Has Anybody Tried Chato's Chicken and Potatoes?

Though I work less than five minutes away, I hadn't been down Taylor Street near Ashland since last fall. I used to frequent the block at least twice a week to get something from Pompei, De Pesada, Lemongrass Thai, or Patio Beef. Yesterday I passed by and saw a new place in the old De Pesada building (De Pesada moved next door to a bigger space). It's called Chato's Chicken and Potatoes. Has anybody tried it? I think i'll probably go next week but please let me know, if its not worth my time.

If they didn't close so damn early (7 pm) we would have tried it by now, since we live nearby and do get take out chickens from Papa's Cache Sabroso and other such places. The hours are irritating, though.

I hope you'll post about how it is. And maybe you could let them know that there are potential customers out there who eat a bit later than seven...

Chato's Chicken and Mashed
1519 W Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 492-9074

Amata wrote:I hope you'll post about how it is. And maybe you could let them know that there are potential customers out there who eat a bit later than seven...

As is evidenced by Hot Doug's, they may not give a damn and prefer to live their lives and run their business on their own terms. "You want our hot dogs/chicken/pizza/whatever; you come by when we're open."

It's not a personal statement against you or anyone else who eats late (myself included). This is just the way they run their business and the hours they choose to keep.

Buddy

I tried to go on Saturday but was surprised to find they close at 3pm (according to their menu it used to be 5). On Sundays they close at 1pm.

Chato's Chicken and Mashed
1519 W Taylor St
Chicago
312-492-9074
Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 7am-3pm, Sun 7am-1pm

Been meaning to check this place out as I live nearby. This thread inspired me.

Chato’s has been open for almost a year and breaks up the red sauce cabal they got goin down there on Taylor St. It’s decorated in a Shabby Chic/modern barn/diner aesthetic and is truly a mom and pop. Rose runs the counter and tables for her uncle Richard (aka Chato - his nickname). She doesn’t pull any punches, asked to recommend sides, she steers you away from the corn and beans, because due to seasonality they come in cans this time of year.

Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, potato and pasta salad are made in house during the winter. The mashed potatoes which I opted for were a rustic skin on mash, fresh, simple, though could have used some salt, which thankfully was on the table and I made the adjustment.

The chicken is rubbed with seven secret spices and cooked in a bottom fired rotisserie. I could take the skin by itself and launch a chicken chip line, it’s that good. Likewise, the leg meat is super juicy and falls off the bone. The breast meat on the other hand was a little dried out.

They also serve a warm Turano white crispy exterior and soft chewy interior roll with the meal, all of this for a very fair $5.95.

Overall the chicken is better than your supermarket rotisserie and even Boston Market...on the other hand, unless you live within five miles of the hood, I’m not sure I’d make the drive. As a nearby resident of the hood though, I’ll be back, hopefully to score less dry breast meat.

Chato's Pics here

I finally had lunch there the other day. We got there at 11:15 am and the chicken was still cooking on the rotisserie. The server/owner was really nice. She apologized and said it would be ready in about twenty minutes. Since we work close by, we ordered, left and then returned at 11:40 a.m. The food was brought out to us as soon as we were seated.

The chicken was good; pretty juicy, but not overly seasoned. I had the whole chicken, with the mashed potatoes and the rice for my 2 sides. For $9.95, it was a pretty good deal. You can also order half a chicken with 1 side for $5.95. She also brought us some homemade salsa, which wasn't particularly hot or flavorful. I wanted to try the Mac and Cheese, which she said was really good. Unfortunately, UIC had ordered all of it for some lunch meeting they were having.

I really liked the consistency of the mashed potatoes. They were unseasoned, but salt and butter were provided. They were served with their skins on and were pretty tasty after the butter and salt. The rice was o.k. spanish rice, not offensive, but not great either. Other people, skinny college kids in particular, were eating the wraps. They looked pretty good.

If you're in the neighborhood, all in all, for the price, I think its a pretty good deal. The food is more than servicable and i'm looking forward to returning for the mac-n-cheese.

I prefer Chicken Hut on Belmont and Broadway for Chicken and Sides for around the same price and Costco's Whole Rotisserie Chicken is an even better deal and much better seasoned.