Kimchi Pop Review
Neighborhood: West Town

Read below for my review of Kimchi Pop!

Food

• Veggie Dumplings
• Korean Pancake
• Soondubu
• Cafe Ramen

Outside of the Northern part of Chicago, it is surprisingly hard to find Korean food. While there is one fancy Korean-inspired spot (Jeong) in West Town, we need a casual option as well. Kimchi Pop is that perfect fun, casual, BYOB Korean spot with plentiful gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options. I was quite impressed with how inclusive they are of us plant-based eaters. You can do pick-up or dine-in but keep in mind that it is a bit tight so you might have to wait for a table. But the k-pop videos can keep you occupied during your wait.

We started out with the Veggie Dumplings and they were perfectly crispy with flavorful veggies. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had veggie dumplings at other spots and the veggies are always bland but they know how to make veggies flavorful here. Another delicious shareable appetizer were the Korean pancakes with kimchi. They were fried but not too oily with fresh veggies and zesty kimchi.

For the mains I was able to try my favorite Korean staple, Soondubu with kimchi and silken tofu. It comes out sizzling in a black, clay pot with kimchi, mushrooms, and other goodies. The broth was just so flavorful with a hint of spice that will clear out your sinuses. And the soup just goes on for days so you’ll have leftovers.

I was also also able to try the Cafe Ramen, which are noodles with vegetables and tofu. The tofu had a perfectly breaded texture and paired seamlessly with the luscious noodles. The soy-sesame sauce was mild but still prominent complementing the noodles.

We left with our bellies full and much warmer than when we first came in. Kimchi Pop is a much needed addition to the West side food scene. We need more East Asian food in Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square so thank you for coming to our side of town!

For more East Asian restaurants, click here!