The Best Korean Fried Chicken in Atlanta

We love KFC, and no we’re not talking about the colonel. Thanks to a thriving Korean-American and immigrant population, Atlanta has incredible Korean Fried Chicken options. What makes Korean Fried Chicken so special? It’s lighter than American fried chicken, thanks to constant tinkering with combinations of different flours, liquids, resting and breading that lead to the crunchiest bite of chicken you’ve ever had in your life. We’ve done our best to curate a good list of places around metro Atlanta where you can try this Korean staple for yourself. Restaurants listed below in no particular order. 

1. DISH Korean Cuisine

5000 Buford Hwy NE, Chamblee, GA 30341
(470) 299-8886

DISH Korean Cuisine is an incredible Korean culinary experience in the heart of Buford Highway. Owned by sisters, Chefs Darae and Naree, the menu is focused on Korean staples with a modern twist. Their take on KFC is mouthwatering, with crispy skin and a mind meltingly good sweet chili sauce to pair it with.

2. BB.Q Chicken

3530 Mall Blvd. Ste. #B, Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 615-7180

With three locations Northeast of 285, there’s plenty of places to get BB.Q’s crunchy chicken (you can find them in 20 states across the country!). Every store owner is trained at their Chicken University in South Korea, where they learn the two day prep process to make their savory, crackling chicken. They have flavors for everyone too, with over a dozen options including everything from honey garlic to maple crunch to their “secret sauce”. Try the “cheesling” flavor, which is dusted in a medley of cheeses, for something different.

3. Bonchon

120 Pavilion Pkwy Suite C, Fayetteville, GA 30214
(678) 829-3682

Who said the Southside doesn’t have great food? Bonchon is a South Korean-based international fried chicken chain with a Georgia location in Fayetteville that’s perfect for you OTPers to visit. Their fried chicken is double-fried, plus there’s family style meals that make weeknight dinners easy! 

4. Choong Man Chicken

525 10th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 881-8856

GA Tech students have been able to take full advantage of Atlanta’s Korean proximity thanks to Choong Man Chicken. In addition to incredible classic, garlic soy and red hot pepper chicken, they have “snow fried” chicken, which tops their korean fried chicken with sliced onions and smothers it with sauce, and their Tikkudak fried chicken, which adds an extra crunch to every bite thanks to a few extra minutes in a charcoal grill tikku oven.

5. Gaja Korean Bar

491 Flat Shoals Ave SE A, Atlanta, GA 30316
(404) 835-2126

This hip East Atlanta Village bar serves tapas style small plates of updated Korean dishes in a speakeasy atmosphere. They have two excellent fried chicken options – a soy garlic fried chicken and a gochujang fried chicken – which go great with a side of kimchi and steamed rice. Ask the bartender for a drink to pair it with or check out their Instagram for updated specials.

6. Harue V2

6035 Peachtree Rd Ste c-102, Doraville, GA 30360
(770) 680-5680

Harue was one of the first places to serve Korean Fried Chicken in Atlanta, starting in 2004 in Duluth. They have since moved to Doraville, but continue to serve the some of the best bites of Fried Chicken in Atlanta. They have a Soy Garlic flavor for those avoiding spice, but the Harue Gochujang is worth the hot tongue. The delivery travels surprisingly well if you’re in the Doraville area.

7. Mukja 

933 Peachtree St Ste 951 Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 855-5516

Mukja Fried Chicken is a locally owned and operated started by Georgia Tech grads, Peter and Sean. One evening, Sean was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident and had trouble finding a restaurant that would hire him due to his new disability, so Peter and Sean forged their own path and created Mukja. Mukja Korean Fried Chicken is a blending the best of Southern food and the best of Korean food for a creative menu featuring kimchi and bacon mac & cheese, a garlic and scallion waffle, and of course, crispy Korean fried chicken that’s a unique take that’s not quite like anything else. 

8. Yummy Place

Temporarily closed – Chamblee, Edgewood and Duluth

This Korean Fried Chicken chain with multiple locations in the Atlanta area has recently been taken under new management and will soon be opening its stores once again – but it won’t be soon enough. With hearty drumsticks and the best soy garlic flavoring in the area, we loved their chicken and hope that much doesn’t change!