Korean Fried Chicken Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

February 19, 2013 by Ron Wen 10 Comments

Soo Cafe in Raleigh for Amazing Korean Fried Chicken!

(Now open at its new location: 2815 Brentwood Road, Raleigh!)

Sometimes people use the phrase “one-trick pony” to describe a person or situation in a less than positive fashion. But in my eyes, if you do that one trick REALLY well, who cares? Well I recently visited Soo Cafe out on Hillsborough Street for one thing, Korean fried chicken. I’ve been chasing down Korean fried chicken for AGES, it’s been my foodie white whale. I visit NYC pretty frequently and would always ask for it but for some reason, never made it over. So imagine my excitement when I’m reading some online reviews and realize that Korean fried chicken has hit the Triangle.

Interior of new Soo Cafe location in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

Soo Cafe sits in a little plaza next to Sadlack’s Heroes and Buddha Belly, thankfully they’ve got a small parking lot out front. But it is an odd lot with two small entrances at either end and a narrow strip of spaces, navigate it carefully. Inside the place is a bit bare-bones: some Asian wall-hangings, TV with K-pop videos and shows rolling and a back counter for ordering. I put my order in for a half-chicken with garlic-soy sauce and wait in quiet desperation up front. They cook it all to order here so it takes some time, 15 plus minutes but I’ve been waiting years for this treat so no big deal. I get my styrofoam container, hop in the car and blast off for home. The smell is intoxicating. Even with a cold I can smell savory garlic aromas penetrating the car and upholstery but if your car is going to stink of something, Korean fried chicken ain’t a bad way to go.

Soy-garlic Korean fried chicken at Soo Cafe in Raleigh, NC Triangle Dining

I get home and unpack my bag. They’ve got some foil lining the Styrofoam and inside I spy 8 neat pieces of crispety, crunchety chicken, glistening with sauce. The surface is all bubbly even though from what I understand, Korean fried chicken doesn’t use much coating. I grab a drummette and it’s sticky with sauce, take a bite and… bam! That crazy umami feeling when all your eating senses go on high alert. This chicken has got some crunch, sticky sweet sauce, pungent garlic layered on top of tender chicken. Whoa! Take another bite and another, that piece is gone! As I work my way through half the box, my opinion doesn’t change, this chicken is awesome! Even with my taste at 60% I can tell that Soo Cafe dishes out some mean-ass fried chicken.

I stop my hungry little brain after eating half of the container and show some restraint, the rest is for tomorrow. But I can tell you that if this Korean fried chicken was ALL Soo Cafe did, they’d be a winner in my book. But they also dish out sushi, bulkogi, katsu and more. And I’m pretty sure even if it’s all good, I’m going to have a hard time getting past the chicken on the menu. No website, no Facebook I really thought about keeping this one to myself and not writing about them, but… Two words: Try it.

Soo Cafe

2815 Brentwood Road

Raleigh, NC 27604

919.876.1969

Soo Cafe Menu

Location on Google maps

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January 7, 2020 by Ron Wen

Chicken Bee, Durham – Offering Amazing Korean Fried Chicken on 9th Street

Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

One of the more exciting food trends we’ve seen over the past several years is the emergence of Korean food and in particular, Korean fried chicken. This delicious, double-fried poultry was brought to the area first by Soo Cafe out in Raleigh. And over time, Korean fried chicken has slowly been added to many menus of restaurants that serve Korean food. But I admit that I was excited to see what Chicken Bee could do since it specialized in Korean fried chicken. So it was time to head off to Durham’s 9th Street to see what Chicken Bee is all about!

Back bar at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Back bar at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Mandu appetizer at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Mandu appetizer at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

While Chicken Bee is conveniently located on 9th Street, it sits at the very northern end of the street in the newer section past Hillsborough and Markham Avenue. Given the newness of the building, Chicken Bee is pretty light and bright inside with a basic but modern cafe decor. Primarily smaller 2-tops and 4-tops throughout the dining room. In the back sits a small bar with a couple of TVs for entertainment. The usual crowd here is mostly Duke students looking to get their chicken on or take-out orders for workers heading home. Chicken Bee has a classic Korean fried chicken menu similar to Bonchon (a chain) offering up KFC but also a handful of Korean dishes and even some Japanese ramen. Everything’s pretty much $7 to $15 on the menu so it’s affordable eats here. Along with the food, Chicken Bee offers a handful of beers-wine along with some Korean soft drinks.

Seafood pancake at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Seafood pancake at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Half and half Korean fried chicken at Chicken Bee in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Half and half Korean fried chicken at Chicken Bee in Durham – nctriangledining.com

For appetizers, I definitely recommend the mandu (Korean dumplings) glazed with some soy-garlic sauce. While they are vegetarian, the mandu here are perfectly fried (similar to gyoza) and wonderfully delicious. With 8 to an order, you should definitely be sharing these with friends! The Korean food seafood pancake doesn’t fare quite as well, a bit greasy without a ton of taste so I’d probably pass here and save my stomach for more important things. But given that it usually takes at least 30 minutes to get fresh Korean fried chicken, an appetizer or beer helps immensely with your wait.

And more important things at Chicken Bee is of course, their signature Korean fried chicken. Offered as soy-garlic or spicy garlic in 6, 10 or 20 pieces, I’d go the half and half route to taste a bit of both. The Korean fried chicken is served with your choice of two sides, choose from cole slaw, white rice, pickled radish, soda, or kimchi ($3 extra). While you may wait a bit for you fresh KFC, it’s totally worth it! When they drop that plate in front of you, it’s hard not to jump right in but be careful it’s probably just out of the fryer. And Chicken Bee was nice enough to provide these plastic finger covers to neatly eat your KFC, first time I’ve seen them. But once you dive into the chicken, it’s really hard to stop eating! Plump flats and drums lacquered with delicious soy-garlic or spicy garlic sauce are equally wonderful. The wings here are meaty and perfectly cooked, the skin is crispy and pulls off the meat a bit. Really wonderful bar eats but yeah, probably not the healthiest thing you’ll eat this week.
And service? There have been some complaints, the restaurant is still pretty new along with the staff. And I know there has been some stress in getting patrons to understand the KFC cooking/frying process which just takes some time. But if you’re patient, dinner here is well worth the wait for this chicken deliciousness. I’m in Durham often for dinner and other than Hutchins Garage and M Pocha, Chicken Bee is a craving that I get whenever I visit. So despite its faults around service, you’re going to get great Korean fried chicken at a very reasonable price here at Chicken Bee. And that’s plenty good enough for me when I’m choosing a place to eat in the Bull City.

Chicken Bee

810 9th Street #129

Durham, NC 27705

984.888.5561

Location on Google maps

July 21, 2020 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill for a Mind-Bending Taste of Asia

Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

As we continue to work through the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, many restaurants are struggling to survive. And for those that opened up right before the North Carolina shutdown, it’s even harder. New restaurants that haven’t had a chance to establish a customer base, Hawkers Asian Street Food in Chapel Hill is a perfect example of that difficult scenario. But if you’re a fan of SE Asian street cuisine, you’ll really enjoy this new restaurant at University Place! Part of a smallish restaurant chain that has a locations in Charlotte and the Southeast, Hawkers Asian Street Food is dishing out some wonderful eats cooked with deft culinary talent.

Colorful decor at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Colorful decor at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Located next to the huge, Silverspot Cinema, Hawkers presents a simple modern face with side patio. But inside, you’ll find a bright, colorful and kitschy interior replete with a showcase bar in the center, booths to the right and tables in back with the open kitchen. Glowing neon, colorful posters and prints and bright metal chairs ring the dining space along with some cool architectural elements in the eclectic space. It’s a panoply of Asian-inspired nostalgia, decor and cool. Hawkers food menu is focused on bites and small plates from $5 to $12 along with noodles, rice and more. True to their name, Hawkers has food options and flavors across the Asian continent, from Singapore to China, Japan, Malaysia and more. A good selection for beers, wines, sake and island-type cocktails gives you some tasty adult beverages to pair your small plates with. Instinctively, I think beer or sake would be a great match for this type of flavorful cuisine.

Bar at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Amazing roti canai at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Amazing roti canai at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

After two visits I can say that Hawkers’ food menu is excellent overall but the roti canai is a must-try! This savory and layered fried pancake is served up with a powerful curry sauce that will blow away your taste-buds. Somehow they manage to make their roti canai both flaky and non-greasy which is a rare combination. Tear off a piece of the pancake, dip it into the curry and bam, a taste sensation hits your tongue.

Salt and pepper ribs at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Salt and pepper ribs at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Chili crab at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Chili crab at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

The salt and pepper ribs are a twist on my usual favorite, salt and pepper pork chops but this dish holds its own. Three meaty ribs, dry-fried and covered with grilled onion bits, garlic and sliced jalapenos offers some savory meatiness with a hint of heat, yum. And don’t miss the chili crab, a fried soft-shell crab covered in an umami-laded brown sauce. Served up with some wok-fried tomatoes to cut away the richness and a fried bao for dipping into that delicious, thick sauce. Chili crab is a Singaporean favorite and the first time I’ve tried it, super tasty!

Yaki udon at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Yaki udon at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

For a main dish the yaki udon is super satisfying. While I typically eat udon noodles in a broth or soup, these thick noodles are stir-fried with sliced chicken, egg, scallions and sprouts for a satisfying and toothsome bite. The portion size is on the smaller size (since it’s only $10) but this dish is wonderful and filling. Hawkers also offers up a smattering of sweets and desserts but I’d rather focus on the savory instead.

Open kitchen at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Open kitchen at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Service at Hawkers has been excellent during my visits and during this current pandemic, you can call in an order for pick-up, do a delivery app or dine-in socially distanced. They are spreading patrons about their large, open dining room and there are plexiglass dividers between some tables. Overall they are holding up well under tough conditions and I do feel that street food like this, deserves to be eaten straight out of that kitchen once it hits your table. Take your pics quickly and dive right on in!

Coconut curry benedict at Hawkers in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Coconut curry benedict at Hawkers in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Pandan and Kaya pancakes at Hawkers in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Pandan and Kaya pancakes at Hawkers in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

One additional option now available at Hawkers in Chapel Hill is brunch! Available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm, choose from some fun, Asian-fusion type brunch items and specialty cocktails. A thumbs up for the coconut curry benedict which is served atop crispy baguette pieces. And their Pandan pancakes are stunning looking, a fun way to end your weekend meal.

Small plates menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Sample small plates menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

Noodle and rice menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill - nctriangledining.com — Sample noodle and rice menu at Hawkers Asian Street Fare in Chapel Hill – nctriangledining.com

While Hawkers Asian Street Food had the unfortunate luck to open right before the pandemic closures, I’m relatively certain they are here for the long run! Delicious pan-Asian fare in a raucous environment, the food is super-charged with flavor that all of us can appreciate. Toss in the great prices and you’ve got a deal for family or date night! Even with the 30 minute drive for me from Raleigh, I’m already looking forward to visit #3 and exploring more off of their menu. So hey, don’t forget this new hidden gem in University Place. Their menu is the real Asian deal and cooked with some talent, you don’t want to miss it even while you’re sheltering in place, bon appetit!

Hawkers Asian Street Fare

201 S Estes Drive, 400A (Next to Silverspot Cinema)

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919.415.1799

Location on Google maps

July 26, 2017 by Ron Wen

First Take: Aroma Korea an Asian Eatery for Korean Fried Chicken & More!

Front of Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Front of Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

When it comes to Korean food in the Triangle, things are certainly looking up! While there are plenty of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese eateries, Korean has been a bit tougher to find in the area. But out in Cary you’ll find the new Aroma Korea, located off of Harrison Avenue and Maynard Road. Online reviews were glowing about the place and its Korean fried chicken so yes, it was time for a visit to this new ethnic eatery for the Triangle!

Dining room at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Dining room at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

First of all, if you’re familiar with this area, you’ll recognize the location and space. Previously Aroma Indo-Chinese, Aroma Korea sits on top of a hill at the edge of a small plaza. Large patio to the side, inside Aroma Korea hasn’t changed much at all. It’s a large open dining room with and odd divider down the middle. For some reason I always imagined this place used to be one of those sushi spots with plates on a conveyor belt but I could be wrong! Aroma Korea’s dining area is neat, clean and pretty modern. I’m seated at a side booth and handed over a couple of menus.

Korean popcorn at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Korean popcorn at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

While I’m scanning the menu, my waitress brings me over a small bowl of Korean popcorn, cool! I’ve never seen this before, it’s a small bowl of rounded popcorn kernels which are soft, fluffy and slightly sweet. A nice treat to munch on while checking out the Aroma Korea menu. The drink menu has a long list of sakes, sojus and Korean specialties to choose from. I go with the Banhari without any clue of what the drink is. Hey, I’m here to explore the menu, right? I also order up some soy-garlic KFC and bibimbop with bulkogi for my lunch. Yeah, it’s far too much food but I’m not sure when I’ll get back to Aroma Korea again!

Soy-garlic Korean fried chicken at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Soy-garlic Korean fried chicken at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

The Korean fried chicken is brought out first and I’m warned it’s a bit spicy. Five pieces of chicken (drums and wings) on an aluminum plate along with a small portion of pickled daikon, yummy! If you haven’t had Korean fried chicken before, it’s becoming more popular in the Triangle of late (Soo Cafe, M Kokko) and Aroma Korea does an excellent job. Showing off a super crispy and crunchy crust, this chicken has the soy-garlic sauce drizzled atop along with a sprinkle of sesame seed and scallions! The chicken is well-fried and the sauce does have some heat to it! My nose is sniffling a bit but it’s all good… I’d have to say that Aroma Korea’s soy-garlic KFC goes a bit more on the savory soy side versus the sweet I’ve had elsewhere. Definitely a worthwhile choice as an app and the 5 pieces of chicken are puh-lenty! The Banhari (dry apple wine) is pretty strong but cuts through the fat and richness here.

Bibimbop with bulkogi at Aroma Korea in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Bibimbop with bulkogi at Aroma Korea in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is my bulkogi bibimbop which is if you’re not familiar, is an Asian rice bowl with meat. What makes bibimbop special, however, is its thick ceramic bowl! It comes to the table, sizzling hot and steaming. The hot bowl creates a bit of crunchy crust at the bottom of the bibimbop. Along with the sizzling rice, Aroma Korea serves up their bibimbop with spinach, shredded carrot, daikon, squash and an egg on top of the bulkogi beef. It’s comfort food at its finest and I really like how they do a traditional banchan offering here with some kimchi, pickled squash and seaweed as an accompaniment. Overall it’s a very tasty and filling dish, with a lot of food for the money here.

Wow, so color me impressed Aroma Korea! I will definitely miss my Indo-Chinese food that used to be in this space but what a great option for Korean. It all feels quite authentic here at Aroma Korea. From the staff to the drink selections and the menu, you’re going to get some authentic Korean eats for not much money. Pretty much everything here is under $15 and quite affordable. So if you’re willing to make the trek out to Cary and give Aroma Korea a whirl, I think you’ll find it worth the effort. Just watch out for that Korean fried chicken and Banhari, both will hit you hard…

Aroma Korea

160 NE Maynard Road

Cary, NC 27513

919.650.2696

Location on Google maps

November 2, 2017 by Ron Wen

Retake: Sono Sushi in Raleigh for a Deluxe Japanese Dining Experience

Refreshed dining room at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Refreshed dining room at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Over the years, as I’ve grown to appreciate sushi and Japanese food, one Raleigh restaurant has been consistently doing a great job for the cuisine: Sono. From its convenient downtown location, Sono has consistently dished out authentic and tasty Japanese eats since I’ve lived in Raleigh (nine years) and I have a tremendous amount of respect for its original owner-chef Mike Lee. So of course I was a bit concerned when I found out from Chef Mike that he would be moving on from Sono’s operations to focus on his two new concepts in Durham (M Sushi and M Kokko). What would happen to my favorite Japanese restaurant? Would it be in good hands? Well as time would tell, I had nothing to worry about and here’s why!

Bar at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bar at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

As Chef Mike was transitioning to his Durham restaurants in 2016, I did notice some interesting changes at Sono. The decor was refreshed and while it still maintained its red and back motif, Sono seemed a bit newer and updated. Little did I known but new Chef Hyunwoo Kim (formerly chef at An) had already taken over the kitchen and was slowly making changes in back. Eventually I did get formal notice from Sono’s PR representative, Jennifer Noble Kelly and made a concerted effort to see what had really changed during this transition and I can tell you that most everything has stayed up to the high standards that Chef Mike had initially delivered along with some new additions!

Salmon crudo at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Salmon crudo at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Tasty gyoza at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Tasty gyoza at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Currently, Sono is doing a Sunday and Monday ramen special which I’m a huge fan of. For $20, you can choose any ramen off their menu and it’s paired with a tasty starter such as crudo or gyoza The crudo I tried was a beautiful salmon topped with jalapeno and some sriracha giving the dish a bit of pop. And the pan-fried dumplings-gyoza showed off a wonderfully tender skin along with a tasty minced meat filling, yum!

Ramen selection at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Ramen selection at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Tonkotsu ramen at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Tonkotsu ramen at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But oh, it’s time to get excited about ramen, especially now with the weather cooling down! They’ve got several options on the menu right now (tonkotsu, shoyu, spicy miso) and the meat-focused ramens come with cha-siu pork, bamboo shoots, wood-ear mushrooms and an egg. Really wonderful bowls that will fill you up, I highly recommend the tonkotsu with its milky-creamy pork broth. The tonkotsu has a wonderful savory depth to its flavor profile that just pulls you into this delicious meal. And the cha-siu at Sono is tender and sliced nicely thin. Overall you can’t go wrong with the ramens here at Sono so enjoy!

Dancing eel and Surf n Turf rolls at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Dancing eel and Surf n Turf rolls at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

But let’s face it, if you’re talking about Sono and Japanese food, you have to try the sushi! During a recent lunch visit, I tried the Dancing Eel and Surf n Turf rolls for lunch (2 for $20) and they were wonderful. Medium-sized they showed off some excellent rice and construction. I usually enjoy specialty rolls and Sono does a great job here with excellent ingredients that are allowed to shine with a minimum of sauces. The Surf and Turf roll was topped with tenderized beef and stuffed with tasty crab which really pops out on the palate. And the seared eel on the second roll was deliciously seared and generously applied.

Ishiyaki barbeque at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Ishiyaki barbeque at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Wagyu beef over sushi rice at Sono Sushi in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Wagyu beef over sushi rice at Sono Sushi in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

The rest of Sono’s menu is pretty interesting featuring a table-side ishiyaki (grilled beef), Korean fried chicken, hamachi jalapeno and more. During a media visit, I tried out a sublime starter of Wagyu beef atop sushi rice and topped with some jalapeno, a fantastic treatment of high-quality beef. And Sono also offers an omakase (chef’s choice, coursed meal) which I imagine would be a lot of fun.

All I can say is that Sono is in good hands with Chef Kim and I’d trust him in same way I trusted Chef Mike Lee, previously. They’re staying true to their ingredients while offering up some twists in the menu to keep things interesting. They’ve also increased the emphasis on their sakes offering over 35+ options in their program along with a Tuesday night, Wine & Sake social for $10 along with some complimentary sushi. How can you go wrong there?! So thank you Chef Kim and GM James Yang for taking care of one of my favorite downtown Raleigh restaurants. I know you’ll keep up the same great standards that Sono has always had and I’m looking forward to my next meal with y’all!

Sono Sushi

319 Fayetteville Street #101

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.521.5328

Location on Google maps