Our five favorite chicken sandwiches in Chicago in 2021

Roost SandwichAdam and Madalyn

Chicken sandwich wars aren’t just happening at fast-food restaurants. Believe it or not, there are better handmade chicken sandwiches in Chicago than at Popeyes or Chik-fil-a.

This is our list of our five favorite Chicago chicken sandwiches from 2021.

As always, if your favorite spot didn’t make the list let us know in the comments below, and we will check it out in 2022!

Crisp

Crisp Chicken SandwichAdam and Madalyn

The first spot on our list is Crisp in Lincoln Park. This Korean fusion restaurant serves up one of the best Chicken sandwiches we have ever had. Crisp’s Foodie Choice fried chicken sandwich is our go-to order here. The sandwich is a deep-fried chicken breast glazed in a sauce of your choice, topped with spinach, tomato, bleu cheese, bacon, mayonnaise, and their special Atomic Sauce; all served on a Brioche Bun. Their menu also has an incredible assortment of Korean fried chicken, including their famous Seoul Sassy Wings, as well as their unique Bi Bim Bop rice bowls. We recommend ordering their chicken sandwich and their Seoul Steak Bowl to try a little bit of everything.

Crisp is located at 2940 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657

Roost Chicken and Biscuits

Roost SandwichAdam and Madalyn

Another place that has long been a favorite is Roost Chicken and Biscuits. Roost’s specialty is hot fried chicken and comforting southern side dishes. The Carolina Style sandwich is a spicy fried chicken sandwich topped with jalapeno pimento cheese on one of their delicious biscuits.

We love pimento cheese, and this sandwich hit the spot! Also, whenever we visit Roost, we have to grab a few hillbilly tacos. Hillbilly tacos are fried chicken tenders topped with slaw and chipotle ranch wrapped in a tortilla. A word of warning, their hot chicken, can get very hot so beware when ordering one of their fried chicken extra spicy!

Roost is located at 457 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

The Budlong Hot Chicken

Budlong SandwichAdam and Madalyn

Another favorite spot of ours is The Budlong Hot Chicken. Budlong’s Nashville hot chicken is some of the best chicken in the city, and their portions here are huge. When we visit, we order both their chicken tenders and their Classic Hot Chicken Sandwich.

Their chicken sandwich is delicious, as it is topped with their house-made slaw, house comeback sauce, and Budlong pickles. The chicken here can be spicy, but it is always delicious regardless of the heat level. Not only is their fried chicken sandwich delicious, but their bone-in fried chicken is also incredible. Budlong has several locations across the city, so there are many opportunities to try their hot chicken.

Budlong Hot Chicken 1008 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614.

Fry the Coop

Fry the Coop has six levels of heat and five locations around the Chicago area. Their heat levels are as follows: country (no heat), mild, medium, hot, crazy (call 911), and lil’ insanity (as the menu says “R.I.P.”) That warning should be taken seriously. The heat is no joke, and neither is the flavor of their fried chicken sandwiches. To mix it up, you can even get your fried chicken sandwich on a glazed donut. Mmm.

Fry the Coop is located at 1529 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken

HBFC SandwichAdam and Madalyn

Avondale’s Honey Butter Fried Chicken is a go-to spot for chicken lovers in Chicago. Their Honey Butter Fried Chicken Sandwich is top-notch. A big part of that is namesake honey butter. While it may seem simple, their honey butter is absolutely a gamechanger when it comes to enhancing a chicken sandwich. Don’t skip out on a side order of corn muffins and honey butter if you visit.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken is located at 3361 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618.

If there’s a chicken sandwich spot that we should visit in 2022, let us know in the comments below!