KORLENS

Korean Food Guide

Korean Fried Chicken (치킨)

Double-fried, crispy-as-glass chicken with sweet-spicy glaze — the global Korean export hit.

Fried chicken (main / snack)KRW 18,000-25,000 (whole chicken serves 2-3)Heat: 🌶️

Korean fried chicken is double-fried for extreme crispiness, then glazed in sauce or left bare. Most popular flavors: yangnyeom (sweet-spicy), ganjang (soy-garlic), honey-butter. Always served with preserved radish cubes and beer.

Ingredients

  • Whole chicken (cut up)
  • Potato starch coating
  • Soybean oil
  • Gochujang glaze (yangnyeom)
  • Soy + garlic (ganjang)
  • Preserved radish (chikin-mu)

Origin

Daegu, 1970s. Bonchon Chicken and Kyochon pioneered the global brands.

Best paired with

Beer (chimaek = chicken + maekju, Korea's national pairing). Cola for kids.

Where to try Korean Fried Chicken

  • 1.BHC — most popular Korean chain
  • 2.Kyochon — soy-garlic flavor is iconic
  • 3.Pelicana — original franchise from 1982
  • 4.Bonchon — global brand

Tips

  • Order half-half — 50% yangnyeom, 50% soy-garlic = best of both.
  • Chimaek at Han River park in summer = quintessential Korean evening.
  • Delivery in <30 minutes anywhere in Seoul. Use Yogiyo or Baemin.

Frequently asked

Why so crispy?

Double-frying — fry once at 320F, rest, fry again at 360F. Plus potato starch coating.

What's chimaek?

Chicken + maekju (beer) = the most Korean evening meal.

Best brand in Seoul?

Each brand has fans — BHC (popular), Kyochon (premium), Pelicana (classic).