Fire Chicken serves unique spin on Korean cuisine in Overland

When husband-and-wife duo Michelle and Min Baik moved from Korea to St. Louis (she in 1993 and he in 1998), they were eager to share the taste of their homeland with the U.S. Fire Chicken, now open for carryout and delivery at 10200 Page Ave. in Overland, is their opportunity to do so, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. 

Offering an original take on mainstream Korean cuisine, the menu features a series of traditional Korean dishes, with a focus on the signature Fire Chicken Gangjung. Chicken gangjung is a conventional fried dish from Korea that can be differentiated by sauce or added flavor. At Fire Chicken, the dish can be ordered with teriyaki, Gochujang (a spicy Korean chili paste), or the Baik’s own “fire” sauce, a combination of jalapeno, garlic, scallion and more. They also offer a shrimp gangjung, as well as a variety of rice bowls, ramen and mandu (Korean dumplings). 

“We were thinking [about] some kind of a unique and different flavor food they [are] gonna like,” Michelle Baik said. “That's why we brought out gangjung ideas.” The Baiks previously owned a Japanese restaurant called Blue Sea, with one location in St. Peters and one in Chesterfield, that opened around 2000 and served the area for about five years.

Fire Chicken is unlike most Korean restaurants; the concept is simple, they don't offer dine-in, and they specialize in chicken. Orders can be made in person or online for pickup or delivery through Uber Eats and GrubHub.

“[We thought], one day, we're gonna let them know what gangjung tastes like,” Michelle Baik said. “We can share the taste of the traditional Korean gangjung with a different nation of people.” 

Fire Chicken is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.