With all the time we've wasted watching absolute bilge on Netflix we don't understand how we missed out on the eminently watchable K-Chicken War. As the name suggests that was a cooking competition focusing on Korean fried chicken. It was won by South Korean chef Byung Tae Ahn, who was crowned Grand Champion. Now the chef is gearing up for a busy autumn having just opened a robotic fried chicken restaurant in New Jersey, 101 Chicken, along with popping up here in London.
The menu here at the London pop-up Oh Gee at the Hoxton in Shoreditch will focus on 101’s championship-winning fried chicken, which comes with a choice of three coatings: original, hot pepper, or the award-winning potato crisp. You can also choose one of five glazes - Sweet & Spicy; Hot & Spicy; Soy Honey; Garlic Crumble and Supreme. They'll also be serving up a couple of chicken sandwiches including the 101 potato crisp chicken on a brioche bun with fresh lettuce, pickles and 101 sauce – and the mortadella chicken sandwich.
Diners can kick off their meal here with a range of small snacks (anju) including:
- Crispy spring onion pancake with soy vinegar sauce
- Bibim guksu - spicy cold noodles with chili sauce, house pickles and sesame
- Ddukbokki - Korean rice cakes in gochujang sauce
There will also be a smashburger (obviously), kimchi cheese fries and we're keen to try the Galbi-jjim which is a beef shin lasagne.
If you're an indecisive bunch you can opt for the set menu, The Bucket List, a big bucket of two whole fried chickens (or 28 wings), plus four sides, two sauces, and two anju which sounds very much like the kind of offering we enjoyed recently at New York restaurant Coqodaq.
Drinks are going to be a big thing here with loads of rice wine and soju on offer. A must-try is the Poktan-ju where a shot of soju dropped into HITE lager and if you're going for the Insta win you'll need to order either the Watermelon Sugar cocktail which is served in a light-up cocktail tower for four or the 3x Spicy Marg which is served flaming hot from a toy fire extinguisher.
Honestly the whole thing sounds like a lot of fun. Sign us up!
More about Oh Gee
Where is it? 81 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3HU (in the Hoxton Grill space)
When does it open? 2 September 2024 (soft launch of 25% off food from 27 August) until the end of November.
Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @ohgeechicken
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