The term ‘guilty pleasure’ isn’t a great one. I love Dave Grohl’s quote about him not having any guilty pleasures because everyone has the right to enjoy what they enjoy without other people giving them a hard time about it.
With that being said, I really do enjoy Korean pop music. Come on, I live in a town where you’re born knowing how to play Starcraft and styling your hair with wax. I can’t help but enjoy the synchronised dance moves of Girl’s Generation, the sort of ambiguous good looks of CN Blue and Big Bang’s never ending string of hits.
I never expected to enjoy some K-Pop tunes playing on a screen adjacent to one broadcasting the NFL play-offs.
Well, that happened in BonChon.
According to my sources, Bon-Chon translates to ‘the greatest fried chicken in the world (my sources are ketchup, aioli and mayonnaise).
I arrived at night during the midst of an intense playoff battle between the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints. The patrons had their eyes locked on their screens as my senses started going haywire. I heard the crooning of K-Pop music, I smelt the hypnotising scent of fried chicken and my eyes saw what would be a very nice second home when I felt like taking a vacation from Shake Shack.
The waitresses seemed exceptionally kind to me during my visit. Maybe they were unaccustomed to lone patrons and that would make sense. Bon-Chon is like a sports bar with restaurant quality chicken under its wing (heh).
Spoiler alert, I really dug the food:
For whatever reason, most diners/restaurants on the East coast love burning their chips. Maybe it’s a way to show that they’re using authentic potatoes or whatever but it’s definitely something you have to adjust to. Fortunately for me, Bon-Chon does away with that notion and just offers incredible fries that spend just the right amount of time in the deep fryer. I’m pretty sure they’re double fried like their chicken as the crunch you get when biting into one of these golden pillars is incredible.
Bonus points: The ketchup they provide has a bit more sourness to it than other varieties of ketchup that I enjoyed tremendously.
Anywho, I know what all of you have been waiting for:
New York Selfies!
Oh right, this is a food porn blog.
Back to BonChon:
You know how else I know BonChon is home?
Everyone else in the place who ordered wings was using THIS technique that I only recently picked up. I like being around like-minded dudes, especially if they have the same taste in chicken.
With all due respect to Red Pepper and NaruOne, this is the best Korean fried chicken I’ve ever had and it’s not really close. The classic double frying technique is executed to perfection and it’s an honour to be sitting in front of these angel wings. Tender and moist meat encased in the batter and the garlic/soy glaze can be used to salvage any dish that needs a boost.
These were the perfect wings that took me through the roof and into Nirvana.
Here’s the TL; DR for everyone who wants to throw me through a roof
– Broncos over Seahawks in the Superbowl.
– Everyday is Fry-Day
– You can’t go wrong at BonChon
BonChon Chicken, New York
207 W 38th St (opposite Starbucks)
Opening Hours:
Sunday | 11:30 am – 11:00 pm |
Monday | 11:30 am – 11:00 pm |
Tuesday | 11:30 am – 11:00 pm |
Wednesday | 11:30 am – 11:00 pm |
Thursday | 11:30 am – 11:00 pm |
Friday | 11:30 am – 2:00 am |
Saturday | 11:30 am – 11:00 pm |
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hot damn i need some fried chicken in my life
Fried chicken IS life!
I’m sure this place was on our NYC list but alas we never made it. REGRETS. I’ve had a few!
Keep it in mind for next time! I almost didn’t go cause it was raining that night. Phew.