Harolds Chicken — Restaurant in Carbondale

LET (clap) ME (clap) SAY (clap) ONE (clap) THING: Harold’s of Carbondale is the business! Y’all…why did this southerner just stumble upon the best chicken wing and catfish spot above the Mason-Dixon Line? I ain’t telling a lie either. On Friday I was on Facebook and happened to come across Harold’s page. I took a look at the menu and decided I might stop by later that evening. I almost went home and ate a half of a cold-cut sandwich from the grocery store I had left in the fridge, but thank goodness my first-mind told me to go by that place Harold’s I saw earlier online.

When I entered the brightly painted and very clean lobby of Harold’s of Carbondale, I was greeted with a smiling face behind the counter. I asked a few questions about the menu and was permitted to test the famous mild sauce before ordering. The menu selection is plentiful and includes various chicken and seafood items, as well as sides and desserts. Choosing what I wanted was so difficult, but I ultimately selected the catfish and chicken combo, substituting the french fries for fried mushrooms. Everything is cooked fresh, so I was told the wait would be 15-17 minuets. When I tell you that the wait was so worth it, I am telling the absolute truth! Once prepared, I took my food to my car and decided to take a little taste of the mushrooms. First of all, the portions are huge! I almost made myself sick from eating over half the mushrooms too quickly. That’s just how good they were. They were delicious, juicy, hot, crispy, and did I say delicious? I was so full from fried mushrooms that I didn’t have room for anything else. You know I had to “check” the food before I drove off though. Y’all, I opened the bag with the catfish and wings and my mind was BLOWN! They give you THREE (3) whole catfish fillets and THREE (3) whole chicken wings in addition to bread, slaw, and fries (or mushrooms in my case).

As full as I was, y’all know I pinched a piece of that catfish off to try it. It was BANGING! Harold’s knows how to cook some southern tasting food! I got out my car and went back into the store to let them know I appreciated them. I had to. Food this good deserves to be shown appreciation. When I was waiting for my food, I learned from the woman who took my order that Harold’s is a black-owned, family-owned restaurant. This particular location is the 29th store owned by the founder’s daughter, which makes Harold’s of Carbondale a small, local, minority woman-owned business. Later that evening once my food was digested a bit more, I tasted the wings with that famous sauce and they are just a delicious as everything else. This is definitely a spot that will get my repeated business. I highly recommend Harold’s of Carbondale. When you go by, tell them that Kindra...

When we ordered we didn't know there was a hour wait time. This was fine by us, we understand that places get busy, especially on a Saturday night. After a hour and 45 minutes we get a text message from our doordash saying our food was going to arrive at 9:14pm. 9:40 comes around so we message the doordash delivery, and she stated that she has been there twice, but had been told that the food is not done. I told her that I would give them a call and just see what was going on. I called and the lady on the phone was so rude. First of all, she was mad that I even called the store, huffing and sighing, while i tried to give her my name. Secondly she was mad that I asked about whether that order was gonna be done soon or not because the doordash delivery person was getting a little nervous about how long it was taking. I had told her that I understood it was busy and that I wasn't mad and I apologize for the inconvenience. I just wanted to know if it was coming soon. She then begins to yell at me, and yes I mean she raised her voice and annoyance was clear in her tone, about how my order could not be done before everybody else's, that I needed to wait and that there was an hour long wait time. She went on to say that its not their fault we arent aware of the wait time, and went on to tell me there was no way it could have been as long as I claimed it was even though I had the emails and the text messages to prove otherwise. I then tried to explain to her that I wasn't mad, and she still continued to yell at me at me before proceeding to hang up on me. My food came roughly 30 minutes later, and my boyfriend was thoroughly upset over the lady on the phone. He wanted to return the food, but I did not want to cause any more trouble than what had already happened. This was discouraging experience, given it was our first time we had ever had them. The food was very, very good. I was very happy with that, but my service was not enjoyable and it will heavily factory in whether we order from there again. Please everyone beware of the wait time before ordering, but I do encourage others to go and try the food. It...

I visited the Harold's Chicken in Carbondale, IL. and I can say that I've been waiting for the longest time ever for them to get there. Now, that they are there, I was reminded of the 79th Street Harold's in Chicago. The quality of the food was excellent because I alwsys order precisely what and how I want my chicken to be fried. Did I receive what I ordered? Well, YES I DID! There are so many things on the menu; yet, my favorite is the 4 piece wings, fries and cole slaw with mild sauce on my fries and my chicken. Now, Harold's is more than just chicken! They serve 2 types of fish, shrimp, pizza pockets, cakes, pies, soda, water, tea, juice, more sides, fish sandwiches and etc.. They also cater food for parties by doing bulk chicken in pans of 50 wings and etc. Prices may vary due to the types of chicken or meat ordered. The establishment is very clean and the employees are friendly at all times. There is video surveillance inside and outside of the establishment. There may be a wait for your food depending on the orders present at times; but, the wait is most definitely worth...