후라이드치킨 Fried Chicken
Chicken pieces marinated, coated in batter and deep-fried with no sauce, eaten by hand with salt.
Spice: Not spicy
Chikin (Korean chicken)
반반치킨 Banban Chicken
Korean fried chicken served half plain and half coated in sweet chili sauce, in one order.
- Half-and-Half Chicken
- Spice: Mild
At a glance
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Chicken pieces, frying batter, gochujang, soy sauce, corn syrup |
| How it's served | Plain and sauced pieces side by side in one box or platter, with pickled radish cubes and plastic gloves |
| Spice level | Mild — A little warmth. Fine for most people. |
| Allergens | Wheat · Soy |
| Ask about | Batters vary (some use rice or corn starch); sauces may contain peanuts, sesame, honey or dairy. |
| On the menu | 반반치킨 (Banban Chicken) |
| Also called | banban chikin · ban-ban chicken · half fried half yangnyeom |
| Region | Nationwide |
Based on the usual recipe. Restaurants vary, so always tell the staff.
How to eat Half-and-Half Chicken
Eat it while it is hot
Both halves are best right after the box opens. The plain pieces lose their crunch as they cool, and the sauced pieces go soft.
Use gloves for the sauced half
The yangnyeom sauce sticks to your fingers. Use the plastic gloves or chopsticks, and keep napkins close.
Eat radish between bites
The cold, sweet-sour radish cubes cut through the oil and the sweet sauce.
How to order it
Order it as 반반치킨, often written 반반 or 후라이드 반 양념 반. One order is usually a whole chicken, so one person can order it but groups often share.
- On the menu: 반반치킨
- Usually sold: 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
Similar dishes
양념치킨 Yangnyeom Chicken
Fried chicken tossed in a sweet, sticky sauce of chili paste and soy sauce, often eaten with beer.
Spice: Mild
Questions about Half-and-Half Chicken
How spicy is banban chicken?
Mild. The plain half has no chili, and the yangnyeom half adds only a little warmth.
Can you order banban chicken with other flavors?
Often, yes. Many shops let you pair two of their own flavors, such as soy-garlic, but the choices vary by shop.
What is the difference between banban chicken and yangnyeom chicken?
Only half is sauced. Banban chicken gives you plain fried and yangnyeom pieces in one order, so you get both a crisp and a sticky texture.
- By Jason Kim (Bumsoo)
- Last reviewed October 25, 2026