A white stucco building with pink trim sitting in the corner of a large parking lot, the Chicken Shack, 1925 Ridge Ave., may not be much to look at. While the inside atmosphere of the Evanston restaurant matches the exterior, diners do not care much about the ambiance-it’s all about the food.
“The food is just really, really good,” said Debbie Dufek, a regular patron and Evanston resident.
Owner Rick Sanchez opened the Chicken Shack on the corner of Ridge Avenue and Garnett Place about 20 years ago with a partner who is now retired.
“I had a (fast food) place in Rogers Park, and the opportunity here presented itself,” he said.
Sanchez said, the restaurant has been a hit ever since and was once featured on ABC 7. Sanchez said even with his staff of four he could still use more employees to help him keep up with the daily lunch crowd.
Dufek said she usually eats at the restaurant once or twice a week because it’s convenient, quick and tasty.
Many visitors to Chicken Shack count themselves as regulars. Around dinner time, the walls are lined with people on their way home from work who stop in to take home a quick bite. At lunch, in addition to the carry-out crowd, the restaurant’s two tiny tables are usually filled. Evanston residents love its convenient location, quick service and good food. The Chicken Shack is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12:40 a.m., and only accepts cash.
The Chicken Shack is well known among Northwestern students. Weinberg freshman Betsy Pearl said the restaurant is known for its large portions, fresh meat and strange prices-$1.84 for a side of spaghetti, for example.
“I’ve heard it’s good food for when you are slightly inebriated and in need of snacks,” Pearl said.
Another big draw of the restaurant is its large menu. Featuring items ranging from chicken tenders to tilapia and cup of cheese to okra, it is difficult to read because there are so many options. It hangs in the restaurant on a large plastic board in the corner over the drink vending machines. The hot sauce is a specialty, and the bits and wings are often mentioned as customer favorites.
Evanston resident Robert D. Jones said he eats at the Chicken Shack every week on his lunch break. He orders catfish nuggets and chicken wings, then sits on one of the benches that line half of the walls to wait about five to 10 minutes for his order.
“Fresh.” he said, “It’s fresh food.” [email protected]
