DISH OF THE WEEK: Salted Duck Egg Yolk Chicken Sandwich at DOUBLE CHICKEN PLEASE

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City

While way more restaurants have sadly closed during the pandemic, a few have actually opened. Which is pretty crazy, but also hopeful that the restaurant industry will survive all this madness.

One of the places that opened is called Double Chicken Please. It lives up to its name by serving innovative fried chicken sandwiches, but it’s also a very sleek cocktail bar.

The team behind Double Chicken Please has actually been working on this project for years as a traveling pop-up. They just recently opened their own home in the Lower East Side and it would be very exciting and no doubt packed to the gills if it wasn’t for that pesky virus.

I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon to grab one of those sandwiches to go. I would have loved to have tried their cocktails, but I am not comfortable dining inside yet and I had no place to take the cocktail to drink legally. But I’m very glad to have tried one of their Asian inspired chicken sandwiches.

Both options sounded very intriguing. Aside from the addition of Thai Basil, the Hot Honey sounded like sandwiches I’ve enjoyed many times before. I’m sure its great. But the Salted Duck Egg Yolk variety sounded pretty crazy with the addition of shrimp so I chose that.

Modeled after Taiwanese flavors, this was rich, salty, with a hint of spice. The chicken was perfectly fried and crackly. The meat was juicy and tender. Instead of mayonnaise, there was a slab of the aforementioned yolk mixture. I’m not sure exactly where the shrimp was in the composition, but most likely in the form of dried shrimp. I couldn’t spot them but I did get a slight briny flavor.

It was balanced by crisp cucumbers and smooth butter lettuce and held up nicely under a soft brioche bun.

In the old days, there would be lines out the door or sold out days at a place like Double Chicken Please. I do hope they are doing a strong take-out business because this is a place that deserves to be tried.

If all these businesses are closing around us (and I’m afraid there will be more to come), let’s hope they are able to be replaced with exciting new spots like Double Chicken Please. Price: $12