WHEN you think of Korean food, the usual Samgyupsal on the grill comes to mind. But there’s more to it than that, and one of the Metro’s well-loved Korean restaurant chains, Kko Kko, is determined to redefine the way Kapampangans see and experience Korean cuisine.
Uniquely named after the way how chicken cuckoos in Korea, Kko Kko (pronounced as Ku-Ku), on Friday, August 31, opened its 8th branch at SM City Clark. The newest branch is the dining hub’s first branch outside Manila, according to its owner, renowned TV personality Grace Lee.
“We decided to branch out in Pampanga primarily for the reason that the province is very close to my heart and the fact that Kapampangans are hardcore foodies,” she said.
“Through this expansion, my team and I are committed to elevate the Korean food experience of our valued customers through offering a wide range of Korean dishes that are simultaneously traditional yet modern,” she added.
She highlighted that Kko Kko takes pride of its authentic Korean chicken dishes, that her mother Song Soon Ill has passed on to her. She said that she added some twists to further improve their family’s heirloom recipes.
“We actually specialize in Korean chicken, because when my mom, who is the real purveyor of Kko Kko, realized that while the country is rife with Korean restos, they serve very limited choices of food like chicken, which can be cooked and served in variety of unique and delicious ways,” she explained.
“Here at Kko Kko, we offer out-of-the-box dishes that can satisfy even the most discerning diners. For starters, we have our best-selling Chicken Cheese Fondue, which will surely delight everyone’s taste bud with its boneless chicken chunks tossed in Yang Nyum sauce of your choice, French fries, and homemade onion rings that you can dip in a bread bowl full of melted mozzarella cheese,” she continued.
Aside from the superbly cheesy treat, the passionate restaurateur shared that it is highly-recommended to sample Kko Kko’s signature chicken fares available in six variants: Original, Yang Nyum, Snow, Chicken Popcorn, Padak, and Boneless Chicken Melt. Samgyetang or Chicken Ginseng Soup, considered a power food by most Koreans for its health benefits, is also a must-try.
Moreover, Lee said that Kko Kko’s menu is also filled with selection of Korean street food. Among others, the Tteokbokki is not to miss. It is a mix of ramen noodles with a savory broth filled with ricecakes, fishcakes, cabbage, leeks, and cheese. Customers can choose from three different flavors: Original, Creamy, and Bul (2X Spicy).
Crowd-pleasers and classic favorites like Bibimbap, Beef Bulgogi, Samgyupsal BBQ, Kimchi Jijigae, Japchae, Kimbap, and Rabokki sets are also available.
To complete the ultimate Korean food trip, Lee said that the Kko Kko also offers Bingsu in four delectable flavors: Red Bean, Coffee, Banana, and Peach Cheesecake. In addition, customers can also opt for another refreshing treat, the Soju Slush, a Soju cocktail infused with sweet and tangy Melona-inspired flavors such as Salted Caramel, Strawberrt, Melon, Banana, and Yakult.
Kko Kko is located at the Ground Floor of Tech Hub 6, SM City Clark, Pampanga. For more information, visit its official Facebook page and Instagram: @kkokkoph.