I tried a famous fried chicken sandwich at Maine's oldest diner. It was worth the trouble to actually get it.
Erin McDowell
- While on a road trip from Connecticut to Portland, Maine, I stopped at Palace Diner in Biddeford.
- I had hoped to try the diner's famous fried chicken sandwich, which is known to sell out.
On a recent road trip to Maine from Connecticut, I stopped at Palace Diner, the oldest diner in the state with a reputation for long wait times but a fried chicken sandwich that makes it all worth it.
Palace Diner offers burgers, breakfast plates, and sandwiches. However, the fried chicken sandwich stands out as one of the restaurant's most popular and famous menu items.
Featured on the Netflix series "Somebody Feed Phil" and referred to by travel website OnlyInYourState as "the most delicious chicken sandwich" its reviewers had ever tried, the sandwich is rich in history and, admittedly, a little difficult to get your hands on, which only adds to its allure.
The first time I tried to order the chicken sandwich, I struck out. After waiting over an hour for two seats at the diner's 15-seat counter, I was told they had sold out of fried chicken.
Luckily, I had time the next morning to finally try the sandwich — only to be completely blown away.
Palace Diner is considered Maine's oldest diner and one of only two surviving Pollard railway dining cars in the country.
Palace Diner was built in 1927 in Lowell, Massachusetts, and then moved to Biddeford, about half an hour from Portland.
The diner has been there ever since and has received multiple accolades over the years, including a James Beard Award nomination in 2020.
My party of two arrived around 11 a.m. on a Saturday, which we thought would be the perfect time between the breakfast and lunch crowds.
When we arrived, we expected a little bit of a wait, considering we could see every seat at the small 15-seat counter was taken.
Still, we were surprised we would have to wait 1 ½ hours for two counter seats. I put my name down and we walked around town before I got a text that they were ready to seat us.
A representative for Palace Diner told Business Insider that the restaurant doesn't take reservations and that seats are first-come, first-served.
When we finally sat down, we were told that the diner was still serving its famous flapjacks, but it had sold out of fried chicken.
We had traveled miles and waited over an hour to try the fried chicken sandwich, so I was admittedly disappointed. I had wanted to see if it lived up to the hype.
"This is one of the most unique menu items at any diner you'll find," travel website OnlyInYourState wrote in its 2020 review. "And it might just be the most delicious chicken sandwich we've ever had."
Adding to its allure is its history — the story goes that when the diner would hold fried chicken dinners, which it reportedly still occasionally does, they would use the chicken breasts left over to make fried chicken sandwiches.
The sandwiches were so popular that they eventually earned a permanent place on the menu. However, depending on how many people order them, they can sell out early in the day.
If you want to try Palace Diner's fried chicken sandwich, I recommend getting there early on a weekday. Otherwise, like us, you might miss your chance the first time around — though don't fear, there are plenty of other must-haves on the menu.
We got there early, two days later, to put our names on the waitlist and get the chance to try the sandwich.
The sandwich isn't available on the diner's separate takeout menu. You have to be put on the waitlist and dine at the restaurant to order it.
When we arrived at 9:30 a.m., we nervously asked the hostess if she was sure we would get to try it after the half-hour wait for a seat. She assured us they had plenty of chicken the Monday morning we went.
She was right — when we finally sat down, were able to order the sandwich without issue.
When the sandwich arrived, we were taken aback by how large it was.
The sandwich's crispy chicken breast practically dwarfed the sesame-seed bun. It was piled high with coleslaw and sliced jalapeños. A pepperoncini pepper had been placed on top, and the whole sandwich was secured with a toothpick.
The sandwich came with a wedge salad on the side, which surprised me as most chicken sandwiches I usually eat come with fries. I was impressed by it, however, and thought the crisp lettuce and savory dressing added a freshness to the plate.
We weren't there to try the wedge salad, though. It was all about the chicken sandwich.
This was the best chicken sandwich I've ever had.
I've had quite a few chicken sandwiches in my lifetime, so this was a high honor.
Palace Diner's fried chicken sandwich was nearly impossible to hold in one hand. The chicken was super crispy on the outside, with kernels of fried goodness creating a shell around the thick, moist chicken breast. The tangy slaw was a perfect complement to the slight heat of the jalapeños.
The flavor profile of the sandwich could best be described as a slightly pickled flavor, almost like Asian-style chicken sandwiches I've had in the past.
Overall, I thought the fried chicken sandwich was worth the wait time and the price — it cost $20, excluding tax, and included the iceberg wedge salad. Since I was on a tight schedule, I boxed it up to snack on throughout the day.
From the soft yet sturdy sesame-seed bun to the quality of the chicken, I was very impressed by this chicken sandwich, so much so that Palace Diner is now a must-visit spot the next time I'm road-tripping through Maine.
While I had to make a separate trip just to try the chicken sandwich, that didn't tarnish my overall experience at Palace Diner or the likelihood that I'd return just for that menu item.
However, next time, I'll definitely make sure to get there early, so as not to miss out on the fried chicken sandwich to end all chicken sandwiches.
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