Honey Butter Fried Chicken
| Address: | 3361 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, USA |
| Phone: | +1 773-478-4000 |
| Site: | honeybutter.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | Closed 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–10PM 10AM–10PM 10AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 5
JD
jDub You
Youve seen it and heard it all before. You know... that restaurant that everyone hypes up and you get super stoked about then you go and its just meh. Honey Butter Fried Chicken has had tons of buzz and I was a bit reluctant to go just to repeat the hype cycle. I finally made it to HBFC for brunch and WOWO! This place lives up to the hype. Im not saying your life will change after eating this chicken but your life will change after eating this chicken. I wholly enjoyed my brunch. I enjoyed the Chicken and French Toast, the Brunch Sandwich, and two sides (mac n cheese, and kale salad). That chicken atop french toast almost brought tears to my eyes. The french toast couldve been better but the chicken slathered in honey butter and maple syrup was done just right with the melt in the middle center and crispy outside. HEAVENLY. Honorable mention goes to the brunch sandwich which had a lot of flavors going on with not quite the same harmony as the previously mentioned dish. The mac n cheese was good but not stellar. The kale salad/slaw, however, was unexpectedly good. The serve bang bang coffee and its a decent cup. It wasnt super crowded at 1130am on Sunday morning but seats werent plentiful due to a large group. I grabbed a seat at the back of the restaurant at the bar and got to chat it up with the barista / bartender. I learned a lot about HBFC and who they are. I can tell you that Im a fan and Ill definitely be back for the chicken (no brainer).
MI
Michael Rose
We had a bachelor party of about 20 guys show up un-announced and they treated us as if we were VIPs who made reservations way in advance. We were a bit nervous at first because we knew they didnt take reservations in general, but the place was already somewhat packed and their outside seating was closed at first because of the scattered showers that evening. WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, one of the waitresses hands me a small stack of menus, tells me our group order #, and informs all of us that they will slowly be evacuating their bar area while we order so that our big group has a place to eat and celebrate. Food came soon after we all got our drinks and got seated, they welcomed the cake we brought with us into their restuarant, and the bartender even poured complimentary shots for the husband-to-be. I have never experienced "hospitality on the fly" like that before. Their customer service was as great, if not better, than the food they served us (and that chicken is truly one-of-a-kind amazing). When that experience was over, I made the group wait in the bar before we left so that I could shake the hand of one of the managers and let her know how impressed I was. It is true that the older we get, the less customer service becomes substitutable. Thus, I was nothing less than elated and appreciative of HBFCs efforts to never let us settle for anything less than both exceptional dining and exceptional care. That was truly a pleasure, HBFC. I will be back soon.
RO
Roxy H
HBFC- The hype went down the pipe... Excited to try the place, I came with an open mind. You order and pay when you first come in, get a # and you find a seat. They have a nice patio, I must say. Patio was full, so we sat inside. The place itself is clean, and modern decor. Ordered an 8-piece chicken and 2 sides and fountain drinks. First, it was a bit hard to get over how much they charged for the chicken. Yes, hormone-antibiotic-free-amish-locally-sourced chicken was the price for that, fine. When we got the chicken, we got breasts, thighs, and legs. No wings? ok. There was NO BONE in the thigh or breast. I felt like i was eating a big chicken nugget that was dry. Coating is double dipped, definitely not for me then. I like crunch, but it was too thick. The honey-butter that they suggest to put on top of the chicken was very good, and gave the chicken flavor. The side I picked was the kale-cabbage slaw with a yogurt dressing. Different and taste was on point, but for the portion I got according to the price I paid, not justifiable. The corn bread that they gave with the chicken, was o.k. not bad, but a bit on the small side. I do like the imprint they have on the bottom, which looks like a bee. Nice touch. The fountain drinks were different and I liked very much. All in all, it has its pros and cons and it is pricey. Not sure if I will go again, but I would recommend trying it out and see for yourselves.
ER
Eric Olson
Its important that you you have the right expectations going into this. Honey butter fried chicken is basically fast food, but its fast food thats done with real attention to detail, honesty, and passion. Its real, soulful food. In terms of quality it is light years ahead of what I would consider other fast casual chicken joints, and its not their fault theyve been hyped to death and people walk in expecting it to be something that its not. That said, the fried chicken is crisp and moist and i like the honey butter on it. The sides are very very well done, with the pimento mac and cheese being pretty damn excellent in this southern boys opinion. Mashed potatoes with schmaltz were ok, not my favorite preparation, and the kale slaw was very nice. We also tried the nachos and the wings, the nachos were better than the wings, but personally Id stay with the fried chicken. Ill also say, I love them for sharing the wealth with some other Chicago institutions, rather than carry a large national hot sauce on their tables they introduce their guests to Co-Op hot sauce from Edgewater -- and its delicious and a welcome add. They also carry a wide array of local beer and seem eager to introduce customers to something local they might like. Its going to cost more than your neighborhood chicken shack, because there is more man hours and real product in each bite.
SO
Sonjanita Moore
I was concerned when I saw that the venue was the size of a cracker jack box, but theres a back area near the bar that might be more comfortable if you want to engage in an actual private conversation - not possible in the main seating area due to the close family-style proximity of the tables. Plus, when its cold that door keeps swinging open as the line grows longer and longer - that breeze isnt pleasant but youll keep smashing your chicken anyway cuz its tasty! Have to come back in nicer weather to enjoy my cups of honey butter and delectable bite sized corn muffins by the truck load (the muffins and butter alone are the best reason to come back IMO). A note: when side items are gone, theyre gone! I got there between 4 adn 5pm on a Saturday and got the last smashed potatoes which were awesome with the chicken gravy on top - perfectly whipped and perfectly seasoned! Shortly after that greens were gone, corn...it was like a war and the sides were being hit with a constant stream of bullets! Drinks are strong, but $5 each in solo-style plastic cups. All joking aside this place IS small and it ISNT cheap, but its worth a visit. Lines can get long though so time your visit carefully. Parking is on the street on a random corner in NW Chicago area...REALLY long drive for me but I will still come back.
