BHC Chicken, Korea’s No. 1 fried chicken chain, opened its first location in Arlington on May 15, bringing one of South Korea’s most popular fast food brands to Virginia. The store offers a taste of Korea, serving a variety of Korean dishes including Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, kimchi fried rice and chicken sandwiches.
Rose Rabokki ($16.00) — 3.8/5 Although the dish looks like an average bowl of instant ramen at first glance, it is actually rabokki, a popular Korean dish consisting of ramen noodles, fish cakes, fried sausages, a hard-boiled egg and chewy rice cakes bathed in a spicy sauce. The wide variety of ingredients kept every bite interesting, making it difficult to grow tired of the dish. The fish cakes stood out for their soft, chewy texture and subtle savory flavor, while simultaneously blending seamlessly with the dish. Even so, some of the ingredients felt out of place. For example, though delicious, the sausages clashed with the dish because of their smoky flavor. The boiled egg was also overcooked, but it helped balance the spiciness of the dish. Despite advertising as a milder version of the original rabokki, the Rose rabokki’s spice greatly overpowered the other flavoring, making the dish feel one-dimensional with little room for other flavors to shine.
Bburinkle Wings + Bburinkle Mayo Sauce ($10.50) — 4/5 The Bburinkle Wings provided a twist of their classic fried chicken wings with BHC Chicken’s signature seasoning. The seasoning featured a blend of savory flavors, including blue cheese, cheddar cheese, onion and garlic. However, those flavors were overpowered by the heavily sweet aftertaste. Fortunately, the disappointment in the seasoning was made up for by the quality of the wings. The chicken was fresh and tender, contrasting with the crispy crust, making each bite phenomenal. The exceptional texture of the crust is achieved through a special technique in which each wing is double-fried using potato starch. Paired with the Bburinkle Mayo Sauce, made of yogurt and Emmental cheese, the wings taste even better. Luckily, the salty, zesty flavor of the sauce compensated for the overwhelming seasoning, alleviating the sweetness.
Sweet & Spicy Wings + Pickled Radish ($10.50 + $1.50) — 3.5/5 Once again, the chicken was fresh and juicy, with the same crispy coating, but the Sweet & Spicy Wing’s standout factor was its sauce. Each bite was flavorful and packed with heat. The sauce, a traditional Korean fried chicken glaze, featured both sweet and spicy flavors. While the spice was expected, it was almost unbearable without a cup of iced water. The pickled radish provided relief from the spice, offering a sweet, yet salty contrast. The radish helped, though the required additional payment for it felt unnecessary. Ultimately, the wings were disappointing, as the overwhelming spice, similar to the Rose Rabokki, drowned out the other flavors.
Bburinkle French Fries ($5.50) — 2.5/5 Presentation-wise, the fries looked amazing—crispy, fresh with parmesan cheese and garlic powder sprinkled on top. However, despite using the same seasoning as the Bburinkle Wings, they were disappointing, to say the least. While the flavor itself was nearly identical, the fries’ sogginess, even when served fresh, diminished their appeal. Still, for $5.50, the portion size was generous and easily enough for two to share. At best, the fries were average and failed to stand out from the vast array of fast-food options.
Overall, BHC Chicken was disappointing, especially given its reputation as one of Korea’s top fried chicken chains. The dishes were visually appealing, but lacked authenticity, making the experience feel more like a standard fast-food restaurant. The signature flavors the brand is known for did not stand out and left little lasting impression. Although BHC Chicken’s motto promises a “Better, Happier Choice,” the Arlington location does not meet that standard.
