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"This is like going all the way to Orlando, but then not getting to go to Disney World," said our date for the evening as he surveyed the menu at 24-hour Korean restaurant San Soo Gap San. Chicagoist's dining partner was referring, in this case, to the lack of vegetarian options on the menu. 
After a careful survey, we determined that there was not a single meat-free option.
Which, if we think back, shouldn't have surprised us. Korean food is known for being heavy on the meat side — specifically beef. Still, we were surprised that in this day and age, there wasn't one single option available. Luckily, our server was happy to work with us, fixing up a special vegetable bibimbop. Unfortunately, that was where the helpful service ended, with the service staff being curt at best, and abrasive at worst. For example, after we were seated, we were told we had to get up and move to a different able, without any reason or rationale (as far as we could see). Pacing was uneven as well.
Luckily, the food, at least for the meat eater, was delicious. SSGS serves up an impressive array of panchen, the traditional selection of kimchi. SSGS' selection covered all the basics, including cucumber and cabbage kimchi, spinach in sesame oil, fish cake, and various other pickled accompaniments. We noticed that we didn't receive as many different kinds as the table next to us, but we chalked it up to the fact that we didn't order as many dishes. We heard from a Korean friend that the lacking panchen selection was due to our ... lack of being Korea n... but we'll tell ourselves it had more to do with our order, and less to do with where our parents came from.
In addition to the panchen, Korean restaurants are also known for giving diners hot grills and plates of raw meats. 
We've never been attracted to this setup; if we wanted to cook our own food, we probably would have stayed home, but we can see the allure all the same. At SSGS, you need to order two different kinds of meat in order to grill at the table. Otherwise, the kitchen will grill it for you, which was just fine with us. Chicagoist ordered the marinated chicken, which came out of the kitchen sizzling on an extra-hot skillet. We were pleased that it was served medium spicy, just as we had requested it.
The vegetarian bibimbop was competent but nothing special. Our date was disappointed, if only because it seemed like he had meat envy for the night.
San Soo Gap San is open 24 hours a day and is located at 5247 N. Western Ave.
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hehe.. meat envy.
Korean restaurant service almost always is curt, brusque and "efficient". Part of the culture.
I suppose eating meat at one meal would kill him instantly?
Afraid picking it out might lead to meaty fingers?
Instant breast cancer?
It was San Soo Gap San for x's sake! More power to a restaurant that keeps with it's cultural traditions and doesn't bend for the vegetarians, raw foodies and others.
Wow, a 24 hour Korean place. I think you probably got shuffled around inexplicably and fewer dishes because you aren't Korean, but I also don't think it's meant to be an insult. I'm afraid to know what they'd think of Japanese customers, so I just comply with anything, point to the menu a lot, and smile sheepishly.
Also, I must testify that Korean BBQ is amazing, and it usually has to be done at the restaurant with their weird grilling device and special garlicky sauce, whatever it is. Warning: keep your jacket in the car, for it will reek forever and a day of said sauce.
hi. i'm korean -- actually, true korean cuisine isn't necessarily known for its beef. in korea, beef is quite expensive because most of korea is mountainous, so keeping cows is not easy! beef is only for special occasions back in korea. most of the time it's a ton of vegetable dishes, a lot of seafood (because it's a peninsula), a little bit of chicken, pork, and beef.
the reason why beef is so popular in korean food here in america is because it's affordable, easy to serve, and it tastes pretty good.
as to the extra banchan the other people received -- i might imagine that yeah, it would have helped if you had at least one korean there with you...it's like having street cred in the restaurant!
also, to the barbecue on the table thing...the meats they serve are typically very thinly cut. at home my mother stays at the stove and continuously cooks the meat and we eat it piping hot -- it's the best way to eat it. i know it seems like extra work and maybe a novelty thing, but it's really the best way to enjoy the food.
so next time you guys go to a korean restaurant, you should bring a seoul brotha along to help you out, ok?
M500 - sometimes not eating meat is more than a choice, its for health or religious reasons. Just so you know....
Kei - I was thinking that about not being Korean, but sort of figured it. Sigh. Well, a girl can always dream, right?
This food at this place is delicious. And I thought the service was friendly. Big smiles from all the waitresses, who were efficient with orders and bringing out the food.
I'm not Korean, in fact I am so white I get sucked into a J Crew store every time I walk by.
Woo Lae Oak in Rolling Meadows is pretty good for Korean, for a non-Korean. There is also a place in the 4200 or 4300 block of Lincoln that is about as authentic as you can get, down to the Korean news on the television set.
I think the second part of your review was more helpful than the first. Your article is reviewing a Korean food place but then tears it apart for not being vegetarian. It's not a vegetarian restaurant. I liken the first part of your article to complaining that there aren't enough french options at an italian restaurant. I mean, it's a bit of non-complaint. Good reviewers review food for the merits of the kind of food they are cooking, not what they should be cooking. That said, a brieft mention that this place sucks for veggies would have been more than ample to place in your article.
I think you would have had a better time at:
Amitabul
Ripping it for not having vegetarian options is no different than ripping it for not offering pizza. Its not that type of place.
I had a horrible experience at this restuarant just a couple of weeks ago. Some friends and I pulled up to try it out at around 4:40 am, there were cars parked in the lot and a Korean looking gentleman was just entering the restaurant and getting a table. Unfortunately as we approached the door staff turned off the "open 24 hours" light and told us they were closed. We asked about the light and the other people being seated eating etc, but they claimed they closed at 5 and told us to leave.
Just as we were leaving another carload of people pulled and started puzzling over the restaurant being closed. Our waitress said something to them in Korean and pointed to us, at which point they all got back in their car and waited for us to start driving away before entering the restaurant.
After that I'll never go back, I've been meaning to file a complaint with the better bussiness bureau or something, because the way they treated us was just absolutely unacceptable.
geebs, sometimes the Korean mob needs to conduct it's business in private.
hey Giordano, if you're going to hate on the post, why don't you come up with an original insult? the hater before you already got the wrong-cuisine-in-this-eatery insult. try again, putz.