Privus closing, Bon Chon moving to Harvard Square

[silver queen]

Stopped in last week for some chicken and was told that they are closing in April or May, but that they were going to take the Bon Chon franchise to their new place- Bull Korean BBQ, on JFK, I believe where Shilla used to be. So bad news for Allston, good news for Harvard Sq. At least it's not disappearing from the Boston area altogether..

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Shilla Restaurant
57 Jfk St Ste 9, Cambridge, MA 02138

[robertlf]

There is already a Korean-Japanese restaurant there called Shabu-ya. Is that going to be replaced with Bon Chon??

[MC Slim JB]

The new Korean/Japanese place is going into the old Shilla spot: it's called Bull, is focused more on Korean BBQ, and is picking up the Bon Chon Chicken franchise.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Shilla Restaurant
57 Jfk St Ste 9, Cambridge, MA 02138

[StriperGuy]

Dang, did Shilla close; I loved their Pork Kimchee Bokeum...

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Shilla Restaurant
57 Jfk St Ste 9, Cambridge, MA 02138

[MC Slim JB]

Yes. I liked Shilla, too, though I don't work nearby anymore, hadn't gotten back for lunch in a couple of years.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Shilla Restaurant
57 Jfk St Ste 9, Cambridge, MA 02138

[heypielady]

Wow. I'm a fool. I wish I read this post 3 hours ago. Mr and I crossed the BU bridge walked up to Allston all excited to eat BonChon...but alas, as you have all confirmed, its closed. We went to Jo Jo Tapei instead. Not a bad back up plan... loved the three cup tofu. But I was dying for a beer.

Glad to here its moving to Harvard Sq. that walk will be the same distance for us I think.

[StriperGuy]

Roppongi a few blocks away near the intersection of Harvard and Comm. also does amazing Korean fried chicken wings.

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Roppongi
1243 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA 02134

[robertlf]

I've yet to have Korean fried chicken yet. Are the wings at Jae's Cafe similar to them?

[StriperGuy]

Don't mistake anything at Jae's for actual Korean food. Assuming this is the "eat at Jae's live forever" mini chain.

[nsenada]

Did that date back to when they were near Jake and Earl's, whose sign was "eat here and die happy," or something like that?

[StriperGuy]

Even earlier when they has a place in the South End. But yah, same dorky chain. They were always to cutesy fusiony for their own good.

[MC Slim JB]

I remember thinking Jae's was pretty good in the original South End location 19 or 20 years ago: I remember seeing "Until the End of the World" at the Cheri and then going there for dinner. But it was never the same once it expanded to Inman and beyond, and has been forgettable for a long time.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[StriperGuy]

I agree, when they FIRST opened in the SE they were good, but even in that location they turned bad pretty quickly.

[teezeetoo]

the report i got on roppongi says their wings are considerably heavier and greasier than bon chon. i'm going to go try for myself.

[MaggieCat]

Say it ain't so! Did they have an expected time frame for opening the new restaurant?

I don't think the hype is excessive at all. That chicken is seriously good.

[hiddenboston]

They are having some kind of farewell event this weekend (May 1-2), so it indeed looks like they will only be open a few more days.

[tysonmcneely]

Wow, that sucks. Even though I definitely don't go frequently, it's a nice option to have around for Bon-Chon and late night sushi. Anyone know what is going to take it's place? The same people that are taking over the Kells?

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Kells Restaurant
161 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134

[joebloe]

Kells will be replaced by a franchise of Tavern in the Square, a bar and restaurant which already has three locations in the Boston area.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

While losing Privus is a shame, it's collateral damage from having a bar that's recently devolved from shouty-fighty into stabby-shooty finally get shut down. I'll take a short ride on the 66 in exchange for fewer violent deaths in my immediate neighborhood.

[kobuta]

Yay for BonChon! Guess that's the benefit of avoiding the stabby-shooty hours. I only always dined with the wing-lovers crowd in the early evening. Never seen bar fights there.

[Prav]

I'm glad I finally got to try it a couple weeks ago. While I think it does receive a bit of excessive hype, I DID very much enjoy the spicy wings and drummies we had. The palate-cleansing daikon cubes were nice as well.

[yumyum]

Prav -- I agree. I was expecting to be blown away given all the noise about these amazing wings. They were good, nice and crispy, but nothing terribly special. I'm glad I can scratch it off the bucket list of things I need to try, but I don't get the hype.

[teezeetoo]

since this is the only decent fried chicken i've found in the boston area, i would love to have recommendations from yumyum and prav as to what they've found that's better?

[yumyum]

Mmmm... fried chicken! I like the version at Highland Kitchen a lot (only on Mondays). Summer Shack, believe it or not, does a nice fried to order plate. It's a little salty but it's a hefty portion (4 pieces to the order). I'd like to try Tupelo's version next but I think that's also a special.

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Summer Shack
310 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

[phatchris]

Tupelo has fried chicken and waffles on their brunch menu and its awesome IMO.Personally I'd do without the waffle and have 2 or 3 more pieces of chicken.

[yumyum]

Indeed. Speaking of chix n waffs, South End Buttery also has them for brunch, much to my surprise.

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South End Buttery
314 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

[bear]

I'm no chicken and waffles expert, but thought the Buttery's version was pretty delicious with the sausage gravy. I can also take or leave the waffle, but it works pretty well with the whole dish.

[yumyum]

Oh gawd .. I forgot about the sausage gravy. Mmmmmmm.....

[hillarylauren]

I think Hungry Mother also has fried chicken on the menu now (as a smaller plate not a main). Friends of mine had it a few times on occasions when it was a special and really liked it. Said it compared favorably to Highland Kitchen's, which is our favorite. I haven't gotten to try HM's yet but am looking forward to it.

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Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Hungry Mother
Cambridge, MA, Cambridge, MA

[Janeinma]

We went once for the chicken and were underwhelmed and disgusted by the price they charged for a minute non refilled cup of tea. I prefer the Korean restaurant , 'Roppongi‎ ??, on comm ave close to Great Scott, where we ended up one night and found their chicken tastier and spicier cheaper and more plentiful. Getting the 2 person meal wasn't cheap ($18 I think) but came with edemame and two of us ate substantially and there was enough for another two person meal.

[StriperGuy]

Roppongi is great.

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Roppongi
1243 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA 02134

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

I actually prefer Roppongi to Privus.

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Roppongi
1243 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA 02134