Korean Fried Chicken, KFC, Chimaek, 치킨 … they continue to enjoy great popularity in Singapore, as the chain shops expand, and new shops keep coming. So where is the best Korean Fried Chicken in Singapore?
After the last viral post on 5 Best Korean Fried Chicken in Singapore, I thought the list needed some updating, and so went back to try all those commonly known as ‘the best’.
The general findings: the older shops declined in quality (sad), and newer shops have proved to be up-and-coming. (Disclaimer: We all know the word ‘best’ is subjective, and everyone will have their personal favourites. Don’t get too angry yah?)
10 Best Korean Fried Chicken In Singapore – So Good You Can’t Stop!
Choo Choo Chicken 츄츄
33 Bali Lane (near Arab Street, adjacent to Haji Lane, at the side road nearest Bugis MRT)
Tel: +65 62990980
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm
Different Korean fried chicken fans had claimed that this shop opened by a Korean language teacher did offer some of the best wings in Singapore.
Fried chicken were served in flavours of Original, Soy, Spicy or Sweet, in the form of Whole Chicken ($29.90), Crispy Wings ($16/$29), or 8-Piece Wings ($16). Woh! The Spicy Crispy Pieces I had were 맛있는 delicious, with the sauce evenly enveloping the crunchy batter (and it is sweet and not overly spicy), meat simply juicy. The batter still remained crisp after minutes. Very awesome.
The Original Ones were not so spectacular because I would have enjoyed more chomp in the batter. Even though I was given breast meat (a part I didn’t fancy because it’s usually dry), Choo Choo’s version stayed tender. (Read: Choo Choo Chicken Bali Lane)
Chicken Up
48 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088469 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6327 1203
Opening Hour: 5:30pm – 2:00am (Mon-Thurs, Sun), 5:30pm – 3:00am (Fri-Sat)
Branch at Century Square
Chicken Up has been commonly known as “The Best Korean Fried Chicken In Singapore” (Straits Time’s Hsueh chose it in a blind-taste), and their expansion doesn’t stop.
Their Spicy Up Chicken ($18.00 for 4 pieces, $34.00 for 8 pieces) is up and up expensive! It has batter crispy with a ccccrunch. Though my personal favourite is the Soya Chicken Wings ($12 for 4 pieces, $24 for 8) coated with Korean soy sauce, matched with quite juicy and moist meat. If only their quality is consistent between branches. It’s tough to stay on top.
If you are vengeful towards chicken, a fried chicken BUFFET is available for dinner at $25+. (Read: Chicken Up Little Bugis Village)
Ssiksin Chicken
Serangoon NEX #02-04 (Within Ministry of Food) Singapore 238858 (Serangoon MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
The newest player in the Korean fried chicken game sets off on a promising start. Some of the offerings: The Original Fried Chicken ($8 for 2 pieces, $15 for 4, $28 for 8), Seasoned Spicy Chicken ($9, $16, $30) and Soy Sauce Chicken ($9, $16, $30).
From the appearance alone, you would see this hot shattering crunchy crust enveloping the chicken, the type will go “Crrrrrrrrrrr!” when you put in your mouth. After we came back to the chicken after some time, the skin was still rather crispy!
Good stuff. But the real highlight to me was the inside which remained moist and juicy, yet not too greasy – whether it was the drums or wings. I thought about what was lacking – the chickens could fare better with more seasoning, a more flavourful taste. (Read: Ssiksin Chicken NEX)
Hoho Chimek
East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road #01-45 Singapore 487048
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm (Tues – Fri), 12pm – 10:30pm (Sat-Sun)
Korean fried chicken of a different style. Smaller sized.
The chicken Combo came in an individual friendly 6 pieces with fries set at $9.90. No GST or service charge. When the chicken arrived, I thought they looked dry and small. Swiped them across the brown soy and garlic sauce, took a bit, thought, “Hmmm… so salty” and didn’t think much, initially.
Before I knew it, I kept repeating those actions, using those little drumlets to sweep across that sauce which I claimed to be salty just moments earlier. There was a part of these chicken wings that were downright addictive. (Read: HoHo Chimek East Village)
Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라
68 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088489 (Note: They moved from Tras Street)
Tel: +65 6224 7901
Opening Hours: 11am – 5pm, 5pm to 4am Daily
Unlike the other restaurants where the focus is fried chicken, Kko Kko Nara is a typical Korean restaurant with the usual Korean fare, which happens to be very known for their Korean Fried Chicken.
Interesting to know: The self-taught Korean owner used to rummage through rubbish bins of restaurants back home to find out what was used to make these fried chicken. (The makings of a Korean drama series.)
For those who love variety, get the Combo Chicken Set ($20 during lunch, $25 during dinner) which has 9 pieces with 3 different favours – original, sweet and special garlic soy sauce chicken. We liked the garlic chicken best, which was evenly marinated and tasty on the outside. Tried on various occasions, and didn’t seem consistent enough. At times too dry.
Oven and Fried Chicken
182 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068630
Tel: +65 6222 5959
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 12:00am (Mon-Fri), 4:00pm – 12:00am (Sat-Sun)
Oven & Fried Chicken is known for their ‘Fried Rice Chicken’ seasoned with various sauces such as Sweet & Spicy, Jambalaya, and Soy Sauce ($20 for half, $35 for whole).
Rice Chicken? Ah, they used rice flour to coat the chicken before frying, thus a thicker outer layer. The sauce was appetizing and greasy. But perhaps there was just too much of the coating, it masked the taste of the chicken and made eating rather ‘jelak’ (too rich) after just two pieces. (But this would please those who loved licking sauces off fingers. Slurp.)
Chir Chir 치르치르
313@somerset #B3-04/05/06, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon-Thurs, Sun), 11am – 11pm (Fri-Sat)
Bedok Point, 700 New Upper Changi Road #02-05/06 Singapore 467351
Chir Chir (pronounced Chi-Re Chi-Re) Fusion Chicken Factory is a popular Korean restaurant chain which made its way to Orchard 313@Somerset and Bedok Point, specialising in deep fried Korean style chicken and other freshly cooked chicken dishes such as Spicy BBQ Roasted Chicken, Garlic Roasted Chicken and Crispy Fried Tenders.
Its menu prices was rather intimidating though. Crispy Fried Chicken was $26.90! The rest of the other dishes… Kkan Pung King spicy and sweet chicken ($28.90), Spicy Wings ($28.90), Garlic Roasted Chicken ($32.90), and Rosemary Chicken ($29.90).
The Garlicky Chicken ($28.90) was our favourite, covered with specially made and imported soy sauce, served with Korean toppoki and sweet potatoes. This was safe, good enough, decent, though nothing really spectacular. Guess they could be juicier and hotter. (Read: Chir Chir 313 @ Somerset)
Bonchon Chicken 본촌치킨
201 Victoria Street, #01-11 Bugis+ (former Illuma, opposite Bugis MRT), Singapore 188067, Tel: +65 6884 4768
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 11:0pm
Bonchon Chicken is enjoying greater fame overseas than our Singapore unit. Unfortunately. Service (or the lack of) and long waiting times were its greatest liability here.
Their chicken is deep fried twice – so the skin becomes crunchier and the meat less greasy when compared to the usual American fast food fried chicken. It feels kind of pricey though. A medium combo of 6 wings, 2 drumsticks is $14.95 (oh they reduced their prices!), and I am only saying it because the pieces are quite small.
The skin comes off in pieces, with the sauces nicely enveloping it. The meat not quite like the usual, is tasty and not too oily. Plus point, it didn’t leave much of a stain on your fingers even if we used hands directly. (Read: Bonchon Chicken Bugis+)
Guksu Restaurant
Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard #02-385, Singapore 038983 (City Hall MRT, Promenade MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10:30pm Daily
Guksu Restaurant may be selling noodles and other stuff, but I would return for their Korean Fried Chicken. 5 types of fried drumstick; garlic, soya sauce, sweet & sour, spicy, and honey glaze ($3.90 for 1 piece, $11 for 3, $21 for 6). Unfortunately, wings were still not available.
Each drumstick was toasted and deep-fried, cooked thrice to capture the additional crispiness. And still succulent and moist. These babies were worth five fingers. During my last visit, I thought that the drums were too oily, and could be brushed with more sauce. Just saying. (Read: Guksu Restaurant Suntec)
4 Fingers Crispy Chicken
Ion Orchard B4 (Orchard MRT)
Branches at Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut MRT), Westgate, Changi Airport Terminal 3
Opening Hours:10:00am – 10:30pm Daily
Would people agree with me if I say 4 Fingers used to be a lot a lot better? 4 Fingers is easily the most popular Korean Fried Chicken brand among the youths. I USED to understand why, but the chicken has somewhat become dryer and dryer every time I go. And quality is NOT consistent.
Its specialty: the 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken Wings and Drummettes (6 pieces for $9.95) coming in flavours of soy garlic, spicy or mixed. The seasoning was very tasty and you would want to slowly lick the sauces off the skin.
The chicken wings felt like they went for an extended sun-tan session, and were dry and shriveled. If you want something more moist and piping hot, then order the Chicken Drumsticks (3 pieces for $10.95). Note: quality between branches differ quite a bit. (Read: 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken Plaza Singapura)
Which is your personal favourite Korean Fried Chicken in Singapore?
Other Related Entries
5 Best Korean Fried Chicken in Singapore
Ssiksin Chicken (NEX)
HoHo Chimek (East Village)
Choo Choo Chicken (Bali Lane)
Chir Chir (313 @ Somerset)
* Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated. He will next be seen running regularly to burn off all the Korean fried chicken he has consumed over the last 2 months.
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