I was so excited to try Roaming Rooster’s sides. I usually only eat my mom’s greens and am often not interested in trying coleslaw that’s not my grandma’s, but this time was different. Their Southern-style greens were some of the best I’ve ever had. I loved that they weren’t super salty. Their coleslaw stood out to me because there are jalapenos and vinaigrette dressing in it. It’s savory flavor was really cool to me since I’m used to sweeter coleslaw. I’m not a jalapenos person but loved that flavor it added, and the vinaigrette added a kick to it. The macaroni and cheese was so creamy, and based on my love of cheese had a cheddar-y flavor that worked so well. Their fries…were amazing. They were fried perfectly! I’m not a fan of super crunchy fries, so these were right up my alley. I can’t wait to get more soon!
WHAT I ORDERED
I’ve been to Roaming Rooster twice now. The first one was for a local foodie meetup organized by local food blogger, @marseats. I must note that I did not pay for this food the first time nor was I asked to post about this restaurant in exchange for exposure. My mom kindly treated me to the honey butter chicken sandwich that I tried the second time. The second time I visited, I brought a couple family members so they could taste the chicken sandwich I’ve been raving about. If you don’t like waiting in long lines, the best time to get there has been between 11 am (open) and 12:15 pm. One of my favorite things about their chicken sandwiches is having heat options: mild, medium, and hot.
Note: due to COVID-related changes, some menu items may not be available. Please check Roaming Rooster’s website to see the current menu. I tried all of these menu items pre-pandemic.
Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich
The Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich was my absolute favorite. It’s a buttermilk fried chicken breast with honey butter spread on top and cheddar cheese. Y’all…this fried chicken sandwich is one of the best I’ve ever had! The chicken was perfectly crispy. I’ve never had cheese on a chicken sandwich before and wasn’t sure how it would be at first. It worked so well with the honey butter spread, which was a huge game changer.
Chicken and Waffle
Like many people, I love chicken and waffles. Whoever came up with this dish deserves all good things. The chicken was perfect, but that waffle…was the best I’ve ever had. I wish I got a better photo of it. The waffle wasn’t too soft or too hard. It was just right. Eat the chicken and the waffle together, and BOOM. A match made in heaven.
Sides
I was so excited to try Roaming Rooster’s sides. I usually only eat my mom’s greens and am often not interested in trying coleslaw that’s not my grandma’s, but this time was different. Their Southern-style greens were some of the best I’ve ever had. I loved that they weren’t super salty. Their coleslaw stood out to me because there are jalapenos and vinaigrette dressing in it. It’s savory flavor was really cool to me since I’m used to sweeter coleslaw. I’m not a jalapenos person but loved that flavor it added, and the vinaigrette added a kick to it. The macaroni and cheese was so creamy, and based on my love of cheese had a cheddar-y flavor that worked so well. Their fries…were amazing. They were fried perfectly! I’m not a fan of super crunchy fries, so these were right up my alley. I can’t wait to get more soon!
CONCLUSION
I would absolutely go back to Roaming Rooster! I love that everything is made fresh. The staff is also super nice, which is always great! If you’re looking for a tasty fried chicken sandwich in D.C., Roaming Rooster is the place you need to visit!
Address: 3176 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018; 4 other D.C. locations, 1 Maryland location, and 4 Virginia locations
Until next time.
Update 05/10/2020: Due to the pandemic, Roaming Rooster has created a limited menu. Some items may not be available. The current menu can be found here: https://www.roamingroosterdc.com/menus/
Update 09/24/2022: the Chicken & Waffle is not on the menu.
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