Bird is the Word: Beijing's Best Korean Fried Chicken

Say "KFC" and most people will think of bargain buckets and the Colonel. But here at the Beijinger, we eschew Americana in favor of the other KFC: Korean fried chicken, of course. A relatively recent addition to the Korean culinary canon (read: mid-twentieth century), unlike American-style fried chicken, which relies on a thick, flour-based crust for crispness, Korean fried chicken is coated in the barest hint of batter and then double fried, which when done right results in a crisp, lacquered, and mostly greaseless finish. The chicken may then be coated with a variety of seasonings or sauces, from sweet-spicy gochujang to just plain garlic. Traditional accompaniments included pickled radishes (to cut through the grease), beer (ditto), and soju (because it's Korean food, duh). So put down that KFC delivery menu – here's our pick of Beijing's best Korean fried chicken.

Oumuni: The delivery one
There's no doubt that fried chicken is best straight out of the fryer, but we'll be the first to admit that there are times – skull-splitting hangovers, AQI over 400, you know the drill – that you just need some hot and crispy goodness delivered straight to your door. Thank heavens, then, for Oumuni, a chain with several branches around Beijing (including U-Town Mall and Wangjing) that offers delivery via Baidu Waimai. We recommend getting the plain fried chicken (a whole chicken cut into bone-in pieces is RMB 80) and sauce on the side, as it survives the journey better and stays remarkably crispy. 

Mstar: The Wangjing One
With over 2,600 reviews on Dianping, it's safe to say Mstar is kind of a presence in Wangjing. A second venture from the people behind Chicken Suutak, Mstar's fried chicken is as it should be - crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside - with the soy sauce coated version being particularly highly lauded. Mstar bills itself as a "Western restaurant and bar" which means you can get everything from a burger to a kimchi beef hot pot (with technicolor cocktails to wash it all down), we recommend sticking with the chicken. 

Barsak Chicken and World Beer: The one with all the beers
Perhaps not actually Beijing's best KFC (quality has varied somewhat during our previous visits, with the chicken sometimes arrived somewhat lukewarm), but Barsak is worth a visit for their extensive selection of imported beers, with everything from Korean Cass lager to Guinness. Barsak also does a  mean version of budae jjigae, or "army stew", a hearty concoction of spam, hot dogs, instant ramen, and kimchi, cooked in a spicy broth. 

Don Chicken: The "healthy" one
Small chain Don Chicken stand out from the rest of the fried chicken crowd by offering a healthier, baked version of the dish. As usual, you can choose from a range of sauces. If that feels far too virtuous, you can also choose to top your chicken with melted cheese to push that calorie counter all the way back up. Don Chicken has branches in Wangjing and Jingguang Qiao, but the Sanlitun Soho location is likely to be the most convenient. 

Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken: The trendy one
For us, it's the fried chicken rather than the pizza that's "fly" at this trendy joint. With two branches in Wangjing and Sanlitun Soho, FPHC (forgive the abbreviation) serves outstanding fried chicken in inventive flavors such as Sichuan spicy, all in a trendy setting that panders successfully to China's continued appreciation for all things Korean. The pizzas make for an interesting diversion, although purists might sniff at toppings such as bulgogi beef or the option to choose a sweet potato base.

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Photos: Flickr, Wikimedia, Dianping