Harold's Chicken Shack

Very unprofessional service Wait, time was horrible . Placed order at 12:30 food wasn’t done for pick up until 1:23. No Communication During this time . others came in, placed the order and received their food before me.

Called ahead of time still had to wait 30 MINUTES when I came in for pick up

I usually love the chicken on 87th and Kedzie. However, thr chicken was terrible during my last visit. The texture of the chicken was strange tasting. Don't think I can never go back again.....

Food - The chicken is deeply flavorful and I love the fact that they have opted for more traditional straight fry over the crinkle fries. Surprisingly, they do indeed smoke their meat in a Chicago style aquarium smoker. I was pleasantly surprised when I open the door was greeted with a cloud of smoke, since many restaurants in the area opt for baked and broiled ribs instead. The house made barbecue sauce is a standout winner which coats the already well-seasoned ribs and chicken options. I have not yet tried this seafood options, but this will be next on my list. I have noticed that they employ a small child for their rib tips which is not my personal preference, but next time I'll be sure to request larger cuts of meat as is my personal preference. The portion size for the tip + wing combo is very appropriate for the price, and has been a recent favorite of mine. Initially skeptical, I'm glad I finally gave this place a try. Great food. Service - Unfortunately, I am grading service on a curve compared to other heroes locations and ultimately similar restaurants that are managed/owned by members of the same community (read: kinfolk). Given that as a foreword, the service is pretty good. You won't ever be under the impression that you're at a Chick-fil-A, but neither will you be greeted with disrespect and overt rudeness by a cashier like you may at the nearby Popeye's.. I've been able to call in and order for pickup during rush hour which is impressive considering this is usually a busy time of day for this business. I do think they could benefit from having a better online order system since some menu options that are available in store do not appear on their website. Some employees are noticeably nicer than others, so your experience certainly will differ depending on who's working during your particular visit, but overall I think the service is decent. I would LOVE to see food handlers wear gloves and hair nets though. Atmosphere - The front lobby has more space than your average Harold's location, which certainly comes in handy during Chicago's winter freeze. I did notice that the back of the house appears to be a bit cluttered and not the most organized setup. The lobby could use a bit of Chicago art, maybe some paintings or photographs of local heroes would give it some character For the patrons that are waiting for great food. Overall - While this restaurant is not a part of the original chain of Harold's Chicken Shacks, It does honor its legacy well. I'll certainly be a regular going forward, and I just wanted to take the time to leave a honest review for a business that I've enjoyed the past several times of visited.

February 2024 First time at this location ordered 1/4 chicken dinner hot and mild sauce and rib tip combo Food tasted good only disappointment was the hot links they were too spicy hot to eat! ( Went a 2nd. time a week later ordered two orders of chicken wings and a large rib tip only food again was good service both times was great