Chimaek (Chicken and Beer) Culture: How to Order at Han River and Top Chains

What chimaek actually means

Chimaek combines "chikin" (chicken) and "maekju" (beer) into a single word describing a specific, widely loved pairing tradition -- Korean fried chicken, typically double-fried for extra crispiness, alongside cold beer, usually shared among a group rather than eaten solo. The pairing has become genuinely iconic enough that it functions as its own social occasion, distinct from either a chicken dinner or a beer outing on its own.

Ordering styles and flavor splits

• Original fried (huraideu) chicken, plain and crispy, is the base style most other flavors build from.
• Yangnyeom (sweet-spicy sauced) chicken is the most popular flavored variety, though many chains also offer soy garlic, honey butter and other house sauces.
• Banban (half and half) ordering lets a group get two flavors in one order, the standard move for anyone who can't decide.
• Sides like frozen radish cubes (a standard accompaniment) and cheese balls or fries round out a typical order.

The Han River delivery tradition

One of the most distinctly Korean chimaek rituals is having fried chicken delivered directly to a riverside park, typically Han River park areas like Yeouido or Banpo, where groups spread out picnic mats and order through a delivery app rather than carrying food from home. Many chicken chains and delivery apps are set up specifically to handle these outdoor riverside deliveries, complete with disposable plates and utensils, making a spontaneous picnic dinner as easy as a few taps on a phone.

Delivery culture is deeply tied to chimaek in Korea, and many people enjoy the combination at home via delivery apps rather than at a restaurant, particularly while watching sports broadcasts. When dining at a chimaek restaurant, splitting an order between two flavors -- commonly a plain fried option and a spicy or soy-garlic variant -- lets a group sample more of the menu in one sitting. Beer is typically ordered separately by the pitcher or bottle rather than bundled automatically with the chicken, so specifying your preference to the server matters.