Soo Jung Crystal Korean Restaurant

Too bad, I liked this place. It closed down. There’s a sheriff’s office letter of eviction on the door. Who knows if they’ll reopen.

Stopped back two days later to explore other parts of the menu — they were out of chicken wings, but the owner suggested their blood sausage (we’ll get it next time… overloaded recently at Korean Festival) but then she suggested their breaded pork (tonkatsu in Japanese). You can request that rice be brought to the table with it. Thin pounded pork which is crispy outside and moist (not overcooked) inside. Two large patties come in the order.
Mul naeng myun is rather simple in terms of toppings with the noodles… slivered cucumbers, onions and scallions, half a hard boiled egg. Jin mandoo are large and come six to the order — delicate skins — same mandoo we had in our mandoo kuk last time — just easier to eat without it breaking apart.
Did also give their stir fried gopchang dish a try. A mix of organ meats in there — in addition to the intestines, I think some heart and maybe liver in the sauce. You can try their gopchang stew if you were looking for a smaller portion.

I came in at an off time and was the only one in the place. I ordered bimbi rice. The lady could tell i was a little lost so she told me to stir it up well, but not in a condescending way (like I’ve had happen to me at other Korean places). It was like having a friends grandmother make you a meal. It was tasty, filling and only $ 6. There were like 6 little dishes of pickled stuff on the side but I only touched half of them. Wasn’t sure if i was supposed to stir those in too or what. There was a good selection so next time I’m going to try something different. I’ll definitely be coming back here and bringing friends.

Wow, just wow. This is quickly becoming our favorite spot for korean soups. The two must-​try items are the cod soup and house-​made sausage. Their cod soup has this lovely tangy spiciness to it. The ban chan (korean sides) are always plentiful and delicious. The décor and service are cute — feels a little like you’re eating over at their house for dinner.
Don’t speak Korean? They have pictures of a lot of the menu items up in the walls so it eases the ordering experience.

This place makes you feel like you’re eating at your Korean mother’s place. The food tastes home cooked delicious with care and attention to the details; the couple who run the place are lovely.

This place really has 4.5 stars. The food is outstanding, the servers/​owners are very nice, and they give great value for the money. Basically, it’s similar to home cooked Korean food. Just a tip, the service’s English skills are a little limited, but you can get what you want by asking and pointing. However, if someone in your group knows Korean, all the better. Oh, and their dumplings are indeed amazing.
I’m just taking away a bit because they didn’t have everything on the menu when I was there. I know it’s picky, but you have to draw the line somewhere between 4 and 5 star places…

Id give them 4.5 stars if I could with the service being 5 stars.
Great place! Went there by complete chance. Was planning on going to Solga but had a problem there (see my review of Solga) and came across Soo Jung.
Clean place, VERY good food. Try the dumplings — YUMMY AND BIG:)!!
VERY nice people there as well. Made me feel very much at home.
I’ll be back!

Soodae is the best here. Good price although it did increase a bit. But the soondae is made fresh and doesn’t take like it was microwaved warmed up like some other places.
Kimcheechigae with tuna is my favorite here. My husband likes the japanese style fried pork.
Over all good service, friendly, good prices and great food. A place I would definitely go again.

A rounded up 4.5 stars. This place is ran by two people, which can sometimes lead to service issues (like when it’s more than just you in the place). Aside from that, there is just a sincerity to the food here and a kindness I must say I haven’t really experienced elsewhere… Funny, usually part of what draws me to Korean joints is the tastiness of a little casual rudeness. On to the food… It’s damn serviceable and tasty. I’ve so far had the bulgogi, sundubu (spicy tofu soup), and beef rib soup (kalbi tang) –Oh, I can’t forget the bibimbap. The panchan sides are a yummy treat and I can say rate among the better Korean side plates in the area.
The lady here is extremely Asian motherly, I told her I was hungry a few days ago for lunch, and she made me up some quick pancakes before cooking my lunch… Not only that, but she spiked my soy sauce with some shit that made my mouth very happy. The prices are reasonable and this place is totally worth more than the sum of its parts. Word.

Really cute little place I stumbled upon when another restaurant was closed. Don’t pay attention to the confusing «hours» written on the glass and just check to see if it’s open. When we got in the owner (?), a very sweet lady, gave us hot tea and took our order. I got the bibimbap and it came with 6 banchan and a small soup. The prices were great ($ 7 for everything), and the owner came out and mixed up our bowls for us (since we’re both white people, I think she assumed we didn’t know what we were doing, but I was fine with it). A good buy and good, delicious, filling food.

I love Korean food and am always on the lookout for new places to try. Came across this restaurant while driving down Lincoln on a weekday night. The owner is Chinese-​Korean and is super welcoming and nice. I usually judge a Korean restaurant by its Soondubu Giggae (spicy tofu/​seafood) soup, and believe me I’ve tried MANY. The Soondubu here is probably the best I’ve had in Chicago! I love the thicker consistency of the soup topped with an egg. It is not super spicy and therefore does not overpower the tasty seafood cooked in the broth. To top it off, they serve red bean rice (not all Korean restaurants serve this) which I love.
Their Yook Gae Jiang is also very good. The Mandu Gook is average but still good. They also serve an ample amount of banchan (side dishes) with very good kimchee. Overall, great food, excellent service and easy street parking. I’m excited to try the rest of the menu!

I used to come here when the old owners ran the place and I worked nearby. I loved it then and since the new owners took over… I love it still…
The food is very different from before. Before the owners were S. Korean and now the owners are Korean-​Chinese. This means wonderful things… First of all, the soondae (animal intestine stuffed with deliciousness) is to die for. Their dumplings are also spectacular. My family especially loves the cook at your table dumpling stew. I consider those two items their specialties.
Besides those dishes, the beef soup is also very good, refreshing hot broth.
The side dishes are also very good and authentic. I love how the food tastes like you’re eating a Korean friend’s mom’s home. This place does mostly takeout and I’m not sure how well the food travels because I’ve only eaten there but I definitely recommend the restaurant.

Do not let the closed on Sundays trading hours sign on the door deter you from eating on Sunday, it is open.
Soo Jung is very casual café style, almost hole in the wall type setting. It is no frills throughout and appears to be a family operation.
We were the only two diners on a Sunday at 8pm.
For food we started with fried goyoza dumplings which were served with a sweet soy tasting sauce, delicious and good amount of filling. We followed with a beef bulgogi which was a big serve and not overly tasty. With the beef we had some noodles with vegetables, these were really good, though unexpectedly it was cold (which we did not pick up on the menu). We were supplied with a complimentary Korean rice that was seasoned well. Along with the mains we had a really tasty combination of side dishes of pickled vegetables and kimchi. Prices very reasonable.
The service was outstanding, with a real feeling of warmth and appreciation shown by the business owner for our business and for finishing our food!

I get on these kicks every now and then. This time I’m searching for the best bulgogi. I yearn of the beautiful and uniquely fresh vanilla, and cinnamon stick-​spiced marinated bulgogi of a long gone Korean grocery store that was formerly on Kedzie north of Lawrence. Soojung is the 3^rd place I have ordered bulgogi in my search and this is about the best place so far, not because I found the bulgogi I was looking for, but because they were generous with what they sent me home with.
I got a container of bulgogi and another container generously filled with what looks like several types of kimchi, a third container contained a generous portion of plain but speckled rice perfectly cooked. The bulgogi was cooked with fresh strips of carrots & onions, and pretty much as good as the bulgogi I have had at the other places since the beginning of my bulgogi quest. I have accepted the fact that the bulgogi of old that am looking for will likely never be found and probably was unique to the business that is long gone. It will only be but a memory.
The Soojung restaurant is has a simple esthetically pleasing interior, spotlessly neat. The people were so sweet with the most welcoming smiles. The prices are so affordable for the amount they give you compared to most places. I don’t think anyone can be disappointed here considering I only had the bulgogi. It was such a positive experience, I will definitely be coming back to try other things in the future!
FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE 10÷20÷11…
For takeout: I had the beef teriyaki – INCREDIBLE flavor – this is going to be a favorite! It came in a tray with two mounds: speckled rice and shredded cabbage – check out the photos. In a separate tray they had several types of kimchi-​type sides appropriate for that dish. As the handsome Soojung employee (who looked as if he could star in a popular Korean soap opera) was packing the teriyaki he motioned asking, do I want mayo squeezed over the dish or «go home better” – not fluent in English there. I told him I’ll have it at home, thinking he’d put some in small cup to go. I later realized he meant for me to put my own mayo at home – it was great without it. Then I ordered the bulgogi. I asked it be packed separately for I was taking it to a friend the next day. As the guy was packing it, I was puzzled and frustrated that he wasn’t giving me the second tray of kimchi-​type sides that usually comes with the bulgogi, which was different from the teriyaki sides. I asked why he didn’t give it to me, he explained «no good tomorrow». I had to plead for it and he finally gave in to me, hopelessly gave in and he insisted I keep it in the fridge. I thought it was funny he wouldn’t give me what the order usually comes with based on the fact that it wasn’t going to be eaten that same day and isn’t kimchi fermented anyway?! I know the first time I ordred there, my meal lasted 2 additional days and it was just as good the first day. I felt that the sides they give are an unexpected treat; but this time for the bulgogi I was expecting it and was almost denied it. I can only wonder what will happen next time I order from there. Will I get the sides, or will I have to beg for them?!

I haven’t tried a lot of Korean resturants — but I was definetly pleased with Soo Jung’s. The service was very friendly, the menu descriptions were good and our food was delicious. Will definetly visit again!

Ordered the udon noodles. Waiter came back after like 5 minutes to tell me they didn’t have udon noodles. I told him to sub. with the ramyun. Disappointed but I was too hungry to really bitch.
Big bowl with lotsa noodles & lotsa «fish cake» (it was just dough [dduk?]) still delicious. Of course it came with the traditional Korean sides like kim-​chee. There was no spoon on the table and he didn’t give me one when he served me my food. I had to say «excuse me» twice even when we were the only two in the room. He was sitting up front the whole time cutting paper for eating mats while watching TV. He never came back and asked me if I liked the food or needed anything. I feel like I got a little less than the bare minimum service. I called for the check (which I had to say «excuse me» twice again) and I noticed he didn’t charge me less or give me any special nothin for not having what I originally asked for.
The service and overall experience deserves 1 ½ stars, but the food gives it a 3. I’ll MAYBE come back

I don’t usually take the time to review a place, but this place really deserves a great review. It’s clean and cozy with a near modern décor. They followed the normal Korean tradition and initially brought out five small side dishes, all of which were very tasty. My main course was the barbecue pork with vegetables and it was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be back!

This Restaurant also has an alias — Crystal Korean Restaurant.
Soo Jung means Crystal in Korean. :)
I knew that the address of this restaurant was 5800 N. Lincoln (it’s actually 5800E — there is also an A, B, C, and a D!), but the front entrance was boarded off, so I thought I was going crazy!!! I had to call 411, call the restaurant, and find the back entrance. Apparently, the front door is being worked on, so you have to enter through the back door in the alley.
To the food — I wanted some cheap down home Korean food and found this place on Unilocal.Everything was delicious! We ordered a spicy pork dish served with kimchee and tofu, and the marinade was very comparable to my mom’s — a definite plus. The steamed dumplings were also super delicious, and so was my spicy potato/​pork rib soup/​stew. If you’re looking for spice, definitely go for either of those dishes. All entrees are between $ 6-​$ 9. Very affordable!
We got complementary mini bowls of red bean porridge to start the meal, and that was very nice. Our server was a super sweet Korean lady.
I fell asleep almost immediately after I came home — so I’m not sure if they use MSG. There were a bunch of other items I wanted to try, so next time I crave some cheap Korean food, I’ll be back!

Decent Korean noodle house fare.
Opening just a block away from where Lincoln Noodle house was, they probably hoped to share in the bounty of the business Lincoln NH attracted. They fall short. Small family run type of place. Clean and typical appearance.
I stopped by a few times for a noodle fix. Jjukk ssuk thukk bokki, duk gook, goon mandoo, mool mandoo, and some other dishes. Yeah I ordered alot of dishes. its not very expensive. Food was just alright, flavors seemed off to me. Its ok, not horrid. I’d always dined with a buddy that was a student visiting from Korea. She’d taste and then decide to hit Burger King after. She preferred a Whopper over their food.
There are other places to go in Chicago with a better thukkbokki!
There are quite a few Korean dishes in general that have MSG in it. so if you ask for it to be removed, it could taste terribly different. Fyi.

This is a great traditional Korean restaurant. It specializes in Korean classics, so the menu is pretty heavy on stews. No table BBQ’ing — but you can get galbi or bulgogi and they’ll cook it for you in the kitchen.
The menu has a few standout items. The steamed dumplings (mandoo) are by far the best I’ve had in Chicago. They’re big and solid, dense, and just delicious.
Another excellent choice is the Kim Chi Chigeh — if you haven’t had it, it is a traditional Korean stew made of very spicy kimchee, tofu, and meat — they make it with pork belly here. Spoon in some rice, dunk it in the stew, and yum. This is what Anthony Bourdain would call a «flaming hell broth» — in a good way, of course.
Service is prompt, friendly, and the menus are in english. Prices are EXTREMELY reasonable, averaging about $ 6.99 for a dish.
If you are looking to get off of the Korean BBQ circuit and try another style of Korean, you can’t go wrong at Crystal.