Jackson Square has a new reason to smell like fried chicken at rush hour. Gangnam Spice, a fast-casual counter from husband-and-wife team Richard Kim and Jiyeon Lee, has taken over the former Jamaica Mi Hungry space at 225 Centre St., a short walk from the Jackson Square Orange Line stop. The spot leans hard into K-culture, looping K-dramas on overhead TVs while serving Seoul-style fried chicken as sandwiches, wings and tenders. The menu mixes classic street-food favorites with a few modern twists aimed at making Korean food feel approachable for a broader Boston crowd.
From truck to Centre Street
Kim and Lee first launched Gangnam Spice as a food truck in 2024, then leveled up to a brick-and-mortar late last year. They celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on Centre Street after taking over the former Jamaica Mi Hungry address. Neither came from the restaurant world: Kim walked away from a career in AI and Lee previously worked as a beautician in Seoul. Friends kept raving about Lee’s home cooking, which nudged the couple to try the truck and eventually commit to the permanent shop, as reported by Jamaica Plain News.
What to order
Chicken is the headliner. The menu highlights three core styles: Basak! Basak! (crunchy and sauceless), Gangnam Spice (inspired by Korean barbecue) and Fire Bird (spicy gochujang). Diners can get each style as a sandwich, tenders or wings. Tenders and wings come in six-, eight- and 12-piece orders, while sandwiches can be teamed up with waffle fries.
Beyond the bird, there is tteokbokki, kimchi fried rice and odeng tang on offer. Chicken typically falls in the 9 to 15 dollar range, with other dishes around 6 to 10 dollars and Korean nonalcoholic drinks at about 3 dollars, according to early coverage from The Boston Globe.
Where it sits in JP
Gangnam Spice operates out of roughly 1,800 square feet at 225 Centre St., offering counter service and seating for about 33 people, according to a city licensing document from Boston.gov. The license lists Richard Kim as manager and notes operating hours of about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. With the Jackson Square Orange Line stop just a short walk away, it is set up as an easy grab-and-go option for commuters and neighborhood regulars.
Halal and plant-based plans
For diners paying attention to dietary details, the chicken at Gangnam Spice is certified halal. The owners also plan to roll out a seitan-style “chickwheat” option later this spring. “Our mission is to share Korean food with as many Americans as possible, making Korean food accessible to everybody,” Richard Kim told The Boston Globe. That balance of authenticity and accessibility shows up in the menu and in the casual, music-forward vibe as the shop settles into Jackson Square.
How to order
For pickup details and the full menu, customers can head to gangnamspice.com. Local roundups list the restaurant’s phone number as 617-516-8054, per Boston Magazine. The city’s Common Victualler license also notes hours of about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and seating for roughly 33 guests, according to Boston.gov. Between the counter service setup and the nearby transit stop, Gangnam Spice is aiming to become a quick, flavor-packed option for lunch, dinner or late-night cravings.
