Harold's Chicken, a Chicago staple with serious South Side cred, has jumped the border into Northwest Indiana, opening a new Hobart location and hauling its battered, lemon-pepper fried chicken and signature mild sauce across the state line. The shop opened Thursday and gives the Calumet Region another late-night and carryout option, so locals can grab Harold's classic wing-and-fries dinners and family buckets without making the drive into Chicago.
As reported by The Times, business reporter Joseph S. Pete flagged the Hobart restaurant as the chain's latest regional outpost. The paper notes that the spot is open for carryout and delivery and underscores how the brand's appeal has stretched well beyond the city where it started.
About Harold's Chicken
Harold's traces its roots to a takeout shop opened by Harold Pierce on Chicago's South Side in 1950, eventually growing into a multi-state brand known for its "yard bird" dinners and modest prices. WTTW has chronicled the chain's 75-year history, highlighting how family stewardship and franchise partners helped push Harold's into new markets while keeping its unmistakable South Side identity intact.
Part of a Regional Push
The Hobart shop is the latest move in a broader expansion, following a wave of recent openings and proposals outside Chicago, from an Oak Lawn storefront to a planned Milwaukee outpost, that show Harold's is targeting nearby markets. As documented by Patch, franchisees say strong demand for the brand's breaded chicken and familiar sides has been driving those expansion plans.
Patrons in Hobart should expect the classic Harold's lineup on the menu, including wings, mixed buckets, fish dinners, fries and coleslaw, along with local staff behind the counter, according to The Times. Whether this South Side import sparks a mini boom of Harold's locations across Northwest Indiana is a story fried-chicken fans will be following closely.
