It’s hard to think of a food trend that I find less appealing, but the hot chicken phenomenon that swept across New Jersey and created lines outside stores was something I wanted a front-row seat to.
Unfortunately, I’m one of those people whose palate doesn’t like spicy food. I like it in small doses. But what’s mild for me is what most people would call Dave’s Insanity Sauce. Remember the Spice Girls in the 90’s? Ginger Spice, Posh Spice, etc. Mine would have been Wimpy Spice.
If, like many people, you love hot chicken, new ideas seem to come out of Trenton faster than bad ones, and Erin Vogt recently rounded up the best places in the Garden State.
@eat.namkeen via Instagram
Nashville-style hot chicken has also been toyed with. For example: Four years ago, a place serving Pakistani-style Nashville hot chicken opened in Chatham, New Jersey. It was called Namkeen Hot Chicken. Last year, two more locations opened, one in Brooklyn and one in Metuchen, New Jersey.
Rumors have been circulating that a third New Jersey location would be opening in Parsippany, and now we finally have an opening date. Namkeen Hot Chicken, planned for the Lake Hiawatha area, has announced it will open the weekend of August 23rd. The address will be at 9 North Beverwyck Rd.
@eat.namkeen via Instagram
“We’re excited to welcome Namkeen to the Parsippany community,” co-owner Rabeeah Chaudhri told nj.com. “We have customers constantly asking if there’s a Namkeen location near them. It’s been really great to be able to grow and serve our customers in different neighborhoods.”
Like most locations outside of Metuchen, dine-in is not available, but counter service is available daily from noon to 11 p.m. For those looking for a hot chicken treat with a twist, the chain offers Pakistani-style hot chicken twists, dhamaka fries and chicken tikka mac and cheese in addition to the usual chicken sandwiches, wings and tenders.
Spice lovers, train your taste buds.
@eat.namkeen via Instagram
From coast to coast: 20 best regional fast-food chains to try
Gallery credit: Kierstin Hickman
WATCH: 20 American dishes that raise eyebrows outside the US
Gallery credit: Charlotte Barnett
The opinions expressed in the above post are solely those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Jeff Deminski.
Listen to Deminsky & Doyle now. on demand! Tune in to New Jersey’s favorite afternoon radio show any day of the week. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, including on our free app, by downloading the Deminski & Doyle show.
To contact the editor with feedback or corrections to this article, click here.
