유랑

유랑 (U-Rang [CLOSED])

Not your usual chicken and beer joint! A classy, but relaxed atmosphere, more sophisticated chicken dishes, and fresh draft Asahi that's a cut above any other restaurant.

Reviewed by on April 25, 2011 / Updated May 22, 2012

Update: Sadly, we returned to find that the restaurant has closed. A very different kind of restaurant called Chicken Star has replaced it.

유랑 is a difficult-to-classify sort of place. Japanese would be the closest single category, but more precisely, perhaps it should be called Japanese-American-Korean fusion.

We have been here a number of times already, to the point that the server remembers us. Definitely one of our favorites, especially when we are looking for Asahi.

They achieve the perfect pour every time, although I have noticed that they do this by scooping out the extra foam with a spoon. You can tell the beer is fresh and the glass clean, as it has excellent head retention and creates a distinct line of foam on the back of the glass after each sip. And the taste, of course, is excellent.

Best draft Asahi in town (sorry, Aaron drank some of his)

On this visit, we ordered our usual Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Grand (19000원). Since they were having a one-year anniversary special, we also tried their Chicken Yakisoba.

One of the things we really like about 유랑 is something that, at some restaurants, is merely an afterthought. They don't serve as many 반찬 (side dishes/appetizers) as some other places, but the ones they do serve are outstanding. In particular, we love the deep fried 두부 (bean curd, aka tofu) drizzled with teriyaki and mayonnaise sauce.

The 두부 반찬 is so good, we ate some before remembering to take a picture

First out was the Chicken Yakisoba. Noodles were chewy and the flavors came together perfectly. The dish was decorated with a ring of mayonnaise sauce. This is a must try.

The yakisoba is one of their most popular dishes, and for good reason

Before long, the highlight of our dinner, the Teriyaki Chicken Grand was served. It arrives on a sizzling hot iron plate. The overall amount of the food could be considered to be on the small side, but the quality makes it well worth the money. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the teriyaki flavor was well distributed.

One of the best things about this restaurant is their use of sauces and seasonings. The amount is perfect, the taste is well-blended, and doesn't overpower the flavor of the chicken and vegetables.

Teriyaki chicken grand, also popular and delicious

  • Food: 5/5 – The flavors come together perfectly and quality has been consistent between visits.
  • Atmosphere: 4/5 – Cozy and comfortable. Sometimes noisy when they run the ventilation fans (once or twice an hour).
  • Service: 5/5 – They are able to recommend great food when asked. When the side dishes run out, they are refilled promptly. (To be fair, service may be extra good due to the fact that we arrive right at 6pm when they open, when it's not crowded.)
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