In Chatham, the line stretched down the block Tuesday — not for democracy, but Pakistani chicken sandwiches.
More than a year after the Popeyes and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich debate rocked the fast-food world to its clucking core, Namkeen Hot Chicken opened in Morris County last week with a different type of sandwich — a Pakistani take on Nashville hot chicken. The sweet and spicy handhelds are already so popular that customers are waiting an hour to try them.
Hot chicken — a heavily marinated fried chicken dish coated in a spicy cayenne pepper sauce or paste — originated in Nashville but is now one of the most popular culinary trends in the country, popping up on menus thousands of miles from Tennessee.
In fact, it was a trip to California that inspired husband and wife Usman Chaudhry and Amena Chaudhri to get into the hot chicken game.
“After visiting L.A. and trying hot chicken there we instantly loved it. Usman always wanted to open a restaurant, and we noticed there were zero dedicated hot chicken spots in New Jersey," Amena said. “We always knew we wanted to incorporate our Pakistani roots into our food."
The Nashville hot chicken sandwich from Namkeen Hot Chicken in Chatham. (Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Namkeen’s classic Nashville sandwich ($8) comes with hot chicken (spice level ranges from naked to hot), pickles, coleslaw and chipotle aioli. The Tikkaville sandwich ($9) features regular fried chicken topped with a curry-ish tikka sauce, coleslaw, pickled onions and mint chutney. They also offer a sandwich served on a jalapeño cheddar Belgian waffle, chicken and waffle platters, chicken tikka macaroni and cheese, and fries topped with the same ingredients as the Tikkaville sandwich.
Having stood in the Election Day line and tried the state’s most popular new sandwich, I too cast my vote for Namkeen, with a key provision: They need to work on the chicken’s texture — a bit too chewy.
But the flavor absolutely delivers. The classic Nashville sandwich served “hot” — the restaurant’s highest spice level — packed heat that spice fiends will be able to handle without issue, but go for mild or medium if you’re heat-averse.
The Tikkaville sandwich was definitely the highlight; easily their most impressive dish. The spice of the curry paired with the sweetness of the mint chutney made for a deliciously balanced bite. Next time I’d try it with spicier chicken to further elevate the dish and add even more heat.
Dhamaka fries from Namkeen Hot Chicken in Chatham, featuring fried chicken, tikka sauce, pickles, coleslaw and mint chutney. (Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
Is it “wait an hour in the blustery November weather” good? I’m not so sure, though I’m glad I made the trip.
For now, there’s no way around the wait time, either. Namkeen has been so popular since it opened they aren’t even accepting online or call-ahead orders. It’s a long wait for customers and a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but Amena and Usman are blown away by the support.
“It’s overwhelming, let me tell you,” Chaudhri said. “But the love we’re receiving is just outstanding, and we can’t complain. We’re so thankful for everything.”
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Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
The Link LonkNovember 07, 2020 at 10:00PM
https://www.nj.com/food/2020/11/forget-popeyes-this-new-nj-shop-is-serving-pakistani-hot-chicken-sandwiches.html
Forget Popeyes, this new N.J. shop is serving Pakistani hot chicken sandwiches - NJ.com
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