Independent Bonchon starters guide · October 2026 editorial review

Bonchon Starters: Calories, Sodium & Protein for 10 Appetizers

Compare ten Bonchon starters, from the 219-calorie Sotteok Sotteok skewer to the 1,003-calorie Bulgogi Fries. Our guide uses Bonchon's published nutrition figures to compare serving sizes, calories, sodium and protein, including several appetizer orders that exceed the FDA's sodium Daily Value.

All 10 Bonchon Starters at a Glance

The table shows one identified configuration for each starter. Where Bonchon publishes multiple versions, additional details appear in the individual sections.

Values are for published servings, not equal-weight portions. Sodium DV is calculated using the FDA Daily Value of 2,300 mg, rounded to a whole percent. This is a general labeling reference, not an individualized medical target.

Sodium: Which Bonchon Starters Are the Saltiest?

Sodium varies considerably by starter and topping. The Signature Sesame Salad with Soy Garlic chicken contains 3,166 mg sodium, while Spicy Chicken Korean Tacos contain 2,520 mg. Both exceed the 2,300 mg Daily Value in a single published order.

Potstickers provide 82% of the sodium Daily Value, while Bulgogi Fries provide 75%, before adding anything else to the meal.

Selected published orders, ranked from highest to lowest sodium. Highlighted rows exceed 100% of the FDA's 2,300 mg Daily Value. This is not a ranking of every possible customization.

These totals do not include additional menu items. Explore our Sides nutrition guide and Main Dishes guide to compare other published orders.

Protein per 100 Calories

Protein density is calculated by dividing published protein grams by published calories and multiplying by 100. The comparison below covers selected configurations, not every possible starter variation.

Calculated from the official published nutrition figures and rounded to one decimal. This is a protein-density comparison, not a serving-size comparison or dietary recommendation.

Among the selected configurations in this table, Bulgogi Fries and Signature Sesame Salad with Soy Garlic chicken each provide approximately 4.3 g protein per 100 calories.

Pork Belly Bao Buns provide approximately 1.5 g protein per 100 calories among these selected orders.

Every Bonchon Starter, One by One

MoPo Corn Dog

1 piece · 290 calories · 390 mg sodium (17% DV) · 7 g protein

A Korean-style mozzarella corn dog with a crunchy potato-cube coating.

At 390 mg, this is the lowest-sodium starter among the matched entries reviewed here. Ask your restaurant whether any sauce or sweet coating is included with the order.

Sotteok Sotteok

1 piece · 219 calories · 485 mg sodium (21% DV) · 7 g protein

A Korean street-food skewer combining chewy rice cakes and sausage with a sweet-spicy glaze.

At 219 calories for the published one-piece order, it has the fewest calories among the matched starter configurations in this guide.

Takoyaki

8.1 oz · 342 calories · 588 mg sodium (26% DV) · 10 g protein

Takoyaki are octopus-filled snack bites commonly served with savory sauce and mayonnaise-style toppings.

Because this is a seafood dish, confirm the current ingredients and toppings if you have an allergy.

Shrimp Shumai

Steamed, 7 oz · 470 calories · 910 mg sodium (40% DV) · 14 g protein

Shrimp Shumai are shrimp-filled dumplings. Bonchon's nutrition document contains separate steamed and fried entries.

Preparation	Published calories	Research note
Steamed	470	Officially published value for the steamed row
Fried	321	Officially published value, but the reported macros raise a consistency question

The PDF lists 470 calories for steamed Shrimp Shumai and 321 calories for fried Shrimp Shumai.

However, the reported macronutrients appear inconsistent with that calorie difference. Both values are reproduced as published, but we cannot confidently explain the discrepancy.

Do not conclude from these figures alone that fried Shumai is lower in calories. Confirm current nutrition information directly with Bonchon if this difference matters to your order.

Potstickers

Pork, Soy Garlic, 7.9 oz · 744 calories · 1,876 mg sodium (82% DV) · 17 g protein

Potstickers are dumplings available with fillings and sauce choices. The nutrition document contains multiple entries, so matching the filling and serving size matters.

For example, the reviewed 6 oz pork versions list 544–558 calories and 1,339–1,407 mg sodium. The listed vegetable versions range from 276–354 calories and 685–975 mg sodium.

These ranges cover the specific published variants, not every possible restaurant customization.

Bao Buns

Pork belly, 8 oz · 790 calories · 1,000 mg sodium (43% DV) · 12 g protein

Bao Buns are steamed buns with filling, vegetables and sauce.

The reviewed nutrition document includes a pork version at 790 calories. Do not apply that figure to other fillings unless their nutrition is separately confirmed.

Steamed preparation does not necessarily mean a low-calorie order: this published Bao Buns serving contains 790 calories.

Korean Tacos

Spicy Chicken, 16.6 oz · 960 calories · 2,520 mg sodium (110% DV) · 37 g protein

Korean Tacos feature soft flour tortillas, chicken or bulgogi, slaw and sauces.

Configuration	Serving	Calories	Protein	Sodium
Spicy Chicken	16.6 oz	960	37 g	2,520 mg
Bulgogi	14.7 oz	950	31 g	2,020 mg

The Spicy Chicken version contains 500 mg more sodium than the published Bulgogi version and exceeds the 2,300 mg Daily Value on its own.

Signature Sesame Salad

Plain, 17 oz · 501 calories · 1,571 mg sodium (68% DV) · 7 g protein

Signature Sesame Salad contains greens and vegetables with sesame-style dressing and optional proteins.

Its published sodium changes substantially with the selected topping.

Configuration	Calories	Protein	Sodium	Sodium DV
Plain	501	7 g	1,571 mg	68%
With tofu	593	15 g	1,571 mg	68%
With bulgogi	728	27 g	1,828 mg	79%
With fried chicken	753	31 g	2,231 mg	97%
With Spicy chicken	683	28 g	2,464 mg	107%
With Soy Garlic chicken	667	29 g	3,166 mg	138%

The plain salad is listed as 17 oz; the published add-on versions are 20 oz. Source: Bonchon's 2026 nutrition document.

The tofu version adds 92 calories and 8 g protein compared with plain, while both published rows list 1,571 mg sodium.

Soy Garlic chicken raises the sodium to 3,166 mg, approximately twice the plain salad's total.

Bulgogi Fries

16.5 oz · 1,003 calories · 1,719 mg sodium (75% DV) · 43 g protein

Bulgogi Fries combine seasoned fries with bulgogi beef, cheese and sauces.

At 1,003 calories, this is the highest-calorie starter among the matched entries in this guide.

It also has the most absolute protein among the matched starter configurations shown in the overview: 43 g per published order.

Seoul Sampler

Combination platter · No matched nutrition row in the reviewed PDF

The Seoul Sampler is a combination platter described in restaurant listings as including chicken, Bulgogi Fries, potstickers, Korean Street Corn and coleslaw.

The reviewed Bonchon nutrition document does not provide a complete Seoul Sampler row. Its total calories, sodium and protein cannot be reliably determined without the exact portions.

Confirm the current platter contents, portion sizes and availability with your restaurant.

Bonchon Starters Prices

Bonchon starter prices vary by restaurant, ordering channel, promotions and selected options. This guide does not present a verified nationwide starter price list.

For a useful comparison, select your restaurant through Bonchon's official restaurant locator and check the local ordering menu.

Compare the same serving size, filling and sauce. For Potstickers, Bao Buns and Korean Tacos, check the current piece count before calculating price per piece.

Ingredients and Allergens

Starters may contain or come into contact with wheat, soy, shellfish, sesame, milk and other allergens depending on the dish, sauce and preparation area.

Do not assume a starter is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, halal-certified or safe for a specific allergy.

Ask the selected restaurant about its current ingredients, sauces and cross-contact practices before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Editorial Method

Editorial review: October 2026. This independent guide is based on published materials and is not a firsthand restaurant visit.

• Bonchon Official US Menu : menu categories and dish descriptions.
• Bonchon Nutrition Facts (2026 PDF) : calories, sodium, protein and serving sizes.
• Bonchon Official Nutrition Download Page : check for newer nutrition documents.
• Bonchon Restaurant Locator : find a restaurant and its ordering options.
• FDA: Sodium in Your Diet : reference for the 2,300 mg sodium Daily Value.

Calculations: Sodium percentages are calculated from published milligrams using 2,300 mg as the Daily Value. Protein per 100 calories is calculated from the published protein and calorie figures.

Research limits: The reviewed nutrition PDF does not provide a complete Seoul Sampler entry. It includes a pork Bao Buns configuration, but the figures should not be applied to other fillings.

The Shrimp Shumai steamed and fried calorie figures are reproduced as published, with the apparent macronutrient inconsistency disclosed rather than corrected through an unsupported estimate.

No local starter checkout or exact restaurant-specific price was independently verified for this update.

BonchonMenuPrice.com is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bonchon Franchise LLC. Menu details, ingredients, prices and availability may change. Trademarks belong to their respective owners.