Name: Korean fried chicken: The other KFC
Uploaded: 2025-11-23T15:33:13.877Z
Duration: 3 min 50 s
Description: The growing popularity of Korean fried chicken reflects a greater familiarity with Korean culture. But its origins can be traced to an American cookbook dating back to when African American soldiers fought in the Korean War. Nancy Giles talks with chef Judy Joo, co-creator of Seoul Bird, and Suzie Tsai, CEO of the chain Bonchon, about food that has come full-circle.

The growing popularity of Korean fried chicken reflects a greater familiarity with Korean culture. But its origins can be traced to an American cookbook dating back to when African American soldiers fought in the Korean War. Nancy Giles talks with chef Judy Joo, co-creator of Seoul Bird, and Suzie Tsai, CEO of the chain Bonchon, about food that has come full-circle.

Korean fried chicken has become a global phenomenon, with chain restaurants in the United States increasing by 22% in a single year and nearly 500 Bonchon locations operating worldwide. The dish's appeal is attributed to its distinctive double-fried preparation, flavorful sauces, and the influence of Korean culture in media and cuisine.

The origins of Korean fried chicken trace back to African American soldiers who introduced the recipe to Korea during the Korean War, creating a cultural exchange that has come full circle as the dish returns to the U.S. in both casual and upscale settings. Chefs and restaurateurs note that food often serves as an entry point to learning about a culture, and Korean fried chicken is now uniting people around the world.

Korean fried chicken: The other KFC

At New York City's Madison Square Garden, people are showing up for more than just the home team. I love the Knicks, and I love fried chicken. It turns out, Korean fried chicken has a fan base of its own, here at Chef Judy Joo's Soul Burg. It's good. Perfect for the game. I'm serving to the masses. This is no longer niche. Now that I'm able to serve Korean food in some of the largest arenas in the world is absolutely a pinch me moment. In the United States, chain restaurants serving this chicken have multiplied by 22% this year alone. It's delicious. The sweet and the spice. Bonchon is one of those chains. Suzy Tsai is the CEO, overseeing nearly 500 locations around the globe. We're in Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar. And near Salt Lake City, Utah, where, for the curious, the Korean American population is less than 1%. What is it that makes Korean fried chicken so popular, so special? The way we fry it, the way we season it. Our fried chicken is hand battered, double fried. We fry it very crispy. Right. And on top of that, we're able to add sauces, whether it's spicy, whether it's soy. Giving it a signature taste and sound. There's actually contests going on who can make the loudest crunch sound. People love eating and sharing how they eat now. Suzy Tsai says it's part of a growing appetite for Korean culture. I can destroy the hunters for good. From movies and TV, and beauty, it's everywhere. And there's just been this huge demand and following for Korean food. But get this. The recipe for Korean fried chicken comes from an American cookbook, dating back to African American soldiers during the Korean War. Many of them were from the Jim Crow South and served in segregated units. And there are actually records that they actually shared their food with the locals. I'm proud of my people. I love that. I think it's amazing. This kind of became a cultural exchange. Because when you're away from home and you're fighting a war, what do you want? You want comfort. It's so poetic, isn't it, to see that this comes back to the United States after all of these different iterations. Yeah. Wouldn't you say? I love that. It's kind of a full circle moment, like literally, because it's come back around the world in this amazing way and in a type of popularity unseen. Today, Korean fried chicken is served spicy or sweet, in casual or upscale settings, at restaurants like Autoboy and CocoDoc in New York, where it's served with caviar and champagne. It's a popularity that amazes Chef Judy Joo. I grew up in Jersey, and I was embarrassed by my lunchbox. It's incredible that these flavors that I grew up with, that I was once embarrassed about, are now going mainstream. It still is an education, but people's first foot into learning about a culture is usually through the food. It's their stomach that drives them. They end up in a Korean restaurant, and they usually go for a food that seems familiar, like fried chicken. Isn't that amazing? And again, food can bring so many things together, so to speak. Definitely. Korean fried chicken, bringing cultures around the globe, around the table. You've got to use your fingers for fried chicken. That's another thing about fried chicken.

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