Dining Out: BonChon Chicken

Eating healthy can be rather challenging when you’re on a budget and crave a meal that is more than a simple salad or sandwich. BonChon Chicken specializes in Korean-style fried chicken but offers a multitude of delicious options for those looking for a different style meal.

My guest and I arrived at the establishment at about 3:15pm on a Friday afternoon. The restaurant is in a small plaza between other fast food establishments and a few larger office buildings but was surprisingly empty. We were seated within two minutes and were greeted by a waiter with water. While looking over the menu we asked a few questions about the items (certain ingredients, personal preferences, sizes, etc.) which were answered without hesitation.

Due to the dietary restrictions of my guest, we strayed from the restaurant’s specialty chicken (which came in an order of ten wings/strips or more) and ordered the Salmon Avocado Ball from the starters section of the menu ($9.95, pictured below). The ball came out within 10 minutes on a square plate, constructed perfectly on top of sauce drizzles and sprinkled with green onions. The item served as a full meal for my guest, at 1060 calories and plenty of protein.

My order of Japchae ($13.95, pictured below) was served immediately after the Salmon Avocado Ball. In a square-shaped bowl, no presentation adjustments were needed. The glass noodles in the dish stole the show, allowing the vegetables and strips of beef to shine through wonderfully. At 800 calories, the dish is meant for someone looking for a larger meal, as I had a hard time cleaning off the plate. With the BonChon Soy-Garlic sauce, the noodles and vegetables were rather oily but still delicious and tasted fresh. The thin beef strips were slightly tough to chew but served as an excellent contrast in the dish.

Based on service and speed alone, BonChon is definitely a great family option with a large variety of menu items that can easily be shared, and I will absolutely be making a trip back to get a taste of the signature chicken wings.