Joong Boo Market

-Grubbing in Chicago
Bargain Bites ft. Korean Comfort Food in Avondale

It’s late September and the temp is dipping below 60° which brings hoodies and soups back into the picture. Today we’re going to check out one of my go-to spots this time of the year and pay a visit to Joong Boo Market in Avondale. The original location opened at 3333 N. Kimball Ave. in 1992 and it’s become an institution with a second location that opened in Glenview in 2018. Joong Boo Market is a gateway into Chicago’s food culture. It’s the kind of place people discover when they start venturing beyond the obvious and exploring the city one bite at a time. Although it’s technically a grocery store it functions as more than that with two different dining options both worthy of a visit on their own even.

Locals Favorite in Avondale

First up is Joong Boo Wang Mandoo or “the dumpling stand” as most people call it. It sits outside in front of the store and is no more than a walk-up window selling large Korean steamed dumplings (buns) that make for the perfect snack. I’m partial to the Kimchi Mandoo which is a baseball sized pillowy bao bun wrapped around a savory filling of ground pork, kimchi, and veggies. The kimchi brings a spicy bite that cuts through the pork, while the thick steamed wrapper gives it that satisfying soft and chewy texture. You can make a nice snack out of one of these or a meal by eating two of them at just $5 a piece. I can’t think of many things out there with more flavor at that price-point. 

Snack Corner Cafe (inside Joong Boo Market)

Inside Joong Boo sits Snack Corner, a small counter service Korean restaurant hidden within the grocery store. The menu is a fairly long list of Korean classics served at very favorable prices. Last year when I was there around this time I tried the #16 - Yukgaejang - which is a Korean spicy beef soup. It has a deep red, chile seasoned broth loaded with shredded beef, scallions, fernbrake (gosari), bean sprouts, and other vegetables. It’s hearty, spicy, savory, and slightly smoky and very peppery rather than being a delicate soup. The broth is pretty one dimensional but it’s a nice and spicy dimension and I like the shredded beef giving it a bit of a Korean birria profile. The soup itself is a very nice sized portion and it comes with a side of rice and three types of banchan for just $11 as of the time this was posted. Spots like Snack Corner are only getting better as prices continue to rise. 

#16 - Yukgaejang - at Snack Corner inside Joong Boo Market

Joong Boo Market
3333 N Kimball Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-5566
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