Cocodec in Heidelberg Korean Fried Chicken Restaurant - My Experience

Opening Hours and Location

Mon. closed!
Tue. to Thu. 12:00 to 15:00 and
Tue. to Thu. 18:00 to 22:00
Fri 12:00 to 15:00 and
Fri 18:00 to 23:00
Sat 12:00 to 23:00
Sun 12:00 to 22:00

"Heidelberg, the most beautiful city in Germany for me" So raps Kool Savas about Heidelberg and dedicates a short line in one of his songs to this city. I can confirm that and find that Heidelberg is one of the most beautiful travel destinations in Germany. In addition to the nostalgic old town, Heidelberg Castle and the landscape, Heidelberg University is one of the most renowned universities in Germany. In Heidelberg there are also many restaurants that offer largely old German cuisine. In addition, more and more Korean, Chinese or Japanese restaurants are lining up, as the East Asian community in the Rhine-Neckar region is strongly pronounced.

Korean Chicken with a great view

Chimaek (치맥), as the combination of fried chicken (chikkin 치킨 ) and beer (Maek 맥) is called in South Korea, which is especially popular in bars and as street food for late night outings. A cold beer is the ideal drink when you eat Korean fried chicken. This "tradition" is particularly popular among the younger generation, who are increasingly turning to fried foods. The fried Korean chicken has a special taste and has a very spicy and crispy skin. The breading is usually made of cornstarch, corn syrup or also Panko. The Korean spices then give the whole thing a variety of different flavors. For me, Kentucky Fried Chicken and other companies can pack it in, everyone who has tried Korean chicken agrees with me!

In Heidelberg and the surrounding area, there are not yet too many real Korean, Chinese or Japanese restaurants. About 3 weeks ago, a new Korean restaurant opened in Heidelberg's old town that serves Korean chicken. The restaurant, called Cocodec, has secured a beautiful location. Cocodec is a freshly renovated Korean restaurant that combines a modern design with traditional Korean decorations. The wood look fits perfectly with the overall ambience in my opinion. Guests can also sit on the large terrace and enjoy the beautiful Heidelberg landscape.

Selection of Food and Drinks

Cocodec has largely specialized in Korean chicken. In addition to various chicken dishes, there is also a small selection of Mandu (Korean dumplings with filling). 4 side dishes are served with the chicken dishes. The most important side dish is the pickled Korean radish, which is a must-have for Chimaek. It completes the Chimaeck set, so to speak.

Korean Chicken

South Korea is known for its phenomenal chicken, whether fried, roasted, baked or cooked. For me, South Korea is the chicken master, where every chicken dish tastes better than any other comparable chicken.

We had ordered the hottest option from the menu. The waiter specifically pointed out to me that it was very hot, probably because the Germans are known for not being able to eat spicy food :D. For me, it wasn't that hot, as I'm used to eating very spicy food.

Korean Deep-Fried Chicken has many secrets that set it apart from other fried chicken pieces. One secret lies in the truly perfect breading/marinade, which gives the chicken a unique taste. It has (depending on the order) a sweet aftertaste, which is accompanied by a sharp or salty taste. It also doesn't make the marinade greasy at all. This is because the chicken pieces are deep-fried twice. The first frying process, without marinade, already creates a thin, crispy skin around the chicken piece. It is then coated with an individual marinade/breading and deep-fried again.

Taste and Portion

What can be said about the taste? I felt like I was on a real chicken cloud. The spicy, slightly sweet and hot, crispy shell was so awesome that I could eat it every day! Lightly seasoned thin leek strips are added as a small side dish. The combination tastes very delicious. I only ordered one dish and can't judge the other dishes yet. I will definitely come back and order more dishes.
The amount of chicken in the photo looks small, which is deceiving. One plate is easily enough for 2 hungry people. There are also small side dishes that are not particularly noteworthy.

Relax and drink coffee

After the big chicken feast, you can relax your stomach with a delicious coffee on the terrace. You can order the coffee variations both hot and cold. I recommend the very tasty Green Tea Latte. It has won me over so much that I will be writing a recipe for it soon. For dessert you can soon order the Korean snowflake ice cream (Bingsu). At my visit, the ice cream machine imported from Korea was not yet working.

My Conclusion at a Glance

If you live in Heidelberg or the surrounding area, then I recommend you try Korean Fried Chicken. In the case of a short trip, you will certainly focus on the nostalgic German restaurants. As a student, you can get to know the Korean Chimaek culture here with your friends, try juicy chicken with beer and reflect on your day.