Koreans are particularly fond of street food. The culinary offer of this Asian country is finally starting to expand in Quebec City with a first restaurant specializing in authentic fried chicken.
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“Chicken in Korea is like poutine in Quebec, it’s really popular,” image Sukmin Jang, co-owner with his wife, chef Yuri Kim, of the Korean Snacks Chicken & Bap.
They warmly welcome me to their restaurant in Beauport on a Monday, their only day off, to share their passion.
Established in Quebec for more than five years following having lived in France, they wanted to make Korean culture, which is very popular with young people, better known.
“It was something we wanted to do for a long time. We loved our fried chicken and we mightn’t find a lot of it in Quebec,” says Sukmin, who has been in charge of the service since the opening in October.
After looking for premises everywhere, the couple opted for an old Subway in the Courville sector. This local, not too big, was perfect since they wanted to start their business slowly.
Word of mouth has done its work and those who manage to find the business, since it does not yet have a sign visible from the street, come out amazed.
The secret is in the sauce
Korean fried chicken stands out for its double frying, which makes it extra crispy. The Chicken & Bap breading is light and not too salty. Marinated chicken is cooked just right to stay juicy and tender. It’s succulent and not greasy.
You can take the plain fried chicken – also available boneless – with the sauce on the side, or order it already coated. If you’re the sauce type, like me, choose the second option because the flavors wrap the chicken beautifully.
Sukmin recommends the opposite to those who are on their first visit, to avoid unpleasant surprises if you don’t like the sauce.
Besides, the secret is in the sauces. I loved the yangnyeom, a spicy sweet and sour sauce with gochujang. Chef Yuri has taken care to adapt the flavors to the Quebec palate and offers other milder options, but just as tasty: soy-garlic, cream-onions and honey-maple.
Prepared to order
The friendly owners explain to me that in Korea, the chicken is traditionally accompanied by tangy marinated Korean radish, which brings a lot of freshness and counterbalances the frying. Here, they decided to serve it with fries instead.
The restaurant also offers bowls of rice, called Bap. Don’t miss the classic beef bulgogi marinated in Korean BBQ sauce.
In the fridge, there are beverages imported from South Korea and homemade kimchi.
Finally, know that the chicken is fried to order to meet the quality standards of the chef, which takes regarding twenty minutes. You can eat in or take it out.
Tuesday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
1045, avenue Larue
On instagram: @chicken_et_bap
Two other Korean addresses
Long live the kogos!
The kogos, decadent Korean pogos, continue to gain new followers. The Chungchun chain recently opened a third branch in the region in Beauport, on rue Clémenceau. It is added to the restaurants of Plaza Laval, in Sainte-Foy, and rue Saint-Jean. What makes the charm of kogos is the customizable side: choice of chicken or beef sausage, mozzarella or vegan option. The Asian batter that coats it can be rolled in a filling – like ramen – before being fried. Everything is offered with a large selection of sauces. A cute little sin! chungchunqc.com
Photo taken from Chungchun’s Facebook page
Beyond the Controversy
The Bab Sang restaurant, which caused a lot of ink to flow because of the service in English when it opened, is worth a look for the quality of the food. To discover: the traditional bibimbap, the fried chicken in a sweet and spicy sauce or the pork belly with gochujang. The downside is that the service can be slow. Don’t be in a rush or order for takeout.
1282, avenue Maguire
