Pecking House - Review - Chinatown - New York - The Infatuation
"Pecking House’s Chinatown location is so small, it makes your first apartment seem like a manor on some sun-soaked estate. At the Manhattan iteration of the famous fried chicken spot, you’ll have to ask a fellow customer to pass you a fork, a napkin, a cup of water, or maybe even to tap your credit card. And, as chaotic as that sounds, swimming your way through Pecking House makes this location feel more lived-in and fun than the original near the Barclays Center. If you're new to Pecking House or need a refresher, the former pop-up originally went viral for its Chinese-inflected fried chicken, with well over 10,000 people on the waitlist. And while we wouldn’t stand in a line for their crunchy, Southern-style chicken dusted in Chinese spices or chili oil, it more than does the trick when you need a juicy fried bird. Fortunately, the menu at the Chinatown Pecking House is nearly identical to the original, so there's even more opportunity to get your hands on a sandwich, a quarter chicken, and charred cucumber salad with ginger. And just because everyone is here for chicken doesn't mean you should underestimate the sides, which are often more interesting. photo credit: Will Hartman photo credit: Will Hartman photo credit: Will Hartman Because of the size of Pecking House 2, the majority of your visits here will be for takeout. But if you manage to get a seat against the wall, it’s a nice place to listen to some indie sleaze or oldies, crunch on quarter chickens, and watch people wind themselves to the front of the store. Nicer even—and much more human feeling—than the roomy, tile-and-globe-light original. Your first apartment may have been bigger, but it never had duck fat chili oil sitting in the fridge. Food Rundown Chili Chicken Sando A juicy, crunchy fried chicken thigh drenched in a warm duck fat chili oil and a lemony mayo? Sign us up. This is the best variant of fried chicken to eat at Pecking House, made better by the sweet milk bread that does its best to contain the mess. photo credit: Will Hartman Blackened Chicken Sando Do not confuse this sandwich for a bulking-friendly grilled chicken dish with 250 grams of protein. Sure, nothing on it is technically fried. But the sandwich is still an indulgent hunk, coated in a cumin and anise-forward blackening seasoning, then layered with salsa macha, melted Oaxaca cheese, and pickled jalapeños. Each bite really shines because of the pickled chilis. photo credit: Will Hartman Wings The wings at Pecking House are itty-bitty, crispy, and juicy. We like the Orange sauce, which tastes like lemon pepper wet, except…more orange. photo credit: Will Hartman Sides Often, the most interesting part of a meal at Pecking House won’t be their crunchy chicken—it’ll be the seasonal sides, where the Chinese influence is a bit more visible. We love the classic potato salad and the butter beans with black vinegar vinaigrette, but, if you need your cornbread and potato salad fix, they’ve got good versions of those, too." - Will Hartman
