So good! And thank god for a place that finally understands people need food after 10pm. I had two tacos, bulgogi and spicy pork. So good!! I'm surprised this place isn't packed. Nice kick on the tacos too with a slight sweetness. Super fresh tortillas. A lot of attention to detail. QUALITY!! Perfect as it. I'll definitely be back. Tucked away and nice clean dining room!! Such a better late night option than Jack in the box and about the same price! OPEN TILL 2AM everyday!! read more

I just didn't feel like cooking. I had a long day at work and the only ingredients I had in my fridge were hummus and bread. Kokio Republic came to the rescue! I've been wanting to try their Brussels sprouts, so that was the first thing I added to the cart. I can't pass up on their disco tteokbokki skewers, so that was the next add. And I saw they now have tacos, so I added just one fried chicken taco. I took advantage of a DoorDash discount, so my dinner was just under $20. And it was a lot of food! The Brussels sprouts were incredible. They were charred to perfection, which complemented the smoky paprika. The lemon soy sauce rounded out the flavors with its citrus notes. I ate only half, and ate the other half the next day. It lost some of its crispness, even after air frying it for a bit the, the next day. But the flavors were more punchy. It tasted like it was tossed in a gochujung sauce. Crazy how the flavor profiles changed overnight! The skewers were delicious, and I probably should've only eaten one. But I knew they're better eaten fresh so I ate both. The rice cakes texture on the rice cakes were bouncy and chewy, with a bit of crispiness on the edges. The busan fish cakes had a soft texture with umami flavor. I loved spicy honey mustard sauce, which had a bit of sweetness to enhance the spicy notes. The fried chicken taco comes with your choice of sauce. So I chose the hot and sweet sauce, which I believe is gochujung. The fried chicken breast was crispy and moist, and well dressed in the sauce. I enjoyed the kimchi aioli against the pickled flavors of the coleslaw. I could easily eat two of them if I hadn't ordered the other dishes. Since I got mine to go, I can't comment much on the ambiance. But there is a lot of seating. And service was quick after placing my order, so that's a plus. I used to go to their food truck often, and I'm glad they were able to get their own space in the Tenderloin. They're next to the 27 and 38 stops, so it's easy to get to. Or you can order for delivery. read more

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I order delivery from them semi often. I keep meaning to order directly from their site for the free delivery and perks. (See photo). Pre-pandemic, I got food from their truck every few weeks. Good flavorful boneless chicken. Love the Kimchee Rice Balls. The pickled veggies are a nice contrast and palate cleanser. Open late. Good Honey Mustard. Fun fact: Kokio is the Korean word for a rooster's crow. That's an example of onomatopoeia, which I had to lookup. (Not sponsored or endorsed by Kokio Republic. But I wouldn't turn down a free Kimchee Rice Ball.) read more

Kokio Republic - Skip the delivery service with their own site. - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Portions 5/5 Bang for buck 5/5 Chicken wings 5/5 Great small spot in the Tenderloin! Came in on a Sunday night, it wasn't crowded but they had a steady stream of customers with quick table turnovers (no wait to get a table), My friend and I were gonna split 18 pieces and the guy at the counter was like don't do that that's way too much. I was appalled that he thought I couldn't eat so much but he was 100% correct, and I'm glad he saved us. We did the 12 piece combo and it was still too much. The wings are LARGE!!! Not Wingstop wing size, HUGE LIKE, RIB SIZE. Delicious. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the SOY GARLIC wings the most. The HOT & SWEET was good too and pretty mildly hot (which is what I wanted). The coleslaw was basic coleslaw, not much to go wrong there. Will definitely be back! read more

Kokio Republic - soy garlic - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ok forgot to hit post for this review. Better late than never. I went here about 2 years ago and I was impressed with this tiny restaurant that was nestled in scary tenderloin area. It's a nice find. I went daytime. I was only customer eating in when I arrived for lunch. There was one person working. I used the kiosk machine to order and the person went to make the order. I tried the free refill of barley water and I was addicted to it. I really liked the flavor. I could drink this all day! Yummy. I wasn't in any rush so, I didn't mind the wait. Anyway the cook delivered my food to the table. And it looks nice! Everything was flavorable. The Kim Chee balls were fun to eat as it was deep fried sour cream, kimchi aioli, Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes. The chicken tenders also had great flavor. I am glad I ordered a starch side to balance all the fried oil out. Good place, I don't mind coming back and try the bone in the chicken or a sandwich. Yummy in my tummy. read more

Kokio Republic - Combo #1 4pcs Chicken Kimchi Balls 1 side rice yummy! - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Was trying for some late night Mensho Ramen, but the line was insane, so this place was a good backup. I love the fast casual vibe where you order on a tablet without having to go though a waiter. The 18-piece Fried Chicken + 2 sides easily fed 3 adult men for a late night snack. Disco Tteok-Bokki: Was a bit dryer than other tteokbokki dishes I've had. A nice kebab skewer of alternating rice cakes and fish cakes. Mayo seemed to dominate the flavor profile, even there there was some other sauce. Soy Garlic Fried Chicken: Probably my favorite of the flavors I tried. This managed to stay the crunchiest while still have a unique flavor. For this one, it feels like the sauce flavored the meat underneath too, not just the skin. Hot & Sweet Fried Chicken: More sweet than hot. A tad soggy texture. Kinda remind me of sweet and sour sauce. Fiery Fried Chicken: I really liked the hot kick and the fact that no one else at the table dared indulge. But the texture was really soggy. Came out the same time as the crispy soy garlic, so I can only imagine they went a bit wild with the sauce. There must be a way to use less liquid but keep the same heat. Pickled Korean Radish: A classic pairing to Korean Fried Chicken. A bit pungent by itself, but a great palate cleaner between fried chicken pieces. Pickled Persian Cucumber: The flavor of quick pickled cucumbers is always a winner to me. But I feel like they cut this too big. It was essentially two bites. Would have preferred if it were smaller to be eaten in one bite. read more

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Got this through Uber Eats for a late night snack and I cannot explain how happy I am I found this place. Delicious food, amazing prices, and items came in fresh!! If you haven't checked this place out yet you're really missing out. Honorable mentions: - Brussel sprouts 10/10 - potstickers 10/10 - chicken taco fiery 12/10 - honey mustard sauce 18832929/10 This place is great. I can't wait to try their other items read more

I only got this as takeout, but it was really good and makes me want to go in person. Despite the time for pickup and delivery, the chicken was still very crispy and crunchy. I got the plain with dipping sauce, and the chicken itself was very tasty. This is weird to say, but it reminded me in the best nostalgic way of the fried chicken you could get in TV dinners in my youth. I was bonkers for that chicken, and really enjoyed this heightened version of it. I also got the Brussel sprouts, which were quite good and the portion size was generous. read more

Kokio Republic - 6 pcs Korean Fried Chicken w/ 1-2 flavor(s) - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the best late night foods you can get in the city! Not the typical fried chicken sandwich you'll get. It has the Korean veggie ingredients beautifully mixed up in this crispy Korean fried chicken sandwich. Usually I dont have much expectations for the late night foods but the quality was actually really good as well. The kimchi fried rice balls were delicious and the spice definitely added some kick to the meal. I would certainly order again whenever I crave late night munchies. read more

Kokio Republic - Combo #3 Chicken Sandwich + Kimchi balls + 1 side or drink - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went there for a quick dinner before a show. We ordered the 4 pieces KfC with the fried kimchee ball combo, a bulgogi beef taco and a fried chicken taco. The taste was not bad. What I had problem with was the temperature. The KFC was like room temp. It was definitely not cook to order. What i loved about fried chicken was the crispy skin and juicy meat inside. This was definitely not the case. The taco also tasted decent but again with cold tortillas. It was set up like a fast food joint, ordered at the kiosk on the counter and the food got delivered to your table. read more

Decided to give Kokio a shot after trying a bunch of the other Korean Fried Chicken shops around the area a try. From the outside, you wouldn't think it's that spacious inside so its a pleasant surprise. My friend and I ordered the disco tteokbokki skewers (comes with 2) and the 6 pc fried chicken with the hot and sweet flavor. We also got the kimchi aioli side dip. Food took about 15ish minutes to be ready. They play kpop inside (expected) and there are a bunch of TVs on at the same time showing different things. Korean fries chicken had great flavor but was not crispy at all. Bit disappointing there wasn't any crunch. Would definitely recommend getting the kimchi aioli, it was a solid 10/10. The Tteokbokki skewers were alright, good amount of sauce coating. Overall would come back! read more

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Overall, this place has solid KFC. They also have a variety of other specialties and sides that would satisfy most palates. I had a plate of KFC, specifically the 6-piece, no bones, 50% in hot/sweet sauce and 50% in plain with honey mustard dipping sauce. The chicken was tender and juicy with lots of flavor. I also tried the brussel sprouts and potstickers and those were very good as well - the sprouts were fried and covered in a savory/sweet sauce that was perfect and the potstickers were also good, with decent flavor from the beef and vegetables inside. I also enjoyed their selection of soju - the peach flavored one was great. This spot seems to do most of their business via delivery and pick-up, so the atmosphere and experience is very casual. This is a good spot for a casual meal with a friend or a significant other, but not a spot for an eventful evening. read more

I had the soy and garlic half and sweet spicy flavor fried chicken. And also the garlic parm fries. The taste was great. Full of korean flavor profile. The crunch factor could use some work for the the chicken and fries. Prob another minute on the cooking time. Would come back nextime, going for a beer and chicken play! read more

Kokio Republic - Soy garlic and sweet spicy fired chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm on a mission to find the best Korean fried chicken in San Francisco to take to an upcoming Friendsgiving, and this place popped up as one of the best options in the City. I scheduled a delivery order for 6 pieces of boneless soy garlic chicken, and I gotta say that while it took a while for the food to arrive just after the weekday rush, it maintained it's form and flavour pretty well. Having lived in LA and OC for a few years and consumed some of the best KFC outside of Korea, my standards are quite high. Kokio's chicken tastes more Korean-Californian fusion than authentic Korean, but that's not a bad thing in my opinion. It seems way less greasy than traditional Korean fried chicken with significantly more meat and less fat/sinew than I typically have gotten at other places. As a result, the meat is somewhat drier, which I actually prefer, as I'm not a fan of heavy grease and visible fat. The chicken also doesn't taste nearly as salty as other places for the win. This isn't the best KFC I've had, but it by far feels like the "healthiest" compared to others and is decently good value since it's all meat with nothing going to waste. Regardless if this chicken makes it onto the Friendsgiving table, I would personally order from here again when I want some tasty KFC that doesn't leave me feeling heavy afterwards. read more

Kokio Republic - soy garlic chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pretty solid Korean fried chicken! This review is solely based on my online delivery order, so I can't speak on the service or ambiance of the restaurant. I ordered a 6 piece mixed soy garlic KFC and bulgogi beef fries, which was more than enough to feed 2 people. The soy garlic flavor was tasty though I think they were a bit heavy-handed with the sauce (which can be a plus for others). The wings were massive and contained a lot of meat, so I think it justifies the cost. I'd definitely get the bulgogi beef fries again if I were to ever reorder from here!! The fries were loaded with beef and sauce. I found myself returning to this dish more than the wings to my surprise. Would definitely want to try this place again for their combo deals and other food items! read more

This was a themed adventure that will require further research in the future. The theme here was rice but non traditional. I got kimchi rice balls and beef risotto. Meanwhile I think this place has great fried chicken and some other goodies. I went in real one dimensional. I'll be better next time. For what I did get though, you will obviously hear my unhinged opinion. The Kimchi balls when eaten fresh are outstanding. It's like the Korean version of an arancini. If you don't know what thats like it's kinda like a croquet consistency. If you don't know what that is, I can't help you. The texture on those balls are unmatched. Crunchy outside, soft inside, and some nice razzle dazzle on top. The beef risotto was very tasty but the limited quality of beef they give you should be an absolute crime. You hear that Kokio Republic? You can't make quality tasty beef and then skimp on the portions. That's a foodie no no. Overall a real quality place that will require me to go back and try the fried chicken and the other goodies. (4.2 Stars) read more

Kokio Republic - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I ordered a Fried Chicken Taco, a Bulgogi Beef Taco, and a Spicy Pork Taco through Uber Eats. The tacos arrived in a nicely presented box. The Bulgogi Beef Taco and Spicy Pork Taco were my favorites. I thoroughly enjoyed them and will definitely order more food from this place. read more

Kokio Republic - Spicy pork Taco, Fried chicken Taco, & Bulgogi Beef Taco - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Welcome to the Tenderloin! The moment I entered this establishment a hysterical woman was yelling complete nonsense to the nonplussed staff person behind the counter. It turned out she wasn't a dissatisfied customer but somebody who ambled right off the street. I managed to yell over her to get my order in, and then she started yelling at me. I would have none of this. I yelled nonsense right back at her and became relentless. I wouldn't stop, and she cowered away. By the time she left, my food arrived, the $19.95 Combo #1 - four pieces of Korean Fried Chicken and three Kimchi Balls (photo: https://yelp.to/bjOIeB5rwn). I went for the boneless chicken slathered in hot & sweet sauce. I was surprised how hefty the pieces were, but they were pretty good. The Kimchi Balls were also in the 'pretty good' category as the rice was mixed with sour cream, kimchi aioli, and parmesan cheese and scooped into fryer (photo: https://yelp.to/Y_RKxaaegk). Both the balls and the chicken were too much on the oily side for my taste, and I probably would've been fine with a half order since they were filling. The upside was that the hysterical woman didn't come back. FOOD - 3 stars...filling and oily, not my favorite fast food AMBIANCE - 3 stars...well, the hysterical woman wasn't helping with the vibe SERVICE - 3 stars...fairly MIA TOTAL - 3 stars...not in a hurry to return RELATED - Exploring the Tenderloin? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2NIQ0tw read more

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This is probably the best bang for your buck korean fried chicken around the area right now. The pieces are pretty hefty and you will absolutely be full up from 6 pieces here. As for sides, garlic cheese fries are kind of as expected, not much to say here it's hard to go wrong. The Kimchi balls I was pretty let down by, it feels very pasty, lack of a rice like texture and somehow not really any flavour despite the sauce and kimchi. Overall, still good price for the chicken and that's bumps it to 4 stars in my book read more

Kokio Republic - 12 Piece Korean Fried Chicken Garlic Cheese FriesGarlic Kokio Kimchi Ball - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Late night Korean fried chicken cravings? You've come to the right place! They deliver on Doordash too, which is even better. I ordered the Boneless Soy Garlic Fried Chicken, which was okay. The 6-piece was quite expensive and honestly, the chicken was a little dry. I did enjoy the sauce though! Maybe I'll try the wings next time. For sides, I also tried the Disco Theok-bokki Skewers and their Plain Risotto. These are DEFINITELY unique options for a KFC spot. The skewers were a new take on the "sotteok sotteok", but instead of sausage, they use fishcake! Pretty tasty and VERY saucy. The risotto really surprised me! Though it wasn't super traditional, it sure was delicious. read more

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Looks like a new KFC joint is in town! The KFC was delicious and chicken was juicy and felt like it wasn't super deep fried I.e. a relatively cleaner and healthier KFC. Because of this - this is our new go to KFC joint! If you're craving really dirty deep fried KFC, this is not the place for you. We had garlic soy and the plain chicken with some mustard dipping sauce on side. Both were excellent. We got boneless chicken and it looked like the tenderloin cuts, sizing was generous. We also had the miso collard greens which were a tad too sweet with the miso soup - but once I poured out the soup, it was better for me. We also had the corn - asked for it without cheese and sour cream - delicious with lots of butter and paprika. We ordered pick up and ate at home. They give you some plastic gloves, like any good KFC place! Ambiance seemed casual and relaxed. read more

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Have been eating here since it was a food truck. It's great, I like the plain fried chicken but the sauces are awesome too. I miss the white meat tenders. Could we get them as an option? I'd pay more for them. I just really digged them. A larger size option for rice for 3-4 people would be cool too. Love the place though, it's great. read more

Got the combo # 1. 4 pieces of chicken, 3 kimchi balls. Was ok - not great. Didn't taste much different from some fried chicken with spicy sauce on it that you'd get anywhere else. The kimchi balls were the highlight, if there was a highlight. read more

Kokio Republic - Combo # 1 - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a gem. We hit up this place last minute, walked in, read the laminated menu for a to-go order. Or order was taken, 18piece KFC- 3 flavors, Garlic Cheese Fries, and 2 orders of corn (total $71). The KFC was crispy, tasty, and large. The GCF were alright, given we drove home with the fries; we'll give them another chance when we come back, I'm sure they would've been better fresh. The corn was good too, maybe cooked just a tidbit too long and could use a sprinkle of salt, we'll be ordering that again. We highly suggest ordering and eating there or close to there so the food isn't just sitting in the car waiting to be eaten. The service was quick and courteous. When our order was ready, they looked right at us so we could grab it. The place wasn't full, we assume lots of take out orders. We walked in and there are approximately 6 tables for customers, it was not brightly lit, appropriate for the restaurant, they had a couple TVs playing Korean music or shows, it wasn't too loud so we could still speak to each other. We enjoyed our time there, we'll come back. Thanks for having us! read more

5/5 across the board! I can only comment on their online delivery service, as I have not yet had the chance to visit the physical location, though I plan to soon. My go-to dishes include: Bulgogi Beef Fries: generously loaded with toppings and absolutely delicious. The portion size is more than satisfying! Kokio Kimchi Balls: the addition of parmesan cheese truly sets these apart, giving them an extra layer of flavor that I love. 6-Piece KFC: The wings are massive, and all of their sauces are consistently flavorful and well-prepared. This spot has been incredibly consistent with both quality and service every time I order. Highly recommended! Cheers read more

Best korean fried chicken deal around town! Big portions and always yummy Amazing for the late night snackings! read more

Kokio Republic - 6 Piece Korean Fried Chicken - Soy Garlic - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ordered late night thru Uber eats. Got an 18 pcs bone in KFC with soy garlic and a side of miso collard greens and Persian cucumber pickle plus bulgogi fries. The chicken was not crunchy due to the steam during delivery which was expected but was still very moist and the pieces were meaty. The sauce was typical of soy garlic KFC. The bulgogi fries were packed in the box. There was a fair amount of bulgogi and the cheese and fries go so well together. read more

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Ordered to my desk one evening. Pretty solid! Spices on the fries and chicken sandwich were very good and pretty sizable portions. Would probably order again if craving Korean fried chicken and fries! read more

Kokio Republic - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

Chicken sandwich was huge and juicy, soooo good! The kimchi balls were delicious warm squishy goodness. All this served with a smile. can't wait to come back! read more

Self order kiosk, nice and simple. I ordered the bulgogi fries and the KFC/kimchi balls combo. I'd say it was quick to come out and tastey. The kimchi balls reminded me of Italian arancini di riso and were so good! The only thing that made me give 4 stars is there was too much sauce on everything. The fries were soupy and there was a pool of sauce at the bottom of the KFC as well. The fries got soggy really quickly and the sauce was just too much, especially towards the bottom. I would reconsider the amount of sauce, unless that's what most of the customer base likes. Probably would consider other places before this one for that reason. read more

Kokio Republic - Bulgogi fries, combo 4pc KFC and 3pc kimchi balls - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What can I say? This place lives up to the hype. The fried chicken is amazing. One thing I will note is that the portions are well worth your money so don't expect a measly portion size like Chick-Fil-A. I ordered the 12 piece thinking they would be nugget size and I got 2 massive 6 piece boxes that must have each weighed about a pound. The Bulgogi Fries were also fantastic. The kiosk for ordering was also intuitive and clearly showed the options well. read more

Some good tasting kfc. Too bad open so late. I wanna for lunch everyday. I work 4 blocks away read more

The best in the area Korean chicken . Great combo deal with fries and massive portion of radish . Wouldn't recommend bulgogi fries ... read more

Fried chicken good but would prefer white meat as opposed to thighs and legs. Tacos a bit sloppy in a container with no lid when ordered to go read more

Clean, friendly, inviting, and the food smells amazing. One of the better KFC places in the city. The portions are great for the price. Highly recommend the bulgogi fries read more

Kokio Republic - Store front - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California

You order on a tablet so no interaction with the staff until they call you up by name to get ur food. I got a spicy sweet sandwich combo and they fries were the best part! Idk if it's I got the spicy sweet chicken but the bottom bun was very soggy and it was pretty hard to eat. But other than that it was pretty good I'd recommend getting the plain chicken. read more

Ordered soy garlic & sweet/spicy fried chicken w/ garlic fries- 9/10. Would definitely reorder, the small order of chicken was super filling. read more

Ordered the 6-piece KFC boneless. The wings were excellent, but completely to my taste -- meaning that they were super meaty and had only a light breading and were not covered in tons of sauce. Again, perfect for my preferences, but maybe not yours -- if you're into super crunchy, drenched in sauce, heavily breaded wings, these won't be for you. But they hit the spot perfectly for me. Will definitely order again (and again). Found my KFC spot! read more

Came and tried this place and hated the whole experience. Ordered on the touchscreen menu and waited 20 min. People that ordered after were receiving their food really quickly so I told them man at the counter my name asked what was going on he just told me to wait longer. Waited another 10 min we're past 30 min at this point and they realize it's just been sitting there this whole time. No one called my name or tried to figure it out. And the the guy was just laughing when they realized. By then the food was cold chicken not crispy etc. I wish I had just got a refund but I was so tired and grumpy after work I just grabbed it and left. Went home to eat and spilled all the aioli all over my carpet to complete the night and a stain to remind me of the bad experience forever. I was so pissed lol. Chicken was flavorless anyway maybe it's better if it's fresh but I'll never know and don't care to. Lots of other good Korean spots nearby. I don't know what they got going on over here. read more

What a great experience, just found this restaurant on yelp as I was working at a nearby hospital. Chicken was very flavorful and service was amazing. 6 piece was too much for one person though. Thank you! read more

Kokio Republic - 6 pc soy garlic with a side of rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Francisco, California