Archive for 'Chicken House'

At Chicken House, a Banh Mi By Any Other Name Would be Just as Amazing

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I’m rarely envious of my coworker’s lunches, but the other day, I looked up and saw this scene on a co-workers desk and couldn’t help but inquire where he’d procured such a gloriously gourmand beast of a sandwich. It was from Chicken House as it turns out, and seemed like a far cry from the meager sandwich that Zach reviewed several years ago.

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No Mo’ Pho at (Grilled) Chicken House

Chicken House struckoff menu
Chicken House frontGrilled Chicken House, the tiny Vietnamese spot on 36th btw. 7+8th formerly known as Chicken Househas (literally) struck their pho offerings from their menu. I ducked inside and asked what was up, and they told me it wasn’t selling enough to merit continuing. With the tiny size of the place I don’t blame them for not wanting to occupy a burner or two with a stockpot full of pho broth if it went nowhere each day. Zach wasn’t too crazy about the pho a few years back so it seems that there’s no loss here other than having the alternative to Boi Noodles (on 40th and 8th). To be honest, you’re still better off going to Boi for your pho phix.

Sifton Not Down With Chicken House

The bloggiest restaurant critic of all time (and a personal hero of mine) Sam Sifton hit up the Chicken House (on 36th btw. 7+8th) today and clearly wasn’t impressed.

Awwwww… I agree about the banh mi, but nasty is a bit harsh, don’t you think!? I’d call the fried chicken flavorless, but that’s nothing a bit of salt and hot sauce can’t fix! (Thankfully he didn’t try the pho, or else things would have gotten real ugly, real quick.)

Related:
Chicken House’s Vietnamese Food is Just Ok… But At Least Their Bread is From Paris Bakery!

Chicken House’s Vietnamese Food is Just Ok… But At Least Their Bread is From Paris Bakery!

Chicken House

I was beyond excited when Chicken House (the dirty fried chicken joint on 36th btw. 7+8th) reopened post renovation with a whole new Vietnamese section of their menu.  The ownership, which is Vietnamese (natch), hasn’t changed… they just decided to take advantage of our complete lack of decent Vietnamese options in Midtown by adding pho, bun, and banh mi to their menu of fried everything.  I finally made it over there a few days ago to sample the menu… and while I wish I could say everything was amazing (it most certainly wasn’t) there was some worthwhile goodness.

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At Lunch Now: Chicken House is Open!

The newly renovated Chicken House (on 36th btw 7+8th) is certified open! Also confirmed… the presence of banh mi- although be prepared to wait awhile for anything Vietnamese. They haven’t exactly worked out a “system” yet.

Related:
Revamped Chicken House Menu to Include Banh Mi & Pho
Chicken House is the Garment District Version of a Fish & Chip Shop

Revamped Chicken House Menu to Include Banh Mi & Pho

More news from the newly renovated Chicken House (on 36th btw. 7+8th) which is hoping to reopen next week.  I just got a copy of their new menu, and it’s twice as big as the original.  There are still super cheap platters of fried chicken, fried fish, fried shrimp and fried crabsticks… but the new Chicken House will also have Vietnamese banh mi, pho, and bun! If it’s good, this could end up being huge news! Check out the complete Vietnamese portion of the menu after the jump.

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At Lunch Now: Renovated Chicken House Not Open

Bummer! The newly rennovated Chicken House (on 36th btw. 7+8th) didn’t reopen today as expected. They’re ready to go, but are still waiting for the final permits to be approved. They hope to be open next week…

Completely Renovated Chicken House Set to Reopen on Monday

renovations

Midtown’s shadiest fried chicken (and fish) shack just got a huge makeover.  The Chicken House (on 36th btw. 7+8th), which closed for renovations back in October, is practically finished and should reopen on Monday.  The decor looks completely different (it might be entirely take out now), borderline hip, but one of the guys inside assured me it was the same owners and the exact same food.  The big question remains… is it the same low price? I guess we’ll find out on Monday.

Related:
Chicken House Closes for Renovations
Chicken House is the Garment District Version of a Fish & Chip Shop
8th Avenue is the Fried Chicken Corridor of NYC

Chicken House Closes for Renovations

closed

On my way to Koreatown today I noticed that Chicken House (on 36th just East of 8th Ave.) was boarded up.  Apparently they are going to be closed for renovations for a few months.  There’s no question the tiny fried chicken counter could be “cleaned up” a bit… but hopefully not too much.  The dinginess was part of the charm! Luckily there is no shortage of fried chicken options in that part of Midtown.

Related:
Chicken House is the Garment District Version of a Fish & Chip Shop
8th Avenue is the Fried Chicken Corridor of NYC

8th Avenue is the Fried Chicken Corridor of NYC

friedchickenplaces

I have never met a piece of fried chicken I didn’t like. Sure, there have been some transcendent fried chicken moments. My first visit to Roscoe’s Fried Chicken and Waffles in L.A. comes to mind (although you may say the waffle had a little something to do with that.) And of course there was Dunbar’s in New Orleans, which is still the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. Hopefully the rumors of its return are not exaggerated. But I don’t mind slumming it either, and it doesn’t take much to please me. Hot Oil + Chicken (+ Salt & Pepper) = Good.

There is some damn good fried chicken in Midtown. I’ve mentioned Cafe Cello as one of my favorites (on 46th btw. 5+6th) and even KFC has gotten the obligatory mention on the site. But if you want to be at ground zero for NYC fried chicken there is only one place to go. Eighth Avenue. The stretch of that road between the Mid 30’s and Mid 40’s is jammed packed with fried chicken goodness. Here is your guide to navigating the corridor. (A Fried-Chicken-Palooza if you will)

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