Chi Chi's brings a cool new spot to Freret Street
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Chi Chi's Chicken and Beer specializes in chicken and sushi sandos. Photo: Chelsea Brasted/Axios
Freret Street is already jam-packed with great casual spots to grab a bite to eat, but recent addition Chi Chi's Chicken and Beer still managed to elbow its way in while bringing something totally new to the table.
Why it matters: The restaurant also gets Adolfo Garcia III and Sophia Petrou home to New Orleans; they've been living in New York, but their families are behind local places like Ancora, La Boca Steakhouse and Russell's Marina Grill, according to Eater New Orleans.
The vibe: Chi Chi's is tucked into Freret Street between Mojo Coffeehouse and Humble Bagel.
- An entire wall of windows lends plenty of brightness to the space. A deep red on the ceiling warms it up, and the single dining room is filled with less than a dozen tables.
- Each was busy on a recent Friday lunch visit as diners scanned the tight menu of chicken wings, chicken sandwiches, onigirazu (sushi sandwiches) and, for dessert, kakigōri (shaved ice).
- It was a perfect place to grab lunch and catch up with Carlie as we ended a busy workweek.
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What we ordered: A KFC sandwich ($13), and two of the onigirazu: spicy tuna cucumber ($12) and salmon jalapeno ($14).
- The standout was definitely the KFC. The sandwich drips with a red gochujang glaze, which gets balanced with a little sweetness in crunch thanks to a sesame slaw.
- For dessert, we tried the strawberries and cream kakigōri topped with matcha whipped cream. The shaved ice and its flavor is more delicate than what you get with a typical New Orleans snoball, but it was still plenty to share.
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We also sipped on a bottle of lychee soju, which was delivered with a cute pink dispenser that attached to the top.
- You slip your cup under the sensor, and the dispenser automatically fills your cup.
- Fun!
