Bon Chon
123 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA, 02134
Bon Chon Menu
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Address :
123 Brighton Ave
Allston, MA, 02134 - Phone (617) 254-8888
- Website https://www.bonchon.com/ma/allston
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Ann G.
Went back and it wasn't the same. Dirty and the food, except for the chicken wings was mediocre. Much more pleasant and similarly priced locations nearby for our Korean food fix that are less greasy and salty. Will only go back for wings to go for bringing to football parties.
(2)Vivian C.
$18pp for a number of shared dishes? Nice! The soy garlic wings exceedingly crispy, even my last one, which I had saved for the end of the meal and was now at room temperature. The seafood scallion pancake $13.95 went fast at one large triangle apiece. The Agedashi Tofu $5.95 arrived 4 cubes of tofu to an order lounging in a tasty broth bath. I recommend all three. The rest were acceptable - Seafood Yaki Udon $14.95, House Fried Rice - seafood $10.95, Kimchi Jigae $11.95. Those who tried the spicy wings deemed it very spicy, yet very good, and tamed their tongues with the cubed daikon and cole slaw provided and refilled upon request. They don't seem want to seat incomplete parties, and they were still busy even at 10pm one weekday evening.
(4)Harvard P.
It's hard not to love Bonchon chicken. I mean. It's fried chicken! No batter either - just yummy goodness cooked in its own juices. If you haven't tried Korean style fried chicken, rush here immediately and get some. The only downside is the wait. It takes forever to get into the restaurant or to get your order of chicken (cooked to order).
(4)Kunal K.
Good thing about this place is that they delivered all the way to Beacon Hill. But, the food is only okay. Get it if you're craving wings, don't otherwise. Too bad it's damn near impossible to find good wings in Boston.
(3)Cindy H.
Solid place - far better than the one in Harvard Square. The chicken is always crispy and fresh. The pitchers of beer are a good deal - so I'd recommend those to go along with the chicken.I like a number of their other dishes as well - their bibimbap, japchae, and kimchi jigae are also recommended by me. However, I don't like their "all party members must be present" rule. I got a table for six, but only five of us were present, and that prevented us from getting the one of many open tables. I understand this place is busy, but there weren't much people in there! I hate how much the food costs too. Yes, the food is good, but sometimes I can't justify spending $20+ for a meal here.
(4)Charles S.
Wow! Wasn't expecting that... Very impressed with what I had: started with the Spicy beef, which was marinated in a very authentic spicy Korean soy sauce. Followed that with the crispy tuna salad, and once again my taste buds were loving the combinations of flavors that took me right back to my many travels to Seoul. Slightly disappointed by the Volcano Maki roll that I finished with tbh, but I think that had more to do with the first two dishes so I'll give them a pass. Can't wait to come back here again!!
(5)Jingyao Z.
Combo hot chickens~~that's what you won't miss. They offer sashimi here and I tried once. It's only good.
(5)Idy T.
I love me some chicken wings! It seems that almost the rest of Boston shares the same love for chicken wings like me! The line gets super crazy around peak dining hours! But I understand why! The wings are made perfectly! There are 3 different sauces to choose from: original, soy garlic, and hot sauce. You can also choose small, medium, large, or extra large size! I tried the large size with hot sauce. The wings were crispy and glazed with hot sauce. It was so delicious! The sauce had the perfect kick to it. I also liked how the sauce was a little sweet. There were definitely more than enough wings for two to share! The wings also came with 2 sides, one was a purple cabbage coleslaw and another was pickled daikon. I also ordered a Sapporo with my wings because you got to have some beer with your wings! I was craving some Korean pancake so I ordered the seafood pancake too. Compared to the other ones I have tried, I think this pancake is not as authentic. It was too cakey for me. But I liked how there was a lot of seafood in it. The service was ok. I think because they were really busy, we had to ask to have our water refilled couple of times. Writing this review, I am craving some Bon Chon now!
(4)Sam H.
The wings are delicious, if you can handle the spice level. I get half and half of each wing flavor, and always eat more than I should. The buldak (chicken dish) is also really good - recommend getting it with a side of white rice. Food is good, price is reasonable. Overall a solid place to eat.
(4)Mallory C.
We ordered delivery from here the other night, since the boy loves their wings. I wasn't craving wings but went out on a limb and tried some of the Korean cuisine, getting the Bibimbap. I had never had it before so I can't compare it to much, but it was A LOT OF FOOD, I was able to eat it the next day as well. I do wish it would have come with more rice, since there was so much everything else, and being a big fan of rice it didn't really even out for me. Also, some of the veggies didn't seem that fresh (which disappointed me, seeing the cost!) The chili paste it came with was delicious though, and I'd totally buy a whole bottle of it. We also got the bacon wrapped scallop/quail egg appetizer, but there seemed to be different things on each one, and before we realized that, the one that had scallops had already been eaten. I thought there would be more scallop and less quail egg. A decent meal, and fair portions, but I just can't wrap my head around the cost, we spent almost $50 for the smallest serving of drumsticks, a very small appetizer and an entree. not a favorite for me, but I know we will be back for the wings!! It's true they are the best around.
(3)Helen P.
Be sure your entire party is present to get a number to wait in line...otherwise you'll get bumped to the end of the list if your number is up and your party is short a person. Other than that the chicken is awesome...so Crispity, crunchity and spicy!! Love it. If you can't handle heat don't get spicy the original is great for kids. I personally like wings more than drumsticks...more flavor
(4)Vi H.
Always my favorite place for korean style chicken wings. The honey bbq by far is the best flavor that even tastes good the day after. My only complaint is that the service was slow/backed up in the kitchen on a "slow" Wednesday night. It took about 25 minutes for my wing order to come out after our kimchi fried rice order. I could have ran two laps around the neighborhood, got Kung Fu Tea and came back. Despite the wait, the wings never cease to disappoint. If you like spicy, definitely try the spicy sauce as well.
(3)Nadia T.
So I had Bon Chon for the first time today, and it's easy to say I'll be coming back! I had soy garlic drumsticks, a California roll and a Caterpillar roll! The drumsticks were so crispy on the outside; juicy and tender on the inside and came out steaming hot. The sushi was also amazing. Fresh ingredients were clearly used and it came out well presented.
(5)Vincent A.
Best fried chiocken. Soy, garlic, ginger with a hint of honey. Get boneless and a side of lightly pickled radishes.
(5)Huy C.
2014, August. I don't know what happened, but the chicken is very bland. So is the cole slaw. The service is a bit slower, since the staff seems short on a Sunday, but it is still prompt.
(3)Harry A.
The only reason I can justify giving this restaurant any stars at all is because the food was quite good. Upon arrival my two friends and I were greeted (and I use the term loosely) by the host with a very unfriendly explanation as to why we were lucky to be allowed a table at his restaurant. Apparently it was more than a small issue that there were three of us as the host continued to press the issue with comments including, "you know it's not that hard to find a fourth for bon Chan" and "we generally only cater to families and couples" needless to say we did not feel welcome. The meal itself was fine, the host never came over to check on us and we watched him check on most other tables but otherwise a fairly regular experience. On the way out however the host took another shot at us reminding us that we were lucky that he was nice enough to sit us and that next time maybe we should bring a fourth. We will not be returning. Parties of three beware you are not welcome!
(1)Joel P.
Bon Chon is crispy chicken magical realness. Both flavors are immense, but the great thing about the spicy sauce is that it won't keep you from continuing on to that next drumstick because you are trying to drown yourself with a full glass of water. Not only is their chicken crispy, yummy, crispy, moist, crispy, flavorful, and crispy, but their various (the chicken is crispy) sushi rolls, apps, and other entrees are all amazing too (the chicken is magic crispy). We enjoy the Salmon Avocado salad, the bacon wrapped enoki and quail egg magic app, the chicken is crispy, and the Kimchee "the chicken is crispy" Pancake. Go on a weekday or early on the weekend, or you will be waiting for quite awhile, waiting for crispy chicken.
(5)Aia T.
Their fried chicken is so tasty. It's one of those fried chicken which you do not need sauce for it to taste better. Chicken skin is really crispy. I also had their spicy octopus which was a recommendation of a waitstaff. It was good though! Service was okay which I could understand because they were busy when I went here. I specifically visited Boston just to have my bonchon chicken fix because I miss it (I eat regularly in bonchon in the Philippines before). Will recommend
(3)Jenny C.
Came on a busy night at 9:30 on NYE with my H, brother, sister and cousin. My siblings and I had just met up with our cousin at his Allston apartment and was met shortly after by my H (who came in straight from work in central CT). We were starrrrving and my cousin suggested we walk over to Bon Chon for a late dinner. We ordered the XL wings/drumsticks, okonomiyaki, bulgogi bibimbap, Boston and Philly rolls and a scallion/scallop/roe thing and shared everything family style. I will admit that everything we ate was DELISH with the exception of the Korean-style okonomiyaki (which was just ok.. too similar to pizza). The waiter was extremely busy waiting and bussing other tables.. but he was prompt in getting our food and filling our glasses of water.
(4)Autumn M.
I come here ALL THE TIME when I'm in Boston. This place is truly a hidden gem! The fried chicken strips are to die for. They're crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The chicken fried rice has a little spice to it but is also amazing!!
(5)Felicia C.
Love the fried chicken, some of the other dishes on the pan-Asian were hit or miss but the pitcher of beer was a good deal.
(4)Chenkai L.
This place has one of the best fried chicken ever. They have spicy chili or soy sauce flavored fried chicken. Beware, the spicy chili flavor is actually spicy, so if you can't take much heat, stick with the soy flavored chicken. The chicken is double fried and amazingly flavored. I also had their kimichi pancake, which is really good and enough to share for 2. My only complaint is the fact this place doesn't take reservations and sometimes the wait can be long if you come during a busy time.
(4)Tony L.
cityofboston.gov/isd/hea… I'm not sure why this place is so popular, I guess people in Boston just never really had good food. The only thing I could recommend here is their chicken wings/drumstick. WARNING: DO NOT ORDER THEIR SEAFOOD I've gotten their clams and oysters, they smelled like they've been tossed in the garbage. They also had a weird color to them and it was warm. I've gotten diarrhea for 2-3 days after this meal. Everything I've tried here, and I've basically tried everything because my friends like coming here for their wings, EVERYTHING was either mediocre or tasted awful. Everything on the menu was overpriced like a high-end restaurant, and their service is absolutely horrible. The waiters/waitresses were usually always unprofessional like the kind of service you'd get at chinatown. The only time they would attempt to provide decent service is when they're expecting their 20% tip at the end of the meal for doing a crappy job. WARNING: THEY WERE SHUT DOWN FOR ALMOST A WEEK BECAUSE A ROTTEN STENCH AND OTHER HAZARDS WERE FOUND IN THEIR KITCHEN. EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK.
(1)Alice S.
I love, love the food here! The proportions are quite generous and it is practically impossible to be able to try everything you want to try (unless you wouldn't mind bringing back several doggy bags). I have had: - Soy Garlic Wings (yum! 5/5) - Bacon Wraps ( 5/5) - Bulgogi Bibimbob (4/5) - Kimchi-Bacon House Fried Rice (5/5) The restaurant itself seems to be pretty crowded during dinner. Parking is near impossible to find on the street.
(5)Lim W.
I believe the food really good, but I'm never try the food, that because they close early. Every time I try to go there Sunday they close at 11, supposed to be 12 on the website. Very disappoint I drive from NH 1 hours and they say closed. Please change the hour store to 7 pm make ur employees happy not the customer...
(1)Alice G.
I tried bibimbop and some sushis last night and it was good but not that excellent compared to price. I like atmosphere of this place , music is exciting. this place is good for going dinner with group friends. chicken is too less meat even though it looks a lot. too much tempura batters I mean. staffs are nice and busy.
(3)Jenn S.
If you are a non meat eater like me you can still find good things to eat... even though I felt really left out I wasn't in on the wings. I ordered the Bibimbop with tofu and it was pretty good. We also ordered the scallion pancake which I was NOT a fan of. It was way too thick compared to what I am used to having. The whole table kind of picked at it and left it so maybe pass on that.
(3)Chris M.
Went for a business dinner and was reluctant because the store front looks like the run of the mill Chinese joint in this area. I was unsure of they served alcohol, but to my delight, they had beer and wine. The food was pretty good until they brought out the chicken wings - no exaggeration, they were some of the best I have ever had. I will come back here often.
(5)Diana L.
The chicken wings are the best thing here. My bibimbap was extremely oily. Sports are on super loud here so don't even try to have a conversation. Service is slow, which is fine, I wouldn't care if I had kimchi bahn chan to eat to distract me from the waiting... I would come here to get fried chicken with a group of drunk/drinking pals. Horrible place for a date. Tables are like 2 inches from each other too FYI. It is typically busy and loud, loud, loud...
(2)Chan P.
These wings are my favorite. You won't find any kind of fried chicken that taste like these, with anyone using the same techniques. I don't think it stops at the wings, the sushi and apps are also amazingly tasty. I haven't ordered a dish that hasn't made my tummy happy and mouth water. It's such a far drive from providence but worth every minute! My only compliant is that I wish they had one closer to home!!
(5)Jack W.
ugh. I used to love this place... But when I walked in today, I saw a mouse going around the floor... It is too bad. My friends and I all lost our appetite. I would not recommend this place to any of my friends!!!
(1)Ziyang L.
There are sure some good part of this restaurant but you know what is really annoying is that the waiter keeps ppl waiting in line but 4 part group always jumps in front of 2 ppl group becoz there's only one fucking 2 ppl table. Fist time here and so disappointed, would never come again for sure.
(1)Teresa S.
Honestly probably one of the best wings I've ever had was at Bon chon! Went on a Tuesday around 6:30pm, was seated immediately. The place was fairly packed surprisingly on a weekday. Ordered the small wings soy garlic style, chicken house fried rice, seafood scallion pancake, and tuna and salmon ceviche. All were absolutely delicious! I could have done without the scallion pancake, truthfully the Chinese places make it better! But either way it was all right. The rest of the orders made up for it. Price was worth the amazing food. The service was great, everyone was friendly and attentive. Will surely be coming back sometime!
(5)Will D.
If you haven't tried Bon Chon chicken, please go now. Probably the best Korean fried chicken you can find in Boston
(5)Elizabth V.
Got quoted 1 hour and a half for a ten piece strips and fried rice. My food was done in 30 minutes... What was the point of quoting such a ridiculous time? Why not call and let the customer know their food is done a lot earlier then expected if you ask for a phone number...? New management is clearly needed.
(2)Sarah A.
Oh Bon Chon, how I love you, let me count the ways... Last night, the SO and I wanted to eat here but alas being a Saturday night the line was out the door. A drunken man a few doors down eating Bon Chon chicken out of a takeout box was yelling at the people lining up asking if they wanted a bite of chicken LOL. I almost said yes. We decided to get take-out instead and boy am I glad that we did! They overloaded our takeout box so full it wouldn't even close properly. We bought some beer, took our chicken home and indulged in tons of spicy, flavorful, suuuuuper crispy chicken. With a belly full of beer and amazing Korean fried chicken, I slept blissfully.
(5)San W.
While still at school, b. and I recently ordered delivery this past Sunday night after a long day of studying and working. Our order arrives within an hour...minus b.'s entrée. b. calls the delivery guy, who tells her that they must have not put it into the bag and tells her to call the restaurant. So b. calls the restaurant and explains the mistake: Attempt #1 Guy: "We're swamped right now. What do you want us to do?" Umm...how about fix your mistake since your being swamped is not our problem? Attempt #2 Guy: "Well, we can comp your order. Since you paid by credit card, it'll charge you twice." Umm...obviously that is not a solution to the current problem. How does that make any sense? Attempt #3 Guy: "We can give you a gift certificate for your entrée for the next time you come in." Umm...we ordered at that time because we were hungry and we ordered delivery precisely because we did not want to come in. Besides, this location is a bit of a trek when you live on the Orange line without a car. Eventually, another delivery guy brings the missing order to us. He was more apologetic about the mistake but overall, FAIL. I get it. We're human. We all make mistakes. Places get busy. Hungry people want their food. Like NOW. Hungry people be gettin' cranky. Having grown up in the service industry, I am definitely a supporter of the view that the customer is NOT always right. But in this case, if you made a genuine mistake, own up to it and fix it. No biggie. Don't turn it around on the customer. C'mon guys. Really.
(1)Ori M.
When the place gets packed, hostesses apparently lose manners and respect for customers by not putting down reservations or even apologizing for their mistakes. But keep in mind you have to be assertive to get what you want, especially during weekends and nights when it's really busy! As for the food I personally don't like deep fried food (especially if fried twice) since I got the bonchon wings. They were good for the first 9 wings but then got heavy on my stomach and made me restless in the nighttime. Anything else other than bonchon is small portions and a little over the top prices. Don't get me wrong the waiters were great under pressure and checked in on you by getting extra napkins and water (which you will need if you get the spicy wings!). I would come back but not anytime soon.
(3)Coy M.
Chicken was saucy, flavorful, and very crunchy! The best bon chon chicken!! The best! I live 40 mins away but the drive is well worth it!
(5)Nanci C.
I have to say this place is not good. The restaurant is renovated nicely from the previous owner. However, this Korean chicken is definitely not the best I had. The chicken wings has been fried for a long time and left in the open. When you order a certain flavor they will just refried it and add sauce. I never like going to any restaurant that had all young kids. The food is not even good. The only time I come here is because my cousins said about how great this restaurant is and how my friend loves this place. Still they go eat at Bon Chon because it's like those latest trend that people like to follow even when it's not even nice. Service is great though. I would not eat here again.
(2)Mike M.
I was a fan of the wings and would have given them a 3 star rating based solely on the wings, a few times the sauce was just lacking or the wings were more greasy than normal. The managements attitude sucks, if a couple walks in at 9 on a Tuesday and asks to be seated at a booth and you barely have 1/8th of your tables even taken give them what they want, don't make them wait 10 minutes for the small 2x2' table with two seats. The sushi don't even bother and the entrees are ok but don't stand up to good Korean food I'm used to in LA or even other local restaurants like Kaju Tofu House or Buk Kyung. Beyond all that I'd go back for the wings... Then I read this food and safety inspection report: blog.usfoodsafety.com/20… Absolutely disgusted by their filth, should have always known their prep/kitchen area wasn't up to par since their bathrooms are always a mess and they have crappy attitudes towards customer service.
(1)Michelle C.
the heat was busted! it was FAH-REEZING! Besides that, our waitress was really nice and fast/friendly. Everything came out hot and fresh. Chicken = crispy (do the soy garlic, the spicy is NOT hot). THe cabbage and pickled radish were tasty Dumplings = nice crispy outside...odd flavor with the basil inside. Spicy Japchae = glass noodle with beef & veggies. Good flavor, but wasn't a fan of the texture of the noodle and not a lot of beef Hotate Kaiyaki= scallop, crab, tobiko in baked mayo. Not good. For some reason when I read the description, I wasn't paying attention that it was A. Hot and B) Baked, duh. it was hot and mushy and didn't smell nice, wasn't a fan.
(3)Julia G.
Stumbled across this place looking for a late night dinner. Everyone was very nice and the food was amazing!!!! We got wings, soup, sushi and pork buns, which were all very tasty!!!!
(5)Tamara P.
the food was simply amazing! looks like the place is always busy, so be ready to wait for your table. we grabbed seats at the sushi-bar so the wait was minimal, but so was the comfort/atmosphere (it's right by the front door, main computer and drink serving station, not to mention the sushi bar making orders). but the food is worth the trip and the slight discomfort. you will love the aroma, the taste, and how happy it makes your belly. we're definitely coming back again!
(5)Terry H.
I am a regular here, love the food, but hate that they don't take reservation and there is always a long wait. Chick wing is a must. Love their Crispy Salmon Salad, not only it has a very nice presentation but it is very tasty and refreshing at the same time with crispy salmon torch to the right perfection.
(3)Alex S.
There's only really one reason you should come here - double fried wings. They come in two flavors - soy garlic and hot. You should always order both. Although slightly on the pricey side for fried chicken, everyone should at least try this place once. It also gets pretty crowded on the weekends so its best to go at an off time to avoid waiting. Check out my blog (complete with pictures and childish humor) for the full review! thesuchef.org/2013/10/03…
(4)Vezna S.
Atmosphere: The place was modern looking and pretty relaxed. With dim lighting setting the atmosphere and soft music playing in the backdrop, you could really feel how cool and hip it felt. The interior was quaint, the booths and the long tables in the middle fitted perfectly with the decor. Food: I ordered chicken wings that were crispy, sweet, sticky and spicy all in one. Chicken wings are my absolute favorite indulgence, and this place has the best chicken wings I've ever had in my life. On the other hand, the sushi was OK, nothing special so it's no surprise to say I've had better. Service: The service was the only downside of my experience at Bon Chons. We waited for nearly an hour before the food actually arrived, by then we were starving. Besides that, the service was good but that was a big downside to the whole experience. Overall the place has average marks. I would say it received a 6.5 out of 10 stars. Best chicken wings I've ever had. If it wasn't for the long wait, this place would've been perfect.
(3)Julie T.
My favorite Bon Chon I've been to so far. The only one I haven't been to yet is the one in D.C. The chicken size and flavor is on point. I think this location has the best spicy wings recipe, which is why this is my favorite location. The service is usually friendly and accommodating. I haven't had many bad experiences here. Definitely more good than bad. The only thing that is troublesome is parking! It can take forever to find a spot. But I think its worth it.
(4)Abby R.
Get the fried chicken. It is FOR REAL. Don't be like me. I went with a large party and everybody was ordering wings and I foolishly decided to take the path less traveled, and it made all the difference. In a negative way. I had the bul dak which is a really spicy chicken dish with cheese. It was actually very spicy which I liked, but the "sauce" the chicken was in was 90% oil and there was no rice. Just chicken and cheese. I guess it was alright if you like that kind of thing. I've never ordered it before so I don't know if that's typical for this dish. I therefore scavenged bites of wings where I could like a hungry dog and each bite seemed better than the last. Get the fried chicken. Don't be a fool.
(4)L J.
Fell in love with this place when I was introduced in NYC a few years ago. When I realized it was in Brighton, I had to make a visit. Absolutely love the food! Waiting service could use improvement. I made my friend a Bon Chon believer.
(4)Alan C.
Love the fried chicken. We also had the Japchae which was also very good. I was disappointed with the kimchi Jjigae was way too sour, could barely eat it. Either take it off menu or use less sour kimchi. I highly suggest getting the Okonomiaki. There was a generous sprinkling of bonito flakes which is a must and also cooked just right with the right portion of ingredients.
(4)Lucas S.
BonChon's wings are so unbelievablely amazing, I can't even put it into words. The sushi is darn good too. Been here twice so far and each time was great. The wings were amazing both times and like I said previously the Sushi is pretty excellent too. The wait staff was very friendly and interacted with our table quite a bit. Definitely making this place a regular destination.
(5)Salinda W.
I use to LOVE this place, but it seems like bonchon is losing its touch for me. The only thing that is really consistently good is probably the chicken, other than that everything is meh. Dining in is usually very crowded so every now and then i'll do take out or delivery, however, sometimes they make you wait 6 minutes to order (i actually checked the phone) which is absolutely absurd since you`re a customer. AINT NO BODY GAT TIME FAH DAT you feel?. I've had the sushi which is good but not spectacular, i would recommend fish market for some good and fresh sushi. The spicy pork is a safe pick, but the popular dish, kalbi jjim, is really fatty, and not a good cut of meat, and for 22.95... no thank you. The fried rice is also good, so i wouldn't hesitate to order it. In a nutshell, the chicken is awesome, but thats all that makes me crave bonchon. The girls who work there in the front desk are really polite and sweet people, they get the job done, but i've had times where they weren't available, and my orders took forever to come through. I would say definitely try this place out at least once, and see if you like it enough to come back!
(3)Vivian Z.
A must go place if you love Korean food and fried chicken! We ordered the famous Bon Chon fried chicken - the spicy option is way too spicy even for spicy lover like me:) but really good - crispy outside and juicy,tender inside, handsdown the best fried chicken I have ever had. We also ordered the Kimchi Jungee which is delicious too! Service is great.
(5)Mike B.
Bon Chon has always been overrated to me, until I went the other day. Parking is always a S-Show in Allston, but we luckily found parking right in front of the place. The place STANK like horseraddish at first and it was pretty unbearable. The host kind of gave us a smug attitude when we asked for a booth. He said something like "Thats for parties of 4 only." in a smug type-of-way. I just wanted to smack him to be honest. The place was dead-empty when we went. Whats the big deal? Anyways, the wings were tasty but kind of unporportional. You would have one tiny looking wing and then a huge drumstick thats anywhere from 3-5x the size of that little wing. Their sushi is surprisingly amazing, what I enjoyed more than anything else that I had there. Kudos to our waiter (not the host) who kept checking up on us and who kept filling up our waters (i drink alot of water) Last thought: Kind of expensive to say the least. Not a place I would go to frequently. btw, Fire your host
(4)Alexander L.
food is fantastic. need to get that spicy crunch chicken! and even without the spice, it's still awesome. place is always bumpin' because it's worth the wait! if there are a lot of asians in there and you're not asian and you feel awkward, don't worry EVERYONE LOVES THIS CHICKEN and it's a major compliment to show up despite the cultural awkwardness.
(4)Catrina M.
I ordered from them last night, in my second attempt. (the first time I ordered, I was informed a good 20 minutes after the order was placed that their power had gone out and they couldn't make my food). I figured Id give them the benefit of the doubt bc at this point I couldnt get bimbimbob off my mind. Well, I should have gone with my gut and ordered from somewhere else. I ordered the basic mixed green salad. The menu gave no description but I assumed it would be like every other basic MGS I had had. No. They put imitation crab all over it. The menu should have said they were putting that disgusting crap all over the salad. You can't just surprise someone with that. Next I ordered one of their speciality Maki rolls. For $14 I though for sure I was going to get something big and delicious....wrong again. I got the smallest roll I have ever seen. Whole foods to go sushi rolls are bigger than what I was served. Not to mention the tempura was soggy and the eel was fishy tasting, as if it were old. Lastly I got my bimbimbob that I was the most excited for. How can you screw that up? Well you can if you serve it to your customer COLD. The egg was over cooked, and cold. The meat was cold. The vegetables were undercooked and COLD. I was highly disappointed with this place. I will not be ordering from them again.
(1)K N.
Why would you not be open at the time that is posted on your door? The food here isn't bad but the way things are ran is absolutely ridiculous. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I won't ever return.
(1)Kathy C.
I had really wanted like Bon Chon, but bottom-line, it was just A-OK for me. The food was decent, the atmosphere and pricing are also just A-OK for me. We ordered the small wings and drumsticks combo with soy garlic flavor, the pork buns, pork belly, and bulgogi bibimbop. Their famous wings/drumsticks were a bit sweet for me. I can see why they would be popular, but as personal preference, it was too sweet and therefore just OK for me. The pork belly and pork buns were both a bit disappointing. The pork belly was thinly sliced and swimming in sauce. I was hoping for crispy skin and melt-in-your-mouth-fat type pork belly. The pork buns were a bit bland and swimming in too much sauce. The bibimbop was decent, doesn't taste bad but nothing "wow'ing" us. Which is the overall feeling I got from Bon Chon. Nothing bad, nothing great... "A-OK".
(3)Aria D.
I've been here a couple times, everyone is nice although service can be slow. I called five minutes before 3 to order something for take out from their lunch menu and was told that they stop "around" 3 and that I had 5 minutes to be there in person if I wanted to order from the lunch menu. I've never been refused before even if it's 5 minutes before. I also work at a restaurant myself where I am the cook and I wouldn't do that to a customer. It's not like they close their kitchen at three. A little disappointed in their service.
(2)Daniel K.
If you're in the mood for some really good crispy fried chicken with beer, this is the place to go. It's one way to casually impress your girlfriend if she likes wings. Although chicken is the reason I come here, they also have good sushi and really good Korean dishes. I am a frequent customer to Bon Chon and it hasn't disappointed me. Cheers!
(5)Carol W.
Their food is definitely 4 stars. For the chicken alone, Bon Chon should get 5 stars. The reason why I have given them only 3 is because I was lied to by a staff person over the phone. I was ordering delivery and asked if there was a delivery charge. I was told that there was no delivery charge and decided to give the driver a bigger tip. However, when the food arrived, I noticed a $5 delivery charge. I ended up paying $17.00 to have this food delivered to my house. It was already charged onto my card. Since it was my birthday and that big snowstorm back in December (the restaurant closed early that night), I decided not to make a stink about it. Normally, I would have called the restaurant and said something to the owner. They should be honest and just tell their customers the truth. You come here for the chicken, and the seafood fried rice is pretty tasty too. The sushi and other Korean dishes are just mediocre filler for their menu. They also have some very good lunch deals too. I would definitely recommend this place for lunch if you can find parking!
(3)Wini H.
Bon Chon is a chain whose specialty is Korean fried chicken. This isn't your typical breaded and deep fried chicken. What you end up with are these smaller, tender pieces that have a sauce layer that isn't too sticky or gummy. I prefer this variety--they're lighter and packed with flavor without making you feel disgusting after downing a whole bunch. I prefer the soy, but if you REALLY like heat, Bon Chon isn't afraid to give it with their spicy flavor. They provide radishes and good slaw if you need to cool down. Apart from their specialty, Bon Chon has a few other good options. For example, the dukbokki! The only thing I really wouldn't recommend is the sushi--it's not a sushi place and I don't think they should attempt to be. For the price you're paying, it's a little below average and you could get great sushi elsewhere. We've ordered delivery twice--a bulgogi stew and dukbokki, and the other time, a whole bunch of wings and dukbokki. It's pretty much just as good as getting it at the restaurant. Much like the restaurant itself, wait times are pretty long (anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on how busy you are), but the guy on the phone tells you right off the bat how much of a wait to expect.
(4)Heather C.
Like it! Yum! Hope they make the sides little better. It seems like extra mayo in it.
(4)Melody N.
I have come here a multiple of times and have had sort of a mixed bag experience with this place. Food: Korean Fried Chicken - Crispy, spicy and in wing form(so in my book better than eating regular fried chicken because it's not a gigantic thigh/breast etc. being fried!). They also have a garlic soy chicken - which is delicious but something about that spice that brings me back to Bon Chon. My companions and I had a couple of Soju glasses making wings a perfect compliment to my inebriated(and delightful!) state of mind. Some of the food I've had in the past were just 'okay'(the scallion pancake comes to mind). We've also had okonomiyaki. From wikipedia, okonomiyaki is a "Japanese Pizza". I think it's more like a flatbread with seafood toppings on it. I liked it, but it's pretty filling. Service/Atmosphere: The service has been a mixed bag with it being okay to being so busy that it was a bit of a wait. The most recent time I've went(June 2013) service was prompt in every aspect. The times I've gone there is usually quite a crowd.
(4)Parthi J.
Can't give below 1 star. If I can, I would give in negative. Worst wings ever ever, I can squeeze a ton of oil out of the wings. And the taste of Soy garlic was horrible, Hot sauce was relatively better than soy garlic - still doesn't taste good. Too much oil spoiled the taste. I would never go here for wings. I am not sure about other items on the menu. Good luck.
(1)Tina D.
Came back to the Bon to the Chon for a friend's birthday dinner tonight and I must say... Tonight's experience was better than the last, which made me add one more star to my original rating (Yay!) My party and I ordered two extra large combos (one soy garlic, the other spicy), a seafood scallion pancake, and the kimchi bacon fried rice. Oh my lord, let me tell you, if you have not tried the kimchi bacon fried rice you have not experienced anything more marvelous and palette satisfying. I, personally, won't eat kimchi because I think it's very strong and overpowering, but this fried rice was perfect. It's topped with a nice fried egg (that I greedily took hehehe) and not only did I get the perfect hint of kimchi flavor, but throwing that bacon in made it money. Going onto the seafood scallion pancake, it was better compared to my last experience, but by no means did it get so much better that I would order it again. It was less greasy for sure, which made eating it again much more bearable, but the pancake was mostly batter and only had a couple chunks of squid and shrimp. You also must eat with soy sauce or else it'll taste bland! In conclusion, seafood scallion pancake: OK, nothing too special. Of course, the chicken. The chicken is definitely the main reason why people even come to Bonchon! The chicken is always moist and juicy, but I must say that tonight I got more batter instead of meat compared to my past experiences, but I wasn't expecting too much from Bonchon. The chicken's overall quality is consistent, which I greatly appreciate from restaurants. All in all, my night tonight made me a fan of Bonchon, but because of how expensive it is (and being a broke college student along with that), I won't go out of my way to come here. But, I must advise everyone to try the kimchi fried rice, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Laurie L.
I hate wings and have to say these are the only wings I'll ever eat. Those soy garlic things are amazing .. Love how It's double fryed. The taste is so good! The sushi is very good also just not as fresh as other sushi places in the area. Service is not bad depending on if there busy or not and who your waiter is..
(3)May N.
the food is super great esp the chicken! it's kinda extra pricy but I believe it's somewhat worth the price! people are super nice
(4)Chelsea C.
Chicken wings, sushi and pitchers of beer? YES PLEASE! Came here on a busy weeknight with a friend and ordered a few rolls of sushi and wings to share. Everything was FANTASTIC. The chicken was deliciously deep fried and the dipping sauces were great. I see from some of the other reviews they have some service issues but our server was great even though it was busy. Fun atmosphere, and the price is right. I'm a fan!
(4)Astra G.
Cliff notes version: Wings- good! Sushi- meh :/ Other- not bad The real story: This Bon chon is big and offers a larger menu that includes Korean and Japanese fare (hello tiny NYC locations). Of course, our chicken wings were delicious and extra crispy (but you already know that). The sushi was kinda off, we got a spicy tuna and a special roll that was good but maybe not that special since I can't remember the name. I wasn't expecting spectacular sushi since it's a Korean wings chain but the spicy tuna sure was extra fishy tasting. Perhaps not the freshest. We also got some takoyaki which I got very excited about since there aren't too many Japanese izakayas in Boston and havent had them in a while. So I took the risk of getting more Japanese food at a Korean place. The takoyaki was tasty, hot, and with ample bonito flakes, kewpie sauce and tonkatsu sauce. Yummy. They have one beer on draft: good ol Sapporo, but I really appreciated this since many Asian places don't. Service was decent. I'll be back for some wings, beer, but will probably avoid the sushi. Too bad, I liked the idea of a place to get wings and sushi at the same place. Maybe I shouldn't be so spoiled.
(3)Jang David K.
kimchi fried rice, dukkbokki with tempura and wings (half and half) with 3-4 people may possibly be one of the life-giving meals for Koreans in Boston. yes, you will be spitting out fire in the bathroom next morning but it's worth the morning flame. bonchon's flavors change drastically by how well the staffs are trained. I've had 1-2 star bonchons in California to this location, which is probably the best bonchon I've had in the states.
(4)Shauna H.
Sushi-fantastic and fresh I especially love the rolls with mango in them, great addition! Chicken-fantastic, crunchy, addictive for sure! Both times I've ordered I've gotten strips- I think I'd most like drumsticks but I always feel like 5 isn't enough for the price of a small, so I skimp out. Either way, I would expect the strips to be dry, but in fact they're succulent and delicious! (Also you can microwave leftovers in 30 seconds and get like-new deliciousness!) Ceviche- DON'T bother! They use generous portions of fish and avocado, but it's completely ruined by the chili sauce- fish and avocado are so delicate the sauce completely overpowers them, so it's not worth it. I love chili sauce, don't get me wrong, ceviche is just not the right place for it.
(4)Robert A.
Love this place. Love their chicken wings & drums! They are to Die for. Am a Regular and so glad they opened!!
(5)Merry L.
On Christmas Day, going out for Asian food is basically the norm for me. And this year, I was lured into Bon Chon by its warming lights and lively atmosphere. Per other reviews, We tried the chicken wings. We tried the soy garlic sauce. The wings came out crisp and tasty. Very nice! I ordered the Katsu Don. It's a common dish that can't really be done wrong. And the Don here is nice but it's not quite special. Service is great! I'm grateful for that on a Christmas Day.
(4)Dorise G.
Hold the phone - I haven't yet reviewed Bon Chon? My favorite wings in Boston? There's not a lot you need to know. The wings are double fried. Extra crispy Korean-style double-fried. Get the Soy Garlic wings. That's the only thing you need to know to order. Yes, I like spice too, but the spicy wings are *too* spicy. This is not a Barney-Stinson-style-challenge for you to accept. If you want to actually taste the wings, get the soy garlic. And if you get the spicy anyway, don't say I didn't warn you. The wings come with slaw and pickled daikon. The pickled daikon have grown on me over time (I actually quite like them now), but I still won't eat the slaw - I'm just not a mayo person, it's nothing personal. But people, we're getting distracted here. The wings are. THE.BEST.IN.BOSTON. If you like eating things that are delicious, you should go here. There might be a wait. Unless you just go with 2 people. And then there will look like there's a wait, but there probably won't be a long one. And you can probably just eat at the bar. Don't be intimidated by the line. The hordes of Koreans hanging out helps you know it's legit, and once you take your first bite you won't require much convincing. Bon chon wings are what's up. Soy garlic of my dreams. Mmmmmmmm...
(5)Victoria M.
We took a friend to Bonchon (ignore the bad English on the website!) for chicken wings and apps. Fried oysters - just what you want, crispy outside, tender inside. Dipping sauce was a bit sweet and savory. Octopus wakame - thin sliced octopus salad with wakame seaweed. Corn butter - baked corn dish with butter and cheese. Soy garlic and hot chicken wings - great crispiness outside, juicy meat inside, salty soy garlic, hot was too spicy for me, but others love it. They are in the process of renewing their liquor license, so for the time being there is no alcohol. This is definitely a minus since this is exactly the type of food you want with a cold beer (or some soju). Alcohol should be back in a couple months. It can get VERY busy there and the wait area is very small.
(3)Kathy M.
Life Changing Wings. I don't think I can ever eat other wings again. I cried tears of joy while eating their spicy wings-- mostly because it was pretty, deliciously spicy so those were some spice tears but also because they were just beautiful. An altogether moving experience.
(5)Khoa N.
Double deep fried wings with crazy spicy sauce. Who wouldn't be a fan? Which causes a little of a problem since everyone seems to think alike. That means at least an hour wait, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. If you can, make it during normal lunch hours. They have an awesome deal with wings and rice for $8 that you can't refuse. Get 2 of those and you'll still have a great deal. Maybe not so much for your bowel or your arteries. But once in a while, it's quite worth it. If your physicians complain about why your LDLs and triglycerides have been so high, just bring in a half and half order of these mighty wings. They still might not approve, but they'll understand why you slip... ever so often.
(4)Ben L.
have to say this place is mehhhhhh. I probably came at a bad night last time, it's seems to be getting worse to me. I've been here quite a few times and had the same thing, of course the chicken wings! sure its good but dont really know... it just isnt... there, like I use to think it was amazing. I did go on a wednesday night with not too much people there. Services were good food can be better prices are okay, i'd only go if you just got paid, not some everyday meal you can get at places in chinatown.
(3)Matthew D.
If you like waiting in line for sticky, cloying wing sauce, here's your place. Don't mind the sewage leak the health inspectors found this summer, either. Flavor, you know. If you want real Korean food, try any of the other, numerous, excellent Korean restaurants nearby. Really.
(1)Leon N.
Took the wife out to try Bon Chon for the first time. This is my second. We arrived promptly at 6pm and there was a short wait. We put our names down and waited about 25 minutes (they said it will take 30 minutes) and our table was ready. We also did not have a problem finding street parking, seeing that we knew to dine early. Service was prompt and our server was quite attentive, even with a big party next to our table and the place completely packed. We already knew what we wanted for our meals, given that we read a handful of reviews on Yelp. We ordered the pork buns and the tokoyaki (fried octopus balls) for starters and the combo fried chicken, half n half (spicy/soy ginger). I have to say the pork buns was pretty disappointing. The buns were cold or barely even warm and the fillings was scarce. I heard good reviews for it, but it was a disappointing, especially costing $6 for 2 pork buns. Maybe a down day for this app. However, the tokoyaki was delicious and well worth the money. Little scarce on the octopus (1 small piece in each), but the batter and the sauce was great. Overall, this dish I would order again and again. As you probably read by now, the fried chicken is a must have if you dine here. We both polished off the 10 wings/5 drums. The sauce is spicy and not for the faint of hearts, but the spiciness is great. I like spicy food so no problems for me. The soy ginger is just as good. My wife loved it. I do prefer the drums over the wings. Next time, we are sticking to the drums. As stated, our server was quite attentive and no problems with service. Everything was fast and prompt. We left a 20% tip. I also saw a lot of families with children so definitely a place you can bring your kids. They do have loud music (techno) so if you kids are loud, you will be fine. Not a place to bring your significant other for a romantic date. By the end of our meal (approx. 1.5 to 2 hours later), I cannot imagine how long the wait would be as the whole front host area was packed with people and even patrons waiting outside the establishment. Be warned, if you want to dine here, come early like we did, otherwise, be prepared for a long wait (that is if you were able to find street parking on a Saturday night).
(4)Rogaa S.
Korean style chicken... i don't know what that means, but i LOVE it. The chicken is amazing, honestly everything I've had here has been great. First off the restaurant is very nice. it's clean decent size, service is good pretty fast. The wings are amazing, i always go for the spicy wings i can handle hot but even after 15 of these it starts to creep up on you. The soy garlic wings are very good as well i suggest getting both so you can go back and fourth to offset the spice. The fried rice was very flavorful wasn't covered in grease and oil. Absolutely one thousand percent get the spicy seafood salad. When i first heard about it i was just like mehh but damn is it good. Like when you re stuffed to the max and if there's seafood salad leftover you eat it, cause that stuff does not go to waste !! The Lychee Soju is amazing.. order 5 bottles trust me you will go through it. only thing that sucks about this place is the wait. I don't think i have ever been there and was seated right away. place is always packed. but its worth the wait !
(5)Dustin D.
This is a review for their lunch. The overall quality of the food was decent but nothing to be hyped about. I came here awhile back for their Bonchon Chicken and it was really delicious and warm when they served it. This time, when I ordered their lunch combo with the Bonchon chicken, it wasn't as great as I thought it would be. The chicken was a bit dry but it still tasted good but the french fries were amazing. I love it when the french fries have the crispiness to them. I have yet to try their other dishes but once I do, I'll make sure to update my review.
(3)J G.
Service was good and our server was knowledgable and pleasant. I ordered the crispy salmon salad to start. It was a good size for 2-4 to share as an app and the flavors went nicely together. For our entrées I ordered the fried rice and substituted chicken for pork and my girlfriend ordered the spicy wings. My fried rice was a little bland and some of the bits were burned.
(3)Bryce H.
One of the best chicken I say I have tasted in Boston. It was Saturday so I guess there is excuse for long wait time on food but overall I am satisfied. First I sat on Sushi bar waiting for a table and luckily we got sat to a table within 5 mins or so. We had Buldock - Spicy Chicken - as a appetizer and it was really really good. But watch out !! Its super spicy.
(4)Yada S.
Just had dinner at the bar at Bon chon. I love the chicken here, however, tonight was a different night. I had ordered sashimi and chicken and to my surprise the chicken came out without delay. The sashimi is a different story. It took over 30 minutes before it arrived and by this time I had already gone through 8 pieces of chicken and white rice. The order came and it wasn't even sashimi it was sushi and not the right amount nor order. I rarely ever complain so I continued thinking ok I can just lift the raw fish off the rice. At this point I said let's call it a night. I got the bill and just wanted to leave. I told the waitress (Anna) hey there is an issue I was charged for more items than was on my plate for the sashimi and on top the tako wasn't even served. She then began to tell me the machine is running slow and would have to charge me again for an already complete upheaval. I didn't cause a scene but I can assure you that I will never be back!
(1)Sebastian N.
Love this place! It's super packed on the weekends, so you have to plan strategically. But the wings see the best! Super crunchy, crispy, and flavorful. I used to get the spicy ones, but sometimes their too hot for me. The garlic soy are just as delicious. Love the pickled daikon, slaw, and rice. I hear the sushi is good too.
(4)Karen L.
I came to this place on Friday (09/19/14) with a friend, and ordered chicken and shrimp mayonnaise and it was great! BUT while eating we saw a MOUSE! DAN Dan DAN DANG! we told the waitress and guess what he said!? "Oh really!? don't worry, she is our friend, she has been around meeting people." WTH!? really disappointed with this place! If you guys plan to go, you'll meet a new friend around, so don't even bother telling the waitress.
(1)Ambrose C.
I can't believe it, but every time I return to this place, my experiences keep getting better, and I probably have been eating the right food that has been tasty so far. I am going to give this place a higher rating, with some caution. If you come here just to order the sushi, and/or the other Korean/Japanese dishes, and not the chicken wings, I think you are going to miss out on something special and tasty. Every time I get the chicken, I now get a combo mix of wings and drumsticks. I really liked the crispiness on the outside and the tenderness on the inside. I had both the soy garlic and the spicy flavors. The soy garlic has a nice small sweet flavor and not too overpowering. The spicy flavored chicken was fairly strong, which led me to drink more water. Sometimes, they provide a special bucket to dispose of the bones, which is great and convenient. Another dish I recently had was the the Tonkatsu. It's a really filling dish, a large bowl of rice and crispy meat, enough to fill a hungry man's stomach. The side dishes have been tasty and they give a generous amount. A nice Korean lady that I had dinner with her and her friends said to me that she really liked to eat the pickled radishes. I agree with her on that part. I also liked the cole slaw. Service has got a little better, servers are fairly nice, and the food comes in fairly quick. One major disadvantage is that the chicken can be really expensive, a large combo set of chicken wings is about $30, and should be enough to feed 3 people. Overall, this is still a good choice to get some tasty Korean style fried chicken wings, even though the price may be a little high compared to other places. I would rather pay a few dollars more for good and tasty chicken rather that pay a really low price and get really bad tasting chicken.
(4)David B.
Wings were amazing. An Asian variation of Hooter's wings. Aside from the wings, the service was great and the inside was clean. Overall a great experience.
(5)Le N.
The fried chicken here are finger lickin' good!! I don't know what they put in their chicken but I always want it!! And the radish that they serve goes perfectly with the chicken. When my mouth is burning from the spicy chicken, I use the radish to offset it. As much as I love the spicy chicken, the garlic soy sauce one is also very good. So do yourself a favor - order and x-large and get half and half. =) The japanese pizza here is also good. Sushi is decent - slightly over priced. Beware - always a long line and I don't think they take reservations..
(4)Linda J.
I guess it's called Bon Chon Chicken for a reason, because anything besides the chicken is lacking and just not enjoyable. Though they do serve sushi here, I really do not recommend eating sushi at a restaurant that doesn't even specialize in sushi. First off I ordered the Boston Maki and some sake nigiri. The Boston maki was okay. But when the sake nigiri arrived I thought I was getting punked. Those two pieces of salmon were the tiniest things I have ever seen in my life and they were actually the size of my pinky finger. What's worse is that they served it on an obnoxiously large plate which only magnified how small the two pieces of sushi were. For $5.25 it's a huge rip off. I also ordered to Kimchi jiggae and took around three bites and decided that I just could not go through with finishing this poorly made jiggae. It was way too sour (I'm guessing they used OVERLY fermented kimchi), and it was clear that maybe they were trying to put a bonchon twist but utterly failed. We also ordered a plate of the chicken strips, and that was the only thing worth our money. But it's still wasn't the "best chicken i've ever tasted" like a lot of other people claim.
(2)Kathy N.
Every time I come here, I get really happy because I am a big fan of their chicken! The service here is always really friendly no matter what. Even though there was one time me and a friend waited for our order of large combo of chicken wings/drumsticks for nearly half an hour, our server was completely aware and attentive about the situation. It's a relaxing atmosphere, even on a busy night. Came here for Christmas day with a party of 7 and enjoyed my time with good food and good people :)
(5)Matthew S.
I'm not sure why everyone loves these wings so much. I tried the hot kind and they were mediocre. And it was $10 for 5 drumsticks.
(2)Barbara A.
Finally made to one of their places and thanks to Frannie's obsession to chicken wings, we made it to this one. It makes me sad because it is in the location of the Stockpot (the original soup and salad place) which my mom would take me to all the time. I quickly got over that. Their wings are pretty darn yummy. I think I was partial to the soy garlic. It had a tangy sweetness that satisfied. The hot wings were hot (I think my lips are still burning) but were still enjoyable once your mouth got used to the heat. I thought the pork raviolis were ok, but could not distract from some kickin' wings. (Still love Sparky's the best!)
(4)Michelle T.
*Note: the 4 star review is based on the fact that it was take-out...AND I didn't have to pay a dime. (Lucky me, I know)* The boneless fried chicken - half spicy, half with the soy garlic was pretty darn awesome, even when cold. The white meat chicken is pounded thin, then double fried. It is not at all greasy...which is probably dangerous because you probably think it can't be that bad for ya. I'm a bigger fan of the slightly sweet soy garlic fried chicken, but I do like to alternate it with pieces of the spicy at a ratio of 2 to 1...sometimes 3 to 1. Spicy is also delicious, but I need it with rice (*hot hot hot*)...Good thing the take out comes with a side of rice, some pickled radishes (FRESH, crunchy, sweet and sour all at once. Love!) and the coleslaw. They work well with the fried chicken, otherwise it would have been way too heavy. The sushi is okay. Imitation crab meat was used (to be expected) and the California rolls was a little too heavy on the rice and light on the fillings. It was also too loosely rolled...HOWEVER I'm not going to complain further because the sushi seemed to compliment my box of fried chicken PERFECTLY, so...that is all. I'll be back to try some other menu items!
(4)Shaun C.
I have to say I've never had a bad experience at this location. I can't say the same unfortunately for the location in Cambridge, but that is why I find it worth it (although inconvenient) to drive the extra 15-20min to go to this one! The food here has consistently been of very good quality & taste. Ordering over the phone is easy & the people on the other end are consistently nice and personable. I've found this to be the case with their wait staff as well during the many times I've been there myself, with friends, on a date with my girlfriend, or even when I used to take my employees there for a celebratory work dinner. The food has never failed to impress me, and the adult beverages are are equally fantastic! The atmosphere is nice and I really enjoy eating there. ( As the box states....I AM addicted to the garlic soy chicken!) This place would easily be a 5 stars if there was more readily available parking.
(4)Linda T.
I love KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) here! What's different from their fried chicken to what we're used to in America? Their fried chicken is fried twice and the sauces are brushed onto each chicken to perfection. Hot, spicy wings here are spicy but can be tone down with their raddishes, which doesn't taste old. I absolutely love their soy garlic fried chicken and seafood scallion pancake. I'm the type of person who can careless about scallion pancakes but I always have to get it when I get the chance to come here. Their soju is also good so it's something that I recommend when coming here. I know they're known for their fried chicken but if you ever stop by here, don't worry about ordering other food because their fried chicken is still crispy and delicious the day after! Too bad, it's a troop there to find parking. Good for people who live close by or public transportation that doesn't take a lifetime.
(4)Caojingjing Q.
Love the Bull Dak, I'll definitely try some other stuff next time, but I kind of got addicted to this dish.
(4)Esther K.
Best wings in town. I love them. They are very crispy and full of flavor. Both the soy/garlic and spicy are amazing. For the wings alone, I give 5 stars. The radish and coleslaw they are served with are welcome accompaniments to the spicy, garlicky glaze on the wings. The fried rice is good and tastes like it comes out of a well-seasoned wok. Worth ordering as a buffer to the spicy wings. I don't really recommend the other menu items. Some of their sushi rolls are okay. But I've had a couple other things from the kitchen that I didn't like. The dukboki (or however you choose to spell the word) was extremely spicy and served with cheese. Weird. Asian food and dairy are not friends, and there's a reason why. I love dukboki and very spicy food in general, but the spice level was barely tolerable for me and the 2 people I was with were overwhelmed. The guy sitting next to us at the communal table, who was eating the same thing, was sweating profusely because of it. A few other things I've had have been equally underwhelming. In other words, don't waste your time or money on anything but the wings. I could eat them everyday.
(5)Eric F.
Snap...how'd I forget to write up Bon Chon? The fried chicken's fantastic and you won't go wrong with either the soy garlic or hot sauce. The contrast between the mad crispy skin and juicy, tender explosion of flavor within is something that the Southern style can't emulate. Sadly, they stop serving the chicken around midnight or perhaps a bit earlier despite being open until 1 am, but it gave our group a chance to explore other options on the menu with great success. We went with some Haemul Pajeon, Stir Fried Spicy Pork & Kimchi and Spicy Tuna Ceviche. I was impressed with the frying on the pancake (much better than Myung Dong 1st Ave in fact) while the pork and kimchi were tasty and loaded with well-attenuated spice. As for that tuna, I enjoyed the freshness. The dousing in generic Korean hot sauce and $9 price tag...not so much. On the whole though, it was nice to see that Bon Chon can deliver on dishes beyond their delicious chicken.
(4)Brian S.
Bon Chon = Delicious wings. That could be the end of my review - they're that good. But I don't think Yelp would like a math equation as a review. So I'll say more: I've been to both the Allston location and the Harvard Square location - Allston wins because they have booze. Back to the wings - these Korean style wings are the crispiest most flavorful wings I have ever enjoyed. The spicy wings pack a lot of flavor, and the heat builds up with each subsequent wing ... So great. Even the "mild" soy ginger wings are delicious. They're "mild" only in that they're not spicy, they have excellent flavor, and I love taking a break from the spice by enjoying a few of these. I prefer the wings to the drumsticks, as the drumsticks are full size, while the wings are the more typical buffalo-wing style pieces of meat. The wings come with a side of pickled daikon radish, you'll need to eat a few of these to help tame the heat of the spicy, they're also really good. Order a side of kimchi too. You can never have enough spicy fermented cabbage in your life. They have other items on the menu, but why bother when the wings are so good.
(5)Anastasia R.
This is how god intended the letters KFC to be used: Korean Fried Chicken. And in this case, it is TRIPLE fried Korean Fried Chicken. One would think frying something twice, let alone three times, would make anything soggy and gross. Not so! In fact the KFC at Bon Chon is so good, that I have on several occasions discovered my subconscious trying to sneakily suggest it by giving me a craving for something a little salty, a little sweet, a little spicy, with a nice crunch...before I realize I want f*ucking fried chicken... I have subsequently limited my intake allowance to twice per month. I don't really care what you try otherwise because nothing compares, but they give you yummy pickled radish to munch on, and will bring kimchi if you ask nicely. Bon Chon, go back to your own side of the river. The less accessible you are, the better. PS, I want you....
(5)Qui C.
Please tell me there's a similar place in Ktown in LA. Please, show me the way because I have mad cravings for this place and I seriously ate 20 soy ginger wings all to myself less than 2 days ago. Soy Ginger, such awesome flavors. I was warned to stay away from the hot. But next time, I am definitely trying it. I don't care if it makes me cry. Seaweed salad was light and delicious, lots of seaweed. Didn't get to try any Korean food or their makis - Will do next time I am in town. But their wings...so damn good.
(5)Manya C.
I like the bon chon chicken very much!
(5)Xiao Z.
I must have been living under a rock all these years cause I've never heard of this amazing restaurant and was shocked to see how busy it was even on an early Sat. night! To be perfectly honest, I showed up a bit late, only to enjoy pieces of luke-warm chicken and seafood pancakes...which, by the way, were still AWESOME!!! The skin was cooked to perfection with a lingering hint of spiciness (apparently it was the hottest one...) and the pancake was out of this world. My only regret is not trying their food while it was still piping hot. Food: 4 stars only because I didn't get to eat everything Service: 5 stars Wait: 2 stars
(4)Armin F.
Even if it's just for the 90s hip hop which I was used to listening to in a certain Nissan Almera, this place is totally worth the trip to Allston/Brighton... The chicken wings are super awesome, both ginger soy and the hot ones ... With regards to entrees, I found my master of spiciness to the level of 'it ain't really tasty just painful', so my hats off to the 'Spicy squid over udon noodles'. My girlfriend ordered the crispy salmon salad and she was very pleased In summary, go there it is worth it but if you are a big party (larger than 2) you might have to wait.
(4)Punketta D.
YUM bon chon chicken. Crispy moist and not-at-all greasy. Def one of my top 3
(4)Jonathan L.
I regularly get take out from here (at least weekly from either myself or my female counterpart), although I sometimes stay for a pitcher of Sapporo. When I do order takeout, I usually get a mix chicken combo with some radishes. The chicken is always good, but the real star for me is the service. Brian in particular has always been amazingly helpful and pleasant to deal with, though I've never had anything less than great service from anyone. (Forgot an important ring on the table once and my waiter ran down the street to bring it back to me!) I'm going to grab some chicken for dinner tonight actually. Can't wait for dinner!
(5)Lisa B.
5 stars for food, 3 stars for seating. Bon Chon has seriously delicious food. The Crunchy Salmon roll is super yummy... And the chicken. Oh, the chicken. Ah-ma-zing. How do I know? I know because I abandoned my pescetarian ways for one night *just* to take four bites of delicious double-fried soy-garlic chicken. Bon Chon's only negatives were the lack of chicken strips (apparently they were out) and the serious issues with seating. They don't accept reservations, so don't take a large group. I'll definitely be back, but I'll go with a (much) smaller group.
(4)Hannah G.
I absolutely love this place. The chicken strips and wings are AMAZING. The atmosphere is awesome. It can be quite a wait... so if it's just 2 ask if you can sit at the Sushi bar.
(5)Jennifer L.
The chicken taste really good, however I'd rate it 5 stars if they actually have parking for their customers, street parking is a pain in the butt.
(4)Noah D.
Holy moly the soy garlic wings are delicious some of the best korean food out there. The atmosphere is a bit ehh, with loud music playing and what not, on top of that the staff were very unenthusiastic with just about everything. The sushi was OK not the best but not bad. Overall I'd say at least try it out.
(3)Wei Y.
Hands down, best fried chicken I've had. Forget the sushi at this place, the real star is the chicken. Ever since having Bon Chon Fried Chicken, I've been dissapointed with other fried chicken I've had. This place ruined me :(
(5)Young P.
This place is always bumping for one reason and one reason only and it is because of their fried chicken. Depending on how many people you come here with, you will have options of how many wings/legs you can order. I personally prefer to go with the combo option, but you do have the option of just getting the wings or legs. If you go with the combo option, you get both. If you can handle spicy food, I would recommend doing both soy garlic & spicy sauce. If you just get soy garlic, you might get sick of the taste so I personally like having spicy available as well to switch up my taste buds. I don't usually order other dishes besides their fried chicken but I did try their dukbokki, spicy octopus, and seafood scallion pancake. They were very delicious. Takeaways: 1. Combo option is the best in my opinion. 2. Do both soy garlic and spicy sauce. 3. Other dishes I recommend: Dukbokki, seafood scallion pancakes, and spicy octopus. 4. Pre-game before going because their drinks are $$$ lulz.
(5)Jackie O.
Double crisp chicken wings. Do it. If you enjoy spice, go for the spicy soy garlic wings. They're not as spicy as the furious wings from Crave but its the enjoyable kind of spice. For 7 people we ordered 3 orders of sushi, 2 orders of the crispy salmon salad, 2 orders of the spicy seafood mix, 2 orders of large chicken wings, 1 sake cocktail, and two saporros. Total $210 including the added gratitudity for +6 people. It was a good night. I don't recommend the sake cocktail though, it is suppose to be like soju? It was served in an olive oil container and it gave us 3 rounds of shots. The alcohol content was minimal. We didn't taste anything but lychee juice and it was $18. The double crisp spicy soy garlic wings are a must! The mild is a good buffer but its not my first choice. All the sides we got were good as well. We finished everything in the end. Overall just get the wings. That's #1
(4)Heather V.
The wings are like no other wings you'll ever find anywhere else.
(4)Kevin L.
First time I had Bon Chon fried chicken I was hooked! I absolutely love how crispy and flavorful the chicken was...it's like a guilty pleasure of mine since it's like double fried chicken. I personally enjoy the soy garlic the most and the spicy ones are pretty spicy after a while (I can only eat and enjoy a few until it starts assaulting my taste buds). General rule of thumb is get the chicken (I usually order the combo of wings and drumsticks), and some additional side dishes such as the Korean rice cakes, fries, seafood pancakes, and etc, but chicken MUST be included or else you're doing it wrong. This location in Allston is busy just about all the time so make sure you're ready to wait if you plan on eating in, but the staff here is very friendly and welcoming so their service is phenomenal.
(5)Jessica L.
3 girls, Saturday 7PM, we had to wait 40 minutes to be seated. But the food came out in like 5 minutes! I've always ordered Bon Chon to go, for some chicken and beer at home while watching TV...I actually didn't even know they had a legit sit-down restaurant until I came to Boston! And they sell sushi?! We ordered the ddukbokee and medium soy garlic combo (wings and drums), and Sapporo (which is the only draft they have unfortunately) Ddukbokee: I was very very impressed by the ddukbokee here. Don't get me wrong, I've had my share of some amazing ddukbokkee. But the spiciness was not overwhelming, the rice cakes were plump and not tough, the spring rolls were crispy, the ramen noodles were abundant, etc. Overall, it really really tasted great. Gosh my mouth is watering. The medium combo was actually too much for us to finish! It was probably the beer that got us a little full, but we had about 8 wings/drums left over? But the soy garlic was spot on, and ugh. so good. you never fail with Bon Chon's chicken. All in all, the wait was long, but the food was worth it, so yay!
(5)Rachel C.
Best. Chicken. Ever. Not only was our server very kind and energetic, he was helpful and always had a smile on his face. Shout out to you, Kevin. (I honestly don't know his name. He kinda looked like a Kevin. He's about 5'7, pretty skinny, very nice hair??? If you know who I'm talking about, please tell him he's amazing). The chicken was so crispy and delicious, I think I had like 20 pieces, and spent about $200. The crispy dragon maki was phenomenal, and I know that you're supposed to go to Bon Chon for chicken, but I couldn't resist! Please try the crispy dragon, its delectable and very presentable. It was prettier than me on an average day. One con about this fabulous restaurant ( :( ) is that you have to have all members of your squad with you or else you will not be seated. There was a group of about eight waiting for another person before my friends, family, and I came in, and we ended up stealing their spot because everyone was already there. They waited about another good fifteen minutes until they could be seated. The place is pretty small, and by small I mean you might have to turn on your side to squeeze through the tables and chairs to get to the bathroom. Their decor is nice and I love their uniforms. Definitely going back for my birthday on the 24th! I've only been two times. Can't wait to get my hands on another drago! (Can you tell I'm addicted?!)
(4)Nancy H.
Amazingly BonChon has been the most consistent restaurant I've been too in terms of their best dish, the chicken. It is always sexy, hot, moist, wait a second, I'm still talking about finger lickin' chicken here, crunchy and saucey enough for my taste. I still remember going in 2012 and their chicken was just as good My group of 14, yes 14, stood outside and waited for an hour to be seated together and the staff really delivered. We sat down, ordered, ate, and in 45 minutes we were done. Back then the chicken would come out 30 minutes after ordering. Now they're cranking out chicken like there's no tomorrow. I don't know what they do, but their current system is mighty fine and mighty fast. We got to sit together and thankfully order separately in groups to accommodate everyone's eating styles and make the bill more manageable. Their other dishes do well in filling in that missing part of your hungry stomach. The japchae has beef, veggies, and glass noodles, all in a tasty sauce. While the okonomiyaki looks like it might fly off your table, but really it flies straight into your mouth in seafood tasty goodness. XL combo, japchae, okonomiyaki, and a side of fries split among 5 people of the 14 came out to be $16.50 including tax and tip. Damn straight that was a good deal and fine meal.
(4)John D.
Alright hostess last night got some mad attitude. Can we sit at the booth? "Nah it's for 5 people." Okkkkkkkkk then tell me why there's a group of 3 at a booth and why 30 minutes later a group of 4 gets to sit in a booth. Ok then. You literally made the night more annoying especially with your attitude. Rude. Although the chicken was great, it was a bit warm which threw us off and it didn't feel as fresh! Flavor was great and all, just the temperature. I usually like the feeling when I can't tell if the food is either to hot or too spicy LOL. That's like the best and worst part. Everything else was great! Especially the Okonomiyaki it tasted a bit different but it was so much better than usual!
(3)Samantha L.
Tonight, my family and I had a late dinner at Bon Chon in Allston, MA. Parking can be difficult at times as the only option is street parking. The restaurant was fully-booked at 10pm. They do not take reservations. It's based on a first come first serve basis. The restaurant has a contemporary feeling to it - white wave decor, red and black colored walls, and white Christmas lights hanging along the window and ceiling. The atmosphere was upbeat with pop and dance remixes playing in the background.On one wall of the restaurant, they have a few small televisions. Some of our favorites: 1. Fried Squid Crispy, lightly fried squid served over romaine lettuce and with green scallions, ginger, and seasoned ponzu sauce 2. Privus Maki Eel, avocado, cucumber, and tobiko topped with seared salmon, ikura, and scallions with eel sauce and served with pickled ginger and wasabi 3. Okdol Bibimbap Rice topped with raw egg, shitake mushroom, spinach, carrots, zucchini, soybeans, and bulgogi served in a sizzling stone bowl with red pepper paste on the side *We were disappointed that there wasn't crunchy rice at the bottom of the sizzling stone bowl 4. Small Combo of Wings (6pcs) + Drumsticks (3pcs) Yummy, soy garlic marinated Korean style fried chicken
(4)Sylvia C.
A little rekindle love....oh how I forgot all that you offer. Not sure why I didn't recall their menu being more extensive than fried chicken. Cold tapa, hot tapas, traditional Korean dishes like spicy rice cakes to sushi...and of course fried chicken. We were seated fairly quickly given the dinner rush and several larger parties before us. The place was pretty busy. Our server greeted us within minutes. He was pretty attentive and made us feel comfortable in taking our time to order. We opted on the following: - Small order of soy garlic mixed combo - great size drumstix and wings. nicely fried and seasoned - Takoyaki - 6 generous balls filled with decent chunks of octopus. wished they went a little lighter on the sauce - Crispy salmon salad ball - avocado/cucumber/crabstick/tempura covered in a thinly seared teriyaki salmon . total deliciousness with great contrast in flavor and texture - Spicy rice cake skewers - great alternative to ordering the rice cake entrees though prepared slightly different. pan fried crispy basted with pepper sauce - Salmon sashimi - eh, could be better. - Big boss maki - mixed raw assorted fish (salmon, tuna and yellowtail?) a bit sloppy rolled but huge With the exception of sushi items - all were pretty tasty and reasonably priced. Great service, too!
(4)Jane L.
This place is amazing. The best Korean fried chicken place ever, even compared to the friend chicken restaurants in Korea. I wish I live close to this area so that I can come here more often. I love spicy food but the spicy chicken was too (painfully) spicy for me, so I always order the garlic chicken, which is very tasty. The corn on the cobs are pretty good too. I have tried the takoyaki and it was really tasty as well.
(5)Sophie P.
Amazing staff here even when it is super busy on weekend nights! The host (the man with long hair and facial hair) was so accommodating and made sure to update us, at any chance he could get, about when we were going to be seated. Bon Chon is crazy busy on Friday nights, but he was able to get us seated within 10 minutes for a party of 2! WHAT TO ORDER + Soy garlic wings (combo): By far my favorite wings. These aren't too oily or fatty, have the perfect crunch but soft texture when bitten into, and are super addicting. ~ Hot wings: They are SUPER hot. Consider yourself warned. + Okonomiyaki: A Japanese-styled pancake that's almost like an Asian pizza, this dish has mayo, bacon, oyster, shrimp, seafood, and topped with a lot of katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes). This dish is huge but is perfect for leftovers. It tastes amazing when reheated! + Tteokbukki: The best tteokbukki I've had in Boston. The cheese on top adds a great touch, the dduk (rice cake) is super tender and not too chewy, and the dish overall is not spicy. ~ Crispy salmon salad: Served in a ball, the greens are inside the torched salmon, which surrounds circumference of the ball. Although unique and great in presentation, this dish is not amazing. It was great to experience, but I do not need to order it again. This is definitely one of the better Asian restaurants in the Allston area, among so many Korean restaurants that are all essentially the same. Come here if you want to try Korean/Japanese food that is really good and worth the money!
(5)April L.
BonChon's Korean Fried Chicken is absolutely delicious. Rarely can I eat wings without something to dip into such as ranch or bleu cheese dressing, but these drumsticks/wings can definitely hold their own. I would highly recommend trying these wings - BUT if it's your first time, I would recommend going on a random weekday nights BECAUSE THE LINES ARE RIDICULOUS. I would also recommend the beautiful salmon avocado ball! I've had their fried rice, seafood yaki udon, and bulgogi stew before - not crazy about any of them, so i will probably just stick to the wings and maybe try their sushi next time!
(4)Dedania M.
Went with a party of 22 (it was a birthday dinner) and let me tell you- the host (E. Segar) who was organizing our group was SO HELPFUL and nice. His service is literally the top reason why I just have to update my review. We had two different tables but no worries, our waiter was quick at our table and the food came out pretty fast. We ordered 5 wing combos with half and half. Some ordered rice plates, bibimbap, wine, and okonomiyaki. I am a sucky for their okonomiyaki. Please consider ordering it! It's like a pancake but with bonito flakes that freak everyone out because it looks like it's moving from the heal. Some squid and yummy yummy sauce. If you like takoyaki, you will like this appetizer. The wings were good portioned and didn't disappoint either.
(5)Mike T.
Food is decent. Chicken is good and place gets ridiculously busy on the weekends. You would think they would have staff to accommodate but they do not. Service is always terrible. Would never come back.
(1)Wendy L.
Bon Chon has decent food but their service has been slow every time. Their speciality is fried chicken which comes in two flavors - spicy/soy garlic. You can't pick the spice level and it has not been consistent. It will taste mild one day and ridiculously spicy another. I suggest getting half of each in case it's extremely spicy that day because its unbearable...your tongue goes numb. I personally enjoy their Nabeyaki Udon (udon noodles with shrimp tempura, vegetables and seafood in a soy sauce broth topped with an poached egg). I think they have one of the best Udon noodle soup in Boston mainly because of the flavorful broth. I love the hot bucket bowl they serve it in as well - keeps the soup hot until the end. Appetizers are delicious here too. I recommend the corn butter, crispy salmon salad and pork belly. They call it tapas but they are definitely bigger portions than Spanish tapas so it's worth the price. Sushi has been fresh every time. I have never tried their maki/rolls but their fish is definitely fresh compared to a lot of other Korean/Japanese fusion restaurants. I will come back to Bon Chon but only if I am not in a hurry or extremely hungry so I don't get frustrated with their slow service. The other option is to order takeout (takes about (45min-1hr). If they are doing so well they should hire more waitstaff! Also, they changed their menu recently and added a few items. I think that the new menu is easier to read and more organized. Hopefully the new items are delicious too!
(3)Dave M.
i have no problem with the food. everything i've tried has tasted good although the tteokbukgi should have more tteok for the price. the service still needs improving. they just always seem untrained except Taro (skinny guy with neck length hair). he's very friendly and professional. the prices are just too high for me. other than the veggie rice dish everything was $13-18 or more and the chicken is a little expensive for me too (but this is IMO)
(3)Joey C.
Good chicken as always. Maximum spiciness is highly recommended. Sushi for dinner was alright for the price, but kimchee pancakes were a delight.
(4)Ellie W.
What, you say? The choice of fried chicken, kimchi, sushi, udon noodles, and okdol bibimbap all in one place? SOLD! The fried chicken is amazing--spicy (SERIOUSLY SPICY) or soy garlic, you can't go wrong. That is, if you ever get your order in. Where the food excels, the service fails. We were seated and waited about 15 minutes for our waiter to come by to take our order. There were about 5 other tables on a Sunday afternoon--not exactly the busiest restaurant. Being a Korean restaurant, I expected an assortment of Korean side dishes, but all we got was a sad bowl of picked daikon and cole slaw. Underwhelmed. Epically so. One of the reasons I love Korean cuisine so much is because you get the most amazing side dishes...it's like I expected magic and all I got was a sad guy pulling a stuffed bunny out of a hat. While the fried chicken is great here, I'm not sure I'll ever have a "MUST HAVE BON CHON" craving or come back frequently enough to add it to my favorites.
(3)Thien D.
I give this place 2 stars because of the services. We been to this place many times with big parties if 20+ people,their service is really suck now a day. The foods still ok, just the service. Owner better change out the Host or he can really screwed up you business.
(2)Johnny D.
The rating: Dear Bon Chon, we had a great meal together, and I would really like to see you again sometime soon. I know you are usually busy during dinner time, but if you are available, maybe we can do another lunch. PS: You totally get four stars! The reason we chose to eat here: Heard a lot about Bon Chon through the hype-vine, including that bastion paid for restaurant ads poorly disguised as a television show, the Phantom Gourmet (yeah I watch it, that doesn't mean I have to respect it), so I decided to see what all the fuss was about; the fuss was warranted my friends. The food: Ms. Sarah-pants and I decided to sample a fair portion of dishes, since both Bon Chon and Korean food are pretty new to us. We ordered the Pork Buns, Cheese Katsu, Okdol Bimibob, and a Bon Chon lunch plate each. How did they fair, were the spicy wings really spicy, did Sarah run away screaming, I thought you meant KENTUCKY Fried Chicken? Read on. Ok so Sarah did not run away, though in my defense I spent days prior looking at the menu online thinking about what I wanted to try and bouncing it off her (thus saving 20 minutes or more of deciding when I get there so everyone is happy). First out were the pork buns, which were decidedly ok, but definitely the low point of the meal. There were only two for six dollars, which would be fine but they had very little pork belly, even less yummy sauce and some green onion. Not what I would call a deal. The best part was the sauce but on the three bite bun you had to strategically plan your bites to get an itty bitty taste of sauce in each. Luckily things only got better from there. The cheese Katsu was very good, not sure how traditional this dish is, as it is basically a chicken or pork Parmesan minus the marinara, but regardless it was extremely good. We opted for the chicken, and received two good size golden brown cutlets covered in melty cheese. This was Sarah's favorite dish and a much better value than the buns. Next up, the Okdol Bimibob, which we ordered with the spicy pork. My favorite dish of the meal, though I feel Sarah did the best most succinct job of describing it as fresh fried rice that isn't fried. That is exactly what it felt like. All the fresh veggies, freshly cooked meat over white rice, steaming in the hot stone bowl it's served in; so good. Normally it is served with a raw egg and while I KNOW it would have been better that way I had my egg fried. Sacrilege I know, I hope you still respect me in the morning. Either way, the spicy pork wasn't very spicy, and overall it is a bit bland, until you add some of the supplied Thai chili paste, this cranked the volume up on the hole dish to ten! Winner winner pork and rice dinner! Lastly the namesake, the Bon Chon Chicken. I had the wing/drum combo half soy garlic, half spicy, with sides of cole slaw and radish. The chicken was great, crunchy exterior with a still moist interior. I preferred the spicy, over the soy garlic which had no heat but still a nice flavor. The cole slaw was cole slaw, exactly how you envision it tasting. The radish was tasty, crisp, with a lovely light sweet/ sour thing going on, that helped cool the pallet after a spicy wing, even Sarah was dipping into my little radish bowl. Sarah isn't a bone in girl so she went with tenders, also half and half, with double French fries. She felt some of the tenders were a bit thin and dry while others were slightly thicker and much more moist. She preferred the soy garlic to the spicy, which surprised nobody. The fries, very good, much better than I was expecting in fact, and double fries came out not just on her plate but in a large basket as well, an absurdly huge portion that we had no hope of finishing. The service: The restaurant was impeccably clean and our server was fantastic. When I asked about the raw egg she took the initiative to tell me they would fry it if I prefer, I did not need to ask, which is always nice, and makes the customer much more comfortable about having the meal changed to suit them. The food came out in a timely manner, so no complaints there. We did however have to ask for forks, I mean I can technically use chopsticks, I don't feel confident enough in my chopstickery for public viewing. The parking situation can be tough as it is on street only, so just be aware. Finally, I was surprised at the number of Asian diners, if only because I had assumed Bon Chon to be "americanized". I was pleased to see that it wasn't just Korean food for yuppies. The final rundown: I really did enjoy my meal with you, you aren't the easiest place for me to get to, and traffic was a bear, so I'm not sure how often I'll be able to come back, but rest assured Bon Chon, it is me, not you.
(4)Andrea H.
Came in around lunch time over the weekend. (They don't have a lunch menu on the weekends so we ordered from their regular menu) We had the Privus Maki, a small combo of their fried chicken, and the spicy pork bibimbap. It was so delicious, I was so full that I was out of commission for the next few hours after our meal. Ordering the fried chicken here is a must, so good. Definitely go for the spicy wings if you want a little more kick. Mmmm crispy fried goodness. Sushi was good also. I love bibimbop, and theirs lived up to my full expectations. We ate everything on our table. The menu had plenty of exciting appetizers and entrees I'm excited to try next time I go. The place is clean, decent sized, and definitely a great place to have a party. The service was fast and attentive, nothing I can complain about. I'll definitely be coming back.
(5)Lizzy D.
I love Bon chon and it has been my go to for quite some time now. I can't get enough of the soy garlic chicken wings (the spicy is too hot for me but my girlfriend loves them) and they have some of the best maki rolls around. I highly recommend the Allston roll and the spicy tuna roll. However, besides the wings and the maki, everything else is mediocre. Service is usually pretty good and the environment in modern and fun.
(3)Denise F.
Bon Chon your fried chicken is so delicious and wonderful. I also love their tempura. There are tons of reviews on the food here and you won't be disappointed. I can't believe I never been here until now! I can't wait to go back!
(4)Ms. S.
I've been here a couple times, and I must say the dining experience varies wildly. The soy/garlic chicken varies from cold when it reaches the table, to dry and overcooked, to tender and perfect inside with an amazingly crunchy shell.
(3)J W.
I haven't been back to this Bon Chon in a year. Don't worry, I've had my Bon Chon fix in NYC, Virgina and SF. We were talking about dinner one night and my mom in law said that she had never had Bon Chon before. Being the most awesome son in law, I said that we must fix this situation. I said that there is a Bon Chon somewhat nearby and I could go grab some takeout. I called, waited 4 minutes on hold, and place my order for a Large. I get home 20 minutes later and the wings are still hot! But the first thing I noticed was how greasy the wings box was. I don't know remember having such greasy boxes in the past. The spicy wings were good and spicy! The soy garlic wings were flavorless and super oily. My mother in law commented that there was not much taste to them and probably questioned internally why I was so crazy about these flavorless wings. My integrity was being questioned because of these wings! Please get your act together!
(3)Thy L.
Ah! I had high hopes for BonChon Allston, except it sent me to the bathroom last night to do some bonding with my toilet. I ordered some take out for dinner, got home, ate my sushi and bonchon chicken, a couple hours later, I was writhing in pain. I spent some time in the bathroom and even after the purge, my stomach still hurt. I was rolling around in bed all night long and couldn't fall asleep from the discomfort. I'm still not 100% today. Was I sure it was them? Well, I ate lunch at noon, studied for 6 hours and was fine the entire time. The only thing I ate for dinner was their food around 7pm. In their defense, this was my fourth time eating here and got food poisoning for the first time. I actually enjoyed my sushi. I got the Big Boss Maki (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado and sweet chili sauce) and the Unagi Maki. However, they've been making their sushi with a lot more rice recently. I don't appreciate that at all. The BonChon is very inconsistent. Some days it's pretty good, other days it tastes like it was left out over night. I've also tried the Okonomiyaki aka Japanese Pancake. This is also hit or miss. I really liked it the first two times I had it. The third and last time, it was disgusting and just tasted like pancake drenched in barbecue sauce. The few times I went, the service was decent. I always ended up with the same waiter, who I could tell was trying his best to keep up with all the tables. It was always a Saturday night, which meant they were incredibly busy. It would be 4 stars, but 1 star deduction for inconsistency and 1 star deduction for giving me a stomach ache. It's still a fairly new restaurant, so maybe they're still working out the kinks. They were probably busy and didn't live up their sanitary standards for my take out that night or maybe there was something off about the fish I ate. Who knows! But hey, at least I got to know my toilet better? Will I come again? Probably not. It only takes one time to traumatize a girl.
(2)Pam L.
No other words "BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER!!!" whether you order it spicy or just the regular one, it does not matter, I had both! I came here with a friend on a late Monday evening, for a Monday the place was very busy, they had a line and the restaurant was full. We were worried we were going to wait long, but since it was just two of us, we were sat right away, the people there, before us still had to wait, they had a a party of 6, so I guess if you want to come here and enjoy food "quickly" don't bring a big group, you will be waiting a while.
(5)Chelsy B.
This place is a chain restaurant, but my friend always rave about it and I literally work next door, so I decided to try it The first time I went with a friend and we got chicken wings- SO GOOD! These are top notch and all the flavors are good. We also have one of the lychee alcoholic drinks and although the price seemed like a lot for a "bottle" to split, it was very tasty and more like sockee, so a little goes a long way. We had a decent experience for a Sunday night. The next time I decided to order sushi, my favorite, for a late lunch. I called in the order about 2:45pm and it was ready for pick up by 3:00pm. I got three maki (rolls) and the cost came to over $25! INSANE! Additionally, the spicy tuna, an easy classic roll, was nasty. I could not enjoy it. The rainbow roll was very good, but overall, none of it was worth the insane price. I give this place 50/50, but would beware of over spending for "chain" food.
(3)Sidney L.
WOW! Korean fried chicken is far superior to the American counterpart. Bon Chon offers many other things to eat (sushi, rice), but this place is definitely all about the fried chicken. Food: - The fried chicken comes in two flavors: spicy or soy garlic. I definitely prefer the spicy, though be prepared to sweat a little bit while you eat! Thankfully they bring you lots of water. - The fried chicken has a thin, light batter that is incredibly crispy without compromising the juiciness of the chicken. - The fried chicken comes with a delicious cole slaw and a daikon, which both serve well to cool the palate and cut through the grease. - The chicken teriyaki is pretty average. It didn't quite have that combination of juiciness and char that the best chicken teriyakis have. - They cook the salmon salad with a blow torch! It's awesome to watch at the bar. Service: - This place can be pretty packed at night, and I've had to wait here pretty long to get a table. Tell them if you're willing to sit at the bar, and you'll get seated more quickly. The bar is pretty fun because you get to see the sushi chefs do their magic. - It takes a while for them to cook their fried chicken, so if you order some, be prepared to wait.
(4)Richard L.
Great chicken but the service absolutely sucks! Get take out but even at that, be prepared for long waits, unfriendly people on the phone and the occasional screw ups in order. Memo to most all the Boston area Korean restaurants: you're serving your customers food and not some stupid, cheesy passive aggressive attitudes. You all need to spend more time at the better establishments in Seoul and learn what Korean hospitality is all about. And to the Korean American and Asian American students or recent grads who are working in these restaurants, learning the mother language especially helps.
(1)ken t.
I love this chicken and the cabbage that u get when u order the chicken wings. Super delicious. Perfect every time. I would give this place a 5 but I really hate the wait here. To a point where I js order the chicken to go. Which I dnt mind coz I live close by. This could be a problem for other folks. I think I get the extra large cz I usually with my boys but I find myself getting a 10 piece even by myself ... good place and the SNOW MAKI is the goto sushi. just overall deliciousness.
(4)Mike R.
The entire family loved their dinner of wings with a couple extra dishes from Bon Chon. They are not adventurous eaters, and were initially skeptical of my suggestion we get takeout from a Korean place. When we arrived at the restaurant it was crowded and energetic, with mostly Asian customers, and their skepticism began to turn into excitement. The 2-chili spicy dish we had was incredibly spicy, which we like, and some of us ate it with Greek yogurt. Overall, the food was good, and the rarely experienced (for us) family style Korean food made the experience great.
(4)Josephine L.
Bon Chon chicken is back in Boston, baby!' The restaurant is clearly still working out its kinks, so you can either be patient and wait a few months or be patient and go now, knowing it'll be an imperfect dining experience. And by that, I mean it'll be about 30 min before the chicken arrives. Apparently, that's standard. Luckily, you have plenty of other Korean goodies to snack on while you wait. The pork buns are quite tasty, covered in soft, fluffy white bread. The udon soup is delicious and loaded with vegetables, fish cakes and mussels. I love Korean udon soup! The Ocean handroll is the perfect way to take the edge off your hunger. And as for the chicken itself: It's crack-tastic! The spicy is not as spicy as I remembered it, which was slightly disappointing. The soy/garlic is lovely. Unfortunately, more kinks: Some pieces (we got all drumsticks) were clearly fresh--piping hot, tender, juicy. Others had clearly been sitting around for a while, as they were almost cold and not juicy. Fortunately, there were more fresh than not-fresh, but still...There shouldn't even be one. I'll be back fro more, but definitely looking forward to when they figure out everything and streamline their operations. Oh, and lunch isn't served on weekends. They don't advertise that and apparently, their servers can't remember to tell guests that first thing.
(4)Missy W.
I JUST WANTED TTEOKBOKKI!!!! sauce was good, rice cakes good, BUT what in the world was the pile of mooshy noodles there for?! And what in the world was the seaweed wrapped noodles?! I didn't even attempt to try the square things mixed in there! Mooshy pile of disappointed crap bye Bon Chon forever
(1)Bob M.
Went for the Okonomiyaki; first time so I cannot compare quality. It was good to eat I have to admit. Chicken wings good too, but what the hey, chicken wings usually are! Daiken is always good. What really rankles is the service and the stubborn owners/operators who insist on having loud Hip-Hop blaring over the speakers, really impeding social interaction at the table. Quite annoying, especially since I asked them to lower the volume, they did, then raised it again a short time later. Having music is fine, choice is not the issue, drowning out patron interaction is stupid, obnoxious behavior. Will not return there. Too many other places to choose from.
(2)Jenn S.
How did I forget to review Bon Chon after eating here?! Probably because my arteries were so clogged with tasty grease, I couldn't think straight. We had dinner here a few months ago with another couple. They live out in Framingham and had suggested this place, which is about 10 minutes from me. Needless to say, I was embarrassed that I hadn't even heard about it! We showed up fairly early on a Saturday night and there was already a HUGE line. We waited about 15-20 minutes and were seated. We had ordered some apps while waiting at the bar, so we had them just bring them to our table, since we got seated before they came. Since none of us had ever been there, we didn't quite know what to get or what amount we needed, and we definitely ended up over-ordering. But it was all SO delicious! Let's see if I can remember everything we got! Unfortunately, the menu is still not on the website. Sad. Ok, I definitely remember getting pork buns and possibly some sort of Kimchi. GAH. I wish they had their menu online. For the chicken itself, we got a combo - 1/2 chicken strips and 1/2 regular wings. And split them each with the Soy Garlic and Spicy Soy Garlic sauces. The regular was somewhat spicy, so combined? Whoooa Nelly! I personally loved the flavor of coleslaw and other side that came with the chicken - but especially loved them for helping to cool down the fire in my mouth & throat! (And I like spice!) The chicken was drier than I expected, but did have a nice crunchy outside. Anyway. The food was delicious and we were all STUFFED. But I will not go back. I literally felt like I was sweating grease for about a month after.
(4)Huong P.
I've been to this place a few times, even during the times when it was formerly known as Privus. Not too exactly sure how the transference of owners was handled, but I can say that the Korean-style fried chicken is still spot on burning good. I know people love their soy garlic, but the spicy version is the best and you must, must, must get it! And get the cubed radish as a side dish too so that it complements the chicken and help to cool down your fiery taste buds. I've gone during the daytime and nighttime and definitely recommend going during lunch time as 1) there aren't as many people there, 2) food came out relatively quick due to lack of a packed crowd and 3) the lunch prices are hard to beat! I came with a group of five and was astounded by the serving sizes of the bentos and fried chicken combos (and astounded in a good way!). I haven't had the chance to try out Bull over in Harvard Square but this Bon Chon is a standalone in Brighton and a staple for all to try here in Boston!
(4)Daniel S.
Having discovered the wonder of Korean-style fried chicken while living in Manhattan, I had to give Bon Chon a try when I moved back. I was definitely not disappointed. Everything about this location was great, from the service, to the atmosphere, to the food. I ordered a small combination plate (spicy). The food was well cooked and well sauced. The pickled radish side was also very tasty. The only thing holding me back from a five-star review would be the fact that you can't mix the sauces for the combination. I have seen this option in other places and have taken advantage of it numerous times.
(4)Jun C.
Koreans know how to make wings. If you've never tried Korean fried chicken, this is a great place to start. The food is so well done. The chicken is crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The sauces give it an extra kick, so of you're a bitch and can't handle spices, go for mild. The taste is unique, and you won't be able to find it in your standard American restaurant. It's leagues better than the disgusting buffalo bullshit wings you find in American restaurants. Try something new and check this place out. I believe they serve beer, and they have TVs so this is a great place to chill with buddies before you go out to the bars.
(4)Rosalind L.
So here is my experience... I ordered delivery at 8:10 for small chicken wings and salmon salad. They told me it was going to be extra 6 dollar for delivery fee so I said okay and I told them we will pay cash. By the time it was 9:40 after I woke up from a nap... My food was still not delivered.... I had to call them back and ask what happen to the food. They told me they were short handed and the food was on the way so they need to ask the driver and call me back. 5 min later they called back and told me they are sorry they are just very busy and the food will be on the way now. I asked them if it is okay if I just cancel order because I no longer want it now since I need to go to sleep soon for my 5am flight tomorrow. They told me they are sorry they cannot cancel my order because the food had already been made... Seriously? You cannot cancel the order when u made me wait for more than 90 minutes!!!! They said sorry they cannot refund me, I said they don't need to refund me because I was going to pay cash.... Then they finally agree to cancel my order.... Seriously though??!?!? Thank god I didn't pay with credit card... Or else I would had ended paying 27$ dollar for small chicken wing and small salmon salad roll... I am pretty sure they forgot my order... I don't know how good the food is but if you are going to take more than an hour to deliver food please let your costumer know.... Or call them and let them know or not charge the delivery fee or comp the food I don't know... They did offer me comp food for future use... But I am not from Boston I don't know when I be back to eat there again.... For people who are planning to order delivery.... Just a head up don't pay upfront since u might not be getting your food....
(1)Luke A.
Decent chicken and affordable for its price point. But I'm comparing apples to oranges here since I've had REAL Korean fried chicken. What's funny is this place is comparably better than its NYC counterpart. The chicken strips are usually light, crispy and flavorful. Sometimes they cut the chicken too thick, but its rare. The one in Cambridge is awful, they tend to do that a lot. Anywho, sushi is mediocre, nothing too mind boggling about it. However, it's nice to have the option considering the other choices are limiting. The fried rice is good and the nabeyaki udon isn't bad either. This place focuses on trying to appease to all people's taste, which is commendable. It is a place that is a jack of all trades, but master of none. Can be crazy busy and sometimes dead slow. Service is a little lacking otherwise, but I'm not expecting much considering its more about volume and efficiency then a fine dining experience. (Fried chicken ain't that fancy, people).
(3)Rachel P.
Korean fried chicken wings...I love you! I am slightly addicted to Bon Chon. I've only actually been to the restaurant a couple of times but I frequently order delivery off Grubhub. These chicken wings are my ultimate hangover cure. I've gone back and forth on boneless or wings and I think have finally settled on wings because they're crispier and more flavorful. But the boneless are great too...and taste slightly healthier (is that possible?) because they're not as crispy and they're all white meat. I've tried the spicy once and as someone who loves very spicy food, I thought it was a little much to handle. The flavor of the soy garlic is just so delicious. I wish there was a soy garlic version with a little more of a kick though. The sushi is ok and so are some other things on the menu, but after trying a few things I've realized it just makes sense to order the chicken because nothing beats it.
(5)Ann J.
FOOD I went with a large group and split the jumbo wing platter. We split the wings between the spicy and not spicy and I have to say the spicy wings were my favorite. The mild ones were a bit too sweet for my taste. The wings were perfectly succulent. The skin was crispy, greasy and the meat was moist and flavorful. Our wings cam with some sides that included pickled vegetables and coleslaw. Both were very tasty and paired well with the chicken. DRINKS The beer at Bon Chon is SO CHEAP. They have pitchers for less than $15 which is great for Boston. LOCATION Being located in Allston means it gets pretty crowded for dinner. A couple times I've gone there has been a line. My advice? Go early and enjoy some amazing fried chicken.
(4)Jun W.
Great soy garlic wings! But sometimes when I order for take out there are always couple undersized tiny wings...
(4)Tammy T.
I use to come here all the time but now they've downgraded. The chicken is smaller and the flavors seem to be all over the place, either it's too little or it doesn't look like they've marinated well. After the whole incident with the inspection, their food isn't that great anymore. I remember one time I came here with my friend and when we were paying for the bill, we didn't leave that much of a big tip since she gave use the worst service. Then she had the audacity to follow us into the bathroom saying something like "you didn't tip, in Asian culture, that is unacceptable..." That was the rudest thing ever but we still ended up tipping a little more than we should have. I'm glad she's not there anymore, she probably did that to everyone who didn't tip her. (I wonder why). Sadly to say, this place is no longer my favorite. I will come back here once in a while though.
(3)Brian P.
both flavors of chicken wings are good, love the spicy had a bento box spicy pork, and its very spicy but very enjoyable
(4)Beth H.
Oh Bon Chon, how I love thee. Let me count the ways... In bones from my drumsticks. In pieces of tenders. (my favorite!) In ounces of your soy garlic sauce. In bowls of cole slaw (I'm not a big slaw person and this is for real.) In cubes of radish (had I ever eaten one before? Thanks for the intro, Bon Chon) In taps of my chopsticks. In spicy pieces of kimchi! In sections of crisparagus roll. I can't speak for the spicy drumsticks/wings/tenders, but I'm sure it is good if you can handle the heat. The space and atmosphere is nice and inviting -- open layout. Location is convenient, I only wish there was another one closer to my home (no wait, that would be awful because my entire paycheck would be gone). Not because of their prices, though; those are super fair! Anytime my coworkers and I decide to get together after work, someone is always quick to throw Bon Chon out as an option for where to go. We're all foodies and like to try new spots, but it is hard to resist such tasty perfection!
(5)Mariya V.
I have no idea why it took me so long to review probably one my favorite places in all of Boston. I'm beyond hooked on it. You obviously have to order the chicken wings. I always go with the spicy ones, the soy is also good, but the spicy wings are at a whole other level. I'm not even a fan of chicken wings, yet bon chon wings are so light, crispy, and flavorful! I love how it comes with daikon and coleslaw. Once again, not a fan of coleslaw but the pairing it with wings = delicious! It's the perfect small side to pick at when you need to let your mouth cool down. I also get a maki roll occasionally. They're decent sized and they taste pretty good, but not anything super special. The most I've had to wait was ~25 minutes, and the place is pretty large and the service is faster than most places. I prefer this location over the Cambridge one for a few reasons: 1. they serve alcohol 2. better layout inside 3. better service 4. food tastes better too! I've dragged all of my friend here at one point or other, and they've all loved it too! I love Bon Chon. Try it!!
(5)Domi M.
So disappointedï¼ï¼ Bad service here... We sat there over 20 minutes. There was no server and no water. Then we looked for the server,they ignored us at all... We tried to talk to the front desk, but she said nothing... So we left finally... We won't go there again..
(1)Shimi Y.
This place is the BOMB. Omg. So so so good. Read the reviews and had heard about it from my Indonesian friends. They didn't disappoint. My parents came along and it was a finger lickin' extravaganza. Wow. We will definitely come here multiple times! I do like spicy food but was warned that the spicy wings are dynamite. Asked for half and half combo and milder spicy version. Both spicy and soy garlic were spectacular! The coleslaw and pickled radish were refreshing too! Staff friendly. Place clean and bustling. Definitely an experience to be repeated!
(5)Norina N.
Most of my friends had been raving about fried chicken here, so I thought to give it a try. My husband and I took along my two little brothers, one of them had eaten here before and liked the fried chicken as well. It was on weekend and crowded, of course, it was four of us and was told about 20 minutes wait, but its shorter than that, probably 10mins. I proceeded to order pork buns, scorpion sushi maki, medium combo soy garlic chicken, hotate kaiyaki, bulgogi bibimbap, nabe yaki udon soup. The fried chicken was amazing, crispy, tender and flavorful, it was in between sweet and salty, but not overwhelming, I'd never taste any chicken like this before, the flavor was so unique. I even had another order to go for my parents to try. Sushi was fresh and creamy which I liked. I was about to order a second plate, but there were so much food on the table, so I thought to finish it all first, then would order if I still had room for it which I didnt. The other dishes were delicious as well, but the least favorite was the pork buns, all I could see was the pork belly filled with fat stuffed inside dried dough. Reasonable price. Staff is nice & attentive. However, this location is my last choice, narrow streets, crazy drivers, too many pedestrians that would cross the street anytime they want, hard to find the parking spot, the list goes on. That made me have a second thought if I'd want to come back anytime soon.
(4)Sandra Chai D.
Fried chicken? What's so great about fried chicken? Bon Chon fried chicken? What's so great about Bon Chon fried chicken? EVERYTHING. Everything is great about Bon Chon's chicken. It will literally change your life. Have you ever eaten something that was so spicy to the point where it hurts but it was sooo good you couldn't stop eating it? Yes, anyone who is a spicy food fanatic can relate. And yes, Bon Chon will do that to you. Not only do I love the chicken in this place, they also serve other tasty Korean and Japanese dishes. One particularly delectable dish is the Crunchy Salmon Salad - TRY IT MOW. 10000/10 I've also tried the: Tteokbokki - 10/10 House Fried Rice - 7/10 Cojito Corn - 7/10 Okonomiyaki (I think that's how it's spelt) - 7/10 Ginger Soy Chicken - 9/10, good for people who can't handle spicy They're also open late!! I came here once before a night out at Wonderbar. The downside to this place is that it's not at a more convenient location. I wish it was in downtown Boston, Chinatown or something, instead of Brighton. There is a new Korean fried chicken place in Chinatown, Crave, which has just as good chicken! It'll probably supersede Bon Chon as my go to nowadays purely due to the convenience factor.
(5)Cansu S.
Wings are sooooo good. Hot sauce is really hot so I recommend the miso one. It is so crunchy and tasty.
(5)Jimmy D.
I've had it in NY, but all I remembered was how crispy they were. I tried it again in Boston ... and well them soy and spicy wings are the best wings I've ever had. You could literally take it togo, walk for 20 minutes and come home with it still crispy. (I know because my brother brought some togo) Anyway besides their awesome wings, I wanted to try other things, Which was the Salmon Salad ... it was amazing! Decent amount of spicy mayo, a little light on the salmon, but that avocado with the crunch crumbs within it knocked this pretty dish out of the ball park. Get it if you have the chance. The Udon people at my table ordered is passable, just get the salad and wings trust me
(5)Mark R.
Had to do it..... Take out boxes say 'addicted yet?' To which i reply aaaahhh YES! Went back Wednesday night **finally** and suggested the mrs pick a side since i was primarily interested in the soy garlic wings and while im not a huge fried rice guy, the house fried rice at Bon Chon was pretty good. She chose bacon fried rice... Yes you read that correctly. BACON fried rice. It's better than some chubby dope writing a 2nd review on the same place can articulate... If ever on death row, my last meal
(5)Karen W.
I have been here too many times, and in all of those times, I pretty much leave with satisfaction. I usually come here for their wings, pork katsu don, and bulgogi bibimbap. Occasionally I would get different dishes such as scallion pancake and kimchi bacon fried rice. The kimchi bacon fried rice is excessively oily. The side dishes for the wings are pretty good, but I noticed that the cole slaw tastes differently throughout a period of time. I will be back...for their wings.
(4)Quynh Nhu D.
Bon Chon is the type of place you'd be dying to go base on the words of mouth of friends and foes. Yet when you move to Allston and try all these different Korean restaurant, is Bon Chon still as special as you've dreamt it to be? (yes I dream of food, so what) Anyways, for a time my friends would coerce and practically drag me to fricken Bon Chon every chance they get. My damn school would have Bon Chon caters its chicken wings for every single movie nights or clubs events. You want people to come to your poorly planned ___ Night? Put Bon Chon on the poster and even the security guard would so up. That is how much Bon Chon had insert itself into my existence. Anyways food review, right: Bon Chon Chicken - good normal fried chicken. For the sake of me once I've tried the spicy I can NEVER forever and ever eat the normal soy chicken. Soy chicken just doesn't taste good to me anymore. Yet the Spicy chicken is so darn spicy, I pray to the Faith of the Seven to save my poor tongue. I only ever survive because of the pickled radishes. Amazing cube of crunchy sweetness. Sometime I really think I get BonChon chicken just for the pickled radishes. Tteokbokki- cry because it's good and cry because when you go with friends you have to share one single dish with 5 people ~ this is why I hate sharing. Cotija Corn- okay. kind of pricy for corn but maybe because I'm poor. Not very exciting corn anyways, sometime quite bland. Takoyaki- okay. TBT don't even remember the taste of it. I just remember my friends not liking it and I had to be the one to finish them. Honestly, Infusion make way better octopus balls... Anyways, no hate - truly. It's not amazing but the food is usually good. I still show up to those events that says Free Bon Chon anyway.
(4)Bob B.
Very delicious fried chicken, with reasonable prices. Top one restaurant in Allston. Not only serves Korean food, but also Japanese food. Both are delicious!!
(4)Remie M.
BAHHHHSTUN!!! I know exactly why I love the city of BOSTON! Great food and such awesome sights to see! I was first introduced to this place in 2011! I fell in love with the chicken! WOW! I introduced this to the bf on his first time in his adulthood in Beantown! We ordered 30 wings: hot and garlic, elote corn and the pancake So flavorful and light. Its so different than most chicken wings. We ordered it to go and sat outside of financial district and people watched on the hot summer night. What a perfect night! Bon chon and Bostonian summer night!
(5)Yasmine B.
So I've Been to Bon chon a few times, I have to say that the fried chicken is good. However, the fly infestation I had to deal with Made the food repugnant. After the staff witnessed me smack at least 6 flies and their blood splattering on our table, rather than apologizing, cleaning or moving us elsewhere they simply handed us more tissues to kill the rest of the flies on our own. No apology no trying to solve the issue! To top things off as we were leaving I mentioned to the host who witnessed the situation that this is unacceptable. Rather then apologizing and guarantee that they would fix the problem; she brushed it off and said that its to be expected when sitting by the window. Bottom line, I will never go again to that location. I gag thinking about how that kitchen must look like!
(1)Jeff L.
Bonchon offers something truly special in their fried chicken - it's perfectly flavored and textured, and it has all the components to be dangerously addictive. I don't see how anyone could come here without getting their signature wings (or drumsticks). To me, this is the best fried chicken - period - and I've had lots (ex. I went to school in the south). The best way to eat here though is to come in a group, and at least mix in some sushi and overall lighter fare (ex. edamame) in with the twice fried chicken. We had a large order of maki which was a great call in hindsight, to balance the meal. And the environment is so fun and upbeat, even at 10pm on a Wednesday night! In sum I just don't think you can ever go wrong with Bonchon if you're looking for an indulgent Asian fusion meal - this is one of the best.
(5)Jacky L.
Love this place, I don't eat spicy food, so I ordered a big plate of soy garlic chicken. We ate it all. Love it!
(4)Charlene L.
This place has the best spicy fried chicken in town. Their chicken is double fried to perfection! I have to admit that I've been slightly disappointed the past 2 times because their drumsticks have gotten smaller and a bit drier, but I've never been disappointed before so I'm still overall happy. Bon Chon is great for a place to gather with friends and have some good chicken and beer. They also have different Korean cocktails--try to flavored sojus! My fav is the yogurt soju. It's not the yogurt you're thinking of though, it's an asian children's sweet drink! I love love love their salmon avocado salad...omg it melts in your mouth!! So delicious. It's a avocado, crab and cucumber ball wrapped in torched salmon drizzled with terriyaki sauce and garnished with salmon roe. Can't get any betta than that. Also try their dukbokki. Spicy rice cakes? Yes please!
(4)Tung H.
Is reallly nice, especially their lunch special (Both price and food ) Lots of choice, and you choice will never go wrong
(5)Guillermo M.
Loved their hot wings (very hot), and the okonomiyaki was fantastic. All great good. The weird tasting sides were also delicious.
(4)Joyce L.
I love BonChon. Is it the best Korean fried chicken I've ever had? No, but it'll definitely satisfy your craving for it. It's exactly what you would want from a Korean wing place and it has other bunshik types of food like ddukbokki. The best part about BonChon is that they do it Korean style by giving you pickled radish as a side and it elevates the flavor of the chicken wings. I guess you could say it's equivalent to the ginger that usually comes with a sushi platter - a perfect palate cleanser. I usually get the combo to share with a friend and I prefer the spicy hot garlic flavor (i love spicy food), but the soy garlic is good, as well. The ddukbokki is a hit or miss - sometimes it's amazing and other times, there is just too much sauce and not enough dduk. There's usually a bit of a wait, so be prepared for that. Otherwise, go and enjoy!
(3)Tracy J.
I will always be in a relationship with Bon Chon fried chicken, but I'm taking away a star for this Bon Chon because the facilities are borderline atrocious. The food is amazing, from the fried chicken to the fried rice, but the seats are torn and duct taped, and the women's bathroom has had out-of-order soap dispenser, paper towel dispenser, hand dryer for at least six months. This one has a lot more menu offerings than the Cambridge Bon Chon though, and the service is friendlier here.
(4)Arthur C.
I'm not a dire fan of the chicken as most people who come here are, but this place gets a four star for me for how amazing everything else here on the menu and service was great. I'm guilty of coming here close to every other week because their sushi always blows me away. Signature Makis are the way to go if you want something fancy or else their classic maki rolls will do justice if you want something simple. Among other menu items I recommend are: Scallion Pancake, Bacon Wraps and Spicy Salmon Salad. Personally not a big fan of cheesy Tteokbokki so I opt for the Spicy Rice Cakes which are a starter of Tteokbokki with spicy sauce. A star was lost due to a slight fly problem in the very first table near the front window...I had the misfortune of sitting here once and had a fly land a few times on our sushi :( We told the waiter and we were offered a new order or to have the item removed from our check.
(4)Vidhya V.
Their Chicken wings are unbeatable. Crispy n crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Loved this place.
(5)Rebecca R.
I was craving this fried chicken ever since I tried a Bon Chon in New York, so I was super stoked to learn that Boston had one in Harvard Square. As a purveyor of fried chicken (and fried everything) I have it on good authority that Korean fried chicken is the best of them all (and I say that with no bias towards my Asian ancestry.) It's the perfect amount of spice and crunch to make each bite ridiculously delectable. Boyfriend and I knew what we were in for so he got a big plate of the spicy fried chicken to share and I ordered bibimbap. The chicken was, as usual, amazing. It comes with pickled radish and asian slaw, which is the perfect complement to cool down. The bibimbap, however, was not as good as I hoped. But I wasn't expecting much from it. I will likely try sampling their other Korean faire in the future though, since they have the grills built into the table (kalbiiiiiiiii) If you've never been here before, without a doubt get the fried chicken. Go halvesies so you can try both the garlic and the spicy wings.
(4)Katie W.
So you married an Asian man but you don't like Asian food. This is your answer. This is the compromise that keeps you both happy. Bon Chon has a spciy boneless chicken that is crispy, white meat and if you don't lose your tongue in it's spiciness, it is a seriously great meal. Order two white rices- trust me. It can be a intense but worth every 'oh crap that is really (expletive) hot' moment. The rice will help you plow through the yumminess without killing a taste bud. I'm also a fan of the super sized Sapporo- it makes me happier than super sized fries.
(4)Lianne T.
Food is fine/good, see other reviews. My review is on their heinous practice of scamming people out of their hard-earned money when paying for the check/tip. I went with my friend and we split the check and saw they printed the suggested guidelines for tip of 15%, 18%, and 20%. After we got our receipts and checks to sign for our credit cards, I saw that they printed the EXACT same amounts for suggested tip amounts on the split check! It should have had half the amount but they write the amount for the full check!!!!! OMG... I was so mad that I was shaking! Good thing I'm Asian because I'm good at math and figured it out but everyone else should watch out for this scam!!!!
(2)Greg C.
This place is just like the bon chon in la and nyc.. The wings are great. Not super cheap here but the quality is awesome. Will be coming back here again. The service level was pretty stellar too. Two thumbs up!!!
(5)Susan L.
Yummy wings. A tad expensive but worth it as an infrequent treat. The kimchi bacon fried rice is a bit to oily.
(4)J G.
When is the next time you'll be able to grab fried chicken and sushi at the same joint? Fantastic food, good service. Expect a wait on weekend nights though.
(4)Jimmy S.
Yeah, it's that good..
(4)Elle K.
I come here for the Crispy Salmon Salad!! Delish! I ordered some sushi rolls and they were alright. Not great and not bad. Cannot go wrong with chicken here.. Omitted a star for service. Waitress was super slow.
(4)Vicky H.
Been here a few times. The place is usually packed. The wait wasn't so bad. The food was good, portion size for the price was somewhat decent but more on the pricier side. The service was less than desired. It took forever for the food to come out while we waited in hunger. Maybe it was because we were really hunger and every second seem like a minute and a minute seem like hours... HAHA.. but seriously though. The service wasn't so great. What upsets me the most were the waitstaff standing around and talking to each other and couldn't even take the time to refill our water.
(2)Sidi L.
Fried chickenï¼ï¼The best in USï¼But the seafood pancake is just so so. I like the seafood ricecakeï¼
(4)Hillary T.
What can I say? Bon Chon has never failed to blow me away with its delicious good and great service. Whenever I go, I order the soy garlic chicken strips. The strips come out nice, hot, juicy, and BIG. They have a nice thin crunchy exterior and a tender interior. All chicken orders come with coleslaw and pickled radish and just like the chicken, they're beyond delicious. The other dishes are good too, but nothing stands out more than their one of a kind chicken.
(5)Linda W.
Back in high school I used to frequent this place pretty often, sometimes even three times a week. Prices have slightly increased over the years but I suppose you can say the same for many places in the area. Lunch specials are a great deal! Especially if you're looking for something quick and cheap. I usually go with the soy garlic wings and would definitely recommend the kimchi bacon fried rice to split with a friend. The coleslaw used to be crazy good but I think they've changed their recipe over the years and its just not as tasty :( I usually skip over the sushi which tends to be a little overpriced for the quality in my opinion. HOWEVER, I'm not too sure if they still do this but when I used to go here alot, they did give you a pretty decent discount on the rolls for TAKE OUT on monday-thursdays which is pretty sweet. The only other thing that I really dislike is it gets SUPER packed especially on weekend nights.. Maybe its because I live around the Allston area but I can never quite justify a 40+ minute wait time for this place.. Service is quick and sufficient. It can be spotty sometimes especially during peak hours but that's understandable. Otherwise, if I was more into Korean food I'd probably rate closer to 4 stars.
(3)Amanda L.
I've been here I believe two or three times but I'd much rather go to the one in Harvard square. The food is amazing no matter which one you decide to go to. The only reason why I like Harvard square Bon Chon better, is because of two things: parking and the wait. Parking is a huge hassle! All that's available is pretty much just street parking, which is incredibly hard to find. Then after 10 minutes of driving around looking for parking you go inside and it's unbelievably crowded with people waiting to be seated. However the menu selection here is larger than the one in Harvard square but personally it doesn't make much of a difference to me. I only go to Bon Chon for the soy garlic chicken wings! Amaze-balls.
(4)John W.
Best Asian fried chicken I've had thus far. Crispy exterior, juicy and tender meat inside. Not greasy. Not overwhelmed with sauce. I want to taste the chicken, not just the sauce. My friend and I also ordered the bugolgi, and Kalbi, both served on a cast iron sizzling platter, and the meat is not only flavorful, but tender. Delicious! Bring your appetite, the portions are generous, and each dish came with steamed rice. The service was just okay, no glowing reviews in that regard. The atmosphere is modern, and trendy, yet very casual. Definitely try the chicken, wings and/or drumsticks.
(4)Veronique L.
My friend and I came here on a Friday night around 8 pm. We were told it would be a 30 minute wait to be seated, but 5 - 10 minutes later, his name was called, and we were seated. Service has always been outstanding IMO, and they are quick to bring out food. Our waitress quickly filled our water glasses once we sat down, gave us time to look over the menu, and brought out our large combo and bulgogi within a few minutes of ordering. Food was delicious! We shared the soy garlic chicken and had agreed the spicy version would have ruined our dining experience. I liked the pickled radish and cole slaw. It's a nice contrast of cool and texture to the chicken. Our bulgogi was tender and sweet and served on a sizzling platter with white rice. The place was definitely loud and bumping, but our waitress did not rush us. I liked that even the host pitches in to clean the tables to speed things along.
(4)Sam N.
The wings were great but the sushi was super fishy! Not a fan at all, it taste like grocery store sushi. I got spicy salmon and spicy tuna. Not recommended
(2)Sanah K.
All I've got to say to this place is AAHHHMAZING (delivery wise)!!! The extra $6 to deliver is SO worth it. We actually like getting our food delivered than dining in... KIMCHI BACON fried rice and Bul dak chicken both so hot, u wouldn't be able to even handle it. I'm KOREAN btw, so I can...the boyfriend orders garlic soy cause he is total NON SPICY but the chicken strips are just as good... For the food and price, we do this place when we decide to be bad as in food. THANK the gods and heavens for this place...see you on the phone soon!! LOL
(5)Jason R.
Recommend this one over the one in harvard square. they don't have sushi.. and their seafood udon really sucks. Dig everything in allston.
(4)Amanda O.
Food was good! We shared a small (10 pc.) Garlic Soy Chicken Strips, two rolls of sushi, and a pork bun appetizer between my boyfriend and I. The 10 pieces of chicken were quite large and both of us left the restaurant full! The pork bun was different: it's not stuffed, but an oval of bun folded over so it's open. Nice presentation, and tasted delicious with nice cuts of pork and flavorful sauce. My only complaint would be that our Caterpillar Roll Sushi barely had any eel in it; all veggie. Our visit was on a Sunday afternoon for lunch, so it wasn't very crowded. The restaurant was about 50% full and the service was perfect. The atmosphere seemed nice, and some of their drinks seemed fun. I liked the sound of their Lychee Sake Slush but didn't try it. Maybe if we can get in on a weekend evening, but I hear that's tough.
(4)Ami P.
This place is great! I am definitely coming here again and the food is relatively priced. My friend who is American tried the Oksol bibimbap with the Bulgogi and absolutely loved it! And we also ordered the small combo of wings and dumbbells and they were perfect. Twas a great experience!
(4)SunnyAndLeonard E.
If only there were a Bon chon in every city on the planet
(4)Benjamin T.
Well as a local I have to say, Bon Chon is quite good. Their Garlic and spicy Chicken is well worth the price. The portion sizes for most of the entrees are quite huge. If your a spicy lover then , Bull Dak, and tteokbokkii is the way to go. I love the okonomiyaki as well. The service is very decent. I must warn anyone who comes to this restaraunt on a weekend night to expect long wait periods. This place is popular enough to have everyone coming here. If your patient the food is well worth the wait. Finally the pricing of the meals here is very standard for a restaurant. Over all I enjoyed Bon Chon and will continue to be a local costumer.
(4)Graceypoo M.
Yes, they have a huge menu, but let's cut to the chase: BonChon chicken. I prefer getting a half/half order (half soy garlic/ half spicy). If you are going to the restaurant, they serve delicious soju as well! ..... be warned, this place gets packed during weekends, and even during one super rainy evening. Plan for allowing extra time for parking if you're driving. foodler.com/ref/43be755/…
(5)Jinlong J.
Really good chicken wings , I just love it, especially they are opening till midnight, which is good for people like me, tonight I also asked some chicken wings to take home
(5)Andrew C.
They finally brought it back to this area. Formally named Shabu Shabu Toki. Inside looks exactly the same. They still have other sushi items from their old menu. But you basically come here for one thing. And now the place is appropriately named BonChon.
(4)Victoria P.
I've been too plenty of Bon Chon places in NY and Korea and this place is pretty good. The chicken skin is crispy and the meat is moist. The sauce is done just right (don't bother with anything but the spicy sauce). My only complaint is that the radish isn't as good as I've had at other places and the coleslaw was a weird addition. I'm a pickled radish prude so I have pretty high expectations. Overall the chicken is great and I'll definitely be back.
(4)Nina N.
I can finally say that I am a fan of bonchon chicken. For the longest time, I didn't know anything of bonchon chicken. What it is or where I can get it. When I finally learned of it, I didn't get to even try it since Privus, recommended by a friend, lost its lease and closed down. Then my boyfriend tried making bonchon chicken watching a youtube video because we were so fascinated by this double frying technique to give bonchon its unique crispy texture. His variation turned out awesome and tasty but we had never had bonchon so we have nothing to compare it to. But with my luck, I learned of Bonchon in Allston, Brighton, and I knew I had to try it. I was not disappointed at all. The smartest thing to do is to place your bonchon order in advance. Should be the first thing you order since it can take half an hour or longer. I prefer the spicy flavor but the garlic flavor is also good. You can select half and half the first time. Personally, I like to order wings as opposed to drumsticks (drumsticks looks bulky and funny when plated next to the wings). Additionally, it feels less greasy when I eat the wings as opposed to the large drumsticks, also you might get full quicker if you eat the drumsticks. There are sides of cole slaw and pickled daikon that comes with the bonchon to cleanse your palette if the chicken is greasy in between bites or in between pieces. Use them well. Some great appetizers that I have tried and recommend you order after you make your bonchon order are as follow: Pork Buns - Juicy slices of pork meat topped with greens all inside of a sweet rice flour pancake. Comes with a small house salad on the side. Crispy Salmon Salad - Avocado salad (avocado, mayo, tobiko, and crab meat mix) wrapped with seared salmon outside and topped with salmon roe and toasted sesame seed. You have the smoky flavor and crispy texture of the seared salmon on the outside and buttery flavor from the ripe avocado inside. Your regular fare of shrimp and vegetable tempuras is also quite delicious. Could be a tad bit oily, just a tad bit. Edamame - Soybean, it's a fun snack. Seaweed salad - nothing special but good none the less if you are a fan of seaweed salad. Beef Tongue Shioyaki - Once you get over the fact that it's beef tongue, it's pretty good. Like a small beef salad. But it's not something I would normally order if it was just me. Not something I would crave for like the bonchon chicken. Kyushiyaki Combos: Bacon & Quail Eggs, Chicken Wings, and Garlic. Who knew grilled garlic could taste this good. Garlic is good for you. Eh, bad breathe, but tasty. Bacon & Scallop, chicken pieces, and scallions. Was okay. Beef Tataki: Comes with ponzu(?) sauce for dipping. Light and clean. Salmon Tataki: Seared salmon, red onion, radish sprout, scallion, mixed vegetables with balsamic dressing. Another light and clean dish to try. Salmon maki - Fish quality is decent here. Spicy Avalanche Maki - Soft shell crab tempura, spicy snow crab meat, crunchy tempura flakes, multi color tobiko, scallion, with creamy lemon sauce. This is a crispy buttery and satisfying maki roll. I would order this again. Dishes I do NOT recommend: Spicy Tuna Ceviche ----very confusing dish, both presentation and taste. Such a waste of tuna. The thick sweet sauce masks the flavor of the tuna completely and the assortments of vegetables services only to clutter, perhaps disguise the red sauce at the bottom. Unforgivable. I have tried the Boston Maki. Although the Boston Maki was good, I would not eat it again. I think the lettuce threw me off a bit but everything about it was good. Definitely coming back. See my pic.
(4)Jen Y.
Lived in this area for most of my life and saw this place open up awhile ago but never tried it because every time I've walked by there was never anyone in there. At first glance through the window it looks like a typical hot pot place since they have those cooker things on all the tables but alas, it holds more secrets than it appears! Today on a whim my brother took me and my mom here. Since the fried chicken seemed to be the most popular item, we decided to just try a small order of the soy garlic wings...we also ordered the house fried rice with chicken, the seafood udon noodles, and also 2 different sushi rolls- the spider maki roll and the mango/pineapple avocado roll! The wings were actually pretty good- and it came with the 2 most random sides- radishes and home made cole slaw which was actually pretty good given the fact that I hate mayo!....The only thing that is a downside was that they only give you 2 choices- either the soy garlic or a spicier sauce and they can't seem to do just plain wings with sauce on the side. ( I'm the same way with buffalo wings) Not much of a variation or choices but they were just crunchy enough and marinated just right. You can also choose the size and how many you want. My mom- who does not like things too sugary even liked them so that was a plus. My brother was practically foaming at his mouth while chewing on the bones and I think he mentally was counting down how many pieces each of us would get so he could fight us for the last one..HAHA! Moving on, the house fried rice was also really good and a generous portion. The seafood udon was good and was packed with different seafood like shrimp and oysters but I found it misleading that on the menu both items did not say they were on the spicy side- so for me, the noodles lost some of the flavors because of that. The rice I could deal with the the tinge of spicy-ness. The sushi was pretty tasty and fresh as well. Big portions and reasonably priced. They have a lot of veggie options which is nice- in fact half of the menu is mostly sushi and sashimi and maki rolls and the other half are appetizers and their version of tapas and then they have a few noodle and rice dishes. It's like a random compilation album- you don't know why some things are there, but they work well together! The service was fine. Our waitress was efficient, although since my fam doesn't really eat the raw sushi I tried to ask her for suggestions on cooked salmon choices or substitutions with menu items and she didn't really help and kind of just said everything is pre-put together, etc- when all I want is the fish part cooked. So there was about 10 minutes of me looking frantically at the huge menu choices and me finding my own subsitution...but ok. When she went on break she even told us which was nice of her and the waiters that took over ( one who kept carrying food and staring at his own muscles in the mirror, and the other looked like a K pop singer with his long straight hair and perfect blonde highlights and skinny jeans) were fast, pleasant and refilled our water a few times. My brother did eat that last chicken wing and made lip smacking noises and threatened to order more to curb his craving but we talked him out of it and got the check. I like that they have hot towels to wash off our hands and they had the little machine behind us...cute. I like this place and will prob come back occasionally bit it is a little on the pricier side. Our total came to a little under $60 for a few dishes but the food was fresh so it was a good first impression! chicken wings ain't no thang!
(3)Frank S.
From the days of going to graduate school in Boston, I know there is a "ghetto bonchon place" and then there's a "nice bonchon place". This is definitely the nice one. And since I'm visiting Boston, I just had to come again. For appetisers, we had the Spicy Seafood Salad and Spicy Tuna Ceviche. All were very normal, no complaints. And while waiting, we also ordered Okdol Bibimbob. I was disappointed with the Bibimbob since the rice on the edges wasn't very crispy. I guess the stone bowl needed to be way hotter but at least it provided the carbohydrate alcohol-absorpance power needed for the next part of my night. We ordered 5 bottles of soju, alternating between pear and pomegranate. The lychee soju was out this evening but the pear will definitely make do! The bonchon here is more on the crispy side than in NY. Still, I ate it with no remorse and no complaints. I'll be seeing you in NY Bonchon!
(4)Michelle L.
A great place to split a meal with a group. The chicken is awesomely crispy and delicious because of the seasoning :). The spicy japchae and kimchi jiggae are also pretty good. Everything else on the menu is meh. Get the chicken.
(4)Michelle S.
My hopes were so high for Bon Chon, maybe a bit lowered when I found out to my dismay it is a chain restaurant. Regardless, I looked forward to my first visit to Bon Chon. First thoughts on the restaurant itself was trendy, modern, and super casual. Throughout the meal, the place continued to remain busy and seating is borderline uncomfortably tight. Also, I was slightly annoyed (but also somewhat entertained at the same time...) by the loud early 2000's hip hop music that they chose to play. The older couple next to me definitely did not appreciate the music at all. My friend and I split a sizable portion of soy and garlic wings, the octopus wakame (thinly sliced octopus on the bed of seaweed with vinegared Korean chilli sauce), and the sea urchin. Both the wakame and the sea urchin were bomb! I would definitely get them both again because they were such unique flavors and a lot of care and creativity went into making them. Surprisingly, the chicken was slightly disappointing. It was so crispy that I was hard-pressed to find any meat on the bones. The sauce was good, but I feel like they could have come out of the kitchen a bit hotter. I did, however, enjoy the sides that come with the wings: pickled radish cubes and some slaw. The service was friendly but a bit lethargic. It took awhile to get everything on the table that we ordered for dinner and a lot longer to get our bill and get all paid. I am giving Bo Chon 3 stars for now because that's what they deserve. However, I am really thinking/hoping that my lackluster experience at this legendary joint was not typical, and I do plan to return.
(3)Kathy T.
Loving the wings here!!! My favorite spot to hang with friends and having a good time Only problem is its too busy and crowned most of the time!!!
(4)Amanda H.
Ordered BonChon delivery and it was 45 minutes late with no prior call telling me so. I ordered bibimbab, small shumai, and a small order of wings for a surprise for my boyfriend, and it came out to $50 including tax and tip, which is more expensive than I would have like, but okay. After a half hour of my food being late, I called the number that Foodler gave me; it rang once and went to a generic voicemail message. Called again, same response. Waited ten minutes, called twice, same thing. Then the delivery man came round, 45 minutes after he was supposed to arrive, and gave me my food. The food was good, but ice-cold, although I can't say I'm surprised given that it was 45 minutes late. I was also kind of mad that my shumai cost $6.95 and I got four teeny pieces that were COLD. I am never one to complain about restaurants and take-out, and I understand that accidents do happen. But the fact that I was unable to contact the restaurant in question at 11pm on a Monday night really turns me off. Won't be ordering from there again!
(1)David H.
I just had an order of chicken strips. There will be an increase in my waist size. My mouth will be burning for the rest of the night. It did cost me some money. But dammit, it was so worth it. The double fried chicken is so consistently crispy, it was like a hybrid between chicken and a potato chip. Melts in your mouth. And I would also like to point out that I am not a fan of fried chicken at all, and this to me was just incredible. I can't even intelligently write this review, that's how satisfied I am. Seriously, stop screwing around and go here.
(5)Alyssa W.
Pleasantly surprised! Came in on a fri night, a little before 6pm. we were seated quickly and knew that we DEFINATELY wanted bon chon, which is korean fried chicken for those of you who don't know. We orderd wings and drumsticks extra large, half garlic soy and half spicy. Takoyaki and Hae Dup Bob, sashimi ontop of rice with topiko and korean hot sauce (mild). I was really surprised by the variety on the menu. so to pick these 3 things took a us a few minutes. Takoyaki came out first, now i've never had takoyaki, so I cant tell you if this was amazing or not, but the flavor was good and came out piping hot. next was the bon chonnnn OMG SO GOOD. perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, moist and delicious. I thought I had a good tolerance for spicy, but korean food always beats me. So the spicy bon chon was a killer, but so good i kept going back for more. Their version of cole slaw came with the chicken, which helps your mouth cool down along with pickled radish which also cools your palate. last came the hae dup bop. the presentation was amazing, there was liced squid, salmon sashimi, tuna sashimi, a white fish sashimi, crab stick and salad. really tasty, but since our mouths were scorched by the spicy chicken this dish made our mouths even hotter. I think if you eat this dish alone, the spice is just perfect. Overall the experience was good and I'd definately go back and recommend this place. I give 4 stars because my sisters plate was dirty and the utensils were not as clean as they should be :/ they replenish water often and our waitor was not only attentive, but attractive too ; )
(4)Moe B.
After seeing so many people flocking to this place for so long, I finally had to try it. I have to say, it deserves the hype. I went with a friend of mine on a Tuesday evening and for the two of us it was a 20 minute wait. You have to figure that if you're waiting for seating on a Tuesday night in Allston, the place is probably pretty good. It was. The drink menu is plentiful and featured some nicer wines by the glass. It's always nice when restaurants don't have the typical Beringer type wines by the glass. I ordered a glass of the Oyster Bay sauv blanc. It was served nice and cold. For food, we ordered the wings, takoyaki and numerous maki. The wings were crunchy, juicy and full of flavor. It's easy to see why they are such an crowd pleaser. The takoyaki was delicious, as well. As for sushi, typically, I gauge sushi places on their basic maki or nagiri. The staple makis here were really good. I will say, though, my favorite out of everything was the special maki called the Allston maki. It was soooooo good!!! I know I'm going to be craving it a lot now! Service was prompt (the hostesses estimated wait time was right on the money). The waitress was very nice and attentive, as well. All in all, a very good experience. I will be coming back. Edit: went a second time and it was just as good. The server we had and the rest of the staff are very much on point and friendly.
(4)Jessica H.
I used to love Bon Chon chicken the food is still good, although I don't care for the sushi. But I are here today in a party of 6 people, when the check came it said thy only take 2 credit cards. This is illegal. Refusing any form of American currency is blatantly illegal. Including refusing $100 bills. Plus they wouldn't take my friends American express card which they said is only today because they are doing something with the system. The waitress gets 5 stars because she was great and packed up the food for us that was left over. My review will change once they get rid of this illegal practice. Which actually they closed, probably because of this.
(1)Jeremy W.
A popular place for my friends and I to get a meal. They are most famous for their wings- Soy Garlic and Hot. I eat a ton of spicy food and boy, the hot wings are SPICY. The spiciness lingers in your mouth so you might not feel it at first, but it will accumulate- especially when you eat anything hot (temperature wise) after. I love it Wing are double deep fried. Anything fried is fantastic, but double deep fried? I'm sold
(4)Jamie Y.
I've been here so many times it's sort of embarrassing!!! Yes, I probably need to go on a diet. In fact, I need to detox. now. (as I'm eating a chocolate cupcake). Bonchon is the best. It's just really good. It's addicting. I always get the same thing - soy garlic wings and house fried rice. SOY GARLIC WINGS are sooo good! Don't get anything else! One thing to beware of is the temperature of your wings. If they are not piping hot, do NOT eat them, send them back and demand fresh ones! I cannot emphasize enough the importance of eating them hot. One time they tried to serve me lukewarm/cold wings and they were disgusting. If you come here for the first time and this is your experience, you will not understand why I like Bonchon so much. So make sure they are HOT! I'm not giving it 5 stars because sometimes the service is not up to par and it always feels kind of grimy inside...
(4)Azmyra K.
The Koreans have discovered a way to make ridiculously crispy chicken consistently every time. The secret? They deep fry it twice. However unlike the bready and soggy fried chicken you are used to, the skin comes out paper thin with a delicious crunch. You can choose between a salty/sweet soy flavoring or the mouth scorching hot option. I'd recommend skipping the hot unless you have an experienced tongue and are a glutton for punishment. Paired with pickled radishes and coleslaw rather than the standard biscuits and mashed potatoes, Bon Chon offers an addicting combination of fried, salty, sweet, and acid. For fried chicken affictionados, this is a must visit place. Although not chicken related, I'd also recommend the salmon salad. I know it seems strange to recommend it but it is more like a delicate sushi salad (although the fish is cooked) topped with delightful fish eggs that create a taste and texture that is really nice.
(4)Catie C.
What's all the rave? I don't get it. I never tried it when it was at Privus. Finally, I tried it tonight at this new location. I actually read some reviews recently so I didn't have my hopes up. Good thing!! I'd say the thing worth raving about here is the service that was provided. The server was attentive and informative. Very good sport! Right when we sat down, he asked us if we've been here before and explained to us that the fried chicken takes 30 mins. What kind of chicken wings/drumsticks take 30 mins to fry? I understand that it takes more time when it's double fried; but the wings came out room temperature and not piping hot. I would say the server has a lack of time management experience. Our table was filled with plates and had a lack of room. What does that mean? We had to combine dishes or stack them. I seriously could not differentiate between the first and second course. Everything we ordered just seems to come as it was ready. They didn't care to change our plates and we had to empty our bones into an empty entrée dish that was shared. Definitely, don't expect a 4 star service here. We tried a variety of dishes between the 5 of us. None are worth noting above 2 stars. I would not come back here for the food. I am a wing lover. However, the wings here are not even good. It's not dried out; but I tasted old oil. I love fried food when it's not right. The right temp and fresh oil. Word of advice, do not have the hotate kaiyaki here if you're used to the Japanese style. We had to return ours and cancel it because it tasted like spoiled milk. Maybe they use unpasteurized cheese. None of us was able to handle that goat milk taste. The kitchen said it's suppose to taste like that so we cancelled instead of having them make another one. I can go on with every dish I had but that would make this a wicked long review. In short, there are much better Korean food else where such as Color or the Soju Bar down the street. I haven't tried the wings at Color but my friends swore that the wings there are better than Bon Chon.
(1)Tanya Y.
So I came back. And the wait was still 30-40 minutes to get a take out order of medium Soy Garlic Bon Chon Chicken. But the chicken is too good to resist! While waiting, it's good to take a walk around the neighborhood. We dropped into Blanchards to grab some drinks and by the time we got back, the additional wait wasn't too long. The presentation of the to-go packaging was too cute. The texture of the skin of the chicken was delicious and crispy, leaving the inside tender and juicy. Accompanying the chicken are little sides of daikon raddish and this type of purple cole slaw, which was yummy as well. What I want to know, however, is why does it take so long to make?! Still something that Bon Chon needs to improve on. ASAP.
(3)Maria M.
Perfect Saturday night = kimchee fried chicken and beer. I can't believe this is my first visit, and I'm sorry after all these years I didn't try it sooner. I've frequented Shabu Zen across the street a dozen times, and how I didn't know that the most succulent crispy Asian fried chicken was just a block away is beyond me! I went with a party of four and we got a medium order of wings (half soy/ half kimchee), and we wished we ordered a larger platter! We also ordered the boneless chicken breast which comes in the same sauce, which was ok, but definitely not as good as the drumsticks and wings. We ordered an assortment of small platters including a half dozen oysters, pork buns (which were delicious), cajun tuna tataki, and if that wasn't enough, one order of spicy tuna roll. We loved the complimentary coleslaw and the daikkon pickles (which remind me of my grandma growing up making homemade pickles, mmm). They made a mistake with our order and gave us the pork belly minus the buns at first (and it was a welcome and tasty mistake, because we got that order for free!). No worries, because they quickly gave us our order of the pork buns later. While everything else is your std Japanese fare, the chicken is what keeps people coming. That crispy skin with the mildly spicy kimchee sauce - - so good. Come to momma.
(4)Holly K.
I love the soy garlic fried chicken. How they get the fried deliciousness so thin, crispy, and flavorful is beyond me! I really have never had anything like it. I have been here for lunch as well and the lunch boxes are a great value for some great food. The last time I was there they didn't have a liquor license anymore. They seem to be working on getting it back. If you go there to drink with your fried chicken you may be disappointed.
(5)Laura H.
I ate at Bonchon Jersey City a few weeks ago and was duly impressed and I've been craving the soy garlic wings ever since. Today I went out of my way to go to the Allston location to fulfill said craving and just, meh. The chicken was good, don't get me wrong, but it definitely wasn't great. Way less soy garlic flavor than the other location and just less exciting. That being said, the service was attentive and it was a perfectly serviceable meal for under $10 (lunch special). I won't make the drive again though.
(4)Ashley D.
CHICKEN WINGS. the korean style chicken wings are definitely what make this place worth the hype. perfectly crispy with a great soy sauce flavor and some heat for good measure (cause after all what are chicken wings with no spice). i'm theorizing that they get the extra crispy texture by double frying the wings, and fortunately they aren't smothered in grease. they're small but surprisingly filling but it's definitely something that you will want to complement with another dish. they have a bunch of other classic korean food here too but to be honest i'm not that well versed with what's good and bad. i just know that what i had here i liked. i know they were also working on getting their liquor license too so hopefully that's all set now and you can enjoy yourself a good soju buzz!
(4)John W.
I find the food here to be magnificent. The portions are very nice, the flavor is excellent and timing is always perfect. It can get EXTREMELY busy here, especially on weekends. The wait time can get up to an hour on weekends, though I have been seated quickly on week days. Unfortunately, through no fault of the restaurant itself, it is located in an area that can be difficult to get to just by public transportation itself (yes, the B line is there but what if one was to come from somewhere south?!) and parking is extremely hard to find. Plan accordingly!
(4)Abby R.
The best friend chicken I've ever had. Hands down. Lots of variety on the menu from fried chicken to sushi to bimbimbap. The only downside is there are so many flatscreen TV's and very loud pretty annoying music playing. I'm all into a youthful vibe but it honestly takes away from the pleasure of eating. Regardless the food is great and I will keep coming back.
(4)Cang T.
You can not go wrong with this place! The food here is amazing. The sushi is average. The chicken is wicked good. It's very crispy and very flavorful. You always want to add one more wing even with an over filled stomach already! The scallion pancakes are pretty good. The okdol bibimbab is really good! Not sure if they add egg or not, we forgot to ask! Definitely add the egg though! The last time we also got the kimchi soup, it may possibly be spelt as follows kimchi jigae? It's really spicy, but delicious if you like kimchi.
(5)Anne W.
I am so glad.. this was brought up from NYC. We have nothing like this in Boston.. so yaaaaayyyyy!!! :) I heard from friends.. so I knew to come EARLY. Thankfully.. I came before 6:30 pm because after that.. it's a long waiting game. There isn't much room to wait inside.. so that's too bad. Second.. there is no alcohol still. I know.. it's very sad. Saddest part.. they won't even let you bring in your own. I know!! Totally tragic.. they don't want you to have it.. because they want to make all the money on their own. But wow... I had no idea how good fried chicken could be until I came here. Seriously.. WOW. Unfortunately, there are only two flavors.. both are good. If you can withstand spicy.. it's really flavorful. Otherwise, go with the garlic soy.. that one is good as well. We got a large for the four of us.. it worked well and was yummy! Most impressed with the coleslaw with yogurt.. I think it was yogurt.. tasted great! The radish was also good to cool the mouth with the spicy wings. I believe this place makes the food fresh because it took a while... We also got a whole lot of different apps.. Agedashi Tofu - It was pretty good.. three pieces... broth was fantastic.. did not dissapoint. Fried Oysters - Only four pieces. Fried very well.. tasty.. good sauce.. liked it. Bacon wrapped Enoki, Scallops, and Potatoes - Three pieces on each skewer. Be sure to not take a whole skewer.. it will all be the same thing.. which is good if you take the bacon with scallops.. but I think your friends might be unhappy. Heh heh. I thought the bacon wrapped scallops and bacon wrapped enoki were delicious. Definite winners! Corn butter - This was really just okay for me.. I thought it was good.. fresh corn.. didn't like the cheese personally. Pork buns - BLEGH... do not get this.. it's not like momofuku at all. Not tender.. a bad version of it from Momofuku. Just skip. Overall.. I liked this place. Service wasn't the greatest.. but they were friendly. I did not try the sushi.. but who comes to a chicken place.. or fried place for that matter to try sushi. I will come again.. early again.. hope they have some beer to wash it down!
(5)Mo W.
We ordered here on Superbowl night because all the other places that deliver wings were not available. Here's some context: I love wings. I don't meat/chicken often, but when I do, I want it to be worth it. Wings are the thing that made me switch from being a vegetarian to not. So, I have very high standards for wings. Bon Chon makes some amazing wings. The skin is super crispy. They are not soggy or greasy. The flavor is amazing. Because we were going to be gone, we ordered early and told them to deliver at 7 pm. The delivery guy showed up at 7 pm on the dot. That's really rare in Boston. The to-go containers are also very nice. It looked like we had ordered from a really fancy place just from looking at them. And I loved that then included nice hand wipes. Good job, Bon Chon!
(5)Jiyeon K.
Terrible service. Make sure all the people come together. They will make you wait for all of them even though there are a lot of tables not taken yet. Terrible terrible absolutely insane
(1)Alma C.
Oh man, the wafer thin crispiness of the chicken wings are so full of freaking spicy tingly amazingness that i think i had dreams of nummy nummy peppers a few consecutive nights after. The only thing that I could wish for in this comfort food spot would be is parking..... if you're driving, you'll likely be circling for a while. It's worth it.
(5)Monika-Bianca T.
This place is so good that I made my boyfriend take me here every time I flew down from Toronto to visit him (which was quite often!). Here's my take on the feature dish: We'd usually come in around dinner time so the line-up could seem daunting to first timers, but it is definitely worth the wait. What you come for is the wings. Whether mild or hot, the skin on the wings has a fine crisp to them which gives you a satisfying crunch as you bite into it. After that is pure succulence - tender, juicy, tasty. Before you know it, all the wings are either gone or you finally realize you have over-stuffed yourself because you had eaten more than your fair share of the plate. Either way, their wings are simply awesome. The other stuff: Service is average, I have no complaints here. Pricing is great for the quality of the food, the quality of the restaurant and its service. The other choices on their menu (ie. the maki) are also pretty decent. Furthermore, the place is accessible. It's a short walk from the transit stop, parking is available on the street, and it's not like it's in the middle of nowhere haha. Lastly, if you're looking to hit up a spot where all the young people are, this is one of those places. It's lively, it's casual, it's hip. Overall Experience: Anything the restaurant lacked, they made up for in their food. I always enjoy my time at BonChon when I'm in Boston and will always come back whenever I'm in town again. I wish we had one in Toronto!
(5)Aleksandr C.
My friends introduced me to this place and I have to say that the Korean double deep fried chicken wings in garlic soy sauce are the best. They are a heart attack waiting to happen but they are delicious. They have Sushi and other items as well which are really good. i like the coleslaw as well. The place has a good amount of tables and is good for groups. It is clean and service is prompt and helpful. Does get packed at times because the food is great so expect to have a wait time.
(5)Jennifer L.
This is THE place for Korean fried chicken. The original KFC over here. Considering it's ridiculously priced though, you should only come here for the chicken. I know that sounds crazy but it's realistic. I've got my go to sushi place but I have gotten it from here before as well as some other spicy dishes with my family. Everything was delicious but when that check came I all but laughed at the price. Get your mouth watering, tongue singeing, tummy craving chicken and run because everyone will want to have some.
(5)marjorie m.
Their wings are the best I've ever tasted. Place is clean and service is prompt and helpful. The other dishes are fine but those wings are transcendent. Love the dip that comes with them too. Have brought many people here and have never been disappointed. I only wish there were five stars available.
(5)Elaine K.
The garlic chicken here is the best! The wait can be up to 15-30min. and the atmosphere can be loud depending on the time and day. I typically just order take-outs on weekends but the wait is worth it if you're craving some good fried chicken! It can be hard to find street parking but you can't expect too much from Allston.
(5)Chas K.
Bon Chon didn't live up to the expectations I'd built based on Yelp reviews. I'd envisioned an extensive Korean menu when, in fact, the menu was heavy on sushi. The server explained that this location was atypical of the chain (yup, Bon Chon is a Seoul-based chain). At other locations in the U.S. you'll find many more Korean dishes, and all meals are served with a wide array of fantastic accouterments that accompany traditional Korean meals. Here we got a bowl of pickled daikon. The chicken wings were very good. I split a 20-piece (half spicy/half soy; $18.99) with my 10-year-old. The spicy wings had a rich, deep heat that gradually grew in intensity. I thought the sauce would be based on gochujang, but it isn't. Instead, they use a proprietary dry spice blend. The soy/garlic wings were bland to my palette. They were crispy and juicy. My wife liked her Chicken Katsu. Bon Chon has several beers on tap for $5, including a Sam seasonal, Kirin and Sapporo. The decor is lacking. It looks like a 1980's era hair salon: think pink, black, red and mirrors everywhere. Service was slow at first as we had to wait for our waitress to finish the seating chart for the host. Once she came over though, the pace and attention were fine. Another thing I didn't like was the strong smell of what I thought was disinfectant. Turns out that the odor came from lemon-scented wet naps. I'm glad they have them, but they should keep them in back. While Bon Chon was A-OK, I wouldn't rush back. Let me know what you think of this review by clicking a button below.
(3)Christine H.
My first experience with BonChon was in New York where I fell in love, but when I moved here for college and found out there was a BonChon just a few blocks down from my apartment, I booked it down the street. Too bad the wait for a Thursday night was 40 MINUTES. Although the wait is usually annoying, the food makes up for all of it. The crunchy juicy soy/garlic chicken is absolutely incredible. Their maki is good as well! I usually also get the kimchi pancake (warning: it's huge). Although it's a tad pricey, it's a great place for you and your friends to head over to for dinner. Also, craving KFC (Korean fried chicken) at midnight? NO WORRIES. BonChon closes at 1.
(5)Susan W.
I seriously don't understand what the craze over this place is. The wait was so long, we ended up have to squeeze a party of three into a two person table. But I am not the kind of person who is judgmental on sitting, service, or environment. I could eat at a hole-in-the-wall for all I care, as long as the food is delicious. This place is disappointing. The key to good fried chicken is be able to taste the flavor from the crispy outside to the juicy meat. The outside was crispy and flavorful, but the inside does not have flavor at all. Everything else they offer at the place is just a bad kind of fusion between Asian food and American food. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be returning to this place.
(2)Rebecca G.
The chicken wings at Bon Chon are really yummy! We love them and buy them often. We love the spicy ones. It would be even better if they can do it even spicier.. I heard people saying Harvard store is spicier than Allston one, but we tried both and couldn't taste the difference..? But if you take them home overnight, and put them into oven for about 5 minutes at 350F, they become much spicier!! my trick :P
(5)Corinne T.
This review is just for the soy fried chicken. So yummy with rice. Not necessarily the most authentic Korean joint but you don't come here for that.
(5)Rob F.
If it weren't for the Candied Rubber Bands, I guess I'd give this place 5 stars. I met a friend at Bon Chon this evening for dinner. Let me say that the Chicken Strips in Hot Sauce were quite delicious. They could have been a touch warmer when they got to the table, but they were fresh and acceptable. They packed a nice heat and the breading was crisp and crunchy and showed no signs of excess oil. The wings in Garlic Soy were... freakin' huge. I almost wanted to get the menu back to see if they had actually specified "chicken" and "wing." A couple of those puppies looked more like Turkey drumsticks! The sauce was good, but I'll go with hot on them the next time. The surprise and serious disappointment of the evening was the first thing to land on the table: Julienned Fried Squid in a Caramelized Garlic Sauce. Plain and simple this was a bad dish, badly prepared. I've had good squid before. I've had chewy squid before. I've never had "so hard you gotta grind it with your molars" squid before. And, unlike some of the badly fried calamari I've had, this had no breading to hide it's incredible and unfortunate resemblance (in size, shape and color) to office supplies. The squid was cut so thin that when served it resembled a ball of rubber bands that had started to come apart. With such thin pieces, it would take a quicker and more even hand than those on hand in order to not vulcanize them. And the sauce? Candied is more like it. I've caramelized onions, garlic, shallots, carrots, and other veggies before. This garlic was not caramelized. Think more of a sticky sweet, kind of General Gau's consistency - but with an overriding sugary sweet flavor. This is one of those dishes that you keep eating not because it's so good, but more out of innate morbid curiosity. Inner dialog: "Did I really just eat that? Huh. Was it really THAT chewy? Jeez, it was! Was the sauce THAT sweet? Yeah, actually even sweeter than I thought. Wow. Really? Uh-huh. Now, put your chop sticks down, you don't need to keep doing that." Our waitress was friendly and efficient. She kept our water topped off, replenished our bottled beers with a deft pour each time, and brought round extra napkins without being asked. I'm pretty sure that as long as you stick with wings and fried strips, you'll have an excellent meal. As for the rest of the menu...
(4)Jennifer T.
Came here on a Saturday night, we eat early so luckily there was no wait, but by the time we left at 7pm, there was a line out the door. Definitely recommend probably trying the actual "wings", as we opted for the "strips" (thinking they'd be more like chicken tenders), but they came out more like thin medallions... so alas, they were actually quite dry, so not so much juicy and tender. For sides, we got the bacon wrapped scallops and fried oysters, both of which were very good. Overall, would def. come back to try it out again.
(4)Tim S.
Don't know what the fuss is about. Wings are mediocre at best. If you are from Buffalo/Rochester you will know what I mean. Very good for Boston, granted.
(3)Josh C.
All I have to say is that Bon Chon is epic. I was hesitant at first as i'd heard a lot of good things from my friends who live in Allston and go to BU, but I never really thought it'd live up to the hype. After all, how good can Korean Fried Chicken be? Needless to say, it's glorious. I went with a bunch of friends and we just got huge platters of the soy garlic flavored and the spicy flavored wings. I can't really do spicy, so I stayed away from those, but I was thoroughly addicted to the soy garlic flavored ones. Nowadays, even my mom asks me to bring some home for her whenever I go. Pretty sure she loves them more than I do.
(5)Karen F.
I absolutely love this place! The Korean fried chicken in a soy garlic sauce is absolute perfection! We also had the edamame which was okay, and the chicken fried rice, which was delicious and had large chunks of chicken (nice change from typical tiny squares) and large sautéed vegetables. The service was pretty good and the wait staff worked quickly and were very nice and accommodating.
(4)Angelina S.
I ordered the chicken wings, okdol bibimbap, and seafood pancake. The seafood pancake is greasy but chewy. The soy garlic chicken is ok, you can taste the saltiness and the garlic. I don't like the hot chicken wings because when i eat it, I can smell the gochujang( korean chili paste). I feels like something that you can just make at home. The only thing I like is the bibimbap, finally someone hears my prayer to put pork bulgogi in the bibimbap. I don't eat beef,so most of the time i have to eat bibimbap without any meat because usually they don't allow substitution for the meat. I love it so much. Next time I'll just order the bibimbap instead of the chicken.
(2)Andrew.h K.
the manager or the owner- plz listen up! i visited bon chon at allston last night(aug 25th monday btw 9:10-9:20 pm) with my friends. we had time with your great food and service. HOWEVER, the waitress who is asian and 30-40s included tip on our bill without any notice. Guess what? WE Were 5 including myself. our waitress told us the tip was included when i asked for change. But, i'm still wondering why youguys included tip on the bill even though our group was not more than 6ppl. tell me about it. why!!!? If you guys do the same thing next time, i will never visit the restaurant again.
(4)Derek S.
Overpriced trendy food. I knew I was in trouble as I waded in through the throngs of the beautiful people--young, hip Asians who we know from science fiction movies will rule our future. They were benevolent to me as I stood at the register and ordered for take out, since there was a 40 minute wait on a Friday night. The chicken is delicious Korean spicy candy but overpriced. $1 a wing is fine, but $1 per small wing segment is too much. $20 for a box of wings that would barely be enough to feed one guy. Other food is overpriced and unremarkable. Bulgogi was, shall we say, non-descript, and $16. Go a block and get delicious Bulgogi for half that at Super 88, or to Korea Garden to get more for less. The pi-ess de meh was the basil beef--$8 for basically 3 mouthfuls, and also not remarkably flavorful. I guess "tapas" is Korean for ha ha you just paid me eight bucks for the leftover beef slices from my banh mi.
(3)Amy Y.
I'm writing this in a non-spicy muncher perspective. So please forgive me if this post offend any crazy spicy eaters. I've actually been here quite a few times already with my always craving spicy friends. I'm not a big fan of fried chicken wings. The favor to the nonspicy ones were slightly heavy for me as well. I didn't get that WOW feeling that people get when eating their wings. So I can only give it a SOSO~ We always order soju along with the food. Tried most of it, Yogurt, Pear, Lychee.. etc. The yogurt is always the classic. If you are looking for some strong soju, not the place. It can only be considered a yummy drink. We tried pear last night. It was pretty interesting. It had little chunks that sinks to the bottom. Then the korean food. They were pretty good according to my korean friend standard. Dukbokki was very different from the ones I've seen before. It had cheese and other types of fishballs. But like I said if you love spicy. This is the place. Service wise. It soso too. They didn't have too many waiters running around yesterday on a weekday. But during weekends, its super busy.. more waiter.. but still have to wait for things here and there. I mean don't expect too much from asian places right? But for spicy and the young hangout environment. Its a go :)
(3)Lisa L.
I love this place, been coming here for years. Service is always on point. I can't recall any time I was dissatisfied with it. The only drawback about this place is that it's kinda small, and so during dinner hour and especially on the weekends, this place can get packed really fast and with a long wait time. This place has my favorite avocado salad, and I've tried my fair share of avocado salads.
(4)Karina L.
The food is hands down five stars. But for now, I'm giving them 3 stars for the service and the wait. The food- So good! Honestly, I think the Bon Chons in NYC serve better korean fried chicken but this location has ridiculous sushi rolls. - I'd order a small or medium plate of fried chicken to share. Fried chicken is also the slowest to come out so keep this in mind if you're braindead from hunger! - Crispy dragon maki, godzilla maki, and crispy salmon maki are all AMAZING. Don't be disappointed by this price (around $12), it's a huge roll and totally worth it. - Crispy salmon salad - it's becoming increasingly obvious to me that I love anything with tempura flakes in it. An awesome appetizer - it's essentially a salmon "basket" with gooey avocado and tempura flakes and strips of salmon on top. - Pomegranate vinegar soju - sounds gross, but tastes like fruit juice. The wait and service - Yes, I understand it's a popular restaurant. And I am typically accepting of long wait times, especially if the food is good. But Bon Chon really rubbed me the wrong way. - On multiple occasions, the host/hostess has said the wait was "20 minutes" only to have it magically become 1 1/2 hours. - It takes around 15 minutes for the wait staff to clear each table. Insanely understaffed, even during peak hours. At times the host, completely overwhelmed by the amount of leering hungry eyes, ran to the tables and cleared the dishes himself. - Our waitress was a little rude..she also talked like Kristin Wiig. Our friend asked for hot sauce and she came with a bowl of sriracha, only to return a little bit later and said she'd have to charge us for it (charge for hot sauce??). We said we wouldn't have ordered it if we had known it costed money, but instead of giving us the sauce for her mistake, she took the hot sauce back. Hopefully it's not being used again!
(3)Lynna P.
Came here last night with my husband. Haven't been here for years. It's so refreshing. Food was great. We had spicy seafood fried rice, tako ball, spicy seafood salad and of course their delicious bon chon chicken. I would say not to really go here during the weekends because of parking and wait. They do not take reservations. But it is worth the wait. I never had to wait over 25 minutes. Will def come back again when I'm around the area.
(4)Samuel S.
This place has a very nice interior decor. Very spacious and inviting atmosphere. When I had gone, my friends with me challenged me to go for their spicy BBQ chicken strips. So, I ordered a small one just for myself since they all went with the regular, honey BBQ strips. It was great! But I have to warn you, you must be a fan of very, very spicy food or you will NOT be able to enjoy, let alone finish, their spicy chicken. After a few bites, my tongue was feeling the heat. But I'm someone that adds hot sauce to almost all of my food. The prices were comparable to other places around and is worth the money. I had a canned Sapparo as they could no longer serve the Korean hard liquor due to a change in Boston liquor laws.
(4)Shirley Y.
Korean food. Love. Fried chicken. LOVE. Came here with a huge group and they seated us at one of the big tables in the middle of space. With our numbers, it was amazing that they were able to provide such great service so quickly. And with our numbers, it was easy to sample half the menu. But we were really excited about the fried chicken. We ordered stir fried baby octopus, japchae, the seafood scallion pancakes, and some fried rice. They were average...nothing to write home to mum about. I was quite disappointed by the seafood scallion pancakes...they were not as crispy as Buk Kyung down the street. My favorite dish was really the bull dak. Red. Hot. Fiery. Chicken. Yum. The sauce looked like it could glow in the dark. Through my tummy. But it really was all about the chicken. Did I mention that we were excited about the fried chicken? We ordered half and half the spicy chicken, and the soy sauce chicken. The chicken drumsticks and wings were quite meaty and were hefty sizes. The soy sauce chicken had a strong, sweet soy sauce flavor to it. The spicy chicken had a real kick to it, especially when followed by the bull dak. Can we all say, "crying with joy," just like the table at the front where the four kids and a couple chaperons were sitting and devouring fried chicken and not really talking to one another?
(4)Sandro K.
The wings and drum sticks are pretty good but the rest of the menu was ... meh. Not worth the 30 minutes wait. I'll consider take out but just the wings and drum sticks.
(3)Schyler M.
Bon Chon is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston! I absolutely love their wings and strips. The soy garlic flavor is excellent, and I have found that the hot fluctuates in it's level of hotness, so I stick to the soy garlic. The lunch special with the wings/strips, fries, and coleslaw/radish is a great value. I love their coleslaw and fries. I've also had several different kinds of sushi from Bon Chon, and it is always fresh and tastes great. Even though Bon Chon is a chain, it doesn't feel that way. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
(5)Robo T.
Chain korean restaurant with locations in Korea, USA, Philippines, Thailand, Dubai. I eat korean food all the time and never thought that I would be eating at chain korean restaurant. Today I decided to try it for takeout. Well.... They have a "tapas" section of the menu which is just various apps in the korean and japanese realm, salads, and other random stuff like ceviche. I got the gyoza (ordered steamed not fried) and they were AWESOME!! I didnt order a korean entree like kalbi or bulgoki... instead I got their famous korean chickenz wings/strips. I got orders of both spicy and the soy garlic. DELICIOUS!! . Yes its junk food....but its damn good! They are served with muchae (cubed sweet pickled white radish) which is the perfect compliment to the spicy hot chicken! I will definitely go back, dine in, and try some entrees. They have an extensive sushi and maki menu which isn't really my thing so this review wont help all you sushi peoplez. They also have bentos and lunch specialz.
(4)Joanna H.
Here I am, 9 months after my first review. I went to Bon Chon for the second time and I inadvertently ordered exactly what I had wanted- the chicken combo, half spicy/ half garlic and an order of the dokbuki with cheese & ramen. This visit was not as enjoyable as the last. IT WAS WAY TOO SPICY. I've always wanted to eat spicy but I really can't and this sauce put my mouth on fire. I hate it when something is so spicy, and it numbs my mouth. All I can say is I am so thankful for the daikon and the cole slaw. But overall, wings are still crispy and service pretty good.
(3)Silvia V.
This place has the most OMG mouthwatering chicken wings! I'm not kidding. We usually get the most delicious half soy garlic and half hot wings and I love the pickled radishes that come as a side dish. We get take out and even though it takes my husband 15 minutes to come home from Bon Chon, the wings are always crunchy, never soggy. Love them wings!
(5)Catherine W.
Stopped in unexpectedly for takeout since we were in the area for lunch. What a pleasant surprise! Ordered the chicken wings (soy garlic) to see what the fuss was about. They were good (great texture - I like the crispiness) but not my favorite flavor since it was slightly salty. I will try the spicy wings next time. We also ordered the okdol bibimbap (with bulgogi) and the okonomiyaki (what a great find to see this on the menu!). The bibimbap was fine, but the okonomiyaki was delicious!! It is rare to see this item on a restaurant menu in the States. Highly recommend that dish if you want to try something different. Also liked the radishes and coleslaw that came with the wings.
(4)Titty P.
Wing and Drums too good to be true, music is really chill and feel good, flat screens all around, the sushi had some cheese in it which was a first for me but hey if you into that
(4)Big S.
wings were some of the best i have ever had. spicy and garlic both incredible. spicy was very hot though so be warned. we sat quickly too, music was like a club but very good food
(5)Katie W.
Soy garlic chicken wings and house fried rice. Only two things you need to get on the menu.
(4)Shankar D.
This place is great for it's bon chon chicken starters. Strips in particular. If I could I would have the appetizers at this place and hop on to another restaurant for my main course. If you do get stuck here, try rainbow sushi.
(3)Jennifer H.
When this place first opened up, I coulda came here everyday. Hundreds of triple fried chicken wings later, my arteries are telling me to quit it. The chicken is seriously really tasty. Always go for the spicy kine. In the 7 month gap since my last visit, could def tell a difference in the quality, though. Wings are no longer roided out, and it just doesn't taste like it was made with love anymore. Ok, I can live with that. Here comes the seafood pancake! Seriously the best one I have had in all of Boston or Hawaii. Firstly, its massive, so be sure to go with friends that can handle seafood. Second, when ordering, make sure you ask the server to make it extra extra extra extra extra extra crispy. You won't regret it! Street parking in Allston can be a huge pain sometimes and the wait for dinner service can be long. But totally worth it for the pancake alone!
(3)Andrew K.
One of the BEST places to eat if you are in the Boston area. I've probably gone over 20 times to this place Soy Garlic wings are great if you love crunch with flavor. Get drumsticks if you like more meat. Spicy is pretty spicy, even for a Korean, so be prepared if you order it. Corn Butter is a great appetizer. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it. Sushi is actually decent for a place like this. Beer is well priced. Froju (Soju Frozen Cocktail) is very tasty DO NOT COME HERE FOR THE REGULAR KOREAN FOOD. Alot of the bad reviews for this place are because people without-the-know order the stuff other than the chicken. They only serve it to satisfy noobs who come to a Korean chicken place want bulgogi because thats the only Korean food they know. Its like going to a bakery that happens to sell pizza...and you somehow expect the pizza to taste as good as the baked goods. Its a chicken joint...order the chicken...
(5)Jennifer Y.
The wings are sooooo good It's like the KFC for asians !!!! Love it, Love it, Love it !!!! I had the soy garlic as the Spicy can be hot per my sis. The cole slaw comes with the wings and is mighty tasty and crunchy. I had the bulgoki beef which came with a hearty miso soup. I also had the tempura shrimp and vegi I wanted more. I will come back just to try their sushi. The atmosphere is hip!
(5)lily l.
Very nice service. The wings were good, I cannot say I would order as much as I did again. We had the mix of the drums and wings. The awesome part would have to be the pork buns. WOW delicious, those were worth every penny.
(4)Madeline N.
Chicken heaven. Nevermind the line (you can wait inside-ish between the double set of doors), nevermind the lack of liquor license (but..would be such a great experience if there was beer too), and nevermind the calories. Biting into one crisp, perfect, juicy soy garlic wing took my breath away. Biting into the 8th or 10th one was just as good! 2 XL orders for 3 guys, 4 girls who don't eat like girls. You can split orders for half spicy/half not. Comes with crunchy daikon (daikon? something?) and coleslaw. $20 each and we bought some appetizers. Nice touch on the little towlettes you get to wipe the sweet grease off your fingers.
(5)Toni M.
The food is awful! I felt terrible after eating their lunch special: sushi, soup, salad, noodles. It didn't taste good either..like it was sitting out for a while. The wings are really good I'll admit.
(1)Beverly G.
I don't ever like to go to Brighton, which is supremely inconvenient to get to if you don't have a car and hate the B Line with the fury of ten thousand suns going to supernova, like I do. I will, however, concede that Brighton is chock full of fantastic restaurants. So when one of my good friends got engaged, and I had to go to his afternoon engagement party in Brighton, I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to have lunch at one of the many awesome dining establishments that Brighton has to offer (these engagement parties only ever serve hors d'oeuvres, and that just wasn't gonna cut it as far as keeping ravenous hunger at bay till dinner time). "You know a party in Brighton means we can go to Bon Chon, right?" I asked my husband. He just looked back at me with a look that I can only describe as an unholy combination of slightly mad lust and glee. (I'm pretty sure that if Bon Chon were people, he'd leave me for it.) So I took that as a yes. And so we went. Bon Chon certainly delivered this visit, as it has the previous other times I've gone. The texture of the chicken wings is just flawless: crisp, but oddly light. The sauces are amazing! (Food, after all, is simply a means of sauce delivery.) We decided to go out on a limb and get the 20 pcs half and half (half soy garlic sauce and half spicy sauce) combo. They really aren't kidding about the spicy (in Korean restaurants, spicy is pretty serious business). The best way I can describe the spicy sauce is that it makes your tongue weep. The cole slaw and radish sides they give you do help cool it down, though. A little. (Bon Chon's coleslaw also has the distinction of being the only coleslaw in the world I find remotely palatable.) I know a lot of reviewers complain about the service, but each time I've come here, it's actually been absurdly fast. Admittedly, I always come during an off-peak time - either just after lunch or just before dinner. The chicken usually comes within a space of 5-10 minutes after I order it, and usually before my appetizers, which is frankly just confusing. Speaking of appetizers, the pork buns we ordered as an appetizer were really good. Good hoisin sauce and basil flavor. The portions are pretty good, too. The 10 piece chicken wing combo is usually good enough for two people to feel pretty full. Though you could get the 20 if you're *really* hungry.
(4)Nancy Z.
I love fried chicken. What I love more is fried chicken that's fried twice. Throw some soy garlic on. Toss it in a bowl. Put it in a box. Take that baby to the couch. Lastly, savor... What a great establishment Bon Chon is. According to our kick-ass waiter, DK, Allston's restaurant has a larger variety of items on their menu compared to New York's. Even though Bon Chon is known for its fried chicken, there is also sushi, korean bbq, lunch boxes, as well as other many other foods. *Please note that their lunch specials are only valid during the weekdays though, not on weekends. There's also a good selection of sojus. Unfortunately, they are all pretty weak when it comes to alcohol content. Overall, I love Bon Chon for lunch- especially because it's not too crowded and there's no wait. Meet up with a friend, order a combination of wings and drumsticks, then enjoy some bonding time by demolishing those bad boys together.
(4)Stephanie H.
absolutely loved the wings and drumsticks!! im a huge fan of spicy food and they got it perfect: quite spicy with a nice kick but without overpowering everything else. the regular wings were also scrumptious! first tried this place on a late thursday night, no wait. great service.
(4)Alan Y.
I love the food here. The fried chicken here is to die for; the skin is so crispy and the the meat inside is so moist and juicy. Both the soy/garlic and spicy flavors are great as well. They are truly addictive. Please stay away from this place if you are on any sort of diet, haha. In addition to the fried chicken, I also had the seafood udon and Tteokbokki, both of which were first rate. I really enjoyed the Tteobokki, which I had never tried before, as it was really spicy. The seafood udon was also great, as the ingredients seemed really fresh,particularly the mussels. The service is a bit frantic, as I came here on a Friday night. Nevertheless, my waitress promptly refilled my glasses of water and the food came out pretty quickly. The bill came out to about $30 per person, which was reasonable considering the amount of food that we ordered and the huge pitcher of Sapporo that I shared with another friend. I definitely plan on making another trip out to Allston for Bon Chon, even if it is pretty far from where I live.
(5)J. W.
This is a cool place to hang out. It's Boston's small slice of the Ktown scene away from New York or LA. I love coming here to people watch and for the ambiance. The food is good, not fantastic. The bon chon chicken although a bit overpriced, is better than KFC or Popeyes. The sushi rolls are better than I expected for a Korean chicken joint. I would like to see them hire more Asian waitstaff though, to make the atmosphere more authentic.
(5)Steve N.
I'm glad these guys made the transition from Privus to their own shop without losing the touch for frying a mean chicken. To me this is The Best fried chicken I've ever had. Both sauces are great and we usually get the combo. We also love the Bul Dak and we get it extra spicy and they are happy to oblige me and my chili-head Kid. The staff is always right there and helpful. The only difference I've noticed is the time it takes for your chicken to make it to the table is much shorter than at Privus.
(4)Lisa F.
This place gets packed on the weekends (at night), and there is usually a wait of I'd say ~20-30 minutes. I'm not sure if they take prior reservations though. The food here is always delicious - they are famous for their chicken wings/strips, but other options (like the sushi, seafood scallion pancake, and other appetizers) are good as well. Beware: While also tasty, the spicy chicken option is way too SPICY. They serve both beers and cocktail-like drinks too. Other pluses: affordable prices, accommodates large groups, catchy (and sometimes loud) music playing :)
(4)matt m.
OVER-RATED (clap, clap, clap clap clap) ! I have no idea what people see in this place, we were so disappointed. First off, the entire place smells like your mom's underpants. Second, the food is just not good, not good at all. And don't bother asking for substitutions. The chicken was dry and flavorless. I have a better drink selection in the back of my fridge. If you want good chicken wings try somewhere else, anywhere else.
(1)Genevieve B.
Whoa!!!!!! Those damn wings!!!! They're so good! You have to try the wings! The decor is very nice and the staff very attentive. Besides the wings, my friend and I also got the dragon sushi roll which did not disappoint. I highly recommend this place!
(4)M H.
ok, so i rarely write reviews, but I feel like Bon Chon needs to hear about their crappy service. The food was actually really good, but the service was so bad I feel like their employees are really doing a disservice to their name. My friends and I arrived at midnight and about half the tables were empty, so we got seated immediately. That was pretty much the last time our server/waiter talked to us for the rest of the night. We kept having to flag down random employees. The restaurant was EMPTY and SMALL. You can't ignore us idiot. Anyways, he told us that it was the last call to order wings and he'd give us a few minutes to decide what combo of wings we were ordering. When we finally flagged him down 10 minutes later, he said we couldn't order any more wings even though we had specifically asked him if we took a few minutes to decide, would that window of opportunity close. Jerk. (side note: they also told us they no longer serve soju.) The rest of the night was pretty much standard bad service mistakes. Never refilling our water. Standing in the corner talking to each other but NOT to the customers. And one of the servers was walking around with his pants down to his butt crack. I really want your butt crack nowhere near my food. If you can't chew gum in a kitchen, I'm pretty sure you can't walk through it with your pants hanging around your ankles. When we paid our check, we split it on two credit cards and we also put cash in. We made sure to write what we wanted charged on the two credit cards so they wouldn't mix it up and we told them. Guess what? They still charged us wrong. And they charged us wrong, because our server decided to pocket the cash as his massive tip and charge the rest on our cards. We know this because when we spoke to him and asked if we could get the cash back, so my friend's card wouldn't be overcharged, he took the MONEY OUT OF HIS POCKET. Uh, you're lucky we're tipping you at all. And at no point, did they apologize for any of this. I know that you're going to still eat there in spite of this review. That's fine. I probably will order take-out in the future because no lie, the food is good. I just want them to know that their front-of-house service is crap and hopefully they'll get better employees in the future.
(2)Mark V.
Ah yes, the infamous 1 star rating. Please allow me to explain... Just last night I decided to give this place a shot since I've heard nothing but great things. Upon entering we were notified by the host that there would be "at least" a 30 minute wait. The host continued to state that the phrase "at least" to make sure his ass would be covered if that half hour turned into 45 minutes. I've seen this tactic before. The job of the host is to organize the table seating and sit guests accordingly depending on party size and/or appointment. It can be stressful at times but a good host would keep his cool and DO THE RIGHT THING. Well Ladies and Gentleman, that was not the case last night. I will keep this short and sweet. As the 30 minute mark goes on by, myself and two others continue to wait. We go back in to check on the status of our spot in the wait only to be told we would have to stick it out for another 15 minutes. Fine. I don't mind waiting since we have been here for over a half hour already. 45-and hour into the wait I continue to see that the host is seating people by party size who were indeed there after us. Granted they are suited for tables larger than a party of 3, I keep calm and wait it out. As I see more and more people heading in a being seated, I start to wonder if this host is really acting by strict protocol or looking to satisfy his fellow Asian friends, first. I decide to go in after this long wait, he says you have two parties in front of you and then you will be seated. 10 more minutes go by and the other two parties are a no show. In observation, I see him consulting we another employee who seems to be buddies with this table of 5 who came in after us. I pay no attention at the time. Since the two parties before us are no longer there, he calls our party up. We head to the front thinking we are going to finally be seated. As we wait, I see that the host and this other employee are debating to sit us or this party of 5 in an open booth. (Mind you that he has already called my name, therefore making it official) In a quick decision made, the host ends up seating the 5 (all Asian) that were behind us in order instead of our party. I was pissed and so were the other two that were with me. To add to it, he offers us bar seats which were open for the majority of our wait. What a slap in the face, I tell him "I did wait and hour for you to offer me bar seats, this is not how you are supposed do your job". He comes back in explaining how certain seats cater to larger parties. What a bunch of bullshit. I get it, you want to maximize profits with your seating arrangement but not at the cost at this. At that point we were at whits end. Woulda, shouda, coulda said more to him but we ended up just walking out. Its a real shame because all of the review on there are wonderful, watching the dishes come out just made me want it even more. Unfortunately, that cannot happen. At least not at this location. All I have for leverage is this review, in hopes that you do not share the same experience. So much for keeping this short and sweet. To all people who have not frequented this establishment: If you are greeted by a man with no side burns, give him hell and be on him when you time has run over. He is the host who ruined our experience.
(1)Lindsay F.
I only got kimchi pancake. then i came back several times. love it.
(5)David L.
This place is so good! Love the atmosphere, food, everything. One of the places I always come to when I'm on the east coast.
(4)Mike Z.
Hands down, best wings in Boston. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I had my first eat-in experience recently and before that, I've always ordered takeout just because I thought that's it's ridiculous to have to go to a fancy-looking restaurant to enjoy some wings. I was wrong, there's a bunch of other dishes that are quite scrumptious. I had the Pork Belly appetizer that was drenched in soy sauce and covered in scallions and basil. It was a bit greasy and the pork belly wasn't as tender as I had hoped, but it still tasted fine. Next, we had the caterpillar roll and surprisingly, it tasted quite good. Prior to ordering the roll, I didn't think it was a good idea in getting sushi at a Korean restaurant, but I'm glad I was wrong. Now for the chicken... it's double-fried crispiness on the outside and tender, juicy and flavorful on the inside makes it almost irresistible. I'm still craving it as I type this. We ordered the combo of spicy wings and drumsticks. I have had the soy garlic wings once and thought it was somewhat bland, so I'll stick to the spice. The wings took a while, though. Not sure if it's because it usually takes this long to make the wings as good as they are. The wait and anticipation is worth it. The only downside is probably due to the restaurant being understaffed. There was a 15-20 minute wait when I arrived, I noticed that after the tables were cleaned, they would not immediately seat the next one(s) in line, it would be another 5-10 minutes before they were sat down. The wait staff is nice and attentive, but Bon Chon needs to hire another few to make the place more efficient.
(4)Steven M.
Bon to the Chicka to the Bow NO. Overrated and just not poppin'. I don't want to make it clap here ever again. You mean I have to wait in line for overrated food and a burning bowel movements? What happened to good quality food?? What happened to (no)space? One of the rolls tasted like a DONUT and the service is slow (note my sarcasm). Respect my authority and stop going here. Hungry man dinners to go anyone?
(2)Jen F.
Who are these people who love this place? Have they never eaten a chicken wing that actually contained chicken? These wings are plain gross. They are small, and the vast majority of what you're eating is the over fried coating. The meat inside is dry, tasteless, and frankly barely there. We actually stopped eating our meal and left. I didn't try the sushi, so can't speak to that, although the stuff that we did have--kimchi, coleslaw, tuna ceviche, crispy salmon salad--were not bad. Oh, and we also waited about 30 min for the chicken wings. Never. Again.
(1)Joseph W.
Bad service, decent food. I would give this place 4.5 stars for the great tasting food, but honestly, the service was lacking and our waitress seemed like she had no idea what was going on.
(1)Zizzles A.
Bon Chon presents a challenge. Spicy or soy garlic. There's no such thing as mild, medium, hot, hellfire etc. Nono. If you can't take the heat, you gotta eat the kiddy food. That's just how it is. The spicy is really freaking spicy. People around the restaurant are floored by it daily. It's actually an observable phenomenon. It's oh so good but it's really murderous, particularly the next day. Ok so going out with a bunch of guys and ordering the soy garlic will probably net you some verbal abuse but both flavors are quite good putting the face-saving aside. The wings are definitely the best so I'd recommend going all wings rather than a combo with strips/drumsticks. The batter is a little hard, and extremely crispy. Toothier than tempura, and thicker than southern fried stuff. The complimentary coleslaw and radishes are nice. I tried some salmon belly and yellowtail belly sashimi, good, but I'm not terribly picky about sashimi. I also tried a torched salmon maki, the name of which I can't remember (though I'd be willing to bet it was named after something phallic). Be careful with alcohol and spicy chicken. Once your water's gone, you'll likely reach for any accessible liquid, and if that liquid happens to be a soju bottle, the night could end badly.
(4)Derrick S.
Wings were very good. Place is small. Service was decent. I went during the lunch hour so it wasn't busy. Didn't "turn me on" however. Can't say I would be back with there so many other options to try.
(3)John D.
This place is solid. I shared a seafood pancake and plate of fried chicken with my friend, and both were quite good. I would give 4.5 stars if I could, but this place doesn't have SPECTACULAR fried chicken, which is what a 5 star rating entails. It is definitely the kind of place to go back to though. The seafood pancake was also well done. Nothing worse than a poorly made seafood pancake!
(4)M T.
I think we all know that the fried chicken is the best. I love the crispiness of the chicken and the 2 flavors (But, I have to lean more on the soy garlic coating). If you have not gone to this place, highly encouraged, get the bonchon chicken. On another note, the interior is nice and comforting. It's a nice place to go and always not dissappointed.
(4)Jamesley D.
Can't get enough of their wings. Spicy all the way, but the garlic soy is OK. First time I had it, I would rate it a 3.5. Now that I've been come here at least twice a month for the past 5 months to get some wings and drumsticks I would say they are an addicting 5. Can't really comment on the other food here, decent sushi, the seafood fried rice is good. But man that chicken is the bomb. I tried KyoChon in NY last month and I'm going to stay on this side of the fence. Great job guys keep up the great cooking.
(5)Jason F.
this review is only for take out, so i can't speak for service or the actual interior. but the chicken wings and chicken strips were amazing, by far the best i have ever had. the wings had a nice crunch, and a little bit of spice. also the strips were great, i am going to order from here more often! so, so good! i hate driving to this general area since its hard to park and really congested all the time, but the wings will make me come back.
(5)Cait O.
Went do dinner at Bon Chon last night with some old friends. Loved the open atmosphere, not too loud so conversation was easy. We all split the half spicy/half soy garlic drumsticks and they were DELICIOUS! Fried, then DOUBLE fried. Crispy, and so flavorful I was peeling the skin off to eat without the chicken. My friends all got some "Okdol Bibimbob" bowl. It contains rice, vegetables, and our choice of protein and it comes in a sizzling bowl you mix up and can add a sauce to if you like. I tried my friends' with I think beef and it was really good! My food came out a little after everyone else's, but I got a sushi roll so I was 100% understanding that it came from another part of the kitchen so no complaints. the sushi roll I originally wanted to order contained Mozzarella (odd) and when I ordered it the server was very helpful and admitted that a lot of people find the taste strange because of the dairy, so I ordered the Godzilla Maki (inside: crab meat, shrimp, japanese mayo, cucumber, lettuce. outside: unagi, avocado, onion chips, scallion with sweet chili sauce & creamy lemon sauce) instead and it was VERY good. Lots of flavor and textures. I'm not a sushi snob so for what I 've eaten I was very happy. Service was good. Our server was attentive, refilling our waters. I guess this is where the 4 out of 5 stars comes in. We're not a group of girls who order water at a restaurant. We weren't informed that the restaurant isn't serving booze yet!!! Something about they are updating their liquor license? We were bummed about that: we wanted some good drinks and food over conversation, but we had heard such good things about Bon Chon that we decided to forgo drinks and brave glasses of water. Our $80 for 5 people without booze did feel good on the wallet, so no complaints i guess. It just would have been nice to know!
(4)Jin C.
5 star fried chicken. It takes a while for them to make it so make sure you're not starving when you order! Soy Garlic is my favorite. It's Bon Chon Chicken... It's delicious.
(5)Denny Z.
There was so much hype about this restaurant that I had to drive out to Boston to try it. Was it worth the traffic, the 25 minute it took to find parking, the 20 minute wait for a table, the 30 minute wait for bonchon chicken? Meh. Their chicken is good, but Popeyes chicken is also good and I can get that in 15 minutes. When you pair their chicken with flavored soju though, that's where the magic happens. Something about Korean vodka and chicken mixes very well and I guess that's what attracts the mass amount of fans. They have various flavors of soju and find myself drinking a lot more than I'm eating, which is not a bad thing. They also have a lot of sushi and apps but it's nothing special. It's pretty much time filler while you wait 30 minutes for chicken. Apps - 7/10 Good but nothing special Entrees - 7/10 If it didn't take so long, it would've scored higher Drinks - 10/10 If there was easy parking, I would go just for soju Parking - 2/10 There are parking spaces everywhere...just not open Service - 7/10 Staff moves so fast they just pass by you sometimes
(3)Peter P.
Food Wings (Spicy): The wings have a nice crunch on the outside, and are very juicy on the inside. However, the spicy wings only come in one intensity: super hot! Wings (Garlic & Soy sauce): Also crunch on the outside, and juicy on the inside. I haven't anywhere else that makes this flavor. It doesn't have an overwhelming garlic taste or salty taste like one would suspect. Seafood Fried Rice: Pretty normal asian fare. It was a generous portion that can be split between three people. Drinks: They have my favorite sake there: Chou-ya! Atmosphere: There's usually some kind of line in order to get in (usually full of college-age people). When you do get seated, it's a very lively atmosphere. Staff: The staff is very attentive and courteous, but never invasive. Final Thoughts: I would definitely come back here again, They've got a good thing going for them, and I can see why they're all the rage.
(4)Celina C.
Delicious! PROS: the chicken is preettttyyyyy good! :) MY friends ordered the bento box, and I really wished that I had ordered it! They got soup, salad, rice, meat, noodles, 2pc sushi, and some fried sweet potato. It was served in small portions, but still!, enough to try bits and pieces of everything and still leave your wallet happy :) I ordered the kimchi jjigae. It was quite good. Plenty of meat and tofu compared to other places. However, I thought that the broth could have been a bit spicier. The portion was HUGE for what I was used to. It came with rice, but the soup was in the bowl as big as the ones you serve bibimbap in. CONS: in my opinion, the chicken was a teenssyyy bit pricey, but it was good so I guess that can balance out. The feel of the restaurant wasn't very....mm..korean? It seemed more "Americanized", as well as the food didn't seem too "traditional". I can't say too much because I myself an not korean, but compared to other places I have been, the vibe and food taste was not the same. BUT overall, still a great place to check out if you haven't been :]
(4)Susan L.
The very first thing you should order ist the Salmon Salad. Trust me, you will not be sorry. The salmon is cooked to perfection and is topped on tempura and cucumbers that creates a delightfully light crunch with every bite. Also, get the sushi. I tried their dragon crunch roll and a few other rolls. They give good portions, which I would say is worth the amount that you pay for it. I guess the fried chicken is good, too. The first time I went to Bonchon, I tried the spicy wings (they wings come in two flavors: spicy and soy garlic), but couldn't eat more than two because I couldn't handle the heat, however my friend really enjoyed them. The prices for alcohol are a bit ridiculous, but if you need some of that ethanol, you should try the pomegranate soju. It's sweet and goes down so smoothly. Mmmmm. The worst part about Bonchon was the service. They really need to get more waiters/waitresses because if you are waiting on a Friday or Saturday night, you are bound to have to wait for at least an hour for a table. What's crazy, is that people are willing to wait to get a table there. That's, when you know the food is goooooooooooooood. Overall, food = yum & service = terrible.
(4)Baking M.
Korean fried chicken = AMAZING. Located near Blanchard's and across from White Horse Tavern. Korean's make the best fried chicken. (Dare I say better then Southern chicken?) Whenever I go to KFC and Popeye's there are adorable seasoned Asian couples eating fried chicken. There is a side dish of coleslaw that cuts the spice of the chicken. Bonchon was a great experience and I wish I took some soy garlic chicken wings home. Our waiter was the most pleasant, patient and thoughtful server. The chicken itself is double fried with the choices of soy garlic, mild spicy, hot spicy and bbq sauces. Unfortunately, being so packed, the chicken strips were sold out. (This means another trip is warranted!) This Bonchon also has sushi such as spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail , eel avocado and a unique hummus sushi. The sweet hummus sushi is a mix of sweet potato tempura, hummus, cucumber with unagi sauce The crispy philly maki is cream cheese, salmon, cucumber, avocado, lightly battered and deep fried. o. multi tobiko, scallion, red onion. with unagi sauce, sweet chili sauce The other items we had were: Pork buns (similar to Momofuku) House Fried rice (the best I've ever eaten anywhere) Kushiyaki Combo A: bacon & scallop, chicken, chunks, scallion Tiramisu mochi
(5)L C.
Obviously I can't get enough of this place - went back for lunch last week. Came on Yelp just to make a comment about their Lunch Menu - NOT available on the weekends. Odd, but true and is NOT noted on their menus.
(3)Michael L.
I was sad when Toki Superfusion died. Sometimes I crave sickeningly large bowls of soup, and they gave me sushi to go with it. Bon Chon took over the space all of a sudden and it has been packed every night of the week. Like there is a wait from 6-10 every single night of the week. Turns out it was transformed into that block of Allston's 4th Korean Restaurant. I was kind of annoyed, missed my Toki, but had to try it. It turns out that people go here because the food is preposterously delicious. I shared two rolls of Maki (Crazy and Veggie Tempura) that were fresh, crunchy, and fresh! And the ginger wasn't pink. Pink ginger is silliness; not want. For my main course I had pork kimchee. I had heard about it before but never bothered to try it. I never tried it because I go to Thai for dates and tastes and get China to stay in and get fat. I didn't need Korea. Things have changed. I want it. The smell scared me because it reminded me of chipotle peppers, which I hate the burnt-rat taste of, but this dish tasted better and better with every spicy, savory bite. I mean, It kept getting more and more delicious. Ridiculous. I can also make cursory mention of the attentive but unannoying staff, cute interior, and funky music, but you don't care. You just need to go eat some of that tasty, wonderful, awesomeness crap. (It was the best dining experience I've had in many months, despite a 30 min wait.)
(5)Jake T.
Amazing wings. Bad service. Really slow and long wait.
(3)Stephanie Y.
Even though this is a chain, the chicken is still juicy, crunchy, and finger licking good. The crispy skin isn't very thick, but the drumstick is big enough for me to fit at least 3. My table ordered this and only this ... OH.. it's also a great place to watch the game. Football + fried ckn = WIN!
(4)Rob J.
Say you don't like chicken wings? Try these. Not the chicken wings you've had at the bar - but something wonderful. Menu has good selection and many solid items. Spicy stuff is spicy, which is nice, fresh food at a reasonable price.
(4)Mary B.
The most addicting chicken wings you can ever had. I always get half spicy and half garlic & soy sauce. Its delicious. It doesn't leave you with the greasy feeling of eating tons of wings afterwards. The outside skin is crunchy and moist with their flavors and the inside isn't dry. I do admit the wait is a little long, but to me, it's worth it. I have tired other dishes, but my main reason to go to this restaurant is their chicken. You have not eaten chicken wings until you have had Bon Chon Chicken wings. Trust me.
(5)Kristin P.
Oh yes - for all you Privus lovers, they have the exact same delicious sushi menu! They didn't bring with them their yummy cocktails - beer, wine and soju only - but that's okay because the flavored soju was perfect for our group of ladies. This place is small, and apparently very popular, because after 7pm, a crowd forms at the door waiting to get in. Luckily we made it just in time at 6:30, and no, they don't take reservations. I think the prices are reasonable because the sushi is worth it.
(4)Olga K.
We went to Bon Chon on a Sunday night, around 8pm, and it was packed. During the 25 minute wait we stopped by at the Infusion Tea Cafe across the street - so despite the windy cold weather and little wait room inside, we had no trouble with the wait. It was my first time at Bon Chon, and the four of us ordered the following: - Bulgogi (~ $16) - Bacon wrapped scallops (from the hot tapas portion of menu) - three skewers with three wraps each (~ $7); - Extra large chicken wing order, half spicy, half garlic (40 pieces total, ~ $35) - Caterpillar roll (from the sushi portion of menu) (~$9) With tax, and pre-tip, this came out to about $71 total. Everything was delicious. Bulgogi came with white rice, and was a full meal portion. Each individual bacon wrap was bite size, as expected, but with at least 2 per person it was enough to savor the texture and taste. Caterpillar roll was fresh and heavenly and rather pretty looking. I cannot handle spiciness of the extent of Bon Chon's chicken wings, so I stuck to the garlic ones, and they were crispy, juicy inside, with an addicting flavor. The guys at our table, who love spicy food, enjoyed the spicy wings immensely. They continued praising them throughout the meal, and had a hard time stopping themselves from overeating them. We only drank water. I also go to Korean places rarely, and am a guest in Boston - so I cannot make comparisons to an average standard of Korean food, or the average quality of Korean food in the city. For a single stand alone experience, however, this was excellent, and I'd be eager to come back.
(5)Jae P.
ah-may-zing. everything we had was delicious. I'd get wings over tenders.
(5)Cecilia L.
I had heard so much about Korean fried chicken that I felt sure to be disappointed, but our hot, juicy, crispy drumsticks delivered. This chicken is crispier and less greasy than southern fried chicken, served with wonderful accompaniments of slaw and cubed daikon. Chicken comes in strip, wing, or drumstick form, in your choice of soy garlic or spicy. Both flavors are good, but my pick is spicy, which plays nicely against the refreshing side dishes. Bon Chon also does an extensive Korean menu, including decent sushi and delicious, belly-warming stews. Get a few sides if you feel like it, but know that chicken is the star.
(4)Johnny L.
After Privus packed up and walked out of my life, I never thought I'd Bon Chon again. Then Bon Chon the restaurant opened and I was ready to love again. Perhaps I got too excited for this place due to the rave reviews and buzz it was generating on Facebook because ultimately, this place didn't live up to the hype. Like Privus, the sushi and other dishes are passable, but nothing special. The servers are friendly and try their best. Seating and atmosphere is comfortable, but the wait to be seated is usually pretty brutal especially if you go with a party of more than 4 ppl. As for the most important thing...the BON CHON!!!...it's ok. They are definitely NOT as spicy as the Privus ones where after 3 in row, your mouth became numb and you could no longer differentiate the spicy from the mild wings. To some that might sound awful, but to me and my friends that was half the fun. The wings just seemed toned down and made more bland for the mainstream crowd (WEAK). The soy ginger wings are pretty good and a good change of pace to the spicy ones. It used to be great, but now it's just good. It probably deserves a little less than 4 stars, but I'll give it the 4 since it's the best Bon Chon we have for now.
(4)Lily W.
I was going to give this place a 4, but then I realized I really didn't have anything to complain about. My friends and I were originally concerned that this place might be a bit pricey, and we did think that the chicken was a bit on the expensive side. We came here on a weekday for lunch, and the four of us ordered bento boxes, with an exception of one, who ordered the okdol bibimbap, and we got a plate of wings to share(half soy garlic and half spicy, with a choice of two sides). You can choose between cole slaw, pickles, rice, or fries. I had the bulgogi bento set, which was very good. Each bento box comes with a small serving of what looked to me like lo mein, sweet potato tempura, fried dumplings, a salad, and a couple pieces of sushi. It was very decent; nothing spectacular, but really nothing wrong with it either. But the chicken! Soooo good. I liked the soy garlic, but the spicy is much better. I expected the spiciness to be rather half-assed, but it really was perfect. A couple of my friends found it way too spicy though, and one even teared up. A warning hehe. Extremely crispy and oh so good, even if it was on the small side. We were all stuffed by the end, and the bill only came out to about 40$ for all of us. That's not bad at all, considering how full all of us were! I definitely recommend this place. I will be back.
(5)Katie V.
So I went to Bon Chon to try the chicken. But people, trust me: it's the lunch specials that really deserve a shout-out. The chicken? I don't know. Maybe it was over-hyped. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood. The chicken did not blow me away. I'm from the midwest; I've had some really delicious fried chicken. However, I went in recently and got the maki bento box lunch special and let me be clear -- this is the best sushi lunch deal in Boston. For $7.95, you get: --2 maki rolls of your choice (from a list of basic rolls -- california, tuna, salmon, spicy tuna, philly, alaska, etc) --miso soup --side of veggie lo-mein -- salad with ginger dressing -- 2 fried gyoza -- 3 pieces of tempura sweet potato Um, that's a TON of food for $8!!!!! Seriously, I couldn't finish it all. I was flabbergasted. Check it out. I don't have the budget to regularly get sushi, but this place kind of makes is feasible.
(4)Mitch Q.
Love their chicken wings. Especially the spicy ones!
(4)Lily H.
BonChon, why must you be so busy all the times (that i crave you)? There's always a wait for dinner and especially on the weekends. But the wait is because people WILL wait for BonChon chicken. It's the bomb. I generally like a kick to my food but the spicy flavored chicken is a bit hotter than my tongue can handle. My mouth gets set on fire by it yet I still eat it to stretch my limits. It's that good. The chicken does comes with a side of cole slaw and radishes to cool the tongue. The other flavor - soy garlic - brushed on to the double-fried chicken wings or drums is perfection. Their other menu items are pretty tasty too. My friend introduced me to okonomiyaki which is a Japanese savory pancake with octopus, bacon, drizzle of sauce, and bonito flakes, which are these thin paper-like dried fish(?) shavings that keep moving even after brought to the table. It added extra liveliness to the table, and it was delicious! On another note, BonChon does offer weekday lunch specials for like 8ish bucks! If only I lived closer...
(5)Alisha B.
I loved my meal on 11/12/11!!!! We went for our friends' birthday! The wait took forever for our party of 6 to be seated, however...THE FOOD WAS WORTH THE WAIT!!!!! I order sushi, but the waiter told me I was leaving out key components. He made a suggestion and I was terrified I would hate it. HE MADE A GREAT DECISION!!!!!! I had the crispy philly maki and others also enjoyed the spicy chicken tenders. Overall I definitely will be back there soon!
(5)Lea C.
I didn't even eat here and I'm a fan. The bf went out with his homies tonight as neither snow, nor rain, nor dark of night can stop a bromance from consummating over chicken wings and beer. I declined to come along after receiving word that the aforementioned wings would be Korean, as my tongue had previously not been a fan of Korean food. Though I did ask that he return with a sample wing just in case I was missing something. What he did come home with was a few pieces of spicy bonchon and some spicy kushiyaki wings. I thanked him and commenced with the sample, as I had been hearing about bonchon for years and had been meaning to try it. This was providence. The first bite of bonchon was like eating crunchy, sweet, chicken candy that set my entire face on fire in less than 5 seconds. I love me some spice--I throw copious amounts of Tabasco on things like sour cream--and this level of heat was crazy, even for me. But that doesn't mean that the chicken wasn't B-A-N-A-N-A-S (though I don't believe any actual bananas were involved). I was in the agony and the ecstasy and scarfed down two bonchons before I knew what was happening, moaning in a frothy, chickeny mix of searing pain and tastebud bliss. I then moved on to a kushiyaki wing, which looked less spicy (except for the copious amount of black pepper dotting its skin) and more like creative chicken teriyaki, thinking it would give my palate a break. Nope. This was even SPICIER than the bonchon. So, I resorted to coolants--bleu cheese, milk, crackers (FYI kids, water only spreads the fire around). No dice. This spicy chicken was unstoppable. It was also scrumptious. It was like some sort of evil trap--this chicken is so delicious that I would injure myself in the process of eating it and not be deterred from shoveling down another piece. It took about 20 minutes for the mouth fire to finally extinguish after the chicken was gone. Still, I have no regrets. Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes or nose...
(4)Kathy C.
Went here last night. Chicken is good - crispy outside and juicy inside. Quick and good service. Buttered corn has some nice flavors with pepper & cheese mixed into it. Big menu encouraging the customer to visit more in the future and try their other dishes. Even crowded and busy on a Monday night - good sign! Clean and cozy interior. Great place to go to with friends to eat and chill. I'd like to go there again and try their flavored soju and their other dishes. It'd be nice if they lowered their prices a bit.
(4)David P.
Spicy wings were not too bad, but not as good as when I had them at Privus. Same owners but somehow different wings. Oh well. The skin was crispy, the meat fairly dry and the spicy marinade okay. I think it's time my wife and I fry our own wings. The more I eat out, the more I realize the truth in the saying "If you want it done right..."
(3)Brian D.
Bon Chon. How do you do it? I swear you must put a little crack in your chicken because I know I will be coming back. My sister was in town and she really wanted to go to this chicken place so I said why not? We went there on a Tuesday evening and the place was fairly packed. I ordered 10 wings of each flavor. The waitress told me it would be a 30 min wait which was a little longer than I expected. I took me about 10 min to get back to my place and the wings were perfectly cooked. The wings had a crispy exterior with a juicy interior. The wings were not battered as heavily as some other places which was a plus for me. The soy garlic ones were great but the spicy ones were amazing. It was a little too light on the heat for my preference but it had a great taste to it. I was so happy about my wings that i pounded on each of my roommates doors demanding that they try one. One was sick and studying for an exam while the other one was having a serious conversation with her sister. They came out about an hour later and the wings were still crispy and delicious. Just amazing. I am only knocking off points for parking, the wait time and the price which wasnt too bad but a little pricier than most wings I get. You have to at least try it if youre going to be in the area..... mouthgasms
(4)Dana M.
So, first time here. Perfect way to pregame before seeing Ted Leo at the Brighton Music Hall. So, my foodie friends and I were excited to check out Korean fried chicken and all that was to be offered. A 10 minute wait and a good look at the menu and we were ready for action. We started with garlic pork belly and a beef tongue appetizer /tapas. Good portion size with solid results. Beef tongue rocked it while the pork belly was grilled slices that had a chewy bacon texture that wasn't as memorable. We also started out with an order of spicy salmon maki that lacked any real heat but the flavor was there. Next we got a tofu bobimbob in hopes for some vegetables which the menu tends to lack for the most part. Tasty but even smothered in chili paste lacked any real heat. Darn tasty though. Finally the split order of fried drummies. Half spiced, half soy and garlic. Both were awesome for their flavors. And finally some heat! The spicy drumsticks had a slow smokey burn to them. And complimentary coleslaw (the BEST slaw I've ever had! I was surprised too!) and some pickled umm radishy type stuff which had a sweet brine and left you wanting more. Overall, pretty awesome and the 33 oz beers didn't hurt either.
(4)Rebecca S.
Mmmmmm yaaaaay Bon Chon is back in Boston!! I went last night with some Swiss & Italian friends whose food preferences trend away from American fast food. I don't think they were feigning their delight with the chicken. Although it surprises me how many people find BC's spicy chicken to be too much to handle. Fortunately soy and garlic chicken is there for them. With a nice seaweed salad and some edamame to start, we had a very satisfying meal. Our waitress was very nice. We'd arrived early (6 pm) on a Tuesday so had no wait for a table. And the chicken was delectably crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Just like Bon Chon chicken should be. Yay!!
(4)Flora R.
Finally went here and I'm sad it took so long and all the fried chicken I've been missing out on. Basically it's some super delicious fried chicken (I like 2 parts Soy Garlic to 1 part Spicy if you order a large mix) served up with cole slaw and radishes to cool your mouth on. We tried a couple of the sushi rolls and glasses of wine which were also yum, but the chicken was the focus. On a Saturday night the wait was horrendous, but I think this may be a prime option for takeout on a random weeknight in the near future. Regularly. Pro-tip: Order one size larger than you think you'll need so you'll have extras to take home. A few little legs make for a great late night snack.
(4)Carly L.
I love Bon Chon. I love me some fried chicken. When you order fried chicken at the store, its crispy, warm and heavenly. Their drumsticks are huge, I didn't know chickens had such big..legs. But! Different story when you order delivery!!! they give you small legs and no meat wings. I genuinely sad to open my lovely bon chon delivery box to see tiny drumsticks.. They were minuscule and tasted "refried".
(4)Selena T.
Their chicken is to die for. My favorite food is chicken wings, and after having Bon Chon, no other restaurant's chicken wings can even compare. Their spicy chicken is pretty spicy, which isn't a problem for me considering I love spicy food. I really enjoy their soy chicken as well, which is still delicious. The only problem with the chicken at this restaurant is that it's pricey, $20 for 20 wings. Aise from their chicken, the waiters are nice and they're always there to refill my drink within a matter of minutes. The reason why Bon Chon doesn't get 5 stars is because their chicken is pretty much the only thing that stands out on their menu. Everything else is subpar. The sushi at Bon Chon is average, I wouldn't get it if I were you because it's not that great. Their fried rice is good although it's pretty oily.
(4)Daniel P.
Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)Jason B.
Bon Chon is always good. Had a plate of 40 wings and drums. The turnip cube things that it comes with was a bit sour, probably not that fresh. I also tried the melon soju type of cocktail on the drink menu, it was very strong. I like the atmosphere. Makes it feel like a bar/lounge. Me and a friend both had a yelp deal, and I was very happy that they let us split the bill between 2 tables (even though we sat together) and use both of our deals.
(5)Snuffles B.
Atmosphere: Despite its chain-ness, its a lot nicer than any other Korean place in Boston. And no BBQ, so you are not stinky all night afterwards. Service: The wait seems long but the place is big enough that it moves quickly. Awesome friendly staff were so accommodating, and service was solid. Food: Spicy wings - no joke, its hot Soy garlic wings - its not hard to down an XL between 6 people. Its a lot of batter and not much chicken, but its some tasty batter... Cole slaw - yum Daikon - much needed refreshment from fried mania Takoyaki - creamy, crisp, but a bit bland Skewers of quail egg and scallops - wrapped in bacon, that should be sufficient reason to order them Damage: ~$15/person (pretty sweet, no?) I'm totally on board for this kind of fried chicken and beer gluttony.
(4)Lanhy N.
I'm a huge fan of korean fried chicken. BonChon is the best you can get in Boston. I actually like KyoChon better (locations in NYC and Cali) but Bonchon is the next best thing. The chicken is not as spicy as I would like, but its good enough. Wait time is never that bad- the most I've waited is 30 mins for a party of 8. The chicken goes great with their selection of Asian beers. Their Soju mixes are creapers- beware, you'll get drunk and won't know what hit you!
(3)Ross S.
The chicken is so crispy on the outside and so moist in the middle. Both the soy garlic and spicy sauces are delicious. Had a few other things on the menu as well and everything was very good. Something you just gotta try!
(4)Joseph L.
To Thy L. from Brighton, MA. I just wanted to say that while I was reading your review about how BonChon gave you a stomachache, I nearly received a stomachache from laughter!!! Okay, joking aside. Are you kidding me? Have you ever eaten spicy food before? You know it sends you to the toilet later. But that's just because the spiciness hurts your stomach. It doesn't have to do with the quality of the food or how tasty it is. (1) So, first of all, BonChon's chicken is top notch. It's double-fried, for extra crispiness, and glazed with a sweet, spicy sauce. It goes great with some ice-cold beers. It's also wonderful to take home, because it stays crispy, even when you microwave it! The way it's packaged in it's cool white/orange designed take-out boxes is really awesome. Try to get the spicy chicken, if you can handle it. Otherwise, the mild Soy-Garlic chicken is still top-rate. (2) Other food: Sushi. BonChon's sushi is pretty good! I met up with someone here who turned out to be a vegetarian (GASP), but she really enjoyed the vegetarian sushi, despite the weird names. Seriously, "onion ring" roll? Haha. I always get the tataki (seared sashimi) as an appetizer, or the wonderful sushi salads. (3) Other food: Korean dishes. OMG. I have to say, BonChon has better Korean food than other restaurants in the area that FOCUS on the traditional Korean food. I'm always disappointed by spicy rice cakes (ddukbokki/), but BonChon serves it up! Excellent rice cakes. Excellent rice-cake skewers. Korea Garden has nothing on BonChon in this area. BonChon does get crowded though. I guess this is because it's just so damn delicious and amazing. The prices are a bit high, yes. But you can eat pretty well for $10-20 per person, as long as you don't go crazy on the sushi, and stick to the chicken.
(5)Richard L.
The first time I went ,wasn't too busy at all. The host (short guy with thick rimmed glasses) refused our request to sit in a booth, even though there were INCLUDING US 8 people in the restaurant. The only thing lacking about this place is that short guy. The next couple times I went with my friends and obviously had XL bonchon mixed, get the corn butter, and wash it all down with soju. Bonchon takes a while to make so order that quick and decide what appetizers you want later. Chill/modernchic ambience, plays the game if it's on, has CNN on sometimes? music : it seems like after a certain time they play only popular korean songs.
(4)Artemis A.
FRIED CHICKEN! WORD UP --HEYY! ok, yesss bon chon you are the best for fried chicken. I don t even really like fried chicken, but this place was highly recomended so I went. They serve soy ginger or hot spicy wings and drumsticks. we tried both and loved both. We also tried the house fried rice and the octopus fritters. The fried rice was so good, not like your reg asian take out, but really good and fresh. I would not order the octupus fritters again. they didnt have much flavor and the batter seemed a bit uncooked in the center. The service was great and quick. GO HERE!
(5)Connie N.
What the heck? I expected something similar to Kyo Chon - small wings, double fried, and covered with addictive soy garlic sauce. Instead, what came out were these Costco sized drumsticks and wings with barely any sauce. We ordered half spicy and half soy garlic, but I couldn't taste either. The service was good though.
(2)Henry T.
Really? 8pm to get an order of wings when I am calling at 5pm. Maybe you guys need to add another fryer if you can't keep up with your orders.
(1)Wesley W.
Food is good, chicken wings are amazing, spicy wings are never consistent but always spicy...ridiculous spicy, put your tongue on thr wing and it already burns....wow....Staff is more of the younger age in college or something, i guess you could say they are promoting towards the younger crowd, only employees i could see that are older is the manager and the sushi chefs. waiters and waitress seem like they aren't that attentive to you really, don't really check up on you, have to hunt them down. Delivery i can easily say it is aweful, takes hour and 20mins to get food delivery down the street.
(4)Jessica Z.
I am so glad they decided to open one in Boston. I love their spicy fried chicken and they have unique types of sushi. Their servers are always warm and friendly and the host is very nice and respectful towards customers. I wish they took reservations because the wait on weekends can become as long as an hour and a half! Parking is also hard to find sometimes :( but the food is definitely worth it!
(5)S K.
This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. Sad, I know. I've even been to Bon Chon restaurants in other cities, including LA and NY, and they're all pretty mediocre, except for this one. It's strange how a franchise can be so inconsistent between locations. But the soy garlic wings at this Bon Chon are amazing. Heaven. Don't bother with drumsticks or chicken tenders. The sauce-to-meat ratio is too low on those. And the spicy wings are very inconsistent. Sometimes they're fine, and sometimes, they're unbearably spicy.
(5)Judy L.
4 people. Freezing Saturday night at 8:30. Wait time: 20 minutes. We ordered: - Large 1/2 1/2 bonchon chicken [the spicy ones were REALLY spicy. Don't rub your eyes while you are eating! But they were delicious] Comes with a side of coleslaw and kimchee radish - seafood pancake [this was meh. Not nearly enough seafood. I recommend getting this from the restaurant down the street "Buk Kyung II"] - avocado salad [this was surprisingly good!! And a good portion too.]
(4)Steph R.
I visited this restaurant with two friends, and I was very excited to try out the infamous Korean Fried Chicken for the first time in the US (I've only had them in Korea, authentic). We first ordered dduk bok gi, which was absolutely delicious. The ooey cheese I thought was a smart American take on the popular Korean favorite. Then, after a while, our wings came, a huge batch of both soy and spicy wings. However, the wings were DRY. I realize that Korean Chicken calls for double frying for extra crispiness, but this completely dried out the white meat inside. I was very disappointed. In addition to the dry wings, my reason for giving a 3-star review is the service/wait time! We were there on a late Saturday afternoon, just when it was starting to get busy. Upon arriving, the three of us were told that the wait time would be 15 minutes, however we ended up waiting 40 minutes. They could have simply pushed two adjacent 2-person tables together to seat a party of 3, however they kept the 2-person tables open all that time! There were several open 2-person tables too, which made me pretty angry. We waited there for 40 minutes along with another party of 3, while newly-arrived parties of 2 got seated immediately. As we were eating, I observed a party of 5 forced to wait for eternity because the hosts didn't seat them in the spacious corner table. I don't know why they do this. You'd think a popular restaurant like Bonchon would have a better seating policy/service. In conclusion, my one good experience was dduk gok gi- the wings were dry. Service was pretty bad, considering the fact that we didn't get seated for 40 min and my glass of water kept running low (from the spicy wings). Would I return there for another shot? Probably not!
(3)Hodor Z.
Yelp advertises this place as open until 12am. Bon Chon's website says this location is open until 12am. So why did the staff tell me the kitchen was closed when I walked in at 11:25pm? I asked whether I can order for take out, they said kitchen is closed unless you are picking up an order. I am sure the owners of this place would love to know why their employees decided to close the kitchen 35 minutes earlier (if not earlier) than they are supposed to? And the place wasn't empty, 4 or 5 tables were occupied by happy chicken eating students. This is a prime location, students walking home from libraries or work would love to get some chicken but when you close at least 35 minutes before you are supposed to, you are losing not just customers but most importantly MONEY.
(1)Lauren V.
This place seems to generate a lot of hype. I don't like hype. It took me six months to listen to a single Lana Del Rey song, and I'm still full of self-loathing over that. Anyway, my best chicken-loving girlfriend and I checked this place out a few weeks ago, and it wasn't bad. First: if you come here on a weekend night (or at peak dinner time throughout the week, for that matter), there will be a line or wait of some sort, and they don't take reservations. My friend and I got lucky and only waited a few minutes for our table. Also, don't come here if you have any sort of like, social anxiety, because you'll more or less be spooning the people at the tables next to you. I was too nervous to get up to pee during dinner because the odds of me knocking something on our neighbors' table over with my butt were overwhelmingly in my butt's favor. For appetizers, we ordered the pork buns and gyoza. The latter were your standard potsticker-type things, tasty and well-cooked (chewy on the inside with crispy patches on the outside) with a delicious dipping sauce. If these things were an entree, I'd probably order them every time. The pork buns were unlike any I've ever had - more like pork bun tacos, with the chewy dough cradling the filling rather than sealed around it. My friend was repulsed, and I mostly just played with them, because hey, weird food. The pork belly itself was a bit chewy. For entrees, I got a spicy dragon roll, and we split a small combo order of soy garlic chicken. The roll was delicious and large - really fresh, attractively presented, and gone within minutes. My friend loved the chicken, but I was underwhelmed. It certainly wasn't bad, but it also wasn't close to the best chicken I've had - the pieces seemed a bit dry and not sauced enough. I'd be willing to give it another shot though - with the way everyone raves about Bon Chon chicken, maybe we just got a mediocre batch. Overall, it was alright. Like I said, I'm willing to go again if for no other reason than the sushi, and also maybe my friend and I will run into the same freakishly attractive Harvard-looking dudes from the table next to us. This is crazy, so call me, maybe?
(3)Diana N.
Before ever stepping into Bon Chon all my friends were raving about how good the chicken was. When I finally came it was good but not something I haven't tasted before. I waited until my 4th time to write up a review. When ever I come in I aways order the Crispy Philly roll with extra spicy mayo- always my favorite there before the chicken comes :) Chicken is usually a wait, but worth it! Just make sure you don't order too much sushi or drink too much! Leave room for all that Chicken! When the chicken comes I eat the garlic soy sauce chicken and my friends eats the Spicy chicken. I can never handle the spicy chicken; never one to eat spicy foods. I swear the first time I ate the spciy chicken steam was coming out of ALL HOLES! Then I had the Taro Coleslaw. WHOO cooled down my whole system chugged down some water got over it and kept eating the soy sauce chicken. Now everytime I go I leave the Spicy chicken to my friends and I have all the soy sauce chicken by my self! Whoot! Next stop--- MIXX!!
(4)Karmi J.
Went there with two friends last Wednesday. It seems everyone loves fried chicken. We ordered a large half & half combo, spicy tuna, bacon with scollop on sticks. The spicy tuna was ok, nothing special. The bacon wrap with scollop was so grease and have a bitter taste. I believed this appetizer was frozen and been there a long time before they served. Let's talk about the chicken, they tasted very good at the time they served on the table. We got some leftovers, 4 piece fried chicken. I put them in the refrigerator last Wednesday. This morning I took a bit of one wing before I dump it in the trash . Shock that the skin of wing is still very crunch. The meat is dry and there is a layer of oil on the bottom of the take-out box. It freaks me out! It tasted like plastic, something unnatural. I do not know what is the ingredients they use for those chicken. It reminds me that the rumors about "plastic Bobas"in Taiwanese Boba tea few years ago.
(2)Henry N.
When I first came here with my close friends, I thought this place wasn't really good. As this place became our hang out place to eat, the chicken wings became really good. Food here is good, and mostly people come here for their chicken. I like their soy garlic wings the most, the spicy can be ok sometimes for me. Their other food here is good, except the sushi. Sushi here isn't that great, so if you want sushi, go elsewhere for sushi. I love their seafood fried rice, hotekaiyaki and their crispy salmon salad.... Casual Korean food. During the weekends like Friday's or Saturday's, this place becomes packed and wait is long, but best thing is they open really late. Sometimes my girlfriend works really late, and she gets hungry, so we would come here after she gets out of work. After moving to the West Coast, and when I go to Boston, my friends will take me here. Sometimes I get the Bon Chon crave...
(4)TJ G.
Deathly amazing! Is you're looking to binge on some deep fried food, this should be at the top of your list. The hot chicken is quite spicy, so I stick with the soy garlic so I can just pound them back. You will be addicted, be forewarned.
(5)Nicole S.
A recent trip to the new Bon Chon proved that this place still serves all the great food the Privus/Bon Chon had before, just down the block. You can't go to Bon Chon and not get an order of their Bon Chon style chicken. There are 2 flavor options- soy garlic and spricy soy garlic, and a few different ways of preparing the chicken. I prefer the chicken strips (thin cutlet) version. A small order ($10) is generious for 2 people to enjoy. We also enjoyed some of our favorite sushi rolls, such as the Allston roll Idaho roll. The rolls are large, affordable, and creative. And to top off the evening they gave us a free order of lychee mochi ice cream. *This place is extremely busy, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. You can either have perfect timing and sit right down, or wait an hour.
(4)Elisa C.
Just to get it out there, no I didn't come here for the chicken that everyone apparently loves. I'm not a wings/drum sticks fan, so this is purely for the other things on the menu. My parents and I came here for dinner. We got seated pretty quickly (probably because it wasn't 6pm yet). We skipped the appetizers completely and had entrees only. We had a nigiri dish shared among three, a bibimbab, bulgogi, and stir-fry spicy pork and kimchi. The nigiri was okay and I think there was about two rolls worth, but the bibimbab was a downer. The bulgogi was pretty typical, as was the stir-fry. We had a great waitress who attended to many of our requests (booth seating because of Mom's bad back, more napkins, extra set of chopsticks) and she was very friendly. Maybe I should try lunch here next time. Service: 3/5 Cleanliness: 3/5 Food (appearance, portion, taste): 3/5 Overall: 3/5
(3)Lee C.
I've been to BonChon at least over 5 times. I come here when I'm in the mood of eating a bunch of different things: BonChon Chicken + cherrystone clams + sushi + korean food Everyone knows bonchon chicken tastes like no other chicken you have tried before. The crunchiness brings out a hint of slight chewiness at the same time. You really have to try it yourself, I bet you no regret. Although they are fried, with the complimentary Daikkon pickles and coleslaw, to help clearing your palate, its not so greasy anymore. What a balance! Cherrystone and sushi rolls are always fresh. Korean tofu jigae passed too! It's amazing to see that they've been able to maintain the variety and the quality, on the same plate. Service is always fast and food come out sooner than I expected most of the times. Parking is not my concern, as every person who lives in the city knows, it always take time to find street parking, which has nothing to do with this restaurant.
(5)Phung N.
I was happy to hear that BonChon was back but according to friends, I better watch out for the long wait for either getting a seat or bonchon chicken. To my surprise the wait was not that long since I came on a Tuesday, still, the place got packed quick. The chicken did indeed took about 45-60 minutes long to come and I got a medium combo too. This is not a place to talk or enjoy a nice day out. It is very loud (music/lots of people), and if you're unlucky, you will experience sitting next to other strangers on the same table. When my friends and I got our long awaited bonchon chicken (finally), lets just say, if you can't handle spicy food don't bother getting the spicy combo because its REALLY SPICY. We kept on asking for water, and since the place got packed within the hour we were there, we had to deal with the heat (that sucks!). To end things off to reasoning to why this place is ok, my total came out to be about 60 dollars, I gave the waiter 80 since I have no change and asked for the rest in 5's and 1's. The waiter did not come back and thought the change or extra cash was tip (wth was he thinking?). Well guys if you guys can not resist the bonchon, in a early time or do take out.
(3)Tina C.
We ordered bon chon chicken, bubolgi, and bibibap. Only chicken is good. Other two dishes are either overcooked or lack of flavor. It is a decent korean food but not great.
(3)Kim Y.
I love the double fried soy garlic chicken here! It's so good and worth the price! I did order the fried rice here, it wasn't really for me, so I'll stick to the chicken! Yummm! I brought my friends from Texas here and it was a big hit with them too =)
(4)K. E.
Food: 4 stars Service: 1 star Chicken: Insane crunch. I'm addicted to that alone. But stick with the wings. The big drumstick pieces have no flavor once you get past the unforgettable crunch. The spicy sauce is VERY spicy, but lacks deeper flavor. Almost like it has no salt. Also, they refuse to serve more of the spicy or soy ginger sauce on the side. They MUST develop some kind of dipping sauce. That would be great. Fried rice: I'm a huge fried rice fan and this is one of the best anywhere. Not sticky, not mushy. Tastes fresh with the vegetables, chicken, basil, etc. Crispy salmon salad: Another thing to get addicted to Service: Severely lacking. I know it's a college dive so I wasn't expecting 5 star service, but wasn't expecting this either. Servers were few and far between. But when we did finally manage to snag one for an extra fork or whatever, they were very nice. The hostess was a problem. Once when we couldn't find any waiters near by, I managed to get the hostess's attention. She was standing about 6 ft away, and stopped to look at me and asked "Yes?", without coming any closer. Then as I was about to get the first syllable out of my mouth, she turns and walks away. The four of us at the table just sat there and stared at each other for a bit. Then I took another bite of fried rice.
(3)Voravut R.
A few friends I know raved about this Korean fried chicken & I was dubious at first. When I first arrived there were so many flavors to choose from I had to break away from my original or extra crispy mindset. I like to try it all so we got a sample of every flavor plus some of their sushi to give it a bit of contrast. Very good distinct flavors from the fried chicken. Bold & fearless was the first thing that came to mind. The sushi was very good also. Now that I have a taste, I will go back for more. I'm glad that Boston is getting new flavors we desperately need.
(4)Jenny D.
Amazing food, good service! They live up to the hype. They're really nice, friendly. They keep my glasses filled. They know their menu, which is a huge plus because I hate seeing waiters/waitresses not knowing what they're serving.
(4)Haylee T.
For Boston, this Bon Chon establishment is awesome. I say it like this because I know a few New Yorkers would compare and contrast. However for a little city like Boston, Bon Chon in Allston is like a goldmine of flavorful delicious Korean fried chicken! I usually get the mild combo because I'm a spicy newb. The Okonomiyaki is also Delish. The wait is long, but worth it if you're going with friends on a social outing. If you're going to just eat, I'd recommend take out!
(4)TK W.
Thought it was a gimmick, but how wrong I was! Personally I like the wings better than drumstick because you get more skin, more sauces, and more crispy goodness. Never had sushi there. Other Korean dishes are not bad, but I won't brag about it. You go there for chicken wings anyway.
(4)Anna W.
It's nice when a restaurant actually lives up to its hype! And Bon Chon is one of those places! We saw this place on the Phantom Gourmet and have seen the reviews on Yelp, so we had to try it for ourselves. We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for lunch, and it was pretty quiet inside. The dining room is pretty small -- there is a bar area with a few TVs and the dining room has a few booths, two really long tables of 10+ in the middle, and some 2-person tables by the back wall. The menu offered a varied selection of sushi, Japanese food, and some Korean food. I was actually surprised that the Bon Chon chicken (which was our reason for coming here) was merely featured as an appetizer. I figured they would have a whole section of the menu devoted to its famous chicken! The chicken only comes in two flavors, spicy hot or soy garlic. There is also options for the type of chicken you want -- boneless chicken strips (which are actually more like chicken rounds than chicken strips), all-wings, or a combo, which featured drumsticks and wings. There are also three sizes to choose from (small, medium and large). We ordered a small order of the soy garlic strips, a medium soy garlic combo, an order of gyoza, and a miso soup for me, because I am physically incapable of stepping into an Asian restaurant without ordering a Miso soup. Anyway, believe the hype about the chicken -- it really is THAT good. The outer skin is light and SO crispy. The soy garlic flavoring was light, but delectable. The chicken on the inside was super juicy. Absolute love at first bite! My only complaint is that with our combo platter, five of our drumsticks were HUGE, and one was absolutely tiny (like 1/3 the size of the other drumsticks). Not that we could finish all the chicken in one sitting, but I was still bummed nonetheless. Also, I need to compliment their gyoza and gyoza sauce as well. The dumplings had a delicious filling, and they were fried perfectly so that the outside shell was crispy AND soft without being overdone. Also, their gyoza sauce isn't just soy sauce from a bottle. They actually take the time to mix it with other ingredients (I think maybe vinegar and sugar and maybe something else) to give it that extra oomph and kick. we liked the sauce so much, we asked for extra so that we could dip our chicken in it (which I highly recommend, btw). Bon Chon was excellent and we hope to return soon to try more non-chicken menu items!
(5)Jenny T.
I'm sure everyone knows how amazing the chicken is here, so there's no need to get into detail! Although... I do wish their spicy chicken was more spicy! I really can't sense any spiciness whereas people whom I have seen sitting next to me where going on about how it's TOO spicy for them.... what? Anyway, to sum it all up into 4 words... Great food. High recommended!
(4)Vanessa K.
I love korean friend chicken!!! It's so flavorful, so juicy, so much umami!! Fried to perfection.
(4)Kim D.
You love fried chicken right? Do you also love korean food? Because if you do, then you've GOT to try Bon Chon! It's crunchy salty yummy fatty goodness with a twist of korean spicy tang to it! I visited Boston for grad school interviews and my friend decided to take me here. I've never had anything like this and didn't even know it existed but now I'll never forget it! We tried the Soy Garlic and I fell in love! It was so juicy, crispy, and well... just everything a good fried chicken should be but with a little more oomph! It's probably a good idea to phone ahead because sometimes they take awhile to make the chicken but it's VERY worth the wait!
(5)Karyn V.
Bon Chon is a nine-year-old Korean fried chicken franchise with a few dozen outlets in Korea and a few less than that in the United States. Since my boyfriend and I discovered Bon Chon six-months ago, it has quickly become our go to spot if we want to order wings - or in this case Korean fried chicken tenders- to eat at home during a big game. The chicken is ridiculously addictive, fried twice, with a marinade of soy and garlic, and quite a bit of hot pepper. The soy-garlic version has some spice; the hot-sauce version is notably hotter than buffalo wings. With a medium-combo ($18.95 for 10 strips, the smallest portion you can order if you want both ginger-garlic and hot-sauce pieces), it takes about 20 minutes to cook. However, if you are ordering for a big game like the Super Bowl, you need to order four to five hours before kick off if you want them before the game. I've never eaten at the restaurant, and I don't think I would ever care to. Granted, I have only done take out, but Bon Chon is by far the most disorganized restaurant I've ever been to. To get a better understanding, out of the five times we have ordered from Bon Chon, they have somehow "lost" our order twice, called us saying that they had run out of chicken tenders to only call us back five minutes later saying that they had "found" the chicken tenders, overcharged us for our order, and given us the incorrect order at take out. If the fried chicken tenders weren't so good, I honestly wouldn't put up with the service. With that said, here are my rules you should follow when ordering take-out from Bon Chon so you don't run into similar problems: 1.) Always call before you leave your house to pick up your order to make sure they haven't forgotten to make your order and they are preparing the correct order; 2.) Always check inside your take out bag before you leave the restaurant to make sure you ended up with the correct order; and, 3.) Always check your bill to make sure they didn't over charge you.
(4)Colin P.
SO me and the girl went here for a early dinner, around 5pm. Attentive and polite servers, but did not speak or understand english well. Ordered the bibimbap with bulgari. Not flavorful in any way. Bland chewy ribeye, unseasoned vegetables and kimchi. Somewhat watery rice. It came with chili paste which i added ample of but it still wasn't delicious in any way. Also ordered the dish whose name I can't remember or find but it was udon noodles in spicy sauce with mixed seafood. Seafood was not fresh tasting (not bad, but just like old freezer seafood kind of taste). Sauce and noodles were good. Do not recommend.
(1)Kim V.
Their chicken is like crack cocaine! I love it! (Not that I've ever had crack, it's just an expression, come on son!) Seriously though, I don't like chicken generally, but when they add that seasoning to it, I just can't get enough. I also love the sides. Perfect compliments to the chicken. Haven't tried the sushi although I heard it is good.
(4)Michael V.
I like bon chon. It's pretty good, keeps me coming back. I mostly enjoy the soy garlic chicken, really amazing chicken. The ambiance of the place is really nice as well, great spot to get together with friends, and the service is usually pretty spot on. The price is a little steep however. Nothing too spectacular about bon chon, just a consistently nice place that doesn't dissapoint.
(3)Dana L.
chicken is good! crispy and nice sauces and fairly good price. the wait was really long and it took awhile to get our food. I have gone for both sit down and take away and both have taken awhile. While there, I have also had some of their korean dishes and japanese noodles. These are average tasting (the rice was dry and the noodles not so flavourful). It's nice that they have other options but I would really just stick with the fried chicken.
(3)Jacqueline C.
Yea..the spicy wings.... I can never stand spiciness in my whole life and a friend of mine took me here for wings. I have to say the wings are so delicious! And they are very spicy as well.. If you can't eat spicy food,go for the soy sauce instead of hot sauce. You will fall in love with the wings!
(4)Katie W.
Despite lacking a their liquor license approval, I managed to a get a group of 6 of us to stop in on a Monday night hoping to beat the crowds to finally try what everyone has been talking about. We arrived a little after 6 and thank goodness! The place was packed by the time we got our food! We got a large combo of wings half hot half soy garlic--we loved them both! The wings were the crispiest wings I have ever had and loved that their sauces were unique and a change of pace from the usual buffalo! The hot reminded me of a really good Siracha sauce, we loved it and it packed the perfect amount of heat. We also had some great sides--pork buns were awesome, crispy rice cakes, tempura and endamame were all fantastic. Will def be back!
(5)Ross G.
Possibly the best chicken I've ever had. Also possibly the best service I have ever had in the greater Boston area. Despite the building being almost 75% or more filled to capacity, our server Taro was excellent, got me everything I needed promptly with out having to ask a second time. The drumsticks were outstanding, although the spicy ones were very spicy, they were also very good with lots of bite. I wouldn't eat too many in a row though, make sure you pace yourself so you no to pass out at the table :) ! Will definitely be back to try more things!
(5)Patrick V.
I think that this place is very good. First off the chicken wings were great but the flavor was overpowering. Otherwise that is was delicious. Second the bibimbob was good but they barely any pork. It was also SO hot that I waited longer to eat it than actually waiting for the table. Finally the chicken fried rice was very flavorful. It was very good but the vegetables weren't good. Overall it was very good
(4)Kathie L.
Dont even bother coming here on the weekends. No complaints about food, but the staff is horrendous. Waited TWO HOURS for a seat when people who arrived after us got seated right away. When I went to the host to talk to him about this he said he doesnt know how long itll take to find a seat for my group but continued to do this same thing. 0 stars
(1)Emily K.
I came here for the first time for a going away party. The host was a little rude and split up our party, but after that hiccup everything was great. The chicken wings were AMAZING and surprisingly so were the fries. The place is expensive, but it's worth it for a bite of hot, crunchy, spicy chicken!
(4)Ria S.
Bon Chon! My friends took me to this place awhile back ago and man oh man, dat chicken tho... The flavor is so rich with spice, soy, sweet, and crispy goodness. Once I eat here, I feel like I can't stop. And I like the radish cooling my pallet down. The atmosphere is good for groups, but sometimes it can get too busy to grab a seat, so I sometimes am unable to go in as it's too crazy in there. And when I do, it's just me and my bon chon.
(5)Apple T.
I'm not sure if this Bon Chon is affiliated with the one in Harvard Square but I would say, this one in Allston is way better- bigger menu, better food and better service. I came in here on a Saturday with my sister and we were told the wait would be 10 minutes, unfortunately, the customers who we were expecting to get their table, were seriously taking their time even after the waiter cleared their table. But the wait was worth it when we sunk our teeth into these delicious fried chicken! We also ordered a couple more dishes- crispy salmon salad ( to die for!), pork belly and some Mexican kinda corn thingy. All of them were heavenly good! And I've also been to the New York ones a couple of times and they have different menus too. I still prefer this Bon Chon here at Allston although it is quite inconvenient for me to get here without having to drive and looking for a parking here is almost nonexistent
(4)John L.
How good is the chicken? Very good. I never had a bad meal here. Everything I ordered was always nice and hot. If you for some reason are not in the mood for chicken, try the okonomiyaki (japanese pancake basically). Its big and can fill two people. The chicken comes in two flavors: soy garlic and hot. Both are very good and i recommend you try both. If I remember right they come with pickled radishes and this other side dish. I used both to cool my mouth after eating the spicy chicken.
(4)Yvonne C.
We had medium combine of fried chicken with half soy garlic and half hot sauce. It was good as usually. We also have tteokboki with cheese, this one is just normal. But it my friends like it, she think it's really tasty. (Well... everyone has different taste.)
(4)Mark J.
Best wings I've ever tasted, very addictive.
(5)Joe J.
Finally got to try Bon Chon and it did not disappoint! Go for the spicy over the soy garlic, in my opinion, although both are very tasty! Didn't try anything but the wings, and why would you?? Important disclosure: I told myself last night I wouldn't eat Bon Chon for a month or so because of how full I got, and I woke up today craving it. In short, it might have some addictive tendencies!
(4)Billy N.
Great food. Great price. The atmosphere is great. Recommend the spicy chicken wings as well as the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) which is delicious and has cheese which you don't usually get on spicy rice cakes but I like the Americanized flair. Highly recommend making a stop if you are ever in town.
(5)Sandro F.
best fried chicken ever. Oh my god it is so delicious and they have three flavors mild medium and spicy. Absolutely the best fried chicken in Boston
(5)Jay M.
I'm a frequent flyer to Bon Chon. There's not much else like it in the Boston area especially for it's namesake, the chicken! Appetizers that I'd slap my mama for would be the crispy salmon salad, pork buns and the rice cake skewers. First of all, the salmon salad isn't anything you'd expect from just hearing the name. It's pretty much a ball of smashed avocado with crispy cucumber, crab meat and panko for crunch and then draped with salmon, torched lightly and then topped with eel sauce, mayo and salmon roe. BOMB! The pork buns are fantastic as well! Thinly sliced pork belly in sweet soy is topped with thai basil and scallion threads all stuffed into a fluffy, slightly sweet bao bun. Sticky, salty, sweet and sometimes messy! So good! The rice cake skewers were a nice surprise. I'm a huge fan of Dukbogi and decided to order these to appease a craving for it. They're just perfectly crispy rice cakes with some chew basted in a sweet chili sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. So simple yet so tasty. It's all about texture because the sauce did taste a bit on the ketchupy side, but still amazing enough for me to include in this review. Although everything else is good, the chicken cannot be overlooked. Who doesn't love crispy, chickeny goodness? Double fried, lightly tossed in fiery chili sauce and cirspier than your bedsheets when you first discovered how to masturbate. Every order comes with house made cole slaw to cool your tongue down and pickled daikon radish for a palate cleanse. I recommend getting wings and wings only. The crispy skin to meat ratio is much better than that of the traditional drumstick. I can eat 50 in a sitting if I wanted, but my mama raised me better than that. If you're lucky enough to have leftovers, the chicken retains it's crunchy exterior even after being in the fridge overnight. Leftovers seldom last that long though. My experiences at Bon Chon have always been pleasant. The waitstaff is attentive and usually quick to act if anything is needed. The decor and ambience lends itself nicely to the dining experience, but it's really the chicken that keeps me coming back for more. Come in, grab a bottle of Soju, order more chicken than you think that you can handle and stay awhile. You'll love it!
(4)Sam H.
Best fried drumsticks I ever had. Great wings (less juicy but still great). Fantastic cole slaw, corn/cheese appetizer, and bibimbap (sp). Wow....not a single complaint or concern. I would eat there every night if i could.
(5)Prang P.
Best chicken I ever had! NO JOKE! Both flavors are unbelievable. Besides those the MUST TRY are: Dragon Maki, Spicy Seafood Salad En Guete!
(5)H-Linda L.
I'm definitely a big fan of Bon Chon, and have introduced a lot of friends to this place... but recently, I've noticed a decline in the crispy-ness of the chicken wings. I still like this place a lot, but it seems like the quality of the chicken wings vary a lot. A selection of my favorite side dishes: corn butter, crispy salmon salad, takoyaki (octopus balls) and seafood yakisoba.
(4)Big B.
Nice restaurant. Much better than some kind of korean restaurant in NYC.
(4)Tim W.
Well I came here with the expectations that Bon Chon could take the place of the departed Privus Lounge. Menu is pretty similar, but Privus it is not. Unfortunately the chicken was just okay. Don't get me wrong...its way better than American style fried chicken but when it come to Korean fried chicken, its just okay. Service was good and the restaurant was packed. I just wish the food was better quality. Note: If you go on a Saturday, be prepared to wait. My party of four arrived at 6pm and still had to wait almost 30 minutes to get a table. It gets really crowded.
(3)Hieu T.
Not sure if any of you know that ASIAN people loves FRIED CHICKEN! Well, at least my family does! I been to Bon Chon couple of times over the years and even try the one in NY. And the one in Allston is my favorite! Of course, we always ordered the large option for the chicken wings and drumsticks. Both in garlic and spicy sauce. Let me tell you .... I am not a fan of spicy chicken wings, but I cannot seem to stop eating. I love that the skin perfectly fried, the meat was juicy, and blending in with the sauce either garlic or spicy ... PERFECTO! Hence why I can eat 15 chicken wings in one sitting! Such a pig I am! On top of it, they make the best asian cole slaw ever! Besides there delicious chickens, they have assorted Korean and Japanese dishes which were delicious. My favorite are: - Spicy seafood salad - Korean pancake - Bimbimbap - Japanese Pizza (I don't remember the exact name) - Quaid eggs wrapped with bacon The price is pretty reasonable for such a nice place. I love it. However, if you are planning to go on the weekend, be prepare to stand in LINE!
(5)Bailey Z.
I love Korean-style fried chicken. The last and only time I've had it was at Privus, which sadly closed down, but I've been told that the same owner runs Bon Chon. Since we were only here for appetizers, we ordered a small plate of drumsticks and a small plate of strips. The drumsticks were as good as I last remembered them. Twice fried chicken is the only time when I will actually eat the skin. It was perfectly crispy and the meat within stayed juicy and moist. I learned to only get the spicy sauce and drumsticks. The soy sauce marinade just wasn't good enough and the strips were a huge disappointment. These potato chip-shaped pieces of meat were inconsistently fried with some being crispy and others not. Most pieces of meat were completely dry. Still, Bon Chon should be your go-to place for Korean fried chicken (the new KFC). Everyone loved the side of pickled radishes and red cabbage slaw. I can't wait to come back to try some of their other food. Most of their Korean entrees seem very reasonably priced.
(4)Alexis C.
The chicken is amazing, but then everyone knows that already. This coming from someone who hates fried chicken. I only get the soy garlic because I'm afraid of ruining my mascara if I get the spicy one. Maybe if I get dumped in the future I'll try the spicy version because I'll feel like crying anyways and Ben and Jerry's is so tired. I also like the corn butter (it took a lot of convincing by friends for me to even try this, as I dislike both corn and butter), but most of the cold and hot tapas are really good. I have not tried their sushi, so I can't speak to that, but I do not plan to because I only get sushi from Japanese places. I try to come during off-peak hours to avoid drunk people and lines.
(5)Susan K.
My sister and I had a craving for bon chon chicken and was excited to hear that Bon Chon had just opened in Boston! Had to check it out. I went today (Saturday) at about 5-5:30pm and we were seated almost right away. We were greeted with a very nice host with a great smile. The place was modern looking and pretty chill. Dim lighting and a relaxed feel to it. Definitely a cool and hip feel to it. Loved the booths and the long tables in the middle. We ordered a sushi roll, a seafood udon, and a combo bon chon chicken. The sushi roll was delicious. Had a fresh taste to it...especially the cucumber that was in my roll. Really good. Seafood udon was good too...although the mussels were a bit difficult to eat. Lastly, bon chon chicken. I have to admit but it took a bit longer than we expected for the chicken to come out. Had to wait almost an hour for it and we asked the waiter about it. Sorry, but I think the long wait for the chicken cost this review a star. Finally, it came out and it was delicious. So good that I lost count on how many pieces I ate. Towards the end of our meal (around 6:45-7pm) it was getting really packed. To avoid the long wait and packed crowds, go earlier in the evening. It's less busy and you'll get seated sooner. Its also good for you that you have early dinners too.
(4)Jenifer R.
I love the korean wings here. They have these different flavors to choose from. I usually get the spicy ones, i cant get enough of Bon Chon the wings are juicy n crunchy. I know there other stuff on the menu that great but the main attraction to me are the Bon Chon wings! Restaurant very clean and service is quick to respond. i recommend people to try Bon Chon you wont be dissappointed
(5)Jennifer C.
My friend and I went to Bon Chon because whenever we walk past there it's always packed. We were excited that they had both sushi and fried chicken because we were in the mood for both. On a Sunday night at 8 they still had a pretty long wait. I'm not sure that they take reservations? The sushi there was faaaantastic. We had two different rolls that were more on the pricey side, but they were well worth it. We weren't expecting the sushi to be that good considering they are known for their fried chicken. We shared 10 of the soy and garlic wings and they were pretty good. A friend told us to stay away from the hot ones because we wouldn't be able to handle it. I never really had korean fried chicken until bon chon so I can't really compare with anything else. Definitely try the sushi though!
(4)Jennie C.
I've never had bonchon chicken. I thought it was a urban legend. Like Mythbusters would say, this urban legend was CONFIRMED. I recently was in town for a basketball game, and I had to get my hands on the so-called "crispy, flavorful" chicken. So this review will just be on the chicken, nothing else since I can't vouch for the menu. This chicken is pretty amazing. It is crispy, kind of like a pork rind, but it's not greasy, which is a huge plus! Instead of oily grease you would get on a crispy fried chicken, you get a mouthful of sauce. I got the soy-garlic flavor and it was on point. I did a take-out order, which I did not know that an order of bonchon wings included banchan (pickled veggies and radishes). Needless to say, I made some MBTA riders upset with the fermented fumes. My bad! Love the wings and will go back for more next time!
(4)Zhe W.
Their wings are the most delicious ones I have ever tried. Also recommend their crispy salmon salad, very creative. Seafood pancake and spicy pork cabbage are also worth to try!
(5)Lillian C.
MMMmmmm... korean fried chicken wings. Delicious! Located on Brighton Ave and very accessible via the T or the 57 bus. This is a pretty popular place with plenty of seating and friendly service. It's open until midnight so it's a good place to grab some late night eats. We ordered soy garlic wings, kimchi jigae, and salmon crispy salad. The salad came in a ball with the salmon on the outside of the salad... It was refreshing, but also creamy and really tasty! The wings were also really good... flavorful and crispy, yet not too fried. My least favorite was probably the kimchi jigae. I would have liked it more if there were was more soup in the pot it came in! I didn't have any issues with the wait, service, or food when I was here. Def a place to quench that fried chicken craving!
(4)Jeffrey T.
I come here often for bonchon nice crispy r what i go for they have other options too for sushi and appetizers.
(5)Lin A.
Bonchon is my favorite Korean restaurant in Boston! Come here on weekday's lunch, then you don't have to wait in a long line and they also offer the lunch special on weekdays! They got a lot of amazing food, but I personally recommend " spicy chicken wing" and " seafood fried rice". The taste of them are so perfect for me!
(5)Kent W.
My family and I came in to eat on a Saturday afternoon with my parents and sister but they were just a few minutes away, so I dropped them off first. Even though we were prepared to order immediately the host stated that we could not be seated until all partiez were present. I explained that we were ready to order right away and that our daughter was getting hungry so it was counterproductive to make us wait for another two people. The host the told us that they could not do that but when we said that we had plans to order right away he made a complete 180. We only came here the third time but this type of attitude is unacceptable for guest who patronize the restaurant and we may not come again. I know there are those out there who say I envisioned customer lost is nothing but in the grand scheme of things it's how you handle customer service. I am sure many others will still come here and ignore this so be it but end of the day we are not satisfied with level of service the host gave.
(2)Alexis B.
Management is stupid and unaccommodating. Came with a party of five. We couldn't sit at the big table in case another large group came in. Had to wait 25 minutes to be seated. Manager was unhelpful. Guess what? another large group never came in. Fools. Great policy. Moral of the story- don't come here with more than 4 unless it's 8.
(1)Michelle C.
Love bonchon! Used to not like it as much but their chicken quality got better. Ordered delivery of medium soy garlic combo, kimchi jigae (stew) and rice. Delicious but eating at the restaurant is definitely better. I only get soy garlic because their spicy is too much for me but my boyfriend likes it. Kimchi jigae is one of the best around boston. Chicken comes with two sides, asked for 2 radish but got one radish and one slaw but whatever. Their slaw is pretty good but can never have enough of their radish. Was a little pricey at about $46 but that includes $5 delivery (steep! But what can you do...) and some tip. Tl;dr - some of the best Korean fried chicken and kimchi jigae (stew) around.
(4)Aimee L.
Something about their fried chicken makes it truly the crunchiest, freshest fried chicken I've ever tasted. Both the soy garlic and hot flavors were delicious, but the hot flavor was too spicy for my tastes, so you'll love it if you like a challenge. Also, their scallion pancakes were really good, and I love that they stuff them with the regular goodies. Now, the place can get crowded, so it does feel a little cramped, but the food makes up for it. I can't wait to come back here!!
(5)Bonny S.
I don't think Bonchon had ever disappoint me. LOL. Their chicken wings are always delicious and on point. I always do half soy garlic and half spicy. Yes, it gets crazy packed but once you're seated, the food comes out pretty fast. When it comes to drinks, my date and I always order their Soju! Ever since I tried it, it has always been my favorite. LOL. I recommend lychee and/or yogurt flavor. As for service wise? Meh. lol. Out of all the chicken wings places there are, I would always choose come here and eat.
(4)Judy K.
Can't go wrong with their chicken. I know it sounds really pretentious, but I can only eat BonChon's fried chicken because the skin is super thin and crispy unlike other wing places. You don't get that weird nasty gooey like texture of chicken skin because it's actually deep fried to perfection! I love the spicy flavored wings, but be aware because I don't think some people can handle the level of hotness. If you're a big fan of spicy foods, I say GO FOR IT! When I came in here for lunch, they had a pretty decent lunch special. Not a bad deal considering BonChon is pretty pricey to start off with. But what threw me off was the EDM music playing at 2pm at a casual store. I was so confused, but it was quite funny after sharing a pitcher of beer with my friends. In the end, we asked to change the music and the waitress was super nice about it. They changed it to extremely somber music, which I thought was hilarious. Anyway, the service is pretty good. Probably because we were the only ones there, but our waitress was super considerate! Surprisingly, their sushi is not so bad either so don't be afraid to try out their other food!
(4)Joe C.
Oh That Chicken I don't know how they fry this chicken, but damn it is good. Bon Chon is a semi nice Korean restaurant that serves 3 main items. Well at least in my mind. Fried Chicken, wonderful translucent noodle dishes, and wonderful kimchi rice. Wait I can't forget the cotija corn on the cob, delicious. Tip: stay away from the weird saki alcohol for the table, just not good I am writing this and craving that fried chicken, if that's what your looking for try Bon Chon. Thanks
(4)Kendra E.
MY ORDER: Soy garlic & spicy chicken wings, seafood scallion pancake, seafood ricecake PROS: - Satisfy your cravings for Korean style chicken wings here at Bon Chon. Double fried and slathered with spices that make your mouth water. I hate to admit this but I do come here on my own when friends are out of town or busy just so I could bite into these tasty wings. Wings can come with or without bone. - Seafood scallion pancake needs to be shared. Comes with a side of soy sauce for dipping. Shrimp are plump. Beware - a bit on the oily side. - Seafood Ricecake is also too much for one person. It's really spicy for those who cannot handle the heat. The rice cakes are chewy and tasty! Best eaten with rice. - Free sides with each meal: Pickled radish + korean style coleslaw (both help with the spicy chicken wings) - Free 2 hr street parking. Much easier to park here than Harvard Square Bon Chon location. - Fast, friendly service. Need to work on water refills. CONS: - Can get pretty busy but no worries, there's always take out! - Allston restaurant seems to taste better and is located to more Asian establishments (i.e. boba or dessert) - I'm going to miss this place when I move back to the west coast!
(5)Deige A.
First time here and the food was great! Only issue I have with this place are their policies: 1. seat full parties only so even if you put your name down 30 minutes ago and everyone in your group is not there yet, they will seat people who came after you if their entire party is present at that moment 2. no reservations or call-ahead seating 3. you cannot ask for extra sauce on the side for their wings (I'm talking about the soy garlic and spicy sauces) 4. for orders where you would like to half wings/ half strips, they have the combo options that you can choose from buts its not really half and half, more like 3/4 wings and 1/4 drumsticks or strips the most important tip here is to have everyone in your group present when you put your name down so can be seated sooner rather than waiting an extra 30+ min
(4)April K.
Double deep fried soy garlic chicken wings- YES. It's a little steep- $20 for the medium, but well worth it. This place has a lot of hype and it makes sense why. The chicken is incredibly crispy on the outside, but juicy on the inside. My friend and I went into a serious food coma after filling our bellies with the food here. We also ordered the caterpillar sushi roll and the bulgogi bibimbap. Everything was delicious and the bibimbap wasn't burnt at the bottom (huge plus). The waiter was really nice, but he kept forgetting to bring us items that we asked for. Nevertheless, kindness goes a long way. Be prepared to wait 30 minutes for a table. This place is always packed!
(4)Brian S.
We ordered delivery from them tonight: a medium chicken combo and a kimchi jigae which came out to around $20 a person. I would definitely recommend eating it there because it is a lot more crispy and crunchy which is what you want, but delivery sufficed for my chicken crazing. This place is a chain and if you been to any of their locations you know they do it right. For the chicken we got the soy garlic, but I am also a huge fan of their spicy chicken. I will say that their spicy is no joke so proceed with caution.
(4)Abhishek M.
Awesome food. Bull Dak is a must here if you love spicy food. Chicken wings were not that good. Fried rice were nice!
(4)Lori A.
I came here with my friend who spoke highly of this restaurant. I ordered Spicy Japchae. Really I just looked at the picture on the menu, thought it looked good, and ordered that. We also ordered chicken wings for the table, which from the sounds of it, it's a classic to order. My food came out within minutes of ordering it. Now, I'm not quite sure how to review that aspect because I'm sure to some people that's a good thing, and to others, not so good. For me, I was a bit taken aback, as I preferred to eat the appetizer, then deal with my dinner...but my food came out before the appetizer and my friend's dinner. The dinner looked NOTHING like in the picture. I'm not an idiot, I know it's not going to be exact and pictures are meant to make the food look pretty, but there was literally no resemblance whatsoever. I thought they brought the dish to the wrong table at first. My friend ordered a fried rice - it was good. The fried chicken, as you might have noticed from other people's post, is definitely worth coming for. If you don't want anything else, that's fine...but get the wings! It's so worth it. And I normally don't like chicken wings!! Any place that can turn a food I normally dislike into something great is defiantly worth noting!. I also loved the environment. It definitely seemed like a young - college student vibe, but obviously this place is welcome to anyone. At the end of the day, I barely ate the dinner, but I certainly focused on the wings. I give it four stars because of the wings and because of my friend's tasty fried rice. Enjoy :)
(4)Adam R.
I had some hesitation before going to BonChon because I wondered how good Korean wings could really be. Man listen, these wings were some of the best wings that I've had the pleasure of eating. When my girlfriend and I first got to the restaurant, we were greeted by Elliot Kim. I don't know his official job title, but let me tell you that there's no one job title that would capture all that he did. He convinced to wait a little longer, so we could get an objectively better seat. He made sure he ran through the menu with us and highlighted what was good, and what was a good amount of food for us to order (because I would have ordered an X-Large order of wings, and my girlfriend would have murdered me). He also made sure to follow us up and ask us what we thought of the food and suggestions we had. But most importantly, even with a restaurant full of customers he took the time to make us feel welcomed and important. I can't say enough good things about the guy. The food was no slouch either as the wings were some of the best I'd ever had. I generally like my wings slathered in BBQ sauce, but soy garlic was a fine substitute. The pork bun dish brought two decent sized pork buns which tasted excellent, but kind of left me wanting more. My girlfriend loved her miso soup as well. The only thing I didn't love was the Cojita corn, which was corn with a mayonnaise rub and covered with some ground chili pepper. They weren't very spicy, which is good because I'm a huge wuss when it comes to spices, but they also weren't quite what I had in mind either. But if the worst I can say about my meal is that the corn was just okay, then I think I'll live. Everyone should come here and eat the wings. If you love wings, you'll love BonChon. PRO TIP: Medium is more than enough for two people. I eat A LOT, and I can vouch that these wings can feed a village. ALSO, the spicy wings are basically radioactive. BE WARNED.
(5)Raymond D.
I went to Bon Chon for the first time this past weekend with my cousin and her friend. i didnt expect it to be so good. The fried Chicken we had was crispy on the outside, and super tender and moist on the inside. a lot of fried chicken from other places, you get super crispy on the outside, but really dry on the side. Bon Chon got that balance just right. the soy garlic sauce on it was the best. The Pork buns i ordered for myself, were on point as well. the pork was tender and flavorful. The sauce that was in it was smokey, tangy, and it went great with the pork. We ordered the kimchi pancake, which was very good. it contained a little bit too much oil and grease though. the kimchi was good and had a good kick of spiciness. the sushi bar was average. the wait staff were really good about refilling my glass of water. they were really friendly as well. it was a really nice lunch we had. definitely trying to come back here whenever i can.
(5)Audrey C.
Not bad not bad. If you're craving korean fried chicken, definitely come here. Although I like how there is a variety of food to choose from, I would say the chicken is the best part of Bon Chon. We got the half and half sauce and I definitely wish there was extra sauce to drizzle on the chicken. They give you a side of pickled radish and coleslaw when you sit down also. Spicy Salmon Maki: Standard roll, it came with spicy salmon, mango, cumber, and spicy mayo. Stir Fried Spicy Pork and Kimchi: Omg this was so spicy but it was so good. I had to wipe off some of the sauce on my plate because it was a little bit too spicy for me to handle but it was worth it. The pieces of pork were delicious and the kimchi flavor was good too.
(3)Jane Y.
Good food overs there! Love their salmon avocado salad & their takoyaki But somehow the service can be better..
(4)Joshua H.
The chicken wings here were awesone top 5 in my book and I've eaten a lot of wings. Then there was the bacon fried rice OMG best ever! The thick cut almost like over salted ham chunks were great in it. The fact the egg comes out on top add that fresh yolk to the mix my fat man heart was racing. When I'm in Boston again this is a stop each time now. There is even some great sushi in the mix and it was a great choice for dinner. If I would have had more time I would have come back the next day for lunch.
(5)Michelle W.
I love this place. The food is amazing. The only bad thing is that the decor is old, faded, and is in desperate need of refurbishment. I live next door and based the on the lines out the door every weekend they are making BANK and can afford to close for a couple of days to clean everything up.
(5)Vannak S.
I was here with a few friends...so im told this place has some fire chicken...hot wings style...only 2 flavor though...which was pretty bomb...we order some other food but I'm not going to mention it because it dont deserve any highlights as them chicken. ...the food presentation was nice...no stars for the restroom...both men and woman restroom...needed clean up...badly.....parking is just like downtown.any city...get lucky in traffic. ..it was in a pretty busy area...down townish...lost a Star for no free wifi....
(3)Vindy M.
Really great service. The server came by about every 10 minutes to refill our waters and ask if we needed anything else. Everything was excellent; from the bibimbap to the chicken itself, every dish was made to order and absolutely yummy!!
(5)Peter A.
I went in there with a group of friends hoping they had Korean BBQ, but we left even more happy! After reviewing their menu with many options from bibimap to sushi we decided to order a large batch of wings. Their Korean fried chicken wings are to die for! Best Korean chicken wings i've had in the New England area for sure! It was really spicy, and crispy at the same time. They paired the wings with Korean Daikon and carrot pickle, which made it a little less spicy. The environment is very welcoming, along with friendly staff. The food took a bit of time to arrive, but it was so worth the wait. Overall, I recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves spicy wings!
(4)Cathy S.
The fried chicken is a must - light and crispy on the outside and both flavors are quite good though the hot can be pretty spicy. I love that it comes with slaw and pickled daikon, which I think can be refilled once. Some of their other dishes are very good as well including their jap chae (very flavorful), kimchi or seafood pancakes (large portions), and spicy pork and kimchi (would only recommend if you really like spicy food and kimchi...as the name suggests). On this recent visit we also tried two of the hot tapas dishes: takoyaki and pork buns. The takoyaki was decent - I liked that the fried balls had a nice soft texture on the inside with chunks of octopus, but there was a little bit too much sauce and mayo for me. The pork buns were not very good. There was way too much generic hoisin sauce doused on the pork, and the buns weren't as soft and fluffy as they should have been.
(4)Kelly C.
I lived in South Korea for 3 years and I fell in love with Kyochon, a Korean fried chicken restaurant. When I moved back to the states I craved that delicious chicken that is hard to even classify as fried chicken because it is so much more than just fried chicken. Then I heard about Bonchon. I didn't believe it could come close to being as delicious as the real fried chicken from Korea. I got my first order of the soy garlic wings to go. I got home, sat on my couch, and opened the box. The smell was very familiar and I got excited. When I took my first bite, I shit you not a tear rolled down my cheek. It was JUST like the Kyochon chicken I fell in love with!!!! It is one of the top 5 most delicious things you will ever eat. I honestly do believe that!!!! The only negative thing I have to say is that they don't have Hite or Cass or other local Korean beer.
(5)Jason L.
Hit this up for some late night snacks after a show at the Brighton Music Hall, which is basically right next door. It was a nice way to cap off an evening of good music and dancing. We had the double-fried wings, and damn are these things double-fried. If you order size medium or larger, you can get both flavors, which you should do. Both flavors were super-duper double cripsy. The soy-garlic was quite garlicky and very good. The hot flavor was damn hot. Be careful with this. Some repetitive electronic music was playing: I felt like I was eating in some sleek dystopian future.
(4)Lily S.
Mmmm fried chicken is the bomb dot com. Can't believe I haven't tried this place sooner! Loved the sides of cole slaw and pickled radish. I could eat that ish by the pound! The place is generally packed so your best bet is a seat at the bar. Service is a toss up depending how busy they are/ who's working. Sometimes great, sometimes horrendous. But the chicken is what will keep you coming back for more.
(4)Allen H.
Great food. A bit expensive for some dishes. Some cashiers are not so friendly.
(4)Dave P.
I have never dined in, but if the take out food is already so good, then I bet eating food fresh out of the kitchen is like 100x better. This is the best place to get wings in the area. If I had more time, I would come here with a group and dine-in. This place always seems to be bumping, and it's close to the bars, which is an added bonus.
(5)Melissa R.
Came here after a nice day in Boston with the family. We've heard nothing, but "great" things about this place so we decided to give it a try. Right when walking in I was appalled. The waiter who was... nice, but not fully "there" took us to our booth where it had knife cuts all down the seats. Wouldn't they have tried to even tape it up or SOMETHING? Atmosphere from the beginning is terrible. In hopes when getting menus there would be something of better interest than the booth we were in. For the table we got drumsticks, salmon salad and some sort of soup (can't think of the exact kind). First off - this place is way too overpriced for what you actually get. The chicken wasn't anything TOO special - it was good, but it tasted like normal fried chicken. The salmon salad was $12.99 and was about the size of my fist (and I've got small hands...) Overall I am extremely disappointed with the atmosphere and food. Definitely will not be coming back.
(1)Kevin L.
Fancy KFC? Maybe.. Delicious? Hell yeah!! Bonchon chicken is addicting. Soy garlic and spicy hot, which actually packs a good amount of heat. I can't choose one favor over the other, so we usually get mixed XL combo. I would be perfectly content with their chicken wings but they also got other amazing stuff on their menu. Okonomiyaki, the huge japanese pancake. Kim-chi bacon fried rice. Also their soju is pretty good and I don't usually drink soju. At dinner time, this place gets packed. Parking could also be tough, but the wait is worth it.
(5)Adrianna C.
Love this place and the menu! The wings are to die for. Only reason I'm knocking a star, is because the service. took forever for someone to come take our order...
(4)Alena G.
WARNING: This place sprinkles their fried chicken with cocaine, so you keep coming back for more.* BonChon is a bit pricey for the amount of food you're getting - especially when it comes to appetizers - but the quality of it surpasses your wildest dreams. Fried pork belly? Yum. Bacon-wrapped quail eggs, scallops, and enoki mushrooms? Sign me up. Fried calamari? Let me dip it in this delicious ponzu and ask for a second helping. Fried chicken? YES, PLEASE!!! You have not had delicious fried chicken until you've had garlic and soy suave drumsticks from BonChon. End of story. *This warning is not factual.
(5)Maya I.
I've been here twice. Once for sushi, which was alright but nothing too outstanding, a bit too pricey. The reason for this bad review is for the chicken. My bf and I came for early dinner on a Thursday. We got the chicken because we've heard so many people rave about it. I know this is probably just a freak occurrence, but I had the chicken (half and half sauce) and as I was eating it, I slowly started to get this pain in my stomach. I felt worse and worse and got quite nauseous. The walk home was terrible and as soon as I got home I spent a good 15 minutes heaving over a toilet. I'm sure my experience was random, but either way, I was not impressed with the chicken. There was barely any meat on it and it was quite dry. I won't be coming here again.
(1)Jessica Y.
Fried chicken fried in "healthier" oils. I have to say I like them better than KFC. The soy garlic sauce is my favorite and will get you licking it off your fingers in the end. The chicken drumsticks so far have always been tender and the skin crispy. I also love the crispy salmon salad. The salmon and avocado are never lacking, but generous. The tobiko and spicy mayo definitely give it a good kick. However, this item is only available in the Allston location. Make this at the Cambridge location, too! Your customers will love you! Getting the food to go will be a good option for those who don't like looking for parking in the area or waiting for a table during dinner hours. They still taste fresh even 30 min later =)
(5)Annabelle L.
Yum! Came here at 10:30 at night with the bf. We ordered a combo of fried chicken, half soy garlic and half spicy. Service was quick and the place was packed. The chicken was amazinggg, just as delicious as I remembered it. Hot and crispy on the outside, so soft and tender on the inside. The pickled daikon is one of my favorite things and it's so refreshing with the chicken. Can't wait to come back here next time.
(4)Daniel M.
Two steps above Kentucky Fried Chicken but with a special Korean twist that doesn't leave you feeling like a bloated load of worthlessness. It's spicy, sweet, lightly fried with what seem to be fresh ingredients. A friend and I sampled a wing plate and also shared a spicy noodle dish that featured chewy bites of octopus accompanied by various garden vegetables. I found both to be quite enjoyable and very tasty. Every order comes with pickled turnips and Korean style coleslaw, both interesting but not the most enjoyable part to the meal. They also have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages but we didn't indulge on that particular evening, maybe some other time because I will definitely go back. I recommend this place for a fun night out with friends or even if you're looking to have a low-key casual date night. If you don't expect much, Bon Chon will be a very pleasant surprise but if you're expecting fine dining, prepare to be a little let down. Clean and comfy atmosphere, good eats and friendly staff, I highly recommend Bon Chon for people looking to have a causal yet unique dining experience.
(4)Greg j.
Im not crazy about this place but i would recommend you to try this place at least once. Definitely a unique take on fried chicken. The ordering process can be confusing because its not something I'm use too. I had soy garlic chicken which was good but ended up not getting any sides because I was confused about the sides ( I'm not really smart) I was in a hurry and just stopped in here for some take out and it took them like a half hour to prepaid just the chicken and the place was empty I'd give this place another shot but not in a hurry to do so
(3)Nicholas S.
I'm so sad that I didn't go here more often! I really enjoyed Bon Chon and I look forward to it re-appearing in Harvard Square.
(4)Caleb R.
Having lived in Korea, one of the things I miss is KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). Bon Chon is the best I have had in the US. Not as good back in Seoul but hey, when I can't fly 19 hours to get my fix (trust me, once you have tried it you will be chasing the dragon for the rest of your life) this place definitely scratches my itch. They have soju, which goes well with the copious amounts of beer you need to consume while eating your KFC. Definitely worth the wait as some yelpers have said the place is a little slow, but on a Friday or Saturday night what do you expect in a packed restaurant? Very tasty and very good - the spicy KFC is my favorite.
(5)Erik A.
WINGS! The sushi was okay, but not great, so stick to the wings, they are big, too, so two people can def handle the 20-something, but its a lot to chew! Lately they have not had any alcohol between running out and getting a new liquor license, otherwise, they have the best korean wings i've had!
(3)Michael S.
Used to be good but got take out again and this time the chicken was fried x times, tasted old and greasy, not going there again!
(1)Anna I.
There has been a big void for Bon Chon lovers since the Allston lounge, Privus, closed its doors over a year ago. However, thanks to some former Privus employees Bon Chon is back and it has moved a block away into the former Toki Shabu Shabu space [123 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134(617) 254-8888 www.bonchon.com]. Since earlier this year, the new and improved Bon Chon has been flourishing (their menu selection surpasses its New York City sibling, with even more selections slated to come!) Their extensive menu offers a variety of Japanese and Korean favorites as well as a selection of Asian inspired cocktails, beers, and wines. The place is always hopping and the atmosphere hasn't changed much from its predecessor - maintaining the dark and white modern, upscale décor. Also, there is a bar area by the entrance and televisions are everywhere with pulsating music coming out of speakers, so the noise level can be a little loud. Bon Chon hails from Busan, South Korea and was started in 2002. In 2007, the first stateside location opened up in New Jersey and within three years, another 18 locations have sprouted up with one in Boston. What is Bon Chon you ask? Well, to fans (like myself) it is skinless chicken (strips/wings/drumsticks) ($9.95 up to $33.95) breaded and twice fried to crispy perfection - glazed with either a spicy or soy garlic sauce. Beware though: the spicy style packs a subtle kick that can be overwhelming for some after a wing or two! Think of Bon Chon as similar to the American-staple Buffalo wings, but with a distinctive crispy coating (spicy style) and boy is Korea's answer to the all-American favorite fried chicken delicious and addictive! Bon Chon drumsticks tend to be bigger and a little on the dry-side compared to the juicer wings and even though it is twice fried, there is not a trace of the expected greasiness. Another pleasant surprise is that the chicken holds its crispiness for a long time! Hours or even three days later when reheated, the crunch is retained! Amazing! Four sizes are available with the option for combo (both flavors) with the exception of small. On a hot summer day, a plate of Bon Chon and a cold beer go well together! Two sides - a lovely slaw superior to its counterpart coleslaw as well as pickled daikon (white radish) cubes are served to soothe diners' tongues from the spiciness. For convenience, a pail is given to collect the chicken bones. For starters, we got the Seafood Scallion Pancake ($12.95), a lovely pancake studded with scallions, shrimp and squid served with an accompanying soy dipping sauce-delicious! Nice and crispy on the outside, but the food had the right amount of chewiness. Next came our maki rolls-Spider Maki (Soft shell crab) $8.95, Caterpillar Maki (Unagi and avocado) $7.95 and regular Tekka Maki (Tuna). The rolls hit the spot while they were quickly devoured and enjoyed by our group. The ingredients were fresh and the rice did not easily fall apart. Bon chon is slowly gaining a cult following! Ever since my first bite of Bon Chon in Annandale a few years ago, Bon Chon has become a fave of mine! The chicken and food comes out pretty quickly. The service here can be a bit slow because it is busy. Our server was pleasant, but she did forget our drink order. Next time you want fried chicken, go check out what all the fuss is about, but be forewarned of the busy lines at night!
(4)Wen L.
I LOVED this place, it's been around my area for a while now, but am just now getting around to trying it for the first time! And I have been back about five times since! I love their food, delicious! My first time there I ordered the Okdal Bibimbob! I kind of went on a whim and ordered it... never heard or seen what the dish looked like, but from the menu seemed to be good. Once the dishes were brought out, the waitress asked if I ever had it before- the plate was sizzling and it looked a bit complicated and to be honest, I didn't know where to start! So she kindly helped me out, explained how one would begin to eat, which is mixing all the ingredients in with the egg that is cracked on top of the meat and rice. The plate was very hot and sizzling, so I am glad she was of help then. My sister ordered house chicken- DELICIOUS! My mother ordered House Chicken w Spicy Pork, I believe.... extremely good. Overall, everytime I have gone, the staff is freindly, the food is delicious and I have a great time, every time! This has definitely become one of my favorite spots! :)
(5)Jocy V.
Fried chicken doesn't get better than this in boston. the crispy tender wings and legs make you come back for more. definitely get the half and half. I personally prefer the spicy but its a good a mix. Always reliably yummy! Hits the spot every time!
(4)Busy L.
I'd give it 4 stars for the wings and 2 stars for the Korean food... Heard alot of hype about this place and decided to give it a try. You'd think having chicken wings would be relatively inexpensive but cost $80 for dinner for 4 without any drinks... The wings were decent. Best way to describe it is almost like a General Gao's sauce lightly spreaded over the wings which has a very thin coating of flour/corn starch. Beware of the hot wings as they were HOT and can overwhelm if you're not use to it. I'd suggest a small order of hot if you want to try and not commit to a full order. Korean food was fair at best. Great Korean at the restaurant half a block away.
(3)Lana s.
If you love chicken and have never been to Bon chon stop reading this and go. Now. The chicken is the juiciest, crispiest most flavorful I've ever had. I always get the drumsticks in half spicy, half soy garlic. It comes with little side dishes too. Weekend nights can get really busy so I recommend going during the week or even for lunch if you don't want to wait an hour plus.
(5)Danielle G.
Sitting here with my belly full of fried chicken has never felt more glutinous, yet amazingly satisfying at the same time. Just got back from my first experience at Bon Chon and am still marveling over the deliciousness. If you're looking for chicken wings the size of small baby dinosaur feet that are cooked to crispy perfection that would even put Colonel Sanders to shame, come to Bon Chon. The moment I took a bite out of my first drumstick, it was a though a choir of angels was singing halleluiah. The meat was fresh and juicy, swaddled perfectly by a deep fried coating of soy garlic. Service was great: our waitress was friendly, and the timing of our meal wasn't rushed even though the restaurant was slammed (on a Sunday night!). Would I eat here again? ABSOLUTELY!
(5)Alejandro G.
Great atmosphere and great food. Is definatelty recomend the soy garlic wings
(4)Ellen L.
I would give them 5 stars if I've ever had Korean fried chicken, but I just don't have anything to base this off of. This $#!+ is delicious! If u get an xl, you can get half and half of both flavors. Def the way to go if you have 3+ people in your party. I would eat here till it comes out of my ears. And then some. Unfortunately, I don't live very close. Instead I will have to settle for making regular excursions...
(4)Lena K.
Bon Chon chicken is BOMB. It is honestly one of my favorite things to eat IN LIFE. That is a strong statement, I know, but it's just that good. I always get the spicy flavor because I am a spicy kind of girl. Both the coleslaw and the radish that come with each order of chicken compliment the spicy so well. I also tend to steer clear of wings and just order the drumsticks because I like to rip into big pieces of flesh and the wings just don't cut it. I've never had a problem with the service, nor have I ever had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table. Sometimes, just sometimes, I have to wave my arms to flag down my waiter/waitress but that's usually only when the place is packed. I am also a big fan of their bathroom. It's super pristine and always smells nice, which is a big plus. Also, I've tried a few of their other dishes and they are actually pretty good. The reason why I don't give this place five stars is because the pricing for lunch and dinner are so different. The lunch deal is amazing. You can get 4 drumsticks and two sides for just $6.95 (their french fries are super crispy like their chicken!), whereas for dinner, it's more expensive. I always feel like I'm paying way more than I should when I go during dinner time because I know I can shell out way less if I just come 4 hours earlier. Other than that, Bon Chon is yum yum yum!
(4)Lt H.
The best wings i have every got my hands on! I can finish an XL portions myself and there about 50-60 wings on it! so crispy and just enough spice and not sloppy eating it either! The spicy octopus stir fry is really tasty too and to accompany all this spice is a nice pitcher of Sapporo on tap! Beef Tongue was good too. I can't rave enough about this place! I will try everything on this menu and won't get sick of it either
(5)Narin N.
If I didn't know any better and was KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) noob, then I'd prolly give it 4stars. Overall experience here was good. we had a group of about 14 and ordered a couple XL combo plates, we all ordered our own dishses and beer/soju as well. The wait wasn't long at all. Service was very pleasant and attentive. I also got the dolsot bibimbap seafood, which was good, you can't really mess it up! The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because the chicken itself wasn't as hot as it should be and wasn't as good as Mad for Chicken in NYC or other KFC joints in NYC. Bottom Line: Go here for KFC cause there's no where else in Boston! Werd up.
(3)Joe V.
Let me start this review off by saying that their chicken wings are to die for! These things are cooked korean-style, which means that they're fried until the skin is very crispy and there is very little fat at all! There is this soy sauce flavor and a spicy flavor(which is tolerable, but not for the weak palette!). I would stretch long distances to eat these wings!! Service inside the restaurant was great. Waiter came by often, and made sure to check up on us routinely. Ordering wings was easy. The wings took a while to come out but that is the deal with korean-style fried chicken and is necessary/unavoidable. The reason for the 2-star rating is that last time I went, I went with a group of 8 and we waited 2 hours! I understand Bon Chon is a busy place but making your customers wait 2 hours is inexcusable! The usher told us he would split us into two groups if that was deemed faster by him at any point, but that did not happen no matter how many times we spoke with him expressing our disappointment. About 10 parties of 4 - 5 were seated before us and we were second in line when we were waiting to another smaller party. I have been here often and this usually is not the problem but even if once.... it is inexcusable.
(2)Tom G.
I had pretty high hopes for this place. The chicken is good: cripsy, mostly moist, solid flavors in both the spicy and garlic. But Roggie's and Harry's have "good" wings, too, at about 20% of the price on happy hour. The point I'm getting at is that the wings, while nice, aren't really that different from a place that does a solid buffalo wing - especially the spicy variety. They are pretty crunchy, which is nice, but if you ask any wing joint for well done wings you'll get crunchy chicken there, too - again for a lot less than $30 for 20(!) wings. The beer selection stinks. The sushi looked passable but I didn't try it. I probably won't go again but it wasnt bad for a one time visit. If you are seeking crunchy, albeit extremely expensive, chicken wings, check it out.
(3)Sun Jin P.
Went with my girlfriend and two of her friends. I usually don't like the dark and noisy bar environments cuz those are the kind of places where you need the alcohols to get noisy right along with the others. I'm too gentle for that. and I found the music and the noise level just appropriate for a gentle guy like me to converse with three beautiful ladies. of course, my baby was the most beautiful of them all. as for the food selections. i was pleasantly surprised to find the menu full of my favorites. The main attraction is the Bon Chon Chicken, but there were so many of my other favorites. We ordered butter corn( enough to feed three people for appetizer ) Dduk Kochi( don't get pervy thoughts, it means wooden sticks- oops, another dirty thought? . am i the only one that is making these connections? hahahha. i tell you the truth, i am not a byunt. i am actually a pastor....hahahhahahah ) It's ddukbokee on a stick. and we orderd the Xlarge half soy half spicy chicken. i personally like the spicy one better. neways. next time we go, i will not wear my Gordon Conwell sweatshirt( imagine how surprised I was when our waiter said, are you from Gordon Conwell? seeing that we were in a bar....) I will also want to try the Al-tang. looked good, but we were there for chicken that night. And finally, I will tip Eddie more. He's so cute.
(4)Skimmilk K.
My review is for the take out Bon Chon chicken. I was told that the wait for chicken would be 45minutes. This would have been find except for the fact that it actually took about an hour (and I'm sure it would have taken longer if I hadn't bugged the host). When I arrived home (only 3minutes away), the chicken was already cold. Also, they forgot to pack the radish which I find is one of the best parts of the chicken combination! Also, the chicken itself was not fried very well. The crust is not the lightly fried crust I remember from Privus. And, there was a serious lack of sauce on the chicken so there was little flavor on the chicken. Overall, I was disappointed. I plan to retry this place in another month (this time, I will try eat in service but I am hoping that the service and cooking speeds up by then!)
(2)Levancho M.
Finally Bon Chon reopened in BOS. sushi, appetizers n' tapas from kitchen are OK. But Bon Chon Chicken is as it should be - Great. The in house service is slow, but delivery is rather quick.
(4)Daigo F.
Love it. You gotta try this chicken. Both the Spicy and Soy Garlic are amazing. I'd like spicy with draft sapporo and/or little soju... Sushi is even very good. I'd also recommend Al Tang Korean seafood hot pot. This place is packed at night and even the take out order takes a long time, I'd call plenty ahead of time. Worth the wait, I may add.
(5)Loan V.
I really like Bon Chon. The food is really tasty and honestly their chicken is to die for. Whenever I'm here I usually get the fried chicken (spicy or soy garlic both tastes great but the spicy can be a little overwhelming if you eat too much of it), mussel in butter and garlic, and one or two other dishes. So far everything that I've eaten here has taste good if not great. The only reason that I didn't give the place 5 stars is that the place is usually always pack and therefor there is always a long line. Also the place doesn't take reservation so it's first come first serve. Unless you are going to be eating the fried chicken right away you when you order take out, you'll be missing out on how good the chicken really is. Since that's when the chicken is still warm and crispy.
(4)Peter W.
We had to see what the big deal was with the Bon Chon, Korean Fried Chicken. We ordered the extra large mix of wings and drumsticks with soy and garlic sauce. They were good, but may not live up to the hype. What we did like, was the pork belly, beef tongue, and kushiyaki quail egg with bacon. The fried rice was different...a bit spicy. The udon was good as well. Service was ok. They were busy with a waiting line from 6 to 8 on a Sunday night.
(4)Iv L.
Definitely a fan of this place. As the name of the restaurant imply, you MUST order their Bon Chon Chicken, it is basically a really good version of fried chicken (do NOT think KFC, that will not do it justice..) They have good sushi too, I recommend their Spicy Avalanche Maki. Other than the bon chon chicken, everything else on the menu is typical of a Korean/Japanese restaurant.
(4)Laurinda U.
The long and short of it is that the bonchon - fried chicken is good but the service is supremely slow. First for a party of four we got the extra large combo (~$33), half spicy and half soy garlic. Fair warning, Spicy is very Spicy! BUt the skin is so crisp! We even had a few leftovers to split. Bonus is that the chicken tastes just as good on reheating the next day! We also got the seafood fried rice ($10) which is good and comes out in a large platter. When you order the rice remember to be clear and ask for bowls and spoons because they won't bring it out automatically and you'll have to wait interminably and then just dive in anyways. However, as I stated, the service is slow. We got there at 6:30ish on a Saturday night. Big mistake. We had to wait for such a long time to be seated! Second, they have a large booth that can fit two parties of 4. A part of 8 ahead of us never showed and the hostess (I suppose being nice to the missing party) called for them four times in a span of a half hour! I think that's especially unnecessary especially if there is such a long wait. Finally, the chicken took about an hour after the seafood rice to get to our table. We were finally able to leave at 9:10PM The food is good but I would either recommend getting the take out at 4PM or going at 4PM. This place definitely lost a star for its slow service. I'd actually give 1 star for service at 4 stars for food.
(3)Henry C.
I LOVE FRIED CHICKEN!!!! Where's my orange soda and watermelon?!?! Seriously though, I love this chicken. One of the best tasting fried chicken you can get in Boston. A bit on the pricey side, but absolutely worth it. I generally have eating take out because it's hella popular and there's no seating. The service staff is super friendly, and good people. About time this place returned to Boston~ was driving up to NY to have kyochon/ BonChon... which leads me to think, where's my bloody Boston Kyochon!!!
(5)Ladyjane S.
Yum yum yummy greasy double fried goodness! Yes, this place is a tad overpriced, but the quality is there. I liked both versions of the chicken. The spicy gives a nice kick but just barely. We plan on asking for extra spice next time. A word to the wise...they seem to cook them all the same regardless of size, so while the bigger pieces are crispy and juicy, the smaller ones are even more crispy and a bit dry. Didn't really bother me so much because it still tasted amazing. The coleslaw they have is the BEST. COLESLAW. EVER!! Just had to put that out there. I've only had take-out here so I'm anxiously awaiting my first in house experience. Though if you do consider take-out, we brought these back to Medford and they travelled extremely well.
(4)Krystal L.
So good! The best bon chon I have had yet. The waiter was great!
(5)Mabel N.
Yay!!!! Bon Chon is back! There are plenty of Japanese and korean dishes for you to add some variety. This is not the best place if you would like to chat and have conversations with your friends. They were jamming hip-pop around 8pm. The only reason why i don't give it a 5 stars is their sushi is only alright but the chicken was AWESOME!!!!!!!
(4)Mary G.
Baaaaa! Said the sheep. Like the bulk of other reviewers, I agree that this place is a solid four stars. A friend and I went to check it out, having heard good things. We were promptly seated, and served our water and drink. After some ruminating on the menu, we got a medium 50/50 plate (half soy ginger, half hot and spicy), takoyaki, idaho maki, and an onion ring maki. The food was served promptly enough, all quite fresh, with some nice bon chon side dishes of coleslaw and pickled daikon cubes. The cole slaw was awesome (and the daikon was pretty nice, too), and when we requested more the waitress went and fetched it immediately. The chicken was hot, super crispy, and pretty warming (but not overwhelming), the coleslaw helped cool down my tongue when it needed it. Many of the drumsticks were quite well sized, some cute n' tiny, the wings were about average. I found the takoyaki quite good, fresh cooked outside and creamy inside with some nice kewpie mayonnaise and shaved bonito accessorizing it. The hand rolls were nice, though nothing spectacular but reasonably priced and spectacularly cooked as far as texture went. Will happily be back :)
(4)Zi Y.
Little bit of American style , but foods are still tasty and economic. Definitely try the wings even though I think it is just all right. Rice cakes and sushi are good",!!!!!
(3)Hector L.
Once I leave Boston, this will be the #1 place that I'll miss because of the chicken wings. Why 4 stars do you ask then? A couple times during take-out, the wings weren't crispy and hot (after only a three minute walk home). That, and they are inexorable in their no reservation policy. I wanted to have my going away dinner here with about 20 guests. I even offered to leave a sizable deposit to ensure we would show up. With 20 guests (all over 21) showing up, they were guaranteed to get several hundred dollars. Not sure about that decision. Highlights: 1) Chicken wings are the best I've ever had in my entire life. I never liked wings and then I tried this place. I have since converted 8 people who said they didn't like chicken wings either. The wings are just perfectly crispy and the correct ratio of skin to meat. The flavor is just superb as well. If you eat the wings at the restaurant, they are always fantastically fresh and crispy. 2) Ambiance is modern and definitely date-worthy. 3) It is insanely busy, and does not take reservations. Expect a wait for literally every night during dinner time, even on Mondays and Tuesdays. Although, on those days, it will be around a 10 minute wait. Depending on your party, waits on Fridays and Saturdays can be upwards of an hour. 4) Try the summer roll if you want some sushi to accompany your wings. It has pineapple in it and is very refreshing and tasty! 5) GO FOR LUNCH. You can get a great deal on wings and sides for such an affordable price compared to the regular dinner prices. 6) Seaweed salad is light and delicious with plenty of seaweed. 7) They close pretty early (11 I think). It seems like they could get a large amount of revenue if they turned that place into a nice bar that offered the wings as bar fare, but perhaps they're trying to keep their image more... 8) Large LCD TVs playing some local sports is pretty nice. Overall, a must-try if only for the chicken wings. I think it's a great date place and you can dress-up a little bit if you want too.
(4)Ian H.
Too expensive. Otherwise, great. Wonderful fried chicken. Gets very very crowded and they don't do reservations so it's not a bad idea to call ahead and maybe get carryout especially if you're just there for the chicken (and why else would you be there?) I have no idea about the other items on the menu besides the Bon Chon Chicken and will probably never order them, but the sushi *looks* good, and my friend ordered Bibimbap once and it was supposedly good as well. I recommend getting a mix of spicy and sweet fried chicken. The spicy chicken is superior, but the heat will eventually build up in your mouth and you will need a break from it, which is where the sweet comes in. Go with a group of people and order one of the large party plates or whatever they call them. Also drink beer. I wil return here whenever I can afford it, which is unfortunately not nearly often enough. Also: if you're the kind of person who doesn't normally like chicken legs, go ahead and order them anyway because you will probably like them here. (I usually don't like chicken legs because they're generally sinew on one side and slimy with excess fat and undercooked skin on the other side, but at bonchon this has never been an issue.)
(4)Stephanie F.
Bon Chon chicken is always awesome. I've experienced this business twice so far. The first time I ordered take-out on a Sunday night and I called an hour ahead to order. Definitely recommend doing that since it takes about an hour to prep (double frying chicken at lower than usual oil temperatures) The second time I went here was with a group of friends, and we dined in. It was a 45 minute wait, which wasn't that annoying because I wasn't too hungry, but I was concerned that we would be waiting an hour on top of our 45-minute wait time to eat. I was wrong! Turns out they were churning out the fried chicken on their busy Saturday night (we got the chicken 20 minutes after ordering). We also got fries with our chicken which they said they only served during lunch. Their cole slaw is also very tasty (and I don't usually consume that weird stuff). Overall, pleasant experience despite the wait. I think part of it was due to the inconvenient expectations I had coming into the place.
(4)Julie T.
Can't lie, I'm all about their chicken. If I could eat Bon Chon every single day and not have to worry about obesity, I would! I'm honestly not even a huge fried chicken fan but Bon Chon chicken's thin and crispy skin makes it so freaking delicious. I've daydreamed about eating Bon Chon chicken, it's THAT good. Haha, that actually probably says more about me than Bon Chon but whatever. I've also had their sushi which was also really good. Only reason why I knocked it a star is because this place pisses me off on how crowded it can get which leads to slow as molasses service sometimes. Oh well!
(4)Sandra C.
I love the bonchon here...just make sure you order it right when you walk in. My table ordered bonchon chicken....and we legit saw a couple walk in, order, eat their meal, and leave before we even got our meal! It was ridiculous. But despite that....I would sadly still come here for the bonchon.
(3)Jen C.
I came in with a group of five on a Thursday night at 5:30. Due to the other reviews, I was a bit apprehensive about how long we would have to wait. To my surprise, we didn't have to wait at all. If you come in at 6pm, the wait was probably about 10 mins. Our server suggested we order the BonChon chicken first which was a good idea. It came out last after all our other dishes. We had a seafood pancake, sushi and a seafood rice-cake dish. Everything was good but, the star of the night was definitely the chicken. Hands down, the best chicken I have EVER had! We ordered a 30-piece for take-out and that took VERY long (probably close to 45-60 mins). I would recommend ordering any take-out once you get your food bc once it's busy - the wait is long... I would have left 4 stars only (due to the wait time of the take-out) but, the server, who was very attentive, quick and nice brought us yogurt soju and apologized for the wait. It was a very nice gesture and made me feel like a valued customer. I will definitely be back for more!!
(5)Jazmine S.
My 3rd time at Bon Chon - everything is always consistent. I tend to order the same things. It's all about the chicken, I'd always get soy garlic chicken and I love the radish and coleslaw that comes with it. The chicken wings have great texture and crunch when you first bite into it. I'd also get the Crispy Philly maki roll and lychee soju. I love the lychee soju (love, love soju!) Anyway, back to the chicken, it is tender and juicy. It is good to know that they offer lunch prices but only Monday-Friday from 11 am to 3 pm. My friend and I got here on a Friday at 3:04 pm and I was so disappointed when they said that they don't offer lunch during that time. We enjoyed our food, anyway. Can't wait to be back.
(5)Lnc T.
This place has really good chicken wings, but I must say its not worth the wait/ horrible service they have. Ok maybeeee it is! One time, I made my order at 5:00pm, (considering we all know they take about 40+ minutes to get a order ready) I stopped by the place at about 5:40ish to pick up the order--- The waiter said "I'm sorry, it will be another 15 minutes". So my boyfriend and I decided to walk around the area and came back around 6:00ish, just so the waiter can spend another 5 minutes looking for my order in his computer, then telling me he didnt put the order in, long story short; it took 1hr and 15 mins for take out wings. The environment is pretty chill, its not too fancy. The place isn't too big and don't be surprised if you have to wait a few minutes for a table; the place can really get crowded!
(4)Ricky S.
Cant beat the fried chicken served here! Both flavors (Garlic and Spicy) are definitely out of this world and will keep you eating until you clog your artery and put your heart in danger for the night. I come here at least once a month and i must say that for those of you who cant tolerate spice food, don't bother ordering the spicy one since the name speaks the truth - it is spicy! One downside is that chicken can take a while before it comes out, but it's well worth the wait! All in all, the chicken is so crispy and good that it should be illegal! Some wings coupled with the side dishes (Radish and cole slaw) will guarantee you a great meal period
(5)David C.
Its unfortunate that I have to write this because prior to this incident I loved Bon Chon. But this is too questionable for me not to let the public know. We had ordered the medium plate of spicy wings (20 pcs) but the server mistakenly gave us a large plate instead (30 pcs i think). We were gawking a bit at the amount of food but assumed that they counted the mid section and the drummette of the wing as one piece. We had devoured maybe 6 or 7 pieces before the waitress came by and apologetically informs us that they made a mistake and gave us the large plate by accident. So she takes the plate back and returns with a smaller plate of about 14 pieces. My question is: WHAT DID THEY DO WITH THE OTHER 10 PIECES OF CHICKEN??? DID THEY RE-SERVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE??? How often have they done this? Does this mean they also re-serve all leftover food, not just the chicken? Its possible that we may be jumping to conclusions. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say they threw out that chicken. What purpose did that serve? If they apologize for the mistake but let us keep the plate then we would just be happy customers and acknowledge Bon Chon as a restaurant with really nice people. But taking back the plate would make me think of them as people who'd rather waste food then have a customer benefit from their mistake. Unfortunately I don't think we jumped to conclusions. I think they do serve contaminated chicken. And I will be letting my friends know about this whenever they suggest eating here.
(1)Dan W.
The fried chicken here is the best. If this place was closer to my house I'd eat there every week.
(4)Adam M.
Had Colonel Sanders known about this crispy, spicy, delight, he would have named KFC after Korean Fried Chicken! Who would have known the Koreans could make such delicious fried chicken!?! While definitely spicy, the unique crispiness of this chicken make it a must try in the Allston / Brighton area. Beyond the chicken, Bon Chon doesn't disappoint. The fried rice is as good as you will find anywhere and the pork buns are juicy and well proportioned. Overall, you can't go wrong!
(4)Thaddeus M.
Another great place to eat in Allston. Bon Chon which is named after their specialty, the Bon Chon chicken is absolutely amazing. The restaurant itself has a somewhat modern, mixed with asian inspired look. Most people complain about the wait, but lets be honest can you really blame the owners. Blame them for getting too small of restaurant because it becomes packed every weekend because the chicken is that legendary. Whether, you get Soy garlic, or spicy flavored both are mouth watering and like another review said, the cole slaw is randomly good. I always go in for the chicken but I have tried a few of the different sushi platters and those did not disappoint either. The sushi I had was pretty high up there on the list of Boston Sushi. Though Boston could use a few more. Bon Chicken has the best Chicken hands down!
(5)Beth M.
Love it!! The menu is exactly the same as the old Privus, minus the amazing cocktails. My friends and I did a girls night a few Friday's ago. We got there about 6:30 and have no trouble getting seated. We ordered 5 rolls..all amazing. We also started with the crispy salmon salad. Since there was no longer martini's we could order, we decided to try the strawberry Soju. OMG...is was amazing. 4 of us downed a bottle in about 10 minutes. A few more friend showed up so we ordered the blueberry oju...also very yummy. We decided to give the Bon Chon chicken a chance and ordered a medium order of both flavors. It came out pretty fast...15 minutes maybe? Didn't notice how long because we had ordered another bottle of strawberry soju. I tried the soy-ginger chicken and it was good. I didn't LOVE it, but i also don't love friend chicken. My friends all seemed to like it a lot. The spicy kind I guess was really spicy, but my friends said it was good. Can't wait to go back again! P.S. The prices are REALLY good. There were 5 of us, we had 3 bottles of soju, 5 maki rolls, 2 salad and a medium bon chon chicken. With grat included it was about $185. Not too bad!
(4)Cory N.
Bon Chon Chicken, how have I missed going here for my four years in Boston/Allston? I originally thought this place was strictly Korean food but after diving into the menu and finding SUSHI (total sushi girl), I had to give it a chance. Went on a Sunday night so we expected it to be busy and had to wait about 45 minutes which wasn't an issue. Tried the small portion of garlic chicken wings but could have eaten more (it was just me and a friend). Then we had two rolls: The Crispy Dragon Maki which was an explosion of flavor in my mouth with the shrimp tempura on the inside then the spicy ahi on top (DEVINE) and then we had a more basic roll the Big Boss Maki and had them replace the sweet chili sause with spicy mayo (GREAT DECISION). Needless to say, I am coming back for more sushi. Wings aren't really my thing (yet). Also, this place is great for large groups and for watching a game--tons of large TV's and they had the Celtics game on throughout dinner!
(4)Carrie T.
Bon Chon is the bomb. Specializing in Korean Fried Chicken, they also have a full menu of other dishes and even sushi! We went to dinner here, arriving about 10:30 on a Saturday night. The wait was about 20 minutes and when told the the kitchen would close at 11:00, we ordered as soon as we sat down. We had the nicest waitress ever and I wish I had gotten her name. She was super attentive and nice, refilling drinks and checking back with us often, even though the restaurant was crowded. We had excellent service here and yes, we left her a big tip. :-) We ordered drumsticks and wings, chicken fried rice, and some kushiyaki as starters. Kushiyaki is basically yakitori -- little morsels grilled on skewers. The bacon-wrapped quail egg was to die for. We also enjoyed the shitake mushrooms and chicken chunks. The chicken fried rice was flavorful and prepared Thai-style, but spiced with curry powder which gave it a nice subtle kick. The chicken was excellent. Didn't even take that long. It was gloriously crispy on the outside and piping hot inside. We did the soy/garlic. I discovered that I like wings better than drums because of my anti-commitment problems. Wings are small and easy to finish, but I'm reluctant to dig into "one more" drumstick because it's so big (we all know I can finish it!). They use wings and drumettes, both of which are delicious. The restaurant ambiance and decor are stylish and trendy. I really enjoyed my experience here and look forward to going back -- maybe during lunch because there are some bargains to be had. For now, I will have to visit Bon Chon in California!
(4)Paran Y.
Spicy wings. Need I say more? The answer is no.
(5)Anna L.
Since I'm a NY transplant, I was shocked to see a Bon chon in boston. I decided to order from there to give it a try and first of all, the wait for pickup is 45 minutes to an hour. I can't imagine how long people have to wait for sit down dinners. The rice cake skewers were mediocre at best. The texture is super chewy and it wasn't spicy enough (korean rice cake is supposed to be spicy!) I got the hot & spicy 30 piece combo. I had better wings. At Kyo Chon in Queens, NY, the spicy was really deliciously spicy and the flavor is bar none. However, the ones at bonchon tasted more like chili paste, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and garlic mix together... come on, anyone can do that. However, the chicken stayed crispy being in the fridge overnight. That was good. One thing for sure, i do miss ny's korean fried chicken...
(3)Binh D.
I recently stopped by bon chon to see what all the hype was about. I heard great things about their chicken wings and just had to try them. I ordered the garlic salt chicken wings. By the time they came, they looked very good and were presented cleanly, perfectly crispy fried chicken wings on a clean white plate. The wings had an amazing crunch and very nice texture. It was moist, tender, and juicy. The only problem I had with the wings were that they were FAR too salty for my tastes. I only got about 4 of them down and I was really hungry. It wasn't that the flavor was off, because it wasn't it was just WAY too salty. My brother's meal seemed to keep him content though. I can't remember what he had exactly but it was bite sized pieces of a few different raw fish over rice and lettuce with a hot mayonaise sauce that was nicely presented and tasted good. The service was a little slow as well considering there were only three other tables being served in the restaurant. Getting the server's attention was a struggle as well. Our server, although very friendly, appeared overwhelmingly frustrated for some reason. She even forgot to put in one of our dishes. She must of been having a rough day. Overall, I think that if I were ever going to come back here, I would have to order a different flavor wing.
(3)Michael B.
BEST KFC( Korean Fried Chicken) First time i had BonChon Chicken in 23 years of living in Boston. I have no idea why i have not gone here at all. I love the spicy chicken most since it gives a nice kick and i love that. The waitress is pretty awesome and very attentive the past 4 times i been going there. It also just so happens i get the same waitress 3/4 times but the other person was good too. I mainly come here for the wings and soju cocktails. It is a great place to eat and hangout with a group of people. They have TV's and tend to the people that like sports, such as I. I told my brother to try the chicken and he was hesitant, once he took a bite he loved it and went back the next day to get more. Another friend never had it before and trust the things i eat, she loved it too. 5/5!
(5)C E.
This review is for the soy garlic chicken wings. Crispy and flavorful. You'll scarf down your portion easily... and maybe some of your friends'. Other food on the menu is nice- 4 stars for the other menu items.
(5)Brian Y.
We did a half and half of the soy garlic and spicy wings and they were delicious. We are spicy wimps so next time we're only getting soy garlics! Wings are slightly more expensive than say Wings Over but are definitely worth it. We also got a bulgogi bibimbop which was good but nothing special. More wings for us next time!
(4)Sandra W.
I'm not a Bostonian. I went here with 3 of my other girl friends. One of the Bostonian friends recommended going here. The chicken wings were GREAT. I had the soy garlic one and the spicy one which I ended up switching with my other friend because I was a wus and couldn't handle the spiciness. The soy garlic one is REALLY good. I would definitely consider coming back here whenever I'm in Boston. We went for lunch and the lunch special offered 2 choices of sides plus the chicken wings (8 ct) for 6.95. I would say that it was a great price! Thank you, Bon Chon. Yum yum.
(4)Christine K.
So the last time I wrote about the lunch special with the maki. This time, I'm reviewing about the chicken. I went for lunch today and got the medium combo, soy garlic. The hot was always too spicy for me, even half and half was hard to stand. Anyway, yes, the chicken takes a long time. Factor a wait time of 30 minutes. Like I said before, order a roll in the meanwhile. I like their Pink Floyd, just one of many. The chicken was delicious! Even better than the chicken they had at Privus. The chicken was crisp, well flavored, albeit a bit salty, which is why you need a roll to accompany it. Again, LOVE the chicken. As for slow service, yes, it's a little slow because they're short on staff since they opened about a week ago, but I think that'll pick up. But if you've got time, the chicken is totally worth the wait.
(4)Marian M.
This place is pretty awesome. Inside is a very classy-casual place with a nice decor. The lunch specials (which end at 3pm) are definitely a lot cheaper than the regular menu, so I'd recommend doing lunch rather than dinner. Plus, it's often really packed during dinner as well. My party got the Okdul Bimbimbop, the Sashimi bento, and two orders of the combination lunch spicy chicken. It was definitely worth it. Four dishes for three people ended up to be $13/person. The Okdul Bimbimbop was realllllly good, better than 88. The rice was a bit burned at the bottom, but overall, it was delicious. The sashimi bento came with tuna, mackerel, snapper, salad, gyoza, rice, noodles, and miso soup. Very fresh fish. :) The spicy chicken was WAY spicy. We got fries and picked radish for the sides. I could only eat 3 pieces.. It was so spicy that my mouth was on fire for the rest of the meal and I almost wanted to tear up. Nonetheless, it was a good meal. I definitely want to try their other food, especially the regular fried chicken. Definitely worth it.
(4)Amanda G.
Get the drumsticks, not the strips!! Our waitress recommended the House Fried Rice with Kimchi Bacon if we wanted something non-chicken to have with our chicken, and it was a perfect supplement. Their kimchi isn't amazing, so I'll probably pass on that in the future. The chicken is amazing and the service is quick-- definitely try this place!
(4)Jeffrey C.
Went here for my birthday, got a tofu Bibimbap, which was quite good, and also had some of the boneless soy-ginger chicken which was great, super thin, and crispy! They didn't have any birthday things for me though :( Also, its pretty loud, and there is a lot a wait time if you go on a friday/saturday night.
(4)Thu T.
I understand why people wait for the seating... The wings are top notch especially the spicy wings. They are super crunchy and spicy in a whole new level. My table tried 3 other dishes and they were all delicious. Thumbs up for food but they should have more on staff to meet the demands.
(4)Al C.
Honestly, I don't understand the hype. I've gone to BonChon twice, and neither visit blew me away. SERVICE: We went on a weeknight each time and the place was still packed. The staff seemed to handle the crowd fine, but most of the time the servers rushed around and barely checked on you after the order was taken. Fine, I understand what it's like to work in a busy eatery, but at least keep the water flowing. FOOD: Of course, we got the chicken both times. First round was the wings and drumsticks, half hot and half soy garlic. The meat itself was okay, albeit slightly dry, but we couldn't really tell the difference between the two flavors. The only indication was that about 5mins later our lips were burning. I like spicy, but this wasn't flavorful spice and more like a mediocre slow-building heat. During the second visit we got a large plate of the strips instead, split again between the soy garlic and the hot flavors. Still couldn't tell the difference between the flavor profiles, and the meat was very dry (not surprising since it's breast meat off the bone). The one thing that blew me away was the slaw side dish that came with the large platters of chicken. What??? OVERALL: If this is REALLY the best Asian chicken joint in Boston, THEN WHY DID I ONLY REMEMBER THE SLAW??? Go if you must, but go for the wings, but there are definitely better, cheaper, and more authentic places around.
(2)Kim V.
this place gets only a 3 star...its not the Bon Chon from NYC...this place is Privus but with Bon Chon's name...it just seems like the owner franchise the name of it...comparing the two menu's (between Privus and Bon Chon), its practically the same...nothing has changed. And of course, can't go here and not order the bon chons...and i also got the okdal bibimbop...lets just say this was just ok...its kind of plain wish it had more flavoring to it..the portion was pretty big for lunch...as for the sushi it was good but a little over priced (we got the Makimono Combination)..i recommend this since it has crazy maki, spicy tuna maki, and ocean maki for 14.95. ehh, next time if i really (in desperate needs) want some bon chon allston is my back up..but otherwise i would def make a trip out to NYC for the real deal...sorry allston bon chon you disappointed in me
(3)Catherine C.
We went to the old Bonchon before and loved it. When Bon Chon returned, I was afraid of coming here because a lot of people have said it doesn't taste the same. To my surprise, it tasted just as good as before! First off, order the chicken as soon as you sit down. We prefer the wings over drumsticks. They really mean it when they say spicy! I love spicy food but for this, I have to alternate between eating spicy and non spicy. They allow you to mix the plate with both kinds :) The chicken takes its sweet time to come out but it's well worth the wait. The double fry method make the wings super crispy while packing lots of flavor on the inside. In addition to wings, we also got beef tongue, pork belly, seafood pancake, and bacon with quail egg. My favs are the beef tongue and pork belly. Both are prepared in a similar way and served with scallions and onions. I think if we ordered again, we would only get 1 to have more variety of flavors. The seafood pancake was not fried enough so a little bit too mushy on the edges. The bacon quail egg was okay but hey anything with bacon is pretty much a winner in my book :p The wings are definitely the star for the meal. This place packs up pretty quickly even for a weeknight so be prepared for a little bit of waiting.
(4)Cabernet S.
You better offer something exceptional to your clientele for making it through the hell of Allston parking. Unfortunately, Bon Chon does not deliver (figuratively, not sure about the literal part). The mirage of spicy fried fowl you see as you walk in flickers stronger than ever as you walk out. First off, the "spicy chicken" is a misnomer. The unfulfilling kick is akin to a dab of low quality hot sauce on overly greasy food service grade chicken that's indistinguishable from fast food offerings. The hot sauce on the side redeems the objectionable mess a little, but it would go just as well with KFC or Popeyes. Glasses of water that curiously smell like rotting eggs and some malodorous daikon add to the insult of being fed something so painfully ordinary packaged as something special. The sushi was decent, but nothing special. The Korean fare looked nice but given the failure of their flagship item, I'm sure there will be better fare somewhere else. I left the gridlock of Allston with a mirthful song on my lips, rejoicing as I left the mediocrity of Bon Chon behind.
(1)Amy I.
5 stars isn't accurate because this is really off the charts good. There is nothing like that pocket of air in between that wonderfully crispy skin and the meat. If you've never had it, you will find that statement utterly strange, but if you have, you should know what I am referring to. Although the last time I stepped in here, I found myself in the House of Chanel or something with all the designer bags on the shoulders of all the college age girls. That shows you this isn't just some divey, fried chicken joint in Allston, classy ladies come here too! And since you may be seated at one of those long tables from the Shabu place previously there, you can dine intimately with them while eavesdropping on their wonderfully dreadful conversations. I'm just warning you to be prepared that you may not have the privacy you would like, since you seriously will feel you are on a date with your neighbors (hopefully they're cute at least). Although I haven't had the sushi here, I would advise saving your calories to fill up on the chicken. Get sushi from a real sushi place. To the impatient: Go on a weekday and know that they don't take reservations, unless you like standing for half an hour playing with your Droid. It is, however, worth the wait (because really, if you are in want of Bonchon, nothing else could possibly satisfy you).
(5)Erika F.
Been here a for sushi and saw everyone ordering chicken wings, and heard good things from friends about the chicken. The sushi was pretty good, smaller than alot of restaurants, where you can't fit a piece in your mouth. The waitress was really nice when I ordered the wrong thing.. and didn't realize it.. Went back and ordered the chicken wings.. got the soy garlic since the waitress said the spicy ones were too hot. I wanted to try the spicy ones and she even brought me a piece to try! (I dont think she even charged me for it :) ). The spicy was good, hot.. but not killer. The chicken wings were perfectly cooked, nice and crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. But they weren't blow your mind good like I expected. Very good.. but didn't live up to the hype. It was mostly sweet and spicy for the hot, or sweet for the soy garlic, and didn't have that much flavor. ..maybe i'm missing something.. Oh and they have soju! yum!
(3)Jamie B.
I'll preface this by saying that I was devastated when Privus closed - best drinks in the Boston area, in my opinion. So, when I heard that Bon Chon was opening with practically the same food menu, I was psyched to give it a try! I got the spicy wings/drumsticks combo, and it was definitely yummy - my first impression was that it wasn't QUITE as good as Privus's, but I think that was because my time at Privus was my first experience with Korean fried chicken, and I was just super-impressed that there was this amazing food that existed that I had somehow never encountered before! I thought the spicy was just the right amount of spice - definitely had me going through more than a few glasses of water! I'd like to try the soy-garlic next time for comparison. I was sad that the cool, loungey environment of Privus didn't quite carry over, and neither did the totally amazing, fresh fruit-infused drink menu, but at least I'll have a place to go if I have a craving for some seriously tasty fried chicken. Note: Not a ton in the way of vegetarian options, so probably wouldn't suggest this for someone looking for a variety of meat-free options.
(3)Joe K.
The chicken here is great in moderation. Make sure to get a mix of mild and spicy to keep things interesting. The soju here is pretty good as well.
(4)Donald R.
Normally I have a great experience here. The food is great. However the service this time was inexcusable. First we were seated by a "host" who couldn't even muster a smile upon our arrival. We were seated and then promptly moved to accommodate a larger party. This wasn't an issue at all. However, that larger party was waited on almost immediately, while we waited about 10 more minutes before just getting up and leaving. With service like that I had no desire to give them my business. As we walked out, the "host" looked at us and did not even ask what was wrong or happened. And it wasn't like we just blended in, I was wearing a lime green shirt! Normally this is one of my favorite places to drive a half an hour out of my way to enjoy a nice dinner... not worth it to me anymore.
(1)Doris K.
Very good crispy fried chicken. Definitely love going for lunch specials and the bento boxes. We also usually order a lunch portion of fried chicken. The spiciness varies day to day so we're determined to make it apparent that we like it really spicy the next time we go. Service is sometimes a hit or miss and the chicken does take a little while to come out but it's well worth the wait! I have also been here for dinner and think that it's better for lunch. You get more bang for your buck.
(4)Ellie V.
I adore this place! I didn't fall in love at first sight with the chicken like others would say but after a few bites it really does taste good. You'll end up drunk off chicken at this place! The skin is so crispy and the insides are juicy. The spicy flavor is really addicting but it really is volcano hot so beware! The service is friendly. I'd recommend the Spicy Avalanche sushi its the best sushi I've ever tasted. Never regretted coming here even though the ride is far.
(5)Kim C.
Ever since Privus (used to be located nearby) closed down-- I've been wanting yummy bonchon chicken. I'm happy to know that this place has the same menu as Privus (with a few items added to the new menu). When we arrived, there was a lot of people waiting to be seated. This is considered a pretty packed place. No reservations accepted, so I guess we'll just have to wait it out. And here's the food lowdown! Their famous bonchon chicken -- yummy 10 wings SPICY style! Its crispy and flakey on the outside (not crunchy and batter-greasy-American-style). THe spicy level is just right! Not too spicy-- but just enough to get me reaching for something to wash down the spice with, but not enough to kill off my tastebuds. Had to eat their Okonomyaki--- LARGE portion. I think you can easily get 8 decent slices. Its topped with the tobiko -fish flakeys, shrimps , squids and their sauce. I'd say it was quite delicious. Sadly their sashimi salad disappointed me a little (just because there was so little =( .. 2 of each: salmon, tuna, yellowtail). Not quite enough --- I actually wanted a bed of fresh greens to go with the 'salad'. Ordered some sushi too !~ Can't remember which tuna one was ordered but Yogurt soju cocktail was ordered--- came in an olive oil container.. and OOO the shots were strong. I'm used to the light fruity, more fizzy soju cocktails. This went down a little too strong for me. Tasted a lot of the liquor and not quite enough fizz and sweetness of the yogurt drink. The atmosphere is such a chilled place to hang with a group of friends for some drinks and good food. Why not the full 5 stars? Just because I can only order 10 wings in one flavor!!! I wish I could order it half soygarlic and the other half being the spicy (the best of both!!!).
(4)Jill C.
Good wings and good food but the service was terrible. Waited 30 minutes to order food. Then after we were done and there was a line but we waited another 35 minutes for the bill and to leave. If the food wasn't good it'd be 1 star. The food is worth going back for, but probably takeout.
(2)Thien N.
This place doesn't take reservations and there is always a wait of 30 minutes or more! However, the wait is worth it! Nested in Allston, Bon Chon will change what KFC stands for. They're known for their Korean Fried Chicken (KFC)! The skin is extra crispy yet the meat is so tender and juicy! Their sushi is also good but make room for the chicken. An order of chicken comes with a side of their homemade coleslaw and radishes. Go try for yourself but expect a wait.
(4)Kalashree S.
Best wings I've had. Crunchy, flavorful, simply delicious. A combination of hot and soy garlic is good to take care of the spice since the heat builds up with every bite of the hot wings. But its oh so good!
(5)Princess T.
Bon Chon has a menu comprised of a lot of my favorite Japanese and Korean cuisines. Bon Chon has the best Korean Fried Chicken I've ever had and definitely the spiciest. Crispy with great flavor whether spicy or another flavor, the chicken is an amazing entree especially if you order the lunch special that comes with chicken and two sides (such as pickled radish, fries, rice, and coleslaw). I recommend this place if you're a fan of KFC. I've also had there the sashimi lunch special, a bento with assorted sashimi, yakisoba, white rice, salad, miso soup, and tempura, for $11. Other good menu items are the takoyaki appetizer and the okdul bibimbop.
(5)Kevin L.
Less cracktastic than the Bon Chon I'm familiar with in Annandale, Virginia. However... The staff here speak fluent English. Huge bonus when ordering via phone. It also seems to take roughly 1/2 to 1/3 the amount of time for them to have our order ready (vs. the hour or so wait that I'm used to, our chicken was prepared and boxed for us to pick up within twenty minutes). That does lead me to a certain heightened level of suspicion that they may just batch prep these fried suckers and have them sitting around, as opposed to making them fresh upon ordering. And the space (being inside some joint named Privus) is far more brightly lit and similarly far more smoke-free than the facility I'm used to. In an out in under five minutes with an order-and-a-half to take home, inclusive of three super generous portions of crunchy daikon, napkins, and chopsticks (really? What are those for?). No complaints here!
(4)Jamie P.
Loved it! The Bon Chon Chicken is worth the wait! Super crispy on the outside, piping hot and juicy on the inside. I could have skipped the other dishes that we had (pork buns and fried rice), but overall a great experience! The biggest downside is getting there and finding parking. Brighton Ave is crazy...we spent 30 minutes trying to find a parking space within walking distance. It made us question if taking the Green Line would have been faster. Next time...we will order take out and only get chicken! Definitely worth a try!
(4)Francisca M.
This place does not care for its customers, the food is ok but not worth waiting for or being put at the end of a waiting llist if a friend of the host shows up. I had this experience myself as well as a few other people I know who were told it would be a 30 minute wait yet saw parties arriving later be seated within minutes. When we finally decided to complain they asked if we could sit at the bar because all other tables were exclusive to party of 5+ people, really? Again food is ok- but save your time and eat somewhere else
(1)Haylee T.
I guess going anywhere in Allston on a Friday night could result in a two hour wait for seating plus an hour wait for food but at Bon Chon, I hear this happens very often. Bon Chon is a trendy new place for Korean fried chicken and the flavors come in all sorts of arrangements from soy garlic to spicy. Consumption of Bon Chon may cause you to order plate after plate of wings but beware, the wait for each plate is literally 45 minutes. Bon Chon also has a wide selection of sushi and other delicious Japanese foods and drinks! I suggest the okonomiyaki and a glass of plum wine while you wait out for them wings.
(4)Daniel N.
pro: 4.5 stars = i crave it! con: rice doesn't come free...boooo, minus half a star :( the CHICKEN is SO GOOD! and if you're like me, you WILL CRAVE it AGAIN. when you order chicken, they do let you split the order with half soy garlic and half spicy. but honestly, it would be most ideal if they gave 3/4 soy garlic, and 1/4 spicy, because i love the spicy, and the first few are fine, but after that my tongue feels like it's been dipped in spices, and then i can't eat the spicy anymore. but i LOVE THE FIRST FEW! other things to eat here would be the pa-jun (seafood scallion pancake...not to be confused with american breakfast pancakes. DO NOT ADD SYRUP TO THESE PANCAKES). it's tasty and has a good crisp to it. also, if you have 2, 3, or even 4 people, try getting the al-tang and sharing it. it's definitely big enough to share and good bang for your buck.
(4)Daphna R.
Gluten me once, shame on you... Gluten me twice, draft a review. Gluten gluten everywhere. :(
(2)Stephen E.
Probably the best chicken I've ever had. The soy garlic is an amazing flavor. The hot is pretty good but once you've had the soy garlic its game over. Sushi is pretty good have had sveral times, never amazed but its always fresh.
(5)youngmi a.
crispy, sweet, sticky, spicy, korean fried chicken... so good! i've been here a couple of times now and there's always a big crowd (they don't take reservations and i usually go on weekend nights) but it's well worth the wait. the chicken is addicting but what i really love is their dukkbokki. chewy rice sticks cooked in a spicy sauce... with cheese? don't let the cheese scare you! it also comes with these seaweed pouches stuffed with noodles drowning in the sauce next to the rice sticks. it sounds a little strange but i promise it's really tasty. try their takoyaki too! prices i feel are fair for the amount of food you get. all in all, awesome place to hang out with friends over some fried chicken and beer+soju.
(4)Kelsey A.
If you order one thing when you try Bon Chon: the soy garlic chicken wings are perfect gold. After you try it, all other chicken wings will pale in comparison. Be prepared to wait for it though. In turn, splurge on a sushi roll to munch on while you wait or order some miso soup. None of us care for the daikon cubes at all and it goes untouched after we previously gave it a few tries. However, the coleslaw is fantastic. I embarrassingly admit I have to consciously stop myself from eating the entire bowl... The large house saki is potent. If you're (of course) over 21, you have to give it a try. It's heated and just hits the spot. The atmosphere is fun. The decor is very modern while Korean pop music goes on in the background. I found the wait staff to be friendly and attentive to our needs/questions. Bon Chon tastes different while feeling familiar. Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Mike G.
can't decide? just get a combo of soy-garlic and spicy drums...soooo good with rice & cole slaw. happy i no longer have to schlepp to NYC for a fix.
(4)Gary G.
Super service, super busy, and a very distinctive menu. I liked it very much. The Garlic soy wings are sooooo good. Better prepared (crispy-crunchy on the outside, juicy inside) than any other place i have tried.They come with a spicy slaw and sweet radish. There is a hot option for the wings. Next time. Would love to try more of the salads and sushi and oysters and other things next time. Just got their alcohol license, and sapporo seemsed a safe bet. Will look at wines next time. On this thursday if arriving after 6:30, we'd have waited for a table. We will visit again very soon.
(4)Rebecca A.
Thoroughly enjoyed the chicken wings. Ordered it two days in a row! Also tried the pork buns which are pretty good as well. Don't think I'll ever try much else from there. Will probably always get the chicken wings. They come with Cole slaw (which ain't half bad) as well as some kind of pickled....something. Dunno what it is but I ate it and I'm still alive.
(4)Jackie S.
The soy garlic chicken wings were good. I was expecting more from it though from all the rave reviews. They were just pretty normal chicken wings to me! The crazy maki was tasty! And wow the prices were right, my friend and I got out of there for under $15 each. This place gets very busy though so be prepared to wait a bit for a table.
(4)Howe L.
The chicken has a lot of hype, but I was a little let down. Though the skin is incredibly crispy, the meat was too dry and the flavors come through.
(3)Karen W.
Good fried chicken strips. Great price for 10 pieces of hot and spicy Korean style fried chicken strips. Appetizer of spicy fried Korean rice cakes was not cooked well and not spicy. Hot green tea was good too. Overall a good value. Service was speedy and competent.
(3)Jill D.
Delicious fried chicken. I've made Korean fried chicken at home and I must admit this was much better than mine. While this is what they're known for, I HIGHLY recommend the crispy salmon salad. My favorite part of an all-around great meal.
(4)Harrison F.
Best Fried Chicken in the City. The crisp on the wings is unbeatable. Keep up the good work!
(5)Kimmy T.
Went here a week ago with my bff, seems like they changed owners, staffs and sushi chefs. The food didn't taste the same anymore.
(3)Jon P.
Five-star for spicy wings, takeout. I haven't eaten inside the restaurant or ordered anything else there. My preferred method of eating Bonchon--order takeout, 10 wings per person, spicy only, wings only. Wings gets you the highest ratio of spicy sauce per ounce of chicken. Do takeout so you can heat in your oven at home. Once home, I get ceramic plates out, and put one layer of wings on each plate, and throw them in the oven at about 300 degrees. I serve them one plate at a time, so every wing is crispy and hot at the first bite. Also serve with Japanese beer--it's great for cutting the spice. I've ordered three times in the past two months, and every time has been pretty consistent. Always spicy, crispy, and party favorites.
(5)Yao M.
I love the chicken here enuff sed :)
(5)cassandra L.
Came here due to all the hype in yelp. Try the soy garlic chicken wing/drumlet combo and spicy pork and kimchi. The soy garlic chicken wing tasted very good but after having two of the wings, it started to taste a bit too sweet. The drumlet is less flavorful. The daikon and coleslaw that came with it tasted great. The spicy pork and kimchi is good. Perhaps I will try the spicy wing next time.
(3)Laura T.
Went for lunch the other day -- ordered spicy wings/drum combo and was disappointed. The service was great, atmosphere was nice but the chicken was not as bon chon chicken should be. The coating was way too thick and the meat was not juicy. Bon chon chicken is supposed to be thin-crusted but this had a really thick crust like KFC. The bon chon chicken I had in NYC was much much better.
(2)Dave U.
Probably the best fried chicken in the area- crispy, lots of meat, and full of flavor. Awesome sushi here too. Nice atmosphere in the restaurant, although be prepared to wait for seating depending on the time. But it's worth it.
(5)Erika O.
I really enjoy the hot chicken wings here. If you don't like fried chicken, especially fried chicken that's been fried twice then you probably won't like this. Since it's fried twice there will be a lot of crunchiness and it will change the crispy coating to chicken ratio. I like it! I have come here with a group of 20 friends and also solo, no matter what the wings are great. I also love the Soju cocktails, yogurt is currently my favorite. Next time I go I may order the strips since I haven't tried those yet, but I have heard that those are a bit drier. It does have an interesting smell in the restaurant, I figure it's due to an ingredient they are cooking. There can be a really long wait weekend evenings and the chicken actually takes a considerable amount of time to make, so don't arrive there starving. You'll be cranky. If you can get there for lunch, I would actually recommend that because the lunch deal is pretty awesome. You can get the bonchon chicken and two sides for only $7. I tried the sushi when it used to be Privus (different location), but haven't tried it at the new location yet. I don't really feel compelled to try sushi at a place that is known for their Korean fried chicken. IDK, maybe it's just me. Honestly, I think the hype sometimes creates an underwhelming experience, no matter where you go. So before you go, know that you should: 1. Expect to wait...for your chicken and possibly for your table 2. Order a soju cocktail while you wait, loosen up, it's just chicken.
(4)Meltem D.
The food is great, especially the chicken. When you order there, it comes in hot and crispy and it's the most satisfying feeling to bite into a fried chicken wing. Unfortunately, I also tried to order delivery from there. Do NOT order delivery. When I placed my order, I was told that it would be about an hour, which is not ideal, but fine. After 1 hour, when I called, the person on the phone said that he had said 1.5 to 2 hrs when I placed my order. This is definitely not true. It sounded like they were trying to change their delivery window after the fact.. The food got there in a little over an hour. When it got here, it was cold. Not warm, but really cold. When I called to complain, after explaining the situation, I was handed to the manager. The gist of it was that I had agreed to take whatever I can get when I decided to order delivery from there and I shouldn't complain. In fact, since I lived so close, why didn't I order take-out? They had packed it hot, and they weren't going to do anything else about it. I could take it or leave it. They did offer to recollect the food but at that point I was so hungry that I decided to keep it. All in all, what I got from the phone conversation was that I should be lucky to get the food in an hour, that it wasn't their fault that it wasn't hot (we could have wrapped it better, but then it would be soggy - would you prefer soggy chicken? - Actual question from the manager on the phone) and that that was the best they could do. In the first place, the reason that I ordered delivery from there was the fact that they left a flier in my mailbox to advertise the fact that they indeed deliver. If you can't deliver satisfactorily and if it takes ~2 hours to actually deliver the food, why even advertise it? So, good food but terrible delivery and terrible customer service.
(1)Robert D.
Put this under the category of guilty pleasures. At my age, my cardiologist would have made me take a shower afterward to wash away the sin. But this was the best fried chicken evah! Simple, inexpensive lunch -- combo soy-garlic (4 wings, 2 drums), clean, refreshing white pickles, rice. I was surprised at the very classy interior (on Brighton Ave.). But this chicken would have been delicious anywhere. Flavor, textures, satisfaction. As a concession to health concerns, it only gets a 4. If you know you're getting hit by a bus tomorrow, it's a 5.
(4)Steph L.
I don't think fried chicken this good should be legal. I've gotten food from here and it's generally really good. But this review is for the chicken, glorious, fried chicken. I only get the soy garlic, because I can't handle the spicy version. The spicy version makes my mouth and lips feel like they are burning. That's not right, guys. But the chicken is good and they have worked out the timing kinks from when they first opened. It does tend to get really busy after 7 p.m. Thurs-Sun. So plan ahead and enjoy.
(4)Michele B.
My son's favorite food is fried chicken. The first time we went here it was for lunch and it was the best fried chicken he's ever had. The second time he went with it was in the evening and the restaurant was quite busy. This time the chicken was not as good, and came out too greasy. So hit or miss.
(4)Thanh L.
The chicken is very good. We got a mixture of the spicy/soy garlic in the small and large size. I liked the smaller wings better then the big ones. The small ones allow you to enjoy the crispy skin and the larger one has more meat. The spicy chicken got hotter as it sat in my mouth. The soy garlic had a nice small sweet flavor and not too overpowering. We got medium portion, but it was to much for two people. Parking is kinda hard. I had to park a few blocks down and then walk to Bon chon
(4)Michael B.
Great chicken, incompetent dishonest delivery service. The chicken is really good. Get the spicy. Don't bother with anything else on the menu, I'm sure it's good but the chicken is the star. Let me start out by saying I was a regular customer here, and at Privus before it. As I'm sure people remember, the delivery was pretty bad at Privus, it seemed to have improved. Not anymore. Tonight, at 7:45 we were quoted a an hour delivery time. An hour and a half later (9:15) we called and asked where it was "I'll call the delivery man and have him call you". 9:30, the deliveryman hasn't called. We call the restaurant again. Same story, this time they call back in five minutes to see if the deliveryman has called. He hasn't. Finally at 9:45 he calls -- this is where it goes from incompetent to dishonest. Deliveryman: "I'll be there in fifteen minutes" Us: "We'd like to cancel, our chicken will be cold by then" Deliveryman: "I just picked it up from the restaurant, and only had one delivery before you" Us: "How is that possible, we called half an hour ago and you were already out?" [keep in mind we live under 10 minutes away by car] Deliveryman: "Well, I might have had one or two but I'll be right there soon" Us: "Do you have other stops first?" Deliveryman: "Well, I might have one or two." So there you have it. I may go here again in person eventually, but for delivery there are plenty of better options. Bon Chon, I hope you get your act together, because this is how you lose customers.
(2)Linda T.
I was super excited when I found out through a friend that they had opened up Bon Chon here. The closest one, after Privus closed, was in NY! I immediately went Friday night around 7pm. It was really packed and the bf put his name down for a party of 4. They said it would be 30-45 minutes. That was a really long wait but we were waiting a long time for something like this open so we decided to wait around. 20 minutes later, a couple of tables opened so the bf went back to ask how much longer. They said another 45 minutes or so. Our party started getting grumpy by then. We were also wondering why a table was left open for over half an hour so I'm guessing they do take reservations. After over an hour, we were finally seated. We ordered the large combo and got half spicy and half soy-garlic. We also had some salmon sashimi, not so fresh, and spicy tuna maki. I can't comment on the maki because I didn't try it but my friends didn't mention anything odd about it. We also ordered the house fried rice and takoyaki. The rice was soooooo good! Although it was very greasy, it hit the spot and had thai-infused flavors and was just the right amount of spicy. I never liked takoyaki in general but my group wasn't really satisified with it. Now, for the chicken. We didn't really time it, but it took a really really really long time before it came out. Our waitress, although really nice, didn't come by to tell us why it took so long until we had asked her. Even then, she didn't really know. Generally, I know bon chon take a long time because it is double-fried and what not, but I truly want to say that we waited over 45 minutes for it. When it did come out, it was just as expected. My favorite is the spicy although I can't handle it so much. Overall, I would have given this less stars because of all the waiting, but I'm going to be lenient since it did just opened. By the way, this place used to be a ramen/hot pot restaurant before so the decor and even the hot pot stoves are still there which made it a tad odd.
(4)Huong H.
The wings are the best! I had half the soy garlic and half spicy. Both were really good. The spicy wing is especially spicy, not tangy spicy but the good hot burning sensation on your tongue spicy. The waiters are really friendly. A piece of advice don't order the spciy wings and the fried baby octopus together. After you eat the wings, the baby octopus will be nuclear in your mouth. Delicious but really really spcy.
(5)Deb c.
Four stars for the terrific Bulgogi and garlic chicken drumsticks. Five stars star for the great staff who work here. Love this place!
(5)Julie L.
Amazing chicken!!! Never had anything that tastes quite like it. We didn't even bother getting anything else the second time we went because the chicken totally stole the show. Service was great the first time and slow the second time.
(4)Angie T.
Dont waste your money or even time looking for parking. The chicken is fried very crisp its good but more bones than meat. So you need a larger portion to make a dent in your hunger and very $$$$$$$ 9 pieces 11.95.... The Bulgogi is swimming in a tasteless liquid. Horrible, Not worth the money
(2)Rachel Z.
Totally enjoy the seafood soup, rice cake and fried chicken
(5)Shane C.
i moved to boston from the west coast and i can't understand these raving yelp reviews for subpar asian food. bon chon has a global reputation for making good korean fried chicken. this location does not.
(2)Derek T.
Wow. That's all I can say about that. Wow. I've had fried chicken wings before, but the amount of flavor and taste is unreal. Like a drug addiction, I find myself itching on a quiet Tuesday night to go and get some wings...its THAT good.
(5)Soooap L.
bon chon is pricier than i like, but i will still go there for that double fried chicken. the spicy chicken isn't as spicy as it used to be (which is probably good for people with acid reflux or heartburn), but the fried chicken here is consistently good. both the spicy flavor, and the soy ginger one. i also recommend: 1) pork belly slices 2) takoyaki (octupus bites) 3) dukbokki with seafood (rice cakes with various seafood.. it was super spicy but really good!)
(4)Twee V.
I am addicted to Bon Chon's wings, soy and garlic flavor. These wings are super crunchy and tasty.
(4)Kendall H.
everyone writes reviews for the stellar bomb fried chicken, which i guess makes sense because the place is called bonchon CHICKEN after all ... Came here a few days ago for lunch and it was cheaper, tasty, and still on par with the consistency you get at dinner... that and theres no massive line during lunch... Came out to around 10 dollars, majorly discounted compared to dinner. Wasn't feeling the whole fried thing for lunch, non fried/non chicken lunch items were also tasty.
(4)BonBon H.
I heard great things about this place and was really excited to go try it out. Since the parking is difficult, we decided to get take out. Sorry to say this, but the chicken wasn't really anything special. Maybe because we got take out and it was cold. I might go back to try the other food that they have on their menu but I don't think I will order the chicken again. The atmosphere, however, was fantastic and I would defintely stop by to eat something else there and get something to drink.
(2)Lisa S.
I bon chon! Enough said - get the chicken - the rest of the food is good but who cares about it when you can ahve double fried bon chon spicy chicken? Eat the radishes - they cool off your mouth. Get the drinks - they're cheap and they're good. Try the little frozen mini shots of frozen soku - yum!
(5)Changun S.
chicken: light, fried to perfection other foods: SPICY, so come with your maalox! :) the wait is long, but worth it! :)
(5)Sarah C.
I was super excited to try this place out because I've heard great things about their fried chicken. My husband, friend and I went there yesterday for lunch. The inside atmosphere was nice and clean and our waitress was also very nice and not too over hearing. My friend has eaten at Bonchon before and warned me that their spicy chicken was very spicy. But there's only 2 flavors so we decided to get the medium combo (comes with 15 wings and drumsticks) and get both the spicy and sesame flavor. We also got the seafood udon stir fry and the chicken fried rice. 1. Chicken review: They were indeed extra crispy and the drumsticks and wings were definitely meaty enough. Some of the drumstricks were fairly big (not complaining about it.) The spicy flavor is REALLY spicy. Now I can handle spicy given that I'm Korean and at the age of 3 ate pretty much anything spicy. But these were the kind of spicy that does not go away. It is good but I wish it wasn't as spicy because if you eat the spicy one first and then the sesame chicken next, it still feels like you are eating a spicy one. Anyways, overall it was good. The sesame flavor was also good, however I think it could have had more "sauce" on it. The sauce was on the drier side where as the spicy sauce was more sticky and got more on your fingers. 2. Seafood udon - this is huge and you can share with 2 or 3 people. It had nice flavor and I liked how there was a variety of seafood (mussels, baby shrimp, small scallops) and a variety of veggies in the stir fry. 3. Chicken stir fry - this plate also big enough to share with 2 or 3 people and it was only ($9.95). I thought it was just okay. I know when you order stir fry at an Asian restaurant they use a wok and very HIGH heat so that the rice has a burnt taste to it but I think the rice had too much burnt taste so I got sick of it real quick. I would have definitely have asked for Sriacha sauce (Vietname hot sauce) but my mouth was still burning from the spicy chicken so I opted not to ask for more hot sauce. Overall it was delicious. They also have a sushi menu but we did not order from it so I can't say anything about how they are with their sushi/sashmi/makis.
(4)Katherine E.
Love the Cheogajip down the street, so we decided to try BonChon. They had a good amount of people at 3PM on a saturday. The servers and hosts were really nice and attentive. We started with the spicy tuna ceviche. It was served with a spicy slaw of mango and avocado, but it weas more like chunky sashimi with asian salsa/sauce. We also got a house salad, which I thought would be a side salad but came in an enormous udon bowl and nicely dressed. Now for the chicken...half spicy half sweet soy. It was yummy and didn't have too much sauce. The texture was also really nice (most of the time). Some bites had the perfect balance of light crunch and moist chicken, other bites (usually the thinnest part of the strip) were extremely tough. A small order is big enough for 2 people if you get a couple other dishes. If you have the wrap up the rest for home, they put the chicken in the branded box with the handle, which is cute.
(3)Ryan G.
Let me begin by saying that I have never really had Korean food, much less fried Korean chicken. I was told this place was great, but did not know what to expect. I called ahead to pick up my order, and it was ready when I arrived. I got 10 pieces of the strips and 10 of the wings (one with the hot sauce and one with the garlic soy). This might have been the best fried chicken I have ever eaten. I ate it all at one sitting! Great place!!
(5)Alan K.
So after hearing all the rave reviews about this place and going through cravings for several weeks to try it out, I finally paid a visit to the Bon Chon in Allston recently. And if you've ever heard anyone compare this place to KFC, then they are absolutely right! It's just like that -- Korean Fried Chicken -- but even better! So for starters, we ordered the rice cake skewers and avocado salad. The rice cake skewers were kinda like tteokbokki (another well-known Korean dish, for those of you who had it) -- chewy and spicy. And speaking from such a Thai food fanatic as I am, when I say something's spicy, then you better believe it certainly has a kick to it. For our entrees, of course we had to order the chicken (more about that later) and to go with our chicken, we ordered their house fried rice, with seafood. Now for their famous chicken. They offer three options to choose from: strips, wings, and drumsticks. We had ordered their wings and drumsticks combo, which came out to be 20 pieces total. You also have a choice of what sauce the chicken is dipped in, either in soy garlic, a spicy hot sauce, or "half & half" -- half the pieces are dipped in each sauce -- which is what we chose. When I picked up the very first piece, my shock was with how very light the chicken felt... and I'm not kidding you! I've picked up my fair share of chicken wings/drumsticks from various Chinese restaurants and KFC in my life before but none of them ever felt this light as Bon Chon's. Even after I was finished with all the meat, the actual bone still somehow felt lighter than usual to me. I was amazed. They must use some kind of "magic" batter or the chickens they use must be "magic." As for the taste, they tasted, how should I put it, oh-so-nom-nom-nom! Both flavors were delicious to me but if I had to pick one, I think I would go with the soy garlic one a little more. It was just a tad bit more flavorful. The spicy flavor was a bit mild (for my tastes) but it did have the taste of hot sauce in it though. I think the rice cake skewers were much spicier. Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable experience. They have flat-screen TV's all over the place so there is really no need to request a special table or booth just so you can catch the sports game for that night. The wait also wasn't too long. We went on a Friday night and I saw groups of people just walking in and getting seated a little just before the peak time. During the peak time, the wait was fairly quick too - about 15-20 minutes. For those of you looking for something else other than chicken, they do have other Korean dishes and tapas on the menu. They even have a sushi bar, if you so incline.
(4)Sandy W.
if you're thinking about coming here for dinner on a friday-sunday night, go early. the line is usually out the door, and you can't make reservations - first come, first serve. they won't sit you until your entire party is there, so make sure everyone is on time. the korean fried chicken are to die for, it's crunchy, the taste is perfect. you can't ask for a better fried chicken than this. i have cravings for their fried chicken every now and then - i love it! they now serve alcohol, so that's definitely a plus with fried chicken. they also have really good seafood yaki udon as well! this place is mmm mmm good!
(5)Hannah C.
This review is strictly for the spicy chicken drumsticks. The husband and I were craving some yummy (yangnyum) chicken so we drove 50 minutes in the rain to Bon Chon after hearing about it from word of mouth. I was sooo excited to eat their chicken after reading the promising reviews. But honestly, I was sadly very very disappointed. We ordered 20 spicy drumsticks and nothing else. Our order came within 5 minutes which tells me its not fresh. The sauce wasn't flavorful and lacked the kick that most yangyum chickens have. On top of that, there was just enough sauce to coat the chicken and they didn't allow extra sauce on the side for dipping. The husband only ate 3 drumsticks and I only had 2. We gave the rest to our neighbors. On the flip side, the service was great, the wait time for the food .. questionable for the reason mentioned above. We will most definitely not be returning. ever.
(2)Scott C.
Very tasty chicken. Go for the soy garlic boneless. Absolutely delicious. I like them so much I've had them all three times I've been. Unfortunately, I haven't tried anything else on the menu, but I can assure you, if you get the 10 piece boneless soy garlic (it costs about $10, $1/wing is pretty solid), you won't be disappointed. Also, I've never had to wait, and I've been for two b-day parties, and they were very accommodating to large groups. Definitely recommended.
(4)Tiff L.
Overall the food is great but the service is slow. It took 30 mins for the food to arrive.
(4)A C.
this place would get a better review if the chicken didn't take a year to come out and if the service didn't suck. the wait staff is really inept and the sad part is it doesn't matter because it's always crowded in there since they're the only KFC (korean fried chicken) joints in MA. i've had better elsewhere, like the aptly named Chicken and Joy (sadly not here).
(2)Neena Y.
Wow, I didn't think wings could be so good! Me and my boyfriend went on a Monday night, so it wasn't that busy. Our wings came out surprisingly faster than I thought it would. I can not emphasize enough how much I love these wings. And my boyfriend wanted to order more even though we got the XL combo (half soy garlic, half spicy) and had SO much left. What a wing fanatic. The coleslaw and pickled.. I wanna say radish that accompanied these wings complimented them so well. The spicy wings have this sort of.. sweet taste at first then all of a sudden the spice just kicks you in the face. And I say that in the best way possible. And when you eat the coleslaw with it, it soothes your mouth from the spiciness allowing you to eat more. The soy garlic is just good. I can't explain how it tastes, but I definitely fave these ones more. But both are -extremely- delicious. I just came in for the wings and I've didn't try anything else, but I'm looking forward to doing that in the near future. Oh, and I love the decor and ambiance. (:
(5)Joe M.
Fantastic food. Went with some co workers. Sushi was top notch to say the least. Their chicken is bomb. We had the spicy chicken which was a different kind of spicy, almost an annoying spicy. Wouldn't recommend for the faint of heart. I haven't had a chance to try their Sake selection but I wouldn't doubt it would be nothing but superb. This place will be getting my business often.
(4)Noemi G.
The wings with soy sauce were out of this world! So crunchy and tasty . The cole slaw that it comes is the perfect combination. I also had the tropical sushi! It was heaven in my mouth. Downside of our experience was that they were out of the chicken strips! How a restaurant runs out of their staple menu item is beyond me. My husband ordered the chicken fried rice instead and he really liked it. The waiter was blah and the bathrooms were disgustingly dirty! If you have kids stay away from this place lol the guys at the table next to us we're drunk as skunks and they gave us a hard time about leaving the stroller next to the table. I will definitely return here without the kids....just for some Bon chon chicken ;-)
(4)Eric S.
A bit over-priced, service is a bit off, but there's a price to pay when it comes to Korean fried chicken. The other Korean food, not really worth it - very much like the rest of Boston.
(4)Kayla R.
I've been here a couple times and have had great service and great food. The soy garlic bon chon chicken is amazing! I crave this. I will definitly be back
(4)Sada Y.
They have the best chicken wings ever.!! This is the place you have to go before die, but it's a little pricey.
(5)Skinny V.
1 star for service because they are very disorganized for takeout orders. Misleading on the wait time when they said 45 minutes which turned into a nightmare. Called in the order at 7pm, arrived for pickup at 7:50 pm & they said they were behind. They said only 10-15 minutes more & will call you when ready. At 8:15pm the order still had not come. Long story short didn't walk out with food until 8:45 pm with no phone call. Don't go there if you are hungry! So is the chicken worth the wait you ask, the chicken is hit or miss.
(2)Devi B.
I was so sad when I heard that this place closed down because the chicken was really good but then I heard that it's reopening in Harvard Square (closer to where I live!) so I am excited again. My problem with this place was that the service was always off. One time they ran out of chopsticks! How ridiculous is that? Otherwise they're pretty slow but the food is worth the wait! I'll edit my review when it opens up again to let you know whether it's as good as the one in Allston was.
(3)Wendi J.
The chicken is five stars but the service gets 2. No one cleared our plates or refilled our waters even though there were 5 employees within eye shot. Also we were not allowed to order a tuna avocado roll, even though they have both tuna and avocado. The chicken is like crack though, so I'll go back, even though they don't have booze. :)
(3)Teresa T.
After dreaming of double fried goodness for a while, I finally made it to Bon Chon last week on Halloween. The wait wasn't bad at all and we were seated immediately. We asked the waiter what he recommended and he basically listed everything on the menu which to me is a good sign and funny. We settled on the soy garlic medium combo and two rolls along with some beer. The chicken came out and looked perfect. Crunchy with some good flavor; and brown yet glistening from the sauce. I like how the chicken comes with some slaw and radishes. The radishes were tasty and I'm not typically a fan of cole slaw though thought this was ok even though still saucy. Rolls were fresh and ok priced. I would totally come back though am thinking of pumping up the spice level (eek!). After we ate I still had the soy garlic smell on my hands (it would have been nice if they had provided some toilettes to cleanse our hands) and kept finding myself still wanting some more chicken whenever I would get a whiff. Yummy!! There's nothing quite like this around.
(4)Ju L.
It finally opened again after a long closure (where it used to be in the Privus Lounge). The soy garlic bonchon chicken is not as good as before (when it was part of Privus) -- not enough sauce but still nice and crisp. The House Special (bonchon) fried rice was surprisingly the highlight of the meal -- very delicious. The wait to get in was long (about 30-40 minutes), but it was worth it. I still enjoyed the chicken even though it wasn't as good as before. Service was slow but very attentive. While it does not appear to be very family friendly, it does have 2 high chairs, and they were extremely nice and attentive to us with our infant, who made quite the mess in the high chair. Unlike before, they are open for lunch. We certainly enjoyed going there, and look forward to going back again in the future.
(4)Latoya T.
The chicken here is absolutely delicious! I recommend getting it with the pickled radish. While there is a wait for the chicken, it arrives fresh and well worth the wait.
(5)Tom M.
we got there about 6:30pm on a Thurs nite and the place was empty...the host states that all my party of 5 had to be there before we can be seated. It didnt even matter if the last of my party was right outside parking his car. So we couldnt even think about considering appetizers. I can understand if the business was busy and they need the seating...but to make people stand at the door when they dont even have adequate space?! On top of the attitude I got from the Oopa Loompa host...The chicken was mediocre at best...the salmon maki was from last week's catch! We had to wait 30mins to get seated, and another hour to get our food...very bad business format! Plan on 2hrs+ by the time you find parking in that area, to the time you get your check! You're better off getting KFC and pouring some Sirracha sauce on it! Good luck! We wont be eating there again!!!
(1)Jay C.
Only had takeout from here a few times, but the restaurant looks cozy. The wings are very good. Both flavors, the soy garlic and the spicy sauce were very good and the chicken was still nice and crispy when it got home. They prices on the other hand are very expensive.
(4)Al G.
I know Bon Chon has been reviewed with Privus but I think it deserves it's own review b/c I only go there for the Bon Chon. Strangest thing when you go to a nice bbq and someone bring fast food chicken. WTF? Then everyone jumps on it like a fat kid on cake. Great chicken the hot is better than the garlic, imo. A downside is the time it takes to fry it twice and it's a bit pricey, but you can't put a price on tiny nuggets of love in a box.
(5)Sheila G.
My total addiction is the only way I can explain how much I love this place. The SPICY fried chicken... is SPICY indeed and that is what give it its popularity. I'd say lunch time is the best time to go, as dinner gets a little too crowded. Lunch time also adds french fries to their side orders.. and I know.. asian restaurant.. fries? i thought THE SAME THING but the fries are phenomenal. I do stick to my usual order here with spicy chicken wings, spicy scallop, spicy salmon, teokkboki, and bibimbap. The other food on the menu are mediocre. Service is fantastic, everyone is friendly and gets to know the customers which is always a plus...
(5)Anita C.
After over 6 months since the last time I tried the wings, I bravely ordered another batch since I had a discount. My last experience didn't exactly leave me over the moon over the place but I was willing to try it again. Ordered 20 wings this time, half soy garlic/spicy. This time BonChon did not dissapoint. The only complaint was that the wings could have been hotter, what can I say I like my food piping hot! Anyway the soy garlic wings were moist, crunchy and about 10x better than the first time I had them. The flavor was definitely there however, it couldn't have hurt it there was a little more. This being my first time trying the spicy it was definitely good however the seasoning was once since the first one I tried was almost too much to handle for me considering I can take a bit of spice however the latter ones were just fine so I guess I will take it as they didn't season everything evenly. As I am writing this I am still drooling over their soy garlic wings (I blame it on the melt in your mouth flavor) maybe I might order some more before the promotion ends..
(4)Frank A.
Beware.... The spicy chicken is really really spicy.
(5)Moko S.
LOVE LOVE LOVE their chicken! BEST CHICKEN EVERRRR.
(5)Xin S.
YUM!! Got takeout: 1 large order of half soy garlic half spicy wings plus an onion ring maki roll. Fed 2 (very hungry) people. The wings were fantastic: exceptionally crispy and flavorful. I did not find the spicy one all that spicy... The radishes that came on the side were very refreshing. Overall GREAT. Will definitely return!!
(4)Steven I.
Went to Privus/Bon Chon chicken for the first time yesterday. It wasn't too crowded for a Sat night. We did get seated right away in a cozy booth for two. Had the chicken drumsticks with some tall Sappiro beers. The spicy was not as hot as I'd like it but still tasty. The cost was a little high but ur paying for the atmosphere. Overall thumbs up.
(4)kewal s.
great service exceptional food.
(5)Melissa N.
Food is good...service is disgusting. But i mean..its cheap food. What else do you expect? Right now i am here and i ordered the lunch. The girl served my chicken...5 min later my gyoza, 3 min later,my fries with our appetizer. My friend still has not recieved his lunch yet. Seriously, not once have i ever gotten good service here....boooooo
(2)Marley L.
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night craving bon chon chicken, Its soo good! and who the hell can beat there lunch special?! its the bomb.
(5)Barry P.
I was told that I had to try this place when I visited Boston, and quite frankly it didn't disappoint. This is the first time I've tried "Bon Chon" chicken, and I'm starting to assume that its a chain, because I'm pretty sure I've seen the same exact logo else where. But anyways, we ordered both the spicy and the mild. The spice doesn't seem that spicy, but it's one of those foods that due to the heat and continued eating, it starts to burn. You don't want to stop though because it's so tasty! This place is also Privus, I believe, and I tried one of their sushi items. Nothing to write home about, but my krn friend who suggested the place ordered bimimbap with bulgogi, and whaaaa soo jealous I didn't order that! So, I guess what I'm trying to say is probably stick with the krn choices and you're golden at this place. Definitely a recommend on my list.
(4)H. Q.
great service, great food, great prices!
(5)Eric S.
Went here last night and was not exact sure of the concept of Bon Chon at first but now cannot wait to get back there! Fried Chicken and Korean/Japanese in the same place. The fried chicken is either plain, soy garlic- hot or regular. I had the spicy which was full of face melting deliciousness ( they can split a plate spicy/not spicy). Wendee enjoyed her tempura and I had pork buns as sides and they were excellent. The chicken takes a 1/2 hour to make but is worth it. I love Korean and Japanese but it would have had been nice to have some American sides for the fried chicken ( although some bibimbop might have gone well with it) but other than that it was quite awesome.
(4)Sue c.
the soy garlic chicken was good , but the spicy one is the best, and even after second day the chicken still taste good!! but all other food was ok to give the try. well all their deep fire stuff was good also
(4)david r.
the wings were ok not the best and deff not worth the price and the wate is soo long dont go here
(1)Cindy Q.
First time eating at Bon Chon and it was great! We ordered some of their tapas, lots of sushi, nabeyaki udon, bulgogi, and of course the famous chicken. Everything was delicious! Definitely will be returning. I noticed that the restaurant was reviewed as not kid friendly but we brought out 2 1/2 yr old and he loved it. He enjoyed 3 pcs of the chicken and 2 helpings of rice with bulgogi, and udon noodles. Though, our child sits in a regular chair, I did notice the restaurant had high chairs. I would recommend going early b/c as the other reviewers said, the place fills up. So, with children, the kids may not have the patience for long wait.
(5)Johnny Y.
Pretty good place if you never had legit korean fried chicken before. Being a Vet of the NYC korean chicken scene, I really enjoyed Mad 4 Chicken in manhattan, so decided to try out Bon Chon despite my friends saying that this place really sucked. Got soy garlic, which is the signature rub I have to say. Ordered chicken, got to table, and here's where I knew something was wrong. Legit korean fried chicken takes time to make, and these just got here too quickly. All the previous korean fried chicken orders I had took something like 30-40 min to complete because they are triple fried to tender perfection. these Wings were just ok, Nicely fried, but extremely greasey, its like some just put a soy garlic rub on normal fried wings. The meat wasn't very fresh, again like what you get at a pizza shop. And with each wing my review got worse, just too greasy and meat not tender or fresh. The thing about all my previous chicken experiences has been I never left full, always wanted more, but this time we had to doggy bag it. So I guess its something to try if you never had good korean fried chicken before.
(3)le p.
the chicken is really delicious, but wish the portion is a little bigger.
(4)Andrea P.
Well, maybe we were there on an off night. After being introduced to Bon Chon chicken at Boka in NYC, I was excited that there was a place close by and was dying to take my boyfriend. It just....wasn't Bon Chon. The sauces were the same but they totally did not have the fry technique down. I'm pretty sure the oil wasn't hot enough because it didn't have the other wordly crispy crunch Bon Chon is supposed to have, it was also too greasy. And I also think, in doing the double fry, the first fry went on too long because the actual meat of the chicken was dry and over cooked as opposed to plump, juicy and delicious like it was at Boka. Again I think the oil was too cool. Lots of people were ordering it however, so it must be popular. I'm guessing that either it WAS an off night, or the people around here just don't know GOOD Bon Chon :) In any case, I'm waiting till I get back to NY to fulfill my Bon Chon craving again. This wasn't worth it.
(2)A K.
As I write this my husband is lying in bed, wracked with pain. He's been up since 2am this morning with severe food poisoning from Bon Chon. I noticed another reviewer got food poisoning there in February. We're huge Korean Fried Chicken fans and love NYC's Bon Chon Chicken. Last night's dinner at the Boston location was good, but not as good as NYC's. However, we found a hair in our Kimchi. I was more grossed out by it than he was, but we did show it to the waitress, who apologized and took the Kimchi off the bill. The irony is that we believe the Kimchi is what made him sick. I only had one small bite whereas he ate almost all of it until we found the hair. While neither of us believe the hair made him sick, it is obvious the kitchen is less than sanitary. Clearly food is not being handled safely considering how sick my husband is now. So, consider yourself warned. Why play roulette when there are great restaurants with carefully managed kitchens?
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