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- Hours:
Mon 6:30 am - 12 am
Wed-Thu 5 pm - 12 am
Fri 2 pm - 2 am
Sat 5 pm - 3 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
108 reviews for Dragon Lady Lounge
Review Highlights
"They'll love it, and Sue will love them."
(in 47 reviews)
"and, once the korean food gets passed around you'll be..."
(in 29 reviews)
"The third dish was a nice sized bi bim bop."
(in 5 reviews)
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108 reviews in English
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Review from Alison V.
9/18/2011 1 photo
I have never been to the Dragon Lade Lounge before yesterday, but from the previous reviews, this place was once a "dive bar." The new manager Robert, a warm and friendly guy, told my husband and me about his efforts to transform the place. We were in a bit of a hurry to get to a concert, so he recommended the vegan hot dogs and hamburgers. The hot dogs ($5.25 for two with fries) were dense and flavorful with a kick, almost like a spicy sausage. The vegan Dragon burger ($8) was also flavorful and served on a wonderful pretzel roll.
Unfortunately, I also had a disappointing $6 homemade "sangria" - red wine served over ice with green grapes and maraschino cherries. I've been to Spain. I have had numorous amazing homemade sangrias across the country. What I had was an insult to the word sangria.
So I have always wanted to try the VEGAN BUFFET but geography is keeping me from going. As of this review, the plan is to have the vegan buffet every month on the 3rd. If there is enough demand, they may increase it to twice monthly. Tell your friends and use social media so that they have the demand they need to keep the buffet going! -
Review from John H.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
I've never eaten here, although the great descriptions of Korean food might be enough to pull me out of my cozy abode later on this evening.
This is a longstanding go-to for a number of my Avondale and Logan Square friends, several of whom still refer to it by its old moniker of Stadium West. Beer only comes in bottles and hands, clap your hands, and it's not at all an inspiring selection. I think Tecate is the most "out there" option.
But it's consistently fun, particularly when you and 80 of your closest friends take over the entire bar for a 90s party. Flannel, Hammer pants, JNCOs. Color Me Badd, Silverchair, Deadeye Dick. Rad, dude, I know you are but what am I?
Our little gathering descends upon DLL once again sometime next month. The anticipation is all that and a bag of chips. -
Review from Sean U.
Milwaukee, WI
10/24/2011
I nearly ate myself into the emergency department, and loved every minute of it.
They have great vegan food, but don't be fooled into thinking this place is a gastropub. It's a real bar, with real bar food. Much of which happens to be vegan. Almost all of which happens to be better than what you'd get at a gastropub. There's really been just one complaint so far: What was described as Chicago-style, was served with ketchup.
But that's OK, because you're too busy stealing kimchi cakes from your neighbor's plate to dwell on such transgressions. -
Review from Melissa S.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2012
It's sad that the reviews for Dragon Lady are all over the place. I guess that's an indication that they've been forced to change the way they do things a couple times, and boy oh boy do people hate change. I ate here for the first time recently and it was nice enough. I had bibimbop, my friend had the vegan burger (she comes here a lot and loves it), and we were both satisfied. I would have liked to see a protien element on my bibimbop, like some tofu or something, to make up for the lack of egg or meat. Other wise I have no complaints. Drinks were normal strength and normally priced (although the pricing did not follow that on their menu). Service was friendly. If you come for the vegan buffet, CALL AHEAD OR CHECK THE WEBSITE. They are currently doing it once a month, and I hope to be there next time!
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Review from Jess D.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
Anywhere that serves spicy kimchi with rice as a side option is a-ok in my book, but unfortunately that was the highlight of the meal. They were out of the bi bim bop, which they told us fifteen minutes after ordering, and the tostada appetizer took twice as long as it should have. The bun on the vegan burger was mushy and the whole thing was bland, and I had to ask for water four (four) times before getting it. The waiter, who I suspect was also the owner, was sweet and personable, but the service and food really fell flat.
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Review from Regina C.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
Come for the vegan buffet. It's once a month on Thursday. Call for details...bring cash for the buffet, the bar excepts CC. So good!!!
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Review from Ato Z.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2011
I am a vegetarian slowly trying to make my way to an entirely plant based diet, so I am always happy to find new places and new dishes to eat. I went with the Vegan Meetup Group and we had the buffet set up for us. It was so nice to know I didn't have to ask what was in anything and I could--and did--try everything. I had a heaping plateful and was stuffed full of deliciousness. Sue did play the part of proud Mama and Robert, the new manager, seemed to care about the customers and was telling us about the changes they are undergoing as well as upcoming things there. Full service bar, so you don't have to feel fully healthy (my Jack and diet was $6, I find that reasonable). Parking was pretty easy around the corner.
A place that both vegheads and beefbrains can both enjoy. -
Review from Karla R.
Chicago, IL
7/12/2011
Man oh man... how I USED to love dragon Lady. I went there semi-regularly last year and the food was cheap and delicious and the sketchiness of the bar was even entertaining. I'd been raving about it to my boyfriend (we're both Korean food enthusiasts) and as soon as I started trying to take him there, it all went downhill.
We went once over the winter and they were closed, renovating or something and said they would be open in a month. Fair enough. Then we'd gone in the spring at an hour when they should've been open and they were closed.
I called a number of times throughout the year and either no one would answer, the food-serving schedule was always erratic, or they weren't serving food at all.
Last Friday I give them a call and I ask the gentleman if they're still serving food. He explains that they are serving food but just not the buffet. Cool, so at least we can get some Korean a la carte.
I get there and my boyfriend was waiting for me, sipping on a drink that looked like a bunch of rose's lime juice mixed with diesel fuel, with a couple of limes floating at the surface and two lonely ice cubes holding on for dear life - They called it a mojito. It's the kind of drink you would only have if it was 4am and you were so desperate to hook up with someone that you needed to get drunk enough to make everyone look good.
Then the bartender explained that their bar menu was all that they were serving. Their entire Korean menu was gone (with the exception of a couple of appetizer items). This would have been nice to know over the phone. And even if we wanted food, the Bartender told us the cook had been "missing for an hour."
The Dragon Lady that once was is no longer. I'll never go there again. I'll never refer anyone there again, as I have in the past. The photos on this page are misleading in the sense that it's not representative of the Dragon Lady that it is now. It's pretty sad, I mean, with Kuma's, Red square, Pork Shoppe, the Mexican restaurant on the corner and Urban Belly all within walking distance, you'd think they would step up their game. It's now a crappy little hook up bar with big screens. -
Review from Ben D.
Cincinnati, OH
10/27/2011
Yes yes yes! We went for a semi-early dinner and the place was empty (a shame, but understandable since it was still late afternoon and this place is kind of a bar) but we sat at the bar and had a great rapport with the bartender/person who took our order. Got the vegan hotdogs with all the trimmings, the MOST flavorful french fries I've had, with mindblowing cole slaw. The owner talked to us a bunch and gave us free shots and told us about a vegan buffet they do that I've never had the chance to attend, but will. Great!
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Review from Matthew V.
Chicago, IL
6/16/2011
I think our mistake was not going on a Thursday for the buffet. Instead, what we experienced was a rather mediocre bar that happened to serve vegan/veggie bar food.
The food options were very limited and quite uninspired. I had the chicken sandwich, which was a rather small, bland chicken breast completely overwhelmed by a giant pretzel bun. It came with a side of french fries which were likely from a frozen Ore-Ida bag. I also tried a vegan taco, which had a little fried fake-meat (tofu? very unclear), lettuce, some shredded vegan cheese, and a tasteless taco shell. The most interesting part of the meal was the spicy Dragon sauce which I poured over everything to give it some flavor.
The service was good and our bartender was friendly/attentive. That said, the next time I'm in this neighborhood I'd rather hit up Hot Doug's or Kuma's. In this case, bland bar food, even if it's vegan, just isn't my thing. -
Review from Julie B.
10/2/2011
Great food, love the concept. As other reviewers mentioned, they offer a vegan buffet on Thursdays. You sit there, waiting for the owner (a little Korean woman) to announce that dinner is ready. You line up, pre-pay (I think it was $13 pp), then fill your plate with home-made vegan Korean food. My friend and I ate at the bar, but they have some tables. The lounge is sort of long and narrow... not the best set up, but quaint. As long as I can find fellow veggie-lovers to come and join me, I'll definitely return.
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Review from miss m.
Chicago, IL
12/15/2011
i LOVE this place. where else can you get hand made korean food that's fresh, vegan & only $15 all you can eat? i'm a big fan.
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Review from Gina F.
3/24/2011
Finally! I finally made it to Dragon Lady Lounge for the vegan buffet! I loved it, as did my meat-eater husband. Our friends (also a vegetarian & meat eater) did not. They didn't hate it, but it was NOT for them. I was very surprised by that. I loved everything I ate though, and I DID try EVERYTHING. There was a pretty big selection, too.
The decor is definitively dive bar, but it certainly has it's charm. The bartender was great, working the whole room & smiling while he did it. And then you have the heart & soul of the place, Sue. She does all the cooking, takes the tickets & serves rice, brings soup around to everyone, and chats with you like you're friends. She told us how she tries to find the freshest vegetables, and make sure she serves food with lots of vitamins since we aren't getting enough sun on these dreary days. She's adorable, but not without her spunk--a quality I appreciate.
I look forward to going back again! -
Review from Emi F.
Chicago, IL
12/15/2011
I just went there for the first time and was lucky enough to experience the Korean, vegan buffet. There was a lot of variety offered and the staff was very nice. In particular, the manager, Robert, was very friendly and took the time to speak to me and my friends about upcoming events. I'm excited to tell all of my friends about this place and to visit again soon!
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Review from Katarina X.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2011
You know what is good during a blizzard? A martini.
Even better with vegan food! I feel like the healthy stuff compensates deliciously for the alcohol.
Try it if you can climb over the biggest snow in decades.
This has been a public service announcement. -
Review from San P.
Chicago, IL
12/15/2011
Third Thursday of the month- Korean vegan buffet (15$). Delicious. Lots to choose from. the pickley stuff-so good-. lovely decor and ambiance. The servers/mgmt were really nice and friendly. Will be returning for sure for the Latin American food forthcoming. The regular menu is about half vegan half regular bar food.
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Review from kat m.
Cook, IL
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is so cute and reminds me why I love Chicago so much! Hip fresh vibe in Logan Square with great bar food and good cocktails. Yum I know this will become a regular drop in spot for me.
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Review from ashley k.
Chicago, IL
8/12/2011 2 photos
I just had the best veggie burger of my life at Dragon Lady Lounge! I went in expecting a lot based on friends recommendations and the general vegan buzz, but the meal my husband and I had tonight blew even my high expectations away. I don't know what is in that burger patty, but I want to eat it every day. It was delicious and chewy with a crispy, crunchy crust- YUM! Plus the toppings (lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and avocado) were all fresh and all sandwiched within a pretzel roll (the best possible roll for a burger if you ask me)! And let's not forget the kimchi- where else can you find a burger and kimchi on the same menu? I really can't wait to go back!!
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Review from david g.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2011
wow, is the food good here. evidently, the secret is kimchee. small bits of kimchee in everything- not enough to overpower, but just enough to give it flavor and texture. Works perfectly for me.
We went and had a vegan feast, eating multiple orders of everything vegan on the menu.
At one point, with 1 hot dog left, and everyone too full to eat, we started discussing how I really want to eat the hot dog, but doing so would likely cause me to throw up. In spite of that, I was still considering eating it because it was so awesome. Thankfully, someone came up with the novel idea of taking it home, so I could eat it in the morning. Problem solved, and I got a yummy breakfast out of it!
Yes, they need to work on ambiance a bit, put more low top tables in, hide that weird back wall, get more menus, let people know they are a restaurant too, etc. But, that will likely mean that people will start coming, and it will be hard to get in, and food prices will go up, etc. oh well. -
Review from Ninja G.
Chicago, IL
10/14/2010
I went into this place months ago based on the positive reviews on here and from discerning vegetarian/vegan friends. Like many Chicago restaurants of this nature, I was expecting one of two things: Either the food would be excellent and the staff/establishment was bad-to-mediocre or vice-versa.
I want to point out a few things I carefully considered before and after my initial visit, then after reading some of your reviews that have reminded me of the epic amount of idiocy small businesses like this have to deal with.
1. When people describe this place as a dive bar with great food, believe it. That is EXACTLY what you are going to get. This is NOT a typical "lounge" or "restaurant" by any means.
2. There is only ONE(1) person doing ALL THE COOKING. If you can't comprehend this extraordinarily simple fact, DON'T bloody go!
3. Sue, the owner and creator, is the sweetest and most generous lady you will ever ever ever meet. She will dote on you like a mother hen, and she WILL remember you.
4. EVERYTHING is made from scratch. She gets her ingredients at the beginning of every day. Even grows some of them! Nothing is prepared or frozen. She makes everything, even the kimchi(which is glorious) with vegan and vegetarian-diets in mind. So when she runs out of food, it's because she is really out of food. Do you really want to complain about something like that? If so, go back to Panda Express.
5. Because Sue is by herself, and the process of her cooking, the kitchen has weird hours. But I've seen her whip up food for late-night stragglers. She did that for me my very first time in there.
6. You will NOT find a vegetarian/vegan-friendly Korean establishment like this one, with food as amazing and vibrant, with staff as honest and caring.
7. The veggie burger is enormous, tasty, unique and quite possibly the best veggie burger I've had in Chicago.
Finally, if you are going for your first time it really is best to try out the buffet. It's on Thursdays (and Saturdays from what I see above) and try out some of her dishes. If you want to go in there and experience the menu and the place, try going on a Tuesday or a Friday. There are always drink specials and the bar staff are very nice. You will likely have a good time if you aren't expecting your run-of-the-mill Korean / Asian digs. If you want posh or hip or ample seating arrangements, go downtown and pay a lot more for over processed food prepared by people you won't ever meet.
Dragon Lady Lounge is personal, eccentric, and a treat for the long oppressed vegan-minded Korean food lovers.
Cheers -
Review from jenny m.
1/28/2011
The vegan buffet was awesome! And I am not a vegan. I started out as a vegetarian, then went pescatarian, and have most recently settled in to eating a macrobiotic like diet (think plant based plus fish, but little to no dairy). But for this month I am eating full-on vegan, so no dairy, no fish. In looking for options to dine out with a friend, I came across the Thursday buffet here, and boy am I glad I did. The food was so delicious. And plentiful, holy crap that buffet was no joke. Numerous noodle dishes, plates of steamed greens, various kimchi dishes, ginger salad, something akin to a pot sticker but fried, and the kicker - friend plantains. Wowsa. You couldn't ask for a better spread.
As I understand, it's all cooked that day by Sue, the owner and apparent vegan lover (is she one herself? I am not sure...but next time I go I will find out). She was so friendly and took the time to point out to my friend & I, some of the dishes that she thought we should definitely try. Since neither of us have much experience with Korean food, that was really appreciated. And, she readily encourages you to go back again & again. So don't be shy - load up one plate and then go back for more!
The bar itself is nothing short of bare bones. A couple of tables in the front, one couch like area & a few tables in the back. It's definitely a dive but if you are going mainly for the buffet, who cares. I was able to get a couple of Blue Moons, stuff my face until I didn't want to move, and spent less then $30. I will most definitely be back for the vegan buffet, and I can't wait. -
Review from Lindsay C.
Chicago, IL
7/7/2010
Er, are you kidding me?
I have NO idea why this place is so popular on Yelp. I was pretty excited for my first visit after reading all these positive reviews. It was just as unexpected of an experience as everyone describes, but the food is really low quality and not worth dealing with all inconveniences imposed upon customers for.
If you went to ANY Korean or Chinese restaurant in the city and ordered a tofu or vegetable dish (made to order, fresh for your table and not a crowd of random hipsters), you would very likely be pleasantly surprised that the fried tofu isn't mushy/cold and the vegetables don't taste overcooked. Better yet, if you went to the grocery store and brought home some fresh veggies to stir fry with a little bit of garlic and oil, you'd have a better taste experience than at Dragon Lady's.
Seating is very limited and there is no service. Her margins must be huge because she charges about 20x cost of materials for a sub-par meal.
Why do people like this place? -
Review from Christopher G.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2010
This place confounds description. It's a dive bar that runs out of ice by 8pm. It's a vegan Korean buffet that seems never to run out of food. It peddles mojitos and salsa dancing lessons. This is a fusion place, but it's an unlikely, unselfconscious fusion.
The space, which is clearly more tavern than restaurant, is dark and dingy, its location an unappealing "six corners" intersection of narrow sidewalks, abundant concrete and asphalt, and (sigh...) no bike parking in sight. If you weren't looking for this place, you'd never see it.
For dining, you have your choice of a few high three-tops, or low (possibly communal) no-frills tables. Or you can eat at the bar.
Thursday is buffet night, and for $13.50, you get your fill of rice, noodles, and all the vegetables your mother couldn't get you to eat as a kid--because she couldn't cook 'em like this.
One senses that food which might have been blazingly hot in its natural habitat has been tamed for the local palette. But without skimping on red chili pepper, this kind of cooking demonstrates an important principle about working with chiles that's lost on today's macho, heat-fetishistic food culture: heat is not essential for complex chili flavor.
And almost everything was redolent of toasted sesame oil--an essence that rarely fails to add complexity to otherwise simple, vegetal flavors.
And the vegetables! Well, this buffet is vegan, so it's all about vegetables: wilted watercress offered a welcome bitter note, while sweet, tangy shredded radish provided brightness.
A kind of bean sprout "slaw" made me rethink my long-standing aversion to the vegetable--as did the saucy mix of green and yellow summer squashes that, despite being thoroughly cooked, retained their crunch. Brussels sprouts, while cooked more than I would normally prefer, nevertheless were mild, and sweet.
A pan of lightly fried tofu was mild and plain, as was the steamed rice, and a big bowl of ramen-style noodles--but these all provided a comfortingly bland foil to the zesty mix of flavors that dominated the buffet table.
Most importantly, vegetables--which few of us eat enough of these days--were overwhelmingly abundant here, and all were cooked in ways that spared their natural crunch and flavor.
One ingenious factor with this buffet is that most of the dishes are designed to be served cold (or at room temperature). Many are not unlike salads or slaws: lightly dressed, and crisp-tender. This simplifies the otherwise daunting challenge of keeping a buffet fresh and alive. You will not find gummy mixtures of breaded meats and slimy vegetables in cloyingly sweet sauces withering under heat lamps here. Freshness is definitely happening.
And while you might leave the bar feeling over-stuffed, you will also feel virtuous in your consumption of nutritious, light vegetation. (Whether your concurrent alcohol consumption is equally virtuous is up to you...)
As if all of this wasn't enough, the proprietress is wonderfully gracious and talkative: she's happy to speak to you about the two days it takes her to put together each buffet. Once the food is out, she circulates amongst the tables, entreating you to eat more, visiting your table to talk to you about the health benefits of all the vegetables she offers. Honestly, when is the last time you had an experience like this at a bar?
As I was settling my bar tab, I commented that I was reluctant to post a review: I'm afraid people will swarm this place and I won't be able to get in next time. But it's been around for awhile, and tonight's crowd was completely manageable. The bar tender (who is also the manager) encouraged me to "Yelp" the place, and I'm all too happy to comply.
Maybe there aren't yet quite enough Korean food fans in the 'hood to overwhelm this place. But I think it's only a matter of time before Dragon Lady has to start thinking about growing. And that will be sad, because this place is absolutely perfect right now: a superlative example of it's unexpected fusion of Salsa/Tavern/Korean buffet.
And yeah, I'll see you next Thursday. -
Review from Jovim V.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2010 ROTD 5/20/2011
A friend sent us an email saying this place was going out of business, so my brother invited me to go with him and a friend to try out their Vegetarian Korean night.
I walked in and there was a very bright jukebox, but it was dead silent. Not too many people in there. It's a little run down inside but it adds to character. I was a little spooked. I felt I needed to cue up my Pandora on my blackberry to fill the eerie silence.
I really did not know what to expect...then a 15 minutes later...hipsters in flannel and skinny jeans come rushing through the door. Everyone was friendly though.
When the food came out - they served it buffet style - kind of like going to a filipino dinner. They had it all laid out on a table and had the foil trays holding the food. The line for the buffet was getting long, luckily, we sat strategically right next to the front of the line. Felt like a soup kitchen to tell you the truth. But, I can get down with the griminess - I don't forget my roots :)
I was first in line and asked Dragon Lady, "So I heard you're closing". She screamed at me, "Where you hear that? We not closing!" Luckily some hipsters behind me backed me up and said they got the same email. Maybe it was a marketing ploy to get us in there during a slow month. Who knows.
The food was delicious and Dragon Lady was like mama. She screamed "Come and get it" and was dictating the pace and scolded us like she was her children. Felt awesome to be dominated (whoa).
We got a healthy and abundant plate of Korean Vegetarian goodness. As we finished our food - we thought to ourselves, "Yo, Dragon Lady doesn't know who the hell we are - we can eat!" We didn't want to seem too greedy because everyone seemed so thin and healthy. But c'mon son, you advertise buffet, we abouts to get 2nds and if you're lucky enough Dragon Lady, 3rds!
So I was the first to ask if we can get seconds, and she screamed, "Of cowwwwse you can get seconds, gimme yo plate." She put a whopping spoonful of rice and I scurried to gather up what was left inside the food trays. I was lucky I thought...
Then one of the cooks comes out with more food. I didn't feel so bad getting 2nds after that.
My hipster friend from the suburbs didn't like it. I remember my first time having Korean - I didn't like it too. It grows on you though. He got a big plate of kim chi radish - he thought it was pasta. We were cracking up when he tried it. Kim chi is no joke to the rookie Korean eater.
Good food. Interesting experience. If you don't go there for the food - go there for Dragon Lady. Dragon Lady is one of those iconic Chicago legends in the making. The type of legend you see on Channel 11 PBS documentaries.
Oh, cash only. No ATM inside. Heads up. -
Review from Crista L.
11/11/2010 3 Check-ins Here
dogdammmmmit. Can someone offer any insight about the price of the Thursday night vegan buffet? I've seen various prices (on yelp) including:
$12.00, $14.00, $9.99, $13.25, $13.99, $8.99.
I don't know how many $$'s to withdrawl from the ATM before I arrive at Sue's place tonight.
Dear Thursday nighters, see you soooon. -
Review from Shelly H.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2011
This used to be a fantastic place to get a ton of vegan food for 12 bucks! Not any more.
Having been here a few times before, we were excited to take a friend's brother who is visiting from Austin. We go in last night and there's no sign of a buffet anywhere. Figuring it hasn't been put out yet, we grab seats. A waiter comes over and we ask about it. He looks at us like he's never heard the word buffet before. He says, "we're going to do it again. Give us your email and we'll let you know when," and hands us a menu. On one side is vegan items and on the other a non-vegan menu. We order drinks and start looking at the menu (he gave us one for a table of 5 people so it takes some time). He comes back and says the PBR is warm so if we want to get something else it's on the house. (this is the only reason this review is getting two stars instead of one.... free fat tire!) We order a bunch of food (vegan burger, vegan dumplings, vegan sticks (?), kim chi and fries) and drink our drinks. About a half an hour later someone comes from the kitchen and says something about the vegan food not being ready for another hour.... so we got up and left.
Sadly, I probably won't be back, but at least I got a free beer! -
Review from David S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 6/10/2010 2 photos
Dragonlady has a fucking gay flag behind the bar! Sue says "if you don't like it don't look at it!". That's not really her doing though but her patrons are appreciative and she's savvy enough to roll.
The format for the buffet changes constantly to keep you on your toes. My previous "How to" guide is completely obsolete! Even I'm confused now but that's a thrill of the buffet. It's well worth the slight discomfort. Stop your hand-in-pocket shuffling, grab a seat and drink already!
Speaking of which, they have a better beer selection now! Hooray!
Sue fucking grows mint on her patio and uses it for the goddamn mojitos! If you order a mojito the bartender will call Sue to work her magic and she'll send a minion out to collect the mint. While she explains how she makes a special fresh sugar free mojito mixer the minion will come back with tomato leaves and Sue will pick up the nearest 12" knife and chase him down. Who the fuck doesn't know what mint is? Yeah, that's worth a good stabbing and Sue aint afraid to dole it out. I felt bad for getting the bartender stabbed to I tipped an extra 5%. The mojito was well worth it.
Every time I come in she lays on a parable ripped from the annals of her life. Just when you think she gets to the end she lays on a weird punch-line that throws you for a loop. She perfectly imperfect!
Dragonlady sucks don't go there. Read: it's awesome and a unique experience every time.Listed in: Vegan Must
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/7/2010
So Sue was serving up some fresh mandu to some hipster and he asks her something to the effect: "is… Read more »
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Review from Lisie A.
Harwood Heights, IL
8/18/2011
My sister and I came here on a whim to try the vegan food. It is a perfect blend of Asian with a Mexican flavor twist. Recommended is the vegan tostadas and vegan dumplings. All in all, friendly staff and good service. Will come again
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Review from Abbie A.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2011
Enjoyed the vegan buffet. Was not disappointed in the food, at ALL!
My friends and I however only got one small helping of each thing, and did not fill our plates again, did not drink liquor and we payed 13 bucks for out food. I wasn't very happy about that since we saw a couple grab gobs and gobs and they paid the same.
I guess we're not cut out for buffet. LoL. But again the food was very good, and so I'd say the price was worth it.
I am still very curious about her veggie burgers. I want to try one BAD! She still does that right? -
Review from Paul d.
Chicago, IL
4/2/2010
"Is she coming?" "I think she's coming." "Uh oh, ok act like you're eating." "I'm gonna throw up!" "She's gonna kick our asses." "Ok good, we're clear." "Phew!"
This is what reading the other reviews will do to you. Make Sue, the bar owner, look like the Asian version of Big Momma. We were deftly afraid that leaving any food on our plate would result in a caning or worse, Chinese fingercuffs. I'm sure she is as sweet as can be but when I first saw her shake her head at a male patron in disgust and say, "ladies first", I was sure to be on my best behavior. Plus, it seemed like every one knew the drill except us noobs. No one hovered around the buffet. Then at a blink of an eye a line almost out the door formed.
Of course we were the last ones served but when we got our food and dived in, it was so worth the $8.99. I am not a vegetarian by any means but if all vegetarian buffets were like this, I'd like to become an honorary member.
Everything was delicious - every vegetable had a distinct flavorful sauce and the potstickers had the perfect crisp. Don't be fooled by vegetarian food - I have never been this full in my life.
It is a dive bar and there are your typical hipsters but Sue and her home cooked Korean food are what makes this place special.
Tip: Buffets are on Thursdays and you are served when Sue says you should be. -
Review from Andrew C.
Chicago, IL
10/11/2009 ROTD 2/5/2010
Let's suppose that your mom is the coolest mom in the world. The mom all your friends want to hang out with, and all your friends' moms want to be. But she's not the mom who tries to be one of the gang. Nor is she the mom who lets you do whatever you want. And she's certainly not the mom who shares your cute twenty-something vices.
Because while she may be the coolest mom in the world, she darn well knows what's best for you, and she don't take no guff.
Let's further suppose that your mom can really burn. She slings amazing home-cooked vegan Korean food that makes you never want to stop eating, and bomb-ass veggie burgers bigger than a car tire and tastier than any you're likely to find in Chicago. Oh, you want a beer to go with that? Yeah, she can hook you up there, too.
So your mom? She opened a bar in Avondale. It's called Dragonlady Lounge, and she's expecting you to come by this week for dinner. Maybe Thursday? For the vegan Korean buffet? She misses you. Don't disappoint her.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Colleen C.
Brooklyn, NY
8/26/2009 1 Check-in Here
I came.
I saw.
I *conquered.
I liked. Much.
*dragonslayer shots. Seems to be a mysterious blend of Dr. Pepper, cherry schnapps and vodka? I have no idea, but it went down easy enough. Perahps serving them over dry ice would give the desired "super freaky fantasy" effect that would push this place WAY over the top. I suggest ordering one or seven to go with your vegan Korean buffet (Thursday nights).
When I arrived one Thursday night, I was a bit amused to see an entire bar full of people hovering over their food, MGD cans in front of them, and NO music playing. Eerie? Yes. The reason: $9.99 all-you-can eat Korean buffet was in full swing, MGD cans are $2 on Thursdays, and I'm pretty sure everyone was so engrossed in this coupling of simple pleasures that they forgot to que the jukebox.
Order was restored shortly after. :)
Other possible scenarios for Dragonlady Lounge:
-Waiting room for Kuma's. Throw back a few cheap (cold) ones at the bar in preparation, and skip sitting outside on the sidewalk looking all vagrant-like, salivating for....burgers.
-When you get to Hot Doug's and realize they keep the WEIRDEST, shortest hours ever...console yourself by sulking down California to Dragonlady Lounge, where hopefully the line never curls around the block with people itching for....hot dogs.
-Random "date" spot. Can he/she hang with vegan Korean food, a basket of beanie babies behind the bar, a sports cooler with a handwritten "Free Water" sign, trekking to Avondale AND getting their own food out of a bar kitchen? Might warrant another date then. Perhaps? I'm going with...yes.
-Veggie/Vegan friendly Korean fare....home made!
-Character: Dragonlady. Endless entertainment, super sweet, proud of her place, and happy you are there. This is a good combo, I assure you.
-Pinball!
-Jukeboxxxxxxx!
I dig.Listed in: Vegan/Veggie Friendly!, Avondale.
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Review from Michael G.
Rockville, MD
3/6/2009
Ordinarily Korean food to me is much akin to Scottish food. Mike Myers summed that "cuisine" up nicely when he said, "'my theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare," and Korean for me fell in the same category. Korean food has always seemed to me to be some mad chef putting a bunch of vegetables and meats in heavy sauce over rice and then throwing an egg on top. That omnipresent egg which sadly, in the past, I've found the most edible part of Korean food.
So it was with a bit of reluctance that I went to scout out Dragonlady for the March installment of the Vegetarian Supper Club when an "event" was posted. Let me say that if Dragonlady was tasty enough for me to get seconds, I can only imagine it would be foodgasmic to someone who likes Korean food.
Sue, a true Chicago character in the way that only the best bar owners can be, makes all the food from scratch using only the highest quality ingredients. And on Thursdays for the all-you-can eat bi bim bop (dangerous if you are, like me, really bad at choosing flavors that will combine well) she opens the kitchen for $7.50 and lets you pile these up as high as you want over brilliantly good sticky rice. She'll even give you advice as she spoons out the rice and (incredible) miso soup so you don't make any horrible mixing errors.
Which, just an aside, can not be made on the incredible juke box here.
The crowd in this bar seems to be a tight knit group but it really is only a matter of time before people start wandering over from Kuma's and Urban Belly and make this bar Avondale's (Chicago's next big neighborhood) next big thing. Get in on the ground floor why you can so Sue knows you and you don't have to fight the crowds in this pretty small bar/restaurant.
For the record, there is a printed menu now, on the wall next to the kitchen (because what dive bar with food has printed menus?). Unfortunately, it doesn't make Korean *look* any more appetizing. But Dragonlady has to be tasted to believed or even appreciated. -
Review from Desiree anne A.
Ewa Beach, HI
8/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Eh, it's definitely not what I pictured the place to look like. I guess, I was thinking more of a restaurant/lounge than a bar with minimal seating, extremely dark, and eh... I honestly don't know what to say about the atmosphere.
But anyways, it was really confusing to order food. I read so many reviews, but as we got there I was still lost on where/how to order. I guess it's easier on Thursday nights? We ordered the bi bimbap, kimchi dumpling, chapjae, and kalbi. It took an hour for our food! Oh my... so it was a good thing we had dinner with a friend who we haven't seen for a while, or else we'd probably be dying of hunger and very impatient.
When the food finally came everything was set up very neatly. The food was legit Korean food, I mean when does the chef ever come out of the kitchen to ask how everything was. She was so sweet. It was good, just good. I really wanted to like this place much more than a 3 star, but when you have to set up your own table because the light below you aren't on, then not so much. It was literally hard to see my food.
The ladies room was decent and at least it smelled good.
I bet this place gets really busy on Thursdays like everyone mentions during the buffet. I'm debating whether I'd go back for that. Mhm... -
Review from Jennifer G.
Richmond, TX
10/9/2011
this place rocks my world, food is amazing, great variety of beer. nice new concept under the new management, i cant wait to see what a great and popular place this will become! ^_^
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Review from Shradha A.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2010 ROTD 12/10/2010
My friend got there first, called me while I was on my way over, and said she was unsure of this place and that I should hurry up because she didn't want to wait alone too long.
10 minutes later, I got there, and a nice Korean lady announced "Dinner is Ready! Come!" and waved everyone into the kitchen. We felt bad leaving at this point.
20 minutes later, my friend said she felt like she was dining in a community center/room. She also said it reminded her of some of the neighborhood centers back in China when she was a little girl.
The place is small, dark but clean. The Thursday night vegan buffet is setup right in the kitchen with the nice Korean lady herself serving the rice on the plates that she then handed out to the long line of people waiting eagerly and very hungrily. I have no idea how she handles all the cooking and cleaning single-handedly, quite admirable!
It was $13.25 per person and the buffet included soup, dumplings, rice, tofu, BBQd veggies, kimchi, potato-apple salad, zucchini, broccoli, turnip and collard greens.
Quick Tip: Get there around 7ish to get the best of the buffet because she did mention she was having a slow night and I observed the food was gone by 8ish - guests arriving after had to find another dinner place.Listed in: Best Places for Vegetarians!
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Review from Rafael C.
3/19/2009
Wow! Did I actually come here for veggie dinner night with other Yelpers? I didn't realize this place was a dive bar but it didn't matter as the bartender was really nice and the food was good too.
This place is hard to recognize as you come down Elston looking for it. I was lucky to make out Dragonlady Lounge on the window. This place was pretty dead on a Wednesday night except for the veggie night crew. They have a couple TVs by the bar, a jukebox and a pool table to keep things interesting.
We were allowed to go into the kitchen area to assemble our food and that we did. The food was good considering I tried some new things this night. I think I would have appreciated it more if it wasn't veggie night but I gave it a go and was fine with it.
They had hot sake and apple cider available in which I went for the cider. It was excellent especially spiked with some rum. Although I found hot drinks don't go very well with spicy food but it really tasty! I'll give them another go perhaps when there is cooked remains of a particular animal on the menu! -
Review from Natalie S.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2009
After lots of hype from my husband's vegan co-workers we cruised past the suckers waiting in line at Kuma's this Saturday night, crossing our fingers and hoping from the best at magical, mysterious Dragonlady Lounge. Sue took one look at our tattoos, crinkled her nose and asked, "You come from Kuma's?" No ma'am, we assured her, and took a seat.
After overhearing her phone conversation about an unruly late-night vegan customer, Sue explained her cuisine, a mix of vegan and non-vegan dishes with no actual menu to speak of. The home-grown, handmade veggie burgers are legendary, so we ordered up a pair and watched as a handful of other thrill seekers walked into the dark bar and took a seat.
One of them ordered something I couldn't hear, so which Sue said, "We don't have that, this isn't Kuma's." Oh my gosh, I love this lady.
We started with a plate of complimentary veggie pancakes, which where delicious and almost as soon as we were done, out came two big, beautiful veggie burgers. "I gave him extra," Sue winked at me, motioning toward my twice-the-size-of-me husband.
Crunch! The perfectly crispy, spicy and chunky burger hit the spot. We already knew it'd taste good, because Sue let us try the uncooked mix just to show us how freshly made it was. A medley of tempeh, jalapenos, tofu, oats, crunchy veggies and kimchi - it was, by far, the best veggie burger either of us has ever eaten. The hand-cut French fries weren't half bad themselves. (Did I mention she grows a lot of the veggies on the roof top? Yeah, Rick Bayless isn't the only gardening chef in Chicago.)
All this, along with hilarious banter from Sue and a warm welcome to come back for "vegan Thursday" for $14. Sue - you have got yourself a date. Make that two dates. -
Review from Andre W.
3/19/2009
Special thanks to Michael G for introducing this place and myself last night. $7.50 all you can eat Korean food! Thats a steal in my book, eventhough I have never had Korean, to my knowledge.
Great hospitality from Celia C and the other woman/cook. They gave us a nice sized bowl of sticky rice and let us go to town in their kitchen, selecting veggies galore! I did not do the sake, due to my lingering hangover from the previous night's activities, so I just had 2 glasses of sprite. The crowd was a little light and we actually made up most of the crowd. I think that is because you would probably miss it driving by, but I think it will pick up once this $7.50 deal is really put out there. Metromix, do you here me????
They had a pretty cool jukebox and a pool table in the back. I never would have guessed this was a dive bar. Definately will be back and they get 5 stars from the AWListed in: Vegetarian Joints
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Review from Mesum N.
Chicago, IL
3/6/2009
If you like Korean food or are just someone with restricted diet like vegetarian or vegan and want to try something different then this is your spot.
I went there for their "All you can eat Thursdays" for $7.50 and it worth every single penny plus $50 I never had to pay (because I ate so much).
I had a rice dish and some dumpling then washed it down with $3 bottle of warm Sake. I don't eat Korean food this often so I can't remember the exact names but servers are very helpful and give great suggestions.
Bookmark this place, it's going to become very big very soon.
