Bon Chon: Not just any fried chicken

MANILA, Philippines - Three years ago, there was a crowd lining up outside Scott’s door. They were hungry, but they wanted to eat only one thing: fried chicken. Not just any fried chicken though. It had to be deep fried to perfection with the crispy skin glazed lightly. It was addictive and it was worth the wait. Unknown to many, Scott was the lone chef inside the kitchen. And up until the moment he opened Bon Chon in the Philippines, he had no culinary background whatsoever.

Scott Tan discovered Bon Chon in New York and, at some point, decided the brand would be his first foray into the food industry. “I used to eat there all the time whenever I was in New York,” he explains.

The brand started in Busan, South Korea back in 2002, but it immediately garnered success elsewhere, especially in the US. From there, Scott, then 27, decided it was time to introduce his favorite restaurant to the Philippines. And while he’s at it, he might as well learn some kitchen tricks, too.

The result was quite epic. Sixty-four stores later, Bon Chon has already served enough chicken to line the Philippines from north to south three times over. And the brand still continues to spread in every part of the country to this day. The secret to its success is simple: a constant quest for deliciousness. And deliciousness does not always have to mean chicken.

Bon Chon’s line of Snack Ons has been gaining widespread popularity among its regular diners. At just P75 and below, these items are very budget-friendly. What’s more, they include seafood options that are just as satisfying.

The fish taco is reminsicent of those served in the food trucks in California. Dory fillets are lightly battered and deep fried, and placed in a soft tortilla along with some coleslaw. Paired up with Bon Chon’s Caesar or Oriental crispy chicken salad, it makes for a satisfyingly affordable meal.

Apart from the fish taco Snack On, Bon Chon also serves seafood creations such as fish and chips, calamari, and the seafood platter that can easily serve three to four people.

For working moms who keep their kids in tow, satisfaction comes in the form of  Bon Chon’s chicken poppers, boneless chunks of deep-fried chicken coated in the restaurant’s signature soy glaze. Kids can simply devour these as a snack but for a hearty lunch, it can easily be paired up with rice or even Bon Chon’s chapchae, Korean noodle stir-fry. Kids may also want to have these alongside a steaming bowl of bulgogi noodle soup.

For something you can have on the go, Bon Chon has the ultimate Snackwich. The Double Garlic Snackwich features soy garlic glazed chicken chop in a sesame kaiser bun with some garlic mayo, garlic bits, and lettuce. Meanwhile, the Double Spicy Snackwich has a spicy chicken chop in a sesame kaiser bun with some spicy mayo and hand-cut kimchi coleslaw. Pair this with some fries or onion rings for as low as P45.

Know what else P75 can buy you at Bon Chon? Dessert — lots of it! The restaurant serves up an awesome frozen yogurt called Kõ-Yõ and you can enjoy a small plain serving for just P35. KõYõ also comes in three flavors, at P75 per. There’s the Blueberry Torte Kõ-Yõ which features a graham cracker crust in between layers of frozen yogurt with rich blueberry topping. Then there’s Scott’s personal favorite, the Banoffee Kõ-Yõ, which is layers of frozen yogurt with graham cracker crust in between, then topped with fresh banana slices and caramel sauce. Finally, there’s the summer pleaser, the Mango Sansrival Kõ-Yõ. The frozen yogurt layers with graham cracker crust are topped with fresh mango slices and cashews.

For something warm and sweet, Bon Chon also has some very delicious crispy crepes. There’s the Apple Caramel Crispy Crepe, which smells just like a good slice of apple pie. Its warm apple filling is enveloped in a crisp crepe shell, then dusted with cinnamon and drizzled generously with caramel sauce. It is very hard not to fall in love with that! For a taste of the tropics, there’s also the Mangoes and Cream Crispy Crepe with a fresh mango filling inside a crisp crepe shell that’s dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with vanilla sauce.

For budget-friendly satisfaction, there is Bon Chon!

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For more information, visit: bonchon.com.ph.

E-mail the author at ravin.facts@yahoo.com.