A pop-up specializing in Korean fried chicken stops by Ponce City Market

Seoul Chikin pop-up brings family recipes to Likewise at Citizen Supply for one night only

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Seoul Chikin Korean fried chicken pop-up
Korean fried chicken with “mad umma” sauce

Photograph courtesy of Brandon Hayden/Citizen Supply

When Stephanie Watson was growing up, cooking was an all-day affair, and eating was a “multi-hour fest of bonding, storytelling, and occasional karaoke.”

“I remember being huddled around on the floor with my aunts, uncles, and cousins, devouring family-style Korean meats and sides,” she says.

Seoul Chikin Korean fried chicken pop-up
Baby gamja: braised baby potatoes fermented in a sweet soy and shiitake mushroom glaze

Courtesy of Brandon Hayden/ Citizen Supply

Now, the marketing consultant and founder of the Seoul Chikin pop-up is hoping to recreate those happy memories. She’s partnered with Tia Herrod, of Japanese pop-up Kettle Black, for a collaboration at the Likewise bar and lounge inside Citizen Supply at Ponce City Market. Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Watson and Herrod will serve a concise menu of their favorite dishes from their respective heritages.

Watson will show off her mother’s Korean fried chicken—using the recipe that inspired her to become a chef. “It all started with everyone’s love for mom’s Korean fried chicken and my growing obsession to show everyone just how out-of-this-world it is,” she says. “I call her sauce the ‘mad umma’ (mother in Korean) because it packs some heat.”

Ho-Tteok: Korean pancakes stuffed with cinnamon, brown sugar, and crushed peanuts

Courtesy of Brandon Hayden/ Citizen Supply

Watson originally wanted to open a food truck selling Seoul-inspired street food, reflecting her 10 years living in the city, but decided to host pop-ups instead. “This combines both food that is nostalgic for those who miss home and authentic for those who want to try the real deal,” she says.

Seoul Chikin—spelled the way the food is pronounced in Korea, Watson says—held its first pop-up last month, but Watson hopes to grow it to the point where she could open a brick-and-mortar location. She’s working on confirming locations for pop-ups in Roswell and Alpharetta and has one scheduled for Sandy Springs on October 25.

To learn more about the August 29 event, check out Likewise’s Instagram page. Here’s the menu for that event. (Tap to enlarge.)

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