Tongdak: The Best Korean Fried Chicken Spot You’re Sleeping On

Tongdak – My Favourite Korean Fried Chicken in the UK

Ever since I got back from Korea, I’ve been on a mission to find Korean Fried Chicken (KFC) in the UK that hits the same. Spoiler alert: it’s been a struggle. That perfect balance of crispy, juicy, and packed with flavour? Hard to come by.

Then, my Korean hairdresser put me onto Tongdak in New Malden. I’d walked past it before but never gave it much thought. Big mistake. This tiny takeout spot is doing KFC right, and I’m officially obsessed.

Small Spot, Big Flavours

Tongdak is primarily a takeaway joint, with a small seating area that fits around 10 people. No frills, no toilets—just seriously good fried chicken. Most people order to go, but if you dine in, you’ll get gloves and a bucket for the bones. Very efficient.

The menu is all about the chicken. They offer six flavours: original, yangnyeom (sweet and spicy), white spice, garlic soy, cheese spice, and honey butter. They also do sides like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), takoyaki (octopus balls), and chibap (chicken with rice, made famous by Jinny’s Kitchen).

The Chicken: Worth the 20-Minute Wait

Everything is cooked to order, so expect a 20-minute wait. But trust me, it’s worth every second. The half portion (£15.50) is absolutely massive—you won’t need any extras unless you’re starving.

I had to try their white spice flavour, which is unique to Tongdak. It comes drenched in a creamy, spicy sauce that’s straight-up addictive. The chicken itself is perfectly seasoned, even on the parts without sauce. The batter is crispy, the meat is juicy, and every bite had me licking my lips.

Most places miss the mark on seasoning, but not Tongdak. My hairdresser swears they import their spices directly from Korea, and honestly, I believe it. This is the real deal.

The Verdict

Tongdak absolutely nails that authentic Korean Fried Chicken taste. It’s crispy, juicy, and packed with flavour—just like the ones I had in Korea. If you’re craving legit KFC, this is the spot. Don’t sleep on it.

Tongdak (Korean Chicken)

95A Kingston Rd, New Malden KT3 3PA