Hello! Kyochon (again), 27 April 2010

Not long after eating here a year prior, a friend urged me to try their fried chicken. Being ignorant, I wondered what the fuss was about and that surely fried chicken is just fried chicken? But then I came across this and this as well as an article in edible Manhattan in an issue kindly brought back to me from New York by Ms Sourdough. There has been a New York phenomenon over the past few years with its origins in Koreatown known simply as KFC – Korean fried chicken.

Monsieur Poisson had never eaten at Hello! Kyochon so we pop in one slightly cool evening for dinner. Upon being seated, I noticed that the tables are different from my previous visit. There is the addition of in-built stove burners which we assume are either for barbequing meat or hotpots. But we have browsed the menu and have our minds set on chicken, although not before a couple of other things first.

We start the meal by nibbling on some complimentary kimchi and pickled white raddish. I am wary about filling up with too much of the crunchy raddish but it has soaked up so much sweet vinegar marinade. Soon after our ‘Seafood Pancake’ arrives – pre-cut this time in contrast with my visit with Mistress.

In need of something soupy, Monsieur Poisson has chosen the ‘Bulgogi and tofu hotpot”. It is warming and not too spicy and arrives with a raw egg floating on top. With its golden yolk poking through the surface of the soup, it is perfect mixed in with a bowl of rice.

And then for our pièce de resistance – half a chicken, deep-fried Korean-style. The skin is fried to a thin, bubbly crisp and well-drained of excess greasiness. A bowl is thoughtfully provided for bones and a plate of finely-shredded cabbage provides cooling crunch interestingly dressed with squiggles of tomato sauce and mayonnaise.

Monsieur Poisson is unexpectedly impressed with the chicken and promises that we will go in search of more KFC in order to compare.

Hello! Kyochon

76a Archer St, Chatswood NSW

Tel: (02) 9411 8766

Opening Hours:  7 days, I think…

*EDIT*: As of mid-2011, Hello! Kyochon has been replaced by Gallus Gallus in the same shop space serving a similar menu.

happy eating!