bb.q Chicken | Apple Park - Cupertino

"bb.q" is pronounced "Bee Bee Dot Cue" and stands for "best of the best quality", according to the company's website, and not America's cuisine, Barbecue. An international chain from South Korea, the first branch in Northern California opened a week ago in Cupertino.

I was in the area and had the chance to try it last night. Currently to-go only, orders can be placed online for delivery or pick-up via the usual suspects. It also takes phone orders (without requiring advance payment), which is what I did. I asked if there was any seating available to eat a take-out order on site, indoors or outside, and was told "no". Arriving 30 minutes later, I was a little surprised to find one table with four chairs outside the entrance, and many tables inside occupied by customers eating from bags of to-go food.

But on to the food . . .

Golden Original Drumsticks, 5 pieces/$16.99 - Smallish drumsticks with crunchy, flaky batter crisping up the skin and succulent and juicy flesh from the two-day marinade process. The batter had a spicy burn and bitter undercurrent that reminded me of hot mustard powder, and I wonder if that's the source of the golden tone as well. While well-fried in fresh oil, the taste was not that compelling on its own.

Galbi Wings, 14 pieces/$17.99 - A combination of wing flats and drummettes (and no option to choose one or the other) with as much batter as chicken. I've read mentions that the boneless wing options have even more batter. Seriously overbreaded! The galbi sauce is described as lightly sweet and savory with an off the grill flavor. I really couldn't detect any grill or smoke, and it was pretty nondescript other than being a little sweet.

Rose Ddeok Bokki, $13.99 - A huge portion of firmly chewy cylindrical rice cakes that give your jaws a work out. A couple slices of fish cake and half a hard-cooked egg are all that distract from the creamy and very spicy saucing. This one's too fiery for me but I did like the concept of adding dairy to the red chili sauce to smooth over its brashness.

We were impressed by the weight and ruggedness of the packaging. Heavy gauge corrugated cardboard boxes that latched securely, but this degree of sturdiness seemed to be overkill.

The rep of this Korean fried chicken chain is that it is a cut above Bonchon or Von's. I can't say that I like it better than Von's at this point. But perhaps if I figure out what sauce combination I like better than the galbi sauce, bb.q Chicken could rise in my estimation.

bb.q Chicken Apple Park
Cupertino Village
10815 N Wolfe Rd Ste 105,
Cupertino, CA
(408) 320-2323