Cheap Eats: Belly Shack

Belly Shack is a 2011 and 2012 Michelin Bib Gourmand award recipient, and is owned by the husband-and-wife team, Bill Kim and Yvonne Cadiz Kim.  The couple merged their Korean and Puerto Rican backgrounds to create the famous Belly Shack located in Logan Square.  Get your Ko-Rican experience if you are ever in the Logan Square area and don't forget to grab dessert at the nearby Margie's Candies.  Big thanks to Jun and Joyce for a wonderful dinner. 

1912 N Western Ave

(between Cortland St & Winnebago Ave)

Chicago, IL 60647

4 stars on Yelp

Belly Shack is BYOB!

After placing your order, they give you number to place at your table. 

Somen Noodle Salad.

Noodle salad layered with shrimp, tortilla chips, tomatillo, and jicama.  Light, tangy, and refreshing.  The chips added a nice texture to the salad.

Asian pork meatball sandwich.  Pork meatballs, somen noodles, Korean chili paste, and mint. 

The flavor combination of this sandwich was unlike anything I've tried before!  Fresh, hearty, and delish! However, I personally thought there was too much bread compared to the amount of meat.

Korean BBQ beef.  This dish comes with kimchi, saam paste, and scallions with a side of flat bread.

Holy hell, this dish is AMAZING.  The kalbee is perfectly marinated.  I love how the meat and kimchi are diced so it's easy to make a mini kalbee sandwich.

Togarashi spiced fries with curry mayo.  Forget truffle fries, this is now my new favorite type of papas fritas!

Brussel sprouts and chorizo.  Amazing.  Remember to mix this dish before eating because the sauce pools at the bottom of the bowl. 

Chicken bibimbop.  SO GOOD! ORDER THIS.

Brown rice, assorted pickled vegetables, kimchi, and chicken.  Being a Korean-American, I've eaten many bibimbops in my lifetime but this is definitely one of the best bibimbops I've ever had!  A must order!  Mom, you're still #1.

Happy eating.

xoxo
Grace