bopNgrill

Review Highlights

bopNgrill is a Korean-American burger joint in Chicago's Rogers Park, opened in 2009 by Chef Will Song — who grew up in the Midwest on Korean home cooking from his mother and American cuisine from culinary school. The concept: "bop" means rice in Korean, and everything on the menu applies Korean flavours and techniques to American comfort food staples. Guy Fieri visited for a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode, calling it a showcase of umami — the fifth taste.

• ·Truffle duck cell Umami Burger — smash-pressed 80/20 beef on a buttered brioche bun, topped with a slow-cooked duxelle of portobello mushrooms, pork fat, butter, onions, garlic, dried fish flakes (bonito), anchovies, dashi, and truffle oil; finished with smoked bacon, smoked gouda, and sundried tomato confit; "it's rich, it's light, smokiness, acid, earthy tones — out at the park. That exceeded what my expectations were going to be. Is in the top best burgers I've ever had"
• ·Korean Philly cheesesteak egg roll — thinly sliced ribeye marinated in an Asian pear, pineapple, Sprite, garlic, mirin, soy, brown sugar, sesame oil, and scallion bulgogi marinade; cooked on a flat top with onions and carrots, wrapped in an egg roll skin with American cheese, fried, and split in half; served with cheese sauce; "there's nothing about that I don't like — the deliciousness of the sandwich, all in an egg roll"

Guy's verdict: a flat-out destination burger joint. He ranked the Umami Burger among the best he's ever had — calling it a journey through every dimension of flavour — and was equally floored by the Philly cheesesteak egg roll. "American food lovers and Korean food lovers both can be happy here. You can't get something like this anywhere." He joked about clearing out the neighbouring businesses to make room for expansion.

About

bopNgrill is a Korean-American restaurant in Chicago's Rogers Park neighbourhood, founded by Chef Will Song in 2009. The menu fuses Korean culinary traditions — bulgogi marinades, kimchi, umami-forward technique — with American comfort food formats like burgers, fries, and egg rolls. It earned national recognition after its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance.