Clucking Good Eats at Chi Tea

Just across the street from Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, the newly opened Rogers Park location of Chi Tea serves an array of fried chicken, burgers, mac and cheese and bubble tea. 

The restaurant features moody lighting and floral motifs, creating a dynamic environment fit for a casual meal or a peaceful study session. Chi Tea boasts house-made ingredients, dishing out entrees that don’t skimp on flavor or quality. 

Its signature dish, The Big Bird, is a take on a Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Wrapped in newspaper, the dish is piled high with coleslaw, pickles and a fried chicken breast on a buttery bun.

The sandwich is also covered in their signature Chi Sauce — a creamy yet tangy mayonnaise-based condiment that graces much of the menu. While it may be orange in color, the Chi sauce is liquid gold. The house-made coleslaw provides a freshness, ensuring the dish isn’t too heavy.

The hot chicken has a satisfying crunch but stays juicy inside, prevailing over the soggy sandwiches of nearby competitors. Diners can choose the spice level of their chicken, ranging from non-spicy to extra spicy — although the second spiciest is only as hot as a Taki.

The Big Bird’s burly size is reason enough to order when feeling hungry, with its reasonable price of $10 and some change being an added bonus.

Its customizable mac and cheese allows customers to build their own side of cheesy pasta. Starting at a base price of $3.99, toppings are available at an additional price, including fries, bacon, ground beef and chicken tenders.

Served in scoops large enough to be entrees on their own, the hot-chicken topped noodles are drizzled with Chi Sauce. The savory cheddar blend sauce covers the soft elbow noodles, with slightly sweet notes peeking through. Like the fried chicken breast, the tenders have a fiery, crunchy exterior with a moist interior.

To combat the hot chicken’s heat, the restaurant also serves a wide selection of made-to-order bubble tea. Starting at $4.99, each drink can be personalized with a myriad of mix-and-match flavors and toppings, including tapioca pearls, popping boba and fruit jellies. 

The blended Thai tea is a refreshing, creamy slush with sharp notes of Ceylon tea and star anise. The Thai tea’s cool creaminess contrasts with the chicken’s spice, providing a soothing sensation from the heat. While the boba is soft and chewy, the pearls themselves are an unsweetened, bland addition. 

Chi Tea’s menu also includes different fruit-flavored lemonades, soda and the titular chai tea.

Chi Tea’s diverse menu of fried chicken, quick bites and bubble tea ensures there’s an item for anyone craving something sweet, savory, spicy or anything in between. Be prepared to end the meal with messy hands, a full stomach and a bag full of leftovers — all at an affordable price. 

Located at 6474 N. Sheridan Rd., Chi Tea is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. More information can be found on Chi Tea’s Instagram.