Bonchon Costa Mesa

I've been searching for a Bonchon in the LA area that lives up to the first time I had it in New York back in 2009—and this location absolutely delivered. The chicken was fresh, perfectly crispy, and packed with flavor. We also tried the bulgogi fried rice and Takoyaki, which were a delicious and satisfying addition to the meal.

The chicken is so crispy and delicious. It is our only go to fried chicken spot now. We are going through the menu and so far everything taste great.

My husband found this place thinking it would be good as the reviews here on google were better than Yelp. Unfortunately, we were so excited to have Korean fried chicken we ordered the XL of wings because we’re anticipating to have the leftovers in the air fryer tomorrow (spoiler alert we will not be having the leftovers). As soon as I took the first bite I knew we had messed up. The wings were all batter and extremely “crunchy” to the point it hurt the roof of my mouth. I was only able to eat 3 wings without the batter. My husband was forcing himself to eat the wings, but there was barely anything to eat since it was all batter and barely any meat. I’m extremely disappointed with the food definitely a waste of our money. Please make sure to read the reviews on multiple sources before coming here.

Very spacious convenient location. I’m a fan of this restaurant regardless ample parking quality every time any location. They always have specials so keep an eye out. Come get your crunch on. Tell me though how are your drumsticks so big and still so crispy yet moist and juicy?

On this 25th day of April in the year of 2025 at 3:30pm. There’s no way that the tariffs, taxes, and economy is affecting businesses this horribly that they think it’s reasonable to serve fries portion that’s only enough to serve a toddler at $8 an order. When asked they said this was the proper serving for their $8 fries order. We asked the servers to clarify, they talked to the cooks and told us that we had to wait over 40 minutes for the manager to return before we can do anything. How or why is there no managers or supervisors during business hours? This is ridiculous and unsatisfactory. It’s quite disappointing because we love Bonchon and have been a long time customer. But due to this incident my family, friends, and I will no longer be doing business with Bonchon Costa Mesa.

Not sure what happened this night, but the wings were nearly inedible. SUPER heavy on the batter, which was also soggy, and it looked like a half-hearted attempt to sauce them. I actually ended up taking the skins off all the wings at home, and then using Franks Red Hot Wing Sauce to make my own ad-hoc wings out of what they gave me. If I have to do this much work to make them enjoyable, that's definitely a 1-star performance from Bonchon.

Super small portion size for $14/$20 plates fride rice and the other noodles dishes always feel hungry after eating here. They can't even fill the plate. Alway less than half way full.

I visited here for dinner late Saturday after Wango Tango. The place was clean and well maintained. The food taste was my concern. Maybe it’s fine for other menus… but if you know the taste of Korean chicken BBQ then it’s not the place for you. At least for soy-sauce chicken. The chicken has very strong soy smell, and it’s not what you usually taste from Korean soy sauce chicken. I feel like it’s made by someone who never tasted the Korean soy sauce chicken before. It was same for BBQ sauce that I ordered separately as side for my kid. It’s possible that other menus might be okay… but at least not the soy sauce chicken BBQ. My 3 star for food is just for soy sauce BBQ chicken.

TL;DR - super duper yummy wings, perfect for family dining! I came here to celebrate my friend's bday with a group of 7 people total. - Bonchon is great because it has wing packs so it was easy for us to share (i would also recommend the french fries) lots of booth seating, cool decorations, and not too cramped. staff is very efficient and friendly when taking orders, our server was extremely patient.

We were eager to try this place as we were in the mood for some Korean fried chicken and we had some bad experiences with our local BB.q Chicken. However, this was probably the worst Korean fried chicken that we've ever had. The batter felt like it was 2 inches thick all the way around. When you got to the center, there was barely any meat. The sauce was actually pretty good, but it didn't even cover the entire wing and looked like it was lazily squirted onto them. When we asked if we could get a side of the sauce to compensate for this, they advised that we were going to be charged for the sauce. We then declined since our bill was already at $70. Service was fine. The waiter seemed friendly and was initially attentive, but as time went on, I feel that he could tell that we did not like the food and he stopped coming to our table. The place was clean and there was a lot of space, but the lack in quality of the food is the reason for this rating. We do not recommend this place for Korean fried chicken.

Came here after having not so delicious food next door thinking it would be bomb Korean fried chicken. It was not... it was very crunchy which sounds nice, but it was just all batter. The flavor wasn't that strong for the one that we got seasoning on. The service was great so props to the server!

We came for their Monday-Tuesday $1 wings special and left a little disappointed. You can only order once per table and only one flavor. The flavor was good and the wings were crispy, but a bit dry. Our server was nice and accommodating as he offered to sit us at 2 tables for 2 different flavors. The restaurant itself was clean and comfortable.

For appetizers, the bulgogi fries and the bao buns are great starters. Their wings and drumsticks can be split between flavors and the soy garlic and Korean bbq were my favorite ones. They're extremely crunchy and pack a lot of flavor. The udon has one of the best broths I've tried because it was rich, savory, and the noodles soaked up the broth, making each bite better than the last. The service was great, very accommodating, and there's a bar inside too. It's also located in a small shopping center. You can find a detailed breakdown on Instagram @ToshiEats

Ooof. Bonchon has seriously gone downhill since the last time I've been here. I ordered delivery of seasoned fried zuccini, 15 piece wings, half soy garlic and half yangnyeom, with pickled radish, and spicy mayo on the side. The wings were covered in batter, lacking flavor, and such bad quality. Just a huge let down from what I remember of their wings. We didn't even finish them. The seasoned fried zucchini was nothing to rave about. The spicy mayo was good and probably the best thing we had.

Not sure what happened this night, but the wings were nearly inedible. SUPER heavy on the batter, which was also soggy, and it looked like a half-hearted attempt to sauce them. I actually ended up taking the skins off all the wings at home, and then using Franks Red Hot Wing Sauce to make my own ad-hoc wings out of what they gave me. If I have to do this much work to make them enjoyable, that's definitely a 1-star performance from Bonchon.

Very spacious convenient location. I'm a fan of this restaurant regardless ample parking quality every time any location. They always have specials so keep an eye out. Come get your crunch on. Tell me though how are your drumsticks so big and still so crispy yet moist and juicy? Servers always checking on you love it here !

Food was ok. Got the lunch special w boneless wings and seasoned fries. Some of the boneless wings were mostly breading unfortunately and the seasoned fries weren't amazing just simple fries w Parmesan on top( for an extra dollar). Would have just gotten regular fries instead. The Soy Garlic sauce was enjoyable though. Side note, if you order to-go/online you aren't allowed to eat in their dinning area.

My husband found this place thinking it would be good as the reviews on google were better. Unfortunately, we were so excited to have Korean fried chicken we ordered the XL of wings because we're anticipating to have the leftovers in the air fryer tomorrow (spoiler alert we will not be having the leftovers). As soon as I took the first bite I knew we had messed up. The wings were all batter and extremely "crunchy" to the point it hurt the roof of my mouth. I was only able to eat 3 wings without the batter. My husband was forcing himself to eat the wings, but there was barely anything to eat since it was all batter and barely any meat. I'm extremely disappointed with the food definitely a waste of our money. Please make sure to read the reviews before coming here.

Spot is by my work so it's convenient. I absolutely love the buldak. It's my favorite. Spicy and filling. But it's pricey. I've tried the wings but they weren't really my favorite. Alcohol on the walls always looks empty. Along with the store when I get there. Maybe it's the time. I don't know. I really want to try the buldak without the rice cakes. I'm not really a fan.

Once again we got the awesome spicy wings. I forgot how huge they are. Each wing is equivalent to like 1.5 regular wings. As such we really only needed a 10 piece for the 2 of us. We also got the Beef Bulgogi Fried Rice that we love.

My buddy and I pulled up in his truck, and we couldn't tell if it was open. Thank goodness it was because we were hungry! I have eaten here before and I was sure that my companion was going to love this chicken. He ordered the strips, half spicy and half garlic. I had the three legs with the fried pickles (delicious). The hard crispy crust with the sweet glaze just knocks me out every time, it is so delicious! These are one of a kind fried chicken legs and they may be the best I have ever had in 68 years of loving fried chicken. My friend was even more impressed than I expected. He orders some pickled radish and Kim chee on the side. The service was fab, the food was fab, the ambiance is unimpressive but comfortable. Gonna love the chicken!

Great lunch specials! The favorite among the group was the soy garlic flavor. The spicy was too spicy for most. The seasoned fries were the standout. Well cooked with a great flavor. They also have an option with parmesan. Employees were friendly, service was quick, and they have a lot of tables inside. They're in a busy shopping center, but pretty easy to find parking.

The food is good and the servers are trying but... Little things like a request for no green onions on a dish are disregarded, and the food is literally too hot to eat even after waiting 15+ minutes. The flavor is there but I do not want to have to blow on each bite during the dining experience. Beer pitchers are a plus.

This particular Bonchon location is hands down one of the better ones! Service is indeed a priority for me when choosing where to give my repeat patronage. There is no shortage of awesome service here. Shout out to Jeremy, Steven, Lauren & June! Always friendly & attentive. As for the food, everything I've had has been very tasty. I LOVE how all of their chicken wings & drums are always so crunchy & full of flavor, even after sitting in a to-go container on the drive home. I also love their Kimchi Bulgogi, Bacon Fried Rice. Who doesn't love bacon with an added spice kick! I highly recommend this particular Bonchon location!!

Terrible, don't even bother. It takes forever. Like forever-ever. I placed an order online for an 8 piece chicken strips. The accompanying photo looked good. I placed my order at 2:47 and the confirmation said it would be ready at 3:02. I arrived at 3:05 and said I was hear to pick up an order. The person behind the bar looked at the food window and then said "It will be 5 more minutes". Which was strange, because they didn't ask for my name or even check with the kitchen. This must be a standard response with no basis in reality. No big deal, I have a smart phone and I don't mind waiting 5 minutes. 30 minutes later I gave up and asked to cancel my order. I was told they would check with the kitchen, but I insisted that I wanted to cancel because I wasn't willing to wait any longer. My request was refused and I had to wait 5 more minutes to receive what I can only describe as "chicken". Not even a "sorry for the wait", they just dropped the plastic bag on the counter and walked away. The chicken strips didn't look anything like the photo on the website. Their motto is "Crunch out loud!". There was no risk of crunch with these floppy, barely breaded chicken strips. I can only assume they meant to change the motto to "chew quietly and sadly". I don't think they rushed the order because they didn't want me to cancel my $20 order ($2 tip which I regret). It took about 45 minutes from the time I ordered to drop these frozen "chicken strips" in the fryer. I won't be going back. Never. Like never-ever.

I have been requesting a refund for two weeks and still haven't received it. I've been calling every day, but I'm always told it's still processing. This is extremely stressful and unprofessional.

The chicken is good! They offer 2 flavors soy garlic and spicy. The soy garlic is my flavor of choice. The batter stays crunchy even after the saucing which I think is unique. The is probably my 2nd favorite Korean chicken spot. Don't forget the pickled daikon. It's a perfect complement to the fried chicken. Service is actually pretty quick. 10 minutes and it's ready to go.

AMAZING CRUNCHY FRIED CHICKEN! Falls off the bone deliciousness.. My coworker brought me here for lunch today. It was sooooooooo good. We ordered the spicy chicken Drumsticks and wings. They were spicy too but I couldn't stop eating it. 45 minutes later and I still feel the heat. No complaints here with the level of spiciness. The only reason I didn't give them a five is because service was slow. They only have one waitress for lunch rush. She must have walked by us 4 times and never looked in our direction. This will be a returning lunch spot. I'm looking forward to trying something else off their menu.

The chicken was yummy as always, but what is going on with the steamed rice? It was dry and crunchy- just awful! Either they stopped using a rice cooker, somebody doesn't know how to cook rice or it was old or all of the above. Also they gave us a container of daikon that had gone bad.. it smelled like rotten eggs. Disgusting...

I would rate 0 stars if I can these people take 1hr for my order to be ready when there's no one in the building it's empty. I placed an order online and came at the time they said I'm 15 min I got here and waited 45-1hr more . I asked for a manager and they just stayed quiet and they tried to charge me 5 extra ranches when I just got 1 . This location and the fountain valley one are so fucken trash , the food is good but idk what they doing they probably high as a kite doing jack shit

I love these wings! The lunch special is reasonable--they give you a good amount for a portion of the price of a regular meal! Soy garlic is my ultimate favorite. Their pickled radish was a little weird but it wasn't bad. The drumsticks are so big! Sometimes the ratio between the meat portion and the crispy skin is off because of this. Definitely worth trying though!!

This place has the best wings! You have to come here! My service today was great. Environment was clean and organized.

Went to Bonchon again with the family. My family got the combo wings and the drums are so big! I got boneless which were so yummy and crispy. My sister got the bao buns which looked delicious. We shared spicy dumplings which were very hot. The initial taste of the spicy sauce is chamoy but then gets very spicy. It's so delicious! The soy garlic is great too. Both sauces are nice and sticky so they don't make the wings soggy. I really enjoy this place and can't wait to come back.

Bonchon is always a solid option if you're craving some Korean fried chicken. I love the soy garlic! Service was good at this location and plenty of searing inside. Ambiance was nice too! Would definitely come back to this location

Bonchon is a simple and clean place w great service and a concise menu. The staff were very alert, attentive, and friendly. To divide and conquer appropriately between the two of us, we decided to order the 10 piece and split between soy garlic and hot, while adding the kimchee coleslaw and pickled radishes. While we could have just split that, we also wanted to order the bibimbap w bulgogi since the menu deems it a "must try." I gotta say the fried chicken was delicious. The flavors are distinct and the breading thick, but it is not just doused in oil like other places. It was the perfect amount of sauce. I really liked the pickled radishes since they were light and crunchy. I was also not a big fan of coleslaw, unless it's kimchee flavored from bonchon :) the Bibimbap was okay to me. I felt like it was more bland, but my husband really liked it. I also like how they have tea flavors from lollicup. The green tea w strawberry was deliciously refreshing

A little different than the one we tried out in Bangkok Airport. Guess the menu always has a twist elsewhere. Chicken is still great and very crispy.

I've eaten at Bonchon since 2016 in New York and Boston. Was happy to see one in OC since moving here. Tried it was not impressed. Ordered the spicy chicken fried rice and the chicken sandwich. Worst one... fried rice. Like how can you mess up fried rice. As a Korean I have never seen a Korean establishment use such poor quality of rice. Vegetables are only red pepper and onions. No scallions no green peppers no carrots or peas which are staples for Korean fried rice. Seriously was horrible worst Korean fried rice I have ever eaten! Chicken sandwich was so so was not crispy which was sad. Other BonChons in New York and Boston are Amazing that's why they last! After work with coworkers was the place to go but so disappointed in this one in OC. I still don't get it how can you make fried rice like that? Not going back for over $17 for fried rice is not worth it in my opinion.

Korean fried chicken?! Why did I take so long for me to try this place?! Truth be told, I'm shocked that I have not heard of this place till now. I finally decided to give this place a go after seeing their menu hanging on my girlfriends fridge. I ordered the drumsticks + wing combo. So delicious! Will definitely be back for more.

Their fried zucchini was more American than Korean: Parmesan on top and ranch dipping sauce. Oil was old and slightly bitter. Skip this. Their Korean drumsticks were excellent. We got soy garlic and spicy mix. They serve lollicup fruit teas and variety of beers on tap. Sits about 12-14 tables. Quick service. Accepts credit card. Easy parking. We would come back to try other items. They close at 9pm

The wings here are great, always get half and half soy garlic and spicy! There's always room at this location. They are fast efficient and clean!

The fried chicken tasted a bit salty, but overall, it was pretty good! I would recommend people to give it a try!

I was hyped to try Bon Chon, especially since all I heard was good things. I certainly didn't have that experience. I got the 10 piece Soy Garlic with Slaw and a side of Orange Rings. Wings were overcooked and dry, very disappointed..Then at that point I realized they did not give me my Slaw. The Menu prices on line did not reflect the price at the Register. $19.00 turned into $25 and change. Normally I would give them a second chance, but I think I'm cool ont this one. Too many mishaps and I just didn't feel the Love. Yallhollaatchaboy!

OMG the wings are amazing! We have one near our home and always wanted to try it so one night we picked it up. The cashier was so helpful and so sweet as we had NO clue what to order but she was patient with us and recommended all the right things!

I haven't had Korean fried chicken or Bonchon in awhile and my experience here didn't live up to my memories. The chicken wasn't as tender and thankfully not overcooked. The skin was crispy. I got the spicy sauce and it was so-so; it didn't taste like the traditional spicy sauce. I ended up taking my leftovers to go. The pickled radish tasted better the day after so I feel like the radish might've been too fresh. The server was nice. There was only one but it makes sense because it was lunchtime. However I tried to dine in two weeks before and I think they're understaffed because dine-in was closed for half the day. The wings are quite expensive at over $1 per wing. They do have a nice lunch special which is a good deal if you get fries with it.

I've ordered from here off of UberEats twice now. If this review was based off of the chicken solely, I would give this place 4 stars. The soy garlic wings are delicious - crunchy, not too saucy or messy, and a good mix of savory/sweet. However, their sides and Korean dishes have been either downright awful/inedible or so small that you can't help but feel ripped off given the price. Here's a breakdown of what I got: - Seasoned Fries ($7), flavorless fries with the texture of soggy cardboard - Japchae ($16), overpowered by the taste of bell peppers - Tteokbokki ($13), very soupy, came with 6 pieces of rice cake, 1 square of fish cake, and 2 pieces of gimmari - Takoyaki ($8), 3 takoyaki balls cut in half, odd presentation, have never had them cut in half, taste was fine otherwise Overall, if you come here, I recommend getting the chicken wings and nothing else. The sides are way overpriced and for the most part taste bad. My family and I tossed the fries and japchae after taking one bite each cause they were so bad. For the price of each of these, you can get way better Korean food at other spots.

First-ever visit to Bonchon, and they did not disappoint!! Their Soy Garlic Korean-fried chicken strips were AMAZING!! And a tip of the hat to Charles....he and his staff provided excellent service!! A future visit is in order!!

Love this place, never disappoints! I go with my husband and son pretty often ! I could never get tired of it it's just so good !!

Got take out for a work lunch, satisfied with the portion size, flavor, and price. Would consider ordering again and trying more of the menu. I had recently had Japanese chicken elsewhere (Tenkatori is delicious) so I was craving something else and settled on the Bonchon Wrap with Bulgogi protein. I added on sides of Edamame and Kimchi. The bulgogi was juicy and flavorful, and paired well with the ranch dressing and spicy mayo sauces also included. Between all three of these, it was too saucy and a bit of oil had leaked from inside the wrap and pooled on the bottom of the to-go container. The avocado, lettuce, and onions were also fine in this burrito. It's a hybrid of Korean-Latino cuisine, leaning towards Latino with the bulgogi almost seeming like an afterthought. Perhaps some kimchi inside (replacing the onions and lettuce and spicy mayo) could go well, maybe some corn too. I point to the Korean BBQ Burrito at Toast in Costa Mesa, which leans more korean with cheese corn, kimchi, and pork belly. Overall the Bonchon wrap was good, I'd get it again and ask for a bit less spicy mayo. The side of kimchi was solid, medium spiciness (I prefer more mild), though rich flavor. The edamame in contrast had zero seasoning and was bland, would not get that again.

Bonchon used to be good. Their service is still good. I've been here many times before, but haven't been here for a couple of years or so because I've been going to another kfc place. God, their chicken has really gone downhill. Tasted like salty cardboard. It was so overcooked, dry and disgusting. Complete waste of money. I can't believe they thought it was okay to put out a product like that. 0/10 recommend.

It looked good from some reviews that I saw and j decided to five it a shot. Me and a friend came at night which wasn't to busy so we got sat right away and the server was nice, attentive, and fast. (Forgot his name) But what I saw the reviews about not having consistency on the wings is true where some are overcooked, dry and/or even undercooked. Unfortunately my friend (who gets sick quickly) ate an undercooked piece and got sick from it. To be fair when the wings were cooked perfectly where they're tender and just melts in your mouth it was delicious! The fries and fried rice were yummy and had that perfect crispy crunch. I'm willing to give it one more try if they become consistent with how the wings are.

Door dashed some Bonchons because I was really craving some Korean fried chicken during this pandemic. I got the family meal: - Bulgogi fried rice - Wings (Soy Garlic & Spicy) - Two sides (Cole slaw, pickled raddish, or fries) It was TASTY! The spicy was a bit too spicy to me so probably won't get it next time. The soy garlic was really good though. The double-fried wings make it different from other places. I also liked the Bulgogi fried rice, although the Bulgogi meat pieces are so small, you can't really taste it. I'm not sure if I'd order this again. I also got the seasoned fries which was great! Hard to mess up fries. Tldr; if you come here, get their wings for sure. Everything else is goooood but passable unless you're in the mood.

Fixed my late night craving of Korean fried chicken. Called in my 10 piece wings order at 9:30pm and was ready as soon as I arrived. Friendly staff. Place is nice and clean. I'll be back for more!

I haven't had Bonchon since I was in college up in Norcal so I was sooooo excited to get it again! I wish they would open a location in North OC, but honestly I would be willing to drive the 20ish min to Costa Mesa for some solid KFC (Korean Fried Chicken). Especially since the Kyochon in BP has been falling flat for me constantly... We ordered the medium combo half & half and it was every bit delicious as I remembered. Our order only took about 10 min because we came at an odd time so our order was the only one at the time. The chicken pieces are huge!!! The drums are literally so big, but still super moist and crunchy and saucy. I'm more of a wings girl, so I would order only wings to eat by myself the next time I come. The wings are smaller so they have more batter to meat ratio which I LOVE. Their spicy sauce is actually spicy and has a good kick. I always get a side of the pickled radish because it's such a staple when eating KFC and cuts the grease of the chicken soooo well. I'll be back when I'm craving some good ol' Bonchon (probably in the next week tbh).

First time trying Bonchon and had a great experience. Walked in and was seated right away for lunch. Nice open space and modern decor. Service:5/5 Our server was very attentive and checked on us often and refilled our drinks constantly. He was great with recommending dishes to us since it's our first time. They offer a great lunch special M-F from 11-3pm. Decided to try it out. The specials come with one side. Food: Shu Mai- we decided to get it deep fried and it's the first time I've had it this way. Definitely recommend it! 5/5 Chicken-super crispy and great flavors. I got 4 wings and drums and my friend got the bonesless. We both got half spicy and half regular. Really liked the spicy with the sweetness combination. 5/5 Sides Pickled radish-it was pretty good. Needed a little more vinegar 3/5 Seasoned fries- well seasoned and crispy but nothing special 3/5 Onion rings-perfectly crispy and had a nice batter and sweetness. Definitely recommend 5/5 Kim chi-typical flavors 3/5 Overall definitely recommend to try this place. We'll come back to try the other menu items.

I always read but never leave reviews. I was in the mood for Korean fried chicken and wanted to give BonChon a try as we didn't have one where I'm originally from. I saw the 3.5 stars and was a little afraid, but I still wanted to give it a try. Again, I never leave reviews but when I tasted this chicken, I KNEW I HAD TO LEAVE A REVIEW. I'm picky on wings, but the flavor and juiciness was just right. It was crispy and crunchy, but it wasn't the dry type of crunchy. I hate dry foods with a passion (autism lol) but this was juicy and tasted amazing. The flavor was just right, same with their fries. I wasn't the biggest fan, but my mom (french fry fanatic) loved it and wouldn't stop eating it. Will be coming back. The waitress (was also very sweet, spoke to my mom in Vietnamese when she saw my mom needed me to translate some things. We didn't know she was viet.

Good food even with pick up. I wasn't able to pick up my order but they said it was ok for another person to come pick it up.

On July 2 I ordered $77 worth of food online and my Venmo account was instantly charged. I noticed I didn't get an order confirmation as is customary. My daughter went in to pick up and there was no record of my order. She walked away without food. The next day I started a dispute via Venmo and heard nothing. It seems Venmo made an inquiry but Bonchons hasn't responded and its been over a month. The Bonchon order history says "send failure" whatever that means. So besides taking your money and not providing food, they stonewall the debit card company. Not a good look. I've been to a new Korean BBQ Chicken restaurant on Brookhurst and they're GOOD!