Ever since the boy has moved to the city, I have been to Chicago Food aka Joong Boo more often.
This is probably the only Korean grocery store left in Chicago. The little cafe in the back has always produced quality food. It's pretty much of a no frills kind of dining. Very basic. Get your food, eat and leave immediately to go grocery shopping.
As for the grocery store, they have a weekly special on Wednesdays for their sashimi platter. It's about 50 pieces or so of salmon, tuna, white, etc for $25 rather than $35. It's not the greatest quality, but still pretty much worth the money. Great place for if you want to have a Korean bbq for dinner or want quality Asian ingredients without driving all the way to H Mart or Assisi.
Food quality is decently fresh. Nothing special but they do have lots of stuff we cannot get at our local grocers. Â Korean grocery stores have all but disappeared in Chicago... this is the last man standing. Â Very busy most nights and the parking situation is a nightmare. Â I saw a man almost get run over in the parking lot last weekend. Â This is what happens when you have a small, crowded parking lot... with lots of asian ladies behind the wheel.
The food court ladies are rude but taste good for what they charge. Used to charge extra to take out but not sure if they still do that anymore. Â For a such small establishment, you'd think they'd welcome you to take your food to go.
The meat department is probably the most valuable in the store. Â You can get your meat cut here for your Korean bbq at home. Â Sashimi platter is cheap but not very tasty.
I want to like their cafeteria sooooo bad but it's really lackluster Korean food. And I should fuckin' know, I was born in Korea and raised/fed by Korean kitchen goddesses (my Grandma, Mom and Aunt). Also, how can they not have kimchi jji-gae??? That's like ultimate Korean comfort food #1! A Korean joint without kimchi jji-gae is like a Mexican restaurant without pozole or menudo. It's an affront to the gods of comfort food.
I will say though that as far as heat lamp soon-dae (Korean vermicelli blood sausage) goes, this place does a pretty decent job.
Of course, I'll probably keep coming here when I'm feeling lazy and craving a little taste of home...
Is this review number three on Joong Boo? Â I admit I found it terrifying at first. Â As I've come to understand how things work at this place, I've grown to love it. Â First, they carry really good stuff-- you just have to know about it. Â Phoenix Bean tofu? Â Heck yes! Â Really good watermelon cheap? Awesome. Â Green plums? Oh, they had them last week and my husband is making umeboshi. Â They even had ramps for $3.99/lb, when most places were selling for about $30/lb. Â (Whole Foods was selling 8 ramps for $5.)
This review is mostly for the cafe. Â We had had the Japchae and chicken lollipops before, but had never actually ordered and eaten there. Â I ordered a bibimbap and my husband ordered a number 8, which was some kind of dduk and fishcake soup... and some chicken lollipops. Â We sat at the counter to eat. Â Our food was fantastic. My husband was sniffling because his soup was HOT; it was more temperature hot than spicy hot. Â It was actually quite sweet, too. Â This sniffling prompted the much older Korean couple seated next to him to interrogate him. Â The man asked, "Too spicy for you, right?" Â He was clearly joking and being friendly, so my husband politely said no. Â Then he asked, "how did you come to like Korean food?" and we explained how we spent quite a bit of time in an area with a large Korean population and currently work with several Korean guys. Â They asked a few more questions, then wished us luck as we left. Â Just thought I'd share that-- it happens to us frequently when we eat something "ethnic." Â I thought it was cool for the couple to be so curious and friendly to complete strangers. Â That doesn't happen too often here.
More about the food: For two entrees, the snack of chicken lollipops, and two Cokes, it was $21.95. Â It's much cheaper than anywhere else I've had Korean food in Chicago, and much better than most. Â I know there's a tone of MSG in that chicken, but I don't care. Â It's delicious and I strongly recommend grabbing lunch at that cafe.
Many years ago, my parents and I used to go to Chicago to do our semi-annual food shopping from MI. Â We would end up at Chicago Food and spend around $1000 and load up the car and leave - all done within 11 hours (includes the round trip drive, shopping and eating).
We buy items in boxes, so we would take the items we want, go up to the cashier and ask each item in boxes and wait for them to bring it up... then they ring it up, we pay, load up the car and head home.
The aisle are very small and tight... when it's busy, you'll be playing bummer cars with other shoppers... also, many shoppers are slow moving around, meaning you might have to run them over with your shopping cart... you'll have to yell 'excuse me' at them otherwise they just won't move... I don't know why...
Price is reasonable... they lowered their price ever since HMart and Assai Mark opened up, but it's right off the I-94, so getting to and out of there is easy and simple if the traffic is not busy... parking can be challenging...
AKA Joong Boo Market
Cafe: It is a Grocery and there is a little cafe in the back. The menu is on the wall, and you can point, and so on to get what you need from the staff. It is very Korean in here, but this is the best place in the city for several things. I always get the Be-bim-bop and love it. If you need to take some home they charge 50 cents for a container. Can you say yummy, fresh, and authentic? Yep! Super, and an experience in the busy little corner. Of course, if you are here to shop, you can get everything to go.
Grocery and Market: What else can you get here? Sushi fixings. They sell top notch tuna and other sushi-approved fish. I was sent here by a guy who works at The Fish Guy when they were out of grade-A stuff. Ever since then this is where I send people who need a big chunk of blue fin, or a sashimi platter to go. They usually have it all. They also have live crabs (soft shell, blue). How many kinds of Ramen or Rice are there? I have no idea, but if you have some kind you like I bet they have it here.
I buy lots of fried tofu here and freeze it, as well as hot sauce pastes.
Piles of frozen fish and just about any Asian food you want. I also like the little department store in the back. I have bought a tea kettle for loose tea here for $15 that would be $30 on Amazon, and other fun knickknacks (cheap sushi platters, tea cups, pots, Japanese/Korean rice cookers, and cutsie stuff for girlfriends (no Hello Kitty, but stuff that looks like it).
I like to start my reviews by stating that I ran against more than 1,200 Managers from many different area hotel chains for the Manager of the Year Award - Regional (Chicago) and State (IL) by the IL Dept. of Hotels and Lodging. I won both of those awards, so believe me when I say I know good service or lack thereof when i see it.
This is really a Korean based grocery store with a small little place to eat in the back corner. It would appear the grocery was here first and the eatery (for a lack of better words) was added just as a way for them to make a little more revenue. There is no ambience but you will be happy with the taste! I have tried several items on their menu and I have eaten here over 20 times in the last 7 months! I am a fan of #6 Bulgogi! I also like the octopus dish! You will be lucky to have a seat on most days but one usually frees up by the time they call you to walk up and get your tray! The seating is very tight only about 4 or 5 tables for 4 people, I on occasion have enjoyed sharing my table with other people - its perhaps a good way to make new friends! The Koreans know how to make things work :-) !
I have noticed significant price increases in the last few years for the same size product, a dangerous move especially in today's economy. Â However, they have complimentary hot tea and cold water readily available - you fetch yourself from counter top containers. Since there is no real wait staff, you pretty much clean up after yourselfs and make room for the other people standing waiting for a table! Â Eat and beat feet!
The staff is nice including the dishwasher, I would say the majority of them have all been there over the last 2 years I have been frequenting the establishment.
As with all Korean places (or most) you get a few side dishes along with your order like Kim Chee!
Respectfully Submitted,
Angelo
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