Chi Chi’s, a brand new Korean fried chicken joint at 4714 Freret St., brings a fresh new taste to the New Orleans scene. Opened just two weeks ago on Sept. 7, the New Orleans native couple Adolfo Garcia and Sophia Petrou run the endeavor, who grew up in restaurant families in the city. Their name—Chi Chi’s Chicken and Beer—references the Korean term chimaek, a combination of chicken and beer. The rich, crispy chicken pairs perfectly with an ice-cold beer, a widely enjoyed dining tradition in Korea. At Chi Chi’s, you can order a single beer or a beer tower to share, although I noticed many people enjoying sake and cocktails as well.  

The major difference between Korean and American fried chicken is the cooking process. The chicken is covered in a thin batter rather than breaded, and they are double fried to create a perfectly crunchy bite. New Orleans, despite being a culinary cultural center, has a fairly meager selection of good Asian restaurants as compared to other cuisines. Just a short walk from campus, Chi Chi’s claims the title of being the first Korean chicken restaurant in the city. As an Asian-American student missing the taste of home and an avid Korean fried chicken enjoyer, I was more than excited to give this new spot a try. 

As you enter the tiny space, you are greeted by a cozy seating area and the restaurant’s signature chicken character in various poses on the wall. Their menu features a couple of different iterations of their signature dish. You can order wings—six, 12 or 20 pieces—in either garlic soy or gochujang flavorings. If you prefer a little more carbs, you can get the fried chicken sandwich in classic southern or Korean styles, which seems to be the most popular choice when looking around the restaurant. Or perhaps you’re not a fan of bread but are still craving a sandwich. Look no further than the selection of Japanese onigirazu, or sushi sandwiches. Choose from tuna, salmon, veggies or Korean fried chicken wrapped with rice, pickled vegetables and nori. Also available are some sides: fries, cucumber salad and kimchi fried rice. If you still have room, you can also sample some kakigori, or Korean shaved ice, in matcha, melon or strawberries and cream flavors.  

With limited stomach space, I ordered only four things—three wings of each flavor, the Korean fried chicken onigirazu, the cucumber salad and the strawberries and cream kakigori. The smallest order of wings comes with a little container of pickled radishes and costs $12, but the huge flavor it brings makes it worth it. The gochujang wings are saucy, spicy and a little sweet, with a satisfying crunch before the soft interior meat—everything you could ask for in a chicken wing. The punch of flavor is perfectly balanced by a bite of the crisp pickled radishes, making you eager for more. The garlic soy flavor is milder and a bit different than your average chicken wing, but nothing awe-inspiring. The cucumber salad—priced at $5—was also a perfectly paired and refreshing side for the wings, with a little bit of spice and acidity and topped with lots of crunchy fried garlic. 

The last two items, however, disappointed me a little. For being a combination of the restaurant’s most advertised dishes, I had extremely high hopes for the onigirazu. Unfortunately, it felt flat taste-wise. Perhaps there was a little too much sushi rice in proportion to the other ingredients, but the dish was blander than I had hoped. While still tasty, it certainly did not wow me. Additionally, it was priced at $14—more than the order of six wings—but wasn’t quite filling enough on its own. If you’re going in hungry and want the onigirazu, make sure you order a side to fill you up, too. The kakigori was $7 and disappointingly small for the price when compared to the classic Louisiana sno-ball. Although it was a nice, fresh end to the meal, it was not amazing enough to justify $7 for what it was.  

Chi Chi’s is a fun spot to grab some tasty food and a pleasant atmosphere. I would certainly return for some more fried chicken, and I recommend anyone willing to try something new as well. While it was nothing jaw-dropping, I am still excited to have a new Asian restaurant in town, and I hope that this new spot encourages more restaurant-goers to branch out.