Leghorn offers naturally-raised fried chicken
May 2, 2014 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Fried chicken joints continue to open in Chicago at a record pace.
And the latest focuses not on bone-in pieces, but rather, boneless sandwiches with a healthy pedigree.
All of the Amish chickens at Leghorn are free-range, and they're raised without antibiotics or hormones. The restaurant takes a single-minded approach to sandwiches, giving customers just a few choices.
The mantra at Leghorn, the latest temple of fried chicken in Ukrainian Village, seems to be on healthy, naturally-raised birds, rather than commodity poultry.
"We get 'em from Miller's Amish Chickens in Orland, Indiana and we also get them from TJ's poultry in Fairbury, Illinois, and we just try and keep up as best we can," said owner Jared Van Camp.
Choices are limited, which is a good thing. First, you choose either pickle-brined or Nashville hot.
"Technically all of them are pickle-brined; the Nashville hot gets this smear of delicious chili paste, smeared on the breast or the thigh," Van Camp said.
That's the second decision: breast or thigh. Both are dredged in seasoned flour, then dunked in an egg wash before getting one more flour coating. Fried-to-order in canola oil until crisp, they maintain their interior juiciness thanks to that brine.
"Then it's bun or biscuit," he said. "We make both in-house, every day, several times throughout the day. It's a homemade bun, has a little duck fat in it, and it's also a homemade buttermilk biscuit."
A few homemade pickles are the only garnish. Side highlights include nori, or dried seaweed-dusted fries, green-chile flecked hushpuppies made with Iroquois corn and a healthy kale-quinoa and apple salad. You can also get excellent chicken tenders dipped into one of several good sauce options.
The difference in this kitchen? No bones.
"We don't do bone-in fried chicken, we're fried chicken sandwiches and that's it," Van Camp said. "It's the only thing that's separating us because otherwise, again, it's a plethora of fried chicken in the city."
Leghorn
959 N. Western Ave.
(773) 394-4444
