According to Brown's website, Waukegan is "Call Store." Not a good sign. But there's plenty more locations including Skokie.

Never been, but now I want to try it. Tenders and a big pile of fried okrey. Wonder if I could finish a half pound?

I grew up on the Brown's Chicken locations in Western DuPage, most notably the location at Hillside/Washington in Naperville. I probably have not had it since a family party many years ago but it is still in business.

tjr wrote:According to Brown's website, Waukegan is "Call Store." Not a good sign. But there's plenty more locations including Skokie.

You are quick to assume things sometimes.

They probably don't have the staff to keep up dining room maintenance, so they concentrate on getting food to their customers. When you cannot do both, well their priorities are right.

At least a few months ago, this same store location was serving smoke BBQ on weekends only. The signage wasn't clear if this was a sub-vendor or a test project from Brown's.

Regards,
Cathy2

tjr wrote:According to Brown's website, Waukegan is "Call Store." Not a good sign. But there's plenty more locations including Skokie.

Never been, but now I want to try it. Tenders and a big pile of fried okrey. Wonder if I could finish a half pound?

The reason is the Waukegan Brown's was hit hard by Covid and is closed Monday's, Tuesday's and Wedensday's.

I grew up with Brown's (Hubbard Woods) and always thought it was just okay. Distinctive, yes but also pretty bland. Their orange coleslaw was of more interest to me. But I thought if Brown's had a sweet spot, it was leftover/cold. That was my favorite way to eat it. It's been decades. Maybe I'll give it another whirl soon.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:I grew up with Brown's (Hubbard Woods) and always thought it was just okay. Distinctive, yes but also pretty bland. Their orange coleslaw was of more interest to me. But I thought if Brown's had a sweet spot, it was leftover/cold. That was my favorite way to eat it. It's been decades. Maybe I'll give it another whirl soon.

=R=

Good way to explain it. It is on the bland side but on occasion when it's cooked just right it has a good flavor that is unique. But I have had many floury, greasy, bad oil Brown's moments too.

tjr wrote:According to Brown's website, Waukegan is "Call Store." Not a good sign. But there's plenty more locations including Skokie.

Never been, but now I want to try it. Tenders and a big pile of fried okrey. Wonder if I could finish a half pound?

Personally I wouldn't get tenders to rate a chicken on the bone place unless you don't like any chicken on the bone (and I say that as a chicken tender fan). The flavor is always better on the bone. However Brown's tenders are pretty similar to the chicken (unlike say Popeye's - I never liked their tenders flavor).
The Skokie location was somewhat run down the last time I was there. It opened in 1978 when we lived in Skokie and my family changed allegiance from Chicken Unlimited (and KFC) to Brown's. Then we moved to Highland Park and there was a Brown's there as well.

AlexG wrote:am I the only one who thinks that Jewel fried chicken in a pinch scratches an itch?

Kevin Pang agrees with you. Jewel-Osco is winner, winner for chicken dinner. Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2014.

Katie wrote:

AlexG wrote:am I the only one who thinks that Jewel fried chicken in a pinch scratches an itch?

Kevin Pang agrees with you. Jewel-Osco is winner, winner for chicken dinner. Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2014.

Yep, Jewel fried chicken is better than it has any right to be (but not when it's been in the warmer for over a few hours). Best around 5pm on a weeknight.

That also reminds me, in all my Gus's gushing above I forgot my favorite "fast food" fried chicken (by far) is Pollo Campero which I'm sure has been mentioned upthread. I've been on flights from Guatemala City where half the overhead bins were full of hot Pollo Campero buckets/boxes for relatives in the States (for good reason) and the one at Pulaski and Lawrence does a pretty good job of simulating the original. They've cut back on some of my favorite menu items over the years (and no more salsa bar) but the chicken itself is fantastic.

I went to Pollo Campero once some years ago. I thought the chicken was okay but not worth the fuss. What I remember most was the skimpiness of the chicken breast. The bird must have been an avian Twiggy.

How/what are the Yuca fries at Pollo Campero?

tjr wrote:How/what are the Yuca fries at Pollo Campero?

They're basically really starchy fried strips of cassava (yuca) which doesn't have a lot of flavor. I enjoy yuca in some dishes but at Pollo Campero they're behind the rice & beans, fried plantains, and regular fries on my list of go-to sides.

Interestingly in Central America, Pollo Campero ("country chicken") is mostly about chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, etc. Only in the States do they add the Latin American sides and sauces.

Jamie wrote:I went to Pollo Campero once some years ago. I thought the chicken was okay but not worth the fuss. What I remember most was the skimpiness of the chicken breast. The bird must have been an avian Twiggy.

Sounds like you got a bad piece! They're not known for especially large portions but I've always found the sizes comparable to other fast food joints (or Jewel for that matter).

My dad was always a big fan of Brown's, some of their unique items made it special, including gizzards, and the orange-colored slaw.

There was one in Evanston (Dempster/Dodge) in the 80s we'd pick up from when I lived out that way, I swear they had a spicy option.

PeteF wrote:

Katie wrote:

AlexG wrote:am I the only one who thinks that Jewel fried chicken in a pinch scratches an itch?

Kevin Pang agrees with you. Jewel-Osco is winner, winner for chicken dinner. Chicago Tribune, April 30, 2014.

Yep, Jewel fried chicken is better than it has any right to be (but not when it's been in the warmer for over a few hours). Best around 5pm on a weeknight.

That also reminds me, in all my Gus's gushing above I forgot my favorite "fast food" fried chicken (by far) is Pollo Campero which I'm sure has been mentioned upthread. I've been on flights from Guatemala City where half the overhead bins were full of hot Pollo Campero buckets/boxes for relatives in the States (for good reason) and the one at Pulaski and Lawrence does a pretty good job of simulating the original. They've cut back on some of my favorite menu items over the years (and no more salsa bar) but the chicken itself is fantastic.

Me and Pete have similar fried chicken taste buds. While I still prefer Jollibee and Popeyes, pollo campero makes a mean fast food fried chicken

I worked at the northbrook browns chicken as a teenager many years ago and it's giving me all the greasy feels.

Tried the Skokie location a few years back and thought it was some of the worst fried chicken ever. Probably due to my 1st comment!

But if they still have em, I'll forever love the fried mushrooms, livers and gizzards.

Not lately but for a really really long time, most of the younger set in the family the eats portion for parties was Brown's chicken and mostaccioli. Sometimes, if they were feeling spendy, Italian beef.

Eating Brown's at parties always made me wish I drank more.

A couple of recent broasted chicken experiences: Crandall's in Hebron, all you can eat broasted/fries or mashed/cole slaw/rolls for $14.95. Everything was quite good, including cole slaw and apparently hand cut fries. There was a half hour wait on a Sunday evening and service was a little slow but no stinting on the all you could eat part.

The Tropics at the Winthrop Harbor Marina, 4 piece broasted with broasted potato wedges and cole slaw for $15.95. Plenty of nice chicken. Slaw was not great. I really enjoyed the broasted potatoes - wish more places would broast them, and broast tenders too. Atmosphere was far more family friendly than most marina bar/restaurants.

Ram4 wrote:

skinnychef312 wrote:North Branch Fried Chicken - great local shop. Extra crispy crust, juicy inside, no fuss.

North Branch Fried Chicken
5481 N Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60630
https://www.northbranchfriedchicken.com/

My friend just moved right around the corner from there. I will definitely check them out.

North Branch Fried Chicken Closing After 3 Years

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/07/24 ... r-3-years/

Dave148 wrote:

North Branch Fried Chicken Closing After 3 Years

That space has been a number of different restaurants. North Branch included. I ate there once, thought the chicken ~fine~ if a bit salty. Beans were great! Never had the urge to go back even though its only a 15-minute easy drive from my house.

click to enlarge

Between North Branch & Mother Klucker's, tough couple losses for NW side fried chicken joints. I liked ordering from both, although only tried North Branch once.

I have not tried it but Big Guys Sausage in Berwyn is now Berwyn Fried Chicken. It is supposed to be very good. Run by the same guy.

I am not a fried chicken expert but I've been to Berwyn Chicken twice and thought it was excellent. Brendan did fried chicken at Big Guys but it shines as the star of the show in this venture.