From producing pierogies and over-the-top pickle festivals to holding the world record for most number of bridges in one city, Pittsburgh and its yinzers have a lot to offer. We pride ourselves on our city, the people it produces, and the incredible traditions and foods that put us on the map. We’ve progressed from offering steel and accessible trade to promising pickle-flavored jelly beans and slightly terrifying mountainside tram rides. We are even ranked among the top-ten friendliest fan bases in MLB for the Pirates, despite continuous disappointment from our team.
Amidst the unique offerings this city provides, another restaurant aims to make a name for itself, starting in Pittsburgh.
Recently, another potentially city-changing restaurant was launched: ChiKN.
Yup, the incorrectly spelled name belongs to one of Pittsburgh’s first Nashville-style spicy chicken restaurants. One of currently three locations, the Cranberry ChiKN is located just north of NASH. So, naturally, my friend’s and I carved out time to taste test and rate this new, hidden, and apparently extravagant restaurant.
Unfortunately, CHiKN didn’t quite meet our standards.
When you first walk in, the decorations and set up are fairly bland. No one greets you, and all the booths, tables, decorations, and signs are pushed against the walls. The person who took our order didn’t say much at all, and what she did say was short and sounded irritated.
After getting my food, I was excited again. I tried the “Mac Daddy,” which consisted of a fried chicken breast, macaroni and cheese, and their specialty sauce. When you order, you get to choose your heat level; I chose medium. The presentation of my sandwich was great. It looked really appetizing and smelled amazing. My friend’s plate of chicken and waffles was equally as appealing.
I was impressed with my sandwich. The macaroni and cheese was delicious and the sauce added the perfect amount of extra flavor. The food was warm and the cheese was gooey, but it definitely made a mess. Many napkins were required.
The chicken and waffles with sauce was also delicious, and also messy. However, my other two friends, who ordered the hot honey sandwich, were less than impressed.
“I honestly thought it was too sweet. It was so messy and my hands were very sticky afterwards. It was hard to eat the whole sandwich because of how sweet it was. In all fairness, I didn’t get a very high level of spice,” Camille, a friend who joined in the review quest, said.
The honey was everywhere and the flavor was lacking. The fries were also disappointing, bland, and flimsy — major letdown.
I decided to order an Oreo milkshake so that I could compile an accurate overall rating, and also satisfy my sweet tooth. I was surprised when the milkshake tasted like a banana.
They must’ve failed to clean the milkshake machine in between making my friend’s banana milkshake and my Oreo one. Banana Oreo was definitely not on the menu.
Overall, I too was less than impressed. The customer service was substandard, the atmosphere was silent and almost awkward, and the fries and shakes were a letdown. Despite this, the main meals are definitely worth trying, as long as you order the right thing. I would eat the “Mac Daddy” sandwich and the chicken and waffles again, but I would take it to go, and do without the surprise banana Oreo milkshake.
If you’re looking to try out Pittsburgh’s newest local Nashville-style chicken restaurant, go in with appropriate expectations. Maybe with improved service, brighter indoor lights, and a friendlier atmosphere, CHiKN would become a fun place to eat out with friends. But as of now, I would just order to-go.
