The Budlong Southern Chicken

Restaurant · Ravenswood

The Budlong Southern Chicken

Restaurant · Ravenswood

3

4619 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

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The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null
The Budlong Southern Chicken by null

Highlights

Nashville hot chicken, tasty sides, generous portions, great value  

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4619 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 Get directions

thebudlong.com

$10–20 · Menu

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4619 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 Get directions

+1 773 270 9005
thebudlong.com
thebudlonglincolnsquare

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 15, 2025

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@onthegrid

On the Grid : Leghorn Chicken

"To order a fried chicken sandwich at Leghorn, you’ve got three decisions to make: Nashville-style hot or classic pickle-brined fried chicken. Breast or thigh. Bun or housemade buttermilk biscuit. Dress it up with your choice of fixin’s. Add some fries or green chile hushpuppies. Bring your own booze if you fancy (but don't forget to bring cash). This is what Chick-Fil-A might look (and taste) like if it wasn't run by a bunch of homophobic bible thumpers." - Potluck Creative

https://onthegrid.city/chicago/ukrainian-village/leghorn-chicken
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@eater

Budlong Hot Chicken reopens its Lincoln Square restaurant on Thursday - Eater Chicago

"The Budlong is reopening its Lincoln Square location after being closed for four months. Known for its crispy and spicy fried chicken, the restaurant will now offer items like wings, bone-in chicken meals with pub fries and Texas toast, and a weekend brunch featuring Spudnuts. Owner Jared Leonard is refocusing his efforts on Chicago, aiming to improve morale and grow the market." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/1/16/18185296/budlong-chicken-lincoln-square-restaurant-reopen-back-open
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@eater

Budlong Hot Chicken has closed in Lincoln Square as Jared Leonard preps to open at Northwestern University in Evanston - Eater Chicago

"After 15 months, the Budlong Hot Chicken has shuttered its Lincoln Square location due to a lack of foot traffic." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/2018/9/27/17909806/budlong-hot-chicken-lincoln-square-closed-evanston-location-northwestern-opening
View Postcard for The Budlong Southern Chicken

Mashell R

Google
They advertise the sweet tea as the picture shown. But in reality it’s just regular gold peak if I would’ve known this I could’ve never bought it. I paid $5 for some fries that only came with like maybe 8 fries in total. I was very disappointed as they were for my son who didn’t even get to enjoy them because they were also cold 🙄 definitely not worth it I could’ve went to McDonalds and got what I paid for. The chicken sandwiches were also cold smh I do not recommend & I won’t be coming back. Total RIPPED OFF!!!! 😡😡

Melissa Moctezuma

Google
My camera phone is kind of broken so this picture does no justice! This is my third time here and I absolutely love the chicken. So tender, great sauce. The mashed potatoes are 10/10! And the banana pudding has to be the best one I've tried so far!

Yuto Kanii

Google
Honestly the best wings I’ve ever had. Perfectly crispy, yet not oily or heavy. The meat was juicy and the honey bbq sauce was fire. I had it with ranch and it was so delicious. On top of all of that, the employees were so kind and friendly. I even overheard one of the employees offer a drink to a delivery guy who had to wait. The music was great, and they’ve got the casual chicken spot vibe down. I’ll be raving about this place to my friends no doubt.

Sean Choi

Google
Excellent sandwich! Got the yo mamma sandwich. Big portions and fresh food. The service was great as well. Combo meal with fries and drink came to $14 after tax

Phillip Anderson

Google
Yeah. Ordered takeout. I was there a little bit early and understood waiting. I was being very patient. And then I'm waiting there for 10 minutes 15 minutes past the time and then turns out that the order is just sitting there while the three employees are. Whoever they are that are there are just talking socializing. Meanwhile, I was doing my best to remain patient while my order is just sitting there and so I asked one more time nicely and tell them that I'm tired and I'm trying to go home after work and it turns out that the order is just sitting on the counter. The lady who was doing takeout orders was well aware of that. I was waiting on the order. I told her my name twice. I won't be back again for this. Very expensive and subpar food only went because it's convenient off the train.

Steven Hallas

Google
I am a huge fan of this place. Everything I've tried has been great, the service is good, the atmosphere is good, and I now know that white bbq sauce is a thing. The southern style sandwich is amazing; I can't handle a ton of spice, but the "warm" is a good amount of spice.

Mac Yellek

Google
I heard about this spot throughout the neighborhood. I have to say y’all, it lived up to the hype! I’m very picky with my chicken sammy’s and they’ve done an incredible job at balancing a juicy and well breaded chicken, a crunchy slaw, and a saucy hot sauce. The flavors were incredible! The Mac & Cheese was very tasty! It’s not my go to style (curly noodles & not so creamy cheese), however I wouldn’t hesitate to order again. The lemonade (not photographed) was just a good lemonade, not too sweet and not too tart, definitely worth a try. Overall, I really enjoyed my meal and time there. Also, shout out to the team working there: incredible hospitality for a quick service spot like this.

Chris Ferrell

Google
I love a good fried chicken and they do not disappoint here! I got the chicken tenders with 3 sides. The 3 sides might have been a mistake but only because the portions were so large. I was unable to eat everything that we bought. The chicken tenders were quite flavorful and the breading that was on them top notch. I got my tenders tossed with BBQ sauce and that was a great choice. The crispy breading with that sauce is a great pairing. Regarding sides, the mac and cheese was my favorite. Very good, and very large serving. I can also say that the baked beans were also another good choice for a side. They were a little sweeter than the baked beans I normally get so I enjoyed a different type of flavor. Really my only thing I didn't think was amazing was the banana pudding. It wasn't bad but it was just kind of average. Maybe getting it to go makes it less good? I thought the pudding was a bit bland so I don't think I'd get it again.
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Nelson K.

Yelp
I got the budlong original fried chicken sandwich classic flavor with fried cornbread and Mac n cheese. The good - The sandwich and Mac n cheese were very good. The sandwich classic has a little spice and great combination of flavor and texture w the coleslaw, soft bread, and crispy fried chicken. The Mac n cheese has a little spice from pepper jack or pimiento cheese maybe? Portions are big. Staff was friendly and helpful. Inside is clean and nice aesthetics. The okay - The fries were not horrible but just okay. Standard crinkle cut like portillos but mine were a bit too soft like when they are out too long. The fried cornbread is hard for me to pinpoint. It's not really a side cornbread or bread you would eat with your meal. But it was good and they give A LOT, but it's really more of a dessert and tastes more like funnel cake or a buttermilk old fashioned donut than it does a classic cornbread. The food takes awhile to prepare so it's best to call ahead of time! It's not fast food. The bad - nothing really! I would come here again to try different fried chicken sandwiches and sides but I probably won't get the fries or cornbread again.
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Wenchy W.

Yelp
They were very friendly when I placed my order to go, but the popcorn chicken was not crunchy at all. And the fries were soggy. I was very disappointed and ended up throwing my food away once I got home .
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Jim H.

Yelp
In my head, I have a running tally of best chicken sandwich places I've been to. Across multiple cities, I've had some really good fried chicken sandwiches. Budlong makes the list (and that's saying something). It's delicious, it's spicy, it holds up the bun integrity while eating it (underrated feature). Definitely stop in and be prepared for something amazing!
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Ariana G.

Yelp
I've been to this location 3 times and I've been satisfied every time! Love coming here to get my hot chicken fix. I get the Budlong sandwich every time but opted for the tenders this time. A usual order comes with 2 tenders and I ended up with 3 :) what a nice surprise. Their Texas toast really stands out because it's thick, fluffy, and toasted - not just some flimsy piece of white bread.
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Waleska E.

Yelp
Your typical greasy spot in the neighborhood. If you're in a pickle for fast food, hit up Budlong Chicken. It's definitely not a date place, it's a "It's late, I'm hungry and don't have much money in the bank" kinda place. Menu is short, most items fried and well seasoned. The sauces are pretty good. Place is very simple and smell like grease the minute you walk in. The staff is really nice and always have a smile on their faces. As stated before, not a date place. But will do the job of killing hunger. Music is fun while you wait for your order. It's also very clean. I would think it does well with single people since it's very affordable.
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Jessica P.

Yelp
First time here, it did not disappoint. Will definitely be returning back. Unable to put picture because I ate it so fast before I could even think of a picture. Will definitely tell family and friends. It's a twist on chicken sandwiches for sure.
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Ian J.

Yelp
Love Budlong, on Western. Easy online ordering through Toast App. Super friendly staff. And the food is always prepared quickly and is generally ready for pick-up early. Lots of street parking close to the restaurant. And most importantly, the food is always delicious!

Paul R.

Yelp
This modest restaurant has amazing chicken. The original chicken sandwich (ordered Nashville hot) exceeded expectations. One star off for the side, Cajun potato salad. $4 is a lot for a small cup of above-average potato salad with some seasoning sprinkled on top.
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R S B F.

Yelp
What happened to chicken breasts . . . . ? Now all you can get is dark meat. Very disappointed. I guess it's back to Popeye's.
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Ms L.

Yelp
Located off Brown Line on Western, this intimate clean restaurant serves juicy chicken. The medium spicy chicken is too spicy for me but others might appreciate its fiery flavor. I would recommend for good fried chicken that is plain with a touch of heat.
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C B.

Yelp
I've been a fan of Budlong since I first encountered them on the Northwestern campus a few years ago. However, tonight's experience left me disappointed. The food still tasted good, but the quantity has been reduced significantly. The chicken on the Classic Chicken Sandwich was much smaller, and while adequately sized for a meal, overpriced for what it was. The Chicken Tenders, however, were a joke. Two tiny chicken tenders, too small for even a kids meal. Very disappointing, and horribly overpriced. This was a delivery order, so I can't speak to the atmosphere or service in store, but DoorDash delivered it fast and still hot. Maybe it's time to start looking elsewhere to fill my hot chicken craving. Jared, this isn't the product you're known for. Get it together Budlong!
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Tommy H.

Yelp
***UPDATE 6/18/23*** Aaaand they're at it again. Jacked up the prices again. They've been under new management, newer, cheaper menu for the past few months, recently reopened and I was coming again after boycotting this place for a couple of years. I was quite excited. I love the food. And then I show up this morning and alas, the price for my order is up 20%, out of the blue. Damn. I'm done with this place. Such a shame. I'm sorry if it's so expensive to run a small business in this location but I'm sick and tired of the never ending price increases on top of smaller portions of food. Buh bye. ***UPDATE 2020*** To recap, this place has increased prices recently in addition to adding a bullshit carry out fee, making my order suddenly 31% more expensive then it had been for a year and half. If you scroll down to any of the bad reviews (including mine) you'll sometimes see a response from one of the owners feigning concern and asking you to email them so you can sort out the problem. What complete and total bullshit. I emailed BOTH guys and got no response at all. It's total theater; a sham to try and maintain appearances here in Google reviews but they clearly don't give a shit at all. Fuck this place. I'm done with them. Well, it breaks my heart to write a poor review of this place, but here I am. I've been coming here for about two years as they're across the street from me and I absolutely love the food. I always order the same thing and up until a couple of months ago, it cost $13 and change. It then went up to $15 and change. Fine, I understand the costs will go a up a bit incrementally as years go by and I'm OK with it. Then it jumped up to $17 and change after a couple of weeks of paying the $15. When I asked what happened to the $15 price, they said that was the "dine in" price. What?? So a $2 charge for the crime of carrying out? Seriously? I was told it was because of the materials they use. Uh, no. I'm not paying $2 on top of a price increase for a paper box. Nope. And maybe this was a one off thing, but with my last order, the chicken portions were noticeably smaller. So a 31% price increase all in the space of few weeks is just where I draw my line in the sand. Makes me sad because I truly love the food, but you're gouging us at this point with the massive price increase and I just can't get behind it.
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Milton W.

Yelp
Ignore all old reviews. Prior owner sold and new owners are Re-vamping and changing things. Still very expensive. Tenders are small and rubbery. Fries are undercooked. Ordered delivery and received nothing we ordered. Ordered a chicken sandwich, Nashville hot tenders, slaw and a biscuit. Received soggy fries and the mild rubbery tenders. Restaurant did acknowledge their error. In a neighborhood served by Lucy's, Honey Butter, Roost, and Dave's, the new Bud-Long has a huge gap to bridge.

Eric S.

Yelp
The chicken tastes great and fairly priced. The new menu is worth checking out if you haven't been in a while. Favorite spicy chicken joint--beats Dave's and Harold's for sure.

Ifi S.

Yelp
This would be a 5 star review but they changed their delicious biscuit and now the biscuit is just meh. Chicken is still delicious.
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Mi T.

Yelp
Cozy eat-in space and reasonable price for a Nashville style chicken sandwich. Good customer service. I liked their coleslaw in a burger.

Samantha O.

Yelp
Their fried chicken is so delicious. I got the thigh on my classic sandwich, and it was juicy! I also love their fries. I think they toss them in lawrys. Mmmmm my favorite!
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James S.

Yelp
Their chicken portions have been cut nearly in half since the last time I ate here. Two tiny strips of chicken for 12 bucks is robbery. Budlong lost a long time customer today and I'm guessing many more.
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Luther F.

Yelp
Great place for hot chicken! I was craving Hattie B's, but taking a quick flight to Nashville seemed irresponsible so Budlong felt like the next best option. Budlong has multiple locations across Chicago so you are never too far from a location at any point in time. I personally got the Hot Chicken Sandwich, which was a huge portion and felt appropriately priced ($14 at time of writing). Be warned though that "hot" part of the chicken actually does have a kick - I had the "classic" heat level and that felt more than enough for me (even though it's only one level above "naked", I wouldn't consider it mild). My main complaint with Budlong however is that it's very disappointing that they don't taste the buns. This was, I felt, pretty unfortunate because the buns were actually quite tasty but it felt like they had just been taken out of the fridge. Otherwise, every other aspect of the chicken sandwich was solid (slaw, sauce, chicken). There's plenty of seating inside so this is a great place to grab a quick meal. Budlong does hit the spot if you have a craving but I do hope they start toasting their buns in the future.
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Stella W.

Yelp
OMG!!! Mouth-watering presentation, finger-burning hot (temperature) made to order wings! So good, so crisp! How did they do that? Hubby's sandwiches was really good...except I didn't know how to attack it without making a mess and get yelled at! Lol. The chicken patty was so juicy, tender and flavorful. O..and those pickles are heaven!
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Ricki Ann T.

Yelp
Been craving hot chicken for weeks and today I get my fix at Budlong. The sandwich is $14 but it is enormous! Choose your level of heat and go for it. The sandwich comes with pickles coleslaw comeback sauce on a brioche bun. I get mine with just" hot" level sauce and pickles to keep it neat. It is SO good! Soft brioche bun gives way to a crispy crunch heat chicken breast and sweet pickles SWOOON. If you are someone who doesn't prefer hot/spicy foods just get the classic and your tastebuds will sing. If you haven't tried Budlong you should!
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Tiffany J.

Yelp
This is hands down my favorite chicken place in Chicago. I used to come here almost weekly! I love their chicken, and I love the flavor. I normally get the classic which has a good level of heat. My friends who prefer more spicy get the x-hot. I normally get the tenders, and I love that it comes with the sweet pickles and toasted bread. I am giving 4.5 starts due to that I have noticed that their ranch has been sour the last few times I've had them delivered.
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Sigmund K.

Yelp
My wife and I tried this place on two different occasions at the recommendation of some friends. We got Hot Chicken Sandwiches (Classic flavor for my wife, Naked for me because I'm weak), Budlong Tenders with an extra tender (Hot flavor), biscuits, and mac & cheese. The chicken itself was on the drier side but had a few juicy parts and the flavor was good, but it wasn't that crispy all-around. Mac and cheese didn't really have any flavor to it, unfortunately. The biscuit is tasty but it's reeeally dense and heavy; you definitely don't want to eat it first because it will fill you up. It was good with the butter, however they really didn't give that much of it either time. The jam is great and tasted like it was freshly made; I saved the rest for other sandwiches I might make at home, haha. My wife likes spicy food and said the Classic wasn't that spicy but the Hot had a good level of heat. The size of the sandwiches and the tenders are generous though, so it's definitely worth the price.
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ari b.

Yelp
Delicious hot chicken Sando at a good value. What more do you want. Flavorful while spicy. Excellent!
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Kirsten E.

Yelp
the best chicken sandwich i've found in the city! downside is it's about a 15 minute wait if you go into the restaurant and order. it's nice that they make it fresh but still a longer wait than you are accustomed to. love their comeback sauce and the customer service is generally good.
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Zach G.

Yelp
This is by far the best fried chicken in town. The crispiest skin surrounding the most tender and juicy chicken. I get 2 Half chicken dark meals, my girlfriend gets a traditional fried white chicken sandwich, then we get fries, cole sale and biscuits. Oh, the cole slaw is the best too

Rachel B.

Yelp
I order here often and it's always consistently good. Salad is a good proportion and not just greens with a little amount of chicken. Sandwiches and fries are also delicious

Damian M.

Yelp
This is what $95 worth of food looks like. Two tiny tenders, burnt fried chicken, and $6.95 for EACH biscuit. This place has gone downhill fast. Spend your money elsewhere.
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Megan C.

Yelp
I absolutely adore my dinners here. It's a great spot with wonderful service and this time I got my chicken sandwich hot, which is by all means, hot! In the best way as a hot chicken sam should be. The woman working the counter brought me water and was very sweet. I loved the bread and the pic here does not do the sammy justice as the chicken was absolutely huge and filling, slathered with a nice sauce. I will be back very soon!

ItsMeTony451 ..

Yelp
Service was fine walk up and order no issue with that. Prices were a bit high for a chicken spot especially given the quality. I ordered the chicken biscuit, the biscuit was room temp the chicken was very hot the serving size was very small. Food was mediocre at best the tenders were no better than canes and only came in 2 and 3 tender options both of which were $10+ which is insane considering the quality you can get for cheaper in the city. I wouldn't go back and was told that it used to be better. Paying that amount for 3 tenders is price gouging if they were really good i'd have no issue paying a higher price but high prices and low quality is unacceptable. Save your time and money there are too many good chicken spots within the vicinity.
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Sal C.

Yelp
Probably one of the worst chicken sandwiches I've ever had. The fries were not even cooked. The staff was friendly, and that was about it and the price for the whole meal was outrageous.
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Lynn M.

Yelp
Chicken tenders Classic: this was good. I would recommend this flavor for those that cannot handle spice but want something flavorful Hot: this had a good kick to it. There flavors pop in your mouth. If you like spice but can't handle too much spicy I recommend getting this one. The tenders were big and crispy even for take out. 3 piece jumbo wings: these are ginormous! We got classic but I wish we got hot. They were lightly battered so we got a good amount of meat Mac and cheese: this tasted like white Cheddar Mac and cheese this was warm and flavorful. Pick up: clean and organized they had it ready when I got there. I ordered through yelp.

Jennifer C.

Yelp
Great first experience. I got the mac-n-cheese side and the Southern Style sandwich with chicken breast and the milder of the hot sauces (you have choices of 5 sauces and white or dark meat) intending to save half for tomorrow's lunch. Yeah, it did not happen. It was so good. Reasonable priced, too. The Mac was creamy with perfect al dente noodles. It has a crumb topping and also has a little bit of a spicy kick that was not overwhelming but definitely there. The sandwich was perfect. Bun was soft but toasted in the right way. The pimento cheese mixed well with the spicy sauce. The chicken piece was tender and crispy and just the right size. This place is close to my work and will be added in the regular rotation when I eat out for the Mac alone.
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Jordan C.

Yelp
They are open for dine in and while we were there, they were quite busy with at least 10 pickup orders. We got chicken tenders and a chicken sandwich, fries and Mac and cheese. Everything was good, but not the best chicken I've ever had.
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R G.

Yelp
This was our first visit to Budlong after seeig it on a TikTok post. OUR MEAL: We ordered X-Hot chicken tenders & chicken sandwich, macaroni and cheese, collards, biscuit and lemomade FLAVORS (4). Overall the flavors were solid. I would not consider the X-Hot really hot... We called it TikTok Hot!! X-Hot, should make me sweat just a little or need some dairy to neutralize the spice level. This was step above buffalo hot. The collards had a nice balance of vinegar and sweet. The biscuit was more like a bread with a buttery flavor -- neither light nor fluffy. It was served with a nice tasting berry preserve. Don't order the macaroni/cheese. It tasted boxed and flavorless... I'd rather spend my empty carbs somewhere else. The tator tots were nicely fried... not greasy. Comeback sauce had a good flavor. It's hard to describe the flavor...maybe ranch and hot sauce. PORTION SIZE(4): Good portion sizes. The chicken tenders were large and sides were a decent portion. TEMPERATURE (4): The food came out quickly and at the right temperature. SERVICE (5): The staff was friendly and helpful. PARKING: There was sufficient parking in front of the restaurant. However, I suspect that is not always the case. AMBIANCE (4): Quirky photos. Very, very clean -- even the restrooms. WOULD WE RETURN? Yes. TIPS: Order extra Comeback sauce. It pairs well with the tots.
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Connie K.

Yelp
The Budlong Hot Chicken was recommended by a couple of Hubby's friends so we just had to try it. We ordered our food on a Sunday evening for dinner and it was ready for pick up within 30 minutes. I got a classic chicken sandwich since some of the reviews mentioned that it is decently spicy while hubby got the naked chicken sandwich. We each got a biscuit and shared a mac n cheese. The classic chicken sandwich wasn't as spicy as I expected it to be. I could definitely recognize that there was a mild kick but it wasn't making my nose run. The chicken itself was on the dry side but the sandwich was a good size. I was surprised that it was $4 for only one biscuit but the biscuit itself is very dense and was a little too overwhelming for me. Normally I would expect biscuits to be light and fluffy but this thing was like a brick. Now moving on to the mac n cheese...it was okay but tasted really unhealthy. Overall, I wasn't impressed and the whole meal itself was underwhelming. I probably wouldn't come back unless a friend wanted to try something here.

Peter A.

Yelp
This restaurant used to be one of my favorite places to eat in the neighborhood. Their hot chicken sandwiches really got me through the pandemic. In recent months though, there's been a tremendous drop-off in quality and affordability. Paying $12 for two tiny chicken tenders is unjustifiable, and unfortunately I'm going to have to find someplace else to eat at in the Ravenswood area. An order of chicken tenders used to come with 3 tenders. Now it comes with 2. The tenders used to be large and filling. Now they're half the size of what they were-- that's not an exaggeration, they clearly took the same chicken tender as before and simply chopped it in half. The chicken used to be tender and moist. Now it's tough and dried out. The sandwich quality has gone down as well. And all the while, the prices have been steadily creeping up. After factoring in the tip, a simple sandwich and french fries order now costs upwards of $30! The economy's been rough on the restaurant industry as a whole but if Budlong Hot Chicken wants to stay in business, they need to make some serious changes.

C H.

Yelp
Warning: whereas before $9 for two tenders at least came with fries, now that same $9 just gets you...two tenders, no fries, no sides. New management, same price, but just comes with nothing now. Two tenders on a piece of bread.

H E.

Yelp
DELICIOUS! The chicken is so crispy, fresh, and moist. The sauces were killer too. We will definitely be coming back often! Highly recommend!
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Salena C.

Yelp
Budlong is a-ok. The chicken is decent, the service is attentive and the space is clean and airy. My biggest qualm is the food though. I know it's Nashville-style chicken, but I can think of many different chicken places I like way more. Plus the sides weren't as high quality as I would have liked either. Mac and cheese? Okay, at best. Some of the noodles were crunchy. Biscuit? Fair. Some parts were moist, some where very dry and hard. Jam? Super runny, to the point where you needed a spoon to drizzle it on the biscuit. I walked out of there not dying to go back any time soon, especially for an almost $40 bill for two people. The restaurant was crowded, with many more to go orders than dining in, so I'm wondering if I missed the memo on what's so good. I probably wouldn't come back.
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James S.

Yelp
Packaged nicely to make it easy to enjoy. Classic hot chicken sandwich. Had a little kick to it which was perfect. Mac n cheese was hot and fresh, but they didn't include utensils so make sure to ask!
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Tommy O.

Yelp
I've been to the Budlong a few times at other locations like Revival Food Hall and the old Lakeview location before it closed. But this was my first time at the Lincoln Square location as I just moved across the street. They have very good Nashville hot chicken! It's definitely one one of the better fried chicken places in Chicago. I've had Hattie B's in Nashville before, which was amazing and is tough to beat! Prince's is on my to do list. It's somewhat expensive as the chicken sandwich was $11, but it was a very good sized portion and very filling. The chicken was super crispy and doused in hot sauce. The pickles definitely add a nice touch and the comeback sauce was good too. I would order extra sauce on it next time. I ended up getting the hot and I didn't think it was that spicy. I've had the xtra hot before and to me it has medium spice. As you can tell my spice tolerance is incredibly high. I was even underwhelmed with the hottest Hattie B's had to offer. Southern (amazing) (next to Pappy's) in St. Louis had spicer chicken then both of these places. I ordered a side of Mac N Cheese ($4) as I think that's a relatively new item that wasn't offered at the Lakeview location. It's been months since I've been to the Budlong. The portion was big, it was cheesy, and it was creamy. The flavor wasn't over the top, sick to your stomach cheesy, which was great because you obviously come for the chicken! I need to try their biscuit next time. The collared greens are pretty good too, which I've had before. Overall, I'll be coming to the Budlong quite a bit since it beats going to KFC and Popeyes...
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Josh A.

Yelp
The sandwich was good. The breading was extra crispy with super flavorful sauce. It was really close to being over fried but it was clutch. Pricing was high but I'll be back to try another

Kyle R.

Yelp
budlong fell off a cliff after new ownership took over. Used to be great food and then new owners changed all the food for the worse.
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Tom G.

Yelp
You order at the counter near the front door and the cashier brings your food,you can add a tip when you pay or leave a tip on the table. I went there about three weeks ago and was so impressed that I invited my sisters to lunch there last Sunday. The sandwiches are really good and big well worth the money. My one sister ordered the chicken sandwich "naked" crispy coating but no sauce, I ordered the "classic" the lowest on the temp scale and it was just right for me. My other sister ordered the chicken tenders that were very hefty with the ranch sauce on the side,she took one home she couldn't finished the third. On my first visit I didn't care too much for the bottled soda pop I opted for the "Arnold Palmer" this time. The staff is very good at refills and attentiveness. Would definitely go back and recommend it to anyone.
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Madeleine B.

Yelp
While I've never physically been to this location, having access to The Budlong delivery is one thing curbing the quarantine blues. Delivery is always speedy and right on time, and the food is perfectly packaged with no mess at all. The chicken sandwich is consistently amazing, flavorful, crispy and spicy. They have literally the best biscuits I've ever had. Seriously! They are soft, wonderfully buttery, and flaky. The jam takes them to a whole other level.
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Mac R.

Yelp
Nashville Style Hot Chicken not far from our house? Of course we had to check it out! Both of us ordered the chicken tenders and 3 were close in size to 1.5 chicken breasts so $9/order seemed ok, especially after we took leftovers home. The spice level on my Classic was a nice kick without being too much. My crazy hubby got the Extra Hot and I can't believe he said he'd do it again after I watched him dipping like crazy into his buttermilk ranch dressing to cool it off! He loves his heat. The coleslaw was very good, the Mac & Cheese I'd say was average and definitely needed salt and pepper. The banana pudding was a winner. I would have preferred there to be more actual pudding and less crunchy topped bananas in the bottom but my husband loved that about it. The sides are definitely big enough to share. It's sort of a fast food atmosphere with a bit of service thrown in with them bringing drinks & food to you and cleaning up. The chicken and sides are all priced separately, so expect to pay more than fast food prices. You order at the counter and if you use a credit card they turn the iPad around for you to add a tip. I'm not a fan of pre-tipping because at that point you're clueless on how your experience will be and that's literally what the tip is about. We really enjoyed the food here and will definitely be returning!
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Katie N.

Yelp
Please note this review is during COVID times and based on food only. I ordered food for delivery and was happy with the quality and quantity of the food. - jumbo wings. I ordered the naked. Huge and had lots of flavor. I wasn't sure if hot would be too spicy. Came with fries, pickles, and Texas toast. The fries and toast were nothing special. Pickle was a sweet pickle - biscuit. Like others said. Probably one of the best biscuits that I have ever had .Very flavorful and flaky. -also tenders also delicious. - Mac n cheese was ok. I would definitely recommend the chicken and biscuits!
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Gary R.

Yelp
I'm a sucker for hot food. I seek it out no matter where I travel. And Nashville Hot Chicken is always on my list of dishes I gotta have. When I saw Budlong Hot Chicken show up on one of my recent Yelp searches, we made plans to check it out. While not much to look at either inside or out, the food here is really good. Really good. We both wanted the chicken tenders - I went for the Xtra hot (naturally) while my wife went with the Classic. First impression? These tenders are huge. In fact we couldn't finish ours and took the rest home. Mine had that "holy crap this is freaking hot" smell that hits you before you even get it close to your mouth. Almost started to sweat right away! First bite? Zing. It was hot, just like I like it!! I've had hotter but this was in a sweet spot for me. Certainly not for the meek. My wife's Classic was still hot and most people might even consider it too spicy. They do have mild as an option. We ordered sides of mac and cheese and cole slaw which was a nice way to temper some of the afterburn. Plus some banana pudding to share. The pudding had slices of real bananas lining the bottom and made for a nice finish to the meal. I will definitely be back!! And I'm ordering Xtra Hot again!!
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Tanya S.

Yelp
Carmen here in on a Sunday afternoon, we were still in time for brunch, but decided to order from the regular menu instead. There wasn't much of a description on how much chicken came for the 1/2 dark plate (what i got) it was such a huge portion! Chicken was so crispy, i got the classic since I can't handle too much spice, but it still has a good kick to it. Also had side orders of greens and mac and cheese. They were good. I was a little confused when I first got there, whether we would have a server or we order up front. We were told to sit wherever but didn't have further instructions. I ended up asking the lady, and she said she was our server. Service was great. Food came out in a decent amount of time.