Gotta Try It: Fry the Coop - Nashville Hot Chicken

Photo courtesy: Fry the Coop

Turn up the heat and mosey on down to Fry the Coop in Oak Lawn for some mouthwatering Nashville Hot Chicken.

What is Nashville Hot?

It is hot and spicy fried chicken, but it’s a dry heat. Fresh from the fryer, the chicken is dusted with your choice of heat. They offer five heat levels from Country (no heat) to Crazy (call 911). Evie and I tried mild, which was tasty and the right heat for me. My husband ordered medium. Medium packs a little more zing, which is up Evie’s alley. She said medium next time, please.

So, Nashville Hot is not as messy as their saucy siblings, buffalo wings - but you'll still need a napkin or two. Their frying technique seals the flavor into every bite. What you get is crispy, yet tender and juicy, lip-smacking, full of flavor chicken. An added bonus: They also pride themselves on only using fresh, cage-free chicken.

The menu at Fry the Coop is limited, but you can tell they focus on what they do best – scrumptious, perfectly fried chicken. If you don’t like it hot, order Country, no heat, just flavor. Fries are hand cut and double fried. Every order is hand-dredged, fried to perfection and served fresh and piping hot. So, expect a little wait from order-to-serve. Don't worry, it's worth the wait. Get your taste buds ready with a refreshing fountain drink while you wait.

We tried:

Chicken & Cheese Sandwich: crisply fried chicken breast (medium heat) served with American cheese, pickles and a “special sauce” on a freshly baked brioche bun. The sauce adds a tangy zing. The brioche is made especially for Fry the Coop at a local bakery. One word, YUM!

Jumbo Tender Plate: three very meaty, crunchy, succulent tenders (mild heat). The portions are incredibly generous – definitely, enough to share. They are not kidding when they call them jumbo tenders. I am guessing you get about 1 ½ chicken breasts on the plate. I love their cooking style, each bite is an explosion of flavor. The mild still packs a bit of a punch for me, so I added creamy ranch and sweet mustard sauces to cool things down a bit.

French Fries: hand-cut, twice-fried, skin on potatoes. Salty, savory, crispy morsels. I upgraded the fries to cheese fries (a cup of melted cheese). Fries and cheese - two great tastes that taste great together!

Macaroni salad: deli-style, creamy, mayonnaise-based macaroni salad with tiny bits of carrots and celery. A cooling choice to counter the spicy chicken. Just like grandma used to make.

Open most days, check their website for specials.

5128 W 95th Street, Oak Lawn  (708) 576-8645  frythecoop.com