From a friend it was recommended I try OKF (Original Korean Food). So glad I did. Excellent food. I had the Bulgogi Rice Bowl-. Tons of flavors and freshness. Reasonable prices based on the quality and portion size. Friendly owners and clean. So overall it was a great experience and will keep trying all they offer.

Great food, very reasonable prices, and an owner who is so friendly and engaging. Lived in Korea for several years, this was excellent. Also, they have patbingsu! If you've never tried it, an absolutely delicious and refreshing desert. Shaved ice and other ingredients that can't be beat. Note that Korean Soul Food is officially named "Original Korean Food" so you can also find reviews undere that name

My daughter brought me here, she came before and loved it. I wasn't sure about it since it is in the basement of an office building. It is a walk up counter with seating in the lobby area. You get free hot tea. I got the bulgogi and the flavor was amazing. I finished my bowl and I was sad because I wanted to keep eating it. I can't wait to come back and try other menu items! I will be back!

There's this neat little place for Korean soul food located in the basement of the office building at 800 E Northwest Highway. This simple Korean kitchen, owned by a husband and wife, serve a small selection of wonderful dishes. There are a few tables, though most people seem to take their orders back to the office to eat. Today I enjoyed their Bulgogi Rice Bowl, but I have had a couple of other dishes as well, all of them fresh and delicious. Not much for atmosphere, but the owners are charming. An excellent choice when you want to try something different for lunch.e

This is a very plain take-out sort of place, but the food is wonderful, and the space is sparkling clean. Another big bonus is that the proprietor is very sweet, and you feel welcome. You certainly don't get that everywhere these days, so it's a nice treat. Definitely worth many return visits!

Amazing! In the area for sports, and found this absolue gem of a restaurant. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. We had the bibibap, Bulgolgi, kimbap (all 3 options), and Ramen. Portion sizes were phenomenal, the kimchi was delicious. The owner and his wife were fabulous, and she makes the best Korean food outside of Korea, pretty sure.

Location had us concerned if we were in the right spot or not, but we were and it was awesome. 10/10 would recommend 1000x over.

I visited this amazing restaurant for the first time last week. I had the Dakgogi rice bowl for lunch and not only were the owners extremely friendly and delightful, the food was absolutely delicious! The owner told me that I would want to go there everyday after visiting and he was right, I’ve been thinking about it and anticipating my next visit in a daily basis.

Don't let the large 800 building fool you. It's in the basement, like a hidden gem. Food is great, owner was really hospitable. Tables inside were comfortable.

Hidden gem of a restaurant in basement. The owner is so charming and the food is excellent. Don't hesitate to try them out, you will be hooked at first bite.

This is the best Korean food here in Illinois. The owners are super nice, food is authentic and has a touch of home. The food is just really awesome and I am so happy I came all the way here for lunch, totally worth itn goes here

The food is both fresh and delicious with the owner Chang being hospitable and funny, you'd be remiss to not check the place out if you're in the area!

Really good!!! Love tiny little spots like this. Never seen a place in the basement of an office, but it doesn’t matter to me if it tastes this good!

Glad I stopped in here yesterday. The owners are wonderful. And the food, absolutely delicious. You can tell it's real food, made with care. From the beef bulgogi to the Korean coffee after the meal. What a gem. (It's on the lower level of the office building. Go down the stairs after you enter the building then follow your nose lol)

The owners are a lovely couple who put their heart into what they do — the homemade food is incredibly delicious, and they treat their guests with special care. We’ll definitely be back!

A true hidden gem in Palatine! The restaurant is in the basement of an office building, so you will only see it exists online. There are no signs anywhere that it’s even there. The owners are husband and wife and were very lovely and engaging. The food was great. There isn’t a lot of space if you dine in, but for a quick lunch it’s comfortable. The menu is limited but the food we had was great.

This place is a true gem. Every dish bursts with authentic flavors that transport you straight to Korea. From the perfectly spiced kimchi to the rich, savory bulgogi, you can taste the tradition and care in every bite! A must-visit for anyone craving real Korean food!

Excellent food and friendly owners. A must try hidden gem in the NW suburbs.

Went there today and it was great!
I had the #2 beef lunch special and my wife the #4 chicken. It was fabulous. Highly recommended! …

Food here was great and we are definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu. Beef Bulgogi Rice Bowl and Kimbop were top notch. The husband and wife who run the shop couldn’t be any nicer. …

Mr Chang and his wife Nam are amazing. The food is amazing it’s fresh and it definitely made from only best. It’s always great to be and support a local business. My recording studio is next door and I come visit here everyday. Yummmyyyyy

Great food, amazing restaurant, even better people. Homemade cooked food by the owner and the wife, will definitely be back. Their homemade coffee is a MUST. Thank you Wujek Cheng.

Such an amazing spot! The food was fantastic and the owner is even better! Places like this deserve to be recognized.

Delicious Korean food and wonderful service! Every dish we tried was full of flavor and beautifully presented. The staff were super friendly and made us feel very welcome!

I just had the galbi rice bowl from here and it was great! So excited that we have an authentic Korean restaurant in Palatine now.

The owners were very friendly and I look forward to going again!

I visited this amazing restaurant for the first time last week. I had the Dakgogi rice bowl for lunch and not only were the owners extremely friendly and delightful, the food was absolutely delicious! The owner told me that I would want to go there everyday after visiting and he was right, I’ve been thinking about it and anticipating my next visit in a daily basis.

Some of the best homemade Korean food I’ve had! Owners are extremely nice and food was prepared relatively quickly.

The food was delicious and tastes just like authentic Korean cuisine. Mr. and Mrs. Park are very nice and they even gave us a complimentary bing-su (shaved ice dessert). 10/10 would go back again

I just enjoyed a delicious bulgogi bowl from this restaurant. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the veggies were fresh. I will definitely be returning! Highly recommend!

Food is great and service is great. The couple who runs the joint is sooo sweet!
This is located in the basement so you have to take the elevator down !

The food was amazing and very tasty! The owners are so friendly as well. Would go back again 100%

The food is amazing, fresh, and the couple that own the restaurant are the nicest people ever. Highly recommend it

Bulgogi was fresh and delicious! Terrific flavor and you can taste the quality in every bite!

“I really enjoyed this place. The staff were very polite, and the food was absolutely delicious. I had a wonderful time!

Delicious food and friendly service
You need to check this place out

Just like when I was in South Korea!!! Definitely recommend!

It was my first time visiting this place! Very tasty, authentic and home-like atmosphere. I got a little bit confused with the location.
So this place is inside the black glassed Office building, lower floor (use elevator or go downstairs). And you will meet like a “office cafeteria”. Recommend!:)
And next time I was promised to have the Korean coffee as a compliment 😜Looking forward!

It's a great hidden find!!! Basement of an office building. AWESOME food!

Greetings!

In an unassuming place comes my favorite type of eating: Hidden treasures that you never find unless someone told you to go look for it.

Welcome to Original Korean Food where their carefully curated eight item menu suggests that they are very focused on what they do very well. Based on my experience, they likely serve quality entrees and sides each and every time.

This is off the beaten path eating at its very best. The culinary cognoscenti of the northwest suburbs will soon zero in on this speak-easy-esque hideaway treasure. It is my hope that this is your next head-turning discovery.

This Mom and Pop treasure is dutifully hosted by Chang and his wife. The flavor is fresh as the ingredients purchased early that morning. Preparation and presentation are meticulously executed...great eating doesn't happen by accident. The served bowl is a visual feast, portions are generous, and flavor development is present with each bite.

I had the rib noodle dish while others at the table enjoyed the Bulgogi and some amazing iced coffee.

The office building basement is the last place you'd look for a great find, but after your first bite, you'll know why you're there! Ambiance is perfectly executed: Modern Basement with washed and painted concrete floors and casual tables set up to gather the lunch crowd as needed.

I stared to write for Yelp years ago for this exact reason: I wanted to focus on superlative options and share my finds as the spirit moves me.

Chang and his wife's Korean Soul Food Kitchen are looking like my best find in years....Yuk-Shee!

Until next time...tk

This is an impressive hidden gem that has been now open for one year. The head chef and entire kitchen is ServSafe certified. I personally examined the kitchen area and found no defects, sanitary handling by all employees was seen. Frequent cleaning occurred in the dining area which has been newly expanded with heavy duty tables and chairs for high volume dining. I assume this place serves as the de facto cafeteria of the building as if I were a tenant I would likely eat here daily. Their food prices are very competitive, almost in the range of "Screw the competition, we're gonna sell better food AND undercut their prices"

This extremely competitive pricing structure leans in favor of clients massively. The store owner is also a massively nice man who without knowing I was a Yelp Elite dispensed a complimentary coffee coldbrew. Not sure if he was wondering if I would have a heat stroke. That or he liked my jacket and didn't want to say anything in front of patrons haha!

A lovely coffee, I am not sure if its from Starbucks but it is a high grade coffee that is definitely not your supermarket brew. The premium Galbi ribs bowl is the best option for serving two people on one dish and still keeping the check below $20 even with a drink.

Portion sizes are generous and make for a perfect workplace share a lunch on the table or buy four of them and have a spread for lunch down in the -50 Cafeteria.

This business has nothing but upward potential attached to it and I hope it goes far.

Partner with a delivery service or hire up a driver or two. You put this food on wheels and add some delivery fees and people will still feel like they're getting a bargain!

I have never seen a restaurant serving full drnks menu all for $1-$3

This restaurant is like a blast from the past. 1990s pricing, a 90s vintage cash register that just screams "small biz on the upward fast" (every good small business started with a Sharp register. That or a Casio)

Everything in the restaurant will make you feel like you stepped through a time portal to the good ole days. The days when business owners were friendly, drinks were cheap and food was big portions on budget prices.

Not easy to find restaurants like this.

Now the only downside and this is constructive criticism at worst.

I wouldn't hold the business owner off from buying some table cloths and chair coverings for an increased comfort and atmosphere level. The fact they weren't there is not at all a deduction, it's just a slight atmosphere difference that gives off a university campus cafeteria vibe which is perfectly fine especially in an office building like this. It also makes frequent sanitation easier which the owner is OBSESSIVE about, he came out and cleaned the tables twice in the 30 minutes I was watching a few other people dine and had my take away order prepared.

The carrry out portion was large as in restaurant, quality is impeccable, tender meat and a sweet savory taste you'll want to come back for.

The coffee though is where they really win an award on me.

I thought the nearest place with good coffee was Starbucks for South Palatine, but I was proven wrong by a dead bank branches hallways.