Bonchon University City — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I was having a rough busy day for 13hrs of work starting from 8am, I'm not from Philly. I lived 2hrs away, I had a job to do around in the city that made me work for 13hrs. So before heading back home, I was planning to treat my self for good food and this will be my 1st decent meal for the day, . Whenever I'm away from my city I only look for Japanese food or Korean Chicken(Bonchon) since we don't have those food in the area that I lived. I'm a fan of Bonchon ever since I was living in my Home country. So Bonchon was 1 of my top choices to eat if I'm looking for good food that will not disappoint my satisfaction. But I was wrong. I did ordered at the front desk thinking that's where I'm supposed to order and I did verify that to the person who's in the front desk(every Bonchon has its own different ways to order), so he gave me the menu and I did order, I was told it will be 15-20mins and I'm free to sit anywhere I want.

So I waited in the dining table for 2 persons. 15min. got the call that my order was ready, so I picked it up and I was surprised it was on To go bag cuz I wasn't asked if my order was To go. Didn't mind it cuz I was really hungry and sat back again at my table. While Opening my food and I'm ready to start eating like having my first bite of decent food for the day after all I went thru, then suddenly a crew approach me and said that I can't DINE my food on that table because my food was on To go bag and the table is reserved for dining customers( there wasn't even a signage on the table), they want me to move from the high table which is the waiting area for To go customers. I was like dizzy and confused cuz I know it wasn't busy and they barely have customers, and the crews are sitting just on the bar area talking. I did tell them that I was having a rough day and this is my first decent meal and ask them I will only eat for about 10-15min. Another crew went and join the conversation saying it's okay but still insisting to move me in the front of my table which is for 6 persons and said it's for safety issue cuz there was a hanging board on above where I'm sitting(it has some pictures of customers or crews, not really sure).

I said okay if you will help me move my food I will comply. So they did move it and now starting to have my most awaited moment of the day which is my first bite off chicken wings, even though i lost a part of my appetite due to what happened. While eating I'm still thinking why they still put table on that area if it wasn't safe plus it's not busy. Really?they will do that for the customers that's about to start eating and interrupt their meal.

So I managed to eat fast, but didn't finish my meal cuz I really lost my appetite. Went to the Restroom and they don't even have a proper hand wash soap. It was dilluted soap with water with a ration of I guess 80% water that it doesn't even make bubbles and no Drying paper towels but there is a container for it. I was like, really they were acting up like that? It really doesn't make any sense to me. They think they are gold but their service is poor as a tin.

One more thing, your Chicken is the worst Bonchon Chicken I ever had it taste so blunt!

Tried 3 stores in PA, 1 in MD and they are Amazing.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN TIP IN THE FIRST PLACE, I WAS GENEROUS ABOUT IT BUT THEY DON'T DESERVE IT.

NO PLANS ON GOING BACK HERE EVEN I DO HAVE A JOB...

I was super excited about this location because I don’t have to go all the way downtown anymore. WRONG! I still have to go downtown because this place shouldn’t even be called bonchon. I gave them 3 chances and each time I had a horrible experience. The first time was the day of the grand opening and me and my friend went. She hated her chicken, our drinks was watered down and my food was ok. Second time I went and the chicken had a weird after taste and one of the pieces looked like it was bit of of. The strips was soggy and had little to no flavor. That night and the entire next day I was sick but me being naive I refuse to believe it came from bonchon. Third time I ordered before I went to work and came in and picked it up. Once I got back to my car, I opened the box and noticed it was only 8 strips. I called and said I ordered and paid for 10, so why did I get 8. She tells me well 8 comes with the lunch special🤔 sooo I paid 15 and got 8 pieces and that was a lunch special. For one, I wasn’t even told there was a lunch special and on my receipt it said 10 piece. She then asks me if I want to come back for 2 pieces of chicken. I said yes because that’s what I paid for or do a price adjustment and refund me for whatever the difference is in the lunch special price. She didn’t want to do that so she went and put 2 pieces in my box. You would think that for the inconvenience, they would’ve threw in a few more pieces. Or apologized. I got nothing. The spicy is not spicy at all!! And the soy garlic is not flavorful. What a waste of money 3 x’s! Also bonchon is known for frying the chicken twice and this chicken has no crisp at all! I’ll be sticking with the one on cherry...

Don't ever come to this restaurant! I had two terrible dining experience in this restaurant before. I ordered a chick combo, and it took me an hour and 40 mins for this order. Our waitress didn't inform us that there was a big order before us until we had been waiting for roughly 40 mins. And, she promised us our chicken combo would come soon in 20 mins. I kept waiting for more than half an hour, then I called my waitress what was going on with my order I had been waiting for more than an hour. Then she told me my food was placing on the plate and would come in the following few mins. I turned on my timing on my iphone. I kept waiting for 8 mins (8 mins for placing the dish?) and I could not keep waiting. I headed to the counter directly and asked for my check (my drink and rice was served) telling them I didn't need my chicken combo any more no matter it was still cooking or placing on the plate. The other waiter helped the waitress to explain the big order before us and he felt like it was not their business to keep me waiting for an hour 40 mins. He gave me a 50% discount for my rice and drinks, and not willing to give me a sincere apology. It didn't happen to me once but twice! Consider this question before you come to the restaurant. Their food is not bad, but their service could be terrible than you expect. The waitress would keep you waiting there and not tell you there is a big order before you until roughly an hour. Also, they wouldn't apologize for their terrible service. They think it is ok to compensate your precious time with 50% discount! Fking terrible service DO...