After a long wait, the beautifully designed Gyumon Japanese BBQ restaurant at 105 N. Marion St. in Oak Park is open to customers. The yakiniku dining experience is unlike anything else in the area, according to the owners.
“It’s called table barbecue,” Hui Zhu, co-owner, said. “A group can hang out, chat and do cooking in the same time. The meat is very fresh because you eat right after you cook. And each slice coming to your table is cut no more than one hour before you place order.”
Stepping through its doors is like passing through a wooden gate, then under a gabled roof of a classic Japanese home or establishment. Inside the dining plan is all you care to eat in a 90-minute seating. With either a $55 “Diamond” or $45 “Gold” option.
For that one price, you can start with salads and soups, like udon, miso and seafood. Appetizers, such as spring rolls, edamame and shrimp tempura, are unlimited too.
Next, order from a wide selection of meats. When the raw pieces arrive, the grill is turned on at the table and specialized ventilation keeps smoke, steam, and excess heat pulled away from diners. Grillables include wagyu beef (sliced several ways), beef tongue, pork belly, marinated chicken, shrimp, squid and an assortment of vegetables.
“You can try 20, 30 options because each one is just a few slices,” Zhu said. “We want people to try different options with small amount, like even for beef, there are like more than 10 options because each part of the cow like you have different taste some has a little more fat to make it too juicy some is like a chewy.”
Diners make selections on an iPad-style tablet and can order several times throughout the seating. Hot tea and sodas are included with each meal. Liquor is extra.
But wait there’s more: a selection of sushi nigiri and hand rolls also fall under the one price umbrella.
And if you’ve saved room, you can grill s’mores right at the table too.
The restaurant has been open for less than a month, but the owners are already making adjustments based on customer requests. They now offer an a la carte lunch option every day between noon – 4 p.m. This is to accommodate those who want a lighter meal at midday.
Hui Zhu and his co-owners, Miao Chen, Ziyi Wang, also own Kyuramen across the street. That restaurant is franchised from an international chain. Their locations in Oak Park and in downtown Chicago were the first in Illinois. Gyumon is an original concept and not part of a larger brand identity.
Tucked into the lobby of the restaurant is Uni Uni bubble tea. It is a Chicago-based company with high quality standards, according to Zhu.
“All the tea leaves, we import from Taiwan,” Zhu said. “Taiwan invented the boba tea. Then we use a lot of very good organic milk and also use tapioca powder. We made tapioca every day, fresh. So that’s why we make our tea very healthy and very fresh.”
There are 12 varieties of tea on the menu, including classic milk teas, fresh fruit teas, flavored Yakult, lattes, and smoothies. Toppings and boba selections abound. Cheese foam is an option too.
In the summertime the doors to the restaurant will open, making the Uni Uni counter easy to see and access for customers whether they are dining at Gyumon or not.
There was a long wait for grills from Japan and to get the interior of the restaurant the way the owners wanted, but they continue to be encouraged by the reception of their restaurants in Oak Park and especially on Marion Street.
“We try to bring different concepts into this area. That’s why we do the ramen before and now we do the barbecue and the bubble tea,” Zhu said. “That’s the environment that we like. We like a walking environment, very welcoming.”
Grill Your Own Adventure
Address: 105 N. Marion St., Oak Park
Hours: Sun-Thurs noon to 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat noon to 11 p.m.
