Illustration: Clay Hickson
Whereas a few of us proceed to mourn the lack of fowl-centering fine-dining locations like Le Coq Rico or Rotisserie Georgette, the reality is eating places have by no means been the rightful place for rotisserie chickens. They’re meant to be picked up and eaten at house, shared on a picnic blanket, sliced up for a sandwich, or used as the bottom for an “simple,” “no-fuss,” “prepared in half-hour” dinner. Their strengths are comfort and consistency — however what about high quality?
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That is the query New York requested me to reply as a part of this 12 months’s big summer season information to markets all around the metropolis. My marching orders had been as easy as assignments get: Discover and rank the perfect rotisserie chickens in New York.
So I got down to conduct a rigorous tasting of town’s store-spun birds. (It was so rigorous that I used to be flagged for suspicious conduct by Instacart.) I known as in additional than a dozen birds from throughout city — high-end roasters that value $56.93 per hen, cult classics, artisanal neighborhood charmers, and cheap dependables from all the large chains.
I rounded up a panel and we blind-tasted every part, solely to be shocked once we realized the pedigree of our favourite birds and realized one undeniable fact: The chains make the perfect chickens.
1. Citarella, a number of places
The Norman Rockwellian archetype — moist (which was not the case for each hen we tried; “moist” shouldn’t be the identical as “juicy”) with a touch of garlic within the seasoning.
2. Fairway, a number of places
Get the pollo asado with chile, paprika, oregano, and rosemary.
3. Agata & Valentina, 1505 First Ave.
A commendably beneficiant software of black pepper and cayenne brings some refined, shocking warmth.
4. Wegmans, a number of places
“How hen ought to style,” per two testers; it’s a clean canvas, with the mandatory versatility prepared for repurposing in recipes.
5. Costco, a number of places
A notably roasty taste makes it additional comforting.
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In the event you favor to learn in print, you can even discover this text within the June 16, 2025, challenge of
New York Journal.
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