10 Must-Try Korean Fried Chicken aka Chimaek Restaurants In Seoul – From Kyochon Chicken, Kkanbu, To Hanchu Chicken – DanielFoodDiary.com (2023)

FAQs

What is the best Flavour Korean fried chicken? ›

Sweet soy, honey butter, spicy garlic – Korean fried chicken comes in many flavours, but my favourite is what is variously described as “sweet, sour and spicy”, “sweet and spicy chilli” and “spicy Asian”, a sticky-sweet yet intensely savoury sauce in which the heat can be adjusted to taste.

Chimaek (치맥; from Korean chikin 'fried chicken', and maekju 'beer') is a pairing of fried chicken (either plain huraideu or spicy yangnyeom) and beer, served as anju (English: food with alcohol) in the evening in many South Korean restaurants, including a number of specialized chains.

Korean fried chicken, usually called chikin (치킨, from the English "chicken") in Korea, refers to a variety of fried chicken dishes created in South Korea, including the basic huraideu-chicken (후라이드 치킨, from the English "fried chicken") and spicy yangnyeom chicken (양념 치킨, "seasoned chicken").

What it doesn't mean is that fried chicken is dirt-cheap because of its ubiquity. While some less expensive options do exist, a box (the equivalent of a single chicken) likely costs between 16,000 and 20,000 won (13.20 to 16.50 dollars) after price hikes a few months ago reflected the steep rate of inflation.

While American-style fried chicken usually consists of a thick, browned, well-seasoned crust with flabby, moist meat, Korean-style fried chicken often comes across as healthier and less fatty.

So what makes Korean fried chicken so different from its American counterpart? While its American cousin is usually brined and dredged in a flour and buttermilk mixture, Korean fried chicken tends to be more light and crispy with a thin, almost paper-like skin that is not heavily battered.

As far as the beer goes, the theme is light and watery, as Korea hasn't had much of a beer culture until very recently. But the beer isn't meant to be a flavor vehicle anyway. It's a cold, carbonated rush to complement the spicy, salty, oily chicken.

While it is definitely delicious, is Korean fried chicken healthy? Korean fried chicken can be a very unhealthy dish given its high fat content from double frying - a traditional serving of Korean Fried chicken can run at 940 calories with only 21 grams of protein and a whopping 84 grams of fat and 30 grams of carbs.

Extra crispy and spicy with a hint of sweet

The pieces of chicken are coated with spices, chilis, and sugars before they are fried the first time to seal in the flavors — and then they are fried a second time, resulting in a less messy wing or drumstick.

Korean-style fried chicken is radically different, reflecting an Asian frying technique that renders out the fat in the skin, transforming it into a thin, crackly and almost transparent crust.

Why do Koreans fry chicken twice? ›

Unlike American fried chicken, which has a thick crust, Korean fried chicken has a thin outer layer made using potato starch, and is double fried to get that extra crispy crunch.

Korean fried chicken became such a popular Korean staple because of the Asian Financial Crisis of 20 years ago. The crisis resulted in many people losing their jobs and a lot of them starting fried chicken restaurants in an attempt to provide for their families.

Hence, it is no surprise that one of his favorite Korean dishes to eat is Kimchi Fried Rice. He has mentioned this fact during various BTS interviews. Kimchi fried rice is very similar to ordinary fried rice.

Doenjang jjigae (된장찌개)

This humble, instantly recognizable stew is one of Korea's most beloved foods. The ingredients are simple: doenjang, tofu, mushrooms, green peppers, scallions, and an anchovy or two for added flavor. Add rice and kimchi on the side and you have a meal -- no other side dishes necessary.

Sparkling wine is always good with deep-fried food and, with the hot spicy sauce, we suggest a rosé. Champagne or English sparkling wine could taste a little lean with this dish, so perhaps go for a New World sparkling wine with a bit more fruit, or a Cava rosado.

The traditional Korean diet is healthy. It's centered around vegetables, fermented foods like kimchi, soups, rice, and meat or seafood. Healthy Korean food choices include kimchi, seasoned or steamed vegetable side dishes, bibimbap, and konggusku, among many others.

The result: McDonald's wins

While chicken is an obvious Men's Health staple, KFC's reliance on greasy oils and subsequent sky-high calorific content makes Maccy's an unlikely victor.

Why is Korean fried chicken sweet? ›

It's made by deep-frying sweet rice batter into crackers, coating with a syrup, and finally covering with puffed rice, sesame seeds, or nuts. Traditionally, the similar concept/technique — deep frying and coating with a sticky syrup — is also used to make various other sweet and savory dishes.

Just like in the United States, the appeal of KFC in Asia also comes down to something simple: It tastes really damn good. The Colonel's secret herbs and spices recipe gives KFC an air of mystery while also being straight-up addictive.

In America, white meat is the most popular part of the chicken. But in Korea, dark meat is the choice cut. Almost all Korean fried chicken recipes calls for either thighs or drumsticks (although wings are also popular). If using white meat, adjust your cooking time as chicken breast cooks faster than dark meat.

When the chicken gets spicy, like in Korean fried chicken, a hoppy IPA can intensify the chile heat. If you'd rather cool the fire, look for a more malty beer like a brown ale or porter.

If you've ever ordered Korean fried chicken at a restaurant before, you might have been served this pickled radish, called chicken-mu. Tiny cold radish cubes, pickled in sweet, sour, and just a little salty brine is very refreshing when paired with super crispy Korean fried or roasted chicken.

One or more serving of fried chicken a day was linked to a 13% higher risk of death from any cause. A regular serving of fried chicken or fish is associated with a higher risk of death from any cause except cancer, according to a new study done in postmenopausal women in the United States.

Korean fried chicken uses potato starch. The Japanese style of cooking the chicken is lightly floured before fried. This is usually rice flour or cornstarch. For the Korean style, while it's common to find the chicken fried without any coating, some do toss it in a little flour.

Birth of Korean fried chicken

The great thing about Korean fried chicken is that you can enjoy it in several ways, such as a rice bowl, like Gangnam Chicken, or on its own, which can be eaten as a meal or snack with pickled radish and iced cold beer or soju.

Korean cuisine is one of the world's healthiest because of the wide use of natural and seasonal components of their food sources, like tofu, beans, garlic, and their all-natural kimchi. Rice is a precious staple in the Korean diet, preferring the starchier short grain rice with its stickier texture.

Why is fried chicken so delicious? ›

Fried Chicken Flavor Chemistry

Our bodies actually require a certain amount of fat in our diets for health and satiety. The combination of the natural fat in chicken, as well as the salt in it's seasoning helps our bodies understand that we're eating a meal that's both satisfying, filling, and delicious.

Korean Beef recipes like Bulgogi or Kalbi is what Korean food is best known for. But Korean cuisine has many other dishes that are a medley of beef and various vegetables including dishes like Bulgogi Rice Bowls, Bibimbap and Gungjung Tteokbokki.

Raised free-range in the South Korean countryside, Hanwoo cattle are known for their high marbling, beefy flavor and slightly sweet taste – a result of an organic mixed grain and grass diet. In South Korea, locally bred Hanwoo is the meat of choice – and it's priced accordingly.

What does marinating chicken in buttermilk do? Because of its slight acidity, buttermilk has the ability to tenderize the chicken, without it becoming tough and chewy. Using buttermilk also helps the chicken go nice and flaky when you dredge it through the dry mix.

The country is the third largest market for chicken restaurants in terms of revenue, outpaced only by the far more populous United States and China.

Koreans were first introduced to American-style fried chicken during the Korean war (1950-53). The concept of frying battered pieces of chicken was introduced by American troops stationed in South Korea during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Until then, Koreans had steamed their chicken.

You should plan to spend around ₩118,323 ($89) per day on your vacation in South Korea, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, ₩30,541 ($23) on meals for one day and ₩17,227 ($13) on local transportation.

On a national level, a family of four can expect to spend an average of 2,300,000 KRW per month (2,000 USD) in living expenses (excluding rent). A single expat can expect to pay 652,000 KRW (560 USD) per month (excluding rent).

For those on a mid range budget, 120 000 krw should be enough and for those on a luxury budget, a minimum of 200 000 krw should be ok. It is recommended to bring at least around 200$ in cash. You can use this in places that don't accept cash or in emergencies.

The Korean fried chicken is super crispy because potato starch is added to its batter and the chicken is fried twice. This second frying also cooks off the excess water in the chicken from the first frying. Korean fried chicken is known to stay extra crispy for a long time, even with a glazed surface.

What ethnicity eats the most fried chicken? ›

Black Americans consume a significantly larger amount of chicken (at least 38% more), turkey (at least 38% more) and fish (at least 53% more) than any other racial or ethnic group included in this data.

In 1897, Joseon changed its name to the Korean Empire (Daehan Jeguk) and pushed ahead with reforms and an open-door policy, but it was too late. Japan soon won major victories in its wars against the Qing dynasty and Russia, emerged as a strong power in Northeast Asia, and took steps to annex Joseon.

As of 2022, the average salary of a person working in South Korea is 3,890,000 KRW per month, while the average salary in the country is 2,818,500 KRW.

Minimum monthly house rent in South Korea is around 300,000 KRW (250 USD) for a small officetel studio (5–8 pyeong). On average, however, expect to pay about 500,000 KRW (425 USD) per month for this type of accommodation in big cities.

The average cost of living in South Korea ($1062) is 50% less expensive than in the United States ($2112). South Korea ranked 53rd vs 6th for the United States in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.

So what makes Korean fried chicken so different from its American counterpart? While its American cousin is usually brined and dredged in a flour and buttermilk mixture, Korean fried chicken tends to be more light and crispy with a thin, almost paper-like skin that is not heavily battered.

Korean-style fried chicken is radically different, reflecting an Asian frying technique that renders out the fat in the skin, transforming it into a thin, crackly and almost transparent crust.

Breakfast looks different around the world. In South Korea breakfast may consist of soup, side dishes, and rice. Favorite breakfast soups include galbitang, kongnamul bap, kimchijjigae, or manduguk. There is also a side dish meal called baekban which consists of a small bowl of soup with many side dishes.

While it is definitely delicious, is Korean fried chicken healthy? Korean fried chicken can be a very unhealthy dish given its high fat content from double frying - a traditional serving of Korean Fried chicken can run at 940 calories with only 21 grams of protein and a whopping 84 grams of fat and 30 grams of carbs.

How is Korean fried chicken so crispy? ›

Korean fried chicken is super crispy due to the addition of potato starch in its batter and double frying the chicken. This second fry also boils off the extra moisture in the chicken after the first fry. Korean fried chicken is known to stay extra crispy for an extended period of time, even with a glaze!

Korean Fried Chicken is the full form of KFC in Korea.

Chicken is the meat of choice in Australia, as it outsells every other kind of meat available in the market. The daily consumption of chicken is also higher than that of any other meat. Being the biggest consumer of chicken in the world, they eat an average of 205 pounds of chicken per person on a yearly basis.

The Beijing Railway Station KFC holds the distinction as being the busiest in the world. What makes this location so busy? It's simply all about its location. Beijing Railway Station is an important hub for the entire nation's railway transportation system.

Junk foods include foods like burgers, fried chicken, and pizza from fast-food restaurants, as well as packaged foods like chips, biscuits, and ice-cream, sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, fatty meats like bacon, sugary cereals, and frozen ready meals like lasagne.