Mister Tiger: A Culinary Tribute to Grandmother’s Legacy

Mister Tiger opened as a tribute to a grandmother’s home cooking. This Korean restaurant has marked a new chapter in Chef Min Lee’s culinary journey. Min co-owns the restaurant with her brother Charlie Park and husband Brian Lee in West Town as of May 2025. Park manages the bar and front of the house, while Brian handles operations. Min, previously a structural engineer, draws inspiration from her grandmother, Bong Kim, who cooked for their family after moving from Busan, South Korea. Min said, “I grew up with my grandma, eating her food.”

The restaurant offers both traditional and trendy Korean dishes. A highlighted dish, the meaty dino rib, showcases Min’s take on modern woodae galbi. This dish features grilled beef short rib slices attached to a large bone, providing a dramatic presentation. Min states, “We bring traditional food, but I also wanted to bring what’s hot right now in Korea.”

The preparation of the dino rib involves deboning, marinating, sous vide cooking, and grilling. The result is a charred, tender meat with a soy sweetness. It’s served with wasabi onion relish and roasted vegetables. Another appealing dish is the kimchi jeon—savory pancakes featuring house-fermented kimchi. This dish honors the chef’s grandmother, who frequently made it for the family.

Another standout dish is uni rice. A luxurious twist on albap, it combines buttery sea urchin roe with tobiko and kimchi over sizzling rice. The dolsot bibimbap, ordered with tofu, arrives in a hot stone pot with vegetables and a fried egg, forming a crunchy rice crust.

Mister Tiger’s desserts creatively blend Korean and Chicago flavors. Yuja tiramisu substitutes traditional espresso with yuzu marmalade tea. Banana chocolate cannoli is filled with ganache and custard, inspired by Korea’s Banana Flavored Milk. A sweet corn ice cream with soybean paste custard highlights seasonal flavors and is topped with caramel corn kernels.

The restaurant offers unique drinks too. A non-alcoholic Home Remedy features citrus-flavored Seedlip Grove 42 with yuja and candied ginger. The Faithful Sue cocktail combines pisco with the essence of Korean hwachae.

The menu offers a variety of other dishes like glazed baby back ribs with cheese and Korean fried chicken nuggets. The cooking methods occasionally falter, as seen with the tofu stew, which lacked flavor, and the fine but not hot enough kimchi fried rice. Yet, the cold bibim noodles, complemented with radish and cucumber, shine as a perfectly seasoned dish.

Free side dishes include various kimchis, fish cakes, and potato salad, all made in-house, reflecting traditional Korean generosity. Min believes sharing food with good people, including the staff, enhances the dining experience.

Mister Tiger’s decor features minimalistic design, highlighted by a neon artwork of a Korean tiger wearing a traditional hat. The title ‘Mister’ in the restaurant’s name hints at many early ideas but ultimately represents simplicity and Korean culture, where the tiger plays a symbolic role.

Mister Tiger is located at 1132 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago. It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 5 p.m., Saturday from 4:30 p.m., closing daily at 9 p.m. Prices range from $13 to $32 for various dishes. The location is wheelchair accessible with on-level restrooms.