Bonchon Seven Hills - Alexandria

So the place looked pretty bare bones, almost as if it were still under construction. (Understandable for venues that are more oriented to takeout/delivery esp. because of pandemic, but this was egregious). The bathroom door lock was busted, if I recall correctly. For those two reasons, I put atmosphere at 2/5 stars. The food was okay, ordered dumpling (nothing special), tacos (i did not try those), fries (decent flavor, tons of seasoning), and wings (the best part and only redeeming quality of the meal). The kimchi side was far too salty; the radishes were fine. If you order takeout from here, you will likely be fine. If you plan to dine in, perhaps you're better off visiting somewhere else.

I got the small wing order that was 8 wings. I ordered half spicy and half soy (4 wings each). They were cooked to perfection! The skin is so crunchy and the meat completely fell off the bone. Very delicious meal including the coleslaw. The kimchi extra but also good. The entrance is beneath the sign and plenty of parking in the garage.

Is this a fake Bonchon? The quality of the food we received was nothing like what I’ve experienced at the Pershing location. Everything was bland, even the mu, which I didn't think was possible! The only exception was the kimchi coleslaw, if that's what it was. It had a strange purple hue and an awful smell. One bite was enough—it was disgusting. I’d be willing to overlook it if this were an isolated incident, but it’s clear that their food quality control is just not up to standard.

I ordered takeout from this restaurant, and it was really impressive. The food didn't have that stale taste you sometimes get from dishes sitting under a heat lamp. The chicken was tender and packed with incredible flavor, plus the skin was nice and crunchy with just the right amount of sauce. The fries were crispy and delicious, and the rice was excellent as well. The prices are reasonable for the area, especially considering the generous portion sizes—I had enough to feed both myself and my partner, with leftovers to spare for the family feast. The staff was friendly, the service was quick, and the place seemed clean overall. I had a great first experience and will definitely return.

Beyond the disappointing food, which many have already addressed, my main concern is that we couldn't even get a refund because there was apparently no manager available. The only option given to us was to call someone named Brian, who didn't answer and had a full voicemail. What a surprise! It's concerning that a responsible business owner would leave the restaurant in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to process refunds or answer basic questions about whether this location is a franchise or when the manager will be back. Leaving someone so unqualified in charge was a poor management choice. This experience doesn't reflect the quality of my favorite Korean restaurant. I highly recommend visiting the Bonchon in Arlington to see how the real soy-garlic strips are made, or check out the Bonchon in Arundel Mills, which is another excellent example. What you’re serving here is false advertising. This is not authentic Bonchon Korean fried chicken; it tastes like chicken strips from Sysco or US Foods with a drizzle of sauce. This is unacceptable, and this restaurant needs to be held accountable.