're really critical and if I didn't know any better, you're being intentionally difficult. No. I'm being honest. With that being said, San Soo Gab San seems to run things in an unconventional manner, but these are things it does well, and these are the reasons why I think San Soo Gab San is so popular. I put together a nifty list of how-tos so that your experience may be better than mine, especially if you're from LA as well. -- 10 Things You Need to Know to Enjoy KBBQ Here (aka. 10 Expectations You Need to Dispel Before You Actually Get To Enjoy Your Dining Experience): 1. You won't be seated unless the whole group is there, ready to be seated. Doesn't matter what order the groups come in as well. And remember, groups of greater than or equal to 4 are preferred because this joint caters to larger parties. 2. Do not order 3 servings of Kalbi because 3 people cannot eat 3 servings. San Soo Gab San is very generous with their meat servings. Ah and if you ask for a pair of scissors to cut the meat with, don't get weird-ed out by the heavy duty fabric cutting scissors you're handed. 3. Do not expect refreshing pa mu chim or green scallion salad to be served with the meal. In fact, there will be no semblance of a salad unless you ask for it. And even if you do, it'll taste like raw unseasoned scallions. Yuck. 4. Don't expect your Korean speaking abilities or your father's smooth-talking to the Korean ahjumma staff as "unnies" to get you your ___ any faster. You won't be getting that water, extra side dish, beer or bill any time soon. 5. Disregard all you would expect from a traditional Korean-styled pancake or pajeon when you order one from here. It will not be extra-crisp on the outside, or chewy on the inside. In fact, your pajeon will be doughy from too much batter and the ingredients will come falling apart as you're eating because they weren't coated evenly before cooking. With that being said, it was delicious. +1 star. 6. Yes you'll get over 20+ side dishes or banchan. However, quality always trumps quantity. And none of them tasted good or were seasoned properly. The side dish that scared me the most was the Korean pickled daikon. There was no resounding crunch when I took a bite out of it. Instead, my teeth SANK into the questionable vegetable. Oh God. 7. Dispel your original perception of Kalbi as marinated beef because Kalbi here is not sweet. It's so bizarre really... the beef was juicy and tender which is enhanced by the smokiness of wood charcoal, but there was just no real flavor imparted onto the meat by the marinade. With that being said, it was strangely addicting. +1 8. They didn't card us here for the beers... uh... (Disclaimer: all of us drinking were of age so please don't attempt to arrest me if you're a cop!) 9. The lot is tiny/ you won't find parking. Better off searching the street. 10. Their "miso" jigae is EXTREMELY watered down. Do not consume unless you poor child have yet to taste a really hearty and proper Korean jigae. -- I think I've found reason to pity my poor brother who's here for another 3 years for school. Ain't no place like home eh? :P
(3)
Lauren D.

GIMME BAP-BAP BIBIMBAP....However the hell it is pronounced.... This hole in the wall Korean B-B-Q dive was hit or miss for me. The service and food receives three stars. I really wanted to give this joint two stars, but the service bumped it up to three stars. The price-point was fair and reasonable. I ordered the Saeng A-Gu Tang fresh monk fish & vegetables stew which I have tried at other Korean restaurants, and noticed immediately that the fish did not taste very fresh (maybe it was left over from the day before -- I don't know -- but it certainly had a funky taste). Since I wasn't crazy about this dish I ordered something else to try. I ordered the Bibimbap. In Korean, "bibim" means "mixed" and "bap" means rice. All of the ingredients except the meat (which is optional) are prepared in advance, so you can add them at room temperature to the top of hot steamed rice. I added beef and a sunny-side up egg to the top. The Bibimbap is usually served with a spicy sauce made from gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) which you can add to your liking - allowing you to control how much heat you want on your dish. Then, "Bibim" it all until it is completely mixed together. The trick then is to see how much you can fit in your mouth all at once. This dish was flavorful and enjoyable. It was worthy of four stars, and I was so happy that I ordered the Bibimbap. The "miss" was the Saeng A-Gu Tang, but the "hit" was the "Bibimbap." All the little side dishes (small plates) that they brought to the table were not explained, so I had no idea WTF half this shit was! For all I know, we could have been eating fish guts or worse. I would recommend that the Server take a few minutes to explain what is what in these tiny plates. I know I would have appreciated knowing, especially since it was my first time at this Korean "Dive." Thrillist needs to revise their list and delete this joint from their "best of" Korean restaurant. There are so many other Korean restaurants in Chicago that are 100 times better, and trust me, this is not one of them! But, if you are high as a kite, drunk as a skunk and it is 1 or 2 am, hit up this joint. It will sate your taste buds! My friend, who has been here several times already, told me what some of these items were. She tried being helpful, but didn't know what every single dish contained. Some of the things tasted okay while other things did not hit my palate positively. I guess Korean food is an acquired taste. It is definitely not Thai food and it is definitely not Chinese food. What is Korean food any way? Is it a mish-mash of items? I guess it is like a fat kid sitting down and eating a plate of chocolate chip cookies, mixed with a huge bag of chips and a few gallons of ice cream. Does this make sense? Yeah, well, whatever! My point exactly. My friend lives in Lincoln Square and is a die-hard vegetarian. She suggested meeting here for lunch. I can honestly say that I will not be returning to the San Soo Gab San restaurant. Maybe this restaurant will work for you if you are high on a substance or drunk out of your mind, and it is midnight or 1 am on a Friday or Saturday, and you are seeking out a place to eat because you suddenly have "the munchies." You know, like when you smoke too much pot and you will eat anything in site even it isn't something you would normally eat if you were completely sober. Needless to say, the food at this joint didn't cut it for me. Would I come back again? No. Was the price-point good/reasonable? Yes. Was service good or decent? No. Did it appear to be clean? No.
(3)
Asma M.

Hadn't been here in years. I prepped myself for the no frills expectation (I've gotten bougie in my old age). Ordered the Hae Moul Pajun (seafood pancake) and it was really good, the sauce really steps it up. Then got the Bul Ko Ki (marinated beef) and it was decent, could use more flavor, and it isn't the best cut of meat for the price, but I still ate the sh*t out of it. Then thought we'd be adventurous and try the Spicy Marinated Squid...mistake! Should have stuck with the usual Wal Kal Bi (shirt ribs) or Joo Mul Luk (ribeye). Bonus is that you get tons of banchan but I think you get the same amount for two as you do for four (not good when you dont like sharing limited kimchi). As for service, it is slow and inattentive - but this was to be expected. Waited about ten minutes to be seated. Then were sat in the shoeless section (dont know how else to describe it). I stupidly dropped a chopstick and resorted to eating with one and a spoon (not effective) until I finally was able to track down a waitress. Took forever to get the bill. Blah blah...you get the idea. Were there for over two hours -- which is too long for two hungry ass fools. With tax and tip it was $70. I probably over tipped since there was MINIMAL service and from what I've heard 20% is too much in korean bbq joints, but hey it's the holiday season right? All in all, it met my expectations, I will never have the squid again, and I will go back with 4+ people.
(3)
Nichawoot Y.

Never go back to this place , service is rude , slow and awful. good luck :(
(1)
Mehran F.

A few years ago I gave this place high ratings partly because it reminded of some cheap food restaurants in Seoul. I have been going to San Soo Gab San regularly. Today will be my last time. Service is getting worse. Actually I never found the service good but also that was part of the charm to me. Today was not charming. Meat quality getting worse and worse. Prices were cheap ...today i felt overpriced (there was a price increase) ...for their new prices, i'd rather pay a bit more and go to Chicago Kalbi. The side dishes and the kim chee in particular were probably sitting in an open area for a long time... Felt a bit grossed out...really a shame. Maybe because i recently was in Korea again and had some great local food at mom and pop type of restaurants...but i doubt i had set my expectations high because of that.
(1)
Tee T.

Very bad service and RUDE waitress!!!! I was there with a party of 3 and they charged for service 18% after tax...how come??? Charge for service but not service anything!!!! she stand in front of us and count the tips . she said we cant leave because we not give her enough tips . also the food is NOT CHEAP . NEVER COME TO GO THIS KOREAN BBQ . Its Korean BBQ but in there I never see Korean people eat there !
(1)
Dustin T.

Not only is it fun to say "let's get some saaaan sooooo gaaab saaaan" this place was great. Everybody in the car reeked of smokey meat afterwards. Delicous, smokey, marinated, korean meat. drool*
(5)
Ivy J.

One of my favorite Korean BBQ's in Chicago. The food here is great (kalbi is a highlight) The service is either hit or miss. But they never fail to change the grill when they notice that it's getting messy. The place isn't very well ventilated and you end up smelling like food for the rest of the night.
(4)
Michelle K.

I was so disappointed with my experience here! We normally go to their 2nd location which is better just slightly but this location was just awful. We came around 19:30 on a Saturday after trying to go somewhere else because the line was out the door there. My friend and I came inside and they had us wait around but were not clear about if they were going to seat us and where. After two more families were seated and my friend said something, they sat us at a table only to have us move less than 5 minutes later to another table. From the start the servers were rude (we're both Korean and are very familiar with Korean service but their rudeness exceeded even the curt efficiency with which Koreans usually serve) and this did NOT improve through out the night. We ordered the seafood pancake (haemool pajun/ ) to start and galbi tang () and kimchi samgyubsal () as our main dishes. The pajun was honestly the best part of the night. It had enough seafood and was cooked well though it could have been a little crispier. The rest of the night just went downhill. As the servers brought out array of side dishes, they yelled at us to clean off the table to make room for the food (that's a first). After this, the other two dishes quickly came out but... The soup: The broth was okay but they added way too much black pepper and salt to enhance the original flavor instead of allowing the broth to stand on its own. The meat in the soup tasted as if it had been frozen and then heated up before serving--the meat was so tough and impossible to chew. The noodles within the soup were scarce--we barely ate half. The kimchi samgyubsal: oh man. It honestly tasted like it had just been cooked in gochujang (red pepper paste) which is an important ingredient but not the only ingredient. After years of eating variations of this dish, I cannot say that I have had a worse experience than last night's. I then went to the bathroom at the end of the meal but the bathroom was filthy with a clogged toilet that was overflowing. You can bet I held it in and will not be going back to this location again. The only reason this place is getting 2 stars is because of the seafood pancake.
(2)
Ash L.

First and last. Period. Nothing can compensate the dissatisfaction I felt after I left the restaurant.
(1)
Melissa L.

Their Haemuel pajun and vast array of ban chan has been the only reasons I have patronized this restaurant. I have never been to a Korean place that had THIS much variety in the ban chan and I love it! The service is always hit and miss for me. The kalbi meet is ok but I believe it is way to expensive for 1 platter of meat. The food is really good though.
(3)
Kelly P.

Ah I don't know why people are so crazy about this place. Though I have been here many times. I think their prices are in the pricey side. Especially, if you only eat chicken and that's all you get and along with seafood. I only give it 3 stars. Each time I go there with people the service was slow though it wasn't busy at all. Before that I also went and I don't know the staff are weird and give you weird looks. Some are nice and some are just plainly rude.
(3)
Mo F.

As we were headed to our car, the middle-aged waitress that served us rushed out of the door and asked "I have a question, no tip?!" I responded "no tip." But I do have some tips for you: Tip #1, don't walk away without explanation after starting to take our order. #2, serving water to us would have been nice, as we were the only table without it. #3, check on us at least once during the meal. After you took our order, we didn't hear from you until I called you for the bill #4, if you see that we are not Korean, please write the check in English. #5 try not being so obvious in your preference for Koreans. We noticed that you were anxious to leave when we were ordering, but spent your time talking with the Korean customers. Those are your tips, try taking them and maybe next time you will get a monetary tip. But not from us, because this was our first time here, and it will be our last.
(1)
Erica L.

I always crave a large bowl of galbi tang whenever it's cold or I'm feeling under the weather. Hubby and I tried this spot out on a Monday night. It wasn't too crowded, and we were seated immediately. I was impressed with the number of dished included in their banchan - 18! The portions were of tasting size. That was the only thing impressive. The broth of the galbi tang was not flavorful enough. The meat was tough and hard to chew. Hubby had the monkfish soup, but the fish was not fresh. The spoons were spotty. We also observed one of the plastic containers of clean rice bowls tipping onto the floor (the plastic container also had a gaping hole). While picking up some the bowls, the servers placed some of the bowls into the original container and the remaining in a separate container, hopefully to be rewashed. That wasn't very reassuring to us...
(2)
Ronald B.

This place is TERRIBLE!!! Had dinner with a group of 10 and ordered the Short Tip Ribs with NO MEAT.. Our whole group kept calling the ribs "DOG BONES" and bill included an automatic 20% gratuity. When we ask to speak to the manager of the restaurant... the ladies looked at us like we we're speaking Russian... Only thing good at this restaurant was the bulgogi... BE AWARE!!!!
(1)
Ngoc N.

I legitly go to this place somewhat religiously, especially when I visited and when I first moved to Chicagoland. I can't go there that much anymore, I can't handle that much meat anymore. Anyways, I have a love/hate relationship with this place. The service is sometimes bad and sometimes horrendous. There's not much else to say. Good luck getting your order right or all of it on time...or at all! And you better be ready to smell after you leave. Their vents aren't enough to cover the amount of BBQing that happens there. Why do I go here? For their abundance of banchans. It's so fun to have them throw all those small dishes on your table and you get to sit there to try them all. It's overwhelming but completely distracts you from the terrible service. The other part is they give you a healthy serving of meat for what you pay. I've been to some other places where I was a sad sad girl when they bought out my serving of meat for BBQ. Stick to beef. Trust me. Beef. Chicken is terrible to grill, it falls apart. The pork belly is no good there. It tastes weird. I haven't tried the seafood yet because I'm too afraid to divert from the beef. BEEEEEFF!
(3)
Fia R.

It would have been exciting for Daniel L and me to eat (non-AYCE) KBBQ in a Midwestern city for the 1st time, thanks to our friend who found this place out, minutes away from the downtown area. One of the sections in this vast, spacious restaurant had a particular seating arrangement where it's respectful to remove your shoes before sitting comfortably on the floor, obviously with cushions, facing a very low-heighted tea table. Instead--but no big deal--we sat traditionally with the ventilator on top, and a coal-fired grill in the center. This was additionally my 1st time eating through 25 different kinds of colorful banchan/side dishes. Out of the bunch came with a price, meaning that only few received a green checkmark, while the rest unfortunately marked a red X. That said, the ones who donned some green were the Fish Cakes, Cold Caramelized Potatoes, and the thick Rice Cake w/ Soy Sauce (yea, I too am sad about the Kimchi not earning it). With one exception I will give the "Ok" gesture for the clear-colored seaweed. At 1st we were THIS close to opt for those Set Combos, priced around $24-28 per "person," but something striking happened that I'll mention it in the next paragraph after, b/c we might as well pick 3 meats separately. My only favorite was the well-marinated, superbly marbled and deliciously seasoned Galbi ($21.95). The ($18.95) Marinated Bulgogi, however, was qualitatively disappointing that I was more comfortable eating this almost well done, and though the frozen Pork Belly Bacon ($17.95) displayed the thinnest slices I've ever seen through my KBBQ feats, it showed the exact, same traits as the Bulgogi. Plus, what's significantly missing in KBBQ were eating without the fun-folding rice paper. We also ordered items that didn't require grilling at all, in a way =P. The Seafood Pancake ($12.95) was portion-wise and flavorfully sound, but I think it would have been texturally better if the thickened pieces were panned just a couple of minutes more. The Galitang/Kalbitang ($10.95) was pretty impressive and good to share, giving off a savory broth with nicely textured boned beef, radishes, and chewy clear noodles. So for service we weren't expecting friendliness, but we did expect sensible business practice. That $24-28 combo deal had a strange, unwritten condition b/c you must order this set with a minimum of 5 persons. It was the 4 of us, so I was internally shocked and bewildered when the manager/owner was offering us an "alternative" by ordering it anyway by paying the extra $24+ to an invisible new friend who we were unable to speak to. But on the real side, we thankfully encountered some awesome workers who constantly changed our grills. All in all, I did wish SSGS would fare with all the other plenteous KBBQs I've dealt with in So Cal, including those that I consider them to be 3 stars. I'm not saying to my Chicagoan friends that it's completely avoidable, but unless service improved much later in life, our 1st impression will not be forgotten. Our total tab sans tax & tip was an estimated $83 instead of a minimum $120, and we would rather pay the $24+ for a well-deserved buddy or family member present.
(2)
Michael W.

Wow. I was actually pretty damn surprised to find some legit Korean BBQ in Chicago. On another business trip to Chicago, one of my friends decided to take me out to get some decent food out of the Loop. Thank god because in general, the food in the Loop is pretty mediocre at best. A 20 minute drive later, we ended up at San Soo Gab San. This place, to me, is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Then again, I'm not a local, but there didn't seem to be much around the area. At 6pm, this place is pretty empty, so it's actually the perfect time to stop by here for dinner. The restaurant is pretty much laid out like any other Korean BBQ-esque restaurant. With your grill in the middle, locked, loaded and ready to get cracking with the meat. For dinner, my friend and I decided to order the seafood pancake and two orders of the kalbi. Of course, no Korean BBQ would be complete without a couple bottles of beer. Trust me when I say that this is plenty enough for two people. What makes it even more crazy is the fact that you literally get 20 different kinds of banchan to start you off. Even in LA, you don't get 20 different kinds of things to snack on. When the kalbi showed up, it was nice and marbled. The meat was nicely sliced, and not too thin that it cooks too quick. The marinade wasn't overly sweet, and was actually one of the better kabli that I've had in my lifetime. With two orders, I think we got about 15 or so pieces each, which was more than enough. As far as the seafood pancake is concerned, it was pretty good, but I might be able to do without it next time. The pancake itself came pretty stacked with many octopus chunks, but it just seemed a little on the bland side, especially without the sauce. In total, with the two orders of kalbi, seafood pancake, and two 24oz of beer, the bill came out to be just over $75. Not the cheapest I suppose, but the meat was straight quality. Overall, service here was pretty solid. It probably helped considering there were only 3 occupied tables in total, but that only works in my favor. The BBQ here is solid, and the vast amounts of banchan that they set you up here with is mind boggling. San Soo Gab San is definitely a legitimate Korean restaurant in Chicago, and it's definitely gained a fan.
(4)
Jasmine D.

The place to eat after a long night of partying... Otherwise, meh... Points for authenticity, using charcoal, an amazing amount of banchan, and long hours... But, service? Many have already hit on this, but the long days have gotten to them... They're worn out and are past the point of trying to make an impression. Hidden charges and a bill in Korean... It's a Korean staple in Chicago, though. People will still come back...
(3)
Mandy Q.

I have been their customer for more than 10 years, they always had bad service, not friendly waitresses but food are not bad at all.
(3)
Bec L.

This place is a has-been by at least a decade. Vent systems are completely broken and all it takes is a table or two of table BBQ before the whole place fills with toxic smoke. 1) do not take kids here and 2) only go if you don't mind lung Cancer and/or carbon monoxide poisoning. Not to mention fire hazard from oil clogged vents. But, never mind that because vents are barely aligning the tables and fire pits. I would give them negative stars if available. And I almost forgot. Horrible service. What? Other people mentioned that before? Nooooo, really????
(1)
Jessica L.

I'm currently writing this with a stomach that has been stretched to its max past the level of satisfaction... Anyways, I just got back from San Soo Gab San with my great uncle and aunt, and I have to say that I am so so so satisfied. One of the best kalbi I've tasted in the Chicago area so far! First of all, the side dishes were so abundant! Even my Korean great uncle and aunt were shocked by the endless side dishes, and that's saying something. And it's not like they're trying to impress with quantity over quality - every single dish tasted awesome! (Except for the kimchi for some reason...it had a weird spice in it that was not very appetizing to me) The kalbi was amazing. Wow. So tender and juicy, and the fact that you can eat it right off the grill is fantastic. 100% freshness guaranteed. Next, we had the soondae. Well, how should I describe this to people who never had it? It's defined on the internet as Korean style blood sausages. That does NOT sound appetizing, but trust me, soondae is amazing. It's very tender and actual taste of the sausage is very discreet and mild, but when you eat it with the pepper-salt on the side, the flavors really come alive, and it's absolutely delicious. Brings me back to the good ole' times when I lived in Korea and ate soondae from those street vendors. Finally, to wash off the greasiness of the meal, you get the doenjangguk (soybean paste soup) which comes with the meal. It was rather on the saltier side, but the saltiness worked well because your mouth will be begging for something salty after all that meat you just gobbled up. And throughout the entire meal, you gotta have some soju man. A korean meal is not complete without that alcohol. period.
(4)
Bethany A.

Late hours, lots of banchan, authentic Korean menu. I had the sulungtang and it was really flavorful with TONS of beef tongue. Also they bring you the salt and pepper so you can season the soup yourself. The rice was also perfectly cooked. My friend had the bibimbap and she finished it all, so I'm assuming it was pretty good. I'd definitely come back here.
(4)
Robert W.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on here so I felt I should report back that we had a fantastic experience. We were first-timers in need of help and instruction, which was gladly provided. It was clear some of the staff didn't speak much English and couldn't be very helpful, but the one or two that did helped us cook the meat, frequently change the grill (4 times, as we kept messing up), telling us to wrap in the lettuce, and all the usual niceties (refilling water, clearing dishes, etc.). She showed us the proper way to cook the bulgogi so it doesn't stick ("make a mountain"), which is likely what other people did wrong. Aside from the service, there were tons of side dishes and everything tasted great (though many of the kimchi sides fairly similar, but maybe that's normal). I left very pleased, and would recommend anyone new or having grill problems to ask for help (ideally from someone that speaks your language).
(5)
Mk L.

I've had great Korean BBQ before. The service may not always be the greatest, but at least the food is good. This place is really bad. It's dark, dingy, and the service is appalling. Our party of 5 adults and 1 toddler was seated. We decided on pork bulgogi, squid, and some beef for the BBQ. The waitress tried to make us order more meat even after we told her we didn't need any more. When the food came, I asked her if they refilled the side dishes but I'm not sure she understood me or didn't care because she basically ignored me and left. The grill they give you is a basic metal grill over some coals. A lot of the meat ended up sticking to the grill so your end result is half the amount they give you. The meat itself was not good. Tasted as tho there was no seasoning at all. I've had better meat at the sample stands at Hmart. When we went to pay for the meal, she told us we had to give them 15% tip because there were 5 of us, then she proceeded to stand there and make sure we wrote down the tip. I would not go back here. Bad food AND terrible service? No thank you.
(1)
Hang T.

One of the best Korean restaurants I've ever been too. Their food is bountiful and delicious. They gave us over 25+ banchan dishes. They engulfed the table. I was so overwhelmed, but many of them were delicious. I like a place that gives you variety. We ordered a lot of food and all of it was cooked at the table which as fun. The food is pretty expensive if you think about it. You're getting raw meat mainly, but the cost covers the banchan side dishes and some other things they give you. Portions are also huge. The service is the worse part of this restaurant. You can never get the attention of the waitresses. They never greet you at the door. You just have to wait in line and wait until a table frees up. A man in front of us even tapped a waitress while she was walking by and she completely ignored him. The atmostphere is very smoky as you would expect. Good for large groups. They have those seats where you on the floor with your friends.
(4)
Filippo L.

Fun experience, as authentic as it gets at least in Chicago. You get charcoal to grill on your table so yes you are going to smell like it. It's cool.
(5)
Romana Y.

The Korean bbq here is good, but not great. The unmarinated kalbi, and kalbi, were nothing to return back to. Service was good. Cleanliness was average. The ventilation in here is decent, as well.
(2)
Mike S.

Definitely ZERO stars if it were possible. Service was the usual, HORRIBLE, half of our party of six spoke fluent Korean and still, we received and were charged for an extra order of meat we hadn't ordered and when asked to have the bill, which was in Korean and wasn't itemized, separated by the two tables we took up, the late forties waitress who didn't speak English and seemed to not WANT to speak Korean to any of us responded back something under her breath and made a chopping motion with her hand as she was walking away. Why is this place still in business? The numerous plates of old looking this and that... almost as embarrassing as the service.
(1)
Rod D.

One of the yummiest korean bbq places I've ever been to. What's even better is that this place is a late night joint. I've been here numerous times and loved every second of it. I love the Kalbi and bulgogi. The side dishes are SO plentiful you won't have a need to ask for more. A couple things to note. Make sure you leave any clothing in your car such as jackets and/or purses that you do not want smelling like bbq. It will if you end up bringing it in there. Make sure you are ready to spend a bit. This is one of the more expensive Korean BBQ places I've been to. I guess you get what you pay for.
(4)
Jourdan S.

Awesome. I always default to this location. Service is super fast and polite. The owner manger looks like a korean soap actress, and she runs shit nice and smooth. Here you will get a much broader selection of side dishes than you will at some of the local competition's locations. The beef quality is fresh and nicely marbled. I was born in Seoul, I eat here. I think it's great. What more do you need to know?!
(4)
Moon J.

Food is better than good, large menu selection and a lot of side dishes (what I love). The meals are authentic and the value is excellent. The cost is lower than a lot of other K-restaurants with the taste being just as good. Somewhat of a dive, parking is not friendly. Food taste and value is what keep me coming back. The kalbi is awesome, ji-gae, and soups are tasty. The best part is they have late hours as well.
(4)
Les M.

Okay being Korean American, I am the first one to say, unfortunately Korean resturaunts aren't known for great service. In fact the service is really bad. Now I believe this review should be about the food and experience so I must -2 stars due to the poor customer service. The food is good, not the best Korean but, for a late night craving it's great. Expect to leave full and satisfied. Not blown away :/
(3)
Tony M.

Meat had no flavor wat so ever didnt finish the meal the expierance was not a good one lights went out in the nieghborhood and the airvents shut down and smoke was everywhere people started running out and the wateresses screaming u must pay in a pich dark resturants it was crazy
(2)
Jessa B.

This place was pretty good! Interesting, to say the least. I went with a few friends who are constantly trying to get me to eat weird things. So naturally, they took me here and ordered some strange things. You grill your own protien, which is fun. There are about 35 "condiments" that come to your table, all in bowls, which can range anywhere from glass noodles to something strange and spicy and a little scary! I am willing to try new things! There were some pretty fun Korean alcoholic beverages that we tried, some vodka like and some beer. Overall, I had a lot of fun and the food was spiced great, I would go back!
(3)
Michael K.

Great for large parties and tiny parties and I'm-feeling-like-a-panda parties--because you'll want to eat like one, this place is a gem, aside from the inevitable smoke. Atmosphere is swell and the service is sometimes fun, sometimes business, but always serving. The pickled and otherwise assortment that begins the meal is delightful. I cannot decide if I want the tiny dishes to be labeled in some fashion. Partly, I want to know and build my language, and partly, I want no one to know. Don't put the bone on the grill. I am a cautionary tale.
(4)
Diana W.

Smoky? Yes Expensive as compared to other korean joints? Yes Impersonal wait staff? Yes but.... Fun experience? Yes Open late? Yes Good food? Yes Lots of Panch'an? Yes I found that if you're not into the whole bbq thing, some tasty and less $$$ options would be the Jap Chae or their Soon Tofu. I've always left full and happy. When we didn't get bbq my bank account was full and happy too. Can't beat that.
(4)
Mister D.

I ended up at Sansu after I was invited to join some Coffee Studio Scrabble players that I'd just met that evening. I was very pleased with the food and the ambience. Sort of surly waitstaff, a little loud (but because people are enjoying themselves), lots of orange... it was like being back in Korea. The prices were reasonable, also. But again, the food was tasty. I don't recall how many veg or fish dishes they had (since it is primarily a meat joint), but I'd recommend it for anyone.
(4)
Rick F.

Atmosphere: Needs a serious update Food: Really good Service: Excellent Price: Fair Been wanting to go here since I saw it on 190N! Loved it great place for fun, social night out. BBQ Chicken and Pork were great, Ribeye was good. Love all the side dishes and they will bring more if you ask!
(4)
Mayana M.

I love the food here, it is actually one of my go to places when I'm craving spicy soups. The only reason why I'm giving this place three stars, is the server staff. There are multiple times where servers were EXTREMELY rude to us. Especially when we are trying to clarify our order with her because she is rushing us, she gets super agitated. There was also an instance where we pointed to what we wanted and said it and she brought out what she thought we wanted and blamed it on us that we pointed at the wrong thing, when in all reality we all saw what my friend said and pointed at. We got the, "next time make sure you order the right thing," are you kidding? What happened to the customer is always right? She must have been delusional! Don't be fooled though, mediocre service never stops me from tipping 20 percent.
(3)
Jennifer G.

So, this was my korean bbq virginity spot. As with human virginity, I am not so sure that I loved it. It was sloppy and odd but very good in other ways. Ok, that is weird.....Anyway, as a fairly brave eater, it wasnt scary, just so overwhelming. Some things like potato salad were oddly offputting but tasty. The seaweed salad was delicious but odd. What I thought was glass noodles but turned out to taste like rubber bands soaked in lemon, again very odd but slightly tasty. That about sums up my experience. The meat was very good, tender and well seasoned. We had bulgogi and spicy chicken. Wrapped in lettuce with random banchan things thrown in, it was very good but once may have been enough. I would like to return to find out what that soup that looked very spicy and was cooking in the center of the table was though.
(3)
Claudia Z.

Yum. That is all. I hesitate to write this review, as it gets plenty crowded already!
(5)
Mel A.

We ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob...which consists of mixed veggies & beef over rice in a hot pot. It was very bland and it should have been labeled "rice over beef" instead of the other way around. The dish was primarily rice with little tiny tiny bits of hard "beef." All the little sides we got were very interesting to try. Some were too heavily coated with a very oily spicy red liquid. I like spice but the oil factor was too much. Our stomachs did not like it. The staff was courteous. The serving bowls/dishes were chipped & my water glass had a large crack running from top to bottom. When I pointed it out our server quickly brought another glass. I would like to give the Barbeque a try or another Korean BBQ place since this was my first time.
(2)
Kok L.

Do not sit near the restrooms. It stinks. Food are tasteless.
(1)
Liz B.

my first time having korean food here. The side dishes were not all that great, they were way too fishy/salty for me. The soup made me nautious. The beef was marinated very well, but a little too fatty and came with too many bones parts that had very little to no meat on them. Would be more worth the cost if there was more meat. Wayyyy too pricey.
(2)
G S.

We love this place. Great with kids. Kalbi is excellent. Can be hectic but generally good service.
(5)
John S.

I have been going here for years and I am happy they haven't changed one bit. San Soo Gan San is a great place to go with a group of friends. This is the only Korean BBQ that I know of that brings a pit of fire to the table. No electric grill here. It is a blast to come here with friends and cook you own steaks. The meats are all cut fresh and full of flavor. They have great marinades here also. The service is always friendly and paying attention so we don't burn the place down. They also give you many plates of Kimchi which I don't really eat but they give you a lot. I think we counted over 20!!! Another plus is they have free parking always a big bonus when eating in the city. Only downside is you will smell of BBQ when you leave so not the best place to go if you plan on going out after. Over all great food and lots of fun.
(5)
Pat S.

This place has been at the end of my block for 15yrs. I've only been inside twice and each time was very disappointing. They are not very welcoming and the food is terrible. Also they have a heap of garbage in the back alley of the restaurant that is not in containers doesn't get picked up regularly. Surely it attracts rodents and is right near the back door to the kitchen. I have tried to call them to complain but they claim no one there speaks English. Please do not patronize this place, it's a disaster. ZERO stars.
(1)
Jennifer P.

I am not a huge fan of Korean BBQ. Nothing aggravates me more than every last bit of table space being taken up by tiny white bowls of random garnishes and or side dishes. Upon observation, I don't see many people eating them anyway. Is this the fault of the restaurant? Not at all. The meats served up for the grill are amazing and marinated on point. Of all the random side dishes, my two favorites are the seaweed salad and the kimchi. Restaurant Kimchi will never be as good as homemade; but you can say that about a lot of foods. I wonder if the waitress would substitute some of those dishes for more of these items? I'll have to ask if I ever go again. Lots of my friends seem to love going to a place where they cook their own food. My last visit was funny. My old coworkers know nothing of Korean culture. We all sat down and when we ordered drinks; they looked at me oddly when I received a nod of approval from the waitress for ordering Hite beer. It was interesting to see how they all felt out of their element here. In the past, one of my Korean friends had made it a point to explain to me that Korean culture is still kind of new to the United States. The restaurant feels old. Like it has been there for years. It isn't dirty, but it looks that way because the tables are old. There is no sense of atmosphere. This would be fine if it weren't for the fact that it has extremely bright lighting inside. I am not fond of their use of orange to accent the walls. Maybe they could dim the lights? This is a Korean restaurant, not Kabuki Theater, gosh darn it! I would never say this place is bad. I just don't think it's my style of food. Next time I visit, I might order something else on the menu.
(3)
Xiangwen L.

I like the side dish and BBQ, Just Meat a little expensive, but side dish are free~~
(4)
Michael P.

This is a great (food wise) place. The service is lazy and have bad attitudes. But, besides that it is one of the better korean bbq places around and i have been to many. I always come with family, and we always order 3 portions of kalbi (thinly sliced marinated beef (rib meat) cooked over woodcoal grill). My suggestion is to go early in the day while they still have meat that has been merinated overnight. The sliced meat is brought to your table on the large plate. A scorching hot wood coal grill is placed in the center of your table. And, you cook the meat yourself. In the meantime the servers load your table with a couple dozen tiny plates with side dishes (consisting of kimchis, pickled salads, and a few other items). The best part is when you pull a nice sizzling chunk of meat off the grill and put in your mouth, not caring that it's hot. For someone who's never tried it. "It's worth trying" . For someone who has tried it "It's worth going back". As a regular here, I have noticed theat over prices keep inching higher and the portions keep getting smaller. It's something to keep an eye on, but has yet to stop me from going.
(3)
Aaron K.

There has been a significant drop in quality over the last couple years. That mixed with poor service ruins the entire experience. Plenty of other good Korean restaurants nearby.
(2)
Grennan K.

Wow ok, been here maybe 40 times throughout the years. Awesome because it's got something of a parking lot & it's open super late and even later in the summer time! It's basic Korean food. My parents say it's "commercial" I say it's bbq! It's NYE and planning on coming here on a date. Expect to bbq and leave smelling like a roasting fest Yukejjang, nengmyun, & kalbi with all the banchan, always. Just like I like portillos Chicago dog, everytime. Yep.
(4)
Jenny H.

Sure, the service is a little on the abrasively indifferent side: They aren't timely with our orders or keen on checking up on us. And when they come around, they just plop stuff down on our table. My diabetic friend needed a sugary drink STAT and while they acknowledged her urgent request, they went back to counting their cash-- leaving the frantic busboy to deal with her order a few minutes later. And sure, the whole place is an asthmatic's worst nightmare: Even though they have these huge vents over the grills, you feel like you've walked into an choking, billowy charcoal cloud. My lungs and my coat didn't stand a chance. And I left the place smelling like a grill, feeling like my lungs took a beating. BUT THE FOOD IS WORTH ALL OF THAT! Shortly after we ordered, one of the ladies came by and dropped off 30 banchan dishes, along with a personal bowl of rice and soup. Then came our seafood pancake and an array of meats (from varieties of beef, chicken, and squid). We FEASTED with shots of soju. My favorites of the evening were the bulgogi and spicy squid. I love variety and family style meals, hence this was a meal of epic proportions. Other things of note: No BYOB, NO BYOB! You need at least 5 people for the BBQ set meal specials Open 'til 3am No Smoking
(4)
Tanya S.

my absolute fav place for Korean bbq love love love
(5)
Kevin N.

San Soo Gab San, hard name to remember if you don't know what it means, but I'm complaining because I just wish I knew Korean. Service: 4 stars, the ladies that serve you are pretty nice, and they bring out your banchan quickly! All that's required is a little eye contact and they come to your table to help you out. Nice. Atmosphere/decor: 3 stars, I don't know whether or not the place is spic-and-span clean, although I can't expect it to be for a Korean BBQ place. Other than that, it seemed like one of the exhaust hoods malfunctioned when we were there, and this poor table was drowning in the smoke! I like how they bring out a charcoal grill right on the tabletop, I've actually never had that before, usually the grills are built into the table. Although I can't say if I tasted any difference (my taste buds are blind!) Food: 4.5 stars, a lot of meat. Not enough lettuce to wrap said meat. So much banchan you have to start stacking the little dishes on top of each other. Conclusion: First KBBQ in Chicago that I've tried, pretty good so far, albeit out of the way a little bit.
(4)
Jasmine S.

Good food .. 2 of us spend about $90.. Service was horrible.. But we still left her 20% gratuity , however I didn't think she deserved even 10% tips.. We won't go back..
(2)
Melly R.

Yea . . .came since the SO's family wanted to try. The service is much better and so is the food! However, found a staple in the fish . . . .no bueno. It was a good thing father-in-law felt the staple in his mouth a spit it out . . .
(1)
Melanie V.

Yeaaaaaaah. Wuddddup rudeness. My friend and I were not even halfway through our meal...and the waitress basically threw the check at us and forced us to pay. Literally, we had half our meal left on our plates, but we had to leave....ASAP. W.T.F. Naturally, my friend and I started to sh*t talk pretty loudly about how they only did it to us because we are a non-Korean Asian kind. (Seriously, though, they didn't seem to bother any other tables!) The waitress probably heard us grumbling because she came over and told us that since it was dinner time, they have to turn the tables over fast. (Ummm, ok...what about the OTHER tables?) I mean, I get it - the service here has always sucked in the multiple years that I've been coming here. But...really? This was ridic. Just because this place is suddenly "hot", they somehow feel they can treat people like that? I'm sorry, but there are a ton of other Korean joints in this 'hood that I'll never have to come here again.
(2)
Aracely H.

We have been coming here for years and it seems to be getting worse and worse. The service is awful....actually horrible!!! The food isn't as good, the waitresses are rude and inattentive. We are done coming here. So if u decide to give this place a shot braise yourselves. You've been warned.
(1)
Jen J.

We visited last week with our family and we had a pleasant time. If you're not Korean, this place is hard to get used to. It's mass chaos and you usually have to flag down one of the Ahjumas, otherwise you'll be waiting FOREVER. And by "flag down" I mean, yell out the things you need as an Ahjuma is passing by. They usually stop and are quick to get what you need. They work as a team, so you don't really get a specific server. If you can look past that AND all the smoke because their hoods are not powerful enough for the smoke to escape, then perhaps you'll have a good time. Koreans are very concerned with the charred remains that clings to the grill, so they are happy to replace the grill after a little while. I enjoyed the marinated Kalbi very much as well as the Oi kimchi (cucumber kimchi). The banchan is VERY plentiful--almost to a fault. Your table is "littered" with so many small dishes it sometimes makes things difficult to move around. I honestly think they could get rid of the American banchan--potato salad, coleslaw, steamed broccoli, and boiled potatoes and carrots. These just took up space and no one ate them because....we're at a Korean restaurant! I don't speak Korean, but I went with some family who did, so I didn't feel as awkward as some people who reviewed this restaurant. The quality of the food is decent. We spent nearly $300 for a party of 10 when ordering fried mandu, 3 kalbi (2 marinated, 1 not), seafood soup, and some soju and beer. Overall, I'd go here again, but only with my family.
(3)
Sean C.

Unmarinated kalbi and kalbi are pretty good, nothing to write home about. Sushi is not bad either. For the price this place is not worth it. I'll continue my quest for a single good KBBQ place in the Chicago area.
(3)
Gino W.

There has never been a moment of going to this restaurant that I have not eaten to the point where it hurts. But it hurts so good. Chop chae. Bulgolgi. Marinated chicken. And all those small bowls of complements. You have to do the hibachi barbecue to appreciate the restaurant. And any of the non-barbecue dishes will also please the palate. Whenever I want some good Korean barbecue, San Soon Gab San is where you will find me.
(5)
Jessica G.

Pretty standard Korean BBQ. Load the table up with a couple dozen tiny plates and an abundance of meat, get fire in your tabletop grill and go to town. We had pork belly, chicken, and beef in a couple different configurations - the grill top seems like it's a little smaller than in some places but we got it done. Five types of meat with soup, a seafood pancake, maki, and tasty glass noodles - at $24 a person it was a decent value. Service was pretty good and the servers did a nice job of keeping the fire hot and the water glasses filled. We'd had a reservation but didn't need it as the place was only about half full. The parking lot is tight, which made me glad I wasn't the one trying to park and unpark the car. I think if we were in the neighborhood, I would go back.
(3)
h h.

San Soo Gimme Some Son! This place is so delicious, and it is a total gorge fest. I love it. . I really really do! There are so many positive reviews of this place (some dumb ones too), that I don't know what else I can add. but sure enough....I can always say something. For people who don't know what Korean food is all about...San Soo Gab San might not be the best example. Sure enough, after some friends who are not Korean go to this place...I normally get this response from them.. "WOW!! Well! OH...... MY..... GOSH! Simon!!! You are one lucky son of a gun!! Korean food is great! You "guys" are soooo lucky!!! You get to eat BBQ everyday..... All DAY!! What does your house look like?? A BBQ PIT?! I bet your house smells like a BBQ PIT! OMG!! Gossip Girls are on! You SOOOO have to come over! Can you help me with my math homework??? Are you going to be a doctor??? That is sooooo hot. Tell me....How do you make rice soooo sticky!? I love that! You need to meet my Korean friend Shun Lee...you guys would have sooo much in common!" Are you from North or South Korea? I really need to know this! Because if you're from the" North" my Grandpa Al says I probably shouldn't be on this date!" For the love of God! ugh. This is a good example of Korean BBQ, not Korean food in general. We don't get to have BBQ all day! We have to study for Trig class too! ha ha. (don't laugh- thug life) Moving on: If Japanese Food is the "French Food" of the East, then Korean BBQ is the Ghetto Soul Food of the East. This stuff sticks to you, and San Soo Gimme Some Son gives you an excellent introductory class on the fine art of Korean BBQ. Another reason why Korean food is "SOUL" food? Koreans make the best fried chicken. Just ask CRISP or Great Seas. That place is 20 times better than Harolds..Harolds...you suck. You are a waste of potential. Go back to the spice drawing board. Or at least get some spice. A piece of chicken is a terrible thing to waste. Anyways What you will or should get here.. 1. You will get the Korean version of Tapas. Some are pretty tasty. Some are pretty gross in my opinion. Try it all, and if you don't like it, ask for extra napkins. Spit it out and then hand it to someone who doesn't know any better. 2. Korean Short Ribs or Galbi (sp? sorry lol) Its delicious. Wrap it in lettuce. 3. Korean BBQ Pork (spicy and soo good) 4.Korean Pizza- Just look on the menu. It looks like pizza but its actually like a seafood pancake. Really good. Bee Bom Bop and You Don't Stop (one!)- Its a rice bowl. What you should wear or bring Crappy t-shirt - I wear my t-shirt that has two arrows on it. The first arrow points upwards and it says "the man"....then there is another arrow that points to something else. sweatpants with elastic or mom jeans Sunglasses so people won't recognize you eating like a pig. The place is dingy and smoky. Don't wear anything nice. This isn't Japonais (sp), Mirai, PF Changs, or some other friendly "American" place. Bring patience. The women who work here are often overworked (in my opinion) and are trying to work as fast as possible. Most of them are friendly and really try to help you pick the best possible dishes. Many of them probably work 10 jobs so they can send their kids to elite small liberal arts school on East Coast.jk. Finally, If you are going, make sure you take me with you! I'd love to go with you and chow down....but some ground rules! 1. I don't want to be friends. I have too many.. (wink wink) (of course I'll be friends with you!:) ) 2. I won't help you say anything dirty in Korean. (hm. maybe.) (i totally will) 3. It's not a date. Remember that. Its best if you sit on your hands. oh yea I said it! (touch me. tease me) Thank-you! - CHECK OUT MY PODCAST!
(5)
Neira I.

Last night after unpacking boxes all day my friend decided she wanted to take me somewhere awesome for dinner. It being 11pm, this was the only place she figured was open. It was packed when we got there, our tables were low and we had to take our shoes off, it was a nice ambiance. But my friend had never sat at those tables before so she was confused when the 2 people escorting us started screaming "TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF" at her. Once we sat down and got settled in, we were brought 2 glasses of tepid tap water. We studied the menu and decided on the bbq items we wanted the "waitress" came within 5 minutes to take our orders. My friend wanted to get some vegetable dumplings as an appetizer, and she's highly allergic to mushrooms so she asked the "waitress" if there were any mushrooms in the dish. The lady looked at her as if she was crazy, clearly not understanding her and just said "they're prepackaged". A couple minutes later she came back and threw about 25 or so side dishes on our table,and our bottle of sake. The waitress came back 10 minutes later or so and plopped our choice meat on the table, saw that my glass of water was empty and brought a pitcher of water and left it on the table, so she wouldn't be bothered with waiting on us anymore. Halfway through our meal she brought out 2 bowls of soup, tofu, cucumber and broth, I didn't care for it much. Now the bbq we had was delicious, the ventilation above us was horrible and my friend had smoke in her face the entire time we were there, but we enjoyed it for the hour or so we were in the restaurant. When it came time to pay she presented us with the bill promptly, but didn't return for about 40 minutes to collect payment. My friend paid for the meal so I'm not even sure if she had charged us for the dumplings we didn't even get. I pressed the call button after about 40 minutes of waiting because I was getting really uncomfortable sitting on the floor (they have floor chairs that we sat on, but 2 hours sitting like that gets a little uneasy). So I pressed the call button I noticed on the side of our table, and a loud bell-like sound chimed throughout the whole restaurant. When the "waitress" came over to us she had a sour look on her face, took the credit card and bill and took it up front. When she returned the card, she waited by the exit of the section we were sitting in (based on what I've read from other reviews, probably to make sure we paid and left her a nice fat tip) my friend always tips cash, and proceeded to leave a nice heft 20% tip. Honestly, having been a waitress for 5 years when I was younger, I wouldn't have even left her a tip. Maybe a couple bucks on a $70 meal. So in conclusion: food would get 3-4 stars, it's pretty tasty, but based on service I would advise you to go anywhere else. Don't expect to have a good service experience here! Or good drinking water.
(2)
Tuvshin U.

Service really needs improvement, I wonder if they read what people write about them. Servants need to learn to smile, really. Food is great, but without good service, not much fun.
(3)
Amy C.

The best part about this place is the banchan (appetizers) and the generous portions of meat! I like the unmarinated kalbi (short ribs), which was really fresh. My fiance had the marinated kalbi and he thought the marinate was just ok, not great. We had leftover meat which never happened to us before at other restaurants! The meat dishes are $18-20 each and you have to order 2 (you choose) to have it cooked at the table. The bbq meats come with the banchan, rice and soup. I hope to come back again!
(4)
Lindsay R.

I lived in South Korea for a year, and living in the South Suburbs, hadn't found the time to travel soooo far to quash a craving. With HP coming out, an old college friend and I decided to travel an hour and fifteen to try San Soo Gab San. When we finally did arrive, I had to let her park my car for me....I am a great driver, save parking, and this was just about my worst nightmare, literally. She parked like a pro, and as we were exiting the car, talking about how bad the lot was, 2 other women pulled up and made the same "look of terror" face. They parked next to us, and we ended up dining together, since this was their first time as well. (fyi you cook your own food, which i thought was common knowledge, but our new-found friends were unaware) That was an awesome idea! Korean food is meant to be shared, and share we did!. We ordered the Dak kalbi, dwegii kalbi, and bulgogi (chicken, pork, and beef, respectively), kimchee jigae, and dolsot bibimbap. One girl also ordered the ribs. The dak kalbi was ok. I was more so wanting chicken thighs cooked with cabbage and dok, but it was pretty good. Dwegii kalbi was my favorite, as i placed a lot of banchan, the pork meat, and rice inside of my lettuce. The bulgogi was good, as well. I have never seen so many sides served in one sitting. As I stated, I lived in Korea for a full year, and went to numerous restaurants there, but never had I received 25 at a time, though at one point or another had tasted everything before. All in all it was an awesome day, we had soju and beer, pretty good food, and great conversation. I will say i was spoiled by the freshness and flavor of "real" Korean food, but the taste was good enough to satisfy my craving for the time, and great for first timers being introduced into Korean..
(3)
Elisabeth C.

San Soo Gab San is one of my staple Korean joints in Chicago. I suppose there's not much more I can add as this place has so many reviews. I'm not going to drop a star for service, because it's expected- I've been to SSGS with Koreans and non-Koreans alike, and the service is always surly no matter what. The food is awesome, they're open super late, and you can't beat the wide array of banchan. I just wish it wasn't so far west so that I could go here more often.
(5)
Stephen R.

Again, this was a hidden gem for a long time ago. The meat quality is ok, but the food and seasoning is dead on. This is as close to my moms korean food as I can get. Its authentic in every way. Its no longer a secret and the word is out and I know because the last time I was in, I was the ONLY korean person in there... So, not the best place to introduce your non asian friends to the korean because it can be overwhelming. But DO NOT PLAN ON going out afterwards because you will REEK of BBQ and Garlic. Order the Wan Galbi and maybe the pork. Do NOT GET the chicken its not Korean...its anitclimatic, get the BEEF. The soups are great too.
(5)
Nancy T.

Pros: It's fairly cheap for what you get, the bulgogi is tender and flavorful and they bring you tons of banchan. Cons: This is do-it-yourself BBQ and I mean really DIY since you have to cook it yourself. I've been to many Korean BBQ joints and they cut up the meat, put it on the grill, tend to it and take it off once it's done. This place just brings you a plate of raw meat and you're on your own. Also, while I do love the charcoal taste the coals provide, it gets really REALLY smoky and it sticks to your hair and clothes. The service is terrible. I came when the restaurant was almost empty and I still had to wait, and wait, and wait. They came and left so quickly from the table I didn't get a chance to ask them anything. No one asked me if I wanted a drink. They didn't even bring me the bill after the meal. I had to go to the cashier and ask for it. I went expecting bad service after reading the reviews here, but even so I was shocked at how much we were ignored. One of the worst things was that they ignored us so long at the end of our meal that our grill was just flaming with smokey, charred meat that stuck to the grill and when they finally removed it the flames wouldn't go out and the waitress dropped it on the floor and poured water on it and it made a huge mess! Well, it wouldn't have if they'd removed it after we were done grilling and didn't let it just sit there burning and burning. Yuck! I won't be going back. I don't know how they treat Koreans here, but if they are trying to discourage non-Koreans from coming here because of the language barrier (no English is spoken here) or just because they are not welcome they are doing a good job.
(2)
Fawn J.

MMM.... Love you! Love you! Love you! You would get all 5 stars if you weren't so expensive... I've been here a few times and each time I've loved it. It's been the best Korean BBQ place in the area I've been to. I crave it. I love the wine selection so much I now make regular trips to the Korean grocery store just for the liquor. haha. The service is by American standards not that great, but let's get real folks, it's an authetic Korean restaurant, not an American one. My waitresses have always been super helpful in telling me what to order, nearly demanding it at times. But you do have to ask for things multiple times before it comes and it is occasionally hard to order or understand what your server is saying. But in the end, I get food and it tastes great! I love the seating also, it's very traditional. If you are not adventurous and don't do well with standards that are normal for other cultures, you should probably stick to the Cheesecake Factory.
(4)
Jessica K.

What happened to the days when this place was open 24/7??? The service at this place varies on the time you get here so if you're one of those people who are going to take advantage of the fact that it's open so late, don't expect awesome service-or in fact anyone to acknowledge you when you first walk in. Don't get wrong-they don't mean to be rude but they're super busy. I love the older ladies that work there. They're always in these cute aprons with Soju logos, hauling trays and drinks. Again, I say busy. The banchan is great, the smells from the street lures you in and the self serve bbq is so much fun. You really want to come here with a large group because Korean food is all about the sharing. Get a stew, get a kalbi, get a pajun. If you're not Korean, good luck. I don't suggest asking for water for a table of 10 or any other tedious request that most non-Asian restaurants will put up with. You're in my mama's house now! Eat up.
(4)
Michelle Z.

I went to San Soo with a large group of friends. I had a fun time. The food was just OK but the service was beyond awful. I know some Korean places have a reputation for grumpy staff but this lady was a complete bi***. And I have to say, I've been to several other Korean BBQ's and was treated with courtesy and basic manners, etc. so lets just stop excusing rudeness. We ordered several plates of meat, both marinated and not. Beef, pork, chicken. We ordered duplicates of a few items and I didn't like that the kitchen put the duplicates on one plate. It was hard to tell which meat plates were double orders and which were single orders. To do over, I would have ordered one plate of each meat and then asked for another later. I felt like we got a little bit cheated on the portion size. The meat was of good quality and I liked the marinade used on the beef and pork. Side dishes were OK. Nothing exceptional. Waitress never came around so it was hard to get more food. I asked for more kim chee and for a table of 10 she brought out one dish. Gee, thanks. Also, the waitress forgot out soups and rice, didn't turn on the overhead fans until asked about halfway through the meal, never brought the sesame oil for my friend's bim bim bop despite being asked 3 times and proceeded to add gratuity to the tab, which we adjusted to an acceptable amount. Overall, I feel like this place has a better star rating on yelp than it deserves. I think I might have loved it if I showed up at 3am drunk; sober, not so much. FYI, several of the seating areas require that patrons remove their shoes so be prepared. I wore strappy heels with buckles and there is no bench or anything to sit on while removing your shoes. I have no reason to go back to this place. Thumbs down.
(2)
Sun C.

This place has only one thing goi g for them. Its open late, otherwise the service is horrible. The food is ok. The side dishes has a good variety but the service is the worst. The bad attitude is so unnecessary.
(2)
Cindy D.

First of all - I love Korean food! It's listed at my favorite meal in my personal info. So it already gets high stars for that. I just went with my bf, got an order of Kalbi and tofu chigae. When only ordering one Kalbi, they actually cook it in the kitchen for you, so I was happy about that. Both entrees were delish, pon chon was very good and they are willing to refill, and service is alway attentive. The only con doesn't deal with the food but the ambience. It's kinda chilly b/c the fans bring in a breeze plus you definately need to wash your hair and clothes b/c you will be stinky. But you can't expect anything better than that for Korean BBQ.
(4)
amber y.

I went there just under a year ago, but it was really fun. I am happy we went with a big group of people though, because I would have had no idea how to order. The food was great and they are open really late.
(4)
Karen L.

Service kinda blows, but the food will blow you away!! Believe it or not, Korean BBQ is one of the best comforts after a long hard day at the batting cages! Four of my friends and I shared two raw meat orders- marinated short ribs and marinated beef, as well as a fried tofu appetizer. As we waited for our orders to come, we were brought like 25 different banchan (side dishes) and were freaking out because there was just so much variety and it all looked so good! They eventually brought out the coal grill and my friends and I took turns playing grill master, but the meat was just ridiculously delicious! Both the short ribs and sliced beef were juicy, tender, and oh so flavorful! The fried tofu appetizer was flavorless, so I was glad I only took half a piece. We had only finished a few plates of banchan when I declared that I was issuing our table the "BANCHAN CHALLENGE" in which we were to finish all of the plate of banchan. We ate strong- stuffing bean sprouts in our faces, shoving kimchi after kimchi in our mouths, throwing all the not-as-pleasant-tasting ones in miso soup and then eating it after the nasty flavor was off, whatever it took for us to finish them all! And we did! OH YEAH. Five little college girls demolished the banchan. Ah, and the waitresses. They weren't particularly friendly and checked on us once throughout the meal. We ran out of water during our meal and had to walk to the cashier area to ask for someone to refill our glasses. They seemed super annoyed with us at the end when my friends and I were figuring how to split the bill ($53- not bad) and pay because we took a little while on that. At this point, the waitresses were walking past our table more, probably waiting for us to pay and leave. We didn't really care about service anymore though, because our tummies were full and we were satisfied! MMMMMM!
(4)
Kevin W.

I'm knocking off a star for adding a couple bucks onto the tip. I think on a $84.35 base, a total tab after tip of $96.35 is fine. But my cc statement says $98.35. I really don't think restaurants/servers should do this. I don't know why that behavior is so pervasive. I guess it's only a couple bucks, but kinda annoying. Obv I could have made a mistake and written the number wrong on my duplicate receipt, but not likely. I'm cheap. I get it. Too bad. Good food. Bad morals.
(3)
Keith C.

Good Food. Horrible service. We moved from our table to a smaller noisier one when the waitress found out we weren't ordering any meat. This happened after waiting for 30 minutes for any service, Banchan (sides/apps) or drinks. The table beside us received all of the above within minutes of arriving. We would have left but we finally got our food after at least an hour and we were starving. I'm okay with mediocre service but this was almost comical. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe our patience was being tested by some hidden camera. Not recommended.
(2)
Jeanie S.

I came here with a group of 18 after club/bar hopping and our main reason to go there was to get their alcohol. Lol. But of course we ordered and spent over $400 but the food was well worth it. The service was iffy but the food made up for their loss. I couldn't get enough of their little side dishes. I devoured it all. But I did hate how we had to cook the kalbi ourselves, due to the fact that we've been partying all night from 9pm-4am. I think the service was on it's downside because of the time. But I am glad that we had Koreans with us to do the talking because I'm sure it made our service a lot better than it would of been if they weren't there. Lol. But I will be back and I'm sure the food will be as great as it was the first time.
(4)
Eric V.

Whether it's a casual afternoon lunch or the wee hours of the morning after a raging bender, San Soo is consistently one of my favorite Korean joints. My orders always start with the Goon Mandu. These crisp fried dumplings have plenty of scallion and ginger flavor, and come with a tasty soy-chili dipping sauce. Before the dumplings even make it to the table prepare for a flood of a dozen or so Banchan. Banchan are those tasty little side dishes of anything and everything that's fresh from the kitchen, such as kimchi, bean sprouts, seafood pancake, and pickled white radish. Refills are free so don't be shy! If you're going the BBQ route then you can't go wrong with tasty standards like Galbi and Bulgogi. The cuts of meat are always tender and well marinated. My other favorite is the Kimchi Chigae, a flavorful soup of kimchi, tofu, and vegetables. Flavors are well balanced between tart, savory, and spicy. You may expect a lot of heat with its bright red color, but it's relatively tame. It's also big enough for two or more people, so I definitely encourage communal sharing. Now Korean joints usually have the reputation for cold, indifferent service. I actually find the wait staff here to be attentive and at times friendly, which goes a long way when you're serving a bunch of drunkards who keep mumbling for more Bulgogi and Kimchi. At the end of the day you get awesome Korean BBQ AND they're open till 5AM. What's not to love??
(5)
Katrina L.

The only Korean BBQ restaurant I've been to in Chicago. First time, we had kalbi and samgyeopsal (pork belly). Kalbi wasn't flavorful enough, I thought - seems like it needed to be marinated longer. Samgyeopsal was good - but it's not marinated, so as long as they use high-quality pork, it will be good. The second time we went here, the Kalbi was so much better - more tender and more flavorful! I was happy. Per usual, they gave us ridiculous amounts of banchans which we all enjoyed - all were delicious! My only gripe about this place is that the price seems way too steep for what you get. Not sure if it's reasonable for me to compare it to LA KBBQ restaurants, but good ones in LA are ~$17 for AYCE. 1 serving of meat here is ~$20. I will always go back here because it's open late and it's good KBBQ.
(4)
Dawn H.

First off, I'm not a huge fan of red meat. In fact, I occasionally ponder about turning vegetarian. Therefore, when my friends suggested this place a few months ago for a GNO, I was a little hesitant. In hindsight, I'm so glad I found the courage to go. The tender beef (#18 on the menu) is one of the reasons I can never become a vegetarian. The beef is just oh-so-tender, and the marinade is awesome! My boyfriend and I have returned a couple of times since and have tried some more meats, including the bacon, but we always are sure to simultaneously order the tender beef since it's 10x more flavorful. Also, the Fusion roll is always fresh and tasty. The service? I suppose it's a hit or miss. One pro is that they are attentive enough to always keep the drinks full. Cons? Sometimes they are aggressive in grabbing the grill tongs from you as you're cooking (just grab them back). One time they reached over us on the table to grab the lettuce and put the meat and toppings on for us to show us how they suggested we eat, but we just told them to stop. LOL. If you're stern, they back off. My personality doesn't have an issue with this, but I can see where this may be a drawback for some. Overall, the tender beef is wonderful and deserves 4 stars alone.
(4)
Brett F.

So as I learned last night, it's not peanut sauce, it's bean paste. I figured my due diligence requires I should pass along this wealth of knowledge to you lovely people. Oh and despite SSGS really being known for its all out meat orgy factor, the sea options are actually quite fabulous. Go for the Octopus because not only is it spicy delicious, but saying "give me the 'puss" all night definitely ups your entertainment value.
(5)
Phung Ha P.

Usually the food here is delicious but when i just went there recently the quality of the food has gone down. Not only the quality of the food has worsen but the service is HORRIBLE (not like it was that great before). There are many reasons why the service was horrible. 1. They practically threw the food at us, they slammed it on the table 2. When they poured water for us, they SPILLED it on the grill and onto the food. 3. Every time you ask for something extra, they have this look their face as if we are wasting their precious time. 4. When we paid for our bill in the EXACT amount, as we were leaving a waitress pointed to me to come over, i asked whats wrong and they showed me how much i paid and i was confused for one moment. and the lady waitress finally asked " NO TIP?" and i said " i left it on the table". All they said WAS "OK", no thank you, no nothing. ABSOLUTELY RUDE . i will only be returning because the food is okay and its convenient to my house. do i recommend this place? only if you want to come to a place when they food is average with HORRIBLE RUDE SERVICE.
(1)
Martin B.

I've tried this restaurant twice in recent time. On both occassions I've had a bad experience. The waitresses were rude and would not let me finish telling them what I wanted to order. They just run off, to eventually come back and throw our million side dishes on the table. The bulgogi was good, but the giant tweezer that she used to throw the meat around the fire with, were not the cleanest. This is a typical restaurant that could have had ten chain restaurants around the city based on their food, but the waitresses are so ridiculously rude, that I know that will never happen. I will never set foot in there again.
(1)
Nick L.

The food is actually probably 4-5 stars but this place is unfortunately 3 stars overall. The side dishes are plentiful and a great start while you wait for the onslaught. The onslaught of smelling like a meat smoke stack that is! We came in a group and ordered off the set menu (one in the group was Korean so we let them do the talking) and all was going well. The food came out and it was juicy, succulent and super tasty. We were all nicely full when everything was said and done. Then the bill came. And the oddity began. We ordered for 6 people off the multi- person set menu, so we assumed we would be charged 6 x the single person price. However the place and hostess charged us for 7 and said that you have to have 7 people even though it doesn't state that anywhere in the menu. We go on and on and round and round on this and even in Korean we got nowhere. We took cash out of the ATM and paid the exact amount with $1 extra, i.e. basically the tip was removed to cover the extra person charge. I thought that was a bit shady of the restaurant and they wouldn't budge even though there were clearly 6 people at the table. I don't know what they were smoking that night (probably all that meat stench) but I wasn't paying enough attention as I don't speak the lingo! Oh well - guess this place is off the list. But darn - the food was pretty good!! Buyer beware.
(3)
John M.

The servce was professional and attentive. We never had to worry that one of our glasses of water would go empty. When we asked about our dishes we were politely told everything we wanted to know about the dish. The portions are large certainly larger than described in the menu which is a welcoming surprise. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone and they are perfectly situated to handle large parties.
(4)
Donna C.

If I wrote a review for this place a year ago, I would have given it 4 stars but the last few times that I've been there, I found the kalbi is getting progressively tougher every time. Perhaps a lowering of meat quality or some version of cutting corners? Don't get me wrong, it's not enough to keep me away from here because it's a pretty good value but I think it's time to move on to find some better Korean BBQ places in town. Also, I think the ventilation just isn't what it used to be... maybe those things are clogged and need a serious cleaning!
(3)
amish s.

What can I say? if you want authentic Korean food and and especially late at night, this is the place to go. I was taken here by some friends on a random night out, and I left here completely happy, not only by the food but the fact that it was open late, and just hit that right spot after a night out. Its really authentic, (soju with food is always a bonus) The best part of being here was the beginning when there are like 20 little side dishes to start you off before the main meal comes, i loved it and even took pictures...will post soon. In the end, a great place, great food, and well worth it!
(4)
Dora V.

San Goo Gab San is, in a word, bumpin'. Place is packed. The large booths and expansive space accommodate big groups, which you are likely to see. The barbeque pits are smokier than the vents are effective, so don't wear your favorite sweater. The menu is extensive and the food never fails, except for the one time they were out of buckwheat noodles when I needed some, stat. I went for the japchae instead. Japchae is a classic dish that consists of cellophane noodles, vegetables, and beef (optional) stir-fried in sesame oil. It's as appealing to the provincial palate as the ever-popular pad thai. It is thus a good option for vegetarians and picky eaters, who you can't always leave behind. The banchan will cover your table, leaving very little remaining space. Seriously, it's hard not to knock into things. At least it is for me. Note: the staff is not going to baby you. They might not even smile. Deal with it: they are working very, very hard. They take their jobs seriously. Juggling millions of tiny plates, navigating past fire-pits and serving an endless bustling crowd is what they do. Welcoming you is not. San Goo Gab San is an institution in Chicago. The late-night scene can't be beat. All kinds of folks go in there, ravenous, in various-sized post-party groups. It's people-watching galore! The best part is you will never, never leave hungry. Geonbae!
(4)
Kevin R.

We tried this place on a whim, and got lucky. We didn't have to cook our own meat (since it was just 2 of us), which is good, as that seemed intimidating. The amount of food was a bit overwhelming, but everything was delicious. We also tried some sushi, which was good, and plum wine - good stuff! It was an authentic Korean experience - which also meant there were some difficulties communicating with the waitress... but the quality of the food outweighs that. Worst part: the TINY parking lot. If you can navigate the parking lot, you'll have no problem with the menu.
(4)
Erika G.

I liked this place, and would go here again, don't get me wrong. The meat was SO TENDER and flavorful - esp. .the beef and pork. The spare ribs seemed too labor intensive - giant bone/not a lot of meat. I like the array of little Korean side dishes - the spicy potatoes, the bean curd, the kim chee. The service. Where do I start? Terrible. When new people join your table, how long before you serve them beer and give them plates? Everyone's cooking their own food, the kitchen can't be THAT busy! And our table quickly became crowded with dirty plates and dishes - we could have had a replenishment of those - would have been nice. Another thing. I understand the appeal of cooking your own food in a restaurant, I suppose, but usually when I cook my own food, I'm oh - AT HOME, and it's about 20-30% cheaper than a restaurant. This was seemed a bit pricey for having dinner companions double as kitchen help. Granted, I'd have to NOT go with a group of oh - 12-13 hungry/thirsty Yelpers 'cos we did have a formidable LOAD OF MEAT. So, further research is definitely necessary for this establishment. Vegetarians need not even bother darkening the doors of this place. Which, for me - is a plus. AND it's open until 5 AM - another HUGE PLUS in my night owl book.
(3)
Amanda S.

the last time i dined at ssgs, my sister's friend was being a good sport and let me drive to get the hours necessary to show jesse white and the city of chicago that i deserved a license. my excellent driving was suddenly rewarded (as long as i could park the car between a shiny lexus and beaming beamer) with korean bbq. back then, ssgs was the greatest thing since sliced bread. i was in awe of all the many side dishes and ability to cook my own food. during my most recent trip home, i told my friend i needed to go back before i left. he told me of a bad experience he had there and i was immediately defensive, claiming it couldn't possibly be true. when our large-ish party got there, we dutifully took off our shoes and sat down at one of the "authentic experience" group tables. then it happened. after ordering, our server told us firmly that it wouldn't be enough food and we'd only get one collection of small appetite-whetters even though we requested four orders of meat (that each, technically, come with the small side plates). we only asked for one more helping of the small plates, but she said it wasn't happening. my sister kindly said that the meat was definitely enough as we had two small children who didn't eat much and that after going there so many times (and being a "good" eater), she knew how much our party would need. the waitress shook her head and started scribbling furiously, while speaking in harsh tones to her notepad. seeing this, my sister asked (again, kindly) if she could speak to the manager, as they have built a rapport over the years. our waitress said no and walked away. i sat there, flabbergasted. the food is good, but not as great as i remember it (probably since there was a sour taste in my mouth before we even started eating), the wait for the bathroom is still obscenely long as there is only one per gender, and by the time you leave the establishment, you smell like you've been frolicking in a korean bbq pit. not exactly attractive. i'm pretty impressed with myself though, because that parking lot is definitely tight in retrospect, and i pwn3d it that day in the early 2000s.
(3)
Rapeepat C.

Gonna keep this review simple. - massive amount of side dishes which you can keep asking for more - charcoal grill! - you come out smelling like bbq which is the way it's suppose to be - good value for the money This place is a gem. Aside from the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere (umm...closest is ravenswood metra, really?). Parking lot is a bitch...it's so small...needs some serious skills to park there. The food tastes awesome. It depends a bit on your grilling skills but if you know what you're doing, it's wonderful.
(4)
Boon K.

Yes, the service is not the best here but they make the best Korean food in Chicago and they are open really late. i love their Kalbi marinate and they give you the most panchan( it is easy to get full while waiting for your main course. Bi Bim Bop Dolsot is good if you don't feel like cooking. Their seafood pancake is very large and I only order this with a group of at least 4. I have tried all their soups and they are all really good, and I like that it is spicy but not so spicy that you can't enjoy it. I think I also like it since it is a little cheaper compare to the other one around the area.
(5)
Sam K.

If you are looking for good Korean BBQ, this is the place for you. They are open ridiculously late, 5AM, or so the sign says (I'm never going to be able to try this). As many have mentioned the parking lot is small and the spaces are VERY TIGHT. If you have an SUV it is probably better to park on the street than risk getting your door dinged or even worse parking like an A-hole. The real reason to go though is the food. The small plates are fantastic and you can ask for more of your favorites. The Korean BBQ isn't from some cheap gas grill, they use real lump wood and you can definitely taste the difference. I liken it to grilling on a propane grill vs. a charcoal grill -- you just can't replicate the flavor. DO NOT go here if you are wearing your Sunday's best! You will leave smelling like BBQ. *Pro tip* Fact, guys cannot resist a beautiful lady who smells like BBQ. Service was great, but if you don't have patience to decode a little accent then you might think otherwise. Overall, this place is really good and I highly recommend.
(4)
A V.

Awesome food. This is one of those places you go to where the dining experience/process is as memorable as the food. Our table had two bbq pits built directly into them. Shoeless and seated Indian-style, we enjoyed twenty-two little appetizer dishes, Korean BBQ, bibimbap, some sort of fish stew, and soju. If you've never had Korean BBQ before, I suggest you give this place a try. It stays open until 5am and is group-friendly. But if you plan on getting fresh with your date, I wouldn't recommend this as a date place, since you go home reeking of smoke/bbq meats. I'm sure whiffs of smoke/bbq isn't an aphrodisiac for most.
(5)
Will K.

Being raised Korean myself, I can say that all the dishes here remind me of home. It's definitely as authentic of Korean as you will get. The plethora of side dishes and main course selections will leave very little room on your table for very large appetites. The meat selection is great, from Bulgogi to Kalbi and outstanding traditional stews such as my favorite, Kimchi jjigae. The food itself is great, but on a busy night expect a very slow service. Communication can be rough, so expect smooth sailing if you have any korean speaking friends. All in all, an enjoyable experience thats best shared in a group.
(4)
R L R.

Ok, first and foremost, don't expect most Korean restaurants to have top notched service skills. I have been to several Korean restaurants, with and without Korean friends, and almost every time the wait staff is indifferent. You're in their house, so suck it up or eat something else. With that being said, SSGS was the first Korean BBQ joint I went to without a Korean friend, so I had a pretty good idea about what I like and what to suggest to my companions. You don't go here for the service, you go for the food, which is pretty awesome for the prices that they're at. Be prepared to cook your own food in a fire pit and let your dinner companions understand what's going on or you'll end up having a big fight with your brother (who didn't understand the concept of paying to cook your own food) and ruin your other brother's birthday. I'm just saying, that's all. You do have the option of having the kitchen cook it for you too. I've always been partial to Bulgogi and Kalbi and my buddy loves the spicy octopus. Not being a huge fan of spicy octopus, I have to admit it's still pretty good. The plus side is that they have those gazillion side dishes. My favorite happens to be the bean sprouts and the pickled carrots. The parking lot is a scary battlezone, so I normally park on the side street and walk that block. It's better peace of mind than worrying about some overzealous idiot dinking up your car. I've noticed that they have been working on their service the last few times I've been in there. Although those ladies are a little grumpy and rushed, I can't help but sympathize. I'm sure they work all hours of the day trying to move herds of hungry Korean BBQers in and out. Having had a job in the food industry, let me tell you it's no picnic. Especially when you have to deal with really picky people who give you a whole song and dance about what they can or can't eat; and you don't really give a crap that they don't like grainy textures, yet they want to eat cinnamon sugar. There has been a pretty older lady that checks in on everybody now. I'm assuming she's the owner, but she's always around to make sure you're glass is still full and that you're not waiting around for anything. If you've never tried Korean BBQ before, this is a great place to introduce your palette to new flavors (and your clothes to a smoky sweet aroma. DON'T go to the movies or any other crowded places until you've atleast changed your top), just bring a friend who's eaten Korean food before, otherwise you're always safe with the Bulgogi or Kalbi. Above all, as you should apply to all new experiences, just have some frickin' fun!
(4)
Audre L.

I think this is a great Korean BBQ restaurant. Came here on Sat night with a large group of 12 (we made reservations). The restaurant is surprisingly big. Great atmosphere. Tons of fun and the food was good.
(4)
Gayatri D.

I'm vegetarian (Yes you can stop reading now, I won't be offended) but I quite enjoy downing chunks of tofu with large sips of Korean beer. And, I've never left San Soo Gab San hungry. My husband usually gets thin beef strips to BBQ at the table. And I help myself to almost all the side dishes. Special mentions go out to their veggie tempura and noodles. On a busy night, this place is bustling with energy and one feels momentarily teleported to Asia. Good fun and a welcome change from the uptight ambiance of some "Asian fusion" restaurants in the city. Yep, service is a bit off. But I'm willing to overlook that when I get such good value for money.
(4)
An P.

I am a Korean BBQ neophyte, but this easily might have been the most amazing food I've had in quite awhile. After a long, hard night of drinking we were starving for some Asian fare and decided to hit up the Korean BBQ that's open 24/7. Got inside and the place was full and lively from all of the other drunk people eating fourth meal. The patrons were drunk, but not the obnoxious Lincoln Park / Wrigleyville kind of drunk. All I wanted was some Bulgogi and Mandu and they delivered more than what I expected. Upon ordering our food, in came a pot of red hot flaming charcoal in a ceramic bowl with a grill on top, quite visually appealing I must say. Then came the largest selection of Korean appetizers that I have ever seen, I counted twenty little plates of appetizers that ranged from potato salad, sardines, tofu, noodles, kim chee, and all manners of all Korean cold appetizers that you have ever ordered. That begged the question, "Why get regular appetizers at all!?" When the Mandu came, there were about eight giant pieces of Mandu with an amazing dipping sauce that was filled with spices and chunks of some veggie. The Bulgogi came with two veggie filled miso type of soup. The meat came piled high on the grill and we could cook it to our own delight. Delightful meal, delightful atmosphere, and fairly priced for what you get at about $20 a person. Next time my friends are hungry for a late night snack, Korean BBQ will rule again.
(5)
P S.

NOMNOMNOM*can't*NOMNOMNOM*talk*NOMNOMNOMNOM*Âeating*NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM....tap tap tap...Penny...you're supposed to be writing a review...NOMNOM..what? Oh. Sorry about that. NOM Hi there. How you doing tonight? Me? I smell like meat smoke and kimchee but you know what? I'm doing awesome. Now. Now that I've experienced Sam Soo Gab San. So many plates, so much meat. Time flew by as we tore into the glorious offerings and before we knew it, everything was gone and what wasn't completely gone, was being picked at. Remember the last time you had a new food experience? First time you had curry? Or caviar? Or Thai food? It's like all that (presuming they were good experiences) rolled into one. Lettuce-wrapped beef, bean paste, various goodies. It's that simple and that perfect. Between the amazing company, the confluence of timelines that allowed us to all be together, the food... a glorious night indeed. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Nikki C.

These people are magnificent. They love meat very much and it shows through the way they marinate and handle it. So lovingly they touch the meat, so tender it becomes, to where the meat and the bones all gravitate to all the open and drooling mouths in the room resulting in mouthsplosions of flavor. Many. many, many sides to accompany this magical meat, and as one Korean in the room said it...the redder the color the hotter the meal...so now I know. Must bring mass people with you to share and to suck on the bones as the bones are very tasty and suckworthy. Chukbae!
(5)
Tracy L.

The last time I went for Korean BBQ was at Cho Sun Ok, and that was a much better experience for me. When we were seated, our whole group wasn't here yet so the waitress didn't take our order. However, we wanted tea in the beginning and she never brought it. It's understandable that she waited until our entire party arrived but when we tried to flag her or the other waiter down a couple times, they seemed to busy themselves doing other things. The beef and pork that we ordered were great. We got more side dishes here than at Cho Sun Ok, like seaweed and mini korean pancakes with egg rolls. The tempura (fish cake, my favorite) was better at the other place though. We only got two servings of beef and a serving of pork for 5 people and left pretty satisfied. That came to $65, or about $16 each with tip. Not bad!! I think I'd stick with Cho Sun Ok in the future though.
(3)
meredith d.

Just had another great meal here - platters of Goon Mandu, Wang Kal Bi and Bul Ko Ki, so many small plates of panchan they could hardly fit on the table, soup, lettuce, miso-based dipping sauce, rice, and plenty of Korean beer and hot sake. The first time we went recently was a Friday night, quite late, and last night it was a Thursday evening - both times we were seated without a wait. Unlike some reviewers, we never feel the service is bad here - all the food comes out very promptly, and everyone is very friendly. I've had more creative panchan in fancier places, but that's a minor issue to me - the panchan they serve here are so numerous that it more than makes up for the lack of imagination, and everything is very tasty.
(4)
Bryan E.

Hands down, best Korean BBQ in the City. Open late and a ridiculous amount of small dishes (banchan).
(5)
Tim F.

Side note. I'm not a Korean, but have visited several pretty amazing food joints in Seoul. The food here is good enough (perhaps 3-3.5 stars), but one cannot discount the experience. Know that you will be cooking your own food and creating combinations of meat + side dishes wrapped in lettuce leaf to consume. If you are with a group and expect to have a Korean BBQ style experience - this is the place to be. Know also that you will smell like a Korean BBQ for the next day or so...
(4)
Marlon V.

Good late night spot for KBBQ. Love all the appetizers/small plates at the beginning of the meal because there are so many. I give this place 2.5 $'s - it can be pricey depending on the amount of people u have in the group because it seems like the amount of meat given is not enough at times. Food is delicious & tasty.
(4)
Amy A.

This place was disgusting. The only redeeming quality was the partially friendly service (PARTIALLY). Only went here because Chicago Kalbi was close (who closes on a Tuesday????). The meat was fatty, chewy, and gross. The sides seemed really old. The alcohol selection was extremely limited, as in one hot and one cold sake, one to two beers, and basically that was it, AND in bold print they state twice on a sign at the door NO BYOB. Yuck, no thank you. Try Chicago Kalbi, awesome.
(1)
Dane K.

If I had to guess, one of the best places for Korean in the city.. I'm not all knowing, though. Apparently they recently remodeled this place... it's bright and orange inside, very bustling at dinner time. It helps I went with a Korean that spoke the language... I can see how this place might be intimidating to the newly inducted. But based off of what my Korean friend said, it feels like there's supposed to be some very strict structure, but t's very unstructured dining so you shouldn't have to fear doing something wrong. You'll probably end up doing odd things though, and surely things that you find odd.... (soup near the end of a meal, for instance. odd to you maybe, not to them) I would not go here if you're a vegetarian. It's a very carnivore-oriented meal. We had the ribeye and spare ribs. Personally I think the spare ribs were great. The ribeye was cut a little too thick and was harder to eat/grill right. The sides were typical, pretty decent though. And plentiful. Between the 3 of us we ordered 3 meats, I was leaning towards 2 to start with but they wanted more... I'm pretty sure we overate! We had a cold noodle soup that was also very tasty. Don't remember what it was called, but I'd get it again possibly. You have to order at least 2 of the meat items to get charcoal at your table... I can't imagine not doing so, that's the entire fun of going here! The night we went, there were a few tables of 4 eating at a non-charcoal table though, so if you know when you're going I'd recommend calling ahead. Also they have kneeling tables where you take your shoes off, these I'd call for too if that's what you want! Don't wear anything requiring dry cleaning unless you intend to take it to the dry cleaner after leaving... you'll smell like smoke when you leave, the sure sign you had a good time.
(4)
Justine L.

My third trip there - the food is very good. Tons and tons of side dishes / appetizer type plates (around 20 small plates). Good for those who like Korean food - I only like the bbq. I always get the kalbi and this visit was no different. However, I got the squid and the pork bbq also. Very delicious, but can't beat the kalbi. Only reason why it isn't a 5 is b/c the service staff is very pushy. B/c they are so popular and busy, they always have people waiting at the front to be seated. So the moment they see you finish, they do everything to get you out the door for the next table (including telling you they have people waiting for your table). This place still gets a 4 from me which reflects just how good their Korean bbq food is.
(4)
Sharon L.

Disappointed... Greater the expectation, greater the disappointment. Honestly, it was one of the worst/mediocre non marinated short ribs I ever tasted. The meat was not tender at all and very tough. But I would suggest everyone to give it a try! On the brighter side, the servers were very nice and there were over 10, I want to say 18 different side dishes :)!! And they were all very, very, very good!
(2)
Kato t.

The Pros and the Cons: PROS first: Food's very good and that's always the important thing! The best part for everyone is that as you cook it right on your table with the charcoal cooker you get that great smokey flavor and it feels good to know you're getting it as hearty and fresh as possible; but it especially feels good to know just how well cooked it is because YOU'RE the one cooking it. You can make the meat as medium as you want it or as rare as you like it, it's entirely in your control. Although if you're a vegetarian I suppose this aspect of charcoal cooking might not apply. Also the atmosphere is very cozy for night time dining, so if you have a group of people, like family or friends, then the crowd that is in there combined with the low cielings help give the place a 'hip' feeling (cuz of the bustling crowd) yet cozy and warm. If you can, I feel, the best tables to sit at are the ones to your right side near the door, because the stylish construction of it kind of has you sitting Indian style comfortably on cushions yet also with the option of sitting how you would normally sit on a chair by using the space dug in the floor. All in all, if you like Korean food then this place is good, and like most Korean restaurants you'll love the hours as it closes quite late (5am I believe). So it's a great place if you want to eat something better than Bakers Square with a group of late-night friends from partying or maybe after a midnight movie. CONS: Nothing serious to complain about at all as I think it's a great place, but the following is worth being aware of. One, the parking space between cars is really tight. Since most of it's business is during the night, the low visibility combined with the the low tolerance of space between cars makes for a little fender-bender potential. So just be real gradual when you squeeze in there, there's no need to rush, the restaurant is right in front of you, and you'll be doing a lot of reversing and forwarding to fit in snugly. Not only is the space between cars very small, but the lot itself is also small, so most likely you'll be parking else where. I want to say that it's lot could only fit 8-12 cars. Two, it's a very popular place during the night hours, especially after 7pm, so you will have to wait in line for you party's turn. You may have to wait up to 20 minutes (as we did) but the time goes by quickly especially if you parked in their lot and you sit in your car. They do give you a pager so that when your turn is up you'll be notified by it buzzing. I think the typical wait might be around 10 minutes. They WILL say "30-40" minutes because of the wise mentality of "under promise" and "over accomplishing", so I feel they exaggerate on the wait time so that you're not disappointed. Three, one drawback of their fresh charcoal cooker that I only noticed the next day is that the smoke that it causes can stench your shirt or coat with it's smokey smell. When my jacket the next day had smelled like the smokey scent I suddenly got hungry for it, lol. So wear a light t-shirt maybe or something easy to wash if you don't want it carrying the smokey smell. But I SHOULD point out that, maybe I was the only one of my party who had this, as I may have been positioned at the brunt of the smoke which is smack in the middle of the table. Above your table there IS an exhaust vent that is active all the time to suck and absorb the smoke, but this is just a minor observation, everyone washes their clothes anyway. So those are the Pro's and Cons of my very enjoyable night at SanSoo GabSan. The service was fine and they tend to work very fast, I definitely would recommend it for some good Korean dining at lat night hours.
(4)
Michael C.

This is a pretty good Korean BBQ joint. The way this place really distinguishes itself is by giving you an oddly large number of side dishes--we counted 25 bowls. It's a little intimidating, but really, what other restaurant, of any kind, brings you 25 (yes, twenty-five!) of anything with your meal--at no extra charge?! And to boot, you can get any of them refilled, as many times as you want, at no extra charge. The BBQ is good, too. We got marinated beef and pork, and yes, it's fun to cook your own meat at your table. Good tasting, too--that beef marinate is phenomenal. Drawbacks? Well, we didn't know what we were eating with all 25 sides; in fact, less than half were easily identifiable. The waitstaff is super nice, but they only speak Korean, so when we asked what something was (it was one of the ones we didn't like), we got an extra serving instead. And really, if you're not into wasting food, you might not like this place: You're not going to like all 25 sides, so you're going to end up leaving a bunch of food on the table to be thrown out. Lastly, the place could use some remodeling, maybe a paint job, maybe something to brighten it up, as it's all dark brown wood inside. But a good place for Korean BBQ. I recommend you go if you like different things, want an eating experience, and want some good food.
(4)
Mel K.

My Korean mother approves! When you are craving the salty, garlicky and sour flavors of Korean food, this is a good place to go. I highly recommend the seafood pancake and marinated kalbi. Just don't be surprised when you leave the place smelling like smoke.
(4)
Phill C.

Been here many late nights - now open until 5am. This is one of my favorite places for Korean BBQ, especially since they are one of few places that use a charcoal grill. The meat just cooks that much better and you get the flavor from the charcoal. Their kalbi (marinated short ribs) is marinated perfectly and you get tons of side dishes. I also love the kalbi-tang, which is soup made with the short rib bones and some meat.
(5)
April P.

I'm feeling a little intimidated writing this review. What can you possibly say after there are already 400 plus reviews? Okay, let's attempt *great kalbi- I must say that for someone who hates to cook, it's not that bad to grill your own meat here. Seasoned very well, it tastes excellent both medium rare and with the sweet char. *20 (YES TWENTY) different types of salads and veggies given upon sit down and with grill order. Newcomers who have come with me do not believe me till they witness it themselves! *soup-the Korean, spicy version of the Japanese miso soup. Slices of jalapeno, beware! *service- A-ok. If you mess it up, and I'm grilling my own food, now that'll knock off a few stars and a few dollars for tip Okay, so how did I do?
(5)
Amy L.

Overview: OMG great Korean BBQ! Having lived in Korea for a year, I think I can say that this is very authentic - they even have obscure dishes like Bi Bim Naeng Myun (cold spicy buckwheat noodles), which I love! This is a great place for groups to share lunch or dinner. The value is good for the money and their bathrooms are really warm (I know that's weird to mention, but nothing makes me angrier than a cold bathroom with a cold toilet). A+++++++! Food: Order the beef kalbi! And the pork kalbi! And the samgyeopseol (really thick bacon) with kimchi! I have never been a big fan of bulgogi, but it was pretty good here. Like a REAL Korean restaurant, they bring you 20+ side dishes here, AND you can ask for as much extra of any side dish as you want (mmmmm fish cakes, cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, spicy tofu nom nom nom)! And they give you rice and lettuce to wrap the bbq meat in, as well as two traditional dipping sauces (sesame oil with garlic salt and pepper and spicy bean sauce) to dip the meat in. I love to mix the different side dishes with the bbq and wrap it all up in lettuce ... soooo delicious. Bonus - you also get Korean miso soup with your order! Ambiance: Ok, so the restaurant doesn't look fancy or even well-decorated, but it's got the two most important things a Korean BBQ restaurant needs - giant air vents above the grills, and scissors to cut your meat and noodles with ... very authentic :) Just be sure to wear something you don't mind getting all BBQ-smelling. My biggest critique for this place is that it needs more surface area for the grill so I can cook more meat at one time! Service: The service is very fast - they bring out the side dishes within 5 minutes of you sitting down. While they aren't proactive about making sure your water glass is full or checking that you're doing ok, a little eye contact and telling them exactly what you want (more side dishes!) is all you need.
(5)
Jenn B.

Saw the ratings and tried this place out! Nasty food. Poor ventilation! This place was so smoking our eyes were burning and we weren't even cooking anymore. If you walked outside you can see all the smoke coming out of the Restraunt. The lady kept telling us to order more and more food even when we suggested we had enough. We over ordered and there was no room for any of the food. Poor service she only came back when it was time to pay. Would never go back.
(1)
Precious B.

I've been going to this place for a long time and prepare yourselves for a SMOKE FEST lol it gets packed and smokey! The service is ok I commend the nice hispanic male waitor who attended to us very well but some of the Korean waitresses can be a bit snobby and don't really pay attention to the customer's needs nor understand....the food is incredible with side orders galore like potato salad, tofu, kimchee and seaweed, bbq is amazing.....enough said
(5)
Jennifer M.

Fellow Reviewers: Were you guys trying to punk me by writing that SSGS is BYOB?? Seriously...I can't say much that hasn't already been said, except I like having my food cooked and it's NOT BYOB....I think. I dutifully (according to you guys) brought in my own $11.49 bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and was told to leave it in the car. Really?(insert flippin them the bird here) I just stashed it in my purse and gazed in amazement as the korean pros dealt their mystery plates onto our limited table space. So....who punked us?? Yelp folks or the suck butt servers? Aside from that, we ordered and charred the squid and octopus. Master the cooking times to avoid rubber meat and salmonella.
(3)
Dan D.

After the past few times eating here, I need to downgrade my stars to 3 or 4 stars (Imagine 3.5 stars...). The service is simply very rude. While the servers are very quick for bringing out food, the servers are not courteous or understanding. I came here with a large group of people and we were enjoying some pleasant conversation with our meal. Right as the check/bill came to the table, the server ordered us to pay right away..... Alright..... So we did. And then when she came back with the credit card receipt, she waited for us to sign it. Literally one minute after this occurred, she came back to our table and told us, "You already paid and must leave now. Need table for others." Wow! This was a shocker on the rudeness scale. Naturally the tip was already included in the bill, so she could really care-less how offended we were. The service NEEDS to be kinder, more patient, and less demanding to its patrons. This is not an isolated incident and has occurred to me many times and even my friends (and their stories are far worse!!!).
(3)
Jean C.

This is the place to get amazing Korean BBQ. I love the fact that this place is also open til 4am. You never know when I am going to get a craving for Korean. And normally it's all the time. The first time I came here was with my sister a long time ago around midnight. Since then, I have been here possibly 20x plus. I love the 20+ banchan dishes you get. I always order Kalbi and the hubs like the dak galbi. I think the best part of Korean BBQ is the grilling over the charcoal. The smells wafting throughout the restaurant are just irresistible. The food is always consistently amazing. The meat is fresh and perfectly marinated. I have a huge appetite and when it's Korean BBQ, I somehow have a bottomless stomach. I can eat and eat and eat some more. The service is good and that is surprising in itself. Most of the time, the Korean ladies are rude and short, but it's part of their charm. This is my comfort food restaurant. I immediately feel better after that first bite. And again, the fact that they are open til 4am is key. Nothing like late night BBQ.
(5)
Mas I.

Good late night drunk chow alternative to bar food, diners, pizza, fast food, Mexican or Chinese. Although the side dishes are good in the main, the selection and number vary considerably from visit to visit with no discernible pattern. I have a suspicion that I am served more side dishes in proportion to the number of Asian people with me. However, that might just be a long standing, remarkably, consistent coincidence. Note: you have to order at least two BBQ dishes to cook at your table.
(4)
Amzok E.

Love korean food and I have been here several times with my family . Food is great usually get spicy beef soup or bulgogi. I love all the side dishes and miso soup but the service is bad ( they are rude )
(4)
J M.

I've been to San Soo Gab San three or four times, and it's decent Korean food. My friend, who is a native from Seoul, and I agreed the kalbi is fine. I found them to have a better variety of banchan (small side dishes) but not all were tasty. The first time I came here, we thought it was known for its unmarinated kalbi but we found it underwhelming; Definitely steer clear of it and get the marinated kalbi. Side notes: Service is very functional and utilitarian compared to American standards, so don't come expecting super attentive wait staff. Also, because it is a grill-your-own-meal place, your clothes will pick up the smell of smoke.
(3)
Carol M.

Bring someone who knows what they're doing. It will make this place a lot less intimidating. Trust me. I went w/ my roomie who is half Korean and she took the reigns on what to order, how to do it, and what the little bowl of white stuff was. Also, plan plenty of time to take a nap afterwards. After such a lethal (but delicious) dose of meat you and your gut will need the down time. There were 7 of us. Between us we split the beef, pork, chicken, and octopus. The chicken and octopus were a tad spicy for my weak white girl taste buds but the beef was to die for! I tell ya, it must have been marinated in heaven juice. My favorite sides were the pickled beets and the fish cakes (I think that's what they were called...flat pieces of fish stuff that looks almost like flattened tofu). Also. Leave your coat in the car, unless you want to walk around smelling like "cheeseburgers" as another friend we met up w/ later described us as. The staff was friendly and attentive even though the place was packed. I think they're used to battling the crowds though. Bring your appetites and bring your friends, try the soju! 36/52
(5)
diana t.

I don't know too many sit down places open until 5 AM but this place is. So basically, after last call, you can STILL come here. And many drunk people do. For $20, u get about 20 delish unnamed plates. Someone made a comment that they don't tell u what it is. Who cares? It was all good. If you care about what stuff is named, you probably shouldn't be in this side of town at 5 am. Then they put this grill on your table and plates of meat. And then you grill and eat until you can't grill or eat anymore. The service is nice. Its pretty much self serve. They bring out your food in about 10 minutes. Sometimes the woman seems really tired. But then again so is the security guard at the 4 am Taco Bell in Wrigleyville. This is better.
(5)
Adj F.

It's best to go to this place with a group of people who also enjoys food. This way, you can try different grill items without putting a hole in your wallet. The food is fantastic, the beef ribs is tender, juicy and down right delicious. They give you a lot of kim-chi as you can see in the pictures. I've been here twice with a friend, and when we left we are comfortably full but by no meanings stuffed. I haven't tried anything but the bbq here -- but I don't know why you would want to order anything else! It's not cheap, one portion of grilled meat ranges from 15 - 25 bucks. The service is ok -- like a lot of authentic foreign places, the waitress ain't gonna chit-chat with you, but they get the work done and they are fast.
(4)
Eddie C.

Went here again last weekend. Party of four...there was a $16 service charge on our bill. Ordered 3 cokes and were charged $4.50. The menu clearly said cokes were $1.00 each. When I brought these problems up to the server, she frantically searched through SIX different menus to try and find one that said $1.50...but she was unable to do so. She seemed to be pissed [that she was caught]. Their food cannot be beat...just make sure you take a careful look at the final bill. I hate (and love) this sneaky place.
(1)
Marvin A.

A great late night BBQ place. It's also a great post drinking/clubbing/barhopping snack place. Comes with a TON of side dishes. Do not expect great service but do expect a fun group experience (especially if you opt to grill on the table). This place is not for the picky eater or someone not used to oriental tastes/cuisine.
(4)
Lauren P.

awesome birthday party idea! contrary to some of the other reviews, service was great. not only were we seated on time for our reservation, our waitress helped us order - even making a few suggestions for things we wouldn't otherwise have known about (hello, delicious seafood pancake.) once that was settled, the food came out very quickly. after we got cooking, the server was nice enough to change out our grill a few times, which helps reduce the amount smoke coming from your table. i wouldn't recommend this kind of experience to picky eaters or to the unadventurous. none of us were korean, so we didn't know what any of the sides on the table were - but we happily tested away anyway. as for our meat selections, we ordered short rib (very good,) chicken (decent) and bacon (the least favorite of the group.) we also took a risk and ordered some spicy squid - which ended up being a big hit. we had no idea what we were doing when we ordered, but we still ended up having an awesome meal - so i can only imagine what it'd be like to eat with someone who's familiar with korean food. most likely amazeballs. a few FYIs - you'll have to take your shoes off. i wasn't expecting this and i don't think the rest of my party was either. more importantly, the vents above the tables aren't very powerful. (read: you will smell like korean bbq afterward.) come to dinner with only the essentials (best to leave coats at home or in the car.) overall, it was a super fun and enjoyable experience - my entire party had a great time. side note - one sure fire way to know this place is legit is by its clientele - 90% of the people dining that saturday night were korean. looking forward to visiting again!
(5)
Kimberly P.

They use charcoal! Salads are amazing! Have been going here for years..We get the spicy pork rib and squid. The bulgogi has changed and lost its love so we don't get it anymore, tried it 4x and it was bland and watery. It used to be AMAZING. Still the best Korean BBQ I have found.........
(4)
Suzy D.

This is my favorite Korean BBQ place in Chicago. The Wan Kalbi is my favorite. Whenever I go here, I always order the seafood pancake and the wan kalbi. The tofu soup they bring you is always tasty too. If you haven't been here yet, go and try it! You will not be disappointed. However, if you go during the busy time, be prepared to wait....and wait.
(5)
Nini Y.

I love the food but agree with others the service is terrible....... I was with my brother and we are both Asians... and the waitress would not acknowledge Me when i would order... and would only look at my brother.....and ask him what he wanted......!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(3)
RT S.

We went here on Saturday at 12 noon to have group reunion. Once seated, we ordered the food. 2 kalbi, 1 baby octopus and many side dishes. Kalbi is tender but tingy for the amount. Baby octopus was soft and well marinate. We also order buck wheat noodle with sour sauce and vegetable. It was very sour, not recommended unless you're pregnant with an acquire taste for sour noodle. One bad thing, I requested hot water twice, but the waiter came out 2 times with tea and no hot water. She said the restaurant doesn't have hot water. How does she make hot tea then!
(3)
art s.

If you just want to get down to business with some fried foods and barbecued meat, San Soo Gab San is your place. Come hungry and wear your play clothes. You're going to walk out of here full and smelling of meat. San Soo Gab San is an unassuming, no nonsense joint that focuses on the food. Period. The non-atmosphere is the atmosphere. You sit in twenty or thirty year old wooden booths and tables. The main design element is the construction-zone orange industrial strength exhaust hoods that suck out the fog of meat smoke. You are served by efficient, unsmiling, matter of fact waitresses. This place means business. And that's fine. When full and all the hoods are firing, the place truly hums. It's smoky, noisy and energetic with the smell of meat in the air and 22 oz. bottles of OB all around. It makes me happy. Once you order you will experience a food avalanche. Get an appetizer or two - say the mandu, or the agedash tofu. Get a plate of meat. And definitely go the cook it yourself route. They are old school here. You're working with a charcoal or wood grill. Let the fancy places have their built in gas grill tables. We've got bus boys running around with bowls of fire and hot grill faces. Don't forget that you will also get 15 - 20 miscellaneous side dishes (called Panchan). Every square inch of table space is covered in food. However, while my wife and I liked this place just fine, in the interest of full disclosure I do have to say it didn't quite pass muster with my Korean in laws. They found it average at best. But then, they are used to the 'more meat buzzer' that is installed at every booth of their favorite place in the suburbs. Push it and signal to the waitress with your hands how many more pounds of meat you want. Hard to argue with the brilliance of that kind of efficiency. If San Soo Gab San adds the meat buzzer I'll take the in-laws back and see if we can't up this to a 5-star review. Star scoring scale: 5 = Spectacular 4 = Better than average, really enjoyed it 3 = Average, don't regret it 2 = Disappointing 1 = Abysmal
(4)
Kacie M.

Five stars, BUT I am not Korean and had never had Korean barbeque before. I love fun new ethnic experiences, and that's was San Soo was. I was there before the renovation, so I'm not sure what it looks like now, but we used to sit in individual booths with high walls around you so you feel like you're in your own space. Cooking the meat yourself adds a fun dimension to the experience, and of course the place smells fantastic. I definitely felt out of place surrounded by Koreans groups who'd filled the place up after they got out of church. It was SO much fun and completely delicious.
(5)
natalie v.

OK, so I came here with a group of 5 people. I had no idea what I was ordering; thankfully, one of the guys with us was well versed in Korean food. He asked us a few questions on what we like/were willing to try/refused to try and then ordered for us. We got a gigantic plate of different meat and got to cook it ourselves on the charcoal grill ourselves. This, I learned, is what Korean barbecue is all about. I don't really know the names of the meat, but I do know that we had mostly pork and beef. And then there were the side dishes...the multitude of little side dishes that they give you...I tried it all and liked most of it. I wanted to try the things before learning what they were so that I wouldn't make a judgment first. As the meal went on, I kept having more and more fun...but that probably had a little to do with the sake. I am a fan of Korean barbecue. You should be too...unless you're a vegetarian. If you're a vegetarian, I'm not sure you'll love Korean barbecue.
(4)
Delia C.

I won't repeat everything that's already been said but here's why I love this place just on one night there: the place was packed with Koreans. They were loving it, the Korean friends I was with were loving it, so that meant I was loving it. Next time, I can't wait to try the bee bim bap. Ohhh, my mouth just watered a little bit. Extra tip: if you go with a group over 5, there is a special thing where you get to each order a plate of meat and it comes with all sorts of free extras. I don't know what this little special deal is but the Korean guy who ordered for us knew about it and we ate like kings for the whole night. We *ran out of room* on the table. There were 8 of us. 8 different meats! (Even tripe which I don't eat.) And if you ask nicely, someone will bring your American boyfriend a fork.
(4)
Angela D.

No frills, but the food is delicious and WORTH the wait, the smoke and the mediocre service. I should mention we had someone who could mostly speak the language and it was STILL mediocre service. Honestly we enjoyed the food so much and had so much fun we didn't even notice :) Now, I've been to one other BBQ place a few years ago, and this place was definitely better. The grill was larger and cleaner and the meats were higher quality. We had a noodle dish as well as 4 BBQ entrees to share amongst a table of 5 and it was a TON of food. Great value! Parking is VERY limited, and if you go at a busy time you may be waiting an hour to get in. So just be warned.
(4)
Sandra W.

I moved to Chicago\Evanston area about 2 years ago and I've been looking for some good Korean BBQ for a long time and I FOUND IT! We ordered so much food and it was SO good. I love how we get to cook the meat right in front of us. I felt like it was so much more authentic than if it came out cooked already which was what I was used to. We ordered the korean beef and ribs marinated in the bbq sauce and it was amazing. We also ordered a bowl of Tofu Soup and that was just as good. The little dishes were also good, too. They just kept coming and you can order more for free. The parking lot was ridiculous. We were lucky that we got there at around 6:30pm and we got a parking spot. By the time we left, there was a line waiting and kind of hard to get out because the lot was so small. The location isn't all that great, but the drive was worth the wait.
(4)
Erick P.

I heard a lot about this place so I decided to give it a shot, the parking lot is really small and the resturant is small as well. I liked how they gave around 25 appetizers and the food tasted good. Overall a good experience.
(4)
Maren B.

Yummy yummy! This place is awesome! If I lived in the area I would probably be here about every day. It looks rundown, but the food makes up for it. When you order something to grill they give you soup and rice, along with 20-something sides, consisting of veggies, tofu, dried fishes, and some things I didn't recognize but ate anyway. Some of the sides are 'gross', and some you might love - it really depends on your personal taste. The meat is flavorful and delicious, and for an average appetite, you definitely get enough to fill you up. And the rice... oh it is amazing. Hot, sticky, perfect-texture rice. I could live on that stuff. I will say that if you're a germophobe this place, and in general most Korean BBQ places, are not for you. I used about half a bottle of hand sanitizer because every time I used the tongs I got meat juice on my hands. I find that pretty disgusting, but I was willing to put it up with it for the deliciousness. I'd also like to warn about their water (or was it tea?)... I'm pretty sure it was mop water. I looked at it, thought it looked disgusting, took a sip anyway, and almost vomited. There is seriously no other explanation than the faucet was broken so they dipped our cups into a bucket of dirty mop water in the back room. Or maybe they didn't like the looks of us and wanted to drive us away... either way next time I go I'll be sure to smuggle in a bottle of my own water.
(4)
Andrew A.

This is one of the better kalbi restaurants in Chicago, yet like most Korean restaurants, if you don't know what you're doing, and you're not Korean or among Koreans, you will be lost. That said, the quality of meat and availability of panchan (side dishes) is usually pretty good, and it washes down well with Jinro.
(3)
Amanda T.

I love Korean BBQ, and this place is legit! And there are over 400+ people in Yelp world that agrees with me. I think this is the first time I went somewhere that served sushi and didn't even bother to look at the sushi menu. Come for the BBQ, you'll be glad you did! There's so much variety to choose from, and everything is tasty. We ordered a number of items from the BBQ menu. The squid and the Kalbi (beef) were my favorites. They're crazily delicious-especially when it's cooked the rare side. Melts in your mouth. I heard the fried oysters and the seafood pancakes were good, so naturally, I had to try them. Verdict: the fried oysters were okay, but my mom's are better. The seafood pancake, however, lives up to it's reputation. Loved it! And the side dishes that come with it...man oh man. There's way to many to even fathom. It's practically a full meal. I think it came with over 15 little dishes. Love the tofu and the kimchi, though I can live without the awkward potato/egg salad and lotus dishes. The place itself is whatever. A little bit on the grimey side, but whatever. I can look past it. The service was friendlier than I expected for an Asian restaurant at least (I don't mean to be judgmental and stereotype...okay I lied. I am judging and stereotyping). Our waitress were helpful in recommending which dishes, and which she would preferred over others. Glad we listened to her. If you don't mind walking out smelling like Korean BBQ for the next two days, then come try it. I'm glad I did. Double mmph!
(4)
Nick P.

Having a Korean-American wife and Korean mother-in-law I would say that I have a decent idea of what good Korean food tastes like. This place used to be the above average in my book but has definitely downgraded its food from good to horrible. On top of that, the service is egregiously rude. I am amazed that they call themselves servers at all since they are not deserving of this title. I don't know about you but when someone puts a dish on the corner of the table without announcing the name of the dish or the trying to find out who ordered it, I find myself holding back really hard from giving them a $0 tip. To explain this shift in quality, some say that ownership has changed, others say that the growing presence of non-Koreans dining here has diluted the service/food quality. Whatever the reason, I would rather eat cardboard than come back here again.
(1)
Nicolas H.

I've been to a few Korean BBQ spots and unfortuantely this one leaves a lot to be desired. Sure they have all of the typical side dishes and they make you cook your own meat. However, the service was some of the worst I've ever experienced. They offered no help when we were trying to figure out what to order and how much to order. The family sitting next to us seemed to have the same problem after they started asking what we ordered. Obviously they are continually crowded, so they must be doing something right, but I have no interest in supporting a place that doesnt care about serving their customers properly...
(2)
Sarah L.

First of all, honestly, people who DO NOT KNOW KOREAN FOOD should not comment about the way the food is prepared or brought out. I just read an idiot who wrote that if you order one order of BBQ, they will cook old kalbi in the kitchen instead of table service to "scam non-Koreans and to make sale". What an idiotic thing to say!!! Go to ANY KOREAN RESTAURANT, and they will all do the same thing!!! All Korean BBQs tabletop are 2 orders minimum! It's NOT to sell old kalbi or to push for sales! I bet this idiot will complain at any other restaurant if they say "two orders minimum." There is a reason they do this, and if you do not know, then maybe you should just be quiet. Okay. now that the hostility I was feeling towards that stupid yelper has subsided, I would like to say SSGS has been pointed out more than once for their poor service. I have been going to SSGS for 15 years or so since college...and it has been getting worse over time, it seems. It doesn't matter if you have a language barrier or not. I've been here with Koreans, non-Koreans, family, friends, co-workers....and no matter who I'm there with, it's poor service. I can see that the manager has been leaving messages about improving their service, and I do know that it is harder to get older Korean women to be nicer and more attentive. They can be quite stubborn and angry at times..... But this isn't some Korean market in some province of jeon-lado. This is U.S., meaning, you have to EARN those tips, not expect it. And language barrier is NO EXCUSE for bad service. Honestly, those ladies really must hate themselves and their work, because it shows on their tired, angry faces. The food is okay, the side dishes are good, the prices are moderate. But you lose 2 stars for bad service...which I hope will improve over time.
(3)
Jillian D.

i am so disenchanted and i will never EVER return. here is why: 1- the hostess was extremely rude. she tried to seat our party of five at one of the low japanese style tables (the kind that requires you to sit cross legged on cushions). when i pointed out that three of us had sundresses on, she scowled and led us back to the waiting area without saying a word. 2- once seated, we proceeded to order. this wasn't my first rodeo folks. my best friend happens to be korean, so i've done the bbq thing a million times. yet, the waitress decided to cook all our food for us, all at once! and yelled at us the entire time to "eat eat eat". i have never felt more rushed. 3- while cooking the food, she spilled blood from the raw beef on our lettuce, making the wraps inedible. when we requested more, we were told no, and she repeatedly gestured to the tainted wraps saying that we had plenty. 4- the waitress put the cooked meat on the same plate that had held raw meat. can we say cross contamination? 5- a live insect of some sort was crawling in the dipping sauce that accompanied our pancake appetizer...that we had already eaten. barf. we called the waitress over to show her the critter and she and several others examined it closely, took the bowl up to the front of the restaurant and never said anything more about it. but when we left, the bowl was sitting up there, so clearly they wanted someone to take a look at it. so i am done. and you have been warned.
(1)
Natta S.

After reading all the yelper reviews we expected the worst. However I was pleasantly surprised. Our group consist of 5 adults and 3 children for a Saturday dinner at 6pm. The place was half full so we were seated promptly. Waitress came back after a short time and we ordered. Water came promptly and was refilled throughout the night. Waitress was attentive for the most part. We ordered the seafood pancake ( ok I've had much better), dumpling (good), marinated chicken ( ok but it kept sticking to the grill), marinated galbi ( good not great) and regular galbi that came with the bones ( no flavor). Lots of side dishes some good some great and some def never again but that's just a preference. The bill cme out to $144 for a group of 8, not bad! Overall I was most impress with the service. I was expecting Chinese restaurant service or worst but it was pretty good. I think either they recognized that it was a weak point for then or we just lucked out!!
(3)
Jayne K.

By my own admission, I love, love, love Korean BBQ. I would do a bad bad things for Bulgogi, Kalbi and some Soju. If you share my gastro-sentiments, then you should run, run, run to San Soo Gab San. Some things to know before you go... It's open waaay late and is awesome drunk food. If you aren't drunk, Soju (Korean hard alcohol) is an excellent and painless way to get you there. Trust me, its delicious, burnless and sneaks up on you like a Mofo. Don't expect great service. From what I can tell that's just not a part of the K BBQ experience wherever you go. Taking someone whose fluent in Korean definitely helps, but not drastically. It's pricey. I disagree with other reviewers here. I always get a lot of food, but the bill creeps up on you faster than the Soju. Of course, the alcohol could have something to do with it. And finally, its kind of out of the way and parkings a bitch. (Western and Farragut? Trying getting a cab to take you there.) However, if you love K BBQ like me, this isn't such a bad thing. So like I said run, run, run to San Soo Gab San. But try Cho Sun Ok for a close second.
(5)
Sean C.

I would agree with most postings. Food was good, assortment of sides was nice. Great kimchee! We ordered the short ribs, chicken, and korean seasoned short ribs. Service was sub-par, we were seated for 10 minutes before a waitress took an order (4pm seating). The dining room quickly filled towards 5:30. We were ushered out a little sooner than we would have liked, when the waitress came over asking "...so what's next?" So we downed the rest of our beers and headed out to Hopleaf. I would take friends here if they specifically requested Korean, although would not be somewhere I would make a point to go again. (distance from 'burbs) Common response to going to Korean BBQ: "When I go out to eat, I don't want to have to cook my food myself..."
(3)
Meredith B.

BYOB - yes. Good service? - Not really (but that's not why you go..) Good food? YES Good times? Great for group? Entirely. Go. Just go. Stop reading and get out the door. Barely even matters what time it is, chances are they're open. Prepare for great food, to smell like a campfire, and a billion small bowls all over your table with a bunch of things you can't really identify (eat them anyway, don't be a wuss). Now go! Enjoy!
(4)
Nom Nom T.

This is hands down the best Korea bbq I remember having. It's been years since I've gone to this place ever since I moved, but I've never been to a place which serves over 20 kinds of DIFFERENT ban chan in one seating. The marinated meat is so flavorful and I love that you get to cook it over a charcoal grill, and not your regular gas grill. Do not overcook the meat or try to crisp it up, as the staff would not be too happy about that! =) Like many have reviewed, service is not the best... they don't really speak english and can be quite rude most of the times. I remember too that each of us will need to order an entree ( no sharing) allowed. I think asking for extra ban chan might not be free. I think if you speak Korean, you might get a little better service here. This place is open late; till wee hours in the morning and I like the tatami seating (limited) that you could just chill and eat some Korean BBQ. Even with the mediocre service, I always think about going back there to get my Korean bbq fix whenever I'm in town.
(4)
Alice Y.

So excited to have found a great Korean BBQ place within walking distance, more or less, from my apt. I came with two friends on a Sunday for lunch, and it was not at all crowded like I expected. The 20+ small dishes they give are awesome. I don't like them all, but it's nice to have such a variety to try. And they'll give you more if you ask. Just remember - if you really like something, especially if you don't know exactly what it is, be sure to save a little of it so you can show your waitress what you want. We made the mistake of eating all the fish cakes thinking they were tofu, asking for more tofu, and not getting the dish we wanted back. We ordered beef short ribs and bulkoki to grill ourselves at the table. The orders came with tofu soup, rice and lettuce. Surprisingly, the short rib meat had already been scraped off the bone. Both were good, though. My only comment would be that I'd prefer a cross-hatched grill, rather than one with parallel bars only. Over the high heat of the charcoal fire, the grill got distorted, and pieces of meat were falling through. Plus, after a while meat started sticking or getting burned to the grill. It needs to be cleaned/replaced more often than it was. We also got fried mackerel which was allright. I'm not a huge fish fan, and I would probably order more BBQ meat instead next time.
(5)
Angelica C.

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 chopsticks! =)
(4)
Dennis H.

Awesome. Just REALLY good Korean BBQ. Nothing surprising about the menu, serve all the typical Korean favs. The parade of side dishes that come with each meal are more abundant than most places I've been to. Cooking at your table over briquettes (vs. gas flame) is a nice touch. Service is fast and furious, this place is busy all the time and the ladies can be somewhat chaotic at times but totally worth it. Open late, perfect after-bar meal. If you're unfamiliar w Korean bbq, consider a few of these "safe" options: Galbi - marinated beef short ribs Bulgogi - marinated beef prime cuts Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop - Rice wish fried egg, vegetables, beef served in hot stone bowl that crisps your rice
(5)
DeAnna J.

Food was pretty good. I'd like to say I've had better. The banchan was definitely delightful. Bibimbap was ehhhh. Kimchijigae was alright, a little too tangy for me. (It also had sweet potato noodles in it, and I prefer rice cakes.) Would I go back? Yes, but I'd rather try some place else.
(3)
Sara B.

Ok people, let's talk. Considering that half of my family is Korean, I have seen my fair share of KBBQ. This is one of the best. Partially because the food is bomb, you get TONS of panchan, and it's open 'til 5am. There is a reason for the wait (as there usually is one especially come weekend). Let me let you in on a little secret: Koreans don't care about service. They do however, take their food SERIOUSLY. I've found that the lack of good service is part of the charm at San Soo. I'll be honest about something else...if you want decent service, you go with one of your Korean friends. That's just how it is. So people, don't come here if you're expecting fine dining. It's all about the food. Nothing more, nothing less. Cheers!
(5)
S I.

bad service
(1)
Jim B.

I don't know if there is better Korean BBQ in Chicago like some say, but this San Soo Gab San fits in perfectly on my 5 star yelp! We were greeted a quickly seated at 3 AM, a table of 5. After a few minutes of perusing the extensive menu, we ordered. 5 entrees brings with it about 100,000 little side dishes of varying little deliciousnesses. It's a trip to try them all, finding ones you really dig, and ones you don't. Then they bring fire to the table, and your meats which you get to cook right there at the table yourself. All this while drinking extra large Korean beers mind you. They were nice enough to make a dish without meat for my beautiful vegetarian girlfriend. Turns out she was eating it wrong, and the waitress, who are often described here as rude, came over and helped her out. It was quite funny. Any who, if its 3 am, you're on the north side, you have a car (they have a parking lot), and you don't feel like waiting in line at some fast food joint, this place should be on your short list! I will return!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

For a person who never eats Asian food, this restaurant made me an absolute lover of Korean BBQ. The option to cook the food at the table makes the meal feel even more authentic. Seating can be around a standard table or down on the floor around beautiful wooden tables. I am not a seafood eater, yet I found so many amazing choices. The seasoning and cut of the chicken was absolutely extraordinary. The meats is cut as such so that it cooks extremely quickly. The servers are more than willing to help you figure out what sauce is for which meats. Drinks are pretty simple, soda in cans but there are also some beers on the menu. A standout unique item is the Sweet Potato Wine. I would recommend this to anyone who loves meat. You definitely get your fill here with some left to take home. Parking is horrible. Try a side street. The hours are 10a-5a. I have never been there for a late night meal but it does not that I will not be soon. I am very impressed by this restaurant. From the outside you would never guess how amazing it really is. Also the noodles, soup, rice and dumplings are amazing. Overall, I would go there with a group
(5)
John Z.

The food was five stars. The service was three. If the menus didn't have the English translations of the Korean descriptions of the items, the service would have rated one star. If you want good Korean barbecue and don't care about service, come here. Seriously, the food was excellent. If good service matters to you, this is not the place for you.
(4)
Emily C.

The four stars are for the kalbi beef!! The beef was tender, well seasoned and tasted better because it was cooked on charcoal rather than an electric grill. The other dishes we ordered did not fare as well. Stay away from the bacon or pork strips. It was "meh" at best. The strips were so thin they ended up tasting more smokey rather than baconey and the fat portion was too thick. Moving onto the other dishes. The Soon Dobu or tofu vegetable soup was alright. The soup tasted kinda watered down. The side dishes were plentiful and pretty good--I think we were served around 15. We also tried the seafood pancake, but it was disappointing as well. I guess the highlight of the meal was definitely the kalbi beef. Too bad I didn't get to try the other BBQ items like the tripe and brisket because they were all sold out. I guess that's proof of the restaurant's popularity? I will definitely be back again and this time I'll just stick to the BBQ items. Warning: You will go home stinking of a mixture of garlic and smoke. But, it's well worth it!!!
(4)
Lillian W.

Horrible service! Shut us out at 3am while they advertise opening till 5am. This old lady was really rude, and all she said was no no no no no......
(1)
Min C.

I've been coming here to eat since I was in high school. They're open really late and are always pretty busy. If you come in groups of 10 or larger, you can make reservations. Most likely you will be sat in areas which require you to sit on the floor, Asian style. Food is plentiful, although they have been tending to kinda skimp a bit on the side dishes. Tons and tons of meat. Like any Korean restaurant, the service is lacking, but it's Korean style: flag down a waitress or a helping hand as the need for anything comes up. You leave smelling like the food you ate, which is pretty cute for the saying "You are what you eat." The lot is ridiculously tiny, so be prepared to have a bit of help getting in/out of the lot or finding available parking in the residential area.
(4)
KJ C.

We have been coming to this place once every few months for many years now and have generally had good food with lousy service. The waitresses have always been pretty cold and unfriendly, but the fantastic menu and outrageous number of banchan selections usually more than compensated. Tonight's experience makes it unlikely that we will ever return again. Right after we sat down we were asked what we wanted to order. After an eternity our banchan finally arrived, and as usual there was a great variety of dishes that were all delicious. Strangely they also brought the rice for the bulgogi at the same time. Then things went downhill. Slowly. After we were done eating all the banchan and rice and stacked up the dishes, the waitress came and told us the kitchen was very busy. Odd, our neighbors got their food quickly and a table that arrived at the same time as we did was finished with their meal before our first dish showed up. When the bulgogi finally came, it was inedible. Because we only had one order we could not cook it at our own table, it was done in the kitchen. The meat was cold in same places and hot in others, clearly it had been sitting there for a while. Also, there is no way this meat was grilled or BBQ'd, it was clearly stir fried. We ate the lukewarm dried meat - nobody came by to offer more banchan, rice or bring us our soup. After the meat was done, the hot plate just sat there, along with the unpicked up banchan and rice plates/bowls. By now we are over an hour into this meal. We finally asked for the tofu stew and noodles we ordered to go. Waitress was not happy about this request. The tofu came in a bag but not the noodles. She seemed offended we opted to not wait. She did offer an insincere apology, reminding us again how busy it was but that just added insult to injury as other tables were served quite expediently. For the first time in my life, I left without tipping. Just left a big ZERO in the tip line. I don't generally expect friendly service at Korean restaurants, but I do expect the food to arrive within a reasonable amount of time and I expect it to be good. SSGS blew it on both counts tonight. We will not be returning, and will go to Cho Ok Sun instead .
(2)
Mindy S.

My first Korean BBQ experience was fantastic! Apparently this is the only place in the city with in-table coal grills. We ordered the brisket and tender beef....not the best quality, so I focused my attention on the 25 little bowls of food they brought by! It was great to see my husband at the grill, even though it is February! The in-table coal grill was wonderful to keep warm by. I can't wait to go back with friends, because that's my only complaint, I had no idea what the 25+ tasty side dishes were.....just simple ingredient guesses, like seaweed, sprouts, cabbage, etc. Perfect food for a cold....spicy and hot :)
(4)
Ria C.

Open 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. every day? This place is CRAZZZEEE. Went here this past weekend with regulars...thank GOD, or else we wouldn't know what to do as the waitstaff is so bossy, they put Kelis to shame. It's like they sing "I'm the boss...boss...to themselves in Korean"--I don't blame them as this place is BOSSY. Strolled in at around 9 p.m. and waited for about 20 minutes. They initially tried to seat us at the tables where you sit cross legged, but being that Coco is 6'4" and meaty...he wasn't built to fit under the table with the rest of us. He also has never been able to sit Indian Style in his life...which is quite hilarious and very endearing... We were moved to a table with 4 chairs, which our companions indicated would not be large enough for a party of four. I was a bit confused by this statement, but now I understand as they give you copious amounts of side plates which are all fantastic, in addition to fantastic spicy soup and the actual meat itself. You would really need to sit at a table that could seat 8, for a foursome. Only having been to Cho Sun Ok for Korean BBQ, I have never experienced charcoal table-side grilling before. I realized that I much prefer the charcoal as it lightly chars the meat and seals in the moist flavor of the marinade. We opted for the Chap Chae and 2 orders of the marinated beef short-rib and the bulgogi which were both good, but the standout was the kalbi. Coming back next time on the Kalbi and the Daegi Kalbi. The Chap Chae was good, but I prefer the noodles at Jin Ju, but the interactive experience here at SSGS. Everything was superb and the light OB pairs very well with the meaty bits.
(4)
Hoang L.

I haven't been to many Korean BBQ in my day, but last night's dinner was pretty awesome. I couldn't believe how many side dishes we got with our BBQ. It was a bit slow on a Tuesday night at 10:30pm, so the service was good. Got my water refilled a lot because the food is pretty salty. I like salty. I can only give this place 4 stars mainly because I was recently in LA and my friend Richard took me to the best place Korean BBQ place in his opinion. They serve a massive amount of onions with vinegar and a little wasabi. I think that's what San Soo Gab San was missing. Plus it wasn't BYOB.
(4)
Robyn F.

San Soo Gab San has fantastic Korean food. I love the charcoal grill for Korean BBQ. That makes a huge difference on the flavor of the food. We ordered the kalbi and the chicken. The kalbi was delicious, and the chicken was ok (though most people don't order chicken at Korean BBQ anyway... not sure why we did). The jap chae (vermicelli noodles) was outstanding. I think it's hard to make jap chae above average, but San Soo Gab San's ability to provide a great chewiness and texture to the noodles combined with a great flavor convinced me to give this restaurant 4 stars.
(4)
Eric S.

Mediocre food & bad service.
(1)
J S.

This used to be my favorite place and I've been to this place many times and I have to say.. they have good Korean BBQ with horrible service. We asked for more side dishes and waited and waited.. they won't come back to our table and when we asked them again, the server brought the side dishes at the end of the meal when we were done eating. They have many different side dishes and that's what I like about this place. But after that service, i would not go back there again. There are other Korean bbq places that I know serves the food I like better.
(2)
Helena D.

located about a half-mile from the Western Brown line stop, you'll find this unassuming restaurant located at the end of a commercial strip mall. It is common to see a line extend far past the entrance and into the parking lot on a Saturday night. If you enjoy taking control of your meal and like the idea of cooking over an open charcoal fire, while seated on a raised platform and sitting cross-legged, this is the place to go. It's fun to eat with a large party and suffer ADD with the enormous selection of dishes and entrees. For those who have minimal exposure to Korean food, San Soo Gab San has an incredible deal where for $20 / person (excluding alcohol), you can sample over a wide range of Korean staples and meats. Their hostesses are charming and friendly - their servers/bussers are responsive to clearing empty dishes and ensuring your water glass is full. Do sample the plum wine - it's a light, refreshing drink that is meant to be savored from a shot glass and is a great way to start the evening. Come here with your comfy eating pants and socks, if you have a thing against bare-feet (you are asked to remove your shoes). This is a new favorite even if it is a bit off the beaten path. Come here and find that there is more to Korean food than kimchi.
(4)
S K.

Great place for groups. The Wang Kal Bi (marinated short ribs) is the best I ever had. The Hae Moul Pajun ( seafood pancake) is awesome and it's sauce compliments it perfectly. Don't go for good service because they lack it but it's well worth the visit each time I go!!!!
(4)
Mark G.

It's no secret to my friends and family that I have traditionally been a rather picky eater (not that I'm very proud of that fact though), so going to eat here was a bit of a stretch for me. It's very near where I live so whenever I walked by the delicious aromas emanating from inside piqued my interest for sure. It only took about 8 or 9 months but finally we decided to give it a shot. Luckily, we were accompanied by another couple who were a little bit more experienced with Korean BBQ. I ordered the thinly sliced Korean spiced beef which came, duh, very thinly sliced. It was fun to cook it on the table in front of us. The myriad of smaller dishes brought out in addition to the entrees was very interesting. I wasn't extremely excited about all of them, but I tasted my fair share and things were good. The OB beer tasted pretty much like a regular Miller Light or Budweiser. We also tried the "hard" alcohol, one of the medium sized bottles. They had basically three iterations....alcohol, more alcohol, and most alcohol. We got the middle one and I would think that stuff would be dangerous! Very tasty, was like a light vodka. Could drink that all day. Only thing strange was after we were all finished the waitress didn't ever come back; we had to go hunt her down to get our bill. I'm not sure if they are just used to people hanging out and chilling after their meals for extended periods or what but it was a little strange. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would definitely go back again.
(3)
Josclyn W.

EeK! My thinks not about sums this place up! This is my first, and last experience at this place! So freshly off being a vegetatian, I was so excited to try koren BBQ, reading the mixed reviews I was still optimistic. So first off, how the hell they don't have hourly accidents in that parking lot blows my mind. I am familiar with tight parking jobs and It was a nail biter!!!! We walk in and noone greets us or even looks our way, So after about 5 minutes I head over to the kitchen door and ask to be seated, the place stinks, and mean a stink that is similar to rotting fish/ durty durt/ grilling meat smell. the waitress throws menus on our table, and vanishes, we have no idea, we both stare quietly, I know I am going to need a large beer to get me through this. So someone finally comes to take our order, she barely speaks English, I point to pork ribs he points to beef ribs. Then just like everyone expressed, come the little blue bowls. Potato Salad, really good! Who knew? Glass Noodles, Mini fish, Broccoli and Califlour, Tofu, Egg, Seaweed, Daikon,Some strange funky peanut sauce, Lotus root, Bean Sprouts, Garlic, Kimchee, Pickled Jalapenos, Spicy pickles, kimchee onions,rice, lettuce and some stuff I cant remember or palate is not familiar with. So all that is great, but none of it, besides the potato salad, and kimchee was anything I would of wanted to eat again. Then came our Flame, and then a huge plate of pork ribs, that were actually just smashed sheets of pork, and his beef ribs which were just smashed sheets of beef, both with little to no flavor. One set of tongs, left us confused on how to remove the cooked meat from the grill! Ew, Ew Ew. So we had to flag down our someone to give us a fork. This takes the disgusting cake! So we had the pleasure of sitting right in front of the kitchen, and they had a cart wrapped in plastic wrap , where they would I guess cut the meat. I watched a lady, take the scissors out of this stainless steel can which I was Hoping and Praying held some kinda sanitation liquid, Cut meat, then drop the raw meat into the can, take it out and put it on a plate and took it to a table. I wanted to scream!!! EwEwEwEw EW!!!! I then watched every other lady take the same scissors from the same can and cut chicken pork, and the cooked egg pancakes thing . I am sorry but that is grave offence, if they are doing that in the dining room who knows what they are doing behind the scenes. Never Ever Again! So if that was not enough, they miscalculated our check by 20 dollars, and laughed and blamed the calculator when we brought it to their attention.
(1)
Insun M.

FANTASTIC marinated galbi and chicken galbi. Slightly pricey ($20 per order of meat) but they make up for it by giving you plenty of the side dishes. Their seafood casserole for 2 is really good too, not too spicy and not too bland. Great deal for $30 considering the amount of seafood they gave. Only downside is that yes, the service can be a lot more friendlier and their parking lot is designed for smart cars and tiny clown cars.
(4)
Kate s.

WORST SERVICE EVER !!!!!!!!!! I've been here several times, just because it open late and my friend like the food here. Food was pretty good, but I still give them only one star because of SUCK service. Server never revisit the table until the end of the meal. They seem to rush us to order and pay. After getting bill, I and my friends wanted to pay cash. While we were still working on our bill, the waitress stand right at our table, waiting us to pay the bill. I told her to give us a minute, I think she didn't really understand that since she stood still. We gave them exact change and intend to put tip on the table because we weren't done yet with calculating. She counted money right away, and ask us "no tip??" What a rude service is that !!!!! I don't think we even need to leave tip because we didn't get any kind of things that called "service"
(1)
Derrick M.

Practically 24-hour DIY Korean BBQ? It'd be really hard to not get 5 stars with such an operation. Starting with the bad, it can be crowded at times with not much in the way of a waiting area, but I can deal with that. The service can be a little less than nice, but I can deal with that too. Then out come the coals, the soju, and the banchan (a spread so massive it barely fits on the table along with everything else). Everything they put in front of you is either tasty, interesting, or both. The meats are seasoned well. Just don't get so caught up in the banchan that you overcook it! Prepare to sweat; there are red hot coals just 18 inches or so from your face. A delicious and very fun experience at a reasonable cost, and you can't possibly leave hungry.
(5)
Logan C.

Very nice restaurant! Food was fantastic! Service was as expected considering how busy it was (Saturday night) and there were about 10 or so of us with no prior reservations. We ordered A LOT of food - I couldn't finish my serving(s). I think I payed around $25-$35. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the cramped atmosphere. Regardless, I'd definitely be going back here again! My rating 1-10 (10 being the best) Atmosphere: 7 Food: 9 Cleanliness: 7 Noise: 5 Service: 8 Overall: 8
(4)
Emily H.

Love this place for BBQ!!!! Seafood pancake is to die for...soo good!! Get the marinated beef....soo delicious!! The restaurant does not take reservation so you should go early ( 5 pm is good ) or if you don't mind waiting a while to be seated especially on Friday night and Saturday night.
(4)
Derek R.

I went with two other friends here today. One is actually Korean. He was able to explain all of the eleven or so side dishes that come out. Most of it was cabbage. Different kinds of kimichi. They brought our a couple plates of meat, then they bring the fire. We trusted our Korean friend to cook the meat for us table side. He did a fine job. The experience was fun. I did however think that it was kind of expensive. I had one beer, the rest had water. Our bill was $100, plus tip. We didn't really seem to order that much. But it's a must check out if your into this sort of thing.
(3)
J K.

Unless you speak perfect Korean or you have some absolutely irresistible urge to have Korean BBQ at 3AM (which I've seen close by the way, so 24-hours isn't 100% reliable), avoid. Let's start with the good parts: the food is decent but overpriced (as is with many Korean BBQ's here). It's standard Korean BBQ fare so nothing to write home about. Honestly, you could go to your local Korean grocery and buy some raw meats and still have a better time with the same (or sometimes better) taste. Out of the 6 times I've been here, only once have I had good food. 1 out of 6 chances? Not much of a gambling man. Now the not-so-good: the service is what everyone says: crap. It's been crappy for years. Now my Korean is OK but not good enough where I've also tried encouraging non-Koreans to order to see if I can avoid that crappy bias which seriously, we're in Chicago, not Korea. There are lots of Koreans whose Korean have English accents. The staff needs to get over it. Also, it seems like either the later you go or busier it is, the worse the service gets. It gets better: we've had to hound down a server, who never checked up on us. On one trip with several of my non-Korean friends (and this ended up being a VERY humiliating experience for me), we waited an hour for water and to order, another hour and a half for our meats, which we only had 6 orders (double order of 3 different meats). That should never be an issue at any Korean BBQ, and it wasn't even that busy. Again, server never helped us out and we ended up leaving a minimal tip. But wait, it gets better! The staff DETAINED one unlucky friend that lagged behind as we left and tore him a new one and DEMANDED we tip properly! Totally unprofessional and unbelievable. They didn't work for the tip much less deserved one, regardless of being their "livelihood." Plus with the price they charge for food and what we got, it certainly merited very little. Ironically, Korean customers are traditionally the worst tippers, probably because (at least last time I checked) in Korea and some places in Asia, "tip" doesn't exist. Oh well. *edit* Yes, I understand that Korean waitstaff aren't necessarily the most courteous. When I go to a Korean restaurant, I don't expect 5-star service, heck even service with a smile. I get that. In summary: there's plenty of other places you can go for Korean BBQ. Even if you have to drive a little farther to go elsewhere, save the grief of coming to San Soo Gab San, especially if you're a first timer. This is a prime example of how not to run a Korean business in America.
(1)
M. D.

I love Korean BBQ and San Soo Gab San is my favorite. There are a lot of not so good Korean BBQ places in the city but this place rocks. It's a ton of fun cooking your food at your table. I don't too much eat the little side dishes but the short ribs are delicious. My family loves to visit this place.
(4)
Rick V.

I went here for a friend's bday party a while back. We all had a great time, loved the food and we all left full, happy, and smelling of smoke. We were only a little concerned by the guy who came to replace the hot coals, he used a small wad of paper towel to grab the coal bucket, instead of a hot pad! Kinda dangerous, methinks....
(4)
Julia B.

Step through the doors of this restaurant in a tiny strip mall and you are immediately transported to a Korean BBQ adventure. My friends brought me to San Soo knowing that I love to try new ethnic foods and I'm so glad they did! Also I am really glad with someone who knew what they were doing because I would have felt totally lost here my first time. We were promptly seated at one of the low tables, which seemed really cool at first, but in retrospect was not a good idea for myself because my knee does not allow me to sit cross-legged for long periods of time. My friends knew which meat was the best so we ordered a variety and got the soft shell crab as an appetizer-yum!. Although, you don't really need an appetizer because your meat is served almost immediately. Then they brought out our own personal grill, our meat variety, and 20+ little bowls with all kinds of mysterious contents. Oh and fresh lettuce leaves and rice too (the bowls, rice, and lettuce leaves are included in the price of meat). The mystery content bowls are the real adventure because you really have no idea what you are eating, unless you are a Korean food expert. Then we were pretty much on our own to grill the meat and make lettuce wraps, while also adding mystery ingredients from all the bowls. The grilling is harder than it looks, but luckily the meat is cut pretty thin so it does not cook long, however it does get stuck to the grill often. We must have been struggling because at one point one of the waitresses came up and showed us how to better grill the meat. I definitely appreciated this because it showed us how it's really done, but was not rude or pushy. Have to take off half a star for the smoky smell that goes home with you on your clothes instead of a doggy bag. Also had to take half a star off for the price, you do get a lot of food, but I still thought it was kind of pricey for meat that you cook yourself. The food really was excellent though, and I left feeling stuffed, satisfied, and later that night I dreamed of meat.
(4)
Ellie B.

Ok, so it's not like San Soo Gab San is some treasure that I'm sharing with everyone. My family has been loving their meaty grilled delectables for years, but I suspect we aren't the only ones. I do, however, have to take a minute to rave about their service. My mom hadn't been there since the 90's and after our last outing at Solga (my least favorite place, next to the proctologist's office), I think she was a bit weary of the whole Korean BBQ experience. Fear not, we've won her back! I feel as though Korean BBQ restaurants are known for their efficient, no-nonsense service, which was the case this time. But they were so friendly and incredibly helpful, I almost had to do a double take when one of our servers cracked a few jokes with us! The food is far more delicious than at Solga and the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake)? It almost stole the show from the galbi and squid we threw on the grill! The succulent sauce could be eaten with a spoon! And I have to say the leftovers are hands down one of the best breakfasts I've had in months. Work out your tong hand and get ready to flip some delicious meat on the charcoal grill! And you may want to also work out your chopstick fingers, because there are enough small dishes of tasty flavor-splosions to keep you busy for hours!
(5)
June D.

This is a great place for big group or family gathering. I have come here so many times that I think I tried almost everything on the menu. The food is great (except for the baby octopus. That thing freaks me out so i have never tried it before) and they have a great selection of kimchi, pickle and all the little bowls the bring out at the beginning so you can enjoy them with your grill. This place also open til 5am so its the prefect place for a night out marathon. My friends and I sometimes come here after getting off the movie theater at around 12am and still have great food. The waitresses can be rude sometimes but they are very fast and super helpful when taking your order. Do not wear white or super nice clothes when coming here though because you will smell like the grilled meat yourself after you finish eating. And also do not freak out or shock if the waitresses as for your tip directly at your face. They always do that.
(4)
Rachel Z.

I brought a huge group here. The wait staff is direct and to the point, they don't mess around, one of my friends compared them to "the soup nazi" on Seinfeld, which is pretty accurate. You have to take your shoes off to sit down, and I wore a dress, not suggested because you are sitting in a hole! They don't give you that "American customer service smile" Its straight up what do you want and we will give it to you. Cooking your own food at a restaurant was a unique experience, not as relaxing. My boyfriend loves Korean bbq and it was fun to try the 20 million side dishes, I did not try the tiny fish because I am not a sardine fan. Kimchi was awesome and the meat turned out well. The birthday party was a success and it makes conversation fun because it is a very active dinner. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. I would rather try other Korean bbq places.
(3)
Jess M.

I really love this place. I think it's a breath of fresh air (or smokey air if you decide to work the grill yourself) I've been a few other BBQ's before and this one is my favorite. I have never had a problem with rude service. Ever. The potstickers are effin amazing here. I love the 15 sides that everything comes with.
(5)
Deron J.

WHAT HAPPENED???? I love this place!! I love the charcoal fires to cook on, the food, etc. Well......... we went there this past week and what a let down :( The meat had little if ANY flavor :( It was such a disappointment!!!!!! I HOPE this was an off day, but quite honestly, I am going to try some other Korean BBQs because of this :( We took several out of town guests and hyped it up and felt like a fool after the VERY average meal.............. we even asked for soy sauce to give our meat SOME flavor!!!!
(2)
Amanda S.

I was lucky enough to live across the street from this restaurant for a while. It's not a cheap dinner - around $20 per person for the full bbq experience, it is totally worth it. I love the ribs (the meat is sliced off the bone). And the 20 dishes of sides that come with the meal are a real treat. Something new every time I go. Just know that if you go, you're going to smell like bbq for the rest of the night - even if you choose something else off the menu.
(4)
Dantee A.

After reading Roy's review of San Soo Gab San at the Chicago Gluttons site, and my friend being transferred to South Korea - I knew I finally had the chance to savor this wonder. I think I was introduced to Korean food in the form of bim bi bap from the now defunct Bbop. I never knew Korean food was all about Barbecue. And an indoor BBQ? What were these people thinking? Of course I want to smell like Kalbi after I leave the place. It's a pick up line or ice-breaker at the bar. I think all restaurants should grasp on the concept of banchan (about 25 amuse bouche portions of randomness). The chips and salsa or bread with butter just doesn't cut it anymore. Free food lures people in - the Koreans know what their doing. Now it might seem a little demeaning to cook your own food, maybe a little "why-the-hell-am-i-cooking-my-own-food-i-don't-Âlike-this-idea" - quoted by the snobby bitch next to us. But you know what? Get over it girl - maybe your boyfriend is trying to tell you something (learn how to cook). Besides that little episode - everything is amazing. We ordered the Kalbi, chicken, and pork to grill and the Asparagus wrapped with beef as the appetizer. The kalbi was the best out of the meat and asparagus beef was out of this world. The complimentary rice and soup made our stomachs grow and extra inch or so in order to fit the deliciousness. And to wash this all down - Coke and Jinro? Ehh - Jinro is soju which is a distilled rice alochol. It's popular in Korea like Absolut is popular here in the U.S. We both thought is was gross. Not even coke could water down the taste. I don't mind the smell of meat on my clothes though - I think it's kinda sexy.
(5)
Thongsy S.

YUMMY Korean food! They are open 24 hrs except on Sundays. This place is known for their late nights and bbq'ing. If you order 2 or more of the meats (e.g. kalbi or bulgogi), you get your own grill to cook your food. If you're intimidated about cooking your own food or the sight of red meat, you can simply ask them to cook it in the kitchen for you. I love going for Korean food because it's customary that they serve little side dishes (called ponchon) with your meal.. I can get full off just the side dishes. There's so much variety from anchovies, radishes, kimchee (pickled cabbage), potato salad and the list goes on. I recommend going with a group of people so that you can share different dishes. If you're not into meat, they also have a good variety of vegetarian dishes.
(4)
Jonathan A.

This place is amazing and has converted me into liking Korean food. I can't tell you half of what I ate, but it was all great, and there was a hell of a lot of it. The must have been about 15 different little dishes tossed out in front of us on the table, not including the meat we ordered. The BBQ itself was really tasty as well. Big Kirin beers and sake...I'm sold. They are open till 5am, which sounds insane to me, but I can imagine it gets pretty crazy here some nights. There were a lot of Koreans eating here as well, so you know it must be the real deal. It was so good, I wanted it again the next day.
(5)
Alf O.

I've tried 5 Korean BBQ places in the city. San Soo Gab San is definitely the best. If you haven't done Korean BBQ, its a fun experience (better in groups), and you get to do some cooking at the table. Make sure you get the seafood pancake as an appetizer. A lot of the reviews here are claiming that you have to 'know what you are doing' or that you need to be Korean to get good service. Absolutely not true. First of all, its not complicated (BBQ meet, put on lettuce, add rice, eat). Second if you ask staff how to 'do it correctly' they will gladly show you (and sometimes even show you if you don't ask). The waitresses here get very busy sometimes, I think that's where the confusion is coming from. The barriers to having a great time here couldn't be lower, and the food is fantastic if you like BBQ (if you don't they have great Bibimbap). Get in here, and give it a try.
(5)
Laila C.

LOVE THE BAN CHAN! I'm obsessed with Korean side dishes and this place offers more than any other I've ever been to! I wish I'd gotten to try the bbq but instead my korean friend made me try some new things. On the plus side, the fried snapper was delicious! super crispy and very moist covered in tonkatsu sauce laying on top of a bed of fishy fried crisps. On the negative side, my pork with veggies came out as pork belly even though there was pork belly on the menu and I pointed specifically to the item that was NOT pork belly. My dish was tasty, but I could only eat so much fat of the pork belly. I also wish it would've been spicier. My friend ordered an ox blood soup, which was definitely a first for me. Pig and duck blood are much smoother and creamier, ox blood is drier...not too pleasant of a taste. p.s. tried the BBQ-they give you a LOT of meat for each bbq item order. Also if you love mackeral, their mackeral is really good! AND HUGE too. The sides are salty and fatty and soooo good with rice. A great deal at only $12!!
(4)
Ron D.

I would not go back here even if it was free,horrible service,the food sucked,oh did I say how bad the service was.
(1)
Jenna S.

I had never really heard of Korean Barbecue before we came here, but I had a great meal. I came here last weekend with several friends and we had a great time. I want to say that if I could give service a separate review, I'd give the servers here five (even six!) stars. One friend and I arrived early and we weren't able to be seated until our entire group of seven arrived. We were a little wary at the fact that there is no hostess stand - you just kind of wait around near the door until someone notices you. The owner (perhaps?) saw us, asked us how many and let us know that we'd have to wait until our entire party arrived. She promptly left and then I was afraid she'd totally forget about us. Wrong! She came back several times during the 25 or so minutes I waited for my friends and made sure they weren't here yet. When they arrived, we were seated quickly and the owner even joked around with us about how our friends must have gotten lost because it took so long. I liked her friendliness - it was refreshing. We were not able to sit at a low table (I was kind of disappointed) but we were very comfortable where we were. A few of us decided to get the OB Beer ($6 for a big bottle - good deal) since it's the only Korean beer on their menu and it tasted like Miller Lite. I figured OB would have been owned by South African Brewing but it turns out they're owned by InBev. Guess that's why it tastes like generic American light beer. It was good for the price, though, so good times. We ordered the seafood pancakes as an appetizer at the recommendation of a friend and they were pretty good. I'm not a seafood pancake fan (it literally is just a pancake of tons of seafood smashed together) but it was good for what it was. I'd try the fried dumplings next time. We ordered a variety of meats (beef ribs, pork, beef strips and something else steak-related) and everything was pretty delicious. The meats that we ordered were all marinated (I recommend the marinated meats) so they were pretty tasty. A couple of people were in charge of the grilling so it was nice to not have to worry about it. When the meats arrived, tons of little side dishes came out to eat alone or pair with the meat. I was a little disappointed that one side of the table got completely different side dishes than our side and it was hard (and confusing) to share. It was also confusing that none of the dishes had labels so it was hard to know what you were getting (even though everything was delicious). I was also disappointed with the lack of dipping sauces for the meats. One person and I commented on how great it would be to have a little thing of teriyaki sauce or something and there was nothing. Also as a note: don't order the beef ribs. It's the same price as the rest of the meats but it's only two measley beef ribs that actually come as part of your order. It definitely wasn't enough meat for that price and beef ribs often have tons of fat on them (which these did) so it wasn't a good deal. Some other things I thought were helpful: they take multiple credit cards per table. Our bill worked out nicely to be $24/person (with tip) so they took five different credit cards and put $20 on each - nice! There is a parking lot but it's TINY. I don't know when anyone is actually able to park here, so presume you'll find parking on Berwyn. Also, they take reservations, but I only think they're for large groups (like over 10 or 15). We called and we were told that seven wasn't enough but there were groups of 15 or 20 there, so I assume they'll make reservations for you in that case. All in all, definitely a great meal. I recommend going with a group and ordering several types of meats and just sharing everything. This kind of dinner is great for a group because it doesn't take long to be seated here (even if you have a ton of people) and you sit for a long time which provides a lot of opportunity for good conversation and fun. Oh, and it's open 24 hours a day - what more could you ask for? I need to try this place after a night of bar hopping. I can only imagine it's amazing.
(4)
Andy C.

WOW! What a difference compared to their Morton Grove location. Everything I previously mentioned were the opposite at this location. The same 20+ banchans came out, the meat (kalbi) was good. They even had glasses of water for the three of us before any of the food came out. We ordered the kalbi and grilled them. My father ordered the fish stew and couldn't eat due to the fish not being fresh. They took it back and weren't charged for it. The staff was more friendly compared to the other location. The drawbacks are the following: 1) that you should park your car down the street because the parking lot is horrible (SMALL). Not ideal for big and expensive cars. I parked the Ford Explorer down the street. 2) need to replace those LOUD fans. Couldn't have a normal conversation due to the fans being extremely loud.
(3)
Steven K.

The staff here have SO much to learn about customer service. The staff makes you feel as though you are nothing but a burden. They are rude and very unattentive. When you are served food in a restaurant, the server is not supposed to throw the food on the table with such force that it falls off the plate. I have had 2 bad dealings with this restaurant. A friend was flying into Chicago late at night and I wanted to know what time they closed. I called the restaurant only to hear a click, but no one said anything. I said, "Hello?" I was snapped at, "WHAT YOU WANT?" I asked politely what time they closed. The lady yelled at me, "OPEN 24 HOURS!" Then hung up on me. I took a large party of people there for a friend's birthday and it was a disaster. We ordered a large bowl of soup and they did not bring any small bowls for us to use. We had to ask for bowls 3 times. We ordered 2 bottles of soju, had to ask for it twice, and did not receive glasses with it when they finally did bring the bottles. We had to ask for glasses three times. After the 3rd time asking, the waitress snapped at us, "In a minute! Can't you see that I am busy!" we had to get up and go get the glasses ourselves. The bill was close to $350 for our group in which case we were not going to leave a tip due to the deplorable service. As we were putting our coats on, our waitress comes back to our table...now she is so nice and sweet...to tell us that we are supposed to leave her a tip. I left by flipping a quarter at her. A tip is EARNED not required. If you want a Korean BBQ house, there are several others that are just as good and actually know how to treat their customers.
(1)
Nany L.

I went to San Soo Gab San last Tuesday. When we just get in the restaurant, there are only less people there but they give us a table which is so close to the door, and it's so cold that day. I don't know if we are not Korean, so the waitress becomes so rude. They were never come back after they gave us the food. I need to say the foods are really good and they have a lot of sides.
(2)
Irene O.

I have to appreciate a late-night spot in the city. Surprisingly not too long of wait.. Food comes out quick.... I know I can always enjoy the sides I order: the Galbi, Bulgogi, Kimchi jiggae for about 5 people On the filp side, I always seem to have to call out for servers, but no big, I'm stuffing my face anyways.
(4)
Jane U.

I went there couple of times before. I will never go there again. The food is ok... Side dishes are awesome. But servers are horrible and rude. If you are Asian they act like they want some respect from you just because they are older than you!!! I have to ask water, chopstick or whatever I need for at least 3 times. Ok then it's time to go... Once before I was there with my girlfriends and staff was rude so we didn't leave tip for them but for bus boy. He was same victim like us. They treat him so bad. And in the parking lot there's a lady who served us. She was screaming and yelling that we didn't leave the tip for her. Of course I wouldn't, but we did for bus boy and we won't tell you that!!! Well bad place, don't go there!!!
(1)
Umakaka L.

Dear San Soo Gab San: Do you remember when we first fall in love back in 2005? I almost see you daily, sometimes we see each other more often than my family members? Well, that day is over, I sadly announce that. What happens to you San Soo Gab San? Your portion were big and your check always left a big smile on my face? I really do not care about the stinky smell you left on me after every visit but you gonna have to keep up with your portion and service. Throwing me serving plate on an already full table without considering how we are placing it really make me lost some love to you. The price has although stay almost the same but the food portion has shrank substantially. There are many Korean BBQ place in chicago, I hate to ban you from my list. Please help us up here, keep up with your portion and service.
(2)
Victoria O.

Ok, I have to say, I'm irritated by the other reviews. So many focus on the supposed "bad service." I have been here several times in (as Sinatra said) 'the wee small hours of the morning'...and these ladies do their job, regardless of who they are dealing with. (Think of the 'wee small hours' and the people that may inhabit that time period.) The ladies seat you, they serve you wonderful food, and they make sure you have what you need. They are straightforward. They are working their asses off, people, and dealing with all sorts of folk in all sorts of...states. So back off. Seriously.
(5)
Grace S.

Nice neighborhood restaurant. Food was delicious! The inside does not speak for how well prepared our food was. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Dan O.

The service sucks even if you're Korean. So if you're American, and think you got bad service because of it, don't feel too bad. The reason why I am giving a 1 star is because my girlfriend and I came here for a hunger fix at around 2 in the morning and I am eating away when my girlfriend stops eating and starts digging for something in her Sul Lung Tang soup. Several strands of hair. GREAT. Although this not uncommon at Korean places... I look in my soup and I see a long hair and..... NO FRIGGIN WAY. Pubic Hair. I'm not joking. It was long, squiggly n curly PUBIC HAIR. I told the waitress in Korean "Excuse me, but how the HELL am I supposed to eat with this in my food?" After debate of what kind of hair it was, they offered us fresh bowls of soup but we said we're not having another bite for sanitary reasons. They told us not to pay and watched us walk out. Watch what you eat. Literally.
(1)
Michael S.

Kind of hard to write something unique on such a popular place, but I shall try... This place is easily missed if you're not looking for it and it is somewhat of a hidden gem, though not so much anymore it seems because of Check Please! and just more word getting out. I actually think there are better korean restaurants around especially since I live around this area and pass by them all the time, but there is none quite like this. I would suggest going here if you have a group as any other time it isn't that special. Or just go if it's 3am and you want some korean food!
(4)
Joey T.

Have gone there several times and have yet to be disappointed. Their Kalbi is the best, their Kimchi Jjigae is very good. With a couple bottle of Soju and a few family members, it made for some great meals and memories.
(5)
Kwoky L.

San Soo Gab San is one of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurant in the city (the other being Cho Sun Ok). I have been to both places several times and I can definitely say that I have a better experience at San Soo. It is more spacious and that means there is less wait although it really depends when you go. I usually go on weeknights, lunch or early evening to avoid the crowds. Of course, one of the most interesting part of the meal is the side dishes. I didn't count but there could easily be 15-20 different side dishes and they are complimentary. It's good that they have large tables too. I actually saw a couple eating at a small table and they had to stack up the dishes like a pyramid. Funny. If it's your first time, you would probably think how on earth can you finish all these food - they are just appetizers! If you're here, you have got to try the barbecues. They have got the basics from beef short ribs (kalbi) to squid to baby octopus. But of course, the most delish of all is the kalbi. You cook your meat on a grill on top of a charcoal burner (yes, charcoal!), unlike Cho Sun Ok, where they use gas stoves and stone plates. To me, you can't beat grilling with charcoal because my legs go weak when I smell it. They have plenty of other stews, soups and entrees if you don't want BBQ. The other appetizer that i would highly recommend to go with your meal is the pajun (seafood pancake). Seafood?? Yes, my friend. Just don't think of the fluffy ones you have for breakfast with butter and syrup. They are thicker than crepes with a hint of chewiness (thanks to the guar gum) and filled with seafood, lots of green onions, eggs and some yummy goodness. So, give them a try. One thing though, just remember to NOT wear your best clothing. Forget about dressing up to impress because you're gonna smell like BBQ short ribs when you leave. p/s: The folks there voluntarily changed the grill when it got a little too charred but at Cho Sun Ok, the server was extremely rude and mad when I asked them to change the stone plate because my mom was allergic to beef. That pretty much ruined my Mother's day dinner.
(4)
Chenfei L.

I am not a Korean BBQ expert. I have been to only three Korean BBQ places in my life. But I will stay satisfied knowing that I have tried San Soo Gab San. San Soo Gab San is a blissfully smoky and dark experience. It is a place where you can stumble in at 3AM and order flavorful galbi and enjoy unlimited banchan all while feeling like you are in a sauna of ash and meat. Their kimchi is sour and tangy, their chap chae is light and savory, and their marinated galbi is sweet and tender. Plus, the miso soup that comes with each BBQ order has a great spicy tofu taste that cleanses the palate and doesn't obscure the main dishes. It is not the cheapest korean bbq in town, but it is a fun place with good service. It's great for groups and people who like playing with meat and fire.
(5)
Tim Y.

Yum! Great service, a slew of sides, tons and tons of meat to cook over charcoal, OB and soju...perfect! Just be careful - the barbecue cooks the cuts of meat provided VERY fast, so try to pay some attention to what you're cooking and not so much how much OB you're pouring. I know, it's difficult...
(4)
Steph P.

If I could only eat at one place every time I visit Chicago, Sansoogapsan would be it. Why is this place worthy of five stars? 1) It is open ridiculously late (5am?) 2) It is down the street from a Korean karaoke place (!!!)....which means you can get wasted (or not) and sing karaoke all night long w/ your friends and then head over to SSGS for the obligatory post-performance, late-night gorging. There are lots of tables sized for a large group (you get to sit behind a screen, take off your shoes, and sit on the floor in some of them!) 3) SOO many little banchan dishes! 4) Never had a bad dish there...stone-pot bibimbop, bulgogi, kalbi, galbitang (beef rib soup), chapchae, all tasty and heart warming....but most of all... 5)They have the best seafood soondubu (SPICY tofu casserole, good seafood flavor base, not at all watery tasting) I have ever had in my life....maybe my view is skewed b/c this is where I had my soondubu-cherry popped. The first cut is the deepest....baby, I know. My friend tells me that SSGS has become more popular these days, so the service is a little more friendly to the non-Korean speakers than it used to be. Still helps to have someone in your party to participate in some Korean banter. EDIT: My mistake, the karaoke place is actually not next door....but it's down the street. Close enough for an all-out Korean Night.
(5)
John W.

Here's the deal with this place; they put a grill in the middle of your table and bring you raw seasoned meat and you grill it to your liking. They also server about 109 bowls of other foods and condiments that you didn't order as a side. Some are really good, some not so good and mainly I had no idea what most of this stuff was. There was some clear food of some sort...Seriuosly, clear as glass...and it was food...I assume it was some type of gelatin. But you have very little room on your table, that's how much shit they bring. Anyway, I took my parents there and I got the pork rib which was excellent my mom had one of the seasoned beef dishes which was good but not great...I would definitely order the pork rib over the beef. My dad got some fried fish I have never heard of before and he loved it and it was tasty. This is an entire fish that has been deep fried so if you don't like your food staring back at you, you may not want to order this. Once they finally took our order service was fast. I will definitely go back. It was surprisingly nice inside...At least nicer than I thought it would be for a strip mall....There were also a lot of Koreans eating there so in other words, this place has street cred.
(4)
tony p.

Such a fun place,I think it's fun to bb que your own meat,and the meat is high quality too.they bring out a whole bunch of different sides to have with the meat,so a good value for the price,the place gets crowded,but the place is big enough,that you still get privacy,and enjoy your meal there.we would've given this place five stars,except the bathroom was in dirty,tiles missing,and.....and.....no tissue,like no paper at all,good thing I only needed to wash my hands,lol.
(4)
Marcus Z.

Been coming here for years for dinner and at 3AM after late night drinking and it never lets you down. Want the ultimate fat kid meal? The Boodae Jigae(ramen caserole with spam, bacon, beef, hot dog, tofu, and vegetables) has changed my life.
(5)
Cindy K.

All right. This place gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, their food (mostly) tastes pretty good. Out of the galbi places I've gone to in Chicago, I think theirs is probably the best. They give lots of banchan (side dishes) and there is plenty of seating. They also have a small parking lot and are open late. But the bad is just sooo bad. Foodwise, sometimes they use so much dashida (Korean MSG) that I can taste it, yuck. Once I got yukaejang that was horrible, the meat was stringy and chewy and tough. It felt like chewing on rubber. The service is horrible, even for Korean standards. They are rude and even offensive at times. Once my friend came here (he is Indian) and they tacked on a "service charge" in anticipation that he wouldn't tip enough because he's Indian. wtf? I'm happy that he didn't let them get away with that crap. I've found that the best way to get decent service there is to be just as chilly in return. The times they treat me the best is when I tell them I want something in a firm tone of voice, telling, not asking. For some reason, they respond to that better. It seems like the nicer you are to them, the more they step all over you.
(3)
William L.

Service, sucks. Food not as good as it use to be. Expanding and trying to venture into sushi was a bad idea. They should stick to what they are good at. Atmosphere, they definitely can put some work into their bathroom. They are so gross.
(1)
Lori Taylor R.

Just a few reminders before dining at San Soo Gab San ... -DO, Be sure and wear socks with your shoes (ladies no heels, because it's a little awkward getting barefooted beside strangers and practically walking on the table, haha) -DON'T wear anything that's dry clean only (because, you will walk out of here smelling like a charcoal fire pit) -DON'T plan to meet people out after dining here (because, the smell is all over you now, your hair, your clothes etc it will drive everyone else around you crazzy trying to figure out what that rancid smell is and where it's coming from) Ok, with all that out in the open, now I will continue with my review. We really had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the food. We ordered several meats, but the chicken had the best flavor, it was phenomenal! However, we ordered it spicy and I wouldn't say there was much of a kick to it; but we didn't mind because the flavoring was delicious. We were so full when we left - it's truly a great value. It does get really smoky in there at times - I am not sure if our vent wasn't working or if they just have them running on extremely low power. It was slightly uncomfortable that the couple directly beside us did not order the BBQ. They kept fussing about the amount of smoke and at one point he got up to flag down a waitress to notify her of the smoke - she just looked at him and walked away. (I've dined at other Korean BBQ places in the past and hadn't experienced this problem with the smoke, so I am assuming it must have been our vent.) Too, the bus boys get pleasure out of seeing how much noise they can make while bussing the tables. I think they take the approach of throwing everything into the bucket as quickly and loudly as possible. Believe me they've mastered this technique. With all of this said, we went to satisfy our craving for Korean BBQ and that's what our tummies got - Pure Satisfaction!
(4)
Jin Joo L.

So, since the last time I've been there and my last review... (not to mention boycott of this joint,) I went this past weekend late Friday night. We walked in and were not greeted or anything! Again, is it because they don't want the business, or they don't care, or all the servers are too old or what? So I got annoyed and walked out for a bit til they cleared some tables. About 5 minutes later, we walk back in and are still not greeted. So this time tables are cleared off and so I just sat down at the first table I saw. I told my boyfriend, no way I'm waiting until they greet me standing up. To much of my surprise, they bring us table settings and some waters right away. I was actually surprised they didn't make us move to a smaller table since it was just us two. We ordered one order of the non-marinated short rib meat and one order of ribeye. The ribeye, I don't recommend much, because the proportions were really not worth it for $20. I was very happy they gave so many banchan or side dishes. I didn't have to ask for any lettuce or my favorite green onion sides and meat sauces. I also ordered the nengmyun (cold buckwheat noodle,) it came with a lot of pickled daikon and half a boiled egg, and a slice of pear. Mmmmmm could have used more slices of cucumber though. I'm just picky like that. The broth wasn't bad but not anything special. This is a tricky dish because not many places have good broth. If anyone is reading this entire post... I gotta give you propz. So, I give them two more stars this time since the last time I would have preferred to give zero stars. I was satisfied with the food and prompt re-filling of water... VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE LIKE ME. teehee.
(2)
Amanda A.

Yes, the atmosphere feels like a Denny's out of your most terrifying 80's post-prom nightmare. True, the word "gruff" feels inadequate in truly capturing the briskness of the serving staff. And fine, if this is your first attempt at the autonomous exercise that is the full Korean BBQ dining experience, you will have NO IDEA what's about to unfold before you. Explanations are rarely included, at least in my experience. Just let that go, sit back, and enjoy the banchan. I'm not Korean, and all of my Korean food experiences have been stateside, so I can't speak to authenticity, but it's plentiful and delicious, especially anything with red specks (spicier). My favorites included the seaweed salad, brown sauce, and fresh garlic and broccoli (added to the grill). I went with a friend and we ordered the kalbi (pork spareribs) and dakkalbi (marinated chicken)---SOOOOOOO fantastic. We also ordered the dumplings, good, but not spectacular. In the past, I've usually gone to Cho Sun OK, but this is my new favorite.
(4)
L L.

There are better places that are cleaner and better service than this place. They take advantage of most of the customers not knowing as much about the cuisine. I won't be returning due to the subpar quality and rude service, lack thereof.
(1)
Teo D.

the Kalbi was great and love the side dishes..right up there w/ BBQs at LA's K-town... will be back for sure. Oh bring an extra shirt in case you are headed somewhere after cuz you will smell like the 'Que!
(4)
Jenni Q.

We come here for just about every big family dinner (when the adults decide that they can make do without chinese food for one night). This place is great for groups and even when it's super busy, the wait isn't too bad. They have regular tables where you sit in chairs and low tables where you have to take off your shoes and sit cross legged. The lower tables give you a unique dining experience but you might want to avoid them if you are going with older adults who may have trouble getting up afterwards :) Avoid showering or wearing clean clothes because you WILL smell like korean bbq when you leave. If you want to cook your own meat right at your table, you have to order at least two portions of the kalbi, bulgogi, chicken, squid, etc. If you only place one order they will cook it for you in the kitchen but it doesnt taste as good because I believe they cook it in a pan versus grilling it. My favorite is the kalbi....the meat is tender and I usually like my meat medium rare to medium, but the kalbi tastes a little better medium well to well done. We always get the spicy chicken and spicy squid too but I'm not a huge fan. The maandoo (korean dumpling) is super yummy - big, crisp and filled with delicious meats and veggies. The jap chae (noodles with veggies) is not the best I've ever tasted but pretty decent. The seafood pancake (kind of like an egg pancake cooked with chives, squid and other seafood) is also pretty tasty. The free spicy tofu soup that comes with your meat order is a good complement to the rest of the meal. And we can't forget about all the side dishes.....I believe they give you somewhere around 15 small dishes consisting of different veggies, bean curd, mushrooms, eggs, etc. If you run out, make sure you save at least one piece so you can show the waitress what you want refilled. Service can be both good and bad. If you can catch a waitress, she will probably do a good job of taking your order and getting you what you need. But thats IF you can catch her in the first place. Tip: Dip the meat in the peanut sauce for extra flavor. And use the huge pieces of lettuce to wrap your meat and other veggies if you run out of rice!
(4)
Toshi B.

I just lowered this to 3 stars from 4. The food is stll very good with lots of banchan (complimentary sides). However, the service needs to improve!!!!!! Do not go when it is busy b/c they will hustle you out...i.e. return to your table after 2 minutes when you ask for 5 to decide and the waitress will just stand there, ask you to leave b/c there are people waiting (understood but right after we sign off the tip? come on...), tell you there is no after service Korean sweet tea (which is customary) b/c the kitchen is too busy to do such things. They give new meaning to Korean hospitality which even I think is too rude (and I am Korean!). It will be a while before I return.
(3)
Ginny L.

This was my first ever Korean BBQ experience! I don't know how I've never been to one of these places before, but my dad has been telling me for months now that we had to go, so finally, late last Tuesday evening, we did. I'd been driving past this place for years but never really noticed its existence, so I have to say I was a little surprised at how nice it looked on the inside. I can't imagine wanting to sit on the floor for a heavy meal like this, but I love the look of that seating area, and the fact that the 'chairs' still have backs. We ordered the seafood pancake, short ribs, and marinated beef strips, but before any of that came, they brought us no less than 24 little dishes of vegetables, one thing that looked a little like lasagna, some noodle-looking things, and many other items I couldn't identify. I didn't try all of them, or even close to, but only because I don't like spicy food and about half the dishes had that red-speckled look to them. The seafood pancake was good until I saw the little squid tentacles and had to stop eating it (squid freaks me out, no idea why), but both the meats more than made up for it. It was very exciting cooking our own food, though the short ribs were a pain since they stuck really severely to the grill, and the bits that wouldn't come off just built up and burned on. Luckily, about halfway through, they came and replaced the grill. While the food was delicious, be warned, this is stressful dining at its finest. If you don't want to bother yourself with making sure you're not burning the meat every five seconds, this might not be for you. It was fun, but if the reason I'm going out is to have great food AND conversation, I'd go somewhere the food came to me completely prepared. There isn't much talk when one person is busy putting the meat on the grill, and the other is busy taking it off again seconds later. Also, I have to say, I didn't have problems with the service. The staff was very nice and helpful and didn't try to hurry us along at all. The only thing remotely wrong was the fact that it took a few minutes for them to bring us the check once we were done, but since we were still picking at our food, it makes sense that they thought we were still actively eating.
(4)
Angelo P.

I love this place... If you're worried about bad service, you gotta get used to it when you go to a more "authentic" east asian place. You are getting the same service you would in asia. Its short, sweet, blunt, and to the point and you get your food in a timely fashion. The bulgogi wasn't as flavorful as some others ive had but the amount of banchan you get with your meet is great. Bring some friends get drunk on some soju and enjoy ridiculous amounts of food...having eaten at korean bbq spots with native koreans, bringing lots of people and getting shitfaced is a must. Order the pork!
(4)
Stephanie L.

This place is cool. Its my first experience at a Korean BBQ. I liked it. They really get the stuff out to you. Lots of side dishes to try. Pretty reasonable on drinks. We got some beef and spicy squid. We had to cook it ourselves which I really liked. It added to the experience. I thought the staff was really nice. They werent rude and they were always checking up on us. They do not take reservations but we went with a group of 4 on Sat night at about 8 and got in within 10mins. Interesting experience and pretty good food! Also, fairly priced.
(4)
Elaine C.

Whitey 1 and Whitey 2 are on a out-of-the-norm asian food kick. After dim sum a few weeks ago, we decided we have to make it out for the craziness that is Korean BBQ. With an open mind and stomach we set out to try all the silly little dishes they give you with some of the yummiest, tenderest meat that you painstakingly grill yourself. The service sucks, yes. They make you hurry up and order, take the menus and don't really come back much. But whatever, this is a whole different kind of experience. To the inexperienced Korean BBQ eaters (like us): Order the seasoned short ribs. We had that and the tender beef thinly sliced thingie, too. It was all pretty amazing. (You can just order number 15 and 18, whities, no need to pretend to know the korean names!) The grill gets really frikken' hot, then when it starts to get to normal grilling temperature, they tell you to hurry up and grill before it goes out. But it's ok, because while you let the men do all the manly grilling, there's all kinds of weird shit you can try. I recommend the eggy pancake thingie, the clear noodles that taste like pickles, the tofu that tastes like shrimp, and some of the pickled kim chee'd cucumbers, radishes, and tinly sliced green onions. Also, the black shit that looks like mud is actually seaweed and its super salty yummy if you put a little of it here and there. Now, when you first get there you're going to get some fresh sliced garlic and some brown goo that goes with it.. you want to dip your beef in the brown goo before you grill, and grill the garlic. The beef is just amazing. I mean, I'm not a huge meat eater but I love me some Filet and this rivals Filet. It's like buttery tender and you can cook it as rare as you want (at your own risk, of course.) We don't know if this is the right thing to do, but we were making little tiny lettuce wraps with the beef, rice and brown goo, and would sometimes add some of the other little dishes. You also get some miso-ish soup with peppers and tofu in there. It's definitely an adventure. We were pretty stuffed and with two orders of meat plus a big Korean beer and 2 diet cokes, the total was $50. If you're into random adventures, I can't really speak for the authenticity of this place, but it sure was fun and delicious. Get out there and try new things, Whities!!!
(4)
K T Y.

As a follow-up to previous review, servers STILL VERY RUDE AND NOT NOT HELPFUL. I'm noticing other yelpers agree. I'm done giving you my hard-earned cash.
(2)
Victor M.

Twice within a week.. By choice? Somewhat. Been here many times before? Yes. During the Week: 1st Time: Craving Steak at 11pm after "House of Walker." Steakhouses are closed, so Korean BBQ is as good as it gets. 2nd Time: Birthday Dinner on a Saturday at 7pm. There are better options for Korean food in the City. The food is average and nothing special. What's especially great about them is their hours and the amount of side dishes that they have. Their Maki is actually pretty decent, even though it's only a California Roll. If you would like to save while eating a variation of food you can't go wrong with Combo 1 at $19.95. Service: A mixed review. Some waitresses are mean and a select few are very nice.
(3)
Tina B.

I haven't been here for a while, which is kind of the thing - nothing ever draws me to go back. The whole cooking it yourself thing grows old after a while, especially if you have a bunch of people hungrily eyeing each small piece of meat while it cooks and then scrambling (fighting) over each piece once it's done. And no joke - you will smell like smokey shit when you leave. It was okay, just not my thing maybe, but if my man gets into one of his carnivorous moods in the middle of the night, maybe I'll find myself back here again. I wish the people were just...cooler maybe. Why does it have to be such a pain in the ass to ask what I'm actually eating? I've been to Korean BBQ places where there service is not so bad, so that should not have to be part of the "experience." And yes. The parking lot really is THAT crazy.
(3)
Kay S.

This is my favorite place in the city for Korean BBQ. It really is good meat that is well seasoned. I would give this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the service. Unfortunately the BBQ is so good I will still go despite the bad service. Try the seafood bi bim bap. It is really good as well.
(4)
KW L.

I will go straight into the food as the ambiance is not why you would go to San Soo Gab San. There is nothing special about the structure or interior itself but it provides a solid foundation for some good eating. This is the place to go within the city limits for Korean BBQ. The kalbee is definitely worth your while. It is well marinated and tender. Nothing beats having it cooked right in front of you and eating it when it is nice and hot. The food has got to taste better when you are slowly watching it cook right in front of you with the smells coming off the grill the entire time, right? I don't think I have had anything else and I have been here on multiple occasions. The ban chan (the small side dishes) are abundant as well although you may have to flag down the waitress to keep them replenished. I would have liked to give 4.5 stars because of how often I visited here while I lived in Chicago, but no half stars are allowed on yelp. It is also more expensive than other korean restaurants in general nor do I have the balls to give it a full 5 stars.
(4)
Anna C.

Great Korean BBQ, authentic K food, yummy bulgogi and even has areas where you can eat on little tables Korean Style! The side dishes (banchan) were also good, just wish there was more variety sometimes!!! Overall pretty good!
(3)
Kathleen A.

I knew coming there i wasnt going to get quality service..you never really do at real korean joints or I've never experienced it in the past. I didn't expect our drinks to get refilled without having to flag someone down etc. The service we had was definitely not ideal and way below what I expected. I asked if I could have a fried egg on the side, the response I get was "No fried egg! this real Korean Restaurant!" a simple "no we are out" or a "no" would have sufficed, even though I know they serve fried eggs with some korean bowls. When the check came I got up to go pay. Whenever I pay with my debit card I almost always write in "cash" in the "Tip" section and leave a cash tip. 5-10 minutes passed and we got up to get ready to leave and put on our coats, hadn't even left the table yet and the waitress was already scooting her way in and says "No Tip!?!?" I'm not one for stiffing waiters and waitresses on tips because I know they get a bulk of their income from tips but we hadn't even left yet before she tried to push her way through. Pretty bold, rude, and awkward. Service aside, the food was just ok. Definitely had better, and it kinda felt like we were getting the scraps. If you're in for a decent kalbi (marinated short rib) fix, I recommend Joy Yee Noodle House. I have yet to try the other korean places in the area.
(1)
Aaron C.

I love this place! Yes I know that there are better Kalbi places in Chicago and yes this place can get busy and you have to wait but I dont care, I love this place. Ive been coming here for years and it always brings a smile to my face. Good Kalbi, large portions and a friendly setting. They give you so much food you usually have to rearrange everything on the table to make it all fit. Add to the fact that the place is 24 hours, a great lunch or late night Soo-icide is always just a short drive away. The only thing I dont like is the tiny parking lot. I wont even think about parking in the lot unless its late at night for fear of having my car dinged.
(5)
Carly O.

::Sigh:: I've been going to San Soo for quite awhile now. I was introduced to the place about nine years ago, and always found its niche-d appeal charming. The experience itself is unique and with enough OB and soju, quite a riot of a time. Being with someone who is going for the first time is also great. I love to watch their eyes light up when the huge tray of panchan comes and small dishes of unindentifable items are thrown their way. The unmistakable stink you leave with never really bothered me. But, I'm unable to give SSGS the review I probably would have in years past. The thing is, there are probably good, if not better, Korean BBQ places in the city that I've never gone to because this place is "THE" place to go. Honestly though, service can be borderline atrocious and the other night the bulgolgi was sub-par. I guess what I'm trying to say is, they have finally pushed me to the point of considering another place to grill my own meat. First-timers, by all means, get your feet wet at San Soo. But if you're a seasoned Korean bbq-er, perhaps you'll find greener pastures elsewhere.
(3)
JS T.

I don't know if this is the best Korean bbq in Chicago, but it's pretty decent. However, like all Korean bbq, I've been here many times and it's pretty expensive and for the same taste and experience you can probably just marinate your own ribs and grill them in your backyard. Aside from their bbq--they have pretty good soup dishes. The soup base for the yuk gae jang and soon do boo is pretty tasty, always comes out piping hot, and I can't complain about the side dishes. It's a much bigger selection than most korean places. I take down a star only because I think it's kind of pricey and their smoke ventilation system is pretty horrible. When I came home, my contact was stuck to my eyeball (and I wear gas permeable) so that was a little irritating. Also, because of all the hype it's been getting, getting a table is really tedious. I recommend you call ahead for reservations (though it might only be allowed for large parties.)
(3)
Kristina K.

Not like this place needs a nother review! I've never had the sushi or been to the ajoining sushi restaurant, but I've been going to San Soo Gab San before it was hip. Like almost everyone has chimed in about, their service doesn't deserve top praise. And like most people, I go for the fire and the meat. I miss San Soo Gab San because of the delicious sides and salty, sesame oil and bean sauce. I don't dare visit another Korean BBQ restaurant since my move to Portland, because I don't want to be disappointed. San Soo Gab San spoiled me.
(4)
Tuyen T.

I love San Soo Gab San!!! Usually I come here for the do-it-yourself bbq (you have to order at least two dishes to cook it yourself), but the last time I was here I got the Cold Noodles and it was very tasty. You get tons of the side dishes (about 20; sometimes not all of them come out - but if you go with a Korean person, they never forget one, plus they are extra nice and attentive to you). Be forewarned though, you will come out smelling like everyone's dinner!!! So bring a change of clothes, or make this the last thing you do before a shower.
(5)
Lawrence Y.

I'm actually disappointed in the quality of service here, and frankly all of the Korean restaurants I've been to in Chicago, for that matter. Back home (in Los Angeles), all of the Korean restaurants I've been to have been extremely courteous with great service. I've been to THIS restaurant a handful of times, and all but one time the servers have been beyond belief RUDE. You don't get acknowledged by the server, all of your panchan (and miso) gets thrown on the table, you get ignored until its time for the check, where they try and rush you off and out. Even our Korean friends comment about the level of service here, and they have the proverbial balls to be rude back to them. That being said, I think the quality of food is alright. You do get a good amount of panchan and the meat is a little above average. If you're a carnivore and care not about service, then by all means check this place out. If you care about presentation and patron-appreciation, save yourself the bad experience!
(2)
angela p.

You know what? This place was pretty damned good. The side dishes were tasty- spicy, pickled, sweet and sour- although I didn't know what 85% of them were. The meat was tasty, too- cooking it yourself was a lot of fun. But the service- oy vey. I ordered the marinated pork ribs. The waitress asked "Number 23?" I said yes. She brought me what I thought were ribs and I proceeded to cook them. Suddenly, she was over my shoulder and snatched my plate of raw meat from the table. "These aren't for you, these aren't your order!" Then she disappeared. My friend, Annie, and I stared at each other and tentatively began to eat the side dishes. Annie eyed her plate of meat and guarded it closely. The waitress reappeared with another plate and barked that THIS was my order. For real, lady? They lost some points for taking my freaking food away (I mean, really? Really.), and I sincerely hope they didn't serve it to someone else, but I would not be surprised if they did. And for that, methinks I shall not return.
(3)
Sonesh S.

I was really not excited about eating here - all I had heard about Korean bbq was that you end up smelling terrible and the food is strange... San Soo Gab San however, had such tasty food that it easily made up for it! We came with a group of 15 people, and the service was extremely accommodating - they had our table ready, and were always attentive to our needs (beer, water, napkins, etc...) Because we had a large group, we let the waitress just bring us the group special, which included all sorts of small plates (mostly veggies and seafood), a seafood omelet, some sort of wonton, and glorious, glorious meats. Let me take a moment to talk about the meats themselves: 1) Marinated Beef - this was absolutely amazing. Small strips of tender beef, that cook very quickly on the hot grill 2) Spicy Pork - This was our group's favorite item. Unfortunately, they only gave us two plates worth, so there wasn't exactly enough to go around 3) Marinated Chicken - Very tasty, but again, only two plates for the entire group. 4) Short Ribs - Forgettable - even the ethnic Korean group next to us left them off the grill. These were not meant to be grilled. Okay, back to the small plates - they hand out a ton of small plates, the only problem is that you have no idea what anything is. Now, personally, I'm all for exploring, but I think a sheet of paper helping to explain everything wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Overall, I gave this place 3 stars, mainly due to the fact that our large group all left hungry, due to the small portions of meats. We paid $40 each (including a few beers), so our bill wasn't exactly small either. In addition, I would have liked a bit more info on what we were being served, so at least I know what it was that I really liked/disliked. I would certainly come here again, as the meats were all delicious, and our group had a lot of fun...
(3)
Margaret P.

Since San Soo Gab San has been rated so many times, I only have two comments for my favorite place for korean bbq: 1) expect to smell like korean bbq/smoky for the remainder of the day 2) this is KM (Korean Mommy) approved
(5)
Melissa M.

I waited a week to post this review to settle down.....I apologize in advance for the "War and Peace" long winded review but feel the need to take the time to write this down. Background: I am half Korean (half Chinese), born and raised in Chicago, and my Mom (Korean) and our family have been coming to San Soo Gab San for over 20 years. We usually had a good experience (I don't speak Korean but it does help when I go with my Mom or Aunts) with both customer service (I'm Asian.....I know the customer service is not a strong point in some authentic Asian restaurants, so I know what to expect) and the food (especially all the sides they give you). It takes but one night of an extremely bad experience to spoil 20 years of going to a restaurant. My family and I will no longer go to this restaurant and have told our extended family and friends of our experience. Last weekend, my Mom took my family to the restaurant for dinner. We ordered chap chae and it was completely tasteless. Then the sides came in and no lie, the cucumber kimchee was tiny (about 5 inches long, cut in thirds) and the other sides that came in are what I considered "cheap" sides. The cabbage kimchee was not good and almost tasted like it was near spoiling. As we were starving , we ordered 3 orders of kalbi and asked if the kitchen can cook the meat for us (as opposed to using the coal top grill). They were nice enough to do this (as this is usually denied). Our 3 orders of kalbi had absolutely no flavor at all. It tasted like all they did was submerge the kalbi in salted water and boiled it. No soy sauce flavor, garlic, green onions, sesame, etc. It seriously tasted like boiled meat. We tried a bunch of pieces (as they merged our 3 orders into one big plate) and no taste at all. We flagged down the waitress and told her about the kalbi. She then brought in the Manager of the restaurant to talk to us. My Mom (in Korean) told her that we have been coming here for 20 years and that tonight the kalbi did not have any flavor at all. The Manager tasted our cooked kalbi and then proceeed to say that it tasted good to her. There were 4 of us at the table who have been eating kalbi for years and years and we all said it was tasteless. My Mom (being a great cook herself) was trying to tell the Manager that there was no flavor and asked for another kalbi entree (from another marinated batch) or ask if we can get comp'd for one kalbi entree. The 3 orders of kalbi are almost $70 and we all ate a couple of pieces and pushed the kalbi platter away not wanting to eat anymore because it was so bland. As my Mom was trying to tell the Manager that the kalbi was truly tasteless, the Manager insisted that the kalbi tasted good to her, they have been using the same recipe for 25 years (any self respecting cook, especially Korean cooks, knows that you don't follow a recipe that indicates specific measurement...you know the ingredients and you don't measure) and that the meat tasted like that because we chose to have the restaurant cook the meat instead of using the coals. Whaaat?? Meat that has no flavor and is tasteless will still have no flavor whether you use coals or not. We decided to leave and went up to the front to pay the bill. My Mom asked again if we can at least get comp'd one entree as we left a huge platter of kalbi at our table and the Manager said (in broken English so that we can understand her) that we ordered 3 orders so we have to pay for 3 orders. My Mom and the Manager started going at each other (when you get 2 Korean strong females fighting, it is quite a scene). Lots of yelling on both parties (as the packed restaurant was watching). My Mom slapped cash down (for everything except one entree). I told my Mom to go to the car with my family and wait so that I can talk to her. I tried my best to let her know that we have never had a bad experience in the past 20 years and that it was only that night where the kalbi (and chap chae) were tasteless. She proceeded to basically say that my Mom didn't know what she was talking about and that the meat was flavorful. After that comment, I said screw it and left. The Manager then goes outside to take my license plate # down. Of course, I had to see what's going on. I went back into the restaurant and asked her why she took my license plate # down. She said "Just in case". I asked her what that meant. And she just said just in case. She then again proceeded to say that my Mom was totally wrong and that the kalbi was good and went into a long barage of that's what we get for not using the coals, etc. At that point, I had enough. Can you imagine going to a restaurant and telling the patrons that they are basically out of their minds? I paid the balance (and even placed a tip as I did not want our nice waitress to suffer from all this) and left. Long story long.....Will NEVER EVER EVER (sounds like a Taylor Swift song that I can write) go here again and will be looking for other Korean restaurantn
(1)
Christopher H.

Great Kalbi with a healthy side of racism! First off, I'm Korean guy and this is a Korean restaurant. I would be wary of bringing your spouse/fiancee/girlfriend if she is white (haven't tested it with other races). We arrived there at the same time as another white/asian couple, and about five minutes later, a korean couple and another white-asian couple arrived. we weren't given menus until the korean couple were well into their first course, which was about 15 minutes after we sat down. And for some reason the other mixed couples were served well before us as well (we postulated it was because they were asian girl/white guy matches, but who knows). Anywho, Kalbi was good though the service made it harder to swallow. Those poor ladies-- they work their dang asses off until 5 am handing out 15 little mini plates of food to each table in addition to the regular courses. I can see why they're cranky but still, we're not in Korea anymore, and you should have some measure of social maturity. I can't wait until their kids marry white/black/hispanic and then they have to deal with their mixed progeny. We'll probably go back. Maybe not so late though.
(3)
Monica K.

This place just gets crazier and crazier. At least they've expanded and now have double the amount of seating than they used to have about 5 years ago. Too bad the parking lot is still the same size - luckily there's residential parking nearby where there are usually plenty of spots. It's probably a better idea to park there anyway, the parking lot is tight and there are some cars that are parked poorly in that lot :) Went on a Saturday night and was able to get a table pretty quickly, but then we were told that the food would take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Fine, we'll just drink until the food comes out! The service here is pretty good considering the ladies are busy running back and forth changing the grills for people who got the barbecue and helping you cook your meat and constantly bringing you more alcohol. They're all business though, so don't expect them to hold your hand while you try to decide what you want. Everything here is pretty good, my personal favorites: - boo dae jun-gol. huge spicy soup meant for at least 2 people that has all sorts of junk: sausage, spam, bacon, meat, ramen noodles and some veggies. Delicious when you're drinking or already drunk. - naeng myun - clear noodles in a cold broth that is great for the summer time. They don't always have this available though. Not entirely sure why? - sam gyub sal with kimchi bokkeum. spicy pork/kimchi stir fry with some plain tofu. YUM. It's not killer spicy but it's definitely got a kick to it. you will pay for this dish the next day, if you know what I mean.
(4)
Terrence C.

Korean spots are fun with all the little dishes (even though i never eat them all). I really like korean bbq, and this place is lots of fun. You can sit at a regular table, or they have the japanese shoes off on the floor style too. I always get 2 thngs, bulgogi and kalbi and they are both awesome. Please don't leave without getting the seafood pancake. Everything is good there, although sometimes the service sucks. Fortunately you don't need much attention with the BBQ. Prices are good for the amount of food you get for sure. Don't wear anything nice cause it will smell like smoke for weeks, hair included. Parking lot is really small, so if you can avoid it and park on the street that would be ideal.
(3)
Jarod P.

Korean BBQ can be a little daunting if you're new to it, especially if the place is more authentic, because that sometimes means English speakers may have trouble communicating with the staff. Which is no reason to be put off, you can get your message through by pointing at things on the menu and using your fingers to indicate numbers. The money still spends, right? The staff at San Soo Gab San seem to communicate better; the place seems more welcoming to non-Koreans than some of the other joints around. It also seems to attract a more rowdy crowd of hipsters. I'm not making a value call on this, just an observation that may be of use to others. It is what it is. All I care about is the food, and the food here is pretty terrific. I found the meat to be more tender and flavorful than other places I've tried. The ban chan were plentiful and good, but I like the assortment at Cho Sun Ok better; Cho Sun Ok has a few favorites that I crave at random moments, and they didn't get served up here. The seafood pancake, though, was worth the whole trip. Service was excellent, especially as crowded as it was. The hostess was blunt with us when we were hanging out too long finishing our wheat tea; she loudly asked us when we were planning on leaving. Didn't mind that, as it was crowded and there was a line out front. We were being pretty lazy about getting our show on the road, so fair is fair. If that kind of thing upsets you, get over yourself. The world doesn't revolve around you. You shouldn't feel entitled to hog a booth in a popular restaurant for three hours just because you feel like it. I hate you. If that kind of thing doesn't upset you, let's be BFF 4-ever LOL ;P
(4)
Scott S.

This restaurant is like being w/ an extremely hot girl/guy with a nice body, but has a crappy personality. The service is horrible (more on this later), but the food is so good that you always end up coming back. Their galbi is still one of my favorites of all time (yes, I am Korean)....and some people who don't know much about grilling don't realize that it's not just the quality of the meat, but the quality of the "heat". What does that mean? Well, most korean bbq's allow you to grill your own meat, but is usually on a gas grill or a psuedo-charcoal grill. This place uses real charcoal, which really adds some great smoky flavors. So yes, the ventilation can be a little bad and your clothes will smell like smoke, but that is b/c this is REAL bbq. Their jjigaes are good and their buddae jjigae is the best i've had in chicago. the service, however, is horrible and you just need to learn to accept that. They will not smile, refill your water, check up on you, or even acknowledge anything you say with a nod or an "okay". Is this acceptable? definitely not. But will i keep going there b/c the food is good? totally. but how do you boost your ability to get good service? a few tips/tricks: * Order kalbi. if everyone just orders soups/jjigaes, you will be treated like scum. Make at least a couple orders of kalbi in addition to your soups. I think a 1/2 order of kalbi per person is a good minimum. * If you plan on ordering beer/soju, do it in the begininng. For some reason, ordering alcohol triggers something in their brain to treat you like a human being. So if you already plan on ordering drinks, do it in the beginning so that you get good service throughout the meal. *Keep the bar low. As with any hot girl/guy with a hot body and crappy personality, quit expecting the personality to magically change. it won't. and neither will their service. Just accept that it is bad and you will just find it amusing.
(4)
Christine O.

I was invited here the first time with a very large group. And we got a very large amount of food and beer! Cooking was shared and merriment ensued. It was a great time. I went back with my boyfriend. It's not as exciting with just two... not so boisterous and merriment making, but still delicious! They gave us a table with a grill which we feared we may not get from other yelp reviews. The boyfriend has simple tastes and doesn't care for the exotic Asian sides (of which there are perhaps exactly 28... seriously a lot for two people even if you like them). I recommend the miso soup. It's just perfectly spiced with jalapenos- something the Japanese wouldn't dream of doing to their miso in my experience living there. Yes, it's smokey. Yes, you cook your own food. Yes, the waitresses don't speak too much for English. That's what a good Korean grill restaurant is all about to me! And I just come to eat... and the order always comes out timely and delicious. Keep the service expectations low, I suppose. It's not THAT bad. If you've eaten in a country where you didn't speak the language before then this place will be a breeze! San Soo Gab San has quite a reputation and every reason to. I never heard a bad thing about it until yelp...
(4)
B S.

Been here twice. Great food. Had a great time. Room is a little smoky. Recommended by Korean co-worker. Suggestion: Order fewer plates of raw meat than you think you need initially and get more as you are cooking if needed.
(5)
Terri M.

This place probably offers one of the best Korean BBQ experiences in Chicago. If you are having a craving for good, authentic Kroean food this is the place. Came here recently with a friend. We'd been wanting to go out for Korean food for some time, and tonight was our opportunity. fortunately, it was a Monday night because I hear this place gets crowded. the wait would have been worth it though because the food here is great. My friend had the bulgogi (marinated beef) and I had the squid, both of which we grilled at the table. We shared a seafood pancake appetizer, which we really wanted to have, but did not need because there was SO MUCH food. one of my main criteria for a good Korean restaurant is the quality and variety of side dishes that come with the meal. The side dishes are also the most interesting and fun to eat. So our two meals came with perhaps twenty side dishes, ranging from fermented soy beans to two kinds of seaweed, to kimchee, radish chunks, broccoli, lotus root, mountain potato, lettuce and cucumber salad, soy bean cake, bamboo shoot, potato salad, and more. Too many to remember. But I do remember that they were all really interesting and delicious. We also got a plate of lettuce to wrap our grilled thing in, a soy bean paste (I'm guessing) to go with it, a bowl of soup, and a bowl of rice. I'm telling you, it was a lot of food and all for under $60 for two. What a great deal, and totally satisfying too!
(4)
Charles C.

This place is overpriced for what you get. The food is ok at best and the service stinks. I went on night with friends for late night grub and they were really stingy with the banchan and the grill barely worked. I wouldn't go back to this place. In fact I curse the place every time I drive by it to my girlfriend. She thinks it's hilarious, ha-ha.
(2)
Diana C.

I went here around 10 p.m. on a Saturday night for a late dinner. We ordered the unmarinated Kalbi, kimchi stew and the seafood pancake. The food took a long time to get to our table. There were so many varieties of banchan, it took up half the table. Since we only got one order of grilled meat, they cooked it in the back, rather than letting us grill it ourselves. The Kalbi was most disappointing, since it seemed to lack a beefy flavor. It was chewier than I had expected, too. After all the hype over this place, I was really disappointed in the quality of the meat. The kimchi stew was similarly disappointing, tasting like kimchi boiled in broth. (I liked the kimchi soup in the H-Mart food court in Niles better.) However, the seafood pancake here was probably the best I have tried. It was thin, crispy, and full of calamari and green onions. The dipping sauce was way too salty, but it wasn't really necessary anyway. I loved the texture, which was a little chewy, with crispy edges, unlike at other places where it comes out soft or soggy. If you come here, you should definitely get the seafood pancake.
(3)
kevin c.

Overall experience with this place is just ok. Have been a couple of times a few years apart. Food was very good both times. I do remember it being better the first time though. The food gets a 4 star rating, and the service/ employees get a 2. They weren't outwardly rude, but just an overall indifference I would say. Not the worst but not the friendliest for sure. The average of the two gets to 3 stars.
(3)
Joe S.

Party of 12 was no problem. It's a big place although you'd never know from the tiny little door at the corner of the building. Was a little scared at first from reading the other reviews about grease, intense smoke, and charcoal embers flying into my eye but the way they have it sectioned off keeps it easy for the staff to manage everything. Because the smell from the smoke is mentioned in every review I want to note that each table has it's own big draw fan (like the hood on your oven) and it keeps things pleasant enough. The smell on your clothes is there when you leave but I'd have to say that I've experienced worse (i.e. Moody's) Everything was great. We were lucky enough to have a friend at the table that alpha dogged all the ordering for everyone. Otherwise with a table that big of the inexperienced it could have turned ugly fast and almost did. Be ready though because once your order starts coming out it comes hard and fast. They're great about changing out the grill when it gets messy and are all around very attentive. This isn't something I'd do all the time but might save it for once in a while and definately recommend it for big groups. The more the merrier we thought going in and we were right. Don't be stingy and try to split entrees. Everyone should get something and share with the rest of the table. We all got our own meats, great appetizers, soups, and big community beers for the table and with a 20% tip it worked out to about $34 each.
(4)
Jason S.

Having grown up in Dallas (and LA), I have had the chance to eat some damn good homecooked/restaurant Korean BBQ. So I definitely did not come here with any high expectations. I took my mother here (another tough Korean food critic) when she came to visit for the weekend. Not being from the midwest, I was definitely not impressed. However, this place is probably the best Korean BBQ you're going to find in Chicago. San Soo Gab San gives a lot of "ban-chan" aka side dishes. They give you like 20-25 different side dishes, which is a little overboard in my opinion, but hey I didn't mind :) Now on to the Korean BBQ section of this review. Now considering this place is known for its Korean BBQ, I was very disappointed in the whole set up of the grill. They got one thing right, the use of coals. Basically there is this hole in the table where the coals go and then they place a small flat grill RIGHT ABOVE the coals. So your korean bbq is basically sitting on top of the coals and separated by a small thin grill. After a while, the BBQ ends up tasting like coal/smoke and it ruins the flavor. We ordered two orders of the Wang Galbi (the best one in my opinion). It was pretty decent. Not the best korean bbq but we definitely enjoyed it. The third order was this other Gal Bi which I don't remember, but it was extremely salty due to the heavy marinating.... it was difficult to eat. Even worse, they brought us the meat still partially frozen. I was shocked that they would bring us half frozen meat and then try to play it off like it's supposed to be that way. You can't pull that one off with Korean people who have ate korean food their entire lives. Anyways, despite my criticisms - this place is probably the best korean food you are going to see in Chicago. It's packed, so definitely a lot of people obviously enjoy it. Just make sure you bring a Korean person with you because despite the stereotype that all Korean servers are absolutely terrible at service and are racist, it is true in the majority of the cases. So just bring a Korean speaking friend just in case. To non Korean folks - this place is probably the best To Korean folks - average
(3)
Reid B.

This place is tight, crowded, and there's generally a decent wait for a table, but once you get in and start pouring you BYOB this place is like heaven. The food is excellent (kalbi and cheyook bokim were superb) and the side dishes appeared to be endless - my party of 7 departed feeling full and elated on an inexpensive $120 check.
(4)
Stephanie Y.

Food = 4 stars. The chicken is the BEST. With every plate of meat that you order you can feed ATLEAST 2 people. However, the little things they bring to the table have no description. Service = 0 stars, if I could. They're unattentive and not friendly in the slightest. They'll also try to cook the food for you even if you opt to do it yourself. They also decide when you should take it off the grill. Pfft, please woman. I want my beef well done!
(3)
Mathew K.

Love this place, their sushi isn't bad, but it's not amazing however their BBQ and soups are and the little dishes they serve with the meal are awesome as well. I've always had good service here and really love the place. If you love Korean BBQ this is a great place in the city without having to trek to the burbs!
(4)
Erin P.

This was my fist KBBQ experience and what a time it was. I cannot think of a better, inexpensive, tasty and interactive way to spend time with friends! 5 girlfriends and I (including the beautiful Brett D and Angie M) met for dinner at this Yelp- illustrious establishment for some good eats and company. We started with dumplings and asparagus beef rolls. I happen to be quite the dumpling (gyoza, pot stickers etc. . .) connoisseur and these were up to my standards indeed. I had two although I don't think every one got that many- shhh! Brett ordered for the table and as soon as the order was placed a hot bowl of coals was placed in the hole in the middle of the table and we were attacked with hundreds of mini bowls filled with god knows what! I am proud to say I tried everything! Although I was not a fan of all, nothing was particularly inedible- but there were definitely some new flavors. We also got little bowls of sticky white rice and great soup filled with veggie, tofu and jalapenos! I don't know why there are so many whiners about cook-it-yourself-restaurants (like KBBQ or fondue) if it is such an issue, go somewhere else! I think cooking the food is part of the fun! That being said, someone at the table had to be the designated chef and at ours Angie M accepted the challenge and managed to cook us tasty food and eat also- I was quite impressed as I am not the multi-tasker that she is. We had the pork (yum), rib eye (cut with scissors at the table- talk about carving table side!) ribs (unfortunately not very much meat on the bone) and octopus (the wriggled like it was alive when grilled). I loved the sauces that were already on the cuts of meat. The staff worked diligently and traded out our grill a few times when the meat began to stick. As I stated above, it is a really fun and interactive meal, great for a group of close friends and family or maybe even a great way to get to know other people better. I can't wait to go back. The only problem is I will need to take Brett along otherwise I will not know what to order; for that matter I should probably take Angie too so that I can experience her culinary skills again, first hand!
(4)
Patty S.

One of the best Korean BBQ I have found in the city. The marinades they use are delicious, not overly salty and flavorful. We normally get a couple of the different marinated beef, chicken, and squid. The side dishes that are served with the meal take up all the space on the table and a variety of foods that I'm sure you'll find something you like. If you want seconds, they will fill you back up with whichever side dish you want. We also normally get the seafood pancake which is very tasty. It's got all these pieces of scallion, shrimp, and squid all mixed in. The dipping sauce on the side goes very well with the pancake. Even though their food is delicious, there are a couple of downsides, the service is quite slow and there a lot of pointing of menus and stuff like that since their English is not very good and we don't speak a lick of Korean. The parking lot is also very small and cramped. You'll be lucky to find a spot in the lot, but there are plenty of spots on the side streets. Also, don't plan on going anywhere afterward because you will walk out smelling like Korean BBQ (which is delicious, but I'm sure others at the bar will just stare and wonder why you are wearing food as perfume). Overall, this is an awesome place for a delicious meal and I highly recommend it if you've never had the pleasure of trying Korean BBQ.
(4)
David M.

This is one of my favorite stops while visiting Chicago. My friends and I love this place. I'm married to a Korean and have eaten lots of it in Korea and here and this place is one of the best. I love the Prul style of cooking. They do it right with real charcoal...it's not right until you are inundated with a thick covering of smoke which permeates your body the next morning! The food is very authentic. I recommend the Dak Kalbi, Oh Jing Oh Bokum, Prul Gogi, and everything really. Seriously, I'm really picky about Korean food. This rivals what you would get in Korea. There are so many side dishes you don't have room to put your arms/hands on the table. It's always a great time, especially with Soju!
(5)
Philippe F.

I ate here again the other night. I JUST finished eating the leftovers.....and I'm already craving it again. Why do you deserve 5 stars? Well....... I love the fact that you notice the marinade is getting too burnt and clumpy on the grill and change it with the blink of an eye. I love how you give us so many sides we have to build a pyramid in order to make room for everything on the table. I love that you do not bother us while we are eating, but are only an "excuse me" distance away just in case we did need something. Your meat is so damn tender and flavorful it's almost disgusting....... I already miss you. I miss the smell you left on my hand that I continued to smell the rest of the night, and the burps that I forced up just to have the taste in my mouth......SSGS, Tea.Tea.Why.El.....
(5)
Crystal P.

I like most of the food at this place. The DIY style is fun especially when you have people who never have done it before. But it wears off unlike the smell of smoke in your hair after you leave this place. Negatives They really don't refill your pan chan, The wait is long and I see a huge difference in treatment when I go with one of my Korean friends ( my dad is form Korea my mom is white I look ambiguous) positives pretty good Bulgogi good array of panchan good duk guk soup good yukajang over all 3 stars ps. My grandma doesn't like this place that much
(3)
Angie M.

Since SSGS has been reviewed to death, I'm going to keep this fairly short and sweet. 1. The parking lot is insane. How do you fit a normal sized car in those spots? 2. I love that the neon sign outside says they are open from 10am-5am. That's pretty hardcore. I don't know about you, but I need pizza late-night. BBQ-ing my own meat on an open flame seems kind of dangerous when there are too many cocktails involved. 3. I think we counted 47 teeny tiny plates of food on our table at one point. I have no idea what the KBBQ peeps call all of those little bowls of unidentifiable food, but they kept things, um, interesting. My friend told me someone once dared her to try all of them, even the clear gelatinous one. I would have liked to see that. 4. Someone has to take the bull by the horns and be the chef and grill all the meat. I was that person. It was fun. But still, I can't help but think those open flames spell DANGER to someone who's had one too many shot glasses of that plum wine... 5. Dirt cheap. Go. Eat Korean BBQ. Prosper.
(4)
Chris L.

Once again, the service was below par here. Although the bus boy filled our waters and cleared the empty dishes, the waitress couldn't be bothered to change the grill or check up on us. Actually, their usual apathy was nice when the meal was over because we weren't rushed out when the check was due. As in like it took like 15 minutes to wait for the check and pay. Otherwise the appetizers were their usual random goodness and I have nobody to blame for overlooked beef but myself. Be sure to "remind" them about soup if your meal is supposed to come with it, as they tend to forget it when focusing on ignoring your table. You know how the hot girl always goes back to the douchebag? That's us consistently returning here to be blighted in exchange for the opportunity to cook our own food when dining out.
(3)
Kai Z.

Is there anything in life better than sizzling meat over a pit of fire? I think not. Sure, the service is a bit lacking, but you're not here for ambience. You're here to fire up your raw meat and gorge yourself silly! The marinated kalbi here is fantastic, as is the pork and chicken kalbi. Skip the bulgogi - not because it's not tasty but because it's sliced so thin that it sticks to the grill and tends to shred. The seafood pancake appetizer is also crisp and delicious. The prices are not super cheap, but it's decent, especially if you come with a large group. Make sure you wear raggedy clothes, because you WILL smell like smoke and charcoal for the next 24 hours. It's a small price to pay for entering meat nirvana.
(4)
T T.

The food is OK. Service can be rude if you are not Korean. Huge variety of side dishes yummy!!!!
(3)
Ryan B.

If you've been around the Korean culinary block a few times you know not to expect any kind of high-end service while dining. This restaurant is no exception, however the food more than makes up for it. The Kal Bi and Bulgogi are seasoned to perfection and once grilled over charcoal, cancel Christmas. Amazing taste!! The best chop chae any where around and tons and tons of bahn chan make this a well-rounded winner every time. Word of caution: you will get very, very smokey, so wear jeans and casual clothes.
(4)
Peter L.

It don't compare to the top Korean places in LA or NY, but SSGS is my go-to place for Korean grub in Chi-Town. My favorite is the huge pajun (seafood scallion pancake), which is miles ahead of the Cho Sun Ok counterpart. Seriously, it is a must-order before each meal. The Korean BBQ is decent, and if you want just a quick or cheaper dinner, the stews and other dishes are very reasonably priced and awesome. Our usual rotation includes the kalbitang (stew with kalbi), yukgaejang (spicy beef stew), and soondubujjigae (spicy tofu stew). Bibimbap is good too if it's a hot day. And best of all, SSGS don't skimp on the banchan. Sometimes the service really sucks. Bringing along a token Korean person who speaks Korean well might help... and also the parking lot is small.
(3)
Angelique R.

There has been some vegetarian chatter on here, so I just want to speak for the non meat eaters and say the waitstaff had no issues with making me Bi Bim Bop with no beef (basically a veggie stir fry, with egg, in a hot pan - only $6.95). There were lots of interesting veggies floating around, just have a meaty person try some of the questionables out. Maybe they will even share the soup and rice that comes with their meal. You can't be too sensitive though, as I watched baby octopus burn right before my very eyes tonight. Yeah, maybe not ideal for vegetarians but it was my good friend's birthday. Oh and Korean beer (BO) and sake rules. Staff was friendly to us, even when we had to wait a half hour for our whole party to arrive. Thanks to Bette for the food suggestion, and to the person who mentioned wearing nice socks.
(4)
Chuck B.

best korean bbq in chicago. bar none. lots of sides, friendly service and welcoming to non-korean speaking folks like myself soooo much better than chicago kalbi.
(5)
Justin B.

Authentic and superb. Bi Bim Bap was spectacular.
(5)
kelly c.

It's not that there wasn't plenty of banchan. It's not that the smoke bothered me or that I was put off by bad service. It's not that I thought this place was expensive, or that the meat wasn't good. I don't mind that the parking lot is small and you often have to wait for service. I just really think this place is so-so. And the fact that I am not in love with San Soo Gab San makes me feel this small pool of guilt, akin to how I felt when I realized that the rides at Great America didn't excite me anymore. As if my propensity to be blasÃ© is shrouding me from what should be some of the best stuff out there. Sad, isn't it? Well, the kimchi was pretty tasty. And if you do find yourself at this establishment, don't pass up the seafood pancake.
(3)
Peter B.

Mad props to any place for being open as late as this one, first off. And its centerpiece, the barbecuing, is done well and a fun experience. The panchan is an explosion of variety. Pricewise and servicewise, I'd say it's alright. Location, quite far north in the middle of nowhere, is a bit of an obstacle, but whatever. Though I'm not in love, if you're looking for BBQ I'll give you this name first. (Also it's hilarious that this place is in the category "Gas & Service Stations." Almost +0.5 star.)
(3)
Diana S.

We came here after a crazy long line at Cho Sun Ok. You can smell the meat fumes from the street. YUM! We waited about 10-15 minutes on a Saturday night around 7:30PM. We ordered japjae, bulgogi, and kalbi. The banchan that came was awesome. The japjae was also delicious. The smaller pieces of bulgogi were hard to cook because they could fall through the grill. I prefer the kalbi. It was very well flavored and tender. I think it's better to go with 3+ people because if you do the bbq you have to order two of the meat dishes which is way too much food for two people. It's also missing the yummy kimchi fried rice at the end of the meal that Cho sun ok has. I always enjoy that part. However, I think this place is delicious and would be good for a group of people.
(4)
Tiffany K.

The banchan (side dishes) here is amazing (I think we counted 31 banchan dishes), and you definitely come here for the Korean BBQ. The restaurant itself is definitely designed to accommodate groups of 4+. I went with two other girl friends, and we ordered kalbi (marinated short ribs), bulgogi, and spicy pork galbi. We finished 98% of the food and the banchan ourselves. We left smelling like good ol' Korean BBQ. It isn't Korean food if it doesn't leave you smelling like it! Definitely delicious, the galbi is a little pricey, but I definitely recommend a) the bulgogi, b) going with a good group of friends, and c) going with at least one Korean person. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, and we had no problem parking on a Friday night around 630/7pm. It did get kind of crowded around 8/830. Also, I hear they are open til 4am WHICH IS AWESOME.
(4)
Linh T.

They gave us a lot of pickled veggies which were good but we didn't need that much. What we ordered were short ribs and ribeye. I was expecting it to be seasoned but the ribeye was not. The short ribs were fine. I was disappointing cuz I could have bought a piece of meat and grilled it at home. The tofu seafood soup we ordered was good. Its also more expensive than usual.
(3)
Alex B.

Holy smokes, Batman! Seriously, I saw the pictures of flames in the pictures of San Soo Gab San and instantly recalled the brisk December evening that I spent starving for air.. What was it like? Eating in a restaurant that was on fire. I don't know if the chimney thingy on the table next to us was not operational or what, but smoke was BILLOWING all over the place. Everyone at my table was coughing, and I could hardly see my friend across the table. Breathing was difficult. When we left the restaurant for a night on the town, strangers kept approaching us and asking us if we had been at a bonfire- the smell was overwhelming. That being said, the food has been consistently good both times I've been to San Soo Gab San. Although I think that its accurate to say that the waitstaff are the antithesis of attentive and helpful, it has always struck me as (as has Korean food in general) as a great place to take a leap of faith. I would agree with other reviewers that its a mistake to make the meat the focal point of the meal- the thin slices tend to come out alternately burnt or raw and are never sufficient to feed the hoards. The chicken, however, is well marinated and tasty. Other stand outs on the menu the (scallion?) pancake and the various soups. And 40-60% of the little dishes are always solid. So take a leap of faith, pack your wallet (this place ain't cheap) and, of course, bring an oxygen tank down to San Soo Gab San.
(3)
Karina G.

Traveling to san soo gab san by CTA takes a long time from where I live (hyde park). The two times I've gone before were awesome, so my boyfriend and I decided to make the long trek again a few days ago. I was disappointed that the servers were stingy with the banchan; that's part of the allure! They took way too long in taking our orders, which wasn't true the first two times we went. They also forgot the egg in my jjigae (which is included in the soup) so that was disappointing. I don't get it; the first two times we went it was super packed but we still got plenty of ban chan without even having to ask! This time the place was nowhere near as packed and we had to ask for a second round, and they only brought out 4. Boo! I still love this place, but please don't be so stingy next time!
(4)
Laura L.

My party of 10 and I had a great time! This was a very authentic KBBQ experience (cooking your meat yourself on grills at your table). None of us were Korean, but two of us lived in Japan and were very familiar with Korean food and how to work with the staff. I can see how it can be rough for first timers who don't go with people who have been before or know what to order. A few tips: 1. Research Korean food before you go so you don't have to depend on the limited English (and patience) of the staff to explain the menu. I recommend this site: lifeinkorea.com/Food/menâ€¦ 2. Be swift and decisive in your ordering. You will get better service that way. The ladies taking your order will not tolerate small talk. 3. Start off small, you can always order more. One order of meat will feed two people if you order some sides like rice or soup (dol sot bim bim bop was excellent). 4. Make sure you wear something that is machine washable. The vents that are supposed to suck up the smoke can't keep up with the amount of grilling being done in the restaurant. You will leave smelling like KBBQ. Think of it like going to a bar before they passed those laws against smoking indoors. 5. Be adventurous and try the Korean beer and shoju. It goes well with the food. Do a little research in advance so you don't have to ask for a recommendation or just go out on a limb and get one of something and try it. If you're not ready for an authentic KBBQ experience (fast paced, sensory overload), go to Benihana.
(4)
David K.

Place has lots of side dishes. But that's about it. The beef is of the poorest quality. It is just plain horrible. Have been going to this place on and off over 10 years and it only gets worse. Anywhere else is better than here. Can not believe they are still open and even open another location in Niles. They are fooling all the non Koreans to going here. Do not waste your time this place just sucks.
(1)
Jamie S.

Love this place! I have been there 3 times and each time, the service was decent and the food great. The atmosphere is what I would expect from a restaurant where you cook at your table and people run around with charcoal pots. The service is abrupt, but who cares? I am not going to a restaurant to talk about my deepest issues with the servers. They are there to bring you food. You sit down, they throw down like 21 small plates of Kimche and different pickled ingredients. Very cool way to try a lot of new things at once. Also helps me when I go to H Mart because I know what I like. The meat is great but I think I go to this place for the experience and fun of it. I love cooking on the table, which doesn't surprise me because I like fondue too. I love that it is so interactive. Take note, there has been a line every time I have been there, but it really wasn't that bad any of the times (all were on Fri or Sat night).
(4)
Jason K.

I went here after clubbing, then drinking at a bar, and then karaoke. I must admit I was wonderfully surprised how good a 24hr Korean restaurant could actually taste. It was very good 4am in the morning. Creativity - N/A (Traditional Korean) Presentation - 2 (Basically how your mom would serve you dinner if she was Korean) Service - 5(Very attentive, hell incredible service 4am) Atmosphere - 3 Flavor - 4 Execution - 4
(4)
Nick M.

I would've never eaten here if it wasn't for Jerry and her goodbye to Meat get together. Not too thrilled but I'm glad I tried it. I don't know if it was because there was 14 of us but the staff was not so kind to us yelpers. We had problems with the reservations, then on the orders, then because apparently we weren't cooking fast enough, and then the bill. I will say that even though you cook the food yourself, everything was quite tasty. The spices on the chicken were really good, along with all of the side dishes (soooo many side dishes). I couldn't tell you what half of them were or how to pronounce the rest but I couldn't get enough. I have to give a shout out to Brett D (first time meeting her and she is a darlin') who had a brilliant idea to put the white rice into the soup, very yummy. I would've given more stars but between the service, having to cook the food yourself, and then how much you smell after you leave I couldn't. But the food is great and it's an experience!
(3)
Caroline L.

MMM... I love love love korean bbq, so when I learned that my favorite place ever, Cho Sun Ok, is currently closed, I trekked north to San Soo Gab San because it seems to be the "other" korean bbq place that everyone loves. I was disappointed for several reasons. Don't get me wrong though, it was tasty, but seriously flawed. Let's start with the banchan (little side dishes). There are tons, and they're all great! Way more than Cho Sun Ok. I was surprised in earlier reviews that said they won't refill them if you ask. Our waitress refilled several of ours, but then again, it wasn't too busy. So, we got the broiled marinated beef and the thinly sliced un-marinated beef. This is where my biggest issues with SSGS comes in... The marinated beef is cooked on a charbroiled grill, which my korean friend says is actually authentic. The pieces of meat, though, were small and easily fell through the grill. The taste was bland, and I wasn't impressed. The thinly sliced beef was cut into circles and covered in peppers, onions, and mushrooms to also throw onto the bbq. This was so annoying because there was VERY little meat and a whole lot of vegetables. We cooked the meat and it was tasty, but nothing spectacular. It didn't seem very fresh, as the corners of each slice were slightly dried out. At the end of all of our meat cooking (which took approximately 5 minutes because there was so little meat), the waitress came over and cooked the vegetables for us and urged us to eat them because they were healthy. This was adorable and we ate them without argument. All in all, I was really disappointed by San Soo Gab San because it's pricier than most korean bbq and the portions they give you are WAY less than you are paying for. I like korean bbq because it's good for a group of 5 or 6 and everyone leaves pleasantly full and satisfied. At SSGS, though, the only way this is going to happen is if you order multiple orders of the same thing, resulting in a huge bill. Final though? Cho Sun Ok, please re-open!
(2)
Victoria W.

Sure you get a lot of sides, but the way the waitress pushed us around we ended up with more meat than we needed. And once they take your order they pretty much disappear and let you fend for yourself. Don't even think about getting extra lettuce leaves. If I go again I'll just order the seafood pancake.
(3)
Stacy Y.

My lil buddy, Jessica C., would not stop raving about this place. It was a Sunday afternoon and the family was looking for somewhere to eat. S suggested SSGS. We were seated immediately at one of the awesome tables. They took our order and the service was decent. Not top notch by any means, but they were good. They answered all of our questions and didn't attempt to step in during our meal. I was pleased. We ordered the fried dumplings, the chicken and one of the beef dishes (I can't remember which one). There were 3 of us, at the suggestion/recommendation of other Yelp reviews and my friend, we only ordered 2 dishes knowing that would be more than enough food. and it was. The dumplings were very tasty! But I was excited to cook some meat! They brought that out and then bombarded us with 20-something little dishes - I knew what to expect but my dining companions were taken by surprise. It was fun trying to figure out what everything was. The cute little grill was brought to our table and then we went wild! The meat is nicely marinated and in small enough pieces that they cook very quickly. We cooked half of our meat. Devoured it and then a little later cooked the rest. I did appreciate our server stepping in at that point - as soon as we were done grilling they promptly removed our grill. Both the beef and chicken were delicious! Tender and cooked just the way we liked :) hehe This place is all about the food and the experience, not about top notch service. Just keep that in mind and you'll love this place. We also had no trouble finding a spot in their parking lot.
(5)
Lucien H.

Pretty decent food. Definitely satisfies your craving if you're in the mood for some Korean. The service depends on how much money you spend. After coming here, I realized if your check is high, they'll be super friendly and constantly check up on you. If you don't order much, you're likely to be neglected. Also last time we were there, there was only three of us and they slapped the 20% gratuity on the bill. Wtf? We always tip 20% or more anyway but I was a little put off by that. On top of that, we couldn't find our waitress or any waitress for that matter to pay. When we did find them, they were all eating and gave us a dirty look like how dare we interrupt their meal time. Well, we just wanted to pay and go! Goddamn. They were super chatty and bubbly with other tables but wouldn't even give us the time of the day. Perhaps it was because we didn't order any alcohol that night?
(1)
Lauren S.

Food was good. Service was horrible. When I see them using scissors to cut meat off the bone instead of a knife, right in the dining room area, it just creeps me out. If we had had better service, I probably would return though.
(3)
Pamela L.

The food was good, with large portions. Good for a group, Korean BBQ is always fun. So Far, the best Korean BBQ that I have had in Chicago. Don't plan on going out after unless you want to smell like Korean BBQ, but it's definitely worth it.
(3)
Andrew C.

Of course there are better Korean restaurants. Of course there are "more authentic" Korean restaurants (whatever that means). Of course they did it differently at that restaurant you always used to go to during your semester abroad in Korea. Of course there are other Korean restaurants that cater to the Food Network-cultivated prejudices of middlebrow Chicago foodies. Ok, listen, that's not why you come here. This is why you come here. You come here because you want to spend 3 or 4 hours of a cold evening drinking and talking happily with your friends and eating bulgogi and banchan while wrapped in a warm cocoon of smoke from the coals, the transcendent smell of grilling meat, and the kind of quiet that comes from being in a loud room full of happy people all doing exactly the same thing. You come here because it's 3 am on a cold night, you've just left the bar, and you're dying for the kind of buzzed, happy, post-beer food-daze that only cooking meat at your table with fire and stuffing your face with kimchi and namul can bring. Cranky servers and dangerously hot grills inches from your vulnerable flesh, yes - and heaps and heaps of magical comfort food. So put on your coat and gloves and come here. It's getting to be about that time.
(4)
KELLIE K.

Although I'm not new to the Korean BBQ experience, I was an SSGS virgin. Until recently. Vegetarians beware. While you can find things on the menu to eat, the piles and piles of raw and cooked meat flowing around the table are not for the weak-hearted. There's also the smoke and smell from said cooking meat. Pass me a beer, kimchi, and some rice, please. SSGS serves up Korean BBQ like other places I've been. You order up something to grill at your table, then you're treated to a variety of condiments/side dishes, such as kimchi, to eat along with your meal. All of this is served family-style. While this experience is most enjoyable with a few others, it can be a bit crazy with larger groups (i.e. more than 10), so I'd recommend smaller groups. Did I mention the kimchi? What really keeps me from giving more stars is the service. It takes far too long to flag someone down and get drinks or anything else needed at the table. I almost drank right out of the water pitcher on my last visit while waiting on a glass. If the smell of piles of tender meat cooked over an open flame, smoke from the grill, lots of Korean condiments, and drinks sounds like a good time, check out SSGS. Oh yeah, there's some tasty kimchi. I'll be back again just for that.
(3)
Kmberly B.

I still heart this place. The meat is tantalizing and amazing. Although it's all really succulent and well marinated, I found the ribs are the most flavorful quickly followed by the beef and then the chicken. New found love for their miso soup. It comes with huge chunks of tofu, and cucumbers! They lost a star because the service was bad and it took over 15 min for us to get more lettuce. Although in tradition you must flag down a server at Korean BBQ, this was beyond the acceptable flag down time.
(4)
Jessica C.

OH MY Korean BBQ!!! San Soo Gab San is hands down Chicago's best Korean BBQ. You better be hungry when you walk into to this place. My usual order is the Bulkoki and the Spicy Baby Octopus...always full of flavor...always fresh. And as for the eighty million small plates that they cover your table with...always fabulous and fun discover all sorts of new things. Their variety of kimchis are great. Now...as for the service. Not quite what I would call hospitable, but they leave you alone for the most part...so I'm ok with that. One thing I find here is that you need to act like you know what you are doing otherwise they will start cooking your food for you...quite aggressively might I add. If I'm at a dining establishment where part of your experience is to grill your own food, I want to be grilling my own food. Overall a great experience and always fun to bring new people who have never had it before. It's open until like 4 in morning or something, so thats always a bonus.
(5)
Amy Y.

I have always been hesitant to try any Korean food restaurants in Chicago seeing as how I'm a little bit of a Korean food snob with the great choices in Los Angeles (where I'm from). I decided to try San Soo Gab San based on yelp reviews..and I wasn't disappointed! I was very, very impressed by the number of the side dishes, and couldn't believe how many there were and that they were all yummy! The meat is good, not the highest quality but definitely delicious. I was hoping for a little more generous portion on the meat, but overall we left full and happy. It's so awesome they are open late and after posting my picture of the side dishes on fb, I received dozens of comments from fans and loyal customers alike within the hour! I agree with other reviewers in that you will smell like smoke afterwards. Oh well!
(4)
Christine P.

Their food may be pretty good, but their service is the worst ever!!! One of the waitresses there had the audacity to talk back to us and gave us attitude, and we would have to ask for things at least 3-4 times before they actually brought it. I thought maybe they treat the non-korean customers better, but looking at some of the other reviews, it seems like they're just like that to everyone. As for parking, their lot is so small and it's so hard to get in and out. I don't think I'll be going back...
(3)
J R.

This place is rockstar. I've been coming here for YEARS and it's always delicious. Excellent Kalbi but it's better if you cook it at your table yourself. Their spicy squid is great and the amount of side dishes that come complimentary is amazing (upwards of 30 little dishes). Their cold, spicy noodles (bi bin lang mein) is tasty but not the best I've had. It fills the void though...! Their kim chee soup is great and overall this place is a favorite. We go every time we visit Chicago!
(5)
Gordon O.

This is one of the best places to eat authentic Korean Food! My friend taught me what page of the menu to look into and I ordered my bibimbop for less than $10! It came in the traditional stone pot, steaming with all tons of rice and vegetables which were cooked perfectly! But wait, that's not the best part. For every order of food, they give you a load of side dishes. Actually its more of TONS of side dishes. They fill up your table with all sorts of korean kimchi ranging from the traditional napa cabbage, radish to spinach and seaweed! Very flavorful and can't be anymore authentic! Aside from the cheap eats in the menu, they also serve the traditional grilled short ribs, seafood pancake amongst other good eats. But I am very much happy to stick with my BIG bowl of bibimbop :) O yeah, don't expect much from the service. It can be quite erratic, sometimes they are in a good mood and there will be bad days for them. So if they are a bit abrasive on the service, just brush it off and enjoy your meal!
(5)
Brandon W.

So to start, how can you not like a restaurant that is open until 5am? Moving on.. if your not really sure what Korean BBQ is because you have never been before, it is exactly what the name says. It is Korean food, barbecued. Not just barbecued though, barbecued YOUR way. How is it your way? Well, when you sit down at your table, there is going to be a big empty spot in the middle of the table, and a ventilation duct over your head. As soon as you tell the waitress you want BBQ, a cart comes out with a flaming grill with charcoal bricks burning - or, if you are some place else, it could be a gas stove they have at your table. Once your food comes, you cook it yourself! You like your steak well done, then cook well done - yourself! You like it practically raw you can still give it a name - cook it (or warm it) yourself! On to the review: I have been to my fair share of Korean BBQ restaurants, and have had good experiences. However, this one is my standard go to. After a long night out, or a hard days work, a great way to treat yourself is by heading into San Soo. As with your traditional Korean restaurants, they bring you all the side dishes you could imagine. I mean, you have barely decided what you want to eat and already there are more little bowls on your table then you know what to do with. The only thing I have ever eaten here were the different varieties of BBQ meats from pork, chicken and steak. All very excellent and flavorful. The service here can vary. Sometimes they treat you like you are their best customer, other times they treat you like the red-headed step child. Either way, the food can usually make up for it. If have never tried Korean BBQ before, this would definitely be a great place to start. It would give you a pretty decent standard amongst other places. As well, if you plan on BBQing your own food, make sure you have someone with you, because you need to order at least 2 entrees to be able to BBQ at your table.
(4)
Nina I.

I'm not big on Korean food so this is gonna be quick. I loved a noodle dish which was full of garlic! YUM! I even trued the meat there and it wasn't that bad, so I think that if you like Korean food this would be a cost effective and tasty place to go. :}
(4)
Kathryn M.

I have a feeling that the sheer joy my night at San Soo Gab San continues to bring to me the morning after is a feeling that is going to last for quite some time. I simply cannot do the place justice in my review, but it was, for many reasons, one of the best meals I've had for a long time. From the moment we walked in and my friend nodded his head in approval, I knew it was going to be a great night. For me the joy came in experiencing something wholly new and different, alongside great company who was eager to guide me through it all. Here are my highlights: A) Sitting on the floor, my feet shoeless and happy underneath the hot, smoking table B) Drinking cold sake and Korean plum wine out of the little Korean cups C) Listening to my friend brush up on his Korean with the servers and entertain me with stories of the years he spent there as a child while he ate his kimchi in delight D) Tasting foods totally foreign to me from a total count of 33 plates that were used during our meal, 3 of which, we never really figured out E) The attentiveness of our server, from water refills every 5 minutes, to grill changes, to help serving the dishes that were out of our reach, to packing up the leftovers for us. amazing. I really only had two complaints. The first was that the bulgogi we had gotten, unlike the nice long strips sizzling on the neighboring stovetops, seemed like the bottom of the barrel scraps. Little tiny bits that stuck to the grill and were hard to turn. The second is that the whole meal felt very rushed. I was overwhelmed from the start, and we tried to pace ourselves by grilling half of our meats to start. The server, however, had other ideas, and dumped the rest on as soon as our grill was changed, and then proceeded to remove the grill as soon as the second round of proteins were cooked. We ended up sitting at our table for 30 minutes after we paid the bill, talking about the food, sipping on our plum wine, and trying to stretch the experience that went by waaay too fast. Despite those two minor issues, I left the place a little enchanted by the whole evening, with dreams of visiting Korea dancing around my brain. Utterly fantastic.
(5)
TeMeka W.

My family likes to go to this restaurant. However, the first time I was able to go there, no one greeted me at the door. I wandered around the restaurant to see if my family had been seated and still no one spoke to me. I finally flagged down someone who worked there who answered me rudely and then turned away from me while speaking so I didn't understand her partly because I couldn't hear her and also because she had such a thick accent. Furthermore, I am pregnant and needed to eat something while waiting for my family to arrive and they refused to seat me even after I told them I would order. They also spoke to and seated people who arrived after me. Those customers who arrived after me were also incredibly rude and added to the overall horrible and very unpleasant experience I had there. I would never give them the pleasure of my patronage because the memory of that awful experience is ever-lasting.
(1)
Laura A.

Really fun way to eat. Love the whole "cook your own food" thing! The sides are really fun too, except for one gelatinous little thing I had to spit out The wait was long on a Thursday which must mean word is getting out. Really good and fun experience.
(5)
Lori L.

If I had a conversation with God, this is how I imagine it would play out. Me: "Hi God. What's up?' God: "Oh, not much. Just trying to keep the human race from imploding." Me: "Oh, that's all? Well, could you squeeze in one little favor for me.' God: "Of course my child." Me: "You already know I'm a fan of meat. Could you create a cuisine that combines the best seasoning and the most tender meat one person can consume." God: "Why Lori, this already exists. Its called Korean BBQ. Head north my child, to a restaurant called San Soo Gab San, and you shall be rewarded." And rewarded I was! Holy Moses is this place amazing. This is not for the faint of heart. Platters with mounds and mounds of raw meat are brought to your table and then you grill the food yourself. Choose from one of the numerous extras (potatoes, fish cakes, seaweed, etc), add white rice, a piece of meat, and roll it in a cabbage leaf. If this is what heaven is like, then I'm a believer.
(5)
Sam S.

It's official. I'm a Korean BBQ bitch. After tonight's Yelp get-together organized by Mike K. and Vaughn C., I'm more carnivorous than ever. We ordered one thing and one thing only: Galbi. Two tables with charcoal pits, eleven chairs, 1200 side-dishes - or panchan - and two bottles of soju. These, my friends, are recipe for primitive and caveman-like behavior: Chopsticks flying across the table fighting for the best piece of charred, or uncharred, meat. And when all that was left was the rib bones, well, we ate them too. Grilled to bony-perfection, we wasted no food. All $28 per person worth. San Soo Gab San. A difficult name to pronounce, but you've provided a safe haven for foodies, meat and non-meat eaters alike, to satisfy their basic needs. Twenty four hours a day.
(5)
Dave L.

I love this place! Definitely worth the drive and the food hits the spot right on. The service was great, people were great and the food was great! Great^3
(4)
Katie H.

Mmmmm, meaty. It was a bonanza of meat, the service sucked but the company was good. Yes everything you've heard was true. The beef was tender though not as flavorful as I was expecting. The octopus was too hot for me, and the bacon was gross and fatty, but the chicken was excellent and perfectly seasoned and the pork was divine. I didn't know what half the sides were, and you get no explanation, but the fried tofu, little omelets, and potatoes were all good, and I enjoyed the soft shell crab appetizer. From the other reviews I was expecting this place to be cheap - like $15-$20 a person, not the $30 each we ended up with. And for that, I can't say I'd rush back, though it was fun, tasty, and something new.
(4)
Chan K.

You can't go wrong with authentic Korean food and BBQ until 5 am. The miso soup with jalapenos and soybean sprouts (which comes with your order) is a lighter, less salty version of its Japanese counterpart. The waitresses don't speak English, but they get the job done.
(5)
Tom I.

I've been here twice during the day and have always had good service and great food. We've gone with groups of 4 each time, and we always end up ordering more because of how good it is. It's a great place with great food, too bad other people have had issues with the service, because we definitely haven't yet.
(5)
Bee B.

There isn't much to say about this place that hasn't been said, except for this: If you are not into plates of bloody meat waiting to be grilled you should still go here!!! Every time I've gone, I order bim bim bop with no meat, but with egg. It comes in a hot stone bowl and the rice touching the bowl gets crispy and delicious, and you mix in your own hot sauce and I could eat it every day, I swear! Yes, with the vents above the tables and the grills inside them, it is always either too hot or too cold. Yes, the service is crazy -- sometimes your food comes while you're still enjoying your panchan, sometimes you wait forever, and the ladies really aren't all that nice. But damn, that bbb is good, and from what I can tell, people seem to really dig on that meat as well.
(4)
Kristin S.

Second time I've been to a Korean BBQ, but this was the first time cooking over charcoal. It's definitely smoky and started to bother my eyes a bit by the end of the meal, buy my peepers are pretty sensitive, so I won't count it against them. I went with two other ladies and think this is definitely a group joint. Sharing the the main thing. We got to sit at one of the tables along the edge of the restaurant where you have to take off your shoes and essentially sit on the floor level. I really liked this since it made it seem different and fun. The we got short ribs and bulgogi and I liked them both. I gotta say I enjoyed the quality of the meat at Cho Sun Ok a little more, but I really liked the flavor of the charcoal over the hot stone pots they use at Cho Sun Ok. Service was fine, nothing spectacular, but we weren't ignored or anything. The food was good and we did get more little sides than I remember getting at Cho Sun Ok, so that was really fun, trying the different things. If I have a friend who wants to head for Korean BBQ with a group, I won't hesitate in recommending San Soo Gab San. Delicious!
(4)
johnny b.

Really good I'd go back. The atmosphere was a little lacking. I think I'd rather go to gyu kaku. I know not as authentic I just personally like it better.
(3)
Vivian Y.

oh Yummy! Great for groups! Headed here last night after a very fun afternoon in the cold visiting the Richardson Cornmaze up in Spring Grove...so a HOT meal over an open flame was the perfect end to the night. Shocked - our service was GREAT!!!! (Sunday night, almost 8pm) We were a group of 8 - though I had made a reservation earlier in the day, we still had to wait 20 mins to get seated. No big deal though - I'm asian, I understand that reservations mean they know you're coming and not that they will actually have a place for you to sit right away (very typical of asian peeps to do so!) We ordered a ton of Kalbi and Bulgogi as well as dot sot bim bim bop (hot stone rice bowl), seafood pancake. Everything was delicious and I think I had some of all the little dishes that came out. I definitely preferred the Kalbi over the Bulgogi but it was still good! I can still smell the smoke in my clothing and so glad I left my new ski jacket behind in the car. It's the morning after and I can taste the garlic and scallions in my mouth. GOOD MEAL!!!! Group of 8 with plenty of food and no alchohol - $195 inclusive of taxes and tip (or about $24 per person).
(5)
Aubrey S.

As previous yelpers have expressed, the staff of this establishment is less than spectacular. My virgin experience at San Soo Gab San was delectible and a little awkwardly uncomfortable. My friends warned me in advance that the staff is pushy and pretty unkind overall. My friend Al was tending the grill and the woman came and muttered some reprimand at him gesturing that he was doing it all wrong "Get the bean sprouts off the GRILL!". Well the meat's cooked to perfection lady so... yeah... it can't be that wrong. The amount of different Kimchees they had to offer pretty much JFK'd my mind. I did try the minifishies and wasn't too keen on it. I'm all about Daikon. I couldn't even make it through all those little bowls of foodstuffs with all the meats we were about to eat. We ordered a metric ton of meat, delicious meat. Beef (what's for dinner) is what we started off with, though it wasn't the kalbi. The sauce they give you to dip that ish in....must be something illegal because that shit melted in my MFing mouth, son. I'm not even that big of a carnivore but I would continually go Hungry Hungry Hippos all over that. That sauce, I would like to be buried in it. The chicken? Oh yeah the chicken. Put some more of that shit in my mouth now, please and then serve me a delicious dessert of grilled kalbi beef. Oh dear lord, if there is a God on earth he would somehow make San Soo Gab San beef (w/grill) appear in my kitchen everyday. Outside of the unfriendly staff, this place is pretty much aces with regards to foodliciousness.
(4)
Betsy H.

Tender beef, wonderfully and healthy fermented foods. I felt fantastic all day after eating that many probiotics.
(4)
Hannah H.

Considering we went there when it wasn't busy, the service was terrible. I asked for something and the waitress forgot twice. When I first came here couple years ago, the food and service was quite good, but now, it seems to be declining in both. If you are dying to have something korean, I would suggest it to try it out, but for me I will be searching for the ultimate korean restaurant in chicago.
(3)
Kathy S.

This place used to be a 5 but the quality seems to have gone down. Plus, they used to be open 24 hours which was awesome as we could hit up San Soo Gab San after a night of partying..I believe they close at 5am now . Overall, the food is still pretty darn good; my favorites are the kalbi and goat stew-yes I said goat stew!- but be warned if you haven't gone here before, the service is typically bad so you might have to chase down some servers for extra things. Oh, and be prepared to smell like Korean bbq for the rest of the day!
(4)
Brian P.

A really fun family experience with our three little kids. We grilled beef and chicken + had the umpteen side dishes + an order of dumplings. Everyone found something to like, a great environment to encourage the kids to try something different. Fun to grill at the table. It's 5 minutes from our house, very affordable, no frills. We'll be back.
(4)
Mark A.

Cool. I never had authentic KBQ before. I'm gonna call it the KBQ because it sounds awesome when I say it. Only when I say it. So you get your own charcoal pit and like 50 different little Korean tapas. Sweet, because there's so much variety for someone like me with little attention span. My friends ordered so I couldn't tell you what we had. I assume it was pretty traditional (I hope). From what I can remember some of the dishes ended in "-gogi." So these two large plates of raw marinated meat come out with tongs. We just lay the stuff on the fire and eat...it...up. I'm all over the seaweed, the kimchi, the weird fish noodles, and the miso-like soup. And before I know it, my beef - cooked. It's cool because everyone's cooking for everyone else. See if it were up to me I wouldn't notice that right away; my self centered butt would solely be concerned with my own meat. I know, I'm an ass. Be sitting there with tongs in one hand and chopsticks in the other. But I have good friends and they showed me the way. The cooking and watching the meat for me was more meditative rather than just waiting for the next piece to be ready. I really enjoyed that part of it. Taking care of the pieces up there on the grill - making sure they don't get burned or stuck. Even better, my clothes smell like KBQ now. Whatever - they're open 'til 3AM, so I'll deal with that. Hours alone gives them 6 stars.
(5)
Sir C.

Went with 18 friends to celebrate a birthday. We got there around 1 am and the place was definitely not busy. As we entered, the staff was rude and scolded at us about taking off our shoes. We were ordering separately as the table we sat at divided us into two groups. Since it was already late at night, a few of us had already eaten and was not to hungry. So we decided not to order as much. Before we even placed our order the waitress asked us, and I quote "Are any of you Korean?" And when we said none of us were her attitude changed. Almost as if we were not worthy of service. So we ordered two entrees and a few appetizers for 6 of us and bill could've easily been over $60. The waiter heard our order and immediately started complaining. And I quote again "You have so many people and you only order two entrees. We are a business. Out!" At this point we were all confused and wondering what was going on and asked her what was wrong. And she just said "We are not taking your business." Then they proceeded to bring us our check for the drinks we had and had us leave. Is this any way to conduct business? Apparently there is an order minimum there that I must've missed, because this is completely unheard of. They definitely do not like to serve people who are not Korean. So unless you're Korean, I would not recommend going here and expecting decent service of any kind.
(1)
Simone T.

A feast every time; the condiments alone are a huge meal. Used to go to Solga on Lincoln; after my first time here, I'll NEVER go anywhere else!
(4)
Bridget D.

This is the best Korean BBQ joint I've been to in Chicago! The marinated beef and chicken are amazing. Like others have said, the short ribs are not worth it. The bachan are numerous and flavorful, as are the soups. My only complaint is that the ventilation system is awful and the place is always full of smoke. You'll walk out smelling like Korean BBQ, every time.
(4)
Carla F.

I came here with a group of 13 people for my birthday dinner. Dinner and fun! I would totally give them 5 stars, however, they didn't have my reservation which screwed things up a tad. They gave us an almost big enough table for our group but of course everyone wasn't on time (even I wasn't) and the hostess gave us a little (in good fun) crap--asking who made the reservation and if we could count. I tried to hold my oh-so-common smart ass remarks in, but failed. I don't feel bad though, she deserved it. Anyway, I have heard not to expect much when it comes to good service here, but this night it was just fine. Especially for a rather large group. We had a couple orders of chicken, beef, pork and ribs...all were seasoned nicely. A friend of mine ordered the beef and asparagus roll as an appetizer and while I'm not a huge asparagus fan, I tried it and would gladly order that again. If you haven't done Korean bbq before, you should. This place is good for groups or even for a date. Don't get too cranky if the service isn't spot on. Be patient and enjoy yourself. Oh, and don't pour your own drink, let a friend do it---it's considered rude in the Korean culture.
(4)
Karl M.

There is almost always a wait to get seated when I have been there (usually after 11pm) The food is yummy. The meat is seasoned very well. The service is ok but what the hell, I'm cooking my own food. The price is right and you get a lot for your money. You WILL wreak of hardwood smoke after a meal hear so don't wear anything delicate or flammable. The venting is pretty good but it's not perfect. If you don't feel comfortable cooking your food, they will oblige by filling your grill. One order of BBQ is enough for two normal people. You get a lot of sides so don't go overboard on the appetizers. The parking lot is very small but there is plenty of street parking within half a block.
(4)
Nick C.

food was great. awesome for groups. no host which was a little annoying.
(5)
James G.

Best tables in Chicago! Oh my does this place have great tables! Went here with a group for a friend's birthday and we all sat around these huge wooden tables that were about 3 inches thick! The grilled meats were delicious, but I loved the platter of bizarre foods that were brought out with the meal. I give the nod to the tiny, crunchy, translucent fishes! Soju was pretty solid as well. Well done San Soo Gab San
(5)
Samantha J.

Always can eat Korean BBQ and this place has some good quality meats. The marinated kalbi is definitely my favorite, but the non-marinated is really good too (just dip it in some sesame oil with salt and pepper, and it brings out the natural flavors of the meat). Service and cleanliness are my only major gripes about the place. The abundant side dishes are great, but trying to get one refilled is a major struggle. The whole establishment feels a little dirty/oily, but maybe not so bad for a 24 hour bbq place. Would probably go back again for a late night korean bbq craving...
(3)
John B.

The No Smoking sign that you pass on the way into San Soo Gab San is kind of ironic, because you will smell of smoke when you leave. Fortunately, it's a combination of hardwood charcoal and meaty goodness, so that's a plus. I first came here with a group of Yelpers. Although I'd had Korean food before, I had never done the BBQ, and I was a little intimidated. As it turned out, nobody knew any more than I did. But it was still a little less intimidating with a crowd. When I went back, we opted for one appetizer and one entree, so they cooked up the meat for us in the kitchen, which was fine. Dinner doesn't have to be interactive. Two dishes were plenty, because even the appetizer was a good size. And you get 20 little bowls of panchan (banchan?). Seriously. When I went with the Yelp group, there were bowls everywhere, and it was impressive. But going with one other person and STILL having bowls everywhere was nuts. A couple of different kinds of kimchee (kimchi?) -- fermented vegetables -- raw and cooked veggies (broccoli, greens, beans), omeletty things, noodles, pickled cabbage, potato salad (!), dried fish, bean sprouts, some kind of fruit (lychee?) -- and on and on. Apparently SSGS translates as "a million little plates." Oh, and the dinners come with soup and rice. Just in case. We had the ChopChae -- noodles with beef and vegetables --and the marinated short ribs (Wang Kalbi? I shit you not), which as I said, was plenty for two people. The menu is huge, with BBQ, casseroles, soups, stews, and more, so whatever you're in the mood for, you're likely to find it. If you do your own cooking, you get a fire pot that sits in the table -- watch your knees! -- and a cooking grate which the servers will occasionally replace for you. You need to order at least two BBQ dishes in order to cook your own. If they do the cooking for you, the meat comes out sizzling on a fajita-like plate. Be aware that ordering alcohol means you get a full bottle, so if you're not sure about that plum wine, you may want to take a pass. (It's sweeet.) Service is generally slow, but friendly. If you need help, look around and flag someone down -- they seem to expect it. And expect to leave full.
(4)
Becky S.

We went there Sat. night with some friends and had a fabulous time. The food was soooo good and so plentiful! I had never eaten Korean BBQ before so it was really fun. We ordered four entrees to cook ourselves -- beef, pork, baby octupus, and squid. The meals come with soup and about 20 small plates to share. The small plates were great because they gave us a chance to sample many different Korean dishes. You don't choose the small plates, they just bring them out before the meats, and you sort of guess at what you are eating. There were some that were delcious and some were okay, but nothing that was bad in my opinion. The meat is plentiful and really yummy. They bring it to you raw and drenched in sauce. Then you cook it yourself in the middle of the table on the fire pit. It's pretty fun, and everything was easy to cook. My favorite was the pork then the baby octupus. The beef was good too, but we all thought the squid was a little too chewy, and by the time the squid came out, we were all pretty full anyways. We had some Korean alcohol (similar to Sake) and a couple beers each, and the bill came to about $32/pp which was pretty reasonable considering how much we ate and drank. The service was really fast as well. The only downside is that you end up smelling like a campfire by the time you leave, and the place is smoky and warm because of all the cooking at each table. I definitely recommend this place, especially if you are going out with a group. :)
(4)
Kevin A.

HEADLINE: SAN SOO GAB SAN SAVES 3 FROM FROSTBITE This place was a lifesaver this weekend. With absolutely painful why-the-fu*k-do-I-live-in-Chicago windchill of -22, we made a run from our car to this wood-heated sanctuary of beef for a meal to remember. SSGS scored immediate points when our server, like a life-saving St. Bernard, rushed to our table to bring us cups of hot tea. And then the banchan arrived. Those little appetizer dishes multiplied like a wet mogwai on our table with a final count of 24 dishes! Finally, the meat...the glorious meat. We stayed away from the bulgogi this time (which tends to stick and fall into the grill) and opted for the kalbi and the ribeye. The kalbi was great, but the real star of the show was the buttery rib eye. Wrap that sucker up in a lettuce leaf with some rice, kimchi, and the sesame oil dipping sauce and you have a vegetarian converter like no other. 5 mouth-watering stars!
(5)
Caitlin O.

A good place to go for Korean barbecue, but not the best. Open until 5 AM nightly, it's relatively accessible (though not exactly the 24-hours that they claim in the window) with parking that is a bit on the impossible side (at least in their lot - it's quite the cramped lot, especially if it's a busy night). Nothing outstanding, but people are generally nice and attentive. I haven't had any of the wait staff be rude to me at any point, though they don't pay as much attention as I'd like. On the other hand, they've got tasty food, I haven't had a bad cut of meat yet and the appetizers are always plentiful (as it should be) and I appreciate that they use wood chips instead of the gas fire at some places I've been to (which is just icky) - unfortunately the ventilation could stand to be kicked up a notch, but what can you do? I'll just enjoy my 3 AM bulgogi and calbee/kalbi/however the restauarant you're at feels like translating it. Oh, and just so you know, you can't order anything off of the Japanese sections of the menu past, I believe, midnight. I'll also echo the sentiments about paying for the rice, though. That's just a gut punch. At any rate, I'll be back for sure. EDIT : HOLY SHIT THEY REMODELED. It's much easier to sit in now and feels moderately less crowded. Still the same great food, though.
(4)
Jonathan Y.

We took my parents and kids here and everyone had a fantastic time. The food was terrific and generous. We had the bulkoki, galbi and rib-eye for the beef, and also the squid. (The squid was so-so at first, but it was better with the sauces and also after picking up some of the beef flavor off the grill!). For appetizers, try the seafood/onion panackes. Really great! Even the miso soup, which comes with the meals, was more flavorful than the bland versions you often get. We got here just before 6 on Saturday and had no trouble getting a table -- but 15 minutes later there was a long line. We've had Korean food in several other places, but this is the best.
(4)
Rocky B.

I passed this place constantly for the 4 years I lived in Edgewater and just never ventured in. I think it was the covered windows that threw me off. Fortunately I listened to a few seasoned Yelpers that assured me that San Soo Gab San had some yummy eats waiting for me. San Soo Gab San was such a great kick off restaurant for our new Hot Heads group. I called in a reservation for 20 people a few days before the event and though there was a bit of a language barrier the woman on the phone was very friendly. Alas the evening for our event was here and I arrived at the restaurant with my husband and another Yelper and were seated at a few floor seating tables that the restaurant provided. Wow, the restaurant smelled good...my stomach started getting rumbly as soon as I walked in. While we waited for the rest of the Hot Heads to arrive we took a gander at the menu. Quite extensive but we had pretty much decided that we would be getting the Korean BBQs...we just had to decide which ones which took a bit of time as they had quite a few to choose from. Once the bulk of our group arrived we soon found out that the tables that we were given wouldn't accommodate everyone in the party. After a brief conversation with the hostess we were given a bigger area. Score! 22 of us filled the 3 huge tables we were given and then we happily started deciding what yummy eats we would be getting. Once orders were placed, drinks and side dishes started coming out and soon the meats! There is something about a grilled meat that just does it for me. They put charcoal grills right in your table and you just start tossing meat on. Love it. Along with the BBQ you also get various small dishes. Sauces, lettuce, rice, kimchee, potato salad, soup, etc. The food was so good and very satisfying. We got a good tip from someone who had been to the restaurant before...always order one less Korean BBQ then the number of people eating the BBQ. There were 8 of us at a table so we ordered 7 BBQs...great tip because that was just enough food to fill our bellies. I have to say that this is definitely a great place to hold a big event. Even though we had a group of 22 they took care of us very well. The only snafu was that we thought we had arranged for there to be one check per table and in the end they split up our three tables onto two checks. What? We ended up just having each table put in what they owed and combined the money which worked out fine. Will I be back? Hell yeah! Would a bring a huge group? Hell no! Oh, no...wait...I mean...Hell yeah! Thanks San Soo Gab San for making this event go off without a hitch!
(4)
Charles W.

I loved cooking up the delicious meat at San Soo Gab San. But what I would have loved more would be roasting the woman who runs the place on one of those flaming hot grills. It would be like a Korean version of Hansel and Gretel. She was a pain in the a** the whole time we were there. If I saw her in the street I would shout at her and furiously stomp my foot in the dust. Everything else was great but I don't find it pleasant to have a large woman yelling Konglish nonsense at me while I'm eating.
(2)
Carolynne M.

I always viewed Korean BBQ joints with a little hesitation. I mean, I had heard that if you arent familiar with how things work, or arent Korean, or both, then you were essentially screwed. But going to San Soo Gab San totally changed my viewpoint! The waitstaff was SO nice and SO accomodating - most places would have not been too pleased to have to reseat a massive group when we 20+ Yelpers outgrew the original table. But they were really cool and the main waitress (we had a lot of help from many different servers) was really patient and explained a lot about various dishes to us. The BBQ rocked, I had a sampling of a couple different kinds of meat, chicken and octopus. Nothing was really spicy to me, except for maybe one of the kimchis which had a little bite to it, but that is AOK, everything was still delicious and I am so glad for the experience. Sidenote, wear stuff you are planning to wash anyway as you leave smelly incredibly meaty. WOW were my cats ever so affectionate towards me when I got home!
(4)
faith b.

Now that they have renovated the whole place, I love it even more. (Be prepared to take off your shoes before entering the dining area!) Of course youre going to leave here smelling like Korean BBQ, but you should expect that. The food is so good and the sushi is much better than it has been before. This is a place everyone should try... and if youre out late... great! cause its open 24hours. You'll need some patience with the waitresses because most of them don't speak english, but eh. The worst part of the evening is trying to park inside that damned parking lot. It's easier to find street parking and walk a little bit.
(5)
Jims L.

I hate to say that this place has good Korean food because it's apparently the best Chicago has to offer, but it really does serve good dishes. The chicken galbi is really good, though the chadol baegi is not (it's tough). I always love their kimchi jjigae, and you can't really order a bad dish, but I suppose the best thing about this Korean restaurant is all the different banchan! Plus it's open until 4 in the morning - always good for a late night meal.
(4)
Nandini H.

Cool concept Good for groups Spicy enough to make my nose run Fresh ingredients Fun experience for newbies to korean bbq Lackluster service
(3)
m m.

oh, how i miss you. i love all their ban chan's. love their yoo kae jang. YUM korean food.
(5)
Lynnette T.

OVER RATED. am i getting old, cuz i don't see why this place is so trendy. the kalbi portions are TINY. yes, there are a lot of side dishes, but why pay a premium for a tablespoon of different sides, when you can go to a korean restaurant along bryn mawr (near kimball) and get double the amount of meat - and better service?! korean bbq is korean bbq guys - this place is not that great, full of douchebagy yuppies who never experienced cooking at the table before, waxing poetic about meat. i'll give them credit - their venting system is better than most places. and yes, the million little sides are great. but this place is over priced for their quality. try other korean bbq places, and you'll know what i'm talking about!
(2)
Malia C.

Do not believe the hype when they say they are open until 3 am. I tried to go last night at 12:45am, and the door was locked.
(1)
Albert K.

Love this place, especially late at night. So much good food. I love the octopus, bulgogi, and galbi. Their soondooboo jigae (hot spicy tofu soup) and side dishes are great, too, especially their mook (bean jello). And the beers don't hurt the experience, either! My FAVORITE waitress is super sassy and reminds me of an aunt I wish I had. Personal anecdote: I was dining with two ladies and another guy, when she brought around our bill and asked which guy was paying. I said we were splitting it in 4 and she asked to see the guys' watches. Upon seeing my cheap watch and the other guy's nicer one, she gave the bill to him. Hilarious - we couldn't stop laughing! I understand that some people think there's bad service, partially b/c I know about enough Korean to translate "Donde esta la biblioteca," but you really should go with someone who understands the experience, because you're going to end up cooking it yourself. It's not your run-of-the-mill sit down and eat what's served to you kinda place. If you can't find someone who's done Korean BBQ before, just let the waitress know that you have no idea what you're doing and they will help you out. Also, just because you're doing the cooking doesn't mean you should skimp on tip. These ladies are serving tons of side dishes to your table, so show some respect! Newbie Tips: 1) Make sure you leave any clothes you don't want to dry clean in the car. 2) If your grill tray starts to smoke, take it off the fire and ask for a new one. Same for the charcoal pot. Otherwise, you will cry tears of pain. 3) Parking is available around the residential areas, if the lot is full 4 stars because the parking lot is like the 27-point turn scene in Austin Powers and their prices went up. Otherwise, I'd give them a 5.
(4)
Berlin G.

I went on a Saturday night around.......2am! Yeah that's right, 2am. haha. After hitting up Karaoke with some friends we had a huge craving for Korean food. And this place stays open until 5am. To me, a Chicagoan, that's amazing. Only cheap fast food restaurants usually stay open that late. Now, if you're looking for a family oriented restaurant with really really really attentive wait staff then this place isn't for you. (well at least not past 8pm it isn't, honestly never been before 12am lol. Then again why would a family be out past 10pm??? Get your kids to bed!) Anyway, you order then they unload a shitload of side-dishes on your table. I'm serious, it must be close to 15 side-dishes. You can choose to cook at the table or have them cook it for you. To be able to cook at the table you must order two entrees of meat. Now warning, if you ago around the time I went there will most likely be loud drunk people. It's totally fine to scream "shut-up!". Totally okay. So the food was great. Just don't burn your meat. I seen the table next to me almost burn the place down. lol. And the wait staff didn't even come over to help.
(4)
Charlie H.

Basically you just go here and order some raw meat. Then they bring you out a little grill on which to cook your meat. They also bring out like a million bowls of little unidentifiable stuff. You're supposed to eat that with the meat I think. Anyway, it's really really really good. And it's open really really really late. So you can go there in the wee hours after you've finished dousing your brain cells. It's never too crowded late, either. I don't know why this has three dollar signs ($$$). I would argue that it's pretty cheap if you go there with a lot of people. Tip from me: be careful that you don't stuff yourself silly. It's easy to do here. Also look really carefully at what you eat before you put it in your mouth. There was this little bowl that looked like it was full of noodles. Except upon closer inspection, we found that they were not noodles, but they were some kind of fish. They had eyes. And gills and scales. Gross. Also, it's fun to throw stuff on the grill besides meat. Like the stuff in the bowls, ice from your cup, or your chopsticks. And it doesn't matter how you say the name, just say four syllables of some Korean sounding word and everyone will know what you're talking about. Plus it's cooler than saying the real name.
(5)
Arlene A.

Was it coincidence that I saw the Check Please! highlighting Asian restaurants a mere 4 days before coming here? That while watching said episode, my Honey and I commented on what a racket it was to pay good money to have to cook your own food? I think it was Divine intervention, preparing me for the debacle of a dining experience at San Soo Kab San. So this is a very hands on dining experience. You select your meats, we ordered "mini" rib-eye, short ribs, pork belly, and regular rib-eye (under no circumstances whatsoever should you get the pork belly, EVER). Most are sliced thin for quick grilling. I said quick, not easy, you really have to pay attention to the meat, or else you end up with shoe leather. There's a little bit of a learning curve here, and I think they should give you a couple of pieces of meat to practice on. Like making pancakes, the first one ain't perfect. The waitress brings a plethora of sides and condiments. There is no explanation of said sides and condiments however, which is really a pain in the ass. There isn't quite enough to go around, so you have to commit, and if you don't know what you're eating.... It can really be a pain in the ass. I would only recommend going here if you have someone holding your hand.
(1)
Bridget V.

LOVE this place. The wait staff, though they can't always understand me, are so nice and are as helpful as they can be. It is so much fun to cook your own meal and the side dishes are all interesting and almost all of them are delicious. Also, the fact that they`re opened until 5 am is awesome.
(4)
richard p.

OK - FOLKS. Here is the OFFICIAL review. This is one of two solid Korean BBQ restaurants in the city. The other is Cho Sun Ok. Either way, SSGS is a good restaurant. It is authentic. So what that translates to, is tasteful korean cooking with fairly mediocre service. Don't take too much offense to the subpar service performance. Some of my fellow Korean Americans may disagree but it is partially a cultural thing. Recall the concept, "when in rome...", well this applies to "when at Korean BBQ on Western...adjust service expectations". I do hope you enjoy the restaurant. It has good Korean BBQ. Not necessarily the leanest meat, but the overall package is representative of Korean authentic eats. Cheers.
(4)
jenise r.

I've been coming here for over 5 years and this place is solid. I went the other day with 2 friends and I was a little nervous because I know its been on Check Please and you know how that goes. We arrived they said it might be a 30 minute wait which ended up only being like 15. They redecorated, and i like it. The service has always been rude and rushed no matter who you are- but hey whatever. It is what it is. I ordered the usual for us, Kalbi, Marinated Chicken, Chop Chae and fried dumplings. As i sit and wait I let the two first timers they may be overwhelmed with all the side dishes. They were but wasted no time trying each and every one. I just love Korean BBQ. At the end of our meal we couldn't believe we ate pretty much everything. Who am I kidding, yea we could.
(4)
Kristine T.

Great food, very smoky atmosphere due to massive amounts of indoor grilling. Soup is phenomenal. They give a lot of sides with the meat you choose.
(4)
Agnes F.

been to this place so many times that i stopped counting definitely a good place for large group to sample korean bbq. staff can be difficult to track down, quality of meat is ok, but the experience is fun. I must say last time i went i was not happy with the staff. They refused to bring soup/ rice for us for the bbq items, kept saying its extra which is not. Most of my friends were too full to eat anymore so i let it go. I will still go back but not my top choice for korean bbq.
(4)
Joedel G.

I'll give a mixed review to this one. First of all the parking space is small but you can get a spot for sure. They open late I think until 4 A.M. ? Divided booths that provide a little bit of privacy. Serving Kirin Beer which is great. I forgot the Korean name of what we ordered but it's marinated beef for BBQueing. The BEST part is when the waitress served different small side dishes in front of you. Although she dropped those saucers like a group of drunk aliens landing on your table, the combination of different colors and textures is so appetizing. Then the main aircraft came in, a plate of marinated beef and a container filled with live charcoal. Be very watchful if you have kids trying to join the fun 'cause they wont refund your money if someone's get burned. THE WAIT IS NOT BAD. THE SERVICE IS PATHETIC. THE FOOD IS SO GOOOOOOOD. THE PRICE IS REASONABLE. THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY BBQUEY.
(4)
Kyle J.

Another venture to San Soo Gab San last night. Soup was a bit less spicy than past such that the kids liked it for a change. Kalbi, bulgogia and dahk were all great. Lots of good kimchee and various root and sprout sides as usual. Worst "wine" I have ever tasted in my life. (No western grape wine...) Stick with beer. Ya... the service sucks and atmosphere rather grungy. No surprise there. Gotta deal with it and enjoy the food!
(4)
Dave A.

Okay, so this was my 1st experience with Korean BBQ. Let me start out by saying the BBQ part was REALLY good. As for the rest, I'm not sure what to think. I understand that no one there speaks any English and cannot communicate the menu, and that's fine. However, I would really appreciate there was an explanation of BBQ on the menu. If that's too tacky or non traditional, some written material should be available on request, or at the very least, when a confused ignorant customer comes in like myself. The woman that seated us had a very angry look in her eye that made me think I had just crashed a party. She took me to our table and our waitress. I asked the waitress what she recommended. Without hesitation, she fingered another waitress and all she could say was "rib" and "chicken" and "good." That sounded fine I thought. They proceeded to throw 20 plates of food, the BBQ, BBQ setup, the appetizers, water, and drinks all at once and then left, never to return until they cleared the table. I tried to ask the latino bus boy in Spanish what was going on, but he was just as clueless as I was. Maybe it was his 1st day. I've had Korean cuisine but never the BBQ. I would have Korean BBQ again, but i did not think I had to research Korean BBQ before I went in. Silly me. If they want to mimic a Korean restaurant with foreign service, I'm fine, just know that I'm going to give a standard foreign tip which is far less than the domestic standard of 20%.
(2)
Ron C.

Anyone who gives San Soo less than 4 stars has NO idea what they're talking about. I've had Korean BBQ many times growing up, but never authentic and never as good as this. Charcoal fire, grill plate, dozens and dozens of the small appetizer dishes and a killer galbi. If you're coming for 4 people, all you need are 2 galbis, and tons of OB (beer) and soju. The appetizers, rice, lettuce, sauces all come with the meal. If you're coming with more, also try the pancake, bacon and tofu soup. This is such a great place for friends to come out, have some good food, get liquored up and have a great time. The staff are extremely friendly (especially when you're drunk), and the place seems to be always busy and packed (yet you never need to wait too long for a table). Good atmosphere, good food, great times!!!!
(5)
J T.

I eat here so regularly that I no longer have to order unless I bring friends and confuse the server to as what the rest of the gang wants. We always have tons of food and more panchan than we can count, contrary to many reviews. Go beyond the usual kalbi, bulgogi and mandoo, and try the baby octopus or chigae. Also, they have an awesome beef and vegetable soup that's nice and peppery, so perfect for a cold winter's night. If you're going with a large group, try ordering the family meal and hotpot. In respect to other reviewers, yes, ordering and communicating with their wait staff can be difficult if you're not Korean or with a Korean-speaking diner. Yes, they can seem rude, but really, it isn't exactly a service oriented establishment. Go with your friends and if you need something, ask. And don't even try to park in that lot. It's impossible to maneuver through. Try one of the side streets and you'll usually be OK.
(4)
Earl J.

Bulgogi & tons of side dishes FTW! Just be prepared to smell like bbq for days!
(5)
Edward C.

Love the food. I've liked everything I've had here. I'm Taiwanese and hadn't really had KBBQ until moving to Chicago, and I love it. I took my parents here and they like it too. You get tons of sides, and the meat portions are reasonably large too. I was surprised how good the squid was, very tender. Great place to go after a night out as it's open pretty late, although the sign says open til 5, a few friends and I tried to go at 4:30 and they said that they were close. Not a huge deal. The servers are pretty Korean, so it wouldn't hurt to bring a Korean friend along, but they were friendly enough for my parents and I, on par for most asian restaurants at least. As with any KBBQ place, you'll smell like smoke for the rest of the day :)
(5)
Luke S.

Very fun experience. Wish I knew more of what I was eating though. It's open till 5AM 7 days a week. You will smell like you where in a three alarm fire when you leave, but its so worth it. Go check it out.
(4)
Tiffany L.

me & san soo have a love/hate relationship. whilst i love the ridiculous amounts of food (especially the 3483943 different plates of pan-chan -- i.e. little side dishes -- that are unlimited to refill), the service is pretty terrible. for example, your water may never get refilled. i always order the "set A" because it's only $19.95/person, but you have to order a minimum of 5 orders -- FIVE! who goes to eat with 5 people?! why not 4? for some reason i'm always going to san soo w/ 4 people. but set A comes with seafood pancake and i cannot resist. also, parking is terrible, and saturday nights have a crazy wait, and there is virtually no "waiting area" so on a cold night -- have fun waiting outside!
(3)
Sang H.

In the last couple of years, this place has become more and more popular to the mass public. The quality of beef did get better and food is still just okay, but the service is just horrible. The waitress will ignore the guests at the door until a table opens up.
(3)
Kathy C.

Practically a 24 hour joint. Real charcoal, none of that nambee-pambee gas stuff. You WILL come out smelling like meat, smoke, and garlic; there's no way to avoid it. If you grill at the table, you definitely get a lot more sides than if you didn't.
(4)
Dina I.

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE for Korean food. LIke Cho Sun Ok, Hae Woon Dae, Chicago Kalbi...this is the McDonald's of Korean BBQ in Chicago. I'm not even talking about the "rude" Korean servers.
(1)
Will C.

Good food...a tad crowded, and you have to sit on a floor...people take off their shoes, and sometimes, you smell rank stinky feet and toe jam....but the food was good...lots of variety....go with a group of people
(4)
Ashley V.

Awesome. Authentic. Fun. I took my mom here will she was in town. I like to bring her to unique places and based on the previous reviews I knew it was a great choice. We started with the Seafood Pajan (sp?) which was huge and awesome. It is similar to a seafood pancake and comes with this sweet/sour dipping sauce. Very Good! For the main course we ordered the bulgoki and the chicken. Both had awesome flavors! The bulgoki was sweet and tender and the chicken was spicy and flavorful. I was equally impressed with both! Now for the 20 or so small bowls of side dishes that come with the meal. We had a blast trying to figure out what each thing was. One person would taste, guess and pass it on. It was definitely an experiment! We also ordered a small bottle of SoJu. I was familiar with it from previous Korean restaurants and love the smooth taste but it was a bit strong for me to sip. While one of my dining companions sipped it straight, I mixed with a little soda. I had a ton of fun. The service was quick, the grilling was an experience, and the food was great. I will be back again for sure!
(5)
Helen A.

Korean is my IT food right now. This was my first BBQ exprience and I loved it-becuse I love trying things I've never heard of before in my life. On that note, I would have liked for someone to have explained at least 10% of what was on our table. The meat was mostly good, the sides were VERY interesting, but mostly just ok. I'll be trying Korean BBQ again soon-but probably some place else. Its super fun to guess at all the wierd looking sides and you grill your own meat at the table-makes for a very food focused conversation at dinner-FUN. Beware-you will smell like meaty smoke forever!
(3)
Barbara D.

Love it! Love it and Love it! I've been coming here religiously ever since I discovered it years ago. They have changed the lay out inside, and I almost cried (not really, but I was SO bummed!). It use to have this 'maze' sort of dining, where you couldn't see anyone except the person you were eating dinner with but now it looks like the inside of a denny's or ihop....but never-the-less, I keep coming back for the awesome food. My favorite is the kalbi, although I have tried most things on their menu...you can have your choices too....anywhere from squid to stew to sushi. Words of advice: 1. Parking is a bitch, park down the block and walk unless you drive a mini cooper 2. Skip the garlic if you're on a date, and your clothes will smell like good old korean food 3. Although they say they are open 24 hours, I tried going there at 5 am on a weekday and they were closed...just depends on how many customers they have 4. Sometimes their sushi chef is out, so no sushi for you! (usually in the early afternoon....I think he gets there after 5, but I don't have his schedule;-) 5. Wear clean, hole-free socks since you might be seated on the floor.
(5)
Vick C.

San Soo Gab San is one of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurant in the city, good variety of meat selection and love their small dishes, one thing I make me deduct to 3 stars are the environment , so smoky and smell very bad...but with their price of food and quality...it's still worth 4 stars!
(4)
Arjun C.

I have no real problems with this place, but I found that it was nothing to write home about given the ridiculously expensive price point. The place is not very inviting inside and instead on nice table stoves I've seen at several other places, this place relies on make-shift hibachis with such intense heat that it can b hard to cook the meat effectively. Also, as much as I understand that banchan (side dishes) are a novel part of the experience, I really do think that korean restuarants need to make it optional. It adds $5 to an entree price unnecessarily, and overwhelms the eating experience. A person who doesn't necessarily want all of those bells and whistles will get scared away by a $20 price point for meat (which is just ridiculous for the quality of the food and the ambiance). I miss the old "Korean Restaurant" on Lawrence that used to be open 24/7...
(3)
Cathy L.

Bibimbop was delicious (get the Dol Sot) and side dishes are yummy per the other reviews. However...the meat is not the best I've had and the grill is weirdly small...
(3)
DR. S.

The worst experience ever! The server can't understand what you need and there is problem with their sanitation. NOT RECOMMENDED.
(1)
Liz S.

When it's 2:30am and you're slightly drunk and greasy food just isn't what you want this is the place to go. It's open 24 hours, so you just can't go wrong. I walked in with two friends expecting the place to be dead, but I was dead wrong, the place was half full. We sat down and ordered out food, which comes out quickly cause you're obviously cooking it, and there are about 20 little dishes that come with the main meat. Now, if you're not adventurous don't go here without someone who knows all about the little dishes. The meat was okay, this is coming from someone who doesn't really like meat, but the people I was with enjoyed it. Overall it was a great late night snack and I would definitely go back sober or drunk. I would've given this place five stars if the server was a bit more friendly and told us what the dishes were. NOTE: If you're really drunk it might be a bad thing to be sitting in front of an open flame.
(4)
Elleb K.

Been here on several occasions. Good place to grab some eats. Be prepared to smell on your way out. Don't wear your best cause you will stink. The BBQ is good. Spicy tofu stew is good. Alot of banchan. Hate the little parking lot esp. its full. Such a pain to leave. Oh, just found out that they are no longer 24 hrs.
(4)
Taylor W.

Only way to eat korean barbq. Wood chips and charcoal great flavor!
(5)
Mark V.

Excellent food, good service. I bet the people knocking the service of this place don't know about the waitress call button at every table. Obnoxious, but effective.
(5)
Joe R.

Now this place was fun. A party of 16 and I went there after a fellow student of my martial arts dojo earned his blackbelt. We were promptly seated. After a few min of deliberation we ordered. The waitress was borderline rude and unaccomadating. But seeing as she most likely serves tables of jackasses Im sure her night was long. Still, she should have seen we were all nice people. our sides came and Everything I had was well prepared and yummy. I love kimchi and theirs was spectacular. When our meat came it was well cut and the octopus was very spicy which was a treat for me. try the chicken as well. Very moist. We finished off with ginsing wine and sake. We had so much food and I still wanted more. I look forward to stopping here again seeing as it was an unexpected treat.
(4)
Steve L.

Food is good, but service is HORRIBLE. Come here if you want your standard grill yourself Korean BBQ. I think this place is 24 hours, and it is busy at the oddest times. I think I went once on a weekday at around 10 pm and there was a huge line. The meats are quite good here. Side dishes are good too, but they are quite salty. Their soup entrees are actually really good, the spicy shredded beef noodles is damn good on a cold day. The tofu soup Sondobu is actually pretty lackluster though, don't get it. Some bad thing's are the parking, their lil parking lot is full of Asian people who can't park. So they go into stalls that are too small in weird angles. Save yourself the trouble and just park on the street. As stated the service is JUST PLAIN BAD, I mean come on I expect more even with a Korean restaurant. They have a fiscally sound, but retarded policy of not giving you side dishes except with your main course. So that one time where I waited for my soup entree for 45 minutes, they would not bring out the side dishes, so that they would not need to bring out seconds. Service is so bad that on one occasion I left no tip. Usually giving less than 5%. But if you're willing to put up with it...it's some good eating.
(3)
Jessie B.

This place is very unique. It was my first time diving head first into Korean cuisine, and I was very satisfied. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but it was a rockin' good time. There is SO much food when you order. Little plastic bowls of deliciousness, and variety. I tried almost everything, except the minnow jerky as some of my table-mates were calling it. The service was great, there was a vegetarian at our table, and one of the servers was very accommodating to her. Which is great to see. We ordered a couple of appetizers--the beef asparagus rolls (good) and then some sort of dumpling with spicy beef & rice (really good). For the BBQ we decided on the marinated chicken, and the thinly sliced beef. I loved all the ways you can make your finger food. :) But the best part of the meal was the spicy miso soup. I LOVED IT. I would most likely drink a bucket of this stuff. YUM-O. The other tables looked like they had some other delicious food. I am going to make my roommate come back to this place for me. But just a suggestion, don't eat lunch in the afternoon if you are going for dinner. You'll be stuffed!
(4)
Julie M.

I am Asian and I am pretty accustomed to "average" service and dining environment in authentic Asian restaurants. The poor service at this restaurant is way off the radar. First, the waitress gave us the look and said "thats all?" when she felt we didn't order enough dishes for a 4 adult table. Then she brought us the same if not less amount of banchan compares to our neighboring table of 2 person. She expected us to share 2 soups and 2 bowls of rice. The seafood pancake was good. Then, she refused to change the grill surface for us stating "no no no more order" referring that we don't have much meat left to grill. Okay that is fine I will finish up my food, get the hell out of here, and never come back. The tab shows up with extra "service charge". The service charge was not posted anywhere in the restaurant or mentioned to us previously. I handled it the Asian way. I paid by cash for the food only and walked out the door. The waitress came after us down the street screaming "not enough! not enough!". We drove off.
(1)
Maria h.

I hate this restaurant not because of the food, i like the food, but i wont go again. Last week we have a group of 7 people went there for dinner at night, the food was good, but the service is very bad. We finish some small dishes and ask the waitress to fill up, never fill it, we need pop, it take a 10 min to get it, i know they are busy, but they should hire more people, and the worst is they charge 20% of the tips, that's crazy, we get bad service, why we need to pay 20% of tips, wont go there again!!!
(1)
Jen M.

Fun, tasty, great! restaurant is a bit of a dive, and it's noisy. BUT, love the little dishes of tasty stuff they bring, like the do it yourself part, and would happily go back and bring friends.
(4)
Charlie B.

not much to add to the great things said about this place, but I have been twice and loved it. I have been to a couple of other Korean bbq's and this is the best by far.
(5)
chuck m.

I went here with a Korean friend and a few other friends. The food was pretty good, but I didn't think the quality of the meat was very good. All the little sides were interesting, but again, nothing amazing. Maybe Korean BBQ just isn't my thing, but I don't know... I had an "expert" at my table doing the cooking, so I feel like it should've been better. Considering how much I paid, I think I should've gotten more food and better quality, especially since we were doing the work of actually cooking it. It was definitely an interesting experience, but I would never go out of my way to eat there... and if I was invited to go again, I would only go for the company and not the food.
(2)
Doug P.

I'm not an expert on korean food, but I've always liked the trip to San Soo Gab San. I often host guests and I once took a Korean and Taiwanese traveler here in a nice-sized group and got one of their group, sit on the floor tables -- definitely the way to go. My korean visitor was so happy with the place, he immediately took over the ordering and we almost had more bottles of alcohol on the table than bowls (which for this place is a miracle). Somewhere later in the meal, another Korean guest in the restaurant asked him how he came to the best Korean restaurant in the city without knowing the city. Now, I don't mean to boast, and like I said, I can't truly judge the authenticity myself, but I've always had a great time here. 24 hours as well -- can't beat it.
(4)
Tom F.

Cramped, crowded, smoky. Awesome. San Soo Gab San is a fantastic Korean barbeque joint on a fairly desolate stretch of Western Avenue, perfect for a raucous evening with 2 or 8 friends. For those of you that have never visited, here's a primer. You sit down, and immediately are delivered about 30 small bowls of assorted pickled vegetables and other treats - some of them are fairly straightforward, some of them consist of ingredients known to no one except for the folks in the kitchen preparing them. Don't mind that - eat them - they're tasty. Next, order your dishes (I recommend the chicken, the bulgoki, and the short ribs - and remember that they are big enough to share). A giant pot of coals is summarily dropped on your table, as well as several plates of raw meat (I don't know how this is not in violation of the City health code, but that matters not). Now start grilling. Drop the meat in a lettuce leaf, top with some peanut sauce, and enjoy! The meats are perfectly marinated, and on my many visits have been uniformly delicious. The Korean BBQ method (cook it yourself and share with your friends) breeds a dynamic and incredibly fun atmosphere (aided by the giant bottles of Kirin that you'll most likely order with your meal). Prices are very reasonable - you'll stuff yourself silly for less than $30. Negatives: it's crowded, especially on weekends, and you will walk out of the restaurant smelling like charcoal - the ample vents do little to stop the onslaught of smoky goodness coming from all directions.
(4)
Jean Z.

Everything we had was perfect. The tuna was ok too. The service was good and despite what people say about the saff not speaking engrish, they did a fine job. Have the ricecake beef soup and their miso is amazing - i dont even like miso. I'm hungry now thinking about the seafood pancake leftovers that I tossed this afternoon :( Bad idea, shoudl always wait til snacktime the next nite before throwin out leftovers. Open 10a til 5a daily....not 24 hours, but no one needs much more than that anyway....
(5)
Elysia L.

Let me just say that I've typically not been a fan of Korean food. The few times I had tried it before San Soo Gab San, I hated it. The only reason I even stepped foot in this place was because a close friend was having her birthday dinner there. Thank you, San Soo Gab San, for teaching me that Korean food doesn't all taste like rotten spicy butt. The service leaves something to be desired, but the food you get is totally worth it. My favorite part is probably walking out smelling like delicious grilled meat with a full belly of lean meat & veggies.
(5)
Lillian M.

I've never had Korean BBQ before, so I was excited to have a chance to try it with some fellow Yelpers . . . I had no idea what all the little dishes that accompanied the meat were, but was happy to try a few with a little guidance from others around the table. The food was incredible! And there was something fun about cooking the meat yourself, which has a nice marinade -- flavorful but not overpowering. I think I ended up eating waaay more meat than anything else because it was so tasty!! The staff is not overly attentive, but they do respond promptly when you have a request -- me for a fork and more napkins, for example. (I do wish they had more napkins at the table.) More waitstaff would help this place do even better (then again, maybe I don't want it to be even more popular -- then it would be impossible to get a table!). The best part? The price. With tip, only $17/person, and there were even a couple of entrees on the table in addition to the BBQ. Amazing. One major drawback -- you can't linger. The place is packed, even for an early dinner of 6pm on a Saturday (which is typically really early in Chicago on weekends). They will ask you to move it along if you sit too long after paying your bill, which doesn't bother me -- If I were waiting for a table I'd want the staff to encourage people to mosey on!! I definitely will go back to this place (athough I might bring my own supply of napkins, just so I have plenty!)
(4)
Nicholas Y.

Put simply - this is everything you would expect from an authentic Korean barbeque joint.
(5)
Daniel C.

I don't know about other people, but if you're looking for a real nice legitimate Korean hole in the wall, this is it.. amazing, fast service, pretty rush, but hey its part of the experience.. drinks are great, and you get to cook with real coal fire.. i dont know what to say other than this place is fantastic...
(5)
Jenny L.

I wish the servers were a little more helpful with the sides that where going on the table but it was awesome!!
(4)
Abby T.

Well, it wasn't as AMAZING as everyone has said. Don't plan on going anywhere after...b/c you will leave stankin like bbq/smoke. I love the calbi. The bulgogi is so tendon-y....pretty disgusting (think Joy Yee's beef...stringy). The waitresses don't really try to explain all the plates of sides. scratch that...they don't at all. The staff was TOTALLY on it when it came to reflliing our waters! all in all...luckily we had a korean w/ us...otherwise I would have been like Alicia silverstone and totally clueless. Although, you don't need to speak korean to know this spot is just a touch above mediocre.
(3)
David C.

We were welcomed with 22 side Korean dishes, enough to feed a village in some country's. Quick service and a unique BBQ setup. Kalbi is always an excellent choice with a light sweet marinade. A wonderful place for a fun group event. Perks to opening until 5am, great for late night devouring. Mmmm.....
(4)
Char Y.

The place that introduced me to Korean BBQ. I have to say that this is truly a KOREAN place, there were times I felt that if I was not Korean, or speaking Korean, I'd be ignored. It is great food wise, but spotty on the service.
(3)
Ania G.

Whoa! What's with this place having 4 stars?! Ended up going to this place last night because Da Rae Jung was closed and my boyfriend and I needed our Korean BBQ fix. The only way it was better than Da Rae Jung was that you got more banchan (little plates of yummy). Here's a summation of our experience: - service non-existent...no explanation of what was going on and how to cook anything (we didn't need this, but what if we were new to Korean food?). took me 10 minutes to flag down waitress to get more sauce. - got an order each of galbi and bulgogi (favorites of ours). totally under-seasoned and just tasted like charcoal. i'm guessing it's because the grill is too close to the coals. - kimchi and rest of banchan weren't very flavorful. i've had way better at most other korean places i've been to. - no refills on the banchan. they essentially plop down everything on your table when you arrive and then you don't see them again til they give you the check (without asking for it). - not that great of a value. at $20 a person with no booze, i can definitely get a better meal elsewhere. - this morning my boyfriend (who has spent time in Seoul) smelled his smoky clothes from last night and said "I am never going back to that place ever again".
(2)
mildred v.

the food is good but minus a star for the service. i've been coming here once in while since high school and nothing has changed. now my bf lives literally a block from here but i have NEVER gone here with him and it is NOT on our list of places to go. I come here with some friends from school and two of them are korean so they take care of the ordering and communicating with the waitress (i literally don't need to say a word to them) - it's like VIP when we're with them. the waitresses are pleasant, the panchan and water get refilled quickly and they even left a large bowl of one of them for us. i'm used to subpar service. take chinatown for example - fine they dont roll out the red carpet for their customers but they do their job and just kinda leave you alone. here, they either hate their job or they hate all their customers. if you enjoy being scorned while you eat. by all means come here!
(2)
N. H.

I tried it at least 3-4 more times after my last review. I had Samgyupsal (pork belly) with tofu and kimchi which was good. I also had more bbq there. I would say the general food is pretty good. Service has seemed to gotten better. I think they replaced certain waitresses so the service is okay now. Again the major perks are that they are open really late (4 in the morning?) and lots of panchan (sidedishes).
(4)
Caroline A.

Eddy C. is right on. This is a great place to satisfy your 3am korean bbq craving. A visit to San Soo Gap San also guarantees a hangoverless morning after. My girlfriend dragged me here after being out all night. I'm not a big fan of late night eating, but it was an adventure. It was hilarious as three poorly speaking Korean girls and a non Korean guy tried to communicate with the not so pleasant server. I don't really remember the taste of the food (all I remember is spicy!!), but the portions were enormous. Overall, it was a fun experience.
(4)
Rachelle G.

So the sign outside says they close at 5am. Yet I sat down and we were served at approx. 1 am. However, another party walked in at 1:30 am on a Sunday night and they were told that the restaurant was closed. We were just about finished with our meal when the waitress gave us our check and mentioned that they were closing. I'm sorry but it's only 2 a.m. Ironically, we drove past again 20 minutes after we'd left and their 'Open' sign was still lit.
(3)
Ashley J.

it was my first time being at a korean bbq and i think it set the bar quite high. luckily i had a friend that had great suggestions and cooked the meat right up, but i think it would have been good even if i took a stab in the dark. be patient with the service, as it is quite busy.
(4)
Ty E.

Tonight was my third time going and my first review. It's hard to find a great place with good eats for a low cost. This place... hmm. not so much. They really stepped it up with the small plates. I don't remember getting 24 dishes last time. Of course my friends and I only ate about 10 of them. The others had too much mayo or just unappealing to try. We ordered bulgogi, pork ribs and steak, chopjae and seafood egg pancake. The meat wasn't well marinated- plus it must have been sitting out for awhile since it was discolored. The chopjae was bland and dry but the pancake was quite delicious. We all beyond stuffed by the end of the meal but overall if there was another place I knew of, I would head there. THe staff barely knows any English and the grill they use is very archaic. The grill itself was 12 x8 inches but the fire was a bowl about 6 inches in diameter... just dont see the logic in that. I wish there was an 'all you can eat' place- I would tear it up!
(2)
Paul H.

One of my favorite places to go with a group (regardless of how many people I go with or how much we order I end up spending $20). The bbq process is quite frenetic, but it's fun and everyone gets involved. A perfect meal involves an order of the fried dumplings, the marinated short ribs, and several large bottles of OB beer. I disagree about the service being horrible - last night we had 3 or 4 women helping us throughout the course of our meal. While there was a language barrier (at times) we always got what we asked for and we were never sassed or felt rushed. I do agree that it's smokey, but you do have a charcoal grill on your table. So, if you're averse to smoke, this might not be the best environment for you. If you're fine with it, just wear something that can be washed.
(5)
Swapna P.

The wait is really, really long and you and your clothes smell horrible on the way out. They won't take reservations for parties less than 10 people. The wait staff pretty much ignores you and since they use fresh hot coals for the grill, ash sorta flies everywhere. The grills aren't well oiled so meat just sticks there and the coals go cold quickly. The short ribs are a complete waste...you pay $15-20 and just end up gnawing on bone with little to no meat. Do yourself a favor and drive an extra 20-30 minutes out to Arirang in Niles.
(2)
Rudy W.

good korean food in chicago area. nice portion of the side dishes, and the cooked foods are good also.
(5)
Jess S.

This place is pretty damn neat. Other people have more to say about it. It was fun, I enjoyed the experience and look forward to going again. (except for the rude service who forgot about us when the place was empty and refilled the water glasses maybe once - there were only 3 of us!)
(4)
Jordan V.

anagrams to S.O.S. GO BANANAS. so, go bananas for: - eating in large groups - sitting on the floor - various tiny side dishes - meats! - private room korean karaoke close by
(4)
Lindsay L.

I just had to put in a little word on the service at San Soo Gab San. I read other yelpers' reviews and assumed I'd be disappointed with the service, but we were impressed. The women stopped by periodically to help us with the grill (we are novices, they could tell) and to refill water, etc. No complaints! Service aside, the food was incredible. Great place for adventurous eaters since you get what looked like 15 side dishes to try along with your main course. Yes - you will smell smoky when you leave, but it builds for a great casual and fun atmosphere, I thought. All in all we loved it and will definitely return!
(5)
Dee W.

The Korean BBQ here is amazing - the food is really great. It's probably one of the most authentic Korean places that I've been to here in Chicago. Parking is a bit tough - they have a really small parking lot but street parking is doable. Service can be great or can be mediocre - varies from time to time - keep in mind that this joint is open 24 hours. And try the Wang Kalbi or chadoebalki (lesser known but equally as good)! The Kalbi here is really tender and delicious. Oh, yeah - compared to other places , you will come out smelling very smokey.
(4)
Melissa M.

This place rocks!! Whether you're in the mood for full-on KBBQ or just want a quick hot stone be bim bap, there is no place better to get your spicy-fix or sate a comfort-food jones. If you're unfamiliar with the cuisine, maybe try a seafood pancake and the marinated short ribs to cook at your table. Bring a few friends, order 1-2 portions fewer than you have people and eat until your tummy is happy! The servers don't all speak much English, but everyone is very helpful and good at deciphering questions. This is also a fantastic place to bring kids, even the very little ones. The proliferation of little dishes and different flavors will keep them entertained, and their little fingers will have no trouble with the chopstick-ready presentation. No kids - it's also good for sitting back, drinking a few beers, and grilling lots of beef!
(5)
Ethan W.

Very good Korean BBQ. Service is a bit iffy ("ready? ready? ready?"), but I also think you can chalk a good amount of that up to cultural and language differences. Marinated beef is excellent, and if you're a rookie the waitress will help things along on the grill. One of the few places in the city to use actual charcoals in their grills, as opposed to the gas at most Korean BBQ joints. I'd just like to go with a Korean friend or three to help decipher the 20+ condiments that come along with the family-style meal. Good, loud atmosphere. Easily accommodates big groups, and prices on par with similar places in the city. I'll be back.
(4)
SP W.

I only gave one star because I couldn't give no stars! I live near this establishment and have tried it not once, not twice but three times trying to find the goodness that everyone raves about. The food was consistently bad, the service was consistently RUDE and the staff (who I often see in the neighborhood) rarely has a kind word or even a smile. Don't bother.
(1)
SeouljaBoy M.

They have the best old school Korean style charcoal grills in Chicago period! I love the service and how nice they are to Koreans and not kind to non-Koreans who want to act Korean because they watch subtitled Korean dramas and listen to Kpop music they don't understand a word of.
(5)
Jane T.

I've been here several times and honestly, it's not one of those places where I say "ooh, let's go back!" I only really head there when a huge group of (hungry) friends wanna go. The food is abundant, but nothing special, in my opinion. However, their onion pancake is to die for. I'd go back solely for that. :)
(3)
Nguyen L.

Very yummy! Great seasonings on their Korean bbq. I last went there a week ago, and I still can remember the smell of the bbq! Actually your clothes and hair may also remember for a long time haha. It's a fun spot too - lots of room, can get crowded, and they're open super late. You can walk there from downtown Lincoln Square.
(4)
Jaye J.

I don't have any earth shattering news other Yelpers havent stated, so a quick reiteration: 1. They bring you bowls of raw meat (or fish) and you cook your own meat on a flaming pit in the center of your table. Pretty fool proof though. 2. it's smokey in there. It's not an awesome pre-date place imho unless you've already been dating a while. I actually prefer it post-party to wind down with some decent food in my belly and some good sleep. 3. The servers probably don't speak English-or won't speak it to you. But they are cool with point a tthe item you want and will answer straightforward questions. 4. The servers dont want to be chatty with you. Be polite. Don't hesitate to waive them over if you need something. Also, if you decide you want more whatever during your meal, they will bring it (at a cost). 5. It helps if you have some idea what you are bieng served and how the whole thing works. Not mandatory though - scope out other diners! My personal take: A. Stay away when it is crowded. It's a circus in that joint. B. My fave size group is 4 people. More than that and the grills get too crowded and you can't reach stuff and you are always waiting on food to cook and it gets annoying. C. Sometimes the servers are very helpful-sometimes they arent. Oh well. D. If you are a very picky eater or not at all adventurous, just skip it. You probably won't love KBBQ anyway, but there are easier places to try it out. FOOD IS GREAT! It's a great way to try staples and new foods. Always an interesting group of people around. Never gotten rushed out of here. Squid is a bit difficult to cook w/o scorching, try the octopus. If you are really into sushi - I suggest the next door/connected place. you can order sushi at the KBBQ, but it seems to complicate matters more. I will eat here anytime I get the chance!
(4)
Audrey J.

Barbecue's rising... Coals are all getting hot According to all sources An average meal this is not 'Cause tonight for the first time At just about half past three For the first time in history You're gonna taste outstanding meat It's raining beef! Hallelujah! Just grill more meat! Amen! I'm gonna go here I'm gonna let myself eat Lots and lots of tasty meat! Okay, so exuberant shouts of meat-tastic ecstasy aside, this hole-in-the-wall Korean BBQ gets a solid 4.5 stars in my book. This place serves deeeelicious food at all hours of the night, including, yes, "half past three." Their other dishes such as the classics like bi-bim-bap are also excellent, and the panchan that they include are diverse and a cute and fun addition to an excellent meal. As others have stated, it's not a place you go to for the amazing ambiance; it's a place you go to for the amazing food. While I would give five strong stars for the standout food, I feel the need to take off half a star for a couple of minor setbacks: (1) the fans used to ventilate the smoke coming off of the individual grills are not effective and you will ALWAYS come out smelling like smoke, worse than my experience at some other BBQ locations (at Korean BBQ, you grill your own meat at a personal BBQ pit set into each table and there are fans above to suck out the smoke) and (2) the staff is a bit on the hit-or-miss side -- it definitely helps to have someone who speaks Korean. These are minor, though, and the deliciousness of the food will offset most if not all drawbacks at the end of your culinary adventure. Go in a group (it's GREAT for groups) and order a bunch of stuff to try out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Stacie K.

A regular spot for my boyfriend and me. We always get kalbi. The ladies are hit or miss in the service area. But you just have to play their game by being pushy and short with them as well. They don't have time (or want to make time) to sit and hold your hand through the menu. If you are a Korean food first timer, I would STRONGLY suggest going wtih a Korean who is familiar with the food.. Although, I do have to say that I've been there before and heard one of the ladies explaining the menu to a couple who was new to the experience. I think the ladies that work there are adjusting to the new wave of having people that aren't korean actually coming in to try it! I've had a few of their soups and what not.. they're all pretty good, but there are other places in the city that specialize in soups/stews. I've had the cold buckwheat noodles, they sucked, don't ever get them. The rice with a bunch of vegetables in a stone bowl is ALWAYS a safe bet for first timers (its what I tell all of my first timer friends to get, if not kalbi). All in all, it's yummy and fun!
(4)
Sue Y.

I come back here every time I'm in town. Service is all over the place depending on how busy or short staffed they are. The meat is okay. The portion size is good. What makes this place amazing is the amount of sides they give you and they'll give you more of your favorites if you ask. I've been to famous places in DC and they give you 4 sides for 6 people. We got like 30 for 6 people or something crazy like that. We always get at least 4 people to do the family style dinner. It has all our favorites and the amount of food can't be beat. I've been to at least a dozen Korean BBQ places and this is always a consistent fave for all of us and we're all foodies.
(4)
William T.

What a fun time! My wife and I eat out all the time and actually have a log of the restaurants we go to and the food we ate. We ordered the Rib Eye and the Korean Bacon entrees and a few OB Korean Beers. Service was fast and cooking at the table is always fun. But, what really impressed us was the Tsunami of side dishes that came out before we even got the entrees. From kimchi to seaweed and bean sprouts and fried leaks and garlic and jellyfish... well you get the idea (I counted 22 side dishes!). My wife tried them all, I think I missed one or two due to my mental overload of trying to decide what to eat! Before the entrees came we were presented with a delicious sizzling soup of miso broth vegetables and tofu (awesome, and stayed hot in the pot they served it in throughout our meal). The service was good, not great, but I never expect much in the line of service in an Asian restaurant (not to be a jerk, its a fact). The rib eye was tender and we cooked it to a perfect rare+ / medium rare... it could have used a little more seasoning, but that was our own fault because there were plenty of options to enhance the meat (we just got excited and started cooking, something I, as a chef, was a bit ashamed of... oh well, next time). The bacon (and they give you like a whole pound of it) was good. My wife is more used to smoked American bacon and wasn't that impressed, but we both agreed that it was tasty. I will be honest... of the 22 side dishes there were a few, not many that were really not very appetizing (and we are both major food adventurists). Nothing was bad... just a few things we only tried once. There were 3 different Kimchi sides that were all fun and delicious and not overly salty (like most are). The only downside to the restaurant may be that you smell like a fire pit when you leave and that there is no music playing when you eat (at least when we went). Bottom Line: This restaurant is a ton of fun and I strongly recommend it to anyone looking to do something different. The ingredients were all authentic and fresh and the fun of cooking at the table makes the whole thing worth it. Its like fondu for people who aren't in 1973 and is a bit (not much) more healthy. Please support this restaurant so it always is there for us to enjoy. And if you are looking for a cool place to take a date that isn't a "restaurant", this is perfect... it forces conversation and is an icebreaker in itself. Enjoy!
(4)
Gantuya K.

That restaurant's food was okay. But I really do not like some of waitress's service, they have never been nice like so rude. Never smile,always rush, do not speak english etc so many bad thinkgs! Every weekend they do very busy so they do not care customer care! One time after I paid waitress lady asked me about Tip.., I was feeling like...!!!! So so so ridiculous. Never go there again
(1)
Jeff L.

I have no idea how I have not reviewed this place. I have been coming here for a few years now, and the only thing that has really changed are the prices and the decor slightly. The one downside is that you have to cook your own food, and sometimes I'm lazy. And I know you can ask them to cook it for you in the back, but then that completely defeats the purpose of Korean BBQ. The amount of side dishes they serve is absolutely absurd it's like a dozen little dishes surrounding the table. My favorite side dishes being the seaweed and tiny fish. But they don't always serve the tiny fish which is naturally sad.
(4)
Johanna C.

one of my dining pals said it best - this place is like the diner of korean food restaurants. it's fairly loud and very casual. we went here on a friday night around 7pm-ish and got seated right away. the parking lot doesn't have a ton of spaces but there are always people in and out so you won't have to wait long. the prices here are average of what you'd pay at cho son ok and solga ($8 for JapChae, $17 for meat). i find that the bulKoKi (that's how it's spelled on the menu) and the short ribs are kind of bland. i recommend putting the garlic they give you on the coals to get some flavor going. i find the meat at solga and cho son ok more flavorful. the JapChae was pretty mediocre. again, kind of bland with ground meat. the service was not bad at all. the waitresses were very attentive and even made suggestions on what we should order and it was very busy. they didn't seem to care about the color of our skin - in fact there were many different kinds of people there. they provide you with a lot of side dishes (a lot of them you couldn't really tell what they were until eating them) - much more than what i've received from any korean restaurant i've been too. you get soup too. overall, the plus is that it's open almost 24 hours so if you're jonesing for korean food in the early morning hours, it's totally worth it to go here. for 4 of us, it cost around $28 a person with tip.
(3)
Stefan L.

Good eats even for late night. Lots of sides. Prepare to leave smelling like the food you just cooked/ate.
(4)
Jennifer N.

We came for dinner on a Saturday night and this is definitely no-nonsense type of place. We were seated after about 15 minute wait and all of the food came out almost immediately (literally 2 minutes after ordering). Lots of food for very low prices too! We totally over-ordered for 4 people and the bill was less than a Bill (including tax and tip). Service has no frills (so efficient its kinda scary - we also got long angry explanation from the owner of why this was not a BYOB facility even if we were willing to pay corkage fee) and the tables feel a bit cramped and very smoky!
(4)
Lim K.

My husband and I have tried several Korean restaurants in Chicago but I have to say San Soo Gab San is our my favorite. There is no other Korean restaurant serves so many BanChan (little dishes) and I love it. Whenever we visit Chicago we really look forward to dining there. When we arrived there on Friday around 7 pm, we were promptly seated and the side dishes were brought to us immediately. The waitress was very attentive and our water glass was refilled a few times during dinner. We ordered fish egg soup, which is one of my husband's favorite Korean dish, and some short ribs to cook on the table. They were all very delicious. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Natasia O.

I'm saddened to write this update and take away one star. The past 3 times we have visited my once fav Korean BBQ spot, my beloved soft tofu stew with seafood was terrible!! Ugh... It was watered down and tasteless!! I'm not sure why this is happening- there should be no reason to cut back on ingredients- the place is jam packed with a line out the door every weekend and weekdays are busy as well. I mentioned the tasteless stew to our waitress and didn't get much of a response- it's not really the kind of place criticism is taken seriously from the white girl who can't even pronounce what she refers to as "tofu stew" and points to the menu when ordering.
(4)
Eddy C.

WHAT I LIKE: I can satiate my Korean BBQ fix at 3 am ... Their meats are top notch in terms of flavor and the portions are decent ... They have a great variety of panchan (the Korean side dishes) and they give you lots of them, at least more so than some of the other Korean BBQ places I've been to ... They recently expanded the place so now you don't have to wait as long while you breathe in all that grilled meat goodness ... Big bottle of OB (Korean beer) washes it all down oh so well WHAT I DON'T LIKE: The pot of burning wood chips that provide the fire for your grilling can be hit or miss -- last time I went, we got a weak fire, which greatly lengthened the amount of time it took to cook our meat ... Service is not always the best, especially if you get a server that doesn't speak English that well or if you don't have a Korean-speaking person in your party ... WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW: While the restaurant does technically have a parking lot, it is a tiny one that fits maybe 10 cars max. But street parking is pretty easy to find and reasonably close by. WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, PART II: To eat Korean BBQ the "traditional" way, put your grilled meat in the lettuce leaves that they provide you and add the thinly sliced vegetables, rice and hot sauce (also provided to you). Wrap it all up and then try to shove the whole thing in your mouth in one bite (operative word being "try"). WHAT I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME EARLIER: Pass on the kalbi and bulgogi (boring but certainly good) and try the chadoebalki (thinly sliced brisket). The meat is unmarinated but it comes with a sesame oil/salt/pepper concoction that tastes fantastic!
(5)
Joscelyn M.

What a great experience - the food was great and it was kinda neat to cook your own. Just a tip - if you go with 10 people, order meat for 7 or so. That's what we did (went with someone in the know), and am so grateful we did. The atmosphere wasn't the best and I went home smelling like smoked meat... maybe that would be a plus for some people, though...
(3)
John H.

This is an experience type of place, but it is a difficult restaurant. We thought it would be fun, but it turned into a hassle because the space was just too small. Also, the meet was hard to cook. Read the other reviews as this place is special, but I will never go back. I suggest you find a place that serves its food cooked.
(2)
Vino o.

Went in for a new experience, probably should have gone with 4 less people because there was all too much stuff on the table. Defiantly not user friendly, could have used a more orderly approach and less stand offish careless approach. Clearly not geared to the inexperienced curious crowd, and probably won't ever return.
(1)
Roy P.

I've eaten at this restaurant over 3 times per week, for 7 months now. I would wager that 30% of the living cells in my body are created mainly from San Soo Gap San. I'm not just in love with this place, I am obsessed. I've even made a tribute video to these meat-wizards. (check it chicagogluttons.com if you want) Anyway, if you like meat, you must hit this place. What you should order: Kalbi - dip it in the brown bean goo Large Ribeye - Dip it in the oil concoction (best tasting steak in chicago, bite for bite. . don't believe me? Try it yourself.) Dak Kalbi - put on some brown and kill that shi-
(5)
Amaliya L.

We were in the neighborhood around 10pm after attending a gallery opening & I was dying for some Asian food. I remembered the name from Mandi's review & the upcoming Hotheads dinner. I didn't want to wait until the dinner, I wanted to check it out for myself. The parking situation was terrible. Yes, they have a parking lot, but unfortunately it is really small, & the people that park there do not seem to care how much space they take or how they positioned their cars. There was a space available, but we could not even maneuver into the space because the cars parked on either end stuck out so far that you could not even fit between them. There was also no way of turning or backing into the space. We ended up parking along the side street about a block & a half away. It's a pretty place compared to the majority of the Korean restaurants in the neighborhood. I am normally a huge fan of Korean food. We were seated very quickly at a table, there wasn't any space left at the platform area. Before we were fully seated, the waitress immediately handed us our menus & began pushing her knuckles on to the table back & forth waiting for our orders. We hadn't had a chance to look at the menu yet, so we gave her our drink orders instead. I think that they only have 2 kinds of beer available, neither of which we were familiar with. They come in 40's. We figured that she would come back after we ordered our drinks, but she just stood there & ran her knuckles on our table again. It was a little bit discomforting so we asked if we could have a few minutes. 2 minutes later, another waitress approaches our table to take our order. We still hadn't had a chance to decide. Feeling the pressure, we ended up ordering what popped first for each of us. I ordered one order of Bulgolgi(Bulkolki on their menu. It is marinated beef with onions.They prepare it for you if it is for one. You get to cook it yourself if it is for 2.) My husband ordered the short rib soup, our friends ordered the crab stew & tofu stew. (One of them is a vegetarian who will eat fish every so often.) Our dinners came quickly..hot and steaming. We each received bowls of sticky rice, 20 small kimchi plates & I received a tofu veggie soup with my order. I like to eat the bulgogi wrapped in seaweed wrappers with the sticky rice & various banchan. I did not receive any seaweed wrappers so I asked the waitress whether it was possible to order any. There was a slight language barrier & I am not sure why she seemed to be angry at me. Finally, exasperated she tells me that I get no seaweed. Lettuce & peanut sauce come automatically if I had ordered the bbq for 2, but not with my order. But she brings me a plate of bibb lettuce & peanut sauce anyways. I can give a somewhat accurate description of the 20 side dishes known as banchan or Galbijm that were placed in front of me for those who want to know. You will get potato salad, bean sprouts kimchi, marinated bean sprouts, shredded daikon, cucumber kimchi, nappa cabbage kimchi, baby bokchoy,daikon kimchi, fishy agar, fermented pickles, radishes, marinated spinach, sweetened black beans, 2 kinds of marinated sea weed, pork in egg batter, tofu kimchi, sliced fish, korean greens, and seafood pancake. If it's your first time...a few things to note. The smells of kimchi are very pungent & offensive to some but it is really good. Make sure that you bring breath mints or gum. The taste will remain for several hours, & your body and breath will smell like kimchi. The red dishes tend to be a little bit more spicy & are marinated in alot of garlic and vinegar. It's really not very spicy to me, so be sure to add more hot sauce if you like things hot. The white dishes have a slightly sweetened vinegar taste also high in garlic. As for the green veggies...either it will be steamed with sesame oil, seeds, and garlic, or steamed & salted. I have 2 major complaints besides the parking situation. One, our waitress was quick to take our orders, deliver our food, & leave us our check. We did not receive any more service other then when I asked about the seaweed. My major complaint is their ventilation system. We had not been out to eat anywhere since the smoking bans took effect, so it was a new experience. I did not anticipate the smoke. It was black & reeked of bad chemicals. It was really overwhelming to the point that our eyes stung & we could not breathe. I got to experience what non smokers must have been complaining about all these years. Each table is equipt with a large hood over it. None of them seemed to be working. You could literally see the smoke fill the room instead of being sucked into the hood. It was so bad that we needed to ask for our check. In leaving, all of our clothes & hair reeked. I actually had a semi asthma attack once outside. $20 a person is fairly accurate. The food was awesome though.
(2)
Michelle C.

I have been here multiple times. There are times where I crave korean BBQ and I take the drive over to San Soo Gab San, but that has changed. After giving this place business over referrals and going there almost every weekend myself, the place has stabbed me in the back. This Saturday 2/28, we went there for my bf's birthday. Once we got there we were standing around, being ignored by the waitresses for about 10 minutes in the cold! When they decided to seat us they took our order after 10 minutes, and we ordered plenty might I add. So that is about 20 minutes wasted. Once we received our food, they did not give us any rice or offer us any water. We asked for rice 2 times and the waitresses just nodded their heads, without offering any reasoning on the delay. We had to start on our meal because we were starving WITHOUT the RICE!!! Once the rice arrived we were almost done with our meal. My bf's mom ordered a noodle dish, that came as a soup dish near the end of our meal. After we have finished what we had ordered, except for the noodles because it was just gross, we decided to order more food. We placed the order and at this time, there was a group of koreans that were seated right next to us. When the food was brought out, rare meat, they forgot to bring the griddle to grill. We sat in the mist of our meal waiting for the griddle, in this time the korean party was seated, ordered, received their meal, and drinks. We were sitting there waiting for the griddle that never came. We waved down the waitress numerous times and was ignored. Finally, we were able to waved down the bus boys to ask them for the griddle. They came with the griddle after about 5 minutes. During this time that we were waiting for the griddle, there were two parties sitting near us that were waiting for their checks that they never received, and had to walk to the register themselves. When we finally received the griddle, the flame has died and there was only ashes left, no charcoal. When they brought out the meat they have replaced the charcoal, and when we finally was able to grill the charcoal has died, so I am guessing that it is about 20 minutes. We have ignored everything thus far, but the wait has drawn the last straw. I asked to speak to the manager, and the waitress just came and walked away when i was complaining. Another waitress came and yelled back at me. They said that the service that they provided us was very good and we should not be complaining. All the attention was given to the korean party when they entered. Even the screaming waitress left in a mist of our conversation. Once we went to the counter to pay, the screaming waitress came charging at me again, saying that I was disrespecting them, as she pointed at me and screamed. If i was Korean that night, if my party was korean that night i doubt that we would had run into this problem. How do they expect to keep their client tel when they treat them like this? I WILL NEVER GO BACK AGAIN!!!!!! HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!! fab.food, but SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!!!! there are plenty of other korean bbq places out there then to settle with this place! I AM NEVER GOING BACK AND I AM MAKING SURE ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS DON'T EITHER!!!!
(1)
Dan B.

Landed here on a random Tuesday for an impromptu dinner with a friend. I had no idea what to expect walking in and was surprised at how crowded it was at 9 PM...though I suppose they are open until 4am every day, which in and of itself baffles me. The service here is no frills order your meats, they show up with a table full of tiny bowls full of everything from pickled veggies, to unflavored gelatin, to processed potato salad, oh and don't forget the tiny dried fish (the only one I didn't try), along with a huge plate of meat, rice, and soup. I liked everything i tried, especially the marinated short rib mixed with some of the spicy side dishes. In addition to everything else there was a plate with a bunch of lettue leaves banded together, I am still unclear of the proper use of these, we tried making lettuce wraps but that didn't work out so well so they remain a mystery. Prices were a little higher than I expected though with everything that is included, and the presumed costs of running such an establishment, they weren't out of line. The one thing I was still left wondering is that they much have a massive fire pit full of hot coals in back somewhere, because the demand seems to be nonstop, and it is a quite large place. All in all if you like meat and pickled things, as I do, this is an experience worth having.
(4)
Grace M.

I was looking for a good Korean BBQ place by me and this place came up. The food was ok...but the service was terrible. The bi bim bop was bland. The portions are on the small side...I find this to be typical for most Korean BBQ joint. I think after trying so many Korean places...I'll just marinade my own beef and make my own Korean BBQ. The only thing I like is that they have many different side dishes.
(2)
G S.

Yeah yeah - what she said :) Take a look at Audrey J's review for this place - dead on - I couldn't have said it better. -G
(5)
Trish W.

I can no longer recommend ordering any sushi here based on my last visit. I had a side order of a spicy tuna maki roll. My friend had 1 piece; I had the rest. I became extremely sick 24 hours later. Luckily it subsided by the next day for the most part, and except for needing to catch up on rehydrating myself , I was OK. I'm aware this is big claim to make against a restaurant, and I'm not making it casually. I make this assumption based on the fact that my friend and I shared everything on the table except the sushi, (she had 1 small piece), I ate nothing the next day, and I've had food poisoning before . Actually, I would eat here again.....all the soups and meats were fantastic. I suspect maybe the sushi sat out at room temp for too long. However, if it's 3 am and you're craving some hot Korean food, this is your palace. By the way, you will stink of smoke!
(2)
david n.

I would give it 5 stars if the service was better. The ladies there are curt and blunt bordering rude but I can get past that because I still enjoyed my meal here. We only go here for the grilling - don't bother if you're not going to cook your own meat at the table because you may as well go to any other korean restaurant. The draw here is that they use real charcoal as opposed to gas. Yes, it gets really smoky but that's where the flavor comes from. Min 2 orders of meat for the use of the grill at your table otherwise they cook it for you in the kitchen. Oh, don't even bother with that little parking lot, you're better off finding street parking.
(4)
Jay C.

Many a late nights have been here rehydrating my body from a night of grave alcohol consumption. There aren't too many Korean restaurant choices after midnight in Chicago but San Soo Gap San has been a stable late night stop with above average quality food. I find myself always striking up a conversation with new comers to Korean dining walking them through some of the selections. Always a large selection of panchan and the stews hit the spot if you are not in the mode for bbq. Like most other Korean restaurants don't expect to be waited on like it's Spago, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hand and get the attention of the various ahjuma's (the Korean ladies who run the joint like a 1920's Ford assembly line) to get a refill on some panchan. Actually I'm kinda getting hungry thinking about the dol sot bi bim bap right now...anyone down for a late night run? Good eats, reasonable prices, and it's open 24 hours (I only need a good half hour to sober up after a good hearty meal).
(4)
Imran A.

friendly chill atmosphere. seafood omelet is really good and so is the bbq beef in Korean spice. but the short ribs were not very good at all. Wouldn't really call them short ribs, just a slab of bone. authentic grill gives awesome flavor to the meat. a lot of side dish options comes with the bbq, almost overwhelming, but kinda cool to try out different stuff.
(4)
Nastassia J.

Went here with the in-laws. While the food was very very good and our waitress was pleasant, it was a bit overpriced. About $18 per person, and I've been to other KBQ joints where it was $18/couple. Overall very good though, and maybe worth the extra money since it was close to my neighborhood and seemed very safe and clean.
(4)
Elizabeth H.

I am in no way a Korean food know-it-all (I usually order what is suggested to me)... but I have never had a bad meal at san soo gab san. This place is at the corner of my block... so 5 stars for convenience! I have typically been there in pretty large groups, which I am told is a great way to experience a variety of dishes at this particular BBQ. We usually just get a few combination platters and pass them around. Food wise, this place gets 4 stars from me... but there was a definite docking due to repeated bad experiences with the wait staff. There was only one time where I would say I was treated well by the waitress, and it was a time that I went with a few Korean friends of mine who did most of the ordering for the table. If you are in the area, check this place out! and a reminder... Berwyn (the cross street the restaurant is located at) is a 2-way street and the south side is NO parking... you will get ticketed... and royally piss off all of us trying to get to our houses. :)
(3)
Rick F.

GF and I went with another couple. Good fun for a double date. I found the food to be authentic as compared to what friends from Korea actually taught me to make in my kitchen. You cook the meat/poultry/seafood your self on a grill dropped into the table.
(4)
Lori T.

The condiments are awesome. Seafood pancake for an appetizer was a good choice, marinated beef short ribs were good, soft tofu seafood soup was nice and spicy, and pork belly was good but really smoky on the grill. Be prepared to take off your shoes if you sit in a big booth in the center. Good service, waitstaff had us laughing.
(4)
Minners N.

hands down, my favorite korean bbq place in chicago. I've been here a few times and this last time totally blew me away. First, they've expanded!!!! No more 1 hour waits then crammed into a seat next to another party. They totally took over the lil strip mallish place and is 3 times its original size. we had a party of 12 on a saturday night and no wait at all. i love it! I really like the meat here compared to other bbq places. It's not all you can eat, but it's enough to fill you and then some. our party tried some kinda of combination party deal. they had a few options- we did the $19.95 for california roll, dumplings, chaep jae (?) and seafood pancake IN ADDITION to a plate of meat and lots and lots of lil side dishes. this was the cheapest option but i can't imagine it getting better than this. the seafood pancake is soooo good. i dont know what's in it but it was sooo good. Meats. we tried the bulgogi and kalbi and squid. the bulgogi wasn't that great. not marinated enough. we quickly got it replaced for kalbi- no questions asked. the kalbi was nice and tender and so very flavorful. the squid was a favorite too. i dont usually like squid but it was marinated so well here. service was ok. above most korean bbq places but that's not saying much. the "bus boys" were very on top of replacing our tabletop grills and refilling water. and like any other korean bbq place, it's always helpful (though not mandatory here) to have a korean person in your party. one surprise, i didn't smell like bbq the rest of the day. or maybe since i was surrounded by the same crowd the rest of the night i didn't notice it. i will be back. hopefully in a party of 5 or more to get that combination party deal. *drool*
(5)
Cookies C.

Absolutely horrific service. MY FIRST TIME BEING KICKED OUT OF A RESTAURANT!!! I went into the restaurant to attend a birthday dinner. Our party had 18 people in total. As we were waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, the waitress repeatedly came to our table and asked if we were ready to order. When everyone arrived, the waitress asked, "Is anyone Korean here? No one is Korean? Do you know how to order?" I found it very insulting. Her tone was not very nice. Anyway, we started to order and yes, we did not order much. We order about 4 kalbi, side dishes, and beers. The waitress said, "No, you have to order more." We told her that we would order more food later. She replied no. I don't think she even understood what we were trying to say. She kept telling us to order more food and when we kept saying that is all we want for now, she left our table to talk to someone. She returned to our table and told us they cannot serve us. She gave us the bill for the beers that we have ordered. I understand it is hard to do business when there is a large party and they do not order much. However, it is extremely wrong to kick someone out of a restaurant because they did not order a lot of food. Restaurants usually charge extra per person if that was the case. This restaurant did not even bother to charge us extra. They just told us they could not serve us. In addition, I felt the waitresses are very racist. A majority of my party was Chinese. They did not take time to take our order, they were extremely demanding, and their tone of voice was not friendly at all. I will never return to this restaurant and I hope you will think twice about going. No one deserves service like this.
(1)
Chocolate H.

So the wife and I decided to check this place out for lunch since it has good rating on yelp. Biggest mistake ever. Let's do a countdown on why this place sucks. 1. Parking: The parking spaces were created by someone with a smartcar. Even with my versa it was pain in the ass to get out of the parking lot without the wife getting out the car and helping. 2. Smokey: The place uses buckets of burning wood chips as the source of heat to boil the water at your table. So be prepared to smell like hickory when leaving there. 3. Dangerous for Children: To many open flames and waitstaff walking around with buckets of burning wood chips for me to comfortable to any small childrend there.. 4. Place is a bit small: The tables here are kind of low. But I'm 6'2 and most clientel appears to be 5'2. . 5. Service. So most authentic asian restaurants service usually a little slow. But we had to flag down multiple service people before before we could even get a menu and that's after waiting ten minutes. After we figure out what we wanted to eat it took another ten minutes and multiple hand waving before we could place order. And to make matters worst multiple table that came after we sat down were served before us. So after i complained that our food was taking to long to come out. Lo and behold ten second later our food came out. Then one of waitresses had audacity to tell us that we should had our food cooked at our table and not in the kitchen it would have come out faster. Thanks for the heads up b**ch. The wife thinks the service was treating us bad cause I was Black. Personally I don't want waste my energy on those thoughts. I should have just walked out but I was hungry and food smelled and it looked so good. BTW the food was decent. I definitely will not be coming back here. . TLDR; Service REALLY sucks and food was o.k.
(1)
Crystal L.

This is one of my favorite after club spots. I use to think it was opened 24 hours until I was kicked out around 5am. The kalbi and bulgogi here is awesome and I like cooking it to perfection myself (or having my boyfriend do it for me). I also like the boodae jigae and yuk gae jang soups. The side dishes are one of the best parts. I love the potato dish. The one thing I must warn you though is its almost always crowded when I go and the employees are not that friendly especially if you don't speak korean and even more so if you don't order the more expensive dishes on the menu.
(4)
Melissa H.

My favorite Korean restaurant!!! Its the most authentic korean you'll get, unless you have a korean mom. Try everything! You won't be disappointed. There may be a long line and poor service if you go during rush times which can be any time if its on Fri, Sat, or Sun.
(5)
Phillie P.

24 hours! Ha!! It's a nice change to Thai & Chinese eateries. You get alot of food and for 2 it's about $50, so it's not "cheap". That includes drinks soo reallly.. not bad. The food is great. So many little dishes. Might be too wierd for some, but if you're adventures... you'll try it. I had the BBQ and got to grill it! Wooot! Just don't go here at 3am without someone who is Korean. Beware the service too. May not be the friendliest if there's nobody Korean.
(4)
Beryl C.

I only dined in here twice. I would have to say the first time experience was much better than the second time. We ate there last nite. My gf picked the place for her b-day dinner. It was extremely busy for a weeknight. The waitstaffs were okay. The food was decent. The portions were definitely getting smaller since I dined last. They never came back to change our grills -- thus, from all the grease burning, we kinda had a bonfire going at the table for quite some time. We had to flag down the busboy to have our 2 grills taken away. The ventilation was not working too well -- I guess being hot out was not helping either. If you guys dont mind the drive, I would recommend Woori Village in Des Plaines (right off Dempster and Milwaukee) and Shin Jung in Mt. Prospect. The latter even offers buffet -- definitely a steal for all the meat eaters out there.
(3)
MaryAnne M.

Meat Coma.
(4)
Nikki B.

I love this place.. first of all it's open late night (till 5 a.m) it's so great to go there n eat after long night of partying.. the food there is just amazing i love their spicy soups.. they just have enough flavor n spice withu ebing it way too much that you can't eat it..
(5)
Molly S.

I haven't been to many Korean restaurants, but SSGS certainly beats the pretencious ones that serve soju-tinis and don't give you fire to play with. It's a great time and the meat is flavorful and tender. The communal tables may be hard to squat in to, but once you're there you are happy and ready to drink some soju. The smoke and garlic permeats your clothes, hair and skin so go with someone you love so you don't offend later on...
(3)
Jaz P.

The first time I went I thought the Kalbi was one of the tastiest that I've had in the city, and I suspect that I've sampled almost all of them. But just went back with a large group of 18 this past week, and while the Kalbi was well textured and not too fatty, there wasn't enough seasoning. Great seafood pancakes. The Daeji Kalbi is nothing to write home about. Love the solid choice of side dishes- pretty substantial compared to other restaurants.The waitress was on the inattentive side, and never came around to our private seating area in the back. The price is really reasonable.
(4)
Ryan W.

This is one of the most amazing Korean BBQ's I have ever eaten at, in Chicago! I love their kim-chee. I also love the BBQ set up with the little cauldron, the aesthetic really completes the mood. This place is exceptional especially because of the service - it's the first and only Korean BBQ I've been to that I didn't feel like they were a front for some sinister mob operation ;)
(5)
Meagan L.

I love this place for Korean BBQ. I've always come here with a Korean who ordered everything for us which I think really helps. The staff doesn't seem to speak English too well. Whatever they marinate their beef with I wish I could buy it in a store it makes it taste so freaking good. All the little side dishes they serve with the beef are excellent as well. I highly recommend coming here really hungry because there is so much great food to consume!
(4)
Emily C.

Good place to go to for super late night hours. After picking up people from the airport, we wanted somewhere to go in the city, not your normal diner food. You order by the plate for the grilling food. A decent portions.
(3)
James C.

Lets face it guys... Korean food in Chicago is just not that great. It seems like Korean food is JUST catching on so hopefully this will encourage better Korean restaurants to open up. Especially with the success of San Soo Gap San, Cho Sun Ok, and others, it's apparent that there is a bigger market for Korean food than previously thought. With that said, San Soo has solid authentic Korean food with reasonable prices. I prefer this place over all the other Korean restaurants in the city mostly because it's 24 hours and I used to come here after a night of drinking with friends... nothing beats having yook gae jang to cure your hang over. As for the quality of the food... it seems to have gotten worse since they got busier. Come here for above average typical Korean food... but not for the pot stickers. If one more person yelps about how San Soo has great pot stickers, I will go mad. It's like saying the chips and salsa at Chipotle is amazing.
(3)
Jeff H.

This is not for the amateur. They put this bowl of white-hot charcoal in the middle of the table, give you mounds of raw meat (we had Kalbi--excellent, and pork belly--not bad), impressive array of sidedishes, and you go to work. the heat and the grease sometimes caused flames to shoot up and threatened to engulf my outstretched chopstick-wielding hands. But hey, no pain, no gain. We just kept throwing meat onto the grill and food into our mouths until our bellies were at the very verge of explosion. It was good. very good. it's unfortunate that i've lived in LA, and i know there is even better stuff out there. but this was definitely a solid 4- star.
(4)
Julie S.

DO NOT GO THERE!!! WORST SERVICE EVER@@@@ my friends and i went there around 2 o'clock am, so i asked the waitress if we could still eat from their restaurant, they said come in and when other last customers left, they packed their bags and gave us a check while we're eating.. i thought they wanted us to pay first, so i gave them my credit card, after they're done with my bill, 3 waitress stood by our table , and told us to leave. HOW RUDE!! if they gotta go, then they shouldn't let us in at the first time. they put a lot of MSG powder into the food which is extremely bad for the health, but makes food taste good. other friend of mine found the little piece of a dish wash sponge from the soup he ordered. if you eat kalbi, the waitress might be nice to you because it's expensive and if you ordered bibimbap or any cheaper food, they'll be very unpolite. Because i am Korean, it is very embarassing to see and hear how they treat their customers... i would never want to go back to this palce!!!
(1)
Alfred L.

Even tho it's a little far from everything, San Soo Gab San is one of my favourite Korean BBQ restaurant in Chicago. I highly recommended it. They use old fashion charcoal and ventilation is a little on the weak side. Keep your wool sweaters and coats in the car or they will smell like BBQ for the next 2 days.
(5)
Brandon W.

I wish I could smell like this place all the time.
(4)
S Y.

This place was pretty expensive (20 per person) and cooking the meat took FOREVER. The waiters don't really help you out that much and are not very friendly. However, there was a lot of banchan, which is essential for any korean food experience. I still say my mom's is much better.
(2)
holly l.

i love this place especially cause you can kinda get your own "private" booth. i also love the fact they use real charcoal, too bad they don't allow that in the burbs. lots of side dishes and kalbi was great!
(5)
Daniel Y.

Excellent kimchi soup.
(4)
Amy S.

Our first time at a Korean BBQ was a hit! We really enjoyed our meal. The line seemed long when we arrived, but they moved people through quickly. Really affordable for all that you get.
(5)
Blah B.

OK my mouth is literally salivating at the thought of Korean BBQ. The meat is never rubbery, chewy or dry @ San Soo Gab San and I simply love LOVE all the little sides....umm a bit weird? Yes, but oh so good!! Oh before I forget......Thank you for always being open so late. :-)
(5)
Heather S.

food was interesting. The server we had was the worst server i've ever had. From the moment we sat down she expected us to be ready to order and stood next to our table impatiently setting things down on our table and sighing and taking it off our table, then walking away coming back, putting her order pad down on the table like "helloooo, when are you going to order?" waiting, sighing. Very strange. Once she served us, she took forever to bring us our bill. The side dishes they bring are interesting and there are a lot of them which is great but the service was just so bad. However the hostess was very nice, personable and friendly, but our server was just so ridiculously rude. Never been treated so rudely in a restaurant before. I don't know if I'd come back. On top of all the service issues, I have a gluten/dairy allergy and they really don't have much of a selection for people like me. Most of the entrees are beef, pork, or fish.I only saw one chicken entree which disappointed me because I am a fan of chicken! It is cool the way you can cook your entree at the table though.
(2)
Chris B.

I have been looking for a good Korean restaurant for awhile but to no avail until I came across this restaurant. The food is great (booths are small) but the side dishes alone are worth the price of the meal
(4)
Nelson T.

I went here tonight and it was very good. To the person who said the meat was fatty: The difference between Choice and Prime cuts of meat is that Prime costs about 3 times as much and contains more fat. Fatty meat is better meat, especially for grilling.
(4)
Tanya M.

24 hour korean bbq? strange but really good food none the less. so you choose however many meats you want, we tend to do chicken, beef and maybe pork (the octupus or squid is a bit too rubbery), and they bring it over on huge plates for you to cook it over an open fire with a grill on it. and then they serve you like 20 mini dishes of stuff that you have no idea what it is, but most of it is delicious so take a chance and try them all. and when you order a beer, even though they list 2 or 3 different beers, if you just say you want a beer they will bring you over the most expensive one which is only $6 so its not that bad. and they also serve you miso soup and a bowl of rice with each meat. you don't come to korean bbq's for the friendly service. they aren't rude but they got shit to do and aren't going to waste anytime with trying to talk to you. they get in and out. no smile. that doesn't bother me at all but i'm sure it'll bother some.
(5)
Deez D.

Good place to go to after getting fucked up at the club. Never been here sober which might be a good thing. The service can be slow but if you can speak Korean, then the service quickly becomes good.
(4)
Michael L.

The food at this place is outstanding. The meat is very well marinated and the portions are quite generous. The bulkoki was phenominal. The only drawback was that the service was very slow.
(4)
Diana T.

Good prices for korean barbecue with a vast array of panchan (side dishes). Get the marinated kalbi, chop chae, and their yuk gae jang is not bad either. I tried the kalbi tang once and it was not comparable to what I had in Korea, so that was a big bummer for me. However, they are open all the time. Only downside is you definitely smell like what you just ate afterwards. Small parking lot available.
(4)
Pat F.

Great food, overwhelming for a first timer but you'll get the swing of things. All the side dishes were exciting.
(4)
Tim N.

It was a very delicious and fun experience. There were only two of and it was full of groups so we waited a bit for a table. Be assertive for the service your desire but don't be rude. It is always busy here and the servers work hard. When I left my glasses on the table they found them and kept them until I picked them up. I appreciate that type of service. I thought the price was a value for the experience. For the two of the us the bill without drinks the bill was forty.
(4)
Kent L.

This is the place to go for Korean BBQ in Chicago. Their kalbi is fantastic. Well marinated, tender and delicious. This is the place where I take folks to experience Korean BBQ. I love their large assortment of side dishes (aka ban chan). I still enjoy watching the faces of newbies when the huge tray of side dishes arrive at the table. The spicy miso tofu soup that comes with the BBQ arrives boiling on a stone pot. Another great compliment to the meat.
(4)
Eddie S.

Heard about this place for awhile so i finally went and checked it out with my wife and 3 other friends. BBQ of course needed to be ordered. Kalbi was better than the bulgogi, but both were excellent. The ban-chan were numerous and overall pretty tasty. We also ordered chap-chae, bi-bim-bap, soon-doo-bu, and kimchi bo-kum. All were very tasty. Service was above average as well. Pricing was about average, but overall the best Korean food I have had in Chicago. A warning for those of you who have never had Korean BBQ before. If you have clothing that you don't want to smell after eating (jackets, etc), leave them in the car. Everything else WILL smell like Korean BBQ and that's a guarantee!
(4)
David D.

Terrible service, unfriendly staff, and nasty food. I've had naengmyeon countless of times and never have had such an awful dish served to me such as the one I received. Large chunky ice cubes, watery bibim naengmyeon, with almost no toppings was what I had received. The ice cubes began to melt which made my dish even more watery, almost soupy. Knowing full well that this is not how naengmyeon is usually served the owner/manager never apologized but rather made excuses trying to tell us that's how they make it here. I will never come back again and will inform everybody I know to AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. If you are looking for quality Korean food I would suggest Cho Son Ok..almost anyplace but this really. The only reason I gave this place one star and not zero is because yelp won't let me post without any stars.
(1)
Pilsen C.

I dont care how decent the food was, the service is just rude. Changing our tables just to give it to another couple for no reason,no panchan served until your food comes, outright lying about how long an order will take ("if you order single order, it will take half an hour"; came in 10 minutes anyway). Non existent waitress, never checking to see how we were doing. Will never return.
(1)
amy w.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice service for good food. The waittresses are slow to refill panchan and water. Parking sucks. But the food is so delicious. Nothing beats grilled meats. It's served with seasoned slivered scallions and lettuce to create wraps. My favorite panchan is the pickled daikon radish, potato with mayo (??), and that scary red cabbage kimchee thing. Can't remember if this place has stone pot rice, but I think there is... I kind of mix up Korean places in my head. Be prepared to have your coat reek of grilled meats.
(4)
Jean B.

It's not mom's but it is pretty damn close. I come often, I have my birthday dinners here, I come when I'm sick and need kimchi soup. Delicious.
(5)
Mint S.

The food here is great! Because they give you a LOT of little dishes you eat with your meal, you can order just 1 bbq thing off the menu, be full and pay less than $20 for 2-3 people! Just know that you will smell after you go in. The smoke gets everywhere. Also, understand that this is not a restaurant where you will be waited upon. You are supposed to cook the meat yourself. It's an interactive dining experience.
(5)
Anna H.

Recently transplanted to Chicago, I'm STILL looking for a really good Korean restaurant. This one is ok - they have lots of ban chan (side dishes), which is a plus. The only drawback is that most of them are flavorless and seem to be after thoughts! The kimchi needs MUCH improvement. Their entrees are also hit or miss. Their jungols are really good, especially the boo dae jjigae. However, their spicy pork was TERRIBLE - really fatty and miserable. Service is bad, but that's to be expected at a Korean restaurant. As a Korean, I'm used to this, but I can understand how others would be turned off. One time, I actually had to get up and go get the water pitcher off the counter because the servers refused to refill our glasses for so long.
(3)
N S.

AMAZING. Could not be better Korean food. As good as Korea. O.B. Beer is great, try it. I've had a few birthday dinners here, a great place to go with many friends and unique as well.
(5)
Luan N.

My favorite place to go for Korean food. I usually order the spicy pork belly. Love the mackerel. The bulgogi and kalbi are alright, bi bim bop is the most disappointing. Of course my feigned reason I go is for the small side dishes. You know how Olive Garden has lunch specials like soup, salad, and breadsticks for $5.95. I wish Korean restaurants do spicy tofu soup, banchan, and rice. One thing I always wonder is since when did Korean restaurants start incorporating mac salad and potato salad into the banchan. And yes I agree, it's hard to get service in here.
(4)
Nana H.

I had a very enjoyable evening with my friends here last night. After reading all these reviews, i was nervous about the parking situation- but was relieved to discover I had " front row" parking. And also after educating myself with this restaurant through these very informative reviews- i knew they might ignore us when we walked in, so being pro-active, I walked straight in to the back to announce that my party had arrived! Alison J. expressed concern over the issue of side dishes and I could confidently assure her that, yes- there will be A LOT of side dishes. Most of us ordered OB, which is very very similar to Miller Lite, but I would have to say that it went very well with the Bulkogi (18)and Beef Brisket (22). We ordered an extra miso soup (4.50) and cup of rice (2.50) There was hesitation when our meat arrived before our fire, and once again when we got our soups in the middle of our meal- but it all worked out, we got time to investigate all the side dishes, cook our meat ( which was good) and then have some of the best miso soup I've ever had. Overall for the 4 of us, we had a bill of close to 70 bucks. Our waitress was older and was actually very nice- when I asked about the lettuce we neglected to use, she showed me how I was suppose to eat it and then chatted us up about her schedule. The restaurant is open until 6am and opens at 10am and there are only 2 shifts!! If this were Check Please- I would say " I would go back".
(4)
Paul C.

Good for grilling. Also have Booty Chicken which, while not containing any chicken, does have both hot dogs and spam. Deliciousness.
(4)
Emerson C.

This place is awesome. I've take many people here and they would also concur that it's a great place to eat Korean BBQ. The best thing about it is, it closes late. I think we came here at 2 in the morning one evening to quench our drunken hunger. I always get an order of Kalbi and Bulgogi. This can feed about 4 to 5 people. They definitely give you a crap load of pan-chan... I sometimes have to limit myself just because I get so full off the small side dishes. The meats are absolutely marinated excellently. You can taste the sauces even after you grill them up. It's pretty self explanatory... Korean BBQ.. who the hell doesn't love it. The only negative drawbacks are the smoky smell you you inherit once you leave and also the additional unbuttoning of the pants... =)
(4)
Jeff Y.

decent korean bbq place with 20 cars in a 10 car parking lot, which i guess adds to the authenticity of the place. also authentic are the sassy/mean waitresses. these korean ladies are just no nonsense so don't take offense if they seem rude. anyways, nothing special about the food. it is korean bbq which is pretty hard to mess up. delicious but not mind blowing. the banchan (side dishes) are average and so are the jjigaes (soups). it is a little over-priced so expect to pay $25/person just for food. one good thing is that it is walking distance from lincoln karaoke so it's easy to go get your karaoke on if you want to complete the true korean experience. just be sure to go get some pho in the morning to help shake off the soju.
(3)
Jennifer K.

I am very particular about Korean food, especially since I hail from LA! I am fond of hole-in-the-wall kind of joints, and this place was very reminiscent of local hangouts in LA. The seating is great for groups of people. The ambience isn't much, really. But the food makes up for it. You can get meat to grill; I would recommend the bulgogi and kalbi for first-timers. Also, their stews are absolutely delicious. I like their kimchi stew! Word to the wise: wear plain clothes because once you step out, you're going to smell like your meal. The one thing that bothered me is that they charge for rice. This is the first time I've ever had to pay for rice separately at a Korean restaurant, especially for meager portions. Service can be kinda finnicky too. But otherwise, this is an awesome place to eat late at night with friends while drinking soju!
(2)
melissa n.

I come here with my roommate for late night suppers when the mood strikes. The prices are reasonable and the food is authentic. The kalbi is great and so is the seafood pancake. We like to wash it down with a little plum wine. Service is a bit lacking sometimes (because they're so busy) but they are usually very friendly and cordial.
(4)
andy b.

OPEN LATE NIGHT!! this is a big plus and the food is quick and tasty and no BS. I will definately go back. Has a true korean feel. And very private as you can sit at a table and they have it sectioned off so it feels like you have a private booth, where no one else can see you. Feels like a bit of asia in chicago.
(4)
Dani R.

I think I just do not like Korean food. I do not mind the service style, but you can not leave the restaurant without smelling. Your clothes just stink overall. The food here was good. But I just feel like the place is not clean and the cluttered environment.
(3)
Jonathan K.

brought the jewish co-worker here for her lesson in korean bbq. its a good spot to do it too, nice and grimy from all the bbq smoke, just how it should be. u cant really go wrong w korean bbq, unless the place is stingy and cheap on the meat. a lot of non-korean explorers here, which is fun. what stood out here for me was the large banchan (side dish) offering. its normal to get several side dishes at a korean restaurant, but this place hooks it up. keep in mind u can ask for more of a particular side dish when u run out.
(4)
Vyvilyn D.

If there's a better Korean restaurant in Chicago, please let me know. I love their food, but gosh, their service is terrible. Check you bill carefully because they can overcharge you purposely: add items here and there, add tip without letting you know even when you're in a small group, etc. I love the floor seated tables, which is why I give SSGB a better rating than Kang Nam. Disappointingly, the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop is ok. It's not really garnished with the bellflower root, mushroom, and fern stems that I expect with the typical Bi Bim Bop. Their Soon-dooboo, an uncurded spicy tofu soup, did not have uncurded tofu and tasted just like the free spicy miso soup that comes with your grilled meats. It's not that I don't like the Korean miso soup, but Soondoboo has a waaaay better taste. I'm a soondoboo fanatic, so I was extremely disappointed. Shame on them for messing up a basic dish!
(3)
Peter M.

To date San Soo Gab San is still my favorite late-night Korean BBQ joint. My usual order with newbies is an order of spicy chicken and sliced beef. But once you've been a few times, push past the temptation to grill and try the stews. Try them all, but start with the kimchi stew. You won't be disappointed when a volcanically hot bowl of bubbling noodles, meat, and spicy rich sauce arrives on the table. Be sure you have a couple bottles of OB to wash it down with. But the pachan are really the draw. Suddenly, without warning, after you are seated, the entire table is covered in tiny dishes of delicious bits of this and that. A few pickles, some spicy, some not, crunchy veggies, the ubiquitous potato salad, some sweet sauced veggies, various fish or shrimp bits, and a square mound of kimchi. Picking at these is just about the most fun part of the experience.
(5)
Goldcoast C.

Fantastic place for Korean BBQ, the prices fair, and the food is delicious. Big points because it is open 24hrs and the building is divided into Korean BBQ and Sushi restaurant. Parking is tight probably only 10 cars fit in their lot and lines can be long, and there is no such thing as 'service' because employees will not talk to you or go out of their way to help you. But I will say the menu is well put together and the food is worth checking out!!
(3)
kim w.

Any time. Night or day. The side dishes alone are well worth the trip way up north! I was with my boyfriend but wished we had invited all of our friends. I dream of the day I can chow with a party of ten in this place! Bbq'd squid and thin-sliced beef are delicious and the big fresh crunchy leaf lettuce make for juicy wraps around your meat of choice. Definitely a casual spot, nothing fancy, all the better to focus on food, foreign beers and fabulous company! Go hungry and adventurous and walk out stuffed plump and pleased.
(4)
choong l.

You might have a list of your favorite restaurants that are categorized by cuisine -- e.g. "Cafe (insert random Latin word) for Italian, Blah-blah-blah for Indian, Ah-So-Good for Japanese", etc. You really need to be very familiar with the individual cuisine, however, to be able to distinguish within the cuisines, the specific restaurant for a particular specialization or fame. Korean dining is like that as well -- most places tend to specialize in one or two dishes that make them a destination if you (or your group) is craving that particular dish. San Soo Gap San is more of an all-around player that does all dishes fairly well, but nothing that I'd put adjectives like "fabulous" or "spectacular." In fact, it's a place that I'd go with a group if people are "up for anything" (Korean) but most Koreans won't complain because there's probably a dish or two that they find they like -- probably not the best they can find in Chicago, but decent enough for a meal. Table-side grilling is a fairly typical Korean BBQ restaurant feature (you'll find this in about a dozen Korean BBQ restaurants in Chicagoland), but a lot of them use gas grills -- San Soo Gap San, on the other hand, uses wooden charcoal, which is much more cumbersome (for restaurant) to prepare and handle, but infuses the meat with great smoky flavor. Koreans consider this a superior feature in BBQ restaurants. Yes, despite the ventilation fans working double time, you'll reek of smell of smoke, food and BBQ after your meal -- not necessarily a bad thing, but I'll make this place the only/last destination for the evening. This is true of probably most Korean BBQ places. My reason for sometimes opting to bring my friends here, which also happens to be the best deal at San Soo Gap San, is that if you're coming with a medium size party (+5) and would like to sample different types of dishes, they offer combination deals that are offered only to parties of 5 or more. (Think of this as "family style" offerings in some Chinese restaurant.) You get two types of appetizers for the group, ample serving of BBQ (meat/style of your choice -- you can mix!), stew and cold buckwheat noodles (more on this last bit later). Banchan (Korean side dishes) are always included in any meal, and you can always ask for more. The three different prices ($17.99 - 21.99) reflect the different appetizer/stew option, but for non-Koreans, I'll stick with the $17.99 option; from my experiences, my non-korean friends did not like the stews in other options. This is a very fair price, and San Soo Gap San is unique that it's one of the very few Korean restaurants in Chicago that offers this type of full meal course combination. You might as well order a bottle of soju (a clear distilled Korean liquor -- about 42 proof) with your BBQ meal. You drink it in shots. That's what Koreans do with meat dishes, especially BBQs. A note on cold buckwheat noodle: after Koreans stuff themselves silly on meat (believe me, we do), they still have a bowl (albeit a small one) of naeng-myun (buckwheat noodle in cold broth). Whether it's to balance the hot (BBQ) with soothing cold (naeng-myun) or the protein/fat with carbs, I do not know -- but combination of BBQ and naeng-myun is a Korean tradition. A word of caution: while most of my non-Korean friends are delighted by the combination-meal experience, I've yet to find one who cared much for naeng-myun. San Soo Gap San is rarely the first restaurant that come to people's mind when we're deciding on a Korean restaurant, but if we cannot agree on a place, we often resort to San Soo Gap San.
(3)
Jeff B.

Lets start with three stars. -1 for the incredibly cramped parking area. +1 because its not their fault we came for dinner on a Saturday at 7pm. +1 for the amazing smell you encounter when you step through the door. -1 for finding out you have to order two meats in order to grill at the table. -1 for the kinda mean waitress that we had seat us. +2 for when another (sweet) waitress unloaded about 2 dozen bowls of panchan (at the time I had no idea what these were, think tapas but with pickled things and salads) on the table. +1 for the (sweet) waitress thanking us profusely when we helped her make room for all the curious bowls. +1 for the joy of daring your friends to eat some of this stuff. I enjoyed it, but I can pretty much stomach anything. Anyways, they were all pretty tame (veggies) although some very spicy. +1 for literally getting our food less than 2 minutes after ordering -1 for the mean waitress returning and impatiently putting the rest of the meat on the grill. +1 for the nice waitress providing constant refills of water. -3 for the incredibly intense diarrhea i had hours after eating here. Incredibly. Intense. Diarrhea. DON'T, I repeat DON'T use the tongs you put the meat on the grill with to take off the cooked meat. Use your chopsticks for that. Trust me. In conclusion, if my math is right this place gets 4 stars. The food is tasty and fun, though the service can be spotty It does seem however there are a few more nice waitresses than angry ones. And don't forget about the tongs. Please don't forget about the tongs. Your butt will thank me.
(4)
Sara S.

This place was really fun. The zillions of appetizers that accompanied our meal were all very tasty, and colorful. My Husband took me here for my birthday dinner on Halloween. We were fortunate enough to be sat next to a group of Asian College students who were just finishing, which meant less smoke in our faces, no loud people sitting with us, and a more traditional atmosphere. Lets face it, the service is shit- you need to be prepared to be ignored, or to go up and tell the waitress what you want, and not get fussy about it. With that in mind, we had an awesome time..unlike the yuppie assholes who sat near us and expected to be waited on hand and foot. Get real! Go to Applebee's- its where you belong. Also, unless you believe children should be exposed to smoke, don't bring your kids here
(4)
Mike W.

I didn't get the BBQ, as it was only lunch and I was eating with my manager at the nonprofit where I volunteer (which means no money for actual Korean barbecue). However, I was very pleased with my Dolsot Bibimbop. The clay pot was a good size, and the portions of meat and vegetables were generous compared to many places which have way too much rice and not enough meat. The panchan was OK, but by looking at the other tables, I suspect that you get a wider variety if you speak Korean (which I've found to be true at some other places).
(4)
madeline t.

First Korean BBQ restaurant I have ever tried and it was so good! Went with a bunch of friends so that made it even more enjoyable. Prices was decent, it was $20 per person and there was so much meat and appetizers, loved the Kim chi. Words of wisdom, dress comfortable and if you are sitting next to the fire, its gonna get real warm. Also if you're the type that doesn't like to walk bare foot, wear socks because you have to take off your shoes. You would also need to have background knowledge on what you like to eat at a Korean BBQ ex. kalbi. Luckily I had a Korean friend that came along. My only complaint however is the waitress doesn't come around to refill drinks and boy you get thirsty after eating that much and the wait can be long sometime.
(5)
Jaki J.

This place is more like a fast food restaurant. I've been there a lot of times with my friends. Food is good, but the servers aren't really friendly as you think. I wouldn't recommend the SUSHI!!!
(3)
Justin H.

I have been to this Korean BBQ 3 to 4 times now and have had the same sort of experience every time. If you are not Korean make sure you bring a Korean/Korean looking friend with you. The service if you are neither will be awful. You will be seated at their convenience after all of the Korean/Korean looking people have been seated at their convenience. Also of note they do not even own forks at this restaurant. You must use chopsticks. The food here is wonderful. I have had both the beef and the chicken and both have been seasoned extremely well. The spare ribs have much to be desired the meat is tough and what meat there is on the bone will not easily be enjoyed. I love the sample dishes they bring out I can always find at least a few I enjoy immensely, a few i find OK and 1 or 2 I find inedible. ( I have a special palate). The plum wine they have is amazing as well. I wish i could find a place to buy that wine for my house it was so good. This is a great place to bring a party of 4 or more but any less and you will find this place to be quite pricey. The ventilation system here also has much to be desired. One time I went and the Vent was dripping greasy brown stuff on our neighbor so they moved them tables, and the vent system seem to be turned on and off intermittently. Never found this place to have a breathable atmosphere. Overall the food is good, Service is bad (unless your Korean) and ventilation system sucks(and not in the way it should!). I will continue to go back though because the food is that good!
(4)
Kat W.

The best quality Korean BBQ I have ever had in Chicago. Hands Down.
(5)
Jacob R.

So, what's not to like? 1. The strip mall is the only thing. Kind of hard to park, etc.
(5)
J W.

Went to this place a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday around 7pm. The "parking lot" is pretty funny. I have no idea how you could fit five cars in there not to mention the ten or so crammed in there. Kudo's to those drivers who could actually get in and out of that sandbox. We found plenty of residential parking nearby, so it's all good. We walked in and were immediately ignored. Busy waitresses and busboys walked passed us like we were part of the architecture. Definitely a little intimidating. Once I walked up to the register(in the back) and flagged down a waitress, then things started cooking. We were shown to one of the tables in the center section. Just a warning: those tables are really meant for 2. There were 4 of us and it was quickly overflowing with all the little appetizers(pan-chan?), plates of meat, and of course, the large grill taking up the majority of the table in the center. If you have more than 2 people, get one of the tables on the periphery. The "panchan"(appetizers?) are a mixed bag. There's some little pickled/dried fish that were ok, some kind of sweet raisins(?). The worst were the ones covered in what tasted like spaghetti sauce. It was definitely fun passing them around and remarking on our discoveries("oh, that one's basically potato salad", etc.) The Korean "OB" beer is actually pretty good. It's like a combination of cider and Budweiser and is quite refreshing as a chaser to the piles of freshly cooked beef you pull off the grill. It comes in two sizes, small and large. Small is "normal" and large is like a 3/4 sized 40(a 30, if you will) The beef is great! We ordered a beef plate for each of us. The most common ones are actually circled in pen on the menus. I really enjoyed the two styles we got and it was fun wrapping them up in the provided lettuce strips. The ribs were a disappointment. Way more ribs, than actual meat. All in all, I did not come out of this place feeling "stuffed" like I thought I would. Just nicely filled up. The experience here for newbies definitely varies based upon the waitress you get. Ours was super nice and helped us in our choices and grill management(she saw that our grill was getting smoky from charred beef debris and got us a new one). Another lady who brought us a new plate of beef took one look at our overflowing table and just dumped all of the beef right on the grill and walked away. Ok, then. I'd like to give this place 3 1/2 stars because the value for your dollar is questionable. We spent about 100 for the 4 of us, including a couple bottles of beer. It just seems a tad pricey given the amount of food, but the atmosphere and "fun factor" do help a lot. Good first date night if: You're worried about conversation fodder and sitting bored at a table in some bar. All of the little oddities of the place give you something to talk about plus you're always having to manage the grill and deal with incoming plates of food. Also, it's good to see how your potential mate handles multi-tasking and making stuff up on the fly. Kind of like Lego's for food. Bad night for anyone if: You just want to slump into a booth after a long day and chill out to a plate of your favorite pre-cooked meal. Not gonna happen.
(3)
Danilo L.

I like San Soo Gap San for the fact that there is abundance in the side dishes compared to other Korean restaurants. They give more food for the same price compared to other Korean restaurants. I see lot of non-Korean folks dining there. The only issue there is to find parking space in their small lot.
(4)
Cathy L.

While there is nothing like grandma's home cooking, this place comes pretty close. Whether it be 8 pm dinner, or 4 am gorging, this place has always filled my belly with satisfaction. I go for the kalbi most of the time, although the kimchi stew or teng chang stew are comfort foods for me. I love the service there because I know some of the late night staff and they are so ridiculously funny...although I have heard of some run ins with some not so nice ladies...sorry i cannot share names. But true to the BBQ, please don't wear cashmere or silk or any other nice fabric here...for it will smell forever of beef...unless that is your thing. :) I recommend going with a big group for the experience and try to get a seat in the back rooms or the other side, where you can sit on the floor. and don't be scared of the millions of panchan that come with the food, for it is the Korean way. try a little bit of everything and all the flavors will really melt together. This definitely is not the only Korean restaurant, but it is a good one.
(4)
Melissa M.

I've seen a few comments here about mediocre service... Not so! Last time we were here we brought our three kids (8, 4, & 3). Our waitress chatted up the kids while we enjoyed our great food, and even invited us to bring a bag of marshmallows for the kids to roast next time we stop in. I call that great and friendly service!
(5)
James L.

Best Korean restaurant in Chicago...but that's not saying much since pretty much ALL the Korean places here pale in comparison to NYC or LA...even Atlanta. I hate the sticky greasy dark feeling of walking into this place. At least it's cheap. Their yook gae jang is my fav soup dish. Unfortunately they don't do the popular cha dolr bae gee w/duk boe sam.
(3)
Y G.

We usually come here after the bars because they are open 24 hours. I love Korean food and this is where my Korean friends take me. Lots of 'banchan' (small dishes), not bad of kalbi, where you can either choose to bbq it yourself or have them do it for you to save time. Bring some Korean friends with you, because their English isn't that good. Don't plan on coming here before any type of public activity..you will smell.
(5)
kirstin h.

korean barbeque, what an experience, delicious and fun. seafood pancake, kimchee in various forms and a lot of other fun distracting dishes. smells and tastes great. plus you get to grill your own meat, mmmm meat.
(4)
Ed M.

I can never remember the name of this place. Suk soo pan shin? bu bao kap san? shiet...so i always refer it to that "hot korean place on western" Anyways this joint is 24 hours!!! this is the dennys of korean food people. i love me some korean food 24 hours baby! And don't even bother tipping because you end up cooking your own damn food anyways. Good shit!
(5)
Allison B.

One of my favorite Korean places in the city. A fun atmosphere to have parties, go with a group, or even on a romantic date. However, word-to-the-wise, wear something that you can wash...you will smell like BBQ afterwards. This is a family style Korean BBQ, where the waitstaff bring you raw meat and KimChe and you go from there. The meat is amazing, and everything is very fresh. The service is better if you go with someone who is Korean, as this is true at many Korean eateries, but still worth the trip. It is also open all night, even though I have never taken advantage of that luxury.
(5)
Jennifer G.

I've been in search of a Korean Restaurant since the 24 hour one at Lawrence and Rockwell closed down several years ago. Other yelpers recommended this as a fantastic alternative. There have been a lot of mixed reviews on several sites, mostly about the service. I personally never expect GOOD service at any Korean restaurant. It's the culture, they are just not the friendly service-driven type. So long as they don't actually spit on me or my food, I could care less. Regardless, I found the service to be just fine here, got plenty of water refills, food was served up fast and hot and she did even come back once to ask how everything was. For the food, the side dishes were plentiful and extremely tasty. Lots of little yummies for everyone to enjoy. I ordered the bulgogi and was a bit disappointed in the quality of the meat. For $16.95, I would think they could get a better cut of meat that hasn't practically broken down to it's lowest molecular level. The prices were variant, ranging from average to a bit ridiculous. It's not like you are ever getting really high quality beef or pork products in Korean restaurants. The only other complaint I have is the SMOKE. Oh my god, the SMOKE. I had a very full and contented belly walking out, but my head felt like it was on a freakin skewer. If it's busy in there, and everyone is going for the bbq option, you will probably need a gas mask or oxygen tank. They have GOT to improve their ventilation system. At one point, I could barely see my friend from across the table. I have to wonder what kind of crap smoke alarm system they have in that joint for it to have never been set off? Anyway, if you are looking for decent Korean food this isn't a bad place to go. I am going to continue my search for the holy grail of Korean food since I don't think I could ever stand to be in a place with that much smoke again.
(3)
Cali M.

Awesome awesome awesome! I love this place and it is super delicious.
(5)
Ellen S.

Their Korean food is really good and you will always leave feeling full. There really is something for everyone (even the less adventuresome). If you are looking for fancy, shmancy, Americanized Korean food then this is NOT the place for you. However, if you're looking for the real thing then come here. Nothing fancy. Just good food. Now my reason for 3 stars...the service is pretty terrible, be prepared for typically unfriendly waitstaff who don't like fielding questions from unneducated diners. You get what you get. Also you're better off walking than parking (their lot is impossible) and the 'Sushi' side of their restaurant is less than stellar. Stick with the Korean side and you're golden! What can I say, I'm a sucker for local joints.
(3)
Leang E.

I just ate at this place today, and loved it. First, I stepped in and loved how they have the place set up, so it feels like you have your own private area for you and your friends. So, it's very ideal for a group setting or an intimate conversation. Everyone takes off their shoes in traditional Asian style as if you went into someone's home for dinner. You sit down where it looks like there's a table in the ground, but your feet hang down and there's a seat that you can lean up against on. The menu is pretty big, and if you like OB beer they've got it! Beer and Korean BBQ is a great combination. After we ordered our food, the waitress brought tons of the tiny little appetizer plates that come with - there were at least 10 of them! I was so impressed. They even have potato salad that they make with their own Korean style. It's been claimed to be the best potato salad that a friend of mine has ever had. Another friend says that he brings his parents there and they all agree it's pretty authentic cuisine and they like coming to this place. I've been to a few other Korean BBQ restaurants, and you just can't beat the quality and quantity of food you get here. A lot of people like to go to the buffets, but you are better off getting what you pay for at a place like this. I overate because the food was so good. As in any Korean restaurant, you are going to walk away smelling like what you ate.
(5)
adam k.

Always a good time. Food is great and the service is very friendly (not sure what the others complain about). Better with a large group - you HAVE to get tons of food. Never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Benjamin H.

Over the Labour Day Weekend last year I was visiting Chicago and went to San Soo Gap San after a volleyball tournament. I recently moved to Chicago, and over THIS Labour Day Weekend my friends and I wanted to try out a different Korean BBQ joint after the tournament. I was looking up places within walking distance from my apartment and had completely forgotten where San Soo Gap San was, or even its name. So after walking two miles, fate would have it that we arrived at the crowded doorway of San Soo Gap San--again. But the second time around was just as good as the first time. The wait was long, but worthwhile, and the service got progressivly better throughout the night. I'm not going to comment too much on the food because it's simply good Korean food. It's not great--I've had better and much better (I would give it 3 1/2 stars, but since I can't, I don't think I could round up for this joint). But it's a good place for a fix if you live nearby. There's always a lot of Korean patrons, which is always a good sign that the food is at least 3/4 authentic. If you're looking, however, for fine dining and/or some place romantic, then keep looking. Cheers.
(3)
t.n. t.

i have high expectations for korean food since my bestfriend's mother has spoiled me. great price for allllll the food you get!!!! many ethnic restaurants can be uncomfortable and down right hostile at times, but you dont get that feeling here. i was extremely comfortable with the diverse group of friends i was with! although, our waitress could barely speak english, she smiled and made sure we were satisfied. it truly is authentic food!
(4)
Ben T.

So if you like Korean food, I think this is the best Korean restaurant in the city (in the humble opinion of this non-Korean, though I've talked to Koreans who agree with me). Excellent BBQ, perfectly seasoned. I almost always get the Bulgoki and Dakkalbi (not sure I spelled those right, but oh well), which are invariably delicious. I also usually get one of the soups, which are spicy and perfect for cold days in the middle of the winter, or the Chopchae (again, not sure about the spelling), both of which I highly recommend. The service is spotty; I've actually had really great service before, but most of the time, the service is what I'd describe as ruthlessly efficient. But when the food's this good, it's a minor complaint. Also, it's open till 5 am, so if you ever get a craving for grilled meat (and an OB--next time you go, give it a try. not the best beer I've ever had, but it really completes the San Soo experience) after a late night out, think San Soo Gab San.
(5)
Rob L.

God bless the people who work here and dealt with the yelper crowd. We descended here one fateful and chilly Sunday evening. Our group went from 15 to 20 to above that, yet they still managed to accommodate us very well. When we finally settled in and finally ordered the fun began. Many came here for the BBQ. They set up these immensely heavy bowls of flaming hot coals, plop a grill pan on and you go at it. Now my table decided not to grill, but everyone else did down the line. We went with bento boxes, bibimbap and Korean stew. Also if you have never dined at any Korean restaurant, here is the deal they give you all these main starting dishes, from seasoned radishes, to almond jelly, to three types of seaweed. Be adventurous and try them, but let me just state, if it is red, it will tend to be spicy hot. Now as every one munched on their grilled meats, I dined on my chicken bento box. Pan fried pot stickers, (gyozas), a salad, tasty chicken, 6 crab sushi rolls, 3 maki rolls and all delicious. Plenty of things to eat for just under $14 bucks. There might be some difficulty in the language barrier, don't let that discourage you from enjoying a good meal here, though next time I think the bibimbap will be calling my name!
(4)
Oona B.

great food but strange/awkward service (must need someone who speaks to translate/communicate).
(4)
Kevin T.

mountains and mountains of side dishes!! keep em coming! wrap your tongue, teeth and gums over the yumminess that is brought before you. heed my advice and you will not regret it! then wash it down w/ some so-ju and you will leave there with a well-deserved smile and (more) hair on yo chest (from the so-ju). i like how the koreans use lean beef in their dishes. if it looks like meat, then slap that muthafugga on the grill!! and after you feel as if you have amply stuffed your belly, order another round!!!
(4)
Mrjustice ..

Compared to other Korean Restaurants, just average at best. On the plus side, they use real wood charcoal for BBQing the meats, and lots of panchans. On the negative, the panchans were not particularly spicy or interesting. Most dissappointing was the Service, which as is often the case at Korean restaurants, we were treated as something less than desired guests, not being Korean. They paid no attention to us whatsoever, no refill of water until we flagged someone down, no offer to replentish the panchans, no offer of assistance with the BBQ (not that we needed it, but novices would have) -- and, all this even after we displayed our affinity for Korean by ordering Soju (and, even by name -- Jinro SoJu). Much prefer KangNam, as our favorite Korean.
(3)
m c.

would give a zero if i could. the service is worse than if they threw your food on the ground and expected you to eat off the floor. our waitress literally wanted us to catch hot steaming pots with our bare hands (their handles were broken). dirty looks do not work here, they could care less. just not worth the indigestion.
(1)
Anjali B.

One night my friend and I were absolutely drunk off of our asses, and we wanted sushi. I remembered hearing about a Korean BBQ (on Check Please or something) that was open really late, so we decided to try that instead, since there are no 24 hour sushi places here that are decent (as far as I know). So we get in and it's smoky. That's fine, it's a fucking bbq, of course it's going to be smoky. NOBODY is non-Korean inside except us (the Mexican and the Indian) and we are getting nervous and giggly. We sit down and I'd heard the baby octopus was good, so I ordered that. He ordered the beef. They bring this giant, burning FIRE onto our table, and I'm thinking "Oh great, motor skills, etc." Imagine my face when the 67 bowls of condiments and lettuce bundled in a rubber-band showed up on my table. What. I had never been to Korean BBQ and I was terrified but excited. We cooked our meat with no problem. My spicy baby octopus curled up and got all yummy on the grill, and my friend's beef was delish too. It was all delicious. I tried a lot of the condiments but didn't really know what to do with them. I liked the teeny tiny dried fish though. The bitchy waitresses weren't all that mean, and the bit of sass that I did get was funny. She cracked jokes with us a couple of times, and then we saw our waitress and a few of the others eating cake with chopsticks. It was a fun experience, and I got to smell delicious for a while afterwards! mmm!
(4)
Miss O.

i think i still smell like korean bbq. this place was good. it was social so it would be fun with more than 2 people. the food was good - all the random dishes was fun to taste. the only thing i didn't like was that it lacked the flavor you'd usually get from dishes that are prepared for you.
(3)
Samir N.

When we started going to this place a some years ago, it seemed so exotic and different. The servers hardly spoke any English and the menu was in Korean. The food was great, it wasn't terribly crowded and nothing was rushed. Now you are greeted by a hostess, the menu is all glossy with pictures and bilingual, weekend lines are long and you feel a bit rushed. The food is still good though, love the kalbi and kimchi assortments. They say they are open 24 hours but we found the place shuttered at 5 am. I know 5 am!. We still go to the place often for the great BBQ but it just doesn't seem as unique an experience anymore.
(4)
Linda S.

SSGS used to be cleaner and more of a family restaurant when it first opened. Nowadays it has become more of a place to go after clubbing, attracting a younger crowd than before. The quality of the panchan & meat has really gone down and now they're charging for rice. A popular yet unusual dish we used to order was kalbi along with intestines and tripe, and there was one occasion where the intestines were not cleaned out. The dish itself sounds pretty gross but imagine not preparing the food properly! Anyways, the bbq here is still pretty decent but it's sad to see how the service/food has gone down.
(2)
dan b.

This place is great. It is perhaps the most authentic korean restaurant I have ever been to in the states. I swear its exactly like a regular galbi (bbq pork) spot in Seoul, only the price tags show dollars instead of won. I guess the service can be uneven, but the food is great and the prices are about right. They are open really late as well so you can go get a bunch of galbi and whittle the time away drinking soju and hot sake. This is a good family spot, a good drinking spot, and a good date spot.
(5)
Yujin A.

This place is pretty good. They serve many side dishes although not all taste fantastic. I find their marinated meat to be a bit bland. It's definitely a good place to try Korean BBQ. Their service isn't all that great. You are going to smell like smoke for few days after visiting this place, so be warned. They open 24 hours a day, which is why it's getting 4 stars. Not many 24 hr places serve good and healthy food. On-site parking is somewhat limited, but you can always street park nearby.
(4)
Mike B.

Low prices, good food. Don't go there if you want 'atmosphere'.
(4)
tim m.

While my vegetarian wife didn't like it, but I loved it. I especially liked all the veggies they brought out in the beginning. A cornucopia of flavors. Seemed very authentic. I want to bring my boys back for some bbq
(5)
Alex C.

There are only 3 places I think that have decent Korean food in Chicago and this happens to be one of them. I love going there with my non Korean friends since they offer so many side dishes that they can try. Quality of food is consistent and they are open 24/7 which is awesome. You should stick to the tabletop BBQ if you are going here since other dishes (except for seafood pancake) is not that impressive but still decent. And don't go there w/nice clothes on..in fact, grunge it since your clothes will stink like BBQ. We used to bring change of clothes if we were going out since it's just way too stinky to walk around with that smell on ya. They got small parking lot and usually have no problem finding street parking w/in couple of blocks if it's full.
(4)
Erik L.

overall the best korean bbq i have had in my life so far. amazing banchan. crazy good portions. i have heard of others complaining about the servers being rude but I have never experienced this. in fact, its always been the opposite. this may be a bit more expensive than other korean restaurants, but its totally worth it. also: this place is 24 hours which is totally insane.
(5)
Jelly C.

I use to come here all the time. This place has some good galbi but they skimp on the meat once in a while.Their chop chae can get a little too sweet and soggy. Their spicy soups are delicious. This restaurant serves up the most of those little dishes of appetizers (sorry, I'm not sure what those are called). The thing that's stopping me from coming to this place is the service. I really wonder if the waiters know that they make a "I'm so fed up with this fucking job and you stupid whore" face all the time. I swear everytime I ask for anything, they turn around and curse at me under their breath. Not everyone in the restaurant is like that though, there is this one lady who I think is the boss who always carries a smile. But she doesn't make up for the 5 other people who wear the bitch face 24/7. The parking lot sucks here too. It's small and cramped and almost always looks like a accident waiting to happen. I had dinner here with 2 first timers(i know, I probably should've brought them somewhere else), the dinner was great until they kept rushing us. They told us that we should be eating faster because there was a lot of people... Bitchface kept trying to clean our table even though we were obviously not done eating... never going back again.
(2)
Chris S.

Really cool way to dine. each booth or table gets their own grill and you get to grill your own combination of meat. Each person can create their own meal. Do not go alone, the bigger the group the better. The only complaint I have is that as this place continues to grow in popularity, the prices keep going up. Also, it used to be that you could get as many, or as few dishes for your table as you wanted, now they have a mandatory one plate per person minimum.
(4)
Tobia C.

24 Hour Korean BBQ? Ummm...YEAH! This place is awesome after painting the town. The service is decent, and the food is crazy delicious! I have been here many times and have had a consistently good experience. I would definitely go back again. This isn't the best place for Vegetarian folk, but you would still be able to find something on the menu. My only criticism is that the meat could be of better quality...but it sure does taste good!
(4)
G G.

The food is very good- many many different panchen fill your tabletop as you bbq your choice of marinated meat. It is very smoky though and not so friendly with service.
(3)
Alice S.

i'm korean. and a hungry girl. especially after a night out drinking! so having a basically 24 hour korean restaurant in chicago is killer! kalbi-tang is one of my favorites... next to boodae jigae. and yes, boodae jigae is a spicy stew filled with ramen noodles, bacon, spam, and hotdogs. this might sound nasty to alot of people that aren't korean, but i'm telling you, after a night out... this is the best meal you can have (but if you have a heart condition, you probably shouldn't have any. boodae jigae is a heart attack waiting to happen). and get an order of kalbi to grill and eat. when i'm at a club, i seriously begin thinking about what im going to order here as the night starts to come to a close. yeah, im a fat kid at heart... cant help it.
(4)
K L.

SSGS is one of my all time favorite rest. of all time. But for the past 2 recent visits. I can't stand the waitress anymore. My workers and I used to come here around 2-3am when we got off from work. Please look at your bill CLOSELY, b/c they might charge extra fee in there. The waitress complained my friend gave $6 tip was TOO LOW. (BILL WAS around 38.00) 2nd time, I was there with 2 adults and 1 baby. We left $8 tip on the table, the waitress just swing right by and grab it. Than when we got the bill, we got another extra 10 bucks in there. I asked the girl, she said it was for the tip. .. The total bill was $54.00... She was mumbling in Korean than she said: "so you gave us $18.00". I was like wdh.. I demanded the $10.00 taken off from my friend's credit card. She had to do it 3 times to get the right money off the charge. CINDY, the OWNER was not there. I was so upset their customer service. They don't even look at us or asking if we need anything else. It has been 7 great years knowing them I know they're start losing other Asian customers. I know b/c I talked to them and they experienced the same situation too. I like to give their food 4* b/c I tried most of Korean Rest. and they're not quite good as them.. sike..
(1)
art w.

This restaurant is not open 24 hours.
(2)
Sayaka H.

I am never dissapointed when I stop in this cozy place for some Korean BBQ. Whenever you have a big crowd of hungry people, we go to this restaurant. We order up everything on the menu starting off with some OB and the seafood pancakes, then some Kalbi and Bulgolgi and finally finishing off with some chilled buckwheat noodles. I can't imagine more comforting food and here' s the place to get the best Korean food. You have to check it out once, and you'll be hooked.
(5)
Abby D.

i always try to add something unique & NOT-yet-listed when it comes to my reviews....which means i ought to read the previous reviews. there are over 200 reviews for this joint....i am well meaning, but terribly busy....which means i won't read all of them. so the ond thing i can add that i do not think has been listed hitherto is about: their potato salad. yes, that good ol' mayonnaise based goop of sweet mush that comes as one of their panchan. nothing fancy. just your deli-type all-american picnic must-have. theirs ranks right smack among the best of the jewel-n-dominick brands. not complicated & stuffy like whole foods-n-treasure island sorts. just honest to goodness artery-clogging creaminess that brings back the eternal question yet once again: why DO korean restaurants in the u.s. serve this among their fermented wonders?
(4)
Richard K.

This is probably my favorite Korean restaurant so far in the city. The best thing about things about this place is it's open 24 hours, so you can eat Korean food at 5 am if you want :) and they give you a good amount of pan chan (side dishes), and the service is attentive and mostly pretty friendly, though somewhat harried as it gets busy. Almost anything off their menu is good. They have great kalbi, which I usually get, which is cooked over wood soot, so you get that charcoal flavor in the meat. Also try the kim chee chega (kimchee stew) if you want something spicy or the ten gang chiga (bean paste stew) if you want something hearty to warm you up. In the summer, kalbi and mul nemang (water noodles) are really good. My Korean is really bad, and so is my spelling, but the waitresses will help you order.
(5)
Mark P.

Kalbi is not too shabby. Better at Solga. But panchan (side dishes) and cooked stews/dishes are better here.
(4)
Evangeline L.

Any restaurant that can make me want to eat the food again right after I stuffed myself is alright in my book! The smells, oh the smells of this place are intoxicating! Be sure to get the bbq...marinated beef and the short ribs are fantastic, and the spicy calamari too. For apps the GIANT seafood pancake is delicious and the fried dumplings are surprisingly tasty. Warning: your food may or may not come out in the order you think it should and the servers are a bit salty but hey, its part of the charm! Did I mention they're open till 5am? Score.
(4)
Yang Z.

good korean taste. bad service!
(3)
Katherine M.

The food here was delicious and well portioned. The servers are nice and the atmosphere is really pleasant. Would definitely return!
(4)
Nancy H.

I came here over the summer after having not been back in years. Midway through our meal, supposedly the health inspector showed up, and the waitress rejected our every request for refills on anything but water... no extra panchan or veggies. They also turned away customers who came inside! Is it that necessary to turn people away because the health inspector is here? It felt so shady. It was truly an underwhelming meal.
(2)
Tian Y.

Good option for late night comfort food. Pretty good meats, charcoal cook top for some nice flavor vs gas at some other places, and the soups and stews are the perfect comfort food. You get like 20 side dishes, which is ridiculous, the most I've ever seen or been given. Some are very interesting and delicious, and you can ask for extra (not sure to what extent though. I only asked for 1 or 2). The meats themselves are kind of a small portion for the price, but they are pretty tasty, and I guess with 2 meats and a soup you can stuff yourself for under $30 per person total. Parking lot is a lot smaller than I thought... but there is parking on the side residential streets. Yes, bring a Korean speaker! I have received less attentive/polite service without a Korean, but this is definitely the worst I've ever gotten. They're not rude on purpose it seems, just negligent, and part of that might be the language barrier.
(3)
Alexander L.

The misses and I got in to Chicago and were craving some good Korean BBQ. We hit the yelp reviews pretty hard and stumbled upon this nice little place. The restaurant itself is on the corner next to a small sushi place so it's easy to miss. The parking lot is incredibly small and parking is tight and close quarters, thank god for the small VW nettle rental. Like most Korean restaurants the service was "eh" but the good made up for it. We ordered the pork belly bacon and the marinated beef short ribs. Unlike my traditional thoughts of bacon from the store used to cook for breakfast, this pork belly bacon was a lot more tender and less fatty. I'd say it was more lean but still a good choice. The marinated beef short ribs were amazing and something that will make us wanting to come back for sure. The marination was sweet yet succulent and that BBQ flavor heightens the taste. The sides of Kim-chi (spelling?) were also very bountiful and they gave us more if any if the small bowls ran out. Or favorite was the small fish cakes, the potatoes, squid, and some type of fried egg patty. In total for the both of us the bill came to roughly $44 which was ideal. The amount of good you get is amazing so if your looking for a quick little bite I'd probably stop someplace else but if you want a meal, you found it. *Side note* if you only order one meal to share then they cook everything for you but if you order two meals then you get to BBQ your food at the tables
(4)
Beverly Z.

This is the my favorite in Chicago. Seafood Scallion Pancake is a must try.
(5)
Hanh P.

Disclaimer- I am not from Chicago, so I don't know what the Korean food is like here. I am also not Korean so my preferences are different. But because I enjoy Korean food I've had it in many cities. Including NYC, LA, SF, Seoul and Denver. And I'm sad to say SSGS falls short of Denver's best. That's just disappointing for a big city like Chicago. So many things to rate for this place. But let's start with the most important, the food. I will be generous and give a 4. I want to say 3.5 but I'll round up. The seafood pancake was the very good. I'd almost give it a 5. Better than SGD Tofu House. The kalbee was good not great, a strong 3.5. I've had way better. Isn't kalbee an essential at K-BBQ? I think they cut it too thin. Bulgogi was also decent, I give it a 3. We ordered tofu soup and it was good, this one is better at SGD Tofu House. The sides were average. I've been to so many that had much better and even more sides. Overall a good experience. But I expect more.
(4)
Vishal P.

This place popped my Korean BBQ cherry and came here multiple times since. A very unique dining experience with great food and a nice selection of soju. If you've never been to Korean BBQ before... its a great experience with a nice group. You get a huge portion of side dishes and raw, marinated meat which you cook on a small coal grill in the center of the table. Try the Bul Ko Ki (marinated beef), the Wang Kal Bi if you like ribs, we also got some seasoned chicken too. If you want some nice soju - try the Chamisul. Tip: Come early or make a reservation - this place isn't too big and has a huge crowd of people.
(4)
Jessica Y.

Saturday night the line was out the door. Meeting a couple of friends who were in town from MN and enjoyed it the last time they were in town so wanted to go back. If there are no spots in their 7 spot lot you can park in the subdivision near the restaurant. The wait was under 30 minutes. Service = wasn't the friendliest but I suspect the limited English contributed to what came across as rude. We shared 3 meat dishes to BBQ and there were 27 side dishes that made it fun! The whole table was FILLED with them - kim chee, spinach, tofu, seaweed, broccoli, bean curd, eggplant, etc. Each meat dish comes with soup + rice and they bring out romaine lettuce to wrap the BBQ in. The bill was $60 something with no drinks. 2 meat dishes to share between 3 ppl would have been more than enough. If you have time, are in the area, and ok with a really smoky room (from the grills) try it out. The massive amounts of side dishes were very enjoyable.
(3)
Rosanna L.

This has to be one of my favorite KBBQ place because of the delicious marination of the various meats; Bul Ko Ki - tender beef marinated Korean style and Wang Kal Bi - marinated beef short ribs. Every meat order comes with at least a dozen little side dishes of kimchee, potato, various vegetables, and plenty more. They also have a very tasty Hae Moul Pajun (seafood pancake) - seafood pan-cake, egg and green onions . Hence why only the 3 stars if it's a fave? Well, the service can really set someone off if they can't handle the way the waitresses react to you. They don't follow-up, they're not polite, they really are there just to work and get you in and out. Most, if not none of them speak English so there's already a communication barrier. I can easily overlook the service for the food, but I think if they were just a little bit more friendly and maybe even smile this place would get more better reviews.
(3)
Ryan Inoe B.

I have had Korean BBQ before at other locations and this one is by far one that will not be a go to. Even though the menu was straight forward, the service is not up to par on what customer service should be (regardless on the language barrier). When you order multiple orders of different types of meats, they tend to just throw it all together to make a big order but in tale making it more look like that your getting a lot which is not the case. Ventilation was a big issue as well. The portions of meat are already tiny as is and when grilled, they even seem smaller. Even the short ribs did not suffice the hungry belly's that longed for MEAT. Only to give you the taste of the marinade literary off the bone. Though the abundance of sides made you feel like you had a chance to enjoy their food, the customer service is just non-existent!!! Overall I will enjoy my other places that I know I will get the bang for my buck.
(1)
Terri F.

Sat, waited 20 minutes, three other tables of Korean patrons were seated, flagged down 2 waitress, watched the 3 later sat tables order....put my coat on to leave after 40 minutes of sitting there and the waitress says, I'm ready for you now. When I said it's been 40 minutes she replied, I am busy. I looked around to see a half filled restaurant and left. What a disappointment, heard food was great, but food from a racist place can't be all that good.
(1)
Jin Y.

i had a light dinner here last night with party of 5.. food was real bad and when i got my check,,, the bill was about 120. i look closedly on the receipt and they've already charged me like 18% tip on top of the total..... i didn't feel like raising hell last night so i just walked out but is this normal or did i just get screwed by these people
(1)
Pearl H.

Perfect amount of food! We got bbq: wang kal bi (marinated beef short ribs), bulgogi (thinly sliced beef), and joo mul luk (rib eye mini steak). Service was lovely...there's a call button if you need something! So don't expect them to come to you (Sometimes they do). If you don't push that button, waitresses will not stop by. The one down side was the "parking lot." It's very tiny - hard to get in and out of a spot.
(5)
Matthew S.

This place is the shit, it is the shit, it is the shit. Of course, you have to know what you're getting into -- don't go expecting obsequious service, don't go if piles of meat aren't your thing, and don't go if you don't want to smell like grill smoke when you walk out. But really, are those your priorities? Is that who you are? Really. Anyway, I've been here a number of times, and the times with large groups have been a greater success than the time I went as a twosome. Just too much food with the grill options! So keep that in mind as well. But long story short, piles of meat, vast array of delicious Korean sides, great experience. Love coming here.
(5)
Julie Y.

I went with a group of 7 and was seated immediately. We decided to get Set A and ordered 7 meat entrees. Never have I ever been to a korean restaurant with SO MANY BANCHAN. THERE WAS NO ROOM TO FIT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. We resorted to gorging on banchan so that we would have room for our meats. We ordered 3 orders of the wang kalbi, 1 order of dak kalbi, 1 order bulgogi and 2 orders of chadolbaegi. The wang kalbi was absolutely amazing. Mouth watering and melt in your mouth good. Sadly, the chadolbaegi left a lot more to be desired. It was served frozen and sliced a little bit too thick. When it was cooked on the grill, it hardened up into what seemed to be like meat leather. It was tough and generally unappetizing. I see a lot of reviewers complaining about the service, but I didn't really see any issues while I was there. The waitresses were helpful and tried their best to explain their menu items and set orders. Our water glasses were never empty, and they were eager to refill our banchan! While that was a disappointment, the men in the group still devoured the meat and all of us thoroughly enjoyed all the side dishes and appetizers. The wang kalbi made up for the mediocre experience with the chadolbaegi. If we're ever back, it will definitely be for the kalbi!
(4)
Scott R.

This review is based on our amazing experience last night. I've eaten here with family and friends more than a dozen times; the Kalbi is better than ever and so is the Pajun pancake. The service is best described as unique. We ordered Pajun and 3 orders of Kalbi for the 3 of us last night; everything was delivered in record time: first the side dishes, then the kalbi, then the pajun, then the rice and finallly the soup. The order is always irregular. We ate at a brisk pace, but apparently not fast enough for one waitress. She SAT DOWN at our table and started cooking the rest of the kalbi, ignoring my protests, and then left. The restaurant was not full, and no one came by with a check. I'm pretty thick skinned and I love the Kalbi here even if it's on the expensive side so I have a plan of operation for the next time: we will sit on the outside of the table so the waitress can't sit down; still I think her behavior was incredibly boorish and inappropriate in any facility.
(2)
Rohan S.

This didn't meet my 26/30 zagat rated restaurant expectation. It is definitely cool how they bring out the meats for you to cook on the skillet yourself, but I wasn't that impressed with any of the food. It was a cool experience, but wouldn't bring anyone back.
(3)
Tricia D.

If only the service were more attentive and you would actually get acknowledged when you walk in this place, I think I would make it a point to come here more. I mean, meatfest on a grill? Plus seafood pancakes and white rice and bibimbop? Yes, please! Who cares if you walk out of here smelling like a kbbq skewer?
(4)
Angy K.

Very bad service and RUDE waitress!!!! I was there with a party of 4 and they charged for service 18% after tax...how come??? Charge for service but not service anything!!!!
(1)
Pari P.

Excellent Korean food, open late, and caters to non-Koreans? I thought it wasn't possible so I ventured to San Soo Gab San with my wife since we both had a craving for Korean food. Ah, a menu written in Korean AND English! The place got busy really quick. Those who arrived late had to sit in a different area where you remove your shoes and sit on the floor. I was really surprised at how busy and how diverse the customers were. We ordered the marinated beef short ribs (kalbi) and spicy pork belly (cheyook bokim). At first, the kalbi came out and looked like a small portion for $20 but it wasn't between two people. Then the cheyook bokim came out along with all of the side dishes (pan chan). The beef was sweet and salty and the pork was spicy - perfect combination. Although the pork belly wasn't as tender as I am used to in Chinese cuisine, it was still good. The number of pan chan filled our table ranging from kimchee, pickled vegetables, potato salad, and soup. Each had their own individual flavors and complimented the dishes. With all of the food that we got, the meal came out to only $30 plus tax. Amongst two people, that's a steal. With authentic Korean food done well at reasonable prices, it's no reason why San Soo Gab San is doing so well. I'll have to come here again but for a late night fourth meal to try a different experience. I really appreciate how welcoming they are to diverse populations, Chicago needs more Korean restaurants like this.
(5)
Jake D.

F' this place. I can't believe you're still open. I waited to cool down to write this review. But fcuk it... I get even more pissed when I think about what happened to us here. We walk in and weren't greeted for a few minutes. Finally, the wench of a hostess, seats us as if she's doing us a favor. Gives us our menu and immediate huffs in broken English..."wat- a-drink now?" Ok. I'll take a beer. She seemed annoyed that we had questions about the menu. We get the grill set with assorted veggies and meats. We proceed to grill and have our dinner when after 45 minutes a young confused couple is at our table. Apparently, they-the restaurant was busy and wanted us out, so they sent new diners to see if we were done. Man, were we confused? We promptly paid our tab, tipped the busboys. Never again, you guys should be ashamed-your hospitality is so stereotypical and almost comical. As far as the food is concerned, I can't remember if it was good but your service left a bad taste!!! Fcukers!
(1)
Joonho Y.

This is one of the Better Traditional Korean Restaurants. However, the Staff can be Surly and Unhelpful. I come here for the BoSam (Pork Belly) which is their Best Item. The rest of the Menu is Good, but Not Great. They do have the Largest Selection of Ban Chan (Side Dishes) I have ever seen at a Korean Restaurant in Chicago (you get So Many that it may be Somewhat Overwhelming for People Unfamiliar with Korean Food), so it is almost worth going for that experience alone. Give it a Try if you are Adventurous.
(3)
Christopher G.

My fiance and I love this place. In that area they have lots of Korean BBQ places but this one is the best. They have a great space and awesome BBQ's. True Charcoal cooking rocks. I usually get the typical Bulgagi as well as the seafood pancake and dumplings. The food is great and they have more "sides" than any other place in Chicago. This is a must try if you like Korean BBQ
(5)
Allen G.

5*'s on the number of ban-chan (the small plates) and flavor 4*'s on the bucket of fire and not a hibachi in front of you to cook your meat 0* on the quality of meat. We ordered: ju-mu-luk. It came out FROZEN and once cooked (medium to medium-rare) it was like chewing an eraser. The cow must have been the oldest cow in the pasture. chae-dol-bae-gi. The slices were as thick as 2 canadian bacon slices stacked. "chae" means sliced thin... so will the giant in the kitchen please stand up? dolsot bibimbop. The stone bowl was nice and hot which would have crisped up the rice IF it had a little sesame oil to crisp it up. Perhaps some more beef besides the teaspoon that was there would have brought out more flavor. Maybe they wanted us to add the old cow in there. We were seated quickly, the staff was nice. However I go to korean bbq for meat flavors and not the nice middle aged ladies.
(1)
Kellybabyming T.

Terrible for the service n the surrounding! The food is just okkk! Definitely no come next time! Btw, too smoky in there! Can't breath at all!
(1)
Helen S.

I'm going to have to agree with some of the reviews below that the service really does suck! Our server was pretty rude and she didn't seem to understand what we said in English OR Korean. She totally misunderstood us and didn't even try to give us good service. We did have a lot of side dishes but she just shoved them on the table. Once our food arrived we really didn't have any room on the table! The soon doo boo soup, seafood pancakes and marinated kalbi were good.. But I've definitely had better Korean BBQ experiences. The ventilation was terrible! It's a given you're going to smell after Korean BBQ but this place was pretty bad because the fans didn't work properly. Next time I'm in Chicago I'll go elsewhere for Korean BBQ!
(2)
Zhe M.

It used to be my favorite Korean BBQ place in the city, and I've been there for 6-7 times during the last year. Food was always good, not only the BBQ, but also the cold noodle, the soup, the raw beef appetizer. Since last time they charged 20% tips for us 3 people, I won't be back any more.
(1)
Liz B.

Short ribs were not appetizing. Kim chi was whack. It had no flavor. Service was the wackiest. I can't believe this is considered one of the best Korean restaurants in Chicago. That's just embarrassing. Did we visit on a bad day or something?
(2)
Jon L.

Korean or not, most every Chicagoan has probably been to San Soo Gab San on one early drunken morning or another. I, however waited to try it until I had sampled nearly every other Korean barbecue restaurant on the North Side. I'm glad I waited. Yes, the panchan selection is more plentiful than many competitors', but when it comes to food, I prefer quality over quantity. As for the main event, prices are higher than average for undistinguished cuts of meat, while portion sizes are smaller than average. In a genre of ethnic restaurants not known for its effusive service, San Soo Gab San set a new low. There are several better competitors within a stone's throw, and Hae Woon Dae features the same late night hours.
(2)
Beatrix K.

Before coming here I had never had actual KBBQ since I am from Minnesota where none of the Korean restaurants have grilling tables where you can cook your own meat. That's why on our recent trip to Chicago, I wanted to make it a point to experience some good barbecue Korean style for the first time. A friend referred this place to us as a good spot to come for just that. I was impressed with the amount of panchan they serve you. Holy cow, i almost felt like a Korean food noob because of how astonished I felt upon seeing the array they served just for us two. Usually 8-10 panchan to me is plentiful, so to see the 20-something that were brought was pretty cool. I feel bad about saying this, but I wasn't that impressed with the food as far as taste since a lot of the dishes at this one Korean restaurant (shoutout to Hoban) in Minnesota that I frequent can do them a lot better. The denjang chigae that they gave us was super salty. The kalbi and the daeji bulgogi that we grilled lacked the amount of flavor I would normally expect and the kimchi bokum with samgyupsal dish made me sad knowing I could have a better version back in MN. A lot of the reviews for this place acknowledge the service as being pretty bad and "Korean" but I didn't experience anything like that. I don't think it was just because i'm Korean either. I was with my Vietnamese boyfriend and they treated us the same. The experience overall was great. i'm glad I went and I'd maybe go back, though I do want to try other good KBBQ/Korean places in Chicago since I admittedly have nothing else to compare it to other than what I'm used to at home in MN but until I come back, I will say: Service was good, my time spent grilling KBBQ was awesome, it's nice that they are open late and that they have sushi (though I don't know if it's any good=/) and it's not too expensive.
(3)
Sourma K.

Listen I know all cultures have different traits some are more annoying than others in yet that's subjective. I'll be the first to say how annoyingly aggressive it is in my middle eastern culture but I'm not here to talk about that, I'm here to say how anti-social borderline rude are at this establishment. We could chalk it up to their cultural characteristics lack of openness, freedom and sort forth and again this isn't about just them I know all cultures have their negative traits I'm just blatantly pointing there's out as I see it. Now on to the food, it was good yet it could have been better (attitudes aside) the miso soup bowls were in ceramic bowls that were chipped., the small dishes with all kinds of fun stuff barely had a teaspoon of something in it, then you had the grill which was used so many times the heat from the flame warped it and was bending before very our eyes. The experience was overall decent but would I come back? No. Would I recommend it to others? No. Would I appreciate they change their attitudes? I'd be greatly appreciative for others not to suffer. And also suggest purchasing new ceramic bowls since the dollar sign rating is at $$$ I'm guessing you could afford that kind of investment. K thx bye
(3)
Frank B.

I have been here three times now and every time I love it. It's almost as you transported to another country on nights when it's packed and blue BBQ smoke fills the room. I think the food here is great and the prices are right. The servers don't understand English though.
(4)
Green T.

Not the best Korean restaurant in the area, but the fact that you can go in the middle of the night... Korean food trumps diner fare hands-down for late night dining. That said, I'm kind of perplexed by when they are open - the internet seems to say a lot of different things. I think they used to be open 24 hours, then they knocked that back to 5am when I lived in Lincoln Square a couple years back, now I see 2am and 3am around. I guess I'll have to look or ask next time I'm down there. In any case, they give you a TON of banchan here, the seafood pancake is delicious as other reviewers have noted. The menu is LONG and includes a bunch of sushi but everything we've gotten has been pretty good. I don't think we've actually done barbecue here but we have gotten some "bacon" dishes which are terrific.
(4)
Adrienne C.

cheap & gets the job done. I usually get the yu kae jang (spicy beef soup). doesn't feel like the cleanest place, but if you were so concerned about that you probably shouldn't be at a super cheap korean restaurant. the service is hit or miss. try to come here with Koreans who speak Korean. I feel like they like it when that happens and they give you preferential treatment if you're speaking in Korean. This leads to complicated emotions on my part, because i'm Korean but have embarrassingly low language proficiency, which I suspect may be their least favorite type of customer....ha sometimes I feel dehydrated after eating the soup here. probably because it's laced with MSG, but whatevs. like i said, it's a super cheap korean restaurant that gets the job done.
(3)
Darren F.

keeping it short... came here a few times.. horrible service if you're not Korean.. prepare to get ignored and get treated like you're a no body.. food is just OK.. average Korean BBQ food .. last but not least... bad service! never mind i think i listed that already..
(1)
Labarp S.

I have been coming here for years but last night's visit will be the last one for me. The service was just average as usual, but the main reason for the disappointment was the food. I always ordered their beef bbq items, but yesterday i wanted to try something different and ordered pork ribs and squid - bad idea. For almost $18 each, before tax, the meat portion was pathetically small. The banchans were decent, but as a whole, it was very disappointing. I ordered a large hot sake, and they brought a small one. Upon asking if that flask was the large one, the server confirms that it is large. After we were in the middle of our dinner, I ordered another large sake. This time the server brought a large one. I pointed out that the first sake's flask was much smaller than the second flask but the server insists that they are of same size. I didn't wanted to ruin the night by arguing with the server, so wrapped up the dinner and said bye to this place for the last time. I'm pretty sure for new people the number of ratings of this place might seem appealing, but please dont fall for it. There are much better places in west Lawrence & Bryn Mawr area.
(1)
Peter K.

Worst Kbbq I've had in a really long time. This place is terrible. Totally excessive amount of banchan plates with a bite each... wth is the point. That is besides the point, the bbq was really bad. Look, if you're Korean, go somewhere else. That is all I gotta say.
(1)
Sara V.

Not my first Korean BBQ, but it's still always a little disconcerting to see all that meat. SSGS brings far more tiny side dishes to the table than any other place I've been. Some of the stuff was Way Too Salty for my taste and some of it was Way Too Spicy for my companion's. Some of it, however, just like the littlest bear's porridge, chair, and bed, was Just Right. I've been to places where someone stops by the table frequently to move around your meat and places where they don't. Being a meat-cooking scaredy-cat I prefer someone else cook my meat. Luckily someone else did (just not the server). Service here was more than a little patchy by the way. Got beef of some kind and what I think was pork belly bacon. Beef was good. Bacon was completely devoid of all flavor. Except the flavor of fire. Which is not really an acceptable flavor in anything other than Cheetos (and to be honest I'd rather have had Cheeto-flavored bacon). Assuming this is a Korean thing, having flavorless bacon, and so will merely say "Not for me" and move on. Might come back but there are better Korean BBQ places in the city.
(3)
Lisa H.

This is probably the worst service I had for Korean BBQ. I have been here in small groups and in larger groups. Lunch time, dInner time, and late night. Every single time, I had the same horrible service. The only reason why I keep coming back is because of friends' birthday dinners or late night cravings (since its open 24 hours). The waitresses all seem to hate their job, our glases of water were always empty, and it takes ages for them to give us menus, take orders, and bring our food. Its not like they have to physically cook the meat. The pre-seasoned meats were only mediocre, but the complimentary sides such as kimchi, potato salad, spicy radish, lettuce, etc. were a little bit tastier. Some of the side dishes have an acquire taste, but other dishes may suit you better. Just really depends on your taste buds' preference. If their service was going to be this bad, they should at least compensate it with better tasting food. You'll be more happy going somewhere else.
(1)
Jaime W.

24 side dishes of banchan, seafood pancake, octopus, galbi bbq + Soju = DEEELIIICIOUS! As soon as we ordered, all the food just started to come all at once. We drove all the way from Cleveland for the weekend for St Patty's and heard this place was good. Didn't think that the food would come out so soon. We were hungry so we weren't complaining. The food was good but kind of on the greasy side but I guess that's what you expect from eating Korean BBQ. The seafood pancake had the mussels, shrimp as what they described. It was fluffy but yet so good. The octopus was just too chewy and maybe we shouldn't have grilled it but how were we supposed to eat it? All the banchan dishes were all too good and more you can ask for. The galbi was the best because it's all marinated so after you grill it, you can still taste the flavor. The only thing I was a bit bummed about was that they didn't have ddukbokki. Spicy rice cakes is like a classic dish you have to have and this place did not. The service was acceptable and it was a friday night so it wasn't really that busy either. I called ahead to see if i needed to make reservations and the lady said they only took it for 10+ people. When we first walked in, we were seated right away, so no complaints there. Decor: Traditional Korean tables or regular wood booths. I wish we could have sat in one of those.
(4)
Christian H.

I have to say that one of my most favorite places to eat with a group of four or more is San Soo Gab San for a delicious Korean BBQ. This location is very a very popular place in the city. I think I have eaten here over ten times in the past four years and each time is still an experience to be had. I had my Master's degree graduation party here and not one person said they disliked the food. The service on the other hand is not the best in the world, but that is just a cultural thing. The best part of the meal include several parts. First, you have the fact that you get to cook your own meat (if you order two) on the charcoal grill at your table. BTW - you will smell like smoke when you leave so don't come here before prom. Some of the meats, for example are beef short rib, tenderloins, pork, chicken, and squid. Then, there are the 15-20 side dishes that you get (which you can always get refills of) such as kimchi, lotus root, and potato salad just to name a few. The meats come with one rice and one miso soup for each meat, which I would suggest sharing so you can have more meat and side dishes. They also have other dishes like Korean pancakes and such, but I would suggest the grilled meats. It is best to go to San Soo Gab San on the weeknights as the weekends can be very crowded. And as always.... Have Fun!!!
(5)
Anya C.

Good food. Horrible service.
(3)
Jiwon M.

augh ... ok so in my country as well as several other countries service is not so regarded if it's not in your home. SO that means a Korean restaurant here in Western Culture cannot expect to have "service" as we know it. So let's mush through the dream that will never come true - we will probably NEVER get great service from here. BUT you also won't get the AMAZING traditional flavored food as you will here. Ok maybe a few others on this list but VERY FEW. Swallow that pill ad you WILL have great food and want to eat it again, you will.
(4)
Jay I.

Seems like this place used to be one of the popular go to Korean places, but nowadays gets mixed reviews. We just happened to try this place the other day (the original plan got thrown out when we saw no one in the restaurant as we stepped inside). So there is a clear advantage about this place. Side dishes! There are more than 10 side dishes and they ended up not having enough space to put all the side dishes on our table. Also they actually use traditionally looking charcoal for bbqing (real Korean style). Honestly speaking the meat didn't taste as much as I expected from a real charcoal, the overall meat quality was decent. So, I think this place is a definite bargain for what you pay, and would recommend it.
(4)
Jose C.

Probably the best Korean restaurant I've been to in the city. In terms of food. The service sucks just like it does at almost every Korean restaurant, though. I was one of three non-Koreans in a large group when I came here, so that helped. Because, as most know, if you're not Korean, you might as well be a walking pile of dog crap. The Korean BBQ was good here as were all the little side dishes. But like all other Korean restaurants, they will not refill your water. I respect all cultures but I do not appreciate the attitude these employees seem to have. Having said all of that, I wouldn't come here on my own or without a Korean friend/coworker.
(3)
Daniel H.

I've been on a Korean food tear lately. I've been here several times and have been meaning to write it up. So the basic point of this place is that while I've had better BBQ elsewhere, this place offers the best banchan spread of anyplace I've been to in the area as of yet. Don't get me wrong, the BBQ isn't bad by any means, it's just not tops. For example, they just give you a plain grill with no nonstick/lubrication on the surface. As a result, a lot of the meat ends up sticking to the grill when you try to remove it. For some reason, this doesn't seem to be so much of a problem at other places. I'm not sure why, I'm certainly not a grill master physicist, but I do know that something's different here. Nevertheless, the banchan is AMAZING. They give you so much and refill any empty dishes when they notice it or upon request. There are certain items that other places don't even offer that this place offers, which I dig. I've also had no complaints about the non-BBQ items, although I've certainly had better non-BBQ items elsewhere. Basically, if you want a good bi bim bop or japchae, go to a non-BBQ korean place. Service is courteous and helpful. The waitresses could be a little more noticing, but to be fair, the restaurant's layout is kind of odd in that you can't scan the whole dining area from any one spot so you really have to walk around to see everyone. Price? Meh, it's high b/c it's a Korean BBQ place. No much eyebrow-raising on that front. Friendly Tip: While they do have a private parking lot, it's very small, so during the dinner rush you may have better luck on one of the nearby side streets. Otherwise, more than 2 non-parked cars there would cause gridlock.
(4)
Justine M.

A bit far but not horrible. We were seated in an area where we were sitting on the floor; we had to take off our shoes. Lots of foood. We got the bulgogi, kalbi, chicken and pork to grill and various dishes like the seafood pancake, mondu, bibimbap, etc. We also got some bottles of soju and beer. We were a group of 8 so it was just the right amount of food. A bit pricey - we paid $40/each. It was mediocre and nothing too great. It was fortunate that we were with a Korean person otherwise it would've been difficult to order more food or get their attention. They also didn't refill our waters very often.
(3)
David E.

2 things you can count on: good soup, rude service. As I said, there was one soup I liked, so I kept going back. I kept going back despite the ceiling that dripped waste on me one night. Despite the consistently dirty tables. Despite the kitchen employee who once walked out front and started cutting raw meat at the cash register next to my table. And I kept going back despite the smoke from the table next to me that blew a continuous cloud into my face (rather than up to the vent--those customers apologized but it wasn't their fault). But the last time, they left me standing there waiting for a table while they continued to serve anyone who was Asian. I wasn't with an Asian, that time. I'm done.
(1)
Julie L.

We've been here a couple of times. Each time, the food has been excellent but the service, not so much. The UPS: They had a huge amount of bansan, most of which was delicious. We order the seafood pancake every time. YUM! The array of meats we ordered were all very flavorful and my kids had fun cooking. The DOWNS: I agree with many of the reviewers here about the service. Most of the times, we have been here, our waitresses have been rude. They watched our every move in hopes that we would hurry up and leave. But when we needed something, they were conveniently no where to be found. We felt rushed which overall put a downer on our whole experience. Would I go here again? ABSOLUTELY! Despite the rudeness, my whole family enjoyed cooking together and the food was so delicious.
(4)
Misty S.

I'm learning so much about tendons... Soup always sounds good to me in cold weather like this, so I looked through the soup section and thought beef short rib soup sounded delicious. The waitress kept speaking to me in Korean and just kept repeating herself when I didn't understand. Maybe if she said it one more time, it'll click. I was trying really hard to channel my ancestors to help me out in case one may have known the language. No dice. I pointed to what I wanted on the menu and thought we were good to go. When the soup arrived, I was quite skeptical that it was short rib. There were semi-transparent gelatinous morsels floating around in the broth as I stirred it. Okay...I thought...maybe this is Korean style short rib. Not what I was expecting. I ate it. It was interesting. Halfway through my meal, I was able to signal a waitress over to ask what was in the soup, specifically the morsels. She proceeded to rub her rib cage and nodded when I said ribs? Still not convinced, I was determined to get to the bottom of this. I went on Yelp when I got home to see if anyone has reviewed the beef short rib soup. There was a brief mention in one review, but in a positive light, so surely it couldn't be this soup I got. I looked up pictures and it certainly not what I ate. Finally, I tracked down the menu and saw that right above the short rib was the beef tendon soup. Geeze, I felt like a dumbass. TENDONS...of course. I have seen this stuff before...not so up close and personal, but I should have known. Eeeeeeeeeeew...I ate tendons...*gag* If they hadn't made me eat tendons, they would have earned one more star. The rest of our food was good. The service was terrible! They didn't once fill our water glasses. The table next door had a huge bon fire going with their meat grilling and I could barely see the tendons through the smoke. This place was packed at 10pm on a Friday night. That's always a good sign, I thought. The restaurant is fairly large, so we got seated right away. We sat in the section were we had to take our shoes off and climbed onto the seating area and stick our legs under the table. That was fun. Not fun enough to block out my tendon experience, though.
(2)
Irah H.

a very good tofu stew, spicy noodle and bibimbap. i just hope they will open somewhere in downtown though .
(4)
Jennie T.

Ok, I may not like their BBQ very much, but I loved their gamjatang (pork bone and potato soup). Yum! It's basically pork bones, potatoes, green onions, sesame leaves, and lots and lots of pepper. My only complaint is that I wish they had cooked the pork a little more so that the meat would fall off the bones easily. It was quite a messy meal not being able to pick the meat off the bones with chopsticks. Request a lot of napkins! You'll need it. Another thing, they seated me at the low table. You'd need to take off your shoes for this area and you're sitting on chairs without legs. Cross-legged. Kind of fun, but it's a bit hard to stand up afterwards. And the servers will retreat into the back -- it's hard for them to see you in this area, I think. The key is to have patience and enjoy your meal.
(4)
Holly O.

My friends took me here on a Friday night - and we had such a great dinner. 5 of us at, like 7 or 8pm, and didn't have to wait for a table - which was awesome. All the food was yummy - the little sides are so fun to try. For meat, we got the Wang Kal Bi marinated short beef ribs), the Dai Ji Kal bi (marinated pork rib), and the Bul Ko Ki (korean style seasoned beef). All de-lish! And the best? The seafood pancake - Hae Moul Pajun - so good! And that's all Yelp, because honestly, I would never have ordered it on my own, but so many people had Yelp-ed about it, that I had to... And we LOVED it. Soooooo good. Great great dinner. (i'm seeing lots of rude service comments from other people on here... we experienced that with our server at first, but she quickly gave someone else our table, so it was fine - and in hindsight, we think it was just that she didn't speak enough english to wait on us. Our second lady was great!) Oh, warning: since there are mini-grills at EACH table, there's a lot of cooking smoke/oil throughout the place - you and your clothes will smell like food when you leave. We proactively left our coats in the car, and I was glad for it.
(4)
Jesus S.

Not much to add here. This place is great for a casual dinner for two. Or a big party of 30. Always love coming here for BBQ. It's fun for everyone and they have sushi too.
(5)
Betty H.

Oh, how we miss all the great Korean food in LA...just have not found any decent galbi, bulgogi, bibimbop, or the spicy pork neckbone potato stew!!! ARGHHH
(2)
Rae P.

I've been going to this location since high school. I've had better service else where but I keep going back for the awesome side dishes and kalbi. Tonight I went out with friends to their new location on Golf. The place is much nicer, but horrible service. THe server gave us an attitude too after we accidentally wrote the wrong tiip ( okay it was complicated, partly our fault) but she gave us an attitude about not giving a 20% tip..honestly i would not have given a 20% tip considering no one even came back to ask how we're doing or give us more tea or water. Hands down Woori village wins with great customer service and all you can eat. Won't come back, i was turned off.
(1)
Grace C.

I'm not quite sure what the fuss is about. The service is poor and the food is only ok. They forgot some dishes and at first forgot all about us altogether. We were sitting there for 15 minutes and had to wave someone down. Not english speaking friendly.
(3)
Abe R.

If I came here with someone who could speak the language then I am sure I would enjoy my visit so much more, as the wait staff is basically non existent when it comes to help navigating your way through the food and menu. Why people who work here, why? It's not cool having no idea what you are eating nor knowing how to order. Aside from that, we ordered a bunch of food and I enjoyed it all the same. However, if it weren't for the nice english speaking Koreans sitting next to us, we would have been at a loss, as they saved the meal and helped explain what went with what. Will go again, but not without someone who can explain what the deal is.... Enjoy Suckas'!!!
(3)
Chris F.

Good job San Soo Gab San! You are off my crap list. Love the change and upgrades, especially the on the hospitality department. After not coming here for almost 6 years, I decided to give this place another chance and I must say I am quite impressed with the change. They have redone the place and expanded. I really like what they have done its less smoky and better ventilated this time around. They best change they made was having better trained waitresses and newer one's that are very nice and attentive. Same good food and a lot better service. I really like the waitress that speaks English, she has an awesome personality and a great sense of humor.
(4)
Mara T.

The worst service I ever had, all sides were not good and almost tasted like it was near spoiling! There were 2 of us ordered rip eye steak, short rib beef and marinated spicy pork it's almost 70$ And we ate a couple of pieces and pushed platter, we did not want to eat anymore. I will never ever go back again!!! I don't have anything positive to say about this restaurant I can't believe why are they still open.
(1)
Jason R.

If you've already tried authentic Korean BBQ with charcoal pits, then just know this is truly one of them:) No electric grills, real charcoal right in the middle of the table. If you haven't tried it yet, you really should! The smokey BBQ really adds flavor to thin strips of beef, bacon, or whatever you choose. It's a totally different experience you can only get with Korean BBQ (at least as far as I've seen). On top of that, you get an entire table full of different sides that are all pretty top notch. Coming from Minneapolis we have tons of great restaurants but nothing that compares if you're looking for Korean food. I'd recommend this to locals and out-of-towners alike.
(5)
Pickiest Eater A.

Not a whole lot of food. Tasted great but didnt fill anyone up at the table. The side dishes were good, we got the marinated beef and marinated beef short ribs. Tasted good, but 1 star for the value, 4/5 for flavor/cut of meat. Which means 1 star overall. If portions were more I would have been content.
(1)
Jen J.

Food: YUM! So many sides and the meat is delish. Service: Eh, get's the job done, but we were looking around to find our server to order more meat, beer and get the bill. Misc: My hair and coat may still smell like Korean BBQ....
(4)
Daniel L.

San Soo Gab San is Chicago's authentic and famous Korean BBQ where they use old fashioned charcoal grill. I've been to this place many times and they never disappoint with taste, flavorful and authentic Korean food. Ambiance:- Crowded at all times!, especially during weekend dinner hours. Be prepare to wait and they don;t take reservation. Also, be prepared to come out of the restaurant smelling like BBQ on you. You really don't come to this restaurant for ambiance. Service:- While service is ok. I always felt that the level of service given to Korean customer are much better to non-Korean. I do not think this is deliberate. I just think it's language issue more than anything else. Most servers are mid-aged Korean ladies. Food:- This is where you come here for!. We had Korean version of Steak Tatare with ribeye and pears. It's probably one the the best raw meat dish I ever had!. We then had the main event, Korean BBQ with baby octopus which is nice and spicy, pork belly and ribeye steak. While I like them, We also had the Pork Rib Soup which was especailly flavorful with a hint of spiciness. One of the most interesting experience about Korean food is the special mini side dishes that being served, we had like a thousand of these little side dishes which are mostly pickled stuff and radishes. Bottomline:- I'm happy with San Soo Gab San and will be back for more. The one negative I can say about this place is that it's a bit pricey for this type of restaurant. We paid close to $100 for our visit of 1 appetizer, 3 bbq and 1 soup. However, I definitely recommends other to this place.
(4)
Chicago g.

Not really sure about complaints in regards to service but they were overly attentive the last two visits. The first time was crowded and the second time had perhaps three tables occupied. I will continue to frequent this establishment. Lol, the food is good so even if service was bad I would still dine here... Unless it's unbearable.
(5)
Anna G.

Very good. We went with a large group and ended up a little confused, so to prevent our embarrassment from happening to others, here's what happened: We were at a table of 8 broken down into 4 couples (there for a mutual friend's birthday who was at another table) and all ordered separately. A few of us ordered the same thing (unknowingly) and they combined our orders onto large platters. Straightforward of you are expecting it. Also, if mixing meat eaters and veggie-eaters, prepared dishes can take quite a bit more time to come out then the plates of meats to be grilled (obviously, but for us it was like a 30 minute difference) just something to be aware of. And we may have eaten all of our sides as snacks while we were waiting for our meals to show up. We were hungry. But everything was amazing, so there's that
(4)
J C.

Meets my needs for Korean food when it comes upon me. It is my go to place for Korean food in Chicago.
(4)
Amy T.

I've never been disappointed like last night. Every time I came with my friend, we always ordered bbq baby octopus and they were always good until last9. A drop down taste if I don't want to say it taste really bad. Wondering if it deserves another try.
(1)
Seth F.

Another Korean BBQ place and I do believe the first one I ever experienced. Also, as another personal milestone that won't mean anything to anyone other than myself and perhaps 4 or 5 of my friends, it was the first location of our weekly post bowling dinner. (Edit: I was wrong, it was not) This place is on the opposite side of the spectrum as Gyu-Kaku. It doesn't look trendy in the least and seems to be going more for a generic "crappy-restaurant" look. But the food is equally good, really good. Wait. This should actually be clarified. Before I went I wouldn't have thought I'd need to include this in my review, but I can not emphasize this enough: do not, under ANY circumstances, order the sushi. Most people would know not to order raw fish at a place that specializes in serving another country's food, especially when that specialty is focused on cooking meat to your liking on a stove at your table. But, I can now say from personal experience that for some this instruction needs to be explicitly spelled out. You know who you are.
(5)
Mrs. Z.

What a super fun experience! I'd recommend going with a large group. The food is fresh and a lot of fun selecting what you want to nibble on. What a great time! Just go!!
(4)
Sachin S.

I went here last night with three other people. First off, great value for the money! We ate to our heart's content and the bill was only $60. We did the BBQ and ordered marinated rib eye, which was excellent. We also had chop chae and dumplings, which were great as well. They must have brought 20 appetizer dishes, most of them were very good. The only downside is the service. It's hard to get the waitresses' attention. I have been to other Korean BBQ places that are equally busy, but service is better. We ended up here by accident. My wife and I had been to another Korean BBQ place in Chicago called San Soo North and so we looked it up and ended up here instead. The other place was even better - meat was more flavorful, service better, and restaurant more spacious. As many others have commented, you're going to have to take a shower after you eat here. The smoke smell gets in everything. But it's worth it!
(4)
Bella D.

Happier with new management. Great food and prices. Open late and great for groups. Parking is tight but street parking nearby. Kalbi, stews, cozy Korean.food!!! Yummy thank you. We had a great time again!!
(4)
Johnny R.

Just wanted to update my review we finally dined after talking about it for a couple of years. My 4 and 6 year olds poked at everything with suspicions, but I was able to get them to eat the ton katsu and some bul-go-gi. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The restaurant does get pretty smoky as you can cook at your table, so sensitive diners beware.
(4)
Ai A.

I love love love love this place !!! My Korean friends took me and my BF. ahhh we so want to go back. They brought a hot grill out infront of us and we cooked on it as we eat. the beef came with lots of side dishes which i never tasted/seen before. but they were all so great. oh also, you can have lettuce to wrap the meat. try it ! it is fantastic! the best restaurant ever! If you wonder, there are lots of non-korean people there. you do not have to feel odd if you are not Korean...
(5)
kat v.

Okay, normally I love this place. The food is great, the atmosphere is good, the waitstaff is nice...but last night we had a bad experience with customer service. Our bill was $39 and some change, and the server seemed overly eager to collect our money, coming back twice before we were organized and ready to pay. I paid for part of it with what was left on a visa gift card, plus some cash, so that I gave her $52 and some change. She only came back with the credit card receipt, so I asked our change and she referred me to the cashier. I asked the cashier for our change, figuring it was just a mistake. I KNOW I was being super nice and smiley about it because I had just had a good meal and was feeling good. I didn't realize that they had tried to keep my money ON PURPOSE. She started yelling at us in Korean. My friend, who speaks fluent Korean, turned to me with a very distressed expression and told me the cashier was calling me cheap. I think what the cashier REALLY said must have been far more offensive and possibly racist (I'm white), because once we got back in the car my friend was really upset the entire ride home. She didn't even want to translate what the cashier had really said. That is just rude and uncalled for. A patron has a right to their change before they leave a tip. I proceeded to leave a 20% tip because at the time, I thought I was inconveniencing them, and our waitress seemed apologetic. I hope that tip went to the waitstaff, especially the awesome busboy, and not to that vulger cashier. My friend was so distressed it ruined our night, because when someone upsets my friend, they upset me too. We did not splurge on a nice dinner to leave forlorn and offended. I was not surprised to log onto Yelp and see that I wasn't the only customer this place ripped off by assuming absorbitant tips. I know I'll never go there again, their behavior is just selfish. I hope word of their dishonesty and offensive nature becomes well known.
(1)
Erica J.

This place has the worst service! 1. Food wasn't that good at all. there are many good places where you dont have to be in line waiting. 2. Server never came to us. we always have to call her and she make us feel like we were bothering her every time. 3. We haven't done eatting and still want to order more, she just drop us a check and pretty much tell us that we should just pay and leave because " I am so busy" TERRIBLE SERVICE, HOPE This place got burn down soon.
(1)
Anna J.

We travel from the southwest burbs to eat here about once a month. The food is great, tons of banchan, & we love the table top bbq. The decor is a little tired & the wait staff are not always overly friendly. But, they serve consistent good food & that's why we keep coming back.
(4)
Shay M.

When we walked it it took them about 7 minutes to even acknowledge us. The food was decent. I don't think the ventilation system was even on. It was unbelievably smokey. Now that I think about it I'm sure they didn't even have working smoke detectors because if they were functioning properly there is no way they wouldn't have been going off with all that smoke. Don't make plans to be in any social settings after because you will stink.
(3)
Dan K.

I've been here several times before, both with a few people and large parties. This weekend we had my brother's birthday party here and San Soo lived up to my memories. The service is as awful as it's ever been - the servers are overworked and the place is understaffed for how busy it is, so be prepared to wait 20-45 minutes for someone to take your order. Once they do, though, you usually get your drinks and banchan fairly quickly. Plan to spend at least an hour and a half here even if it's not particularly busy. It's also loud and very smoky. If you're with people who are game, though, it can be a great time. They accommodated our reservation for nine people and had our table waiting when we all arrived - despite a line of folks weaving out the door. To their credit they understand what a reservation is and we didn't have to wait to be seated. The seating itself is either regular chairs & tables with grills in them or in other parts of the dining room, more traditional large tables about 10" off the floor with leg-less chairs for larger parties. Some of the big tables are in a sunken floor, which definitely provides more leg room. Even with how loud the dining room was on this particular Saturday night, our party was much louder, with the thoroughly sauced birthday boy yelling at near the top of his lungs many, many times along with the rest of the rowdy party. Total damage at the end of the night was fourteen bottles of Soju and eighteen tall bottles of O.B. and Kirin. The food was as good as it always is - delicious meats and fresh vegetables, great banchan, and plenty of smells and tastes to go around. Aside from a few looks from other tables - which were well deserved - everything went off without a hitch. A great place to go with people who will put up with a bit of discomfort, noise, and smoke in exchange for a more adventurous dining experience. If you're looking for something quieter and with better service, Solga is a little over a mile away and is definitely easier on folks who want traditional seating and a calmer dining experience - but it's certainly less fun and the food is not quite as good.
(5)
Charlie K.

I have been told about the horrible service here but I decided to go because I wanted my girlfriend to experience the Korean BBQ. Anyway the service was surprisingly good because there was no customers and we really enjoyed the food. BUT when it was time to pay the bill the price was abnormally high. But thinking this place was a professional business I put my card down. Having my girlfriend put the tip usually, she was dissatisfied about the ridiculous tax and tip, so she left a little. But the lady came back and demanded more tip, out of confusion, we just payed and later calculated the tip. We got ripped off. I am an Korean and I have never experienced this kind of ?!$& ever! At least tell us what is going on before doubling the price. And she called us names as she demanded. I payed over 100 for how much? For the future customers I hope you reconsider and try a new place.
(1)
Damian P.

I have to admit it has been quite many a years that I have visitited San Soo Gab San. And what a lovely experience it was. I will go straight for the review vs reading others so that I can be very much in the zone. At first we went to "another" barbecue place on Kedzie and Lawrence, but of course it was CLOSED DOWN! Which of course was to my advantage because I did eat at and know of San Soo Gab and I was about to have bragging rights? Heehee, but I digress. So we arrive at San Soo and I was happy that the parking lot was not crowded, this was a good sign. So here goes. We decide to have barbeque, but in Korea this is called Gui. Gui are grilled dishes, which most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetable ingredients. At traditional restaurants, meats are cooked at the center of the table over a charcoal grill, which of course is the "experience" we are going for here people. Surrounded by various banchan and individual bowls. The cooked meat is then cut into small pieces and wrapped with fresh lettuce leaves, with rice, thinly sliced garlic, ssamjang (a mixture of gochujang and dwenjang), and other seasonings. We start of with of course a Korean Beer (KO, I believe) and wow, a large ($7.95) of course will quench the thirst of two, Thank the heavens Johnny remembers doing this at "another" bbq Korean Place because I was about to have this drag queen sized drink alone! Korean cuisine uses a wide variety of vegetables, which are often served uncooked, either in salads or pickles, as well as cooked in various stews, stir-fried dishes, and other hot dishes. So they bring us a plethora of vegetables such as: cucumber slices, bean sprouts, spinach, carrots in julienne strips, shiitake mushrooms in a nice sauce, slivers of zucchini, some fried eggs (small portions for 2), some doenjang (fermented bean paste), daikon, Napa cabbage, potato, sweet potato, spinach, scallions, garlic, chili peppers, seaweed, mushrooms and lotus root. Several types of wild greens, known collectively as chwinamul, and other wild vegetables such as bracken fern shoots (gosari) or Korean bellflower root (doraji) are also harvested and eaten in season and I am sure this was the season. What lovely dishes they brought, and so colorful. We started our 2 selections of meat (since there is a minimum of 2 in order to grill). Beef is the most prized of all meats, with the cattle holding an important cultural role in the Korean cooking, The cattle were regarded as servants and seen as an equal to human servants. Isn't that something? Bulgogi - thinly sliced or shredded beef marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, scallions, and black pepper, cooked on a grill. Bulgogi literally means "fire meat." And it was living up to its name. And we also ordered chicken and they were so seasoned well. We accompanied this with thinly sliced cabbage, sweet potato, and some other glass noodle and this was awesome! This was our experience at San Soo and I hope you will try them out, don't expect an awesome looking restaurant due to the look being that of the original place. Wood walls and old fashioned (made of wood) tables that still have a sense of history in them. But the food by far outweighs the looks of the place. We went on a Sunday and still had a good time.
(4)
Jane Y.

Wood fire BBQ. A million banchan. Like, literally, dozens, fanning the table, no space to put your actual eating plates, utensils or drinkware. The BBQ is VERY tasty; not the best I've had but really you're coming for the experience. If you're coming for the best Korean food you'll ever have, don't come here. It's smoky. Like sitting in a chimney. If that's not your idea of fun, don't come here. The waitresses are typical of a lot of korean restaurants. They're bossy. They want to do what they want their way, not your way. That doesn't mean they're mean. But like an overcritical mom, they will tell you what you're doing wrong. If you need to get their attention, do not be shy about standing up physically and waving your arms back and forth until they come over. They will not "be offended," (unless you are snotty and rude when they come over). It's all part of the package. If you're afraid to insist on service, don't come here. Went with a group of five, it was fun, delicious, and we left with a table full of empty giant OB bottles. Good times, in short.
(4)
Aaron K.

Eat here. Bring friends. Be happy. Get full. There isn't much I can say about SSGS that hasn't been said already. But I can't help but putting in my own two cents. If you don't have a good experience here you can only blame yourself for not knowing how to grill your own meat. Yes, you may not know exactly how to eat things the "right" way but no one really cares. The staff, while often with limited English, is very friendly and helpful and will step in if you aren't cooking things properly (or not fast enough!) If you don't like a particular condiment or pickled so-and-so don't fret as there are too many to try and eat them all anyway. Just go have a good meal and a unique experience to boot.
(4)
Mike R.

One day something strange happened. I had a management directed day off and didn't know what to do with it. Well a few of my coworkers, who I'll refer to as my friends from now on, and I went to play some basketball. Tired, in need of more water, and HUNGRY, we decided to take a little trek to San Soo Gab San. Now, I've had Korean BBQ before, but this was my first visit to SSGB. Luckily for me, one of my friends is Korean and knows how to do a little talking. We ended up getting Kalbe, squid, and octopus. All of the little dishes with it were great and we had so much food. As far as the meat goes, yeah again, very nicely done. The marinades on all of them were great. Service was semi slow, but overall a great place. I have been back a few times since and everything was the same as the first visit. The last few visits, I took some other friends who had never had Korean BBQ, or even heard of it, before. Well, they are pretty huge fans now to say the least.
(4)
Erica W.

San Soo Gab San is not just a restaurant - its an experience. Don't go in there wearing anything too fancy because your clothes will smell like BBQ smoke afterward. I always order the Bulgogi (sp?) - which is this thinly sliced marinated beef, and you grill it yourself on these mini charcoal bbq grills right on your table. I love how they bring out all of the side items - I don't know what half of them are, but they're all good. Just eat. Fun place to go with group, on a date, or with a couple of friends. Afterward, go to Cafe Selmarie for dessert, and finish off the night at Lincoln Karaoke. That's how I like to kick it in Lincoln Square!
(4)
Anya P.

I have currently been here 10 times since February. Once , I went I could not stop myself from going back time and time again. I mean what is not to love then the aroma of yummy bbq floating around in the air ? The various yummy pan chan dishes and drinking suju with you buddies. Its just simple heaven. Its like I became a god and instead of being fed grapes I have being hand fed various delishes types of Korean food. Everything from Bollusm dish which I think can be compared to mexican carnitas. With its yummy radish kimchi and soak salted cabbage leaves for wrapping. The yummy seafood stew with various types of sea food and big pieces of crab in it. This place is just the the best I never knew the wonderful bounties that korean food offered before I came here. My eyes have been open and I am loving every second of it!! And so is my belly!!!
(5)
Nancy P.

Love to stop there when go to Chicago. It's open late and have a lot of side dishes. The soondobu soup was delicious also the kimchi soup too. The meat for the grill were in a good thick of slices. The waitresses were friendly but need a little bit of attention for the refill for the water and the side dishes. Overall, is worth the pay.
(4)
Momo T.

Came here for lunch. We ordered the kbbq with Galbi and squid. The service was ok, towards the end of our meal, the ladies stopped by more often. The meat was ok, it could've been seasoned better but I liked the large selection of ban chan. 22 side dishes!! We also had the kimchi soup and babimbap. All in all it was pretty standard.
(3)
Hana P.

first time here, will never come again. There were only one server who was really rude and did not explain to us how the barbeque work and did not care about our order until we called her three times. Food was okay. Marinated beef was really good but the squid was not fresh at all. We got the bill and the tip was already added_18%. For this kind of service and automatically tipped bill? Really?
(1)
Jake V.

A little bit of Korean history, the Korean War was started over the fact that Korean restaurants refuse to have a wait list at the door. After having 20 people shoved into a cold, little waiting area and with rude lady refusing to write anyone's name down, tempers flared and the rest is history. Sadly, the lesson was not learned and San Soo Gab San continues the policy of not really caring if you are there, waiting, while 30 people push into you.
(2)
Alex K.

Hungry at 3am? Feeling like grilling your own food? This is your place. Went here with a group of three and really wasn't told anything about it before I sat down. Service wasn't good but not terrible compared to some of the things I read on here, Ordered up some meats and then something amazing happened. They roll out this cart with something like 20 plates and bowls of all kinds of kimchi. There was almost no room on the table after they gave us everything. They set up a grill for you in the middle of the table and you get to cook your own meats they provide. Get ready to come home smelling like a campfire though. Everything was good and I like grilling so it was a pretty cool experience. TL;DR -Grill your own meats! -Awesome appetizer presentation -meh service
(3)
Aimee M.

"Move...Move...more coming..." That was our waitress telling us to move the dishes as she was putting down the many little bowls of "side dishes" while we waited for our bulkoki (bulgogi?) and spicy squid to grill. As many have said before me, just try whatever is in the dishes, you might be pleasantly surprised. My faves were the beansprouts, seaweed, egg, tofu and glass noodles. A trio of us dined here for a late lunch and we all left pleasantly full and satisfied. For a Saturday, the restaurant was only half full so we were seated right away. The bro opted for bibimbop while me and my cousin ordered the bulgogi and spicy squid to grill. The squid was just OK. You have to grill them just right or else you can overdo it. If I had to do it over again, I would have just ordered some more beef instead of the squid. The bulgogi was wonderfully delicious--to me, the beef was better than the squid. Grill the meat, place in lettuce wrap with a little rice, sauce and/or other condiments--sooo damn tasty, I'm so ready to go back. The bro's bibimbap arrived to the table sizzling and looked pretty good. Full of veggies, rice and egg. Service was ok, not overly friendly. Water-refilling a little slow--which I didn't mind so much here. It's laid back, casual and I can't wait to visit again!
(4)
Chad V.

Yep, I'm giving this one 5 stars. The food is good, however it's the experience that really blows me away. I've been here too many times to count both sober and wasted (it's open till 3am). Let me first start out by saying that the service is absolutely TERRIBLE unless you go with someone that speaks Korean. To get the best experience go with 4 or more people and get two orders of raw meat (if you get 1 order it comes precooked and there aren't many sides). I've had the Kalbi, Bulgogi, Chicken, Pork and Octopus and they are all good. THEN, they bring out a fire and you grill your own meat while munching on the 30 sides (potatoes, kim chi, seaweed, lotus root, etc) that are scattered across table (it's family style). Try the pork stew, it's good. I promise, you will leave stuffed, satisfied and smokey!
(5)
romeo b.

Good food but the rude service makes you forget that. They offer pick ups, but scold you on the phone and tell you to come and pay and order pick up becuz of people not picking up their order. So I go and have to wait 30 min for food prep. Cmon you guys gotta do better.
(2)
Yaeko M.

My first time here. We had Korean BBQ. We ordered one marinated Kalbi and one non marinated Kalbi. The meat quality was good+ for the pricing and one order portion seems larger than other places. I was amazed the number of small dishes that they served at the biggining. I have been to many Korean restaurants. Korean restaurant nommaly serve small dishes average 4-8 dishes but at San Soo Gab San gives you 25-28 small dishes.WOw. I I love those pickled vegitables, tofu, kimuchi, oden, potato salad, sweet black beans, seaweeds, eggs etc. I am happy with their food and price. It's a good deal. Yes, I love to go back and try Korean soup next time.
(4)
Bob L.

GOOD FOOD. TWO FACE service : which means, if you're a Korean, and used to be treated as a customer in Korea, it doesn't matter. :If you're not from Korea, the service will be considered as rude.
(4)
Larry B.

I'm being too nice by giving this place 1 star. Other than having the delicious bulgogi & being in the company of my best friend (whose birthday we were celebrating), I don't really have anything positive to say about this place. If you want RUDE SERVICE, this is the place to go. Maybe it's just in their nature or culture to be rude. (Even when I'm at Starbucks, the Korean women who gather are often the loudest, and they always sound angry.) But back to the rudeness -- when my entrÃ©e arrived in an iron skillet, not only was there no more room on the table but I was still working on the appetizers. The early arrival of my entrÃ©e was not the problem. It's the fact that the rude lady FORCED herself & the bulgogi infront of me while I was literally feeding myself! No social grace whatsoever to say "Excuse me" !!! She could've temporarily placed the dish at the next (empty) table while we figured out the spacing issue. But no, she had to shove the skillet in my face! She didn't give a damn. Later at the end of dinner, I asked for a to-go box. Instead of handing it to me, the lady (this time, another Korean woman) plopped the container ON our food!!! WTF!!! If I have to nitpick further, the menu had so many misspelled English words and the waitstaff could hardly speak a word of English. Maybe it was just a bad night but even the customers at neighboring tables were not my cup of tea. One Asian lady suddenly leaned over (and I do mean LEANED over!) and started reading from my friend's menu! I was happy to get the hell out of there. I love ethnic cuisine, but this dump left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
(1)
Erica C.

I'm very tempted to give four stars based solely on the fact that they give a crapload of side dishes - more than I have ever seen in my life and I love it. I love all the Korean side dishes. We ordered Short Ribs and Pork Belly and I was a bit disappointed with the meat. It wasn't as tasty as other Korean BBQ I've had. The Kimchee soup was decent. The service is good, they kept refilling our water, side dishes, lettuce, and etc.
(3)
Annie L.

San Soo tasted a lot better in my memory than it did today. I appreciated the charcoal grill and the number & variety of side dishes, but the meat was lacking. The cha dol baek ee was cut more on the thick side and was not chewable. I thought i was the only one having a tough time until my friends started to comment on the meat's toughness too. I was confused why the rib eye cut came out partially frozen but the manager came out to explain that they marinate it then freeze it to preserve the marinade? It was a strange explanation, but it tasted good. Not worth the $19.95 for it though. The thing that saved it was the spicy marinated pork. My lasting impression would be the epic failure of the cha dol baek ee. BTW when did they start featuring sushi on their menu? Sansoogapsan, we had a good run, but it's time to end our relationship.
(2)
Matt C.

I love the food i love the decor i love the smoke i love the korean service. But they close the restaraunt at random hours. Used to be 5, sometimes 3 sometimes they are closed at 2. That to me is unacceptable i want meat at 440 am dammit.
(1)
Matthew S.

Hot sizzling meat. 2 pieces of hot sizzling meat. That would be me and krsna. After returning from one of his many illustrious lectures, krsna was in the mood for some Korean BBQ. I'd never experienced it before. And as I'd helped his ass move not ONE piece of furniture up two flights of stairs but TWO - he owed me. First : dress down. You will smell like BBQ smoke and meat when you leave. Second: be prepared to get your eat on. We were promptly seated (an anomaly according to my dining companion) and I noted the table had a huge industrial hood over it. Like in chemistry class. And there was a big hole in the table. Soon after we were given menus, little dishes and a pair of chopstick. Well, two pair. We didn't share our eating utensils. I allowed krsna to order - marinated beef, and spicy octopus! Our grill was brought out and placed in the hole in the table! Now I understood - it wasn't a handy compartment for my man purse. A few minutes later - not one, not two - but about 38 little side bowls arrived on the table, filled with everything from seaweed to beansprouts to pickled daikon. Then the meat arrived. We put it on the grill with the tongs we were provided with. It was amusing watching the little octopi dance around on the grill while they cooked. I should note that this isn't a quicky dinner. We got there around 8, and left about 10:15. The flavors were out of this world, and everything tasted so fresh. I loved that everyone there was in a great mood. We had the option to sit on the floor without our shoes on, but we opted to sit at a booth. I actually felt like a little kid. Like I was playing with my food. I had no idea what I was eating out of the little bowls - but there was NOTHING left when we got up from the table. It was absolutely delicious. I'd totally suggest going here with a bunch of friends. The ambiance is lacking - but taste, and the fun of grilling your own food makes up for it. I am excited to go back and share this with old friends, and new ones. And yes. I did smell like meat when I left. But I don't know if that was such a bad thing.
(5)
Phoebe W.

Oh, San Soo Gab San... I had so many high hopes for you based on all these stellar Yelp reviews. I felt that the second the staff figured out I wasn't Korean, service took a nosedive. Not only was it painfully slow, they moved my friend & I across the restaurant after we had already sat down just because we weren't getting the BBQ. The side that we had to move to was poorly ventilated, so we were practically choking on other peoples' BBQ smoke. Gross. The only redeeming qualities about this place are the side dishes! I don't know the names of all of them, but there was something with potatoes that was quite tasty.
(2)
Susan M.

Food was decent, not known for their ambience. I remember the ole days of a Korean restaurant on Lincoln that my mom used to take me to and my memories are fond. This was good, but not as good as my memories. We had the Kalbi and the ribeye barbeque... both marinated and we cooked them on our own little grill in the center of the table. You get about 20 or more little side dishes, all veggie based with splashes of seafood everywhere. All good and a nice accompaniment to the meat. They also serve with a salty sesame oil dipping sauce that really compliments as well. Overall a good experience. Fun for groups most def. You will need a shower and shampoo after dining here.
(3)
Cameron H.

Another great FIND!!!! Thanks AP!! With regards to the food, delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the option to prepare your own food over an open fire. Picture it, a restaurant, lots of booths, in the middle of the booth is a table with a whole (square) in the middle of it. After your order your meat of choice (we ordered baby squid, chicken, and beef) they bring out a cauldron with charcoals and a tiny grill on top of it. This is placed in the center of the table and you are able to grill your food however you desire. After ordering the meat options, very small sides are brought out. I believe there were about 15 options. Amazing. On top of that, a version of miso soup and white rice is served. OMG!!! So, for about 24 bucks a person (we divided everything three ways), this wasn't bad at all. Well worth the money. I highly recommend going to this place!!!
(4)
Sara L.

Pros: - Lots of side dishes to eat and try, especially if you're not comfortable with Korean food - Fairly large restaurant so there's hardly a wait - Not necessarily a place where you get bang for a buck, but pricing is fair for what you get in quality and quantity Cons: POOR AND SLOW SERVICE! They tried to bring us our check without giving each of us the soup that is included in the meal and when we complained about it, they didn't apologize and didn't seem to care. Instead, they threw us our soups and ignored our table for at least 30 minutes after. FYI, there is a buzzer on every table that lets the servers know you need something....but apparently everyone was deaf that day. Overall, it was a very AVERAGE outing for Korean BBQ. I'd rather go wait in line at Cho Sun Ok....and you should too.
(2)
Kymberly J.

This was a whole new very cool experience for me. This is the kind of stuff I live for. Wow, I sound a little over excited but new and different food is Fun! So i had no idea what to expect. We looked at the menu and fumbled our way to the BBQ. I knew I wanted the fire pit at my table. My friend steps away and I ordered the chicken and the short ribs to the servers recommendation. So then I am sitting there alone and a woman comes by and unloads a million little dishes of mystery foods all over the table. What's going on? Did I order this? I guess I did. Another woman must have noticed our bewilderment so she came along and asked if this was our first time and started explaining the deal. You grill your wonderfully seasoned meat and then one way to go is to take a large lettuce leaf and add meat and the mystery foods from the little dishes on and eat it like a wrap or you can just pick at stuff. The little dishes are filled with thing that I have no idea of the name. It were good though! Some of the things I recognized was black beans, bean sprouts, kimchee, broccoli... It was super fun and oh sooooo tasty!
(4)
Ayame L. O.

I love Korean BBQ. Since I am from California the pricing of this Korean BBQ place bothers me a little but I love the atmosphere. It feels as if we're in Korea (although I've never been haha). I only have a problem with the service. I wish they were more friendly instead of making you feel like you're a bother when you ask for something haha. Great place for group events or a date but you gotta cope with the fact you coming out smelling like delicious burnt meat.
(3)
Mike Y.

I have been to every K-BBQ on the North side. I live here and keep coming back to this place. It is not a downtown type place, but it does K-BBQ the best.
(5)
Crystal R.

I've decided that this places needs a new name. It should be called "Happy Belly," because when you leave, your belly sure is happy! My husband and I are not Korean, but we felt very comfortable here and received good service. We ordered the beef kai bi (about $19) and spicy pork kai bi (about $17), and were not disappointed! The meat is simply melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. The banchan was incredibly generous (we counted and there were 19 small plates!), and their was complimentary soup brought before the meal (kind of like a miso soup with tofu and cut up veggies - spicy and very yummy). All I know is - I may not know what half of what I ate was, but I know it was YUMMY! Plus, it's always a good sign when we walk into a Korean food place and see lots of other Korean families eating there. Just a note that this place uses a coal fired grill (some use gas cook top grills), which I've read is more authentic. Another note is that they serve sushi, and seem to have a sushi bar next door that is connected to the Korean bbq place. My belly is thanking me for this trip!
(4)
Craig R.

I can't really say much outside what other people have already said. The short: -Tons of sides -All the meat we ordered was great -They kept the beer coming :) -They replaced our grill rack several times when requested -The service was great (I think it really helped to have someone speaking Korean) -We did a special for 8 people and about 10 large beers, so it ran about 40 a person I'd say you're fine to come with a group, but make a reservation. All in all everything was excellent, so I won't bore you with a long review.
(5)
Lauren B.

I came here last night with my dinner club and I am having a difficult time deciding on a rating. CONS- service was slow and lackluster. There were plates, bowls, and glasses that were empty all over the table that no one seemed to want to remove. I was never able to get my water refilled. When the grill started to smoke A LOT due to the marinade, no one came over to change the grill for us. This smoking went on for a good 5-7 minutes, I really thought we were going to set off the fire alarms. PROS- the squid was tasty, the marinade was a bit spicy but nothing to extreme...thank God. The selection of sides is overwhelming, but in a good way. The seaweed was perfectly salty, the potatoes were flavorful, the green salad had a nice dressing on it. You must try a little bit of every side.....I think it is really part of the experience dining out at a Korean restaurant. BE CERTAIN TO ORDER THE SEAFOOD PANCAKE!! I myself love seafood, but even those friends who don't usually partake in the bounty of the sea loved the pancake. A must try! SO I will settle on 2 stars, because although I loved the seafood pancake and the squid, I was quite disgruntled with the service when the grill practically smoked out the entire restaurant for 10 minutes.
(2)
Sandra J.

""""""terrible place """"".do not never ever go there!!!!!! they do not know what is costumer service. they used to be good but not anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they put money first!!!! they know who tips well who is not also who should treat well and who is not!!!! i own a bissiness, i respect my costumers in any situation.. many mean and angry old wrinkled faced ladies work there. they like a donkey!!!! i wonder how will their kitchen would look........ their side dishes not good. i think, they serve old ones. do not go there... there are many nice places!!!!
(1)
Bo Y.

One of the best experiences one can have with Korean BBQ. I came here with my team in 2010 after a long day at a trade show. The restaurant was packed with narrow walking spaces and the entire room was covered in a hazy by the delicious charcoal bbq smoke. Walking in, you can immediately tell people are having a great time simply because of the noisy and how busy the waitresses are, "Madam! more soju here!" or "Another plate of galbi here!" The food is absolutely delicious. Definitely try both the marinated and the unmarinated galbi. Both are delicious beyond normal restaurants. They serve a cascade of fresh little dishes and the salad is amazing. They do have regular chairs for seating but since we had a group of 7, we sat on the floor, the traditional Korean style. Most of our group was Korean so they didn't mind, but since I'm tall, I would have preferred sitting in a chair. But that's minor, I had a great time nonetheless. Warning: this is quite possibly the smallest parking lot in the world. We had to wait 15min to see 2 people trying to park in tight little spots.
(4)
PJ J.

FLAVORFUL, AND PLEASANTLY RUDE. It takes a lot of guts to attempt to run a place that puts burning hardwood charcoal within reach of the general public. It takes even more guts to also make sonju, and big ass bottles of beer available while you're playing with fire. I personally enjoy the rudeness very much and prefer it over insincerity. Their BBQ meat is the most flavorful, tasty shit around. The panchan (banchan?) -Most generous!!! It seems like 25+ little dishes spilling over the edge of the table...crazy yummy -all of them...tasty as all get out. I am never ashamed to waddle home smelling like beer, garlic, smoke and kimchi. "You been here too long, time to go!" Hell yeah! I love this place. Food and EVERYTHING ROCKS. +1 star for authentic rudeness.
(5)
Kurt M.

This place is the bomb! I wish they had more stars to give. I've had alot of Korean food in Chicago, and this is the number one place that comes to mind at dinner time, and also at 4:00 am. Who cares if they get your order wrong, they're gunna cook you something good and authentic (as far as I can tell). Bring a designated Korean for extra off-menu treats.
(5)
Pastor Andy G.

Pros: -Authentic Korean food -Korean-speaking Korean workers -Nice seating arrangements: towards the back, there are short tables for Japanese-style sitting -Safe location -some (yet often crowded) lot parking Cons: -nobody who works there speaks really good English. -my wife got sick off the eel roll -MSG ALERT: they mix MSG in with the sushi rice! Also, not much on the menu that does not include MSG. -Sushi tasted like it's been sitting out for a while (not frozen, but not fresh) -expensive for the quality of food...we paid $33 for 2 small entrees. It's not bad, but definitely NOT a place where you'd say, "Yeah! Let's come back here again!"
(2)
Chris D.

Delicious! I like Korean soups. I got their Taro guk bab- beef and vegetable soup. It was good. My food also came with 16 banchans (side dishes)! I spent the first 15 mins sampling everyone of the dishes. The food was as good as the other Korean places I have been to. Their menu was clearly written with pictures. The waitresses also spoke English so communication was not a problem. Their parking lot is tiny. My suggestion is to come during weekdays or non peak hour. The only negative that I can mention is only because of my personal tastes in decor. This restaurant had a lot of dark wood accents- very reminiscent of Korea. It was dark inside but not too dark though. I however, prefer a brightly lit restaurant or a room with sunlight. Keep in mind that this is a personal preference and not anything negative against the restaurant. I will still come here again.
(4)
Gabby J.

Really good ribeye meat to grill. You get a ton of food for a good price. Service is bad, they rush you and don't come to help or check on you. Too much smoke for my liking. Limited drink selection.
(2)
Evan Thoreau H.

Ah... this hurts because I usually don't go against the grain this badly. But alas, I have to be true to myself. Okee, I have to make two exceptions here to help you understand this rating. AND I promise, that I would give SSGS another shot and an updated rating if it went better the next time. So... here goes: Exception the 1st: I didn't have the Korean BBQ Mistake? Probably. Would my experience be better if I had? Almost definitely. I've had Korean BBQ before and loved it and when we arrived at SSGS on a late night grub outing, we saw at least three other tables enjoying it. The problem was, we didn't come for the BBQ. We came for the delicious soups and rice bowls that would provide the perfect late night snack and which we've enjoyed at countless other Korean spots. We didn't find it here. Even though we ordered Korean staples - Beef Bim Bop and Short Rib soup - they were so far off the mark I couldn't finish... even in my inebriated state! The soup was bland, the short ribs were tough, stringy and grey and my Beef Bim Bop didn't even contain beef! I tried to flag down a waitress, but the service here was - um - lacking (see below). So, granted, I'm not judging the SSGS on what's it's KNOWN for, but I'd think that they could at least do a pedestrian job on Korean staples. Exception the 2nd: I'm not Korean. Okee, not exactly a prerequisite for enjoying a cuisine (few of us are actually French and look how that love affair has gone), but I think that this has something to do with my understanding of this place. I understand that KBBQ is all about self-service. And I GET the subtle pleasure of the language barrier and the cultural standard that servers don't need to be in your face every five seconds like some teenager working at Chatchki's. But the sense that the servers here quickly took our order, dropped off our food and just disappeared, made me believe that they were just avoiding inevitable confrontation. I mean, I couldn't even flag someone down to find the missing beef for my beef Bim Bop and it was nearly impossible to find a server to bring our bill. I would have thought that by laying my head on the table for 30 minutes would have been ample sign enough. So, in a way I chalked what others might call 'poor service' up to cultural differences. I think that's about fair. So, I'm sorry for all the peeps on here that love this place. I just think that despite my love for tasty and accessible Korean, this just wasn't one of my superstars. ...and I promise to come back to try the BBQ... sometime.
(1)
Andrea B.

I honestly don't know how to start this review so I'm just going to dive right in and hopefully something good will come from it. A few friends were moving to Boston and so as a final farewell we chose to eat here. There were 6 adults and two young children in our group. We ordered a set meal where we got to pick 5 meat dishes that also came with some noodles and a seafood pancake. After about 5-10 minutes of ordering, the waitress doles out the 5000 mini dishes that come with the meal. After this we had no more room for anything and began to frantically empty dishes for them to take away. Some of the items are a little more of an acquired taste if you are used to Korean dishes. I'm not, so I stuck with the potato salad and some noodles. I went for the seafood pancake, but once I saw a huge octopus tentacle sticking out like it wanted to grab me, I think I threw up a little in my mouth and promptly declined a slice (If you know me, you know that octopus is not my friend). A waiter then brought the grills for our meat. We had to decline one as the 2 kids that were with us were too young to know not to touch a blazing hot grill. I think this confused our server by... A LOT and they shuffled away not knowing what to do with themselves. But who cares, bring on the meat! And bring it they did. First came beef and pork. In the middle of grilling these two massive plates of meat, our waitress came with our plate of chicken. We literally had no room for it. My friend asked our waitress if she could bring out some courses a little bit slower, but either she didn't care or didn't understand, and proceeded to place our RAW chicken on top of said friend's water glass. yes...I am not kidding you. She then walked off yelling something in Korean. Ok, I get it. We're the minority white people that decided to have dinner here and I guess we don't understand the concept of grilling meat. Except that...we do get it. Just bring out the food slower is all we are asking. This is why I deducted a star. Otherwise, the food is great. Make sure your party knows how to cook meat well, otherwise you risk getting sick the next day. I've read reviews where the service is slow and horrible, but our table got the opposite effect...we had so much food plopped on our table, we didn't know what to do with it! I do want to come back though.
(4)
F S.

We go here every couple of months or so. We usually get some soups instead of the bbq (which can be overpriced since two people have to order it for you to be able to grill it yourself). The pork bone soup with potato is great. The little side dishes they bring are a nice touch, if a little hit or miss in taste.
(4)
Khalilah W.

Well I went with my girlfriends(Korean) and it was O.K. the very next week I went with my Guy friend(Not Korean) and Not only did we NOT get seated,but they let 2 Other Non Black groups that came in after us get seated promptly.Of Course I asked questions,but the lady was just like"Oh,I did not see you waiting?" REALLY we are both tall and Black and standing in the middle of the restaurant watching everyone eat...Oh well..
(1)
Mike S.

Food: 4 Stars Service: 1 Star (since I can't do negatives) Been here many times and never had a problem. Why one star then? Because the service was almost comical in how bad it was. After waiting 15 minutes we were served the small dishes and finally had to ask the bus boy for water since we never got any. Then we didn't get the beer we ordered until halfway through the meal. They didn't turn on the fan until we complained. Our waitress showed up maybe four times. To take our order, to bring beer and then food and then for the check. The list goes on. And when she brought the check she hovered until we told her we needed a minute. I ended up slipping the bus boy a five and gave the waitress $9 on a $105 total because he gave us better service than she did and works a lot harder (you try carrying that thing of burning coals all night). But wait, it gets better. She had the nerve to come to our table right after I signed to try to shoo us out quickly and if that wasn't bad enough she looked at the signed receipt and pointed to the tip because she thought it was too little. "Only $9 dolla?" she said. You have to be f-ing kidding me. I told her the service sucked and that's why it was so low. She's lucky I didn't grab it from her hand, cross it off, and give her nothing. I understand its a Saturday night and you are busy and trying to turn over a table, but that level of service and the balls of the waitress to say that at the end is absolutely inexcusable. San soo gab san will be lucky if I ever come back and if I do it sure as hell won't be on a weekend. In fact, I advise nobody to go there on the weekend unless you like being treated like shit.
(1)
T. F. C.

An interesting barbeque experience... When we arrived, I was first in line. I told the waitress we have 5 people, and only 2 of us are here. So she allowed the second group of 6 people first into the western style sitting table. Then directed us to the korean style sitting on the floor table. I'm guessing since both of us are asian, we are supposedly okay with sitting in korean style. The other 6 people had westerners, and so they were allowed to sit in chairs. Probably my first experience in being forced to take off my shoes to eat in a restaurant. I ordered the short ribs, when it arrived, it was still frozen together with ice showing. The thinner meats were not as frozen. The meats tasted bland, I had better meats at home on a summer barbeque. This place definitely suffer from a lack of service people, we had to wait quite a bit to order food, or drinks, or extra items. And the waitress can't really speak english, so there will be communication issues. We ordered an extra ramen patty, waitress said $4.00, was showing $3.00 on bill. The items on the bill are in Korean, we had to use the menu to find out what exactly we were billed for. And it included a 20% tip, so you don't need to tip again. Total was $130 for 5 people, 2 meat dishes, 1 big ramen noodle, 1 seafood pancake, and something else. I would not come back to this restaurant, once is enough, food seems pretty average, yes, lots of mini dishes, but I came to this restaurant for the meats. Parking is lacking, I was lucky to find a spot in the lot, but if you can't I'm guessing you park in the residential neighborhood nearby on the east side. Afterwards, you'll smell like barbeque.
(3)
Jenny L.

I came here for dinner once before with my family and had a wonderful experience.. I wish I could say the same right now as I sit next to strangers. At first, my friends and I were placed at a sit down table but soon after, one of the ladies waved us over to the sitting area where you need to take your shoes off. We repeatedly told them we didn't know the people they were seating us next to and there were other open tables but they still made us sit here. However, every time they came to check if we were ready to order and when they were bringing the small dishes out, they still confused us as being one party of 8 rather than two separate parties of 4. After the meat came, everything seemed alright. But then they never came to clean our grill or give us water and plenty of times when handing us plates, they yelled at us from a few feet away rather than coming to the table to hand it to us. I had to go down to the front table to ask them something and one of the ladies just walked past me and ignored me. When I finally got the attention of one of them, I told them our fan was not on. She told me I was wrong and that it was working, just because the switch was on. I asked her to double check and she wouldn't come to our table to look. It was clear our fan was not on because the people next to us had very greasy meat and there was smoke all over the place and did not go into the fan like the smoke did coming from the table on the other side of us. I then asked if we could get more water and they didn't come for another 5 minutes. When the lady came, she yelled "ICE WATER" at everyone and we had to hold our glasses up. Instead of coming over to the other side of me to pour water, she stood still and I had to hold the glass of water between my head and my friend's head. They ran out of water in the pitcher and a giant chunk of ice splashed into my cup and she just walked away. It wasn't until another five minutes later when a busboy came by and poured water into our cups when they needed refilling. Although my first experience here was a good one, I honestly don't think I'll ever come here again. Edit: when we were about to leave, another busboy came to remove the grill, and he lifted it right over my head. Ashes fell all around me.. And I didn't receive an apology. As we were exiting, they called us back even though we paid already. They claimed we owed them $8 even though we didn't and even after we gave them the money they kept complaining. The $8 actually came from the bill of the strangers sitting next to us that they seated us with..
(1)
Patty C.

I can always count on leaving happy from this place. The kalbi (Korean BBQ rib) is always tasty. I have tried many Korean restaurants in the city and the burbs, but I always end up wanting to come back here. And of all the Korean restaurants I've been, this one comes with the most side dishes. There's so many, and they are so good that most of the time I am already near full before our entrees arrive. Its very good food for a great value. Here's a bit of advice before going, go on a day you plan on washing your hair and clothes. You will leave this place smelling just like the BBQ.
(4)
Raquel D.

Quite possibly the best (or at least my FAV) Korean BBQ EVAH. BOOM! It's an experience to sit there and "grill" your food with a group of great friends and then enjoy your meal afterwards. It's a good deal for me since I never get stuck being the cook - hehe. But, if you're not up for the whole BBQ-ing part (and smellin like it), you can always request it be cooked in the kitchen and be brought out to you. Awesome. They are open late-night and they used to cater to my late night eatin' - ahhh the good ol' days. Fond memories here and I don't think I've ever left disappointed. My last visit was amazing - good eats, good peeps and goood service. Liqs are also cheap - loooove me some plum wine or soju. There is a minor language barrier here so be sure to be clear in what you want or to point directly to what you want. Finger and hand gestures work just fine. But if you have someone who speaks Korean, even better. GO! Try it. It may seem pricey, but you get SO MANY sides dishes with your meat that it's almost overwhelming. Their potato salad is AMAZING! yum-o-yum. The more, the merrier here and the cheaper the bill will be.
(4)
Natalie S.

I crack up when I read reviews where people "won't ever go there again because of the terrible service". Seriously? You're going to an Asian restaurant... what do you expect? It's par for the course! FYI, my grandmother is an immigrant from China and a restaurant owner so I KNOW what kind of service you should expect... Anyways, yeah, the service is laughable. You have to often ask to have your water glass refilled. We have a pretty funny story about how one night we were there with 4 people but only ordered for 3 so they wouldn't give us a extra soup although we said from the get-go that we would pay extra for it. You gotta look past that though... They have the best dol sot bi bim bap I have ever had. You have to let it sit for a while before you scrape the bottom so the rice gets all crispy... I love that. They also have a really good soup (see above) that comes with your order. It's a miso based tofu, peanut and jalapeno soup... just fantastic. Get over the bad service... suck it up... and dig in.
(4)
Chette I.

Good food, good price, quick service...my fave is their bi bim bap...i never get tired of ordering it everytime...i just needed to take a shower once I get home to take off all the smokey scent I got from 'barbequing'...lol
(5)
Sue L.

This place is amazing. Always seems to be busy but they are fast and courteous. They have an extensive menu and the food is quite good. we will be back.
(4)
Carl G.

The service really needs to improve. As anyone who has spent any time in Korea could tell you, Korean service is amazing. Korea is not like China, service is considered to be a necessary component of any meal, in this respect much closer to Japan. I lived there for two years and found that service in Korea was something to expected and to not receive good service is quite rare. Order three beers? The fourth one is most likely free. The attitude that the servers take here is not something that they brought over from the motherland. My advice is don't be shy about giving them a loud 'jeogi yo' when the ajummas drag eodeongi. It wouldn't be tolerated back in Korea.
(3)
Larisa O.

I'm sure this would have been a 4 star review if we had actually had food brought to the table. But we had a very surreal experience with the service that borders on traumatic. I was so excited to go here. We were seated at the same time with another young couple at a large table and the waitress promptly took their order and spread before them a sumptuous array of kim chee. My date made the apparenly tragic misstep of asking for a few more minutes and the waitress seemed to banish us from her consciousness. She'd come to the table to check in with or neighbors, but refused to make eye contact with us or acknowlege us at all. We flagged down another waitress who wrote our order on her hand and disappeared. We were there for about 30 minutes with no kim chee, no offer of drinks or water, and no eye contact / recognition from any of the many waitstaff. Considering that my date is diabetic and his blood sugar was dropping, this was an extra bad feeling. Beyond that, everyone in the restaurant seemed to be feasting around us, and the smoke from their grilling was perfuming our very existence. I started wondering if I was wearing colors that in Korean culture are considered a bad omen. I was wondering if there were apparitions of ghosts above our heads, creating a black cloud of doom that warned the waitresses, Stay Away. After 30 minutes of this, we walked out unfed and heavily scented with Korean B-B-Q smoke, and proceeded to argue in the parking lot about whose fault it was that we didn't get service. I thought it was his because he was a little gruff when he asked for a few more minutes. He thought it was mine because I was 'sitting the wrong way' at our low table. We left and went to L. Woods Pine Lodge to heal our culture shock with what turned out to be a 1/2 price bottle of Malbec, a very tasty meal and amazing service. I still want to go back to San Goob Gab Sann and am wondering if I should do so in a wig and sunglasses like a NY Times food critic.
(1)
Alan K.

I thought this place was alright. There were many ban chan dishes (side dishes). However, they were just okay....I would prefer quality over quantity anyday. I thought their BBQ burner was pretty cheezy. It is this portable concrete cylinder full of charcoals and then they put a grill on top of which the edges of the cylinder misses. By the way, there was not much surface area to grill with. The beef we had to grill with was alright. The marinade was nothing special actually. I am from LA so the Korean BBQ places in LA are just so much better than this place. I am sure that Chicago has better Korean BBQ places, but this one wasn't it. Yes, their parking lot is terrible and small. I had to concentrate on maneuvering a very tight space.
(3)
Gretchin A.

One of my favorite places. Food is amazing, service is hit or miss though it doesnt ever stop us from going. Love the zillion plates of appetizers that get brought out when you get there and love the kalbi!
(5)
Sung C.

I've called to make reservations for the group of 15 people to eat there. I've asked her about simple questions and she seemed she didn't understand. I asked her again and she got angry and told me " you come and look!" and she hung up on me!! Way to go! They just lost $400+ in business! Rude and unprofessional!
(1)
Kat L.

This is not SSGS's fault. But someone must have made some secret announcement I don't know of. On the times I've been here, there has ALWAYS been a super loud obnoxious group messing it up for other patrons here. I couldn't even hear my bf or friend across the table without screaming. Even the waiters here look annoyed when this happens. But.... i dunno. I also come here when it's the middle of the night too. Drunkies. Not that it's bad, just that there are bars for that. I typically don't expect asian restaurants to be loud and obscene. But.. on to food. The greatest highlight of this place is that they give you easily 18-20 banchan plates. IF anyone in your party isn't familiar with Korean BBQ, there's bound to be a hit amongst other possible misses. I also have to say-- I like the banchan plates served here than in other BBQ joints. They serve several different kimchi plates and a good variety of other things too to mix it up, or break up the pickled veggie flavors. For meat, I've tried both the bulgogi and kalbi. The marinated kalbi is a total win. Great flavors, Great thickness, and SOOOOO yummy. I crave this place often. While their banchan plates vary from day to day, it's ability to satisfy my hunger has never failed. Just come dressed in clothes you don't mind smelling like charcoal. =)
(4)
Emily H.

This is an excellent and authentic Korean BBQ restaurant. Not only is it open late, but the beer, soju, and sake are all good quality. This place has serious appeal for carnivores who enjoy the cathartic burning of their own meat and vegetarians who like flavorful and pungent veggie offerings. The meats we ordered came with the option to have them marinated in a spicier sauce than normal. The servers brought no fewer than 16 delicious small side dishes that complimented the flavors of the chicken and Kalbi beef marinades well. Some examples are a mellow shredded seaweed, a sweet and creamy potato salad, a tart spinach and onion mix and a powerfully spicy kimchee dish. The white tofu miso soup was well-prepared and a savory sensation. The restaurant itself is incredibly clean and grease/soot free for a grill-it-yourself establishment. The grill firepot was delivered promptly and professionally. Everything was fresh and incredibly tasty. It was an absolutely authentic Korean BBQ experience and made me pine for my days in Seoul. People who complained about the service must be mistaking busyness for rudeness, because everyone working there was working hard and on the move constantly. But then again I don't go to restaurants to have my butt kissed. If my water glass is full and my food gets to me, I'm happy. Try the red snapper tempura!
(5)
Marie B.

This was definitely a fun experience. We had a few beers, some soju (really good - WAY better than any saki I've had), chicken, and two types of beef. The chicken was by far my favorite of the meats, due to the seasoning used on it. I didn't really have access to the sauces at the table, which may have made me like the beef more. I did not have any interest in manning the grill, so make sure to go with someone who is willing to handle that. What I enjoyed most was trying all of the small dishes of things that came along with the BBQ. I made a point of trying every one of them. Service was efficient, but not pleasant.
(3)
Kenneth P.

Lets break it down here, I was drawn to this place for their relaxed hours. They're open all through the night. Oh, and they're BYOB. That's pretty badass to me, as a Denverite, I've never experienced BYOB restaurants before. But damn, the food was a mere average to me, I've had much better Korean BBQ, on top of that, the service was crap, just like everyone says. When servers get angry at you and you can tell, is when you have some pretty poor service. And to top it all off with a nice little cherry, for six people, we racked up a bill of $160! And I wasn't even full yet! That's almost $27 a person. I'd rather take my money and go to sushi, rather than this average Korean BBQ. If you go there, you should ask your amazing server for a side of WeakSauce to dip your kalbee.
(2)
Steve D.

Great food, okay serves.... The price is a little high, but included 20 plates of traditional Korean appetizers. I willing to pay for it!! but they will charge 15 or 18% of tips without tell you when they send the check out!!
(4)
Serdar U.

Worst $55 i have ever spent. Dirty, smelly, not delicious, bad service...i don't know what else to say. I am just going to mention one thing, ordered chicken for bbq and it had the longest human hair wrapped around the chicken, i am almost going to throw up now, never going back...
(1)
Scott H.

Just good greasy fun! I love coming here with friends, filling up on OB beer and soju and ordering EVERYTHING off the menu. Don't worry about being uninitiated to Korean BBQ as the staff will help you out. Try everything placed before you and you'll probably like 90% of it. The marinated meats are sublime! I think this place is closed about three hours a week too so if you're both hungry and awake, they're waiting for you.
(4)
Diana G.

Great food. Open 24 hours. We usually get the bulgugi and something we call the mini- steaks. Also, other items. Is a bit overpriced and service isn't the best. They need to hire someone that can speak English.
(4)
Quinn B.

Wow! Korean BBQ comes fast and furious. Sit down, order and before you know it, there are small "tasting" samples that cover the entire table. My Korean sister in law said the service in these restaurants is not typically good, and that was true, but the food made up for it. Hot sake, Bi Bim Bop and some terrific BBQ. Think of a fondue restaurant on steroids. No hot oil, just some hot coals and great food.
(4)
Stanley T.

This place is awesome. Yummy Korean BBQ. I always go with huge groups and it seems like this is the best way to enjoy the food so that you can order a lot of different things. Also, they are open super late (not quite 24/7 but close enough).
(5)
Amy S.

Went here with a group of friends, one of whom is moving to South Korea to teach ESL and has never eaten Korean food at all. The atmosphere is nice and the food was really tasty. We did the family style bbq. We got beef and pork and all the fixins. I really enjoyed it a lot. I have to say it was easy going with a person who did speak Korean, so communicating with the servers was a lot easier than it seems others have experienced.
(4)
Connie M.

So I biked up with some friends last weekend and we arrived at 3 am. They have a neon light over the front door that posts its closing time at 5 am. The door was unlocked. People were leisurely eating inside. And the lady who appeared to be the head waitress told us, "We're closed." What? There's rude and then there's lazy beyond belief. I think the only reason we got to eat was because we had an Asian person in our group--who, mind you is Chinese. Upon seeing her, the boss lady relented, but only addressed accepted orders from her for the rest of the evening--the other 5 of us didn't exist. The groups that came in after us weren't so lucky. All turned away. But then again, I wouldn't consider my experience after the initial "good." They wouldn't turn on the grill for us--dragon lady would only accept an order for something cooked in the kitchen. Actually, only one thing--this very mediocre pan friend bulgogi. We kept trying to order other things, but she would just respond, "bulbogi." It was almost hilarious, were I not really hungry and paying to be treated like *&^% If this is typical, I can see why this style of restaurant is dying.
(1)
Tasha K.

How is it possible that I've found the best tasting Korean BBQ here in Chicago that rivals any L.A. Korean BBQ joint in K-town?! This place is amazing. The meat is well seasoned & packed w/ flavor. They even make the chicken taste incredible (which is not usually something I recommend ordering at a K joint.). Beef is where it's at. Kalbi, baby! Skip the beef bone though, the cartilage is way too tough. You will leave stuffed. Get one of the combo specials w/ a big group of people to share. There's a salad course, a spicy soup course, Jap Chae (glass noodles), the plethora of pickled goodies in tiny bowls.... then apps get the seafood pancake and the dumplings for sure. All of this before you even get to the succulent pieces of meat & hot sticky rice. YUM. My only reservations about the place is that they need better ventilation. Expect to leave smelling like Korean BBQ until you shower. Not a bad smell. Just a smoky bbq smell lingering in your clothes. (Leave your coat in the car.) Also, some people in our group were put off by the tradition of taking your shoes off before sitting at the larger tables. I thought the idea was cute but again, BE PREPARED TO TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES! Get a pedicure/wear the socks w/o holes/keep the stinky shoes at home! Once you get over that, it's a sweet find. Great for groups and an interactive dining experience. I would definitely go again!
(4)
Adrienne T.

authentic flavor comes with authentic service I ordered the YukGaeJang, also known as shredded beef soup with vermicelli noodles. It was quite tasty. What I found most appealing were the side dishes. I was given 9 different side dishes, including three types of kimchi. It was heaven. The server saw that I was finished and I was offered more sides (that's another reason I love dining Korean style - the banchan/side dishes are included plus free refills). I've read other yelpers complain about the service. Haha - that's part of the whole Korean dinning experience. If you find that the service is outstanding, the food probably isn't authentic. Overall, great K-Food experience in Chicago. I shall return!
(5)
Jeff F.

This place is pretty good. It ain't much to look at on the inside. When you finally order your food, though, you'll have a hard time concentrating on anything else. A good friend of mine invited me to San Soo Gab San, referring to it as the Korean equivalent of a "greasy spoon restaurant." How can you possibly go wrong when you're suddenly presented with a deep, coal-filled fiery grill and a plateful of raw meat? It's a good time. The waitresses will also assault your tabletop with a ridiculous number of tiny shallow bowls containing numerous Korean side-dishes (at least, I think they're side-dishes). There's so many that you'll get to try a wide assortment of items, but they're small enough that you can move onto something else if you're not a fan of one of them. It's fun to hit with a group of people; plenty of involvement for just about anyone that feels safe slinging meat and cooking it on a grill.
(4)
Mishelle O.

This is a great place for groups- large and small. The food is great, the dining is very communal, and the restaurant is large and now takes reservations. It can be a little difficult your first visit if you are unfamiliar with Korean food, as the place is usually pretty busy, the staff moves about quickly, and you will see plumes of smoke rising into giant overhead hood vents right at diners' tables. But don't fear, you will get the hang of it and become hooked! If you are a meat-eater, you have the opportunity to grill cuts of meat and seafood right at your table or have it cooked in the kitchen. You get a lot of little appetizer dishes to start which is fun to try and share. If you are a vegetarian, I recommend the Dol Sot Bebimbop- just ask for no beef. If you are vegan get it without egg as well- it will still be very delicious! The space is large and although not anywhere near "fine" dining, it's comfortable. The service is fast, and while some of the staff don't have great English-speaking skills, there are a couple of ladies there who can help if you have questions and will even poke fun at you, in a playful way. Heads up that your clothes will smell like a cookout when you leave, and also if you are in a large group, you will most likely be sitting in a semi-private raised floor area. You will have to remove your shoes and sit on the floor of the area- so keep that in mind for people who may be uncomfortable with that. There is a parking lot, but it's very tight and you risk having people bump and scratch you car more than usual, but there is free street parking in the area. Lastly, there is a very small waiting area, and they will not seat your party until everyone is there. These may sound like a lot of obstacles to deal with for food- but I'm telling you that it's worth it. If you haven't had Korean food- give this place a shot!
(5)
Cinnamon M.

To answer Dan K., I don't know if you know to press the service button to tell the servers you want service or not. You said you've been there before, so I hope you knew that. If you did press the service button and they still didn't come, I'm sorry you had to wait so long. As others have said, the service is hit or miss and it does really need better ventilation (in Korea, each table has its own 'ventilator' over the grill so it's not as much of an issue there as it is here). Food's the best outside of Seoul, in my opinion.
(4)
Alexis A.

I love this place and it's open LAAATE! San Soo Gab San is best with a group of friends. If you find small talk boring at the dinner table, then fear no more. You'll be more interested in the other aspects Korean BBQ has to offer: drinking, cooking your own meat, and experimenting (if you are unfamiliar) with the large array of side dishes. The restaurant is normally pretty busy, especially late at night, so the waiters may not seem as "friendly" as you'd hoped for, but I have never had exceptionally bad service here except for getting an untimely refill on my water. And yeah, there really is no decor whatsoever, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a fun and delish meal. My favorite dishes are the BBQ marinated beef and kimchi/bacon stew. And don't be afraid to cook your own meat. Even if you overcook it, it will still be good and I sometimes enjoy a charred flavor. I also use the lettuce to create wraps with the meat and just add in whatever side dish I feel like. There will be enough food to go around, so don't worry about wasting anything. One more thing...make sure you get a piece of bone to suck on after the meal. Bones preserve the best flavor!
(4)
J W.

Great marinated meat to grill and tons of sides to munch on.... so good! Wish I could communicate better with the wait staff but otherwise love this place.
(4)
Steven N.

This is the place to hit up for your Korean BBQ fix! Just make sure you wear only your scrubby clothes when you visit there because your clothes will definitely stink after the meal! Food quality is great and the price is not bad at all. You can easily spend hours here grilling all sorts of meat and seafood (plus unlimited side dishes!). The place does get packed up every night, so budget about 2 hours for your meal is probably safe. Enjoy!
(4)
Joanne C.

Oh SSGS. I want to love you, I really do. Your bountiful banchan is what keeps me coming back despite your poor service. I have no problems with the busboys and the guys who change out the grill....they're great. No problem there. But the ladies. Oh the ladies. Why are you so impatient with us? Is it because we're not Korean? Are we not cooking the meats properly? Do you want us to eat all the little dishes, even the ones we don't particularly like? PLEASE I implore you! Let us know what we have to do so that when you see us it will be like a happy friendly reunion filled with good food and good times. Ok so maybe it can't play out like that but I would like to go there just once and not feel like I was forcing them to feed me and the sooner I left the better. Please?
(2)
Tim Y.

I can never remember this name no matter how many times I hear it. Luckily, that's not the case for the food. EPIC repertoire of banchan, delicious food, great service, open on all major holidays, and big portions. On top of that, the BBQ is done not on a gas grill, but on a super-legit down-to-its-roots charcoal-filled stone basin overlain by a chicken wire grill. I don't have much detail about this, just because I think it's an overall perfect deal and tasty Korean food. And that's all you need.
(5)
Jessica Y.

This is probably one of my favorite Korean bbq restaurants in Chicago and what's not to love about a Korean bbq restaurant that's open until 5 am?! I've been here for dinner and late nights and loved every single visit! The food is great, service is quick and attentive and prices are reasonable! Don't expect any comparison to restaurants in LA or NY, but this is a great option for Chicago! The tables are big and there's enough space for large groups! It's a charcoal grill, so it will stink up your clothes and hair, but it's oh so worth it! Right after you're seating, they bring out endless banchan (side dishes). They must give you double of what the other Korean places in Chicago offer! So already, you know it'll be well worth your money and time. We usually have to ask for refills, but they give you so much food here that you forget to ask! And per our usual preferences, we always order a couple servings of bulgogi and galbi. There's nothing to complain about as it's full of flavor and reasonably priced! I will say that I do love the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) here sooooo much better than Cho Sun Ok's, which is still pretty good! Definitely order this before your meal as it's a great appetizer and simply a must try at SSGS! And if you/'re extra hungry, go for some kimchi chigae or sundobu for a perfect pairing! I could go on and on about SSGS, but you really should just check it out for yourself!
(4)
Bora H.

Been here many many times... I went back last night, and they updated their menu and decor. MUST get hwe dukk gap. So good. !!!
(5)
Tony J.

Great food, service great. will probably come back again. my gf likes this place a lot.
(4)
Yanyao N.

I dream about the spicy squid from San Soo Gab San on a weekly basis. A trip to San Soo Gab San is always exciting for me because I get to spend the whole time grilling delicious marinated meats. Mmmmmmmm. You also get about 10-15 little plates of side dishes (banchan) with your meal with things such as kimchi, pickled daikon, glass noodle salad, broccoli. The bulgogi is also excellent. They also bring out rice, lettuce, bean paste, and a soup (miso with tofu and jalapenos I think?). For those who want an appetizer, I would recommend the pajun, a Korean seafood pancake with dipping sauce. The portion is enormous but they bring you to-go boxes and the pajun heats up nicely. You should definitely come here knowing what to expect. The wait can be long at times, and the staff is often hard to track down. If you're sticking with water for your meal, you might get a little thirsty. Bring friends who know what they're doing, wear stretchy pants and socks with no holes in them (you sit cross-legged and shoeless at some of the tables), and be prepared to leave smelling like grill smoke.
(4)
Tessa G.

Decided to finally check this place out a few months ago at 3 am on a Friday (tech Saturday morning) night. Awesome meal. Cool experience bbqing right there at the table. The portions were very generous and all the beef dishes we ordered were really great. We were seated right away and our servers were very attentive. I'd love to come back here with a big group some late night soon. It was a fun and filling time. **Other reviewers were right..beware you will smell like Korean bbq all night after you leave here. Which isn't horrible. It just makes you hungry for more later on.**
(4)
Matt R.

What happens when you're an american, hungry at midnight, don't speak korean, and don't want to eat at an american restaurant? You go to san soo gab san, and great treated like crap. Really, it's tradition at least per other yelpers, but it doesn't hide that the food is quite excellent. Kalbi was great. Seriously, really good. I think the food came out so fast they may have quite possibly performed a small nuclear explosion in the kitchen to prepare it so fast. The soup my girlfriend ordered was still bubbling and boiling when they brought it to us. I do love korean foods and I do shop at korean grocery stories, so this was a nice step towards that direction. However, go with someone korean or speak it yourself. It'll save you a lot of hassle. This place is open from 10AM-5AM, so you can go there whenever.
(4)
Arlene G.

i keep goin back & forth on how many stars i give this place cuz i DEFINITELY LOVE the food, but the service can so sketchy at times. thee were 5 of us in our party & it took a while to be seated but that was expected on a saturday night. im not sure if i love the kalbi or the 20 side dishes more but they were all AWESOME!!! towards the end of our meal they asked us to leave as soon as we were done cuz there were so many other people waiting 4 a table. i understand that but i still didnt like it. its not as if we were gonna lounge around 4 another hour, but whatever. if u go 4 the food then definitely 5 stars but if u add the service that brings it down 2 a 4. its ok though cuz i'll keep comin back 4 their delicious kalbi!!!
(4)
Sam Y.

I've several bad experiences here. Wife complained about the food smelled funny and asked them if they can make us a new batch. They simply said the next one will smell the same so just share the other dish (my dish) and go. Finished our (my) food, paid and left. I don't know why we have to feel like we're intruding when we're spending our own money. I am officially boycotting this place for the second time.
(1)
Lily P.

Great korean place! Just went there tonight!!! TONS and TONS of side dishes! (i'll post pics later) 30? and the service was super fast. All the side dishes ive never had before. There was a 30 min wait but it ended up being a lot shorter and the whole time we were there, there were people coming in and out. The service was great since the bus boys were going back and forth and taking and replacing items the whole time, the waitresses were all helpful in checking up on waters being refilled, napkins, refilled side dishes, and etc. The korean bbq is great here and the meat is not too fatty. There were tables that sit 2, 4, and also big booths that fit more people and you take off your shoes and step into them with a more traditional setting. The japanese rest next to it is part of the whole set up. Only complaint is the parking lot that fits prob 12 cars and is wayy to tight to be a real parking lot. BOO for this. People love this place though and do not mind walking in the freezing cold to this place from other street parking.
(4)
Jacob Y.

A good friend has been telling about this place for a while and we FINALLY went today for lunch...and I am GLAD I did. Located north of Foster on Western, San Soo Gab San is a traditional Korean BBQ place, but they serve a wide variety of Korean delicacies besides grilled food. When we got to the restaurant, there was a small parking lot in the front. A VERY small parking lot. Now I have not been to this place on Fridays and Saturdays, but based on the food, I would be amazed if this place is not packed! When we entered, the second thing I noticed about this place is the VERY orangey color on the walls. Again, thankfully, I am not there for the decor, which I found kinda dull and very halloweenish! On the other hand, there were other people who were enjoying their grilled meat on the over the table grills...and the delicious aroma MADE ME HUNGRY! The third thing I noticed was the menu...it was the size of one volume of almanac...very big. Again, I was amazed by the variety of dishes and I cannot wait to go there again to try some more stuff. So, for starters, I ordered tempura fried oysters (as you may know, I can have a full diet on oysters if I had my way!). When the oysters came out, they were freshly fried, very light on the breading and made me want more...but I was saving room for the piece de resistance! Both my friend and I ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob...which looks like a stew dish because it is served on a traditional stone bowl that is extremely hot. This dish, consists of the following: a layer of rice at the bottom of the searing bowl, topped with vegetables (greens and mushrooms....mmmmm) and beef, with a sunny side up fried egg on top. I personally did not think there was a right way to eat it....but my friend taught me her technique of meshing it all up and adding the special sauce they gave us...WOW...talk about a hearty delicious meal. This dish also came with their version of miso soup, with chunks of tofu and cucumbers in it...and very soothing! And no Korean meal is complete with a sampling of pickled veggies...the kimchee was especially outstanding. So, if you live in the north side and fancy Korean food, try San Soo Gab San...You won't be sorry!
(4)
Krisha d.

Great place to eat when you want BBQ! I love the fact that they let you cook it in front of your table. I had a friend from out of town come visit who loves Korean BBQ and my sister come with (who is not a fan of Korean food.) but both enjoyed very much! There's a wide variety of side dishes that come with your BBQ . Not to mention, we had some sake! One of my acceptable late night food joints!
(4)
Amanda R.

I had never been to a Korean BBQ place before so I didn't know what to expect. This place seemed to have the most reviews so we checked it out. I went with 2 girlfriends. We ordered two orders of the beef. And out came 1000 tiny bowls of various things I had never seen before. Our server did not explain to us what anything was. So we picked and tried a few things. We were grilling and eating as we went then all of a sudden the server came over and dumped all the meat on the grill and started to cook it for us. We must have been taking too long for her. Oh and the parking lot has about a dozen spots at most and its a very tight squeeze to get in and out of.
(3)
Mandi G.

San Soo Gab San is open super late, so why not go at 2am on a Wednesday with your best friend? You can possibly bring in a bottle of wine or 2 and keep said wine under your table. If your server thinks you will leave a decent tip, she may ignore your wine and bring you two empty cups. At least, I think this would work. The two of you will each have to order a meat dish, as 2 is the minimum for getting the grill brought out to your table. Dishes range from $15-$19. The ribeye is divine. The korean marinated beef- not so much. I think it's called bulgogi. It's like philly cheesesteak consistency beef and sounded good, but it didn't cook well. More on that later..... Service is ok, considering the extreme language barrier. Lots of pointing at the menu, smiling and nodding. The menu has everything written out in English, so ordering is fairly easy. However, don't expect much in terms of explaining the side dishes. Oh lord, where do I begin on the side dishes? You are sitting at your table, feeling bad that only two of you are taking up such a big space, when suddenly the parade of small dishes begins. I kid you not, you will be given a bowl of hot sticky rice, a dish of spicy peanut sauce, a large bowl of bean sprouts and garlic gloves, and 22 small bowls of Korean garnishes. Twenty-freaking-two people! (Yes, I counted them.) Too many to remember. Mushrooms, black beans, potatoes, omelets, marinated cucumbers, peppers, fish cakes, anchovies, zucchini....little bowl upon little bowl of things you've never seen before. And finally 3 large heads of romaine lettuce, rinsed and plated. Then they bring out your little grill and your meat and the fun begins. The grill is smokey and hot. Duh and duh, but it's really smokey and really hot, so don't be a wuss. The ribeye comes with a pair of scissors for you to cut it with. It's thick and perfectly marbled and yum. After cooking each piece, you dip it in the cup of marinade they give you. You then take a piece of lettuce, place meat on lettuce and add any of the little plated goodies. You then wrap lettuce up and eat with hands. Repeat until you are in a protein coma. Now, a major complaint is that the meat sticks to the grill. This wasn't a problem for the thick ribeye, however the thin sliced beef got stuck to the grill and was a pain in the ass. A lot of it ended up falling through. The attentive server noticed we were having problems and changed the grill top for us, but it did little to help. I will never order a thin cut of meat there again. All in all, an excellent adventure outside your typical late night dining options. Also, a great date place as you will be bonding in no time over making each other try all the crazy little extra sides. And a fun place to bring groups, as they have supercool long tables built into the floor for big groups that require you to remove your shoes. A little fun for everyone that wants to try something different and/or is still on Atkins.
(4)
Victoria D.

San Soo Gab San does banchan right! All of the small side dishes keep you satisfied until your food is fully cooked on the wood charcoal grill at the table. If you think the service is bad - press the button that is on the table - it is Korean style so the waiters won't bother you unless you request service. So efficient.
(3)
Ryan L.

It's getting close to my birthday and my sister refuses to go here again due to oversaturation, so i will review one of my favorite places instead. I would say i've been here close to a billion times, give or take 2. My advice is to come here with at least 5 people and you can get the group "A" package. Roughly comes out to about $20 per person before tax/tip, and around 1 order of meat per person (8 people, 8 meat orders, yada yada). You also get seafood pancakes, chop chae, sushi, and miso soup on top of the 978 side dishes. If we are short 5 peeps, i call my 10 year old cousin and have her eat with us. We all win...she likes the food, but has a small appetite, so in a more selfish sense, i win. We usually order a bunch of kalbi, spicy chicken, squid, and korean pork (bacon, pretty much). Here is my convo with the waitress whenever i order pork. ryan: and 2 orders of the pork. waitress: ok, 1 order pork. ryan: no, that's 2 orders. waitress: 2 orders too much, just 1. ryan: boss we're ordering 2, come back in 20 to see if we finished. Of course we finished it. Don't doubt my ability to plow through it! Besides the kalbi, the pork is my favorite meat. The food is just so freakin flavorful. I also on average go through 4-5 bowls of rice in one sitting. Service is spotty, but it's a korean restaurant, take it with a grain of salt. I actually find the staff pleasant. I come here after long races now (full and half marathons) and wallow in meat glory. Wear old clothes though, you will smell like korean bbq for awhile. The scent just makes me want to go back sooner. I wish it was still open 24 hours. That would be just crazy.
(5)
Yojalma M.

Was O-kay! I've had better, I can do without it, especially the bad service and horrible parking design!
(1)
Alanna M.

I've been coming here for years. I usually come with a group of 6+. Once I brought my brother and didn't realize that the smoke from the grill would upset his mild asthma like it did. Oops! Anyway, this place is awesome. You grill your own pre-seasoned meat, you receive 100 different sides, and you have the option of making lettuce wraps. I love that! I've never been disappointed with my food or experience at San Soo Gab San. Its not fancy, but you can come here and get a lot of food and MANY drinks for a decent price. Its a favorite of mine for celebrations.
(5)
Grace N.

The quality of the food is literally clouded by the awful ventilation system that cooks you as much as the food. The service is speedy, perfunctory, and makes you feel guilty for not bolting out the door as soon as you finish your last bite. Talk about a volume-based restaurant. However - abundant banchan for reasonable prices go a long way (they have good "sohn mat" here, meaning good "hand-taste" - great flavor). It's the real deal, for real Korean-food veterans.
(3)
Pascal M.

Went here late, drunk, and hungry. Hit the spot. They have a delcious Goat soup. Served in a nice deep (clay?) bowl and boiling hot with plenty of spice. Good size menu, so theres likely something for everyone. I love Korean cuisine, it's a treat to have a server bring you 8-12 little plates (banchan) before your meal. Everything has it's own unique texture, color, and flavor. Service is not the greatest, but that's to be expected. Just ask for pitcher of water and you'll deal. Go late night and you're likely to run into some interesting charechters too.
(4)
Phil X.

Buyer BEWARE: I practically got SCAMMED and you probably did too. This used to be one of my late night spots to hit up. I mean, who can turn down grilled Kalbi/Bulgogi along with all those little side dishes that come with it? ME...THAT'S WHO...READ ON... You can opt out and have them cook it for you in the kitchen, but there is something cool about grilling it right at the table. But when you really think about it, it's kinda bogus that I'm paying so much when I'm cooking my own food and not even getting quality service. But here's the real kicker... My Last Experience at San Soo Gab San: I was having a late night 4th meal for two around 2am one night. Food was good, service was bleh, and then we get the check. I'm already halfway into my food coma as I'm about to pay when I notice something weird...the bill seems unusually high. It was somewhat difficult to decipher why, considering the itemized bill was not in English. So, I call my waitress over and point to part of the bill asking for a translation. She tells me it's "the TIP." WOW. WTF?! Really? How can you automatically charge me with a mandatory gratuity when: 1. It's only two of us eating(it's not like a party of 6 or more?)...and 2nd...even if it was a party of six...shouldn't they have been obligated to maybe oh I dunno...POST IT SOMEWHERE? A warning would have been nice...one that I can read. It's really made me angry considering the fact that I was ALREADY going to tip generously on TOP of the hidden mandatory tip already in place. Some people I've shared this story with tell me it's because it's late at night and they don't get much service. Wake up people, there's no excuse for this. The only reason I didn't give it one star was because the food was good...but why wouldn't it be? Afterall, I'M the one who cooked it....lol. Well, at least they cooked the rice for me.
(2)
Aileen G.

I came here with high hopes and was definitely impressed by the large number of delicious side dishes and the seafood pancake, but I've definitely had better kbbq meats elsewhere. We had the seafood pancake as appetizer, and it was delicious. A little bit crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, it was full of flavor with a generous amount of seafood. For the grill, we had the pork belly and the bulgogi. The pork belly was very bland, and they give you a plate of salt and oil to dip it in (which helps, but not by much). Not a big fan. The bulgogi had more flavor to it, but nothing special. The meat came in tiny broken pieces as opposed to the large, juicy pieces you see at some other places.
(3)
Erik O.

This place started off with a huge plus, by placing a massive amount of banchan in front of me. There were 20 little dishes of awesome laid on the table. The service was also not bad, which I wasn't expecting from previous reviews. Now here is why i gave the 3 stars. This place charges $20 per order of meat, which is revolting. We ordered 4 orders for 4 people, and it just wasn't enough. The meat was good, and the grilling process was really fun, I just wish we could have done it more with the $80 of meat we bought. The food was decent, and the service was fine, I just think I will be trying some other places before I come back.
(3)
Samuel M.

I love restaurants that feel like bustling, overgrown versions of one of your friends' houses. San Soo Gab San is definitely one of these, and it delivers admirable Korean BBQ to boot. I came to SSGS for a friend's birthday party with 13 other people; we went with the sets ($21.95-$25.95 per person) so as to maximize variety. It was an absolute feast, and the fact that they made us take our shoes off before eating at the essentially-floor level table added to the charm. Goon Mandhu, or Korean potstickers, make a delicious starter, especially considering their vegetarian contents. Seafood pancake hearkens back to the street food I enjoyed when I was in East Asia; fluffy like a cloud, and filled with several varieties of shellfish. That stuff is all fine and good, but pretty much the only reason to come here is for the barbecue, and it's a winner. The idea here is that you're given plates of marinated meat, which you can grill to your liking. Kalbi is served off the bone, and when cooked properly is fork-tender and deliciously crispy on the outside. Bulgogi is marinated to perfection, as is the pork tenderloin. As is customary, the above are served with lettuce leaves and soybean paste, which make for excellent wrap fodder. The best part, though, is probably the banchan, which is a melange of traditional side dishes. Our entire table was basically full of banchan before the entrees even came (supposedly there are over 25). It's a dizzying array of kimchees, vegetable dishes, noodle salads, and other stuff that I can't even begin to identify, but which tasted good. The only thing that didn't blow me away was Dol sot bibim bap ($9.95), which lacks the pleasant crisp that the clay pot usually gives the rice. This was just sort of average. Also, I'd have liked it if they offered Budae Jigae, but I likely couldn't have convinced anyone to go in on it with me, so this is a moot point. Pricing is somewhat high for ethnic food, but worth it considering the variety and volume of meat involved. Service is very friendly (though ours was likely augmented by the fact that my friend ordered entirely in Korean). The one kind of weird thing is that it's kind of difficult to convince them to let a fraction of your party do a set, while the others order a la carte; however, I more than understand this, because it would make it too easy to unethically split food, but it's still somewhat annoying. All in all, SSGS is an authentic Korean BBQ experience which may be the most reasonably priced way to eat a ridiculous amount of meat in Chicago, and is extremely friendly to big groups. I highly recommend it!
(4)
Ted C.

I've been here a few times and I've enjoyed it. The service can be spotty and it's best to go with a Korean speaker, otherwise the service will be worse. Korean restaurants can be like this though so it's not surprising. My latest visit though was exceptionally okay, though. Yes, it was average on a spectacular level. The service was all right nothing special you have to flag someone down and basically demand things not ask. We ordered the joo moo luk which is rib eye and right away I could tell it was frozen, some of the cuts were still pretty solid. It cooked up all right, but still a little disappointing. I always appreciated that the place was open late and it was an interesting place to take my Valentine's date after a late show. I will always keep a special place in my heart for this place for a late night Korean food fix but not as good as it used to be.
(3)
Jade T.

A restaurant must be damn awful to get one star from me. San Soo Gab San deserves this rating. I went with my sister, whom my boyfriend and I just picked up from the airport on a rainy Thursday night. She was excited to have Korean food. San Soo Gab San has a reputation for being the most popular Korean restaurant in Chicago, and it has above average reviews. I figured it would be a good meal. Hell no. Nevermind the fact that there were almost no vegetarian dishes. I expected such. I could eat just the pachan, the side dishes. They were able to make their tofu soup without seafood, which deserves to be noted. Anyway, my sister ordered beef bulgogi and dumplings and my boyfriend had the beef with glass noodles soup. All of the food was fine, although the noodle soup had maybe three strands of noodles. I'm totally serious. It was about a pound of beef in broth. My boyfriend found this to be disappointing. The service was what killed the experience. There was one waitress for the entire right section of the restaurant. The poor woman was overwhelmed by a full house. I can be sympathetic towards servers, but this restaurant was so poorly run. It took them 15 minutes to take our order, then forever to bring the pachan and the food. The server did not even ONCE check on our table. She took our order, brought our food, and gave us our check. I think we were there for over 1.5 hours, and we just wanted to eat and go home. We were really annoyed that the table with a large group right next to us received more service. She went to their table many times, and couldn't see us trying to flag her down (and we did this many times). We were dying of thirst, as no one ever refilled our water until the check came, and they spilled the water all over the damn table. I wanted more rice for my tofu soup, but the waitress never came back to our table. San Soo Gab San needs to work on efficiency because this poor quality of service was completely, absolutely unacceptable. We were annoyed. We were mad. I wanted to talk to the manager about the abysmal service (the worst I've had in a long time), but I'm just never going to return. I've had better food and service in the suburbs of Virginia. I DO NOT recommend San Soo Gab San at all, unless you come after midnight. Maybe the waitress will actually do more than the bare minimum. This restaurant is not worth the hype or the wait. You've been warned.
(1)
Jenn T.

Drunkenly came here on a Wed night around 130 am. Luckily, there was only one other party so we got all the attn we needed. No show of bad service voiced from previous yelpers. Side dishes and water came out immediately and we already knew what we wanted so those orders came out quickly too. I was AMAZED by how many side dishes there were!!! I counted: we had 21!!! as in... 16 more dishes than the normal amount you get in cali!!!! I especially like the sweet pickled lettuce cucumber thing, seaweed, the potato salad, the crunch clear noodle thingy?, spicy pickled cucumber, didn't like the kimchi as much. Enjoyed the spicy miso soup though. Nom nom!!! Can you imagine seeing all of this in front of you while buzzed and craving drunken munchies? Tummy heaven!! It was my first time ever hearing of seafood pancake and it was a great introduction. Reminded me a lot of the Vietnamese banh xeo. We also ordered 2 quantities of kalbi. The meat came on a platter with the bones. Odd, but whatevs. Some of the pieces had some cartilage...ehhh. The marinade is very diff from the ones I'm used to in CA. It wasn't as sweet, but you could really taste the meaty beef flavor. I was also impressed with how fast the meat cooked. Within 3-5 min!! I would've given 5 stars, but I didn't like the cartilage found in 2 of my pieces and I thought the marinade could be a bit sweeter.
(4)
Jason P.

This is your old school Korean bbq restaurants that is almost extinct now. It's small, not very clean, charcoal grills, and is open late, so you know it's going to be good. As a Korean, I already know my service is going to be weak especially in these kinds of places because the waitresses are not trying to be nice and polite and be all happy-go-lucky. Naw, Korean women as I know, when they're pissed and upset, they'll let you know. So you should never expect great service here, but that shouldn't ruin your experience. As an old school Korean restaurant, you know what they should be great at. Kalbi, your jiggaes, mmul neng myuns, and of course, their unbelievable array of ban chan that comes at you like a massive force. I've never seen so much from a Korean restaurant, and usually, I like a few ban chan, but here, they give you a solid amount that is actually edible. Prices are a little high but it's okay considering it's one of the few and only places that does kalbi right. CHARCOAL!!! Anyways, if you're feeling for some late night classic Korean food, this is your place.
(4)
Khadijah L.

Oh Korean BBQ and Karaoke... What can I say? (Awesome) San Soo Gab San is awesome. One of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurant and rightfully so. It's authentic Korean, Korean people come and eat here, and even the ladies who work here are like the rude asian aunties (I say that in an endearing way because I'm Asian and perhaps one day I will also become a rude asian aunty) that I encounter in Asia. But seriously I do love them, and their blunt manners. It's weird, I know. Perfect place for gathering with friends around fire like our ancestors did, to eat flame grilled meat. MEAT!!! Your hair will stink for days, your breath will smell like kimchee. Wear and old tshirt. Don't go to a fancy establishment afterwards without showering 2x. Vegetarians will also not be disappointed by the amass of side dishes that come with the meats. But it is probably best that they skip this one.
(4)
Tommy K.

My first Korean restaurant experience in Chicago. I thought the service was good, despite the bad service reviews. We simply asked for what we wanted and it was brought to us, fast. We had the marinated kalbi, pork kalbi, kaibi tang soup, seafood scallion pancake and extra rice. The banchan (side dishes) are abundant. Food quality is fresh and the BBQ was excellent. Keep the jackets in the car and prepare to smell like BBQ when you leave. It's all worth it and very satisfied. Last, CHEAP for Korean, especially coming from NYC. Our bill was $15 each for a party of six.
(4)
Dema A.

Once again, one of the best Korean places to go. After a busy day and not eating properly... nothing like a Dolsot and a Bulgogi to fill you up. Not to mention table full of side dishes. I've been there so many times that I don't mind the service at all. You just have to get their attention. (eye contact)
(5)
Lauren K.

First of all I don't like writing reviews for places that are clearly not for vegetarians, but I feel if someone were in my situation (read further) they might want to know? I'll give 3 stars b/c I feel like I can't properly rate this place. It was a birthday party for my very good friend, so I wanted to go and be a part of it. I'm not one of those veggies who will sit there and tell people around me to not order meat. I think, you eat what you want, I really don't care. But if you have a weak stomach (which is partly why I became veg in the first place) maybe you should not come here...because people WILL order raw meat (its what ya do here!) and the meat WILL be bloody and juicy (to me, that's a giant EW factor..just my opinion, just my warning to those who feel the same..) You *will* go home smelling like meat. You will. Nothing on the menu is vegetarian besides edamame. (Some of the side dishes they brought out were probably vegetarian, but I wasn't sure what most of them were..) They were nice enough though to make me some white rice and steamed veggies in one of those stone bowls that stays really hot. There was another vegetarian in the party who ordered the same.... The waitress took a giant bottle of hot sauce and squirted it ALLLLLLLLL over his meal. ALLL oveerrrrrrr. Before he could say anything, no warning, nothing just hot sauce allll up in his food. A LOT of it. Then she attempted to do that to mine also but I saw what was happening and put my hands over the bowl. Jeez! Be prepared to take off your shoes and sit barefoot with your feet hanging below the table in an area that's even hard for Danny Tanner to clean in between visits. Just sayin'. My meat eating friends really enjoyed themselves. I didn't really. If you're veg I say skip it.
(3)
Lakhi S.

I have been to SSGS many times before but I am not planning on going back. One night after me and my friends have a reunion, 14 of us go to San Soo Gab San at around 2am. There are lots of people eating inside, I ask the female waitress if they have a table of 14 available. She then she starts complaining in Korean to the other employees. But says yes that we have a table. As the waitress takes our order she starts rushing us. Some of my friends who had never had Korean food were asking her about the food and ingredients and then she started to complain and started becoming very rude to us we felt very disrespected. Then when she took the order of the last 2 people in our group my friends said they weren't going to eat. The waitress all of a sudden screams at the and says "If you aren't eating here then go out!" At this point we all had enough and just got up and left. I'm never going back nor recommending people to that place again.
(1)
Walter D.

Best Korean place I've been too. Place is huge despite what you see from the outside. Great atmosphere. And the food (Bogogi and chopche) and small Korean appetizer plates (18 of them) were fantastic!
(5)
Elle L.

OMG!! If I was having Korean for the first time, this place would have totally ruin my first experience. SERVICE is HORRIBLE!!! We sat for a good 15-20 minutes until someone came to take our order and on top of that, I had to ask for water. Don't sit down resturants generally give you water right away before taking order?? When the lady brought the water, she had her head face toward the floor where you can litterally see the top of her head as she's approaching our table with the tray of water. My friend said maybe it's a culture thing and I didnt think so because I've ate at a lot of Korean places and the first thing you hear when you walk through any korean joint is... "Anyeasayo!" Didn't get that here! The pickled side dishes tasted OLD like they've been sitting out for days. The kimchi radishes are crunchy, these were chewy. Also, the place isn't the most cleanest place either. So that right there tells you what their expectations are. Usually I don't criticize whole in the wall places because BELIEVE ME, i've had some of the best FOOD in whole in the wall places. But definitely look elsewhere for Korean if you're looking for good korean w/ good service.
(1)
Vanessa I.

My boyfriend and I go here a lot, and it's especially convenient since it's in our neighborhood. I've been to restaurants where the servers frequently stop by the table to see if everything is okay. This is great but not when we have our mouths stashed with food. At San Soo Gab San, we always grill our meats since it comes with 23+ side dishes... and you can ask for refills with a charge. It's just as pricey as other korean bbq restaurants but our excitement peaks because of the side dishes ;) Their rice is a PLUS!! Best place to go but it can be very packed at night.
(5)
Brian L.

I just can't write a bad review about San Soo Gab San. I know their service isn't the friendliest. They always seem like it's such a burden to help anyone. That you better order enough meat for each person there or they'll raise hell... The food is good. It makes up for whats lacking. They have a ton of banchan which helps. People hates this place because of their service. I can see why. I've been to Korean BBQ in Cali and their servers were really friendly... I've also gone with some good friends who are Korean and it turns into a joke about the service. My one friend has to yell in Korean for the server because she was ignoring us more so then when I went without them... Just prepare yourself for that and you'll do fine.
(3)
Esther Y.

I LOVE Korean food. Nothing will beat it from the motherland, but sometimes when you just have to have some Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap you have to have it. This place is open 24/7 and it's good. Prices are fine, the staff is fine (there are definitely better and worse servers) and you leave smelling like Korean BBQ. One thing I DESPISE about this place is their uneven allocation of side dishes. Although they allege you get more when you get Gal Bi or Bul Go Gi, it's kind of hit or miss. Sometimes they just give you what they want. At times it may be a lot, at times you know you DEFINITELY did not get as many as the table next to you, though you ordered relatively the same things. I would've given them more stars had I not witnessed this on multiple occasions. What to try: Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap Dduk Man Doo Soup What to eat but know that it's better somewhere else: Jap Chae (it's too oily here but good) Single order of Bul Go Ki (When you cook it yourself it tastes better)
(4)
Matt W.

I'm giving San Soo Gab San 3 stars, which I think is generous, but I'm also comparing it to the Korean BBQ I'm used to in Korea Town LA. This may be good Korean BBQ for Chicago. The good: The dumpling appetizers were good, but we kinda jumped the gun because there were about 15 bowls of different kimchi's, bean sprouts, noodles, etc. to start. The varieties of kimchi and other appetizer bowls were very good and a nice beginning to the meal. They took up the whole table. The grill was charcoal, which I have never experienced at a Korean BBQ before, so that was a huge plus. The miso soup was very good. We ordered the ribeye. Next time that's all I'm ordering. The bad: The marinated beef was sliced way too thin and slopped on the serving plate. No care to presentation. The pork belly was frozed, thin, and tasted like cardboard. I would go back, but I would take care not to order like I normally do when at Korean BBQ.
(3)
Jim N.

Food was great, service not so much. Came there on a Sunday and it was busy. Only had two servers who spoke very little English. Thank goodness the menu had pictures made it easy to point n choose. Overall great food n decent service.
(3)
leslie b.

Incredible! We sit down, order. I go to the bathroom for two minutes, come back, and the table is covered with rainbows. I don't know what any of it was, aside from the short ribs and beef (which were maybe the most tender meat I've ever had), but there was enough of it to sink a ship, and everything was awesome in combination with everything else. Seaweed salad, spiced cabbage, weird rice jello?--all I know for sure is that I'll be coming back with a lot of friends... (Oh the partitioned seating is a nice touch)
(5)
John C.

I have been going to this place for almost 10 years ... love the food. Today, the place was busy which I can understand for slower service. So after patiently waiting for server to take order, then a long while for water and drinks. Another long while passed and we still haven't get our food ... typically, those small side dishes should have come flying out immediately after we place order. After waiting way too long, we decided to see if they can bring out those small dishes first. Then the waitress (happen to the be owner) start saying we have to wait ... and told us that those small dishes are not appetizers! Even after I had explain that we had waited for a long time and the table which came after us already got their dishes. She actually said next time we should order other stuff that come with those small dishes. HRMMM ... I have not gone to any Korean restaurants that have requirement on what to order to get Kim-chi!!! ANYWAY, THERE IS NO MORE NEXT TIME FOR ME HERE! TERRIBLE OWNER ... my money isn't going to hers anymore. After almost 10 years of frequent visits and being treated this way!
(1)
Christopher L.

This place is great! If you know nothing about Korean food... RIP 24 hr. Korean restaurant on Lawrence. (Now Luxury Condominiums...) Who knows what I'm talking about? I still go occasionally, even though I once bit into glass which they claimed to be bone... I know I'm not the brightest bulb in the bunch, but I don't think squid bone is green. All I'm saying is proceed with caution while eating kim chi.
(2)
Jim W.

I feel bad since a Korean classmate organized and took me and 15 others here and ordered in Korean for us, but I have to offer up my thoughts. I was excited when I came here after reading the Yelp reviews - and esp since there are no Korean places downtown and I had to carpool to get here, but I was truly disappointed. This is as authentic as it gets in the midwest? I guess I'm spoiled coming from California. I don't know my Korean meats that well, but I've eaten enough where I can identify bulgogi and kalbi - whatever was ordered for us looked like neither. The plates of meat presented to us looked like it had come straight from the butcher - the meat was thick, crude and hard to chew. Not only was it unpleasant to look at, it was difficult to grill, which leads me to point #2. The grills. Charcoal grill is wonderful...when done right. I don't understand why they couldn't have had a pit for the charcoal grill set into the table. Instead, the grill was not only sitting on the tabletop occupying space, but the smoke was blowing straight into our faces. I love smelling like Kbbq as much as the next person, but I don't like inhaling fumes and having smoke in my eyes. I felt like a caveman after fire was discovered. Oh, and the actual grill was like a ghetto tray I took out of my toaster oven. The service. I thought since I had gone with a Korean guy who practically lived there for awhile, we'd get the royal treatment. I know we had a lot of ppl at a long table, but come on now! The lady made us pass down everything from one end of the table. Water glasses, side dishes, lettuce, rice, meat...you name it, she loaded us on one side and just couldn't get herself to come around to the middle of the table to set our food down. And this is when the restaurant was practically empty. I can't imagine how it's like when this place gets busy (why it does, I couldn't tell you). Oh, and she never refilled our one serving of small vege plates, even when most of the stuff on the table was finished. And she only changed 2 of the 4 grills we used. Any redemptive qualities? It was cheap. And the haemul pajun (seafood pancake) was good. But honestly, BOO to san soo. 2 thumbs down.
(1)
Sadie P.

I used to live down the street from this place and I used to dream of coming here after a night of drinking because of coure, nothing is funnier than drunk people with fire and sharp implements. Alas, my dream was never realized. But I did manage to spend a fun evening here with a table full of friends/acquaintences/strangers and I loved it. San Soo Gab San is a madhouse-the parking lot is always packed and the night we went there were conflicting stories from management about whether or not they accept reservations. Luckily, one of the members of our group is Korean and she straightened out the matter and we seemed to get better service after that-which was a relief since one of the servers ignored us and I felt bad asking the nice server for more lettuce leaves every five minutes, but dammit I had lettuce leaves needs that were not being met. The BBQ was great as was the plum wine and unfortunately I didn't have anything else. The most important to know though is that the place is almost always packed, so be prepared to wait.
(4)
Alyssa V.

I really enjoy the food at San Soo Gab San. The tofu and seafood stew, the spicy shredded beef soup, and all of the bbq I have had have been very good. This is the only Korean BBQ I've been to, but if I had to rate this place based only on their food I would probably give it a four. However, the service here is so bad...really I have nothing to compare it to. I don't even understand how it is possible. The first time I went here, I noticed that it wasn't so hot. It is very hard to get your waiter to make eye contact-- I guess they would rather be doing anything else but their job? It was difficult to get more water, more food, the bill, or anything else because of this. But I went there the other day , and things went from bad to worse.... Basically, my friend and I order off the lunch special menu. At the top of this menu, it says $5.95 SOUP. And then underneath it are listed 8 different soups. We each selected one and waited for them to come. Mind you, my friend had just broken up with her boyfriend of 6 years, we were both hungover, and we needed this soup. Had been anticipating Korean soup all day. The food comes, and mine is a soup, pretty tasty (the previously mentioned tofu seafood). Her food is Bi Bim Bop. We are surprised, because Bi Bim Bop is vegetables and meat over rice....not soup at all. I call the waiter over, because today we really need soup. He doesn't want to take it back. I ask a few more times and we look at the lunch special menu together, and then he gets his manager. His manager....well, she says to us "this your first time at Korean BBQ?" We say no. She says, "everyone knows what Bi Bim Bop is." Our mouths are hanging open. We know what it is, too...and it was NOT listed as that on the lunch special menu. On the lunch special menu it was explained simply as 'beef, vegetables'. We assumed it was a soup....since SOUP was the header to this menu!!! We started to explain ourselves but....I mean does this even warrant a response? She proceeds to talk loudly about us for the next hour that we are there with her frightened and mute employees... But we got our soup.
(2)
Kiarash Z.

Pros: Open all day and night, grill your own food, filled with smoke, creepy vibe, a billion free side dishes, yummy Cons: To grill at your table, you must order at least two grillable items, which generally cost about $17 each (soup and rice included). And if you're just there with another person, that's quite a bit of food. However, if you're there with three people or more, it's far more affordable than fondue or other do-it-yourself eateries. And I love the servers. They're so blunt and nearly incapable of speaking English, which makes it their restaurant, not yours, and that's how it should be.
(4)
John D.

The real deal. This is the best Korean BBQ place I've ever been to, and I've eaten at some of the best in DC and LA. Very traditional. You should go with somebody who knows what they are doing if you haven't before, but that's pretty much the deal with any good Korean BBQ place. Parking is tough.
(5)
June P.

I used to be a regular here b/c they have above average Korean BBQ in the Chicago area. It's the closest the city has to offer but no where near as good as NYC's Korean restaurants. The Galbi and Bulgogi are good but I recently decided to boycott this establishment because I can no longer tolerate their terrible service. Their service has always suffered with their long waiting times and lack of respect from the waitresses. The food is good but not worth the stress of wondering if we'll be pissed off by their rudeness and incompetence by the end of the night. The only positive I can give is that they're open late night, but don't let that lead you to think their service is any better at odd hours.
(1)
Andrea K.

This is the best Korean bbq place in Chicago! I've been eating there since they opened over 15 years ago. Over the years they've improved a LOT in terms of service. Originally they didn't seem to want non-Koreans as customers and did not try to accommodate them, but after getting reviews in magazines and newspapers they've learned a more reasonable level of service. My family eats there often enough that they know what we'll order every time. However, don't expect first class service at ANY Korean restaurant. That's just not how they are. Food is #1, and the less than perfect service is worth it.
(5)
Cynthia F.

The food was amazing, and the portions plentifully. The three stars is for the ambiance (pretty loud), the HORRIBLE ventilation (you WILL smell like meat and smoke when you leave), and the service. We had so many different people come to our table that we were confused as to who to ask when we needed something. The night ended with us having to hound down someone who would a) respond to us and b) give us our check. Definitely not happy about that. We also began to run out of room for all the plates of food they brought. At one point we had like 15 small round dishes of stuff - totally could have put it all on one platter!!! So if you're patient and don't mind the bad service, the food is definitely worth it. If this is your first time, let the server show you how to cook the different meats. They are experts and it will make your meal so much more enjoyable. One last thing - the parking lot holds like six cars, and it is a VERY tight squeeze, especially if you have a bigger car. I would highly suggest you take the Western bus or car pool if possible.
(3)
Lucy F.

Yuck. We went with a large group and sat at the long uncomfortable table on the right as you come in. It was raining and the roof leaked through the vent dripping black greasy water all over us and our food. The grumpy waitress moved us to the other large table where the vents did not work at all. I also thought it was quite expensive for gristly, poor quality beef. Won't be back
(1)
DongDong M.

I came here to eat dinner last year during July 4 holiday. The place was very busy and the food was really good. So I decided to bring my family there yesterday! It was not so great. The side dishes are as variety as before. JabChe is a good as usual. However, the BBQ meat was not good and was poorly cut, which made the meat impossible to chew!
(3)
adera l.

I went to San Soo Gab San for the first time this Valentine's Day and I am happy we did. It was my first Korean BBQ in Chicago! We went around 9:00pm and it was still packed. We couldn't be seated till our entire party was present which is fine. A friendly lady working behind the counter offered us chocolate and made us feel welcome while my partner and I were waiting for our friends. It was a very short wait for a table after they arrived. I don't ever expect to be treated like a princess by wait staff at a restaurant but some of the ladies working there just didn't seem to be having a great day. We ordered beer with the rest of our food but it didn't arrive till we asked for it mid meal. I was having a pretty positive experience until the very end. Our waitress and a busy boy came and collected our plates as quickly as possible (which yes is a good thing) but they also blocked us from actually leaving the table. It was a weird and difficult departure from San Soo Gab San. Did we not run out of there fast enough?? I had to get my coat on... sorry. Anyway, the food was good and I love barbecue so I'd consider going back during a slower time of day and not assume that anyone will be nice to me there.
(4)
Rebecca Huicha K.

Yes the food is good and cheap but the service SUCKS. plus they no longer refill the banchan. WTF,
(2)
Colin K.

Was just here tonight and had an absolutely perfect experience. We arrived with it packed and every table full, but we were seated within five minutes. The staff was ultra attentive and polite. Our order was complicated and long winded, with many alterations and additions, but the waitress was patient and caught everything. Nothing was forgotten. The food was served almost immediately, hot (except for the food we cooked ourselves), and plentiful, and excellent. We were given plenty of time to eat, and the prices were reasonable. Totally great time.
(5)
Jessica O.

Good food! My hubby's favorite food in the world is Korean. So therefore, for his birthday surprise I approached my Korean students at school and asked them... "where do YOU go?." Many of them answered San Soo Gab San. The place is set up with raised private rooms, which sit around a table that are equipped to handle real charcoal grills... this is unlike most Korean places. I ordered the chap che, Bulgogi, kalbi, and the prime rib, as well as steak and chicken to grill. If you have never eaten Korean this way, it is the " you cook it yourself" format. They also bring out massive amounts of panchan, which are little appetizers of fish, veggies, pickled things, GOOD STUFF! I would really recommend this place to anyone looking for something a little different. Only one or two warnings... the wait-staff really doesn't speak english very well, so make sure that you know what you want to order and speak clearly, or bring a Korean! Also, careful getting out of the parking lot! It's dangerous! :0)
(4)
Janet L.

My bad. It's not BYOB. Enjoy your liquor prior to fooding here :o]. Still good, though! And come here with a Korean speaker/smaller party for better service!
(4)
Quantas G.

My first experience with Korean BBQ was awesome! It was a unique experience to say the least. I've never cooked my food on my table before and I tasted more new dishes in one sitting either. Some Korean friends of mine took me here to try a taste of their culture and I enjoyed it. They brought a huge pile of marinated meat, a hot cauldron full of burning coals, and enough side dishes to complete the meal. There were at least 15 side dishes ranging from kimchi, sauteed spinach, potato salad, grilled green onions, seaweed salad, fresh garlic, pickled beans, etc. The service was excellent and we had all of our needs taken care of. And yes, you will smell smoke when you leave but you will leave a happy man.
(5)
K T.

We went after having read the bad reviews about the bad service so I supposed my expectations were of that. But because we went with that knowledge we had a great time. It was more "no service" rather than "bad service". I think the language barrier makes it hard for good service. We didn't even get a How is everything? Can I get you anything else? ... It's one of those places where if you don't ask you won't get because it's just not a service oriented restaurant. But the food definitely makes up for it. I feel full just thinking about it. We ordered the Korean beef and Marinated pork for our main meats. The soup, rice and all the sides was more than enough for two people.
(4)
Andy C.

This is some good ass Korean food... and to be honest.. their sushi is some of the best in the city. If you plan on dining in at this place...prepare yourself for the probability of smelling like Korean BBQ for the rest of the night....not a bad thing... I had a pack of wild dogs chasing me down the street afterwords..
(3)
Jim T.

Ahh, the experience is worth it. Never-mind if some of the 22 dishes of random fixins were somewhat palatable, the choices make it your own fault if you don't enjoy this place. I mean YOU cook it, YOU mix it together, if you walk away unsatisfied, slap YOURself. This was a unique and fun place to someone who has never had Korean BBQ before. Next time I'll be sure to come with a group of people and avoid their unappetizing appetizers (soft shell crab was strange). I'd give this place four stars if it didn't print out my full credit card number on the receipt, shame on you San Soo Gab San, respect my privacy.
(3)
Heather K.

So far my favorite Korean place in Chicago!! This place is quality.
(5)
Trevor S.

Food: Excellent Hours: Refreshing for those who work long hours. Service: Read the other reviews. Parking is rather speculative. Otherwise, the best Korean restaurant I know.
(4)
Jon J.

An overall "solid" Korean restaurant, that specializes in BBQ. They have the largest spread of panchan of any Korean Places that i've been to (although not as much as the Garden Buffet, but that doesn't count). I've had stews, do it yourself BBQ, kitchen cooked BBQ, and all has been good. I like their kalbi better if they cook it for you in the kitchen.. which is strange for a bbq place, but that one dish in particular tends to be better. The staff can be a bit cold, but that's typical for Korean places. Just smile at them and they lighten up :)
(4)
Robin C.

DELICIOUS! Another one of my favorites. The BBQ is amazing - you cook all of the deliciously marinated meat over charcoal grills at your own private table. There are certainly cheaper Korean BBQ places in the area, but the food here is the best. I love bringing all of my friends here who've never had Korean BBQ before and they all leave loving the food and the experience. My own never fail comfort food: Goon man doo (the dumpling apps), Jhap Chae, Kal bi or bulgogi. All great. The entrees come with what seems like millions of little sides - literally something for everyone. You may have to be fairly aggressive to get refills or more rice, but that's typical for a lot of Asian restaurants. Definitely make it a point to come here!
(5)
george k.

I went with a friend, we each ordered a meat. About 25 dishes of sides came out and a big platter of raw meat. A few seconds later a flaming hot pot/grill of charcoal came out and the fun began. Service could have been friendlier, but the meal was quite good. I wish I lived closer, and was within walking /stumbling distance because I would love to get this on my way home from a night of drinking. 10am - 3am 7 days a week is pretty amazing for something like this. I will go here again.
(4)
Eric S.

This is the utility infielder of Korean restaurants, great for any occasion. Whether it's late night dining, lunch, or a large group gathering, San Soo can fit the bill. I recommend the haemul pajun (seafood pancake) and of course the kalbi or bulgogi. The dubus and jigaes are good, but not great. Pork tends to get overcooked on the table-top grill and I tend to stay away from the squid. Large parties are seated at booths where it is customary to take off your shoes. As a courtesy, be sure to where socks that match and/or do not have holes.
(4)
Jyo H.

The serving staff at this place is rude to the core. If you're not ordering multi orders of BBQ and alcohol, forget about service. You're totally looked down upon if the amount of your order isn't over $200. Not being attended by your server even once during your entire meal is common. Also note and beware, the food from this place is a MSG galore. You can taste it in your tongue. Very nasty after taste.
(1)
Ms. R.

Delicious Korean BBQ - we had Kalbi beef and pork ribs. Plenty of tasty side dishes to nosh on (our jaws dropped when we saw how many dishes our server was placing on our table) , and our orders also included lettuce, spring onion, miso soup and bowls of rice. Left stuffed and needing a nap! The only thing I was disappointed with was that the server didn't ask if we needed help with the grilling (didn't ask if this was our first time there or anything). We could have used help with the timing so we wouldn't burn (and waste) the delicate and tasty slices of meat.
(4)
Michael G.

Hands down best Korean I have been to. The Banchan were all great, Everything came out super fast. The Waitress was really nice and they changed our grill a few times which is nice. They do offer a limited menu after 10 so you do miss out on a few appetizers and soups if you go in late, but don't let that deter you I promise you will still find something to enjoy!
(5)
Tony C.

(Review #1) We all love this place, but please stop spreading this "24 hour" nonsense. SSGS usually shuts down by 4:30-5am ish? Last time I walked in at ~5am, I got DEE-NIED. I'm not the first one to get denied so I wouldn't want you to have the same craving at 5am. Walked out w/ my head hung low and wanted to steal some yook-ge-jiang from the last table still dining.
(5)
V V.

This is my favorite Korean place in Chicago by far. Great food, always consistent. The BBQ-it-yourself items are the best I've had anywhere, I highly recommend the tender baby squid for those who can handle the sight of tentacles. The portions are hefty and every dinner comes with 20 complimentary mini side dishes and soup. I always leave stuffed. Just don't expect extra kindly service from the Korean waitresses, which seems to be the case with many of the authentic Korean restaurants I've been to. They aren't mean, but just understand that the goal is to get you fed, so friendliness is unnecessary. You are on their turf, just stay out of their way when they throw the dishes on your table, shut up and enjoy the delicious.
(5)
Erwin A.

San Soo Gab San, what a HUGE disappointment. I promised myself that I'd go check this place out when I deemed myself worthy (and by worthy I mean being able to say the name of the place by putting the four 3-letter words in the correct order). On the day of rapture, I decided to celebrate the end times by taking the wife for an early dinner to beat the Saturday rush and was seated immediately around 5 PM. The menu looked a little intimidating so I asked the server if she could help us out. She mumbled something, pointed to the corner of the menu and left us to figure things out. It took us awhile, but basically to get the full experience of plugging the hole in the table with fiery charcoal, you need to order two meats (approximately $20 each). I recommend going for the kalbi (marinated short ribs) and bulgogi (marinated beef), you can't go wrong as both were marinated well and as such really tasty. If you're only eating as a couple though, one meat is enough as they give you a good amount on a large plate to cook. They also give you more than enough side dishes (banchan), around 19 little bowls of mystery and 1 little bowl of potato salad. We were taking our time and enjoying ourselves until the owner walked by and said that we needed to cook our meat faster because the coals were dying out, which was absolutely not true. Instead, it was her way of trying to rush us (we hadn't been there for more than 30 mins). If we didn't get that hint, the next one a few minutes later was more obvious: our server, not even acknowledging us, took the rest of our meat and dumped it on the grill, a definite WTF? And if that wasn't enough, the next party to sit at that table had already been led there before I had even finished paying the bill. To that, I'd say that I agree with other reviewers about the crappy service they have.
(1)
Tiffany S.

I recently tried to go here on a Sat night with 2 friends. There looked to be a decent wait of at least 2 or 3 parties ahead of us, but somehow the lady gave us a table. We figured maybe the other parties were bigger and needed a bigger table... she's knows what she's doing, right? So we sat down. We took off our coats and settled in. We got glasses of water. And menus. We had just decided what to order when the lady comes back and tells us she accidentally seated us before some other people and she asks us to go back in line and wait - are you fuckin serious? That's my fault you can't keep track of who's in line? Well, I guess it was a no-win situation for them. Someone was going to be upset one way or the other. It was us. =( We left. Hungry. Damnit.
(1)
iddells E.

I cannot understand how, in my 26 years of existence on Chicago's northside, I have never stepped foot in this place. I must have passed this restaurant a million times while driving down Berwyn. It never caught my attention nor did it conjur up any curiousity......until..... I yelped!!! I was reading the many reviews and when I went to check out the location, I was surprised. "Hmmm," I thought, "is this actually the restaurant on the corner that I pass literally almost everyday of the week?" It was, and immediately San Soo Gab San was on my list of "must eat" restaurants. I went there this past weekend and was elated. It was a nice, clean place and very orange. I thought it was so cool how they have those areas where you can actually sit on the floor...sounds like an idea for my next birthday get-together! My bf and I were too lazy to grill, so I just ordered a bulkoki and he ordered the spicy shredded beef soup. When my bf had questions about the soups, the waitress bluntly said that those certain soups are liked more by Koreans, so she pushed him towards the more American likings. It was funny. Anyways, when the food arrived, I received my soup, rice, bulkoki, and 15 sides while my bf got his steaming spicy soup. Everything was delicious!!! Loved the sides, loved the soups, loved the meat!!! Man, I will definitely be frequenting this restaurant more and bringing everyone I know to try it out. The next time I go, I'll definitely be doing the BBQ.
(5)
Tony P.

Fun place to go with a bunch of friends. It's not your typical sit-and-be-served place. You actually cook your own food (well, meat, anyways) in front of you! They give you a small plate of meat, and a lot of appetizer-type plates with various foods (ranging from delicious to throw-it-away). The problem? Small portions of the stuff you like! For example, for the price, I expected more meat. I left stuffed, but only after I ate my petite friends' portions. Same with the small appetizer plates. Great food. Small portions. Come semi-hungry.
(4)
shirley m.

down graded one star-I really need to find another BBQ place in the city. Service has dropped significantly, my sister asked for hot water instead of tea and they let the tap run for a few minutes before filling the cup! portion sizes have decreased, overall a big disappointment :(
(2)
Peter F.

Went here with a friend who taught English in Korea. One of the best meals I've had in Chicago in awhile. Read reviews of this place on yelp and they All concur.. This place is mighty tasty and authentic.
(5)
Suz C.

My heart belongs to "Korean Restaurant" also known as Han-gu-kwan, but San Soo Gab San has become its replacement. (Anyone know when/if Korean Restaurant will re-open in its new location?) The food is really good, authentic, and reasonably priced. It has plenty of tables, and overflow patrons are placed in the sister sushi restaurant next door. When you go, you must order a grill dish (bulgogi, kalbi, etc.), because it tastes so good and gives you a good Korean dinner experience. I love the ban-chan -- they have a lot of them, which is indicative of a good Korean restaurant. (I know that all Korean restaurants do it, but isn't it funny when you see potato salad in the banchan dishes?) Sometimes they serve kimchee that's not quite ripe, but oh well. It happens. DON'T WEAR NICE CLOTHING! Yeah, it's not a very well-ventilated place and when you've got a dozen or more grills going at the same time, you're bound to come out smelling and feeling very greasy and garlicky. Yes, the stink can stay in your clothes for a good week, so be aware of what you wear when you go. The Bibimbab is excellent, although sometimes they put iceberg lettuce in it, which I think is so freaking weird. I also enjoy their duk mandookuk, which has the right amount of flavor. I tried the spicy tuna maki roll, and it was pretty damn good. They put a little ko-chu-jang in the spicy sauce which makes me really tasty. Weekends are super busy. Don't even think of trying ot park in that ridiculously tiny parking lot. People can't park their giant SUVs right and I'm sure dings happen all the time. You can park easily on the side streets. It's a bit run-down and dive-y looking inside, but I think that indicates that it's a GOOD Korean restaurant. :) Another thing...I think this place is supposed to be open 24/7, just like Korean Restaurant. I've tried Solga, which is fairly good, but I prefer San Soo Gab San. I think it's less expensive than Solga. (Hm, but Solga does have an advantage -- their no-rae-bang (karaoke rooms))!
(4)
Job E.

I think this is the same place as San Soo Gab San - yelp.com/biz/san-soo-gabâ€¦
(3)
Carlos C.

If is wasn't for my #1 place SOLGA... this would be my #1. Oh well... I guess it's my #2 place. Now, you I don't like comparing one restaurant to another.. and giving it lower marks simply because I'm comparing. In other words.. its like comparing Taco Bell to Chipotle to Su Casa... these are all good restaurants, however there is NO COMPARISON to ONE ANOTHER! This place ROCKS. First of all... the Korean BBQ is cooked with charcoal (my fav). It reminds me of a 70's Korean Dive Bar I used to go in Los Angeles. The waitress actually spoke PERFECT english and the menu was very big. I think I would bring a friend that was not 100% used to korean food. This way, we could order several things and he/she can try it out. However, next time I would skip the soon tofu. (best place in schaumburg). Stick with the specialty.... BBQ. The place is not very expensive... I like the atmosphere.... and once again... the Food ROCKED.
(5)
Ross R.

Ever since dining at San Soo Gab San a couple months ago, I will periodically find myself chanting its name in my head as I walk down the road in stride with my steps, it has a very metronomic quality to it. I still don't know why I do that, but that is a side point. The food at SSGS is an experience to say the least. We only ventured to try the grill-it-yourself meat items (ribeye, chicken, octopus) which were all very good, but I wish they would give some guidance on how long to cook certain items. The Ribeye was hands down the best item on the menu for the following reasons: 1. The meat is tender 2. It is flavorful, even if you overcook it 3. They give you a pair of giant kitchen shears to cut it with. The side dishes are what make the dining experience so memorable. My limited experiences at other Korean BBQ places leads me to believe that the number of side dishes they give you at SSGS is extraordinary (must have been at least 30). They weren't all delicious, but it was great to try all those different items, and could potentially be meal on their own. I liked the service simply because of its ballsiness and attitude. Ballsiness: when the bus boys bring your grill to the table, they put you at risk of 3rd degree burns at least 3 times between walking to the table and setting the grill in its holder, which is sweet. Attitude: at least a few of the waitresses are super sassy and will gladly make fun of you. Kind of like a korean ed debevic's. Its worth the trip if only to experience it once.
(4)
Joyce T.

Hooray to 24/7 Korean BBQ!! Anytime I'm up in the Lakeview/bordering Evanston area, I have to hit up this restaurant. Just thinking about their sushi makes my mouth water. Because I'm a frequent customer, the sushi chef knows me quite well. They make awesome sushi here on top of their wonderful Korean BBQ. Their rolls are unique, off the charts, and not at all Americanized (watered down Cali rolls or diced up spicy tuna rolls). They combine your entire order on one or two platters and depending on the chef that's there at night, there are certain variations in the same sushi roll, which I like. Their Korean bbq is awesome!! Def try their kalbi or their bulgogi. Their bibimbop (sp??) is to die for as well. They have this spicy seafood noodle dish that's awesome, although my stomach can't handle foods that are too spicey! The only complaint is that their chapchae and mong dook (fried dumplings) were a bit too oily and filling. Otherwise, great place, good family styled ambiance, awesome food, and friendly staff!!
(4)
Timothy M.

Let's see: delicious Korean BBQ. Wood decor and huge private picnic-style tables. Charcoal pots at your table. Open 24 Hours. This just might be one of the best ideas ever. All that's missing is a kareoke machine. I love coming here and getting the kalbi (BBQ pork or beef ribs), beef (bulgolgi), pork, (Dweji bulgogi), and chicken (Dak bulgogi) as the main dishes. Then sampling all the delicious Banchan (side) dishes. It combines everything I love about food: the sampling of different flavors, the delicious and hearty meat juxtaposed with the light side dishes, and the feeling that you are sharing a feast with your friends. This place is not really somewhere I'd recommend with one other person, you should go with at least 3 people. One of my favorite places in Chicago.
(5)
Mark S.

Yeah, lots of long reviews here to tell you what it's about... This place is great by me- I come here pretty often. I've never had any serious problem with the service that wasn't more funny than annoying. They're generally normal/nice. I love this place for what it is. I will add that the big floor seating tables toward the front of the place are not for those with long legs... The table top is THICK wood, leaving little room underneath for folded up legs, big feet, etc!
(4)
Chutima N.

Only great experience with food but service is something else. I feel like Apple and AT&T haha!! My friend experience was a year ago. About 24 appetizers, yes, it is a complement!! Many dishes are interesting, especially raw meat. Grill menus have never disappointed me and friends. But please, this is Chicago, speak to us and suggest new customers something. New customers need to bring your friend there with you otherwise you might not enjoy and get first experience there. Best time to go is 6pm or during the day cuz not too crowded. The rating I gave is about foods.
(4)
Michelle K.

My best friend and I visited this place for dinner after hearing rave reviews from a local. We were seated immediately. Since we didn't want to order two plates of BBQ short ribs, we had the kitchen cook it for us. I was afraid they were going to char the meat, but it was cooked perfectly and bonus: we didn't smell like BBQ smoke afterwards! We also ordered a seafood pancake, which was delicious although there was very little seafood to be found amongst all the green onions. The side dishes were plentiful and delicious. The service was adequate, but fairly slow. They do have a parking lot, but it's super small and not easy to squeeze into a spot. All in all, I'm sure I would go back again with more friends to help chow down the delicious food.
(4)
mike l.

Kum Gang San in Flushing this aint, but it's a close second. Since the grills are charcoal, this is a bbq in the true sense of the word. It's also smokey. And small. But, the meat is tasty & the panchan are plentiful. I didn't even know the thousand or so little side dishes had a name, so yay for me!
(4)
Allan C.

THEY USE REAL CHARCOAL!!!! AND THEY'RE OPEN AT 3AM!!!! That's essentially all I could possibly want from a Korean bbq. Too many Korean places that I used to go to at NYC are gas. The stout man with the calluses from heck bring in the burning lump charcoal is an experience in itself.
(5)
Robin L.

After years of hearing I should try Korean BBQ, I finally did. This place was great, so great in fact, that I've been back a second time. They give you so much food that we've gone home with leftovers both times. I would love to give this place 5 stars but I knocked it down one because they only have one chicken dish on the menu. I've been told for a Korean BBQ place that I should be lucky they even had one chicken dish on their menu. I still highly recommend going there.
(4)
Tony R.

This place represents all that is glorious and beautiful in the world. Yes, that's right, grilled meat and panchan. If you could throw in some mango juice, then we'd have it all. But we can't have it all in life, though we can get close by coming here. There are some moments when I come here and think, I just want sundubu or the goat stew(really really good, by the way, but it gives you some serious gas, so if you eat this, be forewarned that people will avoid you), but then I see the coals and the aroma of grilled animal...and I can't resist...even when I burn my hands or my friends and I start sweating from the heat...I never for one moment doubt that ordering two meat dishes was the right thing to do. For specifics ,the wang kalbi is my favorite, though I can say the bulgogi is okay except that is a bit difficult to cook on the coals. There is an octopus dish which is good as well. The panchan is also plentiful and glorious. Be careful though lest you succumb to Pachan Fullness Disorder, a disease that afflicts many a diner at Korean restaurants wherein one stuffs oneself with panchan and then is too full to eat the main course. It is very sad situation indeed. Sad but delicious, but mostly sad. Overall, this place is pretty solid for grilled meat and pickled awesomeness. It gave me and my lab partner hope while we suffered through nine weeks of summer Organic Chemistry(it is that pleasing). I hear it is supposedly open until 5a.m., but I am unsure of whether that is actually true(don't doubt that I won't one day try to find out).
(4)
Erin J.

Can I give it less than 1 star? Gross as hell! My friends and I decided to try this place one night around 10pm. We had all heard good things about it before and I'm always up for trying new food. The parking lot is too small and weird - it looks like a bunch of 5-year-olds parked in all different directions. We parked on a side street and I recommend anyone brave enough to eat here to also park on the side street unless you don't care about your car. Well, I had never had Korean food so I asked my friend what to get and she made some suggestions. I don't remember the food at all. All I remember is the extremely rude waitress and the DISGUSTING smoke all over! I literally got up before the check came and left some money and waited outside. I couldn't breathe and was about to throw up. I wasn't aware that you were supposed to be smoked along with your food at Korean BBQ. I hated it and will never go back! A nasty, rude, little smokehouse! Enjoy!
(1)
Tristin M.

Been here a few times and it was always very good.
(4)
Tom C.

The food is great, but the service is terrible. I've been going here for years and its worst than your typical Asian service. I would know since I am. I would give it more stars but their attitude and service really brings the place down. I think they have the best bbq. On one occasion, I asked for tea 3 times, and it was never brought to us. Finally, I asked again and they lied straight to my face they had none (group of 15). Later I asked another worker for 4, and I was given tea. A bit lazy even though your going to tack 18% gratuity on my bill.
(3)
Jayson C.

If I had to choose the best Korean restaurant in the Chicagoland area, this would be my choice! Open 24 hours, affordable prices, and endless amounts of pan-chan!! (sp?). Service can be a lil better. I guess for those who can't speak the language. =/ Nevertheless, this place is great!
(3)
M P.

I have never, I repeat, NEVER felt like this after leaving a restaurant. A week after Mothers Day mom has to have some Korean seaweed. We've been to San Soo Gab San before and weren't really impressed, but they do have seaweed and that's what mom wanted so (reluctantly) off we go. We went on a Saturday at about 3:00 in afternoon. Party of 5, I figured it was best to get there early to avoid the crowds and bad service. We were greeted nicely(surprise) and seated. Not including us, there were only two other tables being occupied during our meal. There were three waitresses total. Received our menus along with some ice water(yippee) and thought so far so good. No line, no wait, friendly staff, water with ice and Parking. JACKPOT. I usually order the same stuff at Korean restaurants so the menus are a no-brainer (most of the time) and was pretty much ready to order. We waited while two waitresses cut a pancake and ordered 15 minutes later. "number this, number that, number this, number that and two orders of Japche". You See no-brainer. First, the panchan(whatever) arrived. Then the raw meat came all on one plate mind you(we ordered three). The waitress explained that all the meat($60 worth) we had ordered was on this plate. Ripoff 1. I couldn't believe it but it was mom's day so I wasn't going to get crazy. A few moments later two plates of Japche arrived and of course they split one order to make two. Ripoff 2. They finally bring the sticky rice and bring four bowls, there's five of us. The waitress say's $2.50 more for extra rice. We ask for refills(our first) on two plates of banchan and when this lazy ass b@#$% waitress comes back she said "No more!" "You want more, $4 dolla eash". WOW! That's a first... During our meal, employees (waitresses, busboy, grandpa Munster) keep excusing themselves to get to a door which was a overstock/coat room in our table area. So my daughter(many times) had to stop eating and get up so they can pass. Why you ask would they seat us there when the place was empty? Lazy/Bad business. Whenever they opened that door a foul smell would leak out. A waitress who had excused herself to put away her belongings must have noticed our discontent because she asked if we wanted any refills on banchan. "Sure". We pointed out a couple plates of our favorites and off she went, of course she didn't bring anything we asked for just the same crap we didn't consume the first time so now there's double crap on the table. So we asked if we can get some more seaweed for mom and she returns with......Not seaweed, THE BILL. We were only there for twenty five minutes and not done with our meal! Looking over the check I noticed 20% Gratuity had been added to our bill. Mom wouldn't let me raise hell, she was over it. I told her they're going to bring us some water, were paying for the service. I asked for water many times, never got it. I had to hold the bill/check for ransom. I said "if we don't get any water you don't get this." The waitress reaches behind the counter and pulls out a pitcher of water. I hand her the bill. She looks at the bill and says something in her native tongue to her coworkers out-loud . Probably regarding the tip or lack of it. Little did she know that I read on yelp that they like to add gratuity themselves. They had the nerve to try and get double tipped. I pretty much had it with this place. The service and food(or lack of it) had me boiling. only three tables occupied and the staff thought it was break time! I believe this is the first time I EVER left a Korean restaurant HUNGRY!!! I should have stuck to my guns and took Mom to the "Hole-in-the wall" Korean restaurant right down the street. Not a lot of ambiance, just great food! San soo gab san has much to learn.... I won't ever come back.
(1)
Amanda P.

I don't understand why, of all the Korean restaurants in Chicago, this is the one that seems to attract the non-Korean crowd. We ordered the codfish with vegetables stew, which was really good and spicy with lots of semi-soft tofu. I will say that I would definitely order this dish again. The jap chae--my favorite Korean dish--was just weird, though, with lots of black pepper (does black pepper even exist in authentic Korean cuisine?) and some kind of broth to stretch the oil (I understand being health conscious, but don't mess with my jap chae!). We didn't order sushi, but the sushi menu looked uninspired. It should also be noted that they have what might possibly be the worst parking lot in the city.
(3)
Issa K.

First time i had been here good experience its alot to learn from fresh and reasonably priced if you like fondue its kinda like that but just Korean and bbq.. plus my favorite part its open till 5am thats the best part. Kind of a drive for me since I live on the south side but good food and fun just don't go there smashed becuase you will burn yourself with the hibachi grill..haha (lesson learned )
(4)
Sarah W.

OMG I really like this place but I warn it is a lot of food if it is just two people you only need to order one thing and share.
(5)
Brett K.

Hadn't been here in almost a year and got the itch today for some Korean. One of the best lunches I have had in a while. I like taking 2 hours for lunch, you and a friend can sit there sampling the saucers of amazing things... kimchee, sea weed, tiny crunchy fishes, potato salad (???) ... then socially grill your deliciously marinated meats. Their soup is out of this world. Great place for friends to hang out. Plan on spending some time here. I hope to be back soon. Language barrier can be hard, so be patient.
(4)
Paul S.

Enjoyed bellying up to the bar, ordering a Kirin, ordered some sashimi and loved the food. Lived right around the corner and this was my first time there. Check it out - its connected to the famous Korean BBQ place.
(5)
David S.

This is the only Korean BBQ I've had at a restaurant so I can't compare - but damn was it good. Three of us went here, and two of us had a) no grasp of Korean and b) no idea what to order. Luckily #3 was a college buddy who currently lives in Seoul and can speak Korean fairly well. Since he ordered in Korean I have no idea exactly what we had except that the table was quickly filled with burning coals, piles of meat, and more small little bowls filled with an assortment of vegetables and sauces than I could count - basically every inch of the table was covered in food that we quickly set to. We definitely felt that we got better service with my friend yelling out requests in Korean - but regardless we could easily eat until we were stuffed to popping for a reasonable price. The only problems were the minuscule parking lot and smelling like I'd just bathed in coal (and eaten some for good measure) for days!
(4)
Delia C.

I won't repeat everything that's already been said but here's why I love this place just on one night there: the place was packed with Koreans. They were loving it, the Korean friends I was with were loving it, so that meant I was loving it. Next time, I can't wait to try the bee bim bap. Ohhh, my mouth just watered a little bit. Extra tip: if you go with a group over 5, there is a special thing where you get to each order a plate of meat and it comes with all sorts of free extras. I don't know what this little special deal is but the Korean guy who ordered for us knew about it and we ate like kings for the whole night. We *ran out of room* on the table. There were 8 of us. 8 different meats! (Even tripe which I don't eat.) And if you ask nicely, someone will bring your American boyfriend a fork.
(4)
Angela D.

No frills, but the food is delicious and WORTH the wait, the smoke and the mediocre service. I should mention we had someone who could mostly speak the language and it was STILL mediocre service. Honestly we enjoyed the food so much and had so much fun we didn't even notice :) Now, I've been to one other BBQ place a few years ago, and this place was definitely better. The grill was larger and cleaner and the meats were higher quality. We had a noodle dish as well as 4 BBQ entrees to share amongst a table of 5 and it was a TON of food. Great value! Parking is VERY limited, and if you go at a busy time you may be waiting an hour to get in. So just be warned.
(4)
Sandra W.

I moved to Chicago\Evanston area about 2 years ago and I've been looking for some good Korean BBQ for a long time and I FOUND IT! We ordered so much food and it was SO good. I love how we get to cook the meat right in front of us. I felt like it was so much more authentic than if it came out cooked already which was what I was used to. We ordered the korean beef and ribs marinated in the bbq sauce and it was amazing. We also ordered a bowl of Tofu Soup and that was just as good. The little dishes were also good, too. They just kept coming and you can order more for free. The parking lot was ridiculous. We were lucky that we got there at around 6:30pm and we got a parking spot. By the time we left, there was a line waiting and kind of hard to get out because the lot was so small. The location isn't all that great, but the drive was worth the wait.
(4)
Erick P.

I heard a lot about this place so I decided to give it a shot, the parking lot is really small and the resturant is small as well. I liked how they gave around 25 appetizers and the food tasted good. Overall a good experience.
(4)
Derek R.

I went with two other friends here today. One is actually Korean. He was able to explain all of the eleven or so side dishes that come out. Most of it was cabbage. Different kinds of kimichi. They brought our a couple plates of meat, then they bring the fire. We trusted our Korean friend to cook the meat for us table side. He did a fine job. The experience was fun. I did however think that it was kind of expensive. I had one beer, the rest had water. Our bill was $100, plus tip. We didn't really seem to order that much. But it's a must check out if your into this sort of thing.
(3)
Maren B.

Yummy yummy! This place is awesome! If I lived in the area I would probably be here about every day. It looks rundown, but the food makes up for it. When you order something to grill they give you soup and rice, along with 20-something sides, consisting of veggies, tofu, dried fishes, and some things I didn't recognize but ate anyway. Some of the sides are 'gross', and some you might love - it really depends on your personal taste. The meat is flavorful and delicious, and for an average appetite, you definitely get enough to fill you up. And the rice... oh it is amazing. Hot, sticky, perfect-texture rice. I could live on that stuff. I will say that if you're a germophobe this place, and in general most Korean BBQ places, are not for you. I used about half a bottle of hand sanitizer because every time I used the tongs I got meat juice on my hands. I find that pretty disgusting, but I was willing to put it up with it for the deliciousness. I'd also like to warn about their water (or was it tea?)... I'm pretty sure it was mop water. I looked at it, thought it looked disgusting, took a sip anyway, and almost vomited. There is seriously no other explanation than the faucet was broken so they dipped our cups into a bucket of dirty mop water in the back room. Or maybe they didn't like the looks of us and wanted to drive us away... either way next time I go I'll be sure to smuggle in a bottle of my own water.
(4)
Andrew A.

This is one of the better kalbi restaurants in Chicago, yet like most Korean restaurants, if you don't know what you're doing, and you're not Korean or among Koreans, you will be lost. That said, the quality of meat and availability of panchan (side dishes) is usually pretty good, and it washes down well with Jinro.
(3)
Amanda T.

I love Korean BBQ, and this place is legit! And there are over 400+ people in Yelp world that agrees with me. I think this is the first time I went somewhere that served sushi and didn't even bother to look at the sushi menu. Come for the BBQ, you'll be glad you did! There's so much variety to choose from, and everything is tasty. We ordered a number of items from the BBQ menu. The squid and the Kalbi (beef) were my favorites. They're crazily delicious-especially when it's cooked the rare side. Melts in your mouth. I heard the fried oysters and the seafood pancakes were good, so naturally, I had to try them. Verdict: the fried oysters were okay, but my mom's are better. The seafood pancake, however, lives up to it's reputation. Loved it! And the side dishes that come with it...man oh man. There's way to many to even fathom. It's practically a full meal. I think it came with over 15 little dishes. Love the tofu and the kimchi, though I can live without the awkward potato/egg salad and lotus dishes. The place itself is whatever. A little bit on the grimey side, but whatever. I can look past it. The service was friendlier than I expected for an Asian restaurant at least (I don't mean to be judgmental and stereotype...okay I lied. I am judging and stereotyping). Our waitress were helpful in recommending which dishes, and which she would preferred over others. Glad we listened to her. If you don't mind walking out smelling like Korean BBQ for the next two days, then come try it. I'm glad I did. Double mmph!
(4)
Nick P.

Having a Korean-American wife and Korean mother-in-law I would say that I have a decent idea of what good Korean food tastes like. This place used to be the above average in my book but has definitely downgraded its food from good to horrible. On top of that, the service is egregiously rude. I am amazed that they call themselves servers at all since they are not deserving of this title. I don't know about you but when someone puts a dish on the corner of the table without announcing the name of the dish or the trying to find out who ordered it, I find myself holding back really hard from giving them a $0 tip. To explain this shift in quality, some say that ownership has changed, others say that the growing presence of non-Koreans dining here has diluted the service/food quality. Whatever the reason, I would rather eat cardboard than come back here again.
(1)
Nicolas H.

I've been to a few Korean BBQ spots and unfortuantely this one leaves a lot to be desired. Sure they have all of the typical side dishes and they make you cook your own meat. However, the service was some of the worst I've ever experienced. They offered no help when we were trying to figure out what to order and how much to order. The family sitting next to us seemed to have the same problem after they started asking what we ordered. Obviously they are continually crowded, so they must be doing something right, but I have no interest in supporting a place that doesnt care about serving their customers properly...
(2)
Sarah L.

First of all, honestly, people who DO NOT KNOW KOREAN FOOD should not comment about the way the food is prepared or brought out. I just read an idiot who wrote that if you order one order of BBQ, they will cook old kalbi in the kitchen instead of table service to "scam non-Koreans and to make sale". What an idiotic thing to say!!! Go to ANY KOREAN RESTAURANT, and they will all do the same thing!!! All Korean BBQs tabletop are 2 orders minimum! It's NOT to sell old kalbi or to push for sales! I bet this idiot will complain at any other restaurant if they say "two orders minimum." There is a reason they do this, and if you do not know, then maybe you should just be quiet. Okay. now that the hostility I was feeling towards that stupid yelper has subsided, I would like to say SSGS has been pointed out more than once for their poor service. I have been going to SSGS for 15 years or so since college...and it has been getting worse over time, it seems. It doesn't matter if you have a language barrier or not. I've been here with Koreans, non-Koreans, family, friends, co-workers....and no matter who I'm there with, it's poor service. I can see that the manager has been leaving messages about improving their service, and I do know that it is harder to get older Korean women to be nicer and more attentive. They can be quite stubborn and angry at times..... But this isn't some Korean market in some province of jeon-lado. This is U.S., meaning, you have to EARN those tips, not expect it. And language barrier is NO EXCUSE for bad service. Honestly, those ladies really must hate themselves and their work, because it shows on their tired, angry faces. The food is okay, the side dishes are good, the prices are moderate. But you lose 2 stars for bad service...which I hope will improve over time.
(3)
Jillian D.

i am so disenchanted and i will never EVER return. here is why: 1- the hostess was extremely rude. she tried to seat our party of five at one of the low japanese style tables (the kind that requires you to sit cross legged on cushions). when i pointed out that three of us had sundresses on, she scowled and led us back to the waiting area without saying a word. 2- once seated, we proceeded to order. this wasn't my first rodeo folks. my best friend happens to be korean, so i've done the bbq thing a million times. yet, the waitress decided to cook all our food for us, all at once! and yelled at us the entire time to "eat eat eat". i have never felt more rushed. 3- while cooking the food, she spilled blood from the raw beef on our lettuce, making the wraps inedible. when we requested more, we were told no, and she repeatedly gestured to the tainted wraps saying that we had plenty. 4- the waitress put the cooked meat on the same plate that had held raw meat. can we say cross contamination? 5- a live insect of some sort was crawling in the dipping sauce that accompanied our pancake appetizer...that we had already eaten. barf. we called the waitress over to show her the critter and she and several others examined it closely, took the bowl up to the front of the restaurant and never said anything more about it. but when we left, the bowl was sitting up there, so clearly they wanted someone to take a look at it. so i am done. and you have been warned.
(1)
Audre L.

I think this is a great Korean BBQ restaurant. Came here on Sat night with a large group of 12 (we made reservations). The restaurant is surprisingly big. Great atmosphere. Tons of fun and the food was good.
(4)
Lauren B.

I came here last night with my dinner club and I am having a difficult time deciding on a rating. CONS- service was slow and lackluster. There were plates, bowls, and glasses that were empty all over the table that no one seemed to want to remove. I was never able to get my water refilled. When the grill started to smoke A LOT due to the marinade, no one came over to change the grill for us. This smoking went on for a good 5-7 minutes, I really thought we were going to set off the fire alarms. PROS- the squid was tasty, the marinade was a bit spicy but nothing to extreme...thank God. The selection of sides is overwhelming, but in a good way. The seaweed was perfectly salty, the potatoes were flavorful, the green salad had a nice dressing on it. You must try a little bit of every side.....I think it is really part of the experience dining out at a Korean restaurant. BE CERTAIN TO ORDER THE SEAFOOD PANCAKE!! I myself love seafood, but even those friends who don't usually partake in the bounty of the sea loved the pancake. A must try! SO I will settle on 2 stars, because although I loved the seafood pancake and the squid, I was quite disgruntled with the service when the grill practically smoked out the entire restaurant for 10 minutes.
(2)
Bo Y.

One of the best experiences one can have with Korean BBQ. I came here with my team in 2010 after a long day at a trade show. The restaurant was packed with narrow walking spaces and the entire room was covered in a hazy by the delicious charcoal bbq smoke. Walking in, you can immediately tell people are having a great time simply because of the noisy and how busy the waitresses are, "Madam! more soju here!" or "Another plate of galbi here!" The food is absolutely delicious. Definitely try both the marinated and the unmarinated galbi. Both are delicious beyond normal restaurants. They serve a cascade of fresh little dishes and the salad is amazing. They do have regular chairs for seating but since we had a group of 7, we sat on the floor, the traditional Korean style. Most of our group was Korean so they didn't mind, but since I'm tall, I would have preferred sitting in a chair. But that's minor, I had a great time nonetheless. Warning: this is quite possibly the smallest parking lot in the world. We had to wait 15min to see 2 people trying to park in tight little spots.
(4)
PJ J.

FLAVORFUL, AND PLEASANTLY RUDE. It takes a lot of guts to attempt to run a place that puts burning hardwood charcoal within reach of the general public. It takes even more guts to also make sonju, and big ass bottles of beer available while you're playing with fire. I personally enjoy the rudeness very much and prefer it over insincerity. Their BBQ meat is the most flavorful, tasty shit around. The panchan (banchan?) -Most generous!!! It seems like 25+ little dishes spilling over the edge of the table...crazy yummy -all of them...tasty as all get out. I am never ashamed to waddle home smelling like beer, garlic, smoke and kimchi. "You been here too long, time to go!" Hell yeah! I love this place. Food and EVERYTHING ROCKS. +1 star for authentic rudeness.
(5)
Kurt M.

This place is the bomb! I wish they had more stars to give. I've had alot of Korean food in Chicago, and this is the number one place that comes to mind at dinner time, and also at 4:00 am. Who cares if they get your order wrong, they're gunna cook you something good and authentic (as far as I can tell). Bring a designated Korean for extra off-menu treats.
(5)
Pastor Andy G.

Pros: -Authentic Korean food -Korean-speaking Korean workers -Nice seating arrangements: towards the back, there are short tables for Japanese-style sitting -Safe location -some (yet often crowded) lot parking Cons: -nobody who works there speaks really good English. -my wife got sick off the eel roll -MSG ALERT: they mix MSG in with the sushi rice! Also, not much on the menu that does not include MSG. -Sushi tasted like it's been sitting out for a while (not frozen, but not fresh) -expensive for the quality of food...we paid $33 for 2 small entrees. It's not bad, but definitely NOT a place where you'd say, "Yeah! Let's come back here again!"
(2)
Chris D.

Delicious! I like Korean soups. I got their Taro guk bab- beef and vegetable soup. It was good. My food also came with 16 banchans (side dishes)! I spent the first 15 mins sampling everyone of the dishes. The food was as good as the other Korean places I have been to. Their menu was clearly written with pictures. The waitresses also spoke English so communication was not a problem. Their parking lot is tiny. My suggestion is to come during weekdays or non peak hour. The only negative that I can mention is only because of my personal tastes in decor. This restaurant had a lot of dark wood accents- very reminiscent of Korea. It was dark inside but not too dark though. I however, prefer a brightly lit restaurant or a room with sunlight. Keep in mind that this is a personal preference and not anything negative against the restaurant. I will still come here again.
(4)
Gabby J.

Really good ribeye meat to grill. You get a ton of food for a good price. Service is bad, they rush you and don't come to help or check on you. Too much smoke for my liking. Limited drink selection.
(2)
Mike Y.

I have been to every K-BBQ on the North side. I live here and keep coming back to this place. It is not a downtown type place, but it does K-BBQ the best.
(5)
Rod D.

One of the yummiest korean bbq places I've ever been to. What's even better is that this place is a late night joint. I've been here numerous times and loved every second of it. I love the Kalbi and bulgogi. The side dishes are SO plentiful you won't have a need to ask for more. A couple things to note. Make sure you leave any clothing in your car such as jackets and/or purses that you do not want smelling like bbq. It will if you end up bringing it in there. Make sure you are ready to spend a bit. This is one of the more expensive Korean BBQ places I've been to. I guess you get what you pay for.
(4)
Dema A.

Once again, one of the best Korean places to go. After a busy day and not eating properly... nothing like a Dolsot and a Bulgogi to fill you up. Not to mention table full of side dishes. I've been there so many times that I don't mind the service at all. You just have to get their attention. (eye contact)
(5)
Evan Thoreau H.

Ah... this hurts because I usually don't go against the grain this badly. But alas, I have to be true to myself. Okee, I have to make two exceptions here to help you understand this rating. AND I promise, that I would give SSGS another shot and an updated rating if it went better the next time. So... here goes: Exception the 1st: I didn't have the Korean BBQ Mistake? Probably. Would my experience be better if I had? Almost definitely. I've had Korean BBQ before and loved it and when we arrived at SSGS on a late night grub outing, we saw at least three other tables enjoying it. The problem was, we didn't come for the BBQ. We came for the delicious soups and rice bowls that would provide the perfect late night snack and which we've enjoyed at countless other Korean spots. We didn't find it here. Even though we ordered Korean staples - Beef Bim Bop and Short Rib soup - they were so far off the mark I couldn't finish... even in my inebriated state! The soup was bland, the short ribs were tough, stringy and grey and my Beef Bim Bop didn't even contain beef! I tried to flag down a waitress, but the service here was - um - lacking (see below). So, granted, I'm not judging the SSGS on what's it's KNOWN for, but I'd think that they could at least do a pedestrian job on Korean staples. Exception the 2nd: I'm not Korean. Okee, not exactly a prerequisite for enjoying a cuisine (few of us are actually French and look how that love affair has gone), but I think that this has something to do with my understanding of this place. I understand that KBBQ is all about self-service. And I GET the subtle pleasure of the language barrier and the cultural standard that servers don't need to be in your face every five seconds like some teenager working at Chatchki's. But the sense that the servers here quickly took our order, dropped off our food and just disappeared, made me believe that they were just avoiding inevitable confrontation. I mean, I couldn't even flag someone down to find the missing beef for my beef Bim Bop and it was nearly impossible to find a server to bring our bill. I would have thought that by laying my head on the table for 30 minutes would have been ample sign enough. So, in a way I chalked what others might call 'poor service' up to cultural differences. I think that's about fair. So, I'm sorry for all the peeps on here that love this place. I just think that despite my love for tasty and accessible Korean, this just wasn't one of my superstars. ...and I promise to come back to try the BBQ... sometime.
(1)
Sandra J.

""""""terrible place """"".do not never ever go there!!!!!! they do not know what is costumer service. they used to be good but not anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they put money first!!!! they know who tips well who is not also who should treat well and who is not!!!! i own a bissiness, i respect my costumers in any situation.. many mean and angry old wrinkled faced ladies work there. they like a donkey!!!! i wonder how will their kitchen would look........ their side dishes not good. i think, they serve old ones. do not go there... there are many nice places!!!!
(1)
Ayame L. O.

I love Korean BBQ. Since I am from California the pricing of this Korean BBQ place bothers me a little but I love the atmosphere. It feels as if we're in Korea (although I've never been haha). I only have a problem with the service. I wish they were more friendly instead of making you feel like you're a bother when you ask for something haha. Great place for group events or a date but you gotta cope with the fact you coming out smelling like delicious burnt meat.
(3)
Andrea B.

I honestly don't know how to start this review so I'm just going to dive right in and hopefully something good will come from it. A few friends were moving to Boston and so as a final farewell we chose to eat here. There were 6 adults and two young children in our group. We ordered a set meal where we got to pick 5 meat dishes that also came with some noodles and a seafood pancake. After about 5-10 minutes of ordering, the waitress doles out the 5000 mini dishes that come with the meal. After this we had no more room for anything and began to frantically empty dishes for them to take away. Some of the items are a little more of an acquired taste if you are used to Korean dishes. I'm not, so I stuck with the potato salad and some noodles. I went for the seafood pancake, but once I saw a huge octopus tentacle sticking out like it wanted to grab me, I think I threw up a little in my mouth and promptly declined a slice (If you know me, you know that octopus is not my friend). A waiter then brought the grills for our meat. We had to decline one as the 2 kids that were with us were too young to know not to touch a blazing hot grill. I think this confused our server by... A LOT and they shuffled away not knowing what to do with themselves. But who cares, bring on the meat! And bring it they did. First came beef and pork. In the middle of grilling these two massive plates of meat, our waitress came with our plate of chicken. We literally had no room for it. My friend asked our waitress if she could bring out some courses a little bit slower, but either she didn't care or didn't understand, and proceeded to place our RAW chicken on top of said friend's water glass. yes...I am not kidding you. She then walked off yelling something in Korean. Ok, I get it. We're the minority white people that decided to have dinner here and I guess we don't understand the concept of grilling meat. Except that...we do get it. Just bring out the food slower is all we are asking. This is why I deducted a star. Otherwise, the food is great. Make sure your party knows how to cook meat well, otherwise you risk getting sick the next day. I've read reviews where the service is slow and horrible, but our table got the opposite effect...we had so much food plopped on our table, we didn't know what to do with it! I do want to come back though.
(4)
Tim Y.

I can never remember this name no matter how many times I hear it. Luckily, that's not the case for the food. EPIC repertoire of banchan, delicious food, great service, open on all major holidays, and big portions. On top of that, the BBQ is done not on a gas grill, but on a super-legit down-to-its-roots charcoal-filled stone basin overlain by a chicken wire grill. I don't have much detail about this, just because I think it's an overall perfect deal and tasty Korean food. And that's all you need.
(5)
Michael K.

Great for large parties and tiny parties and I'm-feeling-like-a-panda parties--because you'll want to eat like one, this place is a gem, aside from the inevitable smoke. Atmosphere is swell and the service is sometimes fun, sometimes business, but always serving. The pickled and otherwise assortment that begins the meal is delightful. I cannot decide if I want the tiny dishes to be labeled in some fashion. Partly, I want to know and build my language, and partly, I want no one to know. Don't put the bone on the grill. I am a cautionary tale.
(4)
Mike S.

Food: 4 Stars Service: 1 Star (since I can't do negatives) Been here many times and never had a problem. Why one star then? Because the service was almost comical in how bad it was. After waiting 15 minutes we were served the small dishes and finally had to ask the bus boy for water since we never got any. Then we didn't get the beer we ordered until halfway through the meal. They didn't turn on the fan until we complained. Our waitress showed up maybe four times. To take our order, to bring beer and then food and then for the check. The list goes on. And when she brought the check she hovered until we told her we needed a minute. I ended up slipping the bus boy a five and gave the waitress $9 on a $105 total because he gave us better service than she did and works a lot harder (you try carrying that thing of burning coals all night). But wait, it gets better. She had the nerve to come to our table right after I signed to try to shoo us out quickly and if that wasn't bad enough she looked at the signed receipt and pointed to the tip because she thought it was too little. "Only $9 dolla?" she said. You have to be f-ing kidding me. I told her the service sucked and that's why it was so low. She's lucky I didn't grab it from her hand, cross it off, and give her nothing. I understand its a Saturday night and you are busy and trying to turn over a table, but that level of service and the balls of the waitress to say that at the end is absolutely inexcusable. San soo gab san will be lucky if I ever come back and if I do it sure as hell won't be on a weekend. In fact, I advise nobody to go there on the weekend unless you like being treated like shit.
(1)
T. F. C.

An interesting barbeque experience... When we arrived, I was first in line. I told the waitress we have 5 people, and only 2 of us are here. So she allowed the second group of 6 people first into the western style sitting table. Then directed us to the korean style sitting on the floor table. I'm guessing since both of us are asian, we are supposedly okay with sitting in korean style. The other 6 people had westerners, and so they were allowed to sit in chairs. Probably my first experience in being forced to take off my shoes to eat in a restaurant. I ordered the short ribs, when it arrived, it was still frozen together with ice showing. The thinner meats were not as frozen. The meats tasted bland, I had better meats at home on a summer barbeque. This place definitely suffer from a lack of service people, we had to wait quite a bit to order food, or drinks, or extra items. And the waitress can't really speak english, so there will be communication issues. We ordered an extra ramen patty, waitress said $4.00, was showing $3.00 on bill. The items on the bill are in Korean, we had to use the menu to find out what exactly we were billed for. And it included a 20% tip, so you don't need to tip again. Total was $130 for 5 people, 2 meat dishes, 1 big ramen noodle, 1 seafood pancake, and something else. I would not come back to this restaurant, once is enough, food seems pretty average, yes, lots of mini dishes, but I came to this restaurant for the meats. Parking is lacking, I was lucky to find a spot in the lot, but if you can't I'm guessing you park in the residential neighborhood nearby on the east side. Afterwards, you'll smell like barbeque.
(3)
Jenny L.

I came here for dinner once before with my family and had a wonderful experience.. I wish I could say the same right now as I sit next to strangers. At first, my friends and I were placed at a sit down table but soon after, one of the ladies waved us over to the sitting area where you need to take your shoes off. We repeatedly told them we didn't know the people they were seating us next to and there were other open tables but they still made us sit here. However, every time they came to check if we were ready to order and when they were bringing the small dishes out, they still confused us as being one party of 8 rather than two separate parties of 4. After the meat came, everything seemed alright. But then they never came to clean our grill or give us water and plenty of times when handing us plates, they yelled at us from a few feet away rather than coming to the table to hand it to us. I had to go down to the front table to ask them something and one of the ladies just walked past me and ignored me. When I finally got the attention of one of them, I told them our fan was not on. She told me I was wrong and that it was working, just because the switch was on. I asked her to double check and she wouldn't come to our table to look. It was clear our fan was not on because the people next to us had very greasy meat and there was smoke all over the place and did not go into the fan like the smoke did coming from the table on the other side of us. I then asked if we could get more water and they didn't come for another 5 minutes. When the lady came, she yelled "ICE WATER" at everyone and we had to hold our glasses up. Instead of coming over to the other side of me to pour water, she stood still and I had to hold the glass of water between my head and my friend's head. They ran out of water in the pitcher and a giant chunk of ice splashed into my cup and she just walked away. It wasn't until another five minutes later when a busboy came by and poured water into our cups when they needed refilling. Although my first experience here was a good one, I honestly don't think I'll ever come here again. Edit: when we were about to leave, another busboy came to remove the grill, and he lifted it right over my head. Ashes fell all around me.. And I didn't receive an apology. As we were exiting, they called us back even though we paid already. They claimed we owed them $8 even though we didn't and even after we gave them the money they kept complaining. The $8 actually came from the bill of the strangers sitting next to us that they seated us with..
(1)
Patty C.

I can always count on leaving happy from this place. The kalbi (Korean BBQ rib) is always tasty. I have tried many Korean restaurants in the city and the burbs, but I always end up wanting to come back here. And of all the Korean restaurants I've been, this one comes with the most side dishes. There's so many, and they are so good that most of the time I am already near full before our entrees arrive. Its very good food for a great value. Here's a bit of advice before going, go on a day you plan on washing your hair and clothes. You will leave this place smelling just like the BBQ.
(4)
Raquel D.

Quite possibly the best (or at least my FAV) Korean BBQ EVAH. BOOM! It's an experience to sit there and "grill" your food with a group of great friends and then enjoy your meal afterwards. It's a good deal for me since I never get stuck being the cook - hehe. But, if you're not up for the whole BBQ-ing part (and smellin like it), you can always request it be cooked in the kitchen and be brought out to you. Awesome. They are open late-night and they used to cater to my late night eatin' - ahhh the good ol' days. Fond memories here and I don't think I've ever left disappointed. My last visit was amazing - good eats, good peeps and goood service. Liqs are also cheap - loooove me some plum wine or soju. There is a minor language barrier here so be sure to be clear in what you want or to point directly to what you want. Finger and hand gestures work just fine. But if you have someone who speaks Korean, even better. GO! Try it. It may seem pricey, but you get SO MANY sides dishes with your meat that it's almost overwhelming. Their potato salad is AMAZING! yum-o-yum. The more, the merrier here and the cheaper the bill will be.
(4)
Natalie S.

I crack up when I read reviews where people "won't ever go there again because of the terrible service". Seriously? You're going to an Asian restaurant... what do you expect? It's par for the course! FYI, my grandmother is an immigrant from China and a restaurant owner so I KNOW what kind of service you should expect... Anyways, yeah, the service is laughable. You have to often ask to have your water glass refilled. We have a pretty funny story about how one night we were there with 4 people but only ordered for 3 so they wouldn't give us a extra soup although we said from the get-go that we would pay extra for it. You gotta look past that though... They have the best dol sot bi bim bap I have ever had. You have to let it sit for a while before you scrape the bottom so the rice gets all crispy... I love that. They also have a really good soup (see above) that comes with your order. It's a miso based tofu, peanut and jalapeno soup... just fantastic. Get over the bad service... suck it up... and dig in.
(4)
Moon J.

Food is better than good, large menu selection and a lot of side dishes (what I love). The meals are authentic and the value is excellent. The cost is lower than a lot of other K-restaurants with the taste being just as good. Somewhat of a dive, parking is not friendly. Food taste and value is what keep me coming back. The kalbi is awesome, ji-gae, and soups are tasty. The best part is they have late hours as well.
(4)
Grace N.

The quality of the food is literally clouded by the awful ventilation system that cooks you as much as the food. The service is speedy, perfunctory, and makes you feel guilty for not bolting out the door as soon as you finish your last bite. Talk about a volume-based restaurant. However - abundant banchan for reasonable prices go a long way (they have good "sohn mat" here, meaning good "hand-taste" - great flavor). It's the real deal, for real Korean-food veterans.
(3)
Larisa O.

I'm sure this would have been a 4 star review if we had actually had food brought to the table. But we had a very surreal experience with the service that borders on traumatic. I was so excited to go here. We were seated at the same time with another young couple at a large table and the waitress promptly took their order and spread before them a sumptuous array of kim chee. My date made the apparenly tragic misstep of asking for a few more minutes and the waitress seemed to banish us from her consciousness. She'd come to the table to check in with or neighbors, but refused to make eye contact with us or acknowlege us at all. We flagged down another waitress who wrote our order on her hand and disappeared. We were there for about 30 minutes with no kim chee, no offer of drinks or water, and no eye contact / recognition from any of the many waitstaff. Considering that my date is diabetic and his blood sugar was dropping, this was an extra bad feeling. Beyond that, everyone in the restaurant seemed to be feasting around us, and the smoke from their grilling was perfuming our very existence. I started wondering if I was wearing colors that in Korean culture are considered a bad omen. I was wondering if there were apparitions of ghosts above our heads, creating a black cloud of doom that warned the waitresses, Stay Away. After 30 minutes of this, we walked out unfed and heavily scented with Korean B-B-Q smoke, and proceeded to argue in the parking lot about whose fault it was that we didn't get service. I thought it was his because he was a little gruff when he asked for a few more minutes. He thought it was mine because I was 'sitting the wrong way' at our low table. We left and went to L. Woods Pine Lodge to heal our culture shock with what turned out to be a 1/2 price bottle of Malbec, a very tasty meal and amazing service. I still want to go back to San Goob Gab Sann and am wondering if I should do so in a wig and sunglasses like a NY Times food critic.
(1)
Alan K.

I thought this place was alright. There were many ban chan dishes (side dishes). However, they were just okay....I would prefer quality over quantity anyday. I thought their BBQ burner was pretty cheezy. It is this portable concrete cylinder full of charcoals and then they put a grill on top of which the edges of the cylinder misses. By the way, there was not much surface area to grill with. The beef we had to grill with was alright. The marinade was nothing special actually. I am from LA so the Korean BBQ places in LA are just so much better than this place. I am sure that Chicago has better Korean BBQ places, but this one wasn't it. Yes, their parking lot is terrible and small. I had to concentrate on maneuvering a very tight space.
(3)
Chutima N.

Only great experience with food but service is something else. I feel like Apple and AT&T haha!! My friend experience was a year ago. About 24 appetizers, yes, it is a complement!! Many dishes are interesting, especially raw meat. Grill menus have never disappointed me and friends. But please, this is Chicago, speak to us and suggest new customers something. New customers need to bring your friend there with you otherwise you might not enjoy and get first experience there. Best time to go is 6pm or during the day cuz not too crowded. The rating I gave is about foods.
(4)
Kat L.

This is not SSGS's fault. But someone must have made some secret announcement I don't know of. On the times I've been here, there has ALWAYS been a super loud obnoxious group messing it up for other patrons here. I couldn't even hear my bf or friend across the table without screaming. Even the waiters here look annoyed when this happens. But.... i dunno. I also come here when it's the middle of the night too. Drunkies. Not that it's bad, just that there are bars for that. I typically don't expect asian restaurants to be loud and obscene. But.. on to food. The greatest highlight of this place is that they give you easily 18-20 banchan plates. IF anyone in your party isn't familiar with Korean BBQ, there's bound to be a hit amongst other possible misses. I also have to say-- I like the banchan plates served here than in other BBQ joints. They serve several different kimchi plates and a good variety of other things too to mix it up, or break up the pickled veggie flavors. For meat, I've tried both the bulgogi and kalbi. The marinated kalbi is a total win. Great flavors, Great thickness, and SOOOOO yummy. I crave this place often. While their banchan plates vary from day to day, it's ability to satisfy my hunger has never failed. Just come dressed in clothes you don't mind smelling like charcoal. =)
(4)
Emily H.

This is an excellent and authentic Korean BBQ restaurant. Not only is it open late, but the beer, soju, and sake are all good quality. This place has serious appeal for carnivores who enjoy the cathartic burning of their own meat and vegetarians who like flavorful and pungent veggie offerings. The meats we ordered came with the option to have them marinated in a spicier sauce than normal. The servers brought no fewer than 16 delicious small side dishes that complimented the flavors of the chicken and Kalbi beef marinades well. Some examples are a mellow shredded seaweed, a sweet and creamy potato salad, a tart spinach and onion mix and a powerfully spicy kimchee dish. The white tofu miso soup was well-prepared and a savory sensation. The restaurant itself is incredibly clean and grease/soot free for a grill-it-yourself establishment. The grill firepot was delivered promptly and professionally. Everything was fresh and incredibly tasty. It was an absolutely authentic Korean BBQ experience and made me pine for my days in Seoul. People who complained about the service must be mistaking busyness for rudeness, because everyone working there was working hard and on the move constantly. But then again I don't go to restaurants to have my butt kissed. If my water glass is full and my food gets to me, I'm happy. Try the red snapper tempura!
(5)
Marie B.

This was definitely a fun experience. We had a few beers, some soju (really good - WAY better than any saki I've had), chicken, and two types of beef. The chicken was by far my favorite of the meats, due to the seasoning used on it. I didn't really have access to the sauces at the table, which may have made me like the beef more. I did not have any interest in manning the grill, so make sure to go with someone who is willing to handle that. What I enjoyed most was trying all of the small dishes of things that came along with the BBQ. I made a point of trying every one of them. Service was efficient, but not pleasant.
(3)
Kenneth P.

Lets break it down here, I was drawn to this place for their relaxed hours. They're open all through the night. Oh, and they're BYOB. That's pretty badass to me, as a Denverite, I've never experienced BYOB restaurants before. But damn, the food was a mere average to me, I've had much better Korean BBQ, on top of that, the service was crap, just like everyone says. When servers get angry at you and you can tell, is when you have some pretty poor service. And to top it all off with a nice little cherry, for six people, we racked up a bill of $160! And I wasn't even full yet! That's almost $27 a person. I'd rather take my money and go to sushi, rather than this average Korean BBQ. If you go there, you should ask your amazing server for a side of WeakSauce to dip your kalbee.
(2)
Steve D.

Great food, okay serves.... The price is a little high, but included 20 plates of traditional Korean appetizers. I willing to pay for it!! but they will charge 15 or 18% of tips without tell you when they send the check out!!
(4)
Serdar U.

Worst $55 i have ever spent. Dirty, smelly, not delicious, bad service...i don't know what else to say. I am just going to mention one thing, ordered chicken for bbq and it had the longest human hair wrapped around the chicken, i am almost going to throw up now, never going back...
(1)
Scott H.

Just good greasy fun! I love coming here with friends, filling up on OB beer and soju and ordering EVERYTHING off the menu. Don't worry about being uninitiated to Korean BBQ as the staff will help you out. Try everything placed before you and you'll probably like 90% of it. The marinated meats are sublime! I think this place is closed about three hours a week too so if you're both hungry and awake, they're waiting for you.
(4)
Diana G.

Great food. Open 24 hours. We usually get the bulgugi and something we call the mini- steaks. Also, other items. Is a bit overpriced and service isn't the best. They need to hire someone that can speak English.
(4)
Quinn B.

Wow! Korean BBQ comes fast and furious. Sit down, order and before you know it, there are small "tasting" samples that cover the entire table. My Korean sister in law said the service in these restaurants is not typically good, and that was true, but the food made up for it. Hot sake, Bi Bim Bop and some terrific BBQ. Think of a fondue restaurant on steroids. No hot oil, just some hot coals and great food.
(4)
Connie M.

So I biked up with some friends last weekend and we arrived at 3 am. They have a neon light over the front door that posts its closing time at 5 am. The door was unlocked. People were leisurely eating inside. And the lady who appeared to be the head waitress told us, "We're closed." What? There's rude and then there's lazy beyond belief. I think the only reason we got to eat was because we had an Asian person in our group--who, mind you is Chinese. Upon seeing her, the boss lady relented, but only addressed accepted orders from her for the rest of the evening--the other 5 of us didn't exist. The groups that came in after us weren't so lucky. All turned away. But then again, I wouldn't consider my experience after the initial "good." They wouldn't turn on the grill for us--dragon lady would only accept an order for something cooked in the kitchen. Actually, only one thing--this very mediocre pan friend bulgogi. We kept trying to order other things, but she would just respond, "bulbogi." It was almost hilarious, were I not really hungry and paying to be treated like *&^% If this is typical, I can see why this style of restaurant is dying.
(1)
Tasha K.

How is it possible that I've found the best tasting Korean BBQ here in Chicago that rivals any L.A. Korean BBQ joint in K-town?! This place is amazing. The meat is well seasoned & packed w/ flavor. They even make the chicken taste incredible (which is not usually something I recommend ordering at a K joint.). Beef is where it's at. Kalbi, baby! Skip the beef bone though, the cartilage is way too tough. You will leave stuffed. Get one of the combo specials w/ a big group of people to share. There's a salad course, a spicy soup course, Jap Chae (glass noodles), the plethora of pickled goodies in tiny bowls.... then apps get the seafood pancake and the dumplings for sure. All of this before you even get to the succulent pieces of meat & hot sticky rice. YUM. My only reservations about the place is that they need better ventilation. Expect to leave smelling like Korean BBQ until you shower. Not a bad smell. Just a smoky bbq smell lingering in your clothes. (Leave your coat in the car.) Also, some people in our group were put off by the tradition of taking your shoes off before sitting at the larger tables. I thought the idea was cute but again, BE PREPARED TO TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES! Get a pedicure/wear the socks w/o holes/keep the stinky shoes at home! Once you get over that, it's a sweet find. Great for groups and an interactive dining experience. I would definitely go again!
(4)
Adrienne T.

authentic flavor comes with authentic service I ordered the YukGaeJang, also known as shredded beef soup with vermicelli noodles. It was quite tasty. What I found most appealing were the side dishes. I was given 9 different side dishes, including three types of kimchi. It was heaven. The server saw that I was finished and I was offered more sides (that's another reason I love dining Korean style - the banchan/side dishes are included plus free refills). I've read other yelpers complain about the service. Haha - that's part of the whole Korean dinning experience. If you find that the service is outstanding, the food probably isn't authentic. Overall, great K-Food experience in Chicago. I shall return!
(5)
Jeff F.

This place is pretty good. It ain't much to look at on the inside. When you finally order your food, though, you'll have a hard time concentrating on anything else. A good friend of mine invited me to San Soo Gab San, referring to it as the Korean equivalent of a "greasy spoon restaurant." How can you possibly go wrong when you're suddenly presented with a deep, coal-filled fiery grill and a plateful of raw meat? It's a good time. The waitresses will also assault your tabletop with a ridiculous number of tiny shallow bowls containing numerous Korean side-dishes (at least, I think they're side-dishes). There's so many that you'll get to try a wide assortment of items, but they're small enough that you can move onto something else if you're not a fan of one of them. It's fun to hit with a group of people; plenty of involvement for just about anyone that feels safe slinging meat and cooking it on a grill.
(4)
Mishelle O.

This is a great place for groups- large and small. The food is great, the dining is very communal, and the restaurant is large and now takes reservations. It can be a little difficult your first visit if you are unfamiliar with Korean food, as the place is usually pretty busy, the staff moves about quickly, and you will see plumes of smoke rising into giant overhead hood vents right at diners' tables. But don't fear, you will get the hang of it and become hooked! If you are a meat-eater, you have the opportunity to grill cuts of meat and seafood right at your table or have it cooked in the kitchen. You get a lot of little appetizer dishes to start which is fun to try and share. If you are a vegetarian, I recommend the Dol Sot Bebimbop- just ask for no beef. If you are vegan get it without egg as well- it will still be very delicious! The space is large and although not anywhere near "fine" dining, it's comfortable. The service is fast, and while some of the staff don't have great English-speaking skills, there are a couple of ladies there who can help if you have questions and will even poke fun at you, in a playful way. Heads up that your clothes will smell like a cookout when you leave, and also if you are in a large group, you will most likely be sitting in a semi-private raised floor area. You will have to remove your shoes and sit on the floor of the area- so keep that in mind for people who may be uncomfortable with that. There is a parking lot, but it's very tight and you risk having people bump and scratch you car more than usual, but there is free street parking in the area. Lastly, there is a very small waiting area, and they will not seat your party until everyone is there. These may sound like a lot of obstacles to deal with for food- but I'm telling you that it's worth it. If you haven't had Korean food- give this place a shot!
(5)
Pascal M.

Went here late, drunk, and hungry. Hit the spot. They have a delcious Goat soup. Served in a nice deep (clay?) bowl and boiling hot with plenty of spice. Good size menu, so theres likely something for everyone. I love Korean cuisine, it's a treat to have a server bring you 8-12 little plates (banchan) before your meal. Everything has it's own unique texture, color, and flavor. Service is not the greatest, but that's to be expected. Just ask for pitcher of water and you'll deal. Go late night and you're likely to run into some interesting charechters too.
(4)
Alexis A.

I love this place and it's open LAAATE! San Soo Gab San is best with a group of friends. If you find small talk boring at the dinner table, then fear no more. You'll be more interested in the other aspects Korean BBQ has to offer: drinking, cooking your own meat, and experimenting (if you are unfamiliar) with the large array of side dishes. The restaurant is normally pretty busy, especially late at night, so the waiters may not seem as "friendly" as you'd hoped for, but I have never had exceptionally bad service here except for getting an untimely refill on my water. And yeah, there really is no decor whatsoever, but don't let that stop you from enjoying a fun and delish meal. My favorite dishes are the BBQ marinated beef and kimchi/bacon stew. And don't be afraid to cook your own meat. Even if you overcook it, it will still be good and I sometimes enjoy a charred flavor. I also use the lettuce to create wraps with the meat and just add in whatever side dish I feel like. There will be enough food to go around, so don't worry about wasting anything. One more thing...make sure you get a piece of bone to suck on after the meal. Bones preserve the best flavor!
(4)
J W.

Great marinated meat to grill and tons of sides to munch on.... so good! Wish I could communicate better with the wait staff but otherwise love this place.
(4)
Steven N.

This is the place to hit up for your Korean BBQ fix! Just make sure you wear only your scrubby clothes when you visit there because your clothes will definitely stink after the meal! Food quality is great and the price is not bad at all. You can easily spend hours here grilling all sorts of meat and seafood (plus unlimited side dishes!). The place does get packed up every night, so budget about 2 hours for your meal is probably safe. Enjoy!
(4)
Joanne C.

Oh SSGS. I want to love you, I really do. Your bountiful banchan is what keeps me coming back despite your poor service. I have no problems with the busboys and the guys who change out the grill....they're great. No problem there. But the ladies. Oh the ladies. Why are you so impatient with us? Is it because we're not Korean? Are we not cooking the meats properly? Do you want us to eat all the little dishes, even the ones we don't particularly like? PLEASE I implore you! Let us know what we have to do so that when you see us it will be like a happy friendly reunion filled with good food and good times. Ok so maybe it can't play out like that but I would like to go there just once and not feel like I was forcing them to feed me and the sooner I left the better. Please?
(2)
F S.

We go here every couple of months or so. We usually get some soups instead of the bbq (which can be overpriced since two people have to order it for you to be able to grill it yourself). The pork bone soup with potato is great. The little side dishes they bring are a nice touch, if a little hit or miss in taste.
(4)
Jessica Y.

This is probably one of my favorite Korean bbq restaurants in Chicago and what's not to love about a Korean bbq restaurant that's open until 5 am?! I've been here for dinner and late nights and loved every single visit! The food is great, service is quick and attentive and prices are reasonable! Don't expect any comparison to restaurants in LA or NY, but this is a great option for Chicago! The tables are big and there's enough space for large groups! It's a charcoal grill, so it will stink up your clothes and hair, but it's oh so worth it! Right after you're seating, they bring out endless banchan (side dishes). They must give you double of what the other Korean places in Chicago offer! So already, you know it'll be well worth your money and time. We usually have to ask for refills, but they give you so much food here that you forget to ask! And per our usual preferences, we always order a couple servings of bulgogi and galbi. There's nothing to complain about as it's full of flavor and reasonably priced! I will say that I do love the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake) here sooooo much better than Cho Sun Ok's, which is still pretty good! Definitely order this before your meal as it's a great appetizer and simply a must try at SSGS! And if you/'re extra hungry, go for some kimchi chigae or sundobu for a perfect pairing! I could go on and on about SSGS, but you really should just check it out for yourself!
(4)
Bora H.

Been here many many times... I went back last night, and they updated their menu and decor. MUST get hwe dukk gap. So good. !!!
(5)
Tony J.

Great food, service great. will probably come back again. my gf likes this place a lot.
(4)
Yanyao N.

I dream about the spicy squid from San Soo Gab San on a weekly basis. A trip to San Soo Gab San is always exciting for me because I get to spend the whole time grilling delicious marinated meats. Mmmmmmmm. You also get about 10-15 little plates of side dishes (banchan) with your meal with things such as kimchi, pickled daikon, glass noodle salad, broccoli. The bulgogi is also excellent. They also bring out rice, lettuce, bean paste, and a soup (miso with tofu and jalapenos I think?). For those who want an appetizer, I would recommend the pajun, a Korean seafood pancake with dipping sauce. The portion is enormous but they bring you to-go boxes and the pajun heats up nicely. You should definitely come here knowing what to expect. The wait can be long at times, and the staff is often hard to track down. If you're sticking with water for your meal, you might get a little thirsty. Bring friends who know what they're doing, wear stretchy pants and socks with no holes in them (you sit cross-legged and shoeless at some of the tables), and be prepared to leave smelling like grill smoke.
(4)
Tessa G.

Decided to finally check this place out a few months ago at 3 am on a Friday (tech Saturday morning) night. Awesome meal. Cool experience bbqing right there at the table. The portions were very generous and all the beef dishes we ordered were really great. We were seated right away and our servers were very attentive. I'd love to come back here with a big group some late night soon. It was a fun and filling time. **Other reviewers were right..beware you will smell like Korean bbq all night after you leave here. Which isn't horrible. It just makes you hungry for more later on.**
(4)
Matt R.

What happens when you're an american, hungry at midnight, don't speak korean, and don't want to eat at an american restaurant? You go to san soo gab san, and great treated like crap. Really, it's tradition at least per other yelpers, but it doesn't hide that the food is quite excellent. Kalbi was great. Seriously, really good. I think the food came out so fast they may have quite possibly performed a small nuclear explosion in the kitchen to prepare it so fast. The soup my girlfriend ordered was still bubbling and boiling when they brought it to us. I do love korean foods and I do shop at korean grocery stories, so this was a nice step towards that direction. However, go with someone korean or speak it yourself. It'll save you a lot of hassle. This place is open from 10AM-5AM, so you can go there whenever.
(4)
Arlene G.

i keep goin back & forth on how many stars i give this place cuz i DEFINITELY LOVE the food, but the service can so sketchy at times. thee were 5 of us in our party & it took a while to be seated but that was expected on a saturday night. im not sure if i love the kalbi or the 20 side dishes more but they were all AWESOME!!! towards the end of our meal they asked us to leave as soon as we were done cuz there were so many other people waiting 4 a table. i understand that but i still didnt like it. its not as if we were gonna lounge around 4 another hour, but whatever. if u go 4 the food then definitely 5 stars but if u add the service that brings it down 2 a 4. its ok though cuz i'll keep comin back 4 their delicious kalbi!!!
(4)
Sam Y.

I've several bad experiences here. Wife complained about the food smelled funny and asked them if they can make us a new batch. They simply said the next one will smell the same so just share the other dish (my dish) and go. Finished our (my) food, paid and left. I don't know why we have to feel like we're intruding when we're spending our own money. I am officially boycotting this place for the second time.
(1)
Lily P.

Great korean place! Just went there tonight!!! TONS and TONS of side dishes! (i'll post pics later) 30? and the service was super fast. All the side dishes ive never had before. There was a 30 min wait but it ended up being a lot shorter and the whole time we were there, there were people coming in and out. The service was great since the bus boys were going back and forth and taking and replacing items the whole time, the waitresses were all helpful in checking up on waters being refilled, napkins, refilled side dishes, and etc. The korean bbq is great here and the meat is not too fatty. There were tables that sit 2, 4, and also big booths that fit more people and you take off your shoes and step into them with a more traditional setting. The japanese rest next to it is part of the whole set up. Only complaint is the parking lot that fits prob 12 cars and is wayy to tight to be a real parking lot. BOO for this. People love this place though and do not mind walking in the freezing cold to this place from other street parking.
(4)
Jacob Y.

A good friend has been telling about this place for a while and we FINALLY went today for lunch...and I am GLAD I did. Located north of Foster on Western, San Soo Gab San is a traditional Korean BBQ place, but they serve a wide variety of Korean delicacies besides grilled food. When we got to the restaurant, there was a small parking lot in the front. A VERY small parking lot. Now I have not been to this place on Fridays and Saturdays, but based on the food, I would be amazed if this place is not packed! When we entered, the second thing I noticed about this place is the VERY orangey color on the walls. Again, thankfully, I am not there for the decor, which I found kinda dull and very halloweenish! On the other hand, there were other people who were enjoying their grilled meat on the over the table grills...and the delicious aroma MADE ME HUNGRY! The third thing I noticed was the menu...it was the size of one volume of almanac...very big. Again, I was amazed by the variety of dishes and I cannot wait to go there again to try some more stuff. So, for starters, I ordered tempura fried oysters (as you may know, I can have a full diet on oysters if I had my way!). When the oysters came out, they were freshly fried, very light on the breading and made me want more...but I was saving room for the piece de resistance! Both my friend and I ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob...which looks like a stew dish because it is served on a traditional stone bowl that is extremely hot. This dish, consists of the following: a layer of rice at the bottom of the searing bowl, topped with vegetables (greens and mushrooms....mmmmm) and beef, with a sunny side up fried egg on top. I personally did not think there was a right way to eat it....but my friend taught me her technique of meshing it all up and adding the special sauce they gave us...WOW...talk about a hearty delicious meal. This dish also came with their version of miso soup, with chunks of tofu and cucumbers in it...and very soothing! And no Korean meal is complete with a sampling of pickled veggies...the kimchee was especially outstanding. So, if you live in the north side and fancy Korean food, try San Soo Gab San...You won't be sorry!
(4)
Krisha d.

Great place to eat when you want BBQ! I love the fact that they let you cook it in front of your table. I had a friend from out of town come visit who loves Korean BBQ and my sister come with (who is not a fan of Korean food.) but both enjoyed very much! There's a wide variety of side dishes that come with your BBQ . Not to mention, we had some sake! One of my acceptable late night food joints!
(4)
Amanda R.

I had never been to a Korean BBQ place before so I didn't know what to expect. This place seemed to have the most reviews so we checked it out. I went with 2 girlfriends. We ordered two orders of the beef. And out came 1000 tiny bowls of various things I had never seen before. Our server did not explain to us what anything was. So we picked and tried a few things. We were grilling and eating as we went then all of a sudden the server came over and dumped all the meat on the grill and started to cook it for us. We must have been taking too long for her. Oh and the parking lot has about a dozen spots at most and its a very tight squeeze to get in and out of.
(3)
Mandi G.

San Soo Gab San is open super late, so why not go at 2am on a Wednesday with your best friend? You can possibly bring in a bottle of wine or 2 and keep said wine under your table. If your server thinks you will leave a decent tip, she may ignore your wine and bring you two empty cups. At least, I think this would work. The two of you will each have to order a meat dish, as 2 is the minimum for getting the grill brought out to your table. Dishes range from $15-$19. The ribeye is divine. The korean marinated beef- not so much. I think it's called bulgogi. It's like philly cheesesteak consistency beef and sounded good, but it didn't cook well. More on that later..... Service is ok, considering the extreme language barrier. Lots of pointing at the menu, smiling and nodding. The menu has everything written out in English, so ordering is fairly easy. However, don't expect much in terms of explaining the side dishes. Oh lord, where do I begin on the side dishes? You are sitting at your table, feeling bad that only two of you are taking up such a big space, when suddenly the parade of small dishes begins. I kid you not, you will be given a bowl of hot sticky rice, a dish of spicy peanut sauce, a large bowl of bean sprouts and garlic gloves, and 22 small bowls of Korean garnishes. Twenty-freaking-two people! (Yes, I counted them.) Too many to remember. Mushrooms, black beans, potatoes, omelets, marinated cucumbers, peppers, fish cakes, anchovies, zucchini....little bowl upon little bowl of things you've never seen before. And finally 3 large heads of romaine lettuce, rinsed and plated. Then they bring out your little grill and your meat and the fun begins. The grill is smokey and hot. Duh and duh, but it's really smokey and really hot, so don't be a wuss. The ribeye comes with a pair of scissors for you to cut it with. It's thick and perfectly marbled and yum. After cooking each piece, you dip it in the cup of marinade they give you. You then take a piece of lettuce, place meat on lettuce and add any of the little plated goodies. You then wrap lettuce up and eat with hands. Repeat until you are in a protein coma. Now, a major complaint is that the meat sticks to the grill. This wasn't a problem for the thick ribeye, however the thin sliced beef got stuck to the grill and was a pain in the ass. A lot of it ended up falling through. The attentive server noticed we were having problems and changed the grill top for us, but it did little to help. I will never order a thin cut of meat there again. All in all, an excellent adventure outside your typical late night dining options. Also, a great date place as you will be bonding in no time over making each other try all the crazy little extra sides. And a fun place to bring groups, as they have supercool long tables built into the floor for big groups that require you to remove your shoes. A little fun for everyone that wants to try something different and/or is still on Atkins.
(4)
Victoria D.

San Soo Gab San does banchan right! All of the small side dishes keep you satisfied until your food is fully cooked on the wood charcoal grill at the table. If you think the service is bad - press the button that is on the table - it is Korean style so the waiters won't bother you unless you request service. So efficient.
(3)
Ryan L.

It's getting close to my birthday and my sister refuses to go here again due to oversaturation, so i will review one of my favorite places instead. I would say i've been here close to a billion times, give or take 2. My advice is to come here with at least 5 people and you can get the group "A" package. Roughly comes out to about $20 per person before tax/tip, and around 1 order of meat per person (8 people, 8 meat orders, yada yada). You also get seafood pancakes, chop chae, sushi, and miso soup on top of the 978 side dishes. If we are short 5 peeps, i call my 10 year old cousin and have her eat with us. We all win...she likes the food, but has a small appetite, so in a more selfish sense, i win. We usually order a bunch of kalbi, spicy chicken, squid, and korean pork (bacon, pretty much). Here is my convo with the waitress whenever i order pork. ryan: and 2 orders of the pork. waitress: ok, 1 order pork. ryan: no, that's 2 orders. waitress: 2 orders too much, just 1. ryan: boss we're ordering 2, come back in 20 to see if we finished. Of course we finished it. Don't doubt my ability to plow through it! Besides the kalbi, the pork is my favorite meat. The food is just so freakin flavorful. I also on average go through 4-5 bowls of rice in one sitting. Service is spotty, but it's a korean restaurant, take it with a grain of salt. I actually find the staff pleasant. I come here after long races now (full and half marathons) and wallow in meat glory. Wear old clothes though, you will smell like korean bbq for awhile. The scent just makes me want to go back sooner. I wish it was still open 24 hours. That would be just crazy.
(5)
Jenn T.

Drunkenly came here on a Wed night around 130 am. Luckily, there was only one other party so we got all the attn we needed. No show of bad service voiced from previous yelpers. Side dishes and water came out immediately and we already knew what we wanted so those orders came out quickly too. I was AMAZED by how many side dishes there were!!! I counted: we had 21!!! as in... 16 more dishes than the normal amount you get in cali!!!! I especially like the sweet pickled lettuce cucumber thing, seaweed, the potato salad, the crunch clear noodle thingy?, spicy pickled cucumber, didn't like the kimchi as much. Enjoyed the spicy miso soup though. Nom nom!!! Can you imagine seeing all of this in front of you while buzzed and craving drunken munchies? Tummy heaven!! It was my first time ever hearing of seafood pancake and it was a great introduction. Reminded me a lot of the Vietnamese banh xeo. We also ordered 2 quantities of kalbi. The meat came on a platter with the bones. Odd, but whatevs. Some of the pieces had some cartilage...ehhh. The marinade is very diff from the ones I'm used to in CA. It wasn't as sweet, but you could really taste the meaty beef flavor. I was also impressed with how fast the meat cooked. Within 3-5 min!! I would've given 5 stars, but I didn't like the cartilage found in 2 of my pieces and I thought the marinade could be a bit sweeter.
(4)
Khalilah W.

Well I went with my girlfriends(Korean) and it was O.K. the very next week I went with my Guy friend(Not Korean) and Not only did we NOT get seated,but they let 2 Other Non Black groups that came in after us get seated promptly.Of Course I asked questions,but the lady was just like"Oh,I did not see you waiting?" REALLY we are both tall and Black and standing in the middle of the restaurant watching everyone eat...Oh well..
(1)
Jason P.

This is your old school Korean bbq restaurants that is almost extinct now. It's small, not very clean, charcoal grills, and is open late, so you know it's going to be good. As a Korean, I already know my service is going to be weak especially in these kinds of places because the waitresses are not trying to be nice and polite and be all happy-go-lucky. Naw, Korean women as I know, when they're pissed and upset, they'll let you know. So you should never expect great service here, but that shouldn't ruin your experience. As an old school Korean restaurant, you know what they should be great at. Kalbi, your jiggaes, mmul neng myuns, and of course, their unbelievable array of ban chan that comes at you like a massive force. I've never seen so much from a Korean restaurant, and usually, I like a few ban chan, but here, they give you a solid amount that is actually edible. Prices are a little high but it's okay considering it's one of the few and only places that does kalbi right. CHARCOAL!!! Anyways, if you're feeling for some late night classic Korean food, this is your place.
(4)
Khadijah L.

Oh Korean BBQ and Karaoke... What can I say? (Awesome) San Soo Gab San is awesome. One of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurant and rightfully so. It's authentic Korean, Korean people come and eat here, and even the ladies who work here are like the rude asian aunties (I say that in an endearing way because I'm Asian and perhaps one day I will also become a rude asian aunty) that I encounter in Asia. But seriously I do love them, and their blunt manners. It's weird, I know. Perfect place for gathering with friends around fire like our ancestors did, to eat flame grilled meat. MEAT!!! Your hair will stink for days, your breath will smell like kimchee. Wear and old tshirt. Don't go to a fancy establishment afterwards without showering 2x. Vegetarians will also not be disappointed by the amass of side dishes that come with the meats. But it is probably best that they skip this one.
(4)
Mister D.

I ended up at Sansu after I was invited to join some Coffee Studio Scrabble players that I'd just met that evening. I was very pleased with the food and the ambience. Sort of surly waitstaff, a little loud (but because people are enjoying themselves), lots of orange... it was like being back in Korea. The prices were reasonable, also. But again, the food was tasty. I don't recall how many veg or fish dishes they had (since it is primarily a meat joint), but I'd recommend it for anyone.
(4)
Rick F.

Atmosphere: Needs a serious update Food: Really good Service: Excellent Price: Fair Been wanting to go here since I saw it on 190N! Loved it great place for fun, social night out. BBQ Chicken and Pork were great, Ribeye was good. Love all the side dishes and they will bring more if you ask!
(4)
Jourdan S.

Awesome. I always default to this location. Service is super fast and polite. The owner manger looks like a korean soap actress, and she runs shit nice and smooth. Here you will get a much broader selection of side dishes than you will at some of the local competition's locations. The beef quality is fresh and nicely marbled. I was born in Seoul, I eat here. I think it's great. What more do you need to know?!
(4)
Lauren K.

First of all I don't like writing reviews for places that are clearly not for vegetarians, but I feel if someone were in my situation (read further) they might want to know? I'll give 3 stars b/c I feel like I can't properly rate this place. It was a birthday party for my very good friend, so I wanted to go and be a part of it. I'm not one of those veggies who will sit there and tell people around me to not order meat. I think, you eat what you want, I really don't care. But if you have a weak stomach (which is partly why I became veg in the first place) maybe you should not come here...because people WILL order raw meat (its what ya do here!) and the meat WILL be bloody and juicy (to me, that's a giant EW factor..just my opinion, just my warning to those who feel the same..) You *will* go home smelling like meat. You will. Nothing on the menu is vegetarian besides edamame. (Some of the side dishes they brought out were probably vegetarian, but I wasn't sure what most of them were..) They were nice enough though to make me some white rice and steamed veggies in one of those stone bowls that stays really hot. There was another vegetarian in the party who ordered the same.... The waitress took a giant bottle of hot sauce and squirted it ALLLLLLLLL over his meal. ALLL oveerrrrrrr. Before he could say anything, no warning, nothing just hot sauce allll up in his food. A LOT of it. Then she attempted to do that to mine also but I saw what was happening and put my hands over the bowl. Jeez! Be prepared to take off your shoes and sit barefoot with your feet hanging below the table in an area that's even hard for Danny Tanner to clean in between visits. Just sayin'. My meat eating friends really enjoyed themselves. I didn't really. If you're veg I say skip it.
(3)
Lakhi S.

I have been to SSGS many times before but I am not planning on going back. One night after me and my friends have a reunion, 14 of us go to San Soo Gab San at around 2am. There are lots of people eating inside, I ask the female waitress if they have a table of 14 available. She then she starts complaining in Korean to the other employees. But says yes that we have a table. As the waitress takes our order she starts rushing us. Some of my friends who had never had Korean food were asking her about the food and ingredients and then she started to complain and started becoming very rude to us we felt very disrespected. Then when she took the order of the last 2 people in our group my friends said they weren't going to eat. The waitress all of a sudden screams at the and says "If you aren't eating here then go out!" At this point we all had enough and just got up and left. I'm never going back nor recommending people to that place again.
(1)
Tommy K.

My first Korean restaurant experience in Chicago. I thought the service was good, despite the bad service reviews. We simply asked for what we wanted and it was brought to us, fast. We had the marinated kalbi, pork kalbi, kaibi tang soup, seafood scallion pancake and extra rice. The banchan (side dishes) are abundant. Food quality is fresh and the BBQ was excellent. Keep the jackets in the car and prepare to smell like BBQ when you leave. It's all worth it and very satisfied. Last, CHEAP for Korean, especially coming from NYC. Our bill was $15 each for a party of six.
(4)
h h.

San Soo Gimme Some Son! This place is so delicious, and it is a total gorge fest. I love it. . I really really do! There are so many positive reviews of this place (some dumb ones too), that I don't know what else I can add. but sure enough....I can always say something. For people who don't know what Korean food is all about...San Soo Gab San might not be the best example. Sure enough, after some friends who are not Korean go to this place...I normally get this response from them.. "WOW!! Well! OH...... MY..... GOSH! Simon!!! You are one lucky son of a gun!! Korean food is great! You "guys" are soooo lucky!!! You get to eat BBQ everyday..... All DAY!! What does your house look like?? A BBQ PIT?! I bet your house smells like a BBQ PIT! OMG!! Gossip Girls are on! You SOOOO have to come over! Can you help me with my math homework??? Are you going to be a doctor??? That is sooooo hot. Tell me....How do you make rice soooo sticky!? I love that! You need to meet my Korean friend Shun Lee...you guys would have sooo much in common!" Are you from North or South Korea? I really need to know this! Because if you're from the" North" my Grandpa Al says I probably shouldn't be on this date!" For the love of God! ugh. This is a good example of Korean BBQ, not Korean food in general. We don't get to have BBQ all day! We have to study for Trig class too! ha ha. (don't laugh- thug life) Moving on: If Japanese Food is the "French Food" of the East, then Korean BBQ is the Ghetto Soul Food of the East. This stuff sticks to you, and San Soo Gimme Some Son gives you an excellent introductory class on the fine art of Korean BBQ. Another reason why Korean food is "SOUL" food? Koreans make the best fried chicken. Just ask CRISP or Great Seas. That place is 20 times better than Harolds..Harolds...you suck. You are a waste of potential. Go back to the spice drawing board. Or at least get some spice. A piece of chicken is a terrible thing to waste. Anyways What you will or should get here.. 1. You will get the Korean version of Tapas. Some are pretty tasty. Some are pretty gross in my opinion. Try it all, and if you don't like it, ask for extra napkins. Spit it out and then hand it to someone who doesn't know any better. 2. Korean Short Ribs or Galbi (sp? sorry lol) Its delicious. Wrap it in lettuce. 3. Korean BBQ Pork (spicy and soo good) 4.Korean Pizza- Just look on the menu. It looks like pizza but its actually like a seafood pancake. Really good. Bee Bom Bop and You Don't Stop (one!)- Its a rice bowl. What you should wear or bring Crappy t-shirt - I wear my t-shirt that has two arrows on it. The first arrow points upwards and it says "the man"....then there is another arrow that points to something else. sweatpants with elastic or mom jeans Sunglasses so people won't recognize you eating like a pig. The place is dingy and smoky. Don't wear anything nice. This isn't Japonais (sp), Mirai, PF Changs, or some other friendly "American" place. Bring patience. The women who work here are often overworked (in my opinion) and are trying to work as fast as possible. Most of them are friendly and really try to help you pick the best possible dishes. Many of them probably work 10 jobs so they can send their kids to elite small liberal arts school on East Coast.jk. Finally, If you are going, make sure you take me with you! I'd love to go with you and chow down....but some ground rules! 1. I don't want to be friends. I have too many.. (wink wink) (of course I'll be friends with you!:) ) 2. I won't help you say anything dirty in Korean. (hm. maybe.) (i totally will) 3. It's not a date. Remember that. Its best if you sit on your hands. oh yea I said it! (touch me. tease me) Thank-you! - CHECK OUT MY PODCAST!
(5)
Neira I.

Last night after unpacking boxes all day my friend decided she wanted to take me somewhere awesome for dinner. It being 11pm, this was the only place she figured was open. It was packed when we got there, our tables were low and we had to take our shoes off, it was a nice ambiance. But my friend had never sat at those tables before so she was confused when the 2 people escorting us started screaming "TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF" at her. Once we sat down and got settled in, we were brought 2 glasses of tepid tap water. We studied the menu and decided on the bbq items we wanted the "waitress" came within 5 minutes to take our orders. My friend wanted to get some vegetable dumplings as an appetizer, and she's highly allergic to mushrooms so she asked the "waitress" if there were any mushrooms in the dish. The lady looked at her as if she was crazy, clearly not understanding her and just said "they're prepackaged". A couple minutes later she came back and threw about 25 or so side dishes on our table,and our bottle of sake. The waitress came back 10 minutes later or so and plopped our choice meat on the table, saw that my glass of water was empty and brought a pitcher of water and left it on the table, so she wouldn't be bothered with waiting on us anymore. Halfway through our meal she brought out 2 bowls of soup, tofu, cucumber and broth, I didn't care for it much. Now the bbq we had was delicious, the ventilation above us was horrible and my friend had smoke in her face the entire time we were there, but we enjoyed it for the hour or so we were in the restaurant. When it came time to pay she presented us with the bill promptly, but didn't return for about 40 minutes to collect payment. My friend paid for the meal so I'm not even sure if she had charged us for the dumplings we didn't even get. I pressed the call button after about 40 minutes of waiting because I was getting really uncomfortable sitting on the floor (they have floor chairs that we sat on, but 2 hours sitting like that gets a little uneasy). So I pressed the call button I noticed on the side of our table, and a loud bell-like sound chimed throughout the whole restaurant. When the "waitress" came over to us she had a sour look on her face, took the credit card and bill and took it up front. When she returned the card, she waited by the exit of the section we were sitting in (based on what I've read from other reviews, probably to make sure we paid and left her a nice fat tip) my friend always tips cash, and proceeded to leave a nice heft 20% tip. Honestly, having been a waitress for 5 years when I was younger, I wouldn't have even left her a tip. Maybe a couple bucks on a $70 meal. So in conclusion: food would get 3-4 stars, it's pretty tasty, but based on service I would advise you to go anywhere else. Don't expect to have a good service experience here! Or good drinking water.
(2)
Lindsay R.

I lived in South Korea for a year, and living in the South Suburbs, hadn't found the time to travel soooo far to quash a craving. With HP coming out, an old college friend and I decided to travel an hour and fifteen to try San Soo Gab San. When we finally did arrive, I had to let her park my car for me....I am a great driver, save parking, and this was just about my worst nightmare, literally. She parked like a pro, and as we were exiting the car, talking about how bad the lot was, 2 other women pulled up and made the same "look of terror" face. They parked next to us, and we ended up dining together, since this was their first time as well. (fyi you cook your own food, which i thought was common knowledge, but our new-found friends were unaware) That was an awesome idea! Korean food is meant to be shared, and share we did!. We ordered the Dak kalbi, dwegii kalbi, and bulgogi (chicken, pork, and beef, respectively), kimchee jigae, and dolsot bibimbap. One girl also ordered the ribs. The dak kalbi was ok. I was more so wanting chicken thighs cooked with cabbage and dok, but it was pretty good. Dwegii kalbi was my favorite, as i placed a lot of banchan, the pork meat, and rice inside of my lettuce. The bulgogi was good, as well. I have never seen so many sides served in one sitting. As I stated, I lived in Korea for a full year, and went to numerous restaurants there, but never had I received 25 at a time, though at one point or another had tasted everything before. All in all it was an awesome day, we had soju and beer, pretty good food, and great conversation. I will say i was spoiled by the freshness and flavor of "real" Korean food, but the taste was good enough to satisfy my craving for the time, and great for first timers being introduced into Korean..
(3)
Elisabeth C.

San Soo Gab San is one of my staple Korean joints in Chicago. I suppose there's not much more I can add as this place has so many reviews. I'm not going to drop a star for service, because it's expected- I've been to SSGS with Koreans and non-Koreans alike, and the service is always surly no matter what. The food is awesome, they're open super late, and you can't beat the wide array of banchan. I just wish it wasn't so far west so that I could go here more often.
(5)
Stephen R.

Again, this was a hidden gem for a long time ago. The meat quality is ok, but the food and seasoning is dead on. This is as close to my moms korean food as I can get. Its authentic in every way. Its no longer a secret and the word is out and I know because the last time I was in, I was the ONLY korean person in there... So, not the best place to introduce your non asian friends to the korean because it can be overwhelming. But DO NOT PLAN ON going out afterwards because you will REEK of BBQ and Garlic. Order the Wan Galbi and maybe the pork. Do NOT GET the chicken its not Korean...its anitclimatic, get the BEEF. The soups are great too.
(5)
Nancy T.

Pros: It's fairly cheap for what you get, the bulgogi is tender and flavorful and they bring you tons of banchan. Cons: This is do-it-yourself BBQ and I mean really DIY since you have to cook it yourself. I've been to many Korean BBQ joints and they cut up the meat, put it on the grill, tend to it and take it off once it's done. This place just brings you a plate of raw meat and you're on your own. Also, while I do love the charcoal taste the coals provide, it gets really REALLY smoky and it sticks to your hair and clothes. The service is terrible. I came when the restaurant was almost empty and I still had to wait, and wait, and wait. They came and left so quickly from the table I didn't get a chance to ask them anything. No one asked me if I wanted a drink. They didn't even bring me the bill after the meal. I had to go to the cashier and ask for it. I went expecting bad service after reading the reviews here, but even so I was shocked at how much we were ignored. One of the worst things was that they ignored us so long at the end of our meal that our grill was just flaming with smokey, charred meat that stuck to the grill and when they finally removed it the flames wouldn't go out and the waitress dropped it on the floor and poured water on it and it made a huge mess! Well, it wouldn't have if they'd removed it after we were done grilling and didn't let it just sit there burning and burning. Yuck! I won't be going back. I don't know how they treat Koreans here, but if they are trying to discourage non-Koreans from coming here because of the language barrier (no English is spoken here) or just because they are not welcome they are doing a good job.
(2)
Fawn J.

MMM.... Love you! Love you! Love you! You would get all 5 stars if you weren't so expensive... I've been here a few times and each time I've loved it. It's been the best Korean BBQ place in the area I've been to. I crave it. I love the wine selection so much I now make regular trips to the Korean grocery store just for the liquor. haha. The service is by American standards not that great, but let's get real folks, it's an authetic Korean restaurant, not an American one. My waitresses have always been super helpful in telling me what to order, nearly demanding it at times. But you do have to ask for things multiple times before it comes and it is occasionally hard to order or understand what your server is saying. But in the end, I get food and it tastes great! I love the seating also, it's very traditional. If you are not adventurous and don't do well with standards that are normal for other cultures, you should probably stick to the Cheesecake Factory.
(4)
Jessica K.

What happened to the days when this place was open 24/7??? The service at this place varies on the time you get here so if you're one of those people who are going to take advantage of the fact that it's open so late, don't expect awesome service-or in fact anyone to acknowledge you when you first walk in. Don't get wrong-they don't mean to be rude but they're super busy. I love the older ladies that work there. They're always in these cute aprons with Soju logos, hauling trays and drinks. Again, I say busy. The banchan is great, the smells from the street lures you in and the self serve bbq is so much fun. You really want to come here with a large group because Korean food is all about the sharing. Get a stew, get a kalbi, get a pajun. If you're not Korean, good luck. I don't suggest asking for water for a table of 10 or any other tedious request that most non-Asian restaurants will put up with. You're in my mama's house now! Eat up.
(4)
Michelle Z.

I went to San Soo with a large group of friends. I had a fun time. The food was just OK but the service was beyond awful. I know some Korean places have a reputation for grumpy staff but this lady was a complete bi***. And I have to say, I've been to several other Korean BBQ's and was treated with courtesy and basic manners, etc. so lets just stop excusing rudeness. We ordered several plates of meat, both marinated and not. Beef, pork, chicken. We ordered duplicates of a few items and I didn't like that the kitchen put the duplicates on one plate. It was hard to tell which meat plates were double orders and which were single orders. To do over, I would have ordered one plate of each meat and then asked for another later. I felt like we got a little bit cheated on the portion size. The meat was of good quality and I liked the marinade used on the beef and pork. Side dishes were OK. Nothing exceptional. Waitress never came around so it was hard to get more food. I asked for more kim chee and for a table of 10 she brought out one dish. Gee, thanks. Also, the waitress forgot out soups and rice, didn't turn on the overhead fans until asked about halfway through the meal, never brought the sesame oil for my friend's bim bim bop despite being asked 3 times and proceeded to add gratuity to the tab, which we adjusted to an acceptable amount. Overall, I feel like this place has a better star rating on yelp than it deserves. I think I might have loved it if I showed up at 3am drunk; sober, not so much. FYI, several of the seating areas require that patrons remove their shoes so be prepared. I wore strappy heels with buckles and there is no bench or anything to sit on while removing your shoes. I have no reason to go back to this place. Thumbs down.
(2)
Sun C.

This place has only one thing goi g for them. Its open late, otherwise the service is horrible. The food is ok. The side dishes has a good variety but the service is the worst. The bad attitude is so unnecessary.
(2)
Karen L.

Service kinda blows, but the food will blow you away!! Believe it or not, Korean BBQ is one of the best comforts after a long hard day at the batting cages! Four of my friends and I shared two raw meat orders- marinated short ribs and marinated beef, as well as a fried tofu appetizer. As we waited for our orders to come, we were brought like 25 different banchan (side dishes) and were freaking out because there was just so much variety and it all looked so good! They eventually brought out the coal grill and my friends and I took turns playing grill master, but the meat was just ridiculously delicious! Both the short ribs and sliced beef were juicy, tender, and oh so flavorful! The fried tofu appetizer was flavorless, so I was glad I only took half a piece. We had only finished a few plates of banchan when I declared that I was issuing our table the "BANCHAN CHALLENGE" in which we were to finish all of the plate of banchan. We ate strong- stuffing bean sprouts in our faces, shoving kimchi after kimchi in our mouths, throwing all the not-as-pleasant-tasting ones in miso soup and then eating it after the nasty flavor was off, whatever it took for us to finish them all! And we did! OH YEAH. Five little college girls demolished the banchan. Ah, and the waitresses. They weren't particularly friendly and checked on us once throughout the meal. We ran out of water during our meal and had to walk to the cashier area to ask for someone to refill our glasses. They seemed super annoyed with us at the end when my friends and I were figuring how to split the bill ($53- not bad) and pay because we took a little while on that. At this point, the waitresses were walking past our table more, probably waiting for us to pay and leave. We didn't really care about service anymore though, because our tummies were full and we were satisfied! MMMMMM!
(4)
Kevin W.

I'm knocking off a star for adding a couple bucks onto the tip. I think on a $84.35 base, a total tab after tip of $96.35 is fine. But my cc statement says $98.35. I really don't think restaurants/servers should do this. I don't know why that behavior is so pervasive. I guess it's only a couple bucks, but kinda annoying. Obv I could have made a mistake and written the number wrong on my duplicate receipt, but not likely. I'm cheap. I get it. Too bad. Good food. Bad morals.
(3)
Keith C.

Good Food. Horrible service. We moved from our table to a smaller noisier one when the waitress found out we weren't ordering any meat. This happened after waiting for 30 minutes for any service, Banchan (sides/apps) or drinks. The table beside us received all of the above within minutes of arriving. We would have left but we finally got our food after at least an hour and we were starving. I'm okay with mediocre service but this was almost comical. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe our patience was being tested by some hidden camera. Not recommended.
(2)
Jeanie S.

I came here with a group of 18 after club/bar hopping and our main reason to go there was to get their alcohol. Lol. But of course we ordered and spent over $400 but the food was well worth it. The service was iffy but the food made up for their loss. I couldn't get enough of their little side dishes. I devoured it all. But I did hate how we had to cook the kalbi ourselves, due to the fact that we've been partying all night from 9pm-4am. I think the service was on it's downside because of the time. But I am glad that we had Koreans with us to do the talking because I'm sure it made our service a lot better than it would of been if they weren't there. Lol. But I will be back and I'm sure the food will be as great as it was the first time.
(4)
Eric V.

Whether it's a casual afternoon lunch or the wee hours of the morning after a raging bender, San Soo is consistently one of my favorite Korean joints. My orders always start with the Goon Mandu. These crisp fried dumplings have plenty of scallion and ginger flavor, and come with a tasty soy-chili dipping sauce. Before the dumplings even make it to the table prepare for a flood of a dozen or so Banchan. Banchan are those tasty little side dishes of anything and everything that's fresh from the kitchen, such as kimchi, bean sprouts, seafood pancake, and pickled white radish. Refills are free so don't be shy! If you're going the BBQ route then you can't go wrong with tasty standards like Galbi and Bulgogi. The cuts of meat are always tender and well marinated. My other favorite is the Kimchi Chigae, a flavorful soup of kimchi, tofu, and vegetables. Flavors are well balanced between tart, savory, and spicy. You may expect a lot of heat with its bright red color, but it's relatively tame. It's also big enough for two or more people, so I definitely encourage communal sharing. Now Korean joints usually have the reputation for cold, indifferent service. I actually find the wait staff here to be attentive and at times friendly, which goes a long way when you're serving a bunch of drunkards who keep mumbling for more Bulgogi and Kimchi. At the end of the day you get awesome Korean BBQ AND they're open till 5AM. What's not to love??
(5)
Katrina L.

The only Korean BBQ restaurant I've been to in Chicago. First time, we had kalbi and samgyeopsal (pork belly). Kalbi wasn't flavorful enough, I thought - seems like it needed to be marinated longer. Samgyeopsal was good - but it's not marinated, so as long as they use high-quality pork, it will be good. The second time we went here, the Kalbi was so much better - more tender and more flavorful! I was happy. Per usual, they gave us ridiculous amounts of banchans which we all enjoyed - all were delicious! My only gripe about this place is that the price seems way too steep for what you get. Not sure if it's reasonable for me to compare it to LA KBBQ restaurants, but good ones in LA are ~$17 for AYCE. 1 serving of meat here is ~$20. I will always go back here because it's open late and it's good KBBQ.
(4)
Dawn H.

First off, I'm not a huge fan of red meat. In fact, I occasionally ponder about turning vegetarian. Therefore, when my friends suggested this place a few months ago for a GNO, I was a little hesitant. In hindsight, I'm so glad I found the courage to go. The tender beef (#18 on the menu) is one of the reasons I can never become a vegetarian. The beef is just oh-so-tender, and the marinade is awesome! My boyfriend and I have returned a couple of times since and have tried some more meats, including the bacon, but we always are sure to simultaneously order the tender beef since it's 10x more flavorful. Also, the Fusion roll is always fresh and tasty. The service? I suppose it's a hit or miss. One pro is that they are attentive enough to always keep the drinks full. Cons? Sometimes they are aggressive in grabbing the grill tongs from you as you're cooking (just grab them back). One time they reached over us on the table to grab the lettuce and put the meat and toppings on for us to show us how they suggested we eat, but we just told them to stop. LOL. If you're stern, they back off. My personality doesn't have an issue with this, but I can see where this may be a drawback for some. Overall, the tender beef is wonderful and deserves 4 stars alone.
(4)
Brett F.

So as I learned last night, it's not peanut sauce, it's bean paste. I figured my due diligence requires I should pass along this wealth of knowledge to you lovely people. Oh and despite SSGS really being known for its all out meat orgy factor, the sea options are actually quite fabulous. Go for the Octopus because not only is it spicy delicious, but saying "give me the 'puss" all night definitely ups your entertainment value.
(5)
Phung Ha P.

Usually the food here is delicious but when i just went there recently the quality of the food has gone down. Not only the quality of the food has worsen but the service is HORRIBLE (not like it was that great before). There are many reasons why the service was horrible. 1. They practically threw the food at us, they slammed it on the table 2. When they poured water for us, they SPILLED it on the grill and onto the food. 3. Every time you ask for something extra, they have this look their face as if we are wasting their precious time. 4. When we paid for our bill in the EXACT amount, as we were leaving a waitress pointed to me to come over, i asked whats wrong and they showed me how much i paid and i was confused for one moment. and the lady waitress finally asked " NO TIP?" and i said " i left it on the table". All they said WAS "OK", no thank you, no nothing. ABSOLUTELY RUDE . i will only be returning because the food is okay and its convenient to my house. do i recommend this place? only if you want to come to a place when they food is average with HORRIBLE RUDE SERVICE.
(1)
Martin B.

I've tried this restaurant twice in recent time. On both occassions I've had a bad experience. The waitresses were rude and would not let me finish telling them what I wanted to order. They just run off, to eventually come back and throw our million side dishes on the table. The bulgogi was good, but the giant tweezer that she used to throw the meat around the fire with, were not the cleanest. This is a typical restaurant that could have had ten chain restaurants around the city based on their food, but the waitresses are so ridiculously rude, that I know that will never happen. I will never set foot in there again.
(1)
Nick L.

The food is actually probably 4-5 stars but this place is unfortunately 3 stars overall. The side dishes are plentiful and a great start while you wait for the onslaught. The onslaught of smelling like a meat smoke stack that is! We came in a group and ordered off the set menu (one in the group was Korean so we let them do the talking) and all was going well. The food came out and it was juicy, succulent and super tasty. We were all nicely full when everything was said and done. Then the bill came. And the oddity began. We ordered for 6 people off the multi- person set menu, so we assumed we would be charged 6 x the single person price. However the place and hostess charged us for 7 and said that you have to have 7 people even though it doesn't state that anywhere in the menu. We go on and on and round and round on this and even in Korean we got nowhere. We took cash out of the ATM and paid the exact amount with $1 extra, i.e. basically the tip was removed to cover the extra person charge. I thought that was a bit shady of the restaurant and they wouldn't budge even though there were clearly 6 people at the table. I don't know what they were smoking that night (probably all that meat stench) but I wasn't paying enough attention as I don't speak the lingo! Oh well - guess this place is off the list. But darn - the food was pretty good!! Buyer beware.
(3)
John M.

The servce was professional and attentive. We never had to worry that one of our glasses of water would go empty. When we asked about our dishes we were politely told everything we wanted to know about the dish. The portions are large certainly larger than described in the menu which is a welcoming surprise. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone and they are perfectly situated to handle large parties.
(4)
Donna C.

If I wrote a review for this place a year ago, I would have given it 4 stars but the last few times that I've been there, I found the kalbi is getting progressively tougher every time. Perhaps a lowering of meat quality or some version of cutting corners? Don't get me wrong, it's not enough to keep me away from here because it's a pretty good value but I think it's time to move on to find some better Korean BBQ places in town. Also, I think the ventilation just isn't what it used to be... maybe those things are clogged and need a serious cleaning!
(3)
Walter D.

Best Korean place I've been too. Place is huge despite what you see from the outside. Great atmosphere. And the food (Bogogi and chopche) and small Korean appetizer plates (18 of them) were fantastic!
(5)
Diana W.

Smoky? Yes Expensive as compared to other korean joints? Yes Impersonal wait staff? Yes but.... Fun experience? Yes Open late? Yes Good food? Yes Lots of Panch'an? Yes I found that if you're not into the whole bbq thing, some tasty and less $$$ options would be the Jap Chae or their Soon Tofu. I've always left full and happy. When we didn't get bbq my bank account was full and happy too. Can't beat that.
(4)
Dora V.

San Goo Gab San is, in a word, bumpin'. Place is packed. The large booths and expansive space accommodate big groups, which you are likely to see. The barbeque pits are smokier than the vents are effective, so don't wear your favorite sweater. The menu is extensive and the food never fails, except for the one time they were out of buckwheat noodles when I needed some, stat. I went for the japchae instead. Japchae is a classic dish that consists of cellophane noodles, vegetables, and beef (optional) stir-fried in sesame oil. It's as appealing to the provincial palate as the ever-popular pad thai. It is thus a good option for vegetarians and picky eaters, who you can't always leave behind. The banchan will cover your table, leaving very little remaining space. Seriously, it's hard not to knock into things. At least it is for me. Note: the staff is not going to baby you. They might not even smile. Deal with it: they are working very, very hard. They take their jobs seriously. Juggling millions of tiny plates, navigating past fire-pits and serving an endless bustling crowd is what they do. Welcoming you is not. San Goo Gab San is an institution in Chicago. The late-night scene can't be beat. All kinds of folks go in there, ravenous, in various-sized post-party groups. It's people-watching galore! The best part is you will never, never leave hungry. Geonbae!
(4)
Kevin R.

We tried this place on a whim, and got lucky. We didn't have to cook our own meat (since it was just 2 of us), which is good, as that seemed intimidating. The amount of food was a bit overwhelming, but everything was delicious. We also tried some sushi, which was good, and plum wine - good stuff! It was an authentic Korean experience - which also meant there were some difficulties communicating with the waitress... but the quality of the food outweighs that. Worst part: the TINY parking lot. If you can navigate the parking lot, you'll have no problem with the menu.
(4)
Erika G.

I liked this place, and would go here again, don't get me wrong. The meat was SO TENDER and flavorful - esp. .the beef and pork. The spare ribs seemed too labor intensive - giant bone/not a lot of meat. I like the array of little Korean side dishes - the spicy potatoes, the bean curd, the kim chee. The service. Where do I start? Terrible. When new people join your table, how long before you serve them beer and give them plates? Everyone's cooking their own food, the kitchen can't be THAT busy! And our table quickly became crowded with dirty plates and dishes - we could have had a replenishment of those - would have been nice. Another thing. I understand the appeal of cooking your own food in a restaurant, I suppose, but usually when I cook my own food, I'm oh - AT HOME, and it's about 20-30% cheaper than a restaurant. This was seemed a bit pricey for having dinner companions double as kitchen help. Granted, I'd have to NOT go with a group of oh - 12-13 hungry/thirsty Yelpers 'cos we did have a formidable LOAD OF MEAT. So, further research is definitely necessary for this establishment. Vegetarians need not even bother darkening the doors of this place. Which, for me - is a plus. AND it's open until 5 AM - another HUGE PLUS in my night owl book.
(3)
Amanda S.

the last time i dined at ssgs, my sister's friend was being a good sport and let me drive to get the hours necessary to show jesse white and the city of chicago that i deserved a license. my excellent driving was suddenly rewarded (as long as i could park the car between a shiny lexus and beaming beamer) with korean bbq. back then, ssgs was the greatest thing since sliced bread. i was in awe of all the many side dishes and ability to cook my own food. during my most recent trip home, i told my friend i needed to go back before i left. he told me of a bad experience he had there and i was immediately defensive, claiming it couldn't possibly be true. when our large-ish party got there, we dutifully took off our shoes and sat down at one of the "authentic experience" group tables. then it happened. after ordering, our server told us firmly that it wouldn't be enough food and we'd only get one collection of small appetite-whetters even though we requested four orders of meat (that each, technically, come with the small side plates). we only asked for one more helping of the small plates, but she said it wasn't happening. my sister kindly said that the meat was definitely enough as we had two small children who didn't eat much and that after going there so many times (and being a "good" eater), she knew how much our party would need. the waitress shook her head and started scribbling furiously, while speaking in harsh tones to her notepad. seeing this, my sister asked (again, kindly) if she could speak to the manager, as they have built a rapport over the years. our waitress said no and walked away. i sat there, flabbergasted. the food is good, but not as great as i remember it (probably since there was a sour taste in my mouth before we even started eating), the wait for the bathroom is still obscenely long as there is only one per gender, and by the time you leave the establishment, you smell like you've been frolicking in a korean bbq pit. not exactly attractive. i'm pretty impressed with myself though, because that parking lot is definitely tight in retrospect, and i pwn3d it that day in the early 2000s.
(3)
Rapeepat C.

Gonna keep this review simple. - massive amount of side dishes which you can keep asking for more - charcoal grill! - you come out smelling like bbq which is the way it's suppose to be - good value for the money This place is a gem. Aside from the fact that it's in the middle of nowhere (umm...closest is ravenswood metra, really?). Parking lot is a bitch...it's so small...needs some serious skills to park there. The food tastes awesome. It depends a bit on your grilling skills but if you know what you're doing, it's wonderful.
(4)
Boon K.

Yes, the service is not the best here but they make the best Korean food in Chicago and they are open really late. i love their Kalbi marinate and they give you the most panchan( it is easy to get full while waiting for your main course. Bi Bim Bop Dolsot is good if you don't feel like cooking. Their seafood pancake is very large and I only order this with a group of at least 4. I have tried all their soups and they are all really good, and I like that it is spicy but not so spicy that you can't enjoy it. I think I also like it since it is a little cheaper compare to the other one around the area.
(5)
Sam K.

If you are looking for good Korean BBQ, this is the place for you. They are open ridiculously late, 5AM, or so the sign says (I'm never going to be able to try this). As many have mentioned the parking lot is small and the spaces are VERY TIGHT. If you have an SUV it is probably better to park on the street than risk getting your door dinged or even worse parking like an A-hole. The real reason to go though is the food. The small plates are fantastic and you can ask for more of your favorites. The Korean BBQ isn't from some cheap gas grill, they use real lump wood and you can definitely taste the difference. I liken it to grilling on a propane grill vs. a charcoal grill -- you just can't replicate the flavor. DO NOT go here if you are wearing your Sunday's best! You will leave smelling like BBQ. *Pro tip* Fact, guys cannot resist a beautiful lady who smells like BBQ. Service was great, but if you don't have patience to decode a little accent then you might think otherwise. Overall, this place is really good and I highly recommend.
(4)
A V.

Awesome food. This is one of those places you go to where the dining experience/process is as memorable as the food. Our table had two bbq pits built directly into them. Shoeless and seated Indian-style, we enjoyed twenty-two little appetizer dishes, Korean BBQ, bibimbap, some sort of fish stew, and soju. If you've never had Korean BBQ before, I suggest you give this place a try. It stays open until 5am and is group-friendly. But if you plan on getting fresh with your date, I wouldn't recommend this as a date place, since you go home reeking of smoke/bbq meats. I'm sure whiffs of smoke/bbq isn't an aphrodisiac for most.
(5)
Will K.

Being raised Korean myself, I can say that all the dishes here remind me of home. It's definitely as authentic of Korean as you will get. The plethora of side dishes and main course selections will leave very little room on your table for very large appetites. The meat selection is great, from Bulgogi to Kalbi and outstanding traditional stews such as my favorite, Kimchi jjigae. The food itself is great, but on a busy night expect a very slow service. Communication can be rough, so expect smooth sailing if you have any korean speaking friends. All in all, an enjoyable experience thats best shared in a group.
(4)
R L R.

Ok, first and foremost, don't expect most Korean restaurants to have top notched service skills. I have been to several Korean restaurants, with and without Korean friends, and almost every time the wait staff is indifferent. You're in their house, so suck it up or eat something else. With that being said, SSGS was the first Korean BBQ joint I went to without a Korean friend, so I had a pretty good idea about what I like and what to suggest to my companions. You don't go here for the service, you go for the food, which is pretty awesome for the prices that they're at. Be prepared to cook your own food in a fire pit and let your dinner companions understand what's going on or you'll end up having a big fight with your brother (who didn't understand the concept of paying to cook your own food) and ruin your other brother's birthday. I'm just saying, that's all. You do have the option of having the kitchen cook it for you too. I've always been partial to Bulgogi and Kalbi and my buddy loves the spicy octopus. Not being a huge fan of spicy octopus, I have to admit it's still pretty good. The plus side is that they have those gazillion side dishes. My favorite happens to be the bean sprouts and the pickled carrots. The parking lot is a scary battlezone, so I normally park on the side street and walk that block. It's better peace of mind than worrying about some overzealous idiot dinking up your car. I've noticed that they have been working on their service the last few times I've been in there. Although those ladies are a little grumpy and rushed, I can't help but sympathize. I'm sure they work all hours of the day trying to move herds of hungry Korean BBQers in and out. Having had a job in the food industry, let me tell you it's no picnic. Especially when you have to deal with really picky people who give you a whole song and dance about what they can or can't eat; and you don't really give a crap that they don't like grainy textures, yet they want to eat cinnamon sugar. There has been a pretty older lady that checks in on everybody now. I'm assuming she's the owner, but she's always around to make sure you're glass is still full and that you're not waiting around for anything. If you've never tried Korean BBQ before, this is a great place to introduce your palette to new flavors (and your clothes to a smoky sweet aroma. DON'T go to the movies or any other crowded places until you've atleast changed your top), just bring a friend who's eaten Korean food before, otherwise you're always safe with the Bulgogi or Kalbi. Above all, as you should apply to all new experiences, just have some frickin' fun!
(4)
Yojalma M.

Was O-kay! I've had better, I can do without it, especially the bad service and horrible parking design!
(1)
Alanna M.

I've been coming here for years. I usually come with a group of 6+. Once I brought my brother and didn't realize that the smoke from the grill would upset his mild asthma like it did. Oops! Anyway, this place is awesome. You grill your own pre-seasoned meat, you receive 100 different sides, and you have the option of making lettuce wraps. I love that! I've never been disappointed with my food or experience at San Soo Gab San. Its not fancy, but you can come here and get a lot of food and MANY drinks for a decent price. Its a favorite of mine for celebrations.
(5)
Phil X.

Buyer BEWARE: I practically got SCAMMED and you probably did too. This used to be one of my late night spots to hit up. I mean, who can turn down grilled Kalbi/Bulgogi along with all those little side dishes that come with it? ME...THAT'S WHO...READ ON... You can opt out and have them cook it for you in the kitchen, but there is something cool about grilling it right at the table. But when you really think about it, it's kinda bogus that I'm paying so much when I'm cooking my own food and not even getting quality service. But here's the real kicker... My Last Experience at San Soo Gab San: I was having a late night 4th meal for two around 2am one night. Food was good, service was bleh, and then we get the check. I'm already halfway into my food coma as I'm about to pay when I notice something weird...the bill seems unusually high. It was somewhat difficult to decipher why, considering the itemized bill was not in English. So, I call my waitress over and point to part of the bill asking for a translation. She tells me it's "the TIP." WOW. WTF?! Really? How can you automatically charge me with a mandatory gratuity when: 1. It's only two of us eating(it's not like a party of 6 or more?)...and 2nd...even if it was a party of six...shouldn't they have been obligated to maybe oh I dunno...POST IT SOMEWHERE? A warning would have been nice...one that I can read. It's really made me angry considering the fact that I was ALREADY going to tip generously on TOP of the hidden mandatory tip already in place. Some people I've shared this story with tell me it's because it's late at night and they don't get much service. Wake up people, there's no excuse for this. The only reason I didn't give it one star was because the food was good...but why wouldn't it be? Afterall, I'M the one who cooked it....lol. Well, at least they cooked the rice for me.
(2)
Aileen G.

I came here with high hopes and was definitely impressed by the large number of delicious side dishes and the seafood pancake, but I've definitely had better kbbq meats elsewhere. We had the seafood pancake as appetizer, and it was delicious. A little bit crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, it was full of flavor with a generous amount of seafood. For the grill, we had the pork belly and the bulgogi. The pork belly was very bland, and they give you a plate of salt and oil to dip it in (which helps, but not by much). Not a big fan. The bulgogi had more flavor to it, but nothing special. The meat came in tiny broken pieces as opposed to the large, juicy pieces you see at some other places.
(3)
Amy A.

This place was disgusting. The only redeeming quality was the partially friendly service (PARTIALLY). Only went here because Chicago Kalbi was close (who closes on a Tuesday????). The meat was fatty, chewy, and gross. The sides seemed really old. The alcohol selection was extremely limited, as in one hot and one cold sake, one to two beers, and basically that was it, AND in bold print they state twice on a sign at the door NO BYOB. Yuck, no thank you. Try Chicago Kalbi, awesome.
(1)
Samuel M.

I love restaurants that feel like bustling, overgrown versions of one of your friends' houses. San Soo Gab San is definitely one of these, and it delivers admirable Korean BBQ to boot. I came to SSGS for a friend's birthday party with 13 other people; we went with the sets ($21.95-$25.95 per person) so as to maximize variety. It was an absolute feast, and the fact that they made us take our shoes off before eating at the essentially-floor level table added to the charm. Goon Mandhu, or Korean potstickers, make a delicious starter, especially considering their vegetarian contents. Seafood pancake hearkens back to the street food I enjoyed when I was in East Asia; fluffy like a cloud, and filled with several varieties of shellfish. That stuff is all fine and good, but pretty much the only reason to come here is for the barbecue, and it's a winner. The idea here is that you're given plates of marinated meat, which you can grill to your liking. Kalbi is served off the bone, and when cooked properly is fork-tender and deliciously crispy on the outside. Bulgogi is marinated to perfection, as is the pork tenderloin. As is customary, the above are served with lettuce leaves and soybean paste, which make for excellent wrap fodder. The best part, though, is probably the banchan, which is a melange of traditional side dishes. Our entire table was basically full of banchan before the entrees even came (supposedly there are over 25). It's a dizzying array of kimchees, vegetable dishes, noodle salads, and other stuff that I can't even begin to identify, but which tasted good. The only thing that didn't blow me away was Dol sot bibim bap ($9.95), which lacks the pleasant crisp that the clay pot usually gives the rice. This was just sort of average. Also, I'd have liked it if they offered Budae Jigae, but I likely couldn't have convinced anyone to go in on it with me, so this is a moot point. Pricing is somewhat high for ethnic food, but worth it considering the variety and volume of meat involved. Service is very friendly (though ours was likely augmented by the fact that my friend ordered entirely in Korean). The one kind of weird thing is that it's kind of difficult to convince them to let a fraction of your party do a set, while the others order a la carte; however, I more than understand this, because it would make it too easy to unethically split food, but it's still somewhat annoying. All in all, SSGS is an authentic Korean BBQ experience which may be the most reasonably priced way to eat a ridiculous amount of meat in Chicago, and is extremely friendly to big groups. I highly recommend it!
(4)
Ted C.

I've been here a few times and I've enjoyed it. The service can be spotty and it's best to go with a Korean speaker, otherwise the service will be worse. Korean restaurants can be like this though so it's not surprising. My latest visit though was exceptionally okay, though. Yes, it was average on a spectacular level. The service was all right nothing special you have to flag someone down and basically demand things not ask. We ordered the joo moo luk which is rib eye and right away I could tell it was frozen, some of the cuts were still pretty solid. It cooked up all right, but still a little disappointing. I always appreciated that the place was open late and it was an interesting place to take my Valentine's date after a late show. I will always keep a special place in my heart for this place for a late night Korean food fix but not as good as it used to be.
(3)
Jade T.

A restaurant must be damn awful to get one star from me. San Soo Gab San deserves this rating. I went with my sister, whom my boyfriend and I just picked up from the airport on a rainy Thursday night. She was excited to have Korean food. San Soo Gab San has a reputation for being the most popular Korean restaurant in Chicago, and it has above average reviews. I figured it would be a good meal. Hell no. Nevermind the fact that there were almost no vegetarian dishes. I expected such. I could eat just the pachan, the side dishes. They were able to make their tofu soup without seafood, which deserves to be noted. Anyway, my sister ordered beef bulgogi and dumplings and my boyfriend had the beef with glass noodles soup. All of the food was fine, although the noodle soup had maybe three strands of noodles. I'm totally serious. It was about a pound of beef in broth. My boyfriend found this to be disappointing. The service was what killed the experience. There was one waitress for the entire right section of the restaurant. The poor woman was overwhelmed by a full house. I can be sympathetic towards servers, but this restaurant was so poorly run. It took them 15 minutes to take our order, then forever to bring the pachan and the food. The server did not even ONCE check on our table. She took our order, brought our food, and gave us our check. I think we were there for over 1.5 hours, and we just wanted to eat and go home. We were really annoyed that the table with a large group right next to us received more service. She went to their table many times, and couldn't see us trying to flag her down (and we did this many times). We were dying of thirst, as no one ever refilled our water until the check came, and they spilled the water all over the damn table. I wanted more rice for my tofu soup, but the waitress never came back to our table. San Soo Gab San needs to work on efficiency because this poor quality of service was completely, absolutely unacceptable. We were annoyed. We were mad. I wanted to talk to the manager about the abysmal service (the worst I've had in a long time), but I'm just never going to return. I've had better food and service in the suburbs of Virginia. I DO NOT recommend San Soo Gab San at all, unless you come after midnight. Maybe the waitress will actually do more than the bare minimum. This restaurant is not worth the hype or the wait. You've been warned.
(1)
Tim F.

Side note. I'm not a Korean, but have visited several pretty amazing food joints in Seoul. The food here is good enough (perhaps 3-3.5 stars), but one cannot discount the experience. Know that you will be cooking your own food and creating combinations of meat + side dishes wrapped in lettuce leaf to consume. If you are with a group and expect to have a Korean BBQ style experience - this is the place to be. Know also that you will smell like a Korean BBQ for the next day or so...
(4)
Marlon V.

Good late night spot for KBBQ. Love all the appetizers/small plates at the beginning of the meal because there are so many. I give this place 2.5 $'s - it can be pricey depending on the amount of people u have in the group because it seems like the amount of meat given is not enough at times. Food is delicious & tasty.
(4)
Dane K.

If I had to guess, one of the best places for Korean in the city.. I'm not all knowing, though. Apparently they recently remodeled this place... it's bright and orange inside, very bustling at dinner time. It helps I went with a Korean that spoke the language... I can see how this place might be intimidating to the newly inducted. But based off of what my Korean friend said, it feels like there's supposed to be some very strict structure, but t's very unstructured dining so you shouldn't have to fear doing something wrong. You'll probably end up doing odd things though, and surely things that you find odd.... (soup near the end of a meal, for instance. odd to you maybe, not to them) I would not go here if you're a vegetarian. It's a very carnivore-oriented meal. We had the ribeye and spare ribs. Personally I think the spare ribs were great. The ribeye was cut a little too thick and was harder to eat/grill right. The sides were typical, pretty decent though. And plentiful. Between the 3 of us we ordered 3 meats, I was leaning towards 2 to start with but they wanted more... I'm pretty sure we overate! We had a cold noodle soup that was also very tasty. Don't remember what it was called, but I'd get it again possibly. You have to order at least 2 of the meat items to get charcoal at your table... I can't imagine not doing so, that's the entire fun of going here! The night we went, there were a few tables of 4 eating at a non-charcoal table though, so if you know when you're going I'd recommend calling ahead. Also they have kneeling tables where you take your shoes off, these I'd call for too if that's what you want! Don't wear anything requiring dry cleaning unless you intend to take it to the dry cleaner after leaving... you'll smell like smoke when you leave, the sure sign you had a good time.
(4)
Justine L.

My third trip there - the food is very good. Tons and tons of side dishes / appetizer type plates (around 20 small plates). Good for those who like Korean food - I only like the bbq. I always get the kalbi and this visit was no different. However, I got the squid and the pork bbq also. Very delicious, but can't beat the kalbi. Only reason why it isn't a 5 is b/c the service staff is very pushy. B/c they are so popular and busy, they always have people waiting at the front to be seated. So the moment they see you finish, they do everything to get you out the door for the next table (including telling you they have people waiting for your table). This place still gets a 4 from me which reflects just how good their Korean bbq food is.
(4)
Sharon L.

Disappointed... Greater the expectation, greater the disappointment. Honestly, it was one of the worst/mediocre non marinated short ribs I ever tasted. The meat was not tender at all and very tough. But I would suggest everyone to give it a try! On the brighter side, the servers were very nice and there were over 10, I want to say 18 different side dishes :)!! And they were all very, very, very good!
(2)
Kato t.

The Pros and the Cons: PROS first: Food's very good and that's always the important thing! The best part for everyone is that as you cook it right on your table with the charcoal cooker you get that great smokey flavor and it feels good to know you're getting it as hearty and fresh as possible; but it especially feels good to know just how well cooked it is because YOU'RE the one cooking it. You can make the meat as medium as you want it or as rare as you like it, it's entirely in your control. Although if you're a vegetarian I suppose this aspect of charcoal cooking might not apply. Also the atmosphere is very cozy for night time dining, so if you have a group of people, like family or friends, then the crowd that is in there combined with the low cielings help give the place a 'hip' feeling (cuz of the bustling crowd) yet cozy and warm. If you can, I feel, the best tables to sit at are the ones to your right side near the door, because the stylish construction of it kind of has you sitting Indian style comfortably on cushions yet also with the option of sitting how you would normally sit on a chair by using the space dug in the floor. All in all, if you like Korean food then this place is good, and like most Korean restaurants you'll love the hours as it closes quite late (5am I believe). So it's a great place if you want to eat something better than Bakers Square with a group of late-night friends from partying or maybe after a midnight movie. CONS: Nothing serious to complain about at all as I think it's a great place, but the following is worth being aware of. One, the parking space between cars is really tight. Since most of it's business is during the night, the low visibility combined with the the low tolerance of space between cars makes for a little fender-bender potential. So just be real gradual when you squeeze in there, there's no need to rush, the restaurant is right in front of you, and you'll be doing a lot of reversing and forwarding to fit in snugly. Not only is the space between cars very small, but the lot itself is also small, so most likely you'll be parking else where. I want to say that it's lot could only fit 8-12 cars. Two, it's a very popular place during the night hours, especially after 7pm, so you will have to wait in line for you party's turn. You may have to wait up to 20 minutes (as we did) but the time goes by quickly especially if you parked in their lot and you sit in your car. They do give you a pager so that when your turn is up you'll be notified by it buzzing. I think the typical wait might be around 10 minutes. They WILL say "30-40" minutes because of the wise mentality of "under promise" and "over accomplishing", so I feel they exaggerate on the wait time so that you're not disappointed. Three, one drawback of their fresh charcoal cooker that I only noticed the next day is that the smoke that it causes can stench your shirt or coat with it's smokey smell. When my jacket the next day had smelled like the smokey scent I suddenly got hungry for it, lol. So wear a light t-shirt maybe or something easy to wash if you don't want it carrying the smokey smell. But I SHOULD point out that, maybe I was the only one of my party who had this, as I may have been positioned at the brunt of the smoke which is smack in the middle of the table. Above your table there IS an exhaust vent that is active all the time to suck and absorb the smoke, but this is just a minor observation, everyone washes their clothes anyway. So those are the Pro's and Cons of my very enjoyable night at SanSoo GabSan. The service was fine and they tend to work very fast, I definitely would recommend it for some good Korean dining at lat night hours.
(4)
Michael C.

This is a pretty good Korean BBQ joint. The way this place really distinguishes itself is by giving you an oddly large number of side dishes--we counted 25 bowls. It's a little intimidating, but really, what other restaurant, of any kind, brings you 25 (yes, twenty-five!) of anything with your meal--at no extra charge?! And to boot, you can get any of them refilled, as many times as you want, at no extra charge. The BBQ is good, too. We got marinated beef and pork, and yes, it's fun to cook your own meat at your table. Good tasting, too--that beef marinate is phenomenal. Drawbacks? Well, we didn't know what we were eating with all 25 sides; in fact, less than half were easily identifiable. The waitstaff is super nice, but they only speak Korean, so when we asked what something was (it was one of the ones we didn't like), we got an extra serving instead. And really, if you're not into wasting food, you might not like this place: You're not going to like all 25 sides, so you're going to end up leaving a bunch of food on the table to be thrown out. Lastly, the place could use some remodeling, maybe a paint job, maybe something to brighten it up, as it's all dark brown wood inside. But a good place for Korean BBQ. I recommend you go if you like different things, want an eating experience, and want some good food.
(4)
Mel K.

My Korean mother approves! When you are craving the salty, garlicky and sour flavors of Korean food, this is a good place to go. I highly recommend the seafood pancake and marinated kalbi. Just don't be surprised when you leave the place smelling like smoke.
(4)
Phill C.

Been here many late nights - now open until 5am. This is one of my favorite places for Korean BBQ, especially since they are one of few places that use a charcoal grill. The meat just cooks that much better and you get the flavor from the charcoal. Their kalbi (marinated short ribs) is marinated perfectly and you get tons of side dishes. I also love the kalbi-tang, which is soup made with the short rib bones and some meat.
(5)
April P.

I'm feeling a little intimidated writing this review. What can you possibly say after there are already 400 plus reviews? Okay, let's attempt *great kalbi- I must say that for someone who hates to cook, it's not that bad to grill your own meat here. Seasoned very well, it tastes excellent both medium rare and with the sweet char. *20 (YES TWENTY) different types of salads and veggies given upon sit down and with grill order. Newcomers who have come with me do not believe me till they witness it themselves! *soup-the Korean, spicy version of the Japanese miso soup. Slices of jalapeno, beware! *service- A-ok. If you mess it up, and I'm grilling my own food, now that'll knock off a few stars and a few dollars for tip Okay, so how did I do?
(5)
Amy L.

Overview: OMG great Korean BBQ! Having lived in Korea for a year, I think I can say that this is very authentic - they even have obscure dishes like Bi Bim Naeng Myun (cold spicy buckwheat noodles), which I love! This is a great place for groups to share lunch or dinner. The value is good for the money and their bathrooms are really warm (I know that's weird to mention, but nothing makes me angrier than a cold bathroom with a cold toilet). A+++++++! Food: Order the beef kalbi! And the pork kalbi! And the samgyeopseol (really thick bacon) with kimchi! I have never been a big fan of bulgogi, but it was pretty good here. Like a REAL Korean restaurant, they bring you 20+ side dishes here, AND you can ask for as much extra of any side dish as you want (mmmmm fish cakes, cucumber kimchi, radish kimchi, spicy tofu nom nom nom)! And they give you rice and lettuce to wrap the bbq meat in, as well as two traditional dipping sauces (sesame oil with garlic salt and pepper and spicy bean sauce) to dip the meat in. I love to mix the different side dishes with the bbq and wrap it all up in lettuce ... soooo delicious. Bonus - you also get Korean miso soup with your order! Ambiance: Ok, so the restaurant doesn't look fancy or even well-decorated, but it's got the two most important things a Korean BBQ restaurant needs - giant air vents above the grills, and scissors to cut your meat and noodles with ... very authentic :) Just be sure to wear something you don't mind getting all BBQ-smelling. My biggest critique for this place is that it needs more surface area for the grill so I can cook more meat at one time! Service: The service is very fast - they bring out the side dishes within 5 minutes of you sitting down. While they aren't proactive about making sure your water glass is full or checking that you're doing ok, a little eye contact and telling them exactly what you want (more side dishes!) is all you need.
(5)
Jenn B.

Saw the ratings and tried this place out! Nasty food. Poor ventilation! This place was so smoking our eyes were burning and we weren't even cooking anymore. If you walked outside you can see all the smoke coming out of the Restraunt. The lady kept telling us to order more and more food even when we suggested we had enough. We over ordered and there was no room for any of the food. Poor service she only came back when it was time to pay. Would never go back.
(1)
Precious B.

I've been going to this place for a long time and prepare yourselves for a SMOKE FEST lol it gets packed and smokey! The service is ok I commend the nice hispanic male waitor who attended to us very well but some of the Korean waitresses can be a bit snobby and don't really pay attention to the customer's needs nor understand....the food is incredible with side orders galore like potato salad, tofu, kimchee and seaweed, bbq is amazing.....enough said
(5)
Jennifer M.

Fellow Reviewers: Were you guys trying to punk me by writing that SSGS is BYOB?? Seriously...I can't say much that hasn't already been said, except I like having my food cooked and it's NOT BYOB....I think. I dutifully (according to you guys) brought in my own $11.49 bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and was told to leave it in the car. Really?(insert flippin them the bird here) I just stashed it in my purse and gazed in amazement as the korean pros dealt their mystery plates onto our limited table space. So....who punked us?? Yelp folks or the suck butt servers? Aside from that, we ordered and charred the squid and octopus. Master the cooking times to avoid rubber meat and salmonella.
(3)
Dan D.

After the past few times eating here, I need to downgrade my stars to 3 or 4 stars (Imagine 3.5 stars...). The service is simply very rude. While the servers are very quick for bringing out food, the servers are not courteous or understanding. I came here with a large group of people and we were enjoying some pleasant conversation with our meal. Right as the check/bill came to the table, the server ordered us to pay right away..... Alright..... So we did. And then when she came back with the credit card receipt, she waited for us to sign it. Literally one minute after this occurred, she came back to our table and told us, "You already paid and must leave now. Need table for others." Wow! This was a shocker on the rudeness scale. Naturally the tip was already included in the bill, so she could really care-less how offended we were. The service NEEDS to be kinder, more patient, and less demanding to its patrons. This is not an isolated incident and has occurred to me many times and even my friends (and their stories are far worse!!!).
(3)
Jean C.

This is the place to get amazing Korean BBQ. I love the fact that this place is also open til 4am. You never know when I am going to get a craving for Korean. And normally it's all the time. The first time I came here was with my sister a long time ago around midnight. Since then, I have been here possibly 20x plus. I love the 20+ banchan dishes you get. I always order Kalbi and the hubs like the dak galbi. I think the best part of Korean BBQ is the grilling over the charcoal. The smells wafting throughout the restaurant are just irresistible. The food is always consistently amazing. The meat is fresh and perfectly marinated. I have a huge appetite and when it's Korean BBQ, I somehow have a bottomless stomach. I can eat and eat and eat some more. The service is good and that is surprising in itself. Most of the time, the Korean ladies are rude and short, but it's part of their charm. This is my comfort food restaurant. I immediately feel better after that first bite. And again, the fact that they are open til 4am is key. Nothing like late night BBQ.
(5)
Mas I.

Good late night drunk chow alternative to bar food, diners, pizza, fast food, Mexican or Chinese. Although the side dishes are good in the main, the selection and number vary considerably from visit to visit with no discernible pattern. I have a suspicion that I am served more side dishes in proportion to the number of Asian people with me. However, that might just be a long standing, remarkably, consistent coincidence. Note: you have to order at least two BBQ dishes to cook at your table.
(4)
Amzok E.

Love korean food and I have been here several times with my family . Food is great usually get spicy beef soup or bulgogi. I love all the side dishes and miso soup but the service is bad ( they are rude )
(4)
J M.

I've been to San Soo Gab San three or four times, and it's decent Korean food. My friend, who is a native from Seoul, and I agreed the kalbi is fine. I found them to have a better variety of banchan (small side dishes) but not all were tasty. The first time I came here, we thought it was known for its unmarinated kalbi but we found it underwhelming; Definitely steer clear of it and get the marinated kalbi. Side notes: Service is very functional and utilitarian compared to American standards, so don't come expecting super attentive wait staff. Also, because it is a grill-your-own-meal place, your clothes will pick up the smell of smoke.
(3)
Carol M.

Bring someone who knows what they're doing. It will make this place a lot less intimidating. Trust me. I went w/ my roomie who is half Korean and she took the reigns on what to order, how to do it, and what the little bowl of white stuff was. Also, plan plenty of time to take a nap afterwards. After such a lethal (but delicious) dose of meat you and your gut will need the down time. There were 7 of us. Between us we split the beef, pork, chicken, and octopus. The chicken and octopus were a tad spicy for my weak white girl taste buds but the beef was to die for! I tell ya, it must have been marinated in heaven juice. My favorite sides were the pickled beets and the fish cakes (I think that's what they were called...flat pieces of fish stuff that looks almost like flattened tofu). Also. Leave your coat in the car, unless you want to walk around smelling like "cheeseburgers" as another friend we met up w/ later described us as. The staff was friendly and attentive even though the place was packed. I think they're used to battling the crowds though. Bring your appetites and bring your friends, try the soju! 36/52
(5)
diana t.

I don't know too many sit down places open until 5 AM but this place is. So basically, after last call, you can STILL come here. And many drunk people do. For $20, u get about 20 delish unnamed plates. Someone made a comment that they don't tell u what it is. Who cares? It was all good. If you care about what stuff is named, you probably shouldn't be in this side of town at 5 am. Then they put this grill on your table and plates of meat. And then you grill and eat until you can't grill or eat anymore. The service is nice. Its pretty much self serve. They bring out your food in about 10 minutes. Sometimes the woman seems really tired. But then again so is the security guard at the 4 am Taco Bell in Wrigleyville. This is better.
(5)
Adj F.

It's best to go to this place with a group of people who also enjoys food. This way, you can try different grill items without putting a hole in your wallet. The food is fantastic, the beef ribs is tender, juicy and down right delicious. They give you a lot of kim-chi as you can see in the pictures. I've been here twice with a friend, and when we left we are comfortably full but by no meanings stuffed. I haven't tried anything but the bbq here -- but I don't know why you would want to order anything else! It's not cheap, one portion of grilled meat ranges from 15 - 25 bucks. The service is ok -- like a lot of authentic foreign places, the waitress ain't gonna chit-chat with you, but they get the work done and they are fast.
(4)
Carl G.

The service really needs to improve. As anyone who has spent any time in Korea could tell you, Korean service is amazing. Korea is not like China, service is considered to be a necessary component of any meal, in this respect much closer to Japan. I lived there for two years and found that service in Korea was something to expected and to not receive good service is quite rare. Order three beers? The fourth one is most likely free. The attitude that the servers take here is not something that they brought over from the motherland. My advice is don't be shy about giving them a loud 'jeogi yo' when the ajummas drag eodeongi. It wouldn't be tolerated back in Korea.
(3)
Lauren P.

awesome birthday party idea! contrary to some of the other reviews, service was great. not only were we seated on time for our reservation, our waitress helped us order - even making a few suggestions for things we wouldn't otherwise have known about (hello, delicious seafood pancake.) once that was settled, the food came out very quickly. after we got cooking, the server was nice enough to change out our grill a few times, which helps reduce the amount smoke coming from your table. i wouldn't recommend this kind of experience to picky eaters or to the unadventurous. none of us were korean, so we didn't know what any of the sides on the table were - but we happily tested away anyway. as for our meat selections, we ordered short rib (very good,) chicken (decent) and bacon (the least favorite of the group.) we also took a risk and ordered some spicy squid - which ended up being a big hit. we had no idea what we were doing when we ordered, but we still ended up having an awesome meal - so i can only imagine what it'd be like to eat with someone who's familiar with korean food. most likely amazeballs. a few FYIs - you'll have to take your shoes off. i wasn't expecting this and i don't think the rest of my party was either. more importantly, the vents above the tables aren't very powerful. (read: you will smell like korean bbq afterward.) come to dinner with only the essentials (best to leave coats at home or in the car.) overall, it was a super fun and enjoyable experience - my entire party had a great time. side note - one sure fire way to know this place is legit is by its clientele - 90% of the people dining that saturday night were korean. looking forward to visiting again!
(5)
Kimberly P.

They use charcoal! Salads are amazing! Have been going here for years..We get the spicy pork rib and squid. The bulgogi has changed and lost its love so we don't get it anymore, tried it 4x and it was bland and watery. It used to be AMAZING. Still the best Korean BBQ I have found.........
(4)
Suzy D.

This is my favorite Korean BBQ place in Chicago. The Wan Kalbi is my favorite. Whenever I go here, I always order the seafood pancake and the wan kalbi. The tofu soup they bring you is always tasty too. If you haven't been here yet, go and try it! You will not be disappointed. However, if you go during the busy time, be prepared to wait....and wait.
(5)
Nini Y.

I love the food but agree with others the service is terrible....... I was with my brother and we are both Asians... and the waitress would not acknowledge Me when i would order... and would only look at my brother.....and ask him what he wanted......!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(3)
RT S.

We went here on Saturday at 12 noon to have group reunion. Once seated, we ordered the food. 2 kalbi, 1 baby octopus and many side dishes. Kalbi is tender but tingy for the amount. Baby octopus was soft and well marinate. We also order buck wheat noodle with sour sauce and vegetable. It was very sour, not recommended unless you're pregnant with an acquire taste for sour noodle. One bad thing, I requested hot water twice, but the waiter came out 2 times with tea and no hot water. She said the restaurant doesn't have hot water. How does she make hot tea then!
(3)
art s.

If you just want to get down to business with some fried foods and barbecued meat, San Soo Gab San is your place. Come hungry and wear your play clothes. You're going to walk out of here full and smelling of meat. San Soo Gab San is an unassuming, no nonsense joint that focuses on the food. Period. The non-atmosphere is the atmosphere. You sit in twenty or thirty year old wooden booths and tables. The main design element is the construction-zone orange industrial strength exhaust hoods that suck out the fog of meat smoke. You are served by efficient, unsmiling, matter of fact waitresses. This place means business. And that's fine. When full and all the hoods are firing, the place truly hums. It's smoky, noisy and energetic with the smell of meat in the air and 22 oz. bottles of OB all around. It makes me happy. Once you order you will experience a food avalanche. Get an appetizer or two - say the mandu, or the agedash tofu. Get a plate of meat. And definitely go the cook it yourself route. They are old school here. You're working with a charcoal or wood grill. Let the fancy places have their built in gas grill tables. We've got bus boys running around with bowls of fire and hot grill faces. Don't forget that you will also get 15 - 20 miscellaneous side dishes (called Panchan). Every square inch of table space is covered in food. However, while my wife and I liked this place just fine, in the interest of full disclosure I do have to say it didn't quite pass muster with my Korean in laws. They found it average at best. But then, they are used to the 'more meat buzzer' that is installed at every booth of their favorite place in the suburbs. Push it and signal to the waitress with your hands how many more pounds of meat you want. Hard to argue with the brilliance of that kind of efficiency. If San Soo Gab San adds the meat buzzer I'll take the in-laws back and see if we can't up this to a 5-star review. Star scoring scale: 5 = Spectacular 4 = Better than average, really enjoyed it 3 = Average, don't regret it 2 = Disappointing 1 = Abysmal
(4)
Kacie M.

Five stars, BUT I am not Korean and had never had Korean barbeque before. I love fun new ethnic experiences, and that's was San Soo was. I was there before the renovation, so I'm not sure what it looks like now, but we used to sit in individual booths with high walls around you so you feel like you're in your own space. Cooking the meat yourself adds a fun dimension to the experience, and of course the place smells fantastic. I definitely felt out of place surrounded by Koreans groups who'd filled the place up after they got out of church. It was SO much fun and completely delicious.
(5)
natalie v.

OK, so I came here with a group of 5 people. I had no idea what I was ordering; thankfully, one of the guys with us was well versed in Korean food. He asked us a few questions on what we like/were willing to try/refused to try and then ordered for us. We got a gigantic plate of different meat and got to cook it ourselves on the charcoal grill ourselves. This, I learned, is what Korean barbecue is all about. I don't really know the names of the meat, but I do know that we had mostly pork and beef. And then there were the side dishes...the multitude of little side dishes that they give you...I tried it all and liked most of it. I wanted to try the things before learning what they were so that I wouldn't make a judgment first. As the meal went on, I kept having more and more fun...but that probably had a little to do with the sake. I am a fan of Korean barbecue. You should be too...unless you're a vegetarian. If you're a vegetarian, I'm not sure you'll love Korean barbecue.
(4)
An P.

I am a Korean BBQ neophyte, but this easily might have been the most amazing food I've had in quite awhile. After a long, hard night of drinking we were starving for some Asian fare and decided to hit up the Korean BBQ that's open 24/7. Got inside and the place was full and lively from all of the other drunk people eating fourth meal. The patrons were drunk, but not the obnoxious Lincoln Park / Wrigleyville kind of drunk. All I wanted was some Bulgogi and Mandu and they delivered more than what I expected. Upon ordering our food, in came a pot of red hot flaming charcoal in a ceramic bowl with a grill on top, quite visually appealing I must say. Then came the largest selection of Korean appetizers that I have ever seen, I counted twenty little plates of appetizers that ranged from potato salad, sardines, tofu, noodles, kim chee, and all manners of all Korean cold appetizers that you have ever ordered. That begged the question, "Why get regular appetizers at all!?" When the Mandu came, there were about eight giant pieces of Mandu with an amazing dipping sauce that was filled with spices and chunks of some veggie. The Bulgogi came with two veggie filled miso type of soup. The meat came piled high on the grill and we could cook it to our own delight. Delightful meal, delightful atmosphere, and fairly priced for what you get at about $20 a person. Next time my friends are hungry for a late night snack, Korean BBQ will rule again.
(5)
P S.

NOMNOMNOM*can't*NOMNOMNOM*talk*NOMNOMNOMNOM*Âeating*NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM....tap tap tap...Penny...you're supposed to be writing a review...NOMNOM..what? Oh. Sorry about that. NOM Hi there. How you doing tonight? Me? I smell like meat smoke and kimchee but you know what? I'm doing awesome. Now. Now that I've experienced Sam Soo Gab San. So many plates, so much meat. Time flew by as we tore into the glorious offerings and before we knew it, everything was gone and what wasn't completely gone, was being picked at. Remember the last time you had a new food experience? First time you had curry? Or caviar? Or Thai food? It's like all that (presuming they were good experiences) rolled into one. Lettuce-wrapped beef, bean paste, various goodies. It's that simple and that perfect. Between the amazing company, the confluence of timelines that allowed us to all be together, the food... a glorious night indeed. I cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Nikki C.

These people are magnificent. They love meat very much and it shows through the way they marinate and handle it. So lovingly they touch the meat, so tender it becomes, to where the meat and the bones all gravitate to all the open and drooling mouths in the room resulting in mouthsplosions of flavor. Many. many, many sides to accompany this magical meat, and as one Korean in the room said it...the redder the color the hotter the meal...so now I know. Must bring mass people with you to share and to suck on the bones as the bones are very tasty and suckworthy. Chukbae!
(5)
Gayatri D.

I'm vegetarian (Yes you can stop reading now, I won't be offended) but I quite enjoy downing chunks of tofu with large sips of Korean beer. And, I've never left San Soo Gab San hungry. My husband usually gets thin beef strips to BBQ at the table. And I help myself to almost all the side dishes. Special mentions go out to their veggie tempura and noodles. On a busy night, this place is bustling with energy and one feels momentarily teleported to Asia. Good fun and a welcome change from the uptight ambiance of some "Asian fusion" restaurants in the city. Yep, service is a bit off. But I'm willing to overlook that when I get such good value for money.
(4)
Gretchin A.

One of my favorite places. Food is amazing, service is hit or miss though it doesnt ever stop us from going. Love the zillion plates of appetizers that get brought out when you get there and love the kalbi!
(5)
Sung C.

I've called to make reservations for the group of 15 people to eat there. I've asked her about simple questions and she seemed she didn't understand. I asked her again and she got angry and told me " you come and look!" and she hung up on me!! Way to go! They just lost $400+ in business! Rude and unprofessional!
(1)
Tracy L.

The last time I went for Korean BBQ was at Cho Sun Ok, and that was a much better experience for me. When we were seated, our whole group wasn't here yet so the waitress didn't take our order. However, we wanted tea in the beginning and she never brought it. It's understandable that she waited until our entire party arrived but when we tried to flag her or the other waiter down a couple times, they seemed to busy themselves doing other things. The beef and pork that we ordered were great. We got more side dishes here than at Cho Sun Ok, like seaweed and mini korean pancakes with egg rolls. The tempura (fish cake, my favorite) was better at the other place though. We only got two servings of beef and a serving of pork for 5 people and left pretty satisfied. That came to $65, or about $16 each with tip. Not bad!! I think I'd stick with Cho Sun Ok in the future though.
(3)
meredith d.

Just had another great meal here - platters of Goon Mandu, Wang Kal Bi and Bul Ko Ki, so many small plates of panchan they could hardly fit on the table, soup, lettuce, miso-based dipping sauce, rice, and plenty of Korean beer and hot sake. The first time we went recently was a Friday night, quite late, and last night it was a Thursday evening - both times we were seated without a wait. Unlike some reviewers, we never feel the service is bad here - all the food comes out very promptly, and everyone is very friendly. I've had more creative panchan in fancier places, but that's a minor issue to me - the panchan they serve here are so numerous that it more than makes up for the lack of imagination, and everything is very tasty.
(4)
Bryan E.

Hands down, best Korean BBQ in the City. Open late and a ridiculous amount of small dishes (banchan).
(5)
Natta S.

After reading all the yelper reviews we expected the worst. However I was pleasantly surprised. Our group consist of 5 adults and 3 children for a Saturday dinner at 6pm. The place was half full so we were seated promptly. Waitress came back after a short time and we ordered. Water came promptly and was refilled throughout the night. Waitress was attentive for the most part. We ordered the seafood pancake ( ok I've had much better), dumpling (good), marinated chicken ( ok but it kept sticking to the grill), marinated galbi ( good not great) and regular galbi that came with the bones ( no flavor). Lots of side dishes some good some great and some def never again but that's just a preference. The bill cme out to $144 for a group of 8, not bad! Overall I was most impress with the service. I was expecting Chinese restaurant service or worst but it was pretty good. I think either they recognized that it was a weak point for then or we just lucked out!!
(3)
Jayne K.

By my own admission, I love, love, love Korean BBQ. I would do a bad bad things for Bulgogi, Kalbi and some Soju. If you share my gastro-sentiments, then you should run, run, run to San Soo Gab San. Some things to know before you go... It's open waaay late and is awesome drunk food. If you aren't drunk, Soju (Korean hard alcohol) is an excellent and painless way to get you there. Trust me, its delicious, burnless and sneaks up on you like a Mofo. Don't expect great service. From what I can tell that's just not a part of the K BBQ experience wherever you go. Taking someone whose fluent in Korean definitely helps, but not drastically. It's pricey. I disagree with other reviewers here. I always get a lot of food, but the bill creeps up on you faster than the Soju. Of course, the alcohol could have something to do with it. And finally, its kind of out of the way and parkings a bitch. (Western and Farragut? Trying getting a cab to take you there.) However, if you love K BBQ like me, this isn't such a bad thing. So like I said run, run, run to San Soo Gab San. But try Cho Sun Ok for a close second.
(5)
Sean C.

I would agree with most postings. Food was good, assortment of sides was nice. Great kimchee! We ordered the short ribs, chicken, and korean seasoned short ribs. Service was sub-par, we were seated for 10 minutes before a waitress took an order (4pm seating). The dining room quickly filled towards 5:30. We were ushered out a little sooner than we would have liked, when the waitress came over asking "...so what's next?" So we downed the rest of our beers and headed out to Hopleaf. I would take friends here if they specifically requested Korean, although would not be somewhere I would make a point to go again. (distance from 'burbs) Common response to going to Korean BBQ: "When I go out to eat, I don't want to have to cook my food myself..."
(3)
Meredith B.

BYOB - yes. Good service? - Not really (but that's not why you go..) Good food? YES Good times? Great for group? Entirely. Go. Just go. Stop reading and get out the door. Barely even matters what time it is, chances are they're open. Prepare for great food, to smell like a campfire, and a billion small bowls all over your table with a bunch of things you can't really identify (eat them anyway, don't be a wuss). Now go! Enjoy!
(4)
Nom Nom T.

This is hands down the best Korea bbq I remember having. It's been years since I've gone to this place ever since I moved, but I've never been to a place which serves over 20 kinds of DIFFERENT ban chan in one seating. The marinated meat is so flavorful and I love that you get to cook it over a charcoal grill, and not your regular gas grill. Do not overcook the meat or try to crisp it up, as the staff would not be too happy about that! =) Like many have reviewed, service is not the best... they don't really speak english and can be quite rude most of the times. I remember too that each of us will need to order an entree ( no sharing) allowed. I think asking for extra ban chan might not be free. I think if you speak Korean, you might get a little better service here. This place is open late; till wee hours in the morning and I like the tatami seating (limited) that you could just chill and eat some Korean BBQ. Even with the mediocre service, I always think about going back there to get my Korean bbq fix whenever I'm in town.
(4)
Alice Y.

So excited to have found a great Korean BBQ place within walking distance, more or less, from my apt. I came with two friends on a Sunday for lunch, and it was not at all crowded like I expected. The 20+ small dishes they give are awesome. I don't like them all, but it's nice to have such a variety to try. And they'll give you more if you ask. Just remember - if you really like something, especially if you don't know exactly what it is, be sure to save a little of it so you can show your waitress what you want. We made the mistake of eating all the fish cakes thinking they were tofu, asking for more tofu, and not getting the dish we wanted back. We ordered beef short ribs and bulkoki to grill ourselves at the table. The orders came with tofu soup, rice and lettuce. Surprisingly, the short rib meat had already been scraped off the bone. Both were good, though. My only comment would be that I'd prefer a cross-hatched grill, rather than one with parallel bars only. Over the high heat of the charcoal fire, the grill got distorted, and pieces of meat were falling through. Plus, after a while meat started sticking or getting burned to the grill. It needs to be cleaned/replaced more often than it was. We also got fried mackerel which was allright. I'm not a huge fish fan, and I would probably order more BBQ meat instead next time.
(5)
Angelica C.

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 chopsticks! =)
(4)
Dennis H.

Awesome. Just REALLY good Korean BBQ. Nothing surprising about the menu, serve all the typical Korean favs. The parade of side dishes that come with each meal are more abundant than most places I've been to. Cooking at your table over briquettes (vs. gas flame) is a nice touch. Service is fast and furious, this place is busy all the time and the ladies can be somewhat chaotic at times but totally worth it. Open late, perfect after-bar meal. If you're unfamiliar w Korean bbq, consider a few of these "safe" options: Galbi - marinated beef short ribs Bulgogi - marinated beef prime cuts Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop - Rice wish fried egg, vegetables, beef served in hot stone bowl that crisps your rice
(5)
DeAnna J.

Food was pretty good. I'd like to say I've had better. The banchan was definitely delightful. Bibimbap was ehhhh. Kimchijigae was alright, a little too tangy for me. (It also had sweet potato noodles in it, and I prefer rice cakes.) Would I go back? Yes, but I'd rather try some place else.
(3)
Sara B.

Ok people, let's talk. Considering that half of my family is Korean, I have seen my fair share of KBBQ. This is one of the best. Partially because the food is bomb, you get TONS of panchan, and it's open 'til 5am. There is a reason for the wait (as there usually is one especially come weekend). Let me let you in on a little secret: Koreans don't care about service. They do however, take their food SERIOUSLY. I've found that the lack of good service is part of the charm at San Soo. I'll be honest about something else...if you want decent service, you go with one of your Korean friends. That's just how it is. So people, don't come here if you're expecting fine dining. It's all about the food. Nothing more, nothing less. Cheers!
(5)
S I.

bad service
(1)
Jim B.

I don't know if there is better Korean BBQ in Chicago like some say, but this San Soo Gab San fits in perfectly on my 5 star yelp! We were greeted a quickly seated at 3 AM, a table of 5. After a few minutes of perusing the extensive menu, we ordered. 5 entrees brings with it about 100,000 little side dishes of varying little deliciousnesses. It's a trip to try them all, finding ones you really dig, and ones you don't. Then they bring fire to the table, and your meats which you get to cook right there at the table yourself. All this while drinking extra large Korean beers mind you. They were nice enough to make a dish without meat for my beautiful vegetarian girlfriend. Turns out she was eating it wrong, and the waitress, who are often described here as rude, came over and helped her out. It was quite funny. Any who, if its 3 am, you're on the north side, you have a car (they have a parking lot), and you don't feel like waiting in line at some fast food joint, this place should be on your short list! I will return!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

For a person who never eats Asian food, this restaurant made me an absolute lover of Korean BBQ. The option to cook the food at the table makes the meal feel even more authentic. Seating can be around a standard table or down on the floor around beautiful wooden tables. I am not a seafood eater, yet I found so many amazing choices. The seasoning and cut of the chicken was absolutely extraordinary. The meats is cut as such so that it cooks extremely quickly. The servers are more than willing to help you figure out what sauce is for which meats. Drinks are pretty simple, soda in cans but there are also some beers on the menu. A standout unique item is the Sweet Potato Wine. I would recommend this to anyone who loves meat. You definitely get your fill here with some left to take home. Parking is horrible. Try a side street. The hours are 10a-5a. I have never been there for a late night meal but it does not that I will not be soon. I am very impressed by this restaurant. From the outside you would never guess how amazing it really is. Also the noodles, soup, rice and dumplings are amazing. Overall, I would go there with a group
(5)
John Z.

The food was five stars. The service was three. If the menus didn't have the English translations of the Korean descriptions of the items, the service would have rated one star. If you want good Korean barbecue and don't care about service, come here. Seriously, the food was excellent. If good service matters to you, this is not the place for you.
(4)
Emily C.

The four stars are for the kalbi beef!! The beef was tender, well seasoned and tasted better because it was cooked on charcoal rather than an electric grill. The other dishes we ordered did not fare as well. Stay away from the bacon or pork strips. It was "meh" at best. The strips were so thin they ended up tasting more smokey rather than baconey and the fat portion was too thick. Moving onto the other dishes. The Soon Dobu or tofu vegetable soup was alright. The soup tasted kinda watered down. The side dishes were plentiful and pretty good--I think we were served around 15. We also tried the seafood pancake, but it was disappointing as well. I guess the highlight of the meal was definitely the kalbi beef. Too bad I didn't get to try the other BBQ items like the tripe and brisket because they were all sold out. I guess that's proof of the restaurant's popularity? I will definitely be back again and this time I'll just stick to the BBQ items. Warning: You will go home stinking of a mixture of garlic and smoke. But, it's well worth it!!!
(4)
Lillian W.

Horrible service! Shut us out at 3am while they advertise opening till 5am. This old lady was really rude, and all she said was no no no no no......
(1)
Jonathan Y.

We took my parents and kids here and everyone had a fantastic time. The food was terrific and generous. We had the bulkoki, galbi and rib-eye for the beef, and also the squid. (The squid was so-so at first, but it was better with the sauces and also after picking up some of the beef flavor off the grill!). For appetizers, try the seafood/onion panackes. Really great! Even the miso soup, which comes with the meals, was more flavorful than the bland versions you often get. We got here just before 6 on Saturday and had no trouble getting a table -- but 15 minutes later there was a long line. We've had Korean food in several other places, but this is the best.
(4)
Min C.

I've been coming here to eat since I was in high school. They're open really late and are always pretty busy. If you come in groups of 10 or larger, you can make reservations. Most likely you will be sat in areas which require you to sit on the floor, Asian style. Food is plentiful, although they have been tending to kinda skimp a bit on the side dishes. Tons and tons of meat. Like any Korean restaurant, the service is lacking, but it's Korean style: flag down a waitress or a helping hand as the need for anything comes up. You leave smelling like the food you ate, which is pretty cute for the saying "You are what you eat." The lot is ridiculously tiny, so be prepared to have a bit of help getting in/out of the lot or finding available parking in the residential area.
(4)
KJ C.

We have been coming to this place once every few months for many years now and have generally had good food with lousy service. The waitresses have always been pretty cold and unfriendly, but the fantastic menu and outrageous number of banchan selections usually more than compensated. Tonight's experience makes it unlikely that we will ever return again. Right after we sat down we were asked what we wanted to order. After an eternity our banchan finally arrived, and as usual there was a great variety of dishes that were all delicious. Strangely they also brought the rice for the bulgogi at the same time. Then things went downhill. Slowly. After we were done eating all the banchan and rice and stacked up the dishes, the waitress came and told us the kitchen was very busy. Odd, our neighbors got their food quickly and a table that arrived at the same time as we did was finished with their meal before our first dish showed up. When the bulgogi finally came, it was inedible. Because we only had one order we could not cook it at our own table, it was done in the kitchen. The meat was cold in same places and hot in others, clearly it had been sitting there for a while. Also, there is no way this meat was grilled or BBQ'd, it was clearly stir fried. We ate the lukewarm dried meat - nobody came by to offer more banchan, rice or bring us our soup. After the meat was done, the hot plate just sat there, along with the unpicked up banchan and rice plates/bowls. By now we are over an hour into this meal. We finally asked for the tofu stew and noodles we ordered to go. Waitress was not happy about this request. The tofu came in a bag but not the noodles. She seemed offended we opted to not wait. She did offer an insincere apology, reminding us again how busy it was but that just added insult to injury as other tables were served quite expediently. For the first time in my life, I left without tipping. Just left a big ZERO in the tip line. I don't generally expect friendly service at Korean restaurants, but I do expect the food to arrive within a reasonable amount of time and I expect it to be good. SSGS blew it on both counts tonight. We will not be returning, and will go to Cho Ok Sun instead .
(2)
Mindy S.

My first Korean BBQ experience was fantastic! Apparently this is the only place in the city with in-table coal grills. We ordered the brisket and tender beef....not the best quality, so I focused my attention on the 25 little bowls of food they brought by! It was great to see my husband at the grill, even though it is February! The in-table coal grill was wonderful to keep warm by. I can't wait to go back with friends, because that's my only complaint, I had no idea what the 25+ tasty side dishes were.....just simple ingredient guesses, like seaweed, sprouts, cabbage, etc. Perfect food for a cold....spicy and hot :)
(4)
Ria C.

Open 10 a.m. to 5 a.m. every day? This place is CRAZZZEEE. Went here this past weekend with regulars...thank GOD, or else we wouldn't know what to do as the waitstaff is so bossy, they put Kelis to shame. It's like they sing "I'm the boss...boss...to themselves in Korean"--I don't blame them as this place is BOSSY. Strolled in at around 9 p.m. and waited for about 20 minutes. They initially tried to seat us at the tables where you sit cross legged, but being that Coco is 6'4" and meaty...he wasn't built to fit under the table with the rest of us. He also has never been able to sit Indian Style in his life...which is quite hilarious and very endearing... We were moved to a table with 4 chairs, which our companions indicated would not be large enough for a party of four. I was a bit confused by this statement, but now I understand as they give you copious amounts of side plates which are all fantastic, in addition to fantastic spicy soup and the actual meat itself. You would really need to sit at a table that could seat 8, for a foursome. Only having been to Cho Sun Ok for Korean BBQ, I have never experienced charcoal table-side grilling before. I realized that I much prefer the charcoal as it lightly chars the meat and seals in the moist flavor of the marinade. We opted for the Chap Chae and 2 orders of the marinated beef short-rib and the bulgogi which were both good, but the standout was the kalbi. Coming back next time on the Kalbi and the Daegi Kalbi. The Chap Chae was good, but I prefer the noodles at Jin Ju, but the interactive experience here at SSGS. Everything was superb and the light OB pairs very well with the meaty bits.
(4)
Hoang L.

I haven't been to many Korean BBQ in my day, but last night's dinner was pretty awesome. I couldn't believe how many side dishes we got with our BBQ. It was a bit slow on a Tuesday night at 10:30pm, so the service was good. Got my water refilled a lot because the food is pretty salty. I like salty. I can only give this place 4 stars mainly because I was recently in LA and my friend Richard took me to the best place Korean BBQ place in his opinion. They serve a massive amount of onions with vinegar and a little wasabi. I think that's what San Soo Gab San was missing. Plus it wasn't BYOB.
(4)
Robyn F.

San Soo Gab San has fantastic Korean food. I love the charcoal grill for Korean BBQ. That makes a huge difference on the flavor of the food. We ordered the kalbi and the chicken. The kalbi was delicious, and the chicken was ok (though most people don't order chicken at Korean BBQ anyway... not sure why we did). The jap chae (vermicelli noodles) was outstanding. I think it's hard to make jap chae above average, but San Soo Gab San's ability to provide a great chewiness and texture to the noodles combined with a great flavor convinced me to give this restaurant 4 stars.
(4)
Eric S.

Mediocre food & bad service.
(1)
J S.

This used to be my favorite place and I've been to this place many times and I have to say.. they have good Korean BBQ with horrible service. We asked for more side dishes and waited and waited.. they won't come back to our table and when we asked them again, the server brought the side dishes at the end of the meal when we were done eating. They have many different side dishes and that's what I like about this place. But after that service, i would not go back there again. There are other Korean bbq places that I know serves the food I like better.
(2)
Helena D.

located about a half-mile from the Western Brown line stop, you'll find this unassuming restaurant located at the end of a commercial strip mall. It is common to see a line extend far past the entrance and into the parking lot on a Saturday night. If you enjoy taking control of your meal and like the idea of cooking over an open charcoal fire, while seated on a raised platform and sitting cross-legged, this is the place to go. It's fun to eat with a large party and suffer ADD with the enormous selection of dishes and entrees. For those who have minimal exposure to Korean food, San Soo Gab San has an incredible deal where for $20 / person (excluding alcohol), you can sample over a wide range of Korean staples and meats. Their hostesses are charming and friendly - their servers/bussers are responsive to clearing empty dishes and ensuring your water glass is full. Do sample the plum wine - it's a light, refreshing drink that is meant to be savored from a shot glass and is a great way to start the evening. Come here with your comfy eating pants and socks, if you have a thing against bare-feet (you are asked to remove your shoes). This is a new favorite even if it is a bit off the beaten path. Come here and find that there is more to Korean food than kimchi.
(4)
S K.

Great place for groups. The Wang Kal Bi (marinated short ribs) is the best I ever had. The Hae Moul Pajun ( seafood pancake) is awesome and it's sauce compliments it perfectly. Don't go for good service because they lack it but it's well worth the visit each time I go!!!!
(4)
Mark G.

It's no secret to my friends and family that I have traditionally been a rather picky eater (not that I'm very proud of that fact though), so going to eat here was a bit of a stretch for me. It's very near where I live so whenever I walked by the delicious aromas emanating from inside piqued my interest for sure. It only took about 8 or 9 months but finally we decided to give it a shot. Luckily, we were accompanied by another couple who were a little bit more experienced with Korean BBQ. I ordered the thinly sliced Korean spiced beef which came, duh, very thinly sliced. It was fun to cook it on the table in front of us. The myriad of smaller dishes brought out in addition to the entrees was very interesting. I wasn't extremely excited about all of them, but I tasted my fair share and things were good. The OB beer tasted pretty much like a regular Miller Light or Budweiser. We also tried the "hard" alcohol, one of the medium sized bottles. They had basically three iterations....alcohol, more alcohol, and most alcohol. We got the middle one and I would think that stuff would be dangerous! Very tasty, was like a light vodka. Could drink that all day. Only thing strange was after we were all finished the waitress didn't ever come back; we had to go hunt her down to get our bill. I'm not sure if they are just used to people hanging out and chilling after their meals for extended periods or what but it was a little strange. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would definitely go back again.
(3)
Josclyn W.

EeK! My thinks not about sums this place up! This is my first, and last experience at this place! So freshly off being a vegetatian, I was so excited to try koren BBQ, reading the mixed reviews I was still optimistic. So first off, how the hell they don't have hourly accidents in that parking lot blows my mind. I am familiar with tight parking jobs and It was a nail biter!!!! We walk in and noone greets us or even looks our way, So after about 5 minutes I head over to the kitchen door and ask to be seated, the place stinks, and mean a stink that is similar to rotting fish/ durty durt/ grilling meat smell. the waitress throws menus on our table, and vanishes, we have no idea, we both stare quietly, I know I am going to need a large beer to get me through this. So someone finally comes to take our order, she barely speaks English, I point to pork ribs he points to beef ribs. Then just like everyone expressed, come the little blue bowls. Potato Salad, really good! Who knew? Glass Noodles, Mini fish, Broccoli and Califlour, Tofu, Egg, Seaweed, Daikon,Some strange funky peanut sauce, Lotus root, Bean Sprouts, Garlic, Kimchee, Pickled Jalapenos, Spicy pickles, kimchee onions,rice, lettuce and some stuff I cant remember or palate is not familiar with. So all that is great, but none of it, besides the potato salad, and kimchee was anything I would of wanted to eat again. Then came our Flame, and then a huge plate of pork ribs, that were actually just smashed sheets of pork, and his beef ribs which were just smashed sheets of beef, both with little to no flavor. One set of tongs, left us confused on how to remove the cooked meat from the grill! Ew, Ew Ew. So we had to flag down our someone to give us a fork. This takes the disgusting cake! So we had the pleasure of sitting right in front of the kitchen, and they had a cart wrapped in plastic wrap , where they would I guess cut the meat. I watched a lady, take the scissors out of this stainless steel can which I was Hoping and Praying held some kinda sanitation liquid, Cut meat, then drop the raw meat into the can, take it out and put it on a plate and took it to a table. I wanted to scream!!! EwEwEwEw EW!!!! I then watched every other lady take the same scissors from the same can and cut chicken pork, and the cooked egg pancakes thing . I am sorry but that is grave offence, if they are doing that in the dining room who knows what they are doing behind the scenes. Never Ever Again! So if that was not enough, they miscalculated our check by 20 dollars, and laughed and blamed the calculator when we brought it to their attention.
(1)
Insun M.

FANTASTIC marinated galbi and chicken galbi. Slightly pricey ($20 per order of meat) but they make up for it by giving you plenty of the side dishes. Their seafood casserole for 2 is really good too, not too spicy and not too bland. Great deal for $30 considering the amount of seafood they gave. Only downside is that yes, the service can be a lot more friendlier and their parking lot is designed for smart cars and tiny clown cars.
(4)
Kate s.

WORST SERVICE EVER !!!!!!!!!! I've been here several times, just because it open late and my friend like the food here. Food was pretty good, but I still give them only one star because of SUCK service. Server never revisit the table until the end of the meal. They seem to rush us to order and pay. After getting bill, I and my friends wanted to pay cash. While we were still working on our bill, the waitress stand right at our table, waiting us to pay the bill. I told her to give us a minute, I think she didn't really understand that since she stood still. We gave them exact change and intend to put tip on the table because we weren't done yet with calculating. She counted money right away, and ask us "no tip??" What a rude service is that !!!!! I don't think we even need to leave tip because we didn't get any kind of things that called "service"
(1)
Derrick M.

Practically 24-hour DIY Korean BBQ? It'd be really hard to not get 5 stars with such an operation. Starting with the bad, it can be crowded at times with not much in the way of a waiting area, but I can deal with that. The service can be a little less than nice, but I can deal with that too. Then out come the coals, the soju, and the banchan (a spread so massive it barely fits on the table along with everything else). Everything they put in front of you is either tasty, interesting, or both. The meats are seasoned well. Just don't get so caught up in the banchan that you overcook it! Prepare to sweat; there are red hot coals just 18 inches or so from your face. A delicious and very fun experience at a reasonable cost, and you can't possibly leave hungry.
(5)
Logan C.

Very nice restaurant! Food was fantastic! Service was as expected considering how busy it was (Saturday night) and there were about 10 or so of us with no prior reservations. We ordered A LOT of food - I couldn't finish my serving(s). I think I payed around $25-$35. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the cramped atmosphere. Regardless, I'd definitely be going back here again! My rating 1-10 (10 being the best) Atmosphere: 7 Food: 9 Cleanliness: 7 Noise: 5 Service: 8 Overall: 8
(4)
Emily H.

Love this place for BBQ!!!! Seafood pancake is to die for...soo good!! Get the marinated beef....soo delicious!! The restaurant does not take reservation so you should go early ( 5 pm is good ) or if you don't mind waiting a while to be seated especially on Friday night and Saturday night.
(4)
Reid B.

This place is tight, crowded, and there's generally a decent wait for a table, but once you get in and start pouring you BYOB this place is like heaven. The food is excellent (kalbi and cheyook bokim were superb) and the side dishes appeared to be endless - my party of 7 departed feeling full and elated on an inexpensive $120 check.
(4)
Stephanie Y.

Food = 4 stars. The chicken is the BEST. With every plate of meat that you order you can feed ATLEAST 2 people. However, the little things they bring to the table have no description. Service = 0 stars, if I could. They're unattentive and not friendly in the slightest. They'll also try to cook the food for you even if you opt to do it yourself. They also decide when you should take it off the grill. Pfft, please woman. I want my beef well done!
(3)
J K.

Unless you speak perfect Korean or you have some absolutely irresistible urge to have Korean BBQ at 3AM (which I've seen close by the way, so 24-hours isn't 100% reliable), avoid. Let's start with the good parts: the food is decent but overpriced (as is with many Korean BBQ's here). It's standard Korean BBQ fare so nothing to write home about. Honestly, you could go to your local Korean grocery and buy some raw meats and still have a better time with the same (or sometimes better) taste. Out of the 6 times I've been here, only once have I had good food. 1 out of 6 chances? Not much of a gambling man. Now the not-so-good: the service is what everyone says: crap. It's been crappy for years. Now my Korean is OK but not good enough where I've also tried encouraging non-Koreans to order to see if I can avoid that crappy bias which seriously, we're in Chicago, not Korea. There are lots of Koreans whose Korean have English accents. The staff needs to get over it. Also, it seems like either the later you go or busier it is, the worse the service gets. It gets better: we've had to hound down a server, who never checked up on us. On one trip with several of my non-Korean friends (and this ended up being a VERY humiliating experience for me), we waited an hour for water and to order, another hour and a half for our meats, which we only had 6 orders (double order of 3 different meats). That should never be an issue at any Korean BBQ, and it wasn't even that busy. Again, server never helped us out and we ended up leaving a minimal tip. But wait, it gets better! The staff DETAINED one unlucky friend that lagged behind as we left and tore him a new one and DEMANDED we tip properly! Totally unprofessional and unbelievable. They didn't work for the tip much less deserved one, regardless of being their "livelihood." Plus with the price they charge for food and what we got, it certainly merited very little. Ironically, Korean customers are traditionally the worst tippers, probably because (at least last time I checked) in Korea and some places in Asia, "tip" doesn't exist. Oh well. *edit* Yes, I understand that Korean waitstaff aren't necessarily the most courteous. When I go to a Korean restaurant, I don't expect 5-star service, heck even service with a smile. I get that. In summary: there's plenty of other places you can go for Korean BBQ. Even if you have to drive a little farther to go elsewhere, save the grief of coming to San Soo Gab San, especially if you're a first timer. This is a prime example of how not to run a Korean business in America.
(1)
Amy S.

Went here with a group of friends, one of whom is moving to South Korea to teach ESL and has never eaten Korean food at all. The atmosphere is nice and the food was really tasty. We did the family style bbq. We got beef and pork and all the fixins. I really enjoyed it a lot. I have to say it was easy going with a person who did speak Korean, so communicating with the servers was a lot easier than it seems others have experienced.
(4)
Tuvshin U.

Service really needs improvement, I wonder if they read what people write about them. Servants need to learn to smile, really. Food is great, but without good service, not much fun.
(3)
Julia B.

Step through the doors of this restaurant in a tiny strip mall and you are immediately transported to a Korean BBQ adventure. My friends brought me to San Soo knowing that I love to try new ethnic foods and I'm so glad they did! Also I am really glad with someone who knew what they were doing because I would have felt totally lost here my first time. We were promptly seated at one of the low tables, which seemed really cool at first, but in retrospect was not a good idea for myself because my knee does not allow me to sit cross-legged for long periods of time. My friends knew which meat was the best so we ordered a variety and got the soft shell crab as an appetizer-yum!. Although, you don't really need an appetizer because your meat is served almost immediately. Then they brought out our own personal grill, our meat variety, and 20+ little bowls with all kinds of mysterious contents. Oh and fresh lettuce leaves and rice too (the bowls, rice, and lettuce leaves are included in the price of meat). The mystery content bowls are the real adventure because you really have no idea what you are eating, unless you are a Korean food expert. Then we were pretty much on our own to grill the meat and make lettuce wraps, while also adding mystery ingredients from all the bowls. The grilling is harder than it looks, but luckily the meat is cut pretty thin so it does not cook long, however it does get stuck to the grill often. We must have been struggling because at one point one of the waitresses came up and showed us how to better grill the meat. I definitely appreciated this because it showed us how it's really done, but was not rude or pushy. Have to take off half a star for the smoky smell that goes home with you on your clothes instead of a doggy bag. Also had to take half a star off for the price, you do get a lot of food, but I still thought it was kind of pricey for meat that you cook yourself. The food really was excellent though, and I left feeling stuffed, satisfied, and later that night I dreamed of meat.
(4)
Ellie B.

Ok, so it's not like San Soo Gab San is some treasure that I'm sharing with everyone. My family has been loving their meaty grilled delectables for years, but I suspect we aren't the only ones. I do, however, have to take a minute to rave about their service. My mom hadn't been there since the 90's and after our last outing at Solga (my least favorite place, next to the proctologist's office), I think she was a bit weary of the whole Korean BBQ experience. Fear not, we've won her back! I feel as though Korean BBQ restaurants are known for their efficient, no-nonsense service, which was the case this time. But they were so friendly and incredibly helpful, I almost had to do a double take when one of our servers cracked a few jokes with us! The food is far more delicious than at Solga and the haemul pajeon (seafood pancake)? It almost stole the show from the galbi and squid we threw on the grill! The succulent sauce could be eaten with a spoon! And I have to say the leftovers are hands down one of the best breakfasts I've had in months. Work out your tong hand and get ready to flip some delicious meat on the charcoal grill! And you may want to also work out your chopstick fingers, because there are enough small dishes of tasty flavor-splosions to keep you busy for hours!
(5)
June D.

This is a great place for big group or family gathering. I have come here so many times that I think I tried almost everything on the menu. The food is great (except for the baby octopus. That thing freaks me out so i have never tried it before) and they have a great selection of kimchi, pickle and all the little bowls the bring out at the beginning so you can enjoy them with your grill. This place also open til 5am so its the prefect place for a night out marathon. My friends and I sometimes come here after getting off the movie theater at around 12am and still have great food. The waitresses can be rude sometimes but they are very fast and super helpful when taking your order. Do not wear white or super nice clothes when coming here though because you will smell like the grilled meat yourself after you finish eating. And also do not freak out or shock if the waitresses as for your tip directly at your face. They always do that.
(4)
Rachel Z.

I brought a huge group here. The wait staff is direct and to the point, they don't mess around, one of my friends compared them to "the soup nazi" on Seinfeld, which is pretty accurate. You have to take your shoes off to sit down, and I wore a dress, not suggested because you are sitting in a hole! They don't give you that "American customer service smile" Its straight up what do you want and we will give it to you. Cooking your own food at a restaurant was a unique experience, not as relaxing. My boyfriend loves Korean bbq and it was fun to try the 20 million side dishes, I did not try the tiny fish because I am not a sardine fan. Kimchi was awesome and the meat turned out well. The birthday party was a success and it makes conversation fun because it is a very active dinner. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. I would rather try other Korean bbq places.
(3)
Jess M.

I really love this place. I think it's a breath of fresh air (or smokey air if you decide to work the grill yourself) I've been a few other BBQ's before and this one is my favorite. I have never had a problem with rude service. Ever. The potstickers are effin amazing here. I love the 15 sides that everything comes with.
(5)
Deron J.

WHAT HAPPENED???? I love this place!! I love the charcoal fires to cook on, the food, etc. Well......... we went there this past week and what a let down :( The meat had little if ANY flavor :( It was such a disappointment!!!!!! I HOPE this was an off day, but quite honestly, I am going to try some other Korean BBQs because of this :( We took several out of town guests and hyped it up and felt like a fool after the VERY average meal.............. we even asked for soy sauce to give our meat SOME flavor!!!!
(2)
Amanda S.

I was lucky enough to live across the street from this restaurant for a while. It's not a cheap dinner - around $20 per person for the full bbq experience, it is totally worth it. I love the ribs (the meat is sliced off the bone). And the 20 dishes of sides that come with the meal are a real treat. Something new every time I go. Just know that if you go, you're going to smell like bbq for the rest of the night - even if you choose something else off the menu.
(4)
Dantee A.

After reading Roy's review of San Soo Gab San at the Chicago Gluttons site, and my friend being transferred to South Korea - I knew I finally had the chance to savor this wonder. I think I was introduced to Korean food in the form of bim bi bap from the now defunct Bbop. I never knew Korean food was all about Barbecue. And an indoor BBQ? What were these people thinking? Of course I want to smell like Kalbi after I leave the place. It's a pick up line or ice-breaker at the bar. I think all restaurants should grasp on the concept of banchan (about 25 amuse bouche portions of randomness). The chips and salsa or bread with butter just doesn't cut it anymore. Free food lures people in - the Koreans know what their doing. Now it might seem a little demeaning to cook your own food, maybe a little "why-the-hell-am-i-cooking-my-own-food-i-don't-Âlike-this-idea" - quoted by the snobby bitch next to us. But you know what? Get over it girl - maybe your boyfriend is trying to tell you something (learn how to cook). Besides that little episode - everything is amazing. We ordered the Kalbi, chicken, and pork to grill and the Asparagus wrapped with beef as the appetizer. The kalbi was the best out of the meat and asparagus beef was out of this world. The complimentary rice and soup made our stomachs grow and extra inch or so in order to fit the deliciousness. And to wash this all down - Coke and Jinro? Ehh - Jinro is soju which is a distilled rice alochol. It's popular in Korea like Absolut is popular here in the U.S. We both thought is was gross. Not even coke could water down the taste. I don't mind the smell of meat on my clothes though - I think it's kinda sexy.
(5)
Thongsy S.

YUMMY Korean food! They are open 24 hrs except on Sundays. This place is known for their late nights and bbq'ing. If you order 2 or more of the meats (e.g. kalbi or bulgogi), you get your own grill to cook your food. If you're intimidated about cooking your own food or the sight of red meat, you can simply ask them to cook it in the kitchen for you. I love going for Korean food because it's customary that they serve little side dishes (called ponchon) with your meal.. I can get full off just the side dishes. There's so much variety from anchovies, radishes, kimchee (pickled cabbage), potato salad and the list goes on. I recommend going with a group of people so that you can share different dishes. If you're not into meat, they also have a good variety of vegetarian dishes.
(4)
Jonathan A.

This place is amazing and has converted me into liking Korean food. I can't tell you half of what I ate, but it was all great, and there was a hell of a lot of it. The must have been about 15 different little dishes tossed out in front of us on the table, not including the meat we ordered. The BBQ itself was really tasty as well. Big Kirin beers and sake...I'm sold. They are open till 5am, which sounds insane to me, but I can imagine it gets pretty crazy here some nights. There were a lot of Koreans eating here as well, so you know it must be the real deal. It was so good, I wanted it again the next day.
(5)
Alf O.

I've tried 5 Korean BBQ places in the city. San Soo Gab San is definitely the best. If you haven't done Korean BBQ, its a fun experience (better in groups), and you get to do some cooking at the table. Make sure you get the seafood pancake as an appetizer. A lot of the reviews here are claiming that you have to 'know what you are doing' or that you need to be Korean to get good service. Absolutely not true. First of all, its not complicated (BBQ meet, put on lettuce, add rice, eat). Second if you ask staff how to 'do it correctly' they will gladly show you (and sometimes even show you if you don't ask). The waitresses here get very busy sometimes, I think that's where the confusion is coming from. The barriers to having a great time here couldn't be lower, and the food is fantastic if you like BBQ (if you don't they have great Bibimbap). Get in here, and give it a try.
(5)
Laila C.

LOVE THE BAN CHAN! I'm obsessed with Korean side dishes and this place offers more than any other I've ever been to! I wish I'd gotten to try the bbq but instead my korean friend made me try some new things. On the plus side, the fried snapper was delicious! super crispy and very moist covered in tonkatsu sauce laying on top of a bed of fishy fried crisps. On the negative side, my pork with veggies came out as pork belly even though there was pork belly on the menu and I pointed specifically to the item that was NOT pork belly. My dish was tasty, but I could only eat so much fat of the pork belly. I also wish it would've been spicier. My friend ordered an ox blood soup, which was definitely a first for me. Pig and duck blood are much smoother and creamier, ox blood is drier...not too pleasant of a taste. p.s. tried the BBQ-they give you a LOT of meat for each bbq item order. Also if you love mackeral, their mackeral is really good! AND HUGE too. The sides are salty and fatty and soooo good with rice. A great deal at only $12!!
(4)
Ron D.

I would not go back here even if it was free,horrible service,the food sucked,oh did I say how bad the service was.
(1)
Jenna S.

I had never really heard of Korean Barbecue before we came here, but I had a great meal. I came here last weekend with several friends and we had a great time. I want to say that if I could give service a separate review, I'd give the servers here five (even six!) stars. One friend and I arrived early and we weren't able to be seated until our entire group of seven arrived. We were a little wary at the fact that there is no hostess stand - you just kind of wait around near the door until someone notices you. The owner (perhaps?) saw us, asked us how many and let us know that we'd have to wait until our entire party arrived. She promptly left and then I was afraid she'd totally forget about us. Wrong! She came back several times during the 25 or so minutes I waited for my friends and made sure they weren't here yet. When they arrived, we were seated quickly and the owner even joked around with us about how our friends must have gotten lost because it took so long. I liked her friendliness - it was refreshing. We were not able to sit at a low table (I was kind of disappointed) but we were very comfortable where we were. A few of us decided to get the OB Beer ($6 for a big bottle - good deal) since it's the only Korean beer on their menu and it tasted like Miller Lite. I figured OB would have been owned by South African Brewing but it turns out they're owned by InBev. Guess that's why it tastes like generic American light beer. It was good for the price, though, so good times. We ordered the seafood pancakes as an appetizer at the recommendation of a friend and they were pretty good. I'm not a seafood pancake fan (it literally is just a pancake of tons of seafood smashed together) but it was good for what it was. I'd try the fried dumplings next time. We ordered a variety of meats (beef ribs, pork, beef strips and something else steak-related) and everything was pretty delicious. The meats that we ordered were all marinated (I recommend the marinated meats) so they were pretty tasty. A couple of people were in charge of the grilling so it was nice to not have to worry about it. When the meats arrived, tons of little side dishes came out to eat alone or pair with the meat. I was a little disappointed that one side of the table got completely different side dishes than our side and it was hard (and confusing) to share. It was also confusing that none of the dishes had labels so it was hard to know what you were getting (even though everything was delicious). I was also disappointed with the lack of dipping sauces for the meats. One person and I commented on how great it would be to have a little thing of teriyaki sauce or something and there was nothing. Also as a note: don't order the beef ribs. It's the same price as the rest of the meats but it's only two measley beef ribs that actually come as part of your order. It definitely wasn't enough meat for that price and beef ribs often have tons of fat on them (which these did) so it wasn't a good deal. Some other things I thought were helpful: they take multiple credit cards per table. Our bill worked out nicely to be $24/person (with tip) so they took five different credit cards and put $20 on each - nice! There is a parking lot but it's TINY. I don't know when anyone is actually able to park here, so presume you'll find parking on Berwyn. Also, they take reservations, but I only think they're for large groups (like over 10 or 15). We called and we were told that seven wasn't enough but there were groups of 15 or 20 there, so I assume they'll make reservations for you in that case. All in all, definitely a great meal. I recommend going with a group and ordering several types of meats and just sharing everything. This kind of dinner is great for a group because it doesn't take long to be seated here (even if you have a ton of people) and you sit for a long time which provides a lot of opportunity for good conversation and fun. Oh, and it's open 24 hours a day - what more could you ask for? I need to try this place after a night of bar hopping. I can only imagine it's amazing.
(4)
Andy C.

WOW! What a difference compared to their Morton Grove location. Everything I previously mentioned were the opposite at this location. The same 20+ banchans came out, the meat (kalbi) was good. They even had glasses of water for the three of us before any of the food came out. We ordered the kalbi and grilled them. My father ordered the fish stew and couldn't eat due to the fish not being fresh. They took it back and weren't charged for it. The staff was more friendly compared to the other location. The drawbacks are the following: 1) that you should park your car down the street because the parking lot is horrible (SMALL). Not ideal for big and expensive cars. I parked the Ford Explorer down the street. 2) need to replace those LOUD fans. Couldn't have a normal conversation due to the fans being extremely loud.
(3)
Steven K.

The staff here have SO much to learn about customer service. The staff makes you feel as though you are nothing but a burden. They are rude and very unattentive. When you are served food in a restaurant, the server is not supposed to throw the food on the table with such force that it falls off the plate. I have had 2 bad dealings with this restaurant. A friend was flying into Chicago late at night and I wanted to know what time they closed. I called the restaurant only to hear a click, but no one said anything. I said, "Hello?" I was snapped at, "WHAT YOU WANT?" I asked politely what time they closed. The lady yelled at me, "OPEN 24 HOURS!" Then hung up on me. I took a large party of people there for a friend's birthday and it was a disaster. We ordered a large bowl of soup and they did not bring any small bowls for us to use. We had to ask for bowls 3 times. We ordered 2 bottles of soju, had to ask for it twice, and did not receive glasses with it when they finally did bring the bottles. We had to ask for glasses three times. After the 3rd time asking, the waitress snapped at us, "In a minute! Can't you see that I am busy!" we had to get up and go get the glasses ourselves. The bill was close to $350 for our group in which case we were not going to leave a tip due to the deplorable service. As we were putting our coats on, our waitress comes back to our table...now she is so nice and sweet...to tell us that we are supposed to leave her a tip. I left by flipping a quarter at her. A tip is EARNED not required. If you want a Korean BBQ house, there are several others that are just as good and actually know how to treat their customers.
(1)
Nany L.

I went to San Soo Gab San last Tuesday. When we just get in the restaurant, there are only less people there but they give us a table which is so close to the door, and it's so cold that day. I don't know if we are not Korean, so the waitress becomes so rude. They were never come back after they gave us the food. I need to say the foods are really good and they have a lot of sides.
(2)
Irene O.

I have to appreciate a late-night spot in the city. Surprisingly not too long of wait.. Food comes out quick.... I know I can always enjoy the sides I order: the Galbi, Bulgogi, Kimchi jiggae for about 5 people On the filp side, I always seem to have to call out for servers, but no big, I'm stuffing my face anyways.
(4)
Jane U.

I went there couple of times before. I will never go there again. The food is ok... Side dishes are awesome. But servers are horrible and rude. If you are Asian they act like they want some respect from you just because they are older than you!!! I have to ask water, chopstick or whatever I need for at least 3 times. Ok then it's time to go... Once before I was there with my girlfriends and staff was rude so we didn't leave tip for them but for bus boy. He was same victim like us. They treat him so bad. And in the parking lot there's a lady who served us. She was screaming and yelling that we didn't leave the tip for her. Of course I wouldn't, but we did for bus boy and we won't tell you that!!! Well bad place, don't go there!!!
(1)
Umakaka L.

Dear San Soo Gab San: Do you remember when we first fall in love back in 2005? I almost see you daily, sometimes we see each other more often than my family members? Well, that day is over, I sadly announce that. What happens to you San Soo Gab San? Your portion were big and your check always left a big smile on my face? I really do not care about the stinky smell you left on me after every visit but you gonna have to keep up with your portion and service. Throwing me serving plate on an already full table without considering how we are placing it really make me lost some love to you. The price has although stay almost the same but the food portion has shrank substantially. There are many Korean BBQ place in chicago, I hate to ban you from my list. Please help us up here, keep up with your portion and service.
(2)
Victoria O.

Ok, I have to say, I'm irritated by the other reviews. So many focus on the supposed "bad service." I have been here several times in (as Sinatra said) 'the wee small hours of the morning'...and these ladies do their job, regardless of who they are dealing with. (Think of the 'wee small hours' and the people that may inhabit that time period.) The ladies seat you, they serve you wonderful food, and they make sure you have what you need. They are straightforward. They are working their asses off, people, and dealing with all sorts of folk in all sorts of...states. So back off. Seriously.
(5)
Grace S.

Nice neighborhood restaurant. Food was delicious! The inside does not speak for how well prepared our food was. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Dan O.

The service sucks even if you're Korean. So if you're American, and think you got bad service because of it, don't feel too bad. The reason why I am giving a 1 star is because my girlfriend and I came here for a hunger fix at around 2 in the morning and I am eating away when my girlfriend stops eating and starts digging for something in her Sul Lung Tang soup. Several strands of hair. GREAT. Although this not uncommon at Korean places... I look in my soup and I see a long hair and..... NO FRIGGIN WAY. Pubic Hair. I'm not joking. It was long, squiggly n curly PUBIC HAIR. I told the waitress in Korean "Excuse me, but how the HELL am I supposed to eat with this in my food?" After debate of what kind of hair it was, they offered us fresh bowls of soup but we said we're not having another bite for sanitary reasons. They told us not to pay and watched us walk out. Watch what you eat. Literally.
(1)
Michael S.

Kind of hard to write something unique on such a popular place, but I shall try... This place is easily missed if you're not looking for it and it is somewhat of a hidden gem, though not so much anymore it seems because of Check Please! and just more word getting out. I actually think there are better korean restaurants around especially since I live around this area and pass by them all the time, but there is none quite like this. I would suggest going here if you have a group as any other time it isn't that special. Or just go if it's 3am and you want some korean food!
(4)
Joey T.

Have gone there several times and have yet to be disappointed. Their Kalbi is the best, their Kimchi Jjigae is very good. With a couple bottle of Soju and a few family members, it made for some great meals and memories.
(5)
Kwoky L.

San Soo Gab San is one of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurant in the city (the other being Cho Sun Ok). I have been to both places several times and I can definitely say that I have a better experience at San Soo. It is more spacious and that means there is less wait although it really depends when you go. I usually go on weeknights, lunch or early evening to avoid the crowds. Of course, one of the most interesting part of the meal is the side dishes. I didn't count but there could easily be 15-20 different side dishes and they are complimentary. It's good that they have large tables too. I actually saw a couple eating at a small table and they had to stack up the dishes like a pyramid. Funny. If it's your first time, you would probably think how on earth can you finish all these food - they are just appetizers! If you're here, you have got to try the barbecues. They have got the basics from beef short ribs (kalbi) to squid to baby octopus. But of course, the most delish of all is the kalbi. You cook your meat on a grill on top of a charcoal burner (yes, charcoal!), unlike Cho Sun Ok, where they use gas stoves and stone plates. To me, you can't beat grilling with charcoal because my legs go weak when I smell it. They have plenty of other stews, soups and entrees if you don't want BBQ. The other appetizer that i would highly recommend to go with your meal is the pajun (seafood pancake). Seafood?? Yes, my friend. Just don't think of the fluffy ones you have for breakfast with butter and syrup. They are thicker than crepes with a hint of chewiness (thanks to the guar gum) and filled with seafood, lots of green onions, eggs and some yummy goodness. So, give them a try. One thing though, just remember to NOT wear your best clothing. Forget about dressing up to impress because you're gonna smell like BBQ short ribs when you leave. p/s: The folks there voluntarily changed the grill when it got a little too charred but at Cho Sun Ok, the server was extremely rude and mad when I asked them to change the stone plate because my mom was allergic to beef. That pretty much ruined my Mother's day dinner.
(4)
Chenfei L.

I am not a Korean BBQ expert. I have been to only three Korean BBQ places in my life. But I will stay satisfied knowing that I have tried San Soo Gab San. San Soo Gab San is a blissfully smoky and dark experience. It is a place where you can stumble in at 3AM and order flavorful galbi and enjoy unlimited banchan all while feeling like you are in a sauna of ash and meat. Their kimchi is sour and tangy, their chap chae is light and savory, and their marinated galbi is sweet and tender. Plus, the miso soup that comes with each BBQ order has a great spicy tofu taste that cleanses the palate and doesn't obscure the main dishes. It is not the cheapest korean bbq in town, but it is a fun place with good service. It's great for groups and people who like playing with meat and fire.
(5)
Tim Y.

Yum! Great service, a slew of sides, tons and tons of meat to cook over charcoal, OB and soju...perfect! Just be careful - the barbecue cooks the cuts of meat provided VERY fast, so try to pay some attention to what you're cooking and not so much how much OB you're pouring. I know, it's difficult...
(4)
Steph P.

If I could only eat at one place every time I visit Chicago, Sansoogapsan would be it. Why is this place worthy of five stars? 1) It is open ridiculously late (5am?) 2) It is down the street from a Korean karaoke place (!!!)....which means you can get wasted (or not) and sing karaoke all night long w/ your friends and then head over to SSGS for the obligatory post-performance, late-night gorging. There are lots of tables sized for a large group (you get to sit behind a screen, take off your shoes, and sit on the floor in some of them!) 3) SOO many little banchan dishes! 4) Never had a bad dish there...stone-pot bibimbop, bulgogi, kalbi, galbitang (beef rib soup), chapchae, all tasty and heart warming....but most of all... 5)They have the best seafood soondubu (SPICY tofu casserole, good seafood flavor base, not at all watery tasting) I have ever had in my life....maybe my view is skewed b/c this is where I had my soondubu-cherry popped. The first cut is the deepest....baby, I know. My friend tells me that SSGS has become more popular these days, so the service is a little more friendly to the non-Korean speakers than it used to be. Still helps to have someone in your party to participate in some Korean banter. EDIT: My mistake, the karaoke place is actually not next door....but it's down the street. Close enough for an all-out Korean Night.
(5)
John W.

Here's the deal with this place; they put a grill in the middle of your table and bring you raw seasoned meat and you grill it to your liking. They also server about 109 bowls of other foods and condiments that you didn't order as a side. Some are really good, some not so good and mainly I had no idea what most of this stuff was. There was some clear food of some sort...Seriuosly, clear as glass...and it was food...I assume it was some type of gelatin. But you have very little room on your table, that's how much shit they bring. Anyway, I took my parents there and I got the pork rib which was excellent my mom had one of the seasoned beef dishes which was good but not great...I would definitely order the pork rib over the beef. My dad got some fried fish I have never heard of before and he loved it and it was tasty. This is an entire fish that has been deep fried so if you don't like your food staring back at you, you may not want to order this. Once they finally took our order service was fast. I will definitely go back. It was surprisingly nice inside...At least nicer than I thought it would be for a strip mall....There were also a lot of Koreans eating there so in other words, this place has street cred.
(4)
N. H.

I tried it at least 3-4 more times after my last review. I had Samgyupsal (pork belly) with tofu and kimchi which was good. I also had more bbq there. I would say the general food is pretty good. Service has seemed to gotten better. I think they replaced certain waitresses so the service is okay now. Again the major perks are that they are open really late (4 in the morning?) and lots of panchan (sidedishes).
(4)
Caroline A.

Eddy C. is right on. This is a great place to satisfy your 3am korean bbq craving. A visit to San Soo Gap San also guarantees a hangoverless morning after. My girlfriend dragged me here after being out all night. I'm not a big fan of late night eating, but it was an adventure. It was hilarious as three poorly speaking Korean girls and a non Korean guy tried to communicate with the not so pleasant server. I don't really remember the taste of the food (all I remember is spicy!!), but the portions were enormous. Overall, it was a fun experience.
(4)
Cindy K.

All right. This place gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, their food (mostly) tastes pretty good. Out of the galbi places I've gone to in Chicago, I think theirs is probably the best. They give lots of banchan (side dishes) and there is plenty of seating. They also have a small parking lot and are open late. But the bad is just sooo bad. Foodwise, sometimes they use so much dashida (Korean MSG) that I can taste it, yuck. Once I got yukaejang that was horrible, the meat was stringy and chewy and tough. It felt like chewing on rubber. The service is horrible, even for Korean standards. They are rude and even offensive at times. Once my friend came here (he is Indian) and they tacked on a "service charge" in anticipation that he wouldn't tip enough because he's Indian. wtf? I'm happy that he didn't let them get away with that crap. I've found that the best way to get decent service there is to be just as chilly in return. The times they treat me the best is when I tell them I want something in a firm tone of voice, telling, not asking. For some reason, they respond to that better. It seems like the nicer you are to them, the more they step all over you.
(3)
William L.

Service, sucks. Food not as good as it use to be. Expanding and trying to venture into sushi was a bad idea. They should stick to what they are good at. Atmosphere, they definitely can put some work into their bathroom. They are so gross.
(1)
Lori Taylor R.

Just a few reminders before dining at San Soo Gab San ... -DO, Be sure and wear socks with your shoes (ladies no heels, because it's a little awkward getting barefooted beside strangers and practically walking on the table, haha) -DON'T wear anything that's dry clean only (because, you will walk out of here smelling like a charcoal fire pit) -DON'T plan to meet people out after dining here (because, the smell is all over you now, your hair, your clothes etc it will drive everyone else around you crazzy trying to figure out what that rancid smell is and where it's coming from) Ok, with all that out in the open, now I will continue with my review. We really had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the food. We ordered several meats, but the chicken had the best flavor, it was phenomenal! However, we ordered it spicy and I wouldn't say there was much of a kick to it; but we didn't mind because the flavoring was delicious. We were so full when we left - it's truly a great value. It does get really smoky in there at times - I am not sure if our vent wasn't working or if they just have them running on extremely low power. It was slightly uncomfortable that the couple directly beside us did not order the BBQ. They kept fussing about the amount of smoke and at one point he got up to flag down a waitress to notify her of the smoke - she just looked at him and walked away. (I've dined at other Korean BBQ places in the past and hadn't experienced this problem with the smoke, so I am assuming it must have been our vent.) Too, the bus boys get pleasure out of seeing how much noise they can make while bussing the tables. I think they take the approach of throwing everything into the bucket as quickly and loudly as possible. Believe me they've mastered this technique. With all of this said, we went to satisfy our craving for Korean BBQ and that's what our tummies got - Pure Satisfaction!
(4)
Jin Joo L.

So, since the last time I've been there and my last review... (not to mention boycott of this joint,) I went this past weekend late Friday night. We walked in and were not greeted or anything! Again, is it because they don't want the business, or they don't care, or all the servers are too old or what? So I got annoyed and walked out for a bit til they cleared some tables. About 5 minutes later, we walk back in and are still not greeted. So this time tables are cleared off and so I just sat down at the first table I saw. I told my boyfriend, no way I'm waiting until they greet me standing up. To much of my surprise, they bring us table settings and some waters right away. I was actually surprised they didn't make us move to a smaller table since it was just us two. We ordered one order of the non-marinated short rib meat and one order of ribeye. The ribeye, I don't recommend much, because the proportions were really not worth it for $20. I was very happy they gave so many banchan or side dishes. I didn't have to ask for any lettuce or my favorite green onion sides and meat sauces. I also ordered the nengmyun (cold buckwheat noodle,) it came with a lot of pickled daikon and half a boiled egg, and a slice of pear. Mmmmmm could have used more slices of cucumber though. I'm just picky like that. The broth wasn't bad but not anything special. This is a tricky dish because not many places have good broth. If anyone is reading this entire post... I gotta give you propz. So, I give them two more stars this time since the last time I would have preferred to give zero stars. I was satisfied with the food and prompt re-filling of water... VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE LIKE ME. teehee.
(2)
Amanda A.

Yes, the atmosphere feels like a Denny's out of your most terrifying 80's post-prom nightmare. True, the word "gruff" feels inadequate in truly capturing the briskness of the serving staff. And fine, if this is your first attempt at the autonomous exercise that is the full Korean BBQ dining experience, you will have NO IDEA what's about to unfold before you. Explanations are rarely included, at least in my experience. Just let that go, sit back, and enjoy the banchan. I'm not Korean, and all of my Korean food experiences have been stateside, so I can't speak to authenticity, but it's plentiful and delicious, especially anything with red specks (spicier). My favorites included the seaweed salad, brown sauce, and fresh garlic and broccoli (added to the grill). I went with a friend and we ordered the kalbi (pork spareribs) and dakkalbi (marinated chicken)---SOOOOOOO fantastic. We also ordered the dumplings, good, but not spectacular. In the past, I've usually gone to Cho Sun OK, but this is my new favorite.
(4)
L L.

There are better places that are cleaner and better service than this place. They take advantage of most of the customers not knowing as much about the cuisine. I won't be returning due to the subpar quality and rude service, lack thereof.
(1)
Teo D.

the Kalbi was great and love the side dishes..right up there w/ BBQs at LA's K-town... will be back for sure. Oh bring an extra shirt in case you are headed somewhere after cuz you will smell like the 'Que!
(4)
Jenni Q.

We come here for just about every big family dinner (when the adults decide that they can make do without chinese food for one night). This place is great for groups and even when it's super busy, the wait isn't too bad. They have regular tables where you sit in chairs and low tables where you have to take off your shoes and sit cross legged. The lower tables give you a unique dining experience but you might want to avoid them if you are going with older adults who may have trouble getting up afterwards :) Avoid showering or wearing clean clothes because you WILL smell like korean bbq when you leave. If you want to cook your own meat right at your table, you have to order at least two portions of the kalbi, bulgogi, chicken, squid, etc. If you only place one order they will cook it for you in the kitchen but it doesnt taste as good because I believe they cook it in a pan versus grilling it. My favorite is the kalbi....the meat is tender and I usually like my meat medium rare to medium, but the kalbi tastes a little better medium well to well done. We always get the spicy chicken and spicy squid too but I'm not a huge fan. The maandoo (korean dumpling) is super yummy - big, crisp and filled with delicious meats and veggies. The jap chae (noodles with veggies) is not the best I've ever tasted but pretty decent. The seafood pancake (kind of like an egg pancake cooked with chives, squid and other seafood) is also pretty tasty. The free spicy tofu soup that comes with your meat order is a good complement to the rest of the meal. And we can't forget about all the side dishes.....I believe they give you somewhere around 15 small dishes consisting of different veggies, bean curd, mushrooms, eggs, etc. If you run out, make sure you save at least one piece so you can show the waitress what you want refilled. Service can be both good and bad. If you can catch a waitress, she will probably do a good job of taking your order and getting you what you need. But thats IF you can catch her in the first place. Tip: Dip the meat in the peanut sauce for extra flavor. And use the huge pieces of lettuce to wrap your meat and other veggies if you run out of rice!
(4)
Toshi B.

I just lowered this to 3 stars from 4. The food is stll very good with lots of banchan (complimentary sides). However, the service needs to improve!!!!!! Do not go when it is busy b/c they will hustle you out...i.e. return to your table after 2 minutes when you ask for 5 to decide and the waitress will just stand there, ask you to leave b/c there are people waiting (understood but right after we sign off the tip? come on...), tell you there is no after service Korean sweet tea (which is customary) b/c the kitchen is too busy to do such things. They give new meaning to Korean hospitality which even I think is too rude (and I am Korean!). It will be a while before I return.
(3)
Ginny L.

This was my first ever Korean BBQ experience! I don't know how I've never been to one of these places before, but my dad has been telling me for months now that we had to go, so finally, late last Tuesday evening, we did. I'd been driving past this place for years but never really noticed its existence, so I have to say I was a little surprised at how nice it looked on the inside. I can't imagine wanting to sit on the floor for a heavy meal like this, but I love the look of that seating area, and the fact that the 'chairs' still have backs. We ordered the seafood pancake, short ribs, and marinated beef strips, but before any of that came, they brought us no less than 24 little dishes of vegetables, one thing that looked a little like lasagna, some noodle-looking things, and many other items I couldn't identify. I didn't try all of them, or even close to, but only because I don't like spicy food and about half the dishes had that red-speckled look to them. The seafood pancake was good until I saw the little squid tentacles and had to stop eating it (squid freaks me out, no idea why), but both the meats more than made up for it. It was very exciting cooking our own food, though the short ribs were a pain since they stuck really severely to the grill, and the bits that wouldn't come off just built up and burned on. Luckily, about halfway through, they came and replaced the grill. While the food was delicious, be warned, this is stressful dining at its finest. If you don't want to bother yourself with making sure you're not burning the meat every five seconds, this might not be for you. It was fun, but if the reason I'm going out is to have great food AND conversation, I'd go somewhere the food came to me completely prepared. There isn't much talk when one person is busy putting the meat on the grill, and the other is busy taking it off again seconds later. Also, I have to say, I didn't have problems with the service. The staff was very nice and helpful and didn't try to hurry us along at all. The only thing remotely wrong was the fact that it took a few minutes for them to bring us the check once we were done, but since we were still picking at our food, it makes sense that they thought we were still actively eating.
(4)
Angelo P.

I love this place... If you're worried about bad service, you gotta get used to it when you go to a more "authentic" east asian place. You are getting the same service you would in asia. Its short, sweet, blunt, and to the point and you get your food in a timely fashion. The bulgogi wasn't as flavorful as some others ive had but the amount of banchan you get with your meet is great. Bring some friends get drunk on some soju and enjoy ridiculous amounts of food...having eaten at korean bbq spots with native koreans, bringing lots of people and getting shitfaced is a must. Order the pork!
(4)
Stephanie L.

This place is cool. Its my first experience at a Korean BBQ. I liked it. They really get the stuff out to you. Lots of side dishes to try. Pretty reasonable on drinks. We got some beef and spicy squid. We had to cook it ourselves which I really liked. It added to the experience. I thought the staff was really nice. They werent rude and they were always checking up on us. They do not take reservations but we went with a group of 4 on Sat night at about 8 and got in within 10mins. Interesting experience and pretty good food! Also, fairly priced.
(4)
Elaine C.

Whitey 1 and Whitey 2 are on a out-of-the-norm asian food kick. After dim sum a few weeks ago, we decided we have to make it out for the craziness that is Korean BBQ. With an open mind and stomach we set out to try all the silly little dishes they give you with some of the yummiest, tenderest meat that you painstakingly grill yourself. The service sucks, yes. They make you hurry up and order, take the menus and don't really come back much. But whatever, this is a whole different kind of experience. To the inexperienced Korean BBQ eaters (like us): Order the seasoned short ribs. We had that and the tender beef thinly sliced thingie, too. It was all pretty amazing. (You can just order number 15 and 18, whities, no need to pretend to know the korean names!) The grill gets really frikken' hot, then when it starts to get to normal grilling temperature, they tell you to hurry up and grill before it goes out. But it's ok, because while you let the men do all the manly grilling, there's all kinds of weird shit you can try. I recommend the eggy pancake thingie, the clear noodles that taste like pickles, the tofu that tastes like shrimp, and some of the pickled kim chee'd cucumbers, radishes, and tinly sliced green onions. Also, the black shit that looks like mud is actually seaweed and its super salty yummy if you put a little of it here and there. Now, when you first get there you're going to get some fresh sliced garlic and some brown goo that goes with it.. you want to dip your beef in the brown goo before you grill, and grill the garlic. The beef is just amazing. I mean, I'm not a huge meat eater but I love me some Filet and this rivals Filet. It's like buttery tender and you can cook it as rare as you want (at your own risk, of course.) We don't know if this is the right thing to do, but we were making little tiny lettuce wraps with the beef, rice and brown goo, and would sometimes add some of the other little dishes. You also get some miso-ish soup with peppers and tofu in there. It's definitely an adventure. We were pretty stuffed and with two orders of meat plus a big Korean beer and 2 diet cokes, the total was $50. If you're into random adventures, I can't really speak for the authenticity of this place, but it sure was fun and delicious. Get out there and try new things, Whities!!!
(4)
K T Y.

As a follow-up to previous review, servers STILL VERY RUDE AND NOT NOT HELPFUL. I'm noticing other yelpers agree. I'm done giving you my hard-earned cash.
(2)
Victor M.

Twice within a week.. By choice? Somewhat. Been here many times before? Yes. During the Week: 1st Time: Craving Steak at 11pm after "House of Walker." Steakhouses are closed, so Korean BBQ is as good as it gets. 2nd Time: Birthday Dinner on a Saturday at 7pm. There are better options for Korean food in the City. The food is average and nothing special. What's especially great about them is their hours and the amount of side dishes that they have. Their Maki is actually pretty decent, even though it's only a California Roll. If you would like to save while eating a variation of food you can't go wrong with Combo 1 at $19.95. Service: A mixed review. Some waitresses are mean and a select few are very nice.
(3)
Tina B.

I haven't been here for a while, which is kind of the thing - nothing ever draws me to go back. The whole cooking it yourself thing grows old after a while, especially if you have a bunch of people hungrily eyeing each small piece of meat while it cooks and then scrambling (fighting) over each piece once it's done. And no joke - you will smell like smokey shit when you leave. It was okay, just not my thing maybe, but if my man gets into one of his carnivorous moods in the middle of the night, maybe I'll find myself back here again. I wish the people were just...cooler maybe. Why does it have to be such a pain in the ass to ask what I'm actually eating? I've been to Korean BBQ places where there service is not so bad, so that should not have to be part of the "experience." And yes. The parking lot really is THAT crazy.
(3)
Evangeline L.

Any restaurant that can make me want to eat the food again right after I stuffed myself is alright in my book! The smells, oh the smells of this place are intoxicating! Be sure to get the bbq...marinated beef and the short ribs are fantastic, and the spicy calamari too. For apps the GIANT seafood pancake is delicious and the fried dumplings are surprisingly tasty. Warning: your food may or may not come out in the order you think it should and the servers are a bit salty but hey, its part of the charm! Did I mention they're open till 5am? Score.
(4)
angela p.

You know what? This place was pretty damned good. The side dishes were tasty- spicy, pickled, sweet and sour- although I didn't know what 85% of them were. The meat was tasty, too- cooking it yourself was a lot of fun. But the service- oy vey. I ordered the marinated pork ribs. The waitress asked "Number 23?" I said yes. She brought me what I thought were ribs and I proceeded to cook them. Suddenly, she was over my shoulder and snatched my plate of raw meat from the table. "These aren't for you, these aren't your order!" Then she disappeared. My friend, Annie, and I stared at each other and tentatively began to eat the side dishes. Annie eyed her plate of meat and guarded it closely. The waitress reappeared with another plate and barked that THIS was my order. For real, lady? They lost some points for taking my freaking food away (I mean, really? Really.), and I sincerely hope they didn't serve it to someone else, but I would not be surprised if they did. And for that, methinks I shall not return.
(3)
Sonesh S.

I was really not excited about eating here - all I had heard about Korean bbq was that you end up smelling terrible and the food is strange... San Soo Gab San however, had such tasty food that it easily made up for it! We came with a group of 15 people, and the service was extremely accommodating - they had our table ready, and were always attentive to our needs (beer, water, napkins, etc...) Because we had a large group, we let the waitress just bring us the group special, which included all sorts of small plates (mostly veggies and seafood), a seafood omelet, some sort of wonton, and glorious, glorious meats. Let me take a moment to talk about the meats themselves: 1) Marinated Beef - this was absolutely amazing. Small strips of tender beef, that cook very quickly on the hot grill 2) Spicy Pork - This was our group's favorite item. Unfortunately, they only gave us two plates worth, so there wasn't exactly enough to go around 3) Marinated Chicken - Very tasty, but again, only two plates for the entire group. 4) Short Ribs - Forgettable - even the ethnic Korean group next to us left them off the grill. These were not meant to be grilled. Okay, back to the small plates - they hand out a ton of small plates, the only problem is that you have no idea what anything is. Now, personally, I'm all for exploring, but I think a sheet of paper helping to explain everything wouldn't be the worst idea in the world. Overall, I gave this place 3 stars, mainly due to the fact that our large group all left hungry, due to the small portions of meats. We paid $40 each (including a few beers), so our bill wasn't exactly small either. In addition, I would have liked a bit more info on what we were being served, so at least I know what it was that I really liked/disliked. I would certainly come here again, as the meats were all delicious, and our group had a lot of fun...
(3)
Christopher H.

Great Kalbi with a healthy side of racism! First off, I'm Korean guy and this is a Korean restaurant. I would be wary of bringing your spouse/fiancee/girlfriend if she is white (haven't tested it with other races). We arrived there at the same time as another white/asian couple, and about five minutes later, a korean couple and another white-asian couple arrived. we weren't given menus until the korean couple were well into their first course, which was about 15 minutes after we sat down. And for some reason the other mixed couples were served well before us as well (we postulated it was because they were asian girl/white guy matches, but who knows). Anywho, Kalbi was good though the service made it harder to swallow. Those poor ladies-- they work their dang asses off until 5 am handing out 15 little mini plates of food to each table in addition to the regular courses. I can see why they're cranky but still, we're not in Korea anymore, and you should have some measure of social maturity. I can't wait until their kids marry white/black/hispanic and then they have to deal with their mixed progeny. We'll probably go back. Maybe not so late though.
(3)
Monica K.

This place just gets crazier and crazier. At least they've expanded and now have double the amount of seating than they used to have about 5 years ago. Too bad the parking lot is still the same size - luckily there's residential parking nearby where there are usually plenty of spots. It's probably a better idea to park there anyway, the parking lot is tight and there are some cars that are parked poorly in that lot :) Went on a Saturday night and was able to get a table pretty quickly, but then we were told that the food would take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Fine, we'll just drink until the food comes out! The service here is pretty good considering the ladies are busy running back and forth changing the grills for people who got the barbecue and helping you cook your meat and constantly bringing you more alcohol. They're all business though, so don't expect them to hold your hand while you try to decide what you want. Everything here is pretty good, my personal favorites: - boo dae jun-gol. huge spicy soup meant for at least 2 people that has all sorts of junk: sausage, spam, bacon, meat, ramen noodles and some veggies. Delicious when you're drinking or already drunk. - naeng myun - clear noodles in a cold broth that is great for the summer time. They don't always have this available though. Not entirely sure why? - sam gyub sal with kimchi bokkeum. spicy pork/kimchi stir fry with some plain tofu. YUM. It's not killer spicy but it's definitely got a kick to it. you will pay for this dish the next day, if you know what I mean.
(4)
Terrence C.

Korean spots are fun with all the little dishes (even though i never eat them all). I really like korean bbq, and this place is lots of fun. You can sit at a regular table, or they have the japanese shoes off on the floor style too. I always get 2 thngs, bulgogi and kalbi and they are both awesome. Please don't leave without getting the seafood pancake. Everything is good there, although sometimes the service sucks. Fortunately you don't need much attention with the BBQ. Prices are good for the amount of food you get for sure. Don't wear anything nice cause it will smell like smoke for weeks, hair included. Parking lot is really small, so if you can avoid it and park on the street that would be ideal.
(3)
Les M.

Okay being Korean American, I am the first one to say, unfortunately Korean resturaunts aren't known for great service. In fact the service is really bad. Now I believe this review should be about the food and experience so I must -2 stars due to the poor customer service. The food is good, not the best Korean but, for a late night craving it's great. Expect to leave full and satisfied. Not blown away :/
(3)
Kmberly B.

I still heart this place. The meat is tantalizing and amazing. Although it's all really succulent and well marinated, I found the ribs are the most flavorful quickly followed by the beef and then the chicken. New found love for their miso soup. It comes with huge chunks of tofu, and cucumbers! They lost a star because the service was bad and it took over 15 min for us to get more lettuce. Although in tradition you must flag down a server at Korean BBQ, this was beyond the acceptable flag down time.
(4)
Jarod P.

Korean BBQ can be a little daunting if you're new to it, especially if the place is more authentic, because that sometimes means English speakers may have trouble communicating with the staff. Which is no reason to be put off, you can get your message through by pointing at things on the menu and using your fingers to indicate numbers. The money still spends, right? The staff at San Soo Gab San seem to communicate better; the place seems more welcoming to non-Koreans than some of the other joints around. It also seems to attract a more rowdy crowd of hipsters. I'm not making a value call on this, just an observation that may be of use to others. It is what it is. All I care about is the food, and the food here is pretty terrific. I found the meat to be more tender and flavorful than other places I've tried. The ban chan were plentiful and good, but I like the assortment at Cho Sun Ok better; Cho Sun Ok has a few favorites that I crave at random moments, and they didn't get served up here. The seafood pancake, though, was worth the whole trip. Service was excellent, especially as crowded as it was. The hostess was blunt with us when we were hanging out too long finishing our wheat tea; she loudly asked us when we were planning on leaving. Didn't mind that, as it was crowded and there was a line out front. We were being pretty lazy about getting our show on the road, so fair is fair. If that kind of thing upsets you, get over yourself. The world doesn't revolve around you. You shouldn't feel entitled to hog a booth in a popular restaurant for three hours just because you feel like it. I hate you. If that kind of thing doesn't upset you, let's be BFF 4-ever LOL ;P
(4)
Scott S.

This restaurant is like being w/ an extremely hot girl/guy with a nice body, but has a crappy personality. The service is horrible (more on this later), but the food is so good that you always end up coming back. Their galbi is still one of my favorites of all time (yes, I am Korean)....and some people who don't know much about grilling don't realize that it's not just the quality of the meat, but the quality of the "heat". What does that mean? Well, most korean bbq's allow you to grill your own meat, but is usually on a gas grill or a psuedo-charcoal grill. This place uses real charcoal, which really adds some great smoky flavors. So yes, the ventilation can be a little bad and your clothes will smell like smoke, but that is b/c this is REAL bbq. Their jjigaes are good and their buddae jjigae is the best i've had in chicago. the service, however, is horrible and you just need to learn to accept that. They will not smile, refill your water, check up on you, or even acknowledge anything you say with a nod or an "okay". Is this acceptable? definitely not. But will i keep going there b/c the food is good? totally. but how do you boost your ability to get good service? a few tips/tricks: * Order kalbi. if everyone just orders soups/jjigaes, you will be treated like scum. Make at least a couple orders of kalbi in addition to your soups. I think a 1/2 order of kalbi per person is a good minimum. * If you plan on ordering beer/soju, do it in the begininng. For some reason, ordering alcohol triggers something in their brain to treat you like a human being. So if you already plan on ordering drinks, do it in the beginning so that you get good service throughout the meal. *Keep the bar low. As with any hot girl/guy with a hot body and crappy personality, quit expecting the personality to magically change. it won't. and neither will their service. Just accept that it is bad and you will just find it amusing.
(4)
Christine O.

I was invited here the first time with a very large group. And we got a very large amount of food and beer! Cooking was shared and merriment ensued. It was a great time. I went back with my boyfriend. It's not as exciting with just two... not so boisterous and merriment making, but still delicious! They gave us a table with a grill which we feared we may not get from other yelp reviews. The boyfriend has simple tastes and doesn't care for the exotic Asian sides (of which there are perhaps exactly 28... seriously a lot for two people even if you like them). I recommend the miso soup. It's just perfectly spiced with jalapenos- something the Japanese wouldn't dream of doing to their miso in my experience living there. Yes, it's smokey. Yes, you cook your own food. Yes, the waitresses don't speak too much for English. That's what a good Korean grill restaurant is all about to me! And I just come to eat... and the order always comes out timely and delicious. Keep the service expectations low, I suppose. It's not THAT bad. If you've eaten in a country where you didn't speak the language before then this place will be a breeze! San Soo Gab San has quite a reputation and every reason to. I never heard a bad thing about it until yelp...
(4)
B S.

Been here twice. Great food. Had a great time. Room is a little smoky. Recommended by Korean co-worker. Suggestion: Order fewer plates of raw meat than you think you need initially and get more as you are cooking if needed.
(5)
Terri M.

This place probably offers one of the best Korean BBQ experiences in Chicago. If you are having a craving for good, authentic Kroean food this is the place. Came here recently with a friend. We'd been wanting to go out for Korean food for some time, and tonight was our opportunity. fortunately, it was a Monday night because I hear this place gets crowded. the wait would have been worth it though because the food here is great. My friend had the bulgogi (marinated beef) and I had the squid, both of which we grilled at the table. We shared a seafood pancake appetizer, which we really wanted to have, but did not need because there was SO MUCH food. one of my main criteria for a good Korean restaurant is the quality and variety of side dishes that come with the meal. The side dishes are also the most interesting and fun to eat. So our two meals came with perhaps twenty side dishes, ranging from fermented soy beans to two kinds of seaweed, to kimchee, radish chunks, broccoli, lotus root, mountain potato, lettuce and cucumber salad, soy bean cake, bamboo shoot, potato salad, and more. Too many to remember. But I do remember that they were all really interesting and delicious. We also got a plate of lettuce to wrap our grilled thing in, a soy bean paste (I'm guessing) to go with it, a bowl of soup, and a bowl of rice. I'm telling you, it was a lot of food and all for under $60 for two. What a great deal, and totally satisfying too!
(4)
Charles C.

This place is overpriced for what you get. The food is ok at best and the service stinks. I went on night with friends for late night grub and they were really stingy with the banchan and the grill barely worked. I wouldn't go back to this place. In fact I curse the place every time I drive by it to my girlfriend. She thinks it's hilarious, ha-ha.
(2)
Diana C.

I went here around 10 p.m. on a Saturday night for a late dinner. We ordered the unmarinated Kalbi, kimchi stew and the seafood pancake. The food took a long time to get to our table. There were so many varieties of banchan, it took up half the table. Since we only got one order of grilled meat, they cooked it in the back, rather than letting us grill it ourselves. The Kalbi was most disappointing, since it seemed to lack a beefy flavor. It was chewier than I had expected, too. After all the hype over this place, I was really disappointed in the quality of the meat. The kimchi stew was similarly disappointing, tasting like kimchi boiled in broth. (I liked the kimchi soup in the H-Mart food court in Niles better.) However, the seafood pancake here was probably the best I have tried. It was thin, crispy, and full of calamari and green onions. The dipping sauce was way too salty, but it wasn't really necessary anyway. I loved the texture, which was a little chewy, with crispy edges, unlike at other places where it comes out soft or soggy. If you come here, you should definitely get the seafood pancake.
(3)
kevin c.

Overall experience with this place is just ok. Have been a couple of times a few years apart. Food was very good both times. I do remember it being better the first time though. The food gets a 4 star rating, and the service/ employees get a 2. They weren't outwardly rude, but just an overall indifference I would say. Not the worst but not the friendliest for sure. The average of the two gets to 3 stars.
(3)
Margaret P.

Since San Soo Gab San has been rated so many times, I only have two comments for my favorite place for korean bbq: 1) expect to smell like korean bbq/smoky for the remainder of the day 2) this is KM (Korean Mommy) approved
(5)
Melissa M.

I waited a week to post this review to settle down.....I apologize in advance for the "War and Peace" long winded review but feel the need to take the time to write this down. Background: I am half Korean (half Chinese), born and raised in Chicago, and my Mom (Korean) and our family have been coming to San Soo Gab San for over 20 years. We usually had a good experience (I don't speak Korean but it does help when I go with my Mom or Aunts) with both customer service (I'm Asian.....I know the customer service is not a strong point in some authentic Asian restaurants, so I know what to expect) and the food (especially all the sides they give you). It takes but one night of an extremely bad experience to spoil 20 years of going to a restaurant. My family and I will no longer go to this restaurant and have told our extended family and friends of our experience. Last weekend, my Mom took my family to the restaurant for dinner. We ordered chap chae and it was completely tasteless. Then the sides came in and no lie, the cucumber kimchee was tiny (about 5 inches long, cut in thirds) and the other sides that came in are what I considered "cheap" sides. The cabbage kimchee was not good and almost tasted like it was near spoiling. As we were starving , we ordered 3 orders of kalbi and asked if the kitchen can cook the meat for us (as opposed to using the coal top grill). They were nice enough to do this (as this is usually denied). Our 3 orders of kalbi had absolutely no flavor at all. It tasted like all they did was submerge the kalbi in salted water and boiled it. No soy sauce flavor, garlic, green onions, sesame, etc. It seriously tasted like boiled meat. We tried a bunch of pieces (as they merged our 3 orders into one big plate) and no taste at all. We flagged down the waitress and told her about the kalbi. She then brought in the Manager of the restaurant to talk to us. My Mom (in Korean) told her that we have been coming here for 20 years and that tonight the kalbi did not have any flavor at all. The Manager tasted our cooked kalbi and then proceeed to say that it tasted good to her. There were 4 of us at the table who have been eating kalbi for years and years and we all said it was tasteless. My Mom (being a great cook herself) was trying to tell the Manager that there was no flavor and asked for another kalbi entree (from another marinated batch) or ask if we can get comp'd for one kalbi entree. The 3 orders of kalbi are almost $70 and we all ate a couple of pieces and pushed the kalbi platter away not wanting to eat anymore because it was so bland. As my Mom was trying to tell the Manager that the kalbi was truly tasteless, the Manager insisted that the kalbi tasted good to her, they have been using the same recipe for 25 years (any self respecting cook, especially Korean cooks, knows that you don't follow a recipe that indicates specific measurement...you know the ingredients and you don't measure) and that the meat tasted like that because we chose to have the restaurant cook the meat instead of using the coals. Whaaat?? Meat that has no flavor and is tasteless will still have no flavor whether you use coals or not. We decided to leave and went up to the front to pay the bill. My Mom asked again if we can at least get comp'd one entree as we left a huge platter of kalbi at our table and the Manager said (in broken English so that we can understand her) that we ordered 3 orders so we have to pay for 3 orders. My Mom and the Manager started going at each other (when you get 2 Korean strong females fighting, it is quite a scene). Lots of yelling on both parties (as the packed restaurant was watching). My Mom slapped cash down (for everything except one entree). I told my Mom to go to the car with my family and wait so that I can talk to her. I tried my best to let her know that we have never had a bad experience in the past 20 years and that it was only that night where the kalbi (and chap chae) were tasteless. She proceeded to basically say that my Mom didn't know what she was talking about and that the meat was flavorful. After that comment, I said screw it and left. The Manager then goes outside to take my license plate # down. Of course, I had to see what's going on. I went back into the restaurant and asked her why she took my license plate # down. She said "Just in case". I asked her what that meant. And she just said just in case. She then again proceeded to say that my Mom was totally wrong and that the kalbi was good and went into a long barage of that's what we get for not using the coals, etc. At that point, I had enough. Can you imagine going to a restaurant and telling the patrons that they are basically out of their minds? I paid the balance (and even placed a tip as I did not want our nice waitress to suffer from all this) and left. Long story long.....Will NEVER EVER EVER (sounds like a Taylor Swift song that I can write) go here again and will be looking for other Korean restaurantn
(1)
Joe S.

Party of 12 was no problem. It's a big place although you'd never know from the tiny little door at the corner of the building. Was a little scared at first from reading the other reviews about grease, intense smoke, and charcoal embers flying into my eye but the way they have it sectioned off keeps it easy for the staff to manage everything. Because the smell from the smoke is mentioned in every review I want to note that each table has it's own big draw fan (like the hood on your oven) and it keeps things pleasant enough. The smell on your clothes is there when you leave but I'd have to say that I've experienced worse (i.e. Moody's) Everything was great. We were lucky enough to have a friend at the table that alpha dogged all the ordering for everyone. Otherwise with a table that big of the inexperienced it could have turned ugly fast and almost did. Be ready though because once your order starts coming out it comes hard and fast. They're great about changing out the grill when it gets messy and are all around very attentive. This isn't something I'd do all the time but might save it for once in a while and definately recommend it for big groups. The more the merrier we thought going in and we were right. Don't be stingy and try to split entrees. Everyone should get something and share with the rest of the table. We all got our own meats, great appetizers, soups, and big community beers for the table and with a 20% tip it worked out to about $34 each.
(4)
Jason S.

Having grown up in Dallas (and LA), I have had the chance to eat some damn good homecooked/restaurant Korean BBQ. So I definitely did not come here with any high expectations. I took my mother here (another tough Korean food critic) when she came to visit for the weekend. Not being from the midwest, I was definitely not impressed. However, this place is probably the best Korean BBQ you're going to find in Chicago. San Soo Gab San gives a lot of "ban-chan" aka side dishes. They give you like 20-25 different side dishes, which is a little overboard in my opinion, but hey I didn't mind :) Now on to the Korean BBQ section of this review. Now considering this place is known for its Korean BBQ, I was very disappointed in the whole set up of the grill. They got one thing right, the use of coals. Basically there is this hole in the table where the coals go and then they place a small flat grill RIGHT ABOVE the coals. So your korean bbq is basically sitting on top of the coals and separated by a small thin grill. After a while, the BBQ ends up tasting like coal/smoke and it ruins the flavor. We ordered two orders of the Wang Galbi (the best one in my opinion). It was pretty decent. Not the best korean bbq but we definitely enjoyed it. The third order was this other Gal Bi which I don't remember, but it was extremely salty due to the heavy marinating.... it was difficult to eat. Even worse, they brought us the meat still partially frozen. I was shocked that they would bring us half frozen meat and then try to play it off like it's supposed to be that way. You can't pull that one off with Korean people who have ate korean food their entire lives. Anyways, despite my criticisms - this place is probably the best korean food you are going to see in Chicago. It's packed, so definitely a lot of people obviously enjoy it. Just make sure you bring a Korean person with you because despite the stereotype that all Korean servers are absolutely terrible at service and are racist, it is true in the majority of the cases. So just bring a Korean speaking friend just in case. To non Korean folks - this place is probably the best To Korean folks - average
(3)
Liz B.

Short ribs were not appetizing. Kim chi was whack. It had no flavor. Service was the wackiest. I can't believe this is considered one of the best Korean restaurants in Chicago. That's just embarrassing. Did we visit on a bad day or something?
(2)
Jon L.

Korean or not, most every Chicagoan has probably been to San Soo Gab San on one early drunken morning or another. I, however waited to try it until I had sampled nearly every other Korean barbecue restaurant on the North Side. I'm glad I waited. Yes, the panchan selection is more plentiful than many competitors', but when it comes to food, I prefer quality over quantity. As for the main event, prices are higher than average for undistinguished cuts of meat, while portion sizes are smaller than average. In a genre of ethnic restaurants not known for its effusive service, San Soo Gab San set a new low. There are several better competitors within a stone's throw, and Hae Woon Dae features the same late night hours.
(2)
Pickiest Eater A.

Not a whole lot of food. Tasted great but didnt fill anyone up at the table. The side dishes were good, we got the marinated beef and marinated beef short ribs. Tasted good, but 1 star for the value, 4/5 for flavor/cut of meat. Which means 1 star overall. If portions were more I would have been content.
(1)
Erin P.

This was my fist KBBQ experience and what a time it was. I cannot think of a better, inexpensive, tasty and interactive way to spend time with friends! 5 girlfriends and I (including the beautiful Brett D and Angie M) met for dinner at this Yelp- illustrious establishment for some good eats and company. We started with dumplings and asparagus beef rolls. I happen to be quite the dumpling (gyoza, pot stickers etc. . .) connoisseur and these were up to my standards indeed. I had two although I don't think every one got that many- shhh! Brett ordered for the table and as soon as the order was placed a hot bowl of coals was placed in the hole in the middle of the table and we were attacked with hundreds of mini bowls filled with god knows what! I am proud to say I tried everything! Although I was not a fan of all, nothing was particularly inedible- but there were definitely some new flavors. We also got little bowls of sticky white rice and great soup filled with veggie, tofu and jalapenos! I don't know why there are so many whiners about cook-it-yourself-restaurants (like KBBQ or fondue) if it is such an issue, go somewhere else! I think cooking the food is part of the fun! That being said, someone at the table had to be the designated chef and at ours Angie M accepted the challenge and managed to cook us tasty food and eat also- I was quite impressed as I am not the multi-tasker that she is. We had the pork (yum), rib eye (cut with scissors at the table- talk about carving table side!) ribs (unfortunately not very much meat on the bone) and octopus (the wriggled like it was alive when grilled). I loved the sauces that were already on the cuts of meat. The staff worked diligently and traded out our grill a few times when the meat began to stick. As I stated above, it is a really fun and interactive meal, great for a group of close friends and family or maybe even a great way to get to know other people better. I can't wait to go back. The only problem is I will need to take Brett along otherwise I will not know what to order; for that matter I should probably take Angie too so that I can experience her culinary skills again, first hand!
(4)
Patty S.

One of the best Korean BBQ I have found in the city. The marinades they use are delicious, not overly salty and flavorful. We normally get a couple of the different marinated beef, chicken, and squid. The side dishes that are served with the meal take up all the space on the table and a variety of foods that I'm sure you'll find something you like. If you want seconds, they will fill you back up with whichever side dish you want. We also normally get the seafood pancake which is very tasty. It's got all these pieces of scallion, shrimp, and squid all mixed in. The dipping sauce on the side goes very well with the pancake. Even though their food is delicious, there are a couple of downsides, the service is quite slow and there a lot of pointing of menus and stuff like that since their English is not very good and we don't speak a lick of Korean. The parking lot is also very small and cramped. You'll be lucky to find a spot in the lot, but there are plenty of spots on the side streets. Also, don't plan on going anywhere afterward because you will walk out smelling like Korean BBQ (which is delicious, but I'm sure others at the bar will just stare and wonder why you are wearing food as perfume). Overall, this is an awesome place for a delicious meal and I highly recommend it if you've never had the pleasure of trying Korean BBQ.
(4)
David M.

This is one of my favorite stops while visiting Chicago. My friends and I love this place. I'm married to a Korean and have eaten lots of it in Korea and here and this place is one of the best. I love the Prul style of cooking. They do it right with real charcoal...it's not right until you are inundated with a thick covering of smoke which permeates your body the next morning! The food is very authentic. I recommend the Dak Kalbi, Oh Jing Oh Bokum, Prul Gogi, and everything really. Seriously, I'm really picky about Korean food. This rivals what you would get in Korea. There are so many side dishes you don't have room to put your arms/hands on the table. It's always a great time, especially with Soju!
(5)
Philippe F.

I ate here again the other night. I JUST finished eating the leftovers.....and I'm already craving it again. Why do you deserve 5 stars? Well....... I love the fact that you notice the marinade is getting too burnt and clumpy on the grill and change it with the blink of an eye. I love how you give us so many sides we have to build a pyramid in order to make room for everything on the table. I love that you do not bother us while we are eating, but are only an "excuse me" distance away just in case we did need something. Your meat is so damn tender and flavorful it's almost disgusting....... I already miss you. I miss the smell you left on my hand that I continued to smell the rest of the night, and the burps that I forced up just to have the taste in my mouth......SSGS, Tea.Tea.Why.El.....
(5)
Crystal P.

I like most of the food at this place. The DIY style is fun especially when you have people who never have done it before. But it wears off unlike the smell of smoke in your hair after you leave this place. Negatives They really don't refill your pan chan, The wait is long and I see a huge difference in treatment when I go with one of my Korean friends ( my dad is form Korea my mom is white I look ambiguous) positives pretty good Bulgogi good array of panchan good duk guk soup good yukajang over all 3 stars ps. My grandma doesn't like this place that much
(3)
Angie M.

Since SSGS has been reviewed to death, I'm going to keep this fairly short and sweet. 1. The parking lot is insane. How do you fit a normal sized car in those spots? 2. I love that the neon sign outside says they are open from 10am-5am. That's pretty hardcore. I don't know about you, but I need pizza late-night. BBQ-ing my own meat on an open flame seems kind of dangerous when there are too many cocktails involved. 3. I think we counted 47 teeny tiny plates of food on our table at one point. I have no idea what the KBBQ peeps call all of those little bowls of unidentifiable food, but they kept things, um, interesting. My friend told me someone once dared her to try all of them, even the clear gelatinous one. I would have liked to see that. 4. Someone has to take the bull by the horns and be the chef and grill all the meat. I was that person. It was fun. But still, I can't help but think those open flames spell DANGER to someone who's had one too many shot glasses of that plum wine... 5. Dirt cheap. Go. Eat Korean BBQ. Prosper.
(4)
Chris L.

Once again, the service was below par here. Although the bus boy filled our waters and cleared the empty dishes, the waitress couldn't be bothered to change the grill or check up on us. Actually, their usual apathy was nice when the meal was over because we weren't rushed out when the check was due. As in like it took like 15 minutes to wait for the check and pay. Otherwise the appetizers were their usual random goodness and I have nobody to blame for overlooked beef but myself. Be sure to "remind" them about soup if your meal is supposed to come with it, as they tend to forget it when focusing on ignoring your table. You know how the hot girl always goes back to the douchebag? That's us consistently returning here to be blighted in exchange for the opportunity to cook our own food when dining out.
(3)
Kai Z.

Is there anything in life better than sizzling meat over a pit of fire? I think not. Sure, the service is a bit lacking, but you're not here for ambience. You're here to fire up your raw meat and gorge yourself silly! The marinated kalbi here is fantastic, as is the pork and chicken kalbi. Skip the bulgogi - not because it's not tasty but because it's sliced so thin that it sticks to the grill and tends to shred. The seafood pancake appetizer is also crisp and delicious. The prices are not super cheap, but it's decent, especially if you come with a large group. Make sure you wear raggedy clothes, because you WILL smell like smoke and charcoal for the next 24 hours. It's a small price to pay for entering meat nirvana.
(4)
T T.

The food is OK. Service can be rude if you are not Korean. Huge variety of side dishes yummy!!!!
(3)
Ryan B.

If you've been around the Korean culinary block a few times you know not to expect any kind of high-end service while dining. This restaurant is no exception, however the food more than makes up for it. The Kal Bi and Bulgogi are seasoned to perfection and once grilled over charcoal, cancel Christmas. Amazing taste!! The best chop chae any where around and tons and tons of bahn chan make this a well-rounded winner every time. Word of caution: you will get very, very smokey, so wear jeans and casual clothes.
(4)
Peter L.

It don't compare to the top Korean places in LA or NY, but SSGS is my go-to place for Korean grub in Chi-Town. My favorite is the huge pajun (seafood scallion pancake), which is miles ahead of the Cho Sun Ok counterpart. Seriously, it is a must-order before each meal. The Korean BBQ is decent, and if you want just a quick or cheaper dinner, the stews and other dishes are very reasonably priced and awesome. Our usual rotation includes the kalbitang (stew with kalbi), yukgaejang (spicy beef stew), and soondubujjigae (spicy tofu stew). Bibimbap is good too if it's a hot day. And best of all, SSGS don't skimp on the banchan. Sometimes the service really sucks. Bringing along a token Korean person who speaks Korean well might help... and also the parking lot is small.
(3)
Angelique R.

There has been some vegetarian chatter on here, so I just want to speak for the non meat eaters and say the waitstaff had no issues with making me Bi Bim Bop with no beef (basically a veggie stir fry, with egg, in a hot pan - only $6.95). There were lots of interesting veggies floating around, just have a meaty person try some of the questionables out. Maybe they will even share the soup and rice that comes with their meal. You can't be too sensitive though, as I watched baby octopus burn right before my very eyes tonight. Yeah, maybe not ideal for vegetarians but it was my good friend's birthday. Oh and Korean beer (BO) and sake rules. Staff was friendly to us, even when we had to wait a half hour for our whole party to arrive. Thanks to Bette for the food suggestion, and to the person who mentioned wearing nice socks.
(4)
Chuck B.

best korean bbq in chicago. bar none. lots of sides, friendly service and welcoming to non-korean speaking folks like myself soooo much better than chicago kalbi.
(5)
Justin B.

Authentic and superb. Bi Bim Bap was spectacular.
(5)
kelly c.

It's not that there wasn't plenty of banchan. It's not that the smoke bothered me or that I was put off by bad service. It's not that I thought this place was expensive, or that the meat wasn't good. I don't mind that the parking lot is small and you often have to wait for service. I just really think this place is so-so. And the fact that I am not in love with San Soo Gab San makes me feel this small pool of guilt, akin to how I felt when I realized that the rides at Great America didn't excite me anymore. As if my propensity to be blasÃ© is shrouding me from what should be some of the best stuff out there. Sad, isn't it? Well, the kimchi was pretty tasty. And if you do find yourself at this establishment, don't pass up the seafood pancake.
(3)
Peter B.

Mad props to any place for being open as late as this one, first off. And its centerpiece, the barbecuing, is done well and a fun experience. The panchan is an explosion of variety. Pricewise and servicewise, I'd say it's alright. Location, quite far north in the middle of nowhere, is a bit of an obstacle, but whatever. Though I'm not in love, if you're looking for BBQ I'll give you this name first. (Also it's hilarious that this place is in the category "Gas & Service Stations." Almost +0.5 star.)
(3)
Diana S.

We came here after a crazy long line at Cho Sun Ok. You can smell the meat fumes from the street. YUM! We waited about 10-15 minutes on a Saturday night around 7:30PM. We ordered japjae, bulgogi, and kalbi. The banchan that came was awesome. The japjae was also delicious. The smaller pieces of bulgogi were hard to cook because they could fall through the grill. I prefer the kalbi. It was very well flavored and tender. I think it's better to go with 3+ people because if you do the bbq you have to order two of the meat dishes which is way too much food for two people. It's also missing the yummy kimchi fried rice at the end of the meal that Cho sun ok has. I always enjoy that part. However, I think this place is delicious and would be good for a group of people.
(4)
Tiffany K.

The banchan (side dishes) here is amazing (I think we counted 31 banchan dishes), and you definitely come here for the Korean BBQ. The restaurant itself is definitely designed to accommodate groups of 4+. I went with two other girl friends, and we ordered kalbi (marinated short ribs), bulgogi, and spicy pork galbi. We finished 98% of the food and the banchan ourselves. We left smelling like good ol' Korean BBQ. It isn't Korean food if it doesn't leave you smelling like it! Definitely delicious, the galbi is a little pricey, but I definitely recommend a) the bulgogi, b) going with a good group of friends, and c) going with at least one Korean person. The wait staff was attentive and friendly, and we had no problem parking on a Friday night around 630/7pm. It did get kind of crowded around 8/830. Also, I hear they are open til 4am WHICH IS AWESOME.
(4)
Linh T.

They gave us a lot of pickled veggies which were good but we didn't need that much. What we ordered were short ribs and ribeye. I was expecting it to be seasoned but the ribeye was not. The short ribs were fine. I was disappointing cuz I could have bought a piece of meat and grilled it at home. The tofu seafood soup we ordered was good. Its also more expensive than usual.
(3)
Alex B.

Holy smokes, Batman! Seriously, I saw the pictures of flames in the pictures of San Soo Gab San and instantly recalled the brisk December evening that I spent starving for air.. What was it like? Eating in a restaurant that was on fire. I don't know if the chimney thingy on the table next to us was not operational or what, but smoke was BILLOWING all over the place. Everyone at my table was coughing, and I could hardly see my friend across the table. Breathing was difficult. When we left the restaurant for a night on the town, strangers kept approaching us and asking us if we had been at a bonfire- the smell was overwhelming. That being said, the food has been consistently good both times I've been to San Soo Gab San. Although I think that its accurate to say that the waitstaff are the antithesis of attentive and helpful, it has always struck me as (as has Korean food in general) as a great place to take a leap of faith. I would agree with other reviewers that its a mistake to make the meat the focal point of the meal- the thin slices tend to come out alternately burnt or raw and are never sufficient to feed the hoards. The chicken, however, is well marinated and tasty. Other stand outs on the menu the (scallion?) pancake and the various soups. And 40-60% of the little dishes are always solid. So take a leap of faith, pack your wallet (this place ain't cheap) and, of course, bring an oxygen tank down to San Soo Gab San.
(3)
Karina G.

Traveling to san soo gab san by CTA takes a long time from where I live (hyde park). The two times I've gone before were awesome, so my boyfriend and I decided to make the long trek again a few days ago. I was disappointed that the servers were stingy with the banchan; that's part of the allure! They took way too long in taking our orders, which wasn't true the first two times we went. They also forgot the egg in my jjigae (which is included in the soup) so that was disappointing. I don't get it; the first two times we went it was super packed but we still got plenty of ban chan without even having to ask! This time the place was nowhere near as packed and we had to ask for a second round, and they only brought out 4. Boo! I still love this place, but please don't be so stingy next time!
(4)
Laura L.

My party of 10 and I had a great time! This was a very authentic KBBQ experience (cooking your meat yourself on grills at your table). None of us were Korean, but two of us lived in Japan and were very familiar with Korean food and how to work with the staff. I can see how it can be rough for first timers who don't go with people who have been before or know what to order. A few tips: 1. Research Korean food before you go so you don't have to depend on the limited English (and patience) of the staff to explain the menu. I recommend this site: lifeinkorea.com/Food/menâ€¦ 2. Be swift and decisive in your ordering. You will get better service that way. The ladies taking your order will not tolerate small talk. 3. Start off small, you can always order more. One order of meat will feed two people if you order some sides like rice or soup (dol sot bim bim bop was excellent). 4. Make sure you wear something that is machine washable. The vents that are supposed to suck up the smoke can't keep up with the amount of grilling being done in the restaurant. You will leave smelling like KBBQ. Think of it like going to a bar before they passed those laws against smoking indoors. 5. Be adventurous and try the Korean beer and shoju. It goes well with the food. Do a little research in advance so you don't have to ask for a recommendation or just go out on a limb and get one of something and try it. If you're not ready for an authentic KBBQ experience (fast paced, sensory overload), go to Benihana.
(4)
David K.

Place has lots of side dishes. But that's about it. The beef is of the poorest quality. It is just plain horrible. Have been going to this place on and off over 10 years and it only gets worse. Anywhere else is better than here. Can not believe they are still open and even open another location in Niles. They are fooling all the non Koreans to going here. Do not waste your time this place just sucks.
(1)
Jamie S.

Love this place! I have been there 3 times and each time, the service was decent and the food great. The atmosphere is what I would expect from a restaurant where you cook at your table and people run around with charcoal pots. The service is abrupt, but who cares? I am not going to a restaurant to talk about my deepest issues with the servers. They are there to bring you food. You sit down, they throw down like 21 small plates of Kimche and different pickled ingredients. Very cool way to try a lot of new things at once. Also helps me when I go to H Mart because I know what I like. The meat is great but I think I go to this place for the experience and fun of it. I love cooking on the table, which doesn't surprise me because I like fondue too. I love that it is so interactive. Take note, there has been a line every time I have been there, but it really wasn't that bad any of the times (all were on Fri or Sat night).
(4)
Brian P.

A really fun family experience with our three little kids. We grilled beef and chicken + had the umpteen side dishes + an order of dumplings. Everyone found something to like, a great environment to encourage the kids to try something different. Fun to grill at the table. It's 5 minutes from our house, very affordable, no frills. We'll be back.
(4)
Nick M.

I would've never eaten here if it wasn't for Jerry and her goodbye to Meat get together. Not too thrilled but I'm glad I tried it. I don't know if it was because there was 14 of us but the staff was not so kind to us yelpers. We had problems with the reservations, then on the orders, then because apparently we weren't cooking fast enough, and then the bill. I will say that even though you cook the food yourself, everything was quite tasty. The spices on the chicken were really good, along with all of the side dishes (soooo many side dishes). I couldn't tell you what half of them were or how to pronounce the rest but I couldn't get enough. I have to give a shout out to Brett D (first time meeting her and she is a darlin') who had a brilliant idea to put the white rice into the soup, very yummy. I would've given more stars but between the service, having to cook the food yourself, and then how much you smell after you leave I couldn't. But the food is great and it's an experience!
(3)
Caroline L.

MMM... I love love love korean bbq, so when I learned that my favorite place ever, Cho Sun Ok, is currently closed, I trekked north to San Soo Gab San because it seems to be the "other" korean bbq place that everyone loves. I was disappointed for several reasons. Don't get me wrong though, it was tasty, but seriously flawed. Let's start with the banchan (little side dishes). There are tons, and they're all great! Way more than Cho Sun Ok. I was surprised in earlier reviews that said they won't refill them if you ask. Our waitress refilled several of ours, but then again, it wasn't too busy. So, we got the broiled marinated beef and the thinly sliced un-marinated beef. This is where my biggest issues with SSGS comes in... The marinated beef is cooked on a charbroiled grill, which my korean friend says is actually authentic. The pieces of meat, though, were small and easily fell through the grill. The taste was bland, and I wasn't impressed. The thinly sliced beef was cut into circles and covered in peppers, onions, and mushrooms to also throw onto the bbq. This was so annoying because there was VERY little meat and a whole lot of vegetables. We cooked the meat and it was tasty, but nothing spectacular. It didn't seem very fresh, as the corners of each slice were slightly dried out. At the end of all of our meat cooking (which took approximately 5 minutes because there was so little meat), the waitress came over and cooked the vegetables for us and urged us to eat them because they were healthy. This was adorable and we ate them without argument. All in all, I was really disappointed by San Soo Gab San because it's pricier than most korean bbq and the portions they give you are WAY less than you are paying for. I like korean bbq because it's good for a group of 5 or 6 and everyone leaves pleasantly full and satisfied. At SSGS, though, the only way this is going to happen is if you order multiple orders of the same thing, resulting in a huge bill. Final though? Cho Sun Ok, please re-open!
(2)
Victoria W.

Sure you get a lot of sides, but the way the waitress pushed us around we ended up with more meat than we needed. And once they take your order they pretty much disappear and let you fend for yourself. Don't even think about getting extra lettuce leaves. If I go again I'll just order the seafood pancake.
(3)
Stacy Y.

My lil buddy, Jessica C., would not stop raving about this place. It was a Sunday afternoon and the family was looking for somewhere to eat. S suggested SSGS. We were seated immediately at one of the awesome tables. They took our order and the service was decent. Not top notch by any means, but they were good. They answered all of our questions and didn't attempt to step in during our meal. I was pleased. We ordered the fried dumplings, the chicken and one of the beef dishes (I can't remember which one). There were 3 of us, at the suggestion/recommendation of other Yelp reviews and my friend, we only ordered 2 dishes knowing that would be more than enough food. and it was. The dumplings were very tasty! But I was excited to cook some meat! They brought that out and then bombarded us with 20-something little dishes - I knew what to expect but my dining companions were taken by surprise. It was fun trying to figure out what everything was. The cute little grill was brought to our table and then we went wild! The meat is nicely marinated and in small enough pieces that they cook very quickly. We cooked half of our meat. Devoured it and then a little later cooked the rest. I did appreciate our server stepping in at that point - as soon as we were done grilling they promptly removed our grill. Both the beef and chicken were delicious! Tender and cooked just the way we liked :) hehe This place is all about the food and the experience, not about top notch service. Just keep that in mind and you'll love this place. We also had no trouble finding a spot in their parking lot.
(5)
Lucien H.

Pretty decent food. Definitely satisfies your craving if you're in the mood for some Korean. The service depends on how much money you spend. After coming here, I realized if your check is high, they'll be super friendly and constantly check up on you. If you don't order much, you're likely to be neglected. Also last time we were there, there was only three of us and they slapped the 20% gratuity on the bill. Wtf? We always tip 20% or more anyway but I was a little put off by that. On top of that, we couldn't find our waitress or any waitress for that matter to pay. When we did find them, they were all eating and gave us a dirty look like how dare we interrupt their meal time. Well, we just wanted to pay and go! Goddamn. They were super chatty and bubbly with other tables but wouldn't even give us the time of the day. Perhaps it was because we didn't order any alcohol that night?
(1)
Lauren S.

Food was good. Service was horrible. When I see them using scissors to cut meat off the bone instead of a knife, right in the dining room area, it just creeps me out. If we had had better service, I probably would return though.
(3)
Pamela L.

The food was good, with large portions. Good for a group, Korean BBQ is always fun. So Far, the best Korean BBQ that I have had in Chicago. Don't plan on going out after unless you want to smell like Korean BBQ, but it's definitely worth it.
(3)
Andrew C.

Of course there are better Korean restaurants. Of course there are "more authentic" Korean restaurants (whatever that means). Of course they did it differently at that restaurant you always used to go to during your semester abroad in Korea. Of course there are other Korean restaurants that cater to the Food Network-cultivated prejudices of middlebrow Chicago foodies. Ok, listen, that's not why you come here. This is why you come here. You come here because you want to spend 3 or 4 hours of a cold evening drinking and talking happily with your friends and eating bulgogi and banchan while wrapped in a warm cocoon of smoke from the coals, the transcendent smell of grilling meat, and the kind of quiet that comes from being in a loud room full of happy people all doing exactly the same thing. You come here because it's 3 am on a cold night, you've just left the bar, and you're dying for the kind of buzzed, happy, post-beer food-daze that only cooking meat at your table with fire and stuffing your face with kimchi and namul can bring. Cranky servers and dangerously hot grills inches from your vulnerable flesh, yes - and heaps and heaps of magical comfort food. So put on your coat and gloves and come here. It's getting to be about that time.
(4)
KELLIE K.

Although I'm not new to the Korean BBQ experience, I was an SSGS virgin. Until recently. Vegetarians beware. While you can find things on the menu to eat, the piles and piles of raw and cooked meat flowing around the table are not for the weak-hearted. There's also the smoke and smell from said cooking meat. Pass me a beer, kimchi, and some rice, please. SSGS serves up Korean BBQ like other places I've been. You order up something to grill at your table, then you're treated to a variety of condiments/side dishes, such as kimchi, to eat along with your meal. All of this is served family-style. While this experience is most enjoyable with a few others, it can be a bit crazy with larger groups (i.e. more than 10), so I'd recommend smaller groups. Did I mention the kimchi? What really keeps me from giving more stars is the service. It takes far too long to flag someone down and get drinks or anything else needed at the table. I almost drank right out of the water pitcher on my last visit while waiting on a glass. If the smell of piles of tender meat cooked over an open flame, smoke from the grill, lots of Korean condiments, and drinks sounds like a good time, check out SSGS. Oh yeah, there's some tasty kimchi. I'll be back again just for that.
(3)
Mathew K.

Love this place, their sushi isn't bad, but it's not amazing however their BBQ and soups are and the little dishes they serve with the meal are awesome as well. I've always had good service here and really love the place. If you love Korean BBQ this is a great place in the city without having to trek to the burbs!
(4)
amish s.

What can I say? if you want authentic Korean food and and especially late at night, this is the place to go. I was taken here by some friends on a random night out, and I left here completely happy, not only by the food but the fact that it was open late, and just hit that right spot after a night out. Its really authentic, (soju with food is always a bonus) The best part of being here was the beginning when there are like 20 little side dishes to start you off before the main meal comes, i loved it and even took pictures...will post soon. In the end, a great place, great food, and well worth it!
(4)
Kathryn M.

I have a feeling that the sheer joy my night at San Soo Gab San continues to bring to me the morning after is a feeling that is going to last for quite some time. I simply cannot do the place justice in my review, but it was, for many reasons, one of the best meals I've had for a long time. From the moment we walked in and my friend nodded his head in approval, I knew it was going to be a great night. For me the joy came in experiencing something wholly new and different, alongside great company who was eager to guide me through it all. Here are my highlights: A) Sitting on the floor, my feet shoeless and happy underneath the hot, smoking table B) Drinking cold sake and Korean plum wine out of the little Korean cups C) Listening to my friend brush up on his Korean with the servers and entertain me with stories of the years he spent there as a child while he ate his kimchi in delight D) Tasting foods totally foreign to me from a total count of 33 plates that were used during our meal, 3 of which, we never really figured out E) The attentiveness of our server, from water refills every 5 minutes, to grill changes, to help serving the dishes that were out of our reach, to packing up the leftovers for us. amazing. I really only had two complaints. The first was that the bulgogi we had gotten, unlike the nice long strips sizzling on the neighboring stovetops, seemed like the bottom of the barrel scraps. Little tiny bits that stuck to the grill and were hard to turn. The second is that the whole meal felt very rushed. I was overwhelmed from the start, and we tried to pace ourselves by grilling half of our meats to start. The server, however, had other ideas, and dumped the rest on as soon as our grill was changed, and then proceeded to remove the grill as soon as the second round of proteins were cooked. We ended up sitting at our table for 30 minutes after we paid the bill, talking about the food, sipping on our plum wine, and trying to stretch the experience that went by waaay too fast. Despite those two minor issues, I left the place a little enchanted by the whole evening, with dreams of visiting Korea dancing around my brain. Utterly fantastic.
(5)
TeMeka W.

My family likes to go to this restaurant. However, the first time I was able to go there, no one greeted me at the door. I wandered around the restaurant to see if my family had been seated and still no one spoke to me. I finally flagged down someone who worked there who answered me rudely and then turned away from me while speaking so I didn't understand her partly because I couldn't hear her and also because she had such a thick accent. Furthermore, I am pregnant and needed to eat something while waiting for my family to arrive and they refused to seat me even after I told them I would order. They also spoke to and seated people who arrived after me. Those customers who arrived after me were also incredibly rude and added to the overall horrible and very unpleasant experience I had there. I would never give them the pleasure of my patronage because the memory of that awful experience is ever-lasting.
(1)
Laura A.

Really fun way to eat. Love the whole "cook your own food" thing! The sides are really fun too, except for one gelatinous little thing I had to spit out The wait was long on a Thursday which must mean word is getting out. Really good and fun experience.
(5)
Lori L.

If I had a conversation with God, this is how I imagine it would play out. Me: "Hi God. What's up?' God: "Oh, not much. Just trying to keep the human race from imploding." Me: "Oh, that's all? Well, could you squeeze in one little favor for me.' God: "Of course my child." Me: "You already know I'm a fan of meat. Could you create a cuisine that combines the best seasoning and the most tender meat one person can consume." God: "Why Lori, this already exists. Its called Korean BBQ. Head north my child, to a restaurant called San Soo Gab San, and you shall be rewarded." And rewarded I was! Holy Moses is this place amazing. This is not for the faint of heart. Platters with mounds and mounds of raw meat are brought to your table and then you grill the food yourself. Choose from one of the numerous extras (potatoes, fish cakes, seaweed, etc), add white rice, a piece of meat, and roll it in a cabbage leaf. If this is what heaven is like, then I'm a believer.
(5)
Sam S.

It's official. I'm a Korean BBQ bitch. After tonight's Yelp get-together organized by Mike K. and Vaughn C., I'm more carnivorous than ever. We ordered one thing and one thing only: Galbi. Two tables with charcoal pits, eleven chairs, 1200 side-dishes - or panchan - and two bottles of soju. These, my friends, are recipe for primitive and caveman-like behavior: Chopsticks flying across the table fighting for the best piece of charred, or uncharred, meat. And when all that was left was the rib bones, well, we ate them too. Grilled to bony-perfection, we wasted no food. All $28 per person worth. San Soo Gab San. A difficult name to pronounce, but you've provided a safe haven for foodies, meat and non-meat eaters alike, to satisfy their basic needs. Twenty four hours a day.
(5)
Dave L.

I love this place! Definitely worth the drive and the food hits the spot right on. The service was great, people were great and the food was great! Great^3
(4)
Katie H.

Mmmmm, meaty. It was a bonanza of meat, the service sucked but the company was good. Yes everything you've heard was true. The beef was tender though not as flavorful as I was expecting. The octopus was too hot for me, and the bacon was gross and fatty, but the chicken was excellent and perfectly seasoned and the pork was divine. I didn't know what half the sides were, and you get no explanation, but the fried tofu, little omelets, and potatoes were all good, and I enjoyed the soft shell crab appetizer. From the other reviews I was expecting this place to be cheap - like $15-$20 a person, not the $30 each we ended up with. And for that, I can't say I'd rush back, though it was fun, tasty, and something new.
(4)
Chan K.

You can't go wrong with authentic Korean food and BBQ until 5 am. The miso soup with jalapenos and soybean sprouts (which comes with your order) is a lighter, less salty version of its Japanese counterpart. The waitresses don't speak English, but they get the job done.
(5)
Tom I.

I've been here twice during the day and have always had good service and great food. We've gone with groups of 4 each time, and we always end up ordering more because of how good it is. It's a great place with great food, too bad other people have had issues with the service, because we definitely haven't yet.
(5)
Bee B.

There isn't much to say about this place that hasn't been said, except for this: If you are not into plates of bloody meat waiting to be grilled you should still go here!!! Every time I've gone, I order bim bim bop with no meat, but with egg. It comes in a hot stone bowl and the rice touching the bowl gets crispy and delicious, and you mix in your own hot sauce and I could eat it every day, I swear! Yes, with the vents above the tables and the grills inside them, it is always either too hot or too cold. Yes, the service is crazy -- sometimes your food comes while you're still enjoying your panchan, sometimes you wait forever, and the ladies really aren't all that nice. But damn, that bbb is good, and from what I can tell, people seem to really dig on that meat as well.
(4)
Kristin S.

Second time I've been to a Korean BBQ, but this was the first time cooking over charcoal. It's definitely smoky and started to bother my eyes a bit by the end of the meal, buy my peepers are pretty sensitive, so I won't count it against them. I went with two other ladies and think this is definitely a group joint. Sharing the the main thing. We got to sit at one of the tables along the edge of the restaurant where you have to take off your shoes and essentially sit on the floor level. I really liked this since it made it seem different and fun. The we got short ribs and bulgogi and I liked them both. I gotta say I enjoyed the quality of the meat at Cho Sun Ok a little more, but I really liked the flavor of the charcoal over the hot stone pots they use at Cho Sun Ok. Service was fine, nothing spectacular, but we weren't ignored or anything. The food was good and we did get more little sides than I remember getting at Cho Sun Ok, so that was really fun, trying the different things. If I have a friend who wants to head for Korean BBQ with a group, I won't hesitate in recommending San Soo Gab San. Delicious!
(4)
johnny b.

Really good I'd go back. The atmosphere was a little lacking. I think I'd rather go to gyu kaku. I know not as authentic I just personally like it better.
(3)
Vivian Y.

oh Yummy! Great for groups! Headed here last night after a very fun afternoon in the cold visiting the Richardson Cornmaze up in Spring Grove...so a HOT meal over an open flame was the perfect end to the night. Shocked - our service was GREAT!!!! (Sunday night, almost 8pm) We were a group of 8 - though I had made a reservation earlier in the day, we still had to wait 20 mins to get seated. No big deal though - I'm asian, I understand that reservations mean they know you're coming and not that they will actually have a place for you to sit right away (very typical of asian peeps to do so!) We ordered a ton of Kalbi and Bulgogi as well as dot sot bim bim bop (hot stone rice bowl), seafood pancake. Everything was delicious and I think I had some of all the little dishes that came out. I definitely preferred the Kalbi over the Bulgogi but it was still good! I can still smell the smoke in my clothing and so glad I left my new ski jacket behind in the car. It's the morning after and I can taste the garlic and scallions in my mouth. GOOD MEAL!!!! Group of 8 with plenty of food and no alchohol - $195 inclusive of taxes and tip (or about $24 per person).
(5)
Aubrey S.

As previous yelpers have expressed, the staff of this establishment is less than spectacular. My virgin experience at San Soo Gab San was delectible and a little awkwardly uncomfortable. My friends warned me in advance that the staff is pushy and pretty unkind overall. My friend Al was tending the grill and the woman came and muttered some reprimand at him gesturing that he was doing it all wrong "Get the bean sprouts off the GRILL!". Well the meat's cooked to perfection lady so... yeah... it can't be that wrong. The amount of different Kimchees they had to offer pretty much JFK'd my mind. I did try the minifishies and wasn't too keen on it. I'm all about Daikon. I couldn't even make it through all those little bowls of foodstuffs with all the meats we were about to eat. We ordered a metric ton of meat, delicious meat. Beef (what's for dinner) is what we started off with, though it wasn't the kalbi. The sauce they give you to dip that ish in....must be something illegal because that shit melted in my MFing mouth, son. I'm not even that big of a carnivore but I would continually go Hungry Hungry Hippos all over that. That sauce, I would like to be buried in it. The chicken? Oh yeah the chicken. Put some more of that shit in my mouth now, please and then serve me a delicious dessert of grilled kalbi beef. Oh dear lord, if there is a God on earth he would somehow make San Soo Gab San beef (w/grill) appear in my kitchen everyday. Outside of the unfriendly staff, this place is pretty much aces with regards to foodliciousness.
(4)
Betsy H.

Tender beef, wonderfully and healthy fermented foods. I felt fantastic all day after eating that many probiotics.
(4)
Hannah H.

Considering we went there when it wasn't busy, the service was terrible. I asked for something and the waitress forgot twice. When I first came here couple years ago, the food and service was quite good, but now, it seems to be declining in both. If you are dying to have something korean, I would suggest it to try it out, but for me I will be searching for the ultimate korean restaurant in chicago.
(3)
Kathy S.

This place used to be a 5 but the quality seems to have gone down. Plus, they used to be open 24 hours which was awesome as we could hit up San Soo Gab San after a night of partying..I believe they close at 5am now . Overall, the food is still pretty darn good; my favorites are the kalbi and goat stew-yes I said goat stew!- but be warned if you haven't gone here before, the service is typically bad so you might have to chase down some servers for extra things. Oh, and be prepared to smell like Korean bbq for the rest of the day!
(4)
Jessa B.

This place was pretty good! Interesting, to say the least. I went with a few friends who are constantly trying to get me to eat weird things. So naturally, they took me here and ordered some strange things. You grill your own protien, which is fun. There are about 35 "condiments" that come to your table, all in bowls, which can range anywhere from glass noodles to something strange and spicy and a little scary! I am willing to try new things! There were some pretty fun Korean alcoholic beverages that we tried, some vodka like and some beer. Overall, I had a lot of fun and the food was spiced great, I would go back!
(3)
Mark A.

Cool. I never had authentic KBQ before. I'm gonna call it the KBQ because it sounds awesome when I say it. Only when I say it. So you get your own charcoal pit and like 50 different little Korean tapas. Sweet, because there's so much variety for someone like me with little attention span. My friends ordered so I couldn't tell you what we had. I assume it was pretty traditional (I hope). From what I can remember some of the dishes ended in "-gogi." So these two large plates of raw marinated meat come out with tongs. We just lay the stuff on the fire and eat...it...up. I'm all over the seaweed, the kimchi, the weird fish noodles, and the miso-like soup. And before I know it, my beef - cooked. It's cool because everyone's cooking for everyone else. See if it were up to me I wouldn't notice that right away; my self centered butt would solely be concerned with my own meat. I know, I'm an ass. Be sitting there with tongs in one hand and chopsticks in the other. But I have good friends and they showed me the way. The cooking and watching the meat for me was more meditative rather than just waiting for the next piece to be ready. I really enjoyed that part of it. Taking care of the pieces up there on the grill - making sure they don't get burned or stuck. Even better, my clothes smell like KBQ now. Whatever - they're open 'til 3AM, so I'll deal with that. Hours alone gives them 6 stars.
(5)
Sir C.

Went with 18 friends to celebrate a birthday. We got there around 1 am and the place was definitely not busy. As we entered, the staff was rude and scolded at us about taking off our shoes. We were ordering separately as the table we sat at divided us into two groups. Since it was already late at night, a few of us had already eaten and was not to hungry. So we decided not to order as much. Before we even placed our order the waitress asked us, and I quote "Are any of you Korean?" And when we said none of us were her attitude changed. Almost as if we were not worthy of service. So we ordered two entrees and a few appetizers for 6 of us and bill could've easily been over $60. The waiter heard our order and immediately started complaining. And I quote again "You have so many people and you only order two entrees. We are a business. Out!" At this point we were all confused and wondering what was going on and asked her what was wrong. And she just said "We are not taking your business." Then they proceeded to bring us our check for the drinks we had and had us leave. Is this any way to conduct business? Apparently there is an order minimum there that I must've missed, because this is completely unheard of. They definitely do not like to serve people who are not Korean. So unless you're Korean, I would not recommend going here and expecting decent service of any kind.
(1)
Simone T.

A feast every time; the condiments alone are a huge meal. Used to go to Solga on Lincoln; after my first time here, I'll NEVER go anywhere else!
(4)
Bridget D.

This is the best Korean BBQ joint I've been to in Chicago! The marinated beef and chicken are amazing. Like others have said, the short ribs are not worth it. The bachan are numerous and flavorful, as are the soups. My only complaint is that the ventilation system is awful and the place is always full of smoke. You'll walk out smelling like Korean BBQ, every time.
(4)
Carla F.

I came here with a group of 13 people for my birthday dinner. Dinner and fun! I would totally give them 5 stars, however, they didn't have my reservation which screwed things up a tad. They gave us an almost big enough table for our group but of course everyone wasn't on time (even I wasn't) and the hostess gave us a little (in good fun) crap--asking who made the reservation and if we could count. I tried to hold my oh-so-common smart ass remarks in, but failed. I don't feel bad though, she deserved it. Anyway, I have heard not to expect much when it comes to good service here, but this night it was just fine. Especially for a rather large group. We had a couple orders of chicken, beef, pork and ribs...all were seasoned nicely. A friend of mine ordered the beef and asparagus roll as an appetizer and while I'm not a huge asparagus fan, I tried it and would gladly order that again. If you haven't done Korean bbq before, you should. This place is good for groups or even for a date. Don't get too cranky if the service isn't spot on. Be patient and enjoy yourself. Oh, and don't pour your own drink, let a friend do it---it's considered rude in the Korean culture.
(4)
Karl M.

There is almost always a wait to get seated when I have been there (usually after 11pm) The food is yummy. The meat is seasoned very well. The service is ok but what the hell, I'm cooking my own food. The price is right and you get a lot for your money. You WILL wreak of hardwood smoke after a meal hear so don't wear anything delicate or flammable. The venting is pretty good but it's not perfect. If you don't feel comfortable cooking your food, they will oblige by filling your grill. One order of BBQ is enough for two normal people. You get a lot of sides so don't go overboard on the appetizers. The parking lot is very small but there is plenty of street parking within half a block.
(4)
Nick C.

food was great. awesome for groups. no host which was a little annoying.
(5)
John B.

The No Smoking sign that you pass on the way into San Soo Gab San is kind of ironic, because you will smell of smoke when you leave. Fortunately, it's a combination of hardwood charcoal and meaty goodness, so that's a plus. I first came here with a group of Yelpers. Although I'd had Korean food before, I had never done the BBQ, and I was a little intimidated. As it turned out, nobody knew any more than I did. But it was still a little less intimidating with a crowd. When I went back, we opted for one appetizer and one entree, so they cooked up the meat for us in the kitchen, which was fine. Dinner doesn't have to be interactive. Two dishes were plenty, because even the appetizer was a good size. And you get 20 little bowls of panchan (banchan?). Seriously. When I went with the Yelp group, there were bowls everywhere, and it was impressive. But going with one other person and STILL having bowls everywhere was nuts. A couple of different kinds of kimchee (kimchi?) -- fermented vegetables -- raw and cooked veggies (broccoli, greens, beans), omeletty things, noodles, pickled cabbage, potato salad (!), dried fish, bean sprouts, some kind of fruit (lychee?) -- and on and on. Apparently SSGS translates as "a million little plates." Oh, and the dinners come with soup and rice. Just in case. We had the ChopChae -- noodles with beef and vegetables --and the marinated short ribs (Wang Kalbi? I shit you not), which as I said, was plenty for two people. The menu is huge, with BBQ, casseroles, soups, stews, and more, so whatever you're in the mood for, you're likely to find it. If you do your own cooking, you get a fire pot that sits in the table -- watch your knees! -- and a cooking grate which the servers will occasionally replace for you. You need to order at least two BBQ dishes in order to cook your own. If they do the cooking for you, the meat comes out sizzling on a fajita-like plate. Be aware that ordering alcohol means you get a full bottle, so if you're not sure about that plum wine, you may want to take a pass. (It's sweeet.) Service is generally slow, but friendly. If you need help, look around and flag someone down -- they seem to expect it. And expect to leave full.
(4)
Becky S.

We went there Sat. night with some friends and had a fabulous time. The food was soooo good and so plentiful! I had never eaten Korean BBQ before so it was really fun. We ordered four entrees to cook ourselves -- beef, pork, baby octupus, and squid. The meals come with soup and about 20 small plates to share. The small plates were great because they gave us a chance to sample many different Korean dishes. You don't choose the small plates, they just bring them out before the meats, and you sort of guess at what you are eating. There were some that were delcious and some were okay, but nothing that was bad in my opinion. The meat is plentiful and really yummy. They bring it to you raw and drenched in sauce. Then you cook it yourself in the middle of the table on the fire pit. It's pretty fun, and everything was easy to cook. My favorite was the pork then the baby octupus. The beef was good too, but we all thought the squid was a little too chewy, and by the time the squid came out, we were all pretty full anyways. We had some Korean alcohol (similar to Sake) and a couple beers each, and the bill came to about $32/pp which was pretty reasonable considering how much we ate and drank. The service was really fast as well. The only downside is that you end up smelling like a campfire by the time you leave, and the place is smoky and warm because of all the cooking at each table. I definitely recommend this place, especially if you are going out with a group. :)
(4)
Kevin A.

HEADLINE: SAN SOO GAB SAN SAVES 3 FROM FROSTBITE This place was a lifesaver this weekend. With absolutely painful why-the-fu*k-do-I-live-in-Chicago windchill of -22, we made a run from our car to this wood-heated sanctuary of beef for a meal to remember. SSGS scored immediate points when our server, like a life-saving St. Bernard, rushed to our table to bring us cups of hot tea. And then the banchan arrived. Those little appetizer dishes multiplied like a wet mogwai on our table with a final count of 24 dishes! Finally, the meat...the glorious meat. We stayed away from the bulgogi this time (which tends to stick and fall into the grill) and opted for the kalbi and the ribeye. The kalbi was great, but the real star of the show was the buttery rib eye. Wrap that sucker up in a lettuce leaf with some rice, kimchi, and the sesame oil dipping sauce and you have a vegetarian converter like no other. 5 mouth-watering stars!
(5)
Caitlin O.

A good place to go for Korean barbecue, but not the best. Open until 5 AM nightly, it's relatively accessible (though not exactly the 24-hours that they claim in the window) with parking that is a bit on the impossible side (at least in their lot - it's quite the cramped lot, especially if it's a busy night). Nothing outstanding, but people are generally nice and attentive. I haven't had any of the wait staff be rude to me at any point, though they don't pay as much attention as I'd like. On the other hand, they've got tasty food, I haven't had a bad cut of meat yet and the appetizers are always plentiful (as it should be) and I appreciate that they use wood chips instead of the gas fire at some places I've been to (which is just icky) - unfortunately the ventilation could stand to be kicked up a notch, but what can you do? I'll just enjoy my 3 AM bulgogi and calbee/kalbi/however the restauarant you're at feels like translating it. Oh, and just so you know, you can't order anything off of the Japanese sections of the menu past, I believe, midnight. I'll also echo the sentiments about paying for the rice, though. That's just a gut punch. At any rate, I'll be back for sure. EDIT : HOLY SHIT THEY REMODELED. It's much easier to sit in now and feels moderately less crowded. Still the same great food, though.
(4)
James G.

Best tables in Chicago! Oh my does this place have great tables! Went here with a group for a friend's birthday and we all sat around these huge wooden tables that were about 3 inches thick! The grilled meats were delicious, but I loved the platter of bizarre foods that were brought out with the meal. I give the nod to the tiny, crunchy, translucent fishes! Soju was pretty solid as well. Well done San Soo Gab San
(5)
Samantha J.

Always can eat Korean BBQ and this place has some good quality meats. The marinated kalbi is definitely my favorite, but the non-marinated is really good too (just dip it in some sesame oil with salt and pepper, and it brings out the natural flavors of the meat). Service and cleanliness are my only major gripes about the place. The abundant side dishes are great, but trying to get one refilled is a major struggle. The whole establishment feels a little dirty/oily, but maybe not so bad for a 24 hour bbq place. Would probably go back again for a late night korean bbq craving...
(3)
Rocky B.

I passed this place constantly for the 4 years I lived in Edgewater and just never ventured in. I think it was the covered windows that threw me off. Fortunately I listened to a few seasoned Yelpers that assured me that San Soo Gab San had some yummy eats waiting for me. San Soo Gab San was such a great kick off restaurant for our new Hot Heads group. I called in a reservation for 20 people a few days before the event and though there was a bit of a language barrier the woman on the phone was very friendly. Alas the evening for our event was here and I arrived at the restaurant with my husband and another Yelper and were seated at a few floor seating tables that the restaurant provided. Wow, the restaurant smelled good...my stomach started getting rumbly as soon as I walked in. While we waited for the rest of the Hot Heads to arrive we took a gander at the menu. Quite extensive but we had pretty much decided that we would be getting the Korean BBQs...we just had to decide which ones which took a bit of time as they had quite a few to choose from. Once the bulk of our group arrived we soon found out that the tables that we were given wouldn't accommodate everyone in the party. After a brief conversation with the hostess we were given a bigger area. Score! 22 of us filled the 3 huge tables we were given and then we happily started deciding what yummy eats we would be getting. Once orders were placed, drinks and side dishes started coming out and soon the meats! There is something about a grilled meat that just does it for me. They put charcoal grills right in your table and you just start tossing meat on. Love it. Along with the BBQ you also get various small dishes. Sauces, lettuce, rice, kimchee, potato salad, soup, etc. The food was so good and very satisfying. We got a good tip from someone who had been to the restaurant before...always order one less Korean BBQ then the number of people eating the BBQ. There were 8 of us at a table so we ordered 7 BBQs...great tip because that was just enough food to fill our bellies. I have to say that this is definitely a great place to hold a big event. Even though we had a group of 22 they took care of us very well. The only snafu was that we thought we had arranged for there to be one check per table and in the end they split up our three tables onto two checks. What? We ended up just having each table put in what they owed and combined the money which worked out fine. Will I be back? Hell yeah! Would a bring a huge group? Hell no! Oh, no...wait...I mean...Hell yeah! Thanks San Soo Gab San for making this event go off without a hitch!
(4)
Charles W.

I loved cooking up the delicious meat at San Soo Gab San. But what I would have loved more would be roasting the woman who runs the place on one of those flaming hot grills. It would be like a Korean version of Hansel and Gretel. She was a pain in the a** the whole time we were there. If I saw her in the street I would shout at her and furiously stomp my foot in the dust. Everything else was great but I don't find it pleasant to have a large woman yelling Konglish nonsense at me while I'm eating.
(2)
Carolynne M.

I always viewed Korean BBQ joints with a little hesitation. I mean, I had heard that if you arent familiar with how things work, or arent Korean, or both, then you were essentially screwed. But going to San Soo Gab San totally changed my viewpoint! The waitstaff was SO nice and SO accomodating - most places would have not been too pleased to have to reseat a massive group when we 20+ Yelpers outgrew the original table. But they were really cool and the main waitress (we had a lot of help from many different servers) was really patient and explained a lot about various dishes to us. The BBQ rocked, I had a sampling of a couple different kinds of meat, chicken and octopus. Nothing was really spicy to me, except for maybe one of the kimchis which had a little bite to it, but that is AOK, everything was still delicious and I am so glad for the experience. Sidenote, wear stuff you are planning to wash anyway as you leave smelly incredibly meaty. WOW were my cats ever so affectionate towards me when I got home!
(4)
faith b.

Now that they have renovated the whole place, I love it even more. (Be prepared to take off your shoes before entering the dining area!) Of course youre going to leave here smelling like Korean BBQ, but you should expect that. The food is so good and the sushi is much better than it has been before. This is a place everyone should try... and if youre out late... great! cause its open 24hours. You'll need some patience with the waitresses because most of them don't speak english, but eh. The worst part of the evening is trying to park inside that damned parking lot. It's easier to find street parking and walk a little bit.
(5)
Jims L.

I hate to say that this place has good Korean food because it's apparently the best Chicago has to offer, but it really does serve good dishes. The chicken galbi is really good, though the chadol baegi is not (it's tough). I always love their kimchi jjigae, and you can't really order a bad dish, but I suppose the best thing about this Korean restaurant is all the different banchan! Plus it's open until 4 in the morning - always good for a late night meal.
(4)
Nandini H.

Cool concept Good for groups Spicy enough to make my nose run Fresh ingredients Fun experience for newbies to korean bbq Lackluster service
(3)
m m.

oh, how i miss you. i love all their ban chan's. love their yoo kae jang. YUM korean food.
(5)
Lynnette T.

OVER RATED. am i getting old, cuz i don't see why this place is so trendy. the kalbi portions are TINY. yes, there are a lot of side dishes, but why pay a premium for a tablespoon of different sides, when you can go to a korean restaurant along bryn mawr (near kimball) and get double the amount of meat - and better service?! korean bbq is korean bbq guys - this place is not that great, full of douchebagy yuppies who never experienced cooking at the table before, waxing poetic about meat. i'll give them credit - their venting system is better than most places. and yes, the million little sides are great. but this place is over priced for their quality. try other korean bbq places, and you'll know what i'm talking about!
(2)
Malia C.

Do not believe the hype when they say they are open until 3 am. I tried to go last night at 12:45am, and the door was locked.
(1)
Albert K.

Love this place, especially late at night. So much good food. I love the octopus, bulgogi, and galbi. Their soondooboo jigae (hot spicy tofu soup) and side dishes are great, too, especially their mook (bean jello). And the beers don't hurt the experience, either! My FAVORITE waitress is super sassy and reminds me of an aunt I wish I had. Personal anecdote: I was dining with two ladies and another guy, when she brought around our bill and asked which guy was paying. I said we were splitting it in 4 and she asked to see the guys' watches. Upon seeing my cheap watch and the other guy's nicer one, she gave the bill to him. Hilarious - we couldn't stop laughing! I understand that some people think there's bad service, partially b/c I know about enough Korean to translate "Donde esta la biblioteca," but you really should go with someone who understands the experience, because you're going to end up cooking it yourself. It's not your run-of-the-mill sit down and eat what's served to you kinda place. If you can't find someone who's done Korean BBQ before, just let the waitress know that you have no idea what you're doing and they will help you out. Also, just because you're doing the cooking doesn't mean you should skimp on tip. These ladies are serving tons of side dishes to your table, so show some respect! Newbie Tips: 1) Make sure you leave any clothes you don't want to dry clean in the car. 2) If your grill tray starts to smoke, take it off the fire and ask for a new one. Same for the charcoal pot. Otherwise, you will cry tears of pain. 3) Parking is available around the residential areas, if the lot is full 4 stars because the parking lot is like the 27-point turn scene in Austin Powers and their prices went up. Otherwise, I'd give them a 5.
(4)
Berlin G.

I went on a Saturday night around.......2am! Yeah that's right, 2am. haha. After hitting up Karaoke with some friends we had a huge craving for Korean food. And this place stays open until 5am. To me, a Chicagoan, that's amazing. Only cheap fast food restaurants usually stay open that late. Now, if you're looking for a family oriented restaurant with really really really attentive wait staff then this place isn't for you. (well at least not past 8pm it isn't, honestly never been before 12am lol. Then again why would a family be out past 10pm??? Get your kids to bed!) Anyway, you order then they unload a shitload of side-dishes on your table. I'm serious, it must be close to 15 side-dishes. You can choose to cook at the table or have them cook it for you. To be able to cook at the table you must order two entrees of meat. Now warning, if you ago around the time I went there will most likely be loud drunk people. It's totally fine to scream "shut-up!". Totally okay. So the food was great. Just don't burn your meat. I seen the table next to me almost burn the place down. lol. And the wait staff didn't even come over to help.
(4)
Stanley T.

This place is awesome. Yummy Korean BBQ. I always go with huge groups and it seems like this is the best way to enjoy the food so that you can order a lot of different things. Also, they are open super late (not quite 24/7 but close enough).
(5)
Charlie H.

Basically you just go here and order some raw meat. Then they bring you out a little grill on which to cook your meat. They also bring out like a million bowls of little unidentifiable stuff. You're supposed to eat that with the meat I think. Anyway, it's really really really good. And it's open really really really late. So you can go there in the wee hours after you've finished dousing your brain cells. It's never too crowded late, either. I don't know why this has three dollar signs ($$$). I would argue that it's pretty cheap if you go there with a lot of people. Tip from me: be careful that you don't stuff yourself silly. It's easy to do here. Also look really carefully at what you eat before you put it in your mouth. There was this little bowl that looked like it was full of noodles. Except upon closer inspection, we found that they were not noodles, but they were some kind of fish. They had eyes. And gills and scales. Gross. Also, it's fun to throw stuff on the grill besides meat. Like the stuff in the bowls, ice from your cup, or your chopsticks. And it doesn't matter how you say the name, just say four syllables of some Korean sounding word and everyone will know what you're talking about. Plus it's cooler than saying the real name.
(5)
Arlene A.

Was it coincidence that I saw the Check Please! highlighting Asian restaurants a mere 4 days before coming here? That while watching said episode, my Honey and I commented on what a racket it was to pay good money to have to cook your own food? I think it was Divine intervention, preparing me for the debacle of a dining experience at San Soo Kab San. So this is a very hands on dining experience. You select your meats, we ordered "mini" rib-eye, short ribs, pork belly, and regular rib-eye (under no circumstances whatsoever should you get the pork belly, EVER). Most are sliced thin for quick grilling. I said quick, not easy, you really have to pay attention to the meat, or else you end up with shoe leather. There's a little bit of a learning curve here, and I think they should give you a couple of pieces of meat to practice on. Like making pancakes, the first one ain't perfect. The waitress brings a plethora of sides and condiments. There is no explanation of said sides and condiments however, which is really a pain in the ass. There isn't quite enough to go around, so you have to commit, and if you don't know what you're eating.... It can really be a pain in the ass. I would only recommend going here if you have someone holding your hand.
(1)
Bridget V.

LOVE this place. The wait staff, though they can't always understand me, are so nice and are as helpful as they can be. It is so much fun to cook your own meal and the side dishes are all interesting and almost all of them are delicious. Also, the fact that they`re opened until 5 am is awesome.
(4)
richard p.

OK - FOLKS. Here is the OFFICIAL review. This is one of two solid Korean BBQ restaurants in the city. The other is Cho Sun Ok. Either way, SSGS is a good restaurant. It is authentic. So what that translates to, is tasteful korean cooking with fairly mediocre service. Don't take too much offense to the subpar service performance. Some of my fellow Korean Americans may disagree but it is partially a cultural thing. Recall the concept, "when in rome...", well this applies to "when at Korean BBQ on Western...adjust service expectations". I do hope you enjoy the restaurant. It has good Korean BBQ. Not necessarily the leanest meat, but the overall package is representative of Korean authentic eats. Cheers.
(4)
Jessica C.

OH MY Korean BBQ!!! San Soo Gab San is hands down Chicago's best Korean BBQ. You better be hungry when you walk into to this place. My usual order is the Bulkoki and the Spicy Baby Octopus...always full of flavor...always fresh. And as for the eighty million small plates that they cover your table with...always fabulous and fun discover all sorts of new things. Their variety of kimchis are great. Now...as for the service. Not quite what I would call hospitable, but they leave you alone for the most part...so I'm ok with that. One thing I find here is that you need to act like you know what you are doing otherwise they will start cooking your food for you...quite aggressively might I add. If I'm at a dining establishment where part of your experience is to grill your own food, I want to be grilling my own food. Overall a great experience and always fun to bring new people who have never had it before. It's open until like 4 in morning or something, so thats always a bonus.
(5)
Amy Y.

I have always been hesitant to try any Korean food restaurants in Chicago seeing as how I'm a little bit of a Korean food snob with the great choices in Los Angeles (where I'm from). I decided to try San Soo Gab San based on yelp reviews..and I wasn't disappointed! I was very, very impressed by the number of the side dishes, and couldn't believe how many there were and that they were all yummy! The meat is good, not the highest quality but definitely delicious. I was hoping for a little more generous portion on the meat, but overall we left full and happy. It's so awesome they are open late and after posting my picture of the side dishes on fb, I received dozens of comments from fans and loyal customers alike within the hour! I agree with other reviewers in that you will smell like smoke afterwards. Oh well!
(4)
Christine P.

Their food may be pretty good, but their service is the worst ever!!! One of the waitresses there had the audacity to talk back to us and gave us attitude, and we would have to ask for things at least 3-4 times before they actually brought it. I thought maybe they treat the non-korean customers better, but looking at some of the other reviews, it seems like they're just like that to everyone. As for parking, their lot is so small and it's so hard to get in and out. I don't think I'll be going back...
(3)
J R.

This place is rockstar. I've been coming here for YEARS and it's always delicious. Excellent Kalbi but it's better if you cook it at your table yourself. Their spicy squid is great and the amount of side dishes that come complimentary is amazing (upwards of 30 little dishes). Their cold, spicy noodles (bi bin lang mein) is tasty but not the best I've had. It fills the void though...! Their kim chee soup is great and overall this place is a favorite. We go every time we visit Chicago!
(5)
Gordon O.

This is one of the best places to eat authentic Korean Food! My friend taught me what page of the menu to look into and I ordered my bibimbop for less than $10! It came in the traditional stone pot, steaming with all tons of rice and vegetables which were cooked perfectly! But wait, that's not the best part. For every order of food, they give you a load of side dishes. Actually its more of TONS of side dishes. They fill up your table with all sorts of korean kimchi ranging from the traditional napa cabbage, radish to spinach and seaweed! Very flavorful and can't be anymore authentic! Aside from the cheap eats in the menu, they also serve the traditional grilled short ribs, seafood pancake amongst other good eats. But I am very much happy to stick with my BIG bowl of bibimbop :) O yeah, don't expect much from the service. It can be quite erratic, sometimes they are in a good mood and there will be bad days for them. So if they are a bit abrasive on the service, just brush it off and enjoy your meal!
(5)
Brandon W.

So to start, how can you not like a restaurant that is open until 5am? Moving on.. if your not really sure what Korean BBQ is because you have never been before, it is exactly what the name says. It is Korean food, barbecued. Not just barbecued though, barbecued YOUR way. How is it your way? Well, when you sit down at your table, there is going to be a big empty spot in the middle of the table, and a ventilation duct over your head. As soon as you tell the waitress you want BBQ, a cart comes out with a flaming grill with charcoal bricks burning - or, if you are some place else, it could be a gas stove they have at your table. Once your food comes, you cook it yourself! You like your steak well done, then cook well done - yourself! You like it practically raw you can still give it a name - cook it (or warm it) yourself! On to the review: I have been to my fair share of Korean BBQ restaurants, and have had good experiences. However, this one is my standard go to. After a long night out, or a hard days work, a great way to treat yourself is by heading into San Soo. As with your traditional Korean restaurants, they bring you all the side dishes you could imagine. I mean, you have barely decided what you want to eat and already there are more little bowls on your table then you know what to do with. The only thing I have ever eaten here were the different varieties of BBQ meats from pork, chicken and steak. All very excellent and flavorful. The service here can vary. Sometimes they treat you like you are their best customer, other times they treat you like the red-headed step child. Either way, the food can usually make up for it. If have never tried Korean BBQ before, this would definitely be a great place to start. It would give you a pretty decent standard amongst other places. As well, if you plan on BBQing your own food, make sure you have someone with you, because you need to order at least 2 entrees to be able to BBQ at your table.
(4)
Nina I.

I'm not big on Korean food so this is gonna be quick. I loved a noodle dish which was full of garlic! YUM! I even trued the meat there and it wasn't that bad, so I think that if you like Korean food this would be a cost effective and tasty place to go. :}
(4)
jenise r.

I've been coming here for over 5 years and this place is solid. I went the other day with 2 friends and I was a little nervous because I know its been on Check Please and you know how that goes. We arrived they said it might be a 30 minute wait which ended up only being like 15. They redecorated, and i like it. The service has always been rude and rushed no matter who you are- but hey whatever. It is what it is. I ordered the usual for us, Kalbi, Marinated Chicken, Chop Chae and fried dumplings. As i sit and wait I let the two first timers they may be overwhelmed with all the side dishes. They were but wasted no time trying each and every one. I just love Korean BBQ. At the end of our meal we couldn't believe we ate pretty much everything. Who am I kidding, yea we could.
(4)
Kristine T.

Great food, very smoky atmosphere due to massive amounts of indoor grilling. Soup is phenomenal. They give a lot of sides with the meat you choose.
(4)
Agnes F.

been to this place so many times that i stopped counting definitely a good place for large group to sample korean bbq. staff can be difficult to track down, quality of meat is ok, but the experience is fun. I must say last time i went i was not happy with the staff. They refused to bring soup/ rice for us for the bbq items, kept saying its extra which is not. Most of my friends were too full to eat anymore so i let it go. I will still go back but not my top choice for korean bbq.
(4)
Joedel G.

I'll give a mixed review to this one. First of all the parking space is small but you can get a spot for sure. They open late I think until 4 A.M. ? Divided booths that provide a little bit of privacy. Serving Kirin Beer which is great. I forgot the Korean name of what we ordered but it's marinated beef for BBQueing. The BEST part is when the waitress served different small side dishes in front of you. Although she dropped those saucers like a group of drunk aliens landing on your table, the combination of different colors and textures is so appetizing. Then the main aircraft came in, a plate of marinated beef and a container filled with live charcoal. Be very watchful if you have kids trying to join the fun 'cause they wont refund your money if someone's get burned. THE WAIT IS NOT BAD. THE SERVICE IS PATHETIC. THE FOOD IS SO GOOOOOOOD. THE PRICE IS REASONABLE. THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY BBQUEY.
(4)
Kyle J.

Another venture to San Soo Gab San last night. Soup was a bit less spicy than past such that the kids liked it for a change. Kalbi, bulgogia and dahk were all great. Lots of good kimchee and various root and sprout sides as usual. Worst "wine" I have ever tasted in my life. (No western grape wine...) Stick with beer. Ya... the service sucks and atmosphere rather grungy. No surprise there. Gotta deal with it and enjoy the food!
(4)
Dave A.

Okay, so this was my 1st experience with Korean BBQ. Let me start out by saying the BBQ part was REALLY good. As for the rest, I'm not sure what to think. I understand that no one there speaks any English and cannot communicate the menu, and that's fine. However, I would really appreciate there was an explanation of BBQ on the menu. If that's too tacky or non traditional, some written material should be available on request, or at the very least, when a confused ignorant customer comes in like myself. The woman that seated us had a very angry look in her eye that made me think I had just crashed a party. She took me to our table and our waitress. I asked the waitress what she recommended. Without hesitation, she fingered another waitress and all she could say was "rib" and "chicken" and "good." That sounded fine I thought. They proceeded to throw 20 plates of food, the BBQ, BBQ setup, the appetizers, water, and drinks all at once and then left, never to return until they cleared the table. I tried to ask the latino bus boy in Spanish what was going on, but he was just as clueless as I was. Maybe it was his 1st day. I've had Korean cuisine but never the BBQ. I would have Korean BBQ again, but i did not think I had to research Korean BBQ before I went in. Silly me. If they want to mimic a Korean restaurant with foreign service, I'm fine, just know that I'm going to give a standard foreign tip which is far less than the domestic standard of 20%.
(2)
Ron C.

Anyone who gives San Soo less than 4 stars has NO idea what they're talking about. I've had Korean BBQ many times growing up, but never authentic and never as good as this. Charcoal fire, grill plate, dozens and dozens of the small appetizer dishes and a killer galbi. If you're coming for 4 people, all you need are 2 galbis, and tons of OB (beer) and soju. The appetizers, rice, lettuce, sauces all come with the meal. If you're coming with more, also try the pancake, bacon and tofu soup. This is such a great place for friends to come out, have some good food, get liquored up and have a great time. The staff are extremely friendly (especially when you're drunk), and the place seems to be always busy and packed (yet you never need to wait too long for a table). Good atmosphere, good food, great times!!!!
(5)
J T.

I eat here so regularly that I no longer have to order unless I bring friends and confuse the server to as what the rest of the gang wants. We always have tons of food and more panchan than we can count, contrary to many reviews. Go beyond the usual kalbi, bulgogi and mandoo, and try the baby octopus or chigae. Also, they have an awesome beef and vegetable soup that's nice and peppery, so perfect for a cold winter's night. If you're going with a large group, try ordering the family meal and hotpot. In respect to other reviewers, yes, ordering and communicating with their wait staff can be difficult if you're not Korean or with a Korean-speaking diner. Yes, they can seem rude, but really, it isn't exactly a service oriented establishment. Go with your friends and if you need something, ask. And don't even try to park in that lot. It's impossible to maneuver through. Try one of the side streets and you'll usually be OK.
(4)
Earl J.

Bulgogi & tons of side dishes FTW! Just be prepared to smell like bbq for days!
(5)
Edward C.

Love the food. I've liked everything I've had here. I'm Taiwanese and hadn't really had KBBQ until moving to Chicago, and I love it. I took my parents here and they like it too. You get tons of sides, and the meat portions are reasonably large too. I was surprised how good the squid was, very tender. Great place to go after a night out as it's open pretty late, although the sign says open til 5, a few friends and I tried to go at 4:30 and they said that they were close. Not a huge deal. The servers are pretty Korean, so it wouldn't hurt to bring a Korean friend along, but they were friendly enough for my parents and I, on par for most asian restaurants at least. As with any KBBQ place, you'll smell like smoke for the rest of the day :)
(5)
Luke S.

Very fun experience. Wish I knew more of what I was eating though. It's open till 5AM 7 days a week. You will smell like you where in a three alarm fire when you leave, but its so worth it. Go check it out.
(4)
Tiffany L.

me & san soo have a love/hate relationship. whilst i love the ridiculous amounts of food (especially the 3483943 different plates of pan-chan -- i.e. little side dishes -- that are unlimited to refill), the service is pretty terrible. for example, your water may never get refilled. i always order the "set A" because it's only $19.95/person, but you have to order a minimum of 5 orders -- FIVE! who goes to eat with 5 people?! why not 4? for some reason i'm always going to san soo w/ 4 people. but set A comes with seafood pancake and i cannot resist. also, parking is terrible, and saturday nights have a crazy wait, and there is virtually no "waiting area" so on a cold night -- have fun waiting outside!
(3)
Sang H.

In the last couple of years, this place has become more and more popular to the mass public. The quality of beef did get better and food is still just okay, but the service is just horrible. The waitress will ignore the guests at the door until a table opens up.
(3)
Kathy C.

Practically a 24 hour joint. Real charcoal, none of that nambee-pambee gas stuff. You WILL come out smelling like meat, smoke, and garlic; there's no way to avoid it. If you grill at the table, you definitely get a lot more sides than if you didn't.
(4)
Dina I.

GO SOMEWHERE ELSE for Korean food. LIke Cho Sun Ok, Hae Woon Dae, Chicago Kalbi...this is the McDonald's of Korean BBQ in Chicago. I'm not even talking about the "rude" Korean servers.
(1)
Will C.

Good food...a tad crowded, and you have to sit on a floor...people take off their shoes, and sometimes, you smell rank stinky feet and toe jam....but the food was good...lots of variety....go with a group of people
(4)
Ashley V.

Awesome. Authentic. Fun. I took my mom here will she was in town. I like to bring her to unique places and based on the previous reviews I knew it was a great choice. We started with the Seafood Pajan (sp?) which was huge and awesome. It is similar to a seafood pancake and comes with this sweet/sour dipping sauce. Very Good! For the main course we ordered the bulgoki and the chicken. Both had awesome flavors! The bulgoki was sweet and tender and the chicken was spicy and flavorful. I was equally impressed with both! Now for the 20 or so small bowls of side dishes that come with the meal. We had a blast trying to figure out what each thing was. One person would taste, guess and pass it on. It was definitely an experiment! We also ordered a small bottle of SoJu. I was familiar with it from previous Korean restaurants and love the smooth taste but it was a bit strong for me to sip. While one of my dining companions sipped it straight, I mixed with a little soda. I had a ton of fun. The service was quick, the grilling was an experience, and the food was great. I will be back again for sure!
(5)
Helen A.

Korean is my IT food right now. This was my first BBQ exprience and I loved it-becuse I love trying things I've never heard of before in my life. On that note, I would have liked for someone to have explained at least 10% of what was on our table. The meat was mostly good, the sides were VERY interesting, but mostly just ok. I'll be trying Korean BBQ again soon-but probably some place else. Its super fun to guess at all the wierd looking sides and you grill your own meat at the table-makes for a very food focused conversation at dinner-FUN. Beware-you will smell like meaty smoke forever!
(3)
Barbara D.

Love it! Love it and Love it! I've been coming here religiously ever since I discovered it years ago. They have changed the lay out inside, and I almost cried (not really, but I was SO bummed!). It use to have this 'maze' sort of dining, where you couldn't see anyone except the person you were eating dinner with but now it looks like the inside of a denny's or ihop....but never-the-less, I keep coming back for the awesome food. My favorite is the kalbi, although I have tried most things on their menu...you can have your choices too....anywhere from squid to stew to sushi. Words of advice: 1. Parking is a bitch, park down the block and walk unless you drive a mini cooper 2. Skip the garlic if you're on a date, and your clothes will smell like good old korean food 3. Although they say they are open 24 hours, I tried going there at 5 am on a weekday and they were closed...just depends on how many customers they have 4. Sometimes their sushi chef is out, so no sushi for you! (usually in the early afternoon....I think he gets there after 5, but I don't have his schedule;-) 5. Wear clean, hole-free socks since you might be seated on the floor.
(5)
Vick C.

San Soo Gab San is one of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurant in the city, good variety of meat selection and love their small dishes, one thing I make me deduct to 3 stars are the environment , so smoky and smell very bad...but with their price of food and quality...it's still worth 4 stars!
(4)
Arjun C.

I have no real problems with this place, but I found that it was nothing to write home about given the ridiculously expensive price point. The place is not very inviting inside and instead on nice table stoves I've seen at several other places, this place relies on make-shift hibachis with such intense heat that it can b hard to cook the meat effectively. Also, as much as I understand that banchan (side dishes) are a novel part of the experience, I really do think that korean restuarants need to make it optional. It adds $5 to an entree price unnecessarily, and overwhelms the eating experience. A person who doesn't necessarily want all of those bells and whistles will get scared away by a $20 price point for meat (which is just ridiculous for the quality of the food and the ambiance). I miss the old "Korean Restaurant" on Lawrence that used to be open 24/7...
(3)
Cathy L.

Bibimbop was delicious (get the Dol Sot) and side dishes are yummy per the other reviews. However...the meat is not the best I've had and the grill is weirdly small...
(3)
DR. S.

The worst experience ever! The server can't understand what you need and there is problem with their sanitation. NOT RECOMMENDED.
(1)
Liz S.

When it's 2:30am and you're slightly drunk and greasy food just isn't what you want this is the place to go. It's open 24 hours, so you just can't go wrong. I walked in with two friends expecting the place to be dead, but I was dead wrong, the place was half full. We sat down and ordered out food, which comes out quickly cause you're obviously cooking it, and there are about 20 little dishes that come with the main meat. Now, if you're not adventurous don't go here without someone who knows all about the little dishes. The meat was okay, this is coming from someone who doesn't really like meat, but the people I was with enjoyed it. Overall it was a great late night snack and I would definitely go back sober or drunk. I would've given this place five stars if the server was a bit more friendly and told us what the dishes were. NOTE: If you're really drunk it might be a bad thing to be sitting in front of an open flame.
(4)
Elleb K.

Been here on several occasions. Good place to grab some eats. Be prepared to smell on your way out. Don't wear your best cause you will stink. The BBQ is good. Spicy tofu stew is good. Alot of banchan. Hate the little parking lot esp. its full. Such a pain to leave. Oh, just found out that they are no longer 24 hrs.
(4)
Taylor W.

Only way to eat korean barbq. Wood chips and charcoal great flavor!
(5)
Mark V.

Excellent food, good service. I bet the people knocking the service of this place don't know about the waitress call button at every table. Obnoxious, but effective.
(5)
Joe R.

Now this place was fun. A party of 16 and I went there after a fellow student of my martial arts dojo earned his blackbelt. We were promptly seated. After a few min of deliberation we ordered. The waitress was borderline rude and unaccomadating. But seeing as she most likely serves tables of jackasses Im sure her night was long. Still, she should have seen we were all nice people. our sides came and Everything I had was well prepared and yummy. I love kimchi and theirs was spectacular. When our meat came it was well cut and the octopus was very spicy which was a treat for me. try the chicken as well. Very moist. We finished off with ginsing wine and sake. We had so much food and I still wanted more. I look forward to stopping here again seeing as it was an unexpected treat.
(4)
Steve L.

Food is good, but service is HORRIBLE. Come here if you want your standard grill yourself Korean BBQ. I think this place is 24 hours, and it is busy at the oddest times. I think I went once on a weekday at around 10 pm and there was a huge line. The meats are quite good here. Side dishes are good too, but they are quite salty. Their soup entrees are actually really good, the spicy shredded beef noodles is damn good on a cold day. The tofu soup Sondobu is actually pretty lackluster though, don't get it. Some bad thing's are the parking, their lil parking lot is full of Asian people who can't park. So they go into stalls that are too small in weird angles. Save yourself the trouble and just park on the street. As stated the service is JUST PLAIN BAD, I mean come on I expect more even with a Korean restaurant. They have a fiscally sound, but retarded policy of not giving you side dishes except with your main course. So that one time where I waited for my soup entree for 45 minutes, they would not bring out the side dishes, so that they would not need to bring out seconds. Service is so bad that on one occasion I left no tip. Usually giving less than 5%. But if you're willing to put up with it...it's some good eating.
(3)
Jessie B.

This place is very unique. It was my first time diving head first into Korean cuisine, and I was very satisfied. I wasn't too sure what to expect, but it was a rockin' good time. There is SO much food when you order. Little plastic bowls of deliciousness, and variety. I tried almost everything, except the minnow jerky as some of my table-mates were calling it. The service was great, there was a vegetarian at our table, and one of the servers was very accommodating to her. Which is great to see. We ordered a couple of appetizers--the beef asparagus rolls (good) and then some sort of dumpling with spicy beef & rice (really good). For the BBQ we decided on the marinated chicken, and the thinly sliced beef. I loved all the ways you can make your finger food. :) But the best part of the meal was the spicy miso soup. I LOVED IT. I would most likely drink a bucket of this stuff. YUM-O. The other tables looked like they had some other delicious food. I am going to make my roommate come back to this place for me. But just a suggestion, don't eat lunch in the afternoon if you are going for dinner. You'll be stuffed!
(4)
Julie M.

I am Asian and I am pretty accustomed to "average" service and dining environment in authentic Asian restaurants. The poor service at this restaurant is way off the radar. First, the waitress gave us the look and said "thats all?" when she felt we didn't order enough dishes for a 4 adult table. Then she brought us the same if not less amount of banchan compares to our neighboring table of 2 person. She expected us to share 2 soups and 2 bowls of rice. The seafood pancake was good. Then, she refused to change the grill surface for us stating "no no no more order" referring that we don't have much meat left to grill. Okay that is fine I will finish up my food, get the hell out of here, and never come back. The tab shows up with extra "service charge". The service charge was not posted anywhere in the restaurant or mentioned to us previously. I handled it the Asian way. I paid by cash for the food only and walked out the door. The waitress came after us down the street screaming "not enough! not enough!". We drove off.
(1)
Maria h.

I hate this restaurant not because of the food, i like the food, but i wont go again. Last week we have a group of 7 people went there for dinner at night, the food was good, but the service is very bad. We finish some small dishes and ask the waitress to fill up, never fill it, we need pop, it take a 10 min to get it, i know they are busy, but they should hire more people, and the worst is they charge 20% of the tips, that's crazy, we get bad service, why we need to pay 20% of tips, wont go there again!!!
(1)
Jen M.

Fun, tasty, great! restaurant is a bit of a dive, and it's noisy. BUT, love the little dishes of tasty stuff they bring, like the do it yourself part, and would happily go back and bring friends.
(4)
Charlie B.

not much to add to the great things said about this place, but I have been twice and loved it. I have been to a couple of other Korean bbq's and this is the best by far.
(5)
chuck m.

I went here with a Korean friend and a few other friends. The food was pretty good, but I didn't think the quality of the meat was very good. All the little sides were interesting, but again, nothing amazing. Maybe Korean BBQ just isn't my thing, but I don't know... I had an "expert" at my table doing the cooking, so I feel like it should've been better. Considering how much I paid, I think I should've gotten more food and better quality, especially since we were doing the work of actually cooking it. It was definitely an interesting experience, but I would never go out of my way to eat there... and if I was invited to go again, I would only go for the company and not the food.
(2)
Jen J.

Food: YUM! So many sides and the meat is delish. Service: Eh, get's the job done, but we were looking around to find our server to order more meat, beer and get the bill. Misc: My hair and coat may still smell like Korean BBQ....
(4)
Doug P.

I'm not an expert on korean food, but I've always liked the trip to San Soo Gab San. I often host guests and I once took a Korean and Taiwanese traveler here in a nice-sized group and got one of their group, sit on the floor tables -- definitely the way to go. My korean visitor was so happy with the place, he immediately took over the ordering and we almost had more bottles of alcohol on the table than bowls (which for this place is a miracle). Somewhere later in the meal, another Korean guest in the restaurant asked him how he came to the best Korean restaurant in the city without knowing the city. Now, I don't mean to boast, and like I said, I can't truly judge the authenticity myself, but I've always had a great time here. 24 hours as well -- can't beat it.
(4)
Tom F.

Cramped, crowded, smoky. Awesome. San Soo Gab San is a fantastic Korean barbeque joint on a fairly desolate stretch of Western Avenue, perfect for a raucous evening with 2 or 8 friends. For those of you that have never visited, here's a primer. You sit down, and immediately are delivered about 30 small bowls of assorted pickled vegetables and other treats - some of them are fairly straightforward, some of them consist of ingredients known to no one except for the folks in the kitchen preparing them. Don't mind that - eat them - they're tasty. Next, order your dishes (I recommend the chicken, the bulgoki, and the short ribs - and remember that they are big enough to share). A giant pot of coals is summarily dropped on your table, as well as several plates of raw meat (I don't know how this is not in violation of the City health code, but that matters not). Now start grilling. Drop the meat in a lettuce leaf, top with some peanut sauce, and enjoy! The meats are perfectly marinated, and on my many visits have been uniformly delicious. The Korean BBQ method (cook it yourself and share with your friends) breeds a dynamic and incredibly fun atmosphere (aided by the giant bottles of Kirin that you'll most likely order with your meal). Prices are very reasonable - you'll stuff yourself silly for less than $30. Negatives: it's crowded, especially on weekends, and you will walk out of the restaurant smelling like charcoal - the ample vents do little to stop the onslaught of smoky goodness coming from all directions.
(4)
Jean Z.

Everything we had was perfect. The tuna was ok too. The service was good and despite what people say about the saff not speaking engrish, they did a fine job. Have the ricecake beef soup and their miso is amazing - i dont even like miso. I'm hungry now thinking about the seafood pancake leftovers that I tossed this afternoon :( Bad idea, shoudl always wait til snacktime the next nite before throwin out leftovers. Open 10a til 5a daily....not 24 hours, but no one needs much more than that anyway....
(5)
Elysia L.

Let me just say that I've typically not been a fan of Korean food. The few times I had tried it before San Soo Gab San, I hated it. The only reason I even stepped foot in this place was because a close friend was having her birthday dinner there. Thank you, San Soo Gab San, for teaching me that Korean food doesn't all taste like rotten spicy butt. The service leaves something to be desired, but the food you get is totally worth it. My favorite part is probably walking out smelling like delicious grilled meat with a full belly of lean meat & veggies.
(5)
Lillian M.

I've never had Korean BBQ before, so I was excited to have a chance to try it with some fellow Yelpers . . . I had no idea what all the little dishes that accompanied the meat were, but was happy to try a few with a little guidance from others around the table. The food was incredible! And there was something fun about cooking the meat yourself, which has a nice marinade -- flavorful but not overpowering. I think I ended up eating waaay more meat than anything else because it was so tasty!! The staff is not overly attentive, but they do respond promptly when you have a request -- me for a fork and more napkins, for example. (I do wish they had more napkins at the table.) More waitstaff would help this place do even better (then again, maybe I don't want it to be even more popular -- then it would be impossible to get a table!). The best part? The price. With tip, only $17/person, and there were even a couple of entrees on the table in addition to the BBQ. Amazing. One major drawback -- you can't linger. The place is packed, even for an early dinner of 6pm on a Saturday (which is typically really early in Chicago on weekends). They will ask you to move it along if you sit too long after paying your bill, which doesn't bother me -- If I were waiting for a table I'd want the staff to encourage people to mosey on!! I definitely will go back to this place (athough I might bring my own supply of napkins, just so I have plenty!)
(4)
Nicholas Y.

Put simply - this is everything you would expect from an authentic Korean barbeque joint.
(5)
Daniel C.

I don't know about other people, but if you're looking for a real nice legitimate Korean hole in the wall, this is it.. amazing, fast service, pretty rush, but hey its part of the experience.. drinks are great, and you get to cook with real coal fire.. i dont know what to say other than this place is fantastic...
(5)
Jenny L.

I wish the servers were a little more helpful with the sides that where going on the table but it was awesome!!
(4)
Abby T.

Well, it wasn't as AMAZING as everyone has said. Don't plan on going anywhere after...b/c you will leave stankin like bbq/smoke. I love the calbi. The bulgogi is so tendon-y....pretty disgusting (think Joy Yee's beef...stringy). The waitresses don't really try to explain all the plates of sides. scratch that...they don't at all. The staff was TOTALLY on it when it came to reflliing our waters! all in all...luckily we had a korean w/ us...otherwise I would have been like Alicia silverstone and totally clueless. Although, you don't need to speak korean to know this spot is just a touch above mediocre.
(3)
David C.

We were welcomed with 22 side Korean dishes, enough to feed a village in some country's. Quick service and a unique BBQ setup. Kalbi is always an excellent choice with a light sweet marinade. A wonderful place for a fun group event. Perks to opening until 5am, great for late night devouring. Mmmm.....
(4)
Char Y.

The place that introduced me to Korean BBQ. I have to say that this is truly a KOREAN place, there were times I felt that if I was not Korean, or speaking Korean, I'd be ignored. It is great food wise, but spotty on the service.
(3)
Elle L.

OMG!! If I was having Korean for the first time, this place would have totally ruin my first experience. SERVICE is HORRIBLE!!! We sat for a good 15-20 minutes until someone came to take our order and on top of that, I had to ask for water. Don't sit down resturants generally give you water right away before taking order?? When the lady brought the water, she had her head face toward the floor where you can litterally see the top of her head as she's approaching our table with the tray of water. My friend said maybe it's a culture thing and I didnt think so because I've ate at a lot of Korean places and the first thing you hear when you walk through any korean joint is... "Anyeasayo!" Didn't get that here! The pickled side dishes tasted OLD like they've been sitting out for days. The kimchi radishes are crunchy, these were chewy. Also, the place isn't the most cleanest place either. So that right there tells you what their expectations are. Usually I don't criticize whole in the wall places because BELIEVE ME, i've had some of the best FOOD in whole in the wall places. But definitely look elsewhere for Korean if you're looking for good korean w/ good service.
(1)
Vanessa I.

My boyfriend and I go here a lot, and it's especially convenient since it's in our neighborhood. I've been to restaurants where the servers frequently stop by the table to see if everything is okay. This is great but not when we have our mouths stashed with food. At San Soo Gab San, we always grill our meats since it comes with 23+ side dishes... and you can ask for refills with a charge. It's just as pricey as other korean bbq restaurants but our excitement peaks because of the side dishes ;) Their rice is a PLUS!! Best place to go but it can be very packed at night.
(5)
Brian L.

I just can't write a bad review about San Soo Gab San. I know their service isn't the friendliest. They always seem like it's such a burden to help anyone. That you better order enough meat for each person there or they'll raise hell... The food is good. It makes up for whats lacking. They have a ton of banchan which helps. People hates this place because of their service. I can see why. I've been to Korean BBQ in Cali and their servers were really friendly... I've also gone with some good friends who are Korean and it turns into a joke about the service. My one friend has to yell in Korean for the server because she was ignoring us more so then when I went without them... Just prepare yourself for that and you'll do fine.
(3)
Esther Y.

I LOVE Korean food. Nothing will beat it from the motherland, but sometimes when you just have to have some Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap you have to have it. This place is open 24/7 and it's good. Prices are fine, the staff is fine (there are definitely better and worse servers) and you leave smelling like Korean BBQ. One thing I DESPISE about this place is their uneven allocation of side dishes. Although they allege you get more when you get Gal Bi or Bul Go Gi, it's kind of hit or miss. Sometimes they just give you what they want. At times it may be a lot, at times you know you DEFINITELY did not get as many as the table next to you, though you ordered relatively the same things. I would've given them more stars had I not witnessed this on multiple occasions. What to try: Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap Dduk Man Doo Soup What to eat but know that it's better somewhere else: Jap Chae (it's too oily here but good) Single order of Bul Go Ki (When you cook it yourself it tastes better)
(4)
Matt W.

I'm giving San Soo Gab San 3 stars, which I think is generous, but I'm also comparing it to the Korean BBQ I'm used to in Korea Town LA. This may be good Korean BBQ for Chicago. The good: The dumpling appetizers were good, but we kinda jumped the gun because there were about 15 bowls of different kimchi's, bean sprouts, noodles, etc. to start. The varieties of kimchi and other appetizer bowls were very good and a nice beginning to the meal. They took up the whole table. The grill was charcoal, which I have never experienced at a Korean BBQ before, so that was a huge plus. The miso soup was very good. We ordered the ribeye. Next time that's all I'm ordering. The bad: The marinated beef was sliced way too thin and slopped on the serving plate. No care to presentation. The pork belly was frozed, thin, and tasted like cardboard. I would go back, but I would take care not to order like I normally do when at Korean BBQ.
(3)
Jim N.

Food was great, service not so much. Came there on a Sunday and it was busy. Only had two servers who spoke very little English. Thank goodness the menu had pictures made it easy to point n choose. Overall great food n decent service.
(3)
leslie b.

Incredible! We sit down, order. I go to the bathroom for two minutes, come back, and the table is covered with rainbows. I don't know what any of it was, aside from the short ribs and beef (which were maybe the most tender meat I've ever had), but there was enough of it to sink a ship, and everything was awesome in combination with everything else. Seaweed salad, spiced cabbage, weird rice jello?--all I know for sure is that I'll be coming back with a lot of friends... (Oh the partitioned seating is a nice touch)
(5)
John C.

I have been going to this place for almost 10 years ... love the food. Today, the place was busy which I can understand for slower service. So after patiently waiting for server to take order, then a long while for water and drinks. Another long while passed and we still haven't get our food ... typically, those small side dishes should have come flying out immediately after we place order. After waiting way too long, we decided to see if they can bring out those small dishes first. Then the waitress (happen to the be owner) start saying we have to wait ... and told us that those small dishes are not appetizers! Even after I had explain that we had waited for a long time and the table which came after us already got their dishes. She actually said next time we should order other stuff that come with those small dishes. HRMMM ... I have not gone to any Korean restaurants that have requirement on what to order to get Kim-chi!!! ANYWAY, THERE IS NO MORE NEXT TIME FOR ME HERE! TERRIBLE OWNER ... my money isn't going to hers anymore. After almost 10 years of frequent visits and being treated this way!
(1)
Christopher L.

This place is great! If you know nothing about Korean food... RIP 24 hr. Korean restaurant on Lawrence. (Now Luxury Condominiums...) Who knows what I'm talking about? I still go occasionally, even though I once bit into glass which they claimed to be bone... I know I'm not the brightest bulb in the bunch, but I don't think squid bone is green. All I'm saying is proceed with caution while eating kim chi.
(2)
Jim W.

I feel bad since a Korean classmate organized and took me and 15 others here and ordered in Korean for us, but I have to offer up my thoughts. I was excited when I came here after reading the Yelp reviews - and esp since there are no Korean places downtown and I had to carpool to get here, but I was truly disappointed. This is as authentic as it gets in the midwest? I guess I'm spoiled coming from California. I don't know my Korean meats that well, but I've eaten enough where I can identify bulgogi and kalbi - whatever was ordered for us looked like neither. The plates of meat presented to us looked like it had come straight from the butcher - the meat was thick, crude and hard to chew. Not only was it unpleasant to look at, it was difficult to grill, which leads me to point #2. The grills. Charcoal grill is wonderful...when done right. I don't understand why they couldn't have had a pit for the charcoal grill set into the table. Instead, the grill was not only sitting on the tabletop occupying space, but the smoke was blowing straight into our faces. I love smelling like Kbbq as much as the next person, but I don't like inhaling fumes and having smoke in my eyes. I felt like a caveman after fire was discovered. Oh, and the actual grill was like a ghetto tray I took out of my toaster oven. The service. I thought since I had gone with a Korean guy who practically lived there for awhile, we'd get the royal treatment. I know we had a lot of ppl at a long table, but come on now! The lady made us pass down everything from one end of the table. Water glasses, side dishes, lettuce, rice, meat...you name it, she loaded us on one side and just couldn't get herself to come around to the middle of the table to set our food down. And this is when the restaurant was practically empty. I can't imagine how it's like when this place gets busy (why it does, I couldn't tell you). Oh, and she never refilled our one serving of small vege plates, even when most of the stuff on the table was finished. And she only changed 2 of the 4 grills we used. Any redemptive qualities? It was cheap. And the haemul pajun (seafood pancake) was good. But honestly, BOO to san soo. 2 thumbs down.
(1)
Sadie P.

I used to live down the street from this place and I used to dream of coming here after a night of drinking because of coure, nothing is funnier than drunk people with fire and sharp implements. Alas, my dream was never realized. But I did manage to spend a fun evening here with a table full of friends/acquaintences/strangers and I loved it. San Soo Gab San is a madhouse-the parking lot is always packed and the night we went there were conflicting stories from management about whether or not they accept reservations. Luckily, one of the members of our group is Korean and she straightened out the matter and we seemed to get better service after that-which was a relief since one of the servers ignored us and I felt bad asking the nice server for more lettuce leaves every five minutes, but dammit I had lettuce leaves needs that were not being met. The BBQ was great as was the plum wine and unfortunately I didn't have anything else. The most important to know though is that the place is almost always packed, so be prepared to wait.
(4)
Alyssa V.

I really enjoy the food at San Soo Gab San. The tofu and seafood stew, the spicy shredded beef soup, and all of the bbq I have had have been very good. This is the only Korean BBQ I've been to, but if I had to rate this place based only on their food I would probably give it a four. However, the service here is so bad...really I have nothing to compare it to. I don't even understand how it is possible. The first time I went here, I noticed that it wasn't so hot. It is very hard to get your waiter to make eye contact-- I guess they would rather be doing anything else but their job? It was difficult to get more water, more food, the bill, or anything else because of this. But I went there the other day , and things went from bad to worse.... Basically, my friend and I order off the lunch special menu. At the top of this menu, it says $5.95 SOUP. And then underneath it are listed 8 different soups. We each selected one and waited for them to come. Mind you, my friend had just broken up with her boyfriend of 6 years, we were both hungover, and we needed this soup. Had been anticipating Korean soup all day. The food comes, and mine is a soup, pretty tasty (the previously mentioned tofu seafood). Her food is Bi Bim Bop. We are surprised, because Bi Bim Bop is vegetables and meat over rice....not soup at all. I call the waiter over, because today we really need soup. He doesn't want to take it back. I ask a few more times and we look at the lunch special menu together, and then he gets his manager. His manager....well, she says to us "this your first time at Korean BBQ?" We say no. She says, "everyone knows what Bi Bim Bop is." Our mouths are hanging open. We know what it is, too...and it was NOT listed as that on the lunch special menu. On the lunch special menu it was explained simply as 'beef, vegetables'. We assumed it was a soup....since SOUP was the header to this menu!!! We started to explain ourselves but....I mean does this even warrant a response? She proceeds to talk loudly about us for the next hour that we are there with her frightened and mute employees... But we got our soup.
(2)
Kiarash Z.

Pros: Open all day and night, grill your own food, filled with smoke, creepy vibe, a billion free side dishes, yummy Cons: To grill at your table, you must order at least two grillable items, which generally cost about $17 each (soup and rice included). And if you're just there with another person, that's quite a bit of food. However, if you're there with three people or more, it's far more affordable than fondue or other do-it-yourself eateries. And I love the servers. They're so blunt and nearly incapable of speaking English, which makes it their restaurant, not yours, and that's how it should be.
(4)
John D.

The real deal. This is the best Korean BBQ place I've ever been to, and I've eaten at some of the best in DC and LA. Very traditional. You should go with somebody who knows what they are doing if you haven't before, but that's pretty much the deal with any good Korean BBQ place. Parking is tough.
(5)
June P.

I used to be a regular here b/c they have above average Korean BBQ in the Chicago area. It's the closest the city has to offer but no where near as good as NYC's Korean restaurants. The Galbi and Bulgogi are good but I recently decided to boycott this establishment because I can no longer tolerate their terrible service. Their service has always suffered with their long waiting times and lack of respect from the waitresses. The food is good but not worth the stress of wondering if we'll be pissed off by their rudeness and incompetence by the end of the night. The only positive I can give is that they're open late night, but don't let that lead you to think their service is any better at odd hours.
(1)
Andrea K.

This is the best Korean bbq place in Chicago! I've been eating there since they opened over 15 years ago. Over the years they've improved a LOT in terms of service. Originally they didn't seem to want non-Koreans as customers and did not try to accommodate them, but after getting reviews in magazines and newspapers they've learned a more reasonable level of service. My family eats there often enough that they know what we'll order every time. However, don't expect first class service at ANY Korean restaurant. That's just not how they are. Food is #1, and the less than perfect service is worth it.
(5)
Cynthia F.

The food was amazing, and the portions plentifully. The three stars is for the ambiance (pretty loud), the HORRIBLE ventilation (you WILL smell like meat and smoke when you leave), and the service. We had so many different people come to our table that we were confused as to who to ask when we needed something. The night ended with us having to hound down someone who would a) respond to us and b) give us our check. Definitely not happy about that. We also began to run out of room for all the plates of food they brought. At one point we had like 15 small round dishes of stuff - totally could have put it all on one platter!!! So if you're patient and don't mind the bad service, the food is definitely worth it. If this is your first time, let the server show you how to cook the different meats. They are experts and it will make your meal so much more enjoyable. One last thing - the parking lot holds like six cars, and it is a VERY tight squeeze, especially if you have a bigger car. I would highly suggest you take the Western bus or car pool if possible.
(3)
Lucy F.

Yuck. We went with a large group and sat at the long uncomfortable table on the right as you come in. It was raining and the roof leaked through the vent dripping black greasy water all over us and our food. The grumpy waitress moved us to the other large table where the vents did not work at all. I also thought it was quite expensive for gristly, poor quality beef. Won't be back
(1)
DongDong M.

I came here to eat dinner last year during July 4 holiday. The place was very busy and the food was really good. So I decided to bring my family there yesterday! It was not so great. The side dishes are as variety as before. JabChe is a good as usual. However, the BBQ meat was not good and was poorly cut, which made the meat impossible to chew!
(3)
adera l.

I went to San Soo Gab San for the first time this Valentine's Day and I am happy we did. It was my first Korean BBQ in Chicago! We went around 9:00pm and it was still packed. We couldn't be seated till our entire party was present which is fine. A friendly lady working behind the counter offered us chocolate and made us feel welcome while my partner and I were waiting for our friends. It was a very short wait for a table after they arrived. I don't ever expect to be treated like a princess by wait staff at a restaurant but some of the ladies working there just didn't seem to be having a great day. We ordered beer with the rest of our food but it didn't arrive till we asked for it mid meal. I was having a pretty positive experience until the very end. Our waitress and a busy boy came and collected our plates as quickly as possible (which yes is a good thing) but they also blocked us from actually leaving the table. It was a weird and difficult departure from San Soo Gab San. Did we not run out of there fast enough?? I had to get my coat on... sorry. Anyway, the food was good and I love barbecue so I'd consider going back during a slower time of day and not assume that anyone will be nice to me there.
(4)
Andy C.

This is some good ass Korean food... and to be honest.. their sushi is some of the best in the city. If you plan on dining in at this place...prepare yourself for the probability of smelling like Korean BBQ for the rest of the night....not a bad thing... I had a pack of wild dogs chasing me down the street afterwords..
(3)
Jim T.

Ahh, the experience is worth it. Never-mind if some of the 22 dishes of random fixins were somewhat palatable, the choices make it your own fault if you don't enjoy this place. I mean YOU cook it, YOU mix it together, if you walk away unsatisfied, slap YOURself. This was a unique and fun place to someone who has never had Korean BBQ before. Next time I'll be sure to come with a group of people and avoid their unappetizing appetizers (soft shell crab was strange). I'd give this place four stars if it didn't print out my full credit card number on the receipt, shame on you San Soo Gab San, respect my privacy.
(3)
Heather K.

So far my favorite Korean place in Chicago!! This place is quality.
(5)
Trevor S.

Food: Excellent Hours: Refreshing for those who work long hours. Service: Read the other reviews. Parking is rather speculative. Otherwise, the best Korean restaurant I know.
(4)
Jon J.

An overall "solid" Korean restaurant, that specializes in BBQ. They have the largest spread of panchan of any Korean Places that i've been to (although not as much as the Garden Buffet, but that doesn't count). I've had stews, do it yourself BBQ, kitchen cooked BBQ, and all has been good. I like their kalbi better if they cook it for you in the kitchen.. which is strange for a bbq place, but that one dish in particular tends to be better. The staff can be a bit cold, but that's typical for Korean places. Just smile at them and they lighten up :)
(4)
Robin C.

DELICIOUS! Another one of my favorites. The BBQ is amazing - you cook all of the deliciously marinated meat over charcoal grills at your own private table. There are certainly cheaper Korean BBQ places in the area, but the food here is the best. I love bringing all of my friends here who've never had Korean BBQ before and they all leave loving the food and the experience. My own never fail comfort food: Goon man doo (the dumpling apps), Jhap Chae, Kal bi or bulgogi. All great. The entrees come with what seems like millions of little sides - literally something for everyone. You may have to be fairly aggressive to get refills or more rice, but that's typical for a lot of Asian restaurants. Definitely make it a point to come here!
(5)
george k.

I went with a friend, we each ordered a meat. About 25 dishes of sides came out and a big platter of raw meat. A few seconds later a flaming hot pot/grill of charcoal came out and the fun began. Service could have been friendlier, but the meal was quite good. I wish I lived closer, and was within walking /stumbling distance because I would love to get this on my way home from a night of drinking. 10am - 3am 7 days a week is pretty amazing for something like this. I will go here again.
(4)
Eric S.

This is the utility infielder of Korean restaurants, great for any occasion. Whether it's late night dining, lunch, or a large group gathering, San Soo can fit the bill. I recommend the haemul pajun (seafood pancake) and of course the kalbi or bulgogi. The dubus and jigaes are good, but not great. Pork tends to get overcooked on the table-top grill and I tend to stay away from the squid. Large parties are seated at booths where it is customary to take off your shoes. As a courtesy, be sure to where socks that match and/or do not have holes.
(4)
Jyo H.

The serving staff at this place is rude to the core. If you're not ordering multi orders of BBQ and alcohol, forget about service. You're totally looked down upon if the amount of your order isn't over $200. Not being attended by your server even once during your entire meal is common. Also note and beware, the food from this place is a MSG galore. You can taste it in your tongue. Very nasty after taste.
(1)
Ms. R.

Delicious Korean BBQ - we had Kalbi beef and pork ribs. Plenty of tasty side dishes to nosh on (our jaws dropped when we saw how many dishes our server was placing on our table) , and our orders also included lettuce, spring onion, miso soup and bowls of rice. Left stuffed and needing a nap! The only thing I was disappointed with was that the server didn't ask if we needed help with the grilling (didn't ask if this was our first time there or anything). We could have used help with the timing so we wouldn't burn (and waste) the delicate and tasty slices of meat.
(4)
Michael G.

Hands down best Korean I have been to. The Banchan were all great, Everything came out super fast. The Waitress was really nice and they changed our grill a few times which is nice. They do offer a limited menu after 10 so you do miss out on a few appetizers and soups if you go in late, but don't let that deter you I promise you will still find something to enjoy!
(5)
V V.

This is my favorite Korean place in Chicago by far. Great food, always consistent. The BBQ-it-yourself items are the best I've had anywhere, I highly recommend the tender baby squid for those who can handle the sight of tentacles. The portions are hefty and every dinner comes with 20 complimentary mini side dishes and soup. I always leave stuffed. Just don't expect extra kindly service from the Korean waitresses, which seems to be the case with many of the authentic Korean restaurants I've been to. They aren't mean, but just understand that the goal is to get you fed, so friendliness is unnecessary. You are on their turf, just stay out of their way when they throw the dishes on your table, shut up and enjoy the delicious.
(5)
Erwin A.

San Soo Gab San, what a HUGE disappointment. I promised myself that I'd go check this place out when I deemed myself worthy (and by worthy I mean being able to say the name of the place by putting the four 3-letter words in the correct order). On the day of rapture, I decided to celebrate the end times by taking the wife for an early dinner to beat the Saturday rush and was seated immediately around 5 PM. The menu looked a little intimidating so I asked the server if she could help us out. She mumbled something, pointed to the corner of the menu and left us to figure things out. It took us awhile, but basically to get the full experience of plugging the hole in the table with fiery charcoal, you need to order two meats (approximately $20 each). I recommend going for the kalbi (marinated short ribs) and bulgogi (marinated beef), you can't go wrong as both were marinated well and as such really tasty. If you're only eating as a couple though, one meat is enough as they give you a good amount on a large plate to cook. They also give you more than enough side dishes (banchan), around 19 little bowls of mystery and 1 little bowl of potato salad. We were taking our time and enjoying ourselves until the owner walked by and said that we needed to cook our meat faster because the coals were dying out, which was absolutely not true. Instead, it was her way of trying to rush us (we hadn't been there for more than 30 mins). If we didn't get that hint, the next one a few minutes later was more obvious: our server, not even acknowledging us, took the rest of our meat and dumped it on the grill, a definite WTF? And if that wasn't enough, the next party to sit at that table had already been led there before I had even finished paying the bill. To that, I'd say that I agree with other reviewers about the crappy service they have.
(1)
Tiffany S.

I recently tried to go here on a Sat night with 2 friends. There looked to be a decent wait of at least 2 or 3 parties ahead of us, but somehow the lady gave us a table. We figured maybe the other parties were bigger and needed a bigger table... she's knows what she's doing, right? So we sat down. We took off our coats and settled in. We got glasses of water. And menus. We had just decided what to order when the lady comes back and tells us she accidentally seated us before some other people and she asks us to go back in line and wait - are you fuckin serious? That's my fault you can't keep track of who's in line? Well, I guess it was a no-win situation for them. Someone was going to be upset one way or the other. It was us. =( We left. Hungry. Damnit.
(1)
iddells E.

I cannot understand how, in my 26 years of existence on Chicago's northside, I have never stepped foot in this place. I must have passed this restaurant a million times while driving down Berwyn. It never caught my attention nor did it conjur up any curiousity......until..... I yelped!!! I was reading the many reviews and when I went to check out the location, I was surprised. "Hmmm," I thought, "is this actually the restaurant on the corner that I pass literally almost everyday of the week?" It was, and immediately San Soo Gab San was on my list of "must eat" restaurants. I went there this past weekend and was elated. It was a nice, clean place and very orange. I thought it was so cool how they have those areas where you can actually sit on the floor...sounds like an idea for my next birthday get-together! My bf and I were too lazy to grill, so I just ordered a bulkoki and he ordered the spicy shredded beef soup. When my bf had questions about the soups, the waitress bluntly said that those certain soups are liked more by Koreans, so she pushed him towards the more American likings. It was funny. Anyways, when the food arrived, I received my soup, rice, bulkoki, and 15 sides while my bf got his steaming spicy soup. Everything was delicious!!! Loved the sides, loved the soups, loved the meat!!! Man, I will definitely be frequenting this restaurant more and bringing everyone I know to try it out. The next time I go, I'll definitely be doing the BBQ.
(5)
Tony P.

Fun place to go with a bunch of friends. It's not your typical sit-and-be-served place. You actually cook your own food (well, meat, anyways) in front of you! They give you a small plate of meat, and a lot of appetizer-type plates with various foods (ranging from delicious to throw-it-away). The problem? Small portions of the stuff you like! For example, for the price, I expected more meat. I left stuffed, but only after I ate my petite friends' portions. Same with the small appetizer plates. Great food. Small portions. Come semi-hungry.
(4)
shirley m.

down graded one star-I really need to find another BBQ place in the city. Service has dropped significantly, my sister asked for hot water instead of tea and they let the tap run for a few minutes before filling the cup! portion sizes have decreased, overall a big disappointment :(
(2)
Peter F.

Went here with a friend who taught English in Korea. One of the best meals I've had in Chicago in awhile. Read reviews of this place on yelp and they All concur.. This place is mighty tasty and authentic.
(5)
Mark S.

Yeah, lots of long reviews here to tell you what it's about... This place is great by me- I come here pretty often. I've never had any serious problem with the service that wasn't more funny than annoying. They're generally normal/nice. I love this place for what it is. I will add that the big floor seating tables toward the front of the place are not for those with long legs... The table top is THICK wood, leaving little room underneath for folded up legs, big feet, etc!
(4)
Suz C.

My heart belongs to "Korean Restaurant" also known as Han-gu-kwan, but San Soo Gab San has become its replacement. (Anyone know when/if Korean Restaurant will re-open in its new location?) The food is really good, authentic, and reasonably priced. It has plenty of tables, and overflow patrons are placed in the sister sushi restaurant next door. When you go, you must order a grill dish (bulgogi, kalbi, etc.), because it tastes so good and gives you a good Korean dinner experience. I love the ban-chan -- they have a lot of them, which is indicative of a good Korean restaurant. (I know that all Korean restaurants do it, but isn't it funny when you see potato salad in the banchan dishes?) Sometimes they serve kimchee that's not quite ripe, but oh well. It happens. DON'T WEAR NICE CLOTHING! Yeah, it's not a very well-ventilated place and when you've got a dozen or more grills going at the same time, you're bound to come out smelling and feeling very greasy and garlicky. Yes, the stink can stay in your clothes for a good week, so be aware of what you wear when you go. The Bibimbab is excellent, although sometimes they put iceberg lettuce in it, which I think is so freaking weird. I also enjoy their duk mandookuk, which has the right amount of flavor. I tried the spicy tuna maki roll, and it was pretty damn good. They put a little ko-chu-jang in the spicy sauce which makes me really tasty. Weekends are super busy. Don't even think of trying ot park in that ridiculously tiny parking lot. People can't park their giant SUVs right and I'm sure dings happen all the time. You can park easily on the side streets. It's a bit run-down and dive-y looking inside, but I think that indicates that it's a GOOD Korean restaurant. :) Another thing...I think this place is supposed to be open 24/7, just like Korean Restaurant. I've tried Solga, which is fairly good, but I prefer San Soo Gab San. I think it's less expensive than Solga. (Hm, but Solga does have an advantage -- their no-rae-bang (karaoke rooms))!
(4)
Job E.

I think this is the same place as San Soo Gab San - yelp.com/biz/san-soo-gabâ€¦
(3)
Carlos C.

If is wasn't for my #1 place SOLGA... this would be my #1. Oh well... I guess it's my #2 place. Now, you I don't like comparing one restaurant to another.. and giving it lower marks simply because I'm comparing. In other words.. its like comparing Taco Bell to Chipotle to Su Casa... these are all good restaurants, however there is NO COMPARISON to ONE ANOTHER! This place ROCKS. First of all... the Korean BBQ is cooked with charcoal (my fav). It reminds me of a 70's Korean Dive Bar I used to go in Los Angeles. The waitress actually spoke PERFECT english and the menu was very big. I think I would bring a friend that was not 100% used to korean food. This way, we could order several things and he/she can try it out. However, next time I would skip the soon tofu. (best place in schaumburg). Stick with the specialty.... BBQ. The place is not very expensive... I like the atmosphere.... and once again... the Food ROCKED.
(5)
Ross R.

Ever since dining at San Soo Gab San a couple months ago, I will periodically find myself chanting its name in my head as I walk down the road in stride with my steps, it has a very metronomic quality to it. I still don't know why I do that, but that is a side point. The food at SSGS is an experience to say the least. We only ventured to try the grill-it-yourself meat items (ribeye, chicken, octopus) which were all very good, but I wish they would give some guidance on how long to cook certain items. The Ribeye was hands down the best item on the menu for the following reasons: 1. The meat is tender 2. It is flavorful, even if you overcook it 3. They give you a pair of giant kitchen shears to cut it with. The side dishes are what make the dining experience so memorable. My limited experiences at other Korean BBQ places leads me to believe that the number of side dishes they give you at SSGS is extraordinary (must have been at least 30). They weren't all delicious, but it was great to try all those different items, and could potentially be meal on their own. I liked the service simply because of its ballsiness and attitude. Ballsiness: when the bus boys bring your grill to the table, they put you at risk of 3rd degree burns at least 3 times between walking to the table and setting the grill in its holder, which is sweet. Attitude: at least a few of the waitresses are super sassy and will gladly make fun of you. Kind of like a korean ed debevic's. Its worth the trip if only to experience it once.
(4)
Joyce T.

Hooray to 24/7 Korean BBQ!! Anytime I'm up in the Lakeview/bordering Evanston area, I have to hit up this restaurant. Just thinking about their sushi makes my mouth water. Because I'm a frequent customer, the sushi chef knows me quite well. They make awesome sushi here on top of their wonderful Korean BBQ. Their rolls are unique, off the charts, and not at all Americanized (watered down Cali rolls or diced up spicy tuna rolls). They combine your entire order on one or two platters and depending on the chef that's there at night, there are certain variations in the same sushi roll, which I like. Their Korean bbq is awesome!! Def try their kalbi or their bulgogi. Their bibimbop (sp??) is to die for as well. They have this spicy seafood noodle dish that's awesome, although my stomach can't handle foods that are too spicey! The only complaint is that their chapchae and mong dook (fried dumplings) were a bit too oily and filling. Otherwise, great place, good family styled ambiance, awesome food, and friendly staff!!
(4)
Timothy M.

Let's see: delicious Korean BBQ. Wood decor and huge private picnic-style tables. Charcoal pots at your table. Open 24 Hours. This just might be one of the best ideas ever. All that's missing is a kareoke machine. I love coming here and getting the kalbi (BBQ pork or beef ribs), beef (bulgolgi), pork, (Dweji bulgogi), and chicken (Dak bulgogi) as the main dishes. Then sampling all the delicious Banchan (side) dishes. It combines everything I love about food: the sampling of different flavors, the delicious and hearty meat juxtaposed with the light side dishes, and the feeling that you are sharing a feast with your friends. This place is not really somewhere I'd recommend with one other person, you should go with at least 3 people. One of my favorite places in Chicago.
(5)
Michelle K.

My best friend and I visited this place for dinner after hearing rave reviews from a local. We were seated immediately. Since we didn't want to order two plates of BBQ short ribs, we had the kitchen cook it for us. I was afraid they were going to char the meat, but it was cooked perfectly and bonus: we didn't smell like BBQ smoke afterwards! We also ordered a seafood pancake, which was delicious although there was very little seafood to be found amongst all the green onions. The side dishes were plentiful and delicious. The service was adequate, but fairly slow. They do have a parking lot, but it's super small and not easy to squeeze into a spot. All in all, I'm sure I would go back again with more friends to help chow down the delicious food.
(4)
mike l.

Kum Gang San in Flushing this aint, but it's a close second. Since the grills are charcoal, this is a bbq in the true sense of the word. It's also smokey. And small. But, the meat is tasty & the panchan are plentiful. I didn't even know the thousand or so little side dishes had a name, so yay for me!
(4)
Allan C.

THEY USE REAL CHARCOAL!!!! AND THEY'RE OPEN AT 3AM!!!! That's essentially all I could possibly want from a Korean bbq. Too many Korean places that I used to go to at NYC are gas. The stout man with the calluses from heck bring in the burning lump charcoal is an experience in itself.
(5)
Tony R.

This place represents all that is glorious and beautiful in the world. Yes, that's right, grilled meat and panchan. If you could throw in some mango juice, then we'd have it all. But we can't have it all in life, though we can get close by coming here. There are some moments when I come here and think, I just want sundubu or the goat stew(really really good, by the way, but it gives you some serious gas, so if you eat this, be forewarned that people will avoid you), but then I see the coals and the aroma of grilled animal...and I can't resist...even when I burn my hands or my friends and I start sweating from the heat...I never for one moment doubt that ordering two meat dishes was the right thing to do. For specifics ,the wang kalbi is my favorite, though I can say the bulgogi is okay except that is a bit difficult to cook on the coals. There is an octopus dish which is good as well. The panchan is also plentiful and glorious. Be careful though lest you succumb to Pachan Fullness Disorder, a disease that afflicts many a diner at Korean restaurants wherein one stuffs oneself with panchan and then is too full to eat the main course. It is very sad situation indeed. Sad but delicious, but mostly sad. Overall, this place is pretty solid for grilled meat and pickled awesomeness. It gave me and my lab partner hope while we suffered through nine weeks of summer Organic Chemistry(it is that pleasing). I hear it is supposedly open until 5a.m., but I am unsure of whether that is actually true(don't doubt that I won't one day try to find out).
(4)
M P.

I have never, I repeat, NEVER felt like this after leaving a restaurant. A week after Mothers Day mom has to have some Korean seaweed. We've been to San Soo Gab San before and weren't really impressed, but they do have seaweed and that's what mom wanted so (reluctantly) off we go. We went on a Saturday at about 3:00 in afternoon. Party of 5, I figured it was best to get there early to avoid the crowds and bad service. We were greeted nicely(surprise) and seated. Not including us, there were only two other tables being occupied during our meal. There were three waitresses total. Received our menus along with some ice water(yippee) and thought so far so good. No line, no wait, friendly staff, water with ice and Parking. JACKPOT. I usually order the same stuff at Korean restaurants so the menus are a no-brainer (most of the time) and was pretty much ready to order. We waited while two waitresses cut a pancake and ordered 15 minutes later. "number this, number that, number this, number that and two orders of Japche". You See no-brainer. First, the panchan(whatever) arrived. Then the raw meat came all on one plate mind you(we ordered three). The waitress explained that all the meat($60 worth) we had ordered was on this plate. Ripoff 1. I couldn't believe it but it was mom's day so I wasn't going to get crazy. A few moments later two plates of Japche arrived and of course they split one order to make two. Ripoff 2. They finally bring the sticky rice and bring four bowls, there's five of us. The waitress say's $2.50 more for extra rice. We ask for refills(our first) on two plates of banchan and when this lazy ass b@#$% waitress comes back she said "No more!" "You want more, $4 dolla eash". WOW! That's a first... During our meal, employees (waitresses, busboy, grandpa Munster) keep excusing themselves to get to a door which was a overstock/coat room in our table area. So my daughter(many times) had to stop eating and get up so they can pass. Why you ask would they seat us there when the place was empty? Lazy/Bad business. Whenever they opened that door a foul smell would leak out. A waitress who had excused herself to put away her belongings must have noticed our discontent because she asked if we wanted any refills on banchan. "Sure". We pointed out a couple plates of our favorites and off she went, of course she didn't bring anything we asked for just the same crap we didn't consume the first time so now there's double crap on the table. So we asked if we can get some more seaweed for mom and she returns with......Not seaweed, THE BILL. We were only there for twenty five minutes and not done with our meal! Looking over the check I noticed 20% Gratuity had been added to our bill. Mom wouldn't let me raise hell, she was over it. I told her they're going to bring us some water, were paying for the service. I asked for water many times, never got it. I had to hold the bill/check for ransom. I said "if we don't get any water you don't get this." The waitress reaches behind the counter and pulls out a pitcher of water. I hand her the bill. She looks at the bill and says something in her native tongue to her coworkers out-loud . Probably regarding the tip or lack of it. Little did she know that I read on yelp that they like to add gratuity themselves. They had the nerve to try and get double tipped. I pretty much had it with this place. The service and food(or lack of it) had me boiling. only three tables occupied and the staff thought it was break time! I believe this is the first time I EVER left a Korean restaurant HUNGRY!!! I should have stuck to my guns and took Mom to the "Hole-in-the wall" Korean restaurant right down the street. Not a lot of ambiance, just great food! San soo gab san has much to learn.... I won't ever come back.
(1)
Erin J.

Can I give it less than 1 star? Gross as hell! My friends and I decided to try this place one night around 10pm. We had all heard good things about it before and I'm always up for trying new food. The parking lot is too small and weird - it looks like a bunch of 5-year-olds parked in all different directions. We parked on a side street and I recommend anyone brave enough to eat here to also park on the side street unless you don't care about your car. Well, I had never had Korean food so I asked my friend what to get and she made some suggestions. I don't remember the food at all. All I remember is the extremely rude waitress and the DISGUSTING smoke all over! I literally got up before the check came and left some money and waited outside. I couldn't breathe and was about to throw up. I wasn't aware that you were supposed to be smoked along with your food at Korean BBQ. I hated it and will never go back! A nasty, rude, little smokehouse! Enjoy!
(1)
Tristin M.

Been here a few times and it was always very good.
(4)
Tom C.

The food is great, but the service is terrible. I've been going here for years and its worst than your typical Asian service. I would know since I am. I would give it more stars but their attitude and service really brings the place down. I think they have the best bbq. On one occasion, I asked for tea 3 times, and it was never brought to us. Finally, I asked again and they lied straight to my face they had none (group of 15). Later I asked another worker for 4, and I was given tea. A bit lazy even though your going to tack 18% gratuity on my bill.
(3)
Jayson C.

If I had to choose the best Korean restaurant in the Chicagoland area, this would be my choice! Open 24 hours, affordable prices, and endless amounts of pan-chan!! (sp?). Service can be a lil better. I guess for those who can't speak the language. =/ Nevertheless, this place is great!
(3)
Amanda P.

I don't understand why, of all the Korean restaurants in Chicago, this is the one that seems to attract the non-Korean crowd. We ordered the codfish with vegetables stew, which was really good and spicy with lots of semi-soft tofu. I will say that I would definitely order this dish again. The jap chae--my favorite Korean dish--was just weird, though, with lots of black pepper (does black pepper even exist in authentic Korean cuisine?) and some kind of broth to stretch the oil (I understand being health conscious, but don't mess with my jap chae!). We didn't order sushi, but the sushi menu looked uninspired. It should also be noted that they have what might possibly be the worst parking lot in the city.
(3)
Issa K.

First time i had been here good experience its alot to learn from fresh and reasonably priced if you like fondue its kinda like that but just Korean and bbq.. plus my favorite part its open till 5am thats the best part. Kind of a drive for me since I live on the south side but good food and fun just don't go there smashed becuase you will burn yourself with the hibachi grill..haha (lesson learned )
(4)
Sarah W.

OMG I really like this place but I warn it is a lot of food if it is just two people you only need to order one thing and share.
(5)
David S.

This is the only Korean BBQ I've had at a restaurant so I can't compare - but damn was it good. Three of us went here, and two of us had a) no grasp of Korean and b) no idea what to order. Luckily #3 was a college buddy who currently lives in Seoul and can speak Korean fairly well. Since he ordered in Korean I have no idea exactly what we had except that the table was quickly filled with burning coals, piles of meat, and more small little bowls filled with an assortment of vegetables and sauces than I could count - basically every inch of the table was covered in food that we quickly set to. We definitely felt that we got better service with my friend yelling out requests in Korean - but regardless we could easily eat until we were stuffed to popping for a reasonable price. The only problems were the minuscule parking lot and smelling like I'd just bathed in coal (and eaten some for good measure) for days!
(4)
Robin L.

After years of hearing I should try Korean BBQ, I finally did. This place was great, so great in fact, that I've been back a second time. They give you so much food that we've gone home with leftovers both times. I would love to give this place 5 stars but I knocked it down one because they only have one chicken dish on the menu. I've been told for a Korean BBQ place that I should be lucky they even had one chicken dish on their menu. I still highly recommend going there.
(4)
Ania G.

Whoa! What's with this place having 4 stars?! Ended up going to this place last night because Da Rae Jung was closed and my boyfriend and I needed our Korean BBQ fix. The only way it was better than Da Rae Jung was that you got more banchan (little plates of yummy). Here's a summation of our experience: - service non-existent...no explanation of what was going on and how to cook anything (we didn't need this, but what if we were new to Korean food?). took me 10 minutes to flag down waitress to get more sauce. - got an order each of galbi and bulgogi (favorites of ours). totally under-seasoned and just tasted like charcoal. i'm guessing it's because the grill is too close to the coals. - kimchi and rest of banchan weren't very flavorful. i've had way better at most other korean places i've been to. - no refills on the banchan. they essentially plop down everything on your table when you arrive and then you don't see them again til they give you the check (without asking for it). - not that great of a value. at $20 a person with no booze, i can definitely get a better meal elsewhere. - this morning my boyfriend (who has spent time in Seoul) smelled his smoky clothes from last night and said "I am never going back to that place ever again".
(2)
mildred v.

the food is good but minus a star for the service. i've been coming here once in while since high school and nothing has changed. now my bf lives literally a block from here but i have NEVER gone here with him and it is NOT on our list of places to go. I come here with some friends from school and two of them are korean so they take care of the ordering and communicating with the waitress (i literally don't need to say a word to them) - it's like VIP when we're with them. the waitresses are pleasant, the panchan and water get refilled quickly and they even left a large bowl of one of them for us. i'm used to subpar service. take chinatown for example - fine they dont roll out the red carpet for their customers but they do their job and just kinda leave you alone. here, they either hate their job or they hate all their customers. if you enjoy being scorned while you eat. by all means come here!
(2)
Rachelle G.

So the sign outside says they close at 5am. Yet I sat down and we were served at approx. 1 am. However, another party walked in at 1:30 am on a Sunday night and they were told that the restaurant was closed. We were just about finished with our meal when the waitress gave us our check and mentioned that they were closing. I'm sorry but it's only 2 a.m. Ironically, we drove past again 20 minutes after we'd left and their 'Open' sign was still lit.
(3)
Ashley J.

it was my first time being at a korean bbq and i think it set the bar quite high. luckily i had a friend that had great suggestions and cooked the meat right up, but i think it would have been good even if i took a stab in the dark. be patient with the service, as it is quite busy.
(4)
Ty E.

Tonight was my third time going and my first review. It's hard to find a great place with good eats for a low cost. This place... hmm. not so much. They really stepped it up with the small plates. I don't remember getting 24 dishes last time. Of course my friends and I only ate about 10 of them. The others had too much mayo or just unappealing to try. We ordered bulgogi, pork ribs and steak, chopjae and seafood egg pancake. The meat wasn't well marinated- plus it must have been sitting out for awhile since it was discolored. The chopjae was bland and dry but the pancake was quite delicious. We all beyond stuffed by the end of the meal but overall if there was another place I knew of, I would head there. THe staff barely knows any English and the grill they use is very archaic. The grill itself was 12 x8 inches but the fire was a bowl about 6 inches in diameter... just dont see the logic in that. I wish there was an 'all you can eat' place- I would tear it up!
(2)
Paul H.

One of my favorite places to go with a group (regardless of how many people I go with or how much we order I end up spending $20). The bbq process is quite frenetic, but it's fun and everyone gets involved. A perfect meal involves an order of the fried dumplings, the marinated short ribs, and several large bottles of OB beer. I disagree about the service being horrible - last night we had 3 or 4 women helping us throughout the course of our meal. While there was a language barrier (at times) we always got what we asked for and we were never sassed or felt rushed. I do agree that it's smokey, but you do have a charcoal grill on your table. So, if you're averse to smoke, this might not be the best environment for you. If you're fine with it, just wear something that can be washed.
(5)
Swapna P.

The wait is really, really long and you and your clothes smell horrible on the way out. They won't take reservations for parties less than 10 people. The wait staff pretty much ignores you and since they use fresh hot coals for the grill, ash sorta flies everywhere. The grills aren't well oiled so meat just sticks there and the coals go cold quickly. The short ribs are a complete waste...you pay $15-20 and just end up gnawing on bone with little to no meat. Do yourself a favor and drive an extra 20-30 minutes out to Arirang in Niles.
(2)
Rebecca Huicha K.

Yes the food is good and cheap but the service SUCKS. plus they no longer refill the banchan. WTF,
(2)
Colin K.

Was just here tonight and had an absolutely perfect experience. We arrived with it packed and every table full, but we were seated within five minutes. The staff was ultra attentive and polite. Our order was complicated and long winded, with many alterations and additions, but the waitress was patient and caught everything. Nothing was forgotten. The food was served almost immediately, hot (except for the food we cooked ourselves), and plentiful, and excellent. We were given plenty of time to eat, and the prices were reasonable. Totally great time.
(5)
Jessica O.

Good food! My hubby's favorite food in the world is Korean. So therefore, for his birthday surprise I approached my Korean students at school and asked them... "where do YOU go?." Many of them answered San Soo Gab San. The place is set up with raised private rooms, which sit around a table that are equipped to handle real charcoal grills... this is unlike most Korean places. I ordered the chap che, Bulgogi, kalbi, and the prime rib, as well as steak and chicken to grill. If you have never eaten Korean this way, it is the " you cook it yourself" format. They also bring out massive amounts of panchan, which are little appetizers of fish, veggies, pickled things, GOOD STUFF! I would really recommend this place to anyone looking for something a little different. Only one or two warnings... the wait-staff really doesn't speak english very well, so make sure that you know what you want to order and speak clearly, or bring a Korean! Also, careful getting out of the parking lot! It's dangerous! :0)
(4)
Janet L.

My bad. It's not BYOB. Enjoy your liquor prior to fooding here :o]. Still good, though! And come here with a Korean speaker/smaller party for better service!
(4)
M. D.

I love Korean BBQ and San Soo Gab San is my favorite. There are a lot of not so good Korean BBQ places in the city but this place rocks. It's a ton of fun cooking your food at your table. I don't too much eat the little side dishes but the short ribs are delicious. My family loves to visit this place.
(4)
Rick V.

I went here for a friend's bday party a while back. We all had a great time, loved the food and we all left full, happy, and smelling of smoke. We were only a little concerned by the guy who came to replace the hot coals, he used a small wad of paper towel to grab the coal bucket, instead of a hot pad! Kinda dangerous, methinks....
(4)
tony p.

Such a fun place,I think it's fun to bb que your own meat,and the meat is high quality too.they bring out a whole bunch of different sides to have with the meat,so a good value for the price,the place gets crowded,but the place is big enough,that you still get privacy,and enjoy your meal there.we would've given this place five stars,except the bathroom was in dirty,tiles missing,and.....and.....no tissue,like no paper at all,good thing I only needed to wash my hands,lol.
(4)
Marcus Z.

Been coming here for years for dinner and at 3AM after late night drinking and it never lets you down. Want the ultimate fat kid meal? The Boodae Jigae(ramen caserole with spam, bacon, beef, hot dog, tofu, and vegetables) has changed my life.
(5)
Quantas G.

My first experience with Korean BBQ was awesome! It was a unique experience to say the least. I've never cooked my food on my table before and I tasted more new dishes in one sitting either. Some Korean friends of mine took me here to try a taste of their culture and I enjoyed it. They brought a huge pile of marinated meat, a hot cauldron full of burning coals, and enough side dishes to complete the meal. There were at least 15 side dishes ranging from kimchi, sauteed spinach, potato salad, grilled green onions, seaweed salad, fresh garlic, pickled beans, etc. The service was excellent and we had all of our needs taken care of. And yes, you will smell smoke when you leave but you will leave a happy man.
(5)
K T.

We went after having read the bad reviews about the bad service so I supposed my expectations were of that. But because we went with that knowledge we had a great time. It was more "no service" rather than "bad service". I think the language barrier makes it hard for good service. We didn't even get a How is everything? Can I get you anything else? ... It's one of those places where if you don't ask you won't get because it's just not a service oriented restaurant. But the food definitely makes up for it. I feel full just thinking about it. We ordered the Korean beef and Marinated pork for our main meats. The soup, rice and all the sides was more than enough for two people.
(4)
Nguyen L.

Very yummy! Great seasonings on their Korean bbq. I last went there a week ago, and I still can remember the smell of the bbq! Actually your clothes and hair may also remember for a long time haha. It's a fun spot too - lots of room, can get crowded, and they're open super late. You can walk there from downtown Lincoln Square.
(4)
Jaye J.

I don't have any earth shattering news other Yelpers havent stated, so a quick reiteration: 1. They bring you bowls of raw meat (or fish) and you cook your own meat on a flaming pit in the center of your table. Pretty fool proof though. 2. it's smokey in there. It's not an awesome pre-date place imho unless you've already been dating a while. I actually prefer it post-party to wind down with some decent food in my belly and some good sleep. 3. The servers probably don't speak English-or won't speak it to you. But they are cool with point a tthe item you want and will answer straightforward questions. 4. The servers dont want to be chatty with you. Be polite. Don't hesitate to waive them over if you need something. Also, if you decide you want more whatever during your meal, they will bring it (at a cost). 5. It helps if you have some idea what you are bieng served and how the whole thing works. Not mandatory though - scope out other diners! My personal take: A. Stay away when it is crowded. It's a circus in that joint. B. My fave size group is 4 people. More than that and the grills get too crowded and you can't reach stuff and you are always waiting on food to cook and it gets annoying. C. Sometimes the servers are very helpful-sometimes they arent. Oh well. D. If you are a very picky eater or not at all adventurous, just skip it. You probably won't love KBBQ anyway, but there are easier places to try it out. FOOD IS GREAT! It's a great way to try staples and new foods. Always an interesting group of people around. Never gotten rushed out of here. Squid is a bit difficult to cook w/o scorching, try the octopus. If you are really into sushi - I suggest the next door/connected place. you can order sushi at the KBBQ, but it seems to complicate matters more. I will eat here anytime I get the chance!
(4)
Audrey J.

Barbecue's rising... Coals are all getting hot According to all sources An average meal this is not 'Cause tonight for the first time At just about half past three For the first time in history You're gonna taste outstanding meat It's raining beef! Hallelujah! Just grill more meat! Amen! I'm gonna go here I'm gonna let myself eat Lots and lots of tasty meat! Okay, so exuberant shouts of meat-tastic ecstasy aside, this hole-in-the-wall Korean BBQ gets a solid 4.5 stars in my book. This place serves deeeelicious food at all hours of the night, including, yes, "half past three." Their other dishes such as the classics like bi-bim-bap are also excellent, and the panchan that they include are diverse and a cute and fun addition to an excellent meal. As others have stated, it's not a place you go to for the amazing ambiance; it's a place you go to for the amazing food. While I would give five strong stars for the standout food, I feel the need to take off half a star for a couple of minor setbacks: (1) the fans used to ventilate the smoke coming off of the individual grills are not effective and you will ALWAYS come out smelling like smoke, worse than my experience at some other BBQ locations (at Korean BBQ, you grill your own meat at a personal BBQ pit set into each table and there are fans above to suck out the smoke) and (2) the staff is a bit on the hit-or-miss side -- it definitely helps to have someone who speaks Korean. These are minor, though, and the deliciousness of the food will offset most if not all drawbacks at the end of your culinary adventure. Go in a group (it's GREAT for groups) and order a bunch of stuff to try out. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Stacie K.

A regular spot for my boyfriend and me. We always get kalbi. The ladies are hit or miss in the service area. But you just have to play their game by being pushy and short with them as well. They don't have time (or want to make time) to sit and hold your hand through the menu. If you are a Korean food first timer, I would STRONGLY suggest going wtih a Korean who is familiar with the food.. Although, I do have to say that I've been there before and heard one of the ladies explaining the menu to a couple who was new to the experience. I think the ladies that work there are adjusting to the new wave of having people that aren't korean actually coming in to try it! I've had a few of their soups and what not.. they're all pretty good, but there are other places in the city that specialize in soups/stews. I've had the cold buckwheat noodles, they sucked, don't ever get them. The rice with a bunch of vegetables in a stone bowl is ALWAYS a safe bet for first timers (its what I tell all of my first timer friends to get, if not kalbi). All in all, it's yummy and fun!
(4)
Roy P.

I've eaten at this restaurant over 3 times per week, for 7 months now. I would wager that 30% of the living cells in my body are created mainly from San Soo Gap San. I'm not just in love with this place, I am obsessed. I've even made a tribute video to these meat-wizards. (check it chicagogluttons.com if you want) Anyway, if you like meat, you must hit this place. What you should order: Kalbi - dip it in the brown bean goo Large Ribeye - Dip it in the oil concoction (best tasting steak in chicago, bite for bite. . don't believe me? Try it yourself.) Dak Kalbi - put on some brown and kill that shi-
(5)
Amaliya L.

We were in the neighborhood around 10pm after attending a gallery opening & I was dying for some Asian food. I remembered the name from Mandi's review & the upcoming Hotheads dinner. I didn't want to wait until the dinner, I wanted to check it out for myself. The parking situation was terrible. Yes, they have a parking lot, but unfortunately it is really small, & the people that park there do not seem to care how much space they take or how they positioned their cars. There was a space available, but we could not even maneuver into the space because the cars parked on either end stuck out so far that you could not even fit between them. There was also no way of turning or backing into the space. We ended up parking along the side street about a block & a half away. It's a pretty place compared to the majority of the Korean restaurants in the neighborhood. I am normally a huge fan of Korean food. We were seated very quickly at a table, there wasn't any space left at the platform area. Before we were fully seated, the waitress immediately handed us our menus & began pushing her knuckles on to the table back & forth waiting for our orders. We hadn't had a chance to look at the menu yet, so we gave her our drink orders instead. I think that they only have 2 kinds of beer available, neither of which we were familiar with. They come in 40's. We figured that she would come back after we ordered our drinks, but she just stood there & ran her knuckles on our table again. It was a little bit discomforting so we asked if we could have a few minutes. 2 minutes later, another waitress approaches our table to take our order. We still hadn't had a chance to decide. Feeling the pressure, we ended up ordering what popped first for each of us. I ordered one order of Bulgolgi(Bulkolki on their menu. It is marinated beef with onions.They prepare it for you if it is for one. You get to cook it yourself if it is for 2.) My husband ordered the short rib soup, our friends ordered the crab stew & tofu stew. (One of them is a vegetarian who will eat fish every so often.) Our dinners came quickly..hot and steaming. We each received bowls of sticky rice, 20 small kimchi plates & I received a tofu veggie soup with my order. I like to eat the bulgogi wrapped in seaweed wrappers with the sticky rice & various banchan. I did not receive any seaweed wrappers so I asked the waitress whether it was possible to order any. There was a slight language barrier & I am not sure why she seemed to be angry at me. Finally, exasperated she tells me that I get no seaweed. Lettuce & peanut sauce come automatically if I had ordered the bbq for 2, but not with my order. But she brings me a plate of bibb lettuce & peanut sauce anyways. I can give a somewhat accurate description of the 20 side dishes known as banchan or Galbijm that were placed in front of me for those who want to know. You will get potato salad, bean sprouts kimchi, marinated bean sprouts, shredded daikon, cucumber kimchi, nappa cabbage kimchi, baby bokchoy,daikon kimchi, fishy agar, fermented pickles, radishes, marinated spinach, sweetened black beans, 2 kinds of marinated sea weed, pork in egg batter, tofu kimchi, sliced fish, korean greens, and seafood pancake. If it's your first time...a few things to note. The smells of kimchi are very pungent & offensive to some but it is really good. Make sure that you bring breath mints or gum. The taste will remain for several hours, & your body and breath will smell like kimchi. The red dishes tend to be a little bit more spicy & are marinated in alot of garlic and vinegar. It's really not very spicy to me, so be sure to add more hot sauce if you like things hot. The white dishes have a slightly sweetened vinegar taste also high in garlic. As for the green veggies...either it will be steamed with sesame oil, seeds, and garlic, or steamed & salted. I have 2 major complaints besides the parking situation. One, our waitress was quick to take our orders, deliver our food, & leave us our check. We did not receive any more service other then when I asked about the seaweed. My major complaint is their ventilation system. We had not been out to eat anywhere since the smoking bans took effect, so it was a new experience. I did not anticipate the smoke. It was black & reeked of bad chemicals. It was really overwhelming to the point that our eyes stung & we could not breathe. I got to experience what non smokers must have been complaining about all these years. Each table is equipt with a large hood over it. None of them seemed to be working. You could literally see the smoke fill the room instead of being sucked into the hood. It was so bad that we needed to ask for our check. In leaving, all of our clothes & hair reeked. I actually had a semi asthma attack once outside. $20 a person is fairly accurate. The food was awesome though.
(2)
William T.

What a fun time! My wife and I eat out all the time and actually have a log of the restaurants we go to and the food we ate. We ordered the Rib Eye and the Korean Bacon entrees and a few OB Korean Beers. Service was fast and cooking at the table is always fun. But, what really impressed us was the Tsunami of side dishes that came out before we even got the entrees. From kimchi to seaweed and bean sprouts and fried leaks and garlic and jellyfish... well you get the idea (I counted 22 side dishes!). My wife tried them all, I think I missed one or two due to my mental overload of trying to decide what to eat! Before the entrees came we were presented with a delicious sizzling soup of miso broth vegetables and tofu (awesome, and stayed hot in the pot they served it in throughout our meal). The service was good, not great, but I never expect much in the line of service in an Asian restaurant (not to be a jerk, its a fact). The rib eye was tender and we cooked it to a perfect rare+ / medium rare... it could have used a little more seasoning, but that was our own fault because there were plenty of options to enhance the meat (we just got excited and started cooking, something I, as a chef, was a bit ashamed of... oh well, next time). The bacon (and they give you like a whole pound of it) was good. My wife is more used to smoked American bacon and wasn't that impressed, but we both agreed that it was tasty. I will be honest... of the 22 side dishes there were a few, not many that were really not very appetizing (and we are both major food adventurists). Nothing was bad... just a few things we only tried once. There were 3 different Kimchi sides that were all fun and delicious and not overly salty (like most are). The only downside to the restaurant may be that you smell like a fire pit when you leave and that there is no music playing when you eat (at least when we went). Bottom Line: This restaurant is a ton of fun and I strongly recommend it to anyone looking to do something different. The ingredients were all authentic and fresh and the fun of cooking at the table makes the whole thing worth it. Its like fondu for people who aren't in 1973 and is a bit (not much) more healthy. Please support this restaurant so it always is there for us to enjoy. And if you are looking for a cool place to take a date that isn't a "restaurant", this is perfect... it forces conversation and is an icebreaker in itself. Enjoy!
(4)
Gantuya K.

That restaurant's food was okay. But I really do not like some of waitress's service, they have never been nice like so rude. Never smile,always rush, do not speak english etc so many bad thinkgs! Every weekend they do very busy so they do not care customer care! One time after I paid waitress lady asked me about Tip.., I was feeling like...!!!! So so so ridiculous. Never go there again
(1)
Sue Y.

I come back here every time I'm in town. Service is all over the place depending on how busy or short staffed they are. The meat is okay. The portion size is good. What makes this place amazing is the amount of sides they give you and they'll give you more of your favorites if you ask. I've been to famous places in DC and they give you 4 sides for 6 people. We got like 30 for 6 people or something crazy like that. We always get at least 4 people to do the family style dinner. It has all our favorites and the amount of food can't be beat. I've been to at least a dozen Korean BBQ places and this is always a consistent fave for all of us and we're all foodies.
(4)
Johanna C.

one of my dining pals said it best - this place is like the diner of korean food restaurants. it's fairly loud and very casual. we went here on a friday night around 7pm-ish and got seated right away. the parking lot doesn't have a ton of spaces but there are always people in and out so you won't have to wait long. the prices here are average of what you'd pay at cho son ok and solga ($8 for JapChae, $17 for meat). i find that the bulKoKi (that's how it's spelled on the menu) and the short ribs are kind of bland. i recommend putting the garlic they give you on the coals to get some flavor going. i find the meat at solga and cho son ok more flavorful. the JapChae was pretty mediocre. again, kind of bland with ground meat. the service was not bad at all. the waitresses were very attentive and even made suggestions on what we should order and it was very busy. they didn't seem to care about the color of our skin - in fact there were many different kinds of people there. they provide you with a lot of side dishes (a lot of them you couldn't really tell what they were until eating them) - much more than what i've received from any korean restaurant i've been too. you get soup too. overall, the plus is that it's open almost 24 hours so if you're jonesing for korean food in the early morning hours, it's totally worth it to go here. for 4 of us, it cost around $28 a person with tip.
(3)
Stefan L.

Good eats even for late night. Lots of sides. Prepare to leave smelling like the food you just cooked/ate.
(4)
Jennifer N.

We came for dinner on a Saturday night and this is definitely no-nonsense type of place. We were seated after about 15 minute wait and all of the food came out almost immediately (literally 2 minutes after ordering). Lots of food for very low prices too! We totally over-ordered for 4 people and the bill was less than a Bill (including tax and tip). Service has no frills (so efficient its kinda scary - we also got long angry explanation from the owner of why this was not a BYOB facility even if we were willing to pay corkage fee) and the tables feel a bit cramped and very smoky!
(4)
Lim K.

My husband and I have tried several Korean restaurants in Chicago but I have to say San Soo Gab San is our my favorite. There is no other Korean restaurant serves so many BanChan (little dishes) and I love it. Whenever we visit Chicago we really look forward to dining there. When we arrived there on Friday around 7 pm, we were promptly seated and the side dishes were brought to us immediately. The waitress was very attentive and our water glass was refilled a few times during dinner. We ordered fish egg soup, which is one of my husband's favorite Korean dish, and some short ribs to cook on the table. They were all very delicious. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Natasia O.

I'm saddened to write this update and take away one star. The past 3 times we have visited my once fav Korean BBQ spot, my beloved soft tofu stew with seafood was terrible!! Ugh... It was watered down and tasteless!! I'm not sure why this is happening- there should be no reason to cut back on ingredients- the place is jam packed with a line out the door every weekend and weekdays are busy as well. I mentioned the tasteless stew to our waitress and didn't get much of a response- it's not really the kind of place criticism is taken seriously from the white girl who can't even pronounce what she refers to as "tofu stew" and points to the menu when ordering.
(4)
Eddy C.

WHAT I LIKE: I can satiate my Korean BBQ fix at 3 am ... Their meats are top notch in terms of flavor and the portions are decent ... They have a great variety of panchan (the Korean side dishes) and they give you lots of them, at least more so than some of the other Korean BBQ places I've been to ... They recently expanded the place so now you don't have to wait as long while you breathe in all that grilled meat goodness ... Big bottle of OB (Korean beer) washes it all down oh so well WHAT I DON'T LIKE: The pot of burning wood chips that provide the fire for your grilling can be hit or miss -- last time I went, we got a weak fire, which greatly lengthened the amount of time it took to cook our meat ... Service is not always the best, especially if you get a server that doesn't speak English that well or if you don't have a Korean-speaking person in your party ... WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW: While the restaurant does technically have a parking lot, it is a tiny one that fits maybe 10 cars max. But street parking is pretty easy to find and reasonably close by. WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, PART II: To eat Korean BBQ the "traditional" way, put your grilled meat in the lettuce leaves that they provide you and add the thinly sliced vegetables, rice and hot sauce (also provided to you). Wrap it all up and then try to shove the whole thing in your mouth in one bite (operative word being "try"). WHAT I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME EARLIER: Pass on the kalbi and bulgogi (boring but certainly good) and try the chadoebalki (thinly sliced brisket). The meat is unmarinated but it comes with a sesame oil/salt/pepper concoction that tastes fantastic!
(5)
Jeff L.

I have no idea how I have not reviewed this place. I have been coming here for a few years now, and the only thing that has really changed are the prices and the decor slightly. The one downside is that you have to cook your own food, and sometimes I'm lazy. And I know you can ask them to cook it for you in the back, but then that completely defeats the purpose of Korean BBQ. The amount of side dishes they serve is absolutely absurd it's like a dozen little dishes surrounding the table. My favorite side dishes being the seaweed and tiny fish. But they don't always serve the tiny fish which is naturally sad.
(4)
Joscelyn M.

What a great experience - the food was great and it was kinda neat to cook your own. Just a tip - if you go with 10 people, order meat for 7 or so. That's what we did (went with someone in the know), and am so grateful we did. The atmosphere wasn't the best and I went home smelling like smoked meat... maybe that would be a plus for some people, though...
(3)
John H.

This is an experience type of place, but it is a difficult restaurant. We thought it would be fun, but it turned into a hassle because the space was just too small. Also, the meet was hard to cook. Read the other reviews as this place is special, but I will never go back. I suggest you find a place that serves its food cooked.
(2)
Michelle C.

I have been here multiple times. There are times where I crave korean BBQ and I take the drive over to San Soo Gab San, but that has changed. After giving this place business over referrals and going there almost every weekend myself, the place has stabbed me in the back. This Saturday 2/28, we went there for my bf's birthday. Once we got there we were standing around, being ignored by the waitresses for about 10 minutes in the cold! When they decided to seat us they took our order after 10 minutes, and we ordered plenty might I add. So that is about 20 minutes wasted. Once we received our food, they did not give us any rice or offer us any water. We asked for rice 2 times and the waitresses just nodded their heads, without offering any reasoning on the delay. We had to start on our meal because we were starving WITHOUT the RICE!!! Once the rice arrived we were almost done with our meal. My bf's mom ordered a noodle dish, that came as a soup dish near the end of our meal. After we have finished what we had ordered, except for the noodles because it was just gross, we decided to order more food. We placed the order and at this time, there was a group of koreans that were seated right next to us. When the food was brought out, rare meat, they forgot to bring the griddle to grill. We sat in the mist of our meal waiting for the griddle, in this time the korean party was seated, ordered, received their meal, and drinks. We were sitting there waiting for the griddle that never came. We waved down the waitress numerous times and was ignored. Finally, we were able to waved down the bus boys to ask them for the griddle. They came with the griddle after about 5 minutes. During this time that we were waiting for the griddle, there were two parties sitting near us that were waiting for their checks that they never received, and had to walk to the register themselves. When we finally received the griddle, the flame has died and there was only ashes left, no charcoal. When they brought out the meat they have replaced the charcoal, and when we finally was able to grill the charcoal has died, so I am guessing that it is about 20 minutes. We have ignored everything thus far, but the wait has drawn the last straw. I asked to speak to the manager, and the waitress just came and walked away when i was complaining. Another waitress came and yelled back at me. They said that the service that they provided us was very good and we should not be complaining. All the attention was given to the korean party when they entered. Even the screaming waitress left in a mist of our conversation. Once we went to the counter to pay, the screaming waitress came charging at me again, saying that I was disrespecting them, as she pointed at me and screamed. If i was Korean that night, if my party was korean that night i doubt that we would had run into this problem. How do they expect to keep their client tel when they treat them like this? I WILL NEVER GO BACK AGAIN!!!!!! HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!! fab.food, but SERVICE IS HORRIBLE!!!! there are plenty of other korean bbq places out there then to settle with this place! I AM NEVER GOING BACK AND I AM MAKING SURE ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS DON'T EITHER!!!!
(1)
Dan B.

Landed here on a random Tuesday for an impromptu dinner with a friend. I had no idea what to expect walking in and was surprised at how crowded it was at 9 PM...though I suppose they are open until 4am every day, which in and of itself baffles me. The service here is no frills order your meats, they show up with a table full of tiny bowls full of everything from pickled veggies, to unflavored gelatin, to processed potato salad, oh and don't forget the tiny dried fish (the only one I didn't try), along with a huge plate of meat, rice, and soup. I liked everything i tried, especially the marinated short rib mixed with some of the spicy side dishes. In addition to everything else there was a plate with a bunch of lettue leaves banded together, I am still unclear of the proper use of these, we tried making lettuce wraps but that didn't work out so well so they remain a mystery. Prices were a little higher than I expected though with everything that is included, and the presumed costs of running such an establishment, they weren't out of line. The one thing I was still left wondering is that they much have a massive fire pit full of hot coals in back somewhere, because the demand seems to be nonstop, and it is a quite large place. All in all if you like meat and pickled things, as I do, this is an experience worth having.
(4)
Grace M.

I was looking for a good Korean BBQ place by me and this place came up. The food was ok...but the service was terrible. The bi bim bop was bland. The portions are on the small side...I find this to be typical for most Korean BBQ joint. I think after trying so many Korean places...I'll just marinade my own beef and make my own Korean BBQ. The only thing I like is that they have many different side dishes.
(2)
G S.

Yeah yeah - what she said :) Take a look at Audrey J's review for this place - dead on - I couldn't have said it better. -G
(5)
Trish W.

I can no longer recommend ordering any sushi here based on my last visit. I had a side order of a spicy tuna maki roll. My friend had 1 piece; I had the rest. I became extremely sick 24 hours later. Luckily it subsided by the next day for the most part, and except for needing to catch up on rehydrating myself , I was OK. I'm aware this is big claim to make against a restaurant, and I'm not making it casually. I make this assumption based on the fact that my friend and I shared everything on the table except the sushi, (she had 1 small piece), I ate nothing the next day, and I've had food poisoning before . Actually, I would eat here again.....all the soups and meats were fantastic. I suspect maybe the sushi sat out at room temp for too long. However, if it's 3 am and you're craving some hot Korean food, this is your palace. By the way, you will stink of smoke!
(2)
Vino o.

Went in for a new experience, probably should have gone with 4 less people because there was all too much stuff on the table. Defiantly not user friendly, could have used a more orderly approach and less stand offish careless approach. Clearly not geared to the inexperienced curious crowd, and probably won't ever return.
(1)
Jay C.

Many a late nights have been here rehydrating my body from a night of grave alcohol consumption. There aren't too many Korean restaurant choices after midnight in Chicago but San Soo Gap San has been a stable late night stop with above average quality food. I find myself always striking up a conversation with new comers to Korean dining walking them through some of the selections. Always a large selection of panchan and the stews hit the spot if you are not in the mode for bbq. Like most other Korean restaurants don't expect to be waited on like it's Spago, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hand and get the attention of the various ahjuma's (the Korean ladies who run the joint like a 1920's Ford assembly line) to get a refill on some panchan. Actually I'm kinda getting hungry thinking about the dol sot bi bim bap right now...anyone down for a late night run? Good eats, reasonable prices, and it's open 24 hours (I only need a good half hour to sober up after a good hearty meal).
(4)
Imran A.

friendly chill atmosphere. seafood omelet is really good and so is the bbq beef in Korean spice. but the short ribs were not very good at all. Wouldn't really call them short ribs, just a slab of bone. authentic grill gives awesome flavor to the meat. a lot of side dish options comes with the bbq, almost overwhelming, but kinda cool to try out different stuff.
(4)
Nastassia J.

Went here with the in-laws. While the food was very very good and our waitress was pleasant, it was a bit overpriced. About $18 per person, and I've been to other KBQ joints where it was $18/couple. Overall very good though, and maybe worth the extra money since it was close to my neighborhood and seemed very safe and clean.
(4)
Elizabeth H.

I am in no way a Korean food know-it-all (I usually order what is suggested to me)... but I have never had a bad meal at san soo gab san. This place is at the corner of my block... so 5 stars for convenience! I have typically been there in pretty large groups, which I am told is a great way to experience a variety of dishes at this particular BBQ. We usually just get a few combination platters and pass them around. Food wise, this place gets 4 stars from me... but there was a definite docking due to repeated bad experiences with the wait staff. There was only one time where I would say I was treated well by the waitress, and it was a time that I went with a few Korean friends of mine who did most of the ordering for the table. If you are in the area, check this place out! and a reminder... Berwyn (the cross street the restaurant is located at) is a 2-way street and the south side is NO parking... you will get ticketed... and royally piss off all of us trying to get to our houses. :)
(3)
Rick F.

GF and I went with another couple. Good fun for a double date. I found the food to be authentic as compared to what friends from Korea actually taught me to make in my kitchen. You cook the meat/poultry/seafood your self on a grill dropped into the table.
(4)
Lori T.

The condiments are awesome. Seafood pancake for an appetizer was a good choice, marinated beef short ribs were good, soft tofu seafood soup was nice and spicy, and pork belly was good but really smoky on the grill. Be prepared to take off your shoes if you sit in a big booth in the center. Good service, waitstaff had us laughing.
(4)
Minners N.

hands down, my favorite korean bbq place in chicago. I've been here a few times and this last time totally blew me away. First, they've expanded!!!! No more 1 hour waits then crammed into a seat next to another party. They totally took over the lil strip mallish place and is 3 times its original size. we had a party of 12 on a saturday night and no wait at all. i love it! I really like the meat here compared to other bbq places. It's not all you can eat, but it's enough to fill you and then some. our party tried some kinda of combination party deal. they had a few options- we did the $19.95 for california roll, dumplings, chaep jae (?) and seafood pancake IN ADDITION to a plate of meat and lots and lots of lil side dishes. this was the cheapest option but i can't imagine it getting better than this. the seafood pancake is soooo good. i dont know what's in it but it was sooo good. Meats. we tried the bulgogi and kalbi and squid. the bulgogi wasn't that great. not marinated enough. we quickly got it replaced for kalbi- no questions asked. the kalbi was nice and tender and so very flavorful. the squid was a favorite too. i dont usually like squid but it was marinated so well here. service was ok. above most korean bbq places but that's not saying much. the "bus boys" were very on top of replacing our tabletop grills and refilling water. and like any other korean bbq place, it's always helpful (though not mandatory here) to have a korean person in your party. one surprise, i didn't smell like bbq the rest of the day. or maybe since i was surrounded by the same crowd the rest of the night i didn't notice it. i will be back. hopefully in a party of 5 or more to get that combination party deal. *drool*
(5)
Cookies C.

Absolutely horrific service. MY FIRST TIME BEING KICKED OUT OF A RESTAURANT!!! I went into the restaurant to attend a birthday dinner. Our party had 18 people in total. As we were waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, the waitress repeatedly came to our table and asked if we were ready to order. When everyone arrived, the waitress asked, "Is anyone Korean here? No one is Korean? Do you know how to order?" I found it very insulting. Her tone was not very nice. Anyway, we started to order and yes, we did not order much. We order about 4 kalbi, side dishes, and beers. The waitress said, "No, you have to order more." We told her that we would order more food later. She replied no. I don't think she even understood what we were trying to say. She kept telling us to order more food and when we kept saying that is all we want for now, she left our table to talk to someone. She returned to our table and told us they cannot serve us. She gave us the bill for the beers that we have ordered. I understand it is hard to do business when there is a large party and they do not order much. However, it is extremely wrong to kick someone out of a restaurant because they did not order a lot of food. Restaurants usually charge extra per person if that was the case. This restaurant did not even bother to charge us extra. They just told us they could not serve us. In addition, I felt the waitresses are very racist. A majority of my party was Chinese. They did not take time to take our order, they were extremely demanding, and their tone of voice was not friendly at all. I will never return to this restaurant and I hope you will think twice about going. No one deserves service like this.
(1)
david n.

I would give it 5 stars if the service was better. The ladies there are curt and blunt bordering rude but I can get past that because I still enjoyed my meal here. We only go here for the grilling - don't bother if you're not going to cook your own meat at the table because you may as well go to any other korean restaurant. The draw here is that they use real charcoal as opposed to gas. Yes, it gets really smoky but that's where the flavor comes from. Min 2 orders of meat for the use of the grill at your table otherwise they cook it for you in the kitchen. Oh, don't even bother with that little parking lot, you're better off finding street parking.
(4)
Chocolate H.

So the wife and I decided to check this place out for lunch since it has good rating on yelp. Biggest mistake ever. Let's do a countdown on why this place sucks. 1. Parking: The parking spaces were created by someone with a smartcar. Even with my versa it was pain in the ass to get out of the parking lot without the wife getting out the car and helping. 2. Smokey: The place uses buckets of burning wood chips as the source of heat to boil the water at your table. So be prepared to smell like hickory when leaving there. 3. Dangerous for Children: To many open flames and waitstaff walking around with buckets of burning wood chips for me to comfortable to any small childrend there.. 4. Place is a bit small: The tables here are kind of low. But I'm 6'2 and most clientel appears to be 5'2. . 5. Service. So most authentic asian restaurants service usually a little slow. But we had to flag down multiple service people before before we could even get a menu and that's after waiting ten minutes. After we figure out what we wanted to eat it took another ten minutes and multiple hand waving before we could place order. And to make matters worst multiple table that came after we sat down were served before us. So after i complained that our food was taking to long to come out. Lo and behold ten second later our food came out. Then one of waitresses had audacity to tell us that we should had our food cooked at our table and not in the kitchen it would have come out faster. Thanks for the heads up b**ch. The wife thinks the service was treating us bad cause I was Black. Personally I don't want waste my energy on those thoughts. I should have just walked out but I was hungry and food smelled and it looked so good. BTW the food was decent. I definitely will not be coming back here. . TLDR; Service REALLY sucks and food was o.k.
(1)
Crystal L.

This is one of my favorite after club spots. I use to think it was opened 24 hours until I was kicked out around 5am. The kalbi and bulgogi here is awesome and I like cooking it to perfection myself (or having my boyfriend do it for me). I also like the boodae jigae and yuk gae jang soups. The side dishes are one of the best parts. I love the potato dish. The one thing I must warn you though is its almost always crowded when I go and the employees are not that friendly especially if you don't speak korean and even more so if you don't order the more expensive dishes on the menu.
(4)
Melissa H.

My favorite Korean restaurant!!! Its the most authentic korean you'll get, unless you have a korean mom. Try everything! You won't be disappointed. There may be a long line and poor service if you go during rush times which can be any time if its on Fri, Sat, or Sun.
(5)
Marvin A.

A great late night BBQ place. It's also a great post drinking/clubbing/barhopping snack place. Comes with a TON of side dishes. Do not expect great service but do expect a fun group experience (especially if you opt to grill on the table). This place is not for the picky eater or someone not used to oriental tastes/cuisine.
(4)
Chette I.

Good food, good price, quick service...my fave is their bi bim bap...i never get tired of ordering it everytime...i just needed to take a shower once I get home to take off all the smokey scent I got from 'barbequing'...lol
(5)
Sue L.

This place is amazing. Always seems to be busy but they are fast and courteous. They have an extensive menu and the food is quite good. we will be back.
(4)
Tony M.

Meat had no flavor wat so ever didnt finish the meal the expierance was not a good one lights went out in the nieghborhood and the airvents shut down and smoke was everywhere people started running out and the wateresses screaming u must pay in a pich dark resturants it was crazy
(2)
Jason K.

I went here after clubbing, then drinking at a bar, and then karaoke. I must admit I was wonderfully surprised how good a 24hr Korean restaurant could actually taste. It was very good 4am in the morning. Creativity - N/A (Traditional Korean) Presentation - 2 (Basically how your mom would serve you dinner if she was Korean) Service - 5(Very attentive, hell incredible service 4am) Atmosphere - 3 Flavor - 4 Execution - 4
(4)
Matt C.

I love the food i love the decor i love the smoke i love the korean service. But they close the restaraunt at random hours. Used to be 5, sometimes 3 sometimes they are closed at 2. That to me is unacceptable i want meat at 440 am dammit.
(1)
Erica W.

San Soo Gab San is not just a restaurant - its an experience. Don't go in there wearing anything too fancy because your clothes will smell like BBQ smoke afterward. I always order the Bulgogi (sp?) - which is this thinly sliced marinated beef, and you grill it yourself on these mini charcoal bbq grills right on your table. I love how they bring out all of the side items - I don't know what half of them are, but they're all good. Just eat. Fun place to go with group, on a date, or with a couple of friends. Afterward, go to Cafe Selmarie for dessert, and finish off the night at Lincoln Karaoke. That's how I like to kick it in Lincoln Square!
(4)
J C.

Meets my needs for Korean food when it comes upon me. It is my go to place for Korean food in Chicago.
(4)
Amy T.

I've never been disappointed like last night. Every time I came with my friend, we always ordered bbq baby octopus and they were always good until last9. A drop down taste if I don't want to say it taste really bad. Wondering if it deserves another try.
(1)
Matthew S.

Hot sizzling meat. 2 pieces of hot sizzling meat. That would be me and krsna. After returning from one of his many illustrious lectures, krsna was in the mood for some Korean BBQ. I'd never experienced it before. And as I'd helped his ass move not ONE piece of furniture up two flights of stairs but TWO - he owed me. First : dress down. You will smell like BBQ smoke and meat when you leave. Second: be prepared to get your eat on. We were promptly seated (an anomaly according to my dining companion) and I noted the table had a huge industrial hood over it. Like in chemistry class. And there was a big hole in the table. Soon after we were given menus, little dishes and a pair of chopstick. Well, two pair. We didn't share our eating utensils. I allowed krsna to order - marinated beef, and spicy octopus! Our grill was brought out and placed in the hole in the table! Now I understood - it wasn't a handy compartment for my man purse. A few minutes later - not one, not two - but about 38 little side bowls arrived on the table, filled with everything from seaweed to beansprouts to pickled daikon. Then the meat arrived. We put it on the grill with the tongs we were provided with. It was amusing watching the little octopi dance around on the grill while they cooked. I should note that this isn't a quicky dinner. We got there around 8, and left about 10:15. The flavors were out of this world, and everything tasted so fresh. I loved that everyone there was in a great mood. We had the option to sit on the floor without our shoes on, but we opted to sit at a booth. I actually felt like a little kid. Like I was playing with my food. I had no idea what I was eating out of the little bowls - but there was NOTHING left when we got up from the table. It was absolutely delicious. I'd totally suggest going here with a bunch of friends. The ambiance is lacking - but taste, and the fun of grilling your own food makes up for it. I am excited to go back and share this with old friends, and new ones. And yes. I did smell like meat when I left. But I don't know if that was such a bad thing.
(5)
Phoebe W.

Oh, San Soo Gab San... I had so many high hopes for you based on all these stellar Yelp reviews. I felt that the second the staff figured out I wasn't Korean, service took a nosedive. Not only was it painfully slow, they moved my friend & I across the restaurant after we had already sat down just because we weren't getting the BBQ. The side that we had to move to was poorly ventilated, so we were practically choking on other peoples' BBQ smoke. Gross. The only redeeming qualities about this place are the side dishes! I don't know the names of all of them, but there was something with potatoes that was quite tasty.
(2)
Susan M.

Food was decent, not known for their ambience. I remember the ole days of a Korean restaurant on Lincoln that my mom used to take me to and my memories are fond. This was good, but not as good as my memories. We had the Kalbi and the ribeye barbeque... both marinated and we cooked them on our own little grill in the center of the table. You get about 20 or more little side dishes, all veggie based with splashes of seafood everywhere. All good and a nice accompaniment to the meat. They also serve with a salty sesame oil dipping sauce that really compliments as well. Overall a good experience. Fun for groups most def. You will need a shower and shampoo after dining here.
(3)
Johnny R.

Just wanted to update my review we finally dined after talking about it for a couple of years. My 4 and 6 year olds poked at everything with suspicions, but I was able to get them to eat the ton katsu and some bul-go-gi. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The restaurant does get pretty smoky as you can cook at your table, so sensitive diners beware.
(4)
Ai A.

I love love love love this place !!! My Korean friends took me and my BF. ahhh we so want to go back. They brought a hot grill out infront of us and we cooked on it as we eat. the beef came with lots of side dishes which i never tasted/seen before. but they were all so great. oh also, you can have lettuce to wrap the meat. try it ! it is fantastic! the best restaurant ever! If you wonder, there are lots of non-korean people there. you do not have to feel odd if you are not Korean...
(5)
Cameron H.

Another great FIND!!!! Thanks AP!! With regards to the food, delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the option to prepare your own food over an open fire. Picture it, a restaurant, lots of booths, in the middle of the booth is a table with a whole (square) in the middle of it. After your order your meat of choice (we ordered baby squid, chicken, and beef) they bring out a cauldron with charcoals and a tiny grill on top of it. This is placed in the center of the table and you are able to grill your food however you desire. After ordering the meat options, very small sides are brought out. I believe there were about 15 options. Amazing. On top of that, a version of miso soup and white rice is served. OMG!!! So, for about 24 bucks a person (we divided everything three ways), this wasn't bad at all. Well worth the money. I highly recommend going to this place!!!
(4)
Sara L.

Pros: - Lots of side dishes to eat and try, especially if you're not comfortable with Korean food - Fairly large restaurant so there's hardly a wait - Not necessarily a place where you get bang for a buck, but pricing is fair for what you get in quality and quantity Cons: POOR AND SLOW SERVICE! They tried to bring us our check without giving each of us the soup that is included in the meal and when we complained about it, they didn't apologize and didn't seem to care. Instead, they threw us our soups and ignored our table for at least 30 minutes after. FYI, there is a buzzer on every table that lets the servers know you need something....but apparently everyone was deaf that day. Overall, it was a very AVERAGE outing for Korean BBQ. I'd rather go wait in line at Cho Sun Ok....and you should too.
(2)
Kymberly J.

This was a whole new very cool experience for me. This is the kind of stuff I live for. Wow, I sound a little over excited but new and different food is Fun! So i had no idea what to expect. We looked at the menu and fumbled our way to the BBQ. I knew I wanted the fire pit at my table. My friend steps away and I ordered the chicken and the short ribs to the servers recommendation. So then I am sitting there alone and a woman comes by and unloads a million little dishes of mystery foods all over the table. What's going on? Did I order this? I guess I did. Another woman must have noticed our bewilderment so she came along and asked if this was our first time and started explaining the deal. You grill your wonderfully seasoned meat and then one way to go is to take a large lettuce leaf and add meat and the mystery foods from the little dishes on and eat it like a wrap or you can just pick at stuff. The little dishes are filled with thing that I have no idea of the name. It were good though! Some of the things I recognized was black beans, bean sprouts, kimchee, broccoli... It was super fun and oh sooooo tasty!
(4)
Crystal R.

I've decided that this places needs a new name. It should be called "Happy Belly," because when you leave, your belly sure is happy! My husband and I are not Korean, but we felt very comfortable here and received good service. We ordered the beef kai bi (about $19) and spicy pork kai bi (about $17), and were not disappointed! The meat is simply melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. The banchan was incredibly generous (we counted and there were 19 small plates!), and their was complimentary soup brought before the meal (kind of like a miso soup with tofu and cut up veggies - spicy and very yummy). All I know is - I may not know what half of what I ate was, but I know it was YUMMY! Plus, it's always a good sign when we walk into a Korean food place and see lots of other Korean families eating there. Just a note that this place uses a coal fired grill (some use gas cook top grills), which I've read is more authentic. Another note is that they serve sushi, and seem to have a sushi bar next door that is connected to the Korean bbq place. My belly is thanking me for this trip!
(4)
Craig R.

I can't really say much outside what other people have already said. The short: -Tons of sides -All the meat we ordered was great -They kept the beer coming :) -They replaced our grill rack several times when requested -The service was great (I think it really helped to have someone speaking Korean) -We did a special for 8 people and about 10 large beers, so it ran about 40 a person I'd say you're fine to come with a group, but make a reservation. All in all everything was excellent, so I won't bore you with a long review.
(5)
Amy C.

The best part about this place is the banchan (appetizers) and the generous portions of meat! I like the unmarinated kalbi (short ribs), which was really fresh. My fiance had the marinated kalbi and he thought the marinate was just ok, not great. We had leftover meat which never happened to us before at other restaurants! The meat dishes are $18-20 each and you have to order 2 (you choose) to have it cooked at the table. The bbq meats come with the banchan, rice and soup. I hope to come back again!
(4)
Cindy D.

First of all - I love Korean food! It's listed at my favorite meal in my personal info. So it already gets high stars for that. I just went with my bf, got an order of Kalbi and tofu chigae. When only ordering one Kalbi, they actually cook it in the kitchen for you, so I was happy about that. Both entrees were delish, pon chon was very good and they are willing to refill, and service is alway attentive. The only con doesn't deal with the food but the ambience. It's kinda chilly b/c the fans bring in a breeze plus you definately need to wash your hair and clothes b/c you will be stinky. But you can't expect anything better than that for Korean BBQ.
(4)
Monica J.

I like this place because it is a no-frills restaurant for tasty Korean barbecue. I've been here about four or so times, and each time I make sure to sample all their offerings at the food stand. San Soo Gab San is a serve yourself, all-you-can eat place. It's also BYOB! The food stand area in the front area of the restaurant has soups, various Korean banchan (side dishes), lettuce leaves for making wraps, dipping sauces, and of course the raw marinated meat for you to grill on the table. You can ask for assistance cutting or even grilling the meat if it's your first time. I love all the side dishes, particularly the spicy miso soup, pancake (when it is available) and kimchi. The meat itself is well marinated, however I did find some of the beef cuts to have more cartilage than I like. I highly recommend the sesame oil and salt dipping sauce (my favorite!) Overall, I like coming here when I get Korean BBQ cravings. It's about $25-30/person (I don't recall the exact price), so come extra hungry and bring beer or other alcohol to get your money's worth.
(4)
Suvi H.

Came here for lunch today. Ordered bunch famous dishes. We ordered 2 soon tofu stews. But one of the order was way salty than other. How come the same meal can be taste differently? And also other place has better seafood pancake. Bibimbap was ok... By the way, the table were very very sticky! They should learn more about how to keep the table clean!
(2)
Will T.

I came here for the first time in about 4 years. Food was ok. Had the marinated rib eye. Nothing to write home about but it wasn't bad. What was terrible was the service. The waitress want especially rude but it was impossible to get her attention. After the end if the meal we still didn't get our napkins. She brought the sauce I was supposed to eat my second dish with like 20 minutes after bribing the dish after it was almost gone. And the kicker- a mandatory tip on a party of 4 with the terrible service that came up to adopt 26%. Like this lady's math was WAY off.
(1)
Kyle D.

Overall: 3.5 in reality, but a great place to enjoy lots of meat and options with a group. The good: Plenty of options to choose from, from meats to bipimbop to entrees. You won't leave hungry. The meats were great and marinated well. The bad: The servers were overwhelming in the beginning, and then as soon as we ordered everything covered the table. They hardly gave us time to get set up or even open our drinks. The restaurant had a not-so-clean feel. They didn't "pam" the grills so meat kept sticking. The pork belly bacon was frozen. On the more expensive side overall. Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Service: 7.5/10 Food: 7.5/10
(3)
Vee V.

I ate here 18 hours ago, showered, changed clothes, and I still smell like a Korean BBQ. Holy shit people, get better vents in here. This place was smoky and loud. The servers yelled over to us and pointed at a table for us to seat ourselves. I read the reviews on the bad service. I also already know that Asian restaurants everywhere generally suck at service, I'm immune to it. Our table by the way, was next to the pile of dirty stinky shoes left from diners who sat in the authentic "Asian" area where they had to step up them down into. Gross. We did the BBQ of course with bulgogi and pork belly. I tried to order tempura oysters, but they said they don't serve it until 10pm, it was 9:46pm. The bulgogi, thin marinated beef, was very good. Pork belly, not so much. I wish they oiled the grill pan. My meat kept getting stuck, that was annoying. I usually love banchan (side dishes), but this was overkill. They covered our entire table with it. I could have done without the coleslaw, potato salad, black beans, and yellow pepper sides. I thought I was at a Korean restaurant here...what the hell was that shit? Our server never came back, I would have liked more lettuce to get my bulgogi wrap on. I also had to hunt her down to get our bill. Par for the course on service. Food was okay.
(2)
J C.

I used to frequent this restaurant back 10 years ago, but I had forgotten all about it after I moved out of the city. Recently, I have been bringing visitors who crave decent Korean food. When you first walk in, depending on the time of day, it can be quite smokey inside due to Korean BBQ. If you go during non-busy hours, it is pretty chill & quiet with fast service from the server ladies. Yesterday was one of the times when I experienced fast and decent service after the WIPEOUT RUN in Chicago. My husband, my good friend and I were all starving and ordered as soon as we could. They always bring out a huge number of ban-chan (side dishes) with small, yet perfect portions to enjoy along side the main dish. Waters were refilled quickly, and our orders came out fast as well. I ordered dol-sot bibimbap, my friend ordered gamjatahng, and my husband got the donkatsu. All of us thoroughly enjoyed our large portion-sized meals!
(4)
Celestina P.

okay.... so I said I would never try this place (see previous review)..... sure enough.. I ended up eating here with a few of my friends one night. Putting the rudeness of the person on the other end of the phone in the past, the quality and taste of their food meets my expectations for a typical korean restaurant. I ordered their Kalbi which came out sizzling on its plate. The service wasn't bad or great (typical for korean restaurants these days).
(3)
Elsie Y.

I have been to this place for several times. They have great appetizers with very big portion. Steaks are all good here! But it is hard to park! Anyway, it is a great place for hanging out with friends!
(5)
Rosa D.

We came around 7pm on a Tuesday night with a group of 5 people. Service was great, food was great, an all around awesome experience! This was my 2nd time and both times have had no issues with service.
(4)
Kevin V.

My absolute favourite spot for Korean BBQ in Chicago. The amount of side dishes and the flavour and selection of meats is truly astounding. Just the side dishes themselves may leave your table overflowing (potentially a con) but to those who love trying different things, it'll hit you up and add the best accents to your KBBQ. The meat themselves are wonderful and true, being cut thin enough to cook but plentiful enough to get succulent bites. My bulgogi was cut a little to big though, I wish I had asked for scissors (or been provided with some). To me, this San Soo Gab San hits the best cravings for KBBQ when my party can't handle All-You-Can-Eat or in general. The pricing is fair for KBBQ, and the location proximity to Asia on Argyle is pretty sweet. Definitely consider visiting for a non-AYCE and bountiful experience!
(5)
Rochelle R.

I would give this place 5 stars BUT the service is TERRIBLE! They're super nice but it's almost like because you cook you're own meat, they don't feel the need to come by and refill water or anything else. (They also add gratuity to your bill automatically.) The food itself is amazing, meat is always good and fresh, and the little sides they give are always great.
(4)
Julie T.

Usually Korean bbq joints have really bad customer service but I see this place working on becoming better. I really like the quality of the meat. It's hard to find any in the city. It was pretty expensive place to get kbbq but the quality won't disappoint you. I just wish they had better ventilation. I came home smelling like kbbq and I never have that problem with other kbbq spots I went to. Their pork belly was amazing! I just wished they didn't leave the bone in the meat.
(3)
Nektaria R.

I have wanted to go to this place for a long while. Is visiting a friend who's family member was having wake next door. So, being in the area, heck, why not. Never having Korean barbecue before, we didn't know what to expect.... She tried to explain things to us, and I think we got it, I think there should've been more meat for us to cook. They brought out a ton of small dishes of pickled goodies. It was an experience. Definitely need to go back with someone who knows how to properly order.
(3)
Emily L.

Mandatory tip?! There are three of us, NOT a party, less than 30 mins eating time. When the bill arrived, my husband found out a 15%-20% tip on there. We are surprised and asked the waitress about it, she said tip was included. If I was the one paying the bill, I won't even noticed that and pay an extra tip. Pay attention to your bills people! They won't mention a thing if you do not find it out yourself! Just did the calculation again, it was a 22% tip. I wish I took it back or captured a photo of that hand writing bill. Then I'll have my first yelp photo upload
(1)
Anthony N.

First Korean BBQ experience in Chicago and I wasn't disappointed. Don't go to KBBQ if you expect to not smell like meat after. It's just not possible. The banchan spread here was impressive in quantity and quality, and we had no trouble getting refills on the ones we wanted more of. The marinated kalbi was surprisingly very good. The meat was tender and had the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The pork belly was not as good; I found it to be overly dry. Charcoal grill adds that extra smoky flavor and plates were changed when needed without request. A lot of people are complaining about service. These folks just need to learn how to call servers over whenever they need something. Asian restaurant/food culture...get used to it. Averaged about $30pp for our two meat orders. It's pricey but we left very full.
(4)
Soo H.

Came here because our usual spot "Chon Son...?" On Lincoln was way too crowded. Being legit Korean, my standards were very high. First, the parking and seating situation is better than others, a lot more space (though parking still sucked just a little and had to find street parking). The amount of side dishes were enormous, never seen anything like it. They must of brought over 20 side dishes. Picture of my friend with side dishes They had TINY amount, but you can ask for more, but because there were SO much, we didn't end up asking for anything more. Ordered 2 Garbi, seafood pajan, and yookgaejiang. Lots of food. Everything was great. One downside is that I realized that I'm getting to like less and less 'cook your own meat at table" style of eating, stresses me out. The wait staff were VERY unattentative, typical Korean restaurant, you have to yell and make yourself heard in order to survive :) I will go back to my usual Cho Son place, but if I see a long line out the door, I will drive to this place without any hesitation.
(4)
Jeffrey T.

Well for me it's a three on the cleanliness. The food is there and you know what your getting. Service is fast. The soups are piping hot but you have to know what your ordering or you'll hate it. They really don't explain what your getting as their English is I have no idea. I've taken many a soup home for the trash. If you know what you want stick with that. Get the grill your safe with that but insist on a new grate. Otherwise you'll eat charcoal.
(3)
Cecilia P.

We were seated in the upper area where the tables were lower, had to remove shoes, and seating was more of an Asian style. Loved it cause many restaurants don't do that. I am visiting from Dallas btw. Pork belly was my favorite. Lots of sides. Very busy on a Saturday night. Ordered soju and plum wine. Staff was great since we were a party of 26.
(5)
Keith H.

The food was decent but the service was TERRIBLE. The waitress threw the menus (which was not enough menus for all of us at the table) at the edge of the table and walked off. Then when our food came, she leaves it at the same far edge of the table without saying anything, and walks off. Maybe that's just their thing. Bad service. But cheap prices. It's a good place, but I wouldn't head back there anytime soon. I'm thinking more this is a place that you stop when you are starving to death and have to stop for food.
(3)
Kris L.

What a horrible night! Me and my parents came in here for a quick fix of bbq craving since we are around the area. We would usually go to gyu kaku best place ever. Walked in the restaurant and have to wait 3 minutes for someone to notice and seated us to a table when it's not even busy. We then ordered pork belly, kalbi, and yukkaejang(spicy beef noodle soup). The pork belly was not seasoned, the kalbi was not the best of quality and the shredded beef from the beef had a weird taste to it, like being in the fridge too long. The side dishes were nice but I wish they could have oiled our grill a little bit more because the meat kept sticking to it. The overall experience was not good, if you want good quality and adequate service please go to gyu kaku and not even half as expensive. I got charged 120 plus tip on a shitty dinner like this.
(2)
Sumita B.

We came here on a Monday at 10 PM. Waited for 10 mins for a table. There were a couple of tables which left because they didn't get any service. We were tempted to leave, but then the wait staff gave us their table. We were hesitant to leave, but decided to stay since we have been here before. Since we only have 3 people with us we weren't allowed to order off the group special. Husband and I ordered pork belly and ribeye to grill. These were about 20 a piece. Received one steak and a small plate of pork belly. Pork belly stuck to grill and burned very easily. Made our table very smokey. Also ordered chop chae, this was okay. Not a lot of meat included. Price was about 9 dollars. We also ordered seafood chigae. This was a smaller bowl with some seafood. Be prepared for slow service. If you want something you have to waive someone down to get water and anything else. Plus side you get 20 + side bon chan....or side dishes :) Be prepared to smell like meat and charcoal!
(3)
Gary P.

food is okay. But the service is so bad. And they charged 20% tips for a table for 4. I won't come back again.
(2)
Mark Y.

My recent visit to San Soo Gab San was my first one to a Korean establishment in Chicago. Crisp and Del Seoul don't count. So, maybe it's not fair for me to compare this joint to other restaurants in other cities that easily have Korean restaurants at a much higher level. We ordered Korean BBQ, so my review is based entirely on this experience. First off, the grills here are complete ghetto. They use basically a mini fire pit with wood charcoal and top it off with a modified toaster oven rack. The "grill" wasn't seasoned like it should had been, so we basically lost 1/3 of our bulgogi to the grill. To note, the bulgogi plate probably had at the most 2/3 lbs of marinated meat on it at the most. For $22 plus, the value was horrendous. The ribeye ($27) was more abundant, definitely a much better value and cooked really well on the grill. Go figure, they skimp on the lesser quality bulgogi and give more pricier ribeye. Yes, sides are abundant, but they don't bother offering refills. Overall, the meat quality was average - on par with the $15 AYCE places in K-town in LA. I wasn't expecting any sort of service here, so I wasn't overly disappointed by the shit service received. I was bummed that they didn't have those red call buttons that you find at other Korean restaurants. The food was acceptable but the value sucked. I would consider returning down the road, but I'd stay away from the BBQ.
(2)
Julie K.

Worst Korean BBQ restaurant ever! Ordered 2 types of meat. One was marinated which should not be. Another meat(Cha dol ba gi) was totally bad. It did not look like Chadol or tasted like Chadol at all. Such a poor quality but over priced. The charcoal was artifical so no reason to visit again.
(1)
Mia T.

Dinner with friends, our usual favorite cho sun oak had a line so we opted to go to Sam Soo... Great side dishes, they are known for many side dishes.. Had seafood pancakes, kalbi & juk ka jung soup... Not the best Korean BBQ but Americans like it a lot & very convenient... If you like to try Korean-American KOREAN BBQ then this is the place to go!!! Bon appetite!!!
(3)
Jenny K.

I think sometimes you just have to be in the mood for Korean, and tonight just wasn't for me. Nevertheless the group I was with left with a full kimchi and saki belly! Tons of leftovers. They only take reservations for parties of 9+ as it fills up quickly on a Saturday night. No worries, we arrived at 6 with 6 to fire away some beef. If you're not looking to cook your own meat, fear not - ample "regular" tables exist. Goon Mandu - dumplings Tendons and Tongue - we only had one taker Spam and sausage soup Sushi bar, new renovations and despite the the service you might think you'd get at a Korean BBQ joint, this place delivered. Water was refilled constantly, we were checked up on a number of times, including swapping out our grill plate at least 6 times
(3)
Doreen M.

Overpriced food. The restaurant is a bit dirty with the sticky table. Won't come back again. There is other better Korean restaurant.
(1)
Saina B.

Wanted to have some hot spicy soup along with a couple of dishes for myself and my sick sister. Food tastes okay but maybe we were both hungry and tired. But everytime we get there to eat we lose appetite because of those extremely rude, angry old ladies who work there. I literally beg, smile and be super nice to them to get something. And even tip them pretty good. But dont wanna go there again. Ever! Very unwelcoming and the worst service. Even I leave a bad review here, they prob dont give sh*t. Thats how they are!! What a shame!
(1)
Chi N.

So many complimentary side dishes that I felt like I could get full on them alone!! The experience is more authentic and casual than Gyu Kaku with much bigger portion. Service was a bit awkward but that's what you typically get in a native Asian restaurant I get haha. Also good when you come in a big group
(3)
Bianca D.

this place gets really busy. So busy the servers forget their manners. i thought our server hated us. What did I do? I pleaded mentally. Please tell me! The banchan, a HUGE amount of banchan. Not all so bad..some sketch. The grill I really admired. Loved the flavor that came from it. The lettuce in korean BBQ is really important for me. I saw some bruises. Let's just say the next time I chicago, it won't be in this establishment.
(2)
Sue M.

The food are good here, they give you a table of ban chon. But if you don't speak Korean, they are not going to give you good customer service.
(3)
Sharon L.

It doesn't make any sense .we hear about this place BBQ is very famous ï¼Œsearch online menu they open until 3:00ï¼ˆafter noon night ï¼‰ so we decided to try and so exciting , we spend an hour drive to arrive ...we came here at 12:50. And the waitress tell us they close at 1:00.if you already change you opening hour you should change you online menu ï¼Œor notice paper in front your door ã€at least let people know .you totally waste our time ï¼ï¼ we should sleeping at good dream not disappointed on the way back
(1)
Joy R.

This is one of the most famous Korean restaurant in Chicago. They have been here forever and many non koreans go here. Their food is authentic enough and tastes pretty good in general. They have plenty of spicy and non spicy options and you can't go wrong with table bbq. One draw back is their servers. They are often plain rude to simplest request at your table and if you dare to carry out Friday night you might feel like they hate you personally.
(4)
Alex C.

The food's pretty good; not amazing, but average to above average Korean BBQ. The service was garbage; they brought the food, then never came back to the table even once. Funny thing is, the place wasn't even that busy. No checks on whether there was sufficient water or whatever, no checks at all. The most beautifully insane part about that is they put in a service charge without telling you on the menu if you have 5 or more in your party. A service charge... even though there's no service. Wow. There are much better places to spend your money. This place should really be rated $$$ instead of $$ for pricing.
(1)
Jy L.

All the Waitresses are very rude !!!! They all look like they don't wanna be there. I am sure job is very hard but customers don't have to look at their ugly faces and get treated like crap OK?!?!?! There is a guy ( in blue shirt) is a manager who is even worse! The way he talks, and way his attitude is just unreal. I feel bad for the owner,because I know for fact that he is loosing alot of business because of his staff. Once at parking lot, i saw a waiter chasing out customers because they under tipped. So funny. They want ppl to tip them well when they don't give any service?!?! Whatever , i can write a book about this place but not worth my time.
(1)
Pha Nhia Y.

Awful rude service! Service I came on a Monday evening with a group of four ladies. We couldn't order the group special so we all individual ordered BBQ meat choices. As a former server, I know how difficult it is to serve and keep customers happy. When we arrived the restaurant was not busy at all but yet we were ignored for the first 15 minutes, then we never got drink refills unless we asked and we didn't receive our soup until after asking our server twice about. What really makes me mad and is after tipping our server $30 for our meal which rounded up to $200, she says to us "this is it, but your bill is so much". NEVER ask for tips if you're a server NEVER! I tossed another $20 bill down on the counter and just left. Food If it wasn't for the poor service, I would have enjoyed my visit more. The portions were great and the flavors were alright. I really enjoyed the different side dishes. Overall, its is unfortunate that they have some awful service, they would have so much more paying customers rather than drunk groups of people who treat them the way they threat their paying customers.
(1)
Sirirat M.

Included tip? there are just 4 of us.... it's 19% they charged us. It was shocked and very upset could happen there. We won't complained if the witness treats us as well and make us satisfy.
(1)
Teanna T.

So! The food is decent somedays are better than others but the thing that bugs me the most is when you leave there you reek! I hate how my hair & clothes smell afterwards. When you come here, plan on it being your last stop before home. You definitely need a shower after dining here. Also if you don't think about customer service when you dine out then their customer service won't bother you. After they take your orders and drop off food it's VERY difficult to get their attention for anything.. A drink, more food, Utensils..etc Overall, it's a fun place to go with friends and the experience of cooking your own food. If they can find a better ventilation system and adjust the customer service I'll be happy to come back.
(3)
Essie M.

Lol I hate this place. It's a joke & i won't be coming back anymore. 2nd time here because I decided to give them another chance. Service sucks ass and be careful when the check comes cause they try to be sneaky with the charges. They pre-charge you with an 18% gratitudity fee (3ppl) and it's scribbled on so people won't notice . They sure as hell didn't deserve that tip. Dishes were thrown on the table and the table itself was sticky. Check was thrown on our table before we were even done eating. The food was not worth the price whatsoever. Saw another pair of customers walk out when they were denied service just because they had a stroller.
(1)
Whitney J.

I had been to San Soo before for bbq and enjoyed my experience. I'm not generally too dismayed by poor service. It's annoying, but if the food makes up for it, I'll let it slide. We didn't have the experience of the auto gratuity on our party of four last time - I probably would have raised a fit. The waitresses did laugh at me because I asked what one of the side dishes was and said I liked it. She brought another waitress to my table and they stood right there and laughed and pointed and talked in Korean. I'm a customer. Not a sideshow, but thanks. However the most recent time i stopped in, it was just me and I wanted to place an order to go. I was completely ignored. I had to flag down someone after standing awkwardly in the entry way for ten minutes. Then they fought over who I needed to speak to to order. The last time I checked I was trying to give your business my money so.... Ok. I eventually got my food after again having to chase someone down to pay. As good as the barbecue is, their service really is the pits. It's unfortunate. This place could be the best thing in the neighborhood. If you want some entertainment, walk by when their minuscule parking lot is full and watch customers try to park. Side note: never park there. I've seen so many cars scratched and grazed by other customers who just ignore the fact they hit another car. Lol.
(1)
Christoph J.

The service issues that others have mentioned were definitely accurate. It took forever to get someone to take our drink orders. It then took forever for them to come. Same thing with the food. Terrible service. The entire staff seemed confused and just didn't listen. Like, "Where's that rice I asked for 25 minutes ago?" or "Where's that beer I ordered 10 minutes ago?"...You'll get a lot of that here, for sure. Some of the staff members were even yelling at each other right in the dining room! What the heck?! But the food was alright. The chicken and beef that came to our table was well-marinated and cooked up really nicely. I'm not sure it's the best quality of meat, especially considering what they charge you for it. This is definitely not a cheap place to eat, so keep that in mind. But you get lots of little things to nosh on. It was a fun experience, despite some shortcomings. And as others have mentioned, this place is extremely smoky! Good god, it's almost too much to handle. Perhaps they need better ventilation in there. I'm not really compelled to go there again, but it's not the worst place I've eaten. So if you are int he neighborhood and feeling adventurous, then give it a go. Or don't.
(3)
Youngjo K.

I entered the sotore and no any waitress paid attention to me for 10 mins. Waited them for 10 mins!!! What a aweful service is!!!! And they asked me to pay more tips!!!!! I already paid 10% because I was not satisfied with their service!!! And complained me that 10% is lower than minimum!!!! I really hate their manner!!! The worst korean restaurant ever!!!!!
(1)
Tina L.

The Wang Galbi is legit. If you're with a group of 5 or more, just get the Group special and get all orders of the Galbi. It tastes delicious grilled over the charcoal fire... They have an insane number of side banchan dishes. All of them are pretty good, too. I know all their other entree dishes are pretty good, too. So far I haven't been disappointed by their neng-myun dishes, or their yook gae jang soup.
(4)
Jacob K.

Come here pretty much only for their Korean bbq, which is the best I've had. The other food is so so, not bad, not great. They do give plenty of side dishes, as well. Service stinks, especially if you come during a busy time.
(4)
Chloe T.

Always delicious and fresh! Sometimes there is a little wait but it's wort it! I have been coming here for years and I always get the kimchi soup! Korean at its best. They actually remodeled the place, so it also looks much better!
(4)
Heejin H.

A sad disappointment. I was really looking forward to the food during my first visit. After seeing pictures on Yelp, and other reviews, I convinced people to visit with me. Turns out to be terrible quality of food. The variety of side dishes were just dry and sad. I'm not even going to waste my one writing a review for this place longer than this.
(2)
Darren L.

I came here with my momma for lunch time. They greeted us as soon as we walked in and sat us down immediately. My mom ordered the chap chae and I ordered the bibimbap lunch special. We also ordered the potstickers. The food came out in 10 minutes - super fast. Low and behold, they also brought out the ten mini side dishes for us (we didn't even order Korean beef). It was amazing and very generous of them! Good food for even better prices. Love this place - I will definitely be coming back soon.
(5)
Zeke W.

Easily the best Korean BBQ place in Chicago in my opinion. Me and my best friends have been coming here for years and we always get the Bolgogi and the kalbi beef dishes and they always fill us up! Their seafood pancake and fish cake sides are also addictive - the place is a little hidden gem in north Chicago! Smelling like this place is easily the best part about it!
(5)
John Y.

Simply, I believe this to be the all around best Korean restaurant in Chicagoland. Now this isn't saying much because Chicago is notorious for having some of the worst or mediocre Korean food in America. And some US cities like Los Angeles and New York, San Soo Gap San might review at three or four stars, but in Chicago it definitely deserves top ranks in my book.
(5)
Sean R.

Best Korean BBQ in Chicago. Keep coming back for more.
(5)
Britta B.

SO MANY side dishes they had to be stacked on top of each other! Id go back just to eat the side dishes all over again. the variety was like being back in Korea!
(5)
Pa Y.

I always come here for my korean bbq when I'm in chicago hanging out. One of the best, I must say. Love the place but their parking is extremely small so sometimes you might have to park in the neighborhoods nearby. Otherwise, service is alright but the food makes up for it. Be careful when looking at the reciept. They count tip with the total so be careful not to double tip unless you think they did a superb job.
(4)
Yuanjia Z.

Ohhhhh this place is awesome!!!! First of all, this is the first place that i've seen so many appetizers/small dish that get laid out all over the table. The BBQ meat quality was also very good. You can even BBQ squid or octopus! It's amazing. Very clean and organized. You won't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(5)
Wayne H.

San Soo Gab San is an okay spot to grab some late night Korean food. It's not the greatest in the city, but it's good and open until 3am. The best thing about this place is the amount of banchan you get. You get so many! The service isn't the greatest, but that could be said about most Korean places. It's definitely worth it if you are having a late night Korean craving, but there are better Korean food options during normal dining hours.
(3)
KM V.

If you're looking for a very midnight dinner, I would recommend this place. They have plenty of side dishes, but the service is bad. The servers doesn't want you to adjust the fire for the grill, and they wouldn't refill your water not unless you tell them. There are 12 different side dishes and most of them are not what I was expecting.
(3)
Carla W.

Had lunch at this restaurant today. I should mention that I'm Chinese and I strong armed immigrant Asian relatives to go there as my guests, even though they would have preferred a traditional Chinese restaurant. I had been there once before. I was prepared for lack of ambience and rude service. No worries as long as the food is good. And during my last visit the food was good. We had two orders of marinated beef (maybe $23 per order) which came with copious amounts of Korean appetizers. Since there were 5 of us, we also ordered 3 additional small bowls of rice and 3 additional bowls of soup. We were told that we would pay extra for those. In spite of lack of ambience and rude service, we enjoyed cooking at our table, the food was excellent and everyone enjoyed it. WERE WE STUNNED WHEN OUR TOTALLY UNITEMIZED BILL CAME TO $85??? We asked for an explanation. We were told the additional charges were the additional rice and soup. Service at 18% was also added in. Near as I could tell, the additional rice and soup came to $19. The relatives were buzzing about how we were being cheated. I was hugely embarrassed, paid up quickly and got us out of there. In years to come, that will be their only memory of our lunch. (Hey, remember when Carla took us out to lunch and we got gypped?) Needless to say, this was totally an unsuccessful experience on many levels. Made me look like a fool and ruined my day. And the saddest thing is- I'll have to find another Korean barbecue. I can never go back there. So be forewarned. I don't know what you'll do different to keep from getting gypped by these people.
(1)
Joceline T.

Came here for the KBBQ on a Saturday night with 6 people. Wasn't too hard getting a table but it was busy. We had calamari, chicken, pork belly and steak. I think. Everything was seasoned very well, lots of flavor! Also, so many sides! I know people are mentioning the smelling of smoke once you leave, I was worried about this a lot before going just because I don't like the smell of smoke but it wasn't too bad and we stayed there a while. After a wash, my coat was good as new.
(3)
Marianne C.

Color me underwhelmed. I have had Korean BBQ before and this place was lame for Saturday lunch... service is non existent... so bad that the lady was talking on her cell phone as she passed out the waters.... well we handed each other glasses of water as she forced them at us. we had 3 main dishes and an order of pot stickers. Some how it cost us $32 a person and no one had any alcohol. Some of the little dishes were good - some were bland and some were meh. I liked the various sea weed, someone else liked the potato salad, the green beans or whatever they were ... not so much. it wasn't busy - there were 2 other tables - but the 3 waitresses just had other things to do - like eat their own lunch or gossip or just hang out at the table directly behind us. Beef was ok enough and we had a friend that enjoyed cooking it for us. I like Korean BBQ - and I will enjoy it some more - just not here
(2)
Chris C.

This place is a joke. I personally really like their food, but their service is pretty much garbage. I went with a group my friends a while back and the old guy never came to our table even when we are calling for him. I see him going to the table next to us so often just because there were older people. Just because we were young does not mean we need to get treated horribly. We pay for the food just like they do. Also, I went again the day after Christmas, no one was in front of the reception table. I understand that there were a ton of people that day, so I waited in the front with my friend for 10 minutes. No one came to help. Then these three older ladies come in and same that dude, that old man, walks over and sits them down. Are you kidding me? I know for sure that they didnt make a reservation since he asked how many of them there were and sat them down right away. This restaurant might be good but that old man is the most horrible employee ever. He seemed as if he was a manager or shift supervisor but, I've never felt so pissed going to a restaurant.
(1)
Neesa D.

Hands down, best Korean bbq place between Chicago kalbi and Chosun, yet to try Woori all you can eat Korean bbq. This place closes late which is very convenient for late work evenings for me. Their marinated meats Are always seasoned well and fresh. Service is not superb but it is okay. If you are not feeling bbq, they Great chop chae aka clear glass noodles stir fry with veggies, yum! And their soups are delicious! You can't go wrong with any selction here.
(4)
Hannah H.

My mom and I came here late one night for their Korean bbq - we had the marinated galbi. They had a lot of banchan dishes that came with, which was nice, including potatoes, ggaduki, black beans, steamed broccoli, bean sprouts, fish cake, pickled radish, potato salad, spicy cucumber, and radish. The galbi was okay in terms of its marination (a little bland), and the meat was kind of fatty. Service was very slow, and there seems to be a lot of people who come here for late-night eating. +fatty galbi +open late
(3)
James P.

The ladies here give excellent service! Been going here for a year and still no complaints. I even had my holiday party here and brought my clients here as well. Great place to bring friends! Ask for TNT for a good time!
(5)
David P.

I have been going here for years, but have recently seen the quality drop, bummer. My girl, my son and I were here on Friday night and were disappointed by the quality. We ordered the Kalbi and BBQ spicy pork. The sides were plentiful, but the quality was bad, old tasting... The meat was really chewy and not very well marbled, the quantity was also less than usual, what a disappointment. I would agree with some of the other reviews that talk about the declining quality of service, in addition to the poor quality food. It's a bummer, but we have decided to find a new local Korean BBQ house. Let me know fellow Yelpers!
(2)
Phil W.

Decided to try it out because I heard from multiple sources that it is supposed to be one of the better Korean BBQ places in Chicago but I must say that I was quite disappointed. Food: I ordered the Kimchi chigae (kimchi stew), a spicy cold noodle and a marinated Kalbi beef ribs. The stew and the cold noodle were average but the beef has a lot of room for improvement. The meat quality was subpar (especially for the price). The only positive thing I have to say about food is that they have an excellent selection of banchan (side dishes). I believe we got 23 different side dishes for two people. However, I don't think it's good enough to compensate for the quality of the entrees and the prices. Decor/atmosphere: It was clean and nicely decorated. However, they have very bad ventilation despite these huge vents that they have. At one point, my eyes were getting watery from all the smoke from the neighboring tables. Needless to say, my clothes were sooo stinky from dining there. Service: In short, the service was horrible. They were completely understaffed even though by the time i dined there (10PM on a Friday night) they had already closed down half of the restaurant. The waitresses/busboys were running around like headless chicken but somehow never got around to help anyone. Be prepared to wait for service if you ever go here. In short: Slow service + smoky environment + so-so food = An extremely unpleasant dining experience One last thing is that, I MAY consider coming back for lunch as I saw their lunch menu and their lunch prices are more reasonable. And usually people don't grill their meat at their table during lunch so hopefully the restaurant would be less smokey.
(1)
Tammy M.

This is a great place to go if you want kbbq in Chicago. They bring out a TON of banchan (sides) and each order comes with a sizeable amount of meat. They will keep bringing out your favorite sides if you ask. Of the meats, we really liked the chicken, the short rib kalbi, and the bulgolgi. (Side note: grill the kimchi. It gives it so much extra depth of flavor.) The price is what I would consider reasonable for a fun night out with alcohol. Six of us ordered about four or five meats and some soju (Korean liquor), and it cost less than 25 per person. I subtracted one star because service is a bit slow here. We had to wait awhile to get our rice and miso soup and when we asked for more stuff. However, this is less of a problem if you come here with a group, take your time, and just enjoy yourselves. If you are in a hurry, this is not the place for you. If you are chatting, eating, and drinking, you really don't notice the wait.
(4)
Yuki Y.

We went last Thursday night around 10:00 and had a so-so experience. We ordered two orders of Kalbi which come with 25 side dishes, soup, and rice. We also had a bottle of Soju, total bill $87. The Kalbi and sides were good, although the potato salad did appear to have been sitting too long unrefrigerated and I decided not to risk it and didn't eat any. The reason for two stars is the service, I should say, lack of service. I don't know if it's a cultural thing, or that I'm a non-speaking Korean in a Korean restaurant, or it was late on a week night, but whatever it was ended up unpleasant. Our waitress didn't offer to help cook the meat, like they do at Woo Chon, or offer seconds on some of the sides or see if we needed refills on beverages, etc. She didn't stop by our table at all after taking our order, we didn't see her again until the bill came.
(2)
Nish R.

Cold, snowy Sunday a bit hung-over and we were craving Korean BBQ after a night of alcoholic beverages. So we walk in and it is stinky like all the Korean BBQ places. We all send our jackets back to the car so they don't stink (Tip). There were 7 of us and we didn't have a reservation but they sat us promptly. The lady serving us was serving us water and we asked for tea because it was snowing and cold. She promptly came back with jar of Tea and poured all of us hot tea. They give you a crazy lot of banchan dishes. I had my fair share of Kimchi, potato salad, seaweed etc. etc. The Miso soup had a bit of kick to it and hit the spot on a cold snowy day. Then the food start coming. My Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob was pretty good. Veggies were fresh but I could've used a little bit more sauce. I made do with the sauces provided with Banchan and hot sauce. My friends did BBQ with - Bul Ko Ki and Dai Ji Kal Bi and they were happy cooking the meat on the grill on the table and gorging themselves. They basically left us on our own after brining us our food. But no biggy we were perfectly capable of cooking our meat and refilling glasses with Tea. Overall, ok place and food's pretty authentic. I'd go there again. But given that I don't live around here not going be a regular.
(3)
Nathan L.

It's a struggle sometimes communicating with the waitresses if you're not Korean...and unfortunately I'm Chinese. On the bright side though the BBQ was absolutely delicious. I'm slightly bugged at the prices however. An extra bowl of rice is like $2.50 and the sauces that come with the BBQ aren't the best in the world. Highly recommend the short ribs!
(4)
Tianji L.

Waitress never came and you have to do almost everything youself. But meat is ok to me.
(3)
Jeana C.

Whenever there's korean bbq at a restaurant, prepare your whole entire body to smell like it. This place opens late (until 5am) so it's pretty nice for people who work late or are looking for a late night spot. Nothing amazing... but definitely try their bbq where you have to grill your own meat at your table.
(3)
Davin L.

No longer 24 hours? BOOOO... Used to love coming here after a long night of boozing and carousing on the northside. Glad to see the quality's pretty much stayed the same. And they always give more odeng panchan when I ask. A shame they haven't upgraded the charcoal hoods so you don't smell like meat when you leave, but that's the contract you sign when you eat Korean BBQ.
(4)
Kino S.

DO NOT GO THERE! I'm Korean and I'm so embarrased that this place exist. The service is terrible and the food is not fresh. I used to go there for many years. I had a few great K bbq here but never consistant. Over the years the quality has definitely gone down and it's just unpleasant to be there. The waitresses throw dishes at you becase they are always in hurry. The presentation is messy. They think giving countless side dishes make up for all the bad things going on there. But I much rather have less but good and tasty side dishes than many dried up bad side dishes. You will be much better off at Gogi on California ave or Tozi in Bucktown. Solga is okay. I like Cho Jung in Glenview. Bad decor but real good authentic K food and good service. Cho Sun Ok is great and food is consistant but always packed and don't expect service here either. Unfortunatlly all the great K restaurants are in Los Angeles...... :(
(1)
sam k.

People don't do enough to describe what an amazing place this truly is. Even 2PM and many other Kpop bands have eaten here and enjoyed the stay! The food is unbelievably amazing and the quantity is abundant to the point where you get full from eating half of the food they bring out to you. Of course with great food, come with great expectations and frankly the expectations are just too high. The food is no doubt probably one of the best quality korean bbq in Chicago, but I am a little aggravated by the reviews that give this place a once star and as a regular to the restaurant, let me begin my rant. 1.) People come to restaurants and pay to eat food. They don't come to watch and evaluate the service. Don't mind the service if the food is great (in my opinion) But the service isn't even that bad. People just expect to be put on pedestals by these waitresses. I mean C'mon...you're not that special. 2.) People are rude to the waitresses and busboys. People talk about getting awful service when they are awful human beings themselves...Honestly I've seen people leave behind 5 percent tips after being tended to every one of their needs. I've seen people yell at waitresses and sometimes make racist remarks and wonder why they get bad service. Unbelievable. 3.) These workers work from morning to morning. Literally. No one gets the concept of putting yourself in other people's shoes before judging. These waitresses come from Korea to the U.S in hope of a dream for a better education for their children. They work from morning to morning to earn the money they can gather for their family. So what if you feel like you're not being served right. Life is hard and service should be the least of your worries. 4.) People expect these servers to do everything. Literally Everything. This restaurant gets unbelievably busy with nearly 200 people at one time with about 6 waitresses and 2 busboys. Water always gets around when needed, but if you want more food or the bill, you have to get the attention of one of the waitresses. It's jam packed, the servers are unbelievably stressed, tired, and busy. Give them a break, enjoy the food, and be patient. I swear you will be much happier. 5.) People are just plain out ignorant. I mentioned that these waitresses and workers are from Korea and the culture is completely different. English is their second language. Sorry if they talk Korean in front of you but honestly, you'd have to be a real jerk to deny them from comfortably talking in their own native language. What you may think is rude here is the norm in Korea. You want authentic, this is authentic as it gets. All in all, the food is amazing and the quantity is abundant. The service is mediocre, but there's a reason for everything. Most people are rude when it comes to manners. Is it too much to be polite and ask for something? Of course the servers are not perfect in a way that they tend to every one of your dying needs, but they get the job done. Understanding and enjoying the food is the key to success in eating at restaurants. That's all I have to say for this Korean BBQ.
(5)
Heather L.

I guess a restaurant can stay in business no matter how bad the food is, as long as it caters to enough drunk people. This is probably the worst Korean BBQ we had by a landslide. The service aside (which has been hammered home by previous posters as horrendous), the restaurant still barely deserves one star. Expensive, frozen meat thrown on a plate is now a cuisine? Yes, you can find better cuts of meat at a run-down carniceria. Yes, the marinade is just salt and soy sauce. Yes, the banchans are so so mediocre. No, don't "try this place" if you are even half sober.
(1)
Faith H.

This is the BEST place to go!....if you want to eat rubber bands. I used to love this place but it has gone down the drain. The side dishes were awful and the bbq....I don't even think it's qualified to be called bbq. As a Korean person, I feel I can say with confidence that the food they serve should not even be considered Korean food. Spending money here is such a waste of money. The meat should not be that rough and chewy and the seasoning should not be that bland. The service is awful too. The meat should come with soup and rice and they didn't even give us the soup until we told them. They also didn't change the bbq rack for us to make the meat. PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE do not go here if you value your hard earned money. Go to Cho Sun Ok or Gogi.
(1)
Anna L.

SSGS reminds me of an opium den - dimly lit, dark wood furnishings, plumes of smoke rising into the air, and KBBQ fragrance permeating throughout. Just don't wear your best clothes there, rather...I'd recommend you to dig out your dirty laundry from the basket. Interior is quite cozy. The best way to describe the booth seating is if you've been to a church, they look like those wooden pews with a huge table and a grill top in front of you. As for the banchan....overkill in a good way with tons of variety. So much that the plastic dishes have been singed by the grill since it circles around the entire tabletop. We ordered 2 types of meat - marinated short ribs and pork which was plenty for our table of 4 + baby. They still use actual charcoal which gives it that nice charred flavor as opposed to the conventional electric tabletop grills. I'd skip on the soups - they weren't outstanding to me, nothing that I would absolutely crave for. Otherwise, great family-type meal for around $60. I'd suggest you not to bring your lovely date here when she's just gotten her hair done. She'll come out smelling like Eau de KBBQ.
(4)
Monica E.

I don't get why you are forced to get two entrees but we did. We decided to go with pork belly and the rib eye beef. It was great. Meat was definitely fresh and full of flavor! My sister and I enjoyed the mass amount of sides that it comes with and really was excited to try different things especially the clear noodles. So cool! I warn all - do not expect great service from this place. Waitresses are rude and don't really check on you and from what I see everyone agrees but the food gets me to come back.
(4)
Bec L.

This place is a has-been by at least a decade. Vent systems are completely broken and all it takes is a table or two of table BBQ before the whole place fills with toxic smoke. 1) do not take kids here and 2) only go if you don't mind lung Cancer and/or carbon monoxide poisoning. Not to mention fire hazard from oil clogged vents. But, never mind that because vents are barely aligning the tables and fire pits. I would give them negative stars if available. And I almost forgot. Horrible service. What? Other people mentioned that before? Nooooo, really????
(1)
Paul N.

Food was great, we ordered Sam kyup and kimchi bokum, joomullul, and bulgogi. We went on a Saturday night so expect a little wait.
(4)
Yvonne B.

San Soo Gab San was a roller coaster of an experience. It started with my reviewing Yelp reviews which resulted in my anticipation of parking problems. When I snagged free street parking on Foster a block south of the restaurant I gloated inwardly at my savvy only to discover that San Soo Gab San was equipped with a parking lot with available spaces. I shamefully returned to my car and moved it to the lot. Next, I knew from Yelp to expect absent servers who border on rude. You can only imagine my surprise when I was quickly seated in a sizable booth near the door (I appreciated the additional ventilation for the smoke) that was equipped with a red button for calling a server to our table. The button worked really well until San Soo Gab San became busy around 8:00 PM that Friday. The servers really weren't friendly and barely did their job. They didn't bring us change when we paid the bill - not even when we asked for it. In fact, we were told to leave after we paid the bill when they noticed we lingered a few minutes to chat and finish our drinks. We ordered two appetizers and three dishes: edamame, pot-sticker like things, pork, beef, and something with noodles topped with an egg. We loved the pot-sticker like appetizer. I also liked the beef. I could have easily passed on all of the dozens of small appetizer plates that they brought to our table. They were skimpy and forgettable. Seriously - one just had three small pieces of lettuce dressed in a vinegar-like red sauce. M thought that the noodles topped with the egg dish was better at Da Rae Jung. I normally dislike crowded places, but I liked the diversity of people who dined at San Soo Gab San. There were all ages and races of people each with good representation (no tokens). That was probably the best part of San Soo Gab San seconded by them having a parking lot. In the end, I did not appreciate the ups and downs of the evening. I could easily eat at many other restaurants - even Korean Barbecue restaurants - and have a more enjoyable meal. I got the distinct impression that San Soo Gab San is riding a long wave of hype of their outstanding Korean Barbecue and hoping that people don't notice that the crest has fallen or the strong under current of horrible customer service.
(1)
Lianxiang Z.

I have been here more than 5 times finally it is time for me to write a review of this place...lol, kinda late~ overall food is definitely good, either bbq or regular dishes. they gave u planety start dishes, sorry idk what is the name for those and also keep bring more to u if they see it is empty, for a big beer drinker, dats awesome! Service wise, if you are here on the weekend dinner time, please prepare that they wont be able to serve u as great as weekday, just be patient... this place is my first choice everytime when I want some K BBQ, hopefully u guys enjoy it as well!
(5)
Daniela V.

This is one of my fave spots for Korean BBQ. The place is not modern so to speak but it is authentic. Charcoal will grill your meat to perfection. Beer is tasty. Drop in a shot glass of Soju for tge perfect beverage.
(5)
Susan C.

I went here many times for Korean BBQ and it's pretty good even though it's not all you can eat and the prices are not that cheap. But nonetheless I like their little side dishes that have and you can keep ordering more if you want more. I don't mind cooking the stuff since I don't BBQ at home myself so it's a treat for myself to do it. I would go back here when I have a chance to. The service and waitstaff is pretty decent for a Korean place.
(4)
Lin C.

Review is based off of a table of 3 adults and 1 child( age 9). Date of visit: Sunday 10/5/2014 Time of visit: 5:00 PM Number of tables/diners when seated: 4 tables On staff: 6 ladies, wearing red shirts and 2 charcoal runners Review is based on: 1. Ambiance/ Cleanliness: The overall appearance of the establishment reminds me of an old Asian grandma's kitchen, with the delicious smell of grilled meats, plumes of charcoal smoke filling the room, dim lighting, and a film of grease on every possible counter top. It is the nicest way I can describe a hole in the wall vibe. Zero stars out of 1 for ambiance/ cleanliness. 2. Service: Our table of 4 was seated immediately in the booth, next to the bathroom. The remaining 2 booths in front of the entrance was empty. We wanted to sit away from the bathroom and was told this was how they seat guests from inside of the building out to accommodate the dinner rush.... It was 5 PM, on a Sunday night, with only 4 other tables with people in the entire restaurant. Menus, place setting, ice water was brought out immediately. Our table of 4 already knew what we wanted, and did the normal thing by folding our menus and waited for the staff to walk over. All 6 waitstaff stood around having a conversation with each other. Our table of 4 attempted to make eye contact to no avail. Our 9 year old saw that there was a red button to the side of the booth and pushed it. The button was a bell that signaled the waitstaff to come over. She took our 4 orders of Wang Kal Bi at $23.95 a plate. Everything was brought out all at once. We received the small plates, fermented bean paste condiment, rice, and 3 bowls of soup, and 3 bowls of rice. We had to ask for a 4th bowl of rice. Not sure why soup was brought out before the meats were, but regardless we never did get that 4th bowl of soup. We also had to ask for 2 forks, a pair of scissors to cut the meat because they do not have knives, and 4 of the sesame oil with salt and pepper dipping sauce. We only got 2 sesame oil dipping sauce because the waitstaff said it's enough to share. Zero stars out of 2 for quality of service. 3. Food: The amount of Wang Kal Bi at $23.95 a plate, you would expect to be at least the size of 16 oz steak per serviing. Unfortunately, the quantity is roughly 8 oz to 10 oz of meat and 2 giant pieces of bone. I'm not entirely sure on how one would judge the quality of meat being marinated. However, I have marinated beef at home for 4 to 6 hours and it comes out delicious and still red. The marinated meat had a dull gray color and flavor was lackluster. Zero stars out of 1 for quality of Wang Kal Bi. 4. The 20% gratuity charge on top of the bill. I read on a previous review that the gratuity charge was 18% . The charge our bill was clearly 20% on our 4 orders of Wang Kal Bi, for FOUR PEOPLE. Not entirely sure what the sales tax was for food, but we were charged $124.10 in total. Zero stars out of 1 for price paid for the experience. If it was possible to leave 0 stars, I would have not left any starts. My 1 star is out of the generosity of Yelp. On that note, it is illegal to charge gratuity. Google it. That $23.95 plate just had an additional 18-20% up-charge tacked on. "Automatic gratuities" added onto the restaurant bills of large parties will be treated as wages and not tips starting January 1, 2014, as a suspended IRS ruling finally takes effect. Many restaurants add these charges to groups of 5 or 6 or 8 or more to prevent their servers from being undertipped when handling large parties. taxfoundation.org/blog/iâ€¦
(1)
Raj D.

Everything here was amazing! Make sure you BBQ yourself to enjoy the experience!! Soju went down quite smooth too!!!
(5)
Sunny K.

It is often believed that if you go to a Korean restaurant and you happen to be a native speaker of the language, the restaurant might feel obliged to be a little more attentive, even if the restaurant is super busy. However, the wait staff couldn't give less a shit as to whether 1) my three non-Korean friends and I had all our side dishes 2) our grill was properly oiled (ours wasn't. Consequently, all the meats kept sticking to the grill / burning, resulting in a huge waste) 3) we wanted more meat or water or rice. At one point one of my friends needed a fork and I asked two different ladies if I could please just get a fork, and after ten minutes of waiting around for SOMEONE to bring me utensils I finally got up, walked to the kitchen area, and picked up a fork myself and brought it back to the table. They'd just forgotten about us! A whole table of guests! Same with side dish refills. Let me assure you, from a lifetime of growing up in a Korean family and visiting countless galbi / samgyupsal restaurants: THIS IS NOT HOW ALL KOREAN RESTAURANTS WORK. San Soo Gab San is ridiculous. Why do I need to beg more than three waitresses to please bring me another bowl of rice? Paying money to be treated poorly is just silly. I recommend you go elsewhere, but then again, Cho Sun Ok isn't much better.
(2)
James S.

Tried korean bbq for the first time. Doubt I'll waste my money here again. The group I was with decided to come here. Seems like they enjoy korean bbq. The place is way overpriced. As others have mentioned, it is mostly frozen meats and bad cuts. For the amount we were paying, I was expecting an amount of meat comparable to a steakhouse. Nope. More like 1/3 of the meat. Three of our meat dishes was placed on the same plate making me wonder about the difference in taste they're supposed to have. The Ribeye steak is small and frozen. The service was poor. Those korean ladies just rushed all the dishes at once and left promptly. Took us a while to hunt them down for a change of grill and more water (which they promptly left the whole pitcher on the table and didn't bother pouring.) Well, hey at least the meat tasted good, the severs came back 3 times for our checks with a 20% tip added, and the smoke left us smokey and with headache. All in all, would not recommend. I got full in water.
(2)
Maria V.

Extremely disappointed with the poor customer service. We complained about something and they didn't even bother to at least acknowledge the complaint. The actual taste was ok but the price for the portion is not worth it. Not to mention the fact that you end up smelling like smoke and you are on top of each other due to the lack of space. We had a large group and the bill only had two amounts the tax and the total. When we asked to clarify the charges just to make sure they looked at us as if we were going to leave with out paying. They almost stood next to us until the bill was paid. I would not recommend this place at all.
(1)
Victoria B.

Best Korean BBQ joint in the Chicago!! Open late night after the clubs and bars close! Food is fantastic!!
(4)
Ravi S.

Excellent tofu stew and short ribs. Stays open very late for a great late night food option in Chicago.
(4)
Daniel L.

A mutual friend recommended this Korean BBQ restaurant so our group of four came looking for a feast. The large interior included a tatami style dining area and was rustic, woody, smoky, and good for groups. We were offered more than 25 variations of banchan, and the ones I liked were the Minced Seaweed, Fishcake, Dried Tofu, Radishes, and Sweet Beans. It was a pleasant surprise to see the Clear-Colored Seaweed, but the rest were not fresh or striking like the ones experienced at other Korean establishments. We wanted to order their Combination Dinner that costs between $24-28 per person. However, we were told that we did not have 5 people to consume the large amount of food, and without wanting to augment the portions the owner had the audacity to offer to over-charge us for the missing person. It was quite an unusual policy and way of doing business. Instead, we ordered the meats separately. The Marinated Galbi ($21.95) turned out the best of the three meat dishes. The meat came in thick cuts, nicely marbled, perfectly seasoned, and bursts with flavor in each bite. On the other hand, the quality of the Marinated Bulgulgi ($18.95) and Sam Gyeop Sal ($17.95) were terrible. The Pork Bacon especially, was cut too thin and came with bones that ranged from chewy and rock hard from one bite to another. The Seafood Pancake ($12.95) was good. It came with a good amount of squid, octopus, oysters, mussels, shrimps, and green onion. The pancake was thick and held together really well. On the down side, it could have more oysters, and the edges could be cooked longer to give crispy textures to complement the fluffy pancake. I recommend it. Finally, the Galbi Tang ($10.95) came with a decent amount of short ribs, eggs, green onions, and radishes. I prefer the use of turnip instead of radishes, but was supported by a decent broth that could have come with a sweet surge at the end. For what we paid, the quality of the BBQ items was too similar to many of the All You Can Eat K-restaurants. Service was inattentive and our server had an attitude after I asked about the missing Dduck Bo Ssam and Sesame Leaves. It turns out that they did not have either items and instead required us to wrap the meat with plain lettuce. The bright spot was the hard working male server who constantly came to refill our water and change the grill for us. From service to food, there were simply too many disappointing performances for me to want to return. I do not recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Nadim S.

San sooo good. #107. Stopped in here because I smelled BBQ. Very unique set up and style. Excellent food.
(5)
Connie L.

If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. The service wasn't bad--the ahjummas kept checking on our table and refilling our waters. They also gave us a lot of different banchan. However, the chadolbaegi was sooo chewy and the tofu in the soondubu was cold. Overall, I'd probably go elsewhere since there are so many other KBBQ places in the area.
(3)
Eugene K.

Not bad but not great authentic Korean food. The price is a little high, the side dishes are small but the meats are pretty good. Don't bother with parking in that small lot in front if you have a nice car.
(3)
Holly L.

Been coming here for years as my go-to place for marinated kalbi since I always thought it was the best marinated kalbi for the cost. Yeah yeah, it's not the cleanest, and the service can be awful, but I love that they use plenty of real charcoal and give you up to like 13 different banchans (side dishes) to try, so it is really a good place to go to with your friends that may have never tried Korean food before. Or it was. I had some inconsistent experiences here before but never as bad as the last time. All the side dishes tasted old, and the worst of all, the meat was tough and chewy. I know this may not sound like a big deal, but that's a deal breaker. Kalbi is supposed to melt in my mouth, with all meat glory there is. HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME SANSOO, I have always been on your side despite of what my friends have said about you. I would've given a two star for my last dining experience but for good time's sake I'm giving an extra star. All the known kalbi places around the city have their own expertise--Chicago Kalbi is definitely one of the nicer/ cleaner kalbi places in the city, but it has Japanese influences, and you do get less meat/ food than Sansoo would give you. Boo Il has amazing meat quality (like holy marbling) but it's market price so it can be more expensive, the atmosphere can be even a little bit more unwelcoming to take first timers, and it's more known for non marinated kalbi. But after this last time, I will be seeking out a new place to get my marinated kalbi fix... I'm not saying I'm never going back, but I'm definitely not going back any time soon. Also, if you're not going to get there kalbi or some appetizers, I don't suggest getting their other cooked foods like the meals and soups (unless it's platter stuff). You can go to many other Korean food places around and they'll have better quality meals/ soups there. Their specialty is really the marinated kalbi, but actually, I'm not even sure abut that anymore.
(3)
E J.

Please do yourself a favor and choose somewhere else. I am not coming back to this place never again because of the following reasons after a few times of visits : 1. Poor service. -- ALWAYS in hurry; the waitresses would throw dishes at you. NEVER check if the grilling pan needs to be changed or not. You'll have to ring the bell at least twice to get their attention if you need something. 2. Food is not fresh at all. The only time when my friends and I or whoever I was with got fresh food was probably 3 years ago. Every time I gave another chance on this restaurant, I was always disappointed. Go to Gogi or Woo Chon. They have better quality of food. 3. Overpriced. -- wait, how much are those two pieces of meat again? 4. Cleanliness. -- I am questioning about sanitation of this restaurant. Dirty floor, dirty table top, messy Banchan (side dishes), etc. I did not even bother going to the bathroom. If your first language is Korean like mine, you would clearly hear the waitresses complaining to each other in Korean. Speaking bad words in Korean doesn't mean no one understands. I felt so embarrassed taking my friend to this place who had never tried Korean food before tonight. I had to explain to him not all Korean dishes or restaurants are like this place... The only thing they were very prompt about was getting us a check.
(1)
Ronald K.

There was a lady, probably the owner, sitting at the corner of restaurant and shouting to everybody! She went off like a crazy lunatic to a Mexican cook; I could not understand a word she was saying. Is this place for real?? The menu selections are nothing to special, the meat selections are outweight by the vegetables and the god awful "KimChee". The waitress serve a half full glass of somekind of tea, and that was it, we were to get our own drink and no more napkins. The barbecue only contains of 3 type of beef, that looked more like crappy. There was no way for us to control the heat on our burner. I could go on and on about my bad experience in this dump and I will end it here. There are so many better Korean restaurants at the same neighborhood; go try those :)
(2)
Emma Z.

NOTE: Ban-chan (the little sample dishes) are given by what you order. I learned this the hard way. If you DO NOT order any time of grilled meat dish you will get a set of Ban-chan in white dishes and only about 10 of them. If you order any meat, you will get about 20 Ban-chan in luxurious brown dishes. As a fish eater, we spent about 60 dollars in seafood, but only got about 10 dishes...while we noticed that other people had carts taken to their table because there was so many ban-chan. We later ask and they said, most people already know this, especially if you are korean...we said it was our first time and didn't know...they said next time then. We ordered the Eel, pachan, soon du bu, crab stew soup, mackel. On the other hand they were nice enough to pack 2 more ban-chan in our leftovers. As a big authentic Korean food connoisseur, this place is a 6 out of 10.
(2)
Kristy F.

Wow. Just...wow. I was very surprised and excited by the numerous small plates they give out for free here (they will also refill your favorites for free) The service was laughable because it was blatantly uncaring and slow. l ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob and devoured the entire bowl...along with half of the appetizer plates. Food here honestly isn't all that delicious but it is just so easy to sit, talk and continue to shovel food into your mouth here. My friends ordered rib eye and we spent an hour cooking, eating beyond the point of fullness. The meat was very tasty and you can't go wrong with white rice and pickled veggies... Come with an appetite...or do like I did and don't. You will still eat too much and enjoy it. I'd like to return again =)
(4)
Jin P.

Decent food, i like that they are open late, please fire everyone working the tables though. The server lady cleaned our table with a goddamn napkin until I asked her to clean it with wet cloth. Customer service here... is the worst.
(2)
Shan B.

Could not understand what the waiter is talking about, what's more, the boss cheat us on the price of sets and it costs us almost 300 for 7 people
(1)
Nguyen d.

Good food but horrible service... They did not bring out our requested side dishes and took 15 mins to give us our bill. Never once did they smile at us. Poor service = not a happy customer
(1)
Julianne Z.

There is very little korean food where I go to school and a friend had a car, so we were finally able to trek all the way here. I had heard lots of great things about the food, and it was a bit pricey, but still delicious! They first, have an AMAZING amount of small dishes and we also ordered a seafood pancake to start. We ordered Hae Moul Pajun (seafood pancake) and we got 2 orders wan kal bi (marinated beef short ribs) and dai ji kal bi (marinated pork rib). I will say that the service is a bit slow and they are slow to change the grill and get us water. Also, the fans for some of the tables are really bad so I left smelling like smoke. The food is great though and I would def go again. it is worth smelling like bbq for a few days (although nothing wrong with that, right?)
(4)
Su Y.

Don't get the Gam Ja Tang, it was horrible, the meat was dry and it tasted gamey. Much better at the Niles Hmart food court. I would stick to the bbq menu.
(2)
Nancy C.

What? No longer 24 hours?! But that's what this place was known for! What a shame. A ton of banchan here! Yay for variety. The Kalbi is really good. Bulgogi is also good, but I don't like ordering bulgogi for korean bbq in general because it gets super stuck to the grill if you're a little less attentive. Price is meh. Not the largest portion sizes in terms of meat, but again, you can fill up on banchan if being full is your goal. Service is slow and poor, and that has been fairly consistent through the years I've been patronizing this place and per other reviews, so no surprise.
(3)
Wanying W.

Really nice food! The food is five star absolutely, but the four star is for the unreasonable waiting for hosting...no number card if you don't go talk to the right person and ask for one
(4)
Fred H.

This place is awesome. Original Korean flavor and decent amount. I did see a lot of Korean people in the restaurant. Will go again.
(4)
amber y.

I went there just under a year ago, but it was really fun. I am happy we went with a big group of people though, because I would have had no idea how to order. The food was great and they are open really late.
(4)
Tony C.

(Review #1) We all love this place, but please stop spreading this "24 hour" nonsense. SSGS usually shuts down by 4:30-5am ish? Last time I walked in at ~5am, I got DEE-NIED. I'm not the first one to get denied so I wouldn't want you to have the same craving at 5am. Walked out w/ my head hung low and wanted to steal some yook-ge-jiang from the last table still dining.
(5)
Karla U.

I visited San Soo Gab San for the first time. We were sat immediately (group of 3) as well as other guests that came arriving afterwards. One group that was sat next to our table (and others) got their order taken first. I tried to get a servers attention but they seemed not to care. There were guests in the restaurant but it was not a busy evening. There were at least 4 servers and 3 bus boys. After 20 minutes sitting down I was able to get someones attention who happened to be the manager. After explaining to her that we had been sitting down and no one had approached she didn't apologize at least, because we didn't get acknowledged and was more upset of the fact that I told her that we need to put in our order since others had and even got their food. What really bothered me is the manager kept yelling constantly across the restaurant to the bus boys (in Spanish, yes she's Korean) and was VERY RUDE to them. I find it DISRESPECTFUL because they were very attentive more than the servers busing tables, serving waters, bringing charcoal, changing the grills on the BBQ constantly, etc. It made me more upset because the manager does not set a good example for the restaurant. I was very offended by this, and thought the reason we were treated the way we did this particular evening was because we are not Korean :( . The servers were not attentive and were always running to a table after guests left to pick up the checkbook to get the TIPS .... DEFINITELY NOT COMING BACK.
(1)
Kenneth Y.

I went there with my family on a holiday and I was happy that it was open but I can't say much about the food. We ordered a variety of Korean dishes like Sam Gyup Sal, Galbi, Soon Doo Boo Ji Gae , & Gam Ja Tang. As we all took our first bites we all slowly glanced at each other with a big dissapointment on our faces. The jigaes were very salty and lacked a lot of flavor. My family could hardly finish all the food we ordered & the only thing we were able to finish was the Sam Gyup Sal. Everytime we tried to get their attention they were too busy talking to one another instead of taking care of their tables. We got the check at the end of our meal & what was even more dissapointing was the 20% gratuity that they added on the bill. My Family should decide how much tip we want to leave !!! I definitely don't recommend this place to anyone there is no passion in the Korean food here. The food, the service, I don't even want to give this place one star. We are never coming back here again. Go to Minaree on bryn mawr or Gogi on california; now thats real Korean food!
(1)
Dave O.

This is my go-to Korean restaurant in Chicago! They're reasonably priced, consistently delicious, and not too far from my home. I've actually been going here with family and friends for years.....The only negative is that some of the wait staff can be rude sometimes, and challenging to understand.....But, I highly recommend the Yuk Gae Jang, Hae Muhl Pah Jun, Chap Chae & Bul Go Gi. Also - their side dishes are always changing, and so well made. Yum Yum Yum!
(4)
Frank T.

Had night after Christmas dinner here. The selection of kimchi etc was amazing! Seaweeds I've never had before that were wonderful. A great introduction to at least 20 different items. The marinated barbeque beef was the star of the evening. THe best supporting dish was the chicken breast. We also ordered the pork belly that I would pass up the next time and just have a second order of the BBQ beef. The service was a little wanting. Had to wait to order drinks and then wait for the bill. But it was a good new experience.
(3)
Julie Y.

The most important lesson you can learn after a trip to Chicago/Evanston area: keep expectations low (especially if you're a native Angeleno who's eaten all the finest KBBQ since the moment you could use a chopstick). Keep them low dearest, and you'll be one happy Korean. Unfortunately. it took me two trips to learn this important lesson. My visit to San Soo Gab San was on my second trip. Things they do right, and by right, I mean conventional or traditional: nothing. Now I know what you're thinking. My god Julie, you're really critical and if I didn't know any better, you're being intentionally difficult. No. I'm being honest. With that being said, San Soo Gab San seems to run things in an unconventional manner, but these are things it does well, and these are the reasons why I think San Soo Gab San is so popular. I put together a nifty list of how-tos so that your experience may be better than mine, especially if you're from LA as well. -- 10 Things You Need to Know to Enjoy KBBQ Here (aka. 10 Expectations You Need to Dispel Before You Actually Get To Enjoy Your Dining Experience): 1. You won't be seated unless the whole group is there, ready to be seated. Doesn't matter what order the groups come in as well. And remember, groups of greater than or equal to 4 are preferred because this joint caters to larger parties. 2. Do not order 3 servings of Kalbi because 3 people cannot eat 3 servings. San Soo Gab San is very generous with their meat servings. Ah and if you ask for a pair of scissors to cut the meat with, don't get weird-ed out by the heavy duty fabric cutting scissors you're handed. 3. Do not expect refreshing pa mu chim or green scallion salad to be served with the meal. In fact, there will be no semblance of a salad unless you ask for it. And even if you do, it'll taste like raw unseasoned scallions. Yuck. 4. Don't expect your Korean speaking abilities or your father's smooth-talking to the Korean ahjumma staff as "unnies" to get you your ___ any faster. You won't be getting that water, extra side dish, beer or bill any time soon. 5. Disregard all you would expect from a traditional Korean-styled pancake or pajeon when you order one from here. It will not be extra-crisp on the outside, or chewy on the inside. In fact, your pajeon will be doughy from too much batter and the ingredients will come falling apart as you're eating because they weren't coated evenly before cooking. With that being said, it was delicious. +1 star. 6. Yes you'll get over 20+ side dishes or banchan. However, quality always trumps quantity. And none of them tasted good or were seasoned properly. The side dish that scared me the most was the Korean pickled daikon. There was no resounding crunch when I took a bite out of it. Instead, my teeth SANK into the questionable vegetable. Oh God. 7. Dispel your original perception of Kalbi as marinated beef because Kalbi here is not sweet. It's so bizarre really... the beef was juicy and tender which is enhanced by the smokiness of wood charcoal, but there was just no real flavor imparted onto the meat by the marinade. With that being said, it was strangely addicting. +1 8. They didn't card us here for the beers... uh... (Disclaimer: all of us drinking were of age so please don't attempt to arrest me if you're a cop!) 9. The lot is tiny/ you won't find parking. Better off searching the street. 10. Their "miso" jigae is EXTREMELY watered down. Do not consume unless you poor child have yet to taste a really hearty and proper Korean jigae. -- I think I've found reason to pity my poor brother who's here for another 3 years for school. Ain't no place like home eh? :P
(3)
Lauren D.

GIMME BAP-BAP BIBIMBAP....However the hell it is pronounced.... This hole in the wall Korean B-B-Q dive was hit or miss for me. The service and food receives three stars. I really wanted to give this joint two stars, but the service bumped it up to three stars. The price-point was fair and reasonable. I ordered the Saeng A-Gu Tang fresh monk fish & vegetables stew which I have tried at other Korean restaurants, and noticed immediately that the fish did not taste very fresh (maybe it was left over from the day before -- I don't know -- but it certainly had a funky taste). Since I wasn't crazy about this dish I ordered something else to try. I ordered the Bibimbap. In Korean, "bibim" means "mixed" and "bap" means rice. All of the ingredients except the meat (which is optional) are prepared in advance, so you can add them at room temperature to the top of hot steamed rice. I added beef and a sunny-side up egg to the top. The Bibimbap is usually served with a spicy sauce made from gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste) which you can add to your liking - allowing you to control how much heat you want on your dish. Then, "Bibim" it all until it is completely mixed together. The trick then is to see how much you can fit in your mouth all at once. This dish was flavorful and enjoyable. It was worthy of four stars, and I was so happy that I ordered the Bibimbap. The "miss" was the Saeng A-Gu Tang, but the "hit" was the "Bibimbap." All the little side dishes (small plates) that they brought to the table were not explained, so I had no idea WTF half this shit was! For all I know, we could have been eating fish guts or worse. I would recommend that the Server take a few minutes to explain what is what in these tiny plates. I know I would have appreciated knowing, especially since it was my first time at this Korean "Dive." Thrillist needs to revise their list and delete this joint from their "best of" Korean restaurant. There are so many other Korean restaurants in Chicago that are 100 times better, and trust me, this is not one of them! But, if you are high as a kite, drunk as a skunk and it is 1 or 2 am, hit up this joint. It will sate your taste buds! My friend, who has been here several times already, told me what some of these items were. She tried being helpful, but didn't know what every single dish contained. Some of the things tasted okay while other things did not hit my palate positively. I guess Korean food is an acquired taste. It is definitely not Thai food and it is definitely not Chinese food. What is Korean food any way? Is it a mish-mash of items? I guess it is like a fat kid sitting down and eating a plate of chocolate chip cookies, mixed with a huge bag of chips and a few gallons of ice cream. Does this make sense? Yeah, well, whatever! My point exactly. My friend lives in Lincoln Square and is a die-hard vegetarian. She suggested meeting here for lunch. I can honestly say that I will not be returning to the San Soo Gab San restaurant. Maybe this restaurant will work for you if you are high on a substance or drunk out of your mind, and it is midnight or 1 am on a Friday or Saturday, and you are seeking out a place to eat because you suddenly have "the munchies." You know, like when you smoke too much pot and you will eat anything in site even it isn't something you would normally eat if you were completely sober. Needless to say, the food at this joint didn't cut it for me. Would I come back again? No. Was the price-point good/reasonable? Yes. Was service good or decent? No. Did it appear to be clean? No.
(3)
Asma M.

Hadn't been here in years. I prepped myself for the no frills expectation (I've gotten bougie in my old age). Ordered the Hae Moul Pajun (seafood pancake) and it was really good, the sauce really steps it up. Then got the Bul Ko Ki (marinated beef) and it was decent, could use more flavor, and it isn't the best cut of meat for the price, but I still ate the sh*t out of it. Then thought we'd be adventurous and try the Spicy Marinated Squid...mistake! Should have stuck with the usual Wal Kal Bi (shirt ribs) or Joo Mul Luk (ribeye). Bonus is that you get tons of banchan but I think you get the same amount for two as you do for four (not good when you dont like sharing limited kimchi). As for service, it is slow and inattentive - but this was to be expected. Waited about ten minutes to be seated. Then were sat in the shoeless section (dont know how else to describe it). I stupidly dropped a chopstick and resorted to eating with one and a spoon (not effective) until I finally was able to track down a waitress. Took forever to get the bill. Blah blah...you get the idea. Were there for over two hours -- which is too long for two hungry ass fools. With tax and tip it was $70. I probably over tipped since there was MINIMAL service and from what I've heard 20% is too much in korean bbq joints, but hey it's the holiday season right? All in all, it met my expectations, I will never have the squid again, and I will go back with 4+ people.
(3)
Nichawoot Y.

Never go back to this place , service is rude , slow and awful. good luck :(
(1)
Mehran F.

A few years ago I gave this place high ratings partly because it reminded of some cheap food restaurants in Seoul. I have been going to San Soo Gab San regularly. Today will be my last time. Service is getting worse. Actually I never found the service good but also that was part of the charm to me. Today was not charming. Meat quality getting worse and worse. Prices were cheap ...today i felt overpriced (there was a price increase) ...for their new prices, i'd rather pay a bit more and go to Chicago Kalbi. The side dishes and the kim chee in particular were probably sitting in an open area for a long time... Felt a bit grossed out...really a shame. Maybe because i recently was in Korea again and had some great local food at mom and pop type of restaurants...but i doubt i had set my expectations high because of that.
(1)
Dustin T.

Not only is it fun to say "let's get some saaaan sooooo gaaab saaaan" this place was great. Everybody in the car reeked of smokey meat afterwards. Delicous, smokey, marinated, korean meat. drool*
(5)
Ivy J.

One of my favorite Korean BBQ's in Chicago. The food here is great (kalbi is a highlight) The service is either hit or miss. But they never fail to change the grill when they notice that it's getting messy. The place isn't very well ventilated and you end up smelling like food for the rest of the night.
(4)
Mandy Q.

I have been their customer for more than 10 years, they always had bad service, not friendly waitresses but food are not bad at all.
(3)
Michelle K.

I was so disappointed with my experience here! We normally go to their 2nd location which is better just slightly but this location was just awful. We came around 19:30 on a Saturday after trying to go somewhere else because the line was out the door there. My friend and I came inside and they had us wait around but were not clear about if they were going to seat us and where. After two more families were seated and my friend said something, they sat us at a table only to have us move less than 5 minutes later to another table. From the start the servers were rude (we're both Korean and are very familiar with Korean service but their rudeness exceeded even the curt efficiency with which Koreans usually serve) and this did NOT improve through out the night. We ordered the seafood pancake (haemool pajun/ ) to start and galbi tang () and kimchi samgyubsal () as our main dishes. The pajun was honestly the best part of the night. It had enough seafood and was cooked well though it could have been a little crispier. The rest of the night just went downhill. As the servers brought out array of side dishes, they yelled at us to clean off the table to make room for the food (that's a first). After this, the other two dishes quickly came out but... The soup: The broth was okay but they added way too much black pepper and salt to enhance the original flavor instead of allowing the broth to stand on its own. The meat in the soup tasted as if it had been frozen and then heated up before serving--the meat was so tough and impossible to chew. The noodles within the soup were scarce--we barely ate half. The kimchi samgyubsal: oh man. It honestly tasted like it had just been cooked in gochujang (red pepper paste) which is an important ingredient but not the only ingredient. After years of eating variations of this dish, I cannot say that I have had a worse experience than last night's. I then went to the bathroom at the end of the meal but the bathroom was filthy with a clogged toilet that was overflowing. You can bet I held it in and will not be going back to this location again. The only reason this place is getting 2 stars is because of the seafood pancake.
(2)
Ash L.

First and last. Period. Nothing can compensate the dissatisfaction I felt after I left the restaurant.
(1)
Melissa L.

Their Haemuel pajun and vast array of ban chan has been the only reasons I have patronized this restaurant. I have never been to a Korean place that had THIS much variety in the ban chan and I love it! The service is always hit and miss for me. The kalbi meet is ok but I believe it is way to expensive for 1 platter of meat. The food is really good though.
(3)
Kelly P.

Ah I don't know why people are so crazy about this place. Though I have been here many times. I think their prices are in the pricey side. Especially, if you only eat chicken and that's all you get and along with seafood. I only give it 3 stars. Each time I go there with people the service was slow though it wasn't busy at all. Before that I also went and I don't know the staff are weird and give you weird looks. Some are nice and some are just plainly rude.
(3)
Mo F.

As we were headed to our car, the middle-aged waitress that served us rushed out of the door and asked "I have a question, no tip?!" I responded "no tip." But I do have some tips for you: Tip #1, don't walk away without explanation after starting to take our order. #2, serving water to us would have been nice, as we were the only table without it. #3, check on us at least once during the meal. After you took our order, we didn't hear from you until I called you for the bill #4, if you see that we are not Korean, please write the check in English. #5 try not being so obvious in your preference for Koreans. We noticed that you were anxious to leave when we were ordering, but spent your time talking with the Korean customers. Those are your tips, try taking them and maybe next time you will get a monetary tip. But not from us, because this was our first time here, and it will be our last.
(1)
Erica L.

I always crave a large bowl of galbi tang whenever it's cold or I'm feeling under the weather. Hubby and I tried this spot out on a Monday night. It wasn't too crowded, and we were seated immediately. I was impressed with the number of dished included in their banchan - 18! The portions were of tasting size. That was the only thing impressive. The broth of the galbi tang was not flavorful enough. The meat was tough and hard to chew. Hubby had the monkfish soup, but the fish was not fresh. The spoons were spotty. We also observed one of the plastic containers of clean rice bowls tipping onto the floor (the plastic container also had a gaping hole). While picking up some the bowls, the servers placed some of the bowls into the original container and the remaining in a separate container, hopefully to be rewashed. That wasn't very reassuring to us...
(2)
Ronald B.

This place is TERRIBLE!!! Had dinner with a group of 10 and ordered the Short Tip Ribs with NO MEAT.. Our whole group kept calling the ribs "DOG BONES" and bill included an automatic 20% gratuity. When we ask to speak to the manager of the restaurant... the ladies looked at us like we we're speaking Russian... Only thing good at this restaurant was the bulgogi... BE AWARE!!!!
(1)
Ngoc N.

I legitly go to this place somewhat religiously, especially when I visited and when I first moved to Chicagoland. I can't go there that much anymore, I can't handle that much meat anymore. Anyways, I have a love/hate relationship with this place. The service is sometimes bad and sometimes horrendous. There's not much else to say. Good luck getting your order right or all of it on time...or at all! And you better be ready to smell after you leave. Their vents aren't enough to cover the amount of BBQing that happens there. Why do I go here? For their abundance of banchans. It's so fun to have them throw all those small dishes on your table and you get to sit there to try them all. It's overwhelming but completely distracts you from the terrible service. The other part is they give you a healthy serving of meat for what you pay. I've been to some other places where I was a sad sad girl when they bought out my serving of meat for BBQ. Stick to beef. Trust me. Beef. Chicken is terrible to grill, it falls apart. The pork belly is no good there. It tastes weird. I haven't tried the seafood yet because I'm too afraid to divert from the beef. BEEEEEFF!
(3)
Fia R.

It would have been exciting for Daniel L and me to eat (non-AYCE) KBBQ in a Midwestern city for the 1st time, thanks to our friend who found this place out, minutes away from the downtown area. One of the sections in this vast, spacious restaurant had a particular seating arrangement where it's respectful to remove your shoes before sitting comfortably on the floor, obviously with cushions, facing a very low-heighted tea table. Instead--but no big deal--we sat traditionally with the ventilator on top, and a coal-fired grill in the center. This was additionally my 1st time eating through 25 different kinds of colorful banchan/side dishes. Out of the bunch came with a price, meaning that only few received a green checkmark, while the rest unfortunately marked a red X. That said, the ones who donned some green were the Fish Cakes, Cold Caramelized Potatoes, and the thick Rice Cake w/ Soy Sauce (yea, I too am sad about the Kimchi not earning it). With one exception I will give the "Ok" gesture for the clear-colored seaweed. At 1st we were THIS close to opt for those Set Combos, priced around $24-28 per "person," but something striking happened that I'll mention it in the next paragraph after, b/c we might as well pick 3 meats separately. My only favorite was the well-marinated, superbly marbled and deliciously seasoned Galbi ($21.95). The ($18.95) Marinated Bulgogi, however, was qualitatively disappointing that I was more comfortable eating this almost well done, and though the frozen Pork Belly Bacon ($17.95) displayed the thinnest slices I've ever seen through my KBBQ feats, it showed the exact, same traits as the Bulgogi. Plus, what's significantly missing in KBBQ were eating without the fun-folding rice paper. We also ordered items that didn't require grilling at all, in a way =P. The Seafood Pancake ($12.95) was portion-wise and flavorfully sound, but I think it would have been texturally better if the thickened pieces were panned just a couple of minutes more. The Galitang/Kalbitang ($10.95) was pretty impressive and good to share, giving off a savory broth with nicely textured boned beef, radishes, and chewy clear noodles. So for service we weren't expecting friendliness, but we did expect sensible business practice. That $24-28 combo deal had a strange, unwritten condition b/c you must order this set with a minimum of 5 persons. It was the 4 of us, so I was internally shocked and bewildered when the manager/owner was offering us an "alternative" by ordering it anyway by paying the extra $24+ to an invisible new friend who we were unable to speak to. But on the real side, we thankfully encountered some awesome workers who constantly changed our grills. All in all, I did wish SSGS would fare with all the other plenteous KBBQs I've dealt with in So Cal, including those that I consider them to be 3 stars. I'm not saying to my Chicagoan friends that it's completely avoidable, but unless service improved much later in life, our 1st impression will not be forgotten. Our total tab sans tax & tip was an estimated $83 instead of a minimum $120, and we would rather pay the $24+ for a well-deserved buddy or family member present.
(2)
Tee T.

Very bad service and RUDE waitress!!!! I was there with a party of 3 and they charged for service 18% after tax...how come??? Charge for service but not service anything!!!! she stand in front of us and count the tips . she said we cant leave because we not give her enough tips . also the food is NOT CHEAP . NEVER COME TO GO THIS KOREAN BBQ . Its Korean BBQ but in there I never see Korean people eat there !
(1)
Mayana M.

I love the food here, it is actually one of my go to places when I'm craving spicy soups. The only reason why I'm giving this place three stars, is the server staff. There are multiple times where servers were EXTREMELY rude to us. Especially when we are trying to clarify our order with her because she is rushing us, she gets super agitated. There was also an instance where we pointed to what we wanted and said it and she brought out what she thought we wanted and blamed it on us that we pointed at the wrong thing, when in all reality we all saw what my friend said and pointed at. We got the, "next time make sure you order the right thing," are you kidding? What happened to the customer is always right? She must have been delusional! Don't be fooled though, mediocre service never stops me from tipping 20 percent.
(3)
Jennifer G.

So, this was my korean bbq virginity spot. As with human virginity, I am not so sure that I loved it. It was sloppy and odd but very good in other ways. Ok, that is weird.....Anyway, as a fairly brave eater, it wasnt scary, just so overwhelming. Some things like potato salad were oddly offputting but tasty. The seaweed salad was delicious but odd. What I thought was glass noodles but turned out to taste like rubber bands soaked in lemon, again very odd but slightly tasty. That about sums up my experience. The meat was very good, tender and well seasoned. We had bulgogi and spicy chicken. Wrapped in lettuce with random banchan things thrown in, it was very good but once may have been enough. I would like to return to find out what that soup that looked very spicy and was cooking in the center of the table was though.
(3)
Claudia Z.

Yum. That is all. I hesitate to write this review, as it gets plenty crowded already!
(5)
Mel A.

We ordered the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob...which consists of mixed veggies & beef over rice in a hot pot. It was very bland and it should have been labeled "rice over beef" instead of the other way around. The dish was primarily rice with little tiny tiny bits of hard "beef." All the little sides we got were very interesting to try. Some were too heavily coated with a very oily spicy red liquid. I like spice but the oil factor was too much. Our stomachs did not like it. The staff was courteous. The serving bowls/dishes were chipped & my water glass had a large crack running from top to bottom. When I pointed it out our server quickly brought another glass. I would like to give the Barbeque a try or another Korean BBQ place since this was my first time.
(2)
Kok L.

Do not sit near the restrooms. It stinks. Food are tasteless.
(1)
Liz B.

my first time having korean food here. The side dishes were not all that great, they were way too fishy/salty for me. The soup made me nautious. The beef was marinated very well, but a little too fatty and came with too many bones parts that had very little to no meat on them. Would be more worth the cost if there was more meat. Wayyyy too pricey.
(2)
G S.

We love this place. Great with kids. Kalbi is excellent. Can be hectic but generally good service.
(5)
John S.

I have been going here for years and I am happy they haven't changed one bit. San Soo Gan San is a great place to go with a group of friends. This is the only Korean BBQ that I know of that brings a pit of fire to the table. No electric grill here. It is a blast to come here with friends and cook you own steaks. The meats are all cut fresh and full of flavor. They have great marinades here also. The service is always friendly and paying attention so we don't burn the place down. They also give you many plates of Kimchi which I don't really eat but they give you a lot. I think we counted over 20!!! Another plus is they have free parking always a big bonus when eating in the city. Only downside is you will smell of BBQ when you leave so not the best place to go if you plan on going out after. Over all great food and lots of fun.
(5)
Pat S.

This place has been at the end of my block for 15yrs. I've only been inside twice and each time was very disappointing. They are not very welcoming and the food is terrible. Also they have a heap of garbage in the back alley of the restaurant that is not in containers doesn't get picked up regularly. Surely it attracts rodents and is right near the back door to the kitchen. I have tried to call them to complain but they claim no one there speaks English. Please do not patronize this place, it's a disaster. ZERO stars.
(1)
Jennifer P.

I am not a huge fan of Korean BBQ. Nothing aggravates me more than every last bit of table space being taken up by tiny white bowls of random garnishes and or side dishes. Upon observation, I don't see many people eating them anyway. Is this the fault of the restaurant? Not at all. The meats served up for the grill are amazing and marinated on point. Of all the random side dishes, my two favorites are the seaweed salad and the kimchi. Restaurant Kimchi will never be as good as homemade; but you can say that about a lot of foods. I wonder if the waitress would substitute some of those dishes for more of these items? I'll have to ask if I ever go again. Lots of my friends seem to love going to a place where they cook their own food. My last visit was funny. My old coworkers know nothing of Korean culture. We all sat down and when we ordered drinks; they looked at me oddly when I received a nod of approval from the waitress for ordering Hite beer. It was interesting to see how they all felt out of their element here. In the past, one of my Korean friends had made it a point to explain to me that Korean culture is still kind of new to the United States. The restaurant feels old. Like it has been there for years. It isn't dirty, but it looks that way because the tables are old. There is no sense of atmosphere. This would be fine if it weren't for the fact that it has extremely bright lighting inside. I am not fond of their use of orange to accent the walls. Maybe they could dim the lights? This is a Korean restaurant, not Kabuki Theater, gosh darn it! I would never say this place is bad. I just don't think it's my style of food. Next time I visit, I might order something else on the menu.
(3)
Xiangwen L.

I like the side dish and BBQ, Just Meat a little expensive, but side dish are free~~
(4)
Michael P.

This is a great (food wise) place. The service is lazy and have bad attitudes. But, besides that it is one of the better korean bbq places around and i have been to many. I always come with family, and we always order 3 portions of kalbi (thinly sliced marinated beef (rib meat) cooked over woodcoal grill). My suggestion is to go early in the day while they still have meat that has been merinated overnight. The sliced meat is brought to your table on the large plate. A scorching hot wood coal grill is placed in the center of your table. And, you cook the meat yourself. In the meantime the servers load your table with a couple dozen tiny plates with side dishes (consisting of kimchis, pickled salads, and a few other items). The best part is when you pull a nice sizzling chunk of meat off the grill and put in your mouth, not caring that it's hot. For someone who's never tried it. "It's worth trying" . For someone who has tried it "It's worth going back". As a regular here, I have noticed theat over prices keep inching higher and the portions keep getting smaller. It's something to keep an eye on, but has yet to stop me from going.
(3)
Aaron K.

There has been a significant drop in quality over the last couple years. That mixed with poor service ruins the entire experience. Plenty of other good Korean restaurants nearby.
(2)
Grennan K.

Wow ok, been here maybe 40 times throughout the years. Awesome because it's got something of a parking lot & it's open super late and even later in the summer time! It's basic Korean food. My parents say it's "commercial" I say it's bbq! It's NYE and planning on coming here on a date. Expect to bbq and leave smelling like a roasting fest Yukejjang, nengmyun, & kalbi with all the banchan, always. Just like I like portillos Chicago dog, everytime. Yep.
(4)
Jenny H.

Sure, the service is a little on the abrasively indifferent side: They aren't timely with our orders or keen on checking up on us. And when they come around, they just plop stuff down on our table. My diabetic friend needed a sugary drink STAT and while they acknowledged her urgent request, they went back to counting their cash-- leaving the frantic busboy to deal with her order a few minutes later. And sure, the whole place is an asthmatic's worst nightmare: Even though they have these huge vents over the grills, you feel like you've walked into an choking, billowy charcoal cloud. My lungs and my coat didn't stand a chance. And I left the place smelling like a grill, feeling like my lungs took a beating. BUT THE FOOD IS WORTH ALL OF THAT! Shortly after we ordered, one of the ladies came by and dropped off 30 banchan dishes, along with a personal bowl of rice and soup. Then came our seafood pancake and an array of meats (from varieties of beef, chicken, and squid). We FEASTED with shots of soju. My favorites of the evening were the bulgogi and spicy squid. I love variety and family style meals, hence this was a meal of epic proportions. Other things of note: No BYOB, NO BYOB! You need at least 5 people for the BBQ set meal specials Open 'til 3am No Smoking
(4)
Tanya S.

my absolute fav place for Korean bbq love love love
(5)
Kevin N.

San Soo Gab San, hard name to remember if you don't know what it means, but I'm complaining because I just wish I knew Korean. Service: 4 stars, the ladies that serve you are pretty nice, and they bring out your banchan quickly! All that's required is a little eye contact and they come to your table to help you out. Nice. Atmosphere/decor: 3 stars, I don't know whether or not the place is spic-and-span clean, although I can't expect it to be for a Korean BBQ place. Other than that, it seemed like one of the exhaust hoods malfunctioned when we were there, and this poor table was drowning in the smoke! I like how they bring out a charcoal grill right on the tabletop, I've actually never had that before, usually the grills are built into the table. Although I can't say if I tasted any difference (my taste buds are blind!) Food: 4.5 stars, a lot of meat. Not enough lettuce to wrap said meat. So much banchan you have to start stacking the little dishes on top of each other. Conclusion: First KBBQ in Chicago that I've tried, pretty good so far, albeit out of the way a little bit.
(4)
Jasmine S.

Good food .. 2 of us spend about $90.. Service was horrible.. But we still left her 20% gratuity , however I didn't think she deserved even 10% tips.. We won't go back..
(2)
Melly R.

Yea . . .came since the SO's family wanted to try. The service is much better and so is the food! However, found a staple in the fish . . . .no bueno. It was a good thing father-in-law felt the staple in his mouth a spit it out . . .
(1)
Melanie V.

Yeaaaaaaah. Wuddddup rudeness. My friend and I were not even halfway through our meal...and the waitress basically threw the check at us and forced us to pay. Literally, we had half our meal left on our plates, but we had to leave....ASAP. W.T.F. Naturally, my friend and I started to sh*t talk pretty loudly about how they only did it to us because we are a non-Korean Asian kind. (Seriously, though, they didn't seem to bother any other tables!) The waitress probably heard us grumbling because she came over and told us that since it was dinner time, they have to turn the tables over fast. (Ummm, ok...what about the OTHER tables?) I mean, I get it - the service here has always sucked in the multiple years that I've been coming here. But...really? This was ridic. Just because this place is suddenly "hot", they somehow feel they can treat people like that? I'm sorry, but there are a ton of other Korean joints in this 'hood that I'll never have to come here again.
(2)
Aracely H.

We have been coming here for years and it seems to be getting worse and worse. The service is awful....actually horrible!!! The food isn't as good, the waitresses are rude and inattentive. We are done coming here. So if u decide to give this place a shot braise yourselves. You've been warned.
(1)
Jen J.

We visited last week with our family and we had a pleasant time. If you're not Korean, this place is hard to get used to. It's mass chaos and you usually have to flag down one of the Ahjumas, otherwise you'll be waiting FOREVER. And by "flag down" I mean, yell out the things you need as an Ahjuma is passing by. They usually stop and are quick to get what you need. They work as a team, so you don't really get a specific server. If you can look past that AND all the smoke because their hoods are not powerful enough for the smoke to escape, then perhaps you'll have a good time. Koreans are very concerned with the charred remains that clings to the grill, so they are happy to replace the grill after a little while. I enjoyed the marinated Kalbi very much as well as the Oi kimchi (cucumber kimchi). The banchan is VERY plentiful--almost to a fault. Your table is "littered" with so many small dishes it sometimes makes things difficult to move around. I honestly think they could get rid of the American banchan--potato salad, coleslaw, steamed broccoli, and boiled potatoes and carrots. These just took up space and no one ate them because....we're at a Korean restaurant! I don't speak Korean, but I went with some family who did, so I didn't feel as awkward as some people who reviewed this restaurant. The quality of the food is decent. We spent nearly $300 for a party of 10 when ordering fried mandu, 3 kalbi (2 marinated, 1 not), seafood soup, and some soju and beer. Overall, I'd go here again, but only with my family.
(3)
Sean C.

Unmarinated kalbi and kalbi are pretty good, nothing to write home about. Sushi is not bad either. For the price this place is not worth it. I'll continue my quest for a single good KBBQ place in the Chicago area.
(3)
Gino W.

There has never been a moment of going to this restaurant that I have not eaten to the point where it hurts. But it hurts so good. Chop chae. Bulgolgi. Marinated chicken. And all those small bowls of complements. You have to do the hibachi barbecue to appreciate the restaurant. And any of the non-barbecue dishes will also please the palate. Whenever I want some good Korean barbecue, San Soon Gab San is where you will find me.
(5)
Jessica G.

Pretty standard Korean BBQ. Load the table up with a couple dozen tiny plates and an abundance of meat, get fire in your tabletop grill and go to town. We had pork belly, chicken, and beef in a couple different configurations - the grill top seems like it's a little smaller than in some places but we got it done. Five types of meat with soup, a seafood pancake, maki, and tasty glass noodles - at $24 a person it was a decent value. Service was pretty good and the servers did a nice job of keeping the fire hot and the water glasses filled. We'd had a reservation but didn't need it as the place was only about half full. The parking lot is tight, which made me glad I wasn't the one trying to park and unpark the car. I think if we were in the neighborhood, I would go back.
(3)
Yang Z.

good korean taste. bad service!
(3)
Katherine M.

The food here was delicious and well portioned. The servers are nice and the atmosphere is really pleasant. Would definitely return!
(4)
Nancy H.

I came here over the summer after having not been back in years. Midway through our meal, supposedly the health inspector showed up, and the waitress rejected our every request for refills on anything but water... no extra panchan or veggies. They also turned away customers who came inside! Is it that necessary to turn people away because the health inspector is here? It felt so shady. It was truly an underwhelming meal.
(2)
Tian Y.

Good option for late night comfort food. Pretty good meats, charcoal cook top for some nice flavor vs gas at some other places, and the soups and stews are the perfect comfort food. You get like 20 side dishes, which is ridiculous, the most I've ever seen or been given. Some are very interesting and delicious, and you can ask for extra (not sure to what extent though. I only asked for 1 or 2). The meats themselves are kind of a small portion for the price, but they are pretty tasty, and I guess with 2 meats and a soup you can stuff yourself for under $30 per person total. Parking lot is a lot smaller than I thought... but there is parking on the side residential streets. Yes, bring a Korean speaker! I have received less attentive/polite service without a Korean, but this is definitely the worst I've ever gotten. They're not rude on purpose it seems, just negligent, and part of that might be the language barrier.
(3)
Alexander L.

The misses and I got in to Chicago and were craving some good Korean BBQ. We hit the yelp reviews pretty hard and stumbled upon this nice little place. The restaurant itself is on the corner next to a small sushi place so it's easy to miss. The parking lot is incredibly small and parking is tight and close quarters, thank god for the small VW nettle rental. Like most Korean restaurants the service was "eh" but the good made up for it. We ordered the pork belly bacon and the marinated beef short ribs. Unlike my traditional thoughts of bacon from the store used to cook for breakfast, this pork belly bacon was a lot more tender and less fatty. I'd say it was more lean but still a good choice. The marinated beef short ribs were amazing and something that will make us wanting to come back for sure. The marination was sweet yet succulent and that BBQ flavor heightens the taste. The sides of Kim-chi (spelling?) were also very bountiful and they gave us more if any if the small bowls ran out. Or favorite was the small fish cakes, the potatoes, squid, and some type of fried egg patty. In total for the both of us the bill came to roughly $44 which was ideal. The amount of good you get is amazing so if your looking for a quick little bite I'd probably stop someplace else but if you want a meal, you found it. *Side note* if you only order one meal to share then they cook everything for you but if you order two meals then you get to BBQ your food at the tables
(4)
Beverly Z.

This is the my favorite in Chicago. Seafood Scallion Pancake is a must try.
(5)
Hanh P.

Disclaimer- I am not from Chicago, so I don't know what the Korean food is like here. I am also not Korean so my preferences are different. But because I enjoy Korean food I've had it in many cities. Including NYC, LA, SF, Seoul and Denver. And I'm sad to say SSGS falls short of Denver's best. That's just disappointing for a big city like Chicago. So many things to rate for this place. But let's start with the most important, the food. I will be generous and give a 4. I want to say 3.5 but I'll round up. The seafood pancake was the very good. I'd almost give it a 5. Better than SGD Tofu House. The kalbee was good not great, a strong 3.5. I've had way better. Isn't kalbee an essential at K-BBQ? I think they cut it too thin. Bulgogi was also decent, I give it a 3. We ordered tofu soup and it was good, this one is better at SGD Tofu House. The sides were average. I've been to so many that had much better and even more sides. Overall a good experience. But I expect more.
(4)
Vishal P.

This place popped my Korean BBQ cherry and came here multiple times since. A very unique dining experience with great food and a nice selection of soju. If you've never been to Korean BBQ before... its a great experience with a nice group. You get a huge portion of side dishes and raw, marinated meat which you cook on a small coal grill in the center of the table. Try the Bul Ko Ki (marinated beef), the Wang Kal Bi if you like ribs, we also got some seasoned chicken too. If you want some nice soju - try the Chamisul. Tip: Come early or make a reservation - this place isn't too big and has a huge crowd of people.
(4)
Jessica Y.

Saturday night the line was out the door. Meeting a couple of friends who were in town from MN and enjoyed it the last time they were in town so wanted to go back. If there are no spots in their 7 spot lot you can park in the subdivision near the restaurant. The wait was under 30 minutes. Service = wasn't the friendliest but I suspect the limited English contributed to what came across as rude. We shared 3 meat dishes to BBQ and there were 27 side dishes that made it fun! The whole table was FILLED with them - kim chee, spinach, tofu, seaweed, broccoli, bean curd, eggplant, etc. Each meat dish comes with soup + rice and they bring out romaine lettuce to wrap the BBQ in. The bill was $60 something with no drinks. 2 meat dishes to share between 3 ppl would have been more than enough. If you have time, are in the area, and ok with a really smoky room (from the grills) try it out. The massive amounts of side dishes were very enjoyable.
(3)
Rosanna L.

This has to be one of my favorite KBBQ place because of the delicious marination of the various meats; Bul Ko Ki - tender beef marinated Korean style and Wang Kal Bi - marinated beef short ribs. Every meat order comes with at least a dozen little side dishes of kimchee, potato, various vegetables, and plenty more. They also have a very tasty Hae Moul Pajun (seafood pancake) - seafood pan-cake, egg and green onions . Hence why only the 3 stars if it's a fave? Well, the service can really set someone off if they can't handle the way the waitresses react to you. They don't follow-up, they're not polite, they really are there just to work and get you in and out. Most, if not none of them speak English so there's already a communication barrier. I can easily overlook the service for the food, but I think if they were just a little bit more friendly and maybe even smile this place would get more better reviews.
(3)
Ryan Inoe B.

I have had Korean BBQ before at other locations and this one is by far one that will not be a go to. Even though the menu was straight forward, the service is not up to par on what customer service should be (regardless on the language barrier). When you order multiple orders of different types of meats, they tend to just throw it all together to make a big order but in tale making it more look like that your getting a lot which is not the case. Ventilation was a big issue as well. The portions of meat are already tiny as is and when grilled, they even seem smaller. Even the short ribs did not suffice the hungry belly's that longed for MEAT. Only to give you the taste of the marinade literary off the bone. Though the abundance of sides made you feel like you had a chance to enjoy their food, the customer service is just non-existent!!! Overall I will enjoy my other places that I know I will get the bang for my buck.
(1)
Terri F.

Sat, waited 20 minutes, three other tables of Korean patrons were seated, flagged down 2 waitress, watched the 3 later sat tables order....put my coat on to leave after 40 minutes of sitting there and the waitress says, I'm ready for you now. When I said it's been 40 minutes she replied, I am busy. I looked around to see a half filled restaurant and left. What a disappointment, heard food was great, but food from a racist place can't be all that good.
(1)
Jin Y.

i had a light dinner here last night with party of 5.. food was real bad and when i got my check,,, the bill was about 120. i look closedly on the receipt and they've already charged me like 18% tip on top of the total..... i didn't feel like raising hell last night so i just walked out but is this normal or did i just get screwed by these people
(1)
Pearl H.

Perfect amount of food! We got bbq: wang kal bi (marinated beef short ribs), bulgogi (thinly sliced beef), and joo mul luk (rib eye mini steak). Service was lovely...there's a call button if you need something! So don't expect them to come to you (Sometimes they do). If you don't push that button, waitresses will not stop by. The one down side was the "parking lot." It's very tiny - hard to get in and out of a spot.
(5)
Matthew S.

This place is the shit, it is the shit, it is the shit. Of course, you have to know what you're getting into -- don't go expecting obsequious service, don't go if piles of meat aren't your thing, and don't go if you don't want to smell like grill smoke when you walk out. But really, are those your priorities? Is that who you are? Really. Anyway, I've been here a number of times, and the times with large groups have been a greater success than the time I went as a twosome. Just too much food with the grill options! So keep that in mind as well. But long story short, piles of meat, vast array of delicious Korean sides, great experience. Love coming here.
(5)
Julie Y.

I went with a group of 7 and was seated immediately. We decided to get Set A and ordered 7 meat entrees. Never have I ever been to a korean restaurant with SO MANY BANCHAN. THERE WAS NO ROOM TO FIT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. We resorted to gorging on banchan so that we would have room for our meats. We ordered 3 orders of the wang kalbi, 1 order of dak kalbi, 1 order bulgogi and 2 orders of chadolbaegi. The wang kalbi was absolutely amazing. Mouth watering and melt in your mouth good. Sadly, the chadolbaegi left a lot more to be desired. It was served frozen and sliced a little bit too thick. When it was cooked on the grill, it hardened up into what seemed to be like meat leather. It was tough and generally unappetizing. I see a lot of reviewers complaining about the service, but I didn't really see any issues while I was there. The waitresses were helpful and tried their best to explain their menu items and set orders. Our water glasses were never empty, and they were eager to refill our banchan! While that was a disappointment, the men in the group still devoured the meat and all of us thoroughly enjoyed all the side dishes and appetizers. The wang kalbi made up for the mediocre experience with the chadolbaegi. If we're ever back, it will definitely be for the kalbi!
(4)
Scott R.

This review is based on our amazing experience last night. I've eaten here with family and friends more than a dozen times; the Kalbi is better than ever and so is the Pajun pancake. The service is best described as unique. We ordered Pajun and 3 orders of Kalbi for the 3 of us last night; everything was delivered in record time: first the side dishes, then the kalbi, then the pajun, then the rice and finallly the soup. The order is always irregular. We ate at a brisk pace, but apparently not fast enough for one waitress. She SAT DOWN at our table and started cooking the rest of the kalbi, ignoring my protests, and then left. The restaurant was not full, and no one came by with a check. I'm pretty thick skinned and I love the Kalbi here even if it's on the expensive side so I have a plan of operation for the next time: we will sit on the outside of the table so the waitress can't sit down; still I think her behavior was incredibly boorish and inappropriate in any facility.
(2)
Rohan S.

This didn't meet my 26/30 zagat rated restaurant expectation. It is definitely cool how they bring out the meats for you to cook on the skillet yourself, but I wasn't that impressed with any of the food. It was a cool experience, but wouldn't bring anyone back.
(3)
Jasmine D.

The place to eat after a long night of partying... Otherwise, meh... Points for authenticity, using charcoal, an amazing amount of banchan, and long hours... But, service? Many have already hit on this, but the long days have gotten to them... They're worn out and are past the point of trying to make an impression. Hidden charges and a bill in Korean... It's a Korean staple in Chicago, though. People will still come back...
(3)
Pari P.

Excellent Korean food, open late, and caters to non-Koreans? I thought it wasn't possible so I ventured to San Soo Gab San with my wife since we both had a craving for Korean food. Ah, a menu written in Korean AND English! The place got busy really quick. Those who arrived late had to sit in a different area where you remove your shoes and sit on the floor. I was really surprised at how busy and how diverse the customers were. We ordered the marinated beef short ribs (kalbi) and spicy pork belly (cheyook bokim). At first, the kalbi came out and looked like a small portion for $20 but it wasn't between two people. Then the cheyook bokim came out along with all of the side dishes (pan chan). The beef was sweet and salty and the pork was spicy - perfect combination. Although the pork belly wasn't as tender as I am used to in Chinese cuisine, it was still good. The number of pan chan filled our table ranging from kimchee, pickled vegetables, potato salad, and soup. Each had their own individual flavors and complimented the dishes. With all of the food that we got, the meal came out to only $30 plus tax. Amongst two people, that's a steal. With authentic Korean food done well at reasonable prices, it's no reason why San Soo Gab San is doing so well. I'll have to come here again but for a late night fourth meal to try a different experience. I really appreciate how welcoming they are to diverse populations, Chicago needs more Korean restaurants like this.
(5)
Michael W.

Wow. I was actually pretty damn surprised to find some legit Korean BBQ in Chicago. On another business trip to Chicago, one of my friends decided to take me out to get some decent food out of the Loop. Thank god because in general, the food in the Loop is pretty mediocre at best. A 20 minute drive later, we ended up at San Soo Gab San. This place, to me, is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Then again, I'm not a local, but there didn't seem to be much around the area. At 6pm, this place is pretty empty, so it's actually the perfect time to stop by here for dinner. The restaurant is pretty much laid out like any other Korean BBQ-esque restaurant. With your grill in the middle, locked, loaded and ready to get cracking with the meat. For dinner, my friend and I decided to order the seafood pancake and two orders of the kalbi. Of course, no Korean BBQ would be complete without a couple bottles of beer. Trust me when I say that this is plenty enough for two people. What makes it even more crazy is the fact that you literally get 20 different kinds of banchan to start you off. Even in LA, you don't get 20 different kinds of things to snack on. When the kalbi showed up, it was nice and marbled. The meat was nicely sliced, and not too thin that it cooks too quick. The marinade wasn't overly sweet, and was actually one of the better kabli that I've had in my lifetime. With two orders, I think we got about 15 or so pieces each, which was more than enough. As far as the seafood pancake is concerned, it was pretty good, but I might be able to do without it next time. The pancake itself came pretty stacked with many octopus chunks, but it just seemed a little on the bland side, especially without the sauce. In total, with the two orders of kalbi, seafood pancake, and two 24oz of beer, the bill came out to be just over $75. Not the cheapest I suppose, but the meat was straight quality. Overall, service here was pretty solid. It probably helped considering there were only 3 occupied tables in total, but that only works in my favor. The BBQ here is solid, and the vast amounts of banchan that they set you up here with is mind boggling. San Soo Gab San is definitely a legitimate Korean restaurant in Chicago, and it's definitely gained a fan.
(4)
Jessica L.

I'm currently writing this with a stomach that has been stretched to its max past the level of satisfaction... Anyways, I just got back from San Soo Gab San with my great uncle and aunt, and I have to say that I am so so so satisfied. One of the best kalbi I've tasted in the Chicago area so far! First of all, the side dishes were so abundant! Even my Korean great uncle and aunt were shocked by the endless side dishes, and that's saying something. And it's not like they're trying to impress with quantity over quality - every single dish tasted awesome! (Except for the kimchi for some reason...it had a weird spice in it that was not very appetizing to me) The kalbi was amazing. Wow. So tender and juicy, and the fact that you can eat it right off the grill is fantastic. 100% freshness guaranteed. Next, we had the soondae. Well, how should I describe this to people who never had it? It's defined on the internet as Korean style blood sausages. That does NOT sound appetizing, but trust me, soondae is amazing. It's very tender and actual taste of the sausage is very discreet and mild, but when you eat it with the pepper-salt on the side, the flavors really come alive, and it's absolutely delicious. Brings me back to the good ole' times when I lived in Korea and ate soondae from those street vendors. Finally, to wash off the greasiness of the meal, you get the doenjangguk (soybean paste soup) which comes with the meal. It was rather on the saltier side, but the saltiness worked well because your mouth will be begging for something salty after all that meat you just gobbled up. And throughout the entire meal, you gotta have some soju man. A korean meal is not complete without that alcohol. period.
(4)
Bethany A.

Late hours, lots of banchan, authentic Korean menu. I had the sulungtang and it was really flavorful with TONS of beef tongue. Also they bring you the salt and pepper so you can season the soup yourself. The rice was also perfectly cooked. My friend had the bibimbap and she finished it all, so I'm assuming it was pretty good. I'd definitely come back here.
(4)
Robert W.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews on here so I felt I should report back that we had a fantastic experience. We were first-timers in need of help and instruction, which was gladly provided. It was clear some of the staff didn't speak much English and couldn't be very helpful, but the one or two that did helped us cook the meat, frequently change the grill (4 times, as we kept messing up), telling us to wrap in the lettuce, and all the usual niceties (refilling water, clearing dishes, etc.). She showed us the proper way to cook the bulgogi so it doesn't stick ("make a mountain"), which is likely what other people did wrong. Aside from the service, there were tons of side dishes and everything tasted great (though many of the kimchi sides fairly similar, but maybe that's normal). I left very pleased, and would recommend anyone new or having grill problems to ask for help (ideally from someone that speaks your language).
(5)
Mk L.

I've had great Korean BBQ before. The service may not always be the greatest, but at least the food is good. This place is really bad. It's dark, dingy, and the service is appalling. Our party of 5 adults and 1 toddler was seated. We decided on pork bulgogi, squid, and some beef for the BBQ. The waitress tried to make us order more meat even after we told her we didn't need any more. When the food came, I asked her if they refilled the side dishes but I'm not sure she understood me or didn't care because she basically ignored me and left. The grill they give you is a basic metal grill over some coals. A lot of the meat ended up sticking to the grill so your end result is half the amount they give you. The meat itself was not good. Tasted as tho there was no seasoning at all. I've had better meat at the sample stands at Hmart. When we went to pay for the meal, she told us we had to give them 15% tip because there were 5 of us, then she proceeded to stand there and make sure we wrote down the tip. I would not go back here. Bad food AND terrible service? No thank you.
(1)
Hang T.

One of the best Korean restaurants I've ever been too. Their food is bountiful and delicious. They gave us over 25+ banchan dishes. They engulfed the table. I was so overwhelmed, but many of them were delicious. I like a place that gives you variety. We ordered a lot of food and all of it was cooked at the table which as fun. The food is pretty expensive if you think about it. You're getting raw meat mainly, but the cost covers the banchan side dishes and some other things they give you. Portions are also huge. The service is the worse part of this restaurant. You can never get the attention of the waitresses. They never greet you at the door. You just have to wait in line and wait until a table frees up. A man in front of us even tapped a waitress while she was walking by and she completely ignored him. The atmostphere is very smoky as you would expect. Good for large groups. They have those seats where you on the floor with your friends.
(4)
Filippo L.

Fun experience, as authentic as it gets at least in Chicago. You get charcoal to grill on your table so yes you are going to smell like it. It's cool.
(5)
Romana Y.

The Korean bbq here is good, but not great. The unmarinated kalbi, and kalbi, were nothing to return back to. Service was good. Cleanliness was average. The ventilation in here is decent, as well.
(2)
Mike S.

Definitely ZERO stars if it were possible. Service was the usual, HORRIBLE, half of our party of six spoke fluent Korean and still, we received and were charged for an extra order of meat we hadn't ordered and when asked to have the bill, which was in Korean and wasn't itemized, separated by the two tables we took up, the late forties waitress who didn't speak English and seemed to not WANT to speak Korean to any of us responded back something under her breath and made a chopping motion with her hand as she was walking away. Why is this place still in business? The numerous plates of old looking this and that... almost as embarrassing as the service.
(1)
Green T.

Not the best Korean restaurant in the area, but the fact that you can go in the middle of the night... Korean food trumps diner fare hands-down for late night dining. That said, I'm kind of perplexed by when they are open - the internet seems to say a lot of different things. I think they used to be open 24 hours, then they knocked that back to 5am when I lived in Lincoln Square a couple years back, now I see 2am and 3am around. I guess I'll have to look or ask next time I'm down there. In any case, they give you a TON of banchan here, the seafood pancake is delicious as other reviewers have noted. The menu is LONG and includes a bunch of sushi but everything we've gotten has been pretty good. I don't think we've actually done barbecue here but we have gotten some "bacon" dishes which are terrific.
(4)
Adrienne C.

cheap & gets the job done. I usually get the yu kae jang (spicy beef soup). doesn't feel like the cleanest place, but if you were so concerned about that you probably shouldn't be at a super cheap korean restaurant. the service is hit or miss. try to come here with Koreans who speak Korean. I feel like they like it when that happens and they give you preferential treatment if you're speaking in Korean. This leads to complicated emotions on my part, because i'm Korean but have embarrassingly low language proficiency, which I suspect may be their least favorite type of customer....ha sometimes I feel dehydrated after eating the soup here. probably because it's laced with MSG, but whatevs. like i said, it's a super cheap korean restaurant that gets the job done.
(3)
Darren F.

keeping it short... came here a few times.. horrible service if you're not Korean.. prepare to get ignored and get treated like you're a no body.. food is just OK.. average Korean BBQ food .. last but not least... bad service! never mind i think i listed that already..
(1)
Labarp S.

I have been coming here for years but last night's visit will be the last one for me. The service was just average as usual, but the main reason for the disappointment was the food. I always ordered their beef bbq items, but yesterday i wanted to try something different and ordered pork ribs and squid - bad idea. For almost $18 each, before tax, the meat portion was pathetically small. The banchans were decent, but as a whole, it was very disappointing. I ordered a large hot sake, and they brought a small one. Upon asking if that flask was the large one, the server confirms that it is large. After we were in the middle of our dinner, I ordered another large sake. This time the server brought a large one. I pointed out that the first sake's flask was much smaller than the second flask but the server insists that they are of same size. I didn't wanted to ruin the night by arguing with the server, so wrapped up the dinner and said bye to this place for the last time. I'm pretty sure for new people the number of ratings of this place might seem appealing, but please dont fall for it. There are much better places in west Lawrence & Bryn Mawr area.
(1)
Peter K.

Worst Kbbq I've had in a really long time. This place is terrible. Totally excessive amount of banchan plates with a bite each... wth is the point. That is besides the point, the bbq was really bad. Look, if you're Korean, go somewhere else. That is all I gotta say.
(1)
Sara V.

Not my first Korean BBQ, but it's still always a little disconcerting to see all that meat. SSGS brings far more tiny side dishes to the table than any other place I've been. Some of the stuff was Way Too Salty for my taste and some of it was Way Too Spicy for my companion's. Some of it, however, just like the littlest bear's porridge, chair, and bed, was Just Right. I've been to places where someone stops by the table frequently to move around your meat and places where they don't. Being a meat-cooking scaredy-cat I prefer someone else cook my meat. Luckily someone else did (just not the server). Service here was more than a little patchy by the way. Got beef of some kind and what I think was pork belly bacon. Beef was good. Bacon was completely devoid of all flavor. Except the flavor of fire. Which is not really an acceptable flavor in anything other than Cheetos (and to be honest I'd rather have had Cheeto-flavored bacon). Assuming this is a Korean thing, having flavorless bacon, and so will merely say "Not for me" and move on. Might come back but there are better Korean BBQ places in the city.
(3)
Lisa H.

This is probably the worst service I had for Korean BBQ. I have been here in small groups and in larger groups. Lunch time, dInner time, and late night. Every single time, I had the same horrible service. The only reason why I keep coming back is because of friends' birthday dinners or late night cravings (since its open 24 hours). The waitresses all seem to hate their job, our glases of water were always empty, and it takes ages for them to give us menus, take orders, and bring our food. Its not like they have to physically cook the meat. The pre-seasoned meats were only mediocre, but the complimentary sides such as kimchi, potato salad, spicy radish, lettuce, etc. were a little bit tastier. Some of the side dishes have an acquire taste, but other dishes may suit you better. Just really depends on your taste buds' preference. If their service was going to be this bad, they should at least compensate it with better tasting food. You'll be more happy going somewhere else.
(1)
Jaime W.

24 side dishes of banchan, seafood pancake, octopus, galbi bbq + Soju = DEEELIIICIOUS! As soon as we ordered, all the food just started to come all at once. We drove all the way from Cleveland for the weekend for St Patty's and heard this place was good. Didn't think that the food would come out so soon. We were hungry so we weren't complaining. The food was good but kind of on the greasy side but I guess that's what you expect from eating Korean BBQ. The seafood pancake had the mussels, shrimp as what they described. It was fluffy but yet so good. The octopus was just too chewy and maybe we shouldn't have grilled it but how were we supposed to eat it? All the banchan dishes were all too good and more you can ask for. The galbi was the best because it's all marinated so after you grill it, you can still taste the flavor. The only thing I was a bit bummed about was that they didn't have ddukbokki. Spicy rice cakes is like a classic dish you have to have and this place did not. The service was acceptable and it was a friday night so it wasn't really that busy either. I called ahead to see if i needed to make reservations and the lady said they only took it for 10+ people. When we first walked in, we were seated right away, so no complaints there. Decor: Traditional Korean tables or regular wood booths. I wish we could have sat in one of those.
(4)
Christian H.

I have to say that one of my most favorite places to eat with a group of four or more is San Soo Gab San for a delicious Korean BBQ. This location is very a very popular place in the city. I think I have eaten here over ten times in the past four years and each time is still an experience to be had. I had my Master's degree graduation party here and not one person said they disliked the food. The service on the other hand is not the best in the world, but that is just a cultural thing. The best part of the meal include several parts. First, you have the fact that you get to cook your own meat (if you order two) on the charcoal grill at your table. BTW - you will smell like smoke when you leave so don't come here before prom. Some of the meats, for example are beef short rib, tenderloins, pork, chicken, and squid. Then, there are the 15-20 side dishes that you get (which you can always get refills of) such as kimchi, lotus root, and potato salad just to name a few. The meats come with one rice and one miso soup for each meat, which I would suggest sharing so you can have more meat and side dishes. They also have other dishes like Korean pancakes and such, but I would suggest the grilled meats. It is best to go to San Soo Gab San on the weeknights as the weekends can be very crowded. And as always.... Have Fun!!!
(5)
Anya C.

Good food. Horrible service.
(3)
Jiwon M.

augh ... ok so in my country as well as several other countries service is not so regarded if it's not in your home. SO that means a Korean restaurant here in Western Culture cannot expect to have "service" as we know it. So let's mush through the dream that will never come true - we will probably NEVER get great service from here. BUT you also won't get the AMAZING traditional flavored food as you will here. Ok maybe a few others on this list but VERY FEW. Swallow that pill ad you WILL have great food and want to eat it again, you will.
(4)
Jay I.

Seems like this place used to be one of the popular go to Korean places, but nowadays gets mixed reviews. We just happened to try this place the other day (the original plan got thrown out when we saw no one in the restaurant as we stepped inside). So there is a clear advantage about this place. Side dishes! There are more than 10 side dishes and they ended up not having enough space to put all the side dishes on our table. Also they actually use traditionally looking charcoal for bbqing (real Korean style). Honestly speaking the meat didn't taste as much as I expected from a real charcoal, the overall meat quality was decent. So, I think this place is a definite bargain for what you pay, and would recommend it.
(4)
Jose C.

Probably the best Korean restaurant I've been to in the city. In terms of food. The service sucks just like it does at almost every Korean restaurant, though. I was one of three non-Koreans in a large group when I came here, so that helped. Because, as most know, if you're not Korean, you might as well be a walking pile of dog crap. The Korean BBQ was good here as were all the little side dishes. But like all other Korean restaurants, they will not refill your water. I respect all cultures but I do not appreciate the attitude these employees seem to have. Having said all of that, I wouldn't come here on my own or without a Korean friend/coworker.
(3)
Daniel H.

I've been on a Korean food tear lately. I've been here several times and have been meaning to write it up. So the basic point of this place is that while I've had better BBQ elsewhere, this place offers the best banchan spread of anyplace I've been to in the area as of yet. Don't get me wrong, the BBQ isn't bad by any means, it's just not tops. For example, they just give you a plain grill with no nonstick/lubrication on the surface. As a result, a lot of the meat ends up sticking to the grill when you try to remove it. For some reason, this doesn't seem to be so much of a problem at other places. I'm not sure why, I'm certainly not a grill master physicist, but I do know that something's different here. Nevertheless, the banchan is AMAZING. They give you so much and refill any empty dishes when they notice it or upon request. There are certain items that other places don't even offer that this place offers, which I dig. I've also had no complaints about the non-BBQ items, although I've certainly had better non-BBQ items elsewhere. Basically, if you want a good bi bim bop or japchae, go to a non-BBQ korean place. Service is courteous and helpful. The waitresses could be a little more noticing, but to be fair, the restaurant's layout is kind of odd in that you can't scan the whole dining area from any one spot so you really have to walk around to see everyone. Price? Meh, it's high b/c it's a Korean BBQ place. No much eyebrow-raising on that front. Friendly Tip: While they do have a private parking lot, it's very small, so during the dinner rush you may have better luck on one of the nearby side streets. Otherwise, more than 2 non-parked cars there would cause gridlock.
(4)
Justine M.

A bit far but not horrible. We were seated in an area where we were sitting on the floor; we had to take off our shoes. Lots of foood. We got the bulgogi, kalbi, chicken and pork to grill and various dishes like the seafood pancake, mondu, bibimbap, etc. We also got some bottles of soju and beer. We were a group of 8 so it was just the right amount of food. A bit pricey - we paid $40/each. It was mediocre and nothing too great. It was fortunate that we were with a Korean person otherwise it would've been difficult to order more food or get their attention. They also didn't refill our waters very often.
(3)
David E.

2 things you can count on: good soup, rude service. As I said, there was one soup I liked, so I kept going back. I kept going back despite the ceiling that dripped waste on me one night. Despite the consistently dirty tables. Despite the kitchen employee who once walked out front and started cutting raw meat at the cash register next to my table. And I kept going back despite the smoke from the table next to me that blew a continuous cloud into my face (rather than up to the vent--those customers apologized but it wasn't their fault). But the last time, they left me standing there waiting for a table while they continued to serve anyone who was Asian. I wasn't with an Asian, that time. I'm done.
(1)
Julie L.

We've been here a couple of times. Each time, the food has been excellent but the service, not so much. The UPS: They had a huge amount of bansan, most of which was delicious. We order the seafood pancake every time. YUM! The array of meats we ordered were all very flavorful and my kids had fun cooking. The DOWNS: I agree with many of the reviewers here about the service. Most of the times, we have been here, our waitresses have been rude. They watched our every move in hopes that we would hurry up and leave. But when we needed something, they were conveniently no where to be found. We felt rushed which overall put a downer on our whole experience. Would I go here again? ABSOLUTELY! Despite the rudeness, my whole family enjoyed cooking together and the food was so delicious.
(4)
Misty S.

I'm learning so much about tendons... Soup always sounds good to me in cold weather like this, so I looked through the soup section and thought beef short rib soup sounded delicious. The waitress kept speaking to me in Korean and just kept repeating herself when I didn't understand. Maybe if she said it one more time, it'll click. I was trying really hard to channel my ancestors to help me out in case one may have known the language. No dice. I pointed to what I wanted on the menu and thought we were good to go. When the soup arrived, I was quite skeptical that it was short rib. There were semi-transparent gelatinous morsels floating around in the broth as I stirred it. Okay...I thought...maybe this is Korean style short rib. Not what I was expecting. I ate it. It was interesting. Halfway through my meal, I was able to signal a waitress over to ask what was in the soup, specifically the morsels. She proceeded to rub her rib cage and nodded when I said ribs? Still not convinced, I was determined to get to the bottom of this. I went on Yelp when I got home to see if anyone has reviewed the beef short rib soup. There was a brief mention in one review, but in a positive light, so surely it couldn't be this soup I got. I looked up pictures and it certainly not what I ate. Finally, I tracked down the menu and saw that right above the short rib was the beef tendon soup. Geeze, I felt like a dumbass. TENDONS...of course. I have seen this stuff before...not so up close and personal, but I should have known. Eeeeeeeeeeew...I ate tendons...*gag* If they hadn't made me eat tendons, they would have earned one more star. The rest of our food was good. The service was terrible! They didn't once fill our water glasses. The table next door had a huge bon fire going with their meat grilling and I could barely see the tendons through the smoke. This place was packed at 10pm on a Friday night. That's always a good sign, I thought. The restaurant is fairly large, so we got seated right away. We sat in the section were we had to take our shoes off and climbed onto the seating area and stick our legs under the table. That was fun. Not fun enough to block out my tendon experience, though.
(2)
Irah H.

a very good tofu stew, spicy noodle and bibimbap. i just hope they will open somewhere in downtown though .
(4)
Jennie T.

Ok, I may not like their BBQ very much, but I loved their gamjatang (pork bone and potato soup). Yum! It's basically pork bones, potatoes, green onions, sesame leaves, and lots and lots of pepper. My only complaint is that I wish they had cooked the pork a little more so that the meat would fall off the bones easily. It was quite a messy meal not being able to pick the meat off the bones with chopsticks. Request a lot of napkins! You'll need it. Another thing, they seated me at the low table. You'd need to take off your shoes for this area and you're sitting on chairs without legs. Cross-legged. Kind of fun, but it's a bit hard to stand up afterwards. And the servers will retreat into the back -- it's hard for them to see you in this area, I think. The key is to have patience and enjoy your meal.
(4)
Holly O.

My friends took me here on a Friday night - and we had such a great dinner. 5 of us at, like 7 or 8pm, and didn't have to wait for a table - which was awesome. All the food was yummy - the little sides are so fun to try. For meat, we got the Wang Kal Bi marinated short beef ribs), the Dai Ji Kal bi (marinated pork rib), and the Bul Ko Ki (korean style seasoned beef). All de-lish! And the best? The seafood pancake - Hae Moul Pajun - so good! And that's all Yelp, because honestly, I would never have ordered it on my own, but so many people had Yelp-ed about it, that I had to... And we LOVED it. Soooooo good. Great great dinner. (i'm seeing lots of rude service comments from other people on here... we experienced that with our server at first, but she quickly gave someone else our table, so it was fine - and in hindsight, we think it was just that she didn't speak enough english to wait on us. Our second lady was great!) Oh, warning: since there are mini-grills at EACH table, there's a lot of cooking smoke/oil throughout the place - you and your clothes will smell like food when you leave. We proactively left our coats in the car, and I was glad for it.
(4)
Jesus S.

Not much to add here. This place is great for a casual dinner for two. Or a big party of 30. Always love coming here for BBQ. It's fun for everyone and they have sushi too.
(5)
Betty H.

Oh, how we miss all the great Korean food in LA...just have not found any decent galbi, bulgogi, bibimbop, or the spicy pork neckbone potato stew!!! ARGHHH
(2)
Rae P.

I've been going to this location since high school. I've had better service else where but I keep going back for the awesome side dishes and kalbi. Tonight I went out with friends to their new location on Golf. The place is much nicer, but horrible service. THe server gave us an attitude too after we accidentally wrote the wrong tiip ( okay it was complicated, partly our fault) but she gave us an attitude about not giving a 20% tip..honestly i would not have given a 20% tip considering no one even came back to ask how we're doing or give us more tea or water. Hands down Woori village wins with great customer service and all you can eat. Won't come back, i was turned off.
(1)
Grace C.

I'm not quite sure what the fuss is about. The service is poor and the food is only ok. They forgot some dishes and at first forgot all about us altogether. We were sitting there for 15 minutes and had to wave someone down. Not english speaking friendly.
(3)
Tricia D.

If only the service were more attentive and you would actually get acknowledged when you walk in this place, I think I would make it a point to come here more. I mean, meatfest on a grill? Plus seafood pancakes and white rice and bibimbop? Yes, please! Who cares if you walk out of here smelling like a kbbq skewer?
(4)
Angy K.

Very bad service and RUDE waitress!!!! I was there with a party of 4 and they charged for service 18% after tax...how come??? Charge for service but not service anything!!!!
(1)
Abe R.

If I came here with someone who could speak the language then I am sure I would enjoy my visit so much more, as the wait staff is basically non existent when it comes to help navigating your way through the food and menu. Why people who work here, why? It's not cool having no idea what you are eating nor knowing how to order. Aside from that, we ordered a bunch of food and I enjoyed it all the same. However, if it weren't for the nice english speaking Koreans sitting next to us, we would have been at a loss, as they saved the meal and helped explain what went with what. Will go again, but not without someone who can explain what the deal is.... Enjoy Suckas'!!!
(3)
Chris F.

Good job San Soo Gab San! You are off my crap list. Love the change and upgrades, especially the on the hospitality department. After not coming here for almost 6 years, I decided to give this place another chance and I must say I am quite impressed with the change. They have redone the place and expanded. I really like what they have done its less smoky and better ventilated this time around. They best change they made was having better trained waitresses and newer one's that are very nice and attentive. Same good food and a lot better service. I really like the waitress that speaks English, she has an awesome personality and a great sense of humor.
(4)
Mara T.

The worst service I ever had, all sides were not good and almost tasted like it was near spoiling! There were 2 of us ordered rip eye steak, short rib beef and marinated spicy pork it's almost 70$ And we ate a couple of pieces and pushed platter, we did not want to eat anymore. I will never ever go back again!!! I don't have anything positive to say about this restaurant I can't believe why are they still open.
(1)
Jason R.

If you've already tried authentic Korean BBQ with charcoal pits, then just know this is truly one of them:) No electric grills, real charcoal right in the middle of the table. If you haven't tried it yet, you really should! The smokey BBQ really adds flavor to thin strips of beef, bacon, or whatever you choose. It's a totally different experience you can only get with Korean BBQ (at least as far as I've seen). On top of that, you get an entire table full of different sides that are all pretty top notch. Coming from Minneapolis we have tons of great restaurants but nothing that compares if you're looking for Korean food. I'd recommend this to locals and out-of-towners alike.
(5)
Daniel L.

San Soo Gab San is Chicago's authentic and famous Korean BBQ where they use old fashioned charcoal grill. I've been to this place many times and they never disappoint with taste, flavorful and authentic Korean food. Ambiance:- Crowded at all times!, especially during weekend dinner hours. Be prepare to wait and they don;t take reservation. Also, be prepared to come out of the restaurant smelling like BBQ on you. You really don't come to this restaurant for ambiance. Service:- While service is ok. I always felt that the level of service given to Korean customer are much better to non-Korean. I do not think this is deliberate. I just think it's language issue more than anything else. Most servers are mid-aged Korean ladies. Food:- This is where you come here for!. We had Korean version of Steak Tatare with ribeye and pears. It's probably one the the best raw meat dish I ever had!. We then had the main event, Korean BBQ with baby octopus which is nice and spicy, pork belly and ribeye steak. While I like them, We also had the Pork Rib Soup which was especailly flavorful with a hint of spiciness. One of the most interesting experience about Korean food is the special mini side dishes that being served, we had like a thousand of these little side dishes which are mostly pickled stuff and radishes. Bottomline:- I'm happy with San Soo Gab San and will be back for more. The one negative I can say about this place is that it's a bit pricey for this type of restaurant. We paid close to $100 for our visit of 1 appetizer, 3 bbq and 1 soup. However, I definitely recommends other to this place.
(4)
Chicago g.

Not really sure about complaints in regards to service but they were overly attentive the last two visits. The first time was crowded and the second time had perhaps three tables occupied. I will continue to frequent this establishment. Lol, the food is good so even if service was bad I would still dine here... Unless it's unbearable.
(5)
Anna G.

Very good. We went with a large group and ended up a little confused, so to prevent our embarrassment from happening to others, here's what happened: We were at a table of 8 broken down into 4 couples (there for a mutual friend's birthday who was at another table) and all ordered separately. A few of us ordered the same thing (unknowingly) and they combined our orders onto large platters. Straightforward of you are expecting it. Also, if mixing meat eaters and veggie-eaters, prepared dishes can take quite a bit more time to come out then the plates of meats to be grilled (obviously, but for us it was like a 30 minute difference) just something to be aware of. And we may have eaten all of our sides as snacks while we were waiting for our meals to show up. We were hungry. But everything was amazing, so there's that
(4)
Anna J.

We travel from the southwest burbs to eat here about once a month. The food is great, tons of banchan, & we love the table top bbq. The decor is a little tired & the wait staff are not always overly friendly. But, they serve consistent good food & that's why we keep coming back.
(4)
Seth F.

Another Korean BBQ place and I do believe the first one I ever experienced. Also, as another personal milestone that won't mean anything to anyone other than myself and perhaps 4 or 5 of my friends, it was the first location of our weekly post bowling dinner. (Edit: I was wrong, it was not) This place is on the opposite side of the spectrum as Gyu-Kaku. It doesn't look trendy in the least and seems to be going more for a generic "crappy-restaurant" look. But the food is equally good, really good. Wait. This should actually be clarified. Before I went I wouldn't have thought I'd need to include this in my review, but I can not emphasize this enough: do not, under ANY circumstances, order the sushi. Most people would know not to order raw fish at a place that specializes in serving another country's food, especially when that specialty is focused on cooking meat to your liking on a stove at your table. But, I can now say from personal experience that for some this instruction needs to be explicitly spelled out. You know who you are.
(5)
Mrs. Z.

What a super fun experience! I'd recommend going with a large group. The food is fresh and a lot of fun selecting what you want to nibble on. What a great time! Just go!!
(4)
Sachin S.

I went here last night with three other people. First off, great value for the money! We ate to our heart's content and the bill was only $60. We did the BBQ and ordered marinated rib eye, which was excellent. We also had chop chae and dumplings, which were great as well. They must have brought 20 appetizer dishes, most of them were very good. The only downside is the service. It's hard to get the waitresses' attention. I have been to other Korean BBQ places that are equally busy, but service is better. We ended up here by accident. My wife and I had been to another Korean BBQ place in Chicago called San Soo North and so we looked it up and ended up here instead. The other place was even better - meat was more flavorful, service better, and restaurant more spacious. As many others have commented, you're going to have to take a shower after you eat here. The smoke smell gets in everything. But it's worth it!
(4)
Bella D.

Happier with new management. Great food and prices. Open late and great for groups. Parking is tight but street parking nearby. Kalbi, stews, cozy Korean.food!!! Yummy thank you. We had a great time again!!
(4)
Momo T.

Came here for lunch. We ordered the kbbq with Galbi and squid. The service was ok, towards the end of our meal, the ladies stopped by more often. The meat was ok, it could've been seasoned better but I liked the large selection of ban chan. 22 side dishes!! We also had the kimchi soup and babimbap. All in all it was pretty standard.
(3)
Hana P.

first time here, will never come again. There were only one server who was really rude and did not explain to us how the barbeque work and did not care about our order until we called her three times. Food was okay. Marinated beef was really good but the squid was not fresh at all. We got the bill and the tip was already added_18%. For this kind of service and automatically tipped bill? Really?
(1)
kat v.

Okay, normally I love this place. The food is great, the atmosphere is good, the waitstaff is nice...but last night we had a bad experience with customer service. Our bill was $39 and some change, and the server seemed overly eager to collect our money, coming back twice before we were organized and ready to pay. I paid for part of it with what was left on a visa gift card, plus some cash, so that I gave her $52 and some change. She only came back with the credit card receipt, so I asked our change and she referred me to the cashier. I asked the cashier for our change, figuring it was just a mistake. I KNOW I was being super nice and smiley about it because I had just had a good meal and was feeling good. I didn't realize that they had tried to keep my money ON PURPOSE. She started yelling at us in Korean. My friend, who speaks fluent Korean, turned to me with a very distressed expression and told me the cashier was calling me cheap. I think what the cashier REALLY said must have been far more offensive and possibly racist (I'm white), because once we got back in the car my friend was really upset the entire ride home. She didn't even want to translate what the cashier had really said. That is just rude and uncalled for. A patron has a right to their change before they leave a tip. I proceeded to leave a 20% tip because at the time, I thought I was inconveniencing them, and our waitress seemed apologetic. I hope that tip went to the waitstaff, especially the awesome busboy, and not to that vulger cashier. My friend was so distressed it ruined our night, because when someone upsets my friend, they upset me too. We did not splurge on a nice dinner to leave forlorn and offended. I was not surprised to log onto Yelp and see that I wasn't the only customer this place ripped off by assuming absorbitant tips. I know I'll never go there again, their behavior is just selfish. I hope word of their dishonesty and offensive nature becomes well known.
(1)
Jake V.

A little bit of Korean history, the Korean War was started over the fact that Korean restaurants refuse to have a wait list at the door. After having 20 people shoved into a cold, little waiting area and with rude lady refusing to write anyone's name down, tempers flared and the rest is history. Sadly, the lesson was not learned and San Soo Gab San continues the policy of not really caring if you are there, waiting, while 30 people push into you.
(2)
Alex K.

Hungry at 3am? Feeling like grilling your own food? This is your place. Went here with a group of three and really wasn't told anything about it before I sat down. Service wasn't good but not terrible compared to some of the things I read on here, Ordered up some meats and then something amazing happened. They roll out this cart with something like 20 plates and bowls of all kinds of kimchi. There was almost no room on the table after they gave us everything. They set up a grill for you in the middle of the table and you get to cook your own meats they provide. Get ready to come home smelling like a campfire though. Everything was good and I like grilling so it was a pretty cool experience. TL;DR -Grill your own meats! -Awesome appetizer presentation -meh service
(3)
Dan K.

I've been here several times before, both with a few people and large parties. This weekend we had my brother's birthday party here and San Soo lived up to my memories. The service is as awful as it's ever been - the servers are overworked and the place is understaffed for how busy it is, so be prepared to wait 20-45 minutes for someone to take your order. Once they do, though, you usually get your drinks and banchan fairly quickly. Plan to spend at least an hour and a half here even if it's not particularly busy. It's also loud and very smoky. If you're with people who are game, though, it can be a great time. They accommodated our reservation for nine people and had our table waiting when we all arrived - despite a line of folks weaving out the door. To their credit they understand what a reservation is and we didn't have to wait to be seated. The seating itself is either regular chairs & tables with grills in them or in other parts of the dining room, more traditional large tables about 10" off the floor with leg-less chairs for larger parties. Some of the big tables are in a sunken floor, which definitely provides more leg room. Even with how loud the dining room was on this particular Saturday night, our party was much louder, with the thoroughly sauced birthday boy yelling at near the top of his lungs many, many times along with the rest of the rowdy party. Total damage at the end of the night was fourteen bottles of Soju and eighteen tall bottles of O.B. and Kirin. The food was as good as it always is - delicious meats and fresh vegetables, great banchan, and plenty of smells and tastes to go around. Aside from a few looks from other tables - which were well deserved - everything went off without a hitch. A great place to go with people who will put up with a bit of discomfort, noise, and smoke in exchange for a more adventurous dining experience. If you're looking for something quieter and with better service, Solga is a little over a mile away and is definitely easier on folks who want traditional seating and a calmer dining experience - but it's certainly less fun and the food is not quite as good.
(5)
Charlie K.

I have been told about the horrible service here but I decided to go because I wanted my girlfriend to experience the Korean BBQ. Anyway the service was surprisingly good because there was no customers and we really enjoyed the food. BUT when it was time to pay the bill the price was abnormally high. But thinking this place was a professional business I put my card down. Having my girlfriend put the tip usually, she was dissatisfied about the ridiculous tax and tip, so she left a little. But the lady came back and demanded more tip, out of confusion, we just payed and later calculated the tip. We got ripped off. I am an Korean and I have never experienced this kind of ?!$& ever! At least tell us what is going on before doubling the price. And she called us names as she demanded. I payed over 100 for how much? For the future customers I hope you reconsider and try a new place.
(1)
Damian P.

I have to admit it has been quite many a years that I have visitited San Soo Gab San. And what a lovely experience it was. I will go straight for the review vs reading others so that I can be very much in the zone. At first we went to "another" barbecue place on Kedzie and Lawrence, but of course it was CLOSED DOWN! Which of course was to my advantage because I did eat at and know of San Soo Gab and I was about to have bragging rights? Heehee, but I digress. So we arrive at San Soo and I was happy that the parking lot was not crowded, this was a good sign. So here goes. We decide to have barbeque, but in Korea this is called Gui. Gui are grilled dishes, which most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetable ingredients. At traditional restaurants, meats are cooked at the center of the table over a charcoal grill, which of course is the "experience" we are going for here people. Surrounded by various banchan and individual bowls. The cooked meat is then cut into small pieces and wrapped with fresh lettuce leaves, with rice, thinly sliced garlic, ssamjang (a mixture of gochujang and dwenjang), and other seasonings. We start of with of course a Korean Beer (KO, I believe) and wow, a large ($7.95) of course will quench the thirst of two, Thank the heavens Johnny remembers doing this at "another" bbq Korean Place because I was about to have this drag queen sized drink alone! Korean cuisine uses a wide variety of vegetables, which are often served uncooked, either in salads or pickles, as well as cooked in various stews, stir-fried dishes, and other hot dishes. So they bring us a plethora of vegetables such as: cucumber slices, bean sprouts, spinach, carrots in julienne strips, shiitake mushrooms in a nice sauce, slivers of zucchini, some fried eggs (small portions for 2), some doenjang (fermented bean paste), daikon, Napa cabbage, potato, sweet potato, spinach, scallions, garlic, chili peppers, seaweed, mushrooms and lotus root. Several types of wild greens, known collectively as chwinamul, and other wild vegetables such as bracken fern shoots (gosari) or Korean bellflower root (doraji) are also harvested and eaten in season and I am sure this was the season. What lovely dishes they brought, and so colorful. We started our 2 selections of meat (since there is a minimum of 2 in order to grill). Beef is the most prized of all meats, with the cattle holding an important cultural role in the Korean cooking, The cattle were regarded as servants and seen as an equal to human servants. Isn't that something? Bulgogi - thinly sliced or shredded beef marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, scallions, and black pepper, cooked on a grill. Bulgogi literally means "fire meat." And it was living up to its name. And we also ordered chicken and they were so seasoned well. We accompanied this with thinly sliced cabbage, sweet potato, and some other glass noodle and this was awesome! This was our experience at San Soo and I hope you will try them out, don't expect an awesome looking restaurant due to the look being that of the original place. Wood walls and old fashioned (made of wood) tables that still have a sense of history in them. But the food by far outweighs the looks of the place. We went on a Sunday and still had a good time.
(4)
Jane Y.

Wood fire BBQ. A million banchan. Like, literally, dozens, fanning the table, no space to put your actual eating plates, utensils or drinkware. The BBQ is VERY tasty; not the best I've had but really you're coming for the experience. If you're coming for the best Korean food you'll ever have, don't come here. It's smoky. Like sitting in a chimney. If that's not your idea of fun, don't come here. The waitresses are typical of a lot of korean restaurants. They're bossy. They want to do what they want their way, not your way. That doesn't mean they're mean. But like an overcritical mom, they will tell you what you're doing wrong. If you need to get their attention, do not be shy about standing up physically and waving your arms back and forth until they come over. They will not "be offended," (unless you are snotty and rude when they come over). It's all part of the package. If you're afraid to insist on service, don't come here. Went with a group of five, it was fun, delicious, and we left with a table full of empty giant OB bottles. Good times, in short.
(4)
Aaron K.

Eat here. Bring friends. Be happy. Get full. There isn't much I can say about SSGS that hasn't been said already. But I can't help but putting in my own two cents. If you don't have a good experience here you can only blame yourself for not knowing how to grill your own meat. Yes, you may not know exactly how to eat things the "right" way but no one really cares. The staff, while often with limited English, is very friendly and helpful and will step in if you aren't cooking things properly (or not fast enough!) If you don't like a particular condiment or pickled so-and-so don't fret as there are too many to try and eat them all anyway. Just go have a good meal and a unique experience to boot.
(4)
Mike R.

One day something strange happened. I had a management directed day off and didn't know what to do with it. Well a few of my coworkers, who I'll refer to as my friends from now on, and I went to play some basketball. Tired, in need of more water, and HUNGRY, we decided to take a little trek to San Soo Gab San. Now, I've had Korean BBQ before, but this was my first visit to SSGB. Luckily for me, one of my friends is Korean and knows how to do a little talking. We ended up getting Kalbe, squid, and octopus. All of the little dishes with it were great and we had so much food. As far as the meat goes, yeah again, very nicely done. The marinades on all of them were great. Service was semi slow, but overall a great place. I have been back a few times since and everything was the same as the first visit. The last few visits, I took some other friends who had never had Korean BBQ, or even heard of it, before. Well, they are pretty huge fans now to say the least.
(4)
Erica J.

This place has the worst service! 1. Food wasn't that good at all. there are many good places where you dont have to be in line waiting. 2. Server never came to us. we always have to call her and she make us feel like we were bothering her every time. 3. We haven't done eatting and still want to order more, she just drop us a check and pretty much tell us that we should just pay and leave because " I am so busy" TERRIBLE SERVICE, HOPE This place got burn down soon.
(1)
Anya P.

I have currently been here 10 times since February. Once , I went I could not stop myself from going back time and time again. I mean what is not to love then the aroma of yummy bbq floating around in the air ? The various yummy pan chan dishes and drinking suju with you buddies. Its just simple heaven. Its like I became a god and instead of being fed grapes I have being hand fed various delishes types of Korean food. Everything from Bollusm dish which I think can be compared to mexican carnitas. With its yummy radish kimchi and soak salted cabbage leaves for wrapping. The yummy seafood stew with various types of sea food and big pieces of crab in it. This place is just the the best I never knew the wonderful bounties that korean food offered before I came here. My eyes have been open and I am loving every second of it!! And so is my belly!!!
(5)
Nancy P.

Love to stop there when go to Chicago. It's open late and have a lot of side dishes. The soondobu soup was delicious also the kimchi soup too. The meat for the grill were in a good thick of slices. The waitresses were friendly but need a little bit of attention for the refill for the water and the side dishes. Overall, is worth the pay.
(4)
Jake D.

F' this place. I can't believe you're still open. I waited to cool down to write this review. But fcuk it... I get even more pissed when I think about what happened to us here. We walk in and weren't greeted for a few minutes. Finally, the wench of a hostess, seats us as if she's doing us a favor. Gives us our menu and immediate huffs in broken English..."wat- a-drink now?" Ok. I'll take a beer. She seemed annoyed that we had questions about the menu. We get the grill set with assorted veggies and meats. We proceed to grill and have our dinner when after 45 minutes a young confused couple is at our table. Apparently, they-the restaurant was busy and wanted us out, so they sent new diners to see if we were done. Man, were we confused? We promptly paid our tab, tipped the busboys. Never again, you guys should be ashamed-your hospitality is so stereotypical and almost comical. As far as the food is concerned, I can't remember if it was good but your service left a bad taste!!! Fcukers!
(1)
Joonho Y.

This is one of the Better Traditional Korean Restaurants. However, the Staff can be Surly and Unhelpful. I come here for the BoSam (Pork Belly) which is their Best Item. The rest of the Menu is Good, but Not Great. They do have the Largest Selection of Ban Chan (Side Dishes) I have ever seen at a Korean Restaurant in Chicago (you get So Many that it may be Somewhat Overwhelming for People Unfamiliar with Korean Food), so it is almost worth going for that experience alone. Give it a Try if you are Adventurous.
(3)
Christopher G.

My fiance and I love this place. In that area they have lots of Korean BBQ places but this one is the best. They have a great space and awesome BBQ's. True Charcoal cooking rocks. I usually get the typical Bulgagi as well as the seafood pancake and dumplings. The food is great and they have more "sides" than any other place in Chicago. This is a must try if you like Korean BBQ
(5)
Allen G.

5*'s on the number of ban-chan (the small plates) and flavor 4*'s on the bucket of fire and not a hibachi in front of you to cook your meat 0* on the quality of meat. We ordered: ju-mu-luk. It came out FROZEN and once cooked (medium to medium-rare) it was like chewing an eraser. The cow must have been the oldest cow in the pasture. chae-dol-bae-gi. The slices were as thick as 2 canadian bacon slices stacked. "chae" means sliced thin... so will the giant in the kitchen please stand up? dolsot bibimbop. The stone bowl was nice and hot which would have crisped up the rice IF it had a little sesame oil to crisp it up. Perhaps some more beef besides the teaspoon that was there would have brought out more flavor. Maybe they wanted us to add the old cow in there. We were seated quickly, the staff was nice. However I go to korean bbq for meat flavors and not the nice middle aged ladies.
(1)
Kellybabyming T.

Terrible for the service n the surrounding! The food is just okkk! Definitely no come next time! Btw, too smoky in there! Can't breath at all!
(1)
Helen S.

I'm going to have to agree with some of the reviews below that the service really does suck! Our server was pretty rude and she didn't seem to understand what we said in English OR Korean. She totally misunderstood us and didn't even try to give us good service. We did have a lot of side dishes but she just shoved them on the table. Once our food arrived we really didn't have any room on the table! The soon doo boo soup, seafood pancakes and marinated kalbi were good.. But I've definitely had better Korean BBQ experiences. The ventilation was terrible! It's a given you're going to smell after Korean BBQ but this place was pretty bad because the fans didn't work properly. Next time I'm in Chicago I'll go elsewhere for Korean BBQ!
(2)
Zhe M.

It used to be my favorite Korean BBQ place in the city, and I've been there for 6-7 times during the last year. Food was always good, not only the BBQ, but also the cold noodle, the soup, the raw beef appetizer. Since last time they charged 20% tips for us 3 people, I won't be back any more.
(1)
Brett K.

Hadn't been here in almost a year and got the itch today for some Korean. One of the best lunches I have had in a while. I like taking 2 hours for lunch, you and a friend can sit there sampling the saucers of amazing things... kimchee, sea weed, tiny crunchy fishes, potato salad (???) ... then socially grill your deliciously marinated meats. Their soup is out of this world. Great place for friends to hang out. Plan on spending some time here. I hope to be back soon. Language barrier can be hard, so be patient.
(4)
Paul S.

Enjoyed bellying up to the bar, ordering a Kirin, ordered some sashimi and loved the food. Lived right around the corner and this was my first time there. Check it out - its connected to the famous Korean BBQ place.
(5)
Beatrix K.

Before coming here I had never had actual KBBQ since I am from Minnesota where none of the Korean restaurants have grilling tables where you can cook your own meat. That's why on our recent trip to Chicago, I wanted to make it a point to experience some good barbecue Korean style for the first time. A friend referred this place to us as a good spot to come for just that. I was impressed with the amount of panchan they serve you. Holy cow, i almost felt like a Korean food noob because of how astonished I felt upon seeing the array they served just for us two. Usually 8-10 panchan to me is plentiful, so to see the 20-something that were brought was pretty cool. I feel bad about saying this, but I wasn't that impressed with the food as far as taste since a lot of the dishes at this one Korean restaurant (shoutout to Hoban) in Minnesota that I frequent can do them a lot better. The denjang chigae that they gave us was super salty. The kalbi and the daeji bulgogi that we grilled lacked the amount of flavor I would normally expect and the kimchi bokum with samgyupsal dish made me sad knowing I could have a better version back in MN. A lot of the reviews for this place acknowledge the service as being pretty bad and "Korean" but I didn't experience anything like that. I don't think it was just because i'm Korean either. I was with my Vietnamese boyfriend and they treated us the same. The experience overall was great. i'm glad I went and I'd maybe go back, though I do want to try other good KBBQ/Korean places in Chicago since I admittedly have nothing else to compare it to other than what I'm used to at home in MN but until I come back, I will say: Service was good, my time spent grilling KBBQ was awesome, it's nice that they are open late and that they have sushi (though I don't know if it's any good=/) and it's not too expensive.
(3)
Sourma K.

Listen I know all cultures have different traits some are more annoying than others in yet that's subjective. I'll be the first to say how annoyingly aggressive it is in my middle eastern culture but I'm not here to talk about that, I'm here to say how anti-social borderline rude are at this establishment. We could chalk it up to their cultural characteristics lack of openness, freedom and sort forth and again this isn't about just them I know all cultures have their negative traits I'm just blatantly pointing there's out as I see it. Now on to the food, it was good yet it could have been better (attitudes aside) the miso soup bowls were in ceramic bowls that were chipped., the small dishes with all kinds of fun stuff barely had a teaspoon of something in it, then you had the grill which was used so many times the heat from the flame warped it and was bending before very our eyes. The experience was overall decent but would I come back? No. Would I recommend it to others? No. Would I appreciate they change their attitudes? I'd be greatly appreciative for others not to suffer. And also suggest purchasing new ceramic bowls since the dollar sign rating is at $$$ I'm guessing you could afford that kind of investment. K thx bye
(3)
Frank B.

I have been here three times now and every time I love it. It's almost as you transported to another country on nights when it's packed and blue BBQ smoke fills the room. I think the food here is great and the prices are right. The servers don't understand English though.
(4)
Aimee M.

"Move...Move...more coming..." That was our waitress telling us to move the dishes as she was putting down the many little bowls of "side dishes" while we waited for our bulkoki (bulgogi?) and spicy squid to grill. As many have said before me, just try whatever is in the dishes, you might be pleasantly surprised. My faves were the beansprouts, seaweed, egg, tofu and glass noodles. A trio of us dined here for a late lunch and we all left pleasantly full and satisfied. For a Saturday, the restaurant was only half full so we were seated right away. The bro opted for bibimbop while me and my cousin ordered the bulgogi and spicy squid to grill. The squid was just OK. You have to grill them just right or else you can overdo it. If I had to do it over again, I would have just ordered some more beef instead of the squid. The bulgogi was wonderfully delicious--to me, the beef was better than the squid. Grill the meat, place in lettuce wrap with a little rice, sauce and/or other condiments--sooo damn tasty, I'm so ready to go back. The bro's bibimbap arrived to the table sizzling and looked pretty good. Full of veggies, rice and egg. Service was ok, not overly friendly. Water-refilling a little slow--which I didn't mind so much here. It's laid back, casual and I can't wait to visit again!
(4)
Chad V.

Yep, I'm giving this one 5 stars. The food is good, however it's the experience that really blows me away. I've been here too many times to count both sober and wasted (it's open till 3am). Let me first start out by saying that the service is absolutely TERRIBLE unless you go with someone that speaks Korean. To get the best experience go with 4 or more people and get two orders of raw meat (if you get 1 order it comes precooked and there aren't many sides). I've had the Kalbi, Bulgogi, Chicken, Pork and Octopus and they are all good. THEN, they bring out a fire and you grill your own meat while munching on the 30 sides (potatoes, kim chi, seaweed, lotus root, etc) that are scattered across table (it's family style). Try the pork stew, it's good. I promise, you will leave stuffed, satisfied and smokey!
(5)
romeo b.

Good food but the rude service makes you forget that. They offer pick ups, but scold you on the phone and tell you to come and pay and order pick up becuz of people not picking up their order. So I go and have to wait 30 min for food prep. Cmon you guys gotta do better.
(2)
Yaeko M.

My first time here. We had Korean BBQ. We ordered one marinated Kalbi and one non marinated Kalbi. The meat quality was good+ for the pricing and one order portion seems larger than other places. I was amazed the number of small dishes that they served at the biggining. I have been to many Korean restaurants. Korean restaurant nommaly serve small dishes average 4-8 dishes but at San Soo Gab San gives you 25-28 small dishes.WOw. I I love those pickled vegitables, tofu, kimuchi, oden, potato salad, sweet black beans, seaweeds, eggs etc. I am happy with their food and price. It's a good deal. Yes, I love to go back and try Korean soup next time.
(4)
Bob L.

GOOD FOOD. TWO FACE service : which means, if you're a Korean, and used to be treated as a customer in Korea, it doesn't matter. :If you're not from Korea, the service will be considered as rude.
(4)
Shay M.

When we walked it it took them about 7 minutes to even acknowledge us. The food was decent. I don't think the ventilation system was even on. It was unbelievably smokey. Now that I think about it I'm sure they didn't even have working smoke detectors because if they were functioning properly there is no way they wouldn't have been going off with all that smoke. Don't make plans to be in any social settings after because you will stink.
(3)
Larry B.

I'm being too nice by giving this place 1 star. Other than having the delicious bulgogi & being in the company of my best friend (whose birthday we were celebrating), I don't really have anything positive to say about this place. If you want RUDE SERVICE, this is the place to go. Maybe it's just in their nature or culture to be rude. (Even when I'm at Starbucks, the Korean women who gather are often the loudest, and they always sound angry.) But back to the rudeness -- when my entrÃ©e arrived in an iron skillet, not only was there no more room on the table but I was still working on the appetizers. The early arrival of my entrÃ©e was not the problem. It's the fact that the rude lady FORCED herself & the bulgogi infront of me while I was literally feeding myself! No social grace whatsoever to say "Excuse me" !!! She could've temporarily placed the dish at the next (empty) table while we figured out the spacing issue. But no, she had to shove the skillet in my face! She didn't give a damn. Later at the end of dinner, I asked for a to-go box. Instead of handing it to me, the lady (this time, another Korean woman) plopped the container ON our food!!! WTF!!! If I have to nitpick further, the menu had so many misspelled English words and the waitstaff could hardly speak a word of English. Maybe it was just a bad night but even the customers at neighboring tables were not my cup of tea. One Asian lady suddenly leaned over (and I do mean LEANED over!) and started reading from my friend's menu! I was happy to get the hell out of there. I love ethnic cuisine, but this dump left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
(1)
Erica C.

I'm very tempted to give four stars based solely on the fact that they give a crapload of side dishes - more than I have ever seen in my life and I love it. I love all the Korean side dishes. We ordered Short Ribs and Pork Belly and I was a bit disappointed with the meat. It wasn't as tasty as other Korean BBQ I've had. The Kimchee soup was decent. The service is good, they kept refilling our water, side dishes, lettuce, and etc.
(3)
Annie L.

San Soo tasted a lot better in my memory than it did today. I appreciated the charcoal grill and the number & variety of side dishes, but the meat was lacking. The cha dol baek ee was cut more on the thick side and was not chewable. I thought i was the only one having a tough time until my friends started to comment on the meat's toughness too. I was confused why the rib eye cut came out partially frozen but the manager came out to explain that they marinate it then freeze it to preserve the marinade? It was a strange explanation, but it tasted good. Not worth the $19.95 for it though. The thing that saved it was the spicy marinated pork. My lasting impression would be the epic failure of the cha dol baek ee. BTW when did they start featuring sushi on their menu? Sansoogapsan, we had a good run, but it's time to end our relationship.
(2)
Anjali B.

One night my friend and I were absolutely drunk off of our asses, and we wanted sushi. I remembered hearing about a Korean BBQ (on Check Please or something) that was open really late, so we decided to try that instead, since there are no 24 hour sushi places here that are decent (as far as I know). So we get in and it's smoky. That's fine, it's a fucking bbq, of course it's going to be smoky. NOBODY is non-Korean inside except us (the Mexican and the Indian) and we are getting nervous and giggly. We sit down and I'd heard the baby octopus was good, so I ordered that. He ordered the beef. They bring this giant, burning FIRE onto our table, and I'm thinking "Oh great, motor skills, etc." Imagine my face when the 67 bowls of condiments and lettuce bundled in a rubber-band showed up on my table. What. I had never been to Korean BBQ and I was terrified but excited. We cooked our meat with no problem. My spicy baby octopus curled up and got all yummy on the grill, and my friend's beef was delish too. It was all delicious. I tried a lot of the condiments but didn't really know what to do with them. I liked the teeny tiny dried fish though. The bitchy waitresses weren't all that mean, and the bit of sass that I did get was funny. She cracked jokes with us a couple of times, and then we saw our waitress and a few of the others eating cake with chopsticks. It was a fun experience, and I got to smell delicious for a while afterwards! mmm!
(4)
Miss O.

i think i still smell like korean bbq. this place was good. it was social so it would be fun with more than 2 people. the food was good - all the random dishes was fun to taste. the only thing i didn't like was that it lacked the flavor you'd usually get from dishes that are prepared for you.
(3)
Yujin A.

This place is pretty good. They serve many side dishes although not all taste fantastic. I find their marinated meat to be a bit bland. It's definitely a good place to try Korean BBQ. Their service isn't all that great. You are going to smell like smoke for few days after visiting this place, so be warned. They open 24 hours a day, which is why it's getting 4 stars. Not many 24 hr places serve good and healthy food. On-site parking is somewhat limited, but you can always street park nearby.
(4)
Mike B.

Low prices, good food. Don't go there if you want 'atmosphere'.
(4)
tim m.

While my vegetarian wife didn't like it, but I loved it. I especially liked all the veggies they brought out in the beginning. A cornucopia of flavors. Seemed very authentic. I want to bring my boys back for some bbq
(5)
Alex C.

There are only 3 places I think that have decent Korean food in Chicago and this happens to be one of them. I love going there with my non Korean friends since they offer so many side dishes that they can try. Quality of food is consistent and they are open 24/7 which is awesome. You should stick to the tabletop BBQ if you are going here since other dishes (except for seafood pancake) is not that impressive but still decent. And don't go there w/nice clothes on..in fact, grunge it since your clothes will stink like BBQ. We used to bring change of clothes if we were going out since it's just way too stinky to walk around with that smell on ya. They got small parking lot and usually have no problem finding street parking w/in couple of blocks if it's full.
(4)
Erik L.

overall the best korean bbq i have had in my life so far. amazing banchan. crazy good portions. i have heard of others complaining about the servers being rude but I have never experienced this. in fact, its always been the opposite. this may be a bit more expensive than other korean restaurants, but its totally worth it. also: this place is 24 hours which is totally insane.
(5)
Jelly C.

I use to come here all the time. This place has some good galbi but they skimp on the meat once in a while.Their chop chae can get a little too sweet and soggy. Their spicy soups are delicious. This restaurant serves up the most of those little dishes of appetizers (sorry, I'm not sure what those are called). The thing that's stopping me from coming to this place is the service. I really wonder if the waiters know that they make a "I'm so fed up with this fucking job and you stupid whore" face all the time. I swear everytime I ask for anything, they turn around and curse at me under their breath. Not everyone in the restaurant is like that though, there is this one lady who I think is the boss who always carries a smile. But she doesn't make up for the 5 other people who wear the bitch face 24/7. The parking lot sucks here too. It's small and cramped and almost always looks like a accident waiting to happen. I had dinner here with 2 first timers(i know, I probably should've brought them somewhere else), the dinner was great until they kept rushing us. They told us that we should be eating faster because there was a lot of people... Bitchface kept trying to clean our table even though we were obviously not done eating... never going back again.
(2)
Chris S.

Really cool way to dine. each booth or table gets their own grill and you get to grill your own combination of meat. Each person can create their own meal. Do not go alone, the bigger the group the better. The only complaint I have is that as this place continues to grow in popularity, the prices keep going up. Also, it used to be that you could get as many, or as few dishes for your table as you wanted, now they have a mandatory one plate per person minimum.
(4)
Tobia C.

24 Hour Korean BBQ? Ummm...YEAH! This place is awesome after painting the town. The service is decent, and the food is crazy delicious! I have been here many times and have had a consistently good experience. I would definitely go back again. This isn't the best place for Vegetarian folk, but you would still be able to find something on the menu. My only criticism is that the meat could be of better quality...but it sure does taste good!
(4)
G G.

The food is very good- many many different panchen fill your tabletop as you bbq your choice of marinated meat. It is very smoky though and not so friendly with service.
(3)
Alice S.

i'm korean. and a hungry girl. especially after a night out drinking! so having a basically 24 hour korean restaurant in chicago is killer! kalbi-tang is one of my favorites... next to boodae jigae. and yes, boodae jigae is a spicy stew filled with ramen noodles, bacon, spam, and hotdogs. this might sound nasty to alot of people that aren't korean, but i'm telling you, after a night out... this is the best meal you can have (but if you have a heart condition, you probably shouldn't have any. boodae jigae is a heart attack waiting to happen). and get an order of kalbi to grill and eat. when i'm at a club, i seriously begin thinking about what im going to order here as the night starts to come to a close. yeah, im a fat kid at heart... cant help it.
(4)
K L.

SSGS is one of my all time favorite rest. of all time. But for the past 2 recent visits. I can't stand the waitress anymore. My workers and I used to come here around 2-3am when we got off from work. Please look at your bill CLOSELY, b/c they might charge extra fee in there. The waitress complained my friend gave $6 tip was TOO LOW. (BILL WAS around 38.00) 2nd time, I was there with 2 adults and 1 baby. We left $8 tip on the table, the waitress just swing right by and grab it. Than when we got the bill, we got another extra 10 bucks in there. I asked the girl, she said it was for the tip. .. The total bill was $54.00... She was mumbling in Korean than she said: "so you gave us $18.00". I was like wdh.. I demanded the $10.00 taken off from my friend's credit card. She had to do it 3 times to get the right money off the charge. CINDY, the OWNER was not there. I was so upset their customer service. They don't even look at us or asking if we need anything else. It has been 7 great years knowing them I know they're start losing other Asian customers. I know b/c I talked to them and they experienced the same situation too. I like to give their food 4* b/c I tried most of Korean Rest. and they're not quite good as them.. sike..
(1)
art w.

This restaurant is not open 24 hours.
(2)
Sayaka H.

I am never dissapointed when I stop in this cozy place for some Korean BBQ. Whenever you have a big crowd of hungry people, we go to this restaurant. We order up everything on the menu starting off with some OB and the seafood pancakes, then some Kalbi and Bulgolgi and finally finishing off with some chilled buckwheat noodles. I can't imagine more comforting food and here' s the place to get the best Korean food. You have to check it out once, and you'll be hooked.
(5)
Abby D.

i always try to add something unique & NOT-yet-listed when it comes to my reviews....which means i ought to read the previous reviews. there are over 200 reviews for this joint....i am well meaning, but terribly busy....which means i won't read all of them. so the ond thing i can add that i do not think has been listed hitherto is about: their potato salad. yes, that good ol' mayonnaise based goop of sweet mush that comes as one of their panchan. nothing fancy. just your deli-type all-american picnic must-have. theirs ranks right smack among the best of the jewel-n-dominick brands. not complicated & stuffy like whole foods-n-treasure island sorts. just honest to goodness artery-clogging creaminess that brings back the eternal question yet once again: why DO korean restaurants in the u.s. serve this among their fermented wonders?
(4)
Richard K.

This is probably my favorite Korean restaurant so far in the city. The best thing about things about this place is it's open 24 hours, so you can eat Korean food at 5 am if you want :) and they give you a good amount of pan chan (side dishes), and the service is attentive and mostly pretty friendly, though somewhat harried as it gets busy. Almost anything off their menu is good. They have great kalbi, which I usually get, which is cooked over wood soot, so you get that charcoal flavor in the meat. Also try the kim chee chega (kimchee stew) if you want something spicy or the ten gang chiga (bean paste stew) if you want something hearty to warm you up. In the summer, kalbi and mul nemang (water noodles) are really good. My Korean is really bad, and so is my spelling, but the waitresses will help you order.
(5)
Mark P.

Kalbi is not too shabby. Better at Solga. But panchan (side dishes) and cooked stews/dishes are better here.
(4)
Kay S.

This is my favorite place in the city for Korean BBQ. It really is good meat that is well seasoned. I would give this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the service. Unfortunately the BBQ is so good I will still go despite the bad service. Try the seafood bi bim bap. It is really good as well.
(4)
KW L.

I will go straight into the food as the ambiance is not why you would go to San Soo Gab San. There is nothing special about the structure or interior itself but it provides a solid foundation for some good eating. This is the place to go within the city limits for Korean BBQ. The kalbee is definitely worth your while. It is well marinated and tender. Nothing beats having it cooked right in front of you and eating it when it is nice and hot. The food has got to taste better when you are slowly watching it cook right in front of you with the smells coming off the grill the entire time, right? I don't think I have had anything else and I have been here on multiple occasions. The ban chan (the small side dishes) are abundant as well although you may have to flag down the waitress to keep them replenished. I would have liked to give 4.5 stars because of how often I visited here while I lived in Chicago, but no half stars are allowed on yelp. It is also more expensive than other korean restaurants in general nor do I have the balls to give it a full 5 stars.
(4)
Anna C.

Great Korean BBQ, authentic K food, yummy bulgogi and even has areas where you can eat on little tables Korean Style! The side dishes (banchan) were also good, just wish there was more variety sometimes!!! Overall pretty good!
(3)
Kathleen A.

I knew coming there i wasnt going to get quality service..you never really do at real korean joints or I've never experienced it in the past. I didn't expect our drinks to get refilled without having to flag someone down etc. The service we had was definitely not ideal and way below what I expected. I asked if I could have a fried egg on the side, the response I get was "No fried egg! this real Korean Restaurant!" a simple "no we are out" or a "no" would have sufficed, even though I know they serve fried eggs with some korean bowls. When the check came I got up to go pay. Whenever I pay with my debit card I almost always write in "cash" in the "Tip" section and leave a cash tip. 5-10 minutes passed and we got up to get ready to leave and put on our coats, hadn't even left the table yet and the waitress was already scooting her way in and says "No Tip!?!?" I'm not one for stiffing waiters and waitresses on tips because I know they get a bulk of their income from tips but we hadn't even left yet before she tried to push her way through. Pretty bold, rude, and awkward. Service aside, the food was just ok. Definitely had better, and it kinda felt like we were getting the scraps. If you're in for a decent kalbi (marinated short rib) fix, I recommend Joy Yee Noodle House. I have yet to try the other korean places in the area.
(1)
Aaron C.

I love this place! Yes I know that there are better Kalbi places in Chicago and yes this place can get busy and you have to wait but I dont care, I love this place. Ive been coming here for years and it always brings a smile to my face. Good Kalbi, large portions and a friendly setting. They give you so much food you usually have to rearrange everything on the table to make it all fit. Add to the fact that the place is 24 hours, a great lunch or late night Soo-icide is always just a short drive away. The only thing I dont like is the tiny parking lot. I wont even think about parking in the lot unless its late at night for fear of having my car dinged.
(5)
Carly O.

::Sigh:: I've been going to San Soo for quite awhile now. I was introduced to the place about nine years ago, and always found its niche-d appeal charming. The experience itself is unique and with enough OB and soju, quite a riot of a time. Being with someone who is going for the first time is also great. I love to watch their eyes light up when the huge tray of panchan comes and small dishes of unindentifable items are thrown their way. The unmistakable stink you leave with never really bothered me. But, I'm unable to give SSGS the review I probably would have in years past. The thing is, there are probably good, if not better, Korean BBQ places in the city that I've never gone to because this place is "THE" place to go. Honestly though, service can be borderline atrocious and the other night the bulgolgi was sub-par. I guess what I'm trying to say is, they have finally pushed me to the point of considering another place to grill my own meat. First-timers, by all means, get your feet wet at San Soo. But if you're a seasoned Korean bbq-er, perhaps you'll find greener pastures elsewhere.
(3)
JS T.

I don't know if this is the best Korean bbq in Chicago, but it's pretty decent. However, like all Korean bbq, I've been here many times and it's pretty expensive and for the same taste and experience you can probably just marinate your own ribs and grill them in your backyard. Aside from their bbq--they have pretty good soup dishes. The soup base for the yuk gae jang and soon do boo is pretty tasty, always comes out piping hot, and I can't complain about the side dishes. It's a much bigger selection than most korean places. I take down a star only because I think it's kind of pricey and their smoke ventilation system is pretty horrible. When I came home, my contact was stuck to my eyeball (and I wear gas permeable) so that was a little irritating. Also, because of all the hype it's been getting, getting a table is really tedious. I recommend you call ahead for reservations (though it might only be allowed for large parties.)
(3)
Kristina K.

Not like this place needs a nother review! I've never had the sushi or been to the ajoining sushi restaurant, but I've been going to San Soo Gab San before it was hip. Like almost everyone has chimed in about, their service doesn't deserve top praise. And like most people, I go for the fire and the meat. I miss San Soo Gab San because of the delicious sides and salty, sesame oil and bean sauce. I don't dare visit another Korean BBQ restaurant since my move to Portland, because I don't want to be disappointed. San Soo Gab San spoiled me.
(4)
Tuyen T.

I love San Soo Gab San!!! Usually I come here for the do-it-yourself bbq (you have to order at least two dishes to cook it yourself), but the last time I was here I got the Cold Noodles and it was very tasty. You get tons of the side dishes (about 20; sometimes not all of them come out - but if you go with a Korean person, they never forget one, plus they are extra nice and attentive to you). Be forewarned though, you will come out smelling like everyone's dinner!!! So bring a change of clothes, or make this the last thing you do before a shower.
(5)
Lawrence Y.

I'm actually disappointed in the quality of service here, and frankly all of the Korean restaurants I've been to in Chicago, for that matter. Back home (in Los Angeles), all of the Korean restaurants I've been to have been extremely courteous with great service. I've been to THIS restaurant a handful of times, and all but one time the servers have been beyond belief RUDE. You don't get acknowledged by the server, all of your panchan (and miso) gets thrown on the table, you get ignored until its time for the check, where they try and rush you off and out. Even our Korean friends comment about the level of service here, and they have the proverbial balls to be rude back to them. That being said, I think the quality of food is alright. You do get a good amount of panchan and the meat is a little above average. If you're a carnivore and care not about service, then by all means check this place out. If you care about presentation and patron-appreciation, save yourself the bad experience!
(2)
Phillie P.

24 hours! Ha!! It's a nice change to Thai & Chinese eateries. You get alot of food and for 2 it's about $50, so it's not "cheap". That includes drinks soo reallly.. not bad. The food is great. So many little dishes. Might be too wierd for some, but if you're adventures... you'll try it. I had the BBQ and got to grill it! Wooot! Just don't go here at 3am without someone who is Korean. Beware the service too. May not be the friendliest if there's nobody Korean.
(4)
Beryl C.

I only dined in here twice. I would have to say the first time experience was much better than the second time. We ate there last nite. My gf picked the place for her b-day dinner. It was extremely busy for a weeknight. The waitstaffs were okay. The food was decent. The portions were definitely getting smaller since I dined last. They never came back to change our grills -- thus, from all the grease burning, we kinda had a bonfire going at the table for quite some time. We had to flag down the busboy to have our 2 grills taken away. The ventilation was not working too well -- I guess being hot out was not helping either. If you guys dont mind the drive, I would recommend Woori Village in Des Plaines (right off Dempster and Milwaukee) and Shin Jung in Mt. Prospect. The latter even offers buffet -- definitely a steal for all the meat eaters out there.
(3)
MaryAnne M.

Meat Coma.
(4)
Nikki B.

I love this place.. first of all it's open late night (till 5 a.m) it's so great to go there n eat after long night of partying.. the food there is just amazing i love their spicy soups.. they just have enough flavor n spice withu ebing it way too much that you can't eat it..
(5)
Molly S.

I haven't been to many Korean restaurants, but SSGS certainly beats the pretencious ones that serve soju-tinis and don't give you fire to play with. It's a great time and the meat is flavorful and tender. The communal tables may be hard to squat in to, but once you're there you are happy and ready to drink some soju. The smoke and garlic permeats your clothes, hair and skin so go with someone you love so you don't offend later on...
(3)
Jaz P.

The first time I went I thought the Kalbi was one of the tastiest that I've had in the city, and I suspect that I've sampled almost all of them. But just went back with a large group of 18 this past week, and while the Kalbi was well textured and not too fatty, there wasn't enough seasoning. Great seafood pancakes. The Daeji Kalbi is nothing to write home about. Love the solid choice of side dishes- pretty substantial compared to other restaurants.The waitress was on the inattentive side, and never came around to our private seating area in the back. The price is really reasonable.
(4)
Ryan W.

This is one of the most amazing Korean BBQ's I have ever eaten at, in Chicago! I love their kim-chee. I also love the BBQ set up with the little cauldron, the aesthetic really completes the mood. This place is exceptional especially because of the service - it's the first and only Korean BBQ I've been to that I didn't feel like they were a front for some sinister mob operation ;)
(5)
Meagan L.

I love this place for Korean BBQ. I've always come here with a Korean who ordered everything for us which I think really helps. The staff doesn't seem to speak English too well. Whatever they marinate their beef with I wish I could buy it in a store it makes it taste so freaking good. All the little side dishes they serve with the beef are excellent as well. I highly recommend coming here really hungry because there is so much great food to consume!
(4)
Emily C.

Good place to go to for super late night hours. After picking up people from the airport, we wanted somewhere to go in the city, not your normal diner food. You order by the plate for the grilling food. A decent portions.
(3)
James C.

Lets face it guys... Korean food in Chicago is just not that great. It seems like Korean food is JUST catching on so hopefully this will encourage better Korean restaurants to open up. Especially with the success of San Soo Gap San, Cho Sun Ok, and others, it's apparent that there is a bigger market for Korean food than previously thought. With that said, San Soo has solid authentic Korean food with reasonable prices. I prefer this place over all the other Korean restaurants in the city mostly because it's 24 hours and I used to come here after a night of drinking with friends... nothing beats having yook gae jang to cure your hang over. As for the quality of the food... it seems to have gotten worse since they got busier. Come here for above average typical Korean food... but not for the pot stickers. If one more person yelps about how San Soo has great pot stickers, I will go mad. It's like saying the chips and salsa at Chipotle is amazing.
(3)
Rudy W.

good korean food in chicago area. nice portion of the side dishes, and the cooked foods are good also.
(5)
Jess S.

This place is pretty damn neat. Other people have more to say about it. It was fun, I enjoyed the experience and look forward to going again. (except for the rude service who forgot about us when the place was empty and refilled the water glasses maybe once - there were only 3 of us!)
(4)
Jordan V.

anagrams to S.O.S. GO BANANAS. so, go bananas for: - eating in large groups - sitting on the floor - various tiny side dishes - meats! - private room korean karaoke close by
(4)
Lindsay L.

I just had to put in a little word on the service at San Soo Gab San. I read other yelpers' reviews and assumed I'd be disappointed with the service, but we were impressed. The women stopped by periodically to help us with the grill (we are novices, they could tell) and to refill water, etc. No complaints! Service aside, the food was incredible. Great place for adventurous eaters since you get what looked like 15 side dishes to try along with your main course. Yes - you will smell smoky when you leave, but it builds for a great casual and fun atmosphere, I thought. All in all we loved it and will definitely return!
(5)
Dee W.

The Korean BBQ here is amazing - the food is really great. It's probably one of the most authentic Korean places that I've been to here in Chicago. Parking is a bit tough - they have a really small parking lot but street parking is doable. Service can be great or can be mediocre - varies from time to time - keep in mind that this joint is open 24 hours. And try the Wang Kalbi or chadoebalki (lesser known but equally as good)! The Kalbi here is really tender and delicious. Oh, yeah - compared to other places , you will come out smelling very smokey.
(4)
Melissa M.

This place rocks!! Whether you're in the mood for full-on KBBQ or just want a quick hot stone be bim bap, there is no place better to get your spicy-fix or sate a comfort-food jones. If you're unfamiliar with the cuisine, maybe try a seafood pancake and the marinated short ribs to cook at your table. Bring a few friends, order 1-2 portions fewer than you have people and eat until your tummy is happy! The servers don't all speak much English, but everyone is very helpful and good at deciphering questions. This is also a fantastic place to bring kids, even the very little ones. The proliferation of little dishes and different flavors will keep them entertained, and their little fingers will have no trouble with the chopstick-ready presentation. No kids - it's also good for sitting back, drinking a few beers, and grilling lots of beef!
(5)
Ethan W.

Very good Korean BBQ. Service is a bit iffy ("ready? ready? ready?"), but I also think you can chalk a good amount of that up to cultural and language differences. Marinated beef is excellent, and if you're a rookie the waitress will help things along on the grill. One of the few places in the city to use actual charcoals in their grills, as opposed to the gas at most Korean BBQ joints. I'd just like to go with a Korean friend or three to help decipher the 20+ condiments that come along with the family-style meal. Good, loud atmosphere. Easily accommodates big groups, and prices on par with similar places in the city. I'll be back.
(4)
SP W.

I only gave one star because I couldn't give no stars! I live near this establishment and have tried it not once, not twice but three times trying to find the goodness that everyone raves about. The food was consistently bad, the service was consistently RUDE and the staff (who I often see in the neighborhood) rarely has a kind word or even a smile. Don't bother.
(1)
SeouljaBoy M.

They have the best old school Korean style charcoal grills in Chicago period! I love the service and how nice they are to Koreans and not kind to non-Koreans who want to act Korean because they watch subtitled Korean dramas and listen to Kpop music they don't understand a word of.
(5)
Jane T.

I've been here several times and honestly, it's not one of those places where I say "ooh, let's go back!" I only really head there when a huge group of (hungry) friends wanna go. The food is abundant, but nothing special, in my opinion. However, their onion pancake is to die for. I'd go back solely for that. :)
(3)
Jeff H.

This is not for the amateur. They put this bowl of white-hot charcoal in the middle of the table, give you mounds of raw meat (we had Kalbi--excellent, and pork belly--not bad), impressive array of sidedishes, and you go to work. the heat and the grease sometimes caused flames to shoot up and threatened to engulf my outstretched chopstick-wielding hands. But hey, no pain, no gain. We just kept throwing meat onto the grill and food into our mouths until our bellies were at the very verge of explosion. It was good. very good. it's unfortunate that i've lived in LA, and i know there is even better stuff out there. but this was definitely a solid 4- star.
(4)
Julie S.

DO NOT GO THERE!!! WORST SERVICE EVER@@@@ my friends and i went there around 2 o'clock am, so i asked the waitress if we could still eat from their restaurant, they said come in and when other last customers left, they packed their bags and gave us a check while we're eating.. i thought they wanted us to pay first, so i gave them my credit card, after they're done with my bill, 3 waitress stood by our table , and told us to leave. HOW RUDE!! if they gotta go, then they shouldn't let us in at the first time. they put a lot of MSG powder into the food which is extremely bad for the health, but makes food taste good. other friend of mine found the little piece of a dish wash sponge from the soup he ordered. if you eat kalbi, the waitress might be nice to you because it's expensive and if you ordered bibimbap or any cheaper food, they'll be very unpolite. Because i am Korean, it is very embarassing to see and hear how they treat their customers... i would never want to go back to this palce!!!
(1)
Alfred L.

Even tho it's a little far from everything, San Soo Gab San is one of my favourite Korean BBQ restaurant in Chicago. I highly recommended it. They use old fashion charcoal and ventilation is a little on the weak side. Keep your wool sweaters and coats in the car or they will smell like BBQ for the next 2 days.
(5)
Brandon W.

I wish I could smell like this place all the time.
(4)
S Y.

This place was pretty expensive (20 per person) and cooking the meat took FOREVER. The waiters don't really help you out that much and are not very friendly. However, there was a lot of banchan, which is essential for any korean food experience. I still say my mom's is much better.
(2)
holly l.

i love this place especially cause you can kinda get your own "private" booth. i also love the fact they use real charcoal, too bad they don't allow that in the burbs. lots of side dishes and kalbi was great!
(5)
Daniel Y.

Excellent kimchi soup.
(4)
Amy S.

Our first time at a Korean BBQ was a hit! We really enjoyed our meal. The line seemed long when we arrived, but they moved people through quickly. Really affordable for all that you get.
(5)
Blah B.

OK my mouth is literally salivating at the thought of Korean BBQ. The meat is never rubbery, chewy or dry @ San Soo Gab San and I simply love LOVE all the little sides....umm a bit weird? Yes, but oh so good!! Oh before I forget......Thank you for always being open so late. :-)
(5)
Heather S.

food was interesting. The server we had was the worst server i've ever had. From the moment we sat down she expected us to be ready to order and stood next to our table impatiently setting things down on our table and sighing and taking it off our table, then walking away coming back, putting her order pad down on the table like "helloooo, when are you going to order?" waiting, sighing. Very strange. Once she served us, she took forever to bring us our bill. The side dishes they bring are interesting and there are a lot of them which is great but the service was just so bad. However the hostess was very nice, personable and friendly, but our server was just so ridiculously rude. Never been treated so rudely in a restaurant before. I don't know if I'd come back. On top of all the service issues, I have a gluten/dairy allergy and they really don't have much of a selection for people like me. Most of the entrees are beef, pork, or fish.I only saw one chicken entree which disappointed me because I am a fan of chicken! It is cool the way you can cook your entree at the table though.
(2)
Chris B.

I have been looking for a good Korean restaurant for awhile but to no avail until I came across this restaurant. The food is great (booths are small) but the side dishes alone are worth the price of the meal
(4)
Nelson T.

I went here tonight and it was very good. To the person who said the meat was fatty: The difference between Choice and Prime cuts of meat is that Prime costs about 3 times as much and contains more fat. Fatty meat is better meat, especially for grilling.
(4)
Tanya M.

24 hour korean bbq? strange but really good food none the less. so you choose however many meats you want, we tend to do chicken, beef and maybe pork (the octupus or squid is a bit too rubbery), and they bring it over on huge plates for you to cook it over an open fire with a grill on it. and then they serve you like 20 mini dishes of stuff that you have no idea what it is, but most of it is delicious so take a chance and try them all. and when you order a beer, even though they list 2 or 3 different beers, if you just say you want a beer they will bring you over the most expensive one which is only $6 so its not that bad. and they also serve you miso soup and a bowl of rice with each meat. you don't come to korean bbq's for the friendly service. they aren't rude but they got shit to do and aren't going to waste anytime with trying to talk to you. they get in and out. no smile. that doesn't bother me at all but i'm sure it'll bother some.
(5)
Deez D.

Good place to go to after getting fucked up at the club. Never been here sober which might be a good thing. The service can be slow but if you can speak Korean, then the service quickly becomes good.
(4)
Michael L.

The food at this place is outstanding. The meat is very well marinated and the portions are quite generous. The bulkoki was phenominal. The only drawback was that the service was very slow.
(4)
Diana T.

Good prices for korean barbecue with a vast array of panchan (side dishes). Get the marinated kalbi, chop chae, and their yuk gae jang is not bad either. I tried the kalbi tang once and it was not comparable to what I had in Korea, so that was a big bummer for me. However, they are open all the time. Only downside is you definitely smell like what you just ate afterwards. Small parking lot available.
(4)
Pat F.

Great food, overwhelming for a first timer but you'll get the swing of things. All the side dishes were exciting.
(4)
Tim N.

It was a very delicious and fun experience. There were only two of and it was full of groups so we waited a bit for a table. Be assertive for the service your desire but don't be rude. It is always busy here and the servers work hard. When I left my glasses on the table they found them and kept them until I picked them up. I appreciate that type of service. I thought the price was a value for the experience. For the two of the us the bill without drinks the bill was forty.
(4)
Kent L.

This is the place to go for Korean BBQ in Chicago. Their kalbi is fantastic. Well marinated, tender and delicious. This is the place where I take folks to experience Korean BBQ. I love their large assortment of side dishes (aka ban chan). I still enjoy watching the faces of newbies when the huge tray of side dishes arrive at the table. The spicy miso tofu soup that comes with the BBQ arrives boiling on a stone pot. Another great compliment to the meat.
(4)
Eddie S.

Heard about this place for awhile so i finally went and checked it out with my wife and 3 other friends. BBQ of course needed to be ordered. Kalbi was better than the bulgogi, but both were excellent. The ban-chan were numerous and overall pretty tasty. We also ordered chap-chae, bi-bim-bap, soon-doo-bu, and kimchi bo-kum. All were very tasty. Service was above average as well. Pricing was about average, but overall the best Korean food I have had in Chicago. A warning for those of you who have never had Korean BBQ before. If you have clothing that you don't want to smell after eating (jackets, etc), leave them in the car. Everything else WILL smell like Korean BBQ and that's a guarantee!
(4)
David D.

Terrible service, unfriendly staff, and nasty food. I've had naengmyeon countless of times and never have had such an awful dish served to me such as the one I received. Large chunky ice cubes, watery bibim naengmyeon, with almost no toppings was what I had received. The ice cubes began to melt which made my dish even more watery, almost soupy. Knowing full well that this is not how naengmyeon is usually served the owner/manager never apologized but rather made excuses trying to tell us that's how they make it here. I will never come back again and will inform everybody I know to AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. If you are looking for quality Korean food I would suggest Cho Son Ok..almost anyplace but this really. The only reason I gave this place one star and not zero is because yelp won't let me post without any stars.
(1)
Pilsen C.

I dont care how decent the food was, the service is just rude. Changing our tables just to give it to another couple for no reason,no panchan served until your food comes, outright lying about how long an order will take ("if you order single order, it will take half an hour"; came in 10 minutes anyway). Non existent waitress, never checking to see how we were doing. Will never return.
(1)
amy w.

Sometimes you have to sacrifice service for good food. The waittresses are slow to refill panchan and water. Parking sucks. But the food is so delicious. Nothing beats grilled meats. It's served with seasoned slivered scallions and lettuce to create wraps. My favorite panchan is the pickled daikon radish, potato with mayo (??), and that scary red cabbage kimchee thing. Can't remember if this place has stone pot rice, but I think there is... I kind of mix up Korean places in my head. Be prepared to have your coat reek of grilled meats.
(4)
Jean B.

It's not mom's but it is pretty damn close. I come often, I have my birthday dinners here, I come when I'm sick and need kimchi soup. Delicious.
(5)
Mint S.

The food here is great! Because they give you a LOT of little dishes you eat with your meal, you can order just 1 bbq thing off the menu, be full and pay less than $20 for 2-3 people! Just know that you will smell after you go in. The smoke gets everywhere. Also, understand that this is not a restaurant where you will be waited upon. You are supposed to cook the meat yourself. It's an interactive dining experience.
(5)
Anna H.

Recently transplanted to Chicago, I'm STILL looking for a really good Korean restaurant. This one is ok - they have lots of ban chan (side dishes), which is a plus. The only drawback is that most of them are flavorless and seem to be after thoughts! The kimchi needs MUCH improvement. Their entrees are also hit or miss. Their jungols are really good, especially the boo dae jjigae. However, their spicy pork was TERRIBLE - really fatty and miserable. Service is bad, but that's to be expected at a Korean restaurant. As a Korean, I'm used to this, but I can understand how others would be turned off. One time, I actually had to get up and go get the water pitcher off the counter because the servers refused to refill our glasses for so long.
(3)
N S.

AMAZING. Could not be better Korean food. As good as Korea. O.B. Beer is great, try it. I've had a few birthday dinners here, a great place to go with many friends and unique as well.
(5)
Luan N.

My favorite place to go for Korean food. I usually order the spicy pork belly. Love the mackerel. The bulgogi and kalbi are alright, bi bim bop is the most disappointing. Of course my feigned reason I go is for the small side dishes. You know how Olive Garden has lunch specials like soup, salad, and breadsticks for $5.95. I wish Korean restaurants do spicy tofu soup, banchan, and rice. One thing I always wonder is since when did Korean restaurants start incorporating mac salad and potato salad into the banchan. And yes I agree, it's hard to get service in here.
(4)
Nana H.

I had a very enjoyable evening with my friends here last night. After reading all these reviews, i was nervous about the parking situation- but was relieved to discover I had " front row" parking. And also after educating myself with this restaurant through these very informative reviews- i knew they might ignore us when we walked in, so being pro-active, I walked straight in to the back to announce that my party had arrived! Alison J. expressed concern over the issue of side dishes and I could confidently assure her that, yes- there will be A LOT of side dishes. Most of us ordered OB, which is very very similar to Miller Lite, but I would have to say that it went very well with the Bulkogi (18)and Beef Brisket (22). We ordered an extra miso soup (4.50) and cup of rice (2.50) There was hesitation when our meat arrived before our fire, and once again when we got our soups in the middle of our meal- but it all worked out, we got time to investigate all the side dishes, cook our meat ( which was good) and then have some of the best miso soup I've ever had. Overall for the 4 of us, we had a bill of close to 70 bucks. Our waitress was older and was actually very nice- when I asked about the lettuce we neglected to use, she showed me how I was suppose to eat it and then chatted us up about her schedule. The restaurant is open until 6am and opens at 10am and there are only 2 shifts!! If this were Check Please- I would say " I would go back".
(4)
Paul C.

Good for grilling. Also have Booty Chicken which, while not containing any chicken, does have both hot dogs and spam. Deliciousness.
(4)
Emerson C.

This place is awesome. I've take many people here and they would also concur that it's a great place to eat Korean BBQ. The best thing about it is, it closes late. I think we came here at 2 in the morning one evening to quench our drunken hunger. I always get an order of Kalbi and Bulgogi. This can feed about 4 to 5 people. They definitely give you a crap load of pan-chan... I sometimes have to limit myself just because I get so full off the small side dishes. The meats are absolutely marinated excellently. You can taste the sauces even after you grill them up. It's pretty self explanatory... Korean BBQ.. who the hell doesn't love it. The only negative drawbacks are the smoky smell you you inherit once you leave and also the additional unbuttoning of the pants... =)
(4)
Jeff Y.

decent korean bbq place with 20 cars in a 10 car parking lot, which i guess adds to the authenticity of the place. also authentic are the sassy/mean waitresses. these korean ladies are just no nonsense so don't take offense if they seem rude. anyways, nothing special about the food. it is korean bbq which is pretty hard to mess up. delicious but not mind blowing. the banchan (side dishes) are average and so are the jjigaes (soups). it is a little over-priced so expect to pay $25/person just for food. one good thing is that it is walking distance from lincoln karaoke so it's easy to go get your karaoke on if you want to complete the true korean experience. just be sure to go get some pho in the morning to help shake off the soju.
(3)
Jennifer K.

I am very particular about Korean food, especially since I hail from LA! I am fond of hole-in-the-wall kind of joints, and this place was very reminiscent of local hangouts in LA. The seating is great for groups of people. The ambience isn't much, really. But the food makes up for it. You can get meat to grill; I would recommend the bulgogi and kalbi for first-timers. Also, their stews are absolutely delicious. I like their kimchi stew! Word to the wise: wear plain clothes because once you step out, you're going to smell like your meal. The one thing that bothered me is that they charge for rice. This is the first time I've ever had to pay for rice separately at a Korean restaurant, especially for meager portions. Service can be kinda finnicky too. But otherwise, this is an awesome place to eat late at night with friends while drinking soju!
(2)
melissa n.

I come here with my roommate for late night suppers when the mood strikes. The prices are reasonable and the food is authentic. The kalbi is great and so is the seafood pancake. We like to wash it down with a little plum wine. Service is a bit lacking sometimes (because they're so busy) but they are usually very friendly and cordial.
(4)
andy b.

OPEN LATE NIGHT!! this is a big plus and the food is quick and tasty and no BS. I will definately go back. Has a true korean feel. And very private as you can sit at a table and they have it sectioned off so it feels like you have a private booth, where no one else can see you. Feels like a bit of asia in chicago.
(4)
Dani R.

I think I just do not like Korean food. I do not mind the service style, but you can not leave the restaurant without smelling. Your clothes just stink overall. The food here was good. But I just feel like the place is not clean and the cluttered environment.
(3)
Jonathan K.

brought the jewish co-worker here for her lesson in korean bbq. its a good spot to do it too, nice and grimy from all the bbq smoke, just how it should be. u cant really go wrong w korean bbq, unless the place is stingy and cheap on the meat. a lot of non-korean explorers here, which is fun. what stood out here for me was the large banchan (side dish) offering. its normal to get several side dishes at a korean restaurant, but this place hooks it up. keep in mind u can ask for more of a particular side dish when u run out.
(4)
Vyvilyn D.

If there's a better Korean restaurant in Chicago, please let me know. I love their food, but gosh, their service is terrible. Check you bill carefully because they can overcharge you purposely: add items here and there, add tip without letting you know even when you're in a small group, etc. I love the floor seated tables, which is why I give SSGB a better rating than Kang Nam. Disappointingly, the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bop is ok. It's not really garnished with the bellflower root, mushroom, and fern stems that I expect with the typical Bi Bim Bop. Their Soon-dooboo, an uncurded spicy tofu soup, did not have uncurded tofu and tasted just like the free spicy miso soup that comes with your grilled meats. It's not that I don't like the Korean miso soup, but Soondoboo has a waaaay better taste. I'm a soondoboo fanatic, so I was extremely disappointed. Shame on them for messing up a basic dish!
(3)
choong l.

You might have a list of your favorite restaurants that are categorized by cuisine -- e.g. "Cafe (insert random Latin word) for Italian, Blah-blah-blah for Indian, Ah-So-Good for Japanese", etc. You really need to be very familiar with the individual cuisine, however, to be able to distinguish within the cuisines, the specific restaurant for a particular specialization or fame. Korean dining is like that as well -- most places tend to specialize in one or two dishes that make them a destination if you (or your group) is craving that particular dish. San Soo Gap San is more of an all-around player that does all dishes fairly well, but nothing that I'd put adjectives like "fabulous" or "spectacular." In fact, it's a place that I'd go with a group if people are "up for anything" (Korean) but most Koreans won't complain because there's probably a dish or two that they find they like -- probably not the best they can find in Chicago, but decent enough for a meal. Table-side grilling is a fairly typical Korean BBQ restaurant feature (you'll find this in about a dozen Korean BBQ restaurants in Chicagoland), but a lot of them use gas grills -- San Soo Gap San, on the other hand, uses wooden charcoal, which is much more cumbersome (for restaurant) to prepare and handle, but infuses the meat with great smoky flavor. Koreans consider this a superior feature in BBQ restaurants. Yes, despite the ventilation fans working double time, you'll reek of smell of smoke, food and BBQ after your meal -- not necessarily a bad thing, but I'll make this place the only/last destination for the evening. This is true of probably most Korean BBQ places. My reason for sometimes opting to bring my friends here, which also happens to be the best deal at San Soo Gap San, is that if you're coming with a medium size party (+5) and would like to sample different types of dishes, they offer combination deals that are offered only to parties of 5 or more. (Think of this as "family style" offerings in some Chinese restaurant.) You get two types of appetizers for the group, ample serving of BBQ (meat/style of your choice -- you can mix!), stew and cold buckwheat noodles (more on this last bit later). Banchan (Korean side dishes) are always included in any meal, and you can always ask for more. The three different prices ($17.99 - 21.99) reflect the different appetizer/stew option, but for non-Koreans, I'll stick with the $17.99 option; from my experiences, my non-korean friends did not like the stews in other options. This is a very fair price, and San Soo Gap San is unique that it's one of the very few Korean restaurants in Chicago that offers this type of full meal course combination. You might as well order a bottle of soju (a clear distilled Korean liquor -- about 42 proof) with your BBQ meal. You drink it in shots. That's what Koreans do with meat dishes, especially BBQs. A note on cold buckwheat noodle: after Koreans stuff themselves silly on meat (believe me, we do), they still have a bowl (albeit a small one) of naeng-myun (buckwheat noodle in cold broth). Whether it's to balance the hot (BBQ) with soothing cold (naeng-myun) or the protein/fat with carbs, I do not know -- but combination of BBQ and naeng-myun is a Korean tradition. A word of caution: while most of my non-Korean friends are delighted by the combination-meal experience, I've yet to find one who cared much for naeng-myun. San Soo Gap San is rarely the first restaurant that come to people's mind when we're deciding on a Korean restaurant, but if we cannot agree on a place, we often resort to San Soo Gap San.
(3)
Peter M.

To date San Soo Gab San is still my favorite late-night Korean BBQ joint. My usual order with newbies is an order of spicy chicken and sliced beef. But once you've been a few times, push past the temptation to grill and try the stews. Try them all, but start with the kimchi stew. You won't be disappointed when a volcanically hot bowl of bubbling noodles, meat, and spicy rich sauce arrives on the table. Be sure you have a couple bottles of OB to wash it down with. But the pachan are really the draw. Suddenly, without warning, after you are seated, the entire table is covered in tiny dishes of delicious bits of this and that. A few pickles, some spicy, some not, crunchy veggies, the ubiquitous potato salad, some sweet sauced veggies, various fish or shrimp bits, and a square mound of kimchi. Picking at these is just about the most fun part of the experience.
(5)
Goldcoast C.

Fantastic place for Korean BBQ, the prices fair, and the food is delicious. Big points because it is open 24hrs and the building is divided into Korean BBQ and Sushi restaurant. Parking is tight probably only 10 cars fit in their lot and lines can be long, and there is no such thing as 'service' because employees will not talk to you or go out of their way to help you. But I will say the menu is well put together and the food is worth checking out!!
(3)
Jeff B.

Lets start with three stars. -1 for the incredibly cramped parking area. +1 because its not their fault we came for dinner on a Saturday at 7pm. +1 for the amazing smell you encounter when you step through the door. -1 for finding out you have to order two meats in order to grill at the table. -1 for the kinda mean waitress that we had seat us. +2 for when another (sweet) waitress unloaded about 2 dozen bowls of panchan (at the time I had no idea what these were, think tapas but with pickled things and salads) on the table. +1 for the (sweet) waitress thanking us profusely when we helped her make room for all the curious bowls. +1 for the joy of daring your friends to eat some of this stuff. I enjoyed it, but I can pretty much stomach anything. Anyways, they were all pretty tame (veggies) although some very spicy. +1 for literally getting our food less than 2 minutes after ordering -1 for the mean waitress returning and impatiently putting the rest of the meat on the grill. +1 for the nice waitress providing constant refills of water. -3 for the incredibly intense diarrhea i had hours after eating here. Incredibly. Intense. Diarrhea. DON'T, I repeat DON'T use the tongs you put the meat on the grill with to take off the cooked meat. Use your chopsticks for that. Trust me. In conclusion, if my math is right this place gets 4 stars. The food is tasty and fun, though the service can be spotty It does seem however there are a few more nice waitresses than angry ones. And don't forget about the tongs. Please don't forget about the tongs. Your butt will thank me.
(4)
Sara S.

This place was really fun. The zillions of appetizers that accompanied our meal were all very tasty, and colorful. My Husband took me here for my birthday dinner on Halloween. We were fortunate enough to be sat next to a group of Asian College students who were just finishing, which meant less smoke in our faces, no loud people sitting with us, and a more traditional atmosphere. Lets face it, the service is shit- you need to be prepared to be ignored, or to go up and tell the waitress what you want, and not get fussy about it. With that in mind, we had an awesome time..unlike the yuppie assholes who sat near us and expected to be waited on hand and foot. Get real! Go to Applebee's- its where you belong. Also, unless you believe children should be exposed to smoke, don't bring your kids here
(4)
Mike W.

I didn't get the BBQ, as it was only lunch and I was eating with my manager at the nonprofit where I volunteer (which means no money for actual Korean barbecue). However, I was very pleased with my Dolsot Bibimbop. The clay pot was a good size, and the portions of meat and vegetables were generous compared to many places which have way too much rice and not enough meat. The panchan was OK, but by looking at the other tables, I suspect that you get a wider variety if you speak Korean (which I've found to be true at some other places).
(4)
madeline t.

First Korean BBQ restaurant I have ever tried and it was so good! Went with a bunch of friends so that made it even more enjoyable. Prices was decent, it was $20 per person and there was so much meat and appetizers, loved the Kim chi. Words of wisdom, dress comfortable and if you are sitting next to the fire, its gonna get real warm. Also if you're the type that doesn't like to walk bare foot, wear socks because you have to take off your shoes. You would also need to have background knowledge on what you like to eat at a Korean BBQ ex. kalbi. Luckily I had a Korean friend that came along. My only complaint however is the waitress doesn't come around to refill drinks and boy you get thirsty after eating that much and the wait can be long sometime.
(5)
Jaki J.

This place is more like a fast food restaurant. I've been there a lot of times with my friends. Food is good, but the servers aren't really friendly as you think. I wouldn't recommend the SUSHI!!!
(3)
Melissa M.

I've seen a few comments here about mediocre service... Not so! Last time we were here we brought our three kids (8, 4, & 3). Our waitress chatted up the kids while we enjoyed our great food, and even invited us to bring a bag of marshmallows for the kids to roast next time we stop in. I call that great and friendly service!
(5)
James L.

Best Korean restaurant in Chicago...but that's not saying much since pretty much ALL the Korean places here pale in comparison to NYC or LA...even Atlanta. I hate the sticky greasy dark feeling of walking into this place. At least it's cheap. Their yook gae jang is my fav soup dish. Unfortunately they don't do the popular cha dolr bae gee w/duk boe sam.
(3)
Justin H.

I have been to this Korean BBQ 3 to 4 times now and have had the same sort of experience every time. If you are not Korean make sure you bring a Korean/Korean looking friend with you. The service if you are neither will be awful. You will be seated at their convenience after all of the Korean/Korean looking people have been seated at their convenience. Also of note they do not even own forks at this restaurant. You must use chopsticks. The food here is wonderful. I have had both the beef and the chicken and both have been seasoned extremely well. The spare ribs have much to be desired the meat is tough and what meat there is on the bone will not easily be enjoyed. I love the sample dishes they bring out I can always find at least a few I enjoy immensely, a few i find OK and 1 or 2 I find inedible. ( I have a special palate). The plum wine they have is amazing as well. I wish i could find a place to buy that wine for my house it was so good. This is a great place to bring a party of 4 or more but any less and you will find this place to be quite pricey. The ventilation system here also has much to be desired. One time I went and the Vent was dripping greasy brown stuff on our neighbor so they moved them tables, and the vent system seem to be turned on and off intermittently. Never found this place to have a breathable atmosphere. Overall the food is good, Service is bad (unless your Korean) and ventilation system sucks(and not in the way it should!). I will continue to go back though because the food is that good!
(4)
Kat W.

The best quality Korean BBQ I have ever had in Chicago. Hands Down.
(5)
Jacob R.

So, what's not to like? 1. The strip mall is the only thing. Kind of hard to park, etc.
(5)
kim w.

Any time. Night or day. The side dishes alone are well worth the trip way up north! I was with my boyfriend but wished we had invited all of our friends. I dream of the day I can chow with a party of ten in this place! Bbq'd squid and thin-sliced beef are delicious and the big fresh crunchy leaf lettuce make for juicy wraps around your meat of choice. Definitely a casual spot, nothing fancy, all the better to focus on food, foreign beers and fabulous company! Go hungry and adventurous and walk out stuffed plump and pleased.
(4)
Cathy L.

While there is nothing like grandma's home cooking, this place comes pretty close. Whether it be 8 pm dinner, or 4 am gorging, this place has always filled my belly with satisfaction. I go for the kalbi most of the time, although the kimchi stew or teng chang stew are comfort foods for me. I love the service there because I know some of the late night staff and they are so ridiculously funny...although I have heard of some run ins with some not so nice ladies...sorry i cannot share names. But true to the BBQ, please don't wear cashmere or silk or any other nice fabric here...for it will smell forever of beef...unless that is your thing. :) I recommend going with a big group for the experience and try to get a seat in the back rooms or the other side, where you can sit on the floor. and don't be scared of the millions of panchan that come with the food, for it is the Korean way. try a little bit of everything and all the flavors will really melt together. This definitely is not the only Korean restaurant, but it is a good one.
(4)
J W.

Went to this place a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday around 7pm. The "parking lot" is pretty funny. I have no idea how you could fit five cars in there not to mention the ten or so crammed in there. Kudo's to those drivers who could actually get in and out of that sandbox. We found plenty of residential parking nearby, so it's all good. We walked in and were immediately ignored. Busy waitresses and busboys walked passed us like we were part of the architecture. Definitely a little intimidating. Once I walked up to the register(in the back) and flagged down a waitress, then things started cooking. We were shown to one of the tables in the center section. Just a warning: those tables are really meant for 2. There were 4 of us and it was quickly overflowing with all the little appetizers(pan-chan?), plates of meat, and of course, the large grill taking up the majority of the table in the center. If you have more than 2 people, get one of the tables on the periphery. The "panchan"(appetizers?) are a mixed bag. There's some little pickled/dried fish that were ok, some kind of sweet raisins(?). The worst were the ones covered in what tasted like spaghetti sauce. It was definitely fun passing them around and remarking on our discoveries("oh, that one's basically potato salad", etc.) The Korean "OB" beer is actually pretty good. It's like a combination of cider and Budweiser and is quite refreshing as a chaser to the piles of freshly cooked beef you pull off the grill. It comes in two sizes, small and large. Small is "normal" and large is like a 3/4 sized 40(a 30, if you will) The beef is great! We ordered a beef plate for each of us. The most common ones are actually circled in pen on the menus. I really enjoyed the two styles we got and it was fun wrapping them up in the provided lettuce strips. The ribs were a disappointment. Way more ribs, than actual meat. All in all, I did not come out of this place feeling "stuffed" like I thought I would. Just nicely filled up. The experience here for newbies definitely varies based upon the waitress you get. Ours was super nice and helped us in our choices and grill management(she saw that our grill was getting smoky from charred beef debris and got us a new one). Another lady who brought us a new plate of beef took one look at our overflowing table and just dumped all of the beef right on the grill and walked away. Ok, then. I'd like to give this place 3 1/2 stars because the value for your dollar is questionable. We spent about 100 for the 4 of us, including a couple bottles of beer. It just seems a tad pricey given the amount of food, but the atmosphere and "fun factor" do help a lot. Good first date night if: You're worried about conversation fodder and sitting bored at a table in some bar. All of the little oddities of the place give you something to talk about plus you're always having to manage the grill and deal with incoming plates of food. Also, it's good to see how your potential mate handles multi-tasking and making stuff up on the fly. Kind of like Lego's for food. Bad night for anyone if: You just want to slump into a booth after a long day and chill out to a plate of your favorite pre-cooked meal. Not gonna happen.
(3)
Danilo L.

I like San Soo Gap San for the fact that there is abundance in the side dishes compared to other Korean restaurants. They give more food for the same price compared to other Korean restaurants. I see lot of non-Korean folks dining there. The only issue there is to find parking space in their small lot.
(4)
Y G.

We usually come here after the bars because they are open 24 hours. I love Korean food and this is where my Korean friends take me. Lots of 'banchan' (small dishes), not bad of kalbi, where you can either choose to bbq it yourself or have them do it for you to save time. Bring some Korean friends with you, because their English isn't that good. Don't plan on coming here before any type of public activity..you will smell.
(5)
kirstin h.

korean barbeque, what an experience, delicious and fun. seafood pancake, kimchee in various forms and a lot of other fun distracting dishes. smells and tastes great. plus you get to grill your own meat, mmmm meat.
(4)
Ed M.

I can never remember the name of this place. Suk soo pan shin? bu bao kap san? shiet...so i always refer it to that "hot korean place on western" Anyways this joint is 24 hours!!! this is the dennys of korean food people. i love me some korean food 24 hours baby! And don't even bother tipping because you end up cooking your own damn food anyways. Good shit!
(5)
Allison B.

One of my favorite Korean places in the city. A fun atmosphere to have parties, go with a group, or even on a romantic date. However, word-to-the-wise, wear something that you can wash...you will smell like BBQ afterwards. This is a family style Korean BBQ, where the waitstaff bring you raw meat and KimChe and you go from there. The meat is amazing, and everything is very fresh. The service is better if you go with someone who is Korean, as this is true at many Korean eateries, but still worth the trip. It is also open all night, even though I have never taken advantage of that luxury.
(5)
Samir N.

When we started going to this place a some years ago, it seemed so exotic and different. The servers hardly spoke any English and the menu was in Korean. The food was great, it wasn't terribly crowded and nothing was rushed. Now you are greeted by a hostess, the menu is all glossy with pictures and bilingual, weekend lines are long and you feel a bit rushed. The food is still good though, love the kalbi and kimchi assortments. They say they are open 24 hours but we found the place shuttered at 5 am. I know 5 am!. We still go to the place often for the great BBQ but it just doesn't seem as unique an experience anymore.
(4)
Linda S.

SSGS used to be cleaner and more of a family restaurant when it first opened. Nowadays it has become more of a place to go after clubbing, attracting a younger crowd than before. The quality of the panchan & meat has really gone down and now they're charging for rice. A popular yet unusual dish we used to order was kalbi along with intestines and tripe, and there was one occasion where the intestines were not cleaned out. The dish itself sounds pretty gross but imagine not preparing the food properly! Anyways, the bbq here is still pretty decent but it's sad to see how the service/food has gone down.
(2)
Jennifer G.

I've been in search of a Korean Restaurant since the 24 hour one at Lawrence and Rockwell closed down several years ago. Other yelpers recommended this as a fantastic alternative. There have been a lot of mixed reviews on several sites, mostly about the service. I personally never expect GOOD service at any Korean restaurant. It's the culture, they are just not the friendly service-driven type. So long as they don't actually spit on me or my food, I could care less. Regardless, I found the service to be just fine here, got plenty of water refills, food was served up fast and hot and she did even come back once to ask how everything was. For the food, the side dishes were plentiful and extremely tasty. Lots of little yummies for everyone to enjoy. I ordered the bulgogi and was a bit disappointed in the quality of the meat. For $16.95, I would think they could get a better cut of meat that hasn't practically broken down to it's lowest molecular level. The prices were variant, ranging from average to a bit ridiculous. It's not like you are ever getting really high quality beef or pork products in Korean restaurants. The only other complaint I have is the SMOKE. Oh my god, the SMOKE. I had a very full and contented belly walking out, but my head felt like it was on a freakin skewer. If it's busy in there, and everyone is going for the bbq option, you will probably need a gas mask or oxygen tank. They have GOT to improve their ventilation system. At one point, I could barely see my friend from across the table. I have to wonder what kind of crap smoke alarm system they have in that joint for it to have never been set off? Anyway, if you are looking for decent Korean food this isn't a bad place to go. I am going to continue my search for the holy grail of Korean food since I don't think I could ever stand to be in a place with that much smoke again.
(3)
Cali M.

Awesome awesome awesome! I love this place and it is super delicious.
(5)
Ellen S.

Their Korean food is really good and you will always leave feeling full. There really is something for everyone (even the less adventuresome). If you are looking for fancy, shmancy, Americanized Korean food then this is NOT the place for you. However, if you're looking for the real thing then come here. Nothing fancy. Just good food. Now my reason for 3 stars...the service is pretty terrible, be prepared for typically unfriendly waitstaff who don't like fielding questions from unneducated diners. You get what you get. Also you're better off walking than parking (their lot is impossible) and the 'Sushi' side of their restaurant is less than stellar. Stick with the Korean side and you're golden! What can I say, I'm a sucker for local joints.
(3)
dan b.

This place is great. It is perhaps the most authentic korean restaurant I have ever been to in the states. I swear its exactly like a regular galbi (bbq pork) spot in Seoul, only the price tags show dollars instead of won. I guess the service can be uneven, but the food is great and the prices are about right. They are open really late as well so you can go get a bunch of galbi and whittle the time away drinking soju and hot sake. This is a good family spot, a good drinking spot, and a good date spot.
(5)
Erik O.

This place started off with a huge plus, by placing a massive amount of banchan in front of me. There were 20 little dishes of awesome laid on the table. The service was also not bad, which I wasn't expecting from previous reviews. Now here is why i gave the 3 stars. This place charges $20 per order of meat, which is revolting. We ordered 4 orders for 4 people, and it just wasn't enough. The meat was good, and the grilling process was really fun, I just wish we could have done it more with the $80 of meat we bought. The food was decent, and the service was fine, I just think I will be trying some other places before I come back.
(3)
Cinnamon M.

To answer Dan K., I don't know if you know to press the service button to tell the servers you want service or not. You said you've been there before, so I hope you knew that. If you did press the service button and they still didn't come, I'm sorry you had to wait so long. As others have said, the service is hit or miss and it does really need better ventilation (in Korea, each table has its own 'ventilator' over the grill so it's not as much of an issue there as it is here). Food's the best outside of Seoul, in my opinion.
(4)
Eddie C.

Went here again last weekend. Party of four...there was a $16 service charge on our bill. Ordered 3 cokes and were charged $4.50. The menu clearly said cokes were $1.00 each. When I brought these problems up to the server, she frantically searched through SIX different menus to try and find one that said $1.50...but she was unable to do so. She seemed to be pissed [that she was caught]. Their food cannot be beat...just make sure you take a careful look at the final bill. I hate (and love) this sneaky place.
(1)
Leang E.

I just ate at this place today, and loved it. First, I stepped in and loved how they have the place set up, so it feels like you have your own private area for you and your friends. So, it's very ideal for a group setting or an intimate conversation. Everyone takes off their shoes in traditional Asian style as if you went into someone's home for dinner. You sit down where it looks like there's a table in the ground, but your feet hang down and there's a seat that you can lean up against on. The menu is pretty big, and if you like OB beer they've got it! Beer and Korean BBQ is a great combination. After we ordered our food, the waitress brought tons of the tiny little appetizer plates that come with - there were at least 10 of them! I was so impressed. They even have potato salad that they make with their own Korean style. It's been claimed to be the best potato salad that a friend of mine has ever had. Another friend says that he brings his parents there and they all agree it's pretty authentic cuisine and they like coming to this place. I've been to a few other Korean BBQ restaurants, and you just can't beat the quality and quantity of food you get here. A lot of people like to go to the buffets, but you are better off getting what you pay for at a place like this. I overate because the food was so good. As in any Korean restaurant, you are going to walk away smelling like what you ate.
(5)
adam k.

Always a good time. Food is great and the service is very friendly (not sure what the others complain about). Better with a large group - you HAVE to get tons of food. Never had a bad experience here.
(5)
Benjamin H.

Over the Labour Day Weekend last year I was visiting Chicago and went to San Soo Gap San after a volleyball tournament. I recently moved to Chicago, and over THIS Labour Day Weekend my friends and I wanted to try out a different Korean BBQ joint after the tournament. I was looking up places within walking distance from my apartment and had completely forgotten where San Soo Gap San was, or even its name. So after walking two miles, fate would have it that we arrived at the crowded doorway of San Soo Gap San--again. But the second time around was just as good as the first time. The wait was long, but worthwhile, and the service got progressivly better throughout the night. I'm not going to comment too much on the food because it's simply good Korean food. It's not great--I've had better and much better (I would give it 3 1/2 stars, but since I can't, I don't think I could round up for this joint). But it's a good place for a fix if you live nearby. There's always a lot of Korean patrons, which is always a good sign that the food is at least 3/4 authentic. If you're looking, however, for fine dining and/or some place romantic, then keep looking. Cheers.
(3)
t.n. t.

i have high expectations for korean food since my bestfriend's mother has spoiled me. great price for allllll the food you get!!!! many ethnic restaurants can be uncomfortable and down right hostile at times, but you dont get that feeling here. i was extremely comfortable with the diverse group of friends i was with! although, our waitress could barely speak english, she smiled and made sure we were satisfied. it truly is authentic food!
(4)
Ben T.

So if you like Korean food, I think this is the best Korean restaurant in the city (in the humble opinion of this non-Korean, though I've talked to Koreans who agree with me). Excellent BBQ, perfectly seasoned. I almost always get the Bulgoki and Dakkalbi (not sure I spelled those right, but oh well), which are invariably delicious. I also usually get one of the soups, which are spicy and perfect for cold days in the middle of the winter, or the Chopchae (again, not sure about the spelling), both of which I highly recommend. The service is spotty; I've actually had really great service before, but most of the time, the service is what I'd describe as ruthlessly efficient. But when the food's this good, it's a minor complaint. Also, it's open till 5 am, so if you ever get a craving for grilled meat (and an OB--next time you go, give it a try. not the best beer I've ever had, but it really completes the San Soo experience) after a late night out, think San Soo Gab San.
(5)
Rob L.

God bless the people who work here and dealt with the yelper crowd. We descended here one fateful and chilly Sunday evening. Our group went from 15 to 20 to above that, yet they still managed to accommodate us very well. When we finally settled in and finally ordered the fun began. Many came here for the BBQ. They set up these immensely heavy bowls of flaming hot coals, plop a grill pan on and you go at it. Now my table decided not to grill, but everyone else did down the line. We went with bento boxes, bibimbap and Korean stew. Also if you have never dined at any Korean restaurant, here is the deal they give you all these main starting dishes, from seasoned radishes, to almond jelly, to three types of seaweed. Be adventurous and try them, but let me just state, if it is red, it will tend to be spicy hot. Now as every one munched on their grilled meats, I dined on my chicken bento box. Pan fried pot stickers, (gyozas), a salad, tasty chicken, 6 crab sushi rolls, 3 maki rolls and all delicious. Plenty of things to eat for just under $14 bucks. There might be some difficulty in the language barrier, don't let that discourage you from enjoying a good meal here, though next time I think the bibimbap will be calling my name!
(4)
Oona B.

great food but strange/awkward service (must need someone who speaks to translate/communicate).
(4)
Kevin T.

mountains and mountains of side dishes!! keep em coming! wrap your tongue, teeth and gums over the yumminess that is brought before you. heed my advice and you will not regret it! then wash it down w/ some so-ju and you will leave there with a well-deserved smile and (more) hair on yo chest (from the so-ju). i like how the koreans use lean beef in their dishes. if it looks like meat, then slap that muthafugga on the grill!! and after you feel as if you have amply stuffed your belly, order another round!!!
(4)
Mrjustice ..

Compared to other Korean Restaurants, just average at best. On the plus side, they use real wood charcoal for BBQing the meats, and lots of panchans. On the negative, the panchans were not particularly spicy or interesting. Most dissappointing was the Service, which as is often the case at Korean restaurants, we were treated as something less than desired guests, not being Korean. They paid no attention to us whatsoever, no refill of water until we flagged someone down, no offer to replentish the panchans, no offer of assistance with the BBQ (not that we needed it, but novices would have) -- and, all this even after we displayed our affinity for Korean by ordering Soju (and, even by name -- Jinro SoJu). Much prefer KangNam, as our favorite Korean.
(3)
m c.

would give a zero if i could. the service is worse than if they threw your food on the ground and expected you to eat off the floor. our waitress literally wanted us to catch hot steaming pots with our bare hands (their handles were broken). dirty looks do not work here, they could care less. just not worth the indigestion.
(1)

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Address : 5247 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL, 60625
Phone (773) 334-1589
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :10:00 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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San Soo Gab San

5247 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, 60625

San Soo Gab San Menu

Appetizers

Soup

Barbecue

Sansdo Special Dishes

Healthy Meal suggestions for San Soo Gab San

Appetizers

Soup

Barbecue

Sansdo Special Dishes

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