For fried chicken enthusiasts in Seoul, here’s another solid KFC place that I had the pleasure of “chimek-ing” (chicken n beer) at with a few friends. Open about a year, they serve some of the tastiest fried birds south of the Han River (strong statement, I know). A vast selection of fried chicken are on the menu, but on both occasions we opted for their signature “hotel chicken,” which is marinated with 7 different kinds of vegetables and seasonings for two days. The result is a fragrant and palate-pleasing fried chicken that’s got a crispy coating on the outside and a moist and tender inside. The best part of the chicken is the meatiness and size, comparable to Western-style fried chicken from back home. Supposedly, younger birds are more often used to retain tenderness, but this place otherwise. Lastly, the best fried chicken joints have one thing in common: a solid in-house sauce. Here, they go one step further by serving two savory sauces, one a mayo/garlic combo and the other a sweet n tangy maeshil (Korean plum) sauce.

The only caveat about this place is the location, situated in a residential maze with apartment complexes and a few steep hills separating it from Boncheon Station (Green Line 2). If you like a nice workout before your meals, then this place is just for you. Interesting fact: the owner (originally from Daejeon) deliberately set up shop near residential apartments to give adults with children a chance “to play” in their own neighborhood. If the food is any indication, this place will be filled with more than just local ajeoshis and ajummas.

For a solid list of KFC joints in Seoul, check the following link: http://mykoreaneats.com/kfc-seoul/

“There is nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with a box of fried chicken.” ~ Anonymous

Food: ★★★★½ out of 5 stars

Service: ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Ambiance: ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Value: ★★★★ out of 5 stars

Noltu 놀터 (short for “Playground”)
902-8 Bongchun-dong, Gwanak-gu (관악구 봉천동 902-8)
Telephone: 02-871-9023
Hours: Open every day from 4pm ~ 2am, closed on Tuesdays
Click here for an interactive map: https://goo.gl/maps/mVQYi

June 1, 2015 / mykoreaneats / Chicken