Meet Fifi, the woman bringing serious Korean flavour to the Tri-City food scene. Behind Chicken i Kimchi is a story of ambition, authenticity, hard work and a determination to do things properly. We sat down with Fifi to talk Korean food, importing the real ingredients, building a loyal following, the challenges of running a restaurant and why some flavours are simply too good to compromise.
Why Korean food?
The bold flavours, fermentation and street-food energy fascinated me. Korean food has personality. I wanted to bring that to Poland.
Were you nervous opening your first restaurant?
Absolutely! Korean cuisine was unfamiliar to many customers. But once they tasted it, they understood.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevYour business partner is also your life partner. How does that work?
I bring ideas and intuition; he brings engineering logic. He tests everything, including recipes. We balance each other.
Who wins arguments?
Whoever makes the stronger argument! Being right matters less than making the right decision.
One dish that explains Korean food?
Bowl Deopbap Yangnyeum. Crispy chicken, sweet-spicy sauce, kimchi, pickles and rice. Everything in one bowl.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevBiggest misconception about Korean food?
That everything is ridiculously spicy! Korean cuisine offers sweetness, acidity, umami and comfort too.
Why import ingredients from Korea?
Some flavours simply cannot be replaced. Authenticity means knowing what must stay original.
Which Korean drink surprises customers?
Milkis! Sweet, slightly creamy and sparkling. Unexpected but delicious.
What would surprise customers about Fifi?
My years studying in Wrocław shaped me. Poland taught me independence and helped turn crazy ideas into reality.
Photo by Adalat NaghiyevMost underrated dish on your menu?
Bibimbap. Rice, vegetables, meat, egg and kimchi. Balanced, nourishing and seriously underrated.
One visit. What am I ordering?
Bowl Deopbap Yangnyeum, dumplings to share and a Milkis. And please, mix your bowl properly!
At Chicken i Kimchi, authenticity isn’t just a fashionable word thrown around on a menu. For Fifi, it means going the extra mile, sourcing ingredients from Korea and refusing to take shortcuts when it comes to flavour. Building a restaurant business takes guts, patience and more than a few sleepless nights, but she’s proving that staying true to your vision can pay off. The result? A little piece of Seoul in the Tri-City, served with plenty of personality. And if Fifi has her way, this Korean love affair is only getting started.