I usually don’t write negative reviews like this, but unfortunately here we are. My friends and I decided to get chicken today after a long day of work. Pelicana was definitely one of our top picks when it came to Korean Fried Chicken, especially because they offered a variety of popular flavors.
We ordered two half chickens: Honey Soy and Spicy Chicken. While the Honey Soy was acceptable, the Spicy Chicken had a noticeable old smell, suggesting it might have been expired. Even though I'm not particularly sensitive to these issues, my friends quickly agreed and had to spit it out. We informed a server, who handled the situation well and assured us she would notify the manager.
After about 15 minutes, we received a replacement tray of chicken. Unfortunately, this batch had an even stronger, unpleasant smell.
This is where the problem started. The manager approached us without any formal apology and rudely asked if we were Korean, implying our sensitivity was due to comparisons with Pelicana in Korea. We were bewildered by this response. He claimed there had been no complaints that evening and seemed to suggest we were the only ones with an issue. To our shock, he handled a piece of chicken with his bare hands, putting it near his mouth and nose, and put it back on our tray, dismissing our concerns. After telling us that he himself couldn’t smell anything, he proceeded to shove it in to one of the servers’ face. The server nodded his head multiple times to say that he indeed smells something funky, but the manager wouldn’t stop shoving that piece of chicken in his face. In discomfort, we pointed out his rudeness. He offered a forced apology, attributing his behavior to the busy environment, which just felt like an excuse to me.
He eventually removed the cost of one chicken and our drinks from the bill, but the entire experience left us confused and uncomfortable. His assumption about our sensitivity was unfounded; I've never been to Korea and have only tried Pelicana in Seattle. If any food tastes off, I’ll speak up, regardless of the brand. Ultimately, his behavior was even more unsettling than the food itself.
We went to Pelicana often and never had issues like this. This was an unforgettable and unpleasant experience, and we won’t be returning.
