Bonchon Mountain view — Restaurant in Mountain View

Bonchon Mountain View – The Crispy Crown Jewel of Castro Street (Kinda)

If you’re in Mountain View and haven’t been initiated into the crispy cult of Bonchon, it’s time. This Korean fried chicken spot doesn’t just serve food—it serves golden, double-fried greatness drenched in soy garlic or spicy sauce that hits like a K-drama plot twist: sweet, bold, and maybe a little tear-inducing (in the best way).

Whether you’re a wing loyalist or a drumstick devotee, every piece is reliably crunchy, juicy, and dangerously addictive. The half-and-half combo is the smart play—one bite of spicy, one bite of soy garlic, repeat until euphoric. Pro tip: don’t skip the pickled radish. It’s the unsung palate cleanser you never knew you needed.

Supporting dishes hold their own. The kimchi fried rice brings the heat, japchae’s got that savory-sweet bounce, and the takoyaki is a nice curveball if you’re craving something extra.

This Bonchon has a low-key entrance tucked in the back lot, which connects through an alley that pops you out onto the Castro Street front—a detail that somehow makes the place feel like a well-kept secret, even though the crispy scent might give it away first. It’s clean, casual, and a great pit stop whether you’re mid-stroll through downtown or refueling after a tech-fueled day.

Service is friendly and quick, and even when it’s busy, the staff keeps it moving without sacrificing quality. Bonus points if you can snag extra sauce—just ask nicely and thank me later.

Update after the move: Okay, here’s the plot twist after the plot twist. Since moving across the street, something’s changed—and not for the better. That signature Bonchon crisp now leans more toward plain fried chicken with a side of nostalgia. The spicy glaze doesn’t hit like it used to (more like a light slap than a smack), and the balance of wings to drums in the “mixed” order felt like a coin toss—my 8-piece came with more drums than variety. At $18, the full order feels a bit steep. Pro tip now? Stick with the 6-piece lunch special—it’s the sweet spot where satisfaction meets value.

Still worth a visit, but let’s just say… the crown...

Who thought "Korean" and "fried chicken" was a good idea? If "orange chicken" still has some "Chinese" as in "American Chinese", I cannot find a shred of Korean in "Korean fried chicken". But style or authenticity is not at question. It is the taste that breaks the deal.

Looking at the display sheet on the window and the bar-set interior, I already knew that this was a Korean "fusion" kind of deal, a gen-Y hangout place, i.e., not a family eatery. (With which region this is "fusing" is unclear.) But my daughter is presently infatuated with everything Korean.

It was a bit crowded dinner time, so we settled at the bar. I ordered a "salmon avocado ball" mainly based on ingredient list. It is a sheet of salmon wrapped over some other ingredients (nothing particularly Korean). The dish looks more baked than fried. The sauce is cheesy and sweet; there is certainly added sugar in the internal materials, too. Overall, the only good thing about the dish is presentation.

My daughter's fate was worse. She thought her tteokbokki was a traditional dish, as delightfully described on the menu. But the whole thing was so sugary that she didn't finish half of it. Needless to say, this has ruined her hope of getting anything Korean out of this place. (And engrained a fear of Asian fusion for some foreseeable future.)

If you want a downtown venue to hang out, drink some rice wine, and not having a meaningful conversation, the place is very clean, seating is more relaxed than in many Asian eateries. But if you want to have a meaningful meal that does not numb your taste buds with sweetness, or want to have any kind of "Asian" experience - or simply want a good meal, Bonchon is not a "bon" place.

Oh, what is that about "not having meaningful conversation"? The absolutely absorptionless interior is so loud that you literally have to shout to the waiting staff who leans to within two feet (60 cm)...

Under the impression they're perhaps understaffed. Entered around 3pm on Friday. The establishment itself was basically empty. I ordered take-out using the kiosk and the wait was about 25 minutes when 3rd in the online queue. I ordered my food without ranch and the staff missed this in the initial order and remade the food, which was another 5 minute wait. (I'm deeply curious about what happened to my botched order, I hope it wasn't just trashed...) Personally I don't really mind either the mistake nor the wait, but I suppose other customers might, such as the other seated customer I witnessed making a fuss to the single FOH staff member about the exact number of food items on their plate or something, leaving the poor fellow to dash back and forth between that customer, the other table of sit-in diners, and myself, when everything that I needed (picking up my food and a cup of water) could have been resolved through self-serve. As for the food itself, it's okay. It's fast food, not fine dining. As a Korean I want to particularly stress that it's fast food that has Korean on the branding, in case anyone thought otherwise; if you're in the mood for Korean food specifically I honestly think you could have a better experience at literally any other Korean restaurant. And this is on me for having expectations for fast food in the first place but the quality of the food compared to the price and...