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Crazy Bird - Larry Tucker Rides Again

Crazy Bird - Larry Tucker Rides Again
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  • Crazy Bird - Larry Tucker Rides Again

    Post #1 - September 10th, 2014, 9:22 am
    Post #1 - September 10th, 2014, 9:22 am Post #1 - September 10th, 2014, 9:22 am
    Thanks to a tip posted in the Openings & Closing thread, I visited Crazy Bird for lunch yesterday. Located in the former Treat Yourself BBQ space, Larry Tucker, of NN Smokehouse fame, has opened up a fried chicken emporium.

    Crazy Bird
    Image

    It was good to see Larry. I was invited behind the bulletproof glass to check out the new operation. Although the menu is primarily chicken focused, all of the sides are house-made in small batches.

    Cornbread Muffins
    Image

    Greens with Smoked Turkey
    Image

    Sweet Potatoes
    Image

    The chicken itself was pretty good. It's brined overnight and breaded to order in a very lightly seasoned dredge. Fresh from the fryer, it was hot and crispy, and even after a drive back to the north side, it still retained a nice crunch. Pieces tended to the small side, but so are the prices (only $7.99 for a 1/2 chicken with two sides).

    Crazy Bird Two Piece Dark
    Image

    Side of Greens with a Few Sweet Potatoes Thrown In
    Image

    Larry's wife, Ruby, works in the shop as well. She makes some excellent desserts (I was gifted a piece of her excellent Caramel Pound Cake) as well as fresh brewed sweet tea.

    Ruby Serving Sweet Tea
    Image

    My next visit will definitely be on a weekend. It seems that Larry inherited a small aquarium smoker when he took over the space.

    Aquarium Smoker
    Image

    He's been smoking rib tips and jerk chicken on the weekend. I need to check that out. After all, BBQ is what first brought Larry to our attention.

    Oh, and one more thing, as I was looking through the menu once I got home, I noticed that they serve "Crazy Bird Crazy Good Fries" which are listed as "Fries topped with gravy, cheese & Duck bacon (yup duck!)". How I ever missed that when I was ordering, I'll never know. Duck bacon topped fries? Count me in.

    Crazy Bird
    1138 S. California
    Chicago, IL 60613
    773-801-0451
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #2 - September 10th, 2014, 10:37 am
    Post #2 - September 10th, 2014, 10:37 am Post #2 - September 10th, 2014, 10:37 am
    The photo of the big bowl of pancit is missing.
  • Post #3 - September 10th, 2014, 11:29 am
    Post #3 - September 10th, 2014, 11:29 am Post #3 - September 10th, 2014, 11:29 am
    I know where my next visit to the south side will lead me!

    Buddy
  • Post #4 - September 10th, 2014, 11:53 am
    Post #4 - September 10th, 2014, 11:53 am Post #4 - September 10th, 2014, 11:53 am
    kenji wrote:The photo of the big bowl of pancit is missing.


    No pancit. Although Larry's wife used to make the pancit, this is a different wife (though still Filipino).
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #5 - September 10th, 2014, 12:59 pm
    Post #5 - September 10th, 2014, 12:59 pm Post #5 - September 10th, 2014, 12:59 pm
    stevez wrote:
    kenji wrote:Philippian.


    ! Ha.

    She looks Filipino, not Macedonian.
  • Post #6 - September 10th, 2014, 2:09 pm
    Post #6 - September 10th, 2014, 2:09 pm Post #6 - September 10th, 2014, 2:09 pm
    kenji wrote:
    stevez wrote:
    kenji wrote:Philippian.


    ! Ha.

    She looks Filipino, not Macedonian.


    ! Ha. Ha.

    I changed it in the OP.
    Steve Z.

    “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”
    ― Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Post #7 - September 10th, 2014, 6:08 pm
    Post #7 - September 10th, 2014, 6:08 pm Post #7 - September 10th, 2014, 6:08 pm
    No pancit. Although Larry's wife used to make the pancit, this is a different wife


    Ruby is wife #3, if memory serves. :wink:
  • Post #8 - September 12th, 2014, 2:39 pm
    Post #8 - September 12th, 2014, 2:39 pm Post #8 - September 12th, 2014, 2:39 pm
    That was some damn good pancit. Sorry it didn't work out.
  • Post #9 - September 12th, 2014, 7:07 pm
    Post #9 - September 12th, 2014, 7:07 pm Post #9 - September 12th, 2014, 7:07 pm
    As the bird turns...
    "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
  • Post #10 - September 14th, 2014, 9:11 pm
    Post #10 - September 14th, 2014, 9:11 pm Post #10 - September 14th, 2014, 9:11 pm
    Ruby, Larry's second wife makes delish pansit. Ask her if she can accommodate you if you ever have a taste of our traditional Filipino's famous dish. You won't regret it.
  • Post #11 - November 5th, 2014, 7:08 pm
    Post #11 - November 5th, 2014, 7:08 pm Post #11 - November 5th, 2014, 7:08 pm
    Groupon got me over to Crazy Bird, which was a win all around (SZ forgive me), it being on the way between my office and home, the food very tasty, the owners friendly, and I ended up spending more on sides than either the cost of, or the value of, the Groupon.

    The Crazy Fries are great. The gravy is really more a white garlic sauce, plus cheese, plus scallions and bits of duck bacon, topped with a chipotle bbq sauce on the side, they are more than a meal. Chicken is great, perfectly cooked to order as I waited, well seasoned with a good crispy crust. Off the top of my head I am hard pressed to think of better fried chicken, maybe Big Jones is in the same balllpark? Beans and rice were fine, not exciting but well done. Have not tried the mac n cheese and candied yams we got, because after the fries, one piece of chicken and the beans I was more than full.

    I can imagine making a meal of their home brewed sweet tea or lemonade and the fries. The menu is not any more special than any number of other places on the south and west side, the difference being that every dish is made with care and well chosen ingredients.

    Did find room for half a piece of caramel pound cake.

    While I was waiting for my food a photographer from the Trib arrived, so I expect they will get some well deserved publicity soon. Despite that, Ruby still found time to come out from behind the glass, introduce herself and ask about me. Gracious. In addition to all those things to like, Larry does his cooking and prep to the side of the waiting/dining area and there is a full wall window to watch him while he works. Bread and circus as someone once saud
    d
    Feeling (south) loopy
  • Post #12 - November 6th, 2014, 7:20 am
    Post #12 - November 6th, 2014, 7:20 am Post #12 - November 6th, 2014, 7:20 am
    Came across this Reader write-up while searching on Larry Tucker's name after reading, and drooling over the above photos. Interesting article for me, I did not know Mr. Tucker's vast back-story. The writer compares the duck fries to poutine, based upon the picture this is a version I could see enjoying.

    A legendary barbecue name from the past reemerges—with a chicken joint
  • Post #13 - November 11th, 2014, 10:46 pm
    Post #13 - November 11th, 2014, 10:46 pm Post #13 - November 11th, 2014, 10:46 pm
    Image
    Larry Tucker ("L.T.") by Man_of Steel, on Flickr

    This man- is a MENSCH!
    Go see him- and give his place (& Larry + Ruby his wife) on California near 12th Street some L-O-V-E

    Image
    L.T. Trimming some Collard Greens by Man_of Steel, on Flickr
  • Post #14 - November 13th, 2014, 4:46 pm
    Post #14 - November 13th, 2014, 4:46 pm Post #14 - November 13th, 2014, 4:46 pm
    I had to go back the next day because they left out my corn muffins the first time. Ruby knew why I was back before I even opened my mouth. They invited me in back and fussed over me while preparing another half chicken special to go along with the muffins.

    I sampled their sweet tea while I was there, too. I like sweet tea and this was good - not as sweet as most, and that is fine. Had greens with my chicken and focused more on the fried bird because I was not working my way through the crazy fries first. Larry sort of contradicted me - saying there is no garlic in the white sauce, before admitting there probably was a bit of garlic powder in his seasoned flour. Still, his point is correct - what I called a "garlicky white sauce" is just lightly seasoned with garlic. Most of the tang comes from the sprinkling of scallions.

    Larry was doing rib tips the next day (last Friday) around 1pm, and I wanted to go, but I was busy and going to the same place three days in a row is really not my style anyway.

    For the rest, my first impression was valid - the menu is not different from lots of other places around the neighborhood and town, but the care and technique that goes into those dishes is far beyond what you will find almost anywhere else.

    And yeah, they are sweeties, too, but that is not what I like about the food.
    d
    Feeling (south) loopy
  • Post #15 - November 17th, 2014, 8:34 am
    Post #15 - November 17th, 2014, 8:34 am Post #15 - November 17th, 2014, 8:34 am
    Quick thoughts from the Fried Chicken Chief on this spot - . Really nice guy running the place. Dug ordering through the bulletproof turnstile.

    Fried chicken, cooked to order, but just average (ok for a Chicago spot but nowhere near Rip's or SnS, or even Lee's in the bigger picture), would like to say it was great due to how nice the owner is but I cant. Small bird as noted upthread - not bad - just not great. Red beans and rice were ok, smokey that's for sure -but lacked the depth of flavor I look for in the dish. Caramel cake was just decent as well.

    Image

    1/4 light - w/ redbeans and rice:
    Image

    caramel cake - a decent version - seems like I gotta be in Detroit to get a good slice:
    Image
  • Post #16 - November 5th, 2015, 9:18 pm
    Post #16 - November 5th, 2015, 9:18 pm Post #16 - November 5th, 2015, 9:18 pm
    a little BUMP for this place.

    Anyone else hit this spot up? may head over there on Sunday to get some chicken and rib tips
    #SOUTHSIDESLITHER
  • Post #17 - November 17th, 2016, 2:51 pm
    Post #17 - November 17th, 2016, 2:51 pm Post #17 - November 17th, 2016, 2:51 pm
    What is going on with this place? It seems like he's been working on opening up a new place forever.
    I need some Crazy Bird!
  • Post #18 - November 25th, 2016, 7:33 pm
    Post #18 - November 25th, 2016, 7:33 pm Post #18 - November 25th, 2016, 7:33 pm
    Word is...."L.T."'s planning on opening a new BBQ spot on Grand Avenue where the Honey-Baked Ham joint's got the windows covered in brown paper-
    just east of Twisted Spoke,
    over-dere-by-Vinny's Sub's .
    Intel provided by a fellow Restauranteur.
  • Post #19 - April 24th, 2017, 2:26 pm
  • Post #20 - April 25th, 2017, 5:45 am
    Post #20 - April 25th, 2017, 5:45 am Post #20 - April 25th, 2017, 5:45 am
    Oh Thank God.
  • Post #21 - April 25th, 2017, 4:23 pm
    Post #21 - April 25th, 2017, 4:23 pm Post #21 - April 25th, 2017, 4:23 pm
    I'm moving to that area in July. Not specifically for this place, but... :lol:

    Love,
    John
    It isn't that I'm not full...
  • Post #22 - June 15th, 2017, 11:56 am
    Post #22 - June 15th, 2017, 11:56 am Post #22 - June 15th, 2017, 11:56 am
    The DNAinfo article, linked to above, says the new Crazy Bird will open in July. Based on what I saw the other day, that sounds optimistic.

    Image

    Plans are to build a wood storefront, similar to other businesses in the fine old building, but a peek through the cracks suggests a lot of work is yet to be done. I wonder what will happen to the Honey Bear sign, a fixture of Grand Avenue for 25 years. It will be good to have Larry back yet again, hopefully in the near future.

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