Robert Sietsema: There?s no better fried bird in town than at Mitchell?s Soul Food, a working-class holdout in upscaling Prospect Heights. The skin does the crisping work?it?s only lightly dusted with flour, salt, and pepper?and the resulting product is juicy and crunchy at the same time, and the staff couldn?t be nicer. The sides are great, too!

Sarah DiGregorio: The Korean-style fried chicken at BonBon Chicken is cooked to order, so you may have to wait a few minutes, but you?ll be rewarded with piping-hot chicken enveloped in a crackly, paper-thin crust. Choose the spicy version and each piece comes lacquered in a fiery glaze. There?s kimchi slaw, fries, and various salads available on the side, but the chicken is the culinary equivalent of crack and needs no embellishment.