Ari Chicken
아리치킨
About
A long-running neighborhood chicken pub in Wondang serving lightly seasoned, thin-crust fried chicken alongside chunky rustic fried potatoes.
Tucked into the lively food alley between Wondang Market and Shinwondang in Goyang, Ari Chicken preserves the nostalgic charm of an old-school neighborhood hof. While modern poultry chains lean heavily into thick coatings and intense sodium brines, this long-standing institution stays true to classic, understated techniques. The interior offers a relaxed retro pub setting alongside an indoor six-person table and outdoor patio seating that opens up during pleasant weather. The signature draw is the Ari Three-Color (Ari Sam-saek) platter, an ample portion spanning one and a half birds that arrives with a trio of fried, seasoned (yangnyeom), and soy-glazed chicken. Unlike contemporary recipes saturated with heavy marinades, the chicken here is mildly seasoned, highlighting the tender meat within a notably thin, crisp batter. The yangnyeom sauce delivers a balanced sweet-and-sour profile reminiscent of traditional Korean fried chicken from decades past. Each platter comes crowned with thickly hand-cut wedges of fried potato, prized by regulars for their fluffy, piping-hot interiors. Because the three-flavor spread includes extra pieces, diners can enjoy a drumstick and wing from each preparation without competing for the prime cuts. Hospitality extends well beyond the poultry. Ari Chicken welcomes guests with rotating house banchan that may include crisp shredded cabbage salad, pickled radish, mixed beer nuts, and spontaneous additions like fried dumplings or homemade side dishes straight from the owner’s kitchen. Draft beer is poured cold, serving as the natural companion to the fried fare, though the sprawling hof menu also covers wider drinking foods ranging from simple pub snacks to seasonal specialties like gwamegi (semi-dried Pacific saury). Open until 2:00 AM just a ten-minute walk from Wondang Station Exit 5, it remains an indispensable fixture for late-night gatherings and unpretentious neighborhood dining.
Menu
- Ari Three Flavors Chicken
- Fried Chicken
- Semi-dried Squid
- 순살마늘
- 치킨너겟
- Boneless Chicken
- Half Chicken
- 순살간장
- Dried Pollock
- Fruit Plate
- Grilled Young Pollack
Local tips
- Outdoor terrace seating is available in good weather.
- The 3-color chicken set (아리3색) comes with 1.5 chickens featuring fried, seasoned, and soy flavors.
- Parking is not available on-site; use the nearby Seongsa No. 3 Public Parking Lot.
- Closed every other Sunday.
Details
- Wondang Station
Opening hours
- Sunday
- —
- Monday
- 16:00–02:00
- Tuesday
- 16:00–02:00
- Wednesday
- 16:00–02:00
- Thursday
- 16:00–02:00
- Friday
- 16:00–02:00
- Saturday
- 16:00–02:00