Buffalo Chicken Wraps.

A blog dedicated to BCWs and my quest to find the best BCW in the world. Bless the BCW.

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

iO Theater – a silly BCW

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Grilled chicken, buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, avocado, Chihuahua cheese, flour tortilla with iO fries.

Pretty classic theater food since you’re trapped without options – decent but not wonderful. Surprisingly, not overpriced. To fulfill your need for spice, instead buy a ticket to Dumb John & The Deltones, every Saturday at 8pm!

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 7.5/10

Chicken: grilled, good 

Sauce: too much/too runny but strong flavor 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: excellent 

Wrap: standard 

Temperature: room

Side(s): fries, fried on outside but soft on inside 

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Stephanie Chapman

Patsy’s Pub & Grill - first BCW of 2019!

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Chicken tenders beer battered, tossed with buffalo sauce, ranch, lettuce, onion & tomato.

Delicious! I do not believe that those tenders were beer battered because the chicken was grilled and not fried, but it was still yummy. Sauce came on a bit strong, but had good flavor. Amount of food was ginormous.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 7.5/10

Chicken: grilled, good 

Sauce: too much/too runny but strong flavor 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: excellent 

Wrap: standard 

Temperature: room

Side(s): fries, fried on outside but soft on inside 

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard 

Houndstooth Saloon – a post-Holiday bar crawl and pre-Sister Hazel BCW

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap:  romaine, bleu cheese, cheddar croutons, carrot ribbons, tomato, red onion, celery, bleu cheese or ranch dressing Edit: No cheese, chose ranch dressing instead

Oh wow, yum! Will definitely be going back for this one, it was FANTASTIC! Really great chicken, excellent distribution. All around quality BCW. Best BCW I’ve had in quite some time.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 9/10

Chicken: fantastic, crispy

Sauce: their famous sauce 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: heavy chicken, well balanced

Wrap: panini’d perfectly crisp

Temperature: room

Side(s): fries

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Alex Ferguson

Third Rail Tavern – a pre-Bulls game BCW

Chicago, IL

Spicy Chicken Wrap: buffalo chicken strips, lettuce, tomato, & ranch dressing

I had high expectations for this one for absolutely no reason other than the vibe of the local watering hole, and it did turn out to be delicious. They also serve Shake by Boulder Beer on draft, which is a winter favorite. Cozy AF.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 8/10

Chicken: so well fried, so much 

Sauce: excellent flavor and the right amount 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: the only “complaint” is that the wrap was basically all chicken. A BCW should be a heavy chicken skew, but not entirely chicken

Wrap: Thick at the ends but held together well

Temperature: room

Side(s): “fire fries” aka spicy aka yum

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

Eggsperience – a diner dinner BCW

Chicago, IL

BUFFALO RANCH WRAP: Spicy Buffalo chicken strips, fresh greens, red onions, celery, Jack and cheddar cheese tossed with our ranch dressing. All wrapped up in a flour tortilla.

Edit: No cheese

Yes, these pics are weird. They brought the wrong fries so instead of giving me double… they took them back! Also acquired an extra full pickle. Just a lot going on. Wrap was good. Chicken was a bit hit or miss depending on the bite but overall positive experience. 

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 7/10

Chicken: lightly breaded. Some rubbery, some delish

Sauce: good taste 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: mostly good

Wrap: cold

Temperature: room

Side(s): Fries (pictured), can also sub for fruit, toast, tots

Editor Note: Now accepting guest BCW submissions! If you have a BCW you’d like to share, follow the photo & review templates and send my way!

[buffalochickenwraplover]

Yolk West Loop -  a Misek family guest post

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Crispy buffalo chicken, romaine lettuce, tomato, bleu cheese dressing, tomato flatbread

Pro Tip: Add the house Yolk hot sauce for an extra kick!

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 8/10

Chicken: Crispy with spicy seasoned breading

Sauce: Hot and flavorful

Chicken to vegetable ratio: Even and satisfying

Wrap: Crispy mid section, a bit too thick on ends

Temperature: Wrap still warm, chicken hot & veggies cool

Side(s): Fries (pictured), can also sub for fruit, toast, tots

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo creds: Adam Howard (x2), Katie Misek

Kroll’s South Loop – a pre-USA Rugby match BCW

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: chicken breast tossed with hot sauce, shredded carrots, bleu cheese and lettuce Edit: no bleu cheese

A collaboration of BCWs around the table! Overall, excellent BCW, v highly rated. Chicken and veggies were high quality, a bit too heavy on the wrap. Two tortilla options – I selected “herb” which is my first ever “herb” tortilla. While I ordered without bleu cheese, the Miseks ordered as it appears on the menu and reported positively.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 8/10

Chicken: breaded

Sauce: right amount of spice

Chicken to vegetable ratio: balanced, but not mixed (see photo)

Wrap: herby delicious

Temperature: room

Side(s): fries, can’t go wrong  

[buffalochickenwraplover]

The Rustic Inn – a BCW guest post from Aunt Laura!

Castle Danger, MN

THE SCORECARD:

Chicken: Chicken was good but not plentiful

Sauce: Ranch dressing which dominated the flavors, not much buffalo spiciness

Chicken to vegetable ratio: lots of lettuce and tomato, along with the Ranch made it more like a salad

Wrap: substantial and held up to the end which I appreciate

Side(s): Side of chorizo vegetable soup was the stand-out with much more flavor

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

Corcoran’s – a second review based on their kitchen shake up

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Finger Wrap: lettuce, tomato, herb ranch

Friends, I am so disappointed. This is the first time that I’ve re-evaluated a BCW. Something changed in the Corcoran’s kitchen and I am distraught. The chicken was barely fried, almost no sauce, entirely too much iceberg aka flavorless lettuce, the wrap was cold. Zero ranch. Also, they no longer serve sweet potato tots! WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 4/10

Chicken: incredibly average, bordering on below average

Sauce: barely there

Chicken to vegetable ratio: choking on shredded iceberg lettuce

Wrap: cold! WUT

Temperature: cold wrap & veggies makes for a relatively cold wrap

Side(s): waffle fries, delicious but not sweet potato tots

For context, the original, which honestly was underrated in the first review because it was a go-to:

[buffalochickenwraplover]

Bulldog Ale House – the Miseks are crushing these BCW guest posts!

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Buffalo Chicken tenders, mixed greens, tomatoes, bacon, shredded cheese with house blue cheese dressing

Fantastic wrap! would definitely get again, maybe ask for a spicier sauce, quite a steal for the price, skip the fries tho, get a different side

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 8/10

Chicken: breaded/fried, super delicious

Sauce: mild buffalo, lots of flavor, not too spicy, could have used a bit more of it

Cheese: cheddar was good, mine seemed to be missing the promised blue cheese dressing, so I sort of dipped my in a side of dressing as I went with probably equal effectiveness. 

Chicken to Vegetable ratio: chicken heavy, but the cherry tomatoes were great and the lettuce was bright green and tasty

Wrap: standard flour

Temperature: Room

Side(s): fries (part of a lunch deal, 6.99!), upgraded to the waffles fries but alas, they were just as gross as Bulldog's regular fries. Good thing I brought a toddler along who never says to no fries, even overdone super greasy ones

[buffalochickenwraplover]

Fork in the Road – a BCW from the Lake County Fair

Crown Point, IN

Wonderful guest post from Katie & Ryan Misek! Tiny cutie pictured is the famous Ellie Misek.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 7/10

Chicken: Fried to order, crispy with light breading

Sauce: Spicy with citrus undertones 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: Chicken heavy with standard lettuce

Wrap: Skinny wrap, appropriate for food truck sized portions 

Temperature: Hot chicken, cold refreshing sauce/veggies

Side(s): None included. (Saves room for funnel cakes)

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

ROCKS Lakeview – an “Angry!!” BCW

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Basic ingredients, outrageous flavor! Grilled chicken tossed in our Buffalo sauce (or try it Angry!!), ranch dressing and shredded lettuce stuffed in a tomato basil tortilla. Note: tried it Angry!!

I know that you’re thinking, dear reader. “Shannon! You’ve already reviewed the ROCKS BCW!” And dear reader, you’re correct. However, this BCW post is with the ROCKS signature “Angry!!” sauce, which is an entirely new experience. Overall though, while the sauce was definitely angry, it wasn’t delicious.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 4.5/10

Chicken: over grilled, tough

Sauce: v spicy but flavor not quite right, seemed more about heat level than quality flavor

Chicken to vegetable ratio: good ratio  

Wrap: standard, did not taste tomato basil-y per the menu description 

Temperature: room

Side(s): curly fries, hellz yes! 

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

Old Town Pour House – a summer Sunday afternoon BCW

Chicago, IL 

Nashville Hot Chicken Wrap: Buttermilk breaded crispy chicken breast, hot cayenne pepper mop, romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, ranch dressing, flour tortilla

While technically not a traditional BCW by name, the Nashville sauce was buffalo-y, therefore qualifying for the blog. ENTIRELY too much iceberg lettuce, like whoa, your sauce might not be labeled “buffalo” but you are not a salad.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 5/10

Chicken: fried and normal 

Sauce: pretty spicy, but not enough quantity

Chicken to vegetable ratio: really too much lettuce. Really really.  

Wrap: beautiful panini lines

Temperature: room

Side(s): “olive oil parsley fries”, oh hell yes

Bonus image of my first impression skepticism based on massive the amounts lettuce:

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

Meli Café – a brunch timed BCW

Chicago, IL

Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Southern fried chicken, Buffalo style hot sauce, ranch dressing, romaine, tomato, avocado, flour flatbread Edit: no avo (allergy)

A BCW the morning after Kween Bey’s concert timed while others were brunching was a top notch way to start a Sunday. Cafes continue to pleasantly surprise me with their high scoring BCWs.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 6.5/10

Chicken: fried and yummy 

Sauce: good balance of spicy and ranch

Chicken to vegetable ratio: ratio excellent, room for distribution improvement. As you can see in the photo, very center heavy and ends empty 

Wrap: spilled out the back

Temperature: room

Side(s): fries

[buffalochickenwraplover]

photo cred: Adam Howard

The Stretch Bar & Grill: a pre-Cubbies game BCW

Chicago, IL

The “Lou” Buffalo Chicken Wrap: Grilled chicken breast basted in our homemade Buffalo sauce, garden fresh greens, tomato, Applewood smoked bacon, carrot, celery, Gorgonzola cheese, crispy tortilla strips and Dijon ranch dressing. Wrapped in a warm tortilla. (Louis Victor Piniella, Cubs Manager 2007-2011, W316-L293) Edit: No cheese

A middle of the road BCW experience. Ingredients were quality, but the wrap leaked and chicken was grilled and I’m pretty sure the celery was a lie and the bar was v deafening. Tortilla strips addition seems to be a new trend and has become a welcome positive across BCW experiences.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 6/10

Chicken: grilled

Sauce: good, v runny

Chicken to vegetable ratio: heavy chicken in the middle

Wrap: panini’d

Temperature: room 

Side(s): waffle fries, excellent 

[buffalochickenwraplover]

Photo cred: Emily Larson

Woodies: a BCW that wasn’t and never will be

Chicago, IL

The Southern: southern fried chicken, tomatoes, roasted corn, black beans, tortilla strips and pepper jack cheese tossed in creamy chipotle ranch. Edit: swap dressing for buffalo sauce, no cheese

Oh boy, what a mess. While there is no specific BCW on the menu, I ordered simple tweaked another chicken wrap. The first wrap came out as listed on the menu. Meh fine but the whole table had incorrect orders (wut) so they all went back. Round 2 of the wrap had no cheese yet no buffalo sauce. Did not try for round three, will not try again. Dramaaaaa on the BCW blog!

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 0/10

Chicken: fried

Sauce: not buffalo 

Chicken to vegetable ratio: v limited chicken

Wrap: meh

Temperature: cold, how? 

Side(s): fries

[buffalochickenwraplover]

Photo cred: Chris Wheatley

Headquarters: a disappointing trivia BCW

Chicago, IL

BYO wrap: grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion Edit: Add buffalo sauce

Disappointing. Sauce not so delish, some of the chicken seemed old from the frier. Overall simply not good. Atmosphere was awesome though, check out Savage Bingo on Wednesdays.

THE SCORECARD:

Overall: 5/10

Chicken: fried despite menu saying grilled

Sauce:  not yummy

Chicken to vegetable ratio: small wrap overall

Wrap: I don’t remember, so average

Temperature: room

Side(s): excellent fries saved the meal

Editor Note: Now accepting guest BCW submissions! If you have a BCW you’d like to share, follow the photo & review templates and send my way!