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Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Murray Hill34th St-6th Ave (B, D, F, V, N, Q, R, W)
33rd Street (PATH)
34th St-7th Ave (1, 2, 3)
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I went here last night for a friends birthday. The place was a little strange to find, like most places in Korea Town, the entrance made me think I was going to get my drivers license renewed..or purchase some illegal handbags.
The tiny elevator opened up to a sweet interior. The place was pretty packed for a late saturday night (10pm) but as the night wore on it got more sparse.
It was my first time having korean fried chicken and I have to say I am a fan. The chicken was nice and crispy yet still moist, and came on a bed of french fries. We ended up ordering 2 rounds of large chicken and fries, which stuffed a good 8 people. Be sure to alternate between the salty chicken and fries with the sweet pickled radishes they accompany the plates. The bill ended up coming out to 170.00, tax and tip included with a couple round of drinks.
Overall I really liked this place, and even though I haven't yelped in a while..I thought I might this time since the guy sitting next to me went on a rant about how much he hated Yelp. Which made no sense and was a little crazy...so here's to you, strange guy who hates yelp. This place was awesome and you are weird.
From
An Elite Yelper.
Okay, Yelp. This was my first experience with Korean Fried Chicken and I am now experiencing a crisis of culinary faith.
I just didn't think it was all that exciting. It wasn't bad, in fact, it was just fine, but it also was not special. There were no spices or sauces that distinguished it from any other chicken I have had. Ketchup is not special. Vinegar barbecue sauce is not special. The thin, crispy skin was good, but again, not really all that special. When I eat fried chicken from my favorite Dominican take-out place in upper Manhattan, I KNOW that I am eating Dominican fried chicken. When I eat fried chicken from my favorite bbq place at home in North Florida, I KNOW that I am eating Southern fried chicken. The chicken at Baden Baden could have been any fried chicken at any decent restaurant. In fact, I just realized, I didn't even really like the thin, crispy skin. It was a little weak. Also, the french fries were gross. I do not understand why everyone is raving about those fries, they tasted like nasty cafeteria fries and had that creepy bubbly coating like they weren't made out of real potatoes, just freezer burned re-constituted potatoes.
See, I was excited for months and months about tasting KFC, and now what I am really scared about is that KFC--at least at Baden Baden--is ultimately just a poor facsimile of American pub food. And most American pub food isn't even that good.
I also have a theory to explain why so many people are deifying the chicken at Baden Baden. It's my "Sarahbeth's Jams" theory. Sarahbeth's Jams is this company that started in somebody's kitchen here in NYC in the early 1980's, and gained a cult following, and is now so widely dispersed that you can sometimes find them in the gourmet food aisle at TJ Maxx. Well, that is great for Sarabeth, but my point is, that these jams aren't really special. They are good, solid jams, but they aren't anything that's going to rock your palate, and yet somehow they gained a cult following. And the reason is, because New Yorkers like to take mundane things and make them special--and this usually occurs with comfort food. Shake Shack is a good example. Not great, just solid, but it has a cult following. I think that in a city where everyone is striving to make something absolutely unusual, people sometimes find comfort in the mundane.
Anyway, that's my best explanation for why anyone would think that $50 was a reasonable price for a plate of fried chicken, some french fries, and 2 beers.
A friend of mine used to come here a lot and passively google at the cashier, getting inebriated all the time on beer and soju. He's such a beligerent drunk that he doesn't notice me eating all the food. =D
Food's great, but watch out for the spicy seafood - it's pretty darn spicy! Great drinks, the bartenders are the best.
It's upstairs across the street from Players lounge.
Great hang out place :) Came here on halloween and had their Baden Baden Chicken, beer in a chilled mug, and onion rings. Quick, simple and fun to eat. Definitely will be swinging by again.
We had the address and friend's directions but we could not find this famous chicken joint--it also probably didn't help that we had just left a very productive happy hour. After multiple conversations and texts, voila, Baden Baden is right above us. I think our anticipation of having the most amazing Korean fried chicken created very heavy expectations but I'll confirm that the chicken is finger lickin' good!
So when you're walking confused, lost and hungry in Manhattan and can't find the chicken, lucky for you there's an app for that.
Food: Quality and taste of food here is real good. Lives up to expectations. Friend food is crisp, not oily. The chicken has a light crispy skin and the meat itself is juicy, the garlic and onions brings the flavor up and adds some sweetness. Finish with the pickled radish, nice refreshingly, light, and sour taste. Total opposite from the chicken.
Gol-Bang-E, is OK, spicy but a bit salty. Lots of meat, they don't skimp on the sea snails. Don't order the fruit platter, it is just low quality fruits sitting there for a while, losing water and flavor in the process, cause I don't think anyone orders it, besides this person I know....
Drink: This is where I have to dock some ratings. Listed by NY Magazine as one of the top six Koreantown bars, it does nothing to live up to this hype. Poor selection of beer. The cocktails are severely overpriced since there is virtually no alcohol in them. You are essentially buying a $12 cup of juice and ice. There IS a full bar, but it's not put to use.
Service: Average.
Crowd/Ambiance: Crowded on Fridays and weekends, may have to wait. Predominantly a young, slightly mixed crowd, not just Koreans there. Dimly lit place, TV's are old junk so don't go there to watch sports. Wooden walls and furniture. Space is not abundant, but when seated you won't really notice.
Baden Baden, where all Korean gluttons eat.
I love this place for its unpretentious atmosphere, good service and large portions of bar grub to go with your cold pitcher of Blue Moon.
4 girls. 1.5 hours. 1 pitcher of beer and a diet coke. 3 dishes. Here's the lowdown:
*Fried Chicken and Fries (Large Size)
This lightly fried bird sits on a white oval plate on top of a bed of roasted peppers, onions, and garlic cloves aside a pile of crispy potato fries. These fries are top notch and received the seal of approval from my roommate/friend/fry connoisseur, Sara. Salt and pepper are the only seasonings you'll find on these bad boys. The chicken comes out piping hot and if you consume it fast enough, you'll notice the juicy meat falling off the bone instantaneously and a swig of beer is the only thing that will prevent you from burning your tongue. Pop cubes of pickled radish in your mouth too while you're at it.
*Spicy Squid with Udon Noodles
Oh yeah, this totally brings me back to L.A. This tasty mixture of spicy squid, peppers, onions in a fiery red chili sauce is poured above a giant platter of thick white udon noodles. My one complaint is that the squid was overcooked and had a rubbery texture causing me to chew and chew and chew. The flavors are all there and I'm a sucker for anything mixed with fat udon noodles. I really love carbs....sigh.
*Kimchi and Pork with Fresh Tofu
This dish had so much potential but I found it pretty bland compared to the ones I've had in Koreatown. It only needed a spoonful of sugar and a dash of sesame oil to enhance the flavors of the fried kimchi and pork belly. The triangular shaped tofu was the redeeming factor that helped me to enjoy this dish a lot more. They were boiled perfectly to reach this soft, yet firm consistency that stayed on my chopsticks until consummation.
We ate until our hearts and stomachs were content and ended up killing all three platters of food. Gosh, we're such monsters.
The laid back vibe and the straightforward cooking in this place are characteristics that make this a gem in Koreatown. My advice: come with an empty stomach and in loose fitting clothes. Good company is also highly recommended.
My friend found love at Baden Baden. y it wasn't the one in Ktown. He found his true love at the Baden Baden in Jersey. Also, the tong dak is better in Jersey. I only go here when friends wanna meet there. Otherwise I'd rather go to Pocha and eat some delicious bool dak with cheese. mmmm
We finally found the place but they ran out of chicken and it was only 9pm!
I was telling my bf about Bon Chon and the KFC craze. My bf tells me of this place he was taken to by a Korean friend. It served up delicious fried chicken and was on the 2nd fl. That was all he could remember. We proceed to visit every bar/lounge/restaurant on the 2nd flr on 32nd St. We started on the North side of the street and then finally hit upon it on the South side. Needless to say, tired and hungry... and no chicken!
We settle for 2 Somen dishes. He had the Kimchee Somen and I, the Seafood Somen. Somen is a very thin noodle, finer than angelhair. It's easy to overcook but these noodles were perfect. There was plenty of seafood in my bowl which made for a tasty broth. But I will have to return for chicken!
The place is akin to a pub. The Korean music was good but loud so it makes for difficult group conversation. There were small groups of 4-6 ppl. Larger groups might be hard to fit but there's nothing better than hanging out with friends and sharing a plate of fried chicken and fries.
This is my favorite k-town food/bar joint because I feel like it is the most welcoming to non-koreans of all the ethnocentric ktown places. Even though I'm korean, sometimes I feel alittle out of place listening to rich international students from seoul speaking konglish (kor+eng). The crowd here is pretty diverse (for korean bar standards), and the last time I was there, George Wendt from Cheers was sitting at the next table. I thought that was funny.
Anyways, this place is really famous for their chicken--my favorite thing about korean chicken is the pickled radish cubes that it comes with. Yum! Other good an-ju's (korean equivalent of bar food) are the jwee-po (some kind of dried fish), dduk-bok-ki (spicy rice tube-like cake thingies), and the bbok-eum's (you can either get stir-fried octopus or squid). Pretty typical korean bar scene--full bar with hip hop music or kpop. Good place to come with a group after a long night (this place is open very late) and just have a good time over chicken and beer.
Never been up here before, even though I practically live in Ktown. Finally, my friends and I decided to come here on a Thursday night before hitting our usual happy hour places (Third Floor, sometimes Maru). The place was definitely not what I was expecting. It had a very cozy feel to it and the decor is just different from all of the restaurants in Ktown.
We ordered the chicken and fries combo. Both were really good. Would recommend it for sure. The waiter could have been more attentive, but I think he was just giving us space, unlike those annoying waiters who ask you every two seconds if everything is okay.
We sat by the window and it was nice to look down on the street to the masses of Koreans just walking by.
I would definitely recommend this place.
This is some damn tasty fried chicken! I've never really quite understood the BonChon craze. The double fried action is good, but I'm not a fan of sweet glaze on my fried chicken.
Enter Baden Baden... so nice, they named it twice. The secret to the chicken is that they rotisserie it first, then deep fry it. Keeps the chicken itself moist while giving it a nice crispy skin.
The only down points? It's hard to find. Make sure you write down the address, because there's no signs. Just walk upstairs and the door has a couple stickers on it to tell you you're at the right place. Also the decor is lacking. It feels like a rundown pub. And the onion rings? Don't bother. Stick with the seasoned fries.
Baden Baden was so hard to find, I now call it 'Baden BinLaden'
For any non-Korean person, good luck finding this joint - especially if you're looking for "Baden Baden". There's no such sign - it's almost as if it's this exclusive, in-the-know bar that only ppl with chicken and fries on their mind can find.
So I stood on the street below, looking right and left for anything to clue me into BadenBaden. All I saw was "BBNY" and "Forte" and "Fake Eyelashes" and "Karaoke" and...well, at this point all the signs whirl around me in a blur.
I finally decide to venture towards the brightly-lit hallway towards the staircase to the 2nd floor. Then suddenly I'm in a sports bar full of people shoving drumsticks into their mouths, with the smell of fried food, soju, and beer filling my nostrils.
My friends and I ordered the famed rotiserrie chicken with fries (that supposedly came with "sauteed vegetables"), a 640 bottle of Hite, and the Lychee Soju.
- Chicken: crispy skin (awesome) + dry meat (not cool.)
- Fries: pretty good
- "Sauteed vegetables": non-existent, save a couple pieces of oily onions and mushy (but tasty) garlic cloves - oh yea - and 1 piece of bell pepper.
- Pickled Radish: yum!
- Hite: always refreshing
- Soju: bleh - like drinking overly sweetened lychee juice from the can.
So...yea. I wasn't impressed with much here. The fries and the radish were good. Service wasn't bad though, I give them that. It could be fun with a large group of friends to drink and watch the games. But don't come here specifically for the food. Not worth the $$.
ByeBye BadenBinLaden. I don't plan on searching for you anytime soon.
absolutely one of my favorite places in ktown... it's always a special occasion when i take friends here... fried chicken is an absolute must... the chicken has a tasty skin that's light and crispy and brings out the flavor of the actual chicken compared to being overly sauced at other places... it gets better when u discover their fries... oh their fries... my roommate confessed to me that he'd have sex with the fries... i don't blame him... and to top it all off... cloves of fried garlic... these little gems are euphoric...
crispy, perfectly seasoned fried chicken, french fries and nuggets of fried garlic... top that off with a tall mug of korean beer... (someone at baden baden's been reading my diary...)
I would describe this place as a Korean interpretation of a Western-style pub. It can be a little difficult to find, as there really isn't a sign and it's on the 2nd floor of the building. (so you can't see it from the street)
They have a selection of Beers on tap, although I don't think any Korean brews are available... The portions are pretty large, definitely good for drinks and sharing among a group.
Oh My God, I LOVE this place! Even though it's a bit small and can be tricky to find - it's on the second floor of a nondescript entry way.
Famous for their fried chicken - batter-less, crispy-skinned pieces of heaven. Finger-licking good, especially dipped in ketchup and hot sauce. Goes great with french fries and cold beer.
There's also a smattering of other dishes which are good: hot wings, fried calamari, onion rings; but nothing compares to the chicken.
Can you believe they ran out of chicken the last time I went there?! I HATE this place!!
Service was nice and prompt.
It's a place so nice, they named it twice.
Ok, it's not really the fanciest looking place-- it really does look like an irish pub in the middle of Koreatown. But the hot wings are so f'n good. I have to say that their wings are probably the best wings I've ever had (Hooters was a close second). Tender, crispy, juicy, spicy-- what more could you ask for in a wing? Their chicken entree was ok. The meat was juicy and tender, but I didn't think it had a lot of flavor. The fries and onion rings that come with the chicken entree were really good, but more so the fries. We also got the rice cakes and the octopus--both very good. Next time I go, i'm just ordering a plate of hot wings, fries, and a pitcher of Blue Moon... for myself.
REALLY GOOD FRIED CHICKEN, REALLY GOOD FRENCH FRIES and ICE COLD ASAHI. i almost cried at how GOOD this chicken is.
i love how the place has an odd entrance. it felt like a mafia safehouse of some sort.
i told my boss and his wife to go.
This is a pretty interesting place as it is in the Korean area, but looks very American on the inside with its wooden walls and beer signs. The food looks like normal american food, but it still has its Korean aspects. The fried chicken isn't like KFC, but is like rotisserie chicken served with onion rings. Hits the spot really well with drinks late at night.
The place was pretty empty, but comfortable enough. They show sports on T.V. and has a full bar. The service was ok. The waitress wasn't very social, but then again, it may be because one of my friends groped her sneakily (funny at the time, but looking back, very distasteful) If I went to New York again, I would definitely consider this place once more
I went there tonite and I'm still sweating from the chicken. Does that give you an idea of how good this place is?
The chicken is rotisseried and then fried. Be forewarned, there are two sizes, half and full. The full will feed about 3 to 4 people. The chicken is a bit greasy too.
The service is good and the background music is pretty much hip hop.
Some say it's the best fried chicken in NYC. I would disagree. Personally, that honor goes to Pollo Campero in Corona, Queens. However, if you love fried chicken, you should definitely check out Baden Baden.
Solid Korean bar food. The fried chicken is good, although I wish they had some kind of signature sauce to go with it. The fries that come along with it are really tasty.
The octopus and squid stir fry w/noodles (ojinguh/nakji bokeum) are also very good and so are the fried beef tips and the tofu w/kimchi + pork. When I have a craving for unhealthy Korean food....I come here!
Too bad they don't have any happy hour specials. You need to come here with friends otherwise it'll just get ridiculously expensive.
Not the typical korean fried chicken, you know the saucy, spicy goodness like Kyochon or BonChon. But it taste good nevertheless. Seaoned well and crispy. On the chicken dish, there are some garlic sauted veggies that are lick smackin' good (mushroom, rapa, potatoes, onions, and carrots). Must buddy up the chiken with fries, although the onion rings are a pretty darn good runner up. As all korean fc places, the chicken always comes with diced pickled radish and korean slaw. The rice cakes are also a scrump-diddly-umptious dish as well. The boiled egg served w/the dish is the right cooked texture.
The place looks like a typical wooden bar, but w/more emphasis on the eating (although a beer is always great with freid food). Spacious, but get packed quickly after work for obvious reasons.
If I would ever go to a korean bar, this would be the only place I would ever go to. They have the best korean-style chicken and nak-ji-bok-keum (octopus) are absolutely amazing. And ice-cold beer with them, oh boy. I would so forego 1 month of sex. jk
I highly recommend it.
We went here last Sunday at the suggestion of my cousin, who apparently has tried every major Korean chicken place in New York (and I'm not just talking Manhattan -- ALL of New York). The difference between this place and say, Unidentified Flying Chicken or Bon Chon is that the chicken is roasted instead of fried. I guess you could say that makes it healthier, but is it just as good as the fabulous fried stuff?
A slightly frustrating thing about this place (and many other Korean places on this block) is that you need to look up around Ktown to find it -- you're not just going to pass by it and be like, oh wow, I want to try this place! It's on the side of Ktown with Citibank on the second floor.
The interior of this place is very relaxed and just resembles a big bar-type hang-out, but with cooler jazz music. When we were reviewing the menu, I was noticing how high all the prices were -- $50 for a fruit platter? Give me a break.
The only things that seemed reasonably priced were the roasted chicken combinations -- the two of us shared a whole roasted chicken, which comes with a side of "Korean" radish (I don't know why Korean restaurants call it Korean radish -- Chinese people eat/prepare the same thing...) and your choice of fries or onion rings. We got the fries, and all that cost about $22. So split in two, it isn't too much to spend per person for dinner.
The chicken's skin was really good -- well flavored, not too salty with a nice crunch. I'd say I really liked this chicken and thought that the leg and thigh pieces were moist, but the breast meat was too dry.
I could definitely see myself coming back here, but fried chicken rules over roasted (especially Unidentified Flying Chicken, my fried chicken lover). Sorry.
great place to go chill out with a group friends. usually doesn't get too crazy/packed because of the location, which is a good thing if you're trying to wind down after a long night. Their chicken is stellar, and you won't leave hungry.
I'm a fan of Baden Baden. Only been a few times but the fried chicken has always been excellent. Their chicken is quite different than Bon Chon's, which has a thinner skin and more flavor. This is more similar to the fried chicken most Americans would be accustomed to. Very tasty and paired with the radish and fries is a great junk food meal option. This 2nd Floor restaurant looks more like a small pub with a small bar lined along one wall. Seating is fairly easy to come by and the vibe of the restaurant is very chill. Not alot of loud music blaring during the meal.
When I first heard about this place, my ears perked up.
Korean food...and BEER? Like those beer places downtown that I like so much? Like 20 million different kinds of beer the names of which I can't even pronounce? I'm THERE.
This place did not meet any kind of expectation I had for it. Wait....let me be fair. If you are in the mood for nothing but fried food (I don't think there was anything non-fried on the menu except for the rotisserie chicken - which was not as good as I expected), this is your place. Fried beef strips, french fries, onion rings, mozz sticks, fried fried fried. Pigs feet and octopus? Oh hell no. Strike those from the menu. Actually, I couldn't keep my hands off the beef strips, but still.
The beer selection? Not what I thought it was going to be. The soju was OK, but expensive in comparison to all the other places on the K-Town strip.
The ambience is like Korea trying to do a touristy Cheers replica. It reminded me of the Yokohama Hard Rock Cafe. A cute little joke, very much out of place and unnecessary.
After we finished dinner, we went to Pocha 32 for boo dae jjigae. Yeah. Ee cha!!!! (that's "second stop" in Korean) Maybe this is a normal thing for Koreans, to have many dinners (and I don't know where they put all that), but in that case, color me immersed in the culture.
This is actually one of my favorite places for chicken in NYC, forget Bon Chon, UFC, and Kyo-Chon. It's a little hard to find being on the 2nd floor with elevator or stair access. You just need to make sure you go into the right hallway. Look for Forte restaraunt if you're confused.
The place is reminiscent of a small bar and very dimly lit with loud KPop playing in the background. If you've come for drinks, it's one of the cheapest I found on the KTown strip. It has this underground, dirty look. But I think it's the chicken that makes it worth repeating.
The large order is a little under 20 and comes with a side of french fries, onion rings, or veggies. The small is a few dollars less. This chicken is usually cooked perfectly (no one is perfect). It's still moist and has a light, crispy outerskin like from a rotisserie. It is not greasy or leaves you with this oily/bloated feeling. The fries are great as well and are also very crispy and not oily.
Other dishes I've tried are the spicy rice cakes and sweet/sour beef. Stay away from those. Although they taste ok, It is way overpriced for what you are getting. The sweet/sour beef is way too sweet probably due to the excess amount of fruits in the dish ( strawberries, pienapples, oranges ... ).
Baden Baden is money. You have to find it. I don't see how someone without Korean friends in NY/NJ would ever just happen to come across this place. There are no signs and the hallway where the elevator is sketchy. Don't wait for the elevator. It's only one floor up so take the stairs.
Everytime I'm here, I'm already like sloppy drunk but somehow we would always order some more alchohol here (beer & soju). Of course, Baden x2 is famous for their fried chicken and rightfully so. I dare say that their fried chicken is the best food to eat after drinking ... EVER! Its just a tasty half a chicken (white meat) with peppers, onions, garlic, and fries. Very simple but excellent formula. I also enjoy their staple Korean dishes here like bulgolgi, noodles, etc. which are all excellent here. The fact that they still serve such quality food at 3 am makes this place money. Prices are fair too. Overall, you just can't beat this place with a stick in terms of late night/early morning KTown dining.
mmmm......the fries here are definitely craveable. crispy, potato-goodness fried with whole garlic cloves, yum! no visit is complete without the house special chicken. it's like fried rotisserie chicken, and served on a platter with the aforementioned fries, and complimentary sides of radish and cabbage. perfect to split for 2. the spicy squid or octopus with vegetable is another perfect accompaniment to the chicken, served over a nice bed of stir fried udon noodles, adding a kick of spice to the meal. mmm!
although i greatly enjoyed the company i dined with, it was a shame to come here as a party of only 2......a larger group could have accommodated ordering and trying more dishes, a shortcoming i cannot wait to remedy asap!
prices are typical of k-town - around $20 per entree, sides a bit steep at about $12, and soju/wine about $20/bottle. beer prices are average, about $6 per. expect a casual sports-bar like atmosphere, with the dark woodsiness of a classy irish pub.
Standard hof. Spent about two hours eating good fried chicken/fries, drinking from pitchers of (yuck) Coors Light, and just cheelin with friends.
It's too bright in there.
They have the best korean tongdak (fried chicken) in all of new york, hands down. They give you so much white meat and I love that they serve whole cloves of roasted garlic with the chicken. Delicious. They're also very good about giving you more pickled radish as you begin to run out. My only gripe is that the onion rings are not that great--it's that breaded/ground onion ring-shaped stuff similar to hush puppies. Not the onion rings with genuine onion slices dipped in batter. I'd go with the fries instead, unless you're a fan of those kind of onion rings.
Baden's dduk-boki (spicy rice cake) is also superb. Their tangsooyuk is standard, but good--it's plenty sweet and gooey.
Overall, the perfect spot to hit up for some happy hour =)
The scene here is like a Korean Chi Chi's / Chili's / TGI Friday's. If Bon Chon is full of sleek, urbane, hair-straightened honeys, Baden Baden is where their fat suburban sisters hunker down to chow.
Whole Fried Chicken (Large, $18.95)
The always-amiable Greg T. and I split a bird. Skins are thinner and flakier than Bon Chon or Bon Bon's but have no inherent flavor of their own. If you want flavor, you're best sorting it out yourself with squirt bottles of ketchup and hot sauce. The leg meat is juicy, but the breast meat is dry. Wings are scrawny little fuckers, more skin than meat. Pound per pound, it seems to me you get more edible meat at Bon Chon.
Vegetation
Every order of chicken comes with crisp, pickled daikon. The pickles here are tangy and not as awfully sweet as Bon Chon's. Chickens are also served with stray hunks of raw onion and 2 or 3 pieces of red bell pepper.
French Fries
Chicken orders also come with a heaping plate of french fries. Fries here are unseasoned, floured, medium-cut fries. Fabulously crispy exterior with a fluffy potato interior.
Soju (Plain)
$12? $20? All I remember thinking was that I could get this in my local market for $4. Next time, I'll flask it.
Grey Goose Tonic ($9)
Cheaper than Bon Chon's but much too sweet.
If I find myself here again, I may try the Spicy Squid or Rice Cake dish.
Food: 3.5
Value: 3.5
Craveability: 3
Service: 3. Never wholly attentive, but not entirely absentee.
Ambience: 3. Two largish flat-screen TVs behind the bar. One was showing poker; the other, some programming with chick-appeal. Though the front of the bar blasts West Coast hip hop, it's a concession you have to make if you want 32nd St views and some distance from the Baden bathroom.
Following the hype caused by the NY Times article, I too followed the masses to Baden Baden for my first taste of Korean fried chicken.
Their house specialty is, in essence, rotisserie chicken covered with a thin layer of deep fried crispy skin. Great if your priority is juicy, flavorful meat. Not as great if you're hankering after the crusty, crumbly, fall-apart batter-y goodness that comes in your bucket of KFC.
In addition to the chicken (which was accompanied by ketchup, tabasco, a side of pleasantly, more crispily battered fries, and a bowl of sweet pickled white radish cubes), they've got other thin-deep-fried options such as beef, pork, and octupus. We had a spicy rice cake entree that was pretty good -- filling, and pretty spicy even though we'd asked for it not too spicy. Full flavored-soju menu including selections like yogurt and aloe-pear.
Four of us split the large-size chicken and the rice cakes. Without beverages, our meal came to about $12pp -- not bad for a filling, flavorful, and pretty thoughtfully fried meal.
Once past the innocuous street entrance, with only a 28 above the door to indicate the location, is a sketchy hallway made sketchier by fluorescent lights casting a matte glare on an elevator door that never seems to work (nor should anyone try...take the stairs one flight up).
And so begins a Forte Baden Baden experience...
This is the point place of celebration for me. There are so many things to try in New York City, so many good restaurants, so many neighborhoods to satisfy what one is wanting for that moment, but because of that variety, I've felt more of a need for familiarity. Forte Baden Baden is that for me, a location to celebrate with friends, to drink pitchers of ice cold Blue Moon, to insist that someone else have the last piece of chicken (or French fry or fried garlic clove...) A large part of eating here is the communal experience as well as the social experience, but on to the food review.
If you come to Forte Baden Baden, get the chicken, you'll either fall in love with the indulgence of the flash-fried-rotisseried-chicken or you'll prefer the BonChon nearby. If there are enough people, order the spicy squid with noodles, the sauce is a piquant flavoring of mild heat with subtle sweetness, and the full bar offers Blue Moon on tap to wash down the chicken and spicy noodles.
Come closer to its opening at 4pm if you don't like to wait, but generally wait times are short when they are busy.
Forte Baden Baden
28 West 32nd Street, second floor;
(212) 714-2266.
So the other night, Miss A and I were in the mood for something different.. "Tia Pol might be a fun place". It might be, but you have to wait at least an hour to have that fun.. "How about Yakitorri Totto?" That too might be a great time but, you need to put up with an hour or two of not having a very good time to do so.. "What about Momofuku?" Thats always a good time but, I cant seem to get out of there very cheaply.. Sure you can order a pork bun or two but, eventually, I find myself ordering with reckless abandon..
Going along the very fague Momofuku Korean connection, I thought of the fried chicken places that seem to have come into vogue.. What fun, lets eat some fried chicken, order a bunch of beer, and then order more beer.. What could possibly better then that.. Well not much actually..
Coming off the street after noticing just a small sign indicating this was the place, you walk into this little industrial looking building.. You walk to the back of the building towards a stair case..
After haviing walked up two long flight of stairs:
You come upon a metal door with the Letters "BBNY" on it.. Now I am a big fan of the underground restaurant, back room speak easy type places.. I use to be a huge fan of Lanksy's, I love Sakagura, the New York Poker Rooms, the 57 regiment armory, the Light Ship Frying Pan, http://www.nybiteclub.com, the Decibel, the Angel Share type places so, I am already getting good vibes from this place...
After walking through the door, the place opens up to a pretty cozy space.. A long wood bar, a clean dark place, a fun atmosphere with mostly tables of young Korean Professionals all sharing family style plates and drinking beer.. Sounds good to me..
After getting our drink ordered squared away, A pitcher of Lychee Soju and a couple of OBS, we look over the menu.. For the most part, I would suggest you go with a group of four or more.. Its one of those places that if you go with 2-6 people, the food bill isnt going to fluctuate that much.. There might be a slight increase in the bar bill.. A table of two might be a hundred bucks and a table of 6 might be 140 bucks.. The food is ordered in large plates.. For example, the fried shrimp appetizer was 18 bucks.. It was too much food for us to get.. We start with the signature dish.. A Rotiserrie Chicken that is then deep fried.. For those of you that havent heard of this before, its as good as you could imagine.. The chicken really does benefit from both these processes.. Its just wonderful.. The juiciness of the Rotiserrie and the crispy skin from the fryer.. Oh baby..
So here it is.. With a battered french fry that takes on a chicken skin type affect.. Served with the typical soul food vinegar hot sauce, its a wonderful thing.. If there is better fried chicken in Manhattan, I would like to see it.
Next up we ordered this rice cake dish.. Rice gluton logs that were tossed in a tangy red sauce.. I was not a super fan of the sauce.. It seemed almost ketchup based..Though good, I wish we had more people sharing the dish.. It got kind of boring as we ate.. This dish easily could have fed 6 people as a small plate..
I dont know what the heck happened but somewhere around our second Pitcher of Lychee Liquor, we were brought out a spicy squid dish.. We were contemplating between the snails and the squid when our waitress decided for us.. This dish was really good and really hot.. Served over soba noodles, I was happy.. This was my second favorite dish of the night and again, it could have fed another 4 people.. I dont know how to describe the flavors.. I was calling it a Korean Fajita almost.. They started with frying up some peppers and onions, then slices of squid are added, and then a really hot red sauce is added to that.. Whatever that sauce is, it was compelely different and more rich then the tanginess of the rice cake dish.. This guy was a winner..
We drank a few beers and a few 18 dollar pitchers of the lycheeness.. Very full, very happy, we walked home 60 blocks.. By the time we got home, I was a little less full..
I would recommend this place as a pre-Knick Game or Event at the Garden place, a fun night out with a group of friends, or a place to take tourist friends to show them a cool part of New York.. The food is cheap, so are the pitchers of beer.. Its not life changing but, its some of the best fried chicken I have ever had..
edit to add: No time to edit the spelling mistakes, the run-ons, and the usual errors.. Its all part of this reviews charm..
I was going to give it a 3.5 but what the hell, I'm in a good mood. Besides, remember how good the Baden fried chicken used to be when there were no other Korean fried chicken places around town? They still serve consistently good food. I also like their kimchi tofu and spicy sauteed squid.
There's little to be said about ambience, the music is usually a mix of the top 40's or Korean pop, and the place gets loud. But I go back now and then when I need to eat a whole deep fried chicken with a side of pickled daikon.
I did not get this place AT ALL.
I am a 32nd Street regular, but I had not been here before. YES, it was the NY Times article (Peter reads it, I hate the paper) that made him suggest it when I was craving Korean food. I was dubious.
You have to travel a TINY elevator that can't possibly be up to code given the capacity in the bar (it's a bar, not a restaurant, and don't let anyone tell you different) to a crowded, loud, narrow place with a limited menu and a limited bar menu. This is definitely a place to come when you know exactly what you want. Peter ordered the fried chicken, and I ordered the spicy octopus. Big mistake.
The portions are enormous, and the service was brisk and efficient, but the chicken was dry and flavorless. The fries were limp. My octopus was tasty at the time, but I was laid flat for two days with food poisoning the next morning. Considering I eat octopus and Korean food all the time, I can't imagine what else it was. It was ghastly.
OK, we were there once and other people are raving about it, so what can I tell you--it seems it's hit or miss there, but after the two days I spent getting super well acquainted with the marble patterns on my bathroom floor, I don't think we'll be back.
I would characterize this place as more of a bar/lounge than a restaurant. This is the type of place where you feel like drinking first, eating 2nd. My friends and I always used to come here during our college days to chill out and drink a few cocktails, eat some chicken, and chat about stuff.
They're best known for their rotisserie type chicken which I'm not sure why because I was never a huge fan of it. I always found it too dry, but my friends seemed to love it. I prefered the tonkkatsu or the spicy noodle dish (I forget what it's called). I remember that it used to be really hard to get a table during dinner to midnight at this place, but it seems to be a little more slower these days (well, at least the last time I went there) and I've noticed it seems like more of an older crowd too.
Like most other reviewers, I was lured here by the $25 and Under article in the Times. (Difference is I came all the way from SF to satisfy my curiosity!) Came twice earlier this year. The first visit was at 12:30 on a Friday night. The place was 3/4 full, and most customers were in large groups. My brother and I, who had just bopped our heads like nobody's business at a concert at Irving Plaza, were jonesing to replenish protein in the form of rotisserie chicken. Unfortunately, our waiter informed us the chicken was sold out. We settled for buffalo wings. These wings were more sour than spicy, a little too vinegary for my taste.
We wondered what we were missing that night. A while after we sat down, a Caucausian couple entered. We saw their waiter mouth the out-of-chicken apology. Immediately, the man ushered his companion out the door. "Must be damn good chicken," I observed. The big parties around us rollicked, lubricated by pitchers of beer, plates of seafood and bowls of noodle soup.
I returned with my brother and his friend a couple of days later for happy hour. This time we were not denied. We ordered one plate of the rotisserie. Boy, was it worth the wait. The meat was juicy and the crispy, well seasoned skin exploded in my mouth. The $20 plate fed the three of us handily.
This place attracts a mixed crowd, likely due to its huge reputation. In spite of its location, you're more likely to hear English than Korean spoken at Baden Baden.
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Korean
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Category: Korean
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