Harold’s Chicken Shack #17 is a no-frills fried chicken joint that’s part of a beloved Chicago chain known for saucy, crispy chicken. This location, posted up on a busy stretch, keeps it simple—fluorescent lights, a bulletproof counter window, and that unmistakable scent of grease and spice.



The chicken skin stays crispy under that sticky, vinegary-sweet sauce, and the fries soak up all the extra in the best way. The bread’s mostly there to catch drips, but don’t sleep on it. It’s messy and iconic. That mild sauce was everything.



Grade: A