Kokio Republic

What can I say? This place lives up to the hype.The fried chicken is amazing. One thing I will note is that the portions are well worth your money so don't expect a measly portion size like Chick-Fil-A. I ordered the 12 piece thinking they would be nugget size and I got 2 massive 6 piece boxes that must have each weighed about a pound. The Bulgogi Fries were also fantastic.The kiosk for ordering was also intuitive and clearly showed the options well.

I believe Kokio Republic was a food truck or a pop up because I'm pretty sure I've tried them before they opened their spot in the TL. Regardless, I'm glad they're here because they add to the diversity of restaurants you can find in this hood. I ordered the boneless KFC with the sweet/spicy sauce and the disco tteo-bokki skewers (comes with two). I feel like the sweet/spicy sauce is less sugary than others I've had, which is fine by me. I'm assuming the sauce is made with gochujang, and if so, it is very savory. The roasted sesame seeds add to the umami flavor. I think they used chicken breast, so it was a little dry but it does come with a lot of sauce. But what I really liked was the skewers! The rice cakes had a bit of crunch to them since they were fried, and it was a nice contrast to its chewiness. I like how they alternate it with fish cakes to add a spongier texture to the appetizer. And it's dressed in a delicious spicy sauce that has just the right amount of heat. The portions are large for one person so I was able to stretch this out for 3 meals. And because of a Grubhub deal, I definitely got my money's worth. They do have combo meals (that still looks large for one person lol), but I really just wanted chicken and the skewers. I wish one skewer was available for the combo meals, but tbh I would want two anyway. I got this to go so I can't comment on the ambiance too much. But the space looks clean. And it's conveniently located across from the 38 and 27 lines, so it's easy to get to by bus. Parking is tough to find, so I don't recommend that. I definitely need to try their Brussels sprouts and the soy-garlic KFC.

I'm on a mission to find the best Korean fried chicken in San Francisco to take to an upcoming Friendsgiving, and this place popped up as one of the best options in the City. I scheduled a delivery order for 6 pieces of boneless soy garlic chicken, and I gotta say that while it took a while for the food to arrive just after the weekday rush, it maintained it's form and flavour pretty well. Having lived in LA and OC for a few years and consumed some of the best KFC outside of Korea, my standards are quite high. Kokio's chicken tastes more Korean-Californian fusion than authentic Korean, but that's not a bad thing in my opinion. It seems way less greasy than traditional Korean fried chicken with significantly more meat and less fat/sinew than I typically have gotten at other places. As a result, the meat is somewhat drier, which I actually prefer, as I'm not a fan of heavy grease and visible fat. The chicken also doesn't taste nearly as salty as other places for the win.This isn't the best KFC I've had, but it by far feels like the "healthiest" compared to others and is decently good value since it's all meat with nothing going to waste. Regardless if this chicken makes it onto the Friendsgiving table, I would personally order from here again when I want some tasty KFC that doesn't leave me feeling heavy afterwards.

This was a themed adventure that will require further research in the future. The theme here was rice but non traditional. I got kimchi rice balls and beef risotto. Meanwhile I think this place has great fried chicken and some other goodies. I went in real one dimensional. I'll be better next time.For what I did get though, you will obviously hear my unhinged opinion. The Kimchi balls when eaten fresh are outstanding. It's like the Korean version of an arancini. If you don't know what thats like it's kinda like a croquet consistency. If you don't know what that is, I can't help you. The texture on those balls are unmatched. Crunchy outside, soft inside, and some nice razzle dazzle on top. The beef risotto was very tasty but the limited quality of beef they give you should be an absolute crime. You hear that Kokio Republic? You can't make quality tasty beef and then skimp on the portions. That's a foodie no no. Overall a real quality place that will require me to go back and try the fried chicken and the other goodies.(4.2 Stars)

I had the pleasure of trying Korean fried chicken for the first time at Kokio Republic, and it was a delightful experience that left me craving more. The star of the show for me was definitely the chicken sandwich - a generous serving of crispy fried chicken draped with slaw and drizzled with a delectable sweet sauce. The combination of textures and flavors in this sandwich was truly exceptional, although be prepared for a bit of a messy but utterly enjoyable eating experience.I also tried the bulgogi fries, which, while not as impressive as the sandwich, were still quite enjoyable. The fries were a tad soggy from the sauce, and the flavors didn't quite meld as seamlessly as in the sandwich.The restaurant itself is cozy, with limited seating, but they do offer convenient takeout options. I found the service to be prompt, and the prices were fair for the quality and portion sizes received. Overall, I highly recommend trying the chicken sandwich at Kokio Republic for a flavorful and satisfying meal that won't disappoint.

Kokio Republic is a decent Korean fried chicken place, though there are definitely better options. In terms of taste and quantity, this place shines through, but the price seems to be the downside.I ordered the 6-piece boneless wings with soy garlic flavor. The sauce was delicious, and the chicken wings were very crispy. Even though they were boneless, the wings were still huge. Paired with the fries, it definitely left me really full. I chose the kimchi aioli sauce, which elevated the overall taste. I also ordered the plain fries as a side, and they paired well with the kimchi aioli sauce. In terms of taste, texture, and quantity, this was a very solid meal!The price was a major con of my experience, probably because chicken wings and fries don't seem like they should cost $25 overall. The tables were a bit sticky since this place operates without servers. It's a self-serve restaurant, so tables are not cleaned after every use. They do have self-serve water and tea by the cashier. Despite the price being a downside, I would still highly recommend this restaurant if you're not on a budget!

This is probably the best bang for your buck korean fried chicken around the area right now. The pieces are pretty hefty and you will absolutely be full up from 6 pieces here.As for sides, garlic cheese fries are kind of as expected, not much to say here it's hard to go wrong. The Kimchi balls I was pretty let down by, it feels very pasty, lack of a rice like texture and somehow not really any flavour despite the sauce and kimchi. Overall, still good price for the chicken and that's bumps it to 4 stars in my book

Welcome to the Tenderloin! The moment I entered this establishment a hysterical woman was yelling complete nonsense to the nonplussed staff person behind the counter. It turned out she wasn't a dissatisfied customer but somebody who ambled right off the street. I managed to yell over her to get my order in, and then she started yelling at me.I would have none of this. I yelled nonsense right back at her and became relentless. I wouldn't stop, and she cowered away. By the time she left, my food arrived, the $19.95 Combo #1 - four pieces of Korean Fried Chicken and three Kimchi Balls (photo: https://yelp.to/bjOIeB5rwn). I went for the boneless chicken slathered in hot & sweet sauce. I was surprised how hefty the pieces were, but they were pretty good.The Kimchi Balls were also in the 'pretty good' category as the rice was mixed with sour cream, kimchi aioli, and parmesan cheese and scooped into fryer (photo: https://yelp.to/Y_RKxaaegk). Both the balls and the chicken were too much on the oily side for my taste, and I probably would've been fine with a half order since they were filling. The upside was that the hysterical woman didn't come back.FOOD - 3 stars...filling and oily, not my favorite fast foodAMBIANCE - 3 stars...well, the hysterical woman wasn't helping with the vibeSERVICE - 3 stars...fairly MIATOTAL - 3 stars...not in a hurry to returnRELATED - Exploring the Tenderloin? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2NIQ0tw

5/5 across the board!I can only comment on their online delivery service, as I have not yet had the chance to visit the physical location, though I plan to soon.My go-to dishes include:Bulgogi Beef Fries: generously loaded with toppings and absolutely delicious. The portion size is more than satisfying!Kokio Kimchi Balls: the addition of parmesan cheese truly sets these apart, giving them an extra layer of flavor that I love.6-Piece KFC: The wings are massive, and all of their sauces are consistently flavorful and well-prepared.This spot has been incredibly consistent with both quality and service every time I order.Highly recommended!Cheers

What a hidden gem!! The daily happy hour is amazing !!! The service is always on point too.