Exploring Chicago and Joong Boo Market with Getaround, a peer-to-peer car sharing service.
This post is in partnership with Getaround.
It’s hard to believe it’s been over eight months since Connor and I moved to Chicago, and nearly six months since my last update. Time has flown by. One of my goals for the year has been to explore more of the city, especially food-focused neighborhoods and markets. Even with a cookbook taking up most of my time, getting out to discover new places remains vital for my creativity and overall sanity.
Two weeks ago, my friend Kristin—who also recently moved here—joined me for a much-needed girl’s day to check out Joong Boo Market, an authentic Korean market in Chicago. A friend had mentioned it months earlier, but it’s not the most convenient location for either of us, so we finally made a plan to go.
Living downtown, we decided to downsize to one car before the move. It made sense financially and practically; walking and public transit cover most of our needs. Still, I miss the flexibility of having a car for spur-of-the-moment trips or when I need to haul groceries, props, or other bulky items. Connor’s work schedule uses our car most days, so my access is limited.
A month ago, Getaround, a car sharing service that lets you rent other people’s cars or list your own, reached out about collaborating. Coincidentally, Getaround announced service arriving in our area days later. I’d been eager to try it, and this visit to Joong Boo Market provided the perfect opportunity.
Although I still rely on public transit for everyday trips, having Getaround available adds a convenient option—especially when friends or family visit. The app handles booking and unlocking the car, and every rental includes insurance and roadside assistance, which makes the whole process feel safe and simple.
Kristin and I booked a car for half a day. The freedom to be spontaneous was fantastic: we drove to the market, explored at our own pace, and didn’t worry about carrying bags or timing public transit.
Joong Boo Market itself is a lively, flavorful place and a great escape from my recipe-testing routine. While it’s not as large as some regional Asian supermarkets, we had a blast exploring. We tried dumplings from the outdoor station and ordered food at a counter inside. The dumplings were enormous—seriously the size of my head—so filling and delicious.
Inside the market we sat down for spicy ramen and a bubbling soybean paste tofu soup served with rice, vegetables, and kimchi. As food bloggers, we couldn’t resist taking photos—plenty of curious glances, but it was worth it.
The highlight of the trip was restocking pantry staples at much better prices than typical grocery stores. I picked up Thai basil, Chinese eggplant, lemongrass, sushi rice, toasted sesame oil in a large bottle, tamari, tofu, rice papers, coconut milk, and my favorite Korean yuzu gummy candies—plus, of course, pocky sticks.
We also explored the kitchen supply section, which featured gigantic stainless bowls and spider strainers—items that were impressive in scale and hard to capture fully in photographs.
After loading our groceries into the car trunk, we drove up to Evanston to wander the neighborhoods, visit Northwestern, and enjoy coffee at Kafein, a cozy college coffee shop downtown. It was a peaceful end to a restorative day.
Getaround makes city exploration easy. If you live in a city and don’t use your car regularly, listing it can also be a smart way to offset ownership costs. Renting through Getaround can be an affordable, convenient alternative to owning a second car, and it’s especially useful when you want to explore neighborhoods outside your usual area.
This post is in partnership with Getaround, and as always the opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting brands I use and enjoy.