The Pattaya Restaurant Guide
Restaurants  ›  Korean

Bonchon Pattaya

Korean double-fried chicken specialist with multiple Pattaya locations - the lacquered, soy-garlic and spicy benchmark

KoreanMultiple (Central Pattaya, Jomtien, Pattaya Klang)$$300-800 THB ppIn-depth review

Bonchon is a Korean-American fried-chicken chain that has become Pattaya's default Korean fried chicken destination, with multiple locations across Central Pattaya, Jomtien, and Pattaya Klang. The signature is the double-fried Korean chicken technique - chicken pieces are fried twice for a thin, glass-like crunch, then hand-brushed with either soy-garlic or spicy gochujang sauce. Beyond chicken, the menu spans Korean classics: bibimbap, japchae, kimchi fried rice, tteokbokki, plus Korean draft beer and soju cocktails. Reliable, fast, and the chain consistency that makes it the safe bet for groups who want Korean food without the gamble.

Our take

Bonchon's path to becoming Pattaya's default Korean restaurant is a study in chain-discipline: take one technique - the Korean double-fried chicken method - execute it identically across every location, build a menu around it, and refuse to compromise on the chicken even as you scale. The technique itself is the reason the chain works. Korean fried chicken is fundamentally different from American Southern fried chicken: the double-frying process drains fat from the chicken skin, leaving it almost glass-like in its crispness when bitten. This crisp shell is the carrier for the lacquered sauce - either soy-garlic (sweeter, deeper, with a hint of ginger and sesame) or spicy gochujang (Korean red chili paste, sweet-spicy-fermented), brushed by hand on each piece after frying. The result: a chicken piece you can pick up by the bone, eat with your hand, and leave the sauce on the plate intact - it's not a wet sauce, it's a glaze. Bonchon Pattaya offers the chicken in five formats - small (4 pieces), medium (8), large (12), party (20), and the boneless-only 'strips' format. Both flavor variants can be combined in one order ('half soy-garlic, half spicy'). Beyond chicken, the menu covers solid Korean staples: bibimbap (mixed rice bowl with vegetables, gochujang, fried egg), japchae (sweet potato glass noodles with vegetables and beef), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), kimchi fried rice, Korean BBQ pork rice bowls, and a Korean-style ramen-noodle soup ('jjampong') on rotation. Sides are essential to the experience: kimchi (made in-house), pickled radish, Korean potato salad, sweet potato fries, and 'Korean coleslaw' - cabbage with a sesame-soy dressing. Drinks lean Korean: Hite and Cass beer on tap, soju by the bottle (six-plus brands), soju cocktails (Yakult-soju, watermelon-soju, fresh fruit-soju), and 'somaek' (soju + beer) for groups. Service is fast - food typically arrives within 8-15 minutes of ordering, even when busy. The dining room is bright, casual, with K-pop on the speakers and cabbage-and-chicken-themed art on walls. The clientele skews young - mid-20s to mid-40s expats and Thai locals, with significant Korean-tourist crossover. Prices are mid-tier value: small chicken (4 pieces) at 320 THB, large at 680, party platter at 1,180. A full meal with chicken, sides, and a beer comes in around 500-800 THB per person. Bonchon is not destination dining; it's the Korean fried-chicken bench you measure all other Pattaya Korean spots against. It's also reliably available on Grab Food, Foodpanda, and LineMan delivery apps - the chicken survives the 30-minute delivery window because the sauce is a glaze, not a wet liquid. For groups, the party platter (20 pieces) plus a few sides is the obvious order - 1,180 THB feeds 4-6 people. For solo diners, the strips combo (boneless chicken, rice, kimchi, drink) is the safest bet at 280 THB. Bonchon is the first Korean restaurant most Pattaya regulars try, and once they have, they keep coming back when the craving hits.

The atmosphere

Bonchon's dining rooms are deliberately bright and casual - white walls with cabbage-and-chicken-themed wall art (yes, really), bright LED lighting (no romantic dimness here), light wood furniture, and bench seating along walls supplemented by tables for 2-4 in the center. Music is K-pop kept at a moderate level - present but not deafening. Each location has a chicken-prep station visible from the dining room, where you can watch the double-frying process. The vibe is more 'fast-casual restaurant' than 'sit-down dinner spot' - you eat, you drink, you leave, you don't linger for hours. Korean tourists provide a healthy share of customers and bring their own dynamic - groups of 4-8 sharing chicken platters, soju bottles being passed around, occasional spontaneous toasting. Thai locals make up the majority on weeknights. The lighting and energy make it appropriate for lunch, casual dinner, or a late-evening drinks-and-snacks stop. It's not a date-night place; it's where you go with friends or family on a Tuesday after work.

What works

  • Best Korean fried chicken in Pattaya - the double-fried technique done correctly
  • Reliable chain consistency - same quality at every Pattaya location
  • Soy-garlic vs spicy gochujang lets you sample both without committing
  • Fast service - food in 8-20 minutes vs 30-45 minutes at independents
  • Large party platters (20 pieces) at fair prices for groups
  • Strong delivery via Grab/Foodpanda/LineMan - chicken survives transit
  • Solid Korean menu beyond chicken: bibimbap, japchae, kimchi fried rice all decent
  • Korean draft beer and serious soju selection
  • Multiple Pattaya locations - one is always close

What to know

  • Bright fast-casual lighting - not romantic or atmospheric
  • K-pop soundtrack can be polarizing
  • Chicken cooked-to-order means 12-20 minute wait even when not busy
  • Korean side dishes (banchan) are paid extras, not free as in some Korean restaurants
  • Not the place for an intimate dinner - communal energy

What to expect

Arrival: walk in to the host station or seat yourself at a table - no reservations needed at most times. The menu is on the table or printed on a wall board. Place your order with the server (or via QR code menu at some locations). Drinks come within 5 minutes; non-chicken food (bibimbap, japchae, kimchi fried rice) comes within 8-12 minutes; chicken comes within 12-20 minutes depending on quantity ordered (a party platter takes longer). Sides are typically brought first to share. Eat with hands or chopsticks for chicken; spoon for rice bowls; chopsticks for noodles. Beer and soju refills are handled efficiently. Bills paid at the table or counter. Service is friendly, fast, and English-speaking. Allow 45-75 minutes for a full meal - much faster than most Pattaya restaurants because of the chain efficiency.

Menu highlights

Soy-garlic chicken (4 pcs)
Double-fried wings or drumsticks brushed with soy-garlic-sesame glaze - the signature flavor
320 THB
Spicy chicken (4 pcs)
Same double-fry technique with gochujang-based spicy glaze - sweet, fermented, mildly hot
320 THB
Half-and-half (8 pcs)
4 soy-garlic + 4 spicy - the most-ordered combo
480 THB
Large chicken (12 pcs)
Choose all soy-garlic, all spicy, or mixed - feeds 2-3
680 THB
Party platter (20 pcs)
Mixed - feeds 4-6 - the group order
1180 THB
Boneless strips (8 pcs)
Boneless chicken in your choice of sauce
380 THB
Strips combo with rice
Boneless chicken + rice + kimchi + drink - solo diner option
280 THB
Bibimbap with bulgogi
Mixed rice bowl with marinated beef, vegetables, gochujang, fried egg - mix it all together
320 THB
Japchae
Korean sweet potato glass noodles with vegetables and beef
280 THB
Kimchi fried rice
Aged kimchi, rice, sesame oil, fried egg on top
220 THB
Tteokbokki
Spicy chewy rice cakes in gochujang sauce
240 THB
Jjampong (spicy seafood ramen)
Spicy Korean noodle soup with seafood
320 THB
Bonchon kimchi (side)
House-made aged kimchi
100 THB
Korean coleslaw (side)
Cabbage with sesame-soy dressing
100 THB
Sweet potato fries
Crispy sweet potato fries
140 THB
Pickled radish (mu)
Sweet pickled white radish - pairs with chicken
80 THB
Hite draft beer (large)
Korean lager - cold and crisp
150 THB
Cass beer (bottle)
Korean beer alternative
130 THB
Soju (bottle)
Original Jinro - the standard
260 THB
Watermelon soju cocktail
Soju + watermelon juice - sweet, dangerous, 280ml
320 THB
Somaek pitcher
Soju + beer mixed in pitcher - serves 2-3
480 THB

Is it worth the price?

Bonchon sits in the mid-tier value zone: small fried chicken (4 pieces) at 320 THB, large (12 pieces) at 680, party platter (20 pieces) at 1,180. Compared to independent Korean fried chicken spots in Pattaya, Bonchon prices are 10-15% higher but the consistency justifies it - you get exactly what you ordered, every time. Compared to American chain fried chicken (KFC, McDonald's), Bonchon is ~2x the price but in a different cuisine class entirely. Sides (200-280 THB each) are the place where the bill grows fastest - choose 1-2 sides per group rather than ordering for each person. Beer pricing is fair (Hite draft 120-150 THB), soju by the bottle (240-280 THB) is excellent value for groups. Per-person cost: 500-800 THB for a full chicken-and-sides meal with drinks. For a fast meal: 280-400 THB for a strips combo or rice bowl. The party platter (1,180 THB for 20 pieces) is the value play - feeds 4-6 with sides for 200-300 per person.

Insider tips

  • Order half-and-half (4 soy-garlic + 4 spicy) for two people - lets you sample both sauces.
  • The party platter (20 pieces, 1,180 THB) is the best value for groups of 4-6.
  • Boneless 'strips' format is messier-on-hand-friendly for delivery or first-date eating.
  • Spicy is genuinely spicy by Thai-tourist-restaurant standards - try the soy-garlic first if unsure.
  • Soju cocktails (watermelon, fresh fruit) are sneaky - 280ml of 17% alcohol goes down very easily.
  • Somaek pitcher is the Korean-style group drink - mix of soju and beer in proportions you adjust.
  • Boneless chicken and side combos are excellent solo-diner options at 280 THB.
  • Lunch sets (combos with rice and drink) at most locations are 30-50 THB cheaper than the same dishes ordered individually.
  • Delivery via Grab or LineMan: order 'extra crispy' to compensate for transit time.
  • Kids generally enjoy the boneless strips - bone-in pieces are messier.

The story

Bonchon entered the Pattaya market in 2014 when the chain was expanding aggressively across Thailand. The first Pattaya location was at Central Festival Pattaya Beach mall, capitalizing on the food court traffic. Additional locations followed at Tukcom IT mall (2017), Jomtien (2019), and Pattaya Klang (2021). The chain survived COVID-19 strongly due to its delivery-friendly model. As of 2026, Bonchon Thailand operates 60+ Thailand locations.

Getting there

Multiple Pattaya locations. Central Festival Pattaya Beach (Beach Road, central) is the most-visited - direct songthaew from anywhere on Beach Road. Tukcom (off Pattaya Klang) is for IT shopping crossover. Jomtien location is on Jomtien Beach Road. Pattaya Klang Road location is in central Pattaya. All are easily reached by Grab or songthaew baht bus.

Common questions

What is Korean fried chicken (KFC)?
Korean fried chicken is a distinctive style: chicken pieces are double-fried (fried, rested, fried again) for an extremely crisp, almost glass-like skin, then hand-brushed with a glaze. The double-frying drains fat and creates the unique crunch. Bonchon's two main variants are soy-garlic (sweeter, deeper, sesame-ginger notes) and spicy gochujang (Korean fermented chili paste, sweet-spicy).
How long has Bonchon been in Pattaya?
Bonchon arrived in Pattaya in 2014 with the Central Festival location. Additional Pattaya locations have opened since (Tukcom 2017, Jomtien 2019, Pattaya Klang 2021).
How many Bonchon locations are there in Pattaya?
Currently four Pattaya locations: Central Festival Pattaya Beach (Beach Road), Tukcom IT Mall, Jomtien Beach Road, and Pattaya Klang Road. Check bonchon.co.th for the most current list.
What's the difference between Bonchon's soy-garlic and spicy chicken?
Soy-garlic is sweeter, deeper-flavored with notes of soy, garlic, sesame, and ginger - the gateway flavor most diners try first. Spicy is sweet-spicy-fermented from gochujang (Korean red chili paste), more aromatic than purely hot, but genuinely spicy by Thai-tourist standards. Half-and-half orders let you sample both.
How long does the chicken take?
Bonchon chicken is fried-to-order. Small (4 pieces) takes 12-15 minutes; medium (8) takes 15-18 minutes; large (12) takes 18-22 minutes; party platter (20 pieces) takes 25-30 minutes. The kitchen does not pre-fry to maintain quality.
Does Bonchon do delivery?
Yes, available on Grab Food, Foodpanda, and LineMan. Bonchon is unusually delivery-friendly because the sauces are glazes (not wet) and the chicken survives transit. Order 'extra crispy' for delivery.
Is Bonchon halal?
Bonchon Thailand is not halal-certified. The chicken is not halal-slaughtered, and the kitchen also handles pork dishes (kimchi pork rice, etc.). Halal customers should look elsewhere.
Is Bonchon vegetarian-friendly?
Limited but possible. Vegetarian options include kimchi fried rice (request without meat), japchae (request without beef), tteokbokki (vegetarian by default), bibimbap (request vegetarian version with no meat), and various sides. The chain is meat-focused so the vegetarian menu is small.
How much does dinner at Bonchon cost?
Mid-priced. Expect 300-800 THB per person depending on chicken size and drinks. A party platter (20 pieces, 1,180 THB) plus sides feeds 4-6 for around 250-300 THB per person. Solo diners can eat for 280-400 THB with the strips combo.
What Korean drinks does Bonchon serve?
Hite and Cass Korean beers (draft and bottle), 6+ soju brands (Jinro, Chum-Churum, etc.), soju cocktails (watermelon, fresh fruit, Yakult), and somaek (soju + beer mix) in pitcher format for groups.
Is Bonchon kid-friendly?
Yes, very. Casual atmosphere, fast service, and several kid-popular dishes (boneless strips, plain rice with chicken, bibimbap without spice). High chairs available at all Pattaya locations.
Does Bonchon take reservations?
No - all locations are walk-in only. Wait times even at peak hours are typically 5-10 minutes. For groups of 8+, arrive before 19:00 or after 21:00 to avoid the rush.
What's the most popular order at Bonchon?
Half-and-half (4 soy-garlic + 4 spicy at 480 THB) is the single most-ordered item. For groups, the party platter (20 pieces mixed at 1,180 THB) plus 2-3 sides and drinks. For solo diners, the strips combo (280 THB).
Can I customize the chicken sauces?
Standard sauces are soy-garlic and spicy gochujang. Mixed orders are accommodated freely (any combination of the two within an order). Off-menu customization (extra spice, no sauce, sauce on side) is generally accommodated by request.
Where in Pattaya is the most central Bonchon?
The Central Festival Pattaya Beach location (Beach Road, central Pattaya) is the most central and most-visited. Direct songthaew access from anywhere on Beach Road. Inside the mall third floor.