Have you ever looked at the food in movies and TV shows and wondered what it would taste like in real life? If you’re a K-Drama fan, the famous Bok Chicken from the show Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo must be at the top of your “restaurants to try” list. The good news is you don’t have to transport yourself into the fictional world of Kim Bok Joo nor travel all the way to South Korea! You can just drive for a few hours towards the north because Bok Chicken is now in La Union!
Just opened last May, Bok Chicken LU is now the go-to place for amazingly delicious and affordable Korean food in La Union. It started with just being a delivery food service but with the high demand for Korean food in the province, the owner, Kate Tadifa, decided that it was time to open her first establishment. What’s quite intriguing is that Kate isn’t a die-hard K-Drama fan as most of us would expect. She’s just a fan of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, Korean food, and cooking. Putting these all together, she was able to put up her first business.
The place is still quite small since it is a starting business, but the place is peppered with K-Drama photos that are sure to make fans delighted. The walls are also painted with traditional Korean scenery (the ones you see in shows) that will make you feel as if you’re actually in Korea. Kate shared that the wall art was done by architecture students from the college nearby.
The second floor will transport you to a traditional Korean restaurant setup. You can sit on pillows on the floor while you’re also surrounded by cool wall paintings. A true Korean restaurant experience!
Bok Chicken LU is known for their Korean fried chicken and they are insanely good! They have five flavors to choose from, and each one is just as tasty as the others. Really, I love chicken and these ones are right up there at the top of my “best fried chicken” list. Kate shares that the recipes are all original and were made to suit the Filipino taste.
Aside from their amazing chicken, Bok Chicken LU also offers a wide range of classic Korean dishes such as tteokbokki, kimbap, and kimchi.
And of course, what would a Korean restaurant in the Philippines be without some rice meals? You can also choose from a wide range of rice varieties–their kimchi rice is a must-try as well as their bibimbap.
Noodles are also classic Korean dishes. Their ramyeon is filled with all sorts of ingredients that make it even tastier. The japchae is also amazingly delicious–just right for the Pinoy taste.
If you and your barkada are heading north one of these days, Bok Chicken LU also has combo packages that are good for 3-5 people, and these include their bestselling chicken, some appetizers, classic Korean dishes, and for some even a bottle of soju!
They also offer the Korean dessert classics such as bingsu and Korean ice cream that are great to top off the scrumptious meal. Plus, there’s a fire noodle challenge for those who are into a bit of thrill. Finish a serving of the spicy instant noodles under two minutes (or less, depending on the month’s record) and get an awesome prize!
Bok Chicken LU is a must-try Korean restaurant experience in La Union, especially with the coming surfing break in San Juan! It’s only about a 10-minute drive from the beach, so you can definitely put this on your itinerary if you’re heading north. Not only will you be living a K-Drama fan’s dream, but you’ll also get a tasty and hearty meal that’s affordable and so worth every peso!
Bok Chicken LU
National Hiway, Lingsat, City of San Fernando, La Union
facebook.com/bokchickenLU
instagram.com/bokchickenlu
