Dipping into the cheese fondue at Korean fried chicken joint Kko Kko

If you're not familiar with Korean fried chicken, you must be hiding under a rock. Many have become smitten with this crispy and crunchy dish, judging from the number of chicken joints mushrooming around the metro.

You’ll find that most places serve almost the same menu items. But Kko Kko is different. Yes, it has the traditional crispy fried chicken marinated in Korean spices, and the yang nyum variety that is tossed in sauces like classic soy and sweet chili. But what makes this restaurant stand out from the rest is its chicken and cheese fondue.

This is just a half-serving of the Chicken Cheese Fondue at Kko Kko. Photos: Nikka Sarthou-Lainez

Kko Kko was established by local TV personality Grace Lee, who was born in Korea. "The idea behind Kko Kko came from my mom," she said. "She had been in the restaurant industry for about a decade when she came up with the idea of creating a modern Korean restaurant, with Korean fried chicken as [its] specialty."

And modern-looking it is. With its newly opened branch at Market! Market! (the third one already) showcasing an open space with colorful steel chairs, wood wall panels, and a high ceiling with exposed ductwork and vertical gardens in full view.

The bright red high stools, yellow steel chairs and black chalkboard give Kko Kko a fun atmosphere, while the wood wall panels and greenery add a homey touch.

This fast-food place is both industrial and chic at the same time. It has a laid-back vibe that is just perfect for casual family get-togethers or food trips with friends.

Since it is the “Home of Seoul Chicken,” you pretty much have an idea of what to expect. Make sure you go there hungry with fellow foodies so you can order the Chicken Cheese Fondue, which is good for sharing. Imagine melted cheese in a bread bowl in the middle of a big platter surrounded by French fries, homemade onion rings, and boneless chicken chunks tossed in yang nyum.

It was a challenge for me to pick the chicken up with chopsticks and dig deep into the bread bowl because the top layer of cheese has a tendency to harden after a while. Best to use a fork for dipping. The good thing about this dish is nothing is wasted since the server can cut up the bread later on so you can snack on it after.

If you’re not yet tired of chicken, also sample the Chicken Popcorn. The restaurant uses boneless chicken thigh, fries it to a crisp, and then tosses it in special powder—either cheese or fire chili. I tried the cheese variant and it was like eating cheese-flavored chichiria! After tasting it the first time, the next thing I knew, I was popping one small bite after another. It’s so addictive that I had to move the plate far from my side of the table or else I’d finish the whole thing.

To break the chicken monotony, try the traditional Korean noodles called Japchae. I like this dish because of the smooth texture of the sweet potato noodles stir-fried in fragrant and flavorful sesame oil.

Cap off your meal with something cool and sweet like the Snow Jelly Bingsu.

Like our local pancit, it has toppings like vegetables and beef slices, but this one also has thin slices of scrambled egg. I washed it all down with some lychee green tea, but those who want something stronger can go for the popular Korean alcoholic drink, soju (clear, colorless distilled beverage) or its slush version.

Also available at Kko Kko are traditional stone bowl rice toppings such as bibimbap. A more unique menu item is the dosirak (packed meal), which is the Korean version of the Japanese bento box. Whatever the protein—chicken, beef, or pork— it is served together with sweet dilis, cooked kimchi, and a sunny-side-up egg.

Don’t forget to end your meal with something sweet, as I always do. Tickle your taste buds with a serving of Snow Jelly Bingsu, a famous Korean shaved ice dessert with sweet toppings. This particular one comes with red beans, ice, sugar, mochi, and jelly. It’s like our local halo-halo but with different ice texture and toppings. Still cold and sweet though—just how I like my dessert. — BM, GMA News

Kko Kko branches:

G/F Market! Market! McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (+63 (945) 265-5788)

The Sapphire Bloc, Sapphire Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City (+63 (2) 535-7689)

2/F Paseo Center, Paseo de Roxas Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City (+63 (2) 809-6688)*