A Hidden Gem in the Heart of the City - Chiko Korean Street Food Cafe

Hello!

I recently discovered the Chiko cafe chain, and I'm excited to share my experience with the one in Penza.

Let's get straight to it – I was looking for a place where I could enjoy a delicious meal, satisfy my cravings for something spicy, and get the right atmosphere. I'm currently on a journey of self-discovery, so I wanted something with a bit of a vibe. Maybe some music, a movie, or just a lively atmosphere. And that's exactly what I found at Chiko. I went there with a friend, and I'm happy to share every detail with you.

How to find it

The only tricky part about this place is that it's a short walk from the city center. The address is Moscow Street, 26. If you take the bus to the 'Higher League' mall (pretty much any bus will get you there – just get off at the ZAGS stop on Kirov-Kalinin and walk up a bit), you'll need to walk up a few houses from there. Chiko will be on your right-hand side.

The opening hours are from 12 pm to 10 pm, seven days a week. I arrived about 15 minutes before lunchtime, and I had to wait for a few minutes. It was freezing outside, and I took some time to take photos of the graffiti in the nearby courtyard. When I got back to the door, I saw the staff inside getting ready to open up. I realized I could have come a bit earlier. And when I walked in, I was greeted with three friendly smiles – they were waiting for me!

Chiko Korean Street Food Cafe How it's all set up inside From the first step, everything here seemed really pretty to me. The place is big, with zoning, comfortable tables, and benches on both sides. There's a grilling zone with exhausts (we booked a table there), and regular tables.

There's this type of bar counter where they sell beer. They've got three big TVs showing parallel clips, dramas, and just idol videos, but only one audio track. I sat opposite the TVs to feast my eyes on those pretty faces

The sound was pretty quiet, but audible. We didn't have to yell to hear each other – we spoke in hushed tones. Despite us arriving at opening time, within 15 minutes, several tables were already occupied. But there was no noise or chaos. It was super cozy and comfortable.

Chiko Korean Street Food Cafe Cloakroom is located near the entrance. There's a separate area with benches and hooks – it's all very convenient, with room to hang your coats and bags. Everywhere you look, it's all theme-y, with hangeul characters all around. The lighting fixtures, posters, and everything else fit perfectly with the atmosphere.

There are plenty of plants throughout the place, making it look super cozy and... homely, somehow. The lighting is, as usual, a mix of different types and styles. Even the lighting fixtures have some writing on them.

Korean street food cafe Chico The furniture is all brand new and spotless. It's no surprise, considering the place just opened up recently. There are tables with a couch on one side and a single seat on the other. But we got a table like that, and the seats were separate and identical on both sides.

Korean street food cafe Chico The place was immaculately clean. I guess it might not be as spotless by evening, but during the day, it was super clean. And there was no unpleasant smell at all, which is impressive, considering they've got a barbeque station and a kitchen with aromatic food. But it was spotless, and there was no smell to speak of. Korean street food cafe ChicoBathroomI usually mention the bathroom at the end of my review, but this one's so integrated into the atmosphere that I'm counting it as part of the decor. Everything's neon-lit and super bright.

This Korean street food cafe, Chiko, is a real showstopper. Even the ceiling has neon lighting.The decor is straight out of an anime movie. I half expect a teenager to come out of here and not want to leave.But for real, the place is spotless, modern, and has all the essentials - plenty of soap, working air dryers, and functional holders. Even the tampon dispenser is clean. It's the little things, right?The bathroom itself is also in great shape. No mess, everything works, and there's even a mirror - a definite plus.I think it's great that they offer booking. Usually, when trendy spots open up, they're mobbed for the first few months, and it's a nightmare to get in.What happens when the hype dies down, and the crowds start to dwindle? It's a common issue with many cafes - the initial excitement wears off, and people start to get disappointed with the offerings. Luckily, this cafe has a system in place to avoid that.

With their booking system, you can skip the queues and ensure a smooth experience.

No more waiting in line.Booking is free, and you can even reserve a grill table in advance.They also offer phone booking - just search for their number online, and you're good to go.Bookings are held for 2 hours, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your meal, play some games, or even watch some videos.We managed to book for 2 hours, and it was just the right amount of time - we had plenty of time to eat, play, and even catch up on some clips. We didn't need any more time, to be honest.

Menu

The menu is the most important part of any eatery, and this cafe delivers. They have three main sections: the main menu, barbecue, and drinks. Orders are taken immediately, and you can either order straight away or take a moment to decide. The staff won't pressure you or hover around - they'll just leave you to it. I asked for some advice on ordering, and the staff were happy to help. I asked if I could take a dessert to go, and if the daikon was cooked, and they happily provided the answers.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico' I have to say, the menu at places like this isn't exactly how we're used to it in Russian cuisine. You get to choose your meat, your noodles, and your sushi. If you go for rice, you can add some pan-chan to it. And since this isn't a traditional Korean restaurant, but rather an Asian one, you'll find dishes like tom yum and pad thai on the menu too. We decided to steer clear of those.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'

My order What we really wanted was the grilled option. It's not just about throwing some meat on the grill or serving up a shashlik with a lot of smoke - there's actually some thought behind this dish.

We use fresh, high-quality ingredients at Chico, work with signature marinades, and create dishes with unique ingredients.This isn't just meat on the grill – it's a story with attention to detail and flavor:)Korean BBQ at Chico is a dinner format that's all about socializing, atmosphere, and fully immersing yourself in Asian traditions.The twist is that they bring you pre-marinated meat, set up the grill and ventilation, and you get to savor it at your own pace. It's romantic if you're coming with a partner and they take care of you. Or it's a nice touch if you're coming with friends – the younger ones get taken care of by the older ones. It's a great way to pass down traditions and feel cozy.

We had this ventilation thingy (the height is adjustable above the table, and we lowered it a bit), and the table was surrounded by flowers, so we felt like we were in our own little bubble.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico' I was stoked to see the grill was built right into the table - our server turned it on and dialed in the temperature. There was a lid that made the grill disappear, but when they fired it up, they whisked it away. And then the party started. Korean street food cafe 'Chico' We had two meat options to choose from - pork or beef. We went with the pork, and we were glad we did. We could've opted for slices or cubes, but the slices looked so good, we went with those. I don't remember the exact weight, but we devoured the whole thing between the two of us. We got two pairs of tongs to throw the meat on the grill and flip it over.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico' They serve this meat with a bunch of veggies - zucchini, mushrooms, and onions. And a salad, of course. What's not a salad is grilled too. But then you wrap the grilled veggies and meat in the salad leaves. You know, like little bundles so your hands don't get messy, and you can just pop it in your mouth. Or you put a lettuce leaf in your mouth first, and then grab the meat. That way, your lips stay clean, and the veggies get in your mouth.) But that's more of a romantic thing to do. Korean street food cafe 'Chico' Although there doesn't seem to be a lot of meat, it's actually several servings because the slices are thin and cook quickly. Korean street food cafe 'Chico' With this same combo, they give you two bowls of oil and a couple of brushes. One's just for the grill - we brush the grill with vegetable oil before each new layer so it doesn't burn. The other bowl has oil with spices. We use the second brush to coat the meat piece, put it on the grill with some tongs, brush the clean side with the spiced oil, flip it, and flip it a couple more times. That takes about two minutes. Chiko Korean Street Food Cafe One of the things I loved about this cafe is how the grill emits a warm glow without any harsh heat or smoke. The ventilation system works like a charm and isn't too loud. We decided to cook everything at once, and it turned out to be a great idea. The veggies are cooked just like the meat, and with a dash of spices, it's a real treat. I mean, who knew a small onion ring could be so flavorful? Chiko Korean Street Food Cafe The meat comes with a set of pan chan, which are these small side dishes and a generous serving of rice. It's all served in these cute little bowls, and there's a lot of it. Chiko Korean Street Food Cafe I'm a big fan of kimchi, and I've had it from Korean vendors before. The staff told me it would be a bit mild, but to me, it was actually a bit too bland. My friend, on the other hand, was blown away by the spiciness and had a bit of a reaction!But the kimchi itself was delicious – it had just the right amount of tanginess. I wish I could make it that well at home.

Kimchi cafe 'Chico'’s battered cucumbers were a new one for me. They were marinated, with a flavor that was almost like fresh cucumbers, but with a hint of spices. I loved them, but they were a bit too salty for my taste, as I'm not a big fan of salt. Kimchi cafe 'Chico'’s carrots were a tradition, although it's not a Korean taste, in my opinion. They were just regular carrots, but some people might enjoy them. Kimchi cafe 'Chico'’s rice was delicious. By the time we got to it, it had cooled down a bit, but it was still great. I think it was jasmine rice, because it had that distinct smell and taste, and you could eat it on its own, not just as a side dish. We ended up eating the whole thing, right down to the last grain. Kimchi cafe 'Chico'’s daikon was a type of Chinese radish I'd never seen before. It was different from regular radish, with a milder flavor and less heat. When it was marinated, it added some extra depth to the dish. It was really tasty, but no one shared the recipe with me.Looking at the spread of Korean street food at Chiko, I was expecting a lot more pancakes on the table - we're talking at least 9 of them. And of course, there should be seaweed, mushrooms, and all sorts of other snacks like dajon and whatnot. So, we were all about that extra food life, and we ordered a separate pancake set. That long tray with four little bowls was a sight to behold - I mean, the colors of the dishes should be different, but these two were a bit too similar.

But the good news is that the pancake set came with mujeori mushrooms, which I barely got to try, but I ended up gorging on the cabbage instead .

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'For my main course, I went with the tokpokki in the spicy version, while my friend opted for the carbonara. My portion looked way bigger, so I got to try a bit of hers - it was pretty standard, but I loved my spicy tokpokki way more. It was super spicy, super flavorful, and just packed with goodness. You can barely find portions this generous in Korea, it's like you can just eat your fill!

The flavors were spot on, with all the right notes, including sesame and a delicious spicy sauce. The texture was just right, and it was honestly a top-notch dish.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico' I was really craving a seaweed soup, but they were out of it, so I opted for the kimchi chige instead. It's this amazing, savory soup that's kind of like a Korean take on borscht. The main event here is the kimchi, and the meat can vary - in this case, it was beef. And let me tell you, there was a ton of it, so much so that I even shared some with my friend Nastya. Everything about it was spot on - they added plenty of greens, and the broth was spicy and rich. It was a real treat to eat. I actually make something similar at home, but mine tends to turn out a bit greasier, whereas this one was perfect - nice and savory, but not too oily.

And you know what? They even serve rice on the side. It's not my favorite part, but I guess it's a good way to tone down the spiciness a bit. You eat the meat, kimchi, and tofu, and then use the rice to soak up some of the broth. It's a nice way to balance out the flavors.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico' Ah, and look, they've got tofu slices, but I usually cut it into cubes. The tofu was actually pretty good, but it was a bit too soft for my liking. I usually get it to be more dense, but I must have overcooked it this time. Korean street food cafe 'Chico' Instead of the usual rolls, we got kimbap. There were a few options, and we went with the one with tuna. It came with a side of kimchi, which was a nice touch. The kimbap was really tasty, with a great balance of sesame oil, cheese, fish, and other flavors. The kimbap also came with a sauce, which I liked, but I only had a tiny bit. The sauce was a bit too soy-based and overpowering for my taste, so it mostly went untouched. Korean street food cafe 'Chico' And, yeah, I did ask for the sauce to be spicier, and they brought out this amazing tomato-based sauce that was a bit sweet and spicy. My friend ended up crying from the heat, but I just took a little sip and... wow. Then, they brought out the bulgogi, which is always a treat. It's not easy to find a good bulgogi, and this one definitely hit the spot.

Now, here's the fun part – the utensils! They brought out these cute little oil brushes and grill tongs. But, standard issue, you know, the usual spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, salt, pepper, and napkins. We were a bit low on napkins, so we asked for more, and they brought some right over.

Chico Korean Street Food Cafe I've gotta say, the disposable chopsticks were a bit of a letdown. They're like, super scratchy or something. I'm used to getting the round ones, you know? These ones are just a bit awkward to hold onto. They're not the worst thing ever, but they're just not as comfortable as the others.

Chico Korean Street Food CafeThey had this famous cocktail called "Waiting for You" and a coffee drink called "Vanilla Raf". The portions were huge, so we just shared them. Chico Korean Street Food CafeI was surprised to see a syringe with something blue in it. I thought the drink would turn color, but it didn't. The ice in the cocktail was really pretty, though. There was just too much of it. At first, the drink seemed sweet, but by the end, it was almost bland because the ice melted. But the ice cubes and syringe worked well together. Chico Korean Street Food CafeThe coffee was a bit of a letdown, though. I love raf coffee, and I'm not against vanilla, but this was the most understated raf I've ever had. I ended up taking it for myself, but I ended up trading it for the rest of the cocktail. Chico Korean Street Food CafeFor dessert, we chose between cookies and mochi. They also offered these shaped jelly things. We ended up choosing pungoppan and a cheese coin.Essentially, it's the same thing, just that fish-shaped ones are more popular in Korea. Anyway, it's just waffles

These Austrian-style pastries are best enjoyed hot, and the fillings really make a difference in the flavor. The dough tastes the same, with the only variation being the color. The coin with cheese was more neutral, well-balanced, and even seemed not sweet, but very aromatic.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'The fish one had more sweetness to it. The dough was just as delicious and aromatic, but the filling was sweeter. Plus, they serve the pannukakku with a caramel sauce. We asked for a separate sauce for the coin, and they offered us a few options, but we chose the blue one, which is sort of between bubblegum and blue curaçao. It was tasty, though - my tongue was blue afterwards! Korean street food cafe 'Chico'We took a hot drink with us. At first, we thought they'd pour it into a cup with a lid. We've seen that in the movies, right? Thought we'd warm our hands up and share it between us. But they handed it to us in this little bottle. It looks like tea or tea with juice. But it's not a fruit drink or a compote, even though it tastes very fruity. It's more like they warmed up bubble tea. But it's a tasty thing, for sure. Korean street food cafe 'Chico'GamesWhen calculating the order, they add up the total and give you tokens in the receipt for every 600 rubles. They're these little tokens, like coins. We got 14 of them, and then we went to that vending machine to insert them)

We'd flip through the cards displayed on the screen, featuring idols, actors, anime, and manga, without really paying attention to the actual cards themselves.

Chico Korean street food cafeThen, we'd get to break down 14 cards. They weren't originals, but they did have the cafe's logo on their shirts, which was a nice touch. To be honest, I only managed to grab 2 cards from the drama 'Extraordinary You', 1 from 'Lupin', and 1 beautiful card from the anime 'Pharmacist's Monologue'. That's all I could scrounge up – the rest were taken away from me)Chico Korean street food cafeNext to the vending machine is a beautiful sakura tree. It's a lovely spot, and I can imagine it'll be bustling on Valentine's Day.Chico Korean street food cafeTo-goNaturally, we couldn't finish everything in two, so we asked if they could pack the leftovers for us. I asked if it would be a hassle, and they cheerfully replied, 'We've got plenty of containers, we'll take care of it!' That was a nice touch. Almost everything came in doubles (they thought of us), so we divided everything evenly, except for the main dishes. I wouldn't dare give away my spicy tteokbokki to anyone, and they even gave us our own sauces to take home.

I packed up all the leftovers in neat craft boxes.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'I headed home with some chicken and dessert for the family. I have to say, the pancake did get a bit knocked over on the way, and its eyes ended up on the back of my head But that didn't affect the taste, and I got to try it. This pancake was 10 times tastier than the ones you get at Pyaterochka.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'PaymentI paid with card, and they brought out a terminal for me. Then they took it to print the receipt, but they left a wooden packet on the table by mistake) The receipt was brought out with the leftovers, and we sorted out the packet with some cash. It's all very convenient and pleasant.

There was a sticker on the edge of the table with a QR code - you can leave a tip and mention your server's name. We had an amazing server, a really nice girl.

Korean street food cafe 'Chico'Conclusion about the restaurantWe've already agreed to come back on March 8 for a meat feast with ramyeon. For me, it's a big deal that I can enjoy my favorite cuisine.

The main thing I want to emphasize:

The location in the heart of the city, right in the middle of everything, is perfect.The original and cozy decor is super inviting.The food is seriously delicious, and they've got authentic dishes that'll make you feel like you're in Korea.The atmosphere is warm and welcoming.They offer masterclasses and interactive experiences, like grilling your own food.The service is top-notch, and the staff are super friendly.The menu is huge, and it's always changing and growing.They've got options for vegans and meat-lovers alike.The separate grill tables with ventilation are a great touch.The prices are really reasonable.The place is spotless.I didn't find anything to complain about – it's a genuinely great spot. I genuinely hope it keeps thriving and growing. And, honestly, I hope we get a few more places like this to go around, so we don't have to wait in line to book a table.

This place is awesome. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves good food.

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! I'm done.

Chico – a Korean street food cafe