Last updated on March 27th, 2026 at 12:40 pm
And a Much Anticipated Visit to Suwon’s Fried Chicken Street (수원 통닭거리)
After my first ever Suwon day trip from Seoul last year. I was so excited to go back as soon as I could. As much as I enjoyed exploring Suwon’s Hwaseong Palace (화성행궁) and its magnificent fortress, I missed out on a place I should’ve visited the first time.
And that is Suwon’s Fried Chicken Street!
This year, I had a chance to visit South Korea earlier than usual. And my wife tagged along with me. It’ll be her first ever trip to South Korea. So I had to make it special.
With her in hand, we headed back to Suwon for another day trip from Seoul. But will we be feasting on some of the best fried chicken this side of South Korea?
A Little Background on Korea’s Fried Chicken
First off, in South Korea, fried chicken. What is usually enjoyed with a frosty mug of Korean draft beer is not unique to Suwon.
Particularly in many of Seoul’s neighborhoods. If you randomly threw a rock in Myeongdong or Namdameun, chances are you’d hit a chicken and beer restaurant or “chi-maek” (치맥).
The fried chicken and beer combination is not just unique and famous in Suwon. What is unique, however, is that Suwon has a street dedicated to chi-maek restaurants.
With hordes of loyal local customers often waiting in queues to feast at their favorite local joint.
Now I have no clue about which chicken and beer restaurant is the best one in Suwon. So I googled and came across several travel blogs like this blog.
And on a few South Korean travel information websites. I quickly browsed the info and found a lot of recommendations for the best fried chicken restaurants in Suwon.
As much as I respect other bloggers’ opinions, I also like to do my own culinary explorations. There’s no secret to how I find good restaurants in unfamiliar territory.
I peek into a restaurant. And if I see no local customers, I leave. If I peek inside and see a fair amount of locals, I proceed.
It’s that easy. It has always worked. Well, most of the time…
Jin Mi Chicken Restaurant in Suwon
Address: 50, Paldal-ro 1-ga, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: (031)255-3401
With a little detective work, I deduced that Jin Mi Chicken first opened back in 1981. Or rather, I just read it from the storefront sign.
Anyways, it seems like many of the most popular fried chicken shops in Suwon all have a long history in the business of providing fried chicken to the hungry masses.
And what’s supposed to be unique in Suwon is that the restaurants fry their birds outside. Where onlookers can smack their lips while waiting in line.
I did not see such a thing happening. But then again, we were visiting in late November. And the temps were a chilly low 50°F (10°C) with breezy wind. Not ideal for frying chickens, I tell you.
No surprise to see them frying chickens inside a kitchen. But I can imagine the spectacle and fanfare of cooking outdoors.
The Verdict
Does Jin Mi Chicken serve some really delicious, lip-smacking fried birds? I dug in first on the unseasoned fried chicken to check out the coating.
For my own personal taste, the coating is too thick. And it needed some seasoning, like salt. Okay, granted, a small plate of salt and pepper is provided and meant for dipping, which solves the problem.
We also ordered a half plate of seasoned chicken. It was supposed to be a spicy sweet sauce. It was sweet, but it certainly wasn’t spicy. The good news is the chicken wasn’t dry.
But we’re used to eating spicy Thai foods. It’s on another whole different level!
Overall, it’s not bad fried chicken. We still managed to scarf down the two plates. It’s just not what I had expected, is all.
Final Thoughts
You’ll also see that the chicken bits are all chopped up. Not all pieces are recognizable like you’d see at Kentucky Fried Chicken. There will even be a chicken neck in there. Even a handful of fried chicken gizzards is thrown in for extra protein.
No one speaks English inside. However, there is this big menu board on the back wall with clear and simple prices.
We didn’t have any beer because it was early evening and the meal came out to 15,000KRW or $13US dollars. A 500cc of Korean draft beer costs 3,000 KRW or $2.50 USD.
So I tried Jin Mi Chicken, one of the city’s most well known fried chicken joints. Sad to say, I’m not crazy about their fried Chicken. But don’t listen to me. The seats were filled with locals. And that’s who they cater to.
But there are many more fried chicken restaurants in Suwon to try out. And I will certainly be back again to check them out!
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