With so many food service establishments in such a small area, it can be rather difficult for a new restaurant to make a name for itself. Soko Bag is a newcomer that may be doing just that. Known for the best Korean fried chicken in Phoenixville, Soko Bag is bringing something different to the packed tables of this cozy town. Along with the matchless chicken, the restaurant has its own branded beer and even a pub partnership with the Philadelphia Union. If it is good chicken and a good beer someone wants, then Soko Bag is the place to go!
At 95 Nutt Road stands this one-of-a-kind fried chicken spot. Just a short distance from the main strip on Bridge Street is the small building with an even smaller parking lot. From the outside, it may not look like much, but once a person walks in they are immediately greeted by Shea Roggio, the restaraunt’s owner and founder. “Welcome to Soko Bag! What can I get for you?” he asks with a warm smile. If one has brought children, Shea will even treat the children with a snack or a soda while they wait.
The walls are decorated with Philadelphia sports memorabilia, including signed jerseys from Sixers and Phillies legends Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Mike Schmidt. To the left there is a small L-shaped bar with big televisions behind the left side playing ESPN (when there isn’t a Philly game), and behind the right side are two large coolers filled with soda, water, dipping sauces, and Soko Bag’s branded beer. Philly sports roots are deep in the restaurant, but it is still family friendly, so patrons feel free to bring the whole gang. Local regular Josh Tauder claims he comes in every Friday night with a few friends: “I love the atmosphere. It’s not super crowded like a lot of the bars downtown, and I like that it’s more of a chicken spot that I can have a good beer at.”
What makes Soko Bag so unique is its take on Korean fried chicken. While the menu is limited right now to only a half or full pound of their signature twice-fried chicken, guests can chose between their standard bamboo salted or the Snow Chicken (chicken dusted with a fine white cheddar cheese.) If one cannot decide on a seasoning, the Seoul Train special serves diners a half-pound of each. Guests also have a choice of four sauces to accompany the poultry– gochujang (a somewhat spicy chili sauce), kimchi aioli (a creamy and rich sauce), blue cheese, buffalo sauce and jalapeno ranch. Tauder describes the bamboo chicken as “Immaculate. It’s a perfect combination of crispy and juicy.” His favorite sauce to pair with is the gochujang, “The saltiness and spice of the gochujang blends perfectly with the chicken.”
Another patron, Jonah Gotowchikow, describes the snow chicken this way: “It’s the perfect combo. The cheddar melts in your mouth and mixes perfectly with the flavor of the chicken… I love that it’s like Smart Popcorn but on some great chicken.” Roggio has more menu items planned, but wants to perfect his chicken before expanding. Regardless, most customers agree with these overwhelmingly positive reviews– there’s a line out the door on the average Friday night. All in all, Soko Bag has been recognized as one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Phoenixville, and a spot to get the best Korean fried chicken in town.
Soko Bag’s bar is small, but the staff tends it in a way that certainly makes a statement. Most of the stock of beer is Soko Bag-branded beer, brewed in Coatesville by Animated Brewing Company. The bar has Pennsylvania favorite Yuengling lager on one tap but has its own beers on the six other taps, frequently rotating what they have in. While Soko Bag unfortunately does not have any light beer options at the present time, Soko Bag does have a brew for almost any beer connoiseur. From a vanilla porter to a hazy IPA, the restaurant has a Soko-branded beer that everyone will love.
The love and care that owners Shea Roggio & JH Chang (husband & wife) have put into Soko Bag is clear when one walks in the door. At any tine he can be found working the front counter or walking around the floor interacting with guests in a genuinely friendly way. The man is passionate about his chicken and creating a warm environment that is welcoming to everyone passing by with a curiosity for Korean fried chicken. The chicken is incredible, the workers are all friendly, and there is a sense of “home” in the dining room, despite the South Korean theme. Phoenixville has embraced Soko Bag enthusiastically, and anyone passing through should stop by the best fried chicken spot in town.
