Looking for spicy Korean foods around Manhattan is not difficult, as the city is always bustling with a diversity of cultural cuisine. On the downside, however, it is hard to find affordable places, especially for college students who still have tuition, dorming, and book fees to pay off. BBQ Olive Chicken has yet to disappoint with its delicious and spicy flavors at affordable prices.
Although their menu is not overwhelmingly big, BBQ Olive Chicken is great for a quick, affordable, and filling meal as you spend your day in the city. If you're vegan, vegetarian, or on a strict diet, they have something for you!
During my last visit, I decided to order the Hot and Spicy Boneless Chicken (upper left), Vegetable Bibimbap (lower right), and Tteokbokki (upper right). The Tteokbokki was a great addition to the chicken dish and vegetable Bibimbap. It was not overly spicy despite its deceitful red color, and it had a fun chew to it.
With an amazing combination of hot & cold foods, the vegetable bibimbap had a mixture of different spices that went amazingly together. This layered dish includes rice with mushrooms, bean sprouts, pickled carrots, cucumbers, and poached egg sprinkled with spring onions in the middle of it all. The vegetable choices reflect traditional Korean side dishes and exceeded every expectation.
Moving on to the Hot and Spicy Chicken, the sauce was just an extra plus to the chicken itself. The chicken was tender while crispy and overall well-made, with the restaurant's signature choice of virgin olive oil drizzled on it. Although this chicken dish is one of the best I've ever tasted, I would not recommend it to anyone who is sensitive to spice. It definitely got me to chug my water bottle in the end!
Overall, if you happen to stop by Korea Town, BBQ Olive Garden is the perfect place among many others, anyone should try. And even if you are home, the restaurant offers delivery via food delivery apps and their website.