Laurelhurst Market’s ‘Five-Napkin Chicken’ Goes Brick and Mortar

Last summer, chef Ben Bettinger fired up a 14-foot smoker in the parking lot of Laurelhurst Market, Portland’s best steakhouse, to serve chicken slathered in a signature take on Alabama white sauce. That chicken was one of the stars of the summer, and it’ll soon return, The O reports: Bettinger and the rest of the Laurelhurst team are opening a brick and mortar called Big's Chicken. And it’ll add whole chickens and more to those juicy thighs.

Big’s Chicken will set up shop in the venue formerly home to Big Ass Sandwiches, at 5663 NE Glisan St. — tentatively next month. Also on the Big’s Chicken menu are Laurelhurst Market’s house sausages, barbecue whole and half chickens, on-tap beers, and a few cocktails.

Speaking with Eater last summer, Bettinger said the “Five-Napkin Chicken” idea was the result of a trip to Columbus, OH. "We ate a ton of hot chicken," said Bettinger. As hot chicken is native to Nashville, those flocks are clearly migrating across the nation.

• Laurelhurst Market team opening Northeast Portland chicken spot [Oregonian]
• Iconic Portland Steakhouse Kicks Off Five-Napkin Chicken (Right in Its Parking Lot) [EPDX]