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. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place has certainly changed since I last visited. Here's the general flow of things: 1) Wait to be seated by the owner (may take some time if he is busy cooking, you'll have to wait for him as he doesn't have any other staff) 2) Once he points you to a table, have a seat (if there are leftover dirty dishes from the previous party that haven't been cleared, that's normal; hopefully he comes to move them out of the way quickly for you and gives the table a wipe-down) 3) Speak your order clearly (don't expect the owner to give you much acknowledgement once he has your order, he might just nod and walk away). If you want a soda, it's self-service. The vibe of the restaurant is just OK; you have a lot of people looking around (either at their tables or at the door for take-out) either wondering what to do or where the owner is so they can be helped. Lot of TVs on with kpop MVs or sports playing (but no volume); nothing special there. 4) Chicken should only take about 20-30 min, he'll bring it out soon enough and it'll be hot from the kitchen. The fruit is a little...different, but kind of works with the dish and cuts through the grease a bit. Unfortunately, no radish like your usual Korean fried-chicken place would offer. 5) After you've finished eating, wait for him to come over and assist you with the check (again, you'll have to wait till he's done with other tasks so he can help you in-between his workload) The chicken used to be worth the wait, and the owner used to have a little more courtesy for his customers. After my most recent visit, I can no longer say so. The chicken comes out faster but is no longer as crispy, and the sauce isn't doing it any favors anymore. And the owner's attitude made our whole visit unenjoyable; gave off the feeling like he felt he was doing us a favor by letting us eat there, and seemed annoyed at any questions we asked (and then was very unavailable most of the time). I understand he does this alone, and he has more tables now than when I last was here (4-6 now instead of 2). But if you can't handle the work load alone then downsize or get some part-time help, or at least be a little more humble with your attitude. I was originally very excited to recommend this place to my friends and took them here to eat, but by the end I was a little embarrassed at the service we received. Don't get me wrong, we're not strangers to the usual "Asian service" where you kind of get the first-gen treatment and don't expect please/thank yous with your meals...but this was really something else, and the quality of the meal couldn't even make up for it anyway. Sorry to say it was unacceptable to us; as visitors from out-of-town we used to look forward to making this one of our stops, but we won't be returning. A good meal/service can make someone's day, and the same could be said for the opposite. Good luck to anyone who might catch him on maybe a better day. read more

Feel like everyone already knows the haps around this place. Cozy, kitschy spot run by one dude. Small shared private parking lot in the same little plaza, but you can find street parking nearby too. Half & half - this would easily feed 3 people, probably 4. We ordered half soy garlic (raspberry? sauce) and half chili, which was my favorite. Interesting use of fruit - my brain was confused most of the time. It's good chicken, though. Try it at least once. It really is just one guy. From slicing the fruit to checking your table out, he runs the whole show. The story is just about as good as the food. What an interesting place to be. read more

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! read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Half and half soy garlic and chili - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wish i could give this spot 3.5 cause i genuinely enjoyed it. The service was the main reason why i can't give this spot more stars. The food took quite a while past what we were initially told and we were told to wait outside pretty dismissively which was disappointing. Slightly pricey but the servings are big so there's room for left overs. One thing that stands out about the spot is the fruit they serve on the side. I know Korean fried chicken typically comes with fruit based sauces (ex. Pears). Nonetheless, despite the grapes and watermelon being fun they kinda felt like a distraction, especially considering the serving size. The concept behind this spot is a sweet and worthwhile. The owner of the shop is a retired filmmaker who plays their films on the TV's in his restaurant. Wish i could've peeped them but we were told to go outside read more

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. read more

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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 read more

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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. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Half and half boneless - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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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. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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. read more

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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. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Half & Half Soy Garlic & Chili - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Don't hesitate, just go! We got the "Boneless Half & Half" with soy garlic and chili ($38.27); water bottles ($1) and soft drink cans ($2). It's crispy fried chicken with with fresh fruits and vegetables for a medley of sweet, savory and spicy flavors. The servings are generous and really appreciate how he's created a simple and efficient space. He's as lovely as others shared and there's an interesting Eater Los Angeles article from 2020. He's had quite a journey-- successfully operated karaoke lounges in LA, transitioned to directing cult films in Korea, ventured into fried chicken in Korea with several locations then back to owning read more

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. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was really excited to try this place with my friend because of all the good reviews we saw, and got disappointed. The service was subpar compared to what some of the other reviewers said, the owner essentially told us to pick a table and pretty much left us to our own devices. The food took a while as well--we got the half and half. The soy was alright, nothing too spectacular. The other one was some kind of sweet, cherry (?) jam thing that didn't go well with the chicken at all. It felt like it was just thrown in, and there was wayyy too much of that jam. Neither of us liked it. The whole meal wasn't worth what we paid for. Overall ambiance was okay, very dark inside contrasted by the tvs he had of kpop groups performing. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Half & Half with Soy and Sweet - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Truly an insane experience. Some of the best Asian-inspired fried chicken I've ever had. I was skeptical about the fruit pairing, but it works. It's been a bit since I've visited, so I'm definitely going to make my way back here very soon. read more

Wow! This was yummy! I came here on a whim with my husband, since we happened to be in the area. The Director was nice and greeted us. Reading about his story is very inspiring. We tried the half and half and the food and presentation looks amazing, even better than the posters and the food was even more delicious! I can totally eat this whole by myself! It was so good, and definitely recommend!! I wish the Director's shop was closer to us! We'll need to get the Director's cut next time. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Half and Half - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Like many other reviews state, this place is truly a one man shop! The owner and only employee here is Director Gol Tang. He is a former movie director and now runs this hole in the wall chicken restaurant. The place is decorated with his old Korean movie posters and had TVs scattered throughout the restaurant showing kpop music videos and news clips. The restaurant inside is super small, only fitting about 5 tables inside. Despite that, I've never had to wait before being seated here. What gives this place such a great 5/5 rating is how impressive the dishes are. The menu is so simple and he just sells flavored boneless chicken. There are a few different options, but it really just depends on the size you want and basically how many people are in your party. Perfect for groups of 2-4! I highly recommend checking this place out, as there is such a wow factor with the food here. read more

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I'm usually skeptical of places that have a 5-star average rating. Here? Undeniably, well-deserved and earned. Parking is tight (definite hit or miss), store is small, but cute in a sense where the owner has posters of movies he's directed. The owner's origin story is well-known, but he used to direct Korean films and now resides in K-town whipping up some bomb ass fried chicken. Needless to say, he's very sweet and has a distinct warmth in his aura. Through his customer service, you can tell he genuinely loves what he does. And that kind of love really shines in the menu's flavor profile. My friend and I ordered the Director's Cut to share. I'd highly recommend getting this if you want to sample multiple fried chicken flavors. Of the entire menu, most options include an assortment of fruits, that of which unsuspectingly & surprisingly complement the savory-ness of the chicken & house-made sauces. I'm not in the area often, but the next time I'm around with a friend or two - I will make it a mission to stop by again :) read more

The Chicken still hits different. Love it! My favorite is the chili as its flavor is out of this world and the fruits and veggies are astronomical. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Director's Cut - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

II kept putting off trying this place because I didn't think fried chicken and fruit would work together. Turns out, it does -- and now I'm a fan. It's a tiny spot run by one guy. When we sat down, I couldn't help but notice there were TVs all around us - each playing something different. I ended up watching the TV playing K-Pop videos. We ordered the half-and-half, which was plenty for two. One side was spicy, the other sweet. The boneless chicken was perfectly crunchy, the sauces hit the right notes, and the fruit was fresh. The food was delicious, and the presentation was surprisingly impressive for such a small place. Gol Tong was both the chef and the server and he seemed like a very nice guy! read more

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This was our second visit to Gol Tong. This time we got the entire restaurant to ourselves! I just absolutely love being immersed in the little building filled with giant tvs playing nature and k pop music videos. This time it was just my husband and I so sadly we were not able to get the "Directors Cut" , so we went with the "Half and Half" and dare I say it was even better than the first time if thats even possible! I actually talked to Director Gol Tong himself and he let me know this was actually the best time of year because there are such a wide variety of in season ripe fruits to add to the dish. He is so friendly and works so hard to run this amazing restaurant all by himself. Still my number one go to everytime were in LA. read more

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Delicious fried chicken! Completely run by Gol Tong, a retired film director, the restaurant has several Korean films running in the background. We ordered the Director's cut, which features four different flavors - original fried, chili, soy garlic, and honey butter - topped with an assortment of fruits and vegetables. Never would I have paired kiwi or bananas with fried chicken but it works. All the ingredients are great. Would definitely recommend. read more

Loved the director's cut here and it was more than enough for 3 people! I actually only read the fun facts about the owner actually being a director and the place being a one man show after-the-fact but wow he was so kind too :) There's a parking lot, the food comes out pretty quick, and the fruits and avocado just work so well with chicken I've just learned. Great service, great atmosphere, would def recommend! read more

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A highly-rated spot for good reason! Ordered the Director's Cut, which was great for our group of four. The plate comes with boneless fried chicken coated in various sauces and served with fruits and veggies. Definitely a unique experience but very good! I think a less sauce would keep the chicken crispier, but the food was still great. A casual spot with some TVs playing. Also conveniently located in a parking lot, which is great in K Town. Have some patience during busy hours, as it's literally a one-man-show running as the the owner/chef/server. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Director's Cut - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The producer who owns the place and works alone is the host, chef, busser, and simply just an amazing man. Yes it's only him. Be kind. Be respectful. I was told it was just him doing it all. I happen to come when it was just my party. We were helped quickly. Once we finished and ready to pay we did have to wait because he was getting busy with more customers. We had no problem waiting. He got the check after he helped everyone else. If you are a complainer I hope you don't come to just be rude. Best place. Having the half and half was enough for the two of us. The owner is so kind, parking isn't that bad but we did get lucky to park in their parking area. Come here with an appetite read more

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I don't even know what to say at this point. This is my second visit to Gol Tong... The best way I can put it is Gol Tong's fruit laden Korean Fried Chicken is an absolutely transformative experience.. This is what you are served in heaven, if there is such a place, and I'm sure of it. Director Gol Tong himself is so incredibly friendly and genuine, it just makes this place feel so special. This time we got the golden ticket of a completely open restaurant so we were able to talk to him about his food. One thing he truly enjoys is watching people happily eat his food. He talked to us this time about right now is the perfect time to come with a multitude of fruits being ripe so you get more variety. There will not be a single time for the rest of my life that I do not stop off at Gol Tong while I'm in LA, and I'm coming all the way from Reno, NV!!! One thing I still have yet to get the courage to try, is the bidet in the bathroom. Something about a public bidet just seems..... dangerous. read more

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I have absolutely no idea how this guy does everything. He literally cooks, cleans, serves, cashiers and all the above by himself. Service obviously is more so like self serve where he leaves everything on the table for you but my man is flying through the resturant. The food doesnt take long to come and I'm surprised. Took about 15mins for everything to come out and boy I wasn't disappointed at all. I literally loved every single flavor and the chicken was so well seasoned and moist. If you order the directors cut its more so for 4 people. The fruits and spice add a sweet and spicy which I absolutely love. I would take this for Togo order next time! I did see some people get annoyed at the wait and I think this guy definitely needs to hire someone for at least the front but LA is expensive. His movies and shows are plastered all over the wall and his decorations are cute. Would visit again read more

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A literal one man army for some of the juiciest fried chicken. For what it's worth, we didn't wait long either. The walls have TVs with random kpop performances and sports. The food looks just like the pictures. Each topping seemed like it was meticulously placed to provide a cool break in between each savory bite. It didn't seem like you can choose flavors or maybe he was out of the other ones. The dinner for 2 option comes with soy garlic and chilli. Not too spicy and not too sweet or saucy. The ratings are well deserved. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm going to miss your cooking gramps, my taste buds are going to crave your food. I wish i could give you more stars

Hole in the wall/ mom and pop type spot that specializes in Korean Fried Chicken. It's a one man operation (at least when we went) and the owner and person helping us has directed some films in the past. He was very friendly! Note that because this is a one man operation, depending on how busy it is, it may take some time. We weren't in a huge rush so we sat relaxed while enjoying K-Pop vids and a Dodgers game on the televisions. It had the vibe of going over to a really good friend's place and either having them prepare or their parents prepare something delicious for you. It was very comforting in that aspect. We came in (there were three of us) and we just ordered the Director's Cut platter which looked to feed about 3 or more people comfortably. This was basically having a large plate of fried chicken (2-3 seasonings?) along with fruits and other items to enjoy. I mentioned to my friends that this type of platter would be perfect for big sporting events with small groups. Big fan of this spot and it's the type of place that I would bring out of town friends to if we were looking for a fun, casual spot. read more

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Delicious, filling & fast service :) came on a sunday afternoon around opening, found plenty of parking in the small plaza, and left with leftovers. Our group of 5 ordered the Directors Cut and shared. Definitely loved the fruits as an addition to the savory chicken wings. Highly recommend!!!! Fun fact: the owner has directed several films and now makes bomb chicken! read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Director's Cut fried chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Let me first say that this is a one man run small business. The owner, cook, and everything is run by a movie director turned Korean fried chicken connoisseur. It's a little overwhelming when you first step in with wall to wall tvs all playing different things. Stimulation overland. There was one screen playing a fish in an aquarium but it was behind me. That was pretty much the only calm in this shop. The menu is simple, bone in or boneless fried chicken. Original, sweet soy and chilli. We got the boneless and you were able to get just original and soy, so we had to get the chilli one too. Food presentation is interesting - the fried chicken has a lot of sauce and a lot of fruit! I've never tried this combo before and I'm not sure I'd want to again. I thought the original fried chicken was actually pretty good but the saucy ones were too sweet or too spicy for me. I wish there were some banchan like pickled daikon or something but I get it, it's a one man show. The fried chicken is actually good but I prob wouldn't come back unfortunately. The fruit combo just wasn't for me. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - The place has wall to wall tv screens - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I definitely see why this is 5 stars. My boyfriend and I bought the boneless half and half for roughly $40 after tax. Fruit and chicken were not in my realm of foods to put together but the combination was very pleasant. Loved the flavors and how juicy the food was. Also such a generous serving. I don't think the wait was long at all for 8 pm. But be a little patient as the man is doing everything himself (from taking the order to making it and bringing it out). Also delayed gratification if you feel the wait is long lol cuz this place is delicious and I love supporting a hard working uncle. Parking is a small lot. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Menu July 2025 - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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fruit + chicken has got to be one of the most interesting combos i've had in a while, and it definitely worked. we came on a friday night at 7:30pm and were seated immediately! we ordered the director's cut since there were 5 of us and the menu said it served 4-5 people, and it was just the perfect amount for all of us to feel happily full without stuffing ourselves. this dish came out as a beautiful assortment had 3 sauces - honey butter, soy garlic, and chili! the soy garlic and honey butter were def my favs. the fruit blended so well with the chicken and acted as a palette cleanser - i liked being able to have a lil bite of a banana and then back to the fried chicken. there was definitely a TON of sauce (maybe a little too much?) and it is on the sweeter side, which i enjoyed, but up to personal preference. inside was covered with posters and TVs, it was a cute spot to go with friends at night. this place is run by one adorable 74 year old man all by himself, and i got to talk to him and watch him make the dish. he also gave me one of his DVDs at the end! overall, definitely one of the more unique spots i've been to in this area. i'd definitely come support again! read more

Gol Tong Chicken - inside - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Never had a dish like this! The fruit was so fresh and the chicken was perfectly fried and seasoned. No extra sauce even needed and the portion is huge! There is only one man working the whole shop and he was friendly and inviting and quick to cook out food. No frills type of place. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Soy Garlic - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A different type of Korean fried chicken, where the star isn't the batter nor the crispy skin, its in the sauces. The sauces felt unique flavored with fruits to give it a nice and sweet and salty flavor. The restaurant is ran by a one man army so don't be surprised by the wait. Be more surprised by the product produced all by 1 man! read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Gol Tong Chicken is truly one of those hidden gems that feels like a special experience every time you go. It's run entirely by one man show,from taking your order to cooking every piece of chicken with care.... so yes, there will be a wait. But if you show up right when they open, it's absolutely worth it. Every flavor of chicken I've tried so far has been amazing,we got the Director's Cut Edition. He pairs them with fresh fruit and veggies in a way that just works somehow and it's not your typical fried chicken experience. The flavors are balanced and unique. My personal favorites are the soy and the original. The soy has that perfect blend of sweet and savory, and the original just hits all the right notes -- crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. It's a small operation with a lot of heart, and you can really taste the passion behind every plate. Just be patient, and you'll be rewarded. Highly recommend if you're looking for something special and don't mind a bit of a wait. I recommend this place ! read more

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The food was amazing. Chicken was Deeeeelicious! With fruit! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm first time and it's not gonna be my last. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Bombskies Korean Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great quality Korean fried chicken with amazing presentation! We went with the signature dish where it had the original chicken plus 3 different sauces. Flavors were: soy garlic, chili, and some honey mustard flavor. Chicken quality was amazing and super juicy. There was only 1 guy working when we went - the owner. He was super chill and had a good system working. The pairing of the fruits and veggies with the chicken was actually better than expected, although some of it is kinda random. read more

Gol Tong Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Great spot! Fruit and Chicken was surprisingly refreshing on the warm day when we stopped in. The owner is the chef and very accommodating. He also use to be a movie director in Korea! Would highly recommend :) read more