As a Salem local, I was super super excited when I saw that bonchon was opening in salem. Everyone in my life heard about it. Huge fan. I used to travel all the way to Allston and Harvard sq from Salem to get to Bonchon often. Galbi ribs, lychee sake, some of the BEST sushi, other AUTHENTIC Asian items, and of course those delicious wings- I could down like 100 wings to myself. This was my heaven on earth. You can understand my disappointment when I arrived at the Salem bonchon to see menu. There was not much variety, but things like a goddamn chicken ceasar wrap and other similar basic stuff etc on the menu. My heart was crushed. I even went several times thinking that maybe it was an off day, maybe I'd like something if I kept trying other things. Unfortunately everything sucked- Like the person cooking didn't know how to cook or something or maybe the food has been out for too long? For example, their signature delicious wings were sooooooo dry af. The chicken meat was like jerky. The staff vibe is really awkward in there too. It's been a while since I've eaten here though. Who knows, it might be different now. read more

Decided to try for the second time last night. I thought the first time I just ordered the wrong thing. It is way over priced. They forgot our appetizer and when I went back they where very rude. She wouldn't credit us and said she would only give us a coupon for the next time or make it now and have to wait. By the time I got home the whole order was cold. We got the drum sticks and they where slimy and the fries were soggy and cold. The takoyaki was so small and the octopus was alive and moving!!! The lady even yelled at a customer on the phone while I was there. She was rude and said they would not take orders over the phone. Never going again. read more

Door states they close at 10:30, yelp states they close at 10:30. Get there about 10 mins before 10, they're closing at 10. Bonchon in Texas is great, 5 stars. Their policy here is eluding me. read more

Great food , nice place ! Soy Garlic wings are incredible! Don't understand why the place was so empty on a Saturday night but it worked to our advantage . Service was fast and pleasi read more

Bon chon in salem?? Is this real life? Before you even walk in, the doors are definitely hard to push and pull. Believe me. Service was great! Our waiter was overly nice and definitely deserved the tip. He was also concerned when I bit into the takoyaki balls before they cooled down (which was a stupid idea for me). Food? It's definitely not as great compared to Allston. Ordered: Medium combo of half soy garlic and half spicy wings/drums- The wings are definitely a lot more small than at Allston, and not as saucy. Definitely not the bon chon I'm accustomed to. Takoyaki- They didn't feel fully cooked. Very doughy on the inside which I'm also not used to. Also, a huge side note! Their menu is very very limited. I was pretty disappointed in this but hopefully they'll expand their menu. No sushi, no alcohol, nothing too much to offer. read more

Outstanding! Fast, flavorful, filling, and overall lovely. Japchae was perfect, and the presentation just as pleasing.

Just sat at the bar at Bonchon for 10 minutes with employees checking out the first aid kit...no service...chicken is awesome but is clear why the place is empty. read more

The food here simply isn't good. The chicken tastes microwaved, the bibimbap is so dry and flavorless. So sad because Korean bbq is so good.

Love this place! The service is quick, and the chicken is delicious. It tastes fresh, and is cooked to order. Also, Peter is the man. I highly recommend eating here! read more

I never had a chance to visit BonChon Chicken in Allston, but always heard great things about it...so when I heard that BonChon was opening a location in Salem, I became very excited! My husband and I dined here for a late lunch/early dinner on a Saturday around 4:00, and the fact that most tables were filled at this odd dining time hinted to me from the start that I was going to be pleased with my experience. The restaurant contains a dining room area, which is very casual, and also has a small bar area. We chose to sit at the bar, and the service was great. The staff were very attentive, and were happy to make suggestions, as we had never eat this cuisine of food before. We started with the Combo ($12.95), which was made up of strips and wings. Since we couldn't decide which sauce, we ordered the Half and Half, which was half Soy Garlic and half Spicy Sauce. I'm a wimp when it comes to spice, but my husband really enjoyed this flavor. I loved the soy garlic, and the chicken with the sauce was amazing. It was crispy, and the batter had a nice flavor, a bit lighter than your typical chicken wings. The wings were served with a side of pickled daikon radish, which was a tasty and refreshing snack. We also ordered the Bibimbap ($13.95), which was delicious! I had never had anything like it before, but we were presented with a hot stone bowl filled with rice, various vegetables, and topped with beef and an egg yolk. Everything was seasoned and tasted nice together, and I enjoyed how the rice became crispy from the heat of the stone bowl. The egg yolk mixed with the vegetables and beef added to the tastiness of the bowl. Additionally, the meal was served with a miso soup, which was light and tasty, not much different tasting than a miso soup you would get anywhere else. Overall it was a tasty meal with a lot food! I will be back for sure! read more

See all

Great Korean restaurant in Salem! The chicken was very crispy and delicious. I am definitely coming back for more! read more

Guilty, heavyish Korean fusion. Wings are great. Crispy fried with a spicy sauce (think Korean-ish bbq) or a soy & garlic sauce. Both tasty. Both better than any wings around here. Salmon & avocado ball is available. Couple of Korean sweet but ultra spicy stir fry/hot plates available with those glutinous rice cake/noodle things and topped with mozzerella cheese. So stupidly good. Stone bowl bibimbap is also availabe and enjoyable if you want your more standard Korean restaurant meal. Should have their liquor license in the next week or so. Don't miss out. read more

Korean fried chicken! Yuuum! Consistently delicious. We usually get the food to go but when we do dine in the restaurant the service is usually very fast. read more

I was reluctant. My daughter wanted to go and eat chicken and I did not want any meat. There were almost no vegetarian options. However, I loved what I did have and the service was excellent. We shared the Motto Green matcha bubbly drink which was super yummy and pretty healthy and the Kim Chee was super fabulous. My daughter was very happy with her pork bun sandwich and edamame. read more

Customer service is horrible here ! Thank you Vanessa for pissing off a pregnant woman that is hungry. Order was placed incorrectly and was told by this pathetic employee that I was wrong?!?! I asked for a manager and she said there was no manager or supervisor available I had to deal with her and the other people who were there will not be able to help me. Peter since your are the owner you should hire someone who has better skills who can comprehend and understand a customers complaint instead of arguing with them and acting like a victim. Picking up phones is not that serious!! I will never step in this establishment again ! I am a local and will let everyone know how horrible the service I got there! It's sad because I ate at this establishment many times and never had an issue like this until I spoke to Vanessa!!! read more

I went today. Service and food is on par with other Bonchon. However, I ordered hot water to drink and they gave me hot water from the tap.

If that is the case, why would corporate tell you to offer less and charge more?! That makes no sense. Furthermore, I have worked for a franchised company (albeit not in the food industry) and have dealt with corporate on many levels, from regional managers to the head of the corporate franchise! I know how franchises work...right down to monthly franchise fees. Franchised companies expect the same from all...across the board. You are governed by them. Am I wrong? Perhaps missing something? read more

Ordered the soy glaze and spicy chicken wings, takoyaki, and bulgogi fried rice for delivery, it arrived after about 30 minutes but we received chicken fried rice instead of bulgogi. When I called to inform them of the error, the person was very polite and immediately sent an order of the bulgogi fried rice that arrived 15 minutes later. Great service, fast delivery, wings are good, but everything else was just okay. read more

This is the worst bonchon in MA. I was there trying to treat my family. The service was bad and price is high. The wings are tiny, pretty much the size of your pinky. Taste of food is okay. Much better at other locations. There's literally no one else in the restaurant but it felt so congested in there. It's so cold in there and tables are arranged where you get bumped by the waiter as they are walking by... Also the thing that made the experience worst is that when we were given the bill...the waiter or restaurant decides to add the 20% tip onto the bill when they didn't do anything. That's not right. I've been to other bonchon, which are much better but this one was very disappointing. read more

I'm so disappointed!!! The food is great but if I'm going to spend 14.95 on a dish I expect like maybe 2 bites of meat that I paid $2 extra for ! I feel so cheated. read more

Bonchon Salem - Where is the meat ?!!! I spent 14 dollars on this ?!! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This is on par with the one in Allston, so I dont understand the reviews. Granted their menu is smaller the food they do have taste almost identical. I like the fact that it is dead, so I can actually hear when someone is talking and have it all to myself. Clean and new so no bugs like at Allston. Parking is a breeze on non holidays. The lack of business might be due to lack of alcohol as people really like their booze. There isnt a lot of good asian restaurants in Salem, so thats why they chose the location. Maybe people in Salem dont really gravitate towards korean food or have never had it, so there isnt a real demand like in Allston. People usually give good reviews for very busy restaurants regardless of quality, so looking dead doesnt appeal to people. The only negative is cole slaw is extra... I still prefer this one though. My coworkers and friends like it too. read more

Fell in love with this place when they opened in Salem. We come here often and the quality of the food is not as great as it used to be but still very good crispy chicken. I have to say I was disappointed last night bc they charged me a dollar for sriracha sauce, I have never been charged extra for hot sauce. It's definitely not about the money at all since we eat out every weekend. read more

My friend and I were browsing at Jerry's Army Navy store and my friend had to go to the bathroom so we went next door to a restaurant called Bon Chon. We decide to stay and order a couple of appetizers cause we were a little hungry. First off, the restaurant was very clean, always a plus. Our waiter came over right away with water and was polite, friendly and efficient, double plus. We ordered chicken wings and drums half and half, shrimp shumai, kimchi coleslaw and the avocado ball covered in salmon. I normally do not eat skin on chicken wings because they are usually not fried crispy, no matter how many times you ask for the chicken to be fried hard. This chicken was crispy but tender, you couldn't even tell you were eating chicken skin. I loved both the spicy and the garlic flavors. The kimchi was also very good, as was the shumai. I do however prefer the sauce you would normally get at a Japanese restaurant for the shumai but I was at a Korean restaurant so... The only thing that I wasn't too crazy about was the avocado wrapped in salmon ball because inside it was avocado and chunks of that seafood salad mystery fish. If I knew that it had that stuff in there, I would never have ordered it. I would rather pay a little more for maybe real crabmeat or something else, not some processed seafood. read more

Delicious wings and sliders! The sliders are a new item. Fabulous! We've eaten at BonChon in K Town and in South Korea (called KyoChun). This was a great find in Salem, MA. Note.....this is a chain, so you don't expect atmosphere...just expect yummy chicken. Service was prompt and friendly. Yes, craving it already! read more

Tried it for the first time when I saw they delivered. Food arrived in 45 min as promised. The boneless chicken was excellent as were the vegetable pot stickers, the Bonmi sandwich with Pork was a bit disappointing but I'm sure are much better when eaten at the restaurant. Even the chicken that had excellent flavor was a bit soggy from being in the box. The only reason I didn't give it a five star was the lack of dipping sauce for the pot stickers and the chicken could have used their delicious sauce on the side.. Next time I'll eat there..!! read more

Outstanding Korean food- chicken is amazing. Japchae is also very good- ordered via Uber Eats and it was delivered quickly and still hot

Only ever had take-out from here, but the wings are incredible...i'm not sure why. They give you an interesting sweet/picked veggie (turnips maybe?) that area really good. The spicy wings are *really* spicy, so beware :-) If you're a wings fan I think you will be very happy. Repeat delivery customer! read more

The food was good, but the manager really needs to work on his influence over his staff. We ate at the restaurant during Halloween weekend which understandably is hectic, but this restaurant was far calmer than others and it wasn't over packed. Our waitress was doing just fine and the timing of everything was quick, but she seemed stressed out to the max and was apologizing when not necessary. We felt terrible for her and noticed the other waitresses were freaking out too. All we wanted to do was tell them to take a breath and relax and then we noticed the manager was definitely causing the hectic situation. Rather than calming and supporting his staff he was freaking out and further causing them to freak out when there was no need. The manager needs to understand that he needs to take control and the way he acts directly affects the way his servers perform. I felt like our poor waitress was on the brink of a panic attack. I hope she's doing ok! read more

There are lots of good wing places but not great wings like the crispy, flavorful wings offered at Bonchon. I chose the soy garlic sauce offered with two sides. The Cole slaw was fresh and spicy. My other side; the pickled radishes tasted crisp and home made. The chic industrial decor gave a fresh, clean look against warm recycled wood and brick walls. When the liquor license comes, this will be a favorite hang out that Salem needs. read more

Have been a regular Bon Chon customer for a few years, and recently a regular at Salem for about 3 months. This is by far the best Bon Chon Restaurant in Massachusetts. I will purposely drive 35 mins to the Salem location over a 15 min drive to Cambridge, Lowell, or Allston due to its outstanding service, food quality, and easy parking situation. Things I Like: * Food Consistency. The Tteokbokki is one of our favorite dishes to order and it comes out the same each time we've ordered it. Why is this important? At some of the other locations, its come out different each time (missing an ingredient or noodle type) and wasn't that good. This location really hits it home by making it with the right ingredients, making it fresh, and using the right spicy sauce. I almost forgot to mention the wings because this location also keeps these consistent and high quality. They always come out hot, fresh, and well sauced (both soy garlic and spicy). * Immediate Seating. This location is our secret date night dinner spot. We always get immediate seating when you would expect a wait because its Friday or Saturday night. We've never had to wait more than 2 minutes flat! * Cleanliness. Remarkably clean. Observed the waitstaff wiping down the tables regularly, and for a chicken wing place, there is no smell. You can smell the chicken and other foods in the atmosphere at the other locations, but not this one. Fresh air clean air allows you to enjoy the aroma of your own food which enhances the taste. Floors are clean and so is the bar. * Wait staff and Host are friendly and prompt. I think we've managed to put our order in within the first 10 minutes or less of sitting down each time we've been here. The staff is very friendly and had no problems answering any questions we had. They were accommodating on two occasions when we wanted a large order of wings (30) and instead of splitting 15 soy garlic / 15 spicy, they helped us by accommodating a 20/10 split. I mention this because another location told us that their kitchen didn't do that and cited a vague policy. * Parking. In Salem.. ! Ok so this hasn't got anything to do with the restaurant itself, but this place is on a side street with plenty of street parking, and literally right next to two parking lots. Just an FYI for the adventurous eaters that might hesitate to travel a ways to struggle with parking; you won't struggle. Recommendations for Improvement: * Some more beer selections would be great. They have a good selection now at the bar, but maybe a few more would be good especially when the seasons change. They have an Oktoberfest and Shipyard pumpkin, but the other selections are standard. That said, they have alcohol, so there's not much to complain about. read more

The wings are much better than, for comparison, Buffalo wild wings. The food is just slightly better than average quick meals. Not the best Korean food I ever tried, but it is still fine for a craving. It's good for take out. read more

Love Bonchon chicken and so glad that it's in the North Shore. However, the chicken isn't as large as the ones in Allston and in my experience, sometimes kind of dry. . not as consistently tender like Allston's. Nice contemporary, industrial feel to the space, perfect for small or large gatherings. read more

Great food! And the door is easy to push cause I'm not a weakling lol. Love the spicy wings

We always use to just order take out from this location due to parking. But, today we were craving some Bon Chon chicken so we decided to eat in. It is mostly meter parking, so it's depends on the time and day you decide to go there. Our first dining experience was great. On a Saturday afternoon, luckily found parking a block away. It was a pretty dead afternoon for them it looked like, since there were only 2 tables occupied when we go there. They had a bunch of take out orders though. Anyways the chicken was amazing as always & this was our first time trying the rice. It was delicious, just the right amount of flavor, not bland or oily. This is the middle of December and they still had Shipyard Pumpkin beer on tap!!! WINNING!!! They also had my husband's favorite drink, Orangina. Now on to the customer service. We walked in and immediately greeted by the hostess, who told us to sit anywhere we wanted. The waiter came straight to us with menus and silverware. He was very attentive to us. Very friendly and courteous! Overall I would definitely recommend this location if you don't wanna drive all the way to Allston or Cambridge. Good job!! read more

See all

The food itself is awesome. The weird thing about this place is the sizes are crazy. A small order of wings would be a large anywhere else. The prices hold me back from going more. If a small wing were $8-9 I'd be there every week, but for a casual place a $12 order of small wings just isnt appropriate. read more

Best "fried chicken" out there, Asian flair or not. Great customer service. I also had their grilled salmon salad - not a traditional Korean dish, but was extremely tasty and fresh. Tteokbokee is also to die for. Ask for it without the cheese for an authentic Korean taste. read more

Everything was very tasty. Wings were crispy and delicious. Good place to order a bunch of different items and share. Kids liked the finger food. Only complaint was that the heating wasn't adequate for the coldest day of the year. read more

I ordered the small fried chicken mix with half-half sauce and the tteokbokki (rice cake dish). The chicken was pretty great; it was crispy and the meat was juicy enough. There isn't an abundance of sauce, so if you like your chicken swimming in it this isn't the place for you, but if you like just a bit of that flavoring without it making the chicken soggy, I think you'll like it here. The chicken pieces aren't huge, but I think that for 10 pieces of wings and drumsticks (for a small) the price is fair enough. The soy garlic is quite sweet, and the spicy is a slow burn that really stings your lips. Love it! The tteokbokki I took home with me, so I reheated it but it was still pretty good. This particular dish comes with some fishcakes, wheat/egg noodles (can't tell), and what I believe may be mandu, which are dumplings consisting of clear sweet noodles wrapped in seaweed and dough (?). I got two of these, and they were quite large. The rice cakes themselves were chewy and delicious, and the sauce wasn't watery but just thick enough. There is also a healthy dose of cheese and some sesame sprinkled on top. Pretty solid dish, and if you would like to try it but can't handle spice that well, just ask them to adjust it. Be careful to reheat the rice cakes well if you do - they get hard when cold, and soften up when hot. The place was pretty empty on a weekday, but I hope that they have more success on weekends. Perhaps this isn't the type of food Salem is used to quite yet, but if you like Chinese and Japanese, give Korean a chance! It's different in its own way but really quite delicious and flavorful. read more

When we came here we sat at the bar and there were 8 tables full behind us. There was one waitress/bartender/runner working and it was all the same person. Took 25 minutes for our rice to come out and by the time it did our food was either cold or gone. We waited for our check for another 20. The waitress disappeared in the back to have what looked like an anxiety attack. People were waiting to be sat or even waiting to just get their menus. It was an awful experience. Restaurant in the center of Salem during the Halloween season..better know your location and how busy it could get. Food was good other than that. Only good thing about it. Rather go to Allston or Cambridge to get better service. read more

The fried chicken is awesome. I prefer the soy and garlic as the spicy is a little too spicy. The kimchi is okay (can't beat my mom's), the shumai shrimp dumplings tasted odd and I would not recommend them, and the japchae with beef is pretty good. The people who answer the phone could use some customer service training - don't act like it's painful for you to answer and take an order, it's a customer on the other line. Also, they need to fix their door. It's waaay too heavy. read more