New York's Hottest Club Is... A Korean Fried Chicken Restaurant?

New York's hottest club is... Coqodaq?

COTE Korean Steakhouse Restauranteur Simon Kim opened his new "fried chicken cathedral" last week, and this party had everything. A rocket-shaped ice sculpture that said "LFG To The Moon!," heavy handed caviar bumps, overflowing champagne towers, a performance by... Busta Rhymes. Even Eric Adams - a man who in fairness would go to the opening of an envelope if BFA was going to be there - showed up to support. And like, not to be a conspiracy theorist or anything, but cutting the ribbon on a fried chicken restaurant is a pretty weird move for an in-your-face vegan people already don't think is actually a vegan, no?

But I digress... The Flatiron spot has a penchant for the performative, and people are certainly eating it up. Upon entering, guests are encouraged to wash their hands at the out-in-the-open wall of sinks - a novel, hygienic nod to the finger-licking experience ahead. Slip into one of the many arch-lit, semi-circular booths outfitted with lazy Suzans and it's off to the races.

Unsurprisingly the chicken nuggets dolloped with caviar are a social media favorite, though it's The Bucket List that's the main event, a multi-course Chef's feast starting with Roasted Chicken Consummé, followed by a bucket of their classic fried chicken and all the fixings, a cake stand glistening with glazed fried chicken, a palette cleanser dish of Cold Perilla Seed Noodle, and to finish, a cup of seasonally changing soft serve frozen yogurt. The whole shebang costs $38, though you'll no doubt go all in and pair the experience with a glass of champagne that'll double your total.

All in all the vibes are very much put-on-a-show Bad Roman meets don't-look-at-me-but-actually-do-look-at-me Zero Bond. And as for the suspiciously perfect, golden crispy chicken? Well you'll just have to ask Eric Adams, I'm actually a vegetarian.

[Photos via Coqodaq]