'Burb Bites: bb.q Chicken brings Korean fried chicken to Carmel
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Love at first bite. Photos: Justin L. Mack/Axios Indianapolis
As many of y'all know, I've got a thing for wings.
Why it matters: This week's bite is a fast-growing, fast-casual Korean fried chicken franchise that immediately shot to the top of my local wing recommendations.
The bite(s): Spicy original, secret sauce, spicy galbi and wings of fire bone-in wings from bb.q Chicken.
Cost: $16 for eight wings.
The 'burb: Carmel.
Driving the news: The grand opening of the Carmel location in late May gave Central Indiana its second bb.q Chicken location following its Castleton debut in December.
- But it became a must-visit for me when a former colleague with excellent wing opinions simply texted me "best wings I've ever had" out of the blue.
Context: He's the same guy who introduced me to Ale Emporium's certified 10 out of 10 wings when I first moved to Indy, so I knew I had to place an order.
My take: Love at first bite. It was so good that my wife and I had to make a quick return trip to try a few more of their 14 different wing flavors.
- The spicy originals were the only wings we ordered without sauce, but they were also our favorites. The crunchy breading synonymous with Korean fried chicken made every bite a joy, and they still pack plenty of punch without sauce.
- The wings of fire were my second favorite, but they absolutely live up to the name. Ten out of 10 on the heat scale. Don't bother unless you want some pain with your pleasure.
- Secret sauce and spicy galbi are easy recommendations for those who want a little less heat, but still crave bold flavor.
The vibe: The eatery has a sleek, modern interior that makes it a cool spot to catch an afternoon game or grab a post-work beer.
- Fans of Korean R&B and K-Pop can add an additional point to this category. Music videos play on a loop alongside televised sporting events, but the tunes take priority on the house speakers.
If you go: 12505 Old Meridian St., Suite 140, 11am-9pm daily.
Other bites from the 'burbs:
🥚 Eggshell Bistro's shirred dukkah eggs