Skip to main content

Korean Fried Chicken Redemption! From London to Seoul

Alright, people, let's talk about Korean Fried Chicken (KFC). Not that KFC, though frankly, some of my previous experiences in London have made me wish for Colonel Sanders' original recipe just for some consistency.

My relationship with UK-based Korean fried chicken has been… complicated. I’ve dipped my toes in a few spots – I remember Wing Wing a while back, and the newer kids on the block like KoKoDoo, and even some independent joints. The verdict? Meh.

It is a decent fried chicken in London but just not something I will eat again

The usual suspects: batter thicker than a London fog, chicken that seemed to have gone through a dehydrator, and seasoning so aggressive it felt like a flavour attack rather than a flavour profile. I get that KFC is meant to be bold, but when the sauce or seasoning completely overpowers the actual chicken, you’ve lost the plot. It’s supposed to be a harmonious dance, not a flavour wrestling match where the chicken tap-outs in the first round.

Fast forward to my recent layover in Seoul. I had a few hours to kill before my next flight and thought, "What the heck, let's give the original a proper burial... or maybe a resurrection." I googled a highly-rated chain - Kyochon Chicken, but honestly, I think they're all just operating on a higher plane of existence over there) and headed over.

I arrived around 12:00 PM – peak lunch hour, right? The place was strangely quiet. My internal alarm bells were screaming, "Low footfall equals low quality!" But I was already there, so I gritted my teeth and ordered the Garlic and Soya flavour.

Best chain fried chicken ever! the pickled raddish is just prefer to refresh your tastbud after each succlent chicken
And BAM! Oh. My. Wok-tossing. God.

From the first bite, my entire perspective on KFC was flipped faster than a pancake. I will never forget it. The batter was ridiculously, exquisitely crispy and thin. It was a delicate, crunchy armour, not a soggy, doughy helmet. And the chicken underneath? Juicy, tender, bursting with flavour and natural chicken juice.

The seasoning was the real kicker. The garlic was punchy, but it played nice with the savoury soya. It complemented the chicken; it didn't bully it. Everything was just right.

A must try if you are in Korea
I feel genuinely remorseful for using London's frankly underwhelming KFC as the global standard. If you're like me and were turned off by the thick-battered, over-seasoned offerings back in Britain, you absolutely must try the real deal in Seoul.

Seriously, can someone please bring this proper, authentic Korean fried chicken technique to Britain? My taste buds are begging.

Verdict: Forget your London let-downs; Seoul's KFC is thin, crispy perfection with succulent chicken and balanced, addictive seasoning.

Estimated Cost Per Person: £5 - £10


Restaurant Info:

A quick search for chains like Kyochon Chicken, BHC Chicken, or Bonchon Chicken in Seoul will likely lead you to a similar, glorious experience!

 

Labels:
Location: Seoul, South Korea

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🍜 Noodle Nova London- Beyond Chinatown's Gravitational Pull

When you're craving proper Chinese food in London, your brain immediately screams 'Chinatown!' and you're mentally bracing for the jam-packed street. But London's culinary map is expanding faster than my waistline after a day out. I was loitering around the Temple station area, pretending to be a fancy lawyer (didn't work, my shoes were too muddy), when my stomach issued an urgent demand for noodles. A quick search later, and I found myself staring at Noodle Nova, a new kid on the block that's doing Lanzhou beef noodles. The Vibe and the Broth Giant vase in the centre First impression: Nice dΓ©cor. And true to its Chinese name, Qing Hua Yu (ι’θŠ±ιˆΊ), which means something like 'Porcelain Jade,' there was a rather large, fancy vase in the shop. Clearly, they've gone for aesthetic as well as noodle. Spicy broth taste good too but I prefer non-spicy one Now, onto the main event. As a specialist beef noodle joint, they offer a whole spectrum of noodle thi...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Joy -Taipei's Highest (and Priciest) All-You-Can-Eat Truly Worth the Sky-High Bill?

When someone mentions "buffet," your mind probably conjures up images of lukewarm, vaguely-Chinese food trays and a general sense of regret. But hold onto your chopsticks, because East Asia’s buffet game is a completely different. We’re talking next-level quality, and prices to match. This time, Honest Bao scaled the ultimate peak in Taipei to review what might be the city's highest and most expensive buffet... and I'm here to tell you if it's the absolute best. Great view on Taipei city This place is seriously popular, so ditch your spontaneous dinner plans. You must book in advance, and here's a cheeky little catch for you international travellers: they tend to charge foreigners a tad more since you typically have to use a booking agent like Klook to snag a spot. Once you're in, though, prepare to be impressed. The restaurant sprawls across the entire floor, and the variety of food is absolutely monumental—it easily dwarfs any buffet spread I've enco...
Post a Comment
Read more

Barcelona's Best-Kept Secret? Finding High-Quality Sushi at Sato I Tanaka

As a big city and famous for seafood, it's no surprise that Barcelona has some quality Japanese restaurants. It seems people are really crazy for them here too, as I really struggled to find any online availability when I tried to make a reservation. They are definitely busy, but not 100% full every day. Stay until the end of the post for a little tip to secure a table. Good quality tuna from Spain Sato I Tanaka, a small, unassuming spot that promised an omakase experience for less than the price of a flight to Japan. The moment I walked in, I felt like I was back to Japan. A long, elegant wooden counter, the quiet clatter of knives, and a chef who looked like he knew his way around a fish. This was the real deal. Love the red prawn We went for the lunch tasting menu, and at under 50 euros, my expectations were set to "cautiously optimistic." I mean, I've paid more for a sad-looking sushi platter in London. But what arrived was pure magic. The rice was  perfectly seas...
Post a Comment
Read more