Wing Chicx - Yummy KFC (Edmonton 30 in 30)

One of the newer phenomenon that was overtaking Edmonton before I left was Korean Fried Chicken (KFC), a take on modern fried chicken but finished off with Korean style dressing. Seemingly overnight, new KFC joints were popping up day and night in Edmonton with each showcasing their family recipe and techniques for making chicken. Delighted in the new found phenomenon, I had to feel a bit of a disappointment when arriving in Winnipeg and finding no good rendition of the KFC, which is odd considering the wealth of Korean restaurants and population there. Nevertheless seeing the fruits of the KFC nation in Edmonton made me want to check out one of the more popular spots, Wing Chicx.

Wing Chicx lies in the Ellwood Industrial Park south of the Anthony Henday on Ellwood Drive. Considered a up and coming area of Edmonton, I indeed have seen significant growth in this region since being away. The restaurant is a homey size featuring a scant ten tables with booth style seating. The interiors are functionally clean with a few discrete decorations and while nothing to brag about, convey a sense of modern conservatism.

The menu is rather sprawling and actually includes a good variety of options. My initial fear was that the restaurant would only focus on the fried chicken which, although popular now, might set itself up for failure if the KFC hype fades. My fears were appeased when I saw the usual stews, rice dishes and Korean BBQ items also offered in addition to the aforementioned fried chicken.

Potato Pork Bone Stew is a must order for me and has become the measuring stick of good Korean restaurants. The three pieces of tender pork spine are prepared in a luxurious Korean chili bean paste broth that has a deep rich savoury bean flavour punctuated by the occasional spiciness from Korean peppers. In addition, two delicious large pieces of potato have soaked up all the flavours from the dish and offer irresistible bites of starchy spicy goodness.

But of course being a KFC restaurant I would be remiss if I did not order a Fried (Half) Chicken. The chicken, in your option of sauced or sauce on the side, consists of six large sizable portions of juicy moist chicken with a crispy, non-greasy, crunchy crust and a hit of sweet, spicy and salty Korean sauce. Impressively well fried chicken but the sauce is what elevates it past the standard fried chicken locations.

Marinated Daikon Radish are given with the fried chicken and serve as an contrasting sour textural element to the delicious chicken.

Banchans include: Kimchi, Marinated Bean Sprouts, Cabbage. Simply average and as you would expect them, the best is of course the spicy Kimchi that has a nice underlying sweetness to it as well.

Wing Chicx delivers on its promise of excellent Korean Fried Chicken by providing juicy, succulent protein that is well fried and expertly sauced. Not only that though, Wing Chicx does an amicable job of producing regular Korean delights and taken altogether, is an automatic recommendation for anyone looking for tasty and well-priced Korean food in the south-side, especially for those craving Korean Fried Chicken.