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Bop N Grill
Categories: Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Korean Burgers, Korean [Edit]
6604 N Sheridan Rd(between Albion Ave & North Shore Ave)
Chicago, IL 60626
Neighborhood: Rogers Park
(773) 654-3224
- Nearest Transit:
-
Loyola (Red Line)
Morse (Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
84 reviews for Bop N Grill
Review Highlights
-
"I also tried the loco moco and the pork burger." In 4 reviews -
"...sun dried tomato confit, truffled duxelle and smoked gouda..." In 3 reviews -
"I'm a huge fan and I can't wait to go back." In 3 reviews
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84 reviews in English
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Review from Zoe H.
Chicago, IL
5/22/2012
umami burger and fries as crispy as chicken skin.
yum. -
Review from Nicole M.
Skokie, IL
5/19/2012
This place sounded interesting so I had to try it....Korean style burgers & fries!
It was just "so-so" Not worth all the hype.
The plain fries were better than the kimchi fries and I only ate 1/2 my burger.
Thought it would've been better :-(
Oh well....... -
Review from Neil G.
Chicago, IL
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food: 4
Service: N/A
Atmosphere: 3
Value: 4
Piggybacking off my recent Big and Little review, I'm adding another fast casual spot that is serving up made-to-order, restaurant quality, greasy delicousness. Although the location is a bit more inconvenient for the city folk, it hit the spot just a little better than Big's.
Since there's no menu online, it took me a good 5 minutes staring at the chalkboard and asking questions to figure out my direction. Do I go the classic asian/stir fry/tofu/rice/kimchee route or the greasy po' boy fried fish route? Given that I just went the po' boy route at Big and Little's, I thought I would compare, so I ordered the "fish katsu burger," which is bopngrill speak for a fried fish sandwich. Fries and a drink? Sure, why not. $12 price tag? I guess I'm used to that by now.
What I wasn't told is that the fish katsu burger a/k/a fried fish sandwich consists of two panko-breaded tilapia loins on a bed of asian cabbage and a delicious, slightly spciy, mayo-based masterpiece of a sauce, sitting on soft, pillowy potato roll. I took a bite and was amazed by both the texture and the flavor. The crunch of the panko-breading combined with the airyness of the bakery-fresh bun, firmness of the well-cooked fish, and crispness of the cabbage was a mouth-pleaser. As for the taste, unlike the more one dimensional note of Big and Little's po' boy, this "burger" had the smarts to adorn itself with the fresh, slightly bitter slaw that cut against the richness of the fried tilapia. My only complaint is that it was slightly overcooked, but given the uneven size of the fish, not such a terrible offense. The sheer size of it was comedic, and embarrassingly I wasn't even able to finish it.
As for the fries, I suspect they were frozen, and not hand-cut, like at Big and Little's. However, they were super tasty, and had the perfect crunch:potato ratio. The saltiness was spot-on and they weren't excessively oily or try to overpower the main dish. A great compliment to the sandwich.
Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys eating food, and who won't be scared off by the slightly higher prices. The portions are huge and the accolades are well-deserved. It's worth the trek up to Loyola, and as I told the owner, it's a little better than Big's. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.
[Thanks for reading my review and be sure to check out my other reviews on Yelp. My mission is to find restaurants that have great vegetarian, kosher, and vegan fare. On every review, I rate food, service, atmosphere, and value on a 1-5 scale to give you quick and easy overview of the restaurant. I love cooking, eating, and doing both with my friends and family. I always welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions so contact me on Yelp or Facebook if you want to share ideas.] -
Review from Joe B.
Chicago, IL
5/24/2012
I wish I could give this spot NO STARS.
I came here because the line at chipotle was huge and I was starving, at that point ANYTHING tastes good to me, EXCEPT BopnGrill. I paid 12$ for a burger with bacon and an egg. No fries, no drink, just a burger for 12$. Oh to get a pretzel bun you have to pay more, which is crazy! that should be the standard! The meat was tasteless, I love my burgers, they're hard to mess up, but they did. They have obscure names for other sandwich combos, and the overhead menu doesn't even tell you whats in them which annoys me so much. Overrated + Overpriced. -
Review from Andy M.
5/4/2012
This place is a delightful oddity of dining. It's a Burger joint that also serves fish and Korean food. Being the grumpy old traditionalist that I am, I opted for the burger. At first I thought I made the right choice, but after seeing how delicious the Korean food looked, I second guessed myself. I guess I will have to try the Asian food on my next visit.
My Burger was a hot, heaping helping of meat, cheese and goodies. While not in the class of Kuma's, it was pretty damn good. The prices were quite reasonable. My wife and I feasted for around $20.00. I really didn't know what to expect from BNG, but I left fat and happy.
Here's the bottom line: If you are looking for a major step up from fast food at a price that won't put a dent in your wallet, give Bop N Grill a try. The service is fast, the ingredients are fresh and the Burgers are huge. -
Review from Mike N.
Elgin, IL
5/23/2012
I prefer it over 5 guys because they have a better selection of sides and their fries are to die for!! I can't even compare the fries to 5 guys because they are not on the same level. If you are looking for an ordinary cheeseburger, I could understand why you would want to go to 5 guys because when it comes to ordinary burgers they do it best. If you want a specialty burger like the bNg, pizza burger, or 5 cheese with truffle, then this place is awesome. They offer other asian foods as well. Expect to spend about 9-11 bucks for a meal. It is worth a try. They were on diners, drive-ins, and dives!!!
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Review from Tiffany B.
Imlay City, MI
5/12/2012
I had a pizza burger. I wasn't a huge fan of the grilled onions on it; they weren't listed on the menu so I couldn't request it without. The burger didn't have much flavor; I wasn't the biggest fan.
The regular fries are crunchy and delicious. The fries are the best thing on the menu in my opinion. -
Review from Bridget M.
Hoffman Estates, IL
5/2/2012
Kim chi? Good. Burger? Good. Fries? Super good.
I was sad to not be able to partake in the kim chi fries, but even their regular fries seems to be laced with something addictive. Their kim chi burger was cooked to perfection. I love burgers with fried eggs on them. I love kim chi. The BnG gods made my test buds melt with this delicious combination.
I wish I had known about this joint years ago when I would have to pay visits to Evanston High School for work. I would have FOR SURE been in line waiting for some yummy goodness. The staff here is incredibly friendly and despite their proximity to a college campus, they are very quick with the service and the actual location is very clean. Two greasy thumbs up, BnG! -
Review from Karen L.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2012
April 19, 2012 - The day the Asian Vikings came and conquered!
OK, maybe there is no such thing as an Asian Viking, but we did do some conquering.......
Did you know that Bop N Grill offers a Korean Saam Dinner?!?! Neither did I until one day while I was ordering my usual Kimchi Fries & Bibim Bop w/ Spam, I was informed by a friend to "look over there" aka - take your eyes away from the main menu board! Holy Cow! There were two other boards of seafood and specials! Did I see correctly? A Saam dinner for EIGHT!??! Oh, hellz yeah!
What is a Saam dinner? Well, I can tell you that it's a pain in the @ss to make so if anyone is offering to serve it, I am gonna order it! Bop N Grill's version is a slow cooked (braised/baked/magic/whatevs) seasoned ~20lb pork shoulder. Served with rice, seasoned spicy bean paste, onion relish, roasted garlic, kimchi, and fresh lettuce leaves. You pull the amazingly tender, moist and tasty pork apart, place it on the lettuce leaf, top with any or all of the toppings, wrap it up and let it all come together in your mouth for a fantastic culinary experience! For realz!
The Saam dinner is not only a tasty, delightful meal, but it gave me and my 22 other friends a great evening out! (Oh, did I mention we ordered TWO Saam dinners? It fed 23 of us and we took a whole lotta leftovers home!) AMAZEBALLS!
With that said, I do frequent Bop N Grill for their other amazing items! Recent favorite is the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich - a whole crab, fried to perfection and just so dang good!
I am clinically addicted to their Kimchi Fries (Yes, I plan my trips home so that I can strategically stop by to pick up an order - message me & I can give you the optimal CTA bus/train route to Kimchi Fries bliss!)
Having a place like Bop N Grill in my 'hood has only made all my friends jealous! Haters! -
Review from Stella W.
4/25/2012
I only had the saam dinner here, but man, this huge chunk of pork shoulder, coupled with rice, kimchi, and lettuce, was more than enough to feed 9 of us! We had so much leftover at the end :)
The meat marinated so well, and was so tender that it just falls off of the bone!
Their other menu items were intriguing and i am having my eye on the soft shell crab sandwich next time when i go back! -
Review from Megan K.
Chicago, IL
4/26/2012
The Bi Bim Burger and Umami Burger might have just changed my life. If you go splitzies, like my coworker and I did, make sure you finish the Umami burger before digging in to the bibim burger - the umami flavor was just too intense to return to.
Fries are awesome - it's like they're double breaded and fried. Kimchee fries are (HOLY CRAP) covered in kimchee AND liquid cheese. My heart died a little (in a good way).
Cherry coke on tap. Yum. -
Review from Lisa A.
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good ol American burgers with Asian twists. I'm in!
I had the kimchi burger, the bf had the porker. Both were awesome. I like mine better. Added a side order of kimchi fries. Pure heaven! We walked out with a bigger belly and a satisfied smirk on our face. For sure.
Can't wait to go back and try other twisted burgers . -
Review from Johnny T.
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
As Linda D so graciously pointed out, I led the revolution, not Guy Fieri. First of all, when will someone, ANYONE, on his production staff point out that in order to be on DDD, the restaurants picked should be a dive, drive-in or diner. CP is none of the above and neither is BnG. Madness. Pure madness. Give me a show and I *promise* not only will I be able to stay on topic with what it is I purport to showcase, I will work for less. Just sayin'. Food Network execs, you can PM me at any time now. I speak in complete sentences and my teeth look great on camera.
Anywhoo... BnG. Yes. Come here. You can't go wrong. I am a bit hesitant to tell you what to order. Here, unlike many places about which I write, personal taste goes a long way. Do you like beef? Pork? Poultry? Are you a veggie? Like hot stuff? How about umami? Do you like saying it? Eating it? There are way too many choices and permutations for me to lead you to your particular happy place. I can tell you that if you listen to the voice within (http://www.youtube.com...). I did and Xtina told me to order the kimchi fries, a cherry coke and a pork sandwich.
I was, like, "Xtina. I need to get a burger. I mean, they're famous here."
She was, like, "Ooohhohoh chile', get that pororororoK saaawicheey, yeahyeah. It's on special and won't won't WON'T, hoo yeah chile', be here forevah."
Then I was, like, "You make a lot of sense and speak in syllables that don't, so I'll take your advice."
Like most things in life, she was right. The pork sandwich came nestled in a soft roll and the pulled stuff was topped with bacon, cheddar, bbq, pickles, and cabbage. Crazy.good. I was silent during the entire time I devoured this sandwich. It's a good rule of thumb to try the special. Odds are you'll like it and it won't be around forever, so why not take it to the house and get an eat on? Cherry coke is always made of win. Getting it from the fountain, filled to the brim with no ice is just the way you feel like a little kid again -- a chubby little kid but we all have our cross to bear. The kimchi fries blow the kimchi fries away at another Korean fusion place in town. #nonames. With cheese sauce (can I get a witness?), green onions, bacon, sesame seeds, and kimchi, fries with stuff on 'em has never tasted so deliciously Korean-American. Don't plan on major activity after eating here. Plan for bed. And stretchy pants. It's pretty dangerous to the students at Loyola that BnG is here. Say hello to the freshman fifteen, the sophomore sixteen, the junior jiggles, and the senior sixty. You's gonna get fat... but you'll be happy getting there. -
Review from Cynthia E.
Evanston, IL
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the best burgers I've had. The place us ultra clean and the counter person was enthusiastic and friendly. We had bacon cheese fries, a kimchi burger and an umami burger. We were very apprehensive at first because the cheese fries were covered in that gloppy awful sauce, not cheese, but the sauce was good, lots of bacon, and the fries were extremely hot and crispy. My kimchi burger appeared to be medium well- ugh, WAY overcooked- but it was juicy, tasty and had a beautiful blend of ingredients. On top of all this, everything was perfectly seasoned and well-priced, too. Helpful Hint: din't wear clothing that you don't want to stain! Messy and delectable! Can't wait to go back!
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Review from Frank Y.
Evanston, IL
4/14/2012
The original BnG is in Evanston. I like the Rogers Park location better. It has more seating and is newer feeling. My review for the other location holds:
"There are two burger spots worth traveling to in Evanston. The better known is Edzo's, but bopNgrill rivals any of the burger joints in Evanston or others in Chicago, especially if you like alternative burgers. This is one of the best burgers in the Chicagoland area. I absolutely crave the kimchi burger. It is a gourmet burger with fried kimchi, cheese, and bacon.The kimchi fries are also awesome (and also have bacon and cheese!). The owner/chef, Will Song, is a trained chef and knows what he is doing."
One more thing about the RP location. It was recently featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives. The episode will air in a couple months, which means you have until then to get to this place before the crowds come, and they will come! -
Review from Kelly F.
Woodridge, IL
4/15/2012
Such good food! The kimchi fries are a must try. The fries are crispy and they load them with toppings. Definitely a place that believes in high quality ingredients. If you get a chance, try their porchetta.
The staff is always upbeat and helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them questions about the menu, they are informed and don't mind helping.
Overall, great food and chill atmosphere. If you are in the area, check it out! -
Review from Yen T.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2012
Only my second 5-star review, and it's dedicated to my friend Tesh.
The food at BopNGrill is good. It was fresh and tasty, though I felt the portion of kimchi fries was a bit small for the price. I'd probably stick with the kimchi fries from Del Seoul simply because it's cheaper and tastes just as good.
The 5 stars are for the EXCELLENT customer service. Tesh is allergic to sesame, which is obviously common in Korean cuisine. She asked for any sesame to not be included in her burger, and it seemed they understood. Upon arrival and inspection of her burger, however, Tesh discovered black sesame. Her husband took it back to the kitchen, and they explained that the black sesame was in the mayo and agreed to make her burger with regular mayo.
Tesh's sesame-free burger arrived at our table within a short period, and the staff was gracious and apologetic. Then we were even more pleased and surprised when they came and offered us another side on the house, even SESAME-FREE kimchi fries! This was totally out of the blue, and we so appreciated their apologies and sincerity in rectifying the situation. Later in the meal, our cashier stopped by and also apologized for the mistake in the order.
The staff went above and beyond the call of duty. I would have been happy if they'd simply redone her burger and called it a day. But for them to apologize a couple of times and even generously offer an additional side, sesame-free, on the house kicked BopNGrill up a few levels in my mind. To me, a place may have very tasty food, but service really seals the deal.
Thanks guys. We will be back. I am fully supportive of what you got going on, both in terms of food and service. -
Review from Christina H.
Tujunga, CA
4/10/2012
Such a great find! I trekked an hour to get there today with a friend, I've been hearing so much about this place recently. Being Korean-American, I've been really craving good Korean food, and it's hard to find in Chicago.
Hands down the best kimchi fries I've ever had. Fries were perfectly crispy, melted cheeze on top, and stewed kimchi, topped with sesame seeds and green onion. What's not to love?
I had their special, the spicy pork bop, which was good also. My friend had the umami burger, excellent truffle sauce and burger was cooked perfectly.
Best wishes to the chef! I love that he was trained at Le Cordon Bleu and decided burgers were his thing, I just wish I had found out about this place sooner! Great price, great food. -
Review from Alex G.
Chicago, IL
4/10/2012 1 photo
I used to live only 2 blocks from bNg and would frequent on a weekly basis when it first opened. Unfortunately I moved shortly after and can only make the 7.5 mile trek when I have plenty of free time.
The chef truly understands what flavor is and what it can become. I've never had a more delicious burger. I can't even decide which I like best: the loco moco, umami, or the retired "le brasserie" burger. Put short rib gravy on anything and I'm bound to love it. As a professional chef myself, i really enjoy seeing the trickle down effect from fine dining into more casual fare. bNg has expertly hit that mark.
I wish all the success in the world to the wonderful people at bNg. I hope they can branch out even further (maybe downtown.... maybe a food truck???) -
Review from Grace N.
Chicago, IL
3/19/2012
SO. delicious.
I ordered the kimchi burger ($6.50) and the kimchi fries ($6). My friend and I shared the kimchi fries..it's not a huge serving, but along with the burger, I probably couldn't have finished it on my own.
The kimchi fries were great, the only thing was that they had too much cheese sauce on them. Next time I order them, I'll definitely be asking for half the amount of cheese sauce. Otherwise, they were perfect. By the way, you wouldn't think that kimchi and cheese sauce would go together..but they do.
The kimchi burger had shredded lettuce, bacon, kimchi, a fried egg (over easy), and I forget what else, but those last three ingredients sold me on the burger the minute I read the menu. Very messy, but it's a burger! It'll inevitably be messy, but so tasty.
I definitely recommend this place, and will be back to try the other menu items! -
Review from Stephanie M.
Chicago, IL
4/20/2012
Awesome.
Yesterday I made a long overdue visit to bopNgrill with a group of friends. I really like the decor. We ordered all kinds of burgers and shared some kimchi fries. I opted for the Bibim Burger - one of the specials. It had bibimbop style veggies, gochujang sauce and a fried egg. It was really flavorful with just the right amount of heat. The kimchi fries are great! They are messy but have a depth of flavor and texture that make them better than the ones at Del Seoul. Best wishes to the chef/owner WS! -
Review from Lawrence Y.
Chicago, IL
I'm really glad that this placed opened up. I myself love Korean food and restaurants (bbq and homestyle) but find it hard to find good service with said restaurants. Now, BNG isn't a traditional Korean place - it's more of Asian Fusion run by a younger guy. Perfect concept and spot, especially being across from Loyola.
I've been here a few times over the last few months, and my favorite dishes are:
+++ Korean BBQ ribs: tender and marinated so deliciously. Comes with a small side of kimchi and a bed of salad with thousand island-y sauce.
+++ kimchi fries: I don't know what it is - something as simple as fries, kimchi, cheese, bacon and chives... HEAVEN.
++ Umami burger: there is something about the combination of the mayo, sun dried tomato, gouda, etc. that made me feel like I wasn't even eating a burger... it was an amazing party in my mouth. Must try!
+ BBQ Chicken : ordered when they were out of the BBQ ribs. I'm not a big fan of chicken too much, but this was a generous portion of chicken as well as tasty (not too dry). Same sides as ribs.
+ Chicken Katsu bi bim bop: I don't typically order bibimbop but I had a few bites of this and can say that it was pleasing as well.
The service I've had here has always been pleasant which makes BNG awesome-r!Listed in: All Things Kimchi
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Review from Sourma K.
El Cerrito, CA
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Absolutely phenomenal, what can I say it was my first time trying Korean food. I picked the Bi Bom Bop with tofu and it just had the most interesting ingredients, if I was at home and had all those in my refrigerator I would never think to put them all together.
You had the rice (which I wise they made it with brown rice instead) then the veggies (shredded carrots, chopped green onions, shredded cabbage, etc) then you had pieces of dried seaweed, then spicy kimchi, three large pieces of pan fried tofu and then the best part the egg sunnyside up. I know I'm missing some other ingredients but damn was it good.
I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Linda D.
Now that Bop N Grill is going to be on Triple D, I think I have to be a food hipster and say that I freakin' loved me some Bop N Grill before it was on TV. It's a small joint located under the shadow of a big Chipotle tower. But good things come in small packages.
The real JT himself (http://thejt.yelp.com) organized a Neighborhood Spotlight here back in November, and I've been a convert ever since. So I guess I'd have to say that Johnny T is the original Bop N Grill hipster. BNG is small and pretty plain inside, but the food is like a party in your mouth. The umami burger - truffle duxelle, smoked gouda, grilled tomatoes, grilled onions, togarashi mayo & BACON. This burger haunts me. I went back to Bop N Grill at a later date and found myself physically unable to order any other burger, despite my desire to try something new. But that's why we have boyfriends...To bully them into ordering other things so we can try them too (#JK, #noreally, #iliketoeat). The kimchi burger is great too, and don't worry, ordering the kimchi fries AND the kimchi burger is not kimchi overload (#forme). The kimchi fries are what I want to eat all day long when I'm having a bad day. It's Korean/American comfort food, and I like I said earlier, a party in my mouth. The kimchi is all like, "peh-go-pah-yo?*" and the fries, bacon, and melted cheese are all "USA! USA!" The cultures, they're mixing! And it's a good thing, y'all.
On top of all this deliciousness, the food is super affordable, with burgers at only $7-$9 each. The staff is super friendly and helpful, and they actually take care in their food presentation. The way these burgers come out looking all shiny and new, they could be served in a higher end restaurant. BNG, you have not seen the last of me!
Translation:
*Are you hungry?Listed in: Almost too good to Yelp, Look at them buns
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Review from Jesse M.
Chicago, IL
4/27/2012
Awesome kimchi burger!
Went there for the first time, tried the kimchi fries, kimchi burger and the porker. All are delicious, kimchi burger was the best! -
Review from J S.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2012
Absolutely love the food. My only problem is that they are inconsistent when it comes to portion size and ingredients... Also, the cashiers are incompetent. Don't bother asking them a question because most likely, they'll just give you some made-up response. I especially disliked the snooty attitude of one of the girls, but that isn't keeping me from going back. The food is just too good.
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Review from Becky M.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2012
I am rather surprised this place has such a high rating. If you read my reviews, you'll see I eat Korean food pretty freakin' often. I really enjoy the whole Korean fusion thing happening right now. Korean tacos are delicious.
And I think the stuff at BopNGrill could be if the execution was better and it wasn't just some kind of novelty shop.
After spending way too much time in Ikea today, my husband suggested we go to some place in Evanston for a burger. That place was closed, but I had read about BopNGrill and how great it is, so I suggested it. Well, that location seemed to be closed as well, so we went to the Rogers Park location.
I had a kimchi burger, he had the porker 2.0, and we split an order of kimchi fries.
Porker 2.0: Very, very good. It's what's keeping this rating from being lower. I only had one bite, but I enjoyed that single bite. He devoured the rest of the burger.
Kimchi burger: Bacon, cheese, kimchi, fried egg, and napa cabbage ON A BURGER. How could you possibly do that poorly? I'm pretty sure there was gochujang mayo as well, which should have made it a delicious burger. Well, it wasn't. It was an average burger. I think my problem is that there was no kimchi flavor in it. There was a faint spiciness, most likely from the gochujang. I got none of that sour, fizzy, fermenty goodness I want in kimchi. The egg was cooked perfectly, but the yolk was broken before I got it, so I didn't get the pleasure of making sure it dripped all over my burger. Instead, only half of my burger got yolky goodness. I only ended up eating that half, then giving the rest to my husband. I could have eaten it, but I was so disappointed that I had no desire to do so.
Kimchi fries: okay, so everyone raves about these. I guess I can see why. They could be EXCELLENT. They aren't, though. When I picked up our tray from the counter, I was immediately overwhelmed by the smell of truffle oil. I was sincerely wishing that aroma was coming from someone else's plate. I like truffle oil. I admit it. It doesn't belong on the kimchi fries. With fatty, fried potatoes, scallions, cheese sauce, bacon, and kimchi, there is no place for truffle oil. Choose between the kimchi and truffle oil. Either on its own would be tasty with the other toppings, but together, it's just kind of.. stupid. Gimmicky even. I can imagine the thought process when the folks behind BopNGrill were conceptualizing the menu.
"We're going to charge $7 for fries. With kimchi. Except fries are pretty cheap, kimchi's pretty cheap, and so are the other things. How do we make them seem.. fancy? Truffle oil. That's it. Truffle oil makes everything better."
It does not. When used in moderation in appropriate dishes, it's fantastic. Thrown into what would have been fantastic kimchi fries, well, it's not fantastic. It just ruined perfectly good fries. (The fries are, in fact, better than those at Del Seoul. The cheese sauce makes way more sense than coagulated-by-the-time-it-gets-to-your-table shredded cheese. They'd be some of the best fries ever if not for that damn oil.)Listed in: Korean!
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Review from Brad J.
Chicago, IL
4/25/2012
This is my favorite burger in all of Chicago. Excellent. You haven't tried burgers until you've had them with a Korean twist. I always get the Umami Burger with Kimchi Fries, and they never disappoint. Very relaxed atmosphere with excellent service. It's a must-stop eatery for anyone in Rogers Park and beyond.
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Review from Hope K.
Skokie, IL
2/27/2012
Last week, boyfriend and I were there for a quick bite for dinner since he was studying at the library at Loyola's Lake shore campus. He's been wanting to try this place with me for a while, and we finally got the chance.
My sister and some other friends have been to their original location out in Evanston but I've never been.
This place was pretty clean, spacious, lots of seating with nice brown wooden tables.
A girl greeted us immediately and was helpful in recommending her faves since it was our first time there.
Boyfriend got the bibimbop and I went with kimchee burger and an order of large fries.
Bibimbop had a lot of veggies but it seemed like it wasn't that authentic compared to the traditional bibimbop, but nonetheless, had good flavors.
Kimchee burger was a bit disappointing, especially since I was expecting some more gochoojang favor, according to the description on the menu. It just left me with desire for more FLAVOR...
Also, I didn't really care for the egg on my burger...
(FYI, the burger is pretty thick so it was really messy to eat... the buns were pretty delish)
Didn't get to try the kimchee fries but I'm sure that we weren't missing much...
They don't offer any student discounts and I think it's pretty pricey for a burger joint near a college campus... We spent about $20 for our meal and that's without any drinks.
Can't say that we'll be back here again... But it's worth trying at least once... -
Review from Mike P.
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a neat spot and a great addition to Loyola/Rogers Park. If you haven't had Korean food, Bob N Grill would be a great place to start. A very friendly staff is ready to answer all menu questions. The space is bright and clean. If you chicken out ordering Bi Bom Bop, they have great burgers. But order the Bop it's good stuff. It may seem odd, but tastes great. They make there kimchi on site.
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Review from Lauren S.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2012
I went for lunch today--it's spring break at Loyola, so there were no lines--win! I ordered the BBQ chicken plate, which comes with white rice, salad (a simple slaw with the most amazing dressing, similar to a Thousand Island), and kimchi. It was my first kimchi experience and it wasn't bad, though I'd like to try it again prepared differently. The chicken was delicious and the sticky rice was fantastic, and the salad tied it all together perfectly. It was a lot of food, but considering it was $8, I think it was definitely worth it. They also brew sweet tea, so as a Southerner, they get extra points.
I definitely recommend this place and will be going back. My coworkers shared the kimchi fries, which looked heavenly, and the bi bim bop looked great as well.
Only one suggestion: turn down the music a little bit. We all love top 40, just not at foghorn level. :) -
Review from Ken K.
2/8/2012 2 photos
I originally didn't have BopNGrill on my list of places to try when I was in Chicago this past weekend, but by chance (or perhaps destiny), I ended up eating here with my brother (who I was visiting and was the one who told me about BopNGrill) and my girlfriend (who had come with me on the trip).
Whatever forces brought us here, I am truly grateful for. The food here delivered in the flavor, creativity and value departments.
Between the three of us, we ordered the bNG, Loco Moco and Kimchi burgers, Kimchi fries and Bibimbop w/ shrimp. The Loco Moco was my favorite burger of the three, but they all were tasty and enjoyable. If I had to nitpick about something, it would be that the kimchi wasn't spicy enough, but it was still a great burger. Everyone has their preferred level of spiciness, so it would be hard to please everyone.
The Kimchi fries were loaded with flavors. Again, the kimchi could have used a bit more kick, but other than that, I wouldn't change anything on them. I would have even enjoyed the fries on their own as their batter was terrific, so having all those other ingredients made for a great side to our meal.
The Bibimbop was a refreshing dish in that it didn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The fresh vegetables were perfect, as were the fried shrimp. Not a bad choice if you're not in the mood for burgers.
We got to chat with the owner for a bit and he really seemed like a stand-up guy. He's always looking to improve on things and trying new recipes, so I'd definitely return whenever I'm in Chicago to try all of his other menu items. A clean restaurant with quality food, great prices and friendly service? Count me in. -
Review from Jordan H.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2012
This place is awesome. Really, that's all that needs to be said, but they are really bringing it at bopNgrill and have some really tasty things. The atmosphere is clean, there's not a huge wait, service is solid, and more than anything else... it's a really casual place that serves up great food and a friendly setting to enjoy it in.
I've had:
Kimchi Fries: + + + + +
Loco Moco Burger: + + + + +
Bop w/Chicken Katsu:+ + + + +
Umami Burger: + + + +
Kimchi Burger 1.0: + + + +
Ok. Nuff said. Go. -
Review from Izzy N.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
*knock, knock*
Who's there?
*Hi del seoul, you've just been served. By Bop N Grill. In the kimchi cheese fries department*
Exit B2k...
Their kimchi fries kicks ass. Del seoul's ass to be exact. It's a much better rendition that's cheesier, a little saucier and with more kimchi goodness! If kimchi is in the name, I better see and taste it. Just minus the bellyfat but who noticed the bellyfat anyway when it's microscopic over at Del Seoul. In place of bellyfat there's some bacon which complimented the cheesy sauce even though I usually don't care for bacon. I'm just not that into the smoky flavor of bacon. I want to come back here again just for this. I was very pleased. I always love cheesy fries with stuff on it. When done right.
The kimchi burger on the other hand was good but I was expecting more kimchi flavor to it. But alas, it was all lost and overwhelmed by the fried egg and cabbage begging me to wonder, kimchi? What kimchi. The kimchi was an afterthought. There was just too little of it and it all got lost. I'd get this burger again but ignore the kimchi claims in its name and description, and substitute a pretzel bun.
I dig the place. Counter service, get it and go or stay. Close to the red line and to my bestest former coworker and friend who lives in the neighborhood. I'll be back to try out the Umami burger. -
Review from Melanie V.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011 1 photo
Shout-out to Izzy N. for letting me know that kimchi fries exist!!
These fries are like a heart attack waiting to happen, but sooo good. Go with a group of people and make 'em split them with you because....these kimchi fries ($5.50) are a must try. Cheese, bacon, chives, kimchi on a pile of fries. Add in some Sriracha and you're in on your way to loaded fry heaven.
Other than the fries, Bop N Grill has some unique burger combinations. (Kuma style, maybe?) I finally settled on the kimchi burger ($6.50) which had a fried egg, kimchi mayo, kimchi, and cabbage. Great burger overall (like, the burger itself had a great flavor and was really juice!), but I would do without the cabbage next time. Since my friend wanted something simple, she just ordered a basic burger ($4) and raved about it multiple times, mid-chew.
If you're not in the mood for a funky burger, there's also rice dishes - spam and eggs, katsu, spareribs, After staring at all the dishes that came out to other tables, I decided that everything looked really good.
The restaurant is cute, bright and had a good amount of tables. Since we got there at an off-time, the place was pretty empty, but by the time we were leaving, the tables started to fill up. Easy street parking! -
Review from Michael G.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
Good, satisfying. If I could give the place 3.5 stars, I would, but I'll settle for 4.
PRO: They serve a good burger, fries & soft drink. The asian twist adds a few more perks to the menu that keep things from getting monotonous.
CON: Besides the reasonably-priced single patty burger, prices get a bit steep for specialty burgers and specials of the day.
In general, happy to have this burger joint in the neighborhood. Standards for menu, service, cleanliness are high. Try the rib plate if you need a change from the regular burger variants. Atmosphere is congenial for quick bite socializing, but don't plan to hang out in the hard chairs & antiseptic interior. -
Review from nikki r.
Chicago, IL
5/9/2012
Delish! Burgers are awesome. Wish I didn't get the pretzel bun when I saw the regular bun. Little spendy for what it is.
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Review from Lee R.
Evanston, IL
12/11/2011
As an Evanstonite and BnG fan for -- two years now I think? I recommend you visit the Evanston location at least once if you like this place. The new BnG is like a grown up, sportcoat wearing version of its sweatpants past-self from Evanston. Take, just for one example, the absence of helpful yet intimidating photos of the menu burgers that are plastered on the walls in the E-town shop.
The food is amazing. I've never had anything less than a stellar meal at BnG. I saw the owner during my first visit to this location and had a chat with him about a few missing menu items. While onion rings have been added here and the fries are crisped in a really tasty way, the menu is missing a few other fry options and the availability of some pretty kick-ass egg rolls (philly cheese steak! brownie! mac and cheese!) which are really fun to try.
Just this week these guys made the TOC Top 100 things we ate&drank 2011 list with their kimchee fries. -
Review from Hayley H.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
OMG YUM.
The burgers here are awesome. We ordered of the specialty menu. He got the Father. I got the Kimchi. Cheese fries and onion rings on the side. These are like gourmet burgers with badass fries. The onion rings were thick and their batter had a sweetness to them, unlike I had had before. Its even better because it cost us 20 bucks for two burgs, two sides, and two drinks.
Ridiculous good. And so kind, they forgot the cheese on the stellar fries we ordered, and were so apologetic about it. Quickly fixed the problem. Good service. The girl working the register was quick to makes jokes and have us feel at home.
They should decorate a bit more though. Its kinda barren in there. I see they are trying to do a FiveGuys thing with all their praise from the press framed on the wall. But, the praise for the food is legit. -
Review from Susan D.
11/19/2011
Finally got to try this amazing place, tucked onto Sheridan near Loyola Ave. (and the U) after the fantastic Johnny T organized a gathering there. All I can say is, Wowza!
Do not let the college-esque decor fool you; this place means business. The burgers at this place rival those served in high-end, shee-shee poo-poo restaurants where they think nothing of charging an arm and two legs for the privilege of eating there. But not at Bop N Grill. Here you are sure to find one of the most inventive, well-prepared and presented burgers you will ever have. At least, that is how it was for me.
I couldn't decide whether to try a Korean mimchi burger topped with Korean chili paste aioli, the one with smoked gouda and a braised mushroom confit - or one of the specials, which included crab or pork. They all just sounded divine. I finally settled on the Poutine, since I'd never had one before.
I've had supremely creative burgers before. While living in L.A., I found that chefs at trendy joints really like to mix it up. What really sets Bop N Grill apart from other places that may serve similar types of burgers is the cost -- I still can't believe I ate a medium rare burger, cooked to perfection, smothered in onions, with gravy and cheese fries -- called a Poutine, for all of $6! What?? Seriously.
There is also some Korean-Japanese fare such as Teriyaki dishes and bi bim bop-style entrees, garnished with rice and a fried egg. They also have Korean-style short ribs which I can't wait to try.
That was one satisfying meal ... and a huge thanks to Johnny T for making it all possible!
