WICKER PARK — Bucktown's En Hakkore opened its second location on Saturday in Wicker Park, serving up five varieties of sushi burritos and other Korean dishes in a cozy eatery along Milwaukee Avenue.
"The menu showcases the food. It doesn't need alcohol to draw you in," said Nicholas Rivera, a server and host who has worked for husband-and-wife owners Faith and Peter Park for three years, starting at the Bucktown En Hakkore, which opened in January 2013 and also does not serve alcohol or allow BYOB.
Located at 1467 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the shuttered Mondo Meatball spot, En Hakkore 2.0 has counter-style ordering, so patrons order at the register and are given a number to display at their seats before the food arrives.
Faith Park's adorable stuffed dog, Fao. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
En Hakkore's sushi burritos are very large but not heavy, stuffed with seafood, cucumber and other veggies and wrapped in seaweed.
Appetizers include a seafood pancake, Kimchi fries and butter corn cheese.
Larger than its original location, En Hakkore 2.0 offers 60 seats: at a community table, in a smattering of booths and tables, plus at a counter overlooking the street.
The Parks previously explained the meaning behind the restaurant's namesake.
"When Samson was tired, he asked God for help. He regained his strength at En Hakkore. We are hoping people will check it out and get help, strength, joy, whatever the good things are," said Peter Park.
In addition to reminding her of a favorite biblical passage, Faith Park said she likes the last four letters of En Hakkore, because "kore" reminds her of Korea, where the couple is originally from.
In the back of the restaurant, near the bathrooms, there is dog house built into the wall housing a stuffed dog and a sign in English and Korean warning, "Be Aware of Dog."
The dog is the closest thing that Faith Park has to a dog, Rivera explained.
"In Korea, everyone has a dog. They are always busy working here, that they can't have a dog, so this is their dog," Rivera said.
En Hakkore 2.0, 1467 N. Milwaukee Ave.. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. Mon-Saturday, Closed Sunday. Ph: 773-278-5959.
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