You’ve got to try the fried chicken at Annandale’s Bon Chon

By James Moon

Many Koreans—like much of the general population—have a weakness for fried chicken and beer. And although fried chicken didn’t catch on in Korea until 1979, the 30 years that followed saw the peninsula become a culinary powerhouse in the fried chicken arena. Fried chicken in South Korea is everywhere—from ubiquitous mom-and-pop shops to “luxury” chicken restaurants where customers queue for hours.

“During the last World Cup, the chicken price was much higher than normal,” says Kim, remarking on how South Korea’s chicken supply couldn’t keep up with the enormous demand of hungry soccer fans. “They had to make reservations,” she says. “Chicken was totally gone because of the World Cup.”

Korean fried chicken, called yangnyeom chicken (literally “seasoned chicken” in Korean), has become so popular that it’s been re-imported back to America, where yangnyeom chicken restaurants have made waves around Los Angeles and New York City. For those who are fans of fried chicken—or simply have a weakness for it—the place to go in Annandale is Bon Chon Chicken, at 6653 Little River Turnpike (in the little shopping center next to Campbell & Ferrara).

Bon Chon specializes in yangnyeom chicken that’s crispy, flavorful, and distinctly nongreasy. The exact cooking method, as with many franchises, is a trade secret, but what sets Korean-style fried chicken’s texture apart from that of American varieties is, according to the New York Times, “an Asian frying technique that renders out the fat in the skin.”

What isn’t a secret is that Bon Chon’s chicken takes time. If you’re dining in, expect to wait a while for your chicken to be cooked, or have a beer to pass the time. For carryout orders, call at least 45 minutes in advance. Fast food this is not. Some regular customers call in their orders even if they’re dining in.

Bon Chon’s chicken is flavored in traditional hot sauce or nonspicy soy garlic and comes with a pickled radish side dish. Large orders are $19, medium orders are $12. Orders of all drum sticks or all wings are also available. For reservations or carryout orders, call 703/750-1424.

Besides being a chicken restaurant, Bon Chon is a dimly lit bar serving beer, Korean liquor, and an assortment of Korean-style pub food.