Linh Do

The newly opened Vons Chicken in Saratoga did not disappoint.

As juniors, we were having a challenging week in a challenging year (quad day practices, challenging “Beloved” readings in English, etc.) and we needed a treat. So we decided to visit Vons Chicken, the iconic Korean fried chicken restaurant chain.

With its newest location in the Bay Area having opened on Oct. 10 in San Jose, just a 15-minute drive away from school, the two of us traveled down Saratoga Avenue to try it for the first time.

Located in the Strawberry Park Shopping Center, the restaurant, one of 13 the chain has in the Bay Area, is on the smaller side — with five tables inside and a couple of outside tables. Inside, the ordering system was simple, with two self-ordering kiosks near the door and a simple but informative menu above the cashier. 

Our order consisted of one starter, a Fried Mandu, and two main dishes, including a half plate of Yangnyeom boneless wings and a half plate of the Crispy Real Garlic boneless wings. Unlike most wing shops, the boneless wings were $2.99 cheaper.

While we waited, we had the chance to use the restroom, which was just as spotless as the rest of the restaurant. Only two minutes later, our food arrived warm and fresh. Unlike many local wings restaurants, the food comes with a complimentary clear glove for each person, which can be used to eat without leaving a mess on one’s hands. The food also came with pickled radish.

The Fried Mandu, a dumpling with a meat filling, was soaked in oil, taking away from the crispiness we hoped for in the dumpling. However, the ground meat inside was very flavorful and melted in our mouths. Overall, we rate the dish 4/5 Falcons.

 

The main dishes were just as delicious, with the Yangnyeom tasting both sweet and spicy while having the perfect amount of tanginess. Similar to the Yangnyeom, the Crispy Real Garlic had a tangy taste but was more crunchy than its counterpart. The chicken was also very warm on the inside but not hard to chew. For us, the Yangnyeom was a 4/5 and the Crispy Real Garlic a 4.5/5.

 

The dishes were priced a little high; our total for the three dishes, a drink and tax was $54.64. However, the portions of the chicken were large — we had a good amount of leftovers to take home and more meals to look forward to. 

Additionally, the customer service was exceptional. Not only did the food come in extremely quickly, but the waiter came back later with a bottle of Coke on the house. Additionally, when we were done eating, the waiters rushed to help us throw things away and were extremely kind. 

Because of the great food and the exceptional customer service, we loved the restaurant and rate it 5/5 Falcons.