![]() ![]() The joy of this particular style is the combination of hot, savory and sweet, which leaves your mouth burning but craving more at the same time. Guests can choose their heat level, and i've tasted the chicken at the "Classic" and "Hot" levels-I'm saving "Xtra Hot" for a particularly masochistic mood. As a final touch, the chicken is served atop thick white bread and topped with pickle slices.Ī Mural at the back of The Budlong in Lincoln Square. The highlights? After brining and battering, the chicken is fried and then dipped in a spicy/savory paste of goodness that gives it a signature flavor the Budlong folks claim that their spice recipe took over a year to develop. In case you aren't familiar with Nashville Hot Chicken, this primer from Serious Eats will tell you all you need to know. The first sign for the Western Avenue location went up years ago, but some development woes (happily forgotten and not worth recapping now that there are hot chicken tenders within my grasp) slowed down the project. Sadly, the path to this particular location has been a bit tortured. Their location inside Revival Food Hall was my favorite thing in the place, beating out such other Chicago food luminaries as Fat Shallot, Aloha Poke and Brown Bag Seafood. This isn't my first encounter with The Budlong, which specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. While my first love will likely remain Honey Butter Fried Chicken (followed closely by Big Jones, which I think serves some of the best "fancy sit down" fried chicken in town), my new hometown hero, dangerously located about 4 blocks from my house, is The Budlong, which opened last week on Western Avenue. The fried chicken market is heating up in Chicago. To celebrate the reopening, Majewski said The Budlong will offer its chicken sandwich for $3 - normally $6.99 for thigh meat and $9.99 for breast meat, according to its website - on April 6 during lunch and dinner at all four locations.The chicken tenders at The Budlong. Online ordering and will renovate existing stores for a streamlined take-out and third- party pickup process. We are so much more than hot chicken." Craveworthy also plans to launch a rewards program and an updated website for easier ![]() ![]() "Expect to see more changes to our menu regularly while always keeping what made Budlong Budlong, which is America's first true Southern chicken spot. "My culinary team will be continually working on keeping the menu fresh and current in the trends today and pushing the envelope on what we can do with toppings, sides and overall flavors of our food," Majewski said. In addition to opening new stores, Craveworthy brought on culinary professionals Becca McIntyre and Robert Kabakoff to oversee the brand's expansion and new menu items. "Since we are willing to go into second-generation restaurant locations, we have low buildout cost and quick buildouts," he said. He added it launched a franchise sales program on April 1 and will actively sell stores across the country. "It had a cult following of devoted fans that were extremely passionate about it." Over the next four years, Craveworthy plans to open corporate stores around the country, Majewski said. "In any deal I have to love the food first, and Budlong nailed that," Majewski said. He said the size and square footage needed to quickly open numerous locations was part of the attraction to acquire The Budlong, but the menu items' quality and popularity sealed the deal. Majewski tells Crain's three new locations will open in Lakeview, Oak Brook and Dallas in the next few months. Budlong reopened its locations in Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Hyde Park and in the Loop within the Urban Space Food Hall, Block Club Chicago first reported. It added The Budlong to its portfolio and has plans to open 100 stores by 2027. Craveworthy owns, operates and franchises three other brands - Wing It On, Krafted Burger Bar & Tap and Lucky Cat Poke - across 18 states. ![]() Stores, bought The Budlong for an undisclosed amount last year. Craveworthy Brands, launched inĢ022 by Gregg Majewski, a quick- service restaurant executive who oversaw Jimmy John's expansion from 30 to 300 Now under new ownership, The Budlong reopened its four locations this week. Last year, Leonard, who moved to Colorado in 2017 to open other restaurants, put out feelers to potentially sell the brand. After Jared Leonard opened the first location of The Budlong Hot Chicken in Lakeview in 2016, its popularity grew quickly and more locations followed. ![]()
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