Korean-style CM Chicken comes to Town
While they initially hoped to open in July, remodeling and sign delays pushed back the opening “to hopefully September,” Kim said.
“We don’t have a concrete date yet,” he added.
Kim explained CM Chicken, a brand headquartered nationally in Virginia, will be serving a traditional-style crispy chicken, complemented by eight sauces; radish, which is pickled “and freshens the mouth” during bites; coleslaw; and French fries. Customers can wash it all down with such Korean drinks as soju, a cross between beer and saki wine, with 12 to 16 percent alcohol.
“People are going to be coming here and experiencing something unique,” Kim said. “We want people to come in and experience the real thing in the restaurant.
“Eventually, we will have more on the menu” he added.
CM Chicken has a unique cooking process, giving a smoky twist to Korean fried chicken. It is cooked in a tikkudak that imparts a smoky flavor to the meat.
Kim said the chicken first is fried then baked in a charcoal oven for “extra crisp and crunch,” but the tikkudak draws out the oils so the chicken is less greasy and has more breadth of flavor.
Beyond the United States, he said CM Chicken has more than 200 stores in Korea, as well as restaurants in Vietnam, Canada and all over Southeast Asia.
“So, this is a franchise that is expanding very rapidly, especially right now in Asia because, of course, it’s close to Korea” Kim said.
“It’s very unique,” he added. “People who have tried it like the flavor and crispy texture.
“It’s not something they’re used to having in the local area. Most chicken franchises ... in America, it’s a little bit salty ... or has a strong flavor to it. Ours is not salty; it’s not spicy either. You taste the flavor of the chicken the same time you feel the crispy of the chicken.
Overall, “That’s the whole point of the Korean chicken,” Kim said. “ ... very crispy when you bite into it, and have all that juice still inside the chicken.
“And Korea, with all the K-pop (popular Korean music), a lot of people are getting interested in the different culture than ever before,” he added. “It’s good for us to open something that’s different than what they’re used to.”
Kim, who had a business in Farragut previously, said he sees the potential for CM Chicken in Town.
“The people here are very dynamic, too, very diverse,” said Kim, who lives at the border of Lenoir City and Farragut.
Once open, he expects business hours to run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
