Ddobagi Chicken

Every so often, one outpost of a national chain will somehow gain a cult following, and it’s not always clear why. Is it the air? A secret ingredient? We’re not entirely sure, but Ddobagi Chicken’s Sangsu location is its best known, and is always full of Hongdae art students, giggling couples, and elderly drinking buddies. The attention is not undeserved—Ddobagi’s signature boneless chicken is fried with a thin layer of seasoned batter crisped over tender flesh, and a deal at 9,000 won. The interior is nothing fancy, which only adds to its 90s Korean drama charm. Wash your chicken down with a stein of cheap beer for the full Korean “hof” experience.