Dak & Bop

I still don’t understand how the chicken is so crispy and not really greasy! I’m always amazed at the quality when the chicken comes to my table totally worth the wait. Their baos are good here also. The kimchi fries aren’t as great as Chi’lantro I don’t like how big the kimchi pieces are and it makes the fries really soggy. I have yet to come for happy hour or try any drinks here so I must do that sometime and update my review.

The chicken is worth the wait!!! So crispy and fresh and don’t forget to order the truffle fries

This is one of my favorite places to get wings in Houston. I have been here several times but finally got around to posting a review. The atmosphere of the place is really cool as it has a refined industrial feel to it. It is definitely a good hangout place to catch the game and grab some wings & beer. The service has always been very good: attentive without being overbearing.
I’m not sure why other reviews are complaining about the wait time. The menu explicitly says the wings take about 30 minutes because they are double fried. Trust me. They are worth the wait. I would recommend ordering the delicious kimchi fries with bulgogi to have while you wait for the wings to come out. It is a special mixture of sweet, spicy, and savory goodness (forgot to take a picture before devouring the plate). For two people, the half order is perfect to split. On to the main event. We ordered 20 wings: half soy garlic, half Sriracha honey lime. As other reviews have stated, the wings are quite big so bring your appetite. The texture/​crunch of the wings that comes from being doubled fried is awesome. Mix that with delicious sauces and you have yourself a winner! It paired quite nicely with an ice cold 312.
All in all, it was a great dining experience and we will definitely be back for more!

This restaurant has really gone downhill in the last few months. Excellent bartender Justin left and they started serving drinks in glasses that are about 30% smaller — at the same price as before — so to me that’s a 30% price increase. And the drinks themselves are not nearly as tasty as before. I have also noticed that there are usually dirty dishes on the bar or nearby tables long after patrons have left — that’s lazy. I usually don’t get the seat location I want because there are dirty dishes there. Then there’s the lack of wifi for patrons. There is a very weak phone signal in the restaurant so u can forget checking in with your phone or using apps on your phone or tablet.
It’s too bad — this restaurant started out really well but now it’s just disappointing.

Quick stop to meet our son, he’s been to Korea and loves this chicken. I usually don’t like wings but these are huge and they are very tasty. The smell of oil and fried chicken is intense for my taste but the chicken is good enough to ensure it for a bit. Don’t know if I’ll go back but maybe you should!

Update:
We were finally able to have the chicken! We came with the mindset that we would be waiting half an hour and ordered the sriracha honey lime mix of wings and drumsticks as well as the truffle Parmesan fries. The fries were delicious! Crispy and a little oily. The chicken was very crispy yet soft inside. It smelled really spicy so we were worried, but it wasn’t too spicy.
Tip! The pickled radish goes really well with the spicy chicken! Also light beer compliments the chicken very well. Did I mention that the chicken pieces are HUGE?! :)
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Dak & Bop had a small hipster feel. The moment we entered, we had to write our name down on the list and wait (even though several tables were open. I think they were trying to wait until a two seat table was open).
We were hoping to try the actual wings and drumsticks but on their menu it says that it is going to take minimum 30 minutes and as we were
rushed on time we ordered chicken bao, k-​phillysteak bao and the full order of the kimchi fried.
The chicken bao was very flavorful and delicious. Everything inside it paired very well. The k-​philly bao was a little bit disappointing. It was just the beef and cheese in the bun and tasted very bland even with the kimchi on the side. The kimchi fries were huge in portion — I think even for two people a half order would suffice. Other than being a bit on the salty side (I think due to them adding soy-​based sauce on it in addition to all the other sauces) the kimchi fried were crispy and delicious.
I would come back to try their wings and drumsticks with more time planned.

I love this place. Great wings, great fries, and great service. We can never stop in Houston and not come here. This is the kind of place that almost always has a line.
This is a great place to come for wings just to eat but it also doubles as a place to get your sports fix. They’ve got a projector as well as several tvs around to show whatever game is going on. It’s also very well kept and it always seems pretty clean which I think is impressive for a wing place.
Additionally, the service here is really good. The people working here are always very friendly and not at all overbearing. They’re around if you want them to be and if not they just come minimally to make sure everything is okay.
But of course the most important part is the food. I always get 6 wings soy garlic and parmesan fries. If there was ever a time to stuff yourself, this is the place to do it. Their fries are delicious and it comes with a ton so often my family and I will usually split a full order. As for the wings, the chicken is really moist despite the nice and crunchy exterior. I also just really love the sauce because it has a nice hint of sweetness which gives it a nice flavor. Point is, I love this place and would definitely recommend you come and try it out.

Recommend? YES
Atmosphere is loud, folksy, welcoming, chic. There is some interestingly nice art on the wall – nice rooster!
I ordered Chicken bao, k-​philly bao, kimchi fries for $ 30.00. I’m expecting traditional Korean food presented hip and modern. I hope it fills me up.
UPDATE: Filled me up good! Great standbys, but I want to try the fried chicken! Going to come back for sure.
Service is attentive, clean, quick, friendly.
I came here 05/​12/​2016, around 01:10 PM.

If you are ever in the mood for some Korean Fried Chicken, look no further! Dak & Bop is THE go-​to place for some awesomeness! In just over a month we’ve come here three times now, and they deliver consistency and deliciousness every time. Bear in mind the wait time for the chicken to be fried is 30 minutes, but it is well worth the wait.
The chicken is fried twice — the skin comes out light and crispy and the meat is juicy and tender with every single bite. We’ve tried the Soy/​Garlic and Sriracha/​Honey-​Lime sauces, both very tasty although we prefer the Soy/​Garlic flavor — finger licking good! Truffle Parmesan and KimChi Fries — YES, YES, AND YES! We aren’t fans of KimChi so we asked for that to be left off and extra drizzles of the sauces. Another must-​have (it’s a special during lunch time) — Tater Tots.
A-​OKs — Bulgogi Macaroni — just your average Mac n Cheese; Elote Corn on the Cob — it could have used more chili lime sauce and Mexican mayo.
You. Must. Go!

Met the hubby here for lunch on a Wednesday.
The staff was very friendly and attentive. The dining room and restroom was immaculate. Food was delicious!!!
The only reason I did not give all five stars was because the music was a bit loud in the dining room and even though hubby and I were sitting directly across from each other at a two top we had to talk pretty loudly to hear each other. It was worse in the restroom and I was blasted as soon as I walked in. Im sure the volume is comparable when there are more guests but it was not very busy when we dined and I think it could use some adjusting depending on the amount of guests dining.
Otherwise, this place was great and we will definitely be back!

This place was busy and there was a line on a Saturday night so obviously a popular choice. While Danaby’s which is next door was busy but not crowded with a line. I’ve had Korean bbq chicken wings before but this is my first time here, and as a matter of fact first time in Houston. Why am I eating Korean good while in Houston when I should be eating authentic Tex-​Mex or similar? Well this place was nearby.
I ordered a 10-​piece bone-​in soy garlic. And a side of picked radishes. The wait was 40 mins and so I went back to my Airbnb apartment to chill then walk back to pick up my food. I really wonder why it takes so long to deep fry some chicken wings. It’s not just this joint but every Korean bbq chicken place takes a while to fry their chicken.
Anyway, the soy garlic chicken was great. Crunchy and flavorful. The drums seemed lean on meat compared to the wings. Do they come from the same chicken? Idk. I digress.
The pickled radishes were a disappointment. They were not as flavorful as I wanted. Didn’t seem like the radishes were pickled long enough to really soak in the vinegar. Also I would recommend cutting the radishes into strips instead of cubes. For two reasons: 1) it will better soak on the vinegar since its thinner and 2) it easier to pick up with a fork. Also I would recommend pickling the radishes with strips of carrots. Will add some sweetness to the crunch with the radishes. Maybe that’s a Chinese thing to do…

Subtracted a star this go around because they automatically take gratuity out of parties of over 4 people. Most restaurants do that with over 8 people. I consider myself a great tipper, but our service didn’t reflect the fat tip our waitress received that night.

I’ve had it bookmarked for a while, and been dying for my Korean wing fix. The best I had found since leaving Southern California (Kyochon chicken) was the new Republic Sojubang on 11^th st, and after trying Dak… it still is.
The flavor and crunchiness of these wings are spot on, but where’s the meat?!? I got six wings (which seemed pretty big), but they were all breading, no meat. I tried a drumstick my wife got and that was better.
The patio was nice and service was good. Price was pretty reasonable EXCEPT the corn. 1 corn on the cob was $ 7? That was the same as my wings! Jalapeños/​pickle mixture was a nice touch, and their kimchi is good.
Food: 3.5
Drinks: 4 (nice frozen cup w my Sympathy, oh and bottomless mimosas for $ 15 on Sun)
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3 (cuz parking sucks)
Price: 3 (cuz of that damn corn)
Overall, I’ll definitely give it another chance and I’ll want to try some other things, but I’ll be back to Republic first if I want some Korean wings.

I came with two friends on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was not crowded, but they were busy regardless. We’ve never had Korean chicken before and weren’t sure what to expect.
We started with a full order of Parmesan truffle fries. They were good, but a full order is definitely a lot. Bulgogi mac & cheese was great. The bulgogi was tasty. We ordered 20 wings: 10 mild and 10 medium spicy. We thought we could definitely finish 20 wings, but we were sadly mistaken because we underestimated the size of the wings. They were rather large. I think I must have eaten 6 wings and then I quit. Mild was soy garlic flavored. I thought mild was supposed to describe the spice level, but the taste of soy and garlic was quite mild. It was still good regardless. I am not a spicy fan at all, but medium spicy had a nice kick to it. At first I thought I couldn’t finish the first medium spicy wing I grabbed, but Momma ain’t raise no punk, so I ate the whole thing, and then I reached for another one. Then another one. #DJKHALED (I don’t think hashtags are effective in Unilocal reviews.) The medium spicy flavor was definitely better than mild.
Anyway, service was fine. Water was always refilled. I’d definitely come back again.

I’ll be honest, when it comes to anything with Korean food, I’m a snob. And so far, the Korean food scene in Houston is pretty disappointing. Unfortunately, I will have to add this place to the list.
My boyfriend and I ordered a couple of things:
Kimchi fries: 4/​5, the fries were solid; hot and crispy, fresh from the fryer. The kimchi and sauces were not excessive, and had lots of heat.
Elote: 2.5÷5, I was kind of expecting more, but I should’ve thought twice, since this is a Korean fusion place after all. The only thing I enjoyed distinctively was the roasted corn, but everything else needed work. It lacked all the other aspects that embodies the Elote, like the mayo, and cotija
Chicken Strips:2.5/5: we ordered the 10 piece strips, siracha honey lime and medium spicy. maybe it’s the nature of the strips, but as soon as I took my first bite the kernels fell off. mmmm that’s no bueno when I’m eating strips. The strips were also on the dryer side. the siracha had way too much heat, that it ended up numbing my tounge. Which made it difficult to taste the flavor of the medium spicy.
Drumstick: 3/​5, the drumstick were much compared to the strips, but crispy factor could still use some work. I’m curious what they use for their batter. Wondra flour in my opinion does wonders, makes the chicken very crispy especially when you double fry it.
Overall, the was just eh for me. However, I really enjoyed the server I had, I forgot his name (non Asian male with glasses and tattoos). but he made my boyfriend and i’s experience pleasurable. I would come for the fries and maybe try the wings with bones. But as of now, I still prefer the Korean fried chicken chains like kyochon and bonchon.

Um if this place wasn’t so effing expensive then I’d give it a four. If the food was better I’d give it a five.
I was actually on my way to barnabys next door to get my sweet potato fries fix when I saw the Korean fried chicken sign. I told my boyfriend oh yea we should try that place. And then he called me out and said lets go now. Ugh yea sure I’m spontaneous I swear!
First off let me say the water guy was on point. My glass was the best served glass in the joint.
Anyway. We’re heffers and trying to gorge before we returned to our low carb life in a couple days and got a few different items to get a feel for the place.
The kimchi fries were a well mentioned item on Unilocal and all I saw was spicy mayo and sriracha and I was sold. They were pretty good but didn’t cure my sweet potato craving. Not that I expected it to. The large is huge and just split it with a table of four or get the small or eat the large as a entrée.
The waitress suggested getting the chicken empanadas. I was like ugh heck yea I love empanadas. Um no. It was like a chicken soup in an empanada. I think it was trying to be a pot pie but I guess following the spicy of the kimchi fries, it was not good.
My boyfriend ordered the chicken strips because that’s what they’re supposedly known for. It says on the menu to allow 30 minutes. Um ok well we are eating like a million course meal, we will deal.
He ordered the medium spicy and the sriracha lime honey strips. The texture is very very delicious and the medium spicy were good. But the sriracha honey lime… How do you ruin that??? Well the your like a 100 ounces of lime and you’re basically chasing the chicken. It’s too much bro.
Anyway the beers were good. I really liked the atmosphere and it seems like a chill place!

My boyfriend and I are big wings and beer people and I’m rating this a 3.5. The reason because they batter their wings and as it does seem big and delicious but because of the overload of batter it takes away the reason for wings; more like chicken tenders with bone-​in. We tried their honey sirhichia and hot and spicy. It was decently spicy (I’m a mango habenero person at be. So with the spice level is not as spicy to the latter) We also got their kimchi fries which was good. We also tried their beers the only disappointing thing about it was they were short on most of what was on the given menu.
The interior is very nice and the wall décor is very exceptional. There was a line when we arrived but that’s partly because we came during Christmas week. Overall a decent place if you’re wanting to try out a new wing place.

So I’m new to the whole Korean fried chicken thing so I’ll give you the rookie perspective.
Wings (dak)
³⁄₅ stars. I got a 6 pc strip double sauced which was more than enough for one person. Strips were thin boneless chicken. Coating was surprisingly thick. Double sauced was $ 1 more but made the strips a little mushy in my opinion. I would forego that if I were to do it again as it cuts down on the crispiness. I got medium spicy and Sriracha honey-​lime. Medium spicy is a combo of soy garlic (base flavor) and hot & spicy. It had a nice kick. Sriracha honey-​lime was meh. Wings were fine but I just wasn’t blown away. If picking up to-​go order, expect 30 – 40 min wait
Fries
³⁄₅ stars. Ordered kim-​chi fries and they were average. Plenty of kim-​chi but they just didn’t compare to some other korean food trucks in town. Would try parmesan/​truffle fries if returning.
Atmosphere
⁴⁄₅ stars. Definitely a trendy hipster environment. Went at 8:15pm on friday night and all tables were full and wait was 30 min. There is a little sign-​in sheet on clipboard that you sign yourself in on. If picking up a to-​go order, just flag down a staff member. Bar to the left is open seating and a good place to chill before getting a table. Thought it was a little loud inside. Lots of small little tables so no big groups. Parking is street or limited spots on first floor of parking garage.
Glad I tried it out but it just didn’t strike me as something I’ll be craving in a few weeks

This place has an exciting feel and great flavors, but not everything is perfect with a menu that’s just a little rough around the edges.
As Korean Fried Chicken places go, this is neither the best not the worst. If you’re expecting the same crispiness as the coasts, you may be disappointed. The variety of sauces are also limited and fattier than what I like.
I would give this place four stars if the other dishes were better. I’ve tried the pork buns (soggy buns, mediocre toppings and a very poor imitation of what they have at Fat Bao). The kim chi fries are pretty good but again definitely faces stiff/​better competition from the Korean food trucks and Fat Bao.
The pros? The inside feels like a fun hangout to go with friends if you’re wanting something more than American greasy bar fare. The staff is all friendly, but the wait for everything is killer. Bring some low-​mid expectations and patience.

Wow, dak & bop truly picked up its game! Although it was already only one of the few Korean fried chicken places in Houston since its opening, dak & bop apparently never allowed its quality to falter despite its lack of competition. Instead, in only months, dak & bop has improved significantly not only in its selection size but also its food quality! I initially thought the KFC here was decent, but now, I highly recommend trying out this awesome place!
You never had real fried chicken if you never had Korean fried chicken, and dak & bop is an excellent place to try that!
What differs Korean fried chicken from the conventional American one is the more crispy crust that is developed from frying twice which creates a less greasy and thinner skin on the chicken. In dak & bop, the fried chicken is then spun in sauces made in Korean spices with spiciness ranging from the mild soy garlic to hot & spicy.
Unless you have have absolutely zero tolerance for spiciness, I highly recommend starting from at least the second-​tier medium spicy sauce. Soy garlic is too mild.
But before you began ordering the chicken, get an order of truffle Parmesan fries because the chicken will take at least 30 minutes to come out. I personally recommend the truffle Parmesan over the other fries because this fries is the best with its terrific complement between the flavorful grated Parmesan and the subtle truffle oil! It’s an excellent start to your KFC.
No matter what flavor or type you got, you’ll get to experience the true crispness of the nicely fried crust. Forget about the usual disgust that you might get from eating normal fried chicken because you won’t find it here! Instead, find yourself revel in the multitude of flavors brought to you by the Korean spices. I hope you are finished with your conversation with your friends once the chickens are brought to your table because I guarantee you that no one will be talking for at least a few minutes.
Anyway, while I recommend dak & bop as a great friend hangout place, you may want to avoid bringing a large group because of the small size of this perpetually popular restaurant. In fact, just split up your friend group so you can go there multiple times! Like I said, if you never had Korean fried chicken especially from dak & bop, you never had real fried chicken.
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tl;dr version:
1) Excellent Korean fried chicken to offer a new prospective
2) Start your meal with the awesome truffle Parmesan fries
3) Go with medium spicy level or above for the best KFC