Yakdae Sulkkun

About

Neighborhood pub in Bucheon's Yakdae-dong serving crispy thin-crust fried chicken and draft beer with outdoor seating vibe.

Tucked into the commercial strip behind the Bucheon I’Park complex, Yakdae Sulkkun operates with the easy, magnetic pull of an essential neighborhood pub. Formerly a branch of Ho Chicken, the rebranded watering hole routinely packs its indoor tables on weeknights, drawing local families, after-work drinkers, and groups fresh out of the nearby swimming pool craving a frosty draft beer. With a television mounted on the wall for game nights and makeshift outdoor folding tables that lend an authentic *yabang* (open-air street drinking) vibe, it captures the casual, unpretentious spirit of a classic Korean hof. Fried chicken anchors the menu, and the kitchen avoids the heavy, overly craggy crusts popular at larger commercial chains. Instead, the bird arrives with a notably thin, clean batter that stays exceptionally crisp without feeling greasy, retaining its crunch even as it cools toward the end of a long conversation. Order the half-and-half, and each variety arrives neatly separated across two plates alongside seasoned salt and cubes of radish crowned with shaved ice. While the kitchen turns out classic pub fare like *gukmul tteokbokki* (brothy rice cakes), the real pairing to rival the chicken is the *golbaengi muchim*. Heaped with sea snails, thin *somen* noodles, and an ample pool of sweet, tart red chili dressing, it demands to be tossed tableside by hand until the cold noodles soak up the sauce. Service begins with a shared bowl of crisp popped corn, but the drinks arrive quickly: chilled draft beer poured with a generous collar of foam, alongside bottles of cold soju. Even when the tight outdoor tables mean rubbing elbows with the sidewalk, the ambient neighborhood clatter, lively group energy, and golden fried chicken make it a go-to anchor in Yakdae-dong for wrapping up the evening.