Prince Chicken in Koreatown: Decent Fried Chicken in Kitschy Ambiance But Not Worth Returning To

After having tried OB Bear's legendary fried chicken and liking it, I couldn't resist trying OB Bear's rival fried chicken joint in Koreatown, Prince . The place has a long history dating back to the 1920s and was (and supposedly still is) frequented by A-list stars. It also was featured in TV series such as Mad Men and movies such as the classic film Chinatown. The ambiance is very much old school lounge except for the flat screen TVs that adorn the top of the bar area. 

The fried chicken was good but I couldn't help but notice how tiny the chicken was. I think I still prefer the fried chicken in Son of a Gun. The crust was crispy but I prefer the crispier crust at Son of a Gun. What I liked about this one was what came with it -- including sliced jalapenos pickled in soy sauce and vinegar that gave it a nice kick. The shredded cabbage topped with a dollop of Thousand Island dressing is nothing to write home about but takes me back down memory lane to Korean bars I used to frequent in college.

We also got stuffed meat perilla leaves and pepper pancakes that were good and an unusual offering for a restaurant because of the dishes' labor-intensive nature. Some of the meat they used didn't taste all that fresh, however.

We also got the omurice that I had to have because of its California flare that included avocado slices on top of the egg omelet layer covering the rice and salsa on the side. We just use ketchup in Korea for the OG omurice so I got curious. It was average, complete with the ubiquitous spam-like chunks folded in the mix with other veggies. 

We got a beer pitcher to wash it all down. Not sure I'd return because it's not all that special. Not blown away by this alleged legend.

OB Bear: Best Fried Chicken in Koreatown?

Some might call it a travesty that after more than a decade in LA, this self-proclaimed Koreatown pro hasn't yet ventured into OB Bear, a veritable institution. It is known as the embodiment of old school K-town watering hole and for serving the crunchiest fried chicken you could ever want to wash down with your Korean beer.

And embodiment it was. I felt completely transported to a dingy "hof" (beer halls modeled after German ones but really nothing like them) on the edges of Shinchon in front of Yonsei University, complete with the ubiquitous shredded cabbage salad served with a huge dollop of Thousand Island dressing. Definitely doesn't get points for ambiance. The only difference from the old school joints back in the homeland is the gigantic flatscreen blasting the latest games.

The fried chicken was excellent although the white meat parts did get a bit dry. For the most part, thought, the skin was crispy and the flesh was moist and served piping hot. The pickled radish cubes helped to balance out some of the heaviness from the fact that it was fried. Best pairing ever.

Now for the beer. I like my microbrews as much as the next person, but nothing beats a refreshing glass of Hite (yes, the place was called OB Bear but served its rival beer brand, Hite. The name OB Bear is likely a take on the name of the OB beer brand's sports team, OB Bears, but maybe it's just one of those lost in translation type of adaptation or the equivalent of Cucci or Ghanel.). And for reason, I never feel as full although I wondered if that was because they dilute it so much with water.

Now for the less successful. The spicy chicken wings are also raved about in message boards so I was excited to try them. Boy did they disappoint. They looked so promising -- check out at that seriously glistening exterior. The chicken wasn't fully cooked and the sauce was just meh.

The pajeon, or scallion pancake, was burnt and not too flavorful. It was nothing special. It could do a lot better.