BonChon Chicken, web site, 6653 Little River Turnpike, #H, Annandale, VA, 703-750-1424 [Don Rockwell]
Is it the best fried chicken I've had? I didn't even mind the forty-minute wait, though now I know to call ahead, as the Koreans do. Get it with both sauces - soy and garlic, and hot --and be sure to ask for the kimchi.
Here is the NYT on Korean fried chicken. It's also healthier than you think: crunchy, spicy, and non-greasy.
Wild Chicken, web site, 11039 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, West Fair Shopping Center, in the rear, this is the hardest place to find in this whole guide, it is simply behind the big buildings facing the main street, 703-383-0266 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]
They have Peruvian chicken, a 7 on a scale of one to ten. On Monday there is Lomo Saltado, Tuesday has Aji de Gallina, and Friday has Seco de Carne (beef stew with cilantro). Those dishes are quite good, and occasionally on offer other days as well. An intriguing mom n’ pop, and certainly worth trying at least once. They also offer unusual (and tasty) Latino ice creams, seasonally.
Cheogajip Chicken, Lotte Plaza, near the deli in the supermarket, 3250 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax Circle, Fairfax, VA, 703-273-4499, usually open. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo also see this | Washington Area Korean Restaurant Guide]
This in the same place as Tian Chinese Restaurant.
See also "Koreans Share Their Secret for Chicken With a Crunch," by Julia Moskin, The New York Times, February 7, 2007
Other locations: in the Korean Mini Mall at 13814 Braddock Rd, Centreville, VA; and 4300 Evergreen Lane Suite 102, Annandale, VA.
Korean fried chicken comes to this area, finally. Very moist and juicy and they cook it fresh, that means a 15-minute wait. This isn’t the very best Korean fried chicken I’ve had, but the idea is a phenomenon and if you haven’t had it before, do give it a try. It comes in regular, sweet, spicy, and herb, so far I’ve only tried the sweet.
Cheogajip Chicken is one of Korea's largest chicken franchise with 1,200 franchises in Korea.
Cheogajip Chicken has been loved by everyone for its classic, mouthwatering taste, which was developed through 17 years of experience.
Cheogajip USA was established in March of 2005 and opened its first restaurant in Annandale, Virginia in October 2005.
Soon after, in March 2006, a second restaurant was opened in Centreville, Virginia, followed by a third in Flushing, New York in April 2006.
In order to reach more customers, we are planning to expand with more restaurants throughout the East Coast this year and in the earlier part of 2007, we will spread out to the West Coast starting with Los Angeles.
Hodges Carry-Out / Sandwich Shop, 616 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC, near the Convention Center, 202-628-0606 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Citysearch]
Supposed to have good collard greens, fried chicken, sandwiches, etc. This place has been there for more than one hundred years, really.
Chicken House and Family Kitchen, 6007 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-379-1255, in the Culmore Shopping Center (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]
The most stripped down chicken place you can imagine, barely deserves to be called a restaurant. Not above average, but not below average either. The immediate area has stiff competition, but occasionally I end up here.
Peruvian Chicken and Steak, 6198 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA, 703-237-7704, in Willston shopping center strip mall (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Falls Church News-Press | Washingtonian | City Paper | Yelp]
Yet another chicken place, yet another good chicken place. They have interesting fruit juices, too.
El Pollo Rico, 932 Kenmore Street, Arlington, VA, 703-522-3220, near the GMU Law School, they have moved from the old location. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
You have to admire any restaurant that has only one item on the menu. One of the best chicken places. Maybe the best chicken. And certainly the best fries. But no yucca. On the negative side, the portions are smaller than in many places, and it doesn’t always come piping hot. Great for people-watching.
(Peruvian chicken is "pollo a la brasa')
Pollo Inka, 656 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-481-9090 (703-871-0362?) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]
Another good Peruvian chicken place in a Herndon mini-mall.
A reader recommends Pollo Real, again in Herndon, 1114 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon, VA, 703-796-9000, Elden Street at Herndon Parkway. [Yelp]
The Chicken Place, 5519 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-931-3090, near Bailey’s Crossroads, where the old Edy’s used to be. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
They have one of the tastiest chickens, a place to go if you are tired of the large crowds at Edy’s, you can eat here with no sacrifice in quality, plus the chicken comes more quickly.
- - -
Never been to these other restaurants named "The Chicken Place": 2418 University Blvd. West, Wheaton, MD, 301-946-1212 [Washingtonian | Gayot]
In Gaithersburg, La Flor de la Canela used to be called "The Chicken Place": 117 N. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 301-519-9100 [WaPo]
Edy's Chicken and Steak, 5240 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-820-5509, Las Brasas, Leesburg Pike, Bailey's Crossroads, on the north side of Route 7, just east of Chesapeake Plaza, where the old Borders used to be (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
After moving to fancy new digs, at first the quality declined but now it has recovered. That being said, the waits for chicken are now sometimes interminable, once it took a solid 35 minutes. One is reminded of Yogi Berra’s old adage: “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded.” Still, I love this place. And an A plus for atmosphere and good general fun. Oh, get the chicken, not the steak. For yucca fries, I think the best is Brasa Roja, in Fairfax, or the place in Willston Plaza (Peruvian Chicken and Steak), on Rt. 50; the yucca here is actually substandard.
Crisp & Juicy, multiple outlets [WaPo | 10Best | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Citysearch | Gayot]
Many of my readers like these places, I have yet to go.
Pollo Campero, 5852 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA (just west of the Best Buy at Bailey’s Crossroads). (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]
Also 1375 Kenyon St. NW, Washington, DC; 496 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-904-7500; 1355 East University Boulevard, Adelphi, MD, 301-408-0555; 11420 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-942-6868; and 701 Russell Avenue, Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD.
An international chain (web site).
Not Peruvian chicken, just plain fried chicken. A Latin version of KFC but far superior. The French fries and sides are excellent. By 11:00 am on weekends the crowds have arrived, sometimes parking is a real pain. Excellent for people-watching, recommended if you can stand the idea of eating fried chicken.