Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St

Asian fusion restaurant · Cambridge

Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St

Asian fusion restaurant · Cambridge

4

57 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null
Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St by null

Highlights

Crispy double-fried Korean chicken, soy garlic & spicy flavors  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

57 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138 Get directions

bonchon.com
@bonchonchicken

$10–20 · Menu

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57 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138 Get directions

+1 617 758 3988
bonchon.com
@bonchonchicken
𝕏
@bonchonchicken

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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@eater

Where to Get Wings in Greater Boston on Super Bowl Sunday

"Yes, it’s a chain. And yes, its wings are worthy of your dollars thanks to their double-fried crunch. Choose between soy garlic and spicy, or get half and half. Massachusetts locations include this one in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, Waltham, and Salem." - Terrence Doyle, Rachel Leah Blumenthal, Erika Adams, Nathan Tavares

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-chicken-wings-boston
View Postcard for Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St
@infatuation

Where To Eat And Drink Around Harvard

"Bonchon is really good for two scenarios: (1) nuclear winter has descended and you need a windowless basement to hang out in for a few years, or (2) you’re just in the mood for some good fried chicken. This place gets packed on the weekends with a lot of people enjoying the big Korean menu that has everything from bibimbap to tteokbokki, but we suggest sticking to the nicely fried chicken, preferably the spicy variety that really does have a nice little kick." - dan secatore

https://www.theinfatuation.com/boston/guides/where-to-eat-and-drink-around-harvard
View Postcard for Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St
@infatuation

The Best Restaurants In Harvard Square

"If you’re going to eat in a crowded, windowless basement that kind of looks like an apartment complex cafeteria in a dystopian world where no one can go outside because sunlight melts human hair, then the food better be pretty good. That’s the case at Bonchon, which serves some great fried chicken in an almost claustrophobic space in the basement of the retail complex. The rest of the Korean menu is solid but it’s the lightly fried chicken pieces that will keep you coming back." - dan secatore

https://www.theinfatuation.com/boston/guides/where-to-eat-and-drink-in-harvard-square
View Postcard for Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St
@infatuation

Bonchon Chicken - Review - Cambridge - Boston - The Infatuation

"If you’re going to eat in a crowded, windowless basement that kind of looks like an apartment complex cafeteria in a dystopian world where no one can go outside because sunlight melts human hair, then the food better be pretty good. That’s the case at Bonchon, which serves some great fried chicken in an almost claustrophobic space in the basement of the retail complex. The rest of the Korean menu is solid (particularly the kimchi pancakes) but it’s the lightly fried chicken pieces that will keep you coming back." - Dan Secatore

https://www.theinfatuation.com/boston/reviews/bonchon-chicken-1
View Postcard for Bonchon Cambridge - John F Kennedy St

Courtney Thomas

Google
I got the chicken katsu and it was dry and burnt. Very disappointed given it was 17 bucks for a small chicken cutlet over 2 cups of rice. The sides were good. Loved the radish. The chicken was genuinely my only complaint. Hence why I didnt give them all 1 stars. This was my first time having yall and I was let down after hearing so many people praise yall. Im gonna give it another shot at another location and hope for the best. Attached pictures, featuring the ramen i added to make it salvagable.

G G

Google
The $20 price tag of the tteokboki should’ve been enough to steer me away… but I was really craving it and my stomach decided for me. HORRIBLE CHOICE. It was TINY like 10 pieces of rice cakes and the sauce tasted like it used spicy bean paste (doenjang)… idk about the other items but DO NOT GET THE TTEOKBOKI. 10/10 staff tho 👊

Shawn Cooper

Google
Food is very consistent and delicious. We stick with the classic soy-garlic combination. They have really done a great job decorating and styling the outside and inside of the place. Seating is minimal but available. If you plan on eating in, go ahead and order in the app and skip ordering at the counter.

Chung T

Google
We HAD a Bonchon in WA. It went away because of I think too much competition. I missed it and when I saw Bonchon on our visit to Harvard, I was hyped !! Anyway, great food as always. The service by Joneil was top notch, hardly any wait. The tables were spotless, wish the chairs were more comfy tho. Highly recommend this place ! Will come back !

Khuyen Nguyen

Google
Bonchon is a solid choice when you’re in the mood for crispy and flavorful Korean fried chicken! The sides are yummy too, especially the bulgogi fries and the pork belly Baos. Service was quick and friendly, I highly recommend if you’re in the area.

Kelly B

Google
Last night’s dinner was so spicy, but delicious! To start with we had takoyaki, spicy wings and strips and spicy fried squid. The hotter the better am I right?! The takoyaki practically melted in my mouth and each bite was just delicious. Bites of octopus, so yummy. The wings and strips were so good! I’ve never had the strips and highly recommend them! Perfectly fried, not fried and full of flavor and spice. Their calamari was okay, I personally don’t like sauce on my calamari. I’m more of a sauce on the side kind of person. All in all it was a great meal!

Kiwi wu

Google
After ordering on the spot on the evening of 5/27, the wait time was too long, so the clerk agreed to cancel the order and refund the money. On July 16, I called to inquire about the refund. The clerk Mini asked me to send the receipt to her mobile phone before refunding. But she didn't read the message at all, didn't contact me, and didn't receive the refund. This is a dishonest person! Is this an AI reply? I have already sent all the information to MINI, but BONCHON did not solve the problem and instead used AI reply to create a positive corporate image. In fact, BONCHON is irresponsible.

Jessica Giang

Google
tldr; if you want good korean fried chicken go the bbq chicken. I got the half garlic and half galbi bone in chicken. The crunch is good and the skin is good, but they don't cook the actual chicken that well. There's a ton of flavor on top, but the chicken meat tastes like nothing and isn't cooked very well. It's kind of dry and has no flavor. Also there isn't a great variety of flavor either.
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Joy L.

Yelp
Super authentic. Love the spiciness!!!! Bulgogi is just okay but a good side for wings.
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Justin P.

Yelp
Glad that Bonchon is back! Newly renovated and under new ownership! My favorite go to are the spicy wings , it's something about Korean fried chicken that makes us coming back for me!!! The Korean donuts are also a hit as well! Always a good stop in Harvard square :)
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Sean Y.

Yelp
If you have a store front that is suppose to be fast and we are waiting for 50 minutes while you pack and unpack the food after making a mistake on the order I have no interest in coming back . Do not walk into this place and order. Maybe delivery is ok.
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Mike J.

Yelp
Oh my Jesus this was amazing. Like don't even get me started on the donuts they were DELICIOUSSSSSS!! I also got the drumsticks and wings and the flavor was immaculate and perfect and frickin amazing. I went to a lot of restaurants in Boston but this was BY FARRRRR the best one.

Mr. M.

Yelp
Pretty sweet place overall. Very fresh Korean influenced fusion food. They have locations all over the place, but I was walking around Cambridge while on vacation and stopped by here since the other restaurants in the area seemed to be not a good value. Although this place is expensive as sin for the type of food you get, it was still very good. The fried chicken is crackly like pork rinds and covered in sweet and savory sticky sauce. Their Korean style elote was also good. Nothing mind blowing or exceptional, but it was tasty and unique. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here but if I am in an area that has it I'll try it again. The place is just a bit of a tight fit so it's better to take it to go and eat it somewhere nice outside.
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Kelly C.

Yelp
Last night's dinner was so spicy, but delicious! To start with we had takoyaki, spicy wings and strips and spicy fried squid. The hotter the better am I right?! The takoyaki practically melted in my mouth and each bite was just delicious. Bites of octopus, so yummy. The wings and strips were so good! I've never had the strips and highly recommend them! Perfectly fried, not fried and full of flavor and spice. Their calamari was okay, I personally don't like sauce on my calamari. I'm more of a sauce on the side kind of person. All in all it was a great meal!
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Adina S.

Yelp
My roommate ordered food from Bonchon and it hit the spot! The bibimbap was great - lots of great veggies and a tasty gochujang sauce. We also had wings (not pictured), which lived up to the hype! It took a while for the food to come, but it was worth the wait.

Trung M.

Yelp
first off I love the clean and newly renovated space ! bright fun atmosphere and friendly quick service. must try if you are in the area ! make sure you get wings and their japchae. delicious!
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Chirag P.

Yelp
I was going to give 4 stars because of the price. $15.95 for a 12 piece boneless, but keep in mind the size of the boneless pieces are like popcorn nuggets, not wings or tenders. Also $6.95 for edamame, least can do is put some spice on it or something. But the flavors are great can't deny that, so 5 stars: - Fries: Good balance of crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. And this was delivered! - Spicy boneless chicken: Good balance of being spicy but not too spicy, good flavor. Well cooked, double fry technique can't go wrong with it. - Cole slaw side: Somehow, you made me like a side I've always hated, so thank you for that refreshing moment! Not your typical cole slaw, its more garlicky and isn't overly dressed with mayo, so actually tastes good.

Lisa T.

Yelp
I am re-reviewing based on the wings at bonchon. These were crispy, actually fried with a nice skin crust and hit the spot when I was craving Korean fried chicken. The smaller bits might have been slightly overfried and the meat itself is not that flavorful, but I think it's not bad at all. I got soy garlic flavor. The spicy is pretty good if you can take the heat and power through the pain of eating it. Just stay away from the boneless (first pic) which is breaded nuggets covered in sauce, and you should be good to go!
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Madeleine B.

Yelp
Delicious! We got the fried boneless chicken strips with the soy garlic sauce and they were very tender, juicy, and tasty! We also got the pork potstickers which were good but nothing special, and the pork buns which were very tasty and definitely a little spicy! Overall did enjoy, would recommend, and would eat again.
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Alma C.

Yelp
$9 Lunch special. Recommend the drumsticks over the wings. Could've been hotter. The coleslaw was good. Radishes were good, but I wish I would've gotten rice as my other side. Water was filled frequently. Staff was friendly. Interesting basement location. (anyonghaseyo) means hello in Korean.
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Vladlen V.

Yelp
Awesome food! Love the vibes, the food, and chicken is bomb. Deff recommend going! The Brighton Bonchon has a nice interior but I've taken out from Watertown location and both times quality of food was excellent
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Brandon G.

Yelp
The prices are pretty reasonable, especially with their lunch menu on weekdays! You get to choose two side dishes, which could include fries. The fries are a pretty big portion, and so, this could be a fairly filling lunch for its price point. This was my first exposure to Korean fried chicken, and I must say, it's still the one to beat for me. The drumsticks are so wonderfully moist and tender. I will say, though, that the chicken strips are very dry... I'd definitely recommend the drumsticks or wings over the strips! The seafood pancake is also quite hearty and filling. I must say that the restroom quality is kinda poor. It's often quite dirty in there. I'm also saddened that there aren't as many side dishes offered as at standard Korean restaurants, but that may be because this is ultimately a fried chicken joint.
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Maria G.

Yelp
Review #1056 What a great location right off of Harvard Square! You do have to enter through this building lobby and then go downstairs (either by the super slow elevator or take the stairs). The food is solid, as you can expect from any Bonchon locations. However, this location does not serve side dishes. Does it apply to Bonchon everywhere or just Bonchon Boston? They have an excellent selection for its lunch specials. I am not sure if I like the basement ambiance. Definitely not my first choice for lunch for Harvard Square, but will be an option in mind for sure.
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Sasi M.

Yelp
Ordered delivery multiple times and always satisfied. Knocked off a star for their price points since their a tad expensive. But their spicy chicken is amazingly spicy and tasty that I keep going back for more. The chicken fried rice is also nice. Nothing fancy, but feels a bit nostalgic of some street food from back in the day. I wish they were a bit cheaper, but I do enjoy their flavors.
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Elizabeth Y.

Yelp
Large sharable chicken combos and table booths with removable dividers that seat two groups of 4-5 or one group of 10-11 make Bonchon a good choice for eating out with a group of friends. Some of my meat-loving friends shared a bunch of chicken combos, while a couple of us ordered dishes. I'm not crazy about having a meal of just meat, so I got tteokbokki and tried a few bites of a miso soy chicken wing. Bonchon's tteok bokki is pretty good--it's quite large and comes with an egg and a good amount of rice cake and fish cake. There are also ramen noodles, but I didn't feel like there were quite enough. The miso soy chicken was quite sweet and very tasty. I like the crispy outside and personally prefer it to the spicy wings (which I didn't try this time), but my friends all said that the spice level has gone down considerably from last year to this year. Bonchon is a fun place with reasonable prices, which is great for fried chicken eating contests or if you want Korean food without leaving Harvard Square. It has a pretty laid-back, fast-food atmosphere, so I would only recommend it for casual meals.
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Alee L.

Yelp
I remember the first time I had bonchon at the Allston location. Korean fried chicken was the hottest thing at the moment. With the longest lines to wait and get some, it always felt so long to get a bite if some kfc. It was delicious and after many years since my first time getting some kfc, today my second time, going back to bonchon at a (different location) with a few friends and it's still good, just not as good as the first time. With that said it doesn't mean I won't go back. If I had a craving for kfc I'd sure go to bonchon and get me some. Plus for the first time I tried the Mul Naengmyeon. I thought it was a great day to have this dish since the weather hit 80 degrees plus today. The noodles are super chewy, which I assume is to be expected and the broth was kind of sweet with the pears and sour from the vinegar. It's a flavor combo I do like and tasted similar to the brine for daikons and carrots. The beef brisket though, was extremely tough. TERRIBLE. That was the one thing I felt ruined the dish. Otherwise, I felt I would have enjoyed the cold noodles more.

Chuck L.

Yelp
Wow. Wow. Wow. This place just keeps on getting worse and worse. Originally I didn't plan to write a review but after several bad experiences, I feel like I should alert the managers so they can improve their food. Here are the three main issues I have had with Bonchon (Cambridge location) for the past year. 1. The wings are consistently packed in a non Bonchon brand box that has no holes for steam to escape. Even though I picked up my wings right away, when I opened it at home it was soggy, wet, and frankly, disgusting. It was like biting into a wet piece of extremely salty cardboard. 2. The sauce has changed drastically, with a emphasis on the soy garlic sauce. Not only has the flavored changed, but the quantity has changed as well. Perhaps it was the obscene amount of sauce they put onto the wings that made it soggy, but the sauce itself also tasted weird. It was very salty and did not taste like the soy garlic sauce I grew to love. There was also a weird aftertaste. 3. The crunch. A defining feature of Bonchon is the crunch. There was absolutely no crunch in my chicken. It could be that it wasn't double fried, but I also notice there is less batter. Nonetheless, my wings were just soggy with condensation and not very tasty. Overall, this location has disappointed time and time again. Tonight was the last time I will eat here for a while. Highly recommend the Allston location over this!
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Maurice C.

Yelp
It's fairly expensive but good quality for a fast/fast casual restaurant. The best deal is the 6 wings+3 drums for $18.69. It comes with a complimentary side of either pickled radish or coleslaw. I prefer pickled radish, which is traditional with Korean fried chicken. The chicken itself comes with 3 options: plain, soy garlic or spicy. Don't get the spicy unless you can really handle heat. It's a bit too much for me. The plain is a bit under seasoned for my tastes. I prefer the soy garlic, which has a nice balance of salty and sweet and not a strong garlic flavor (which is fine for my tastes). Korean fried chicken, if you're not familiar, is double fried and quite crispy. I find it to be a nice option to its American counterpart and definitely worth trying, even if only once. As far as the sides or starters go, I prefer edamame. It's a starter and one of the more affordable options besides fries and some of the other sides. It's filling and good for you. Some nice, lean plant protein to go with your animal protein. I've also had the pork buns and the potstickers, but they're a bit overpriced and not their specialty. You can get the same thing, but better and cheaper somewhere else.
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Anna F.

Yelp
We got delivery and it was delicious. The chicken was really crispy and flavorful. Got the wings- half spicy half soy. The spicy were my favorite. The side of pickled radish goes well with it.
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Andrew S.

Yelp
What used to be an amazing restaurant with amazing chicken wings has become mediocre. We recently had orders of wings, the signature crispy was now more ordinary, the juicy chicken wings were somewhat dry, and the spicy heat was more bbq than the original flavor. Having been to numerous Bon Chon locations and knowing what to expect, this wasn't it. Maybe they are short cutting the process by batching the orders and reheating but the bon chon magic was just no there. Sorry but this is not cutting it and we were not fooled.
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Patrick O.

Yelp
I've had lunch at Bonchon twice and I have been very happy with it both times. As someone who used to live in South Korea, I can emphatically state that the food I have seen/tasted is indeed authentic. For lunch, they have a lunch menu that features a decent assortment of staple Korean dishes. I had the kimchi soup and the soft tofu soup and both were on par with food you would find in South Korea and both tasted great. Apart from the food, there isn't much to talk about. I wish they had the small side dishes that you normally find with South Korean meals but that isn't the case. Also, there really isn't much in the way of ambiance. It's downstairs in a basement and has sort of a dungeon feel to it. But that isn't a deal breaker. The service was tolerable both times but far from great. I don't see myself ever giving this place five stars, but the food alone warrants a solid four stars. I'll continue to return to get my Korean fix. If you're looking to change things up and need a spot I'd suggest dipping in.
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Srimoyee M.

Yelp
Chicken Combo is something that we love for sure from here. However we were very disappointed with the amount/size of the portion served. We ordered it from the Cambridge outlet and the chicken wings and drumsticks were so small that is beyond our imagination. We have been there in person and also ordered a while ago, this never ever happened. A medium box for the two of us would have been enough for two meals almost and today it seems like I can eat it all myself. I really have high hopes from this chain and hope they take care of the quality in future. Srimoyee Mukherjee Jamaica Plain MA
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Helena Q.

Yelp
While it still satisfies the Korean fried chicken craving, I just feel like it's not as good as it used to be. The spicy flavor is not very spicy anymore, and both it and the soy garlic aren't quite as addictively flavorful or crisp. They have a new 'drums' option, which turned out to be very big drumsticks; the 'wings' option consists of mostly the smaller drumsticks and also wings. The wings is definitely the way to go for more surface area deliciousness, though the drums were more juicy (the wings were a tad overcooked inside).
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Kia R.

Yelp
I loved my tofu bibimbap. My family got wings and devoured them! BonChon is always a great place to eat!! Worth the trip if you want some good chicken and rice.
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Tung D.

Yelp
One of the better Bonchon locations - and I've been to the ones on Sunnyvale, CA and NYC. They were better than other locations because they served more dishes here. They even had BBQ tables. We 2 people shared a small soy garlic chicken combo, a hot bowl bibimbap, and a tofu soup, and everything was gone in 30 minutes. Everything was on point! We were really hungry before the meal though, because we completed the Freedom Trail before coming here. It was such a satisfying dinner for $52 including everything. Only thing was, I still preferred the chicken at the Sunnyvale California location, because I felt like they gave bigger chicken thighs over there. But at the Sunnyvale location, they only had chicken.
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Yan Wen H.

Yelp
BonChon in Harvard Square is located at the bottom floor of the building. Once you walk, there will be signs that tells you to go downstairs for BonChon. The restaurant was a bit dark but they had lights for every table. If you're having korean fried chicken, this is one of the places to come. We ordered a small wings (soy garlic). Their chicken was flavorful, crispy and moist in the inside. I always loved their getting their chicken when I was craving it and never disappointed. It also comes with a side of cold slaw and pickled radish. You also have the optional to choose different sides if you're not a fan of cold slaw and pickled radish. They have the option of either soy garlic, spicy or half-half. If you're a dare-devil or love spicy food then you have to try the spicy chicken. We also got the Takoyaki and Kimchi Jjigae. The Takoyaki was quite large in size and the outer skin was a bit crispy. It wasn't too doughy and they did not skimp out on the octopus. The Kimchi Jjigae was great for a cold and rainy day and it came with rice on the side. It was a hearty soup with lots of kimchi, but it also had a nice spicy kick. Although downside is that their menu is very limited compared to the other BonChon location in Allston. But overall their chicken and the other dishes we got was good. I would recommend this place for either casual meals.
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Josh R.

Yelp
Delivery was 45 minutes late. Driver claimed to have gone to a different address by accident. Google maps says the address he claimed to have gone to does not exist. Food was barely lukewarm upon arrival. Also, there was a staple in our bibimbap.
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Sarah K.

Yelp
Really strange sewer smell to this place had already knocked out the good impression bonchon usually gets from me... add to that, no BBQ option though there is a grill, and no beer (what kind of Korean chicken house has no beer?????)... double boo. The Ddulbokki was good - but standard. Chicken was also good, but that's also kind of standard for a bonchon... no extra stars for that. Servicewas attentive and quick, and that's probably the only reason i'm giving this 3 instead of 2. Overall, an average bonchon at best.
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Nhung N.

Yelp
I have been here three times for late lunch and dinner service. The food here is much better than their other location in Brighton, Ma which is the only reason why I would go here. But after the third time, I don't think I can go back. The restaurant is so dirty. The booth is sticky all three times my husband and I dined there. The floor is so greasy that I find it to be hazardous. I almost slipped once. I am not coming back no matter how much better the food is until they do a deep cleaning.
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shaniqua l.

Yelp
I'm not sure what happened. I love Bonchon, however, the chicken was way too salty today. Unfortunately, we were unable to eat it.

Jason C.

Yelp
They changed the strip recipe entirely! Nothing wrong with this restaurant in particular, but I was so disappointed after living somewhere without a bonchon, finally being able to go back to my weekly bonchon strips after I moved to Boston recently. Besides the minor inconvenience of a slight price increase (inflation, what you gunna do), I was very disappointed to see the strips had been entirely changed! Instead of what used to be thin strips of breast meat, cut in random shapes (good surface area), now it's just tiny little sticks of breast meat covered in way too much breading and sauce. Supply chain issue or not...I have no reason to go back to bonchon after several years of weekly/monthly visits to what was formerly my favorite fried chicken place, . I really hope this wasn't a decision made to try to pinch every last penny out of a dish, it always backfires on chains as they grow and cut corners. Bring back the old strips! Clarification: The Cambridge location did nothing wrong, staff was friendly. My only issue is with the obviously pre-made/frozen, over breaded, over sauced, excuse for a piece of chicken that I received. Whatever change you made to your recipe in the last few months please revert it!
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Bea T.

Yelp
if you want to have some Korean spicy chicken wings. This is a place to get them. You have a choice of getting them with fries radish or coleslaw but a lot of people seem to come here just for the wings and fries. They also have lunch specials I end up getting the Kalibi. I'll be honest being part Korean, I've had better because I find this was made a little too salty. It seemed like they poured some instant Kalbi sauce. Kalibi is generally has a marination process and it doesn't seem that it was applied here. Also, Kalbi is supposed to be grilled and this was not available even though there was a grill at the table.This location happened to be in Harvard Square in the basement. It's not a very glamorous place and at the moment there's some serious Construction. But it seems to be popular with the people who work in Harvard Square or the fellow students.
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Christophe R.

Yelp
Quality is not as good as it used to be, to the point i can say my homemade fried chicken tastes better! I also feel there are less options than the Waltham place but also the growing competition.. Lets hope for a change...
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Denise E.

Yelp
I've been here a few times with my friends. The Korean double-fried chicken drumsticks and wings are good, but my favorite is their bulgogi (beef) bibimbap $13.99. The bibimbap is cooked in a stone bowl so the rice, fried egg, bulgogi beef, and the vegetables are kept very hard, throughout the meal. Adding their gochujiang (the red bean sauce), I can't stop but finishing the entire large bowl.
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Huy-Alex N.

Yelp
The building the restaurant is in is part of a very nice area but the inside of the building is super old and worn out. The entrance has empty rooms and a lot of lack of color and the restaurant itself is no better. It's located downstairs of this building and has a very janky feel to it. Dark with not much of an ambiance or niceness to it. Music was decent though so theres that. As far as the food goes, pricing wasnt too bad at all. My friends and I got the large combo chicken deal which comes with 15 wings and 8 drumsticks I believe as well as a side order of the spicy rice cakes. The chicken had two flavors (spicy or a soy garlic). Both were very tasty and crispy with a satisfying crunch without being too heavy. The spicy rice cakes, though massive in portion, was disappointing. It felt as though they just microwaved the plate and threw everything together. The egg that had was hard boiled which was weird and the sauce was sweeter than usual. Good but not as quality as it should have been for a pretty well-known restaurant. Wasnt bad overall but the ambiance, poor service, and unsatisfying side dish leads me to believe that I'd probably go to crave in downtown boston over here.
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Amy C.

Yelp
Sometimes I just get an insatiable craving for Bonchon. The chicken is double fried to get a beautiful crispy skin with an audible crunch when you bite into it. They have two types of chicken flavors: soy garlic and spicy. My favorite is the soy garlic. The best time to go is during weekday lunch when they have a great lunch special, where you can get 4 drumsticks or 8 wings and 2 sides (rice, French fries, or coleslaw) for less than $10. I've tried some of their other Korean menu items but found them to be relatively pricey compared to the same quality in the Korean restaurants in Allston, so I usually stick to the chicken since that's difficult to get at other restaurants. Don't be fooled by the basement location! It might look sketchy walking down there next to Staples, but once you are inside the restaurant is clean and spacious.
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Michael T.

Yelp
I've been going to bonchon in Allston for years now but I was in the area and decided to stop by here. I had the kimchi jigae, my friends had the chicken, and my girlfriend had the Galbi. The kimchi jigae was a lot smaller than the Allston location but the flavors were somewhat comparable, but for the same price I could have gotten twice the portion.. The chicken did not taste, look nearly as good, or crispy as the other location. The Galbi quality did not live up to the price tag and the marinade was very salty. I love bonchon but I will definitely make my way to the Allston one over this location.
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Erin K.

Yelp
I would give Bonchon 4.5. Of all the Korean chicken places in Boston, I would say Bonchon is a solid option. Food I've tried: - In general, I would go for the bone-full rather than the bone-less option, as I find the bone-full chickens to be more moist. Bonchon's chicken batter isn't super thick (like you would expect at other Korean chicken places) but the skin is still crispy and well seasoned. The price varies depending on how much chicken you want ($14 - 10 pieces, $25 - 20 pieces, $35 - 30 pieces). In terms of the flavor options, the spicy is indeed very spicy and I have a pretty high spice tolerance. If you are looking to mix and match, I would get 1/3 SPICY and 2/3 SOY GARLIC. The spicy is pretty much is initial sweetness, replaced by pure fire on the tongue. The soy garlic has a slight touch of sweetness in the flavor as well. The radish and coleslaw that comes with the chicken is pretty standard in terms of flavor. - EDAMAME ($6): tastes like edamame, no surprises there. - SHRIMP SHUMAI ($9): tastes like shrimp shumai you can buy at any grocery store. So average in taste, and I only get this if I come as a group and we want to munch on something while we wait for the chicken. - TTEOKBOKKI ($15): pretty average, for an average price. Atmosphere: - The lighting is one of those dim atmospheres. - During peak times it can get pretty crowded, and it has a lively vibe. Service: - The staff is friendly. The time to get the food is pretty average. Overall: - It is a solid option for chicken in Boston. I love Korean friend chicken and have been to many restaurants in search of a good option in Boston. Unfortunately, while Boston's chicken game is not that great, Bonchon scratches the itch.
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Sonia N.

Yelp
Having gone to the Bonchon in Allston multiple times, we were happy to stumble upon this place for lunch while in the Harvard Sq area. In fact, we walked around for over a half hour while we waited for them to open but alas, our Yelper friends are totally right. If you're feeling the Korean hangry pangs, drive the extra minutes to Allston unless you're only getting their wings. Although I didn't try it personally, it got a thumbs up with the soy and ginger wings being the better of the 2 flavorings. The seafood okdal bibimbap that I tried however was a bit bland and not at all what I'm used to when I've ordered it in other places. It needed an unusual amount of the red chili sauce for it to have any flavor. Also be prepared that this location doesn't have a sushi bar either. Their menu is much more limited. Not a bad option to try out but with so many great dining places within walking distance, I'd probably opt to go somewhere else next time.
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Anarie S.

Yelp
Probably the worst service I've ever had! They are located in the basement and the ambiance is terrible! I guess the space got to the staff because they contribute to this horrible experience. It's the kind of place that leaves you feeling awful for paying for such a horrible food. I would not recommend nor order delivery. They give you an estimate time but delivery well over an hour late.
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Vy H.

Yelp
Who doesn't love Bonchon wings? I used to come here in college and revisited it recently while my boyfriend and I were walking around Harvard. The food here is comparable to the Allston location but this place is super dingy! The booths were scratched up and the bathroom was falling apart. Half of the menu items were X'ed out because they weren't available anymore. After some point, maybe the restaurant should consider ordering new menus. Other than the food was as expected. I don't think you can get better Korean fried wings in Boston than from Bonchon. It had been a while since I last had it and enjoyed that they had a lunch special. For around $10, I got a good amount of wings plus 2 sides!
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Chun T.

Yelp
Their fried chicken is really delicious! We always order the family meal, it comes with 12 wings and 6 drumsticks, fries, and fried rice. And of course you should choose soy garlic, it's the best! Only thing is the fries and the fried rice actually has no favor..lol This place is too popular, the order is usually takes about 1hr even their app said it's ready, and the line is usually busy. Overall, it's very good.
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Ben T.

Yelp
I have been a big fan of Bonchon for many years and enjoyed providing them my business. Today I decided to try the soy garlic boneless wings and ordered two boxes. I was not happy with what was provided. Maybe someone made a mistake in preparation but the wings were too salty, little to no sauce (maybe they forgot a step) and worst of all DRY. This was nothing like the wings I have gotten in the past and think someone probably just messed up my order as I typically give Bonchon the benefit of the doubt. Regardless I was quite disappointed, hopefully I am just an outlier.
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Johnny D.

Yelp
If I was rating this location just on food & service it would easily be 5 stars. The food is always great (full disclosure I've only had the wings/strips and the dumplings the 10x I've eaten at various BonChons). The service is always very good. Very friendly and always there when you need a refill or to just see to your needs. The problem with this specific location is that it's filthy. As soon as you take the escalator down - there is lots of crap on the floor and around the entrance. The restaurant itself looks beat up and the ambience just feels chaotic and unkept. We got seated near the kitchen and all we could smell was frying oil. I'll keep coming to BonChon - it just might not be often at this specific location. Dear management - someone has got to step up and clean this place up. Food: solid A Service: A Ambience: lacking Cleanliness F
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Jessica D.

Yelp
This was my first time ordering from the Cambridge location and I have to say I had a great experience despite the many negative reviews. We had guest over and they never had it before so I was excited to have them try it. Needless to say, they loved it!! My order was complete and it arrived very timely. Everything we order was fresh, and the chicken was still crispy! Will be ordering takeout from this location again.
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Melody L.

Yelp
Fried chicken lover here. Not sure why I've never eaten Korean fried chicken before this but I had an overall positive experience at this Bonchon. The lunch special is a good deal in my opinion. For only $8.95, my friend and I shared 8 soy garlic strips with a side of fries and radish. We got our own dishes as well, mine being the bulgogi dup bap and hers being the bulgogi bibimbap. There was also free miso soup! Our total bill ended up being around $35 not including tip, which is very reasonable considering that I ended up eating a hefty amount of food. Service was efficient and I have no complaints. I do agree with other reviews that the location of the restaurant is a bit awkward since it's in the basement of a worn-out shopping center. However, the food is yummy and the interior of the restaurant was fine, so that aspect didn't bother me too much. Would definitely recommend this place for lunch. Side note: Dick Lee is wondering where his wings order is, Peter.

JiaRui Q.

Yelp
Horrible experience. The food is disgusting. They don't care about customer service at all. Bad environment. NEVER COME.