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Categories: Latin American, Korean
Neighborhoods: Bucktown, Logan SquareWestern (Blue O'Hare)
Tue-Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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When I read about this Korean-Boriquan fusion "sammich" shack I was intrigued. I wondered when this whole bulgogi sandwich thing would take off with the rise of casual Korean street food like the Kogi truck in LA. So when my friend and I went to check it out for a quick bite, we left thinking it was not mind-blowing, but not bad either.
When you when in, you feel like you've entered a more modern and darker version of Chipotle. You go straight to the counter and place your order. We went with the bulgogi sammich, the chorizo and brussel sprouts, and butternut squash sides. We were confused as to whether we should leave a tip or not since we weren't sure if there'd be any table service for not. We left a few bucks anyway.
We grabbed two cups of water and a server came by to open up our bottle of wine (BYOB) and gave us two small cups. Our sammich and sides smelled great but the portions were pretty small for what we paid. I'm Korean, so I've grown up eating bulgogi sandwiches on white bread so the concept was not new to me. The meat was well seasoned, but the best part of the sandwiches my grandmother used to make for me was all the juices that soaked through the bread which made the sandwich messy to eat, but oh so good! There wasn't much bulgogi juice, and not enough meat to eat with the 4 thick slices of pita.
The butternut squash side was delicious, but nothing you couldn't make at home. The chorizo and brussel sprouts side was a fun way to take on the often overlooked vegetable, but the saltiness of the chorizo was a little much for me.
It's defiitely a fun restaurant and I wouldn't mind going back.
The sandwiches were mediocre (bulgogi and tilapia) and a bit pricey for what you get. However, the hot & sour soup and brussels sprouts with chorizo were very tasty!
I'm craving the mint brownie chunks over soft serve again.
Overall, very interesting flavor combinations I never would have thought of. I'm definitely coming back for the sides and dessert. Skipping the sandwiches.
Two sandwiches, an appetizer and tip for $30.
The counter service was efficient and the girls were totally cute. The restaurant itself reminded me of a few nameless places I ate at in NY last summer. The food is good, but doesn't match the price.
The bf and I both had the Boricua (the only vegan/veggie entree) and shared the Tostones. The sandwich was really interesting, but not something I really want to eat again. At first the flavors were omg, but it left a bitter aftertaste and I got bored after a few bites. The tostones, however, were amazing and totally worth $5.
We decided we will go back to pick up some deep fried plantain deliciousness if we're ever in the neighborhood, and I would definitely go back if they added another vegan option to the menu. Despite the high expectations, I can't give Belly Shack more than three stars.
What do you want first, the good or the bad?
OK, the bad, then:
- a bit pricey for what you actually get
- generally speaking, the food is a touch on the salty side (and the service is sometimes, too)
- music and decor makes me feel like I'm the sort of nightclub I would never patronize (i.e. trendy urban wannabe)
- too "concept-y" (or at least, that's the best way I can think to describe it)
Let me elaborate on this last one. The (small) menu seems to (gently) force the multi-cultural aspect of the food down your throat. Don't get me wrong, I love diversity (in food and people), but for some reason, it feels kind of like a TV ad that shows one person from every major ethnic group (each attractive, but not overly so) all sitting around a table, laughing and enjoying each other's company. That is to say, the menu seems more to me like it's based on the "concept" of being inclusive, rather than a natural mix of different cuisines.
The soft serve dessert "concept" also bothers me. I tried the chocolate bacon, which was pretty tasty, but it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. Also, the fact that the only desserts they offer are frozen soft serve (albeit with toppings) seems ridiculous to me in a city with as many winter months as Chicago. I don't claim to abstain from frozen desserts in the winter, but I would at least like a warm (or un-cold) option.
OK, enough of the bad, now the good:
- the food IS tasty (despite the high sodium content)
I haven't tried everything on the menu, but one particular standout was the Boricua sandwich (plantains with tofu, black beans, brown rice, and some sort of Moo Shu-tasting red sauce)
- the food is also creative; I don't think I've been to another restaurant offering brussel sprouts and chorizo, which is a really good combination.
- BYOB is always a plus
Let me close with one last disclaimer: I may still be holding a small resentment that Vella is no longer in this space, as breakfast/brunch is the superlative meal of the day.
BEST lunch of my LIFE! i kid you not, i have been having some great eats lately!! tis the season! So convenient to get to, no crowd today at noon, quick service, casual, hip atmosphere and reasonable prices for the tastiness and satisfaction you get.
I had the Korean BBQ sammie...this was a 5 star sammie peeps! Such wonderfully flavorful meat, delish kimchee, served w/the soft pita triangles makes it easy to eat and fun! I will order this probably every time I return to Belly Shack.
Also had the Asian Meatball sammie...this one is adventurous, so if you're not into trying new things, don't get this, and in fact - don't go to Belly Shack! This place is for food lovers who enjoy different spices, textures and surprises in their dishes. Looked like a calzone stuffed with cold noodles, bean sprouts (YUMS) and 4 big, great tasting meatballs. VERY hard to eat/manage...could be served in something easy like perhaps the pita triangles aforementioned. But tasty and different so I enjoyed it immensely. This is a 4 star sammie for me and I would suggest it to others and eat it again, but never pick it over the BBQ sammie.
Tostones...such a different and unexpected flavor, hard to describe. The more I ate, the more I liked it and the lemony/herb flavor really works w/the sweetness of the plaintains. Would def order this probably every time I go back. Great complement to the sammies.
Blondie brownie soft serve ice cream: O M G...I can't believe the goodness that passed my lips! Where do they get the milk/cream for this yogurt - is it drizzled down from clouds in heaven?!?!? It is THAT good people...save room and order ice cream, you won't regret it!
Belly Shack, I love everything about you, and I will lunch here regularly. Thanks Bill Kim for introducing me to new, unexpected, fun and fantastic flavors in Asian food!!
I was really excited about Belly Shack from reading all the reviews. I had the BBQ sammich that everyone was raving about and their blonde brownie dessert which was wonderful..but the there's a vietnamese sanwich ( banh mi thit noung) that is as good and half the price at nhu lan bakery. All around it's a pretty cool place to have a taste of Asian infuse food.
Oh, and there little Asian drinks are way too small, if you're thirsty you are better off getting a regular drink.
.. been having a craving for something new in the area that catered to my fave foods, Puerto Rican and Asian. Belly Shack got it right with their own fusion of the two ... the food is fresh and very flavorful!!! .... tostones are my favorite! The desserts are DE-LISH and everything in between rocks! Thanks for coming to MY neck of the woods ... now I have a new fave place to get my eat on!
I miss Vella a LOT.
Memories aside, I was not displeased when I made my first visit to Belly Shack. Between my group of one vegetarian (me) and two carnivores, we tried the lemongrass chicken sandwich, the Korean BBQ sandwich, and the Boriqua, which was amazing though dripping with oil. My companions both raved about their sandwiches as well.
We tried the roasted squash, tostones, and the brussel sprouts with chorizo for sides. The roasted squash was PERFECT - the seasoning was subtle and let the sweetness of the squash through, and it was served inside a miniature pumpkin - adorable. The tostones were good though I would not recommend ordering them with the Borqicua, which uses sliced plantains in place of bread. Fried plantain overload between the sandwich and the tostones.
For dessert, each of us tried a different soft serve - our table had the bacon chocolate, the mint brownie, and the Vietnamese caramel, which was easily the best of the three. I thought the food was great, the decor so-so (after the brightness of Vella, the dining room felt very dark to me) and the staff was lovely. Will definitely be back!
3.5 Stars. I was super excited to try Belly Shack since I love Urban Belly. I did realize thru reading about the restaurant that it is a totally different concept, being Asian Latin Fusion sandwiches basically. I would definitely say it is worth trying... but is it something that I would crave or frequent? Probably not.
First off, I like what they did with the feel and the decor. It is definitely urban, located off the Western blue line (really, under and you can hear it, too) and with a funky, casual vibe inside.
i ordered the bulgogi sandwich, which came with pita and kimchee to make-your-own. It was yummy... and a good amount, too. I also got the tostones, which were covered in a garlic sauce. They were tasty but not something that I would rave about. I also tried my friend's brussel sprouts and those were pretty good! I would order that again! I also tried the hot and sour soup... didn't really get a feel for that but did notice it had some nice flavoring to it.
Overall, it was a good experience and I am glad I tried it. The menu is a little limited and the price is high for what it is, but very reasonable for a "going out" meal.
I would go back, but not in a hurry. There are many other places that I would put ahead of Belly Shack, including Urban Belly.
The tostones are soooo good! I love plaintains and order tostones quite a bit - they were perfectly cooked, just flat enough, just enough salt... and the garlic sauce was delicious!
The lemongrass chicken sandwich was not at all what I expected, but had a delicious dark tangy sauce served with a tasty kimchee-like (but not kimchee) salad on the side. I was a little thrown off initially about the make-your-own sandwich thing, but I really enjoyed the meal from start to finish.
The boy had the BBQ beef kogi sandwich with kimchee and thought it was really good. The kimchee, at least, was good (I don't eat beef). It looked good :)
On top of loving my meal, Belly Shack is BYOB (no corkage fee) and has a great atmosphere; modern and minimalist. You do have to order at the counter (i.e. fast food style), but they bring the food to your table and refill your drinks/uncork your wine at the table. Basically the counter ordering means you don't have to leave the usual 18% tip, more like 10-15%. (More money in my pocket!) The service was still good despite the whole counter business. And this place is super convenient if you live near a blue line stop - it's literally next to (or kinda underneath) the Western Blue line stop.
My only problem with the Belly Shack is the limited menu, only 5 or 6 sandwiches, a soup and a couple salads and softserve (though they have quite unique flavors of softserve).
4 stars? 5 stars???
What the heck - 5 stars!!!
I really heart you, Belly Shack - welcome to Logan Square.
I caved and had the other two gluten-free dishes today. I justified the expense because it ended up being my ONLY meal of the day.
It's love, folks. LUV.
While much has been made of the melding of Chef Bill Kim and Managing Partner Yvonne Cadiz-Kim's… Read more »
I really, really liked bellyshack. I had always been a fan of urban belly, but i always left really full and sort of unsettled. I had read some mixed reviews on bellyshack, so I was a bit skeptical, but after numerous urbanbelly and bill kim experiences I didn't think we could go wrong by giving it a try. I was particularly chilly the evening we went in, so I immediately went for the hot and sour soup. I LOVED this soup. I coiuld have eaten 3 bowls of it. It was so dynamic, hitting the palate on many different levels, both texturally and by taste. I highly suggest it.
I also tried the quinoa lettuce wraps, which would be great on a summer day when you're looking for something really light. I'm always up for some quinoa though, I just love the way the superfood leaves you feeling, AND it came with some yummy dipping sauces, so i'd ordered it again. Boyfriend got the korean bbq sandwich, and the meat was excellent and super tender. Strongly suggest this place for a casual, cheap and GOOD dinner!!!
Korean/Latin food that is vegan and gluten friendly!
I'm no longer a full-fledged vegetarian but I totally appreciate the boricua sandwich-- the vegan version of a Puerto Rican jibarito-- perfectly tender tofu, black beans, and rice between plantains marinated in a tangy cilantro vinegar oil. If that doesn't satisfy your taste for plantains, the tostones are fried and salted with the same cilantro sauce on the side- a harmonious yin and yang of richness and lightness. You can bring your own booze or try the delicious sparkling apple soda.
This is a quaint spot for people to eat solo, grab take-out or bring a large group of friends. The staff seemed very attentive, ready to guide incoming customers to the daunting communal table, if necessary. (Communal seating is okay, people; we all just want to eat!) There are plenty of private tables too for those intending on intimate conversation to discuss illicit financial transactions or what have you.
Also cute-- the little slogans on the walls. "Humboldt Park not Heights." Not sure if I've heard HP referred to as Humboldt Heights, but I'm guessing the restaurant is saying they want to preserve the neighborhood, hence the Puerto Rican component of the menu. Their presence probably does contribute to the gentrification of the neighborhoods to the south and west of Belly Shack, but I think it's delightful they have put their own spin on local ethnic cuisine.
I used to live nearby and noticed that well-liked Vella was gone. I was curious as to what could have suddenly replaced it. I was intrigued to learn of the Latin Korean fusion as I am a fan of both.
I had the BBQ kogi. I was not disappointed. The smell coming out of the carry out bag was very appetizing. I thought it was very good, especially the meat. I would definitely eat it again. I wouldn't call it a sandwich, its really BBQ kogi w/ pita. When a restaurant says "no substitutions please" I would expect them to do the assembly. At $10 its a little more expensive than I than it should be when you make it a sandwich. Make it an entree and the price is right. The positives far outweigh the negatives and I would recommend this dish. I look forward to trying another dish.
Free street parking can often be found just south of Belly shack on Western or Moffat. The hours posted here as of this review are incorrect. Belly Shack is open till 10 PM on a Sunday night. My takeout order was ready in less than 10 minutes.
This will be my shortest review ever:
pro: tasty
con: expensive
4 stars, but I already miss Vella.
Love Shack tune, begin.
The Belly Shack is a little new place
where we can get together
Belly Shack baby, Belly Shack bay-bee.
Love baby, that's where it's at,
Ooo love baby, that's where it's at.
Korean + Puerto Rican = Korican Cuisine!
I'm a fan. Bill Kim strikes again...and I like this one BETTER than Urban Belly. Yeah, I so said it. Better!
"Hot & Sour" Soup w/ hominy + chicken + cilantro (this is a MUST, must...especially on a rainy day)
Korean BBQ Kogi w/ Ssam Paste (very filling, bread comes separate = no drippy/soggy sammies! KBBQ perfection)
Tostones w/ chimmichurri sauce (whoa, garlic)
Seasonal Kimchi (standard)
Cute Alumican of Diet Coke
About on par with prices at Urban Belly...lunch for 4 (obviously we ordered a lot) was probably around $60 or so.
Counter service, though they are quick to deliver and bus, refill waters, etc. Very friendly...parking is spotty, but public trans options are quite plentiful.
I do miss Vella (oh, our relationship was so brief, veggie goddess), but this is a great addition to the 'hood. And, if you are a blue line rider...you have no excuse. Its spittin' distance from the train...GET off. Order. GET back on. Voila, Korican food!
BK, FTW.
Ate there last evening at about 8pm and had to wait about 10 minutes for a seat, which was very reasonable. I really enjoyed taking the "L" there as well (and I never noticed the rumbling sound of the train).
The menu was sort of small, but I suppose it made it easier to pick items when you are waiting in line to place your order. I had two of the "Sammich's" and two of the sides. The BBQ Kogi was really tasty. I tired to wipe up all of the good juice at the bottom of the bowl and I ended up eating some off the paper. They use these cheap plastic bowls lined with thin paper to serve the food. I ate some. I couldn't taste the difference though (is that bad or good). The Tilapia "sammich" was tatsy but not as good as the bbq kogi.
We had the butternut squash and the brussel sprouts and chorizo as sides. The squash was ok, but the brussel sprouts were great. A little on the greasy side, but thats what happens when you mix in Chorizo.
Didn't try the desserts. My wife wouldn't let me order the bacon chocolate chip ice cream. It sounded interesting. The place is BYOB and the seating can be communal. The chairs are not comfortable, but i think that is how they get people to turnover the tables. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars, but i gave it three because I ate the paper. Is that my fault?
Mixed feelings about this place. My sammich was good. I had the Boricua and an Izze. The sammich was tasty, but needs to come with side plates and a poncho. No way it can be eaten like a sandwich. It's very messy. I ended up going at it with my fork.
I think the prices are off. My sammich and drink, with a tip, hit fifteen bucks. And the sammich doesn't come with any sides.
One other off-putting thing is that I sat by myself between two couples. Someone came out and gave both couples a dessert compliments of the chef. Seems they were trying out some new concoctions. Apparently, being single makes you a leper and unworthy of free dessert.
I agree with many of the other reviewers about this place. I'd heard about Belly Shack through the typical foodie media (blogs, TastingTable, Time Out Chicago, etc) and decided to go with a friend for a casual Sunday night dinner.
The decor is minimal but urban and cozy. The lighting is very minimal, so if you were driving by you might not even realize it was open, especially because it is more or less hidden under the El tracks. The small number of people inside on this Sunday night also probably didn't help. But that was to our advantage.
I had the Korean BBQ Kogi sammich. It was the typical bulgogi beef with a small amount of kimchee on the side, and four pita squares for you to fill yourself. Tasty and satisfying, yes. But nothing you can't do at home yourself with decent Korean bulgogi and pita. My friend had the blackened tilapia sammich. I'm not huge fan of tilapia, but I had a bit of his and it was pretty good.
We had the hot and sour soup and roasted squash as sides. The soup tasted more like a standard tortilla chicken soup. I couldn't taste much of "hot and sourness" that I expected (thought it would be more of the chinese hot and sour soup taste). But I really liked the roasted squash with maple syrup and pho spices. I couldn't make out the pho spices in the first few bites I had, but after going back to the dish from having some soup, the spices really came out. I enjoyed the contrast of the spices with the sweetness of the syrup and squash itself.
Gave it 3 stars for some of the same reasons others did. Prices are a bit high considering its counter service (especially the sandwiches-$10 each) but some of the combinations of Asian and Latin flavors were quite surprising. Not a place I would go out of the way for dinner on busy nights, but if I were in the area and had a taste for a light but flavorful meal, I'd stop by again.
Next time will try the tostones; I hadn't researched enough of what to eat before I went this first time.
***Matt L. stole my review!****I reviewed this place first!***
**Then Matt L's review got flagged! LMFAO*****
[Please note my review is really 3.5 stars, not 3]
I have been wanting to check this place out ever since it took over Vella Cafe. Oh Vella--how I miss thee. Anyway, this isn't about Vella this is about Belly Shack after all!
Walking in you don't know whether to be overwhelmed by the crazy music [they went from "Somebody call 911..." to a slow R.Kelly song], confused about the decor [really mixed/matched] or shocked about the prices [we only got two sandwiches & two desserts for $32!]
The food was a-ok at best. My friend got the meatball sandwich, while I ordered the Korean BBQ. I'm really not sure on the whole mix of PR and Korean food--there wasn't really much PR in anything I ate. My sandwich had thinly sliced bbq beef, cabbage, onions & I think zucchini. His sandwich had giant meatballs in it with cold rice noodles--so that's fusion cuisine these days? Mmm, weird.
So then on to dessert, which in my opinion why I'm giving them 3.5 stars. The huckleberry-lime soft serve was fantastic, which is strange for me to say because I'm really not that big into sweets. It had nice caramelized berries, with hints of mint. While my friend got the blonde brownie--he seemed to like mine much more.
So all in all, I'd don't know if I will be back again. I just wish it was a little bit cheaper & a little bit more flavorful. Oh well, you win some & you lose some.
I liked the set up in the dining area. It's not entirely crazy different from Vella and you can see the similarities to Urban. The staff was friendly. Beverages are overpriced ($1.75 for an 8oz bottle of Coke - whaaa??).
I had the Boriquen and split some tostones with my boyfriend who had the lemongrass chicken. I thought the tonstones were seriously tasty and my sammich (as they call it) was full of lovely flavors. I didn't have much love for my bf's sammich, though. Happy that I didn't order that... will have to go back to sample some dessert.
Mmm...more good food in my belly thanks to Bill Kim. While I personally prefer Urban Belly because they have a parking lot and I just like the menu better, my belly was quite happy after a meal at Belly Shack.
There's nothing like a bowl of delish soup when you're cold and wet from a thunderstorm outside. I started my lunch with a bowl of their very flavorful Hot & Sour Soup. It was so tasty looking that my lunch companions were jealous they hadn't ordered a bowl. I followed the soup with the Quinoa Ssam, Billy Kim's version of lettuce wraps. LOVED them- would definitely order this again and seemed a healthier alternative than some of the sandwiches on the menu.
We also ordered some sides for the table. The kimchi, which is a total rip off at $4 (it's cabbage!). Should be more like $1. We also ordered the tostones (fried plantains), but those were actually worth the $4 price tag.
On a rainy Friday afternoon this shack was pretty empty, but like Urban Belly I wouldn't be surprised if it gets pretty packed in the evenings. After all, there are a lot of bellies to fill in Chicago with this tasty food.
I came here on a Saturday night and was pleased to be seated without a wait. I love the BYOB option, and the unique menu. I ordered the meat ball sandwich which had noodles in it. It felt like pho in a pita. So good, and a large portion. I shared an order of fried plantains with chimichuri. Very good...but a little greasy. My girlfriend had the boricua vegetarian sandwich, which we both found to be very bland if not for the spicy sauce on the side. It was so good that we were dipping our plantains into it. For dessert we had the mint ice cream which was awesome.
Overall my experience was good and hope to go back again to try some of the other dishes.
I just went here today and I like and love this place!!! I would give it a full 5 stars except that I'm not a fan of the location. After spending a day in Wicker Park, I was hoping it would be in a more congested - and walkable area - which I guess helps with crowd control - but it doesn't make for a "drop by" spot. The fact that it's in a spot with little foot traffic makes it difficult for me to convince whatever friends are with me at the moment to get into a car and drive there without promising them gold and/or orgasms.
The interior is nice - it's urban chic - with a minimalist theme. It's a pretty wide open space which I appreciate as I dislike feeling suffocated in small spaces (hi. xoco. the other hype-of-the-moment).
You order at the counter and pay at the counter. They give you a number that you take to an open table - and according to the servers, they do no remove your number until your entire order is received - it's their way of double-checking themselves for complete orders. I like that - especially in a order-sit-and-receive-orders type of place - because a lot of the times, the food comes at different times and you aren't 100% sure if the rest of your order is coming or if part of your order was forgotten/misplaced. This process minimizes the stress of stressing out over whether or not to bother and ask if this-that is coming.
Ordered the Sweet and Sour sopa. And it was awesome. I want a batch of this in my home at all times during the winter season. It looks small but it's hardy. It has pork belly bites, spouts, tortilla chips, and these giant-steroid-like corn niblets - which has a consistency and taste similar to garbanzo beans. It is amazing. I think of all the things I ordered and tasted off of other people - this was, by far, my favorite.
Also ordered Brussel Sprouts & Chorizo side - and that was my 2nd favorite thing I ate there. The brussel sprouts are perfectly cooked - not too mushy - a little bit of bite. The chorizo is crumbled so that you can have a little bit of it with each brussel sprout. There was a hint of mint in the flavor. Anyway, it was so yummy.
Also ordered the Butternut Squash side - it comes in little cubes and kind of made me feel like I was eating baby food - but it was also good.
The korean-bbq-gogi sammich - it was good but I'm korean and so it was nothing new to me. The taste was very familiar - and that alone, is a good thing. A lot of times "korean bbq gogi" doesn't end up tasting anything like korean bulgogi - but it did - as well as the kimchi/pickles served with it.
Overall, a good experience. I didn't get to try the soft serve that I had my eye on - because I was way full. But there is a bacon chocolate chip soft-serve that I will definitely be trying the next time I go in there because... well... bacon + chocolate = two things I super loves.
One last thing, since we were all first-timers here, we weren't aware that people consider it a BYOB - and noticed that a lot of tables had beer/wine/etc - definitely bring some with you! I'm pretty sure the beer would've helped the experience as well - I think it would have helped bring out the flavor as well as neutralize the mixture of flavors a bit.. as every dish (except for the kogi sammich) had a bit of fusion to it which means a mixture of spices.
Side note: A lot of people at our table decided that there's a hint of latin and vietnamese flavors in a lot of the dishes - maybe it's the use of cilantro and lemongrass?
It was a good experience and everyone agreed that they would want to return to try some of the other sammiches and definitely the soft-serve.
Excellent spot for an interesting selection of Asian inspired sandwichs, soups and sides. I loved the Asian Meatball sandwich, a warm and crisp pita stuffed full of moist and favorful meatballs, and light somen noodles. The side of brussel sprouts with chorizo was fantastic. Efficent and friendly service.
I will definitely going back to try some of other menu selections.
a-maz-ing. i had the plantain sandwich and brussel sprouts which was deeelicious. my friend's choice were super tasty too. i will def go back. i love this place. wtg.
I got the Boriquen or whatever it was called.....it was really yummy, you could totally taste the Korean influence which I enjoyed a lot. I love Korean food! It was really expensive for what it was but I think that is fine given that it tasted good.
Hopefully they change the menu often since it is pretty small and limited.
I will totally go back there. Its a great addition to the hood.
I never made it to Le Lan. The Urban Belly concept doesn't do much for me. BUT Korean & Puerto Rican food are two of my favorites. So, when I had the chance to check out super chef™ Bill Kim's food, I jumped at the chance.
I like the location. It's directly underneath the Western Blue Line stop and, while it can get a little noisy, it's super easy to get to by rail or bus. My dining companions weren't quite as sold on the ease of driving to the location...so, there's that. Inside is pretty stark. The walls are lined with stencil and silhouette of various urban and spanish language scenes. It's rad. I liked that there's not a lot going on in here. It's, like, "here's my restaurant. Eat." I can eat. Cool.
The food is pretty darn yummy but the price points are a little off-kilter. I ordered the tilapia with curry tartar sandwich. It's not so much as sandwich as it is two pieces of fish atop or akimbo (ha! I totally pwned that word) some bread. It's $11. And, it's missing something. Fortunately, we'd ordered the FOUR DOLLAR kimchi which added the spicy crunch my palette craved. I felt badly deviating from Chef Kim's vision. I also ate well now that my sandwich was Johnny-fied. But, $4 for kimchi? For shame.
We also ordered a communal helping of tostones. These came with very garlicky chimichurri and they were every bit as delicious as I could have hoped. Those were more reasonably priced. I'm pleased to have finally had the chance to have Chef Kim's cooking. I found it enjoyable. But, with a neighborhood tour to Humboldt Park in my near future and a friend's Korean mother who (is convinced I am way too skinny and) cooks for me each time I see her...I don't know if I am rushing back. This isn't a decision my stomach made. This decision comes courtesy of my George Costanza wallet.
Got takeout the other night (wait was longer than they said- boooo!)- hot and sour soup, BBQ sandwich and chicken sandwich. Split everything with the husband and wish I hadn't because I had chosen the BBQ and he chose the chicken. The chicken was just eh- not enough flavor for me (and I'm a Midwestern gal that isn't can't handle spice and grew up eating lutefisk- ick). The BBQ was good but not enough- and the side/topping for the sandwich was also not enough for the size of the bread. The hot and sour soup was surprisingly good. I loved the idea of the desserts until I saw that it is basically soft-serve ice cream with toppings- I'll pass on the listeria.
I'll definitely be back to try more but hope they work out some of the kinks- for the price, I'd definitely be expecting more.
If I'm going to pay $10 for a sandwich, make me the damn sandwich. Don't give me a couple of flatbread corners and two strange piles and let me do it myself. And if that IS what you're going to do, make sure that it's better than the DIY sandwiches I've got at home.
At least 4 people on staff were wearing a shirt proclaiming "I heart Lola's Lechon!" A devout lechon lover, I asked the girl at the counter for a jibarito, hold the tofu (to which I am alergic) and give me the LECHON! Nope. No dice. They don't make lechon, they just wear it on their uniforms.
For $26.46 I got the Korean Kogi, tostones and a very greasy tofu jibarito called the Boriqua. I do not feel I got my moneys worth in the slightest. No one at my table was impressed with their meal and we all agreed we wouldn't be back. As a matter of fact, the tostones were the only thing that got them that extra star.
Other things that I didn't like: there's no waiting area so we were told to wait in the Green Eye. I brought beer, I didn't want to go get more at the bar. It is essentially a fast food joint with everything being do it yourself, from getting silverware to pouring waters. The only difference between this and your local burger shack is this place has a hostess and the tables get bussed.
In short, I'll never be back and I won't be sending anyone I know their way either.
As big fans of Urban Belly, my friend decided it was time for us to try the Korean/Latin fusion at Belly Shack. We were not disappointed.
Once we got there and checked out the menu, we decided to strategically get a few things and split them so we could try as much as possible without stretching our budget. We ended up deciding on:
-the Korean BBQ Kogi, which was flavorful and filling.
-the tostones....a huge portion for only $5 (in fact, we ended up taking home the leftovers). I would definitely recommend these!
-hot & sour soup with hominy, chicken and cilantro, which was really fantastic and will be great to have in the winter.
-Vietnamese cinnamon" caramel ice cream, which was the only disappointment. We assumed it would be cinnamon flavored ice cream, but alas, it was boring vanilla with a few shakes of cinnamon on top. Bummer.
A few people sitting by us were having the roasted squash with maple syrup and pho spices and it looked amazing. I'm definitely trying that next time!
Overall, interesting menu, good service, and conveniently located right under the Western blue line stop. I'll be back.
i waited to eat here three times before reviewing. i'm happy bill & yvonne opened a dramatically different place from urban belly. not better. just different. both have bill kim's delicious stamp on every dish.
they did a great job utilizing the space that used to be vella cafe. it's no longer cramped. the idea of making the most out of setting up shop underneath the el tracks is worthy of a design award. the sound of the train actually enhances the experience of eating here. you really feel like you are eating at the skateboard park.
i love small menus-this one makes it very easy to devour the entire menu. i told them it was my goal to achieve in one week :-)
i've tried the lemongrass chicken sammie-very nice with a spicy garlic ginger side to pour on, the kogi, the asian meatballs-a winner-mint in the balls!, the unforgettable tostones, the quinoa lettuce wraps with 3 awesome dipping sauces, kimchi & portobellos-SO refreshing & light, the tilapia sammie with curry tarter sauce (yum!-my fave sammie so far), the soul-warming hot & sour soup which is like asian tortilla soup with (gasp) hominy- i ate the brussels sprouts with ample non-greasy chorizo twice & the unforgettable tostones. bring some beers, some wine & just hang out. such a lovely alternative to sitting at a bar.
save room for soft serve. a giant bowl of vietnamese cinnamon caramel? why....yes please!
of course i LOVE the owners. bill often turns us on to stuff we might not usually order, which is smart. "this is from chef." the dishes often turn into our favorites. i guess he knows more than we do. yesterday it was chips with amazing sweet tomatillo sauce. today it was the quinoa. i used to eat that when i was a vegetarian, so it was unlikely i would try it. this is unheard of at other restaurants. it makes us feel "special." like a bartender buying you a drink. no one does it anymore. it's the very definition of hospitality & this hip couple "get" it.
I first gave this review 3 stars.. but as I started writing this review, I realized it deserved another star :)
Chef Bill Kim had a shirt that had a Korean word on the back that read "Ggoom"(which means "Dream" in Korean) .. and the graffiti on the wall had a man with the shirt that read "know your dream(s)?"(IN SPANISH).. :) cute. I notice little things like that.. and it makes me happy :D LOL.
My friends and I got almost everything off the menu!
Kogi sammich: I don't eat meat, but my friend said it was pretty good. Kind of hard to eat .. almost mini slider style like since there are mini pita breads to put the meat between..
Asian meatball sammich: The meatballs were stuffed inside a triangular pita bread. My friend said it was pretty good.
Blackened tilapia w/curry tartar sammich: It was hard to eat, and I didn't taste anything curry-like :( ! Tasted more like chipotle tartar sauce. Kind of hard to eat? I don't like the choice of bread they use.. it was alright.. and it took really long to come out..
Boricua sammich: OUR FAVORITE. No bread.. the "bread" was substituted w/ fried plantains ! Easier to eat than the other sammiches.. and just GOOD! Flavors work well together, and it's perfect for a vegetarian/vegan (:
Tostones w/chimichurri sauce: Yum!!! Thin fried pieces of plantains .. covered in the chimichurri sauce. Flavors were VERY reminiscent of samosas w/chutney sauce.(pic)
Roasted squash w/maple syrup & pho spices: Cute presentation. Good. (pic)
Hot & sour soup: Hmm.. my friend said it was pretty okay.. a little too salty for his taste! but he liked the Boricua sammich the best :)
Quinoa ssam: Pretty good. Mushrooms, pickled veggie/apple pieces(?), quinoa, and bib lettuce to make "ssam" aka lettuce wraps. They only gave me 3 pieces of bib lettuce.. should def give more lettuce! 2 diff chili pastes to dip and sesame oil to dip the ssam! I'm in love with sesame oil.. so yeah.. +1 for that :) Perfect for vegans.. and it's gluten free.
Bacon chocolate chip ice cream: It looked like soft serve vanilla ice cream topped with bacon bits & a crumbled chocolate chip cookie.. my friend loved it, but I was thinking it'd look completely different.. (pic)
We sat at the communal table and the service was superb!
Vegan friendly. byob. RIGHT UNDER THE WESTERN BLUE LINE.. LIKE RIGHT UNDER.. & the BORICUA sammich was the best out of all of 'em ! Even the meat eaters agreed!
Taking advantage of the gorgeous Indian Summer weather, hubby and I took a long walk around Logan Square and ended up at Belly Shack, which I've wanted to try out since I heard of its opening. I was intrigued by the Korean/Latin inspired menu.
Neither one of us were extremely hungry, so we split the Boricua and the brussel sprouts and an Izze each, which came to around $20. I really wanted to try the kim chee, but couldn't justify the $4, when I've got a jar at home.
I love that the boricua had tofu and the sauce it came with was delicious, but my problem with the sandwich was that you really need to eat it with a fork and knife (or stock up on a pile of napkins if you're going to eat it by hand!) This would've been totally fine, but the paper it was wrapped in got soggy and decided to incorporate itself into my sandwich...tofu sandwich, YUM! Paper sandwich, YUCK.
The brussel sprouts, while not vegetarian (and I am, although I may have to revoke my good standing in veggie society after this snafu, no judgement...) were DELICIOUS. So good in fact, that my husband, who does not in any way care for brussel sprouts couldn't stop enjoying them. I tend to adore brussel sprouts in an abnormal way, so I really liked them (although I wonder if they could do a veggie chorizo version?)
I wish we'd left room for dessert because the ice cream selections sound scrumptious and I also wish the sides weren't so expensive, as I would have liked to try a few more. I wish the prices were adjusted downward a little so that I could stop by on a regular basis on my way home. As it is, I may have to save my money and hold off until I can no longer stave off the brussel sprout craving.
I'm sad that Vella is gone, but I'm comfortable with the fact it's Bill Kim that moved in. The food here is great and the partnership with Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate is rad, but it's definitely no Urban Belly (otherwise I would have given it a solid 5).
I personally never notice the Blue Line noise and never have, but maybe it's just being accustomed to living in a noisy ass city. Kim's kogi melted in my mouth, but it just didn't send me into a taste bud coma like the brandy lamb dumplings or ramen at Urban Belly. Also, have to agree with James V that I'm not a fan of how the "sandwich" is not a sandwich.
BUT, the bacon chocolate chip ice cream, on the other hand, Belly Shack definitely has an edge over Urban Belly, most likely because UB doesn't have dessert to begin with, but also because it blew my mind.
While Belly Shack wasn't bad, the food wasn't anything I'd be craving soon. Maybe I should have tried the bacon topped ice cream or the tostones that people have been raving about. The sandwiches were ok. The kogi sandwich is basically Korean bulgogi and kimchi served along with some thick a$$ pita bread. I can easily make it at home for a fraction of the price. However, the hot and sour soup was tasty. I liked the combination of bean sprouts and tortilla strips.
Bill Kim was there bringing out soup to the tables. He's so nice and humble that I wish I could give Belly Shack more stars. Maybe I'll come back and try something different, but honestly I'd rather eat at Urban Belly.
Went there last night with some friends. We had the hot & sour soup, tostones, brussel spouts & chorizo, bbq koji sandwich (w/ kimchi), tilapia sandwich, and soft serve w/ bacon and chocolate and cookies. I can't really say anything negative about our meal. Basically everyone at the table licked their plates clean and left very very full. I'm trying to think what the standout at the meal was and am having difficulty. Everyone seemed to enjoy everything, but each person had their favorites.
The one thing I'll say is that the ambiance kind of bothered everyone in my party... and their website kind of sucks. The food is so happy-flavored and vibrant and the space is just not. Also, I have fears about how cold that place is going to get in the winter. Perhaps they should set up some sort of waiting system with Green Eye?
Very good. Welcome welcome.
Certainly would not consider this "latin fusion" in the least. i thought i would be getting more of a wow factor. Food, at best was mediocre. The service was not as good as I would expect for a new place, and the cashier seemed to of been a little bit distracted at the time because while we were ordering, she kept looking at her watch. Than when we sat down it turned out she was leaving, so she seemed to of not been interested that we were new and needed guidance. I just thought if the staff is that way, then what else is there.
I had the sammich and it was not at all that great. They messed up our order and although we paid for another item them gave us another. I was already not feeling the vibe so I said, "this is fine just leave it". I would definately not go back and many have asked how did I like it, and I let them know since I am one of the critics in another site. But for effort, they did try, but I can't say that I would HIGHLY recommend them since they can't pull of the fusion part in the last.
And for the record, the PR tostones, were just a bit too salty.
Belly Shack is so good and I went twice this weekend, that should show people that if its worth going back in the same weekend, that it's good. On the first visit we tried two sandwiches the Asian Meatball and the Kogi Beef. We also had the hot and sour soups.
I love the place! The sandwiches were fresh and the hot and sour soup was tasty and different from your traditional hot and sour. The garnish was a mix of sprouts, tortilla strips and some sricha sauce to add just the right kick. The soup was filled with chunks of chicken.
On the second visit, we decided to go more the route of trying some of the uniquely sounding sides. Again we went for the hot and sour soup (Yes its that good) and tried out tostones with chimichurri, kimchi and brussel sprouts with chorizo. I found the flavor combinations in all of the sides to be great.
I can see me frequenting Belly Shack pretty often, especially for the Hot and Sour Soup. It's very unique and tasty! Price is about $20 for two people.
Korean and Puerto Rican food?! Really?! I found myself here a few weeks after I was told about it. I decided to order takeout because I wanted to eat at home.
I ordered the hot and spur soup which was good but a bit to salty for me and not at all sour :( the chicken, garbanzo beans, cilantro and other ingredients were perfect though.
I love korean BBQ so I ordered the Korean BBQ sandwhich. It was served with a pita bread and u put it together yourself. Again this was too salty
Korean and Puerto Rican food?! Really?! I found myself here a few weeks after I was told about it. I decided to order takeout because I wanted to eat at home.
I ordered the hot and spur soup which was good but a bit to salty for me and not at all sour :( the chicken, garbanzo beans, cilantro and other ingredients were perfect though.
I love korean BBQ so I ordered the Korean BBQ sandwhich. It was served with a pita bread and u put it together yourself. Again this was too salty for my taste.
I'm going to have to go back and try some other items before I decide about this place. Still a fan of urban belly...
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