Big Chickie

5520 Rainier Ave South
Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 946-1519
Website

On a recent trip out West, rave reviews from folks I trust on food brought me to Big Chickie. I typically wouldn't seek out rotisserie chicken, but I figured it was worth a try. Big Chickie does things better than what we are used to. Charcoal rotisserie chicken served until they run out. A whole host of sides, and beer.

They've got a great logo too. Located in Hillman City, just about 20 minutes SE of downtown Seattle, they have all outdoor seating, half covered, so the rain can't get in the way of your night out for some down-home cooking.

The whole chicken (for two people) is the way to go, and comes with dips, two sides, and cornbread.

They untie and quarter the bird to order. Look at that skin. The slow charcoal, rotisserie cooking renders out the fat but the skin just keeps it nice and tight and lets it absorb back into the meat; distributes that flava' evenly.

It was so rich, dark and flavorful with tender, meltingly juicy meat underneath. The spice rub has notes of cumin, lots of garlic and paprika.

The flavor was unbelievable. I have been trying to re-create this experience on my Big Green Egg in the time since, and have gotten close, but am not there yet.

As though that beautiful bird wasn't enough, the sides were great as well. Some of them were dangerously close to healthy, but never the less were still flavorful and delicious.

From left: chili glazed carrots, lime glazed sweet potatoes, kale salad, and cheesy potatoes.

Potatoes were the big winner here. Rich, cheesy, and gooey. They had just enough salt, and the potatoes were tender with crispy tops.

Kale salad was surprisingly good, and had raisins, edamame, carrots, and a homemade lemon dressing.

The sweet potatoes were good, but could have used a glaze or something sweet/spicy. They were nice and acidic, but I was just left wanting a bit more.

The chili glazed carrots were incredible. Very spicy, tender, and thoroughly coated in a sweet and smoky glaze. Big fan.

The saddest thing in the world has to be rolling up and seeing the neon below lit up. Some folks after us had that misfortune, and you could hear their heart breaking. Ordering the sides alone is okay, but that bird would bring me back.

Dienner's Bar-B-Q Chicken

51 North 12th Street (Reading Terminal Market)
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 925-8755
Website

Dienner's is a staple of the Reading Terminal Market. If you are looking for a rotisserie chicken in Center City, look no further.

They offer San Antonio wings, which are lightly fried and covered in a rich, slightly spicy sauce.

They also offer fried wings, and original rotisserie wings. You really can't go wrong.

If you want more than a snack, go with the whole or half rotisserie chicken, and some wings.

They have these amazing rotating rotisserie baskets that cook the chicken over open flame.

For under $10, you can get a lemonade and a pound of wings served in a foil wrap. I go with half San Antonio and half original.

 

The slow roasting process results in a lean(ish) wing, and the rendered fat crisps the skin nicely. Thesze juicy wings are really a great snack while you are eating your way around RTM.

If I had to choose just one, I would go San Antonio, but it's nice to get a mix and taste the differences.

Given that Dienner's is a long standing institution with a cult-like following, you would be remiss to skip this one if you are eating at Reading Terminal Market.

Rotisseur

100.5 S 21st St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 496-9494
Website

Open for a while now, Rotisseur is in that section of town that is only really accessible (and interesting) during the work week.

I found some time in my busy schedule to pay a visit during lunch on a Friday. The interior is small, clean and inviting, with an open kitchen/food bar set up and an over-sized rotisserie oven right there, for all to see.

The menu is limited, which is usually a good sign of care and attention put into each dish, and on this fairly hot fall day, I was in the mood for the cool ingredients of their "chicken bánh mì."

I waited patiently for my turn to order while watching the cook cut the fresh-out-of-the-rotisserie, steaming-hot, half-bird order for the woman in front of me, and thought to myself, "this is going to be amazing, look at that juicy bird!" Much to my surprise, when I told him my decision, he said, "oh, she has one already made up at the register."

Really? So, I don't get the fresh stuff? I kept my thought to myself and ordered a side of the beet and feta salad to complement the light sandwich, that I had yet to see. I mean, I saw EVERYTHING ELSE being prepared, but not the "bánh mì" – I obviously ordered the wrong menu item...

There it was, a nondescript brown box handed over with the freshly assembled beet salad – which was the day's special side. Now that was delicious. With fresh parsley, a hint of dill and a light vinaigrette, it was simply bursting with flavor.

What can be said of the sandwich? Not much. It wasn't even a "bánh mì," and bordered on becoming a po-boy meets pulled-pork-sandwich thing. No jalapeno, no cilantro, no pickled carrots, no radish, nothing that would even come close to making it match that Vietnamese street-food wonder. Not knowing how far in advance they prepared the sandwich was a serious let down; it could have been called anything, and made fresh, it would have had real opportunity to shine.

The chicken was tender and they served it with the dark, caramelized skin-on and that was really the only saving grace. The red cabbage was limp and the cucumbers were close to the same. With minimal mayo for lubrication, overall, I give the sandwich a big "MEH."

If ever I'm in the neighborhood again, with ravenous hunger for fresh rotisserie chicken, I'll try the whole.

-Posted by gabulous