Chi Maek Korean Fried Chicken

I've driven by this place so many times when going to other shops and restaurants around Riverdale and finally decided to try it today. And wow, I can't believe I haven't tried it sooner. An employee named Jeffry was at the counter and showed me different items on the menu before taking my order. He was very hospitable and friendly, filled up a glass of water for me and asked me where I'd like to sit and brought my utensils and such to that table. The atmosphere is really nice, it wasn't that busy when I went but there was music playing and I really liked the decor. It is connected to the Te'Amo boba tea shop next door. As for the food, I got a 10 piece wing combo in the soy garlic sauce, chicken katsu and a korean corn dog. Everything was AMAZING! The wings had the perfect crisp and the soy garlic sauce has a perfect savory flavor. The chicken katsu was great as well, I loved the flavor of the chicken as well as the sauce drizzled over it. The corn dog was to die for, it's a traditional Korean corn dog filled with cheese. I also got free sides with the main dishes I ordered, I chose the coleslaw which was perfect as well. Not too sweet, not too sour, just right. The menu items are a bit pricy but the taste absolutely makes it worth the money. I will definitely be back in the future to try more of the menu because despite the name of the restaurant, they have a lot more food than just Korean fried chicken, it is a fully fledged quick service Korean restaurant. You won't be disappointed!

tried several dishes from this new Korean chicken restaurant, and everything was absolutely delicious! The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside, and each flavor had its own unique taste. The service was friendly and fast, and the staff made sure everything was perfect. The restaurant is also spacious and very clean. I’m so glad this place opened nearby. Definitely one of my new favorite spots

We’ve been here several times and have never been disappointed. Just a note, they are now named Chingu (the signage did not reflect the name change). They are the same as the Burnsville Center location and the Maplewood location that is still under construction (as of 12/6/25). The staff is very friendly and attentive which makes it a welcoming experience. We always go for the soy garlic sauce on the KFC, it is by far our favorite. The chicken is always good sized, juicy, and the sauce blends perfectly. Just an FYI, the wings are split into two pieces, the flat and the drummie. That will count as two pieces when calculating the piece count. We have not tried any other dishes because we love the chicken so much! You can’t go wrong with Korean Fried Chicken!

Finally gave this new Korean chicken spot a try, and overall, it didn’t disappoint. Customer service was great — friendly and attentive staff that made the experience smooth from start to finish. The chicken had solid flavor, though I do wish it was coated a bit more generously with the sauce. Portion size felt a little on the smaller side, but the taste made up for it. As a nice surprise, they gave a free mochi donut as a courtesy — a sweet touch that left a great impression! The restaurant was clean and offers both takeout and sit-down dining, which is convenient. If you’re curious and haven’t been yet, I’d definitely recommend checking it out!

The best Korean fried chicken in the Twin Cities. Amazing food and service. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Spice levels are crazy. You will suffer. The owners, Jeffrey and staff are amazing. They always give you a big smile and welcome as soon as we walk in. They treat us like royal customers. The restaurant is always nice and clean. Te' Amo is connected to them. You can order your drinks from a QR code at the table and they will bring your drinks right to you. You get lots of food for a good price.

Stopped in for lunch with my wife and we were both impressed! Great service, Jeffery was super friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. We started with Sticky buns and hot wings- both were prepared perfectly. Then we shared the Bulgogi- with white rice. Everything was splendid- definitely coming back again soon!

Chi Maek definitely made my night! After a long day of work, I stopped here to pick up some dinner. I ran inside to place my order and then waited in the car since my daughter was asleep in the car. About 10–15 minutes later, I went back inside to grab my food and was surprised when the worker handed me a mochi donut, saying it was for my child. Maybe he could see on my face how exhausted I was, but that small gesture truly made my entire evening. Thank you so much to that worker for the kindness!

A great place to grab a Korean meal while shopping at the nearby mall. It's a good alternative to regular fast food. The staff is very friendly and attentive. There is a wide selection of dishes. Unfortunately, bottled water is not available, but you can get it for free from the tap, although it does taste of chlorine.

Everything is special! Is what I was told when I asked about specials. After eating at Chi Maek's I think he was right! I ordered chicken drumsticks, coleslaw and shrimp shumi. All were outstanding! In fact, it may be the best fried chicken I've ever had (with the exception of my Grandma's fried chicken. sorry, but Grandma's can't be topped!) The staff (Jeffrey) was very friendly and even gave me a donut, which was a nice surprise. Overall, I would strongly recommend Chi Maek and will definitely return!

The smell from Chi Maek was deliciously strong when I was getting boba tea from Te'Amo. I ordered takeout from the app as I waited. I ordered Japchae and wings with sauce on the side. I think the wings come with white rice. The staff was friendly. They gave me a free plain mochi donut that was from Te'Amo. I am very particular about my Japchae, and this was delicious. I literally ate everything that was in the Japchae. The sauce was good. The fried chicken was juicy. I had sauce on the side. You can pick 2 sauces. The options were plain, soy, spicy, and danmae. Despite the sauces, I liked it plain--is that crazy of me? Anyway, I definitely will be coming back.

Sparkling clean restaurant with friendly service and excellent food at a reasonable price. We started with pot stickers, then moved on to fried rice, chicken katsu and bibimbap with bulgogi. We ordered pickled radish and kimchi on the side-- the first time we've ever been in a Korean restaurant that did not serve kimchi as part of the main course. Still, the quality and size of every portion was outstanding. Highly recommended.

I ordered the chicken katsu, surprisingly price was pretty affordable - only $11.45 for plenty of protein. It was served with coleslaw on the side. Chicken was very delicious and crispy, although I do wish they added more katsu sauce, definitely make sure to ask for extra on the side. Service was amazing, staff are super friendly, and you can also order drinks from the connected bubble tea shop to your table! Overall, experience was pretty great, there's plenty of seating around and the vibe is relaxed.

Its been said that Korean fried "chikin" has a rich and fascinating history. Some say its roots can be traced back to the Korean War in the 1950s when American soldiers introduced fried chicken to the locals. How much truth to it? I don't know however this chikin is fire. I've ordered pick up however never sat in. The ambiance and staff seem welcoming and the décor is a modern feel with orange and white color scheme. Food/ Prices 4/5 I appreciate the combo style wing dings with two full dummies', that's a different offering you typically don't get in other chicken spots. I ordered the Combo $17.10 half and half plain/ spicy. The spicy was Spicy which is a hit or miss other places, its not MN nice spice. lbs. The other combo was $17.10 half/half spicy and Soy garlic- it was so juicy and seasoned to perfection. The fries were a bit greasy for my taste however they gave you a mountain of them. Reminds me of Five Guys- to the overflow. lol . Overall 4/5 Great spot, Chikin, and backstory!

I have ordered take out from here but never dined in. Went here with a friend and we were greeted as soon as we walked in the door. It was not busy at all so we were asked to sit anywhere. Service was prompt and very friendly. I have gotten the fried chicken, which is excellent and have tried other things on the menu before so I decided to go with something different this time. Ended up getting the bibimbap with bulgogi which was very disappointing. Nothing like any other bibimbap I have had. It was mostly rice and the egg was already cooked like an Omelette and cut into strips. It didn't come with any sides so I had to order a side of kimchi. My friend got the chicken katsu and she really liked it. She also got an order of pork buns which she loved. I have had the pork buns before and they are delicious. Next time I'll be sticking with what I know is good from here.

We went here on a lark for a quick lunchtime snack. The place was spotless, the staff was friendly and prompt. the food came out quickly. We ordered the pork steam buns, pickled radishes, and the Karaage. They were all super fresh and tasty. I will totally be back to try other offerings. They also had someone coming around offering the Mochi donuts from Te'Amo. Those things were amazing. this place is right next door. I ended buying a dozen, because I couldn't help myself. those are my new favorite sweets right now. If you are in the area, it is completely worth it to stop by and eat here.

Time: Jan 2025 Place: The place is clean and spacious with booth and table seating. The staff were lovely-- service was fast, attentive, and friendly. The store is also connected with Te Amo, which is a boba & sweets store, so it was very convenient to order a dessert when dinner was wrapping up without braving the cold outside. They also don't mind if you order boba to bring to the restaurant to drink. Food: The menu was broad and had a good variety of choices. However, the selection felt like it catered to an American palette as opposed to authentic Korean cuisine. There was no ban chan to go with the meals either (kimchi may be bought separately as a side). Beef Bibimbap ($14): The bowl tasted like a healthier version of the typical bulgogi bibimbap. It had quinoa, lettuce, carrots, bean sprouts, egg (which was strips of scrambled egg rather than the usual open-faced egg), and seaweed. The taste was bland despite adding gochujang and the dominating flavor was sweet. It was a lot better when I ordered some kimchi to go with it. While the taste wasn't terrible, it was not what I expected for bibimbap. Overall, my experience was pleasant. The pricing was very affordable, but the taste was not for me. The flavor profile was not memorable, so I would rather go to Dinkytown to satisfy my Korean food cravings.

Hadn't seen this place yet and decided to give it a try! There is plenty of parking in this area. When I walked in, I was greeted by 3 people right away! The menu is hung up on the wall but I found it hard to read with the lettering being so small. They have a ton of the menu just sitting on the counter :) I went with what they are so popular for... The chicken wings! I tried the soy garlic and it was pretty tasty! Great flavor, crispy and salty! It comes with coleslaw or pickled radish. I don't like either of those, so I can't say if they were good or not. I took my order to go, but this place did have seating. It was bright and modern! It would be a great place to bring friends or even a date! I'll definitely be back! Everyone was very nice!

A great addition to the neighborhood as the area was lacking Korean fried chicken. It has your standard menu, I only wish they had more sauce options for the chicken. Overall the food was good, service was okay, and the interior is lacking but still a good casual place to eat.

Foods okay but dine in service is horrible! 3rd time I've dined in and same horrible service. Servers barely speak English. The bulgogi dish does not taste like bulgogi and they put more onions than the beef. Not worth your $19. Only thing that known for that place that's is the chicken, which tastes good!

Took my daughter to go try the wings. This place reminds me of bon chon. They have similar menu and sauce for the chicken. Wings are always good. Toppoki was good too, sauce wasn't too spicy. There were alot of people inside waiting for togo orders, I didn't know what line to stand in. The guy asked me if I wanted to dine in or pick up, I said eat here and he lead us to the table. Restaurant is new and clean, they have a big waiting area for togo orders. Big parking lot since the restaurant is located in shopping area.

I'm really glad Korean food became more popular after the Korean Olympics! It is nice not having to drive 30 miles to enjoy.

Great food great service with a smile. And always fresh and tasty every time I go there. Definitely thumbs up and highly recommend.

The chicken/ non fried is precooked and dry. They reheat it in microwave and tastes awful.

Was a takeout order and was very good. Definitely on par with other Korean fried chicken I have had. They were prompt and let me know exactly how long my order would take. A good experience and good food. Looks are very basic and was nice and clean.

Stopping in for another great meal! Wife really enjoys the tteokbokki and I lean to the taco's. I know their Fried Chicken is awesome, but this was a taco night for me. Friendly staff and the restaurant is very clean and welcoming. Playing some catchy music, sounds like something they play on the Korean shows my wife watches. Large tables and plenty of seating. Normally Im a take-out guy, But I think I'll have to bring the wife in next time we are out and about. The food is always fresh and delicious. I know some people get snobby about their preference of how the food is different from someplace they've visited-get over your biases and just enjoy the food! Nice to have good food close by here in North Metro Best to enjoy what we have and keep it here. Thanks Chi Maek!

Very excellent service and very good food. The Yukotaki and the tebbucki were very good. They also had some good te amo bubble tea and very good mochi donut. The atmosphere is great in here and I would highly recommend this place to anyone 5/5 great service and great food

The Korean fried chicken is on point! Light and crispy skin with juicy meat. The soy garlic sauce is more flavorful than others I've had at other Korean chicken places. The hot is definitely hot with that great lingering burn (you know you love it). Service was quick and staff was great! The owner stopped by to chat which was a nice surprise. Highly recommend - will probably be back this weekend

Amazing friend chicken. Great Korean dishes. Great service. The price is worth the food.

This was a welcomed surprise order off door dash, we were in Blaine for a friends birthday celebration and my oldest was babysitting some of the younger kids and hadn't eaten anything yet so I randomly ordered from this place knowing he is a KFC fan. Had never heard of it being from the south metro and decided to order and hope for the best and man oh man were we pleasantly surprised by how incredible it was even ordered through delivery! I got the 20 piece spicy KFC wings, fries, and karaage and everything was amazing. The white radish side dish was a hit with my friends who aren't as familiar with Korean food and had never tried it before. The wings were sauced nicely with a spicy slightly sweet sauce but the crunch was elite. Again this is with a sauce and the delivery time to get to us! We will make it a point to go back and eat when in the area and probably will be more than willing to make the trek even if we have no plans out that way. 10/10 do recommend.

The food is great, I've had it three times now and it is ADDICTING! I cannot recommend this place enough. Not only are the staff super nice, everything is clean and the overall ambiance is open and refreshing. They have a boba/donut place attached and when one of the staff found out my friend was going through a hard time, he gave her a feee donut from next door just to help make her day a little better, which was super sweet. You NEED to try this place at least once. You'll look at friend chicken completely different! I don't even like chicken wings and this place had me polishing off each piece.

The food and service here are just excellent. Chi Maek is our new favorite place! Go- you won't be disappointed!

Great spot in coon Rapids to get some Korean food. I got takeout chicken fried rice that was actually really good. You get a decent amount of food for a reasonable price. Service was nice.

First time here and it was great! Food was great, sauces were on the sweeter side. Staff was very friendly and attentive the entire time! The lobby is super clean & open. Definitely worth recommending to my friends.

Nice spot for a tasty lunch. Friendly table service, great lunch specials. The fried chicken with soy glaze was delicious. We had a combo plate with legs and wings, juicy, tender. The fries were tasty, hot and crisp. They come unsalted, I love that. Pepsi products. There were many other menu items that I want to go back to try.

We came here on a Saturday for lunch and got seated promptly. The place was clean and family friendly. Server was nice and attentive. We ordered half and half (soy and sweet&spicy) wings, Kari fry (deep-fried oyster) and Buldak. Everything arrived at decent timing. The taste was so so, a tad below BonChon.

Food was very very delicious , Service was fast after we were done eating they quickly cleaned it up and waiter was friendly, and the surrounding was very neat, very cute, and very well put together, snaps to Chi maek!

Have been looking forward to trying Chi Maek since I saw them open recently in the Coon Rapids area. Dining area is nice with plenty of seating for groups of various sizes. Upon being immediately seated, we were given our menus and water. The waitstaff and friendly and attentive to the needs of guests. We tried the Buldak, 6 of the soy garlic chicken drumsticks and the seasoned fries. The chicken and fries are quite good, just a notch below what you get at Bonchon. These items arrived to me within 5 mins of ordering. Strangely the Buldak arrived over 30 mins after our party finished the wings and fries. It would have been better to bring out each entree at the same general time. Food was good, service was good (other than the delayed order), much different than anything in the immediate area. Chi Maek is definitely worth a shot!

Ordered take out twice mainly for the chicken and both times was a half and half of sweet and spicy. I love how crunchy each bite is and would definitely go for more, as it's the closest Korean fried chicken around the coon rapids/andover area. Order was taken promptly and didn't take long to come out. The first order was a large of the bone in wings. I would suggest a stronger box, with the wings being hot the box began ripping by the time we brought it home. Although, it was also bagged in a plastic bag for extra protection. Second time I stopped by for a take out order, I asked for all flats but got home and it was a mix of drums and flats. Oh well, I still enjoy the wings. Popcorn shrimp is a favorite for the kids, not dry and crunchy as well. Pairs well with the spicy mayo sauce it comes with. The pork bun was really good and the pork belly had a nice texture and crunch - not soggy, the pork belly. Although there was quite a lot of the coleslaw that created a pool in the tray so the buns were a bit soaked up from the extra coleslaw sauce. There's also a boba tea right next door and connected indoor as well. Parking space is in a shared lot so there's plenty of room. I didn't sit in for the experience but it was pretty spacious and clean. I like how there's a cushioned sitting area for those waiting for take outs. As you can see, I haven't been able to take photos yet since I always dig right in before I remembered to take one. If you're in the area, stop by and give it a try! Will definitely go again and maybe to dine in.

This place isn't bad it's not Bonchon, but it will do in a pinch. All I've ever had to eat here is the chicken and fried rice for take out and the service is fast and friendly.

Amazing food! Great service! The atmosphere is amazing and SUPER modern! The fam loved it and you will too!

The food is yummy, comes out quick, and the service is great. Love the attached bubble tea place next door too.

The ambiance is perfect, the workers always love to see you returning and always treat you so kindly. The food is 5 stars by itself. This is my personal spot of the year.

The food was good! The fried chicken and rice was amazing, but I would not recommend the tacos. The restaurant was also clean. The service was absolutely horrible, we tried to get the servers attention multiple times and were ignored. When you serve spicy food, you should be checking up on waters, especially when the restaurant is basically empty.

This is a must.phenomenal food and outstanding service.food is fresh and bursting with flavor extremely clean.

Set up similar to Bonchon and mango mango in Dinkytown which was nice. Food was similar to Bonchon but staff were extremely welcoming and friendly, surprised it wasn't more busy. It's very good if you like Bonchon imo

We were excitedly waiting for this place to open hoping it would be similar to BBQ Chicken, but unfortunately not. It was a much lesser version of Bonchon. Everything was a tad too sweet for our liking - even the fried rice had a sweet after taste. The bimipap was extremely bland and had little meat. Of everything we ordered, the katsu was the only mediocre dish we had. We also got the pork buns (not pictured) that were overloaded with coleslaw. Again, it was a disappointment. As for service, it could've been better. The place wasn't busy but the attentiveness was definitely lacking after they took our order. Overall, we wouldn't return nor would we recommend, especially with many other options now in the surrounding areas.

Great food! Great service! Almost authentic! And the bubble tea place next door is awesome!!

Super crunchy and juicy wings, and if you want something else you're wrong. Flavors are really good, service was great too. We will definitely be coming back!

I came here with $20 for lunch. I received an ENORMOUS bowl of hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious udon noodle soup, with a crispy fried egg on top...... FOR $11! It was amazing! I then went right next door for a donut. The owner (?) came by and talked to me, said they'd opened just recently. It's pretty chic/ modern, there is music playing at a medium volume.Definitely will be returning with friends and classmates, and you should too.

The fried chicken is a must try! Super crispy outside and juicy on the inside. The Korean dishes are okay but still tastes good.

5 stars for fried chicken, but good lord stay away from the 1 star bulgogi, was more like soggy saute of beef and mushroom - no ginger, no soy, no flavor.

Great food and excellent service. Try as much of the menu as you can. Great Kimchi! I'd recommend the hot chicken.

Two of us went to try Chi Maek , Korean Fried Chicken. Our friend told us the chicken wings were great. We split a plate of potstickers which were crunchy and easy to eat with your fingers. She had friend rice, I had Japchae with glass noodles, beef and lots of vegetables & the Soy Garlic sauce... mine was scrumptious, I'll go back for this. I'd say the fried rice was mediocre (same old same old). You have a choice of soy garlic sauce or spicy sauce with their food items. The parking was easy. They do have informal sit down service or take out available. I hope to return to try other items on their menu.

This is excellent! As much as I enjoy BonChons, there isn't a close one, therefore I was searching for anything similar. This is much closer and equally good! They offer some excellent mochi donuts as well.

This place is phenomenal. Great service, food served quickly, and the food is delicious. The garlic soy wings are amazing, along with the fried rice and bulgogi tacos. Probably the best spot in the area

Chicken was moist but way too salty. Took this to go and by the time we got home it had lost most of the crispness. Better off eating it there Will not go back.

Love the bulgogi and seasoned fries!! The servers were amazing with their service and the kpop music was a great addition to the restaurant ambiance! Would come back again