Never been a huge Bonchon fan, but I like coming here for the lunch specials. Bonchon isn’t particularly big in Korea (in fact, the first one I ever tried was in New York), but given the options around Boston, this place ends up being a good choice. BBQ Chicken (the only major Korean chain actually from Korea in MA) doesn’t offer lunch specials, and their quality has dipped recently in some Boston locations. So whenever I’m in Waltham, I like to come in here.
The lunch specials at Bonchon offer excellent value. Eight wings or four drumsticks (or a mix) plus a side for $13. Flavor-wise, my go-to is soy garlic. It gives you the crispiest exterior out of all their sauces. For spice, I prefer their newer Korean yangnyeom over the Korean BBQ as it has more heat and a cleaner balance.
Since Bonchon uses a relatively thin batter and their sauces run pretty strong, I actually prefer the drumsticks over the wings. The extra meat helps balance out the sauce, and the texture stays more consistent.
Probably not the best Korean fried chicken out there, but for really good value meals, I recommend giving them a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Patricia Sherman
This was easily the worst restaurant experience I have ever had in my life. A friend and I dropped in on Sunday night for dinner. We were seated quickly as there were only 2 other parties in the entire restaurant. I have dined at the Allston branch of this restaurant many times so I was expecting a similar experience.
A staff member took our order which took at least 25 minutes to arrive at the table. When we tried the food, we wished it had never arrived at all. The dumplings were so salty they were inedible. When we tried to send them back, instead of apologizing, the waiter said “okay, but I can’t take them off your bill”. When we asked why he said that was their policy. The wings were really salty as well and they weren’t good either. The saving grace was the cole slaw which they brought instead of the side dish that we had actually ordered. That was good.
We have all had bad meals at restaurants. It happens, and if that was the main point of this review, I would not have written it. The most appalling aspect of the entire experience was the was complete absence of any kind of hospitality or service from the two staff members working in the restaurant.
It took me 3 requests for water to actually get a glass of it. The woman who took our order wandered off and we never saw her again. The man who delivered our food was incredibly rude and unhelpful. When my friend pointed out that they had not delivered the side dish we ordered, he aggressively said that we should have said something when the order was delivered (not that anyone came back to check after the food was dropped off). She responded that it was their responsibility to get the order correct. When she told him he was being rude, he responded: “well you’re pretty rude to me. I didn’t even take your order”.
I have worked in hospitality for over 20 years and I have never seen anyone behave like that. Waltham has a lot of great restaurants to choose from. I would recommend staying far away from this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dagny Ouellette
SO GOOD
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zorelys Sosa
I ordered 6 wings & only got 3 🥲 the rice was not what I was expecting no where near the same as the one in Lowell. & I waited 5 minutes for someone to come out and give me my order & when he did come out he had an attitude. Not my fault nobody was in the front and I had to wonder around to find someone
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Turqay Həsənli
When the Korean staff were here, the food was great, especially the wings. But it looks like the staff has changed. I don’t know about the other dishes, but the wings are in bad shape now. I used to come here just for the wings.
rob Quan
Terrible service. The manager Jaime (pronounced Haime) needs to go. Ordered online including bibimbap. Once picked up noticed there was no sauce. Wasn't going to eat it since it's just bland veggies and chicken. Called to let them know their mistake. Told wouldnt give me refund unless i brought food back even though i was at a party. Or would only give me a 95 cent refund for missing sauce. So after the party end, I brought food back. They seemed surprised i actually showed back up probably thinking i wouldn't go through the inconvenience to go go back. No sorry for the mistake or sorry for making me drive all the way back there.
DO NOT WASTE MONEY HERE.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Caleb
Food was okay, but prices here are crazy. Very poor value.
Lauren Mickol
I honestly dont know why this location is still in business. Accidently ordered from here instead of Lowell and its still the worst bonchon I've eaten at. The chicken is never consistent. Previously it was overcooked, this time it tasted undercooked. Tteokbokki was doused in spice. Possibly the spiciest ive ever had, i cant even eat it. The taste and smell were also not the typical tteokkbokki. I am a seasoned bonchon patron, but this location continues to be horrid. Don't eat here.
Great food and service. Clean restraunt and bathrooms. Only problem was no changing table in any bathrooms.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sangeeta Kumar
I had the Bibimbap with tofu and it tasted absolutely bland. The veggies had no taste. For 20 bucks the food was not worth eating
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Amms _13
Had a nice server but the food was soo small for the price and wouldn’t eat there again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Mara Tzizik Swanson
This location is always a mess. They have messed up our orders multiple times. Staff doesn't check what bags delivery drivers take causing multiple quality control problems.
Benicio Rosado
The chicken was so salty it burned more than the spice. Crazy thick breading that was not crisp but hard. The rice with pork belly was utterly flavorless. The waiter said barely 3 words to us. Easily top 5 worst dining experiences I had and it was really expensive for the portion and quality. Nothing fresh, nothing flavorful. Insult to Korean food.
Delicious chicken and rice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japchae
Lovely place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Solid option for Korean wings in Waltham.
Never been a huge Bonchon fan, but I like coming here for the lunch specials. Bonchon isn’t particularly big in Korea (in fact, the first one I ever tried was in New York), but given the options around Boston, this place ends up being a good choice. BBQ Chicken (the only major Korean chain actually from Korea in MA) doesn’t offer lunch specials, and their quality has dipped recently in some Boston locations. So whenever I’m in Waltham, I like to come in here.
The lunch specials at Bonchon offer excellent value. Eight wings or four drumsticks (or a mix) plus a side for $13. Flavor-wise, my go-to is soy garlic. It gives you the crispiest exterior out of all their sauces. For spice, I prefer their newer Korean yangnyeom over the Korean BBQ as it has more heat and a cleaner balance.
Since Bonchon uses a relatively thin batter and their sauces run pretty strong, I actually prefer the drumsticks over the wings. The extra meat helps balance out the sauce, and the texture stays more consistent.
Probably not the best Korean fried chicken out there, but for really good value meals, I recommend giving them a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
This was easily the worst restaurant experience I have ever had in my life. A friend and I dropped in on Sunday night for dinner. We were seated quickly as there were only 2 other parties in the entire restaurant. I have dined at the Allston branch of this restaurant many times so I was expecting a similar experience.
A staff member took our order which took at least 25 minutes to arrive at the table. When we tried the food, we wished it had never arrived at all. The dumplings were so salty they were inedible. When we tried to send them back, instead of apologizing, the waiter said “okay, but I can’t take them off your bill”. When we asked why he said that was their policy. The wings were really salty as well and they weren’t good either. The saving grace was the cole slaw which they brought instead of the side dish that we had actually ordered. That was good.
We have all had bad meals at restaurants. It happens, and if that was the main point of this review, I would not have written it. The most appalling aspect of the entire experience was the was complete absence of any kind of hospitality or service from the two staff members working in the restaurant.
It took me 3 requests for water to actually get a glass of it. The woman who took our order wandered off and we never saw her again. The man who delivered our food was incredibly rude and unhelpful. When my friend pointed out that they had not delivered the side dish we ordered, he aggressively said that we should have said something when the order was delivered (not that anyone came back to check after the food was dropped off). She responded that it was their responsibility to get the order correct. When she told him he was being rude, he responded: “well you’re pretty rude to me. I didn’t even take your order”.
I have worked in hospitality for over 20 years and I have never seen anyone behave like that. Waltham has a lot of great restaurants to choose from. I would recommend staying far away from this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
SO GOOD
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered 6 wings & only got 3 🥲 the rice was not what I was expecting no where near the same as the one in Lowell. & I waited 5 minutes for someone to come out and give me my order & when he did come out he had an attitude. Not my fault nobody was in the front and I had to wonder around to find someone
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
When the Korean staff were here, the food was great, especially the wings. But it looks like the staff has changed. I don’t know about the other dishes, but the wings are in bad shape now. I used to come here just for the wings.
Terrible service. The manager Jaime (pronounced Haime) needs to go. Ordered online including bibimbap. Once picked up noticed there was no sauce. Wasn't going to eat it since it's just bland veggies and chicken. Called to let them know their mistake. Told wouldnt give me refund unless i brought food back even though i was at a party. Or would only give me a 95 cent refund for missing sauce. So after the party end, I brought food back. They seemed surprised i actually showed back up probably thinking i wouldn't go through the inconvenience to go go back. No sorry for the mistake or sorry for making me drive all the way back there.
DO NOT WASTE MONEY HERE.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Food was okay, but prices here are crazy. Very poor value.
I honestly dont know why this location is still in business. Accidently ordered from here instead of Lowell and its still the worst bonchon I've eaten at. The chicken is never consistent. Previously it was overcooked, this time it tasted undercooked. Tteokbokki was doused in spice. Possibly the spiciest ive ever had, i cant even eat it. The taste and smell were also not the typical tteokkbokki. I am a seasoned bonchon patron, but this location continues to be horrid. Don't eat here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and service. Clean restraunt and bathrooms. Only problem was no changing table in any bathrooms.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the Bibimbap with tofu and it tasted absolutely bland. The veggies had no taste. For 20 bucks the food was not worth eating
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Had a nice server but the food was soo small for the price and wouldn’t eat there again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
This location is always a mess. They have messed up our orders multiple times. Staff doesn't check what bags delivery drivers take causing multiple quality control problems.
The chicken was so salty it burned more than the spice. Crazy thick breading that was not crisp but hard. The rice with pork belly was utterly flavorless. The waiter said barely 3 words to us. Easily top 5 worst dining experiences I had and it was really expensive for the portion and quality. Nothing fresh, nothing flavorful. Insult to Korean food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
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