Korean Fried Chicken Franchise Tier List (Plain Fried Only)

Item comments

• 
  S

  BHC

  BHC doesn't need Bburinkle powder to earn its spot at the top; the plain fried alone is S tier, full stop. What sells it for me is the batter, which is thin rather than doughy and actually stays crisp even after the chicken cools, a trick most other brands can't pull off.

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• 
  S

  Kyochon

  Everyone knows Kyochon for the soy-garlic glaze, but the plain fried tells you something the sauce usually hides: the meat handling here is just on a different level. My one real gripe is portion size; you'll want to size up if you're actually hungry, which quietly raises the price per meal.

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• 
  A

  BBQ

  For a long stretch, BBQ's Golden Olive Chicken was basically the reference point everyone else got measured against, and that olive-oil frying method genuinely earned it. The chicken itself hasn't gotten worse, but the price hikes over the past couple years sting enough that I hesitate before ordering.

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• 
  A

  Puradak

  Puradak is best known for Black Alio, but even the plain fried carries a subtle garlic aroma, proof they're not just phoning in the base recipe while the flavored stuff gets the attention. It's been climbing fast in my rotation lately, going from a brand I'd forget about to one I actively crave.

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• 
  B

  Goobne Chicken

  Goobne bakes instead of frying, so it was never going to win a straight crispiness contest, and it doesn't. What you get instead is a lighter meal that skips the heavy, greasy regret an hour later, which matters more on a random Tuesday than winning some texture showdown.

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• 
  B

  Nene Chicken

  Strip away the Snowing powder and Nene's plain fried is just fine, nothing that would make you order it on its own. This brand built its whole identity on the sauced and powdered versions, so this particular ranking just isn't playing to its strengths.

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• 
  C

  Cheogajip

  Cheogajip basically invented yangnyeom chicken as we know it, and that legacy is real. Judged on plain fried alone, though, it doesn't leave much of an impression, the batter is fine and the seasoning is fine, but nothing stands out. This is a brand you order for the sauce, not the plain fry.

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• 
  D

  60Gye Chicken

  Fresh out of the fryer, 60Gye is genuinely one of the better value plays here, crispy and well seasoned. The problem is delivery: by the time the bag reaches your door, steam has softened away half that crispiness, and you're left tasting a different chicken than the one at the counter.

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