Coffee Haus (Schaumburg, IL)

July 25, 2015

Another new place

Another coffee place, with these two, 

The Superstar who likes to get attention as compared to the Better Half. lol.

Not a spacious interior as compared to Outdoor Cafe and Java & Mug, much brighter and it was almost full.

I've got my Green Tea Bingsu on my plate. Not that I like my face here in this picture, but I like how Better Half is starring at my bingsu 

Super candid picture credit to Superstar.

I saw someone was having this same bowl, with the colorful pebbles cereal on it. I thought it was Haus Bingsu and I specifically ordered Green Tea because I didn't want those pebbles, and TADA! The universe surprised me. But hey, lots of fresh strawberries and lots of mochi- Bonus!

Just one magical spoonful of the mochi, strawberries, pebbles, ice-cream and the ice, I flew up to heaven and came back down. 

 OHMYGOD. I didn't expect this bingsu to tastes so good! I almost lose my hope in bingsu, but this....this bowl right here proves to me that there's always hope out there. 

This strawberry bingsu, is another cup of heaven too! 

Strawberry Bingsu $4.70*

It does not look much different from any other bingsu I've had but these ones here really tastes marvellous. I was glad we didn't end up in Caffe Bene because I would have not met these babies here.

This waffle, another sinful bites. The waffle itself is sweet (can feel the sugar), and I'm feeling lots of butter that makes it different from other breakfast spongy waffle. It's just...thicker, you know? Because it's Belgian Waffle baby!

Waffle Green Tea Ice-cream $3.25*

Clockwise: Latte, Green Tea Bingsu, Citron Tea $3.95*, Green Tea Waffle & Strawberry Bingsu.
Citron tea was good but latte not so good.

Conclusion, I really enjoyed my time here at Coffee Haus- great bingsu and waffles. Now I know my new favorite hangout spot.

*Prices excluding tax.

Java & Mug- Coffee & Tea, Korean Dessert

Java & Mug

July 9, 2015

It would not be completed if a Korean dinner does not ends with Korean dessert.
Present to you, Java & Mug on West Bryn Mawr, just a few doors right of Outdoor Cafe.
[Here's my blog review on Outdoor Cafe.]

Arrived here around 10-ish.
Random: heard some weird karaoke opposite the shop.

Walk into the cafe/ dessert shop, you will see this platform with tables and chairs.

Turn to your right, that's how the cafe looks like- lots of sofa seats, dim, comfortable and quiet ambience.

Kinda like the decorations and quotes on the wall.

I only had red bean bingsu- like again. lol. I prefer the taste of the red bean taste and ice as compared to Outdoor Cafe. But there are way too little ice 

Topped with Vanilla ice-cream, syrup, a little and tiny mochi, chopped watermelon, banana, kiwi, and canned peaches. 

I would definitely choose Outdoor Cafe's red bean bingsu over Java & Mug.

Bigger portion, more fruits, more red bean, more ice, bigger mochi....etc. 

This is red bean bingsu from Outdoor Cafe. A dollar or two more than Java & Mug ($5.99 not included tax & gratuity).

I also tried a little of Bull Frog drink (chocolate, mint and coffee), it tastes pretty ok. There are board games for patrons- FOC. There were 3 groups of people came in some time after 10:30pm, the place gets a little noisier than before. For me, it wouldn't matter if a cafe is noisy or quiet. 

Java & Mug Menu

And you're welcome. lol.

Would not mind going back again, not the bingsu, but the coffe, tea, waffle and other desserts :) 

Cho Sun Ok - Korean Restaurant

Cho Sun Ok

July 9, 2015

Been to this restaurant a few times. One of my favorite Korean BBQ (tabletop cooking) restaurants in Chicago- authentic Korean cuisine, serves by Korean imo (aunts).

Just to clarify, the restaurant name "Ok" means "House". It is pronounced as Ok, not "Oh-kay"- but I have been saying it as "Okay" a few times.  And how did I know it means house? Well, there was one time I overheard a Korean explaining it to his friends. lol.

So it was Juei Min's 22nd birthday, and here we are having some BBQand spicy food. If you notice from the picture above, there is a line outside of the restaurant. Every time I came here for dinner, there's ALWAYS a line. If you dislike waiting, I suggest you to come during lunch time- you are able to enjoy the food rather slowly, and not feeling pressured (because people in the line would usually be starring at you from the door, and you know, they are hungry). 

Small Dishes- Appetizers

Small dishes- there was once I tried to refill them after I finish my beef BBQ and before they cook the fried rice. I was told small dishes are only allowed to refill before you finish your BBQ. So fellows, if you love any of these dishes, gulp down and ask for refill immediately.

Kimchi Jigae

Kimchi, glass noodle, pork, a little bit of hard tofu

Soup is inclined towards hot, sourish and spicy.

SoonDuBu Jigae 

I have always loved tofu in hot soup. This dish has always been my must-order dish whenever I'm in any Korean restaurant.

Soft tofu with seafood (or the choice of beef)

Soup is hot, salty and spicy.

ChaDol-Gui

Non-marinated, thinly sliced beef.

The way I cook it would be placing slice by slice on the pan, and serve once I didn't see any red spot. Beef cooks pretty fast. However, the server usually come over and help you with the cooking, given that there is a line waiting, and we still have another bbq and fried rice to be cooked. Things work pretty fast here, it's all about quick quick quick.  Do not take it personally if you feel like you are being rushed. This is how the restaurant works- efficient. 

The way I cook- slow, slice by slice.

This is the way they cook it, throw in the beef, stir stir stir- DONE. 

NakJi-Gui

Marinated octopus with glass noodle, aka Korean noodle.

I like this too! Both octopus and glass noodle are chewy. Me likey chewy-likey. 

Before- BOILING

After- DIG IN! 

This is my first time ordering 2 types of BBQ/ Tabletop cooking, they usually cook the kimchi fried rice right after the beef. But this time, they cook the beef, then the octopus, then finished off with kimchi fried rice. I was worried about the taste of the fried rice, but it is still very tasteful as they will add on extra kimchi for you, and throw in any leftover kimchi from the small dishes (if you have not finished them). 

For all the dishes above, just sit back and enjoy your meal as they will cook them for you.

Amount + gratuity: $78 

2 BBQ, 2 soups.

A picture of the group.

And we all smell like BBQ smoke, every time after a meal here.

It's night time, if you do not wish to shower, wear shower cap and go to sleep.

As for me, I usually shower, and wash all my clothes. 

You may just hang your clothes for a night or put them under the sun to get rid of the smell.