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    Gol Tong Chicken

    4.8 (2.7k reviews)
    Open 11:59 am - 11:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Gol Tong Chicken Photos

    Business Info

    GOL TONG CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Gol Tong Chicken

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    Half and Half Chicken
    Winn H.

    Gol Tong is a spot I've mentioned time and time again for fried chicken. Well, it's unique, I'll give it that! It's located in a small plaza, and it's quite literally a small business - one director to all customers! The director was super nice, but alas, I must review the chicken! My friend and I visited for the half and half. Overall being the only party there, the wait time was ~ 30 minutes. Several customers came in at the time to order takeout, too. What makes this chicken unique are the following qualities: (1) It's a sweety syrupy glaze! There aren't too many similar ones out there outside of orange chicken. However, the chicken is drowned in syrup! Ever bite felt like sips of honey. (2) There's fruit. How often do you see fruit served with chicken? I guess there are a few (e.g. orange, pineapple) but grapes, cherries, avocado? (3) The fried chicken is quite soft, mushy - almost deceiving. Don't expect a crunch crunch because that sauce will remove any semblance of that. Overall, I would rank Gol Tong as a dessert-themed chicken spot. If you're looking for fried chicken that tastes like baked breading, mouthfuls of sugar and syrup, and warm, mushy fruit, then this might be the spot for you. However, I think I'm safe to say this food was... not for me.

    Daniel C.

    As advertised. Not your traditional Korean fried chicken, Korean fried chicken spot. Founded by a former movie director who happens to cook all the chicken himself. The dishes are all served with a mix of fruit to get that balance of sweet and umami. The sauces are something I haven't had in Korean fried chicken. Definitely should try it out atleast once.

    Karina G.

    Came here after a night out in k town and wow! Despite having to wait outside and not enough seats available, it was still worth the wait. This man is a one-man show so it is quite impressive! The chicken has a beautifully sweet taste as it's marinated with yummy fruits. I highly recommend if you like your chicken on the sweeter side.

    Half and half soy garlic and chili
    Jasmine D.

    One of my favorite spots in Ktown for Korean fried chicken! The restaurant is a small, hole-in-the wall restaurant run and operated single-handedly by the owner, who was previously a Korean film director. Stopped by on a Sunday for dinner and we got the half and half boneless (half soy garlic and half chili). The chicken was delicious and so juicy and paired well with the toppings (various fruits and avocado, onion, bell peppers). We liked the soy garlic more as the chili was a little over-sauced for our taste. The portion size was quite generous too. Drinks (including water) are self serve and cost extra. Would approach the experience with a bit more patience as the owner is making the food to order, while also serving tables, cleaning, and processing payments. Parking is either in the plaza (small parking lot) or on the street. Overall a great spot for Korean fried chicken in a casual, no-frills atmosphere!

    Boneless half and half was extremely filling for 2 people.
    Josh M.

    Gol Tong Chicken is no longer a secret that can be kept from Angelenos. Gol Tong is a former director from Korea who started a one-man business in Koreatown and has perfected the concept of sweet and savory fried chicken (will take this over fried chicken and waffles any day). He takes his time carefully arranging fruits around perfectly fried and dressed pieces of juicy tender chicken. Portions are massive and going here with a group to try all the different flavors is a must. Despite being the person doing it all - cooking, serving, and bussing - food comes out expeditiously, and the wait (while being entertained by multiple large TV screens playing Korean ballads) is so worth it. Pro tip #1: Use the gloves provided to keep your hands clean throughout your meal. Pro tip #2: Ordering a large tray for take out to a superbowl or other watch party will make you very popular.

    Half and half boneless chicken
    Sheila V.

    One of my fav late night spots in LA. Such a good combination of flavors with the fruits, veggies, and chicken. If you haven't tried, highly recommend! Owner is always sweet and hard-working

    Half and half boneless
    Kristal B.

    Stopped by here before hitting up a nearby escape room. Chicken was delicious! Small shop, apparently fully a one man show by a former Korean film director. Cool to see his film posters up on the wall. Inside is a little stimulation overload with so many screens of different Kpop, local news, an aquarium stream and more So how was the chicken? Delicious! Would have never thought to pair fried chicken with fruit but somehow it works. The chili sauce was a sweet & spicy delight. Soy Garlic was super tasty and paired well with the dipping sauce.

    Will X.

    Gol Tong provides delicious boneless fried chicken in a variety of sauced and sourced with warmed sweet fruit and avocado. There's a good crisp. Chicken is tender and moist. Sauce is rather modest and may have you wanting more garlic or spicy forward flavors. Do appreciate hot no frills it is. A one man/director show as he mans the front and back of house. Tables have plenty of self serve utensil. No alcohol license to pair with the chicken but they have some soda. Plenty of large TVs playing kpop and one playing sports. Plaza parking with plenty of space.

    Outside
    Christopher C.

    Really cool chicken spot! The owner is a former director of Korean movies. The portions are huge!!! Each order is for 3-4 people minimum. I was by myself but that didn't stop me. I really wanted to try the directors cut which has 3 different types of chicken but it was too big. The fried chicken was super crispy and had a nice taste. It came with 3 different sauces and the most interesting part fruit. Surprisingly the fruit works with the chicken and the sauces. The owner was super nice and even gave me one of his movies. There is parking which is a huge plus! I believe he runs the whole place by himself.

    Half
    Calena A.

    Genuinely the best fried chicken in ktown! We got seated immediately on a Saturday afternoon and the restaurant was clean and tables well stocked. I really appreciate that there are gloves and utensils at the ready so the Director can focus his time on the kitchen. The half and half chicken is so delicious, the chili and the soy garlic are so different yet they compliment each other. The portion is huge, it would've been best for 3-4 people. The fruits are so good with the hot chicken. Parking is easy and the director is so fast to get people served and checked out. We didn't feel rushed or dragged at all, the TVs throughout the restaurant kept us entertained while we waited for food.

    Yumi L.

    Who knew fruit and chicken would make a good combo? The sweetness of the fruit complements the savory chicken really well. It was truly a unique dish! There is one guy, "the director" that runs this place by himself so service can be a little slow. But the wait is so worth it as the chicken comes out fresh. The parking lot had a lot of spaces during lunch time. Fyi there is no free water, only $1 bottled water or $2 soda cans.

    Kaylee K.

    Very cool spot. Chicken was very crispy and flavorful. Fruity and savory. What an interesting combination. The owner is very friendly and runs the whole show so if it is busy there will be a little wait since it is just him. Lots of K-POP playing

    Half & Half Soy Garlic & Chili
    Wendy N.

    We was surprised by how good the combination of chicken and fruits. Came here after 10:00 PM, the chicken came out delicious, the owner was very nice and working hard only by himself. There are multiple screens in the shop for Kpop, nature and news that keeps you entertain while waiting for the food. We would love to come back and 100% recommended.

    Director Gol Tang!

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    Gol Tong Chicken Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Gol Tong Chicken

    Do they have bone-in chicken? I prefer bone-in.

    No. If you don't go to this place for that reason you are missing out

    Does the batter have gluten?

    Is there gluten? I believe so.

    Does anyone know...Is it chicken breast or thigh?

    It's thighs. But so delicious!

    Could the place accommodate a party of 15 for dinner? And if so, would there be a recommended time?

    When we went there was no indoor seating allowed it was take out only. You may want to call to see if that's changed. Also the place seemed on the smaller side.

    How much should you tip for takeout?

    No one can tell you what to tip, you have to make that choice yourself. I don't like to tip usually if I pick it up myself, but during these times restaurants are struggling and when we went here, only the owner was working and hustling. This is one… 

    Do they have food delivery services from DoorDash or Uber eats? I see it on uber eats but it's always been unavailable for some reason...?

    They do not do deliveries.

    Are they open for dine in?

    Yeah! But its a small area.

    How many pieces of chicken do you get?

    My daughter and I shared the half and half and we had some left over. It's also very rich and satisfying, so you'll probably eat less than you normally would with most fried chicken.

    Is there MSG in the original recipe batter?

    I don't know but it's so good!!!

    Is there a lot for parking ?or is it driving around in circles looking for metered parking?

    Yes, there's a private parking lot that you can park at no cost. However, it's not a big parking lot but I've never had an issue

    View All 15 Questions

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    Pioneer Chicken

    4.2(719 reviews)
    5.9 miBoyle Heights
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    I felt a little nostalgic, but not because I had eaten at Pioneer Chicken before. It was because…read morethis is what fast food used to look like: friendly cashiers who asked if we had any questions and then happily took our order, rather than directing us to a kiosk or telling us to use an app. The dining room was clean and inviting, and they still offered free refills on soda. I ordered the chicken strips with fries, while my partner ordered a two-piece chicken dinner with macaroni salad and spicy rice. Although we had to wait a little while for the food, it arrived hot. We both agreed that it was some of the best fast-food fried chicken we had ever eaten. The chicken was moist and the batter was crispy. My fries were good, and my partner's macaroni salad and spicy rice were both flavorful. We especially loved the biscuit. I also couldn't help noticing that although the dining room feels like something of a relic, it is very well maintained. There were no dirty tables and no trash on the floor. I was genuinely shocked when the cashier came out to ask how everything was and whether we needed anything else. Most fast-food chains seem determined to eliminate as much human interaction as possible. Pioneer Chicken was a refreshing reminder that fast food can still be friendly, clean and satisfying. Pioneer Chicken is a winner in my book!

    I didn't know Pioneer Chicken was still around until I saw my coworker with some. I haven't had PC…read morein years and wanted to give it a try. I ordered 8 piece bucket and one fish. It's a chicken joint, but I wanted to taste the fish. I'm glad I only ordered one piece, it was too greasy. The chicken was pretty good, not as good as I remember, but good. The chicken was also greasy, but not as greasy as the fish. Would I order again? No. Not because it wasn't good, but because there are much better chicken joints that are not greasy.

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    Large orange whip drink with combo

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    kodo

    kodo

    4.3(568 reviews)
    5.1 miDowntown

    The inside is low lit & gives an elevated ambiance. Service was fantastic and very attentive. We…read morestarted with the pacific oysters & spicy tuna crispy rice. The pacific oysters are a good size and I really enjoyed the yuzu-kosho ponzu sauce on it. The spicy tuna crispy rice have a good amount of spicy tuna on top & I loved how crispy they made the rice underneath. The Kodo trio comes with uni, toro, & wagyu and the Toro sampler comes with o-toro, chu-toro, akami. All of these handrolls were phenomenal & just left you wanting more. The Wagyu katsu you cook on a hot stone at the table which I liked as an interactive dish. The Wagyu cheeseburger was dripping with juice but still had those crunchy edges. The Uni pasta was beautiful & delicious. The Chimichurri prawns I could eat multiple plates of- the shell comes sliced down the middle so you just have to peel it off. For dessert we ordered the Kodo basque cheesecake & Miso chocolate torte. I love a basque cheesecake & the sesame crumble added great texture. The miso chocolate torte made me wish I ordered my own. Everything from start to finish was amazing, it's hard to pick favorites. Parking- valet $13

    I really enjoy eating here because service is fast and friendly. You get a lovely meal and every…read morestaff member you meet is always so friendly. Food is delicious, drinks are good, and parking isn't hard to find if you're willing to walk a little. The design kinda dark inside, but the patio is always nice. The best part? I can be in and out in less than an hour if I wanted!

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    Inside Dining Area

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    Toro carpaccio

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    The Red Chickz - IG: happyfoodieoc

    The Red Chickz

    4.2(781 reviews)
    3.7 miDowntown
    $$

    so so so so SO good. I got medium and the spice level was perfect for me. The lady at the register…read morewas saying how the difference between medium and the next level was big, so I played it safe with medium. She was also so sweet in helping us figure out what to order. We decided to order the chicken tenders, potato wedges, and the cheese curds. Absolutely no complaints. The chicken was SUOER crispy and super juicy. It's also huge, so next time I will be ordering two instead of three. I've also never had actual crispy potato wedges until trying this one as well. Even after finishing all my chicken, everything stayed crispy. The cheese curdles were also good. They're like mini mozzarella balls, nothing too crazy but still super delish. I will be making a return soon because this is so far, my top chicken place!!!

    During our recent trip to LA, we intentionally scheduled a visit to this place. We discovered it…read morevia social media, and the menu items look appetizing and, most importantly, crispy! 2 Tenders with Side | We came in around 2pm on a Monday afternoon and there just happened to be a lunch promo on this for $9.99. The tenders had a soft interior with a very crispy, smoky and vibrant outer surface. One of the tastiest Nashville hot chicken we've had. The spiced potato wedges were wonderfully seasoned, and they were crispy as well. Menu: The menu looks simple with the tenders being the main items. They can be made into a sandwich, taco or on a salad. They also serve wings, loaded fries, and French toast. Service: Although the tenders took some time, the orders were delayed by about 20-25 minutes because of insufficient staff for on a holiday. Given this hot and humid day, with the air conditioning broken and the outside fan not operational, the overall experience proved was just average. The employee was exceptionally kind and offered us additional ranch containers for free, lol. Will definitely comeback to this place when the air conditioning works or will try the other location. Parking: Downtown LA is not free. There are parking lots almost in every block ranging from $12 to $15 (as of September 2026).

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    The Original Sandwich

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    Sampa

    4.4(729 reviews)
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    Amazing experience. My wife and I decided to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary at Sampa. Peter…read moreand his staff were super gracious and friendly hosts for the evening. The food was incredible too. The duck and crab rice blew us away. They take a lot of pride in their craft cocktails which also stole the show. Ube clarified drink was 1 of a kind. 10/10 must try!

    Located right in the heart of the Arts District, Sampa is one of those LA restaurant that's trendy,…read morehigh‑end, and still feels warm and welcoming. The kind of spot where you walk in and immediately think, Yep... this is where you bring someone you're trying to impress. The ambience hits that perfect balance of modern, moody, and stylish, a little sexy, a little artsy, and fully date‑night certified. Service was on point the entire night, for my experience, maybe cause they know I was was going to tip very heavily. Ha ha ha. Which ai did by the way! Staff was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable without being pretentious. The team here knows the menu inside and out, and they guide you like they're curating an experience rather than just taking an order. Drinks topped off, plates cleared smoothly, pacing perfect. High‑end feel without the high‑end attitude. Let's talk about the food. Filipino Fusion Done With Swagger Ribeye Salpicao, This dish is straight-up dangerous. Tender ribeye cubes seared with garlicky, buttery goodness, the kind of salpicao that makes you rethink every bite you have. Rich, savory, and addicting. If you don't guard your plate, someone at the table will steal a piece. "Because I know I would!" Rockfish Pritong, it was crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside, and seasoned like someone's Filipino auntie whispered the secrets of life into the batter. Bright, punchy flavors with that perfect crunch. Definitely a sleeper hit. Crispy Duck Pancit, This one is wild, pancit with a crispy duck twist that somehow feels both comforting and elevated. The noodles soak up all that savory duck richness, and the crispy skin on top. Wow, a moment of silence for how good that bite is. Papaya Salad, so fresh, bright, and refreshing. A perfect palate reset between the heavier dishes. Crunchy, citrusy, and balanced, the kind of salad that actually earns its spot on the table. Grilled Eggplant Salad, smoky, silky eggplant with a char that tastes like it came straight off a backyard grill in Manila. Light but flavorful, and a great contrast to the richer plates. Pasta Palabok, a true Filipino classic reimagined. Creamy, savory palabok sauce wrapped around pasta instead of noodles, bold move, but it works. The textures are luxurious, and the flavors stay true to the original. Tare Tare Tamale, definitely one of the most creative dishes of the night. A fusion tamale with tare flavors that hit sweet, salty, and umami all at once. Soft masa, rich filling, and a flavor combo that makes you pause mid‑bite. "Mmmm hmmm!" Hamachi, so clean, fresh, and beautifully plated. The kind of hamachi that melts instantly and makes you feel fancy even if you're wearing sneakers. Of course I had my dress shoes on. It has bright citrus notes and just the right amount of heat. Sampa nails the high‑end, artsy vibe without feeling stiff. Trendy lighting, modern décor, and a soundtrack that keeps the energy fun. Perfect for date night, anniversaries, or when you want to look like you know the cool spots in LA. Sampa is Filipino fusion with confidence, bold flavors, gorgeous plating, and an atmosphere that elevates the whole night. If you're trying to impress your significant other, celebrate something special, or just treat yourself to a killer meal in the Arts District, this place delivers. "Always remember the energy you give ...is the energy you receive. One bite at a time! " Miguel C.

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    Gol Tong Chicken - chicken_wings - Updated September 2026

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