What do you think of when I say, “KFC”? 11 herbs and spices? An image of an old timely man in a western bowtie? Well the KFC I’m talking about is, Korean Fried Chicken. What makes fried chicken, Korean? Short of executing flawless dance routines and being able to make finger hearts with their wings, Korean fried chicken (or “chikin” or “yangnyeom chicken“) is double deep fried chicken that is often coated with sticky, spicy and sweet sauce. I heard about a new Korean fried chicken spot that opened in The Dege and decided to go check out; Olivia’s Authentic Chicken.
Fried chicken
Picture a dimly lit alley steps away from the hustle and bustle of a typical Tokyo street. Along a row of wooden doors sits a hidden oasis of food and drink where locals congregate and strangers make new friends. A mix of J-pop and Japanese oldies fill the air and ride a smoke scented draft wafting from the kitchen. Small bites of fried goodies and raw seafood, pepper the tables and glimmers and random lights are caught on the edges of cocktail glasses. This is Hanzo Izakaya. Owned and operated by the same team that brought to you Escondites, biirū, La Habanera, Kao Lua, and Gokudo, Hanzo Izakaya is Tokyo at night where wisps of neon lights creep in through noren curtains inviting you into a familiar place for a drink.
I’m going to start this week’s review with a slow clap… *Slow clap* dedicated to D.D.O. (Dollard-Des Ormeaux), yes, the West island. Why? Well, bravo dido, for the second review in a row the west has impressed me with not only a legit restaurant but another legit ethnic restaurant. Congratulations! You guys now have an official KFC restaurant… Korean Fried Chicken! I discovered Restaurant Matjip BBQ Coréen recently when I noticed the God-awful pizza place that use to be in this location finally closed and became a Korean restaurant. I had to check it out.