Harold's Chicken Shack Downtown Reviews

I have heard many great reviews of Harolds Chicken for some time and finally found myself near one. The chicken was dry and with little taste. I had the hot sauce on the side and it seemed to be simply a bottled hot sauce. The cole slaw included with the chicken dinner was a container of an ounce or two. The fries were good.

Harold’s chicken was amazing! I ordered the two breast meal that came with fries a roll and coleslaw. The coleslaw was such a tiny portion, I wanted more. Their prices were very reasonable. I also ordered a side of green bean fries and fried okra that I expected to be their own recipe... but turned out to be store bought quality! Very bland, no seasoning. I ordered my chicken spicy... to my surprise hot sauce was poured over the chicken! It is seasoned very well, crispy, fresh and stays hot. The customer service however was the worst, non existent... and the wait time is RIDICILOUS! I waited at least 40 minutes for my food. Most people who live there know to call orders in ahead of tine. One lady I met waited over an hour for coleslaw and fries...

The chicken was good, juicey and had great flavor. They also do fish and the catfish was flavorful and flakey!

It's fast food chicken. Everything is fried, one cash register operated by a slow, methodical employee. Food was okay and came out relatively quick once the order was placed. Two bathrooms: both out of order.

Everything I have had there is exceptional. No ambience, but a comfortable place to dine-in if you prefer.

The best fried chicken I have ever had. I cannot say the same thing for the Mac-n-Cheese though. A bucket of white meat pieces only cost $20 or so.

Solid downtown stop for tasty home-cooked crispy chicken. Prompt service qnd minimal wait for take-out. And prices reasonable.

Perhaps I am more picky about fried chicken and fish but I found the catfish and the chicken both a bit overdone and too greasy. Ditto for the French fries.Banana pudding tasted like something prepackaged from a supermarket, very unimpressive. The one good thing was the hush puppies they were nicely flavored and very tasty.

In our quest to discover the best fried chicken in Chicago, my wife and I did a lot of eating and a lot of research. One thing we learned is Harold's Chicken Shack is a Chicago original. Harold Pierce, an African-American entrepreneur, and his wife Hilda founded the restaurant in 1950 as a small operation on 39th Street on Chicago's South Side. It was called H&H in those early days and specialized in dumplings and chicken feet, both common soul food. Eventually, it became one of the few examples of a thriving fast food chain that was owned by and principally served the black community. Today, Harold's has more than 40 locations in Chicago and vicinity, including the flagship at 124 East 35th Street. We sampled the chicken and takeout service at 612 South Wabash and 1501 West Madison in the West Loop, near United Center. In case you haven't compared Harold's chicken to KFC or Popeye's or Brown's Chicken, Harold's is different in two ways--(1) it is cooked in a mix of half beef tallow and half vegetable oil, which provides taste closer to the traditional fried chicken of the American South, while most chains use only vegetable oil and (2) Harold's chicken isn't fried until it is ordered while some chains fry their chicken in large batches and store it on warming racks until it is purchased. I ordered a 1/2 white chicken dinner, two wings and two breasts with fries, cole slaw and bread. My wife opted for an eight-piece chicken tender dinner with fries, cole slaw and bread.

This place reminded me that Chicago is more than just about pizza and hot dogs. The meat is great (includes wings, shrimp, fish, and even gizzard) but the fries set them apart. They taste like they were fried in ice cream!

Something special about this chicken. The sauce was so good. It was busy the day we got food, so I know it's popular in chi-town. It's another go to if you want some authentic fried chicken.

This is the real deal if you want super hot, fresh, chicken and fixins fresh out of the fryer. Not a diet place and not fancy, but fingerlicking good.

Don't let the modest looks of this little place fool you. The fried chicken here is excellent! Be a little patient as they make it fresh for you when you order. It's worth the wait.

It just wasn't as tasty as I think fried chicken should be. Not sure if it wasn't juicy enough or the pieces were too small. I would not recommend this to fried chicken snobs.

Great place for excellent fried chicken. Very quick. Take out or eat in. Priced very well and quite good.

I've heard about Harold's Fried Chicken from Chicagoans that claim it's the best fried chicken you'll ever eat. I wouldn't go that far but the chicken is pretty tasty and I'm glad to have tried it.

The best chicken and fish- you have to go!! Eat in or take out, soft drinks, specials. Close to Grant Park - and hotels on Magnificent Mile

There some of the best chicken wings I believe I ever had, very good , has lot of history behind it.

Went here on local Chicogan recommendation, ended up being disappointed. Basic fried chicken place, with some fried shrimp and fish as well. Flavor is ok, but nothing that you would need to make a special trip for. I hear they have multiple locations so perhaps others are better, this one was right behind the Blackstone.

I went here while visiting Chicago two years ago and fell in love with the chicken. I tried going again this past weekend and it was awful. I don't know if I got a bad night or placed a poor order or what, but yuck. Rubbery waffle. Half cooked, chewy chicken that wasn't anywhere near crisp. Hardly any sauce. Very disappointing. But maybe if you try it you'll gt a good night? Good luck.

Really close to the Hilton. Great chicken. Worth it if you want good cheap eats one night if you are on a budget or want convenience.

Not fancy but great fried chicken. The wings are whole wings, so when you say "Four wings" it's not like at other restaurants - it's quite a bit of food!

Okay, I’d heard good things about this place and the food definitely didn’t disappoint! The venue itself is a little rough around the edges; however, the lady behind the counter was lovely, and the chicken is good! I opted for the chicken tenders with mild sauce. That was a bit of a faux pas as I love hot food and hot sauce, so I quickly rectified that by getting a couple of pots of hot. It’s not the hottest buffalo sauce I’ve tried, but it doesn’t need to be as it has a nice kick and the chicken is so juicy! Living for the fries too, and they were divine. It’s not somewhere to go for a nice meal as it’s very much a takeaway/fast food joint, but if you’re starving and have an urge for wings, then I’d definitely recommend you stuff your face here.

Nothing fancy. Great chicken, fish and grub. College or working student style. Fresh hot and tasty. A must try when visiting Chicago!

Server got order wrong. Gave dinners instead of a la carte. Calamari soggy; overload on fries; wings are real wings and not bad. Mild sauce so so. Won't be back

I have been going to chicago in a professional capacity for over 20 years and I have yet to try Harold's Chicken. I am constantly ridiculed for this and my coworkers tell me it is a must have. Do yourself a favor and give it a try. I have 18 years left to work and I expect at some point I will give this a try. Be warned, not all Harold's are created equal, so I am told...

juicy, tender, well seasoned. Happy to see this spot was right around the corner from our hotel. There was a crowd however the service was quick and food fresh.

Had their fried chicken at the blues fest. If I was in the restaurant, I doubt I could have stopped at 3 wings. Perfectly crisp and great sauce!

We love Harolds and the price and chicken is to die for. Kind of funky when when you walk in, crappy seating but the food more than makes up for it. The last couple of times we went the chicken was good but you could tell the grease needed changed. Get the special and hot sauce, you'll love it

Suitable for take-out or dine-in, Harold's Chicken Shack serves hot, crisp, tasty fried chicken. I greatly enjoyed a recent lunch -- it's fast food that tasted made-to-order. Really good fried chicken pieces, wings, or fried chicken sandwich. Tasty french fries too. Bottom Line: You'll enjoy. Harold's does chicken right!

The popcorn chicken is a little spicy but was the favorite among our group. After drinking this greasy food hit the spot. We got our food to-go since we were staying close by and the restaurant atmosphere is not the greatest.

We stopped here for an early dinner before a summer walk to explore Hyde Park:). Chicken was fresh, piping hot and was an amazing meal. We did take out...and then drove so was a good option for us us we found a nice spot to sit and enjoy Hyde Park before we went for our walk!

Wanted something open on New Year's day, near the Jazz Showcase. Found Harold's Chicken, a place I'd seen on public television. Easy street parking in front in the Columbia College neighborhood. Plain and simple inside. One register, place your order and watch football or other sport on one of several ceiling-hung TVs. When your number is called, you're guaranteed fresh, hot and tasty We tried the 3-piece cod (good and moist), but the catfish nuggets were great. Bigger than a nugget, more like a small fillet. Seasoned perfectly and not greasy at all. Ask for tartar sauce for dipping. The fries underneath get a little damp and soft from the steam, but they're salted just right and don't need much else, maybe a dip in catsup or BBQ sauce. Get extra napkins! While you're waiting, read the history of the place near the counter. A genuine Chicago treasure. Next time (and there will be, at one of several Chicagoland locations), I'd like to try the fried okra.

Harold's has great fired chicken for a reasonable price. Be ready to wait or to call ahead, and expect bare-bones dining areas of there are any at all. Just savor the flavor of a longstanding Chicago tradition.

Happened to pass by this diner and discovered the most amazing fried chicken and shrimps accompanied by Harold's hot sauce followed by Harold's home made banana pudding. It was also great to eat with the locals.

I went to #71 near McCormick Place (the convention center). A small, VERY unassuming walk-up store. Take out only at this location. Be prepared to wait a while as the chicken is essentially fried to order. Always has been; always will be. So, just the OPPOSITE of fast food chicken. WELL worth the wait. Be prepared to be elbow to elbow with all manner of customer, especially hard working folks before or after their shifts. This, in my opinion, is a good thing. The basic meal comes with chicken on a slice of white bread, fries, and a very small portion cup of cole slaw. I get mine with Harold's hot sauce; it's not too hot and it's very tasty. And the fried chicken is just like older guys like me remember it. Small pieces (no chicken on steroids!); tender; tasty. Very inexpensive. Years ago fried chicken stopped tasting like fried chicken to me. But not at Harold's. Fried chicken like I remember it. That's a good thing.

We got the two fish, two chicken. We went catfish and dark meat. It came with fries and we got the hot on. We should have stopped there. But we also got greens and slaw. Food was delicious. Cooked perfectly Place was busy so a bit dirty.

I heard this was a famous chicken spot in Chicago so I had to try it out. The 3 piece chicken and shrimp were really good. I also got a piece of bread, coleslaw and a Starry with my meal. The food came out quickly. Service was also good. Price of the food was adequate. I’m glad I stopped in to get some chicken. Everyone was ordering their lemonade so I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to try it. Would eat here again.

The catfish is a treat if they have it. The chicken is classic. Friendly staff. Get a chance to mix with the locals!

My husband and I use to live in Chicago and we had several dates @ Harold's but ever since we moved to San Antonio we have not found chicken like it is made in Harold's. When we found out they won best fried chicken restaurant in Chicago we cheered it deserves that spot 100%. We love Harold's and we make it our priority to get there whenever we go to Chicago.

I visited Harold's Chicken Shack on 7/19/15 while in town on a sorority convention. I ordered a half chicken white meat and opted to have the sauce on the side because I wasn't sure if I would like the way it tasted. The chicken was hot and fried just the way I like it...not too crispy or too soft/greasy (like KFC). The sauce, which I used as a dipping sauce, had a indescribable sweetness to itI I would definitely visit again. The next time I'll try the chicken and fish combo

We ordered Door Dash to our hotel. It was still warm and delicious. Tip: the fries were a little soggy, only because they are better fresh. We had chicken wings and catfish with Mac & Cheese and greens. All was so good.

I didn't eat here but my wife did. She said it was the best fried chicken she has ever had. Generous portions and very affordably priced. It's in a great location and it's open late on the weekends. The service was stellar - very friendly and helpful when she asked what she should get. Tasty, tasty!

If you like fried food, give Harold's a try. Nothing fancy. You can call in your order or walk in and wait. I liked the filet catfish.

Had 2 breasts dinner here. Fair pricing for downtown Chicago. Meal was alright, wished they had a few more sides.

Harold's, thank you for accepting our orders and serving tasty food while closing. Matthew 25:35-40

When I went to Chicago, I ate special Fried Chicken in Harold's. My friend was came to this restaurant before. He adviced me to eat special Chicken. I tasted and it was very delicious. If you will come to Chicago, you must to taste this special Chicken. They had a special souce.

We got the Two pieces chicken for $6.99 and three pieces Cod Fish for only $5.99. They are huge pieces and with great flavor.

Terrific place for lunch. Nothing fancy but it is all about the food, so who cares if it isn't the prettiest place I have ever seen. the desserts look amazing but I was too full form my half chicken to indulge. Next time for sure!

I like my fried chicken and this was in top ten in general and in the top 5 for fast food fried chicken for me. I got there at 1100, only 3 tables taken. By the time I left most tables were taken and there was line to order. I ordered a chicken bread , leg and fries w/ large strawberry lemonade. All was great! Crispy and still juicy, yum! I'm not one to eat Coleslaw, I usually take a bite and think... this might be the coleslaw combination I'm going to like... well, I did eat more than a bite of this recipe but didn't finish, tasted good, fresh kind of citrusy. As I said I got there at 11am and rolled out about 1210pm, neighborhood was decent enough, only one pan handler on the restaurants block. I'd highly recommend stopping here during a Chicago visit. I may throw a late order of some strips one of the nights I'm here:) They Deliver in more ways than one!

My Husband and I were in town on business from Nashville and knew this place was famous. Our luncheon wasn't appetizing and we headed from the Hilton across the street to this little chicken place. He said it was some of the best fried fish he has eaten and the chicken was good but definitely not the best we've had. We are from the south so there's a lot to beat. I had an order of hush puppies and they were amazing! This place isn't the fanciest, cleanest establishment ever but it's still really good and the price is very fair!

It was OK. I tried the Half Chicken mix (half white/half dark) topped with mild sauce, with fries and cole slaw.

We were stuck in our hotel room downtown in the South Loop because of an impending severe thunderstorm warning, so we decided to try take out from Harold's after seeing positive reviews. We had the chicken tenders (with mild sauce), fried mushrooms and onion rings. We were not disappointed. Friendly service, great food and a decent price. Picked up a bottle at the liquor store next door while we were waiting - not a bad way to spend an evening in the storm!

It was what you would expect for a local dive: peddlers in front, one register, cafeteria decor etc. Got the chicken and waffles to go but they had poured the syrup on the waffles so I had to eat it there. The chicken was tasty. I would go back if I found myself in the neighborhood.

My daughter and I stopped in because it was near our hotel and had decent reviews. I can type this with the upmost certainty. WORST MEAL I REMEMBER HAVING . The fish was dry and like eating fried rubber, tasted like can tuna smells. Literally couldn’t eat it and I don’t like to waste food especially Chicago priced food. The chicken was hot and fresh but I’d rather have pop eyes any day of the week. Was dry and flavorless. Gives me no joy writing a bad review and criticizing someone’s place of business, but now we are on our way to dinner #2 and 35.00 in the hole .

if your looking for a quick dinner then please stop by this place...casual and fast food like restaurant...fried chicken to perfection...all kinds of people stop by this place...I had chicken and fries but next time I'll try the fish...

Best fried catfish I’ve had in 40 years! Large portions including fries and a small slaw for about $12. The coleslaw was very creamy like my granny made. I should have ordered extra. Most people ordered wings. They offer several different flavors of sauces and/spices to put on top of your fried meats. This is a takeaway place-one table. They cook everything fresh so be prepared to wait or call in your order. I waited about 20 minutes at lunch time, but there was always 10 people waiting. 100% recommend! Across from McCormick Hampton.

Solid chicken joint. Chicken skin was well seasoned but could have been a bit crispier. Mild sauce was thick and excellent flavor. Reminded me of a sauce back home called Country Sweet for those from western NY. Quick service. Fries were those great frozen and flaky ones however it seemed like they weren’t fresh/sat for a bit under a heat lamp. Overall good meal but did not blow me a way. Still I can see why it’s popular.

The food was very good, however, the menu online is not the same as what is available at the restaurant, we did an office order based of the online menu but had to reorganize once we arrived. The quality of the food was very good.

We typically visit this little chicken shack each visit to Chicago. There is nothing spectacular about the place, just good chicken and fish. Give it a try.. you will be surprised.

Don't expect a nice looking place, in fact this place is very run down and 99 percent of all the food is greasy and fried, that is not a bad thing if you like that. The food is good, not the best but works in a pinch.

We are from Alabama and enjoy good fried chicken. Harold's does it well. With cooking it to order, we expected a long wait but took only about 15 minutes.

The fish was cooked hard. We ordered sauce on the side and our wings, gizzards and fries were covered in sauce. Who covers fries in hot sauce? Bread and fries were soggy from the sauce. Yuck. No seasoning on any kind on our food. Just slathered in hot sauce. No flavor. Not even salt and pepper.

First night in Chicago, I see Harold's Chicken Shack (aka Harold's Fried Chicken) from my hotel. It looks like a dive, sketchy place to eat. But for some reason, I see lots of folks eating there. Moral of this story is don't let appearances deceive you. I went in there and enjoyed a greasy, calorie-loaded, deep fried meal! I had the deep fried whitefish which was quite awesome...I've heard from locals that their fried chicken was to die for. Even though I had the whitefish, they accidentally gave me a small deep fried chicken breast. Man, that was tasty! For 8.99, I had four large pieces of whitefish (plus the small chicken breast!), fries and a piece of white toast. It was the meal I needed before getting on a long plane ride back to Edmonton, Canada. They also serve deep fried chicken (various pieces), shrimp, calamari, whitefish, catfish and maybe other varieties. The décor isn't much to write about, but the food is all American classic deep fried nirvana!

This place is a Chicago favorite when it comes to chicken. The stand-alone restaurant on 129 W 87th Street is a rather new store. And it has new attitudes. The staff are much nicer than they previously were. The chicken was made fresh. The mild sauce is to live for!!!

Another Urban Chicago restaurant, for the Chicago Staple, then Harold's is a must try.... Being a native of Florida, I've have better.... No discredit... I will try their sea-food next time around...

Was at a conference in a nearby hotel and the restaurants were crowded and we decided to go out. There was a group of 5 and we decided to try Harold's Chicken Shack. A business associate had the chicken and I had catfish. Both were very good. I had the small and it came with 2 big filets and fries. I will go back and try the chicken.

Fantastic chicken at a great price. I would only go for the chicken and fries though, not the desserts at all. Hot wing sauce is on point too!!

My wife and I were in chicago and walked over to Harolds for lunch. I got the lunch special of fried chicken wings, slaw, and drink and she got fried chicken breast. The chicken was excellent, crisp skin and moist meat. Highly recommend

Had a half chicken dinner (white) and it was only so-so. The fries were OK and the chicken seasoning was OK but the chicken itself tasted different. Not bad just different. Not much flavor. Staff was friendly. I got the take out and added a potato salad side which also was not very good.

The wings were hot and taste and the fries real. Opted for the sauce which came over the wings and fries and I'm glad I did. Definitely good for that late night fried chicken fix. I will be back the next time I visit Chicago.

This was my first time visiting this restaurant and I must say the chicken was sooooo good. I loved the sauce and the flavor of the chicken. If ever in town again, I will be visiting this place.

My wife and I were visiting some friends one weekend and decided to stop by Harold's for some fish and chicken. They been around a least 25 years and know how to fry it up.

First thing's first; this place is NOT fancy, not in the slightest. The food is brown, hot, and really delicious. I went with the popcorn chicken, which I couldn't get enough of, while my wife tried the catfish. Both were excellent, though, my wife didn't care for the bones in the catfish. Either way, they were really good. They don't make it until you order, so expect a bit of a wait. It's totally worth it though! Keep in mind that there's nothing pretty about the place. It is, by name and all appearances, a chicken shack. Not much to look at on the inside, but they DID just install a nice flat screen TV... so, there's that. Bottom line, there's a novelty to visiting this place. I really like how freakishly simple the place is. The frozen lemonade also went nice with the chicken, especially with their hot sauce! Kudos!!!

Family oriented restaurant with delivery available try it out and see if you like it! Great for special date night or family night

Great fried chicken that's well seasoned and crispy. Harold's is an institution, and this is a great spot in the area. Frequent when I'm in the neighborhood, it's reputation is well deserved. Enjoy the wings.

Harold’s does not disappoint!! I ate there everyday while in Chicago & almost cried when I realized I didn’t grab my mild sauce to go. I first tried Harold’s in ATL, but heard chicago was were it originated. I had the wings covered in mild sauce with some Obama tea. I tried my first pizza puff here too. I am so excited that AZ will be opening one this month.

I went to the taste fest and the line for Harold’s Chicken was wrapped around the corner. I waited and went to the restaurant. The chicken was good, not like expected with the amount of traffic. The fried catfish is something I would recommend. That fish was some of the best I’ve had. That catfish with some lemon pepper seasoning. Babbyyyy. That’s the only thing that saved this from an average rating 😂

This restaurant has pretty good food and the service was great. We had the Catfish nuggets and they were pretty tasty. My son had the chicken wings and said they were also quite good. The fries and coleslaw that came with the nuggets dinner were also pretty good. We got the cheesecake for dessert and it left something to be desired but overall the food and the service were on par.

Kind of a dive looking place but the food was good. We had the chicken and catfish combo. That catfish was the best I have had in the north.

I have heard so much about Harold's Chicken that I had to try it myself. We ordered the 24 wing bucket and it did not disappoint. The hot sauce was on point. The jalapeño poppers were a hit. My family was very happy and we will be back when we are in Chicago. Please call ahead because parking spaces are limited. Go visit you will not be disappointed.

Friend mentioned that we should try this fried chicken. I don't do fried too often, but I have to admit it was fried perfect!