Two Naperville restaurants are among the 10 best places for fried chicken in the suburbs, according to Yelp.
Dave’s Hot Chicken at 2736 Showplace Drive and Chicken Lit Tenders and Wings at 931 E. Ogden Ave. were judged “Chicago Burbs’ best spots for fried chicken” by users of Yelp, a user-driven website in which people leave reviews and make recommendations for a variety of businesses and services, including restaurants.
Another restaurant on the list, bb.q Chicken, made the list for its Schaumburg location. The same franchise just opened inside the Naperville H Mart’s food court at 1295 E. Ogden Ave.
Raj Patel, who owns the Dave’s Hot Chicken in Naperville, was thrilled by his restaurant’s inclusion on the list.
“We’ve got a town we can be proud of,” Patel said.
His business opened last summer, the first location for the California-based chain in Illinois. Since then, franchises have opened in Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood and Melrose Park.
The restaurant sells tenders and sliders, and patrons can choose from sauces that range from no spice to “reaper hot.” Depending on the order, meals come with pickles, sliced bread and kale slaw, and sides like fries and mac-and-cheese can be added.
“The reception has been great. People love the food. And I think there’s a little something extra in Dave’s. The fans persistently keep coming back for more,” Patel said.
Chicken Lit Tenders and Wings offers a menu that includes tenders, wings, seafood and chicken tender sandwiches, which can be paired with 10 sauces. Among the options: Yummi, Sweet & Fruity, Mild Asian Bing, Spicy Bourbon and Mango Habanero.
The Korea-based bb.q Chicken boasts 100 American locations in 20 states and plans to open another 150 more in 2022 as it looks to expand the market for Korean fried chicken.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is also growing, Patel said. The company plans to add four or five new stores in the Chicago area over the next year, he said.
Patel said he thinks chicken restaurants are gaining in popularity because there are so many different ways to serve it, and that appeals to customers who are looking for something new or different.
Chicken may also be seen as a healthier option to beef and hamburger, he said.
“More people are shifting away from red meat. I think that’s why you see these places pop up. And you’re seeing a lot of great places selling chicken,” Patel said.
raguerrero@tribpub.com
