Korean Fried Chicken Coming to Midtown For Lunch?!?
Posted in the comments yesterday: “Based on some of the feedback that I have gathered from this site, I have been trying to convince an investor group to open a Korean style fried chicken (ie: Bonchon Chicken) in Midtown. Do you think you would go for after work chicken and beer? If anyone has suggested locations, please let me know. I am thinking somewhere in the 50’s btw 6th Ave and Madison?” Hmmm. Let me think about this… uh, yeah! As long as it’s open for lunch too…
Posted: August 6th, 2008 under Asides, Fried Chicken, Korean.
Comments: 34
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Comments
Comment from DubbininBklyn
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:07 pm
Obviously the best place is in Little Korea…
Comment from Blondie
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:14 pm
would it be really horrible if i had bonchon for lunch in midtown, and then again for dinner out by my home? if it’s from two different bonchons, then only one counts, right? Oh, and dubbin, i hear from koreans that the best korean is out by me in the far reaches of eastern Queens. i am investigating further; more to come.
Comment from Rudy McBagel
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:20 pm
Lucky east Queenian Koreans,i say.
Comment from wayne
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:21 pm
Blondie, did you see the Korean Fried Chickie Roundup link I posted last time this came up?
I’m a Queens lad myself
Comment from Danny
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:40 pm
how soon can they open?!
Comment from Skeater
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:41 pm
I am 88% sure I just saw Zach at Margon’s getting a drink. I think I stared at him till he felt awkward and left. I am sorry about that Zach.. Just wasn’t sure if it was you…
Comment from Zach@MidtownLunch
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:42 pm
haha. that was me… but I didn’t notice anybody staring. too busy cooling off with my delicious shake…
Comment from Yvo
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:43 pm
Dubbin- I think Zach would disagree… he says Little Korea is just a touch too far for him to have lunch… I recall a couple posts where he says it’s just outside of Midtown borders but he allows that extra block
Comment from Mamacita
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:43 pm
Ay, wayne, I always knew you were a queen
Comment from Lou
Time: August 6, 2008, 3:48 pm
Couldn’t resist a morir sonando huh? What makes Korean fried chicken so different? And speaking of Little Korea, did anyone ever hear of, or go to this upstairs hole in the wall that offered all you can eat sushi, and other hot japanese food for roughly 10-15 bucks? I believe it was 10 for lunch, not offering much variety in terms of sushi, but good enough… and it was 15 for dinner, but there were always like 5-10 different types of sushi. I believe for lunch it was like 5 different types, TOPS. Anyway it always seemed pretty but now they closed. :-(
Comment from Zach@MidtownLunch
Time: August 6, 2008, 4:13 pm
@ lou - you know it! (although I actually ended up going with the Mamey) Is the buffet you’re thinking of Arang? I actually just mentioned that place in my Indian buffet post earlier today.
@yvo - Koreatown is without a doubt in ML range. I made 32nd St. the southern boundary just for that reason.
And, although there are Korean Fried chicken places in K-Town, none of them are open for lunch. That is why this place would be so amazing (if it happens.)
Comment from Lou
Time: August 6, 2008, 4:24 pm
@ Zach: You know, I never knew the name, but I went sometime in November and they had stopped the all you can eat buffet thing, and became a run of the mill sushi restaurant… the vibe was nice… but it lost its uniqueness once they stopped the buffet… Basically the explanation I got was that it wasn’t making enough money… Fair enough… All I can say is that it was on 32nd st. btw 5th and 6th… it was a wooden door that had some windows… the walk upstairs led to a small placed divided into two sections and the decor was from my recollection mostly wooded furniture…
Comment from Lou
Time: August 6, 2008, 4:27 pm
Ok, it was arang, I just saw the article on it… but yea, the last time i went in, it wasnt all you an eat… and this was dinner time… and the last time i TRIED TO GO… it was closed… during lunch, around 1:30.
Comment from Zach@MidtownLunch
Time: August 6, 2008, 4:27 pm
Sounds like Arang to me:
http://midtownlunch.com/blog/2006/08/07/arang-koreansushi-buffet-2/
i loved that place (*tear*)
Comment from Blondie
Time: August 6, 2008, 5:04 pm
Wayne, i will be having a bonbon vs. kyochon east queens smackdown soon, after i lose the 5 pounds of burger i gained in vegas (mmm, kobe sliders, sigh.)
Comment from wayne
Time: August 6, 2008, 5:10 pm
Blondie: Exxxcellent.
Mamacita, I’ll be queen to your king any time… mancave is on standby
Comment from Marina
Time: August 6, 2008, 5:21 pm
Just wanted to share my obsession with Koryodang bakery. They have this bacon bread twist that is amazing & super cheap. Also many yummy treat under $2. Has there ever been a post about Koryodang Bakery on 32nd street?
Comment from dyno3k
Time: August 6, 2008, 5:26 pm
no no no. After getting out of work, ESPECIALLY in mid town, the last thing I want to do is stay around here to eat and drink, that’s what lunch hour is for.
The consensus will be to figure out a way to get chick-fil-a to NY in a real capacity, forget “proprietary” sauces from BonChon, which their business model itself is not built for serious profit imo, the few BCC’s i’ve been to can handle a handful of orders at a time and it takes 30 minutes from the time you order to get your food.
Plus trying to sell “Korean” fried chicken to 7 million people in NYC who have never heard of such a thing will be a daunting task unless there is some investment in marketing the product to the masses, because the Korean style of Fried Chicken is excellent but people I know and talk to that I’ve spoken about it have no idea what to expect when they hear the name.
Good luck, for your sake I hope I’m wrong about my view on it.
Comment from Lou
Time: August 6, 2008, 5:37 pm
Still wondering what this “Korean” Fried Chicken is, and how it sets itself apart from… fried chicken.
Comment from stevenp
Time: August 6, 2008, 6:17 pm
no, no, no. low 40’s and further west, like 8th Ave!
Comment from sandra
Time: August 6, 2008, 6:36 pm
Oh I am all about more Korean fried chicken places in Midtown. Lou - what makes it so fantastic is the crispiness of the skin and the fact that it is not greasy at all. They fry the wings twice and it makes the skin paper-thin and wonderful. You combine that with beer or soju (Korean whiskey) and you have one incredible happy hour experience. Everyone I’ve brought to Bon Chon fell in love with the place, whether they’d heard of Korean fried chicken or not. Trust me, it would catch on. How can you not love wings and beer?
Comment from Lou
Time: August 6, 2008, 7:06 pm
@Blondie: Off topic, but i was reading the daily news today and noticed an article about the Big booty Bakery over on W.23rd street… A Colombian bakery that makes traditional Colombian baked goods and run of the mill American favorites infused with latin flavors… Been there? Heard of it? If so, verdict?
Comment from Brownie
Time: August 6, 2008, 8:37 pm
@Lou: I saw that article on my ride home. I don’t know if Blondie’s ever gone to Big Booty Bakery, but I have. It’s been a couple of years, but from what I remember it was quite good. My MIL is originally from Colombia and she gave some of their pastries her seal of approval. There was one with dulce de leche, it might have been the big booty bun, that was quite good. I think a return visit is in my future. Gotta see if they are still up to snuff.
Comment from shauna
Time: August 7, 2008, 12:46 am
oh, @Marina, i was at Koryodang today! i went at lunchtime and snagged a jasmine green bubble tea and the tapioca was perfect and squooshy. love love loved it. however, my boo got that very same bubble tea after work and the pearls were kinda hard and not so succulent. he said there was a line, so maybe he just got slightly shafted.. nonetheless, i’m still a total glutton for their curry-filled donuts!
Comment from AL@1PP
Time: August 7, 2008, 8:32 am
aww man, I came to this party late :( I want some fried chicken.
Comment from Jess
Time: August 7, 2008, 8:37 am
Korean styled fried chicken and beer after work would be great! Somewhere on 6th Ave plz. But they need to do some delivery as well!
Comment from Southeastmidtowner
Time: August 7, 2008, 9:25 am
Please make sure the place has $1, $2, & $3 specials at all times, for those of use who don’t spend $10 for midtown lunch.
Comment from Blondie
Time: August 7, 2008, 9:51 am
yes, i’ve heard of it, but have never gone. Will have to take my token Colombian soon.
Comment from MM
Time: August 7, 2008, 10:44 am
Open up a kiosk in the middle of Bryant Park. All you need is room for a fridge, a little prep area and a whole bunch of deep fryers!!!!
Comment from Gin&Tonic
Time: August 7, 2008, 11:13 am
With all of this talk of fried chicken… I’m going to Cafe Cello for some
Comment from Skeater
Time: August 7, 2008, 11:17 am
I will be in Queens later tonight gettin my kyon Chon/Bon Chon on…woohoo
Comment from Crackhead
Time: August 7, 2008, 3:15 pm
You should add some cold noodles to that menu, Zach. That shit’s absolutely nuculur with beer…
Comment from DocChuck’s hamster
Time: August 8, 2008, 1:46 am
second on the koryodang bacon dutch, it is an insane bun. and, anyone been to todai recently?
Comment from Marina
Time: August 8, 2008, 11:03 am
Regarding the Koryodang bakery - I am tempted to buy the yummy sweet white bread they sell but I know I’ll eat the entire 1000 calorie loaf in one evening & that would be really gross. That place is awesome!








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