CK Smokehouse opens CK Chicken & Beer

CK Smokehouse may just have stumbled on the holy two-nity of watering holes by opening CK Chicken & Beer last December.

Manager Dae Il Lee said they opened CK Chicken & Beer on Dec. 22, 2023 as an extension of CK Smokehouse but specifically catered to Saipan’s local drinking crowd.

“We always had a fried chicken menu at CK Smokehouse and people really loved it. Then we thought why don’t we just expand with varieties of fried chicken at this new place since they have a wide variety of fried chicken dishes in Korea,” he said through interpreter Jun Hyung Park.

In a way, pairing fried chicken with beer is practically a match made in heaven.

“Chicken always goes best with beer. We said ‘why not bring the concept of solely offering chicken and beer here and give more choices and more joy to the customers.’ That was the start of CK Chicken & Beer,” he said.

Supervisor Andrew Estepa said, for now, they have six varieties of fried chicken but are planning to bring more varieties in the future.

Currently on the menu are Wasabi Chicken, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Premium Onion Chicken, Soy Sauce Chicken, Bul (Fire) Chicken, and Regular Chicken.

Asked what sets their fried chicken apart from other Korean fried chickens in the market, Lee said they have partnered with one of the best fried chicken sauce makers in Korea, guaranteeing their fried chicken dishes a unique and distinct taste.

Lee also said their Bul (Fire) Chicken has some local elements to it, as they’ve added a pinch or two of Tinian’s world famous donni sali to it.

So far so good, as customers have been raving about their unique twist on an old classic from Korea, especially their Regular Chicken and Sweet & Sour Chicken.

One order cost only $13.95 for the Original Chicken and $18.95 for the rest. Customers can also mix and match and order half of each kind. All come with a free bowl of steamed rice.

The second part of the holy two-nity, the beer, comes in alcoholic and non-alcoholic kinds, with the former bannered by the light and smooth Asahi draft beer as well as the usual suspects—Budweiser, Budlight, Michelob Ultra, and Corona.

The guilt-free ode to Silenus, the Greek god of beer and drinking, includes Hoegaaden Zero, Budweiser Zero, and Cass Zero.

The rationale for offering non-alcoholic beer was explained by Lee, “Some food goes well with beer and we believe fried chicken always goes well with the taste of beer. But some people don’t want the alcohol but they want the same taste of beer and of course the chicken. We just want to introduce that (non-alcoholic beer) to Saipan so they can have the option to drink non-alcoholic beer. We believe chicken goes best with any kind of beer, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.”

For those unfortunately allergic to chicken, CK Chicken & Beer can offer the menu of CK Smokehouse with crispy pata and steak made from Tinian beef, usually the most sought-after dishes.

CK Chicken & Beer also recently imported an easy cook instant noodles machine for those just can’t get enough of ramen and for those who imbibed too much and simply need a hangover cure.

“The economy is down and prices of food are going up but the price of our fried chicken is lower than our competitors. We just want to help our community go through this economic crisis better by offering delicious fried chicken that is not hard on their budget,” said Lee when asked why open a business during uncertain economic times.

CK Chicken & Beer is located next to CK Smokehouse in front of the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa. It can accommodate as many as 30 dine-in customers and is open from 5:30pm to 11pm everyday.

For more information or to make reservations, call (670) 234-3331 and (670) 234-3330. Chicken & Beer offers delivery between the times of 5pm and 11pm on cash payment basis only. Delivery is free on a purchase of two or more chicken dishes (southern Saipan and Garapan only).