The third fried chicken trip on the list was Jubilee Cafe, located in Edwards, Illinois.
Our third stop on the "Fried Chicken Expedition" was another small town favorite, Jubilee Cafe. Located just off of the interstate, it is a great place to drop by for a quick bite that will make you feel at home, even while on the road. Just as their menu proudly states to the left, everything they dish out has been "made from scratch" for 30 years. After that long, they sure do have their craft down for every dish they make in-house. Similar to Gil's Supper Club, this hometown hero of a restaurant is very proud of their fried chicken, and we just so happened to drop by on a Monday night which, at Jubilee Cafe, is known as "Chicken Night."
Just How Finger Lickin' is the Chicken?
For my meal, I ordered a quarter of all white meat fried chicken accompanied by two sides, which we'll get into later, and a complimentary roll. I would have to say that the chicken was quite tasty, as it packed a nice crunch and had a solid flaky breading. However, it did lack seasoning, making the full taste fall a little flat. This is where Jubilee Cafe really lost points against Popeye's, as Popeye's had that little southern spice to really kick it into high gear. The meat was still cooked to perfection and delectably juicy, making up for some of the short comings.
"Premium" Side Service
To go with my chicken, I ordered a side of fries and went for a "premium" side of mac and cheese. At first sight, I was quite disappointed with the proportions. The amount of chicken was of course standard, but everything else felt... sparse. The roll was quite small, there were not very many fries, which is surprising, as restaurants usually drown their food in fries, but the mac and cheese came in an adequate serving. The presentation was not much to gawk at, which was not shocking, as hometown feeling restaurants like Jubilee Cafe do not seem to worry about the more "superficial" things. However, I was very appreciative of the fact that my meal came with all of the "fixin's," as I got a cup of ketchup for my fries and a cup of butter for my roll all right there on my plate, ready to go. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, this would not have seemed like much, but now, in a time where you have to ask for each condiment and seasoning separately since they are no longer left on your table, it was a very sweet perk.
Ready to Report
Overall, eating at Jubilee Cafe was a pleasant experience. The chicken was good, the sides were delicious, and the service was great. With all of this on it's side, this cafe has earned the #2 spot, leaving Gil's in third and, of course, Popeye's in first place. Make sure to check in soon for the "Fried Chicken Expedition" finale on "Fried Frenzy" my friends.