Red Light Chicken — Restaurant in Chicago

Ok I don't know where to start. I'm walking to the restaurant from the back, and I see a man (maybe 6 feet) looming over a shorter woman and verbally berating her. It was unpleasant to witness but I just walked around the building and didn't involve myself and ordered my food. I later regret this... The food was a pretty good deal and I heard good things, but then I received my order almost instantly. The sandwich was so dry and hard and overall bland that the only explanation I can think of is that they just grabbed it from under a heat lamp and gave it to me. I mean, I wouldn't hesitate to believe it had been sitting out for HOURS.

I almost never do this, but I walked the food to the counter to let them know my issue but I wasn't angry. I just thought it could have been a mistake (don't know how but gave them the benefit of the doubt). And then my heart sank.

The man behind the counter was the man I just saw yelling at this young woman. He told me that all of his food was freshly made and that I was making something up in order to get more food. I was becoming irate but I held it together and I (as politely as I can) asked to speak with his supervisor.... this man was the OWNER!!!!

So I just left. I was disgusted by his response and demeanor. But, here is where it somehow gets worse...

I threw my food in the garbage and left . The young woman is standing there and seems to be on the verge of tears. I asked her what happened, and I told her that I also just had a bad experience with the owner. This was HER story, get ready for this:

She had parked behind the parking lot to load her car from her apartment as she packing to travel. Within 2 minutes somebody drove their car right behind her and blocked her in. She confronted the driver (who was the the OWNER!!!!) and he had something along the lines of this to say: "the back parking lot is for employees. You are not aloud to park there". When she said that she was only going to be there for a few minutes he retorted "oh sounds good I'll move it in a few minutes. Or maybe 30 minutes. We'll see." I guess when I saw him getting in her face he had said "WELL MAYBE LEARN TO READ" - I didn't know people like this actually existed

Bad food - horrible, almost villainous owner - and I'm just now mentioning this but it was noticeably dirty inside. Just stay away...

There is a place in Iowa City, IA called Donnelly’s Pub. It’s been 13 years since I first tried their friend chicken sandwich, which is incredible. Ever since then, I’ve ordered some variation of a fried chicken sandwich every time I ate out in Chicago: Nashville hot, buffalo, hot, plain, you name it. I was always chasing something like Donnelly’s that was in my own backyard. The search is over. Red Light Chicken’s fried chicken sandwiches are the best fried chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. I’m no Guy Fieri, but as you can imagine I’ve tasted a lot of fried chicken sandwiches in Chicago and the Midwest (see above search for perfect sandwich). Red Light Chicken is now the gold standard. The chicken is juicy, flavorful, and pure. The breading isn’t an afterthought: it’s the perfect textural compliment. And the hot, honey, and honey-hot variations are all equally great. The honey is actual, real honey, which makes a difference. And the fries! Incredible. These guys love what they do, they’re super welcoming, and they put out a great and affordable meal. They’re dog-friendly, and they have every soft drink imaginable. My only critique, and when you read this you’re going to think I know these guys but I really don’t, is that they don’t seem to have a tip jar. I appreciate the message there, since they’re pickup only so what would the tip be for, but I’m someone that likes to “vote with my dollars” so to speak, so I wish they had a jar where I could kick them a fiver to support a place I enjoy so much. Because I can only eat so many chicken sandwiches in one sitting. (Please don’t ask what that number is, that’s...

Amazing new addition - I’ve seen the distinctive neon chicken sign in this space for a while and was eager to give it a try when I read they finally opened. The menu is short, but packs a punch. I ordered the nuggets and some fires today and was delighted by both. The fries are superb; well seasoned, crispy on the outside and warm and delicious in the middle. I enjoyed mine fresh out of the frier and can say they might be the best shoe-string fries I’ve ever had. Just incredible. Owner let me sample some truffle fries while I waited, which were rich, delicious, and tempting. Will definitely be trying a full order on my next visit. The chicken was spectacular as well - the nuggets are a pretty good size, and are made from “chunks” of white meat rather than the blended pâté you might get at a fast food join. The breading was delicate and flavorful, encapsulating tender, juiced pieces within. I enjoyed mine with the spicy mayo at the owner’s recommendation and was pretty pleased with he sauce - as a personal preference, I’d lean for more spice, but the dip was nonetheless delightful. Eager to return soon to try the only other item on the menu, the sandwich, which I understand to be their specialty - saw another customer pick one up while I waited and was honestly tempted to order a second...