Listen to me carefully. In Korea, KFC does not stand for Kentucky Fried Chicken. It stands for Korean Fried Chicken. And honestly? It’s better. (Sorry, Colonel Sanders, but it’s true.)
If you think you know fried chicken, think again. Korean chicken is usually double-fried, making it thinner, crispier, and coated in sauces that were definitely created by angels.
But ordering it? That’s a battlefield for newbies. What is Yangnyeom? Why are there weird white cubes in this plastic cup? And what the hell is a “Sun-sal”?
Welcome to Level 1. Let me guide you through the holiest ritual in Korea: Chimaek (Chicken + Beer).
The “Idiot” Archives: The Bone Collector
Flashback: 3 years ago. Han River Park.
I wanted to impress my date. We ordered chicken delivery to the park (yes, in Korea, they deliver food to a random patch of grass. It’s magic). The menu was entirely in Korean. I panicked. I just pointed at the biggest, most delicious-looking picture on the app.
The food arrived. I opened the box. It smelled amazing, but… it was a strategic disaster. I was trying to look cute on a date, but instead, I was gnawing on chicken bones like a starving cavewoman. Red sauce was on my nose. My fingers were sticky. The pile of leftover bones looked like a dinosaur graveyard next to me.
My date looked terrified. I later found out I could have ordered “Sun-sal” (Boneless). I felt like an absolute fool.
Enter “Ssam” (The Peace Maker)
I complained to my Korean mentor, Ssam, the next day. “Ssam, why is ordering chicken so stressful? I can’t decide between flavors, and I look like a mess eating it!”
Ssam looked at me with pity, like a teacher looking at a slow student. “Alice, you don’t choose in Korea. You compromise.”
He introduced me to the greatest invention in Korean culinary history: Ban-Ban (반반 – Half & Half). “Why fight over flavors? Get both. And for God’s sake, Alice, order Sun-sal if you’re on a date.”
Level 3 Wisdom: The Holy Trinity of K-Chicken
Ssam taught me the code. Memorize this before you open Baedal Minjok (the delivery app).
1. The Flavor Map: Fried vs. Yangnyeom
- Fried (후라이드): The classic. No sauce. Just pure, crispy crunch. Good for purists.
- Yangnyeom (양념): The Legend. Sweet, spicy, and garlicky red sauce. It’s sticky, messy, and totally addictive.
- Gan-jang (간장): Soy Sauce & Garlic. Savory, salty, and slightly sweet. (This is my personal favorite!)
- The Cheat Code: Can’t decide? Yell “Ban-Ban (Half-Half)!” It’s usually half Fried + half Yangnyeom. The best of both worlds.
2. The Anatomy: Bbyeo (Bone) vs. Sun-sal (Boneless)
- Bbyeo (뼈): Bone-in chicken.
- Pro: Usually cheaper. Koreans argue the meat is juicier near the bone.
- Con: Creates a massive trash pile. Very messy to eat.
- Sun-sal (순살): Boneless chicken.
- Pro: Easy to eat, no trash. Essential for picnics or dates.
- Con: Usually costs about 2,000 KRW ($1.50) more.
3. The Mystery White Cubes (Chicken-Mu)
When your delivery arrives, do not throw away the white cubes in the plastic cup! That is Chicken-Mu (Pickled Radish). It’s not marshmallows. It’s sour, sweet, and crunchy. Its job is to cut through the grease and cleanse your palette so you can eat more chicken. It is essential to the experience.
Alice’s Bottom Line: It’s a Lifestyle
In Korea, Chicken is not just dinner. It is a lifestyle. It’s a religion. Grab a cold beer (Maekju), order some crispy Chicken (Chi), and enjoy the holy union of Chimaek.
And remember Ssam’s advice: If you are lazy, go Sun-sal. If you are greedy, go Ban-Ban.
Survival Hangul: Ordering Chicken
Want to order like a local? Use these phrases.
- “반반 주세요 (Ban-Ban juseyo)”
- Meaning: “Half and Half, please.” (The ultimate compromise).
- “순살로 변경해 주세요 (Sun-sal-lo byeon-gyeong-hae juseyo)”
- Meaning: “Change it to boneless, please.” (Save yourself the mess).
- “무 많이 주세요 (Mu mani juseyo)”
- Meaning: “Give me extra pickled radish.” (Trust me, you’ll need it).