Fry the Coop (Prospect Heights)

Fry The Coop ROCKS!! This is my Favorite Fried Chicken on The Planet! No one even comes Close to Their Tenders! Perfect Crunch, Juicy, Tender and Seasoned just right! They are also the Biggest Tenders around. They are also making The Best Chocolate Milkshake in the entire Chicago area! It is new on their menu and they are using a Local Dairy out of Plainfield, IL. Pro Move: They use a Boba Straw for a Bigger Draw on Your Shake. Some more Highlights: Their French Fries ( Fried in Beef Tallow, all of their fried items are Fried in Beef Tallow) These Fries are Fantastic! Also order their Chicken Sandwich, It is Awesome! Finally Their Coop Sauce is so Tasty I could Drink it and Their New Cheese Sauce is Hands Down The Best around. ( I even dip my Tenders in the Cheese Sauce). We also have used Door Dash for this Location and it is Always Amazing! Get here and GET SOME!

All together 3.5 stars but can't give them half a star. We ordered a mini country sandwich and a regular medium, both Nashville, seasoned fries and messy fries. There was more heat on my fries than the sandwich. The chicken on the mini was bigger than on the regular. Overall flavor was good but nothing unique about this food. Definitely not worth a long drive and definitely not worth the money. Would eat again but won't be rushing to come back here. See pictures, which is what they're missing on their menu so you can see what you order before you make your decision-especially when they offer several different styles/types of meals.

Tried Fry the Coop for the first time and it definitely lived up to the hype! I got two Nashville chicken sandwiches, country style (no spice), and they were perfect—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and full of flavor even without the heat. The buns were fresh, and the portion size was generous. The Messy Fries were a standout! Their house-made fries come loaded with coleslaw, pickles, and their signature sauce—super flavorful and satisfying. Great mix of textures, and the sauce tied it all together. I also grabbed a 6-piece order of their nuggets, and they were solid—crispy, tender, and great for dipping. Service was quick, and everything came out hot and fresh. Definitely coming back to try the spicier versions next time.

The food and service are both excellent. Handsdown best chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and tenders in Chicago. Super moist, not greasy, and packed with flavor even without sauce (though the sauce is great). You need to try!! Not sure if Daren is the owner or manager, he checks in with each customer and makes sure everything is good. I mentioned maybe trying “level crazy” next time, and he surprised me with a level crazy nugget on the house. It was no joke spicy, but I really appreciated it. This place is a W

I was turning around here heading to McDonald's. Then I remembered seeing reviews. So I stopped in, glad I did! Great staff, and the best sandwich I've had in a loooong time. I'll definitely be back.

Staff was attentive. Everybody's working getting things done. Food was great! And nobody on their cell phones goofing off. Easy menu. Good stuff. Highly recommend! Girl at the front counter was always on the move and very attentive. Good job

We are a crew working close by. We like to go out once a week. Service on this location has beed really bad. We gave them a few tries cus Fry the Coop has a good reputation. First time one member of our crew got a piece of plastic in the sandwich. Needless to say he never returned. Second time my sandwich had so much oil it literally had 1/4” of oil in the container. Third time was the last draw. Our chicken was cooked all wrong. The spicy level must’ve been crazy cus we could barely eat it. One member of our crew actually returned the chicken. Its disappointing cus we do like their chicken, but we are never coming back to this establishment.

Amazing size. Their “Lil” option was actually like a regular sized chicken sandwich so not little at all! Amazing flavor, wished it were more spicy the Medium flavor, but all in all very good.

Great food, very clean and the decor is interesting too. I got the 30 piece nugget and fries but could eat only half because it was a large portion. I went with the mild seasoning and kept it tame. Bathrooms were nice and clean and the customer service was friendly

I went here for lunch on Saturday. Pretty empty. The menu is pretty basic - maybe 10 items. I went with the Nashville hot chicken sandwich with mild. I wish I would have gotten hotter. Fries were a bit cold. Portion size was good. I actually went to downtown Nashville a day later and had Nashville hot chicken two days in a row. I had a good comparison. I want to come back here and try a hotter temperature. It's hard to beat some of the more famous places in Nashville like Hatties but being so far away in Chicago, this place is still good. Fried chicken is all the rage these days.

This is a good location, mostly. One thing I REALLY appreciate is that they have a drive through--this is the only one I've seen that does, and having a child who doesn't know how to walk yet and can be difficult getting into a car seat makes a drive-through a beautiful thing. The food was good, as per usual, though perhaps the medium was a little less spicy than I've typically had from FTC. Lots of parking in a private lot here makes it an easy place to get into. The down side is that they didn't seem to listen to, or perhaps clarify, the sides we wanted. I was asked what side with a tender basket, and was confused since it tells you what comes with a tender basket. So I said fries and coleslaw--which is what it comes with--and ended up with no fries and two things of coleslaw. Um... ok. I will give them another shot--maybe this was a weird off night. The woman who helped me was friendly, though, so hopefully this was just a weird miscommunication.

We did drive thru it took a while but the food was hot and fresh. Overall food was ok, I think it might just be this location because it is not our usual location we were far from home and just wanted to pick up a quick bite. I got the spicy butter chicken sandwich, it was a good big piece of chicken but not enough flavor and sauce for the thickness of the meat.

What the cluck? Taking a break from the usual chicken routine --how about a Nashville hot chicken breast sandwiched between two donuts? Waffles or white bread? So I got chicken -- just a Nashville hot chicken sandwich for me thanks -- and bypassed the donuts. My friend got the spicy butter chicken sandwich. You can select levels of heat - from country (no heat) to Insanity. We also added some spiced fries and drinks. The chicken has a nicely seasoned crisp crust. My Nashville chicken had pickles and coleslaw in the sandwich. It was thick, cooked perfectly throughout, with a satisfying crunchy crust. It was good but messy. The fries were a bit overdone. The restaurant has a retro vibe, from the kitchen implements and license plates on the wall, to the neon beer logos, to the comfy booth seating. Our food was ready in about 10 minutes. The restaurant had plenty of seating, a large parking lot, and is down the road from the Palwaukee airport. This is a bit far for me, but I'd fry the coop for some chicken tenders. I'll try that next time and give the fries another chance.

The food here is absolutely fulfilling, and pretty good. The customer service was excellent and they were pretty quick as well. Would def recommend it for a quick bite.

My family and I went around 5pm on a Saturday. The cashier was helpful with answering questions about the menu. It's large inside, and there was ample seating. We were told by friends beforehand that the chicken is spicy, so we ordered a few sandwiches per our comfort level, and we ordered a la carte tenders in the spiciest levels to try together. We also ordered cheese fries. It is a little on the pricier side - each sandwich was about $11 and the a la carte tenders were $3.99 each. The sandwiches don't come with fries/a side or a drink and must be ordered separately. The food was out to us pretty quick, but there were also not a lot of patrons at the restaurant because it was only 5pm. I wish it was more clear that it's a spicy seasoning rather than a sauce. Regardless, the chicken was actually very good. The tenders are way better than Raising Cane's. The sandwich was delicious and and the size of the chicken on it was massive. I think the sandwich is better than the Popeyes chicken sandwich. I only wish the cheese was melted down. The cheese slices weren't melted so they ended up falling off the sandwich and took a lot of the seasoning with it. The medium level was not spicy enough! If you regularly eat spicy foods, I would say get the crazy or insanity. The cheese fries were also very good. Between our whole group, we tried every level between mild and insanity and we all agreed insanity is tolerable and crazy is probably the best tasting. I will definitely be going back!

Clean place with a friendly staff. The guy at the register, a chef, was awesome. They aren't the cheapest, $17 for sandwich, fries and drink. They also have a small but impressive selection of local craft beer. I went with the Chicago Style Chicken Sandwich, a Nashville chicken with giardiniera. It had a big fresh hunk of chicken breast on a toasted bun and it was delicious. Dare I say it? This is better than Chick-fil-A. Yes, I said it. Sacrilege! Seasoned fries were tasty, a little spicy. Nice and crisp. After a bit of thought, it's worth paying extra for something that darn good. I can't wait to try the tenders, the chicken and waffles, the donut chicken sandwich, and the messy fries on future visits.

First time here, craving a good hot Nashville chicken sandwich. The guy taking my order was friendly. I like heat, but not stupid hot so ordered the hot, with seasoned fries and an old style. Was just at 20 bucks. He asked me if I was sure I wanted hot, he said it's ghost pepper powder, I said I can handle the heat. Last thing I wanted was a tame sandwich. Took less than 10 min and my order was ready, looks great! Big breast, breading was crispy and I tasted fresh for sure. Bun was toasted, plenty of slaw and their sauce. First bite off the end of the chicken sticking out of the sandwich was quite spicy, whoa. I asked for it. The rest of the sandwich was really good, the cole slaw, bun and sauce tamed down the heat just right. Yummy for sure. May skip the seasoning on the fries next time, the seasoning was just ok. Didn't stand out as something to come back for (unlike 5 guys Cajun). I'm done eating, sweating a bit, nose is running, but I made the right choice. Tenders as "hot" would be another level I'm, sure. Take that into consideration. Will I come back, YES. Just ate the best chicken sandwich I have had in a long time. Thank you Fry the coop! Can't wait to come back with friends. The place was clean, as were the bathrooms. Parking was plentiful.

This is an awesome spot! Best fried chicken sandwich in the area. The restaurant had plenty of seating and a nice restaurant feel to it even though it's more of a fast food style place. The Nashville Fried Chicken sandwich was so crispy and delicious! It was our first visit and I cannot wait to go back!! We shared a side of Mac n cheese and also got a side of their hot honey butter to try with the sandwiches. Everything was awesome. Service was fast and friendly!

Their catchy commercial on ESPN with Abdalla got me in. I took my daughter there tonight and didn't regret it. We drove from Lake Zurich, about 35 minutes, and it was worth it. Shameful to admit but coleslaw has never appealed to me, and I've never had it until tonight - been missing out for 44 years! Had the Messy Fries that had chunks of tenders (mild, should have went up one bc we like spice!), coop sauce, coleslaw, all over seasoned fries double fried in beef fat. So clucking good (had to!). Not usually a fan of sweet pickles but these were crunchy, sweet, and hot! The chicken was perfectly cooked and fast. No complaints. They also offered Pipeworks and other crafts for 5 bucks - that's a steal! Very roomy and clean. Love that the owner replies to reviews, too. You don't see that too often. Fry the Coop - come closer to Lake Zurich!

Ordered my son the Nashville chicken sandwich and he loved it , it was my first time ordering at this place and my son who is 13 said it's a hit

Service was good but the chicken sandwiches were dry. Feel bad that I spent all my last paycheck on this meal.

OH MY GOODNESSSSS!!!! This chicken sandwich was quality! It was smoking hot and delicious just take a look at how big these burgers were honestly if you see this place when you drive by go through the drive thru you won't be disappointed! And the service was really nice and quick:)

The food is the best . Fresh and cooked so well. Way better to the similar chicken places !!! I love how you can actually taste the chicken and not just the batter ! The Cole slaw is so fresh and crunchy and the Mac and cheese is so tasty . The ambiance is so cool great decor ! Nice tables and comfortable benches! The employees are hard working , and care about your satisfaction . Very nice people work here. Thank you to them! I'd show a photo but we are it so fast couldn't wait to eat so no photo sorry ! Just empty tray !

Still delicious, still outstanding service, but... the new chicken nuggets did not taste as fresh as everything else. I was really excited to see them as a limited time offer. I will try again, in hopes, maybe they fix this.

First time in. Leo is wonderful, very helpful. I thought his swevice was superb. Great personality , he let us know how all the different levels of heat or the different seasonings you could have on your french fries when he came in he was cleaning up as soon as he saw us he put down what he was doing to come and help us great service even wonder if he's part owner, you could tell he's really compassionate about his business.. thanks Leo I'll be back. Caution it's really hot.

The BEST! The only fast(er) food chicken I will eat! It is always a special treat. Love their specials, Highly recommended.

My husband and I decided to stop in at Fry the Coop after having driven by a number of times. Fry the Coop specializes in fried chicken sandwiches. There are a few different options including a Nashville chicken sandwich, a Chicago version where the cole slaw is replaced with giardinera, and a Nashville version with a glazed donut in place of the regular bun. The chicken and hand cut fries are fried in beef tallow. When you pick your meal you also select what spice level you want. The levels range from Country (no heat) to Insanity. I chose mild which use cayenne pepper and my husband chose Hot which uses ghost pepper. I ordered house fries and my husband tried the seasoned fries. We found the sandwiches to be good but lacking in heat. Fry the Coop puts the pepper in their rub which we both think minimizes the heat. The service was helpful and quick. Overall, we'd stop in again if in the area but didn't think the food was worth a special trip.

They have pipeworks on tap and in cans The sandwiches are consistent. The service is quick Parking is ample Plenty of space to enjoy the creamy Mac n cheese

Food was so delicious, service was good, place is very clean, I love the tables and the booths they give the place a nice vibe. The workers were really polite and gave us extra fries when we went! Plus the fact that it's all fried in beef tallow instead of seed oils is awesome.

Didn't have Mac and cheese. only can buy a tender plate not just tenders by themselves. Can't swap out the sides on tender plate for other sides . The chicken it's self was good but definitely could be improved

I haven't been to this location in a while, but I was in the vicinity. I am so glad I did stop in, I got the Nashville Fried Chicken Sandwich medium. It was unbelievably delicious, so crispy in the outside and juicy on the inside. My grandson git the donut Chicken Sandwich, he said it was awesome as well.

Pricey but good quality. Plump piece of chicken and moist. I ordered "hot" but wasn't as spicy as I feared so next time I'll order "crazy". It's still a nice heat but I like spicier than most people. I'm not a fan of coleslaw on sandwiches so I'm glad they offer the Chicago version with giardinara.

The quality of the chicken in the chicken tenders was excellent and a healthy portion! They added the Mild spice at my request and it was the perfect contrast/complement to the maple syrup for dipping. The service at the front counter was pleasant and welcoming and the kitchen served my meal up hot and fast. I look forward to returning again!

Came for their Sunday happy hour from 3-6, we did get there at like 5:30 but they did not disappoint. Drinks were good and the staff were attentive and friendly! The ambiance was really nice! Fit the vibe of the restaurant with a lot of hidden gems in their pictures. The fries were so good and tenders were a bit dry, but the coop sauce made up for that. They need to serve that coop sauce in a bigger size. Will go back, probably would get a sandwich instead of the fries

I've only win one time so I'm no expert, but I got the chicken tender meal which was the best deal on the menu and it was really freaking delicious. Really nice staff as well. I waited a little longer and the guy gave me a free drink which was very nice. I'll be back.

Man, this place is great! Probably the best Nashville style hot chicken in Chicago. First time trying the hot and it was good. A decent amount of heat with amazing flavor. I always smell hot food before eating it and I didn't smell anything. My wife smelled it and said it was hot. Maybe my taste buds are shot!? It was good, heat and great flavor. But I think next time I want to try the crazy!

The food was very good. Spicy pickles though! We got three coleslaws with my tenders plate.

Best Nashville Hot Chicken outside of Nashville! They always use the best, thickest chicken breasts and cook them to perfection with your choice of spice level! My go-to is "hot with a little crazy". Delicious!

We arrived at 8:52 pm (8 minutes before closing time). Drive through was blocked and the chairs were up and someone was mopping the floor. We asked if we could still place an order. She went back and said she would check if the fryers were still on. She didn't come back for several minutes (I assume they were discussing what to do. The fryers I could see were shut down.) She came back and said they could take my order. The order was ready within a minute or 2. We rushed out since they were clearly closing and unhappy with us being there and ordering. As soon as we got to the car, we opened the bag (suspicious of how quickly it was prepared). The fries were cold and soggy. The sandwich also very soggy. All the chicken was room temperature, soggy, not even warm, not crispy whatsoever. VERY VERY disappointing after almost $40 for 2 meals. We came here to celebrate my daughter's special occasion and this was a terrible experience.

Tastey sandwich. Sauces were more mild than I expected, went mild to be safe but next time I would go hotter. Portions a kinda small for the price and the ice machine didn't work otherwise I would have given 4 stars.

Visited here randomly on a Saturday afternoon. I've been trying almost every fried chicken place nearby and added this to the checklist. Luckily lots of parking and no line both inside and the drive thru. This place is easily locatable and they have dedicated parking lot too which makes it very convenient. We went inside and ordered and food was ready rather quickly. Place is very airy and clean and was quite empty. Staff was very nice professional and quick. They seemed very focus on the work and not playing around. Brought the food home and everything was very fresh with generous chicken sizes and portions. Great to go containers too which I was able to recycle. Flavors were a bit lacking from seasoning or marinades or sauces. Could do more to pack a punch into the chicken which is the core of the business and the meals. Considering the competition there are some better choices.

Fresh, full of flavor. Friendly service. Using beef tallow to fry the food is a game changer.

The absolute best fried chicken sandwiches around. Runs circles around Popeyes and Chik Fil A. And their fries are amazing!

This place is amazing! The sandwiches are huge! I got the butter chicken both times I've been there and the seasoned fries. Wish they'd open one of these in Baltimore. They have the best fried chicken! They are quick with the food. Really delicious and already looking forward to return and trying other items, like their chicken and waffles. Chicken sandwiches were excellent, and sauces were great. Good service overall. Ordered the donut fried chicken sandwich with seasoned fries and it was delicious. It was messy but worth it. The service was good too. Our order was ready quickly and everyone was friendly. Can't wait to go back.

food was definitely top tier!! Peter greeted us with great energy had great suggestions! dined in very clean! Peter made sure we were good with the food and even came cleaned up the table for us!

First off, I'm shocked I haven't written this place a review yet, as I've been coming here for almost 2 years now! I LOVE Fry the Coop. This sandwich was my gateway drug to Nashville hot chicken, and I've yet to find a better sandwich. They fry everything in beef fat (No Seed Oils!)and cook everything ridiculously hot and fresh every time I'm in there. On my last visit they were absolutely packed, and they still had relatively fast service and the same high quality product with high quality ingredients that I've learned to expect from them. It's hard to miss off of Milwaukee with a super big and bright LED Fry the Coop sign, and inside they have chairs and tables with booths and unique Chicago and local themed decor. In the past, I've tried their tender plate, Nashville hot sandwich, spicy butter sandwich, and messy fries, but it's clear you can't go wrong with anything on this menu. They also serve beer on tap, which is rare from a fast casual counter service restaurant. This place is great and always scratches my chicken sandwich itch, and even though I'm not super big into spice, the mild sandwich hits the spot every time. Can't wait for my next visit!

This was the second of two food stops after having been on a 36 hour fast. The ordering is a bit confusing as it seems many new establishments are following these days. Very little available a la carte which drives me nuts because I want just to get the meat and not all these sides (bread?, pickles?) they add on to make you feel you are getting more for the high price but that's just the way it is. $7.99 for two tenders is too much for me! The chicken was very tasty - we ordered one Nashville Fried Chicken sandwich which was $12 however they had no "healthy" sides whatsoever - unless you consider coleslaw healthy. Wouldn't it be nice to maybe have a green salad or some green beans or broccoli or something else so that at least you could balance out the meal? The spice level range on the sauces is nice albeit not at all clear on the website menu as it is on a separate page. Not sure we would return.

Absolutely love their chicken. Best I've ever tasted. Excellent every time. Try the waffle and chicken, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Great cuts of chicken, good portions, and perfect seasoning with a great balance of coating to chicken. I keep coming back since it's so consistent

Staff was super nice and chill. Food was so delicious. Chicken is the best ive had from fast food places. You have to try the Messy Fries.

We frequent Fry the Coop, Prospect Heights Illinois location on a weekly basis. The food is pretty good. However, the past month or so, the portion of the fries is in half. Really, for what you charge for a chicken sandwich meal, costing a little over $17, you cut back on the fries? Really, cheap fries you are now taking from your customers. Shame on you. First for charging way too much to now ripping off peoples fry portions. You are not serving enough fries with the meal. Was going there weekly, will not be anymore!

This was my 2nd trip to Fry the Coop. I love fried chicken. The first visit I got the Nashville fried chicken sandwich (spicy) and my daughter got the chicken and waffles (medium). We felt both spicy levels were the same - HOT! it was too hot for my daughter so she ate one tender and all the waffle. She said dunking the chicken in the syrup helped. I don't know if the waffle was soggy because we did take out. That said, we liked it because it's not too sweet and the bits of bacon added a little something extra. 2nd visit, had to order the $5 chicken and waffle special in honor of waffle day! Ordered mild and the spice level suited me. The tenders were medium and just a bit too hot. The chicken is well cooked. Nice and juicy! Not dry at all. The seasoned fries were tasty. Next time, I'll have to try the Mac and cheese. Service is great!! Despite being busy due to special, everyone was kind. First time, I called in order. The girl who took my order was very nice. The 2nd time I ordered online because I figured they would be swamped due to special. I had to wait a bit, but that wasn't a big deal to me. I agree the drive thru system may not be the best for them since everything is made to order.

Been grabbing the occasional lunch from Fry the Coop for over a year and it never disappoints.

I typically go there for dine in but lately I have been using the drive thru. The drive thru workers are some of the friendliest people I have ever encountered in a drive thru window. Great attitudes and always smiling. They talk to you with respect and appreciate your business. I understand chicken is made to order so a wait is expected. My go to are the medium tenders and fries. The chicken is perfect in that there is not a lot of breading and very tender. The medium level is perfect for me.

Fry The Coop is our go to place for chicken sandwiches. It is the best chicken sandwich I have ever had. We do not eat there. We only do pickup. Their Mac and Cheese is very good. The fries are great. I would recommend Fry The Coop over any other sandwich out there.

Nashville chicken sandwich is always awesome!! The flavor is so good. I enjoy every bite!!

Service was good when I arrived. The two ladies at the front helped me pick an option off the menu because I was torn on two different sandwiches. Ultimately, I chose the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. It was good but it seemed like it was missing something. I added their house sauce for dipping on the side which gave it some more flavor. On the next visit I'd probably order the spicy butter chicken sandwich instead.