Soy-Garlic Duo Delivers Clean Flavor — and a 'Batter Mix' That Keeps It Crispy
Dining Brands Group’s bhc just strengthened its soy-sauce chicken lineup with Soy Garlic King, launching Original and Honey flavors as its first new menu item of the year. Rather than going heavy-handed, the flavors focus on a mild, clean soy-and-garlic profile, and bhc gives it a crunchy edge with its proprietary batter. Early demand is climbing close to the buzz Kwasakking generated at launch, so it could become the brand’s next steady hit.
On the 26th of last month, bhc rolled out Soy Garlic King Original and Honey, pairing soy and garlic in both takes. This release follows Kwasakking and Sweet Chili King as the company’s initial new offerings this year.
At a launch media event on the 7th, Choi Baek-jin, deputy head of Menu Development Team 1 at Dining Brands Group’s R&D Center, said, “After introducing fried and seasoned menus recently, we created Soy Garlic King to expand the soy-sauce chicken category. We developed a sauce that preserves garlic’s natural aroma so customers can enjoy every last piece — offering a classic Original and a Honey that balances sweet and savory.”
I sampled the Original and found the garlic and soy to be perfectly balanced: savory and clean, without being overly salty. The Honey version layers in honey over the soy-and-garlic base, highlighting that sweet-and-salty dynamic; the sweetness smooths garlic’s bite, making it instantly more approachable.
Notably, both versions stayed surprisingly crisp even after sitting for a while post-event. bhc credits that to the exclusive Soy Garlic King batter mix designed to prevent the sauce from turning the chicken soggy. The mix includes crunch-enhancing ingredients like garlic and sesame, which boost texture and add a toasty, savory note as the chicken cools.
Choi explained, “The sauce is formulated to cling thinly rather than soak the batter, preserving a clean finish. Instead of relying solely on the sauce, our specially developed batter mix lets you taste subtle garlic and nuttiness both outside and in.”
They’ve also paired a dipping option called Sweet Garlic Sauce to keep every bite enjoyable. Sweet Garlic Sauce is both sweet and slightly sharp, and it’s included with orders of Soy Garlic King Original and Honey.
Before Soy Garlic King, bhc’s soy-sauce chicken lineup included Matcho King and Gold King. Matcho King mixes soy and garlic with a spicy kick, while Gold King paired honey with soy. With Soy Garlic King, bhc appears to be aiming for a lighter, more accessible soy-sauce chicken that still has personality — which could help it become a go-to pick.
Early feedback has been strong. Kwasakking moved a million pieces in two months, demonstrating huge initial demand, and bhc says Soy Garlic King is seeing interest at a comparable pace. Importantly, that momentum has shown up even before any TV commercials aired, which the company finds encouraging.
A bhc representative said, “Response has been excellent, and we’re confident in both Original and Honey. We hope this menu wins over consumers who prefer milder, cleaner-flavored chicken, too.”
