Sometimes, unassuming awnings draw me into restaurants. Sometimes, I just want something comforting, so I flock to a trusted neighborhood haunt. But every now and then, a restaurant’s quirky name is quite literally the only reason I come knocking; and that’s how I ended up at Unidentified Flying Chickens in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Unidentified Flying Chickens specializes in Korean fried chicken. My first apartment in New York City was in K-Town, and prior to that I briefly lived in Los Angeles, which has a large Korean population, so I’m no stranger to the chickeny treat. My Korean fried chicken cravings are usually associated with late nights after too much karaoke and makgeolli (a Korean rice wine), but this time the desire came in the middle of the day, so I convinced a friend to hop on the 7 train with me to grab some wings from UFC.
Unidentified Flying Chickens has a decent-sized beer list that could easily keep the beer bros of Bushwick happy. But for a fried chicken enthusiast such as myself, I was just there for the wings. At UFC, wing orders range in size from six to 30, priced $8.99-$37.99. Alternatively, you can order drumsticks (2 pieces to 15 pieces); a wing and drumstick combo (4 wings and 1 drum to 16 wings and 8 drums); or a half chicken at 1.5 pounds cut into small pieces. Sauce options include hot, soy garlic, BBQ mustard, sweet & spicy or plain.
While I came for the chicken, you certainly don’t need to limit yourself. The menu is expansive, and I still regret not ordering the spicy pork bulgogi fries, (covered in cheese, naturally) or the chicken parm panini (what does Korean chicken parm taste like?).
My friend was more interested in a sandwich, so she went for the beef bulgogi burger, made with marinated ribeye, caramelized onion, pickles, and scallions, served on a Tom Cat Bakery bun.
As soon as my plump wings came out, which were anything but skimpy in portion or size, I could almost hear the crunch before I bit in by the way the sauce glazed over the crispy, breaded exterior. Their crispiness made sense when I learned that heat lamps don’t exist at UFC; they fry everything to order, and in true Korean tradition, everything is double fried, creating a seriously crunchy bite.
I went for soy garlic and hot as my two sauce options. Despite being totally smothered in sauce, the wings were so crispy that I can still hear the crunch in my head now. I admittedly went to UFC when I was having a rather rotten day, and as I furiously tore apart my chicken wings, I think I found a new form of therapy; one that’s much cheaper than traditional talk sessions.
I only regret that I didn’t order enough food and that I stopped at only wings. It is safe to say I will 100% be back to try those bulgogi cheese fries. While I’m at it, I’ll order spicy pork bulgogi empanadas, throw in another order of wings, and sip a cold one from their craft beer list.
- Address: 7122 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11372
- Phone: (718) 205-6662
- Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Prices: Starters $6.99-$14.99; Salad $4.99-$14.99; Burgers & Sandwiches $7.95-$14.95; Meals $12.99-19.99; Fried Chicken $6.99-$34.99; Boneless Chicken Specialties $14.99-$15.99; Sides $1-$5.95; Lunch Special $10.99-$15.99
- Takeout and delivery available; no reservations
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