On the frontline of the Korean fried chicken chain wars, Pelicana is a solid contender--they're on the battleground with BonChon, and in my mind both are beating out Mad for Chicken, though bb.q Chicken, Kyochon have a few claims on the NYC turf too. This small outpost in the NYU neighborhood seats 15ish at small tables and a couple bar seats, ordering counter is at the back of the store. I'm glad it's here for me to get my kfc fix once in a while. Easy to order in advance for takeout or delivery. I've only had brief interaction with staff to pick up food though never had any problems. Last week I got a half order of wings $18 and an order of kimchi fried rice $17 with sausage +$2. The wings were crispy and saucy, the meat juicy inside; the fried rice wasn't anything special though they salad that came with it was fresh. Pickled radish was briny and tart, coleslaw pretty standard. I enjoyed it and will be back for more! read more

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I've heard so much about Pelicana chicken, so I really wanted to check it out. I ordered delivery from here one day and thought that it was just okay. We got their soy garlic chicken, their original (with honey mustard sauce on the side), and their ddeokbokki. I thought the breading of the chicken was good and portions were also okay. I just wish the soy garlic had more sauce/a stronger soy garlic flavor. And, I wish the ddeokbokki wasn't so soupy, and the sauce was thicker. Overall, it was alright but I think I would choose another spot if I wanted Korean fried chicken. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Korean chicken chain with a small location near NYU. We shared: - 3 drumsticks and 4 wings ($17.85) with honey garlic ($2) This is the freshest fried chicken I've had. It came straight out of the frier and was so, fresh, juicy, and crisp. My only complaint is the batter wasn't seasoned much. You could get the sauce on the side or on the wings, and I think it would've been better on the wings. The sauce was nice and sweet and reminiscent of honey mustard. They offer a 10% discount with a NYU ID. read more

Pelicana Chicken - 3 drumsticks and 4 wings with honey garlic - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

it's amazing that you can choose how your batter is done here! I chose original batter but it was crispy enough, wondering how extra crispy would be like! The soy garlic and sweet&spicy flavors are classic! Savory, garlicky, slightly sweet, with a bit of tanginess... the flavor combination is just additive! I can devour more fried chicken just for the sauce! Honey garlic sauce was also incredible. The pungency brought by vinegar was so delightful, sharpened my appetite immediately. Don't skip their appetizers and sandwiches! The cheeseballs were airy and rich with cheesy goodness. The monster cheese chicken sandwich came with melting cheese! I can't go back to the cold, insipid slice of deli cheese now. read more

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The #1 Korean fried chicken franchise for me and my family. Trust me, growing up in the Bronx, we grew up worshipping the fried chicken gods (if there is one). 4 flavors equals 4 chances of pleasurable tasting fun. For me I'm more of a sweet-n-spicy and cheese powder type of gal. I can talk non-stop about Doritos nacho cheese powder all day, that's how committed I am to it. The red Sweet Chili wings were crispy, succulently sweet, and juicy. Win. But hats off to my number one, the Yellow Snow Cheese wings. I'm not a fan of dry wings because I always thought they were boring and plain easy to make. But never underestimate the power of powder sprinkling. It dresses the chicken quite nicely and makes tasting the wings fun and zesty. This must be the dreams of all Doritos and Cheetos factories experience when they sprinkle their secret cheese powder on their chips. It's an addiction and I feel it. Good job Pelicana. read more

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This a spot I randomly tried and didn't know much about it but when I say is was beyond delicious ! Like damn it was too good I say some cheese balls on their menu as well that I would love to go back and try. It is crispy crispy chicken !! You know it's going to be good when you hear the crunch . Love the seasoning and the how juicy the chicken was. The workers are extremely polite. The place itself has lots of long tables and chairs it just felt like I was back in school eating in a big cafeteria. Good vibes read more

Pelicana Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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We ordered a whole chicken- half in soy garlic and half regular, with a side of kimchi cheese fries and ttekbokki. For four- this was the perfect amount of food. + The kimchi cheese fries were REALLY good. It had just the right amount of cheese and whatever sauce they drizzled over the fries- holy crap I couldn't stop eating these. The tteokbokki was really good. Certain rice noodles were a bit undercooked and a little too chewy, but I love the sweet sauce. A smidge spicy so be aware of that! - Some of the meat were drier and harder than others. I'm used to KFC being uniformly juicy with a crispy exterior, so I was surprised by the lack of uniformity in our whole chicken. The original was very bland. Would avoid read more

Pelicana Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I love Korean fried chicken and I had to give it a try! It's upstairs and inside the Korean food court. It's all open seating and there are restrooms there. Got a half order of bone in wings. Got it crispy with soy garlic. It is $18 for like 10 wings. Sucks you can only get one flavor if you order a half size. The chicken is so crispy and so flavorful! It also comes with a little side of picked daikon. Beware it gets messy! The chicken would taste better wjth a side like fries or honestly rice lol. The half order is really enough to share with two people! Got the strawberry lemonade and it's refreshing Jt really just takes like a Italian soda. For the cheese balls for a side and they're NOT worth it. Not that much cheese and not that crispy more of a soft mochi texture. Not worth the price at all! Beware the food takes a while to come out because they make each order fresh! If it's not too busy you'll wait at least 25 mins! read more

Pelicana Chicken - Cheese Ball 4 pcs - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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Best chicken sando in the area. Can't get enough of the pickled radish side - it's SO good.

Solid fried chicken sandwich but I think the only thing that made it spicy was the sauce and the chicken wasn't cooked to be spicy. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Spicy Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Always the best chicken wherever I order from. No complaints, amazing chicken. Service is good. Did takeout. So can't speak on ambiance.

Service was okay (B-). Ambiance is nice (B+). Chicken was spoiled apparently. Dined in and threw it up once home. Stomach was in pain. Not great experience. read more

If things like 'customer service', 'decency', and 'quality' are important to you, then you will hate it here. If all you care about is good food, then you will only strongly dislike it. If what you're looking for is overpriced & undercooked chicken, I have great news for you.... To Management: Get rid of everyone on staff. I include you. To Investors: Stop investing read more

My friend and I were wondering around the area and randomly stumbled into the establishment around 3 PM on a Sunday afternoon. There was not much seating in the restaurant but thankfully only one table was filled. The set up of the restaurant is very fast casual. You go in, order from the cashier and wait for them to bring the food out to you. Though the process was quick and painless, the cashier at the front did not make it the most enjoyable due to her sour attitude. She was sharp and even rude at times. When she was talking to the customer that ordered after us and answering her questions she was just not very friendly in her tone. My friend and I decided to order and share an original crispy chicken sandwich with honey garlic sauce and a side of sweet potato fries. The fried chicken was great, not super juicy but was still moist. It was fried perfectly well and the sauce and greens really worked well together. Additionally, the sweet potato fries were great! They came with a nice drizzle of honey which really worked well together! All in all, this was a nice stop for some fried chicken to snack on. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Original crispy chicken sandwich (sauce: honey garlic) + side of sweet potato fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I feel bad for saying this, but I personally did not enjoy the fried chicken that much. The outside wasn't crispy and the chicken itself tasted like cardboard and it was hard to eat. No sauces were provided so it was to eat as it is. I would want to try again though because maybe my first time was just a fluke, because the Pelicana location in Ktown is really good. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I came back to this place because im a chicken lover Came two times to two different locations and both were terrible. They served me raw chicken twice at both locations I dont know if they know how to cook chicken properly or they were rushing but that was more than enouhh for the 1 star I wouldnt recommend this place read more

honestly okay! the chicken wasn't dry, but also didn't have much flavor. the thighs were HUGE though. also, they gave like no radish. we got the original and soy garlic glazed. i liked the soy garlic more, mostly because the original was a little bland. also, they gave like no radish! sad. also, getting it extra crispy i think just meant more breading, which to me wasn't really needed because the breading was kind of bland read more

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Here I am drooling again just thinking about my meal. I have to admit, I'm a little new to the Korean fried chicken game but I'm pretty confident these are legit, bomb ass wings. Last Friday, my boyfriend and I came in and ordered the 18 pc original wings ($22.99). We did half Soy Garlic and half Spicy Pelicana Signature sauce mixed-in (+$4) - both sooooooo heavenly. I want some NOW. Perfectly fried and sauced. The (medium) spicy sauce was the perfect amount of spice for us and I'm pretty sure I could've downed another order of them. Next time, I'd like to try the signature sauce on the side so that I can try the fried chicken in its purest form. I'm sure it's spectacular any way it's prepared though. We also got sides of Cabbage Corn Salad ($2.99) and a small order of Cubed Pickled Radish ($1) as palette cleansers. The cabbage corn salad was literally just coleslaw with some pieces of corn in it... LOL. It was good and fresh, but thank goodness they ran out of the regular Coleslaw (we were going to order that + the cabbage corn salad) because it would've been pretty much the same 2 sides. Glad we were forced to go with the pickled radish instead. I need to come back and try the drumsticks, pelicana signature sandwich, other sauces... EVERYTHING. Great casual place with such amazing food. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Cabbage Corn Salad ($2.99) & Small Cubed Pickled Radish ($1) - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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Damn good fried chicken. I ordered some to go and reheated it in my air fryer when I got home and it was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside with a good amount of flavor. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

The sauces (which cost extra) were the only saving grace Woman taking orders at the register was extremely soft-spoken and hard to understand Owner was awkwardly standing behind the counter with his hands behind his back watching customers eat like a hawk There's a sign indicating restrooms aren't available but there's one readily available in the rear if you ask nicely Had the wing and drumstick combo It came out piping hot and juicy. Unfortunately, everything was bland and overpriced. So much so, I decided to purchase a side of sauce for $2.18 halfway into my meal $20+ later, I left unsatisfied Needless to say I won't be back read more

The food was actually GREAT. The crispiness of the boneless wing is perfect. The whole establishment gives me an Asian "Sticky Joint" type of vibe. My issue was that it denotes in the front that it takes about 10 minutes for boneless order but it took half an hour for mine. I was disappointed at the wait time. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Boneless Chicken Combo - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Another new Pelicana just opened in Manhattan, this time on W 8th St, a perfect spot for all the NYU campus traffic. They have the same excellent juicy chicken at all the other spots, but it seemed even better and fresher today. A combo tray with half and half is the way to go (half plain, half sweet & spicy). The original Fried Chicken Sandwich is also excellent. There are also tons of sides, but you can't go wrong with the plain, very crispy fries. read more

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Boneless chicken cooked just right, very tender and portions are good. Sauce wasn't overwhelming and covered all the chicken. Def read more

Pelicana Chicken - Thai Chilli Boneless Chicken Peli Special - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Pelicana is a great chain Korean fried chicken place. We regularly go to the one in Anaheim, CA. We ordered for delivery from this 8th st location via UberEats and our chicken was inedible - I don't know what went wrong but it was awful enough that we called them and their reply at this location was basically "too bad, call UberEats" so for their lack of good food and customer service. Give Pelicana a chance but definitely at another location. read more

Very good chicken and very good good. I cannot say anything bad able these cheese dusted chicken as it is probably on of the best peices of fried chicken I have ever had. They have a very dark and chill ambiance and encourages conversation through modern kpop playing in the background. I hold come back again. read more

Pelicana Chicken - a glass of orange juice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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I was craving a good chicken sandwich and this place pretty much satisfied it. I must say before continuing my review that I love sauces and seasoning. The chicken sandwich was good. The chicken was tender and soft to the point I wondered whether this was fully cooked (obviously it was). The outer skin is rather crispy, but the whole sandwich was drenched in sauce (you can't tell from the picture). Thought it was messy to eat, I personally did not mind it at all. I would rather have more sauce than less. I chose honey garlic, but I wish they would offer it on the side instead (I don't think they do). I highly recommend the fries. My walk back home was about 10 minutes, plus about 5 minutes setting up my plate. Yet, they were still very crispy. I got the white snowing (powdered) cheese fries. I loved it. The fries were the highlight of my meal, no offense to the chicken sandwich. I would go back even just for the fries. To be honest, I was hesitant going here because of the recent negative reviews. Every experience is different and mine, fortunately, turned out to be a better one. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Original CHICKEN SANDWICH (Chicken Thighs) White Snowing Cheese Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

The place nice and clean. Ordered half size boneless chicken and it was enough for two people. The original yangnyum sauce is fire It seemed like they freshly made the fried chicken and it was so crispy and tasty! read more

Pelicana Chicken - Boneless, Regular crispy with yangnyum sauce. - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Bland beyond belief, even with sauce, which they actually forgot in our most recent order, but we made our own, which was better than theirs. We ended up craving KFC after 2 bites. Salad tasted off. Fries were average. Never again. read more

Love it. It's crunchy on the outside and surprisingly juicy on the inside. The spicy sauce is not spicy, it's pretty average Korean sweet chili sauce. I didn't like the salad dressing, wish it was something more oriented or lighter. However, overall, I'll go back if I ever need a late night/afternoon snack or beer snack! read more

Pelicana Chicken - Inside - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Great Korean-style fried chicken. I especially like their boneless chicken, which unlike most other boneless, actually still tastes like chicken and has the integrity of whole meat. Not to downgrade their bone-in chicken, which is also great. The sauce can get heavy, so the portions feel larger than they actually are. The oil used for the chicken is also a bit heavy and fills you up pretty quickly. The chicken can get soggy really quick in sauce so if you are doing takeout, try to run home to get the best bite! read more

I've eaten at Pelicana several times and it never disappoints. I am a fried chicken freak and so I can confidently say I'll pick Pelicana over most places when it comes to New York. The wings are always fried perfectly and clean to the bone. The chicken sandwich is dark meat (thighs), and so it not your typical chicken sandwich, but it's juicy meat and taste phenomenal. I personally like the Honey garlic sauce tossed over the chicken but it is also good without sauce which is great. Prices are on the higher end for party wing cuts but it's New York, and the serving sizes are filling and large. #BlackStampofApproval;) read more

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I've had my fair share of Korean chicken from various places and Pelicana definitely is one of the top. I've heard of the chain, but never had it until now. I like that they strive on quality of the meal by always using a new batch of oil every day and fresh ingredients. Even on the wall they offer to show you tour of the kitchen to show that their facility is clean. I was super impressed that the staff even washed the tables in between serving customers and they came and left. I didn't want to get too messy, so I opted to do the boneless chicken option. The cashier suggested I get my sauce on the side, so you can add as much or little sauce you want. I got the original version of crispness with the Signature Pelicana sauce mild. I loved that there was a crispy skin and super moist meat. The sauce was a perfect pairing providing just a little sweetness and tang. I only ordered the half portion which was plenty for me to have a second meal the next day. It was nice that they also give a small cup of pickled radish to clean your palate from the fried chicken. I would definitely go back to try some of their other options as well. read more

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The food was good, nothing impressive. Quick service. One thing I didn't like was that they charge $2 for the sauce for the wings, which was expensive. I've never heard of any other places charging sauces for wings. So I got the crispy wings and it still tasted fine. read more

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Got the crispy combo with soy garlic and white snowy fries. This place pretty much turned into my new favorite fries and korean fried chicken spot so far. Can't wait to go back. read more

Pelicana Chicken - two baskets of fried chicken and french fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Rude staff, young lady at the register seemed upset because her modeling career lead her to serve chicken and probably needed bus fare to get home. Chef was rude as well, fries were bad. Chicken wasn`t too good neither. Bad experience. read more

The food is fantastic! The spicy sauce is my personal favorite. They have three levels to choose from. The chicken is super crispy, and the staff are super friendly here. They do have a bathroom in the back if needed. I enjoyed this meal and would recommend this spot to anyone read more

Pelicana Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

CATFISH LEVEL: 0/5: Looks amazing, tastes amazing CRISPY. MOIST. CHICKEN. Oh my .. This is by far the best Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) I've had. I usually would go to Boka for KFC but Pelicana is by far the best I've ever had in NYC. I had the double crispy chicken combo of drumsticks and wings with the side of spicy pelicana sauce. The sauce itself is amazing, not too spicy with a bit of sweetness. I would highly recommend getting a side of truffle fries because who doesn't love a good side of truffle fries? Their truffle fries are super flavorful. We also got the onion rings which I would also recommend. I would say that the space is pretty small so, if you plan to bring a big group of friends (4+) you may have a hard time finding seats.  Overall, it was a great experience. When I crave for KFC, I will definitely visit Pelicana. read more

Pelicana Chicken - Crispy Chicken Wing Combo Instagram: fooodies.united - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I got this for partner's mom. She specifically requested fried chicken for lunch, and I fucked up and got her chicken fingers like a dumbass. I learned shortly after that "fried chicken" must, by definition, contain bones. In a rush to reconcile my mistakes, I stopped by this place and picked up some last minute chicken and fries. And Holly shit, it has been two days and she is still talking about how delicious it was. Thanks to you, my esteemed guest is not only content but my fragile status as the "just barely getting by partner of eight years" survives yet another day. Hit this place up if you like fried chicken read more

Very good juicy ungreasy fried chicken. Got the drums and wings. 15 minute wait since they cook to order. Prepare fir it; worth the time. Cole slaw with corn was a bit too wet, extra radishes become the vegetable part of meal. Got their Pelicana hot which was hot but not quite hot enough. Next time getting the hottest! And another sauce to compare. Wish there were other veggies to balance meal. read more

Pelicana Chicken - View into restaurant. - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

When we approached the register, I asked if there was a restroom. Glancing at the bathroom signage in the kitchen (which apparently customers can tour upon request per signage out front), he cashier said no there wasn't. Boom - instant deduction of points as he was caught in a lie. We ordered something anyways as we're waiting for two other friends: boneless wings with Pelicana sauce, and the "snow" fries. The wings, great - 5 stars. Pelicana sauce ok - reminds me of honey mustard. Snow fries - 3 stars cooked well, but the seasoning tasted too much like fake Parmesan cheese for Vegans or something. Unnatural. Also an offering of free water would help boost customer's comfort level in paying so much for chicken. It's the law anyways. read more