Krispy Krunchy Chicken: Joliet Goes Nuts Over New Restaurant

JOLIET, IL —The Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide run by Brian Bessler has 20,000 Facebook followers and members of the group like to talk about their favorite meals of the day. Lately, though one place has dominated the discussion.

It's the new Krispy Krunchy Chicken tucked inside the BP gas station at the corner of Jefferson Street and Hammes Avenue. It opened less than two weeks ago.

A local man named Tom has become one of Krispy Krunchy Chicken's biggest fans. In fact, they should consider naming a meal after him, or, at the very least, giving him a free meal for all the publicity and exposure he has brought them these past two weeks.

"More Krispy Krunchy Chicken today," Tom posted in the Joliet restaurant Facebook group on Thursday night. "Can't stay out of this place! Hope they decide to open Sundays and close Mondays!"

A man named Jay also posted Thursday in Bessler's Facebook group that he went to Krispy Krunchy Chicken to check it out.

"GrubHub order just arrived Time to see what the fuss is all about. 4 piece wit Jambalaya. They forgot my biscuit tho," Jay informed everyone.

A woman named Melissa shared photos of her experience at the Krispy Krunchy Chicken from Thursday with the group. "2 thumbs up!!!" she proclaimed.

"It's great chicken," a man named Hank wrote Melissa back.

"Last time I ate gas station chicken I was out in the middle of Ohio and got sick like a dog... Meh, that was years ago. Let's eat!" a man named Greg responded.

Last week, at the urging of Bessler, your Joliet Patch editor made a visit to the BP gas station to check out the buzz about this new Krispy Krunchy Chicken place.

At no point since 2018, have I written any food columns on Joliet area gas station food.

A photo of my Cajun fried chicken meal is right below.

I went with the two-piece dinner, a wing and a breast. For gas station food, this was fresh, it was not expensive and my meal was ready about 30 seconds after I paid for it. The manager of the BP told me that Krispy Krunchy Chicken is run independently of BP, but he was very pleased to see it open inside his gas station.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken has a spicy kick to it. The restaurant brochure says "Freshly Made — Perfectly Cajun."

The chicken meals come in dark, mix and white and are available in two, three and four pieces. There's also Cajun tenders, honey butter shrimp, fried fish, a chicken sandwich, traditional wings and family meals.

Would I go back and order from Krispy Krunchy Chicken again? Yes. Would I rate Krispy Krunchy Chicken as being better than the White Fence Farm Joliet carryout location along Barney Drive near West Jefferson Street? The answer is no.

In a battle over fried chicken, I still prefer the Joliet White Fence Farm over Krispy Krunchy Chicken, but I understand why the new Krispy Krunchy Chicken is gaining a lot of positive followers and feedback around Joliet of late.

According to its website, Krispy Krunchy Chicken first opened in 1989 in Louisiana.
"Now, we’re the fastest-growing premium c-store based quick-service concept in the country, with over 2,600 retail locations in 47 states," the restaurant proclaims.

"So, how do we make Krispy Krunchy Chicken so tasty? We infuse each chicken breast, thigh, wing, and tender with our secret proprietary marinade. Then, we fry each piece to perfection."

Will the new Krispy Krunchy Chicken succeed at 1987 West Jefferson Street?

Short of this place running out of Cajun fried chicken, I think the answer is yes. The gas station carryout restaurant is off to a sizzling start. There's no denying that.

The phone number to place carryout orders is 815-582-4791. The new Joliet takeout restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Just like Chick-fil-A, they are closed on Sundays.

The Joliet gas station fried chicken is also available through Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash.

If you don't believe the hype, take it from Tom, the regular contributor to the Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide.

"Yep, its the real deal. Get over to BP on Jefferson & Hammes. Best fried chicken ever!" he informed the Joliet restaurant Facebook group April 15.