IN these days of Korean-novelas and K-pop music, everything Korean rules — and that includes Korean food. And when it comes to food, there is no denying that Korean-style fried chicken has in recent years overtaken the popularity of other types of fried chicken and chicken treats. Filipinos simply adore the crispy skin of the double-fried chicken, the subtle sweet soy garlic sauce that has been hand-brushed on the skin, and the juicy and flavorful meat within.
Small wonder Korean-based food chains and restaurants serving this iconic Korean-style fried chicken thrive in the metro, commanding long queues of diners waiting patiently (would you believe?) for their turn to get a taste of this irresistible treat. One of them happens to be Kyochon, which has become a favorite chicken place among Filipinos, thanks to its unique recipe that is unlike any other Korean-style fried chicken in the market today.
This is owing to the fact that Kyochon lives up to three promises: It doesn’t make fast food, it uses only the most natural ingredients, and it serves only the freshest and healthiest chicken.
Korean-style fried chicken, in general, is healthier than the fried chicken that we’ve known all our lives. It is double-fried, alright, but it contains less grease and zero trans fats because of the way it is cooked. What Kyochon does is raise its food standards up a notch to preserve the natural flavors and juices of the chicken while ensuring the health of its customers. Everything is fried to order, so diners enjoy freshly prepared, double-fried chicken, with its skin glistening from the delicious hand-brushed all-original sauce. For its seasoning, Kyochon shuns the use of artificial flavor-enhancing additives, such as sodium glutamate, saccharin and glacial acetic acid, and instead uses 100% domestically grown natural ingredients like garlic and red peppers, which are used in its signature glaze, as well as mixed greens, onions and chili peppers that are prepared and served as side dishes.
It is not surprising, therefore, for the fried chicken to have a distinctive taste that has earned for Kyochon fried chicken countless positive reviews from media, food blogs, customers, gourmets and gourmands in the local food scene.
Kyochon fried chicken comes in three flavor options — Hot and Sweet (Kyochon Red Series), Salty-Savory (Kyochon Original Series), and Sweet and Tangy (Kyochon Honey Series); and then there’s the Boneless and Crispy (Soonsal Series) variant.
Other must-tries include the Chili Chicken Steak Rice and the Galbi Chicken Steak, both served with a side salad and rice and affordably priced at Php280 per set. The Kyochon menu also offers a number of healthy sides, salads and spiced rice dishes that are perfect to go with chicken wings. To wash down the food, try the Sparkling Yuza and Plum fruit teas or, if you feel like it, ice-cold beer that has been frozen below zero degrees.
Kyochon offers all these in its stores located at SM Megamall Bldg. B and at SM City Fairview’s Upper Ground Level.
