Deliciously juicy, tender pieces of chicken coated in a fantastically crunchy shell of spices. That's the beauty of fried chicken: something so inherently simple can become something amazing with just the right tricks. Aussies are no stranger to American fried chicken but have they heard of the new KFC - Korean Fried Chicken at Gami in Whitfords?
Within the last few years we've seen an explosion of Korean fried chicken joints pop up in Perth (and the rest of Australia) coinciding with the rise of the 'hallyu wave' - the popularisation of South Korean culture in the Western world thanks to notoriously captivating pop-culture and entertainment in the form of K-pop and Korean dramas. Before that, you'd be hard-pressed to find much else besides Chinese, Vietnamese or Japanese in the way of authentic Asian food. But thanks to the above, and the growing curiosity and influx of international cuisines, the breadth of Asian food is on the rise as we begin to embrace all the assorted facets of Asian fare.
That's where Yoon, the founder and self-confessed artisan of really, really delicious-tasting Korean fried chicken, comes in. Launching his first Gami in Melbourne, Yoon has since gone on to open at least 10 more locations nationwide. Gami means 'beautiful taste' in Korean according to Yoon, and so began the rigorous attention-to-detail with serving up food that will never compromise on taste.
Every step of the way is treated with love and care at Gami - from the cage-free and hormone-free RSPCA-approved chickens, to the perfect blend of 17 'golden ratio' spices in both the frying powder and seasoning. Yoon tells us of Gami's core mission: to have the best tasting Korean fried chicken of all, and for all of Gami's guests leaving full and happy.
The location of this second Perth Gami store (the first located in Shafto Lane, CBD) is simply put, a gorgeous venue. The newly renovated food and dining cove at Westfield Whitford City aptly provides a shaded pavilion with outdoor features which Gami Whitford's nestles in beautifully. While you sit amongst an aesthetically pleasing fit-out that appears to be a cut above other Gami stores, you're also treated to a view of the sky through the open air, a cascading water feature, and children playing in the grassy centre before a stage where live acts may often play.
And the food? Surprisingly very good. After a not-so-impressive meal a year or two ago at the Shafto Lane premise, the expectation for the taste and delivery of Gami chicken wasn't so high. Thankfully, the food at Gami Whitford's ticked all the right boxes! The chicken was juicy, the skin and fat had rendered deliciously, and the batter was crunchy and incredibly well seasoned. I would definitely come back for their Original Fried whole chicken (on the bone = super juicy) with a side of their Honey Mustard sauce.
If you're coming for a Korean fried chicken feast don't forget to order a side of Corn Cheese. A huge hot skillet of salty-sweet creamed corn covered in a generous layer of melted mozzarella cheese. Do it how the Koreans do and wrap your fried chicken bits in the heavenly strings of melted cheese!
Shout out to the chips at Gami - they really know how to make a fabulous chip! Unfortunately our table had demolished the entire bowl of chips before we could get a photo (which says a lot!) but this is a definite win for Gami amongst competing KFC joints. Super crunchy on the outside, light and fluffy in the middle. Minimal grease. If you're feeling adventurous you could even try the Potato Heaven - 3 layers of glorious potato mash, topped with ungodly amounts of melted cheese, crispy potato wedges, sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. We didn't say it was healthy, but Gami means beautiful taste, remember?
Gami Whitford's is open for lunch from 11am-3pm on Mondays to Thursdays, and from 11am-3:30pm on Fridays to Sundays.
To grab a bite for dinner, Gami Whitford's is open at the following times:
Monday to Wednesday 5pm-9pm (kitchen closes at 8:30pm)
Thursday 5pm-11pm (kitchen closes at 10pm)
Friday 4:30pm-11pm (kitchen closes at 10pm)
If you're feeling too lazy to head out, Gami Whitford's is also available on Uber EATS.
