Jan. 14--Holy cluck: Shake Shack's fried chicken sandwich, available at just three Shake Shacks in New York since it launched in July, is finally coming to Chicago.
The Chick'n Shack ($6.29), available starting today at both Chicago Shake Shack locations (and nationwide), is a slab of breaded, deep-fried chicken breast with lettuce, pickles and buttermilk mayo, served on the same squishy potato bun as every Shake Shack burger. (Squishy is a compliment here -- the bun melding into the meat until you almost don't know where one ends and the other begins is one of my favorite things about Shake Shack.)
The photo above is a glamour shot from a professional photographer. This is what the sandwich actually looks like:
Now, the (dun dun duuun) taste test. I'd give this an 8 on the strictly regulated 10-point scale of chicken sandwiches as set by the National Chicken Sandwich Cabinet, which definitely exists. But really: It's a satisfying sandwich. It won't change your life. (If a sandwich has ever changed your life, I would like to talk to you.) You'd happily eat two, and then have good dreams while you nap at your desk.
What you'll like: The breading is great. Pull off a piece and savor it alone; it has just the right level of spice to add flavor without hijacking the rest of the elements of the sandwich. I'd probably bathe in the buttermilk herb mayo, made with chives, parsley and thyme, if they'd give me a vat. The bun, as discussed. And the chain is introducing Louisiana hot sauce bottles on its condiment line just because of this sandwich, which is great news all around.
What you'll wish for: A dark meat option. This is quality breast meat (and hormone- and antibiotic-free and all of that). But sometimes you just want the fatty stuff.
If you head over to a Shake Shack to try, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Tweet @ChiTribFood with any raves, rants or inevitable comparisons to Chick-fil-A.
Shake Shack, 66 E. Ohio St., 312-667-1701; 12 S. Michigan Ave., 312-646-6005, www.shakeshack.com.
mconrad@tribpub.com
Twitter @marissa_conrad
