Bonchon Navy Yard — Restaurant in Washington

Came to this location for one my most recent anniversary’s with my boyfriend. We had a lovely time. So much so that I wanted to come back a month later for my birthday. That experience was COMPLETELY different.

We had a group of about 12 and tried calling ahead to let them know we would be coming in. Whoever the host was answering the phone was pretty rude. We kept getting put on hold with no one coming back to answer the phone. It was a game day apparently, so we understood that they were busy. We eventually arrived at the restaurant and it took us about an hour to be seated, which again we understood. I know there was a lot going on because of the game, but it’s still important to speak to customers with kindness and not impoliteness.

Our waiter seemed like he meant well, but got flustered towards the end of our visit. Everyone who ordered wings had their wings come out REALLY cold. If they were at least warm, I probably wouldn’t have said anything. I spoke up to the waiter about this and he said he would talk to the manager. Our waiter came back and said that we would get to keep the wings we had and he would put in for new wings for those who had cold ones. Three people, including myself raised our hands. He asked all THREE of us which flavors we had. We told him, but a while later, only two people’s wings came out. I let him know that I never got my second order and he seemed confused. At that point I kindly told him I could just take them to-go. Those wings came out and so did the bill. He put my second order of wings, which was supposed to be a re-make on the bill. When my boyfriend brought this to his attention he tried to argue that only two people said they needed new wings when he asked earlier. But that’s not true because I am the one that spoke up in the first place, and he repeated back THREE wing orders, including mine. He simply forgot, as he was writing nothing down. I wish he would’ve just acknowledged that. We never saw or spoke to a manager.

The food is great when it’s hot. But this experience really put a damper on a day that was supposed to be fun and a celebration. Super...

Ordering at Bonchon starts a little differently than most dine-in spots. We sat ourselves at a high top table. There was a QR code to access the menu. When the site loaded, right at the top before you even browse, you’re told you must select a tip before placing your order. They note you can ask a manager to change it later if needed. While I’m pro-tipping, it struck me as an odd and slightly off-putting policy, especially given that there’s no full table service and you’re placing your own order. Not exactly the warmest first impression.

After getting past that and placing my order, the experience improved quickly. The food came out fast, plated well, and looked as good as it smelled.

I started with the Pork Belly Bao Buns (set of three). The menu mentioned spicy mayo, but if it was there, it was subtle. I noticed more of the katsu sauce, which was applied in just the right amount so it didn’t overpower or make a mess. The slaw and cucumber slice added a fresh crunch that balanced the richness of the pork belly nicely.

For a side, we went with the Onion Rings, which were more than generous enough to share. They nailed it: thick slices of juicy onion encased in crunchy, golden-brown breading that wasn’t greasy at all. Light seasoning brought them to life, and they came with a slightly spicy house dipping sauce plus ketchup on the side.

Dessert was the highlight: Korean Donuts. Two large twists, piping-hot fresh from the fryer, coated in cinnamon sugar with a sweet cream dipping sauce. Warm, crisp, and comforting, they were easily shareable (though you might not want to).

The restaurant itself was spotless, with good music and plenty of seating. The vibe leans toward a sports bar feel: casual and comfortable enough to linger.

Overall, while I personally prefer a traditional full-service dining experience, Bonchon’s food more than made up for the quirks of its ordering system. The dishes were flavorful, well-prepared, and satisfying, and I left full and happy.

In summary: Excellent food and atmosphere, minus one star for the unusual tipping policy and lack of...

Bonchon was right around the corner from our hotel during our most recent stay in DC, and I have to admit we frequented this place! If their bibimbap had been just a little better, they'd get a 5.

Sleek, clean, and well-decorated, Bonchon's dining area is as attractive as you'd expect from a DC restaurant. Like all DC restaurants, the price is gonna hurt your wallet a bit, especially if you, like us, are out-of-towners. We enjoyed the service when we came in, and our food was hot and ready for us quickly when we ordered out.

Bonchon specializes in Korean fried chicken, which we'd never had before. No idea what this dish is like in Korea, but we really loved it here! Some of the crispiest wings I've ever tasted. The hot flavor is hot (but not too hot!), but I liked the soy garlic more. Highly recommend. No idea how the wings stay so crispy with that sweet glaze, but they do.

The soy chicken bibimbap was just okay. I really missed the fried egg on top; there were more like scrambled egg strips in the bowl, which I didn't like nearly as well. The pepper sauce played nicely with all the other ingredients. I wasn't super huge on the vegetables they threw in there. A lot of it was just kinda chunked lettuce, which I'd never had in bibimbap before and didn't super love. The quinoa was an interesting addition that I DID like, however.

When we carried out the second time, I had potstickers and seasoned fries instead (I was clearly looking out for my health, lol). I had the potstickers brushed in soy garlic sauce. Woo boy, if there's one thing this restaurants excels at, it is making fried foods SO DELIGHTFULLY CRISPY. My potstickers were perfectly crunchy, savory on the inside, and sweet from the glaze on the outside. Just a little sticky, which I felt enhanced the experience. The fries, too, were outrageously crispy. They might have gone a touch heavy on the parmesan for my taste, but we still devoured them.

If you're in the neighborhood, I'd definitely recommend you...