Bonchon Chicken opening in Lee’s Summit

Bonchon Chicken is entering the Midwest with a new SummitWoods Crossing restaurant. It plans a late June opening at 1740 N.W. Chipman Road.

Bonchon offers Korean-style fried chicken, which is twice-fried for a crispy shell and then brushed with one of the company’s signature sauces — soy garlic or a red pepper-based sauce — or both.

It also offers an Asian fusion menu that could include such items as salads, clam strips, edamame, Korean scallion pancakes, potstickers, rice bowls, sliders with a choice of bulgogi or crispy chicken, seasoned fries and bulgogi wraps.

It will have a full bar and offer local craft beers.

Local franchisees, Thomas Michael Hughes and his father, Thomas Arthur Hughes, plan to open at least five restaurants in the Kansas City region within the next five years. Their territory stretches from Lawrence to Columbia.

“The chicken wings are our bread-and-butter. But we also offer Korean comfort foods,” said Thomas Michael Hughes, who is managing partner. He had most recently been with Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue for five years. The senior Hughes spent time in South Korea while in the military.

“We were looking for a great brand to partner with and something unique to Kansas City. Everyone loves chicken wings and beer,” he said.

Bonchon Chicken is currently remodeling the former Planet Sub space for a sports bar atmosphere that will include several flat screen TVs. The restaurant will have about 50 employees.

The company was founded in South Korea in 2002 by Jinduk Seh. He opened the first U.S. location in 2006 in New Jersey and the company now has more than 150 locations, including 30 locations in the U.S., both corporate and franchise owned.

Bonchon translates to “original village,” or the more Americanized “my hometown,” the company said.

This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 7:53 PM with the headline "Bonchon Chicken opening in Lee’s Summit."