Bonchon is back in Herndon.
After temporarily closing last year amid customer complaints, the Korean fried chicken chain reopened its franchise at Franklin Farm Village Center (13320 Franklin Farm Road) in the Oak Hill area on Wednesday, Dec. 18, under new ownership.
Franchisee Jongil Jang says he and his family are “thrilled” to reintroduce Bonchon to the Herndon area, hoping to win back former patrons and welcome new ones.
“Our team here [is] eagerly waiting to welcome back old families and guests who previously were able to enjoy our delicious food,” Jang said in a press release. “We also are hoping to spread the joy of Bonchon throughout Fairfax County and introduce our new guests to our signature Korean Fried Chicken.”
A grand opening for the restaurant will come in the new year on Friday, Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the first 50 guests receiving free T-shirts and wings.
In addition to the company’s signature fried chicken, which comes in the form of wings, drumsticks, strips and a sandwich with soy garlic, spicy and Korean barbecue sauces, the menu features:
- Korean Dishes – Bibimbap, Japchae, Tteokbokki, Bulgogi, and more.
- Side Dishes – Kimchi, Pickled Radish, Coleslaw, Korean Street Corn and more.
- Korean Donuts – Two traditional soft and fluffy Korean donuts coated with cinnamon and sugar on the outside, served with a sweet cream dipping sauce.
Started in Busan, South Korea, in 2002, Bonchon opened its first U.S. restaurant in New York City in 2006 and now has 145 locations in the country. At the beginning of 2024, the company announced plans to expand to 500 U.S. locations and 1,000 locations globally over the next five years.
In Fairfax County, the chain can be found at Plaza America in Reston, Kamp Washington in Fairfax City, Brookfield Plaza in Springfield and Centreville Square.
Bonchon is also still planning to open a new restaurant in Annandale before the end of this year after its previous location was destroyed by a fire on March 12, 2023.
The new space at 7133B Columbia Pike is currently expected to open on Monday, Dec. 30, according to a company spokesperson. At 933 square feet, it will be smaller than the previous Annandale location, but its refreshed design will highlight Bonchon’s “South Korean roots and growth in the U.S.,” the spokesperson told FFXnow in August.
