The Budlong Southern Chicken

I really enjoyed my time at this place. The staff was very nice and the restaurant was extremely clean. My food came out in a good amount of time, though I will say that I came at a time when there was really no one there. I ended up getting the Yo' Mamma xetra spicy chicken sandwich with thigh meat, and I loved every single bite of it.

My first ever Google review. Insane how bad this place has gotten. Sounds like new ownership has completely blown it. Laughable really. Just wild. Used to get Budlong regularly, maybe at least 10-12 times total. Standard order included 3 large tenders, could get a 4th for a couple bucks. They were great and Biscuit was also elite. BUT now, the last 2-3 times (I wanted to give them a chance): standard order is 2 very small tenders, for same price (not cheap), and the biscuit is dry and gross. I know restaurants overall have struggled but this place has been completely ruined and there’s no excuse. Feel like I have been scammed by how tiny and bad the tenders have become. What a shame. Will need to find a new spot and suggest anyone else who reads this do the same. Had I read the reviews re new ownership and similar complaints, I would have saved $37 and just gone to McDonald’s which would have been much, much better. Wow Also: mac was freezing cold and tasted like bad ballpark nacho cheese

I’ve been a big supporter for years and always send my clients to the Lincoln Park location. The staff is great and the place is always clean. I know food costs are an issue for the industry but I’m sad to say that the quality has declined dramatically over the past few months. The tenders and collard greens have been my go to meal and now they took the greens off the menu and the tenders seem to be the flat cutlets that are bought in bulk- not the juicy hand battered ones that they used to have. The Mac is tasty, but the already small container wasn’t even filled. If it wasn’t for the cold and my hunger I would have asked for a refund.

Got a Budlong hot chicken-medium thigh. Got my husband a budlong- hot breast lol. Seriously SO DELICIOUS. Made for order, chicken was crunchy, my medium was spicy but not inedible. Hubby said hot was very good but he likes super hot stuff. Sandwiches were so flavorful and the pickles, sauce, slaw added just made the combo perfect.

I really wanted to love this place, but at the price I just can’t justify it. They price themselves as the best fried chicken sandwich in Chicago, and I think they’re close. But I’d still say it wasn’t perfect. The chicken itself was very crispy and quite juicy, but I’d really like to see a sweeter coleslaw to balance out the heat, I think it’d go a long way. The mac and cheese was okay but again not worth the price tag.