Korea’s spicy and juicy Kyochon fried chicken – pair it with a beer for an unbeatable experience!

Text and photos by /Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey

What do you eat with fried chicken in Korea? The answer is definitely beer, XD. To be honest, if it weren’t for watching “My Love from the Star,” I wouldn’t have known that in Korea, fried chicken is meant to be eaten with beer. That drama was actually the only Korean show I’ve ever watched. This time in Seoul, I finally got to try the Korean fried chicken I’d been dreaming about, and I even achieved the milestone of eating fried chicken with beer in Korea. Pretty~ (not that there’s anything to be proud of, XD)

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

Since the Airbnb I stayed at during this Seoul trip was near Hongdae, I found the famous Kyochon Fried Chicken nearby to satisfy my fried chicken-and-beer craving. After following the map to the original location, I was disappointed to find it closed. Upon closer inspection, I realized the shop had just moved to a new spot. The address left at the old location indicated the new place wasn’t far, so I walked over. The new location actually looked much more upscale than the previous one.

The new location of Kyochon Fried Chicken isn’t hard to find. It’s tucked away in a lane on Yanghwa-ro 16-gil. From Exit 9 of Hongdae Station, walk straight ahead and turn left at the third alley. The newly renovated interior feels surprisingly stylish for a fried chicken joint – quite a contrast, XD. This time, my friend and I only ordered one portion of fried chicken and two beers. I forgot to take a picture of the menu, but our total for the two of us came to W23,000.

The dining area is spacious, clean, and bright. With such a large space, there aren’t too many seats, which makes for a comfortable dining experience. Another reason is that it was off-peak hours, so there weren’t many customers, adding to the relaxed and laid-back vibe.

Before the fried chicken arrived, we were given small cookies. They were thin and crispy, not very strongly flavored, but still had a nice texture. It was a small but pleasant snack to munch on before the main event.

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

The beer arrived before the fried chicken did. Although the weather in Seoul was cool, we were sweating from all the walking outside, so it felt really refreshing to sit in Kyochon and chug some beer. By the time the chicken arrived, I’d already finished half the beer...

For the fried chicken, we ordered the combo of original flavor and spicy drumsticks. One portion came with 10 drumsticks. I was expecting something like the small, bright red pieces of Korean fried chicken I’d seen in markets, but these looked just like regular fried chicken. Still, since I was in Korea, I figured I’d give it a try to see what made it different. Kyochon’s drumsticks had a super crispy crust, firm and juicy meat, and were bursting with flavor – so good I could easily eat two or three in a row.

The spicy drumsticks’ coating was slightly softer because of the chili sauce, but the real secret wasn’t the skin – it was the sauce. The spicy sauce covered the entire drumstick, so you can imagine how fiery it was. And it wasn’t just heat – the sauce was also incredibly aromatic and delicious. My friend barely managed two drumsticks because of the spiciness, while I toughed it out and ate three just to finish them off. They were delicious, but boy, were they spicy!

In Korean restaurants, it’s customary to eat pickled side dishes with your meal, and fried chicken joints are no exception. Ours came with pickled radish. After eating such spicy chicken, the pickles were a perfect match – they helped cut through the heat.

When we were paying the bill and getting ready to leave Kyochon, we saw this at the entrance. I don’t know what the Korean text means, but considering the shop had just moved in, it was probably a congratulatory sign. Though it kind of looked like...

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

On this trip to Seoul, I finally checked off the goal of eating fried chicken with beer. The portion of 10 drumsticks with two beers only cost W23,000 for two people, but that’s still a lot of chicken. Thankfully, the drumsticks were so tasty I managed to finish them. If you’re in Korea, definitely give Kyochon Fried Chicken a try – and make sure to get the spicy version for the full experience.

Kyochon Fried Chicken
Address: Mapo-gu, Seogyo-dong, Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, 6
Phone: +82 2388 1300
Business Hours: 12:00–02:00

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journey
Every journey, every adventure is a quest – though I’m not always sure what I’m searching for, what I gain in the end always exceeds my expectations. And so, my wandering journey will continue endlessly.