Kyo Chon (Bayside)

Where’s the food?

A long time ago, a certain person who shall remain nameless told me that KyoChon has great Korean fried chicken.  At the time, I’d never eaten Korean fried chicken (a big trendy thing, I can’t explain it, but you can Google it if you’re really interested – it’s basically fried chicken with some extra flavor mixed in, but crispy – sort of even like KFC’s latest hot wings that are crispy) so I took his word for it.  Then he bought a billion and twelve wings and brought them over and I ate a decent amount, but I got so royally sick the next morning that I blamed the chicken and “how oily it must be” because it’s fried.  Whatever to be honest, I don’t even remember liking (or disliking) them that much – they were tasty but I didn’t react like OMG I HAVE TO HAVE THESE AGAIN or anything. 

Then, for a potluck, ShB brought them to my attention once again.  BF really enjoyed these and I was surprised when I found myself really liking them as well.  They were richly flavored, soy sauce and garlicky, just right and slightly sweet.  To top it all off, recent changes in my life have found me near this location frequently, so I finally stopped in a few weeks ago to try my own. 

Fries… these were really good.  Piping hot and enough potato inside but not too MUCH (I am NOT a steak fry kind of girl)… and there was this other, elusive delicious flavor… that I finally realized, hours later, was from being deep fried in the same oil used to fry up all those delicious wings.  They taste a little chicken-y and that is awesome. 

Next out came a plate of … cole slaw-ish.  Shredded cabbage core doused in Russian dressing – pretty good, though it was a touch too much dressing. 

Finally, my order of 8 wings, original (soy garlic).  The spicy are way, way, way too hot for me to eat (hotter than Bonchon is what I’ve heard).  If you’ll notice, they actually gave me 10 wings with my order, which I’ve discovered to be a recurring theme (ordered 4 and got 5 another time).  The only way to describe these wings… in one word, delectable.  If I can use more: deeply flavored, soy sauce, garlic, slightly sweet, crispy, meaty, and the aroma that wafts from them is almost enough to drive one mad if you aren’t about to eat them yourself.  Wow. 

That little bucket in the back on the right is for my bones

While I can’t say they’re cheap, they aren’t that pricy, either.  Everything above came out to $10.41 – the fries were $1.99 and the wings $7.99, cole slaw-ish included, plus a decent tip for the girl who brought me water without my asking… $13.41.  Not too bad for dinner (that is way more than enough food for someone my size).  I really enjoyed it and though the place is more takeout/fast food laid out than a sit down restaurant, it’s got a cool, kind of lounge vibe to it as well.  I will definitely be back. 

Yvo says: Yummm!  I read recently on Midtown Lunch that they’re opening a Kyo Chon in K-town – awesome for all you Manhattanites who are afraid to venture into Queens (even though we have some totally fantastic offerings that no other borough can touch – I’m looking at you, Brooklyn, filled with your… never mind that!).  Definitely check this place out when you can – it’s delicious and well, it’s fried chicken wings with an Asian twist, what more do I need to say???
recommended

***Please note that I have had Bonchon now at a SuperBowl party.  Comparatively speaking, Bon Chon’s flavor falls way flat and was only so-so.  They weren’t as crispy and though, in the picture I have the drummettes seem larger than Kyo Chon’s, they are on par in size and seriously… delicious.