Bon Chon Chicken – 12.18.08

Bon Chon Chicken
346 Broad Ave.
Leonia, NJ
201-944-4112

Considered by many to be the best KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) in the tri-state area, Bon Chon has gained legendary status among young Korean Americans.  While the infamous Bon Chon Chicken (BCC) on 5th Ave. in Manhattan is just as much hip lounge as fried chicken joint, BCC in Leonia is a local eatery set in a rapidly expanding suburban main street.  Why all the fuss over fried chicken you ask?  BCC offers a new take that is cooked, packaged and sold much differently than the Colonel’s recipe.

Large order of wings (20pcs.)

Large order of drumsticks (10pcs.)

French Fries

Radish side dish (looks bland but really is’nt)

Closeup of the twice  fried goodness (the chicken leg, not Janice)

Take warning; like many other KFC joints, BCC takes some time to prepare.  Each order is made fresh so call ahead to save some time.  The chicken comes in two varieties, regular or spicy.  Regular consists of a soy-garlic coating that is first fried, allowed to cool, and then fried again for that extra crispiness.  The result is a flavorful, juicy, and crispy piece of bird.  The spices in the coating are not at all  sublte and with all the greasy fried-ness, some cleansing of the palate is definitely required.  Here is where one realizes the neccessity of the ever humble radish.  Its salty, vinegary, sweetness cuts through the lingering taste of chicken like hot butter through a cold knife.  Definitely have a soda nearby if the radish is not enough.

Nearing the end of the meal, even I was succumbing to the effects of that lethal cocktail of grease and soy-garlic.  It was becoming too much and I had to stop not because of fullness but of flavor overload.  The fries helped somewhat, but they are nothing special.  Just well-cooked steak fries.  Don’t miss out on Bon Chon, it lies somewhere between a fad and a trend so give BCC a shot as the standard of fried chicken Korean style.

The faces of a Bon Chon eater
1. Hunger + Anticipation = Hungerpation
2. Devouring with abandon
3. Bon Chon overload

Overall 7.5 out of 10

Good
Soy-garlicky fried chicken legs and wings
Don’t forget the RADISH!

Bad
Long wait time.
Pricey.   Large wings or Large Legs each costs about $20.  ($1 per wing or $2 per leg)

Ugly
The taste may become overpowering for some, especially when you eat more than 10 pieces.

-bruce

You Chun / BBQ Chicken- 06.03.08

Mandoo Bar in Palisades Park unexpectedly changed ownership and is now a generic Korean restaurant. Eatclub calmly and cooly made an executive decision to check out a Korean noodle restaurant instead; one that the EC President has been raving about, You Chun Naeng Myun on Broad Ave.

You Chun Korean Restaurant

135 Broad Ave.
Palisades Park, NJ
201.363.1950

You Chun specializes in naeng myun, a thin noodle typically served cold and ravenously slurped by Koreans during the warmer summer months. The restaurant has a clean layout and subtle indications that it does all it can to keep people waiting in the lines that can form out and around the building. A fully furnished waiting area is provided; complete with water cooler, hot coffee and tea, cookies, benches and TV that rivals the best hospitality from your favorite neighbor.

The restaurant was packed on a Tuesday evening at 8pm (after the usual dinner rush). It was warm out which explains why Pal Park’s Koreans scrambled over for some soothing cold noodles. Every customer was also Korean. Good signs.

The banchan was sparse as there was only one dish, thinly sliced radish kimchi. Also was the standard asian salad: iceberg lettuce with ginger-like dressing. But lo, there was something unique in that carafe: not hot tea but hot broth. Seasoned beef stock to be exact. It was a little salty but tasty nonetheless.

Banchan

What is naeng myun you ask? Basically it is thin noodles traditionally served in a stainless steel bowl with either a cold broth [and kept cold with ice] or mixed with vegetables. Toppings include pickled radish, raw zucchini, asian pear, and halved boiled egg.  It is a savory, tangy, spicy and altogether refreshing dish.  See more here: Wiki

Ym and Paul ordered the bibim naeng myun, mixed cold noodles while I opted for the hwe naeng myun, cold noodle with spicy marinated raw fish (think ceviche). The noodles were unique here as they have a darker brown color made from special flour (chilk naengmyeon) with supposed health and nutritional benefits. Notice the shaved ice marinade, a nice way to keep the bowl cold instead of the usual plain ice cubes.

Hwe Naeng Myun

Bibim Naeng Myun

Overall, I was only somewhat pleased with my dish. It was way too marinated and overpowering with saltiness, sweetness, spiciness, and sourness. At $12, it was pricey for noodles and could have included more fish. All of us were very full however. You Chun deserves a second chance but this time I will for sure try mool naeng myun, the standard cold korean noodle.

Good
Brown noodles definitely different.
Clean and efficient.
Free food/drink before youre even seated.

Bad
Hwe naeng myun oversauced.
Can get very crowded, especially at peak times.
Pricey for a bowl of noodles

Ugly
Be prepared for mega kimchi-breath afterwards. No worries however, the immaculately clean and well furnished restroom has mouthwash for your rinsing pleasure so that your hot date can continue.

BBQ Chicken – BONUS REVIEW!

BBQ Chicken (off Broad Ave.)
Palisades Park, NJ

BBQ Chicken is supposedly straight from Korea and it was obvious. From the strange name, the crazy color scheme, to the outrageous claims, it is definitely an Asian import. Their motto is: “It’s not barbecue chicken, it’s BBQ.” And since when is “BBQ” chicken cooked in 100% extra virgin olive oil? (blank stare)

The steam vent/handle/signage shows Korean ingenuity. The packaging shows Korean FOB.

Sweet, salty, pungent fermented radish. The perfect accoutrement to the crisp bird.

Whole CRISPY fried chicken.

Nonsensical marketing campaign aside, the fried chicken was gooood. Not heavily seasoned and the least greasy fried chicken I ever had that was still juicy and moist. Even after a 10 minute car ride, it was still extra crispy and tongue burning hot. Be warned: chicken is made to order and ours took 25 minutes to make, so be sure to call ahead. Also, it ain’t cheap ($20 for whole fried chicken) so avoid if you’re on a budget. Still, it blows KFC out of the water and is a good example of what Korean-style fried chicken is all about.

-bru