By Honorary Reporter Audrey Boois from South Africa
Photos = Chimac

 
Inspired by Korea's "chimaek" combo of crispy fried chicken paired with beer, Sofie Rooney and Garret Fitzgerald founded Chimac, a restaurant and sauce brand in Dublin, Ireland, that blends Korean fried chicken culture with Irish cuisine. 

Since opening on Aungier Street in 2019, the business has rapidly expanded as its signature sauces are in nearly 900 stores across Ireland and the U.K.

The following are excerpts from an email interview from Oct. 18-19 with Rooney on the brand's journey and her vision for Korean cuisine in Ireland.

What inspired you to establish Chimac?

Garret and I started Chimac because we truly loved Korean fried chicken. We traveled to Seoul in 2016 and were blown away by the crispiness, bold sauces, variety of flavors and the beer. Back in Ireland, we began experimenting with our food. That enthusiasm eventually became Chimac on Aungier Street in 2019, bringing together what we loved about Korean fried chicken with our own Irish perspective.

What about "chimaek" culture appeals to you?

We loved how simple and sociable it was: delicious fried chicken, cold beer and good company. Bringing chimaek culture here felt like a natural fit since the Irish love chicken.

The name also has an Irish connection, as "mac" is the Irish Gaelic word for "son." The name represents two cultures coming together.

How did you blend Korean chicken and Irish tastes to appeal to your customers?

We fry chicken twice to create a crisp exterior while keeping the inside juicy. We also use Korean sauces such as gochujang (red pepper paste), doenjang (soybean paste) and ssamjang (spicy sauce made with soybean paste), blending them with Irish and European food. 

For example, our Kimcheese Burger reimagines Ireland's beloved the crisp flavor of cheese and onion using spring onion kimchi and a rich ssamjang cheese sauce.

What are your hopes for Chimac and Korean cuisine in Ireland?

It would be truly special if Chimac could encourage more people in Ireland to discover Korean ingredients and experience the richness of Korean food culture. Beyond that, one of our biggest dreams is to attend the Daegu Chimac Festival. One day, we'd love to bring our Irish take on Korean fried chicken to the festival and share it with the very people whose culture inspired us.

ljyhwa@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.