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Quality Food and Drink NearU
A Conversation With Underdog Hot Chicken
A new kind of fried chicken has landed in Boston, and it is a game changer. Underdog is serving up a style of chicken that has blown up all across the country, but has yet to make its way up north, until now. Enter Nashville hot chicken.
These sandwiches are insanely crispy and super tender. The secret is that they use two chicken tenders for the sandwich, unlike the competition, who uses traditional chicken breast. After marinating in their secret spices overnight, each sandwich is made to order, and the result is fried chicken masterpiece with an ultra crispy bite to it. Most places will go for breasts because they are cheaper. But at Underdog, all they care about is the end product. For example, every morning they go to the bakery to pick up fresh buns for the day. These seemingly small details are what make a world of difference when it comes to quality.
Underdog’s menu is simple, which has allowed them to master every item on the menu. Every sandwich comes with a side, and if you are like us, you will want to try every one. The fried pickles are lightly coated, dusted in seasoning, and served with their Underdog sauce for dipping (a true classic). The mac n’ cheese, a fan favorite, is made with spiral noodles, and is irresistibly creamy and cheesy. It is ideal for an epic cheese pull. And we all know a meal is not complete without a little dessert. The fried Oreo’s Underdog is serving up will rival any that you’ll find at a fair.
The name “Underdog” is fitting, as their story is one of perseverance and battling against the odds. Prior to COVID, the owners of Underdog ran Kim’s Tofu, an extremely successful soup spot. However, COVID was tough– as soup does not translate well to takeout– and they were forced to shut their doors. During this time, they took a trip out to LA to find inspiration for their next venture. When they took their first bite of the hot chicken sandwich, they knew that this was the sandwich that Boston has long needed.
Now, they knew what they wanted to serve. Next was creating a recipe. Hours upon hours were spent in the kitchen trying to perfect their version of the hot chicken sandwich. It wasn’t enough to just go to market with an average chicken sandwich. For Underdog’s founders, this was their chance to reinvent themselves, and they were going to do it with a big splash. Once they had their sandwich, it was time to remodel. The building still had the inside of Kim’s Tofu, but for hot chicken they were going to need a completely different vibe. Starting with a little budget, most of the renovation was done by the owners themselves.
From being closed at this time last year to selling out of chicken sandwiches on a regular basis, this is the “Underdog” story that you love to root for.
But don’t take our word for it go there and try this insanely crispy boi for yourself.
Find Underdog Hot Chicken at their website and on Instagram!
