Chicken Insider — Restaurant in New York

Even though I don’t sample as many food establishments as I did when I had my first food blog nearly 20 years ago, I find I can still suffer from "food trend fatigue.” After a while, there are only so many things you can do to a burger or do with pizza or fuse one type of cuisine with another before it all becomes rather routine. The “special” dishes that supposedly make a place “unique” are suddenly rather similar to others, and after a while, even the popular, “new” dishes become old hat. But I will continue to research — and still enjoy, often — what is out there in the culinary cornucopia of options to wind up eventually presently surprised again.

That just happened to be the case today as, on the recommendation of a trusted, fellow epicurean traveler, I tried out a small, new-ish spot up by me here on the Upper East Side of Manhattan called Chicken Insider, which specializes in Korean fried chicken and likewise features a variety of flavors and preparation of the globally ubiquitous fried yardbird.

The innocuous location and way humble build-out of the diminutive spot belies the treasure of crispy fried chicken I enjoyed today. I spoiled myself with an almost intoxicatingly Seoul chicken sandwich showcasing a boneless slab of juicy chicken incased in a crumbly, crispy exterior, “crowned” with robustly spicy sweet “Korean” sauce, then I followed that with the spicy Korean sweet chili sauce wings, boasting the same crispy skinned, juicy chicken, generously dressed in an even more satisfyingly tingly sauce.

(It’s almost two hours later since the last wing I ate — though I did bring the last 6 wings home! — and my is still tasting and feeling the bright yet rich heat of that sauce.)

When word spread nearly 10 years ago that the chain Chick-Fil-A was going to open their first locations in New York City, an large number of other chicken-centric spots were soon newly opened or adapted their standard menus to include their versions of “signature” chicken sandwiches. Around the same time new sites for popular Asian fried chicken places started opening up here in Gotham, and more Southern spots opened up promoting their fried chicken as their principal draw. There was quite the hullaballoo when all those places first opened, as they were the shiny new (some hardly new) ideas of that time.

Present day, though, they’re regardeed more in faint memorables (of varying fondness) or mere afterthoughts. Chicken Insider reminds me of the thrill of (re)discovering the appeal a fried chicken all over again. In my old thinking I’d more expect to find this place down on the Lower East Side, packed and with lines snaking outside from it for hours a day. I appreciate its very convenient geographical proximity, and as well the excitement I now enjoy looking very much forward to revisiting and trying the many other attractive crispy fried chicken dishes...

So I always watch Mukbang and I'm intrigued by watching this Korean girl eat fried chicken. It's always so crunchy and it looks tasty. I was so happy when I googled Korean fried chicken and came across Chicken Insider. As soon as I saw the pics of the chicken I immediately knew it was the same type of chicken the Mukbang girl was eating. So I tried it out and PEOPLE, I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL. I enjoyeddddddddddddddddd my Korean sweet chili drum & wing special and the loaded bacon cheese fries was to die for. Omg, it was so good, that my cousin wanted her own order so I had to go back to pick up and I plan on going back again on Thursday. This is my new spot. Trust me, I'm a foodie, and this place hits the spot. I'm not a fan of the garlic soy sauce mainly bcs I love spicy food. But definitely try it out. And the best part is the chicken is NOT dripping in grease but it’s really crispy. I LOVE IT 😋😋😋😋😋😋😋

The service was great and the ambiance was cute...

Quaint eatery!

The chicken wasn't the best I had but it's decent. Theres a restaurant in Brooklyn called "Garlic to the Chicken" that has chicken varieties that just seem larger and more....robust. If that makes sense. The chicken here seems to come from chickens that are bred in a way they have less meat on their bones. For example, in comparison to Garlic to the Chicken, the bites of the wings and legs here didn't leave your palate with meat but rather more fried skin and oil.

However its still good. The atmosphere is okay with plenty of seating and good pop music. I think it's K-pop. The staff were cordial. They bring you your food if you're eating in and utensils which I thought was a nice hospitable touch.

The truffle fries were average. They need to add more garlic and truffle sauce rather than oregano, parmesan flakes and some salt.

The portions are decent so come hungry lest you risk taking food home.

Overall I'd say a decent Korean Fried...