Krave is the place for Korean Fried Chicken in Irvine, California

William Chen has been in the restaurant industry for years, but wanted to try his hand at his own restaurant. From conception until the day the doors finally open, the dream of a restaurant can seem like a lifetime. But sometimes, patience and hard work pays off and a mind-blowing restaurant, like Krave, is born. Krave is spelled a little different than normal. The “K” stands for Korean Fried Chicken, lovingly called “KFC”, not to be confused with “The Colonel”. Many years ago, Will’s best friend introduced him to “KFC” and became fascinated with it. After years of trying to perfect the technique, it became the main focus of Krave along with a menu of Asian infused dishes, melding the flavors of the Far East with the comforts of American cuisine.

Loaded Kogi Fries are French fries topped with sriracha cheese sauce, marinated ribeye, scallions, and jalapenos. The fries are crispy and make a great base for the toppings. The bulgogi is tender and uniquely flavored just like bulgogi should be. The silky sriracha cheese sauce seals the deal with a slight kick of heat. This is the ultimate Korean fusion comfort food! Rating: 5/5

Korean fried chicken is a different technique of frying chicken using a twice fry method similar to Belgian frites. The skin comes out crispier while the chicken is itself is less greasy. The technique also seals in juices for tender, juicy bites. The soy garlic sauce is the most flavorful of the sauce choices. It has an excellent balance of saltiness from the soy and the sweet, yet bright flavor of the garlic. Chinese chili sauce is similar to a sweet chili sauce found in most Chinese and Filipino cuisines and not overly sweet. Spicy sauce is a medium-hot level of spiciness that yields a slow burn which migrates from the tip of the tongue and down your throat. Black peppercorn sauce is a little bit on the sweeter side with a nice balance of pepper. Try them all and decide for yourself! Rating: 5/5

Bibimbap is a hot stone bowl filled with rice and topped with seasonal vegetables, marinated ribeye, and an egg yolk. This is Korea’s version of beef bowl. The bulgogi is definitely the star of this dish with its tender texture and marinated flavors. The yolk adds a richness similar to tamago meshi in Japanese cuisine. The vegetables add texture and brightness with a balance of acidic pickled flavors. Rating: 4.5/5

If you have a craving for something delicious, head over to Krave to conquer your hunger!

Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 stars
Décor: 4 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Food: 5 out of 5 stars

Specials:

• Lunch Specials from 11:30am to 3pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) - $8.99 is your choice of: 8 piece wings and fries; 4 piece wings + 2 piece drumstick and fries; Bibimbap; Chicken katsu; Kogi burger with fries; or salmon avocado salad
• Happy Hour Specials from 3pm to 6pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) - $3 Budweiser and Bud Light; $3 soju shots; $4 craft and import beers; $5 wines by the glass; and $6 soju cocktails

For more information:
Krave

2819 Main Street

Irvine, CA 92614

+1.949.379.6075