Dak Dak Wings

Dak Dak Korean Wings is a fast-casual wing restaurant in Villa Park, Illinois, founded by Joey Cornell. The shop specializes in double-fried Korean-style chicken wings, a technique that creates a shatteringly crisp exterior that stays crunchy even under the shop's signature sauces.

Cornell, an Elmhurst native and Johnson & Wales graduate, never planned to run a restaurant. After earning his CPA license and spending years in accounting, he stayed active in the food industry through York High School's La Brigade restaurant program, mentoring students even as he built his accounting career.

The shift came when he opened Dak Dak in nearby Villa Park, bringing his double-fry technique to the crowded suburban wing scene. Local food creators stopped by almost immediately, with Ric Gruber Jr. featuring the shop in episode 2 of the HIBT Podcast and calling the wings the most talked-about in the Villa Park area. Cornell's accounting background has proven useful for managing tight margins and pricing the menu to stay accessible for families and after-work crowds.