Ahjoomah’s Apron: the Comfort Food Staple of Chicago’s Chinatown

Author and Photographer: Krishna Raghavan

Ahjoomah’s Apron is located in the heart of Chicago’s Chinatown, with excellent offerings of Korean cuisine. For the entirety of our experience at UChicago, one of my dear friends and I have looked to Ahjoomah’s Apron as a source of comfort. The experience of dining at Ahjoomah’s Apron is comforting from the instant one enters the restaurant – from the ambience, to the service, to most notably, the food. In this piece, I detail what makes Ahjoomah’s Apron a place of solace, based on a trip I took there with my friend last week. 

Restaurant Decor

Wall Designs

Upon entering the establishment, the first thing one notices is the lighting inside the restaurant. The dining room is dimly lit overall, but with bright lamps spaced throughout, which makes for a tranquil atmosphere. The black paint on the walls adds another degree of quiet to the restaurant’s energy. Furthermore, the room is lined with art, shelves with beautiful bottles, and handwritten messages everywhere you look. The energy of the space is welcoming and homey and makes you feel at peace even if the restaurant is crowded. 

Banchan

A few minutes after we ordered, we were treated to a round of banchan (appetizers). The dishes were incredible and a wonderful start to a lovely meal. Every dish had a unique flavor profile, and the restaurant did a wonderful job of choosing items that are distinct from one another but combine for a pleasant start altogether. My favorites were the broccoli and zucchini, which provided a nice crunch to complement the other softer dishes. In addition, the seaweed salad and sprouts were a good neutral pairing to the savory spice of the kimchi and zucchini as well. Overall, the sheer variety in the banchan was a good start to the meal and had us eagerly anticipating what was to come.

Kimchi Pancake

I also ordered the kimchi pancake as an appetizer, which was a much needed comfort item. The crunch of the greens provided a wonderful contrast to the softness of the batter and the crispness of the fried exterior. This paired very well with the chili sauce that balanced the more neutral taste of the pancake with a spicier tang. The pancake was soft and fluffy while also containing vegetables and a crispy layer, making for a nutritious, well-rounded appetizer. It left me feeling satisfied, with the comforting combination of nutrition and flavor.

Vegetable Bibimbap

For my main course, I ordered the vegetable bibimbap with tofu. For the following reasons, this was an incredible dish. First, the portion size was enormous. I mean, the bowl was probably the biggest bowl I have ever eaten in, measuring about a foot in diameter. The vegetables were excellent and provided a crunchy contrast to the bed of rice beneath, the egg was cooked to the perfect bite, and the tofu had a crispy exterior and soft, moist interior. Altogether, the fluffiness of the rice, crispness of the tofu, and the variety and combination of the vegetables made me feel like the bibimbap had a bit of everything. The gochujang was also excellent, providing a bit of kick to the ingredients and bringing them together. The giant bowl was also definitely a comfort, making me feel cared for throughout the entire meal. To continue, my friend ordered the kimbop. She had similar thoughts about it as I did with the bibimbap. She said that the vegetables and meat were a great pairing for the rice, and the combination left her feeling nourished and satisfied, since it tasted incredible. 

Conclusions

The ambience and delicious Korean food at Ahjoomah’s Apron make it a great source of comfort to a busy college student. It is a perfect place to go for someone who wants to dine in a calm and welcoming atmosphere, even if the restaurant is busy. Furthermore, having sampled dishes from many parts of the menu, my friend and I concluded that the chefs at the restaurant are experts in pairing the fresh, crunchy vegetables with rice or batter bases to craft dishes that are nutritious and delicious. With every visit to Ahjoomah’s Apron, my mind is at ease from the world outside the restaurant’s doors, and I know that I am being served food that has been carefully crafted from the freshest ingredients.