Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
- I visited Bonchon, a Korea-based fried chicken chain growing in locations across the US
- I think it could be a major success in the US thanks to delicious food and large portions.
- Bonchon has just under 400 global locations, with plans for expansion this year.
On a recent trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, I had the chance to visit Bonchon for lunch.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The giant mall has dozens of restaurants, including growing Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Bonchon started in South Korea in 2002, and now has nearly 400 locations in eight countries, with hopes to eventually grow to 3,000 or more international restaurants.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: QSR Magazine, QSR
Fried chicken is the star of the menu, so I ordered a combination of soy garlic and spicy wings and some sides.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The cashier gave me a buzzer that started beeping about 10 minutes later, signaling that my order was ready.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Each order of wings came with a side and a drink, so I opted for white rice and kimchi, plus an order of pork pot stickers.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Clearly I had to start with the wings, which looked amazing.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
My first thought was that I was impressed at their size.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Wings have gotten much more expensive in the past two years, but these were quite large and meaty.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
They were perfectly crispy, with exactly the crunch I want from a bite into fried chicken.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The meat was tender, practically falling off the bones.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I especially appreciated how the sauce was flavorful, but not overly messy and wet like some wings I’ve had. The soy garlic in particular was one of the best wing flavors I’ve ever had.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The pot stickers were also delicious and crispy.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I’d hoped to order tacos or pork buns, but both items were out of stock during my visit. The food I did get was so good I didn’t mind, though.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Kimchi isn’t a typical fried chicken side in the US, but I found it to be a great way to balance out all the fried food I was eating.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
A little kick of spiciness complemented the sweet soy garlic wings.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Bonchon opened 11 locations in 2021, and has 30 openings planned for this year and more slated for 2023.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
All of my food cost about $35, with enough to feed two to three people. I thought it was a great price considering the excellent quality of the food and huge wings.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Despite being stuffed, I couldn’t bear to leave any meat on the bones.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
After trying Bonchon’s menu, I’m not surprised that it’s growing — sales were up 15% in 2021, and up 23% over 2019. I think it has the potential to change the fried chicken fast food market.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: QSR
The chain is focusing on growing its portfolio of smaller footprint stores, like the food court version I visited, CEO Flynn Dekker said told QSR Magazine.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Source: QSR
The only downside is that there are no locations near my home in Rochester, New York. If Bonchon can expand enough, I think it could blow up in the US.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
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