By Ava Stryker-Robbins
Fried chicken is a beloved food that many turn to when they need comfort. It is tasty, filling, and something you can douse in many different sauces to dilute all feelings other than contentment.
The fried chicken at Chick Chick, on Amsterdam and 90th Street, is some of the best I have ever eaten. Served with many sauce options, including Soy Garlic, Korean Sweet Gochujang, Hot Honey, Nashville Hot, and more, this fried chicken is delightfully crispy and extremely juicy and flavorful. The sauce I tried—Soy Garlic—enhanced the already flavorful meat with a savory, salty, garlicky taste. Each dish contains three large tenders.
“Seeing other chicken restaurants sell chicken tenders the size of pinkies to save money on ingredients, I wanted to make giant tenders,” owner and chef Jun Park shared with the West Side Rag in an emailed statement. “They are super tasty and juicy.”
“Whether it is for a grab-and-go lunch, dinner around the table, or late night cravings, we hope they are filled with the universal comfort of good food,” Chick Chick’s website says.
Chick Chick opened in 2021 and was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2022, a special prize for good quality, good value cooking. Chick Chick primarily serves fried chicken, but also offers dishes like ramen and fried rice. Park grew up eating chicken every week, and this restaurant is a testament to his love for it. “I wanted to make more delicious chicken at a good price,” he said.
Park attended culinary school and spent time training in higher-end restaurants prior to opening Chick Chick and Jun-Men Ramen Bar in Chelsea. He shared that his grandmother was an incredible cook, and he draws a lot of inspiration from the food she made. “I think I copied her taste.”
Park is proud of Chick Chick and the food it serves. He stated that one of the most gratifying experiences as a restaurant owner is watching “customer[s] eating all the food in a few minutes.”
Additionally, Park is committed to the quality of the food he serves. “Always use fresh, fresh, fresh. Never use frozen. That’s the key” he shared.
“I am thankful to the customers who always eat deliciously!”
Super Tenders cost $13.
The Dish: Super Tenders
The Restaurant: Chick Chick (618 Amsterdam Ave at 90th Street)
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This place is extraordinarily good. Prefer the chicken sandwiches to the tenders but it’s all excellent.
Their fried chicken is also delish
And the staff is terrific too. Always welcoming and efficient. Really great spot.
Agreed, the Nashville Hot Chickwich is my favorite
I’ll have to take your word for that. Because it looks really unappetizing.
this reminds me that 202 million chickens are killed every day to be eaten by us. large scale animal agriculture is ruining the planet, apart from being horribly cruel. I hope more of us will consider our favorite “dishes” which are not other animals.
3 pc tenders for $13. cough uh…nah