Bonchon Alexandria, King Street — Restaurant in Alexandria

Wow what can I say… I really love BonChon chicken. The first time I had it was down in Norfolk, Va. I wasn’t really eating chicken at all (pescatarian vibes) but all my friends were like “you gotta try this chicken.” And so I did and WOW 🤩 I was in love so much so when I got back home my husband and I had BonChon (Arlington location) every night for a week. It was the flavor -popping, the crunch - out of this world. So when I saw that just a 5min walk away we were getting our own BonChon I bet you can only imagine how THRILLED we were. A dream come true… but fate had something else in mind for us. They’ve been open for about 3 months now give or take and we’ve really wanted to love this place just like all our other experiences; however it’s been tough despite our hopefulness. (1) customer service - terrible. I applaud those who show up but I’ve worked in customer service for over a decade and there’s no accuse for the poor quality and lack of customer engagement. Most of the time the people seem to be on autopilot and just spaced out. I don’t think anyone’s excited about working there. (2) quality of food - poor. Something’s off with the sauce. After each time I’m done with my wings there’s a ring of sensation around my lips. It’s really weird. The flavor and crunch that won me over is just not there at this location. (3) wait time- prepare yourself. Take a book, something to read maybe even a small snack. It is absolutely ridiculous. I have waited on 3 separate occasions no less than 45mins and at the most an hour for 8 wings and some fries. And this is where customer service can really make a difference. No one even checks on you, knowing that you have been waiting nearly an hour. They don’t offer any form of compensation. Even when you finally get your food there’s not even a “thanks for your patience.” If you’ve ever seen the waiting room scene in Beetlejuice, it’s much like that but less funny. It doesn’t matter if you place an order in person or online you will wait. All in all the BonChon king street location is a definite miss. We will be going to the Arlington location...

Having been to multiple Bonchon locations and never had a single complaint about any of them says a lot. My wife and I notice this new location and decided to place a to go order online. (Large combo, half and half with two orders of season fries)

Firstly, our order was scheduled to be ready at 6:45 but it wasn’t handed to us till 7:10. I understand that delays happen but when there are no other customers in line and only one waiting for their food. Not sure what could be the 30+ min delay. (Other locations are right on the money when it comes to times)

Secondly, the chicken was not crispy as it should be and very very blend. (Having eaten bonchon multiple times for years we know how it should taste.) the chicken was supposed to be half spicy and half garlic. But it was all blend and even though they separated the chicken you would not be able to distinguish either chicken flavors, neither spicy nor garlic flavor were able to be tasted. Seemed that the chicken was just breaded and tossed in the deep fryer and packed. Definitely not bonchon standard and it will give the brand a bad reputation.

Lastly but not to big of a deal is to make sure to ask for sauce at the store and not look till you get home like myself, as I came to realize there was no sauces at all in my bag. ( again I assume it would have been like the other bonchon locations I have been to. Not to far from here that just go ahead and place sauces, utensils in the bag.) Definitely missed the sauce for the fries but the fries were okay.

I won’t let this experience take away from my other experiences in other locations but I can say I won’t return to...

Roberto is very racist and lacked customer service skills. I being a black woman sat down with a McDonald’s in my hand and wanted to charge my phone but wanted to get settled and order something. I’ll never eat at another Bonchon again if they train u to harass someone over food from another store. The run down is he came over not greeting me I didn’t know he worked there as he looked like he just got out of bed and then he points at my food being loud saying hey u can’t bring food in here without buying something and I stated I was I just want to put my phone on the charger and he said no u can’t sit and have food from another store I said ok u don’t have to do too much I’m going to wait in line and order it was about 6 people around watching. Roberto waited til I bought something to then bring up how u can’t have food from another store but I said but u didn’t ask if I was buying something just cuz u seen me with good that doesn’t mean it’s mine I could’ve waited for someone to come to buy something but since he’s such a know it all he wanted to argue and express he’s not being rude yet not taking my order so now I’m thinking u just want me upset to me leave but I’m writing this to let whoever wants to check this place out in King st in VA don’t go in there to chill get your food eat and leave he wasn’t even apologetic about my feelings and I bought something so how does he look doing all that weird stuff. He’s pathetic and lacks work ethic for $6.00 job...