Fuku

I visited Fuku for the first time on their 1^st birthday (6÷10÷16). They had a special going on: $ 1 strawberry lemonade slushies, $ 6 spicy fried chicken sandwiches, and $ 3 163 iced tea slushies.
We got here around 7:30pm, so the place was pretty packed. There were no seats available at the bar, and the register area was cramped and hard to tell who was in line to order and who was waiting for their food.
We went for the basics and ordered the spicy fried chicken sandwiches, side of fries, and the 163 iced tea slushy. The chicken breast is tender and juicy with a nice, crispy skin. I wouldn’t say there is anything particularly special about it that makes it stands out from other fried chicken sandwiches in the city though. If you can’t handle spicy food, just know that your mouth will be on fire if you get this. I was pretty impressed by the fries though. They are tossed with jalapeño powder making them extra spicy but so delicious! Don’t be fooled by the size of the 163 iced tea slushy because it is STRONG.

Was expecting amazing sandwich, not sure if this sandwich tasted any different than making one yourself with Foodtown’s fried chicken.

If you’ve never had Chick-​fil-​A then you might think it’s good. If you’ve had CFA then you know it’s average.
Had Momofuku the other day and it was great. Unfortunately, this was not.

Lol! This place is hype! My «chicken» was purple. I feel like they deep fried the chicken for at least 2 days, it was that crispy.
Way too over priced! I would not come back here or recommend it to anyone.
If you want a chicken sandwich, hit up shack shack for their chicken shack, way way way better and cheaper.
Oh ya… The fries… Haha, drier than sand.

Ok I’ve had it for a fourth time and wow its actually getting much better. It has reached great than Chick Fil A levels now. the chicken is amazingly tender and juicy, and if you notice the spicy chicken sandwiches at CFA its actually quite dry. This however, is SUPER JUICY THROUGH AND THROUGH. The saam sauce is the finishing blow, this is the new standard for chicken sandwiches.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY FUKU! I was here earlier today (6÷10÷16) for Fuku’s «163 specials» for its birthday celebrations: $ 1 strawberry lemonade slushies, $ 6 spicy fried chicken sandwiches, and $ 3 163 iced tea slushies.
This was my first time trying Fuku (finally). I was expecting a long wait given the specials, but we got here around 12pm and there was no line. We even got seats by the bar to see the chefs in action!
After we ordered and got our food (around 12:30pm) the line was getting a bit longer. My guess is that it will be very crowded by dinner time today. Tons of people ordered group lunches to-go…so smart.
Now on to the food… we got 2 spicy fried chicken sandwiches, fries, coleslaw, iced tea, and slushie. The drinks were MEH — the iced tea was way too strong. But the sandwich… OH MY GOSH. I CAN’T EVEN. Consider yourselves warned, this sandwich is SPICY. I can’t eat spicy food well, but I still enjoyed my chicken sammie very very much. The chicken is breaded to perfection, and the coleslaw and fries were such a great addition to the meal. The portions are perfect, and $ 6 for the sandwich is a steal. GO TODAY!!!
Year 1 seems to have been an amazing success. Hats off to you, Chef David Chang! Can’t wait to see what year 2 brings for Fuku.

Please stop the Fuku hype train. There are 3 degrees of fried chicken. 1) Ghetto 2) Great 3) Gucci-​Licious. Fuku, like most other joints, sits at #2, but the prices are Gucci wallet prices. Ya feel? It’s a small over glorified chicken sandwich that’s a slight upgrade to chick fila for double the price.

Fuku is a quaint chicken sandwich joint in the East Village that I had to try while I was in the area. They say it rivals Chick-​Fil-​A and their take on the spicy chicken sandwich, so when you market yourselves as a direct competitor, you best step up your game. As you walk in, it’s a compact place that contains a few standing tables and counter seats.
If you look at pictures, the sandwich ratio of the chicken breast in comparison to the two potato buns are just way off. Maybe it’s by design, but don’t let that bother you. They only have one type of chicken sandwich on the menu, so if you don’t like your chicken sandwiches a little above the mild side, you probably won’t be a fan. Fortunately with me, that wasn’t the case. I came prepared to deal with spicy. With regards to the actual sandwich, it was everything you could want and more. Tender, crispy, and tasty meat… amazing.
If you prefer, throw on some of their Ssam Sauce to add more of that spicy flavor to it. They even offer add-​ons like daikon, which I would definitely suggest if you’re into something different. Side orders are always nice to accompany your sandwich, but I would just opt for two sandwiches the next time I come back.
It’s a bit on the pricey side for a chicken sandwich, but if you don’t plan on frequently eating these every day, then it’s totally worth giving it a try. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be hooked.

Ironically the lowest Unilocal spot we went on our trip was probably home to the best piece of food. Fuku’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich is unreal. Tender, fall apart chicken breast that’s begging to be biten. The grain of the meat is incredibly well executed for the breast cut. Juicy, well seasoned, and yet paying proper homage to the natural flavor of chicken, Chef David Chang’s expertise in poultry clearly shines through at this one-​off. The chicken breast is served with a robustly crispy crunchy coat of batter on a soft and chewy potato bun that let’s the chicken do its thing.
If you’re in the area, check out this joint. Top your sandwich with some of their Ssam Sauce for some nice pallette-​opening spiciness.

chickeeennnn. chiccckeeen. that’s the song i sing when i eat bangin’ chicken, haha.
this chicken is seriously on point. i got the koreano sammich. real simple, yummy bun, mayo, pickles, a kickin’ piece of chicken and daikon. nom nom nom nom. the fries too, powdered hard with jalapeño are golden and demand ketchup.
and if your face isn’t already like, woah, this amazing chicken is a smack in the face, drip some ssam sauce on top for some hot fire.
nom. i love this chicken. its easily one of the best ones i’ve had in the city. they do it damn well. so damn well. i look to my right, and a guy, clearly a seasoned veteran is ordered fingers, smoked slaw and water. smartttt. spicy, cool and cleansing.
me over here with my advanced-​noobie order, lunch special with an order of smoked slaw and their slushy, it was a challenge to finish the meal without the cool, life-​giving refreshment of agua, water, h2o. i feel like zoolander in that fish commercial now. haha.
ill be back, maybe tomorrow, but very very soon for sure to have those fingers. they look on point. but for a first visit, the chicken sammich is a definite.

SOLID spicy chicken sandwich! Came here for lunch on a Sunday and there was no line at all. Had a nice sit down experience with my cousin and we enjoyed our meal over the fries, which has seasoning that packs a little bit of a kick.
Coming into this, I didn’t know what to expect of the spicy chicken sandwich. After eating it, I feel like it’s an elevated «fast food» chicken sandwich. I found it quite enjoyable. I appreciated that the toppings were simple and that the sauce was complimentary to the chicken itself. I definitely got the ssam and ketchup sauces on rotation when eating each bite. They didn’t have the Koreano, so I would like to try that next time and see how that changes the taste/​texture of the sandwich.

Every time I find myself in this part of town, I’ve always neglected to come here. No, it wasn’t for lack of awareness of this spot’s existence, but rather that I was caused to be distracted by other establishments (in the immediate vicinity) and the tasty bites offered at those places. Indicative of my short attention span… perhaps… but I would posit that it is due more to the variety of good eats available in the East Village.
The next dinner I had planned in this part of town, I made a mental note to not over-​stuff myself at dinner location #1. I wanted to leave some room for a ‘wich from this spot.
Upon arrival at this place around 8:30 in the P.M. (after dinner and dessert elsewhere), I almost thought the place was closed; no raucous line outside, no crowd simmering in the vestibule… I suppose the ceremony surrounding the infancy of this place has tapered off a bit; for truth, myself and the two others I dragged along with me (they, like normal people, were already stuffed after the aforementioned dinner and dessert we had just had) were the only patrons there upon or arrival. No matter, I was able to make a quick order for a Koreano and we sat our collective tushes next to the bar/​sandwich assembly area.
Soon enough, sandwich was ready. Despite their full bellies, my travelling companions were impressed enough with the look of the sandwich that it wasn’t too hard to elicit a «well, I guess one bite wouldn’t hurt» out of them. Per the instructions of this Unilocal page, a generous amount of Ssam sauce was squirted on prior to consumption. And just as quickly as the sandwich was delivered to me, it ceased to exist in its original form, now metamorphosing in muh belly to be turned into rocket fuel.
So… thoughts: Tasty sandwich. Much appreciation for the dark meat utilization, as the fattiness kept the meat moist, and the skin crisped up nicely. The extra $ 1 on the Koreano for the julienned daikon radish… maybe a bit unnecessary, but still added a welcomed fresh crunch (although I believe the pickles that are already in the sandwich accomplish that goal, not to mention such pickles adding that pleasant sour note that the daikon doesn’t). Additionally, from the pictures, it looks like the spicy chicken sandwich is MUCH bigger… so next time (and there will be a next time) I will be helping myself to one of those.

This is less a review, and more a meditation on why I think David Chang’s plans to expand Fuku nationwide will require changes.
1) The (only available) sandwich is too spicy: I love spice. And Fuku’s incredibly juicy, delicious, fried chicken sandwich, dusted with some kind of chickpea paste butter and ssam sauce, isn’t quite spicy enough for me. But I *know* it would be too spicy for many people, including my wife. Remember, all the other chains started with the plain chicken, and expanded to spiciness. I don’t think the other way works.
2) Everything is too expensive: again, I don’t care about the price. $ 15 for a sandwich, fries, and drink (Tecate!) doesn’t bother me. But outside NYC, Chang is going to run into the spinning bizzsaw of crispy chicken that is Chik-​Fil-​A, which provides very good chicken sandwiches for less than half the cost. Are people going to think a Fuku is so much more delicious than its competitor? I really don’t know.
3) Is this scalable?: How is this hand crafted model scalable? Chang himself has said that he anticipates supply issues with the fancy chicken he is using. I bet his cooking and marination processes are more complicated than his supposed competitors too. He’s really going to be able to iron that stuff out before making a big push? Color me skeptical, though of course don’t bet against Chang either.
Oh yeah, how’d I like fuku? It is a delicious place, although the fries were super disappointing. I’d come back many times if I lived here. But will I be going to a fuku in Houston in 5 years? Right now, I don’t think so.

About a 2 – 2.5: Fuku is one of David Chang’s establishments that is known to serve up fried chicken sandwiches. The menu is extremely small, which is great for those who are indecisive! Besides the sandwiches, there are also Fuku Fingers, fries, slaw, salad, and, of course, Milk Bar bites. The hubs and I stopped by early afternoon to try the sandwiches out. We tried the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, the Koreano, and the Dreamsicle Slushie. The fried chicken was of large size, thin, and had a nice crispy breading for its exterior. However, the flavor wasn’t really much there, and I wasn’t much of a fan of the butter taste on it (it seemed quite overwhelming). The Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich didn’t have any kick to it, so I was a little confused. I did enjoy the slaw, though, as it was crisp and fresh, and added something to the sandwiches, but not so much. If you get your food to-​go, you are unable to get extra Sssam sauce; however, if you dine-​in, you can pour this sauce to your heart’s content. The Ssam sauce didn’t add anything to the sandwiches, and we both thought it actually made the sandwiches worse! The hubs were find with the chicken, as he thought it was pretty simple; I, on the other hand, was not a fan! I may request there to be no butter, and just a regular chicken sandwich with pickles and slaw the next time. The Dreamsicle Slushie, coming in a super small cup, was not good — rather than that nice smooth, creamy orange cream-​like taste, it was more watered down with an alcohol taste to it. Staff were friendly, and there are counter seatings as well as some tables to just stand and eat. A little faucet is off to the corner for complimentary water.
+slaw
+opt out of the butter on the chicken

Fried chicken sandwiches are currently experiencing a renaissance, and right at the top of the trend is is Fuku. And of the different versions I’ve tried thus far from restaurants with a dog in the race, Fuku might just be my favorite.
In the old Ko space, it’s a tiny sliver of a restaurant and will definitely feel cramped at peak dining hours. But if you can carve out time for a late lunch or early dinner, you’ll be able to avoid any feelings of being on a Manhattan bound L train at 9:00am.
The sandwich has the genetic makeup of a lot of other chicken sandwiches on the market; Chic-​Fil-​A, Shake Shack, etc…, but this sandwich comes out looking more like a flat schnitzel than a mound of crispy fried chicken. The heat really takes it to another level, and if you can get your hands on a bottle of Ssam sauce to slather on top, I think you’ll find yourself joining team Fuku.
At $ 8 it’s a bit more pricey than their competitors, but something this satisfying ringing in at under $ 10 is a win in my book.

Visited on a Wednesday evening, around 6:45. No line. Pretty empty, so my friend and I sat at the counter.
The minimalist interior was inviting, the crew behind the counter was nice (felt bad not being able to tip them), and the playlist was on point, so, you know, it was a chill environment. They did a great job with the design.
To eat, I had the Koreano ($ 9). It was good, though without the radish, it would have been pretty standard. I will say that using dark meat made the chicken itself a bit more flavorful than other sandwiches of this variety… The gochujang sauce was a nice touch. Other than that, it wasn’t spicy. The fries I mooched off my friend were good. I definitely appreciate the stripped down menu, simple, with attention to detail (like the steamed bun, smart).
If you’re trying to decide between the Fuku sandwich and the Chicken Shack, idk. Still trying to figure that out myself…
…Actually, as I type this, sense memory is overtaking me and I’m getting mad hungry, so maybe I enjoyed the Fuku sandwich more than I thought? The flavors were definitely there… Anyway, I’d go back. Maybe for lunch.

«Omg you haven’t tried Momofuku?» For the record, I don’t like being referred to by the term «foodie», it feels so dirty. Hipster dirty.
At this point I’m actively avoiding all things Momofuku, it feels weird being held to a standard in terms of my eating habits. Lemme eat in peace. But of course, even I couldn’t resist the allure of a fried chicken sandwich. A famous sandwich at that too. My resistance is weak.
I know what you’re going to ask and the answer is «no!» NO NO NO NO NO. I might be a fried chicken snob but beat me in the dick if I’m wrong, the sandwich lacks flavor. I get the appeal… sort of. I has a «clean» taste. While the chicken might be high quality whatever whatever whatever, it’s fatally plain. Like, why would I buy a chicken sandwich without flavor? I’m not here to feel good about myself.
I believe the League of Fried Chicken Sandwiches would like an apology.
The daikon doesn’t add anything to the sandwich either. It’s there being daikon. Nothing bad, but nothing good. I do enjoy having a michelada for lunch though. And the saving grace was the Ssam Sauce. *Moans* I’d go to any Momofuku establishment just to try that sauce on other things. You can buy it there but I’ll leave my trust in the chef, since he created it and all.

Fuku dishes up really good fried chicken sandwiches, and you should certainly try it out and judge for yourself, but I wouldn’t say based on my experience that they’re significantly better than what you might find at Chick fil a, Shake Shack (with their new Chicken Burger), etc.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
Akin to Momofuku a few doors down, space is a bit limited here at Fuku, which I imagine could be a problem during peak hours. Fortunately, I came pretty late on a Saturday night and was one of only a few people present. I ordered my sandwich, took a stand, and had it in front of me in no time. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
If you come from a place where Chick fil a is commonplace you can’t help but make the comparison while paying for and eating a Fuku fried chicken sandwich. From a price perspective there’s quite a different with the Fuku sandwich coming in at $ 8.00, but it’s worth pointing out, and I’m sure you know, that the fried chicken patties at Fuku are huge. Worth $ 8.00 huge? Possibly, but the star is earned here by just a smidge. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
The Fuku fried chicken sandwich is a good one. Yes, there’s some dark meat in the mix which might catch the spoiled off guard, and there’s quite a bit of fried batter that will remind you more of Wendy’s than Chick fil a, but I enjoyed the sandwich nonetheless. Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
The NYC fried chicken scene has become so strong that I simply can’t say that Fuku stands out among the crowd. No Star Granted.

I had the famous Fuku chicken sandwich via trycaviar.com’s FastBites program. I was unimpressed. The sandwich on a soft potato roll bun was perfectly fried DARK meat. The meat was chewy and rubbery not what I would go for ever again.
The real reason I’m giving this 3 stars is for the spicy sauce it comes with and the pickles. The sauce is amazing I could use it on most things. Just enough spice the perfect sauce for French fries.
Bottom line: Don’t believe the hype

Definitely not what I was expecting! I was so skeptical of this place because there are so many NYC places filled with pure hype. But fortunately not Fuku.
I stopped by at around 12:30 PM and surprisingly found no line with very minimal wait for the food. I tried the chicken sandwich and french fries. When I first opened my bag, I was disappointed because the portion looked too small. But upon taking the first bite, I changed my mind. The chicken sandwich was super juicy and tender. HOW is that even possible? Chicken typically runs dry in most dishes. I typically don’t like thick-​cut french fries but found them flavorful enough. I don’t know what kind of seasoning they used but they were delicious. They also offer a variety of canned soda/​beverages. I walked out of Fuku happy because it definitely exceeded my expectation.
I don’t mind eating while standing up so the counter space is helpful for me to dine in. While the restaurant itself is not that spacious, just think of your typical NYC establishment.
What I love about this place is that it is so freaking clean. The staff at the counter changed her gloves a couple of times while I dined there. The cashier also consistently wiped down tables and even cleaned the door knobs. Finally someone who gets it!
You won’t see me hanging out in East Village on a regular basis but I would definitely return to the area just for this!