Bonchon National City — Restaurant in National City

We dined in at 6PM on a Thursday with only one other table with people at it, but it took about 35-40 minutes to get just a plate of 12 boneless chicken pieces. With just the two parties in the dining room, the staff seemed confused and unable to handle the empty store. We had our order taken twice by two different waitresses while they kept asking each other which party sat at which table. They came back to ask about our orders again 20 minutes later, and dropped off the wrong beverages at a different point. It boggles my mind that with the combined brain power of two waitresses, they never figured out how to serve two different tables in an empty restaurant. Other than asking the two tables multiple times about the same two orders, they abandoned us. No refills on water until we demanded it, no updates on the 40 minute wait for our order, and we were left wondering what was going on.

At some point, one of the waitresses rushed in through the front door and was yelling at the cook that they had run out of noodles at the Asian market next door. It seems that they don't order and prep for food service ahead of time. This store seems under prepared for everything. Empty containers and food line the hallway, stacked on the ground in a haphazard manner.

The food was also disappointing. The boneless chicken had the same consistency as McDonald's nuggets, with mashed goop in a fried shell casing. It looks just like the cheap Tyson chicken meat balls that you can buy at Walmart, but they added breading and fried them. It's not real chicken meat, but the processed kind where they blend together different body parts and form it into a ball.

I ordered two flavors. Half my plate was room temperature, the other half piping hot. But the only thing with flavor was the sauce, and that wasn't an impressive flavor either. You could buy the sauce from any store, drizzle a line across those Tyson chicken nuggets, and get the same flavor as what they're charging $18 for at this place.

But if make it at home, you won't get the awful service. How do you take 40 minutes for chicken nuggets? How confuse two parties in an empty store so many times?

This place...

Was super excited to find time to come here. They weren't too busy and we were seated right away. Started off wth a 6 piece Takoyaki appetizer and they came out nice and hot. But after a few bites found that the fried octopus ball only contained a sliver of meat. I ended up eating a giant fried dough ball which was overwhelmingly covered in a sweet sauce over cabbage. Put more meat and less sauce and they would have had something I'd come back for, but as it was, pretty disappointing. We also had the chicken sliders for an appetizer, honestly, all i can say was that it was very dry and lacked any flavor. We had chosen the soy garlic. The only flavor that peeked out was the cole slaw. Main entree was the Bulgogi dish and the Chicken Fried Rice. The Bulgogi was average. The Bulgogi was on a bed of onions that were freshly cut and provided a nice contrast to the Bulgogi. It weren't for the super oiliness of the Bulgogi, I felt it could have tasted better. The Chicken Fried Rice felt like food you could get at a buffet, precooked rice sitting in a chafing dish, and a choice of meat mixed in when ordered. It did not come out hot, which was a bummer. Any fried rice, imo, taste better hot. Just underwhelming. We really came to try the chicken wings and ordered the small 50/50 boneless wings in sweet red chili and soy garlic. For a place proud of their chicken, I found it truly disappointing. The chicken may have been prefried and sitting in a chafing dish, because there was zero crunch, the texture was hard, and the chicken was not juicy or tender. The sweet red chili sauce felt like a last minute brush on, taste was bland, and the soy garlic flavor was practically missing. Overall, came in with high expectations and left wondering if I'd ever come back. For the prices, I think I'd be better off getting fried chicken anywhere else. The only real positive, if I can say it, is the food was definitely IG ready. Imo a solid 3...

If you're craving some seriously mouthwatering Korean fried chicken, look no further than Bonchon! From the moment I walked in, I knew I was in for a treat. The fried rice was nothing short of amazing--perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and just the right amount of seasoning. It was the ideal start to an incredible meal.

Now, let's talk about the kimchi. Traditional, spicy, and packed with that authentic kick that really takes it to the next level. It's hands down my favorite kimchi I've had in ages! And speaking of favorites, the coleslaw was absolutely to die for. The tangy vinegar and black pepper profile was so refreshing and unique, it completely stole the show for me. Seriously, it might be the best I've ever had.

But let's get to the main event: the wings. Oh my goodness, the wings! Crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned--they're by far the best I've ever had. We went with the ginger soy and traditional Korean BBQ sauces, and both were absolutely phenomenal. The ginger soy had that sweet and savory balance, while the Korean BBQ was just the right amount of smoky and tangy. Each bite was a perfect burst of flavor.

Bonchon is a true gem if you're looking for incredible Korean flavors that are both comforting and exciting. I can't...