While hot chicken is a phenomenon all over the United States, Philadelphia has become a major player in the hot chicken industry. Hot chicken, which originated in Nashville, Tennessee, involves marinating chicken in hot sauce and buttermilk, coating it in flour, deep-frying it and then covering it in a cayenne pepper sauce.
One staple of hot chicken restaurants is their loaded fries: french fries topped with chopped chicken, cheese and a house sauce. Whether you’re already a fan of hot chicken or looking for fun new food, here are four of the best places near St. Joe’s Hawk Hill and University City campuses to try hot chicken loaded fries.
Address: 16 S 40th St., Philadelphia, PA 19104
Price: $13.99
Asad’s Hot Chicken is a popular spot with 11 restaurants in the Greater Philadelphia area. The front of the store is filled with colorful wall art, followed by a small interior with their logo on the wall. Asad’s Hot Chicken is considered “Philly’s First Hot Chicken Joint,” according to their Instagram. Their menu has all the staples, including loaded fries, a slider combo, a tenders combo and even a tender wrap combo.
Their loaded fries look the part, smell the part and taste the part, with a savory house sauce and chicken seasoned to perfection. The chicken has solid breading and very tender meat with a hint of spice from the seasoning. The fries are crispy on the outside, with a soft inside made even tastier by the sauce.
Hav Khan, an employee at Asad’s, said he believes Asad’s quality and variety set them apart from the competition.
“[It’s] the uniqueness about the sauce and the spice,” Khan said. “… We do quality milkshakes, smoothies, a lot of customers ask for that.”
Address: 10 W. Chelten Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144
Price: $11.99
Hot Clucks, a rapidly growing member of the Philadelphia hot chicken scene, is full of flavorful options. The restaurant has no seating, instead offering a window-operated service where everything is takeout. This location sells the expected options for a hot chicken restaurant, but it stands out with their loaded fries.
The portion sizes are on the smaller side, but the sauce is absolutely delicious with a smooth texture and a spice level that adds immensely to the flavor. The breading of the chicken is tasty and falls off the meat, with fries that are crunchy and mix perfectly with the sauce.
Hot Clucks has the fewest locations, with only two, compared to many of the major chains taking over Philadelphia, proving to be a diamond in the rough for the hot chicken scene. Visiting this restaurant is a must-do for those interested in hot chicken.
Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings
Address: 175 W. City Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Price: $11.95
Located across the street from Lannon Hall, Hangry Joe’s is the most accessible place to get hot chicken near St. Joe’s Hawk Hill campus.
Hangry Joe’s chicken differs from the usual hot chicken style, as they also use Korean marinade and seasoning techniques. This adds an extra kick to the chicken, making it spicier and tangier. Their menu consists of chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, Korean chicken nuggets and the hot chicken favorite, loaded fries.
While the style of their chicken strays away from the norm, their food is rich in flavor. Additionally, their chicken is juicy and not shy in portion size. Their crunchy waffle fries with melted cheese on top also add a unique twist to their loaded fries. With its proximity to campus and its variety of options, Hangry Joe’s is a great option for St. Joe’s students.
In fact, Khuzaima Adil, the owner of the Bala Cynwyd Hangry Joe’s, hand-picked its location for its proximity to St. Joe’s.
“Our whole business model was to cater to the students,” Adil said.
Address: 6151 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128
Price: $12.72
Based in Philadelphia, Nanu’s is a rapidly expanding chain that just opened a new restaurant in Roxborough. The store has a similar setup to Asad’s, with the inside filled with wall art and a menu sign featuring their delicious meals. The menu consists of the usual loaded chicken fries, sandwiches and tenders, but it also includes a shrimp-loaded fries option, unique to Nanu’s.
Nanu’s loaded fries have a great portion size, with a savory house sauce and an option for cheese whiz on top. The chicken is tender and cooked well, with crispy french fries and a whiz that complements them both well.
