Reported for Flatiron Hot! News by Katherine Jin

Walking into Hill Country Chicken feels like entering a wonderfully pleasant cafeteria. Its mid-century country interior, featuring high ceilings, quaint wallpaper, and big windows, create a bright and airy atmosphere that welcomes you in.

The food is just as good as the environment. Their chef, Elizabeth Karmel, is on a mission to bring New Yorkers a casual fried chicken and pie joint with a Southern flavor, and she most certainly accomplishes her goal. On my visit, I tried their Hot Honeywich and vanilla shake, with a side of mac & cheese, and my friend got the Texas Tenders with fries and a biscuit.

The Hot Honeywich consisted of a plump piece of tender fried chicken dipped in honey and slices of crunchy pickles, all sandwiched between soft and squishy buns. It was a beautiful sandwich: crispy, crunchy, sweet, and meaty in every bite. The coating covering the chicken were nice and crunchy, and the syrup and pickles just topped it off with a gentle sweetness and touch of spice.

The Texas Tenders were even better than the sandwich. The chicken is hand-dipped and hand-cut, and fried to perfection. Each piece is wonderfully huge, and not too greasy, which I appreciated. The meat has a really nice silky texture that’s easy to bite into, and the juicy breasts are enveloped in a crunchy golden crust. What really added an extra depth and pop to the dish, though, were the seasoning and herbs they sprinkle on top, a satisfying mix of salt, pepper, and paprika.

The fries and sides are also delicious. Crunchy and well-seasoned, the fries are the perfect complement to the chicken, and the biscuits are deliciously flaky and buttermilky. I found the pimento mac and cheese to be a little disappointing because I prefer my macaroni to be drowning in cheese, but my friend absolutely loved it. The crispy bread crumbs and little flecks of pimento did add nice texture and color to the dish.

As a massive milkshake aficionado, the vanilla shake was my favorite part of the meal, even though it took the longest to make. The drink was creamy and rich, with just the right amount of sweetness. The consistency was pleasantly thick, yet smooth enough to be worked with a straw immediately. I inhaled that drink, and would definitely have gone back for a second if I hadn’t been full already.

I did not have the chance to try their mashed potatoes or pies, but I noticed many other customers enjoying them. I can’t wait to try them on my next visit. They add fries to their cheesy mashed potatoes, and I can only imagine how great the blend of textures must be. The pies were also incredibly enticing and have very positive reviews online, so I must taste test a selection of them in the future.

Overall, I had a very pleasant experience and would definitely recommend their Texas Tenders, fries, and shakes. It’s the perfect place to go with friends or family, and will be a fun and relaxing stop after your event at NYCSCC.