Chimaek (치맥) is Korean fried chicken (chikin) paired with beer (maekju) — the word mashes the two together. It is one of the most relaxed meals you can have in Korea: order a whole chicken to share, pick plain fried or a sauce, and settle in. A whole chicken feeds two to three people, so it suits a small group or a couple more than a solo diner. Pair it with the what-to-eat guide for the bigger picture.
What is chimaek?
Korean fried chicken is double-fried, which makes the coating unusually thin and crisp, and it comes either plain (huraideu, "fried") or tossed in a sauce. The classic sauced version is yangnyeom — sweet, garlicky, and mildly spicy with a red glaze — and ganjang (soy-garlic) is the other favorite. Many shops let you split a whole bird half-and-half so you can try both. The beer is usually a light, cold lager, on draft or by the bottle; a non-alcoholic drink works just as well.
What to order
Ordering is simple: pick a flavor and a drink, and say how many. If you are not sure, half-and-half is the safe first move — half plain or soy, half yangnyeom.
Useful phrases for ordering chimaek
Short, polite phrases for a fried-chicken shop or pub.
Gets you two flavors on one chicken — a good first order.
Polite반반 치킨 주세요
ban-ban chi-kin ju-se-yo
Half-and-half chicken, please.
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser — use the romanization above to say it.
For draft instead, say “saeng-maekju han jan juseyo.”
Polite맥주 한 병 주세요
maek-ju han byeong ju-se-yo
A bottle of beer, please.
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser — use the romanization above to say it.
Takeout is the easiest option for short-term visitors (see below).
Polite포장돼요?
po-jang-dwae-yo?
Can I get it to go?
Korean audio isn't available on this device or browser — use the romanization above to say it.
How much does it cost?
A whole chicken is typically the main cost, with beer charged per bottle or glass on top. Prices vary by shop and neighborhood, and sauced chickens sometimes cost a little more than plain.
₩20,000 (≈ $15) is a rough anchor for a whole chicken at many shops, but treat that as a ballpark, not a quote.
A note on drinking
Beer is part of the ritual, but it is genuinely optional — many people order a soft drink and the food is the point.
- The legal drinking age in Korea is 19, and staff may ask for ID (your passport), so carry it if you look young. Rules can change, so treat this as general guidance.
- Drink-driving is strictly enforced. If you have been drinking, take the subway, a bus, or a taxi — see the transportation guide.
- Riverside drinks at the Han River parks are a common, easygoing tradition, but follow any posted local signs and rules where you are.
There is no need to overdo it — chimaek is about a relaxed, shared meal, not getting drunk.
Dietary and allergen notes
- Chimaek is not vegetarian: the batter contains gluten, soy-based sauces contain soy, and beer also contains gluten.
- Halal fried chicken is uncommon; you are most likely to find it in areas like Itaewon in Seoul.
- If you are gluten-sensitive, fried chicken and beer are both difficult — this is one meal where options are limited.
Common first-timer mistakes
- Over-ordering. One whole chicken is usually two to three servings; start with one for a small group and add more if you are still hungry.
- Letting sauced chicken sit. Yangnyeom and other sauces soften the crust over time, so eat the sauced pieces while they are hot; plain fried keeps its crunch longer.
- Counting on delivery. Delivery apps usually need a Korean phone number and local payment, which is hard for short-term visitors — eating in or ordering takeout at the shop is the simplest route.
Sources
- Visit KoreaOfficial tourism site
- Korea Tourism Organization English TourAPIOfficial API
Information is compiled from official sources. Details such as prices, hours, and schedules can change — confirm time-sensitive facts before you travel.
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