Fried Chicken News

Korean chain Bonchon expands to Dallas with more spicy fried chicken

Mmmm spicy wings.

Bonchon Chicken

An international fried chicken chain is relocating to Dallas: Bonchon, known for its distinctive Korean fried chicken, is relocating its headquarters from New York to Dallas, and will also open a second location in the Dallas area.

The new location is in Addison and according to a release, will open in February 2021. It'll be the chain's first company operated fast-casual restaurant in Dallas, with another 3-4 openings in Texas to follow including a delivery- and carryout-only location.

Their menu includes wings, drumettes, and boneless strips in a red sauce that's garlicky, sweet, and a little spicy. The chicken has an irresistibly chewy texture, which they achieve by double-frying it, then lathering on the sauce.

There are also sliders and Korean tacos which you can get with chicken or with bulgogi/marinated beef, plus fried rice, a sesame ginger salad, and a wrap. Sides include fries, onion rings, fried pickles, coleslaw, and a kimchi coleslaw.

Bonchon was founded in Busan, South Korea, and opened its first U.S. branch in New York City in 2007. When it debuted in Dallas on Greenville Avenue in December 2013, it was so deluged by customers that the restaurant had to close for a week to regroup.

The food was solid but the company had management issues, and the Greenville Avenue location closed in 2014, leaving one location in The Colony, which is still open.

Veteran Dallas restaurateur Flynn Dekker, former marketing chef for Wingstop, was named CEO of Bonchon in 2019. There are currently 106 locations in the United States and 250 restaurants throughout Asia and the Middle East.

In addition to the new HQ in Dallas, Bonchon is launching a fast-casual model, new interior design, new service model, and streamlined menu. This new model will apply to some new franchise openings and new corporate restaurants. It'll also further Bonchon's online ordering operation, which currently accounts for more than 50 percent of business.

"The shift to a new fast casual model combined with our corporate relocation to Dallas, will create an even stronger foundation for Bonchon's continued national growth along with our accelerated growth across Texas," says Dekker in a statement.

Dallas represents a more centralized location to serve franchise partners on both coasts, and also creates new job opportunities in Dallas. They expect to add about 20 new employees.

But on the food side, they'll be keeping it real, since the test kitchen where they test new products and create the chain's signature sauces is still in Busan.

openings

Coffee buzz

Suburban fave Lemma Coffee brews first Dallas cafe in high-profile spot

Photo courtesy of Lemma Coffee Co.

Lemma Coffee Co. is opening in Mockingbird Station.

After building a following in the Dallas 'burbs, Lemma Coffee Co. is finally opening inside the city limits: The specialty coffee chain will debut its first Dallas location at Mockingbird Station in mid-September.

Lemma will take over the former Starbucks space at 5331 Mockingbird Ln., Ste. 150, bringing its high-quality coffee to the area's busy mix of residents, office workers, shoppers, and nearby university students. Owner Daniel Baum revealed the new shop's location in an Instagram reel on Saturday, August 1.

Baum, a former photographer, founded Lemma Coffee Co. in 2017, initially serving coffee at the Denton County Farmers Market. After opening its first brick-and-mortar shop in Carrollton, the company added locations in Frisco in 2020 and downtown Plano in 2022.

“For us, it is exciting to have a shop within Dallas and show the work we have put in over the past nine years,” says Baum, who grew up in Dallas.

The Denim Danger is one of Lemma's popular specialty drinks.Photo courtesy of Lemma Coffee Co.

Lemma focuses on premium coffee, with a menu featuring classic espresso drinks alongside specialty beverages made with house-made syrups. Highlights include:

Citrusgoth Latte: Charcoal, chocolate, and citrus.
Denim Danger: Blueberry syrup, maple, and brown sugar.
The Great Bambino: Cold brew s’mores (inspired by the movie The Sandlot).
The Bees’ Knees: Latte with vanilla, honey, and lavender.
Seasonal Coffee Tonic: Espresso, lychee puree, fresh orange and lime, and citrus bitters.

The company has also expanded its matcha offerings to include drinks such as the Matcha Tropic with coconut cream and banana syrup, Strawberry Matcha, and Ube Matcha.

For food, Lemma partners with local Montecito Bakery. The menu typically includes butter and chocolate croissants, almond loaves, dulce de leche cruffins, avocado toast, sandwiches, and hoagies.

While the beverage menu remains consistent across its locations, Lemma designs each shop to fit its neighborhood. The 1,300-square-foot Mockingbird Station location will feature several single-person tables, plenty of natural light, and limited bar seating for guests who want to watch the baristas while working or studying.

“People will be able to grab what they need and get back to the hustle, and if they want to stay, we will accommodate them in our space,” Baum says.

In addition to its cafés, Lemma operates a roasting facility in Coppell that supplies its own shops and wholesale customers across North Texas, including DFW Common Good, Oak Cliff Bread, Brewed, Seventh Day, and Local Good.

The company prides itself on responsible sourcing, direct-impact relationships with farmers, and a meticulous roasting process. To highlight traceability, every bag of retail coffee sold in-store features the name of the farm, allowing customers to pinpoint the origin of their beans.

“We have a quiet but loyal customer base — our core customers come in, buy our coffee, and take bags home to brew,” Baum says. “It is a dream for us to bring our shop into the city and continue to grow.”

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