Bonchon Waterford Lakes — Restaurant in Alafaya

First time ordering food from this place. My best friend told me to call 20 minutes ahead because they had a track record of slow service.

I placed my order by 7:49 pm, the man told me it’d be 45 minutes. Arrived there around 8:49 (after work) to have this man who welcomed us by loudly telling me that it’ll be a 15 minute wait. Told him I was picking up my order, and he said he’ll go grab someone to help me. He never grabbed anyone and if he did, no one came. Another women came in the door and he asked her if she was picking up. (Seriously?) He grabbed someone for her right away. They sat two parties before someone thought “oh maybe these people need help”. Not only that, the waiter who went to check on my order didn’t even bother to come back to update me on my order. When he finally does come back, he decides to tell me that they’re finishing it up with the garnishes , etc.. So I asked him how much longer it was going to be (since I’ve waited over an hr by now especially with their poor service) He told me he couldn’t tell me exactly but it’ll be around 10 minutes and that was an exaggeration and it wouldn’t take that long; that he was training someone; that they were busier than usual and they hadn’t planned for this much people. ( a well run restaurant would’ve known for a Friday night, dinner time. That you’d be busy). He even said he was going to go back there and help. I said okay and waited. While I waited. Two sets of customers came in and the girl at the bar seats the couple that was behind the first guy that came in, and completely ignored him, after seating the couple at the bar.

The 10 minute mark came, and my boyfriend told me it’s not worth it to wait anymore, and told me to go. I really wanted to wait to tell them that this wasn’t okay. I understand y’all were busy, and no matter how flustered you get. Acknowledge the people that come in and actually genuinely smile and apologize. Keep your patrons up to date on why their order is taking over an hr when you told them 45 minutes to pick up. Don’t tell them another 10 minutes if it’s really a longer wait. I’ve never eaten at this establishment and I probably never will due to the poor service that was provided this evening. No matter how good your food may be, the poor customer service skills will be the downfall of your business. No one appreciates being lied to, the truth holds more value. Just...

Horrible overall experience! I went by one night, about an hour before closing time and ordered a large combo meal with cole slaw and a side of fries. I was told by the manager/owner that they were running low on drums so he offered to give me extra wings which I was fine with and said it would be about 35 mins. After about an hour and 15 mins I go back inside and ask the girl who took my order what the hold up was with my food. She goes in the back to find out and comes out 5 mins later telling me that my order was never put in. They don't have any more chicken wings or drums and since they were closed they couldn't make me any food. So at this point I'm livid. I tell her I want to speak to the manager, she tells me he left 30 plus minutes ago. So I tell her to get him on the phone. He tells me he put my order in and isn't sure why it wasn't made but not there's no more drums or wings to make me, mind you I've already been waiting for almost an hour and a half with kids at home hungry. Voicing my frustration he tells his kitchen to make me whatever they have which ends up being some soggy chicken tenders and a few left over wings that they discovered, no fries and no coleslaw and gives me a full refund. On top of that as im waiting for the food one of the cooks comes out from the back and asks the girl up front why she didn't lock the DAMN door, that it's past closing time and as he's walking away says, " and who the f#ck is that guy", implying me. I call the manager myself and tell him what just happened and he offers to give me free food next time i come back. So a few days later I go to get my free food, place the order an hour before hand to give them time. I get my fried chicken,fries and slaw, take it home and it was the most disappointing thing I've eaten in awhile. I've eaten Bonchon before, the chicken is supposed to be extra crunchy, fries as well. The chicken I got the second time was once again soggy, and the fries lacked everything. The only decent thing was the cole slaw which is sad to say. To sum all this up, I will never give my business to this location ever again. If you want to experience what a 'REAL' Bonchon has to offer go to the location on Semoran near the airport, they have yet to...

So we were out shopping around Black Friday, and we didn't have time to prepare a meal at home, so we had to try and find something good to eat in the Waterford area. This place had been on our radar for a few years, actually, but we just never made it in. Well, this was our night. We wander in, get seated, and get started.

So we order a couple of starters.

Shrimp Shumai (Steamed or fried shrimp dumplings drizzled with honey dijon dressing). Very good! We got them fried, per our server's recommendation. There weren't huge pieces of shrimp, but the flavor was perfuse throughout the dumpling. Not too oily. I was a fan.

Takoyaki (Fried octopus dumplings drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise, katsu sauce and sprinkled with bonito flakes). This was super interesting. The fritter itself was lovely, with huge chunks of meat in there, and they weren't too chewy. The Japanese mayo just goes good on Everything. And the bonito flakes added a fun texture.

Ok, enough fluff. Onto the main event. The Korean Fried Chicken wings (Served with a complimentary side of pickled radish or coleslaw). We got the Half & Half Combo (wings and drums). So we got both flavors, Soy Garlic & Spicy.

Yelp, I gotta tell you, I found the best chicken wings in Orlando. I know there are great wing joints out there, but they are not as good as these wings were. These huge, juicy wings were as crispy as crispy could be. And they were sauced so perfectly. Not too little, not too much. Of course, some of the people reading this might think that any of the spicy sauce might be too much. It wasn't ridiculously spicy, but it lingered.

The radish helped cool things down a bit. But seriously, I don't think I've been anywhere better for wings. Go check...