February 12, 2007
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I went to try the new Bon Chon Chicken in Manhattan this weekend. It’s on 5th ave, just south of 32nd.
We got there at 6, and the place was already packed. The service was bad – it took over an hour to get our chicken! But it was really good I must admit. They offer two different seasonings – spicy and garlic (I think?). Without any moo (radish), jalapenos, or even garnish of any kind it was a bit lonely.
This is how much you get for $20.
It’s not tong dak though, more like fried, seasoned chicken. We also ordered the haemool pajun, corn on the cob, and sausage bokkeum, but definitely stick with just the chicken.
This was the sausage bokkeum, which was basically 4 different kinds of fried sausage.
Verdict – I’d definitely go again, but hopefully they have faster service next time. I hate waiting for food! Oink!
Comments (68)
oh dang! those chicken wings look pretty good! not sure if im feelin the sausages, not a fan of pork but ur posts always make me hungry! =) cheers, steve
I love your website especially when you posted the bulgogi video.
haha. oink!
looks alright but i’ll make my own (and a lot more) for $20. even after a few years i’m not used to these manhattan prices.
that looks intense.
YUM!
I think you’d probably spend about the same in Seoul for that amount of Chicken too….but I still can’t get used to the sausages in Korea…they just taste too artificial.
O_o
cool, i’d like to check it out but slow service is something i cannot tolerate!
That’s so funny, bc of the NY Times article I went to Bon Chon Chicken this weekend. But in Flushing. There were 4 tables and our chicken (spicy) came out in literally 3 minutes. But instead of the sausages as extra we got the french fries and calamari with the mango dipping sauce. Yummy!
Oh yeah, and Flushing has moo. But no pajeon or corn on the cob.
Thanks for the reviews, those chickens looked delicious… but I don’t know about waiting for 1 hr!
the bonchon in flushing – northern blvd.. the portions are larger and 2 dollars cheaper.
I just wrote an entry on Bon Chon chicken too! If you went on Saturday, I probably ate all the moo before you got there.
the one in ft lee is really slow. you have to call at least 15 mins ahead. i think they changed their name already too to bon bon chicken to not pay the franchise fee.
those cheap f*cks dont giveu enough chicken for 20 bucks.
ugh, we went on Saturday and waited 1.5 hr for the chicken. i don’t know if ANY chicken is worth waiting that long for…how could it take so long for them to prepare their main dish?
they say it takes 30 minutes… so u should always call ahead!! and there was no moo?? everytime I go to the one in flushing, there is salad and moo…
I passed by it this weekend and noticed it after it was referenced in the ny times. So it’s worth going to? That doesn’t look like too much chicken for $20.. maybe a dozen or so pieces?
I’m sorry to hear service was bad.. i hate hate waiting for food as well, esp when I’m hungry. I get super grouchy when I’m famished! haha..
awww…where’s the moooo? it still looks really good though~ anything that looks all fried like that looks yummy to me!
yum!
yes, this is why i left new york after trying to live there for 6 years. why settle for those high prices when you can live in la, pay half as much and get 4 times the yang. plus you get refills on all the sun you can soak. that to me is value.
Looks good!!
That’s all you get?! The Bon Chon place here in Philadelphia sells $1/a piece. The minimum you can purchase is 10 pieces and it’s either the “soy sauce”(sweet) or the “spicy” wings.
I went on Saturday and it took about 2 hours too
The french fries were yum too!
lol instead of bonchon i went to UFC in queens, and they are YUMMY
is this the place that was on ny times? (wait, was it la times?) my sister sent me the article last week and we’re gonna hit up this joint soon! woohoo!
yikes!! i don’t care how good that chicken is,… nothing’s worth waiting an HOUR for!
VERRRRRY overrated. It’s good, but not worth the rush/wait. It’s also disappointing they now share the same venue as R-Bar. I always used to go there when I wanted to drink at a not-so-crowded/loud Korean bar. Now it’s so packed due to the chicken venture.
not enough for $20 and an hour wait!
hmm…neither of those looks particularly appetizing to me. -_- I think I’ll pass and just make it at home!
funny, some folks got all interested in tong dak cause of that article here in sf. i organized an outing to a local shop with a bunch of local yelpers. not sure how other nationalities will like it, but i will let you know.
where’s the moo?? you have to have moo! i can’t believe you had to wait over an hour. that chicken and sausages must be damn good if people have to wait over an hour to eat. =O
i agree.. the waitresses are a bit… off. but the place has potential. i only got good service b/c my friend was friends with the owner.
we had a bonchon in philly… but it burnt down… man it was some good chicken. but 20 bucks for 20 wings/legs is a bit too much… at least to me
yum! now i want to eat chicken.. may be i’ll stop by this place when i go to nyc…
gosh…i anticipate your entries almost every day!!! all the good food that you have on here and the pictures??!?!?!? omg!!! its like the added bonus! now where can i get me some of that chicken in houston?!?!?!?!?! lol.
i’ve been hearing alot about this place. i want to try it!
yummy yummy yummy!
hehe i just read an article in the NY times on how delicious korean fried chicken is, esp in combination with soju and i think kimchee. yummmmm.
OH my, that looks so very good.
is that 20$ for both plates? or just the single plate? b/c if it’s single, it’s a rip off(not that i know of a cheaper place)… but if it’s both, i’d still have to contemplate for it. I’m not a huge fan of tong dahk… besides, i prefer my fat a bit more… crispier.
UFC is alot cheaper and you definitely get more than what BON CHON gives you. You should go to UFC it’s really good for a good price. A small runs 9 bucks and large 16 bucks. Their small serves 2 people at least. I couldn’t finish it on my own and gave it to my brother. It’s so yummy! Btw, they do have moo as side dish.
you should get someone who does that kinda thing in LA
LOL
Being in Korea…I’ve heard all about the new Korean rage that is sweeping america (fried chicken). Hmm.
I love your blog and your recipes! Do you think you could replicate the chicken recipe and the special sauce?
read the NYT article this morning..cant wait to try em all! =)
There’s one in Flushing too! Are they the same?
thanks!! i cooked korean food for the first time for my boyfriend. i got nothing but compliments on the moo gook. …it wasn’t as hard as i thought. i love your xanga.
ahah oops. i meant miyuk gook, not moogook!!
colonel sander’s got nothing on you
is boom boom chicken in nj same as bonchon?
mmm chicken.
I invite you to read my “war story”.
i need to find a recipe! is there any?
i think you are officially my favorite read on xanga.
do you know how they make that tong dak moo? it tastes very simple but i have no clue. vinegar?
I wish Sydney had places like that, we dont get any good food here
try SUSHI TWIST on madison ave & 27th st.
nice..i heard that place was really good.
Do you know of any good Tong Dak recipes? I would love to try and make it at home!
have you ever considered teaching classes? or do you know of any hakwons in the ny area? even flushing, jersey, etc? i really want to learn to cook more korean (when i say more, i mean more than ramyun
)..any ideas? thanks 
. and i love the site!
this xanga is great……thank you very much
looks tasty.
me so hungy.
thanks for sharing
where are you? blue horseshoe loves pajun! http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/dining/28mini.html
Not a big fan of Bon Chon. The Flushing branch gives a lot of moo and jalepenos. They also have a pretty good mini jeon’s on their menu at really good prices although they often don’t sell anything on their menu except chicken. Not sure why they hand out the menu’s in the first place. Also would like to see other parts of the chicken besides wings and legs.
$20 for that much glorified fried chicken wings!? Manhattan is ridiculous sometimes…
they got sausages in the manhattan one? man tnxs for posting those pictures