Oculi wrote:In downtown Joliet, you might try Chicken-n-Spice . . . Chicken-N-Spice has a very crisp and tasty batter for their chicken--it's simple and good (although usually pretty greasy). It also has just the right amount of bite, but if you need more, add some hot sauce or spicy rice.
Last month I hopped on the Metra to Joliet for some playoff baseball—Joliet JackHammers versus Kansas City T-Bones. The pretty little ball park is right downtown next to Union Station, not exactly an area awash in interesting restaurants.
Chicken-N-Spice gets
rave reviews on Yelp and
Holly Moore gives it a respectable four-out-of-five rating. The building, across the street from "Joliet's Brightest Spot," once housed a Jack in the Box.
Reading the reviews got me in the mood for chicken chunks* and seeing the George & Eddie special sealed the deal.
What can I say? The chunks were good—nicely spiced, not-too-greasy breading and pretty moist boneless breast meat. The rice was a bit dry but the potatoes were freshly prepared and surprisingly tasty (I usually don't care for battered fries). Even the biscuit was decent. I'm curious how their regular chicken on the bone compares to the chunks.
Chicken chunks seem to be a big deal around Joliet. The fourth inning chicken dance that takes place during every JackHammers game is sponsored by a local restaurant by the name of Chunky Chicken. They also specialize in chicken chunks, dirty rice, potato wedges and biscuits.
Oh, the JackHammers lost that game, 1-0, but made a good series of it, losing to the T-Bones in extra innings of the decisive fifth game. Wait 'til next year!
Chicken-N-Spice
251 N Chicago St
Joliet IL
815-727-1100
*There are 15 reviews on Yelp and 10 praise the chicken chunks:
the best chicken chunks you'll ever eat!
CHICKEN CHUNKS!
The Chicken Chunks are Awesome
You want the chicken chunks and you want them NOW.
the chicken chunks are good.
They are called CHICKEN CHUNKS...come on, seriously...how
is that NOT amazing?
I revisited there just last week and instantly memories of the awesomeness of their chicken chunks came flooding back to me.
I love the chicken chunks
The chicken chunks are what you're here for.
OMG the CHICKEN CHUNKS are out of this world.