Hae Woon Dae Korean Barbeque Restaurant

Pretty sure my lunch companion and I crashed a Korean Funeral when we arrived here. We did not know that they were not open for lunch. We show up, the door was open and the place is filled with people in Black Suits and Funeral cars in the parking lot. We were not able to put two and two together until we arrived. hahaha.
Place was good. the first BBQ we got didnt really work so they had to give us another one. It took a while to acutally get through the lunch. This was my first Korean BBQ expreince. I had mongolian BBQ in my head so the time may of been about right for a Korean BBQ expirence. Decent food, meat was pretty fatty. The staff was great even though they didnt speak english.

I came here with my family and a family friend last December last year. We do not go out as a whole family too often so we looked forward to this occasion.
*note — the family friend that came spoke Korean.
When we got there the owner came and informed us that their server had not showed up so they would be taking our order (translated by friend). The owner spoke no English.
We asked for water and a hot tea for my grandma. She brings out the waters and the hot tea. After a couple seconds, we notice that the cup that the tea was in had a crack in it. Tea was leaking out onto the table. My dad went and asked if we could get another one to replace it. The owner refused. My dad brought the cup and put it on their counter and the tea leaked all over their counter. They brought us a replacement.
We ordered some kind of korean bbq special where we would grill it ourselves. The wait time was ridiculous. Over 40 minutes had passed and my brothers and I had drank all our water. We waited for someone to come and refill our waters. No one came. The owners (husband and wife) were no where to be seen. Some one could have literally came into the restaurant and stolen all their furniture and they would not have even noticed. After awhile my dad gets a little mad at the poor service. We can see water pitchers full of water in a fridge through the glass door in the back. My dad walks to the back, opens the fridge and takes the pitchers, walks back to the table and refills our waters, then puts the pitcher back. No one noticed. No joke. We could have fucking walked to the cash register and stolen all their money and they wouldn’t have noticed. That’s how bad it was. No attentiveness at all.
When the food finally came out, it was not that bad… at first. We noticed that some of the pieces of meat had spoiled. My brothers and I noticed it first and quickly put it aside. We didn’t want our dad knowing and have him flip a shit. We ate quickly and then gtfo.
Overall this place was garbage.
The service was piss poor. Paid no attention to us whatsoever. The meat that was edible (what they’re supposed to be known for) was so-​so. And then there was the spoiled meat. wtf… are you kidding me?
I can understand if a place serves food that just doesn’t taste good. But serving spoiled food is a sin.
F*ck this place. Do not come here.

I was all excited about the charcoal grill. We started with the usual: seafood pancake. It was just ok though, not quite crispy enough and I thought the sauce was a bit boring. For entrees, we got the soondooboo, kalbi and spicy pork. I didn’t care for the pork: the cut was too lean and I didn’t like the marinade. The kalbi was excellent though. Soondooboo was standard fare. My biggest complaint with this place was how COLD it was! I guess they didn’t have central heating, so there were two tiny portable heaters which didn’t do much unless you sat right in front of them. Guests at the table next to us were eating with their coats on. Everything cooled down far too quickly for us to enjoy at leisure. I might come back when the weather’s not as cold, but in winter this wasn’t very comfortable.

Had dinner for a friends birthday and it was great! There were 5 of us and we had a private room. While i loved the ambiance, it got to be uncomfortable after sitting on the floor for 2 hours.
The service was amazing, YoKo was very attentive to our party. The food was extremely delicious and there was so much of it!!! it was a great experience and it was a lot of fun.

There really wasn’t that much which was great about this place.
I’m saying this principally because the service was lacking, the atmosphere (well mediocre) and the price pretty high. Maybe paired up with Yeosai (right next door and not too well behind Haewoondae in terms of quality) does this establishment shine… well even that would be an overstatement.

As far as no-​frills Korean BBQ, Hae Woon is pretty good. The side dishes are plentiful and the portions for the grilled meats are generous. The dumplings and savory pancakes are tasty, but forgettable. The charcoal used for grilling was well prepared and gave a good flavor, although they brought it out when it was still a bit too hot for ideal grilling.
Two stars were deducted because the service was perfunctory without a hint of a smile to be found anywhere. Dishes were dropped on the table and the waitress (owner?) was off without even glancing to see if we might need anything else.
If you go in expecting good value with no-​frills and perfunctory service you won’t be disappointed.

While this place may be good for in-​house Korean BBQ (haven’t tried), this is really bad takeout.
The Kimchee Rice was the best thing we had. But even that is pretty boring.
The JaeYuk BokUm (spicy pan fried Korean Bacon with vegetables) and literally 3 green onions for the veggies and that was it. On top of that, it wasn’t spicy and the flavor wasn’t great.
The JopChae was mediocre and for $ 10 I’d say less-​than-​mediocre.
Bul Go Gi ($ 15) was forgettable, bland, and overpriced.
Without exception, all of the sides tasted old/​off. The seaweed was inedible and literally spewed out.
All of the above dishes ran us $ 60 with tip. That’s simply outrageous for the quality and quantity of the food. I have no idea how these guys make it with so many other great Korean BBQ joints around. Next time we’re going back to Solga or Woo Chon.

My first visit to Hae Woon Dae was an adventure of steamed pork, tender beef tongue, delightful steamed dumplings, and of course copious amounts of kalbi.
The Bo Ssam, which was steam pork with cabbage leaves and oyster was tremendous. I think most people would be reluctant to order this appetizer due to it’s high price tag ($ 15.95), but it’s a huge plate of tender and flavorful steam pork with lots of vegetables and rice paper wrappers if you prefer to eat it that way. We had 6 people in our party and this appetizer had more than enough food to make it past one round for everyone. I must say this was the unexpected highlight of our meal.
The mandu (dumplings) were surprisingly good. Filled generously with pork, and seasoned nicely with garlic and green onion.
Of course the kalbi was outstanding. Razor thin sliced beef that you cook on the open charcoal grill… the meat just melts in your mouth. The beef tongue, while I thought was not quite as flavorful, still was very good and went down nicely with rice and a Hite. They provided us plenty of banchan, my favorites being the kimchi and the green beans.
My only complaint was that the entrees are accompanied by soup and rice, however they didn’t bring that out until we asked for it at the end of the meal. They should have brought that out without us having to ask. The tragic part was the soup was excellent! Although a bit on the salty side, it had a superb beefy flavor, and wonderful complexity. It would have been a travesty for us to have left without trying the soup.
5-​stars for excellent food and good service. Minus one start for not brining out the rice and soup until we asked for it. I would definitely go back, but will definitely make sure to ask for the soup if ordering one of the main entrees!

so my wife and i were here about a couple weeks ago while we were in the area. I haven’t been here for a loooong time (many many years since the KA township moved out). we didn’t expect much but it greatly surprised. wife had the bibim nang myung and i had the beef fried rice. both were excellent and reminded of why i used to frequent this place when i was younger partying self.
the interior décor has not changed in over a decade but neither has the food. that’s a good thing since i remember most of their food to be good. struck up a conversation and she insisted that i try tta ro gook bap. i felt bad since we were very full but she insisted and brought us a mini version of what’s on the menu. WOW!
we will definitely drive 30 mins or so try eat this again and wife agrees.
going to hvae to try the kalbi as well.

Many drunken nights are punctuated at Hae Woon Dae. Generally, the way to do it right is go to Yosai for drinks, then the Karaōke bar for, well, karaōke, and cap it all off with late night Korean grub at this spot. The service here is great, but that is probably the case because I know a friend of the manager. The rule of Korean establishments also applies here, show up with someone who is fluent in Korean.
I order the kalbi tang (soup) as its’ brothy-​ness sobers me up for my next adventure, or the kimchi jigae (kimchi soup) to smack some sense into this aging party-​holic. They got plenty of banchan to fill you up, and a few small private dining rooms with sliding doors for a more intimate setting, or to keep drunken patrons away from you.

Since I did not order KBBQ, this review is based on side dishes and their soondobu. Side dishes are okay at best, the server forgot to give a side of kimchi! Options given were mainly egg and potato based with a couple pickled veggies and dried fish. I guess I’m just spoiled with a vast number of veggie dishes since I like eating vegetarian at Korean places (when I don’t feel like a load of meat).
The soondobu is traditionally made w/​silky tofu. In this case, they made it with medium/​firm tofu… and texturally, it wasn’t what I expected. I also wasn’t given a raw egg! Again, I’m probably just picky with this as well.

My Unilocal page tells me that 5 of my Unilocal friends rated this place 4 stars! Granted the reviews are dated years back, thankfully, otherwise should I think I don’t know what I’m talking about ?
A decade plus ago and a couple different owners back the food was amazing. Hae Woon Dae has been here for many years. Late night Kalbi & traditional Korean dishes were excellent. Service was way better than San Soo gap san (a rival Kalbi joint that Unilocal users for some reason think is so awesome). Back in the day, if we had cash to drop, we knew where we were spending it. Right here, but times changed and so did the cooks with new ownership. Now it all tastes different, to me anyway. Not one of my Korean friends eat at this restaurant. Why? Taste, its not here, it’s left and no one knows why.
Maybe it’s the changing of the kitchen staff or maybe it’s that they don’t have any traditional cooks back there? I don’t know, that’s what my friends tell me.
The last couple times I’ve been here I’ve disliked the food and flavors. I only go because the group wants to, so I’ll snack on panchan. When the friends ask for a recommendation I’ll tell them what dishes I know of; would be good for them to try. Because it’s a different taste, they dig it. Being as I know how good Hae woon dae used to be, it’s not the same. I’ve been to Korea a few times and been lucky to dine with the parents of my many Korean friends in their homes. Traditional is better. This tastes like an inexperienced person is in the kitchen adding too much mix.
Don’t just trust reviews. Ask somebody! Blowing $ 60 bucks on a sub par meal, is not worth it.

I found this place on Unilocal!A mutual friend wanted to get together to eat at a Korean Restaurant.
We enjoyed the food. This is not a fancy establishment, but the food was good! The last time I was at a Korean restaurant was when I was in TX. It was good to order Hite, a Korean beer — it has a clean and refreshing taste.
I had the BBQ octopus. My friends got fried rice; they stayed on the conservative side. I liked the octopus and some of the side dishes.
There were other items on the menu that looked good also.
We went on a Saturday evening arriving at about 7, there was plenty of parking in the car park.

While I still like coming to this place, there have been some changes I’d like to note. We recently came here late Friday night and we had a private booth this time — Great. But…
+ They started offering a Japanese menu (basic dishes)
— The panchan we got this time around was scaled down to maybe 6 sides :(
— no rice water after dinner :(
— service was lacking a little this time, but that might have been because we were tucked away in a booth and out of sight

I’ve dined at the top 3 popular Korean restaurants in Chicago and Hae Woon Dae is probably my best experience. On my business trip last week, our team decided to try a new place so we stopped by Hae Woon Dae. It’s a small restaurant and there’s always parking outside in the strip center.
The food is fantastic. Their galbi was extremely fresh and juicy and their sangulpsal was very tasty. I typically only like a few side dishes Korean restaurants offer but I loved almost every one at HaeWoonDae. Their Korean pancakes were delicious and Kimchi jigae and Korean noodles were just as superb. Might I add, it was my first time to try Makkoli rice wine and Bokbunja Raspberry Wine here. Now they are definitely my favorites. Even better than sake (and I really love sake).
Food was phenomenal, and add to that, so was the service. The owner Hera (pronounced Hey La), was very courteous and helpful. She even offered us a free bottle of Makkoli at the end and made us an extra big bowl of Kimchi Jigae.
If you’re looking for good food, good drinks and no wait, this is a sure hit. It was perfect for our business dinner because we were starving and was able to get a table immediately. On top of that, it was much quieter than other Korean restaurants where you have to literally scream to get a waitress. Go here!

Why is it, that the BEST restaurants are located in little, hidden strip-​malls?
Hae Woon Dae is no exception!
I was treated to this hidden gem by Unilocal’s very own Korean Princess Caroline A. and what an honor it was!
In my opinion, a restaurant always gets bonus points when a person tells you that their family has been dining in an establishment (of the same ethnicity) for many years.
It turned out that this is one of THE best Korean restaurants in all of Chicagoland!
I love this place so much, that when my family asked me where I wanted to go for last Mother’s Day, and I could pick anywhere… I chose HERE!
Happy «Umuni» Day to me!
What makes it so good?
1. The most delicious and freshest Seafood Pancake I have ever tasted.
2. Tons of Banchan (little appetizer type) dishes, and were always asked if we wanted the little dishes refilled.
3. Open-​flame-​coal BBQ for the grilling of the meat orgy.
4. Great service… EVERYTIME we have gone there!
The only negative I can come up with is that you will smell that lingering meat deliciousness on your clothes (and hair) for hours after leaving there… ohhhh the price we pay for smoky tastiness!

In the midst of a bitter duel for the mayorship of this place, I’ve finally hunkered down to write a review for it.
Back in the day (I won’t reveal my age, but Britney ruled the scene), we used to come to the internet café in this strip mall, Cyberzone, to play Counterstrike. Soon enough we happened on this place. And then we’d boogie over to the karaōke joint next door. You can pretty much plan your whole night in this little strip mall.
For one, it’s never crowded in here. I don’t understand why that is, but the good thing about it is we can bring my little nephew to dine with us, and if he’s fussy, no one is there to be annoyed by his cute but piercing cries. Also, there is usually a sports game on the TV. The last couple visits they had the Blackhawks game on one night and the Bulls game the other. KBBQ/​sportsbar/​panchan/​kimchi/​FTW
The chop chae is outstanding, one of the best I’ve tasted. The jalapeño miso soup is spicy to the heavens. The seafood pancake is average, but I’m willing to overlook that. The kalbi rocks, and that’s about it for this review.

I wish i could have rated a zero or half star.
This is now formally the worst korean food i have ever had anywhere.
i suggested to my wife to go there because one of my absolute favorite Unilocalies loved this place and i trust her recommendations.
we got there at about 5:30 PM on a saturday… my wife, son, and a friend of our son. there were no other customers there. the kids were loud and playful so in that sense we were comfortable and the staff did not seem to mind us anyways. one of the waitresses even talked japanese to us (i think her japanese was better than her english).
Service: nice, sweet ladies. not attentive. but not bad either. saw one of them having a finger deep on her teeth… kinda gross.
Food: we ordered standard BBQs and also shrimp. The shrimp with no flavor was the best of all… still not special. the rice, meat, kimchee, all the goodies that came with the meal… everything was bad to mediocre.
i love korean food. i have had it during my many visits to korea, even in china and japan, all over america… and this one was just bad. i feel bad about writing this review but …

Killer Korean.
Many thanks to my most lovely twin, Caroline A, for finally opening my eyes to the fact that Unilocal-​favorite, San Soo Gab San, ain’t the only Korean darling in town.
Upon pulling up to the small, uninviting looking storefront that is Hae Woon Dae, I almost had second thoughts about going inside. Almost. Then I remembered that my best Asian persuasion beauty would never steer me wrong, especially when it comes to tasty bites, and boy was I right!
Of course for similarity (and brevity) purposes I can closest assimilate the HWD experience to the likely more familiar SSGS one. Same deal here, folks… sit down at a table with a built-​in grill, proceed to order copious meats and fishies for DIY grillin’, get saddled with lots of small banchan plates comprised of a whole mess of weird — but fabulous — things to try, consume aforementioned meat wrapped in beautiful lettuce and smothered in sweet bean paste, get way full, leave smelling like smoked ass.
For such an almost identical setup, the one question I’m still left with is: why so empty HWD? Not sure if it’s a location based reason, a need for marketing or what, but what HWD has in resemblance, it lacks in customers. Great for those uberbusy times when that ‘other KBBQ spot’ is bustling and you want to get your kalbi on, but if you’re looking for that fun, packed, raucous atmosphere, you won’t find it here. Aside from staff workers and one other table, we were the sole heirs to the kimchee throne during our visit.
Despite the relatively unpopulated surrounds, a few things must be noted… not only did the food (especially the short rib) absolutely rock and the spicy miso soup clear my sinuses in a jiffy, the Chop Chae was the best I’ve had. Ever. And that’s KBBQ FTW!

I love to lick myself even days after visiting places like this.(and so does she and she and she…;p)
I can still taste the smokiness on my skin and my sweat has a nice spiciness after my body has been marinating in the same pickling spices that created that awesome kimchi.
and yes i shower and bathe, throw my clothes in the wash and eat my yogurt and oatmeal for breakie to keep the regulars, but HWD makes the food to permeate your soul, to brighten your smile and outlook on the life despite the inevitable 2012 date approaching.
The coals burn hot and on windy days can change the air flow in the vents to prevent the smoke from escaping, but just a change to your perspective and accepting the smoke into your clothing and skin can be good as you realize you will attract most meat eaters for days to come and will subconsciously gain favor from them.
Even the veggieheads will love you as you resonate the tasty banchan which decorates your soul and table with splashes of ooohs and aaaahs.
Its great for big groups, very friendly and attentive servers (though they are somewhat typically stand-​off ish, they are only a few feet away, close enough to see the hunger in your eye and within earshot of your belly screaming for more).
Great place, great choice for an evening out (open til 5am) as its right next to the karaōke joint next door. Strip mall parking and small tea rooms (though I noticed the floors underneath the table are not recessed, so those with legs up to my piehole be aware).
Do it NOW!