Chimaek (Fried Chicken & Beer)

What it is

Chimaek is short for “chikin” (fried chicken) and “maekju” (beer). It isn’t one dish so much as a way to eat: a box of Korean fried chicken and a cold Korean lager, shared at a chicken pub or on a picnic mat by the river.

Korean fried chicken is double-fried, so the crust stays crisp. It comes in two main styles. Huraideu (후라이드) is plain crispy chicken with no spice. Yangnyeom (양념) is tossed in a sticky sweet-spicy sauce, with gentle heat rather than a real burn.

You can eat it at chicken chains and at independent “hof” pubs (casual beer bars), or have it delivered, which is one of the most common ways Seoul residents eat it.

How to order

• Get half and half. Ask for “banban” (반반) to get plain and yangnyeom chicken in one order. It’s the easiest way to try both, and it suits a group with mixed spice tolerance.
• Order by the chicken. Menus usually price a whole chicken, which is enough to share. Prices change often and differ by chain and menu item, so check the menu board or app before you order.
• Delivery to the river. Locals order through delivery apps such as Baemin and Coupang Eats, or by phone, and describe where they’re sitting in the park. Photo menus in the apps help if you don’t read Korean.
• Beer. At a hof pub, order a Korean lager with your chicken. Many hof pubs stay open late, so chimaek also works as a late-night meal.

Where to eat it

Yeouido Hangang Park. The most popular place in Seoul to have chimaek delivered to a riverside picnic. Take Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station, Exit 3; the park is about a 4-minute walk. Come around sunset for the best light over the river.

Banpo Hangang Park. A less crowded riverside option with lawns and some shade. Take Line 9 to Sinbanpo Station, Exit 1, then walk about 19 minutes. This isn’t a station next to the park, so plan for the walk.

Hongdae (Hongik University area). A dense cluster of chicken pubs that fills up with the nightlife crowd. It’s an easy stop before or after a night out in the neighborhood.

Long-running spots

We list areas rather than specific restaurants for this dish.

Good for families

• Seating: Sit-down chicken pubs usually have larger tables and are used to group dinners. For a family of 4 or more, a Hangang picnic scales easily: just order more chicken.
• Strollers: Hangang parks have paved riverside paths that work well for strollers. Chicken restaurants vary, but most have standard table seating without stairs.
• For kids: Plain huraideu chicken is one of the easiest Korean meals for children, with no chili at all. The open lawns at the parks give kids space to run around during the meal.
• Restrooms: Hangang park facilities have public restrooms. Sit-down restaurants generally have their own.
• Nursing rooms: There are none in the riverside picnic areas. The nearest are in subway stations or nearby shopping buildings.

Dietary notes

• Vegetarian: No. Chimaek is fried chicken by definition, and chicken pubs don’t usually offer a vegetarian substitute.
• Halal: Limited. Most Korean fried chicken chains are not halal-certified. The Korea Muslim Federation certifies individual restaurants, and a few fried chicken shops in Seoul hold certification, but they are the exception. Confirm a shop’s certification before you order.
• Alcohol-free: The chicken works just as well with soda or non-alcoholic drinks, and nobody will expect you to drink beer.
• Allergies: The batter and yangnyeom sauce are likely to contain wheat and soy. Ask the restaurant if you have an allergy.