WOW. KO Stop completely exceeded our expectations. We came for the Korean fried chicken and left planning our next visit. The chicken was ridiculously crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor. You could tell everything was fried in clean oil because it tasted so fresh and light. It was also our first time trying tteokbokki and we're officially hooked! My favorite dish was the curry with the fried shrimp, and the lychee mocktail was the perfect pairing. Even the sides were incredible, and don't even get me started on the cheese pulls. What really made this place special was the people. It's a small team that genuinely cares about what they're serving, and you can feel that from the moment you walk in. The customer service was warm, welcoming, and made the entire experience even better. If you're anywhere near Berkeley, do yourself a favor and stop by. This is exactly the kind of local business I love supporting. 100/10 and we'll absolutely be back! read more

KoStop - Tteokboki - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is a great option for Korean fried chicken right by campus, especially for students looking for something tasty at a reasonable price. You order on a screen, and the chicken takes about 10 minutes to prepare. The servers were also incredibly hospitable and friendly, which made the experience even better. The chicken is definitely best eaten right away in the restaurant if you want to enjoy that crispy skin. They also offer different flavors of soju and Terra beer. I do wish they had a few more beer options, like Sapporo, Asahi, or Blue Moon, since chicken and beer go so well together. Overall, it's a great spot if you're already on campus, though probably not somewhere I'd go out of my way to travel to. read more

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FLAVORFUL MEAT OR FLAVORFUL SAUCE I've eaten here twice. The first time I passed by this place as I parked my car at the Telegraph Channing Garage. After a couple of hours roaming around the Berkeley when I headed back to my car I stopped by KoStop to eat for lunch. I ordered the medium fried chicken, but I didn't know what sauce I wanted. I asked one of the co-workers what he would recommend. He suggested sweet and spicy. I decided to order the original as I believe in order to taste how flavorful chicken wings are you need to taste it without any sauce. For the side I got pickled radish. I also decided to get a side order of cheese sticks. The pickled radish balances the oily texture from fried chicken wings and cheese sticks. I liked the breading from the fried chicken. The meat was fully cooked. However the meat tasted bland. The second time I came here was on a Sunday. After shopping for California apparel I came here for lunch as I parked my car at the Telegraph Channing Garage. As with the first visit I ordered medium fried chicken, but this time I decided to get a sauce. One of the workers said sweet and spicy is the most popular flavor. I ordered that flavor. For a beverage I ordered melon milk. The sweet and spicy has a sriracha-like taste. I thought the sweet and spicy flavor was ok. If you go to KoStop by yourself a medium order provides a satisfy portion of wings. The meat isn't dry, but it's not as moist as I like it. Overall I've eaten tastier chicken wings elsewhere. read more

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We needed a quick bite before a show at the Greek Theatre. We walked here from BART and almost walked by the alley! We ordered at the kiosk and service was attentive and friendly. It was pretty busy for a Sunday night (don't ask me why Lewis Capaldi performed at the Greek on a Sunday night.) The Kimchi Fried Rice with Fried Chicken was delicious and filling. Crispy chicken, good flavor, tender and moist. Not too much batter. I liked the pickled vegetables and the large egg! My partner enjoyed the curry fried chicken--he said the curry was a nice accompaniment. We shared the Panko crusted jumbo shrimp (3pc) to start and that was fine. Would be back just for the chicken! read more

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Visited here on a Monday night because my friends and I were looking for a place that was still open where we could eat and chat. We shared the three-flavor fried chicken combo (which comes with two sides) and rose tteokbokki, and we also got two sojus. Overall, it was very affordable. All four of us ate until we were full (and drank), and the total came out to about $20 per person. The servers were friendly, and I think you can order on a tablet as well. The chicken was very crispy, and I absolutely loved the sauces on it. It tasted authentic and exactly how I like it. The tteokbokki was not so great. The sauce was bland, and I didn't taste any rosé flavor--or much flavor in general. The interior is cute too, and we got lucky with parking, especially since we came later at night. I would come back for the vibes and the chicken, but I wouldn't recommend the tteokbokki. read more

KoStop - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my 2nd time visiting and Danny by far is one of the most pleasant and generous owners I've met coming into his establishment. He greets guest and takes his time to guide them through the menu for any questions. Not only is the environment warm and relaxing but the food is wonderful! When I knew I was heading towards Berkeley, Ko Stop was the first place I thought to eat. If in the area stop by and support Danny and his restaurant, he won't disappoint! Since I dont live in the area I bought extra meals to take home for my family to try. read more

KoStop - 12 pc Medium Sweet and Spicy - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here on a Friday evening around 5:45 PM and it was dead empty, which is expected the day after Christmas. There's plenty of indoor seating, and there's even heaters on the wall to keep it cozy despite the rainy weather. The employee was so welcoming and friendly! Greeted us as we walked in and gave us recommendations on the menu for a lighter snack. We tried to use the kiosk but it was having issues, so he kindly took our order at the register. We split the Chicken Rice Bowl, which we got in the Sweet & Spicy flavor. The chicken was crispy and plenty saucy. It wasn't too hot at all, a nice kick in the sweet glaze. Loved the variety of radishes to go alongside this. A good, fast place to grab food! read more

KoStop - Chicken Rice Bowl (Sweet & Spicy) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

So good and big-party/family friendly. My kid enjoyed the fired chicken too. Very authentic and tastes just like the fried chicken from Korea. The spot is very trendy and nice to dine in too! The owner is the chef and we love to support family businesses. Full foodie review IG @sierra.eats.8 read more

Visiting UC Berkeley with my son . We were exploring the area and stumbled upon this restaurant. It was next to a couple of other Asian restaurants in what seemed like an alley ,which led out into the street on both sides . This looked like it had a decent amount of seating space. It also had a window view of the street outside, which I liked . We ordered at the kiosk. We got our food in to go boxes. I'm not sure if it's because we forgot to say that it was for here and not to go. In any case, the food came out hot and the service was decent. We didn't have any interaction other than taking the food. If we're in the area, we might explore the other restaurants. read more

KoStop - Kimchi fried rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here with a large group around 5:30pm on a Friday and was pleasantly surprised - no line and plenty of open seating, even for our party of 8. You order at the counter and grab your own table, which was easy enough. The space is quite small, but not uncomfortably so. We tried three types of wings, and surprisingly, the plain flavor ended up being my favorite. The chicken was juicy, extra crispy, and packed with flavor. Pairing it with the pickled radish and some rice made the perfect bite. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty everything was and I'll definitely be coming back! read more

KoStop - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

We were looking for a place near Memorial Stadium to grab a quick bite before the Cal Bears vs. Texas Southern University football game, something filling enough but without leftovers. Ko Stop turned out to be the perfect spot. It was busy with students and game goers, the vibe was cool, well lit, no music, plenty of seating, and very comfortable. Ordering is through a self-service kiosk (there's also a cashier behind the counter, but we ordered from the kiosk). As Baby Boomers, I'll admit the kiosk was a little confusing at first, but we figured it out and ended up just ordering single sandwiches instead of combos. The staff was very friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful. The beer was nice and cold, the soda was extra fizzy, and our food came out quickly. They also bus the tables, which made the experience smooth. All in all, you can be in and out in about 15-20 minutes, which makes it a fantastic pre-game option. As for the food, I had the Nashville Chicken Sandwich. The chicken itself was good, but the flavor wasn't nearly as hot or spicy as I expected, which was a little disappointing. My husband had the Hoagie Steak, which didn't look like the picture on the menu, so we wondered if we got the right item...but it was delicious, and he ate all of it. Both portions were generous and satisfying. The only thing we noticed is that there doesn't seem to be a restroom on site, so plan ahead if you're stopping in before the game. Overall, Ko Stop has a fun, energetic vibe with young students and alumni mixing together, and it's a convenient, quick, and solid spot before a Cal game. We'll definitely be back. read more

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The menu's not huge, but there's a good enough variety to pick from. You order on a kiosk, so you don't really talk to anyone, but the food came out relatively fast. We got the medium boneless sweet & spicy chicken, cabbage mix for the side, and parm fries. The portion was enough for 2 people, and we still had leftovers. The chicken was crispy outside, juicy inside, and the sauce was the right amount of heat and sweetness without being too much. The cabbage mix wasn't it for me. The seasoning was kind of off and the cabbage was too crunchy for my preference. Next time I'd just go with white rice to soak up that sauce. The fries were super crispy but they could've used more seasoning. The parm didn't add much tbh. read more

KoStop - sweet & spicy chicken, slaw, parm fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ordered a medium wings bone-in with the spicy garlic sauce online, but they altered the order and gave me the boneless wings (chicken tenders?) which ended up being soggy. The service was nice but it's just not what I ordered. The store had plenty of clean tables. They get points for the generous portion. read more

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They have the yummiest food and sweetest servers. Their restaurant is decorated so cool too! Customer service is amazing!!!

We really enjoyed this place. The food came in fast and it was really good. The fried chicken was super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the tteokbokki dish had a nice chew and the kimchi fried rice and kimchi fries were both great. The fries were especially great and cheesy. We got the 3 signature sauce version of the chicken and all of them were actually fantastic. Not cheap, but worth it. I'd definitely go if I was a student there. read more

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Very good chicken! Chicken was juicy, not dry like other fried chicken we've had. Sauce was sweet and tangy, but a little on the spicy side. Make sure you have a drink handy. I couldn't eat as much I usually do since I got full drinking. Seating area was nicely decorated and the window seats were inviting and bright. I don't recommend the shrimp tempura. We got cheated, unless it's the usual decoy. There was shrimp tail and "breaded body" but biting into it was a hollow space! Where is the shrimp??? Took a star for that. :( read more

KoStop - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Korean fried chicken is my favorite fried chicken, especially with sweet and spicy flavor and honey flavor. The environment is great, quit K-pop. And I didn't wait my food for a long time which is great. read more

KoStop - Half and Half Tteokboki - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best experience ebwr and top tier chicken! Lovely staffs and service. Will definitely come back. Great vibes!

Went here for my brothers 18th bday. The beautiful interior drew me in while walking by. The food was great; I got the half half chicken and it was good for 2-3 people! read more

Good Korean fried chicken! Loved the soy garlic flavor the best! Good amount of the food

You'll enter your order on a screen an will then decide where you want to sit. I love the big center table for you alone you actually feel less alone yet distant enough to eat in peace. There is probably a toast of 20 sitting spots. Anyways you don't come here for the sitting lay out but for the food. We had K chicken burger - hot and greasy = delicious. My other friend had the chicken curry - fried chicken pieces in a basic yet yummy curry sauce. The food is brought to your table so don't forget your manners. Kept super clean. A solid choice in this busy part of town. read more

Very cute place with incredibly considerate service, good eats, and warm atmosphere. It's a little pricey but the food comes out steaming (but not blistering hot) and fresh! read more

KoStop - Rose Tteokboki - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I give this place 3 stars for a few reasons --- the food is okay, filling, but I was disappointed that there wasn't a little more authenticity to the place. It is sort of a Korean fusion fried chicken spot, but the chicken didn't taste like double fried Korean fried chicken that you can get from your local Korean supermarket. Also, the ordering process wasn't straightforward; you were kind of forced to use a kiosk that was super slow at times. I really wanted some French fries, but not $7 or $12 worth of fries. The cheaper fry options were listed on a plastic menu at the front counter, but not on the kiosk menu itself. Upsell much? You felt forced to give a tip even though you literally go and get the food yourself; no one brings it to you. I expected maybe a great Korean sauce to be on the table to put on top of fries or chicken, but they only had Tabasco sauce (blasphemy, no flavor in Tabasco sauce), mustard, and ketchup. Now, the amount of chicken they give you for a $20 plate is pretty good. I have to accept that in this area and others, the cheapest meal is going to run you $20 at least. I got the smallest scoop of rice. Like, really? Rice is one of the cheapest food items. Can I get a little bit more? That was surprising. My meal was the honey garlic butter chicken. It was good, but a bit too sweet. I guess I was focusing more on tasting pieces of garlic and butter and a bit of honey, but it was the other way around. Not bad, though. I still hella finished my leftovers when I got home. So I shouldn't complain. My friend got the Nashville hot chicken with waffle fries, coleslaw, and pickled veggies. That chicken has quite a kick, and she really liked it (she likes super spicy food). I liked it, but the heat tasted more like a cayenne pepper kind of heat (think Hot Cheetos maybe?), and I like my spice from jalapenos, and thai chilis, and different African chilis. Maybe I am a chili snob? Naw, I think cayenne and other powdered chilis give me heartburn. I don't get heartburn from kimchi or gojuchang or anything like that. This place also sells hamburgers and smaller versions of cheesesteaks. Their first cheesesteak option uses American cheese. So yeah, definitely go to I.B.'s for legit cheesesteaks. Would I come here again? Possibly. I just wish they have more pickled veggies or some kimchi or a good korean sauce to dip our fries in. I would try a different flavored chicken and I might try those truffle fries that look hella good. Service was good. I would only recommend that when food is at the window, it comes first. Not breaking down boxes or filling straw containers. Same thing for customers. When they are in front of you waiting for their food, that comes first. Not filling paper napkin holders and doing the usual day-to-day tasks. I only say this as the food gets cold the longer it sits at the pass, and with fried chicken, piping hot can be amazing. So check this place out for some unique fried chicken options. They also have tons of fries, burgers, and wet wipes to clean your hands before and after eating. It is a very down-to-earth, homey style place with some communal seating. Also, a lot of students go there, and they can be super loud. So, maybe pop in your earphones when alone to tune out their chatter. read more

KoStop - Honey butter garlic chicken plate w/ rice. Don't let this pic fool you, that rice scoop was hecka small. A bit too sweet more than garlic-y. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Always crispy, flavorful, and consistently delicious. Danny is always so kind and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Highly recommend KoStop if you're craving great Korean fried chicken! read more

I've been to KoStop a few times before for their chicken and it was pretty good for the area. Today I was in the mood for a sandwich so I got the "on the boarder" hoagie. It was quite tasty and basically tasted like a smash burger put into a hoagie. It had that iconic processed American cheese and the meat was tender but salty. My only criticisms are that I'd personally prefer less mayo and add more jalapeño's, since I didn't get much of that in the sandwich, and it would help balance the richness of the sandwich. read more

KoStop - On the boarder hoagie - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ordered via Doordash, came properly packed with the box partially open for ventilation. We ordered the Half and Half combo, which comes with 16-18 pieces of chicken. You can choose 2 flavors and 2 sides. The breading is harder compared to Bonchon. -Soy Garlic: not saucy or garlicky enough, subtly marinated. -Honey Garlic: our favorite of the two, I would be perfectly happy just to gnaw off the skin. The chicken tasted of blood, and definitely could've used a brine to improve its taste, tenderness and juiciness if it wasn't done already. -Pickled Radish: this was okay, tasted a bit off. Not sure if it just needed more sugar. -Cabbage Mix: this is some awful version of coleslaw. It had a weird sweet taste and maybe horseradish. We also ordered cheese sticks, this was okay but pretty plain on its own since the breading wasn't well seasoned. I had some marinara sauce at home, it helped. read more

KoStop - Half and Half Chicken Combo (soy garlic and honey garlic) with pickled radish and cabbage mix, Cheese Sticks - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

A change up from my last order but this was a better option by far. I was able to have left overs and the chicken was not soggy at all. My food is always served fairly quickly and it is very introvert friendly. read more

KoStop - Medium Fried Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Danny is a good worker , working alone and pushing out food fast as the only worker . Very fast and professional, his hospitality made us comfortable immediately. Good interior on the restaurant and good seating read more

Ko Stop is a nice little place that opened near UC Berkeley. They're currently doing a Happy Hour special (see photos). At the time, they weren't serving soju cocktails since the barista who served them was out. If you come for happy hour, make sure to ask about happy hour pricing because they may short change you on that. I visited with a few friends, and we ordered a bottle of soju with Jalapeño poppers, which were fried jalapeños (slightly spicy) with cream cheese. A side of ranch is also available for dipping. The truffle fries with parmesan cheese were a bit soft and not too crunchy. The cheese was crumbly and chunky. Lastly, the ddeoknokki was was on the watery side - spicy but not as sweet as one would expect. Their doors are open, and there are quite a bit of flies on the inside. Worth giving a try as a student, since it's pretty easy to find a table on the weekends to escape the beat. (Note: no AC indoors.) read more

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Delicious food served hot and fast. Clean and friendly too. Fun atmosphere. Comprehensive menu

We ordered a Kimchi Fried Rice with Fried Chicken and a Chicken Rice Bowl. The fried chicken was quite flavorful and I appreciated they used thigh meat apparently. The kimchi fried rice could have used a bit more kimchi. Though it took a long time for their orders to be ready the wait turned out to be worth it. read more

First thing I noticed when I walked in was the self service tablets. I like the fast casual set up and my food came out in relative time. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken combo. I wish the sandwich was spicy but the fries were satisfying. Recommended. read more

KoStop - Nashville Chicken Burger Combo - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great place to grab a late lunch. They have the plates at a discounted price which is nice. It helps caters to the students and faculty. The chicken is really good and the portions are good too. The service is quick. You can order in the kiosk or at the front. Food is usually out within 15 minutes or so. At least you know your food is actually being cooked and not just microwaved. Definitely one of my go to spots for my work lunch. read more

KoStop - Chicken Rice Bowl - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

went by for dinner and everything was great! food was excellent, juicy chicken and yummy tteokbokki. amazing service :) free sausage and strawberry milk, 10/10 would come again read more

You have to be in a certain mood to eat platters of fried food, but that's just called Friday night. Kostop's fried chicken is ridiculously affordable and yummy! Out of the honey butter, soy garlic, and chili, I unexpectedly loved the honey butter the best! The batter was perfectly crispy and the chicken was hot and juicy. The chicken came out surprisingly fast! We got the fries for $1 add on, and they were truly amazing fries. A little salty, but the fries were super soft and perfectly crispy. The mozzarella sticks most likely came frozen, but anything dipped in ranch makes my heart melt (maybe literally?) I only wished their cabbage was more like cole slaw instead of plain cabbage. read more

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Service was amazing food was great and the place overall just had a very good vibe I will be back!

Fallen from grace. Last batch I ordered was incredibly salty that I'd need ample amounts of rice to offset. Severely disappointed. 4/10 would never order again. read more

KoStop - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

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BEST Korean Fried Chicken!! It even tastes good as leftovers - that's if you can hold back from eating everything in one sitting. 10/10 would recommend! Bookmark this place and you be the judge! * Fried Seaweed Rolls * Jalapeño Poppers * Takoyaki * Signature Three Flavors * Large Honey Butter Garlic * Special Curry Plate * Kimchi Fried Rice read more

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KoStop is located next to the UCB campus. Tried out this place while I was in Berkeley over the weekend. Parking can be difficult since it's near campus and there's lots of cars parked around. The Korean fried chicken platter was huge, this could definitely feed 3 people. It came with two sides we got fries and rice. This is the signature 3 flavors that come with soy garlic, sweet and spicy, and original fried for $34 which is a good deal! Would recommend to friends! read more

KoStop - Signature 3 Flavors Fried Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food: 7/10 Wait time: 15 minutes to wait for food after ordering Portion size: large Service: N/A (order on a tablet and pick up) Came here because hubby was craving some Korean style fried chicken. We ordered the large fired chicken bundle that comes with up to 3 flavors of chicken and 2 sides. We chose honey butter garlic and sweet and spicy flavors and for sides we got fries and macaroni salad. The chicken was delicious, hot and crispy (even when we got home which is about 15 minutes away). The honey butter garlic flavor was both of our favorite! But both flavors of chicken were tender and juicy on the inside and crispy with saucy flavor on the outside! The sides though.... those were not good. The macaroni salad looked like it had been eaten out of and wasn't even full in the container. It was way too much pickle flavor and the sauce was too thin and watery. The fries were lacking in flavor. FYI there also isn't a bathroom! So just know that before you go and prepare. Indoor seating only. read more

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