To be completely honest, I’ve never been the biggest fan of eggs. Long before the concept of the “egg ick” — a random and sudden aversion to the taste of eggs — was popularized on TikTok, I spent most of my childhood reluctantly choking them down.
But the eggs are special at Eggs with Benefits Evanston’s newest Korean-inspired brunch spot located at 527 Davis St, From the owner of 10Q Chicken and bopNgrill, Eggs with Benefits constructs a range of sandwiches and breakfast bowls with the softest, fluffiest eggs that might just convert the most hesitant egg haters.
I visited Eggs with Benefits with fellow spoonies Selina Jiang and Katie Chang, and we’re already planning our next visit. Here are our thoughts on the food.
Doshirak—Korean Lunch Bowl
This bowl was bursting with flavor and texture: Crispy spam, kimchi and silky scrambled eggs were added to a base of perfectly cooked white rice, making each bite incredibly satisfying. The toppings – shredded seaweed, chives and sesame seeds – complimented the base perfectly Spam tends to be too salty for me, but the tangy taste of the sauteed kimchi along with the ratio of rice to the other components in the bowl created a balanced flavor profile that felt both comforting and unique. As a fellow veggie lover, the only change I would make would be to add bok choy or another stir-fried vegetable (then again, that’s almost always true for any dish).
Steak & Eggs Bowl
The best part of this bowl, according to Selina, was the splash of sweet soy sauce mixed in with the rice at the bottom. As home-cooked-meal-deprived college students, the familiarity of the rice bowl paired with the cloud-like texture of the eggs made the dish feel simultaneously homey and distinctive. Plus, the portion size is even more generous than it looks. Not to mention, every egg bowl or sandwich comes with a side of a perfectly crispy, golden hash brown!
Smoked Bacon & Egg Sandwich
A spin on the classic bacon, egg and cheese, this sandwich was mind-blowing from the brioche bun to the scrambled egg filling. Katie especially liked the soft, tender and perfectly-buttered brioche bun. The applewood smoked bacon, caramelized onions and garlic mayo added a kick of flavor that blended seamlessly together. Katie’s pro tip: add hot sauce to elevate the sandwich to the next level!
Closing Thoughts
The restaurant’s modern, warm lighting created an inviting and cozy atmosphere perfect to pick up a hearty rice bowl or egg sandwich and chat away. Evanston is a hub for American brunch spots, but Eggs with Benefits is the city’s first location for Korean breakfast. We can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the unique bowls and sandwiches!