I lived in South Korea for 6 years in several different parts of Gyeongsangnam-do. I tried many different kinds of fried chicken during that time and even amongst those nostalgia-rich dining experiences, this establishment stands out. The quality and variety of the food is EXCEPTIONAL. I never thought I would taste such perfectly authentic chicken and Korean cuisine once I returned to Kansas. I'm delighted to have found this treasure. The owner and his family put their hearts and souls into making sure you will have a wonderful experience. Whether you're coming in to pick up a take out order or stopping in for dinner, they are always attentive and service is prompt. A great place for a fun dinner date or to hang out for beers and watch your favorite sports. If I could give six stars, I would. read more

The chicken itself was outstanding. They offer a solid range of sauces and crispiness levels, so you can actually customize the order instead of getting whatever the kitchen feels like that day. Portions were generous -- this isn't a place where you leave hungry. What caught me off guard was the salad. It came out genuinely crisp, not the wilted afterthought you get at most fried chicken spots, and they layer it right under the chicken so the greens stay fresh while the chicken sits on top. Small touch, but it says a lot about how much attention they're paying. Fries were double-fried and it shows -- shatter-crisp on the outside, still soft inside, finished with parm and herbs and a strong dipping sauce lineup. Reasonably priced for the quality and portion size. I'll be back. read more

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FRIENDS, if you want to be teleported to South Korea for a meal, this is the place to go. Dining here instantly brought back memories of my 2024 trip to Seoul. The nostalgia hit me the moment I walked in, it genuinely felt like I was back in Korea, enjoying fried chicken with a cold beer in chilled glasses. From the atmosphere to the food and overall quality, everything felt authentic. We started with the onion rings ($8) with some beer and Diet Coke, followed by 10 garlic soy spicy wings ($12+) and the spicy pork rice topped with a fried egg ($16). The onion rings were perfectly fried, soooooo crispy, perfectly seasoned, and a great way to start the meal. The wings were outstanding and EXACTLY HOW TO GET THEM IN SEOUL: crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a flavorful garlic soy sauce with just the right amount of heat. The spicy pork rice was rich, savory, and packed with umami and the salad which came with it was extremely refreshing. It didn't taste overly spicy while I was eating it, but I noticed the heat afterward, lol. Overall, it was a great and satisfying meal. The service was excellent, and our server was incredibly kind. She patiently offered thoughtful recommendations, gave us plenty of time to decide, and kept the restaurant clean / managed it while we decided the order. If you are craving authentic Korean fried chicken and spicy bold, umami-packed flavors, this place is absolutely worth a visit. read more

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Visiting from out of town, but would try some additional flavors if I come back! Owner(?) was very attentive and was super busy when I went for a weekday dinner, though there were a few open tables and I was seated right away. Ordered the signature 10 piece wings - sweet chili & soy garlic. I thought there was a bit too much sweetness and much chili, but overall the crunch was nice and the chicken was super juicy! Got an avocado salad which was said to have arugula but was a basic lettuce tomato onion salad that wasn't too appetizing. Tried the honey mustard but it was too sweet. Got a teobokki to fill my belly. Ordered spice level 2 since the sweet chili was spice level 1 and not much spice noticed, but the spice level 2 was pretty spicy. The rice cakes were soft and chewy - tasty! read more

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We liked everything we ordered! The service was great and the staff was very welcoming. The pork with fried egg was my favorite read more

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love, love i always come here whenever im craving korean chicken (which happens a lot lol) i love the variety of sauce flavors that you can choose for their chicken. the food is always fresh, and staff is really nice! i love the vibe of the place as well :) read more

1981 K Chicken - ramen - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

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This place is a total gem! We popped in on a Friday evening, and were greeted to a lovely, clean, bright dining room! We were welcomed and seated promptly at a table along the windows. There's plenty of bright decor, neon signs, and TVs all around playing everything from live sports to K-Pop music videos! Upon request, our wonderful waitress walked us first-timers through the menu and made some recommendations (spoiler: all were fantastic!). We nabbed a couple appetizers - fries and mac and cheese - and ordered two half chicken servings: one thigh meat, one breast meat. With the chicken we tried four different sauces, and all were fantastic! Our favorites were the spicy sweet chili and the glazed honey soy! The chicken is perfectly fried - super crispy, but still moist meat! They know how to fry up a mean chicken here! We crushed ALL the food, and it was a perfect amount for four hungry people! Although the menu set expectations of the chicken being made fresh and taking up to 20 minutes to cook and arrive, ours arrived much quicker! Props to the cook for the prompt service! Also, I have to say that the value here is outstanding! A FULL family of four for less than $60 is headlining news these days! I guarantee we will be back often to 1981 K Chicken! Food = 5/5 Facility = 4/5 Service = 5/5 Ambiance = 4/5 Value = 5/5 read more

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I come here a lot when I'm in town visiting my boyfriend. We stumbled across it looking for food one night and it was the only thing still open. I haven't had one bad thing from here. The ramen. The kimchi. The wings. The shrimp fried rice. The list goes on. I wish we had a location in Texas lol. read more

Came here on a Tuesday night and it was empty. So we got our food delivered to our table quickly. I had the kimchi fried rice and it was amazing! I'd come back just for that. We also had the wings. Which tasted like candied chicken wings. More like an after dinner wing than an actual entree. But there are several ways to prepare them maybe we just need to try the other versions next time. read more

1981 K Chicken - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

Stopped in for dinner and ordered the family style meal. It came with 24 wings, large french fry, and two beers. The boneless thighs were juicy and fried well. The sauces were flavorful but could have used more on the wings. The french fries were served well before the wings... I wish they would have served them with the wings. We had a couple when they came out and they were very fresh and hot, but quickly cooled down. The server was attentive, and the restaurant was clean. Their to go ordering system was alarming every order they received (which was a lot) so I did not enjoy that part. read more

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Stopped in today and absolutely loved it. We tried the French fry sampler with cheese sauce, Cajun seasoning, truffle oil, and the classic version, and they were all amazing but truffle was our fav. The chicken itself (even though the menu said "boneless breast") came pre-cut into small pieces, which turned out to be ideal. It made everything easier to share and enjoy, and we were surprised at how big the half-portion was....definitely more than enough. The whole meal made us excited to come back, especially to check out the lunch specials. Everything felt casual yet fresh, and the portions were generous. Bonus: there's free parking and a clean, friendly dining vibe. Totally worth a return visit to explore more of the menu. read more

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Full of flavor, great atmosphere, and stellar service - this great little spot tucked away in a corner of OP. I got the spicy sweet chili and honey butter seasoning and it was so good! Highly recommend if you're looking to try something new. read more

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I love Korean Crispy Chicken Wings and 1981 K-Chicken meets my west coast taste standards. Parking was easy. The place is small and could easily run out of tables. Music was upbeat Korean music and multiple TVs. The waitress sat us down as soon as we walked in and she met our eye when we were ready to order. We ordered the melted cheese french fries, mac and cheese, wings of course in the flavors of soy garlic and sweet chili, and Sapporo bottle (wished it was on tap). Fries were fantastic because of a batter that coated the fries and was topped off with nacho cheese. The mac and cheese tastes original and in house made. The wings were crispy & crunchy on the outside and juicy inside which many restaurants get wrong because it's either over dried or not full cooked. I'm very impressed. I'd recommend this place for anyone looking for Korean Wings in the KC area. The prices were reasonable and matched the quantity and taste. read more

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Not as good as my lat review. That may be determinant of what we ordered, but the chicken didn't have crunch we got the first time. It might be that, now that we've had it, it wasn't addiction we originally wanted. But it wasn't as good. Also- it's normal to have off days. I can't cook awesome food always. I'm human, so are they. The chicken and fries were good. I'd not ever say different. But they weren't as good as when we last had them. read more

Great selection of Korean comfort food. Staff is nice. I enjoyed the rose tteokbokki the most. The fried chicken was crispy and nice. I wish the lunch specials were a little more valuable but they were fine. Food: 4/5 Price: 3.5/5 Experience: 4/5 read more

1981 K Chicken - Crispy Fried Wings (Soy Garlic) - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

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Outstanding ramen noodle bowls. I had the mild one which was a tad on spicy side but not bad. My husband had the spicy one and loved it! For appetizer we had fried shrimp with sauce. Many items on menu. They serve alcohol. There are many TVs around restaurant and both sides. Booth and chairs seating and high table options. Right off 103rd & Hwy 69. read more

The amount of times I've been here is actually embarrassing. I've been there enough to fill up the punchcard and get $15 off, I'm actually really proud of this lol. This is the best quality of Korean fried chicken I have had in the Kansas City area. I'm not sure what they put in the batter, but it's what makes them stand out. I also like how the sauce isn't drenching the chicken so much. It has a perfect balance. Also, I go crazy for the daikon they give on the side. As an avid K-pop fan, I really appreciate how they always have it playing on the TV with the music videos. It's also fun to get the gloves so you don't make a mess when you're eating your wings just ask the server for it next time and they will give you a whole packet. As I write this review, I'm really craving it! You might catch me there soon. read more

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1981 K Chicken might be my new favorite place. Life has been busy lately. With a baby and five year old we've been on the go a ton these days. A few weeks ago, we had family in town and my husband stayed over at my sister in law's house with our five year old so she could play late with her cousins and I took the baby home to get her to bed at her bedtime. While I was rocking her to sleep I was getting hungry and thought I'd DoorDash something as it was getting late and I was exhausted. 1981 K Chicken came up as a recommended option and having never been there I thought it might be fun to give them a try. I ordered some of their fried chicken with a kind of sweet/spicy sauce, and a side of fries. I added some extra aioli type sauces on the side and placed my order. It was here in a flash, and was piping hot! First of all, the packaging is adorable, which of course won me over. Secondly, the chicken is INSANELY GOOD. Like, I'm still dreaming about it good. The fries were also great and I had plenty leftover. I'm actually hoping to order from them again soon. Their menu has tons of flavor options and after tasting how crunchy and tender the chicken was I'm 100% sold on everything being great. Bottom line: if you like fried chicken just go here. You'll love it. read more

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1981 Chicken is a local Korean chicken joint that also doubles as a sports bar. Plenty of different Korean sauces for chicken wings, sandwiches, and other various dishes such as tteokbokki or Korean Stew. When I arrived the person working that night was friendly and sat me down and took my order from my table. I looked over the fairly big menu while the same two songs kept repeating continuously in the background. I instantly gravitated towards the spicy wings and ordered the 12 piece Crispy Spicy batter with spicy soy garlic and spicy garlic sweet chili. The menu said it should take about 20 minutes for wing order but it came out sooner that expected which was great because I was starving. What came out was some amazing looking chicken wings. They were glistening off the platter they were served on and neatly placed. I of course burnt my finger reaching for them and took a bite anyway. The crunch was perfect. The soy garlic sauce was good but nothing too crazy. Underneath the crispiness was some really flavorful chicken that was mildly tender. The other flavor, the spicy garlic sweet chili was my favorite. The sauce had a good range of spiciness and sweetness that kept me wanting some more after each bite. The sauce and crispiness of the chicken was 10/10. However I wish the chicken was a little more tender and that there were flats and drums instead of the "whole wings" as those are harder to eat. read more

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My favorite Korean chicken place in KC. As a Korean, this place really nails flavor and spice when it comes to Korean chicken. Friendly service every time I come! read more

1981 K Chicken - Spicy soy garlic and regular garlic wings! Very flavorful and chicken is cooked perfectly. - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

okay update since the last time ive been here since i got the chance to dine in: food still 10/10 everything tasted great! i will say the bulgogi wasn't as flavorful/saucey as other places ive had it at but still pretty decent. i think the chicken is the best part of this place and always recommend to get crispy. you cant go wrong with choosing any flavor they have listed as they all are great overall dining experienced is pretty relaxed. it got decently busy after we ordered i think it was just a dad and son maybe taking orders and running out food so it wasn't a super personable experience. customer service was pretty okay and if you dont mind getting checked on once or twice (which i personally like) i think you'll enjoy it! read more

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This was my boyfriend and I's trip to try something new and we were pleasantly surprised! To start off we had the calamari and it was fresh and the finishing touches on the top with the cheese was perfect! I don't remember what my boyfriend had, but I had the chicken fried rice with a salad, and it was filling to the fullest! I feel like two people would be able to get full off of this one meal. The food was fresh. The produce was delicious in the rice and the decor in the restaurant was beautiful and modern! If you're looking for a good Korean chicken place I would definitely come here. read more

1981 K Chicken - Chicken Fried Rice - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

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The honey chicken wings are so crispy delicious and have a hint of sweetness. I would go back for those time and time again. The bulgogi over rice was the star of the show for me cooked perfectly and the flavors were immaculate. The service was quick also although but If you do get the wings you have to waiting a little while long. The inside is slightly on the smaller side but they make up for all these factors in their cuisines. read more

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I'm obsessed! Came here for the first time for lunch after hearing about it, and I was so happy with our food choices. Got the fried chicken with sweet chili and soy garlic sauces. Great choices! We also ate the rose tteokbokki and added ramen (which I highly recommend adding). Our server was super kind and explained the menu to us. We had a great meal and I am definitely coming back. Also, it doesn't hurt that their logo is super cute! Great spot! read more

1981 K Chicken - Sweet chili and soy garlic fried chicken, and rose tteokbokki with ramen - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

Genuinely, this is our new favorite restaurant in Kansas City! It's owned by three friends whose passion for good food and service is evident. They nail every detail from the chilled beer glass to the mouth watering fried chicken! I've have listened to my wife for the first three years of our marriage say it's better in Korea every time we try her favorite dish ddeokbokki. Today I can officially say this is no longer true. We are exited to go back.. many.. many more times. read more

1981 K Chicken - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

My Go-To Spot for Korean Fried Chicken! I've been to 1981 K-Chicken multiple times, and it's quickly become one of my absolute favorite places in town. If you're a fan of Korean food, especially Korean fried chicken, this spot is a must! On my most recent visit, I ordered the Honey Boneless Chicken and the Soy Garlic Boneless Chicken , and both were perfect. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with no fat or gristle. I appreciated that they used clean breast cuts, and the portion sizes were just right. Full of flavor without feeling heavy. I also got a side of their sweet potato fries, and they hit the spot , lightly crispy and not overly oily. While I didn't order it this time, I have to say: if you're visiting, please try the Bulgogi , it's incredible! The staff is always friendly and welcoming, and the service is fast and efficient. I've never had a bad experience here. read more

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We went in for a quick lunch and they were pretty full on a Sunday afternoon but were able to squeeze in 9 of us. The server was very friendly and accommodating, getting everything to us as quickly as possible. We all enjoyed everything we tried. I opted for the spicy wings with house sauce and it's one of the best I have ever tasted! I also got sweet potato fries to share with everyone. It was a perfect combination of flavors. The inside was very clean and a large space with movable tables perfect for large groups. Also a large high top for really groups is available. I definitely want to go back and try their other dishes. I saw noodles and rice cakes being served as well read more

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Went in for a to go order and wasn't prepared by all the options! Finally settled on garlic seasoning and took a suggestion from the waiter, the glazed honey soy. There was a little bit of a wait (pro tip: order ahead and just pick up if you want a to go order), but definitely worth the wait because the chicken was so fresh and crispy, even with a bit of a drive home! The garlic seasoning was surprisingly sweet. Not bad, just not what I was expecting. Inside was a clean, sports bar vibe with plenty of TVs with all the sport channels on. Would be a great place to have chicken, beer and catch a game! Will definitely be back to try other items on the menu! read more

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Lovely chill atmosphere and delicious food! Found this place because it's right next to my favorite bar. I was so excited to try after so many excellent recommendations and it did not disappoint! Stepping in, the ambiance and smell made me so excited. I enjoyed the lofi music. There were also some tvs to watch a game and a bar to lounge at. The food was phenomenal. I tried the breast traditional style. It came in the form of strips. Both of the sauces we chose were delicious! We got the honey soy and the spicy sweet chili. We also tried the cheesy ramen. This one was a delicious surprise because I have only had one other cheesy ramen traveling and have always been on the hunt. It was honestly mid compared to the rest of the meal. The chicken was phenomenal and I can't wait to come back to try some different sauces! read more

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This is simply my personal preference, and it doesn't mean the food is bad. For me, the chicken flavor is just average. While I prefer other places, let's start with the positives. The chicken itself is crispy and cooked well, with generous portions. If you're a regular, you might even get a little extra. However, I'm not a fan of the sauce. It's not terrible, but I find it either too sweet or not quite the right match for the chicken. That being said, it's not unpleasant--just not to my taste. The fries are excellent--crispy, flavorful, and definitely a highlight. I have no complaints there. Out of everything, the Spicy Rice Cakes was the highlight. They're perfectly balanced--neither too sweet nor too spicy. The rice cakes have a great texture, cooked just right, and have a satisfying consistency. I'm taking away one star because of the sauce, but overall, this place is definitely worth a visit! read more

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Where do I even begin this review? I ordered this because I wanted chicken wings DoorDash to my house. When I tell you those wings arrived crispy and delicious. It's not an understatement when I tell you to run and go get you some 1981K chicken. It was so good in fact that I drove myself here a couple days later to do another pick up order and the wings were in fact just as good the second time. When you walk in, it's very Korea coated. It's very much you can sit and have a good time the sauces are absolutely everything you've dreamed of the small triple oil fry. Yes you should order it. The wings I got the classic combo. I think it was like a spicy garlic something and a regular garlic something honestly it doesn't matter what you get because it's gonna be absolutely fire. Service quick everybody nice pick up established. Need I say more? Yes absolutely you should try this if you're not trying this you're missing out. And no, I don't have pictures because I ate every more so the second my car stopped running and I could sit there. I didn't even go inside. I ate it in the car. Period. read more

Everything was so amazing, the menu is easy to navigate. Dumplings were fantastic, the heat is intense but manage depending your spice preferences. The service was great, would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for good food and authentic family owned vibes. read more

My favorite Korean fried chicken place in the area! The chicken is incredibly crunchy, and they have a great variety of flavors. The various choices of fries are always good too. read more

Food - very tasty chicken and great spicy dumplings. Service - good Ambience- very simple with only a few tables. Nice simple interior, yummy spicy dumplings, flash fried and crispy. Spicy soy ginger regular wings were fantastic on 5/9/25. This is almost better than 92 chicken, least they (1981)are in the appetizer category. Cm.c is overpriced, 92.c is great but no appetizers it seems. This is a great Korean chicken place for sure, i'll be back here soon. read more

One of my favorite places in OP! Never bad service, food is always outstanding, and overall a great environment! 100% recommend!

I ordered a half-boneless chicken. I would expect there would be different pieces of the chicken, but it turns out it's just more like chicken tenders, so it tasted less flavors. The price was fine. The taste of the spicy is missing some authentic Korean fried chicken flavors. It wasn't what I was expected. read more

1981 K Chicken - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

The wings are fairly good. I like them cooked more and dryer vs wet and rubbery inside that these landed on. Better quality chicken than say BWW but not on par with The Peanut. The fries were not fully done either, just short. So maybe simply going longer on the fry for both wings and fries is in order. The service was great. Ambience is solid and likely no fault of the restaurant, had that sewer smell. It was somewhat faint. If we're eating fried food, the soda really needs to hit and this mix of Coke was too far on the sweet without fizz side. $21.50 for 6 wings, cheese fries, coke, tip. Reward didn't equal the investment. read more

1981 K Chicken - Catching up on the NFL as I wait for my wings. - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

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The Korean fried chicken is top notch. We got the spicy classic chicken wings and chicken thighs with soy garlic sauce and sweet chili sauce. Both didn't disappoint. read more

1981 K Chicken - Bar area and center table - Korean Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

Read about this place on Yelp and decided to try it out. Wings were juicy and excellent as were the fries and sauces. We got the two spiciest flavors and they definitely had a kick. One sweet and spicy and one spicy. You can choose tiny salads as a side for no additional charge. Tiny mixed salad was good. Coleslaw was a little weird with corn in it. Not much atmosphere but service was good and quick. We will be back. Very tasty. read more

Went with a few friends and it was definitely enjoyable. The chicken wings were absolutely delicious! Crispy on the outside with that satisfying crunch and very tender and juicy on the inside. We also got the beef Boluigi and the Kim chi fried rice that were a hit as well. Paired everything with some good soju and it was a spectacular night. The place was very clean and our server was excellent. We even got to watch the U.S. win against Bosnia in the World Cup matchup. So fun! Definitely will have to be back to enjoy some more of their other menu items! read more