Mister Tiger is a unique Korean restaurant in West Town, Chicago, co-owned by Min Lee, her brother Charlie Park, and her husband Brian Lee. Opened in May 2025, this establishment is Min Lee’s tribute to her grandmother’s home-cooked meals.
Family Heritage and Modern Flair
Chef Min Lee, a former structural engineer, draws inspiration from her grandmother, Bong Kim. Kim’s cooking influenced Lee’s vision for Mister Tiger. The goal is to offer traditional Korean dishes while incorporating current culinary trends from Korea.
An example is Min Lee’s modern twist on woodae galbi. It features grilled bite-sized beef short rib slices along a large bone, creating a dramatic presentation. The dish begins by deboning and marinating the rib meat overnight, followed by sous vide cooking and grilling. It is served with wasabi onion relish and roasted vegetables, highlighting its umami-rich flavor.
Signature Dishes
Among the favorite dishes is the kimchi jeon. Min Lee prepares this savory pancake with a generous amount of spicy house-fermented kimchi. The dish reflects the chef’s childhood memories, as her grandmother frequently made jeon. Another notable offering is the uni rice, combining tobiko roe rice with buttery sea urchin roe and pickled vegetables, served in a sizzling bowl.
The hot stone dolsot bibimbap, complemented by tofu ribbons and assorted vegetables, comes with a crispy rice crust. Desserts like the yuja tiramisu and banana chocolate cannoli offer a playful nod to Korean flavors and local traditions. The sweet corn ice cream, with soybean paste custard and caramel corn kernels, embodies a sweet-salty blend.
Beverages and Side Dishes
Drinks include the nonalcoholic Home Remedy made with Seedlip Grove 42 and yuja, and the pisco-based Faithful Sue cocktail. The restaurant also serves glazed baby back ribs and Korean fried chicken nuggets, although some dishes, such as the tofu stew, have room for improvement.
Mister Tiger provides unlimited ssam platter refills upon request. Complimentary white rice and banchan, including radish kimchi and fish cake, are available but not listed on the menu.
Dining Experience
The restaurant features a minimalist interior with neon art of a mythical Korean tiger, symbolizing the strong matriarchal influence. Mister Tiger’s philosophy is to share excellent food with great people, including the staff.
Mister Tiger is located at 1132 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, with its details available on the restaurant’s website. The Tribune rates Mister Tiger highly, with a very good to excellent rating.
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