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Chicken Works and Salad Company

A Chicago North-Sider Grouses about Spatchcock
Near the Kennedy

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What I Ate at Chicken Works

Half Chicken No. 1: “Chicken Works,” $9.89 (half chicken served with pita and choice of two regular sides) • Enough for two reasonably well-adjusted eaters • The chicken is seasoned and grilled whole (butterflied) very simply, similarly to what you might do on a backyard grill if you knew what you were doing. Although spatchcocking should help to prevent it, the white meat was slightly (but not prohibitively) dry and the dark meat was well done but still moist. This leads me to suspect that the whole bird may have been slightly overdone, but not to the point that I’d seriously object to it. Tasty enough.

Homemade Side Dishes: Regular-Size ($2.99 if purchased a la carte; included with the No. 1)

COLD: Carrots with Pineapple • Coarsely shredded carrots, pineapple chunks, mixed with a light dressing that contains, I think, OJ and rice wine vinegar.

HOT: Green Beans • To label this merely “green beans” is misleading. Dressed in soy sauce, sesame oil (I think), tossed w/sesame seeds. It’s a strong flavor profile you’d want to be on board with before ordering.

What I Didn’t Eat (but would’ve, had I been seriously hungry)

Chicken Works and Salad Company has a magnificent-looking salad bar with all kinds of high-end greens and tons of interesting ingredients, including cold rock shrimp and crab. Note that it’s not a prepared foods bar, just salad. Given that, it seems on par with or more interesting than Whole Foods, Mariano’s, or anyone else I can think of. ($7.99 per pound)

What I Thought

With everything, from the chicky to the pita bread, from one side to the other, it was solidly OK. You probably won’t feel as strongly about it (neither as positively, nor as negatively) as you might about Honey Butter, but you’ll pay only about $7.50 per person (adding a couple sodas and tax to the No. 1, no tip). Within a few cents of the price of a Double Quarter-Pounder with Cheese large-size meal. However, – although I’m no nutritionist – I think you can make much better choices at ChickWorks, while still being equally satisfied with your meal, probably.

The salad bar, which I didn’t have, I would definitely have, if I were in the neighborhood and hungry for field greens. It seems like a huge stand-out on the plus side.

What I Think

Chicken Works and Salad Company: Irving Park near Elston, in the Irving Park neighborhood.

I would like to steal the marquee and install it somewhere in Boystown. I wouldn’t give the establishment a name. The boys would instinctively know what to call it. And, of course, they’d flock to it.

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