Cho Sun Ok Restaurant

"Seeing the block-long line of people outside Cho Sun Ok in North Center can trigger memories of DMV purgatory. But waiting in line for this decades-old BYOB spot is way more rewarding than ending up with a mid-blink license photo. The meat is cooked in hot stone bowls on top of gas burners, some of which are portable while others are built into the tables. Regardless of your cooking setup, you’re in for a delicious meal. Sides like chewy japchae or haemul pajeon are tasty, but focus on the meat, particularly the thinly sliced brisket and the bulgogi marinated in sweet soy sauce. At the end of the meal, the staff mixes any leftover kimchi, bean sprouts, and rice for crispy kimchi bokkeumbap as a complimentary “dessert.”" - john ringor, adrian kane

"Seeing the block-long line of people outside Cho Sun Ok in North Center can initially trigger memories of being stuck at the DMV. But luckily, waiting in line for this BYOB spot that’s been around since 1982 will be exponentially more rewarding than getting a replacement license and traumatizing photo. The meat here is cooked in a hot stone bowl on top of gas burners. Some tables have them built-in and others have portable ones, but regardless of your setup, you’re going to have a delicious meal. Sides like chewy japchae or haemul pajeon are great, but focus on the meat, particularly the thinly sliced brisket and the bulgogi bathed in a sweet soy marinade. Leave some room—at the end of your meal the staff mixes your leftover kimchi, bean sprouts, and some rice to make crispy kimchi bokkeumbap as a complimentary “dessert.”" - adrian kane, john ringor

"Cho Sun Ok so often has people waiting outside, standing in line is basically tradition. But the wait is worth it, and it's also a chance to catch your breath before this nonstop Korean BBQ sprint. The servers ask for your order shortly after you're seated, so have a plan ready (get the bulgogi, galbi, plus japchae and seafood pajeon). And the food appears faster than it takes to drink half a can of BYOBeer. Before you know it, the meat is gone, and the staff is making kimchi fried rice on the grill for “dessert.” It’s an energetic meal, especially when you’re in a room full of chatty regulars, and we wouldn’t have it any other way." - john ringor, veda kilaru, nick allen

"The Korean BBQ here is delicious, but Cho Sun OK is also an excellent neighborhood restaurant to hang out in. It’s a fun and lively spot that works best for group dinners. Just make sure that besides the BBQ, you also get a seafood pancake and some pan-fried dumplings. All are good for soaking up the booze." - josh barnett, adrian kane, john ringor

"If there’s no line out the door at Cho Sun Ok, diners should consider themselves lucky. Offering Korean barbecue and a long list of traditional soups and noodles, this no-frills Lincoln Square restaurant is a Korean staple. It’s also BYOB, so feel free to pair the food with whatever whets the appetite." - Eater Staff, Ashok Selvam