韓国チキン 明洞チキン池袋店 at Ikebukuro, Tokyo

A Korean fried-chicken takeaway in Ikebukuro, serving boneless yangnyeom, soy-garlic and whole-bird varieties into the small hours.

Myeongdong Chicken is a Korean fried-chicken specialist whose Ikebukuro branch serves takeaway and delivery from a unit in the Esukaiya Ikebukuro building on the Ikebukurohoncho side of the district. The shop focuses on the crisp, double-fried chicken that has made Korean fried chicken a global trend, with a menu built around boneless pieces that are easy to eat on the move. It is part of a wider Myeongdong Chicken chain with branches across Tokyo, and the Ikebukuro store keeps long hours, opening at 10:00 and running through to past four in the morning. The boneless line-up runs through crispy original, sweet and spicy yangnyeom, honey mustard, a hotter spicy yangnyeom, soy garlic, pringle, creamy onion and a red puldak cheese variety, giving diners a broad choice of coatings. For those wanting a showpiece, the menu also offers a whole fried chicken in one piece, finished in flavours such as mala, black pepper, barbecue, cumin, extreme spice and red puldak cheese, though it needs around 25 minutes to cook. Sets pair the chicken with cold noodles, jajangmyeon, tteokbokki or cheese balls, and a Korean cider is the usual accompaniment. With delivery available through Uber Eats and Wolt as well as counter takeaway, Myeongdong Chicken is a convenient option for a late night in or a snack on the way back from the station. The chicken travels well, the sauces are generous, and the long opening hours suit Ikebukuro's round-the-clock rhythm. For a quick, satisfying hit of Korean fried chicken without sitting down to a meal, this Ikebukurohoncho branch does the job reliably.