“Best of the Best Quality” is what “BB.Q” in Korean fried chicken chain, BB.Q Chicken, stands for, which is absolutely correct. Beginning in 1995 in Seoul, South Korea, BB.Q Chicken is now one of South Korea’s top fried chicken chains. Currently, the chain is making its way to the top in the United States with over 150 locations. BB.Q Chicken is one of, if not the best, representation of Korean fried chicken outside of South Korea.
Called “chimaek,” Korean fried chicken is unique as it is fried twice to get juicy pieces of chicken with a crispy outside layer. At BB.Q Chicken, you can order half of a chicken (eight pieces) or a whole chicken (16 pieces). They also have a boneless chicken option — chicken strips that can turn into a combo with a side of fries. There are loads of flavor options to choose from too thanks to the wide variety of sauces that the chicken gets tossed in.
Don’t worry, BB.Q Chicken’s menu is easy to follow and order from. Categorized between their chicken and sides, BB.Q Chicken lists all of their different flavors to choose from, but for newcomers and fried chicken lovers, here are the best menu items to try.
Cheese Balls
BB.Q Chicken has a variety of sides — coleslaw, pickled radish, bowls of rice, and Cheesling Fries, fries covered in their cheesy powdered cheese. However, if you’re a fan of Culver’s cheese curds and mozzarella sticks, you’ll love BB.Q Chicken’s Cheese Balls. Fried and made with mozzarella, these are all the cheesy goodness of both worlds combined. Typically this comes as a side, but you can turn it into a full meal by ordering their Cheese Balls Meal Combo which consists of about four pieces of bone-in chicken. Trust me, you’ll want to.
Kimchi Fried Rice
If there’s anything you need to know about is this: I love fried rice. There’s simply nothing better. Packed with a fermented kimchi flavor as its base and stir-fried with chicken and vegetables, this is a great dish to share with friends while you’re waiting for your fried chicken to arrive. The star of the dish is the fried egg that tops it.
Rosé Ddeok-Bokki
There’s nothing wrong with classics, right? Especially a classic with a twist. Inspired by Korea’s rosé obsession of 2021, BB.Q Chicken took their Ddeok-Bokki, a traditional spicy Korean rice cake dish, and made it trendy by adding a rosé spin. It’s one of the best-sold menu items that pairs perfectly with an order of Golden Original chicken or on its own. Creamy with a slight kick and chewy, Rose Ddeok-Bokki is probably the best in-between-chicken bites to try.
Golden Original
Call me basic, but I love BB.Q Chicken’s plain chicken. Golden Original is the perfect balance between crispy and juicy. Despite it being the “basic” kind, Golden Original is jam-packed with flavor — it’s sweet, a little salty, and has a little bit of a tang to it. You won’t ever get bored of eating it. This is the perfect introduction to BB.Q Chicken because if a chicken place can get it right without any sauce, you know it’s going to be a good time.
Soy Garlic
If you want to step into the realm of sauces but aren’t feeling bold, Soy Garlic is the perfect match for you. Tossed in the Soy Garlic sauce, this chicken is a mix of sweet and savory, this sauce adds a bit more flavor to the chicken that will have you coming back for more. The garlic isn’t overpowering, so even if you’re not a big fan of garlic, you’ll still be able to enjoy the flavor.
Secret Sauce
Whoever came up with this sauce is doing the world a great service. How can something be sweet and super spicy at the same time? I’ll never know. Secret Sauce is the perfect balance with sweetness upon first taste, and then the spice gradually takes over. However, it’s not mouth-numbingly hot. It’s Goldilocks-approved — not too hot, not too sweet, but just right.
Hot Mala
This is for all my adventurous, spicy eaters — Hot Mala is where it’s at. Inspired by Chinese mala seasoning that is used as a barbeque seasoning, it’s made out of Sichuan peppercorn and chili. Translated, mala means “numbing” or “spicy,” which is exactly what this sauce is. However, it’s not overly spicy which could ruin your eating experience. If anything, you’ll be too busy enjoying the many flavors of their Hot Mala sauce on top of their tender and extra-crispy chicken.