From cult favorites to hidden gems, these Koreatown spots serve some of L.A.’s crispiest, juiciest and most flavorful Korean fried chicken.
Korean fried chicken isn’t just another food trend in Los Angeles – it’s a full-blown culinary war, and nowhere does it better than Koreatown. Crunchy, succulent, bites sized flavor bombs of umami makes them a truely craveable delight that simply hits the right spot. With so many options in just a small square footage in central Los Angeles, we’ve put together your guide on the best places to get your Korean fried chicken fix, and where to go for specific tastes.
Best Korean Chain – Kyochon
Ok, so while we’re putting this under the headline of a “Korean Chain”, do not be put off by ideas of it being fast food. Kyochon is one of Korea’s most recognizable food names, with over 1,400 stores serving up truly spectacular fried chicken. Their location on 6th St is their very first US location, and it’s gained popularity with Angelinos, who frequently travel from across the city just to sample their famous offerings – served by cute and mobile robots. The breading is light and crispy, despite the chicken being double fried. Finger licking sauces are brushed on by hand, individually, piece by piece – rather than being tossed, and it’s this attention and care that raises it above its competitors. Insider tip – their fried chicken sandwich is a totally hidden gem that often goes overlooked, but definitely worth an order. My suggestion though, is to order their “Honey Duo” set – bone in wings and drumsticks covered in a sweet acacia honey glaze, which also has hints of savory soy and garlic. They’re crispy and wonderfully juicy, without being greasy at all. And once you bite into one piece, you’ll understand what it’s the most popular item in their Korean stores.
Gol Tong OwnerCredit: Reuben Mourad
Best Cult Following Favorite – Gol Tong Chicken
For years, Gol Tong has had a cult following, not just for its melodramatic presentation of mountainous Korean fried chicken, but for the story of its owner. Kil Chae Jeong is the sole employee of the restaurant – he seats guests when they arrive, cooks their food, and then serves it, single handedly. But he’s known outside of the restaurant as Director Gol Tong, or Gol Tong Gamdok in Korean. He produced three feature films (details of which are plastered on the restaurant walls), and while they never quite hit blockbuster status, his venture into fried chicken has been welcomed by fans from all over the world. Plates such as one named “The Director’s Cut” are more like vessels supporting a literal mountain of fried boneless chicken thigh, drenched in sauces including soy garlic, honey butter, and chili, but what makes this plate different is the kaleidoscope of colorful fruit adoring it. Strawberries, grapes, plums, avocado, and pineapple – a little rainbow of fresh toppings sprinkle a welcomed contrast of flavor, with the added brightness enhancing the chicken base. It’s a hefty dish that you’ll welcome the use of the provided plastic gloves at each table.
Witch’s SupermarketCredit: Reuben Mourad
Best Hidden Gem – Witch’s Chicken
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You’ll need to physically walk into a Korean supermarket for this one, but it is so worth it. In my opinion, one of the city’s best Korean fried chicken spots lies tucked away inside Koreatown Galleria. Literally positioned next to refrigerators with anchovies and fermented soybean paste, Witch’s is a humble little counter that fries some of the crispiest, more tender and moist bites of fried chicken you’ll taste. Texture is king here, and you’ll want to eat it as soon as you order it, making the nearby benches and tables extra convenient. While they don’t have as extravagant of a range of flavors as some other places, they definitely hold their own, with Gangjung a personal favorite – fried in cornstarch, the extra, deeper crunch encases a perfectly juicy bite. Their chicken is uniquely topped with cute balls of ttebokki and pumpkin seeds, and it’s a box of textural delights that is guaranteed to leave a smile on any sauce stained face.
The Prince WingsCredit: Reuben Mourad
Best Date Night Spot – The Prince
Before it became one of Koreatown’s most beloved spots for Korean fried chicken, The Prince was already a Los Angeles institution. Housed inside a spectacularly preserved 1920s dining room, the restaurant offers up something few places in the city can: a chance to experience old Hollywood and modern Koreatown in the same meal – and for me, that makes it one of the most perfect date spots. Its stained glass, carved wood, and red leather booths remain largely untouched from its early days as The Windsor, while the stapled together, stained paper printed menu tells the story of the neighborhood’s transformation into one of America’s great Korean communities. It’s a charmingly rustic and elegant setting for a date that revolves around some of the best Korean fried chicken you’ll tear into. And by tear into, I’m referring to their whole fried chicken, that will get messy – but oh it is so worth it. It’s a lengthy process of being marinated for 24 hours, then oven baked, and then fried. The resulting glass shattering chicken skin bursts into fragments of intense, salty flavor, and the encapsulated meat glistens with unctuous juiciness, begging to be dipped in the accompanying sauces and salts. It’s quite the erotic moment, suitable for the broody setting, and begs to be shared with a special date. Their hot wings offer something more bite sized and manageable, while also being more aligned with traditional fried chicken too. Oh, and don’t pass on their kimchi rice cheeseball – a bite that follows the moorish and ultra satisfying theme.
Town Hof Chicken and SidesCredit: Reuben Mourad
Best Group Night Out – Town Hof & Thanks Chicken
If you’re looking for a place to take your crew, watch a sports game, and have a few drinks while feasting down on mountains of Korean fried chicken, Town Hof & Thanks is where you want to be. It’s reminiscent of a small town sports bar, with its cozy booths and jarring neon signage. But the drinks are cold, and the fried chicken is hot. Their menu offers whole chicken, chicken wings, and boneless options, and while their sauced fried chicken leans a little more into the sweeter side of things, it’s a quality bite, perfectly fried with a wonderful tenderness inside it. A star player on the menu is there ttebokki – a wondrous treasure trove of gorgeously chewy rice cakes, fish cakes, and glass noodles slathered in a sweet and spicy rose mara sauce. Definitely don’t leave without ordering this.