Gyeyeolsa

Though good fried chicken can be found everywhere in Seoul, people travel from all corners of Korea to visit Gyeyeolsa (formerly known as Cheers). Is their chicken fantastic? Absolutely. The fried golden and crispy pieces open to tender meat inside and it's served with loads of crispy fried potato wedges that have just the right amount of salt. Also worth trying are the snails and noodles doused with spicy sauce (골뱅이 국수 (소), 23,000원). Owner Park Seon-ok has been in the business for over 25 years, and sources local Koreans chickens himself every week. A 20,000 won serving will feed two. Though it’s pricier than other options around Seoul, the customers still flood in. With just a handful of tables available, there’s always a wait, even in the middle of the afternoon—and service is notoriously brusque. But if you’re in the area and craving some fried goodness, Gyeyeolsa is definitely your best bet.