K-Town Fried Chicken

[FattyDumplin]

What are my options now? i'm not a huge fan of Baden Baden. I've tried BonChon, but they are now gone??? Any others that are worth trying?

[windycity]

BonChon is opening on 38th and 7th or thereabouts. Also there's a bonchon on Chambers by City Hall. Not sure of other options in K-town though since Kyochon has yet to open.

[uwsister]

WHEN is Kyochon going to open??? Seems like the sign's been there forever... waiting, waiting waiting... anybody have any scoop on that?

[bigjeff]

new signage is for january 2010.

[kelea]

Mad for chicken is still at 31st and 5th and Boka on St Marks carries BonChon chicken as well

[FattyDumplin]

how is mad for chicken? Is it just bonchon under the same name or entirely different?

[ExFlexitarian]

Same owners, but they decided that they didn't want to pay the Bon Chon franchising fee's anymore, so they stole/copied the recipe. The chicken's not as good as before, IMO

[jdf]

Also, had to wait almost an hour for our chicken to be ready.

[Lau]

it always takes at least 30 mins b/c they cook the chicken fresh

that said their service kind of sucks

[jdf]

I knew that going in and read it on the website. But, an hour for the chicken (which was all we were there for) seems kind of ridiculous. Agree about the service.

[nativeNYer]

We tried the garlic soy chicken at Mad for Chicken a couple of weeks ago. Probably the best quality of chicken we've had in a long time b/c the chicken itself was plump, fresh and juicy but it wasn't that crispy and I wasn't in love with the garlic soy. Didn't have much of a taste. The rosemary fries were just okay.

The problems with the place, IMO, are:
1. $16.95 for 6 chicken drumsticks (the smallest possible order) is just plain sick. I'm rarely affected by price when it comes to food but this is just so beyond ridiculous.
2. the place itself is structured like a really cute wine bar. it's really adorable but It's way too small and tight and not conducive (lol) for eating messy chicken wings especially if you get one of the really low tables.
Brilliant on their part b/c folks definitely drink there so they make lots of money on all the alcohol as well as grossly overcharging for chicken.
3. They are really, really nice (almost to the point where you feel like you've been taken) but they are totally useless when ordering from the menu. When we ordered, the server told us there was a smaller order of chicken and then she came back much later on well after our order was submitted and drinks were served to casually tell us the $16.95 order was the smallest chicken order. I had other menu questions that she also couldn't answer. So I won't go back.

We then tried Bon Chon last night in Bayside, Qns. I'm assuming it is similar to their downtown location. At least here, they have specials where you can get a smaller portion of chicken, fries and a coke for like $11, and the smallest order of chicken (same 6 pieces as Mad for Chicken) is only $11. Despite the less expensive price, the garlic soy chicken drumsticks are exactly the same quality and size, and it is far more crunchy and tasty. They also serve it with a small salad, and they gave us a Korean pancake on the house for no reason at all ...unless it comes with it but I doubt it. It was so good and the servers were genuinely sweet. So I would definitely recommend Bon Chon and will look forward to trying their new manhattan location in the W30s once it opens.

[CookinKhan]

I think there's also a new Bonchon opening in the Financial District on John st., it took over the old Zen Palate space;

[CookinKhan]

Yup, definitely open now (I live across the street). Big lunch crowd but more manageable during the dinner time.