Best Korean fried chicken in Seoul: where to eat it and how
치킨
Double-fried, shatteringly crisp chicken, best with a cold beer.
- Price
- About ₩18,000–24,000 per chicken
- When
- All year; an evening dish
- Spice
- Not spicy
What is Korean fried chicken?
Korean fried chicken (chikin) is fried twice so the skin turns thin and crackly, then served plain (huraideu) or glazed in a sweet-spicy sauce (yangnyeom). Eating it with beer — chimaek — is a national pastime. Alongside the big chains, Seoul has old-school “market chicken” and hof (pub) places that have fried the same way for decades.
What does Korean fried chicken taste like?
Very crisp, light batter and juicy meat. Yangnyeom is sticky, sweet and gently spicy; soy-garlic is salty-sweet. The pickled radish cubes served with it cut the grease.
How do you eat Korean fried chicken?
Eat with your hands (gloves are often provided) and the pickled radish between pieces. Order banban (half-and-half) if you cannot decide between plain and sauced.
Where can I eat Korean fried chicken in Seoul?
Chicken-and-beer pubs (치킨집/호프) everywhere; old-style whole fried chicken in traditional markets.
Good to know
- One chicken feeds two people as a snack with beer.
- Huraideu = plain fried, yangnyeom = sweet-spicy sauce, banban = half and half.
- The fried gizzards (똥집 튀김) at old-school places are worth trying.
Chains you'll find everywhere
The everyday version: same menu at every branch, and there is probably one near your hotel.
교촌치킨
Kyochon Chicken
One of Korea's big three chicken chains, known for soy-garlic and honey glazes.
What to order
- Honey Combo허니콤보Wings and drumsticks in a sweet honey glaze.
- Red Combo레드콤보Spicy red-pepper glaze.
How to spot it
Many branches are delivery-first; some have seating for chimaek.
BBQ
BBQ Chicken
One of the big three chains; its Golden Olive fried chicken is the classic plain order.
What to order
- Golden Olive Chicken황금올리브치킨Plain, crisp fried chicken fried in olive oil.
How to spot it
From delivery counters to large “BBQ Village” pubs with beer on tap.
bhc
bhc Chicken
Famous for Bburinkle: fried chicken dusted in a sweet, cheesy seasoning.
What to order
- Bburinkle뿌링클Fried chicken with a sweet cheese-and-onion powder.
How to spot it
Delivery-first branches and sit-down pubs, all over the city.
Local favourites
3 places
Korean fried chicken
Gyeyeolsa
The fried chicken Seoul crosses town for, in hillside Buam-dong.
Korean fried chicken · Myeongdong
Yeongyang Center
Myeongdong's rotisserie chicken, turning since 1960.
Korean fried chicken
Yangjae Dakjip
Old-school market fried chicken that became a Seoul legend.
