Lower East Side Fried Chicken Sandwich Crawl

There’s nothing quite like a fried chicken sandwich. What’s not to love? Juicy, crunchy, flavorful, slightly greasy chicken with a soft bun, and delectable toppings to match. No wonder it’s the hot food item at the moment. While I usually opt for burgers, I found myself craving a big, satisfying fried chicken sandwich….

I embarked on a Lower East Side fried chicken sandwich crawl with my fellow foodie friend to see what we could find.

Stop 1: Cheeky Sandwiches

Stop one on our Lower East Side fried chicken sandwich crawl was Cheeky Sandwiches. This unassuming hole in wall serves heart warming fried chicken biscuits at the reasonable price of $6.50. The biscuit was buttery and flakey, and the chicken had the perfect crunch. A pickled cabbage added a tang, and a generous spoon of flavorful gravy brought it all together.

Cheeky Sandwiches has been on my “must try” list for a while, and it should be on yours too!

Pro Tip: Scarr’s Pizza is across the street, and they serve a MEAN slice that you shouldn’t miss.

Stop 2: Scoville Hot Chicken

Scoville Hot Chicken is an Atlanta based chain that opened its first New York location in March, 2022. There’s only one type of chicken sandwich available on the menu, and you get to pick the spice level. No refunds if you choose wrong! So perhaps don’t use it as an opportunity to test your spice threshold. (Although we did opt for the normal hot, and I certainly will try the next level up…)

One bite, and my taste buds were in heaven. The huge piece of lightly breaded, ultra juicy chicken breast was a total home run. It had a lovely subtle heat, and actually tasted like chicken. Cabbage, sauce, and a bun complimented the hunk of bird nicely, and it was well worth the $9.95 (pre-tax).

Stop 3: 375 Chicken ‘n Fries

The third stop on our Lower East Side fried chicken sandwich crawl was 375 Chicken ‘n fries. Now, I’ve visited this spot on a French fry crawl. (Something about food crawls just thrills me!). The French fries didn’t wow me, and unfortunately, neither did our peanut bacon ‘n jelly sandwich.

The peanut satay mayo had a vibrant peanut flavor, but the jelly glaze was too subtle to notice. The chicken was quite thin and totally drowned out by the toppings and bun. It felt thrown together and careless. “It needs more love!” was our main sentiment. And for $12 (pre-tax), I wouldn’t recommend it.

Stop 4: Double Chicken Please

Double Chicken Please is a trendy Lower East Side spot with craft cocktails and chicken sandwiches in the front, and a full dinner menu in the back. It was crowded and dimly lit with a “this is the cool place to be” vibe.

The front bar features “tap tails” and I would be remised if I didn’t advise you against the splurge. I ordered the #4, which had tequila, white cranberry, lavender, cacao, and amaro. The only flavor I could discern was sweet. Paying $13 for a premade, subpar cocktail gets my fugal blood boiling to an irrational high temperature. But smart business move on their end.

What the drink lacked, the hot chicken sandwich made up for. The chicken was thick and juicy with a satisfying crunch, and the Thai basil sauce added a unique heat and freshness, making the sandwich memorable. The pretzel bun didn’t overwhelm my mouth with bread, and all and all, this is a solid fried chicken sandwich that’s sure to satisfy if you’re up for the $14 splurge.

Wrapping Up the Lower East Side Fried Chicken Crawl…

The overall winner is Scoville Hot Chicken. The sandwich was flavorful, juicy, and a great value given the size. I will 100% be going back because it’s just THAT good! The Frugal Find award goes to Cheeky Sandwiches. I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken biscuit sandwich, and for $6.95, it’s a total steal Double Chicken Please makes a sandwich that will satisfy, and the Thai basil sauce makes it unique. But in a city full of food, there are other eats to try. 375 Chicken ‘n Fries brings up the rear. While other people rave about this spot, my experience was sub par.

Cheers to another food adventure in New York City. Stay tuned for more delicious eats to come!