Hiexpat Korea

Too busy drooling over that picture of 양념치킨 (Yangnyeom Chicken)? Well, get ahold of yourself! 정신차려 (come back to earth), as the Koreans might say! Korean fried chicken is as mouth-wateringly succulent as the photos lead on, so before you run off to pick some up for yourself, do yourself a favour and check out Kimchee Magazine’s exclusive guide on how-to conquer the beast that is ‘Korean Fried Chicken’.

Fried Chicken in Korea is a special breed of delicious, deep-fried goodness. Forget chicken wings you’ve eaten anywhere else, because Korean fried chicken is where it’s at. Koreans have been eating chicken for just as long as the Americans have, and in my opinion – they have them beat.

What varieties of fried chicken can you find at most 치킨집 (Chicken houses) in Korea? Let’s start with the basics:

흐라이드치킨 (Fried Chicken): This is the original, and the safest option if you’re afraid to try something new. Fried twice to create a juicy, crisp exterior that creates a flavour explosion in your mouth after every bite.

양념치킨 (Yangnyeom Chicken): If this is your first time, you’re in for a big surprise! In essence, these beauties are deep-fried twice (for a crispier texture and seal in the juices) and are coated in a finger-licking sticky, sweet and spicy sauce.

마늘치킨 (‘Ma Neul’ Garlic Chicken): If you can’t handle the heat, there’s another Korean favourite that is sure to please –  the sweet, savoury Soy Garlic Chicken. This chicken is coated in a delicate sauce usually made of: brown sugar, garlic, ginger, crushed red peppers, and sesame oil. Finally, it is topped with a few sprinkles of white sesame seeds. You can’t go wrong with this choice!

파닭 (‘Pa’ Green Onion Chicken): Still not convinced that the other options are for you? There’s one more special menu item that is sure to impress, and you can get it at most 치킨집 in Korea! This light, fresh chicken is coated with a savoury, soy-based sauce that is topped with thinly julienned green onions. These spring onions pack a punch, though, so this might not the best option for a date with your sweetheart.

무 (Mu, White Radish): Finally, we can’t forget the side dish that tames the greasy nature of the chicken and washes the taste of each flavour out in preparation for the next. This miracle side dish is known in Korean as ‘mu’, or white radish. It is a staple and it’s difficult to imagine fried chicken coming without it.

WARNING: In order to enjoy fried chicken culture in Korea, one must add beer to the mix. Korean chicken and beer go hand-in-hand, and it’s strange to see someone eating chicken without a beer next to them. It’s so popular, in fact, that Koreans combined the words ‘chicken’ and ‘beer’ in Korean language to create a new slang word: 치= 치킨 and 맥 = 맥주, the final result is 치맥! (Chi-maek).

So, I hope you enjoyed our simple, easy-to-follow guide to some of the most iconic fried chicken delicacies that you can find at most chicken houses in Korea. If you still find yourself questioning how different it can really be when compared to chicken in other countries, stop right there! Korean fried chicken has an incredibly addictive quality and its excellence can not be compared. You will see the light soon enough, I promise…

Are you living in Korea? If so, check out a list of the top 5 chicken restaurants with the best reputations in the links below! Also, let us know in the comments which type of Korean chicken is your favourite. Where is your go-to 치킨집?

BBQ : http://www.bbq.co.kr
Cheogajip : http://www.cheogajip.co.kr/
Kyochon : http://kyochon.com/main.asp
Pelicana : http://www.pelicana.co.kr/
Toreore : http://www.toreore.com/

Food

Tags: Best damn friend chicken, chimeak, Food, fried chicken, garlic chicken, kfc, Korean fried Chicken, kyochon, must eat