Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you located?
Big Jones is located in the heart of Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood at 5347 N. Clark St. near the corner of Clark and Balmoral. Andersonville is a vibrant neighborhood of small businesses and artisan shops and is perfect for day trips to the city or weekend getaways. Andersonville is easily accessible from downtown via Lakeshore Drive or the CTA Red Line, and local neighborhoods Lincoln Square, Edgewater, and Rogers Park ad well as north suburbs Evanston, Skokie, Lincolnwood, and Wilmette.
Is outdoor seating available?
Yes! We have a lovely back patio and sidewalk seating out front, weather permitting. Sidewalk seating is dog-friendly.
Do you serve brunch, lunch, or dinner?
Big Jones serves one of the most highly-rated brunches in Chicago and has received both local and national acclaim, Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm and is a great opportunity to experience our celebrated Southern cuisine at your own pace, whether you want a leisurely lunch or have somewhere to be and need it fast. Dinner service is available seven days a week from 4:30 p.m. and features America's best fried chicken, according to critics and customers alike. Our cooking is Progressive Southern Cuisine, so you'll find both old-school classics with modern twists as well as more adventurous cooking reflecting the modern South.
Is there a happy hour?
Yes! Happy Hour is celebrated daily from 4:30 til 6 pm and is a great time to stop by and relax after a day at work, or to enjoy Chicago's best fried chicken at a special price.
I can't have gluten, can I eat at Big Jones?
Yes, you can even eat our fried chicken and cornbread! Big Jones has dedicated fryers for chicken and a collection of special recipes which make it not only safe, but also delicious, for Gluten free and Celiac diners. We regularly serve guests with celiac disease safely, and can customize many dishes to serve people with gluten sensitivity. Please ask your server about your many gluten-free options when dining, and if you have a wheat allergy, it's helpful to know thay too so we can take extra precautions to keep you safe and well fed.
Are you kid friendly?
We love families! Andersonville and Lincoln Square are populated by many young families with children, and make up a substantial and treasured part of our clientele. We maintain several high chairs to accommodate infants and are happy to serve children of any age when accompanied by their parents or legal guardian.
Where do you source your ingredients?
Sustainability is the most important consideration we have when sourcing our ingredients, and when it comes to proteins, we require that the animals are tended humanely and with the opportunity to exercise their natural instincts. We buy from dozens of local farms over the course of the year, and the ones who are here most often are Nichols Farm, Werp Farms, Klug Farms, Fischer Farms, Four Star Mushrooms, Kilgus Farmstead, and Miller Farms. We also buy from artisanal producers in the South such as Anson Mills, Muddy Pond Sorghum Mill, and Weissenberger Mill who source their ingredients from local farmers in their areas. There are many, many other farms we buy from over the year but these are in our restaurant every single week. Always feel free to ask your server when an ingredient comes form.
Our primary seafood supplier is Fortune Fish, a great partner for sourcing sustainable seafood. We only use domestic shrimp, catfish, and crawfish, and all seafood must be independently certified sustainable by either Seafood Watch or Marine Stewardship Council.
Is Big Jones minority-owned?
Yes we are 100% gay-owned.
When did Big Jones open?
We opened in April 2008.
Who is Big Jones?
There is no person known as "Big Jones", but the name was chosen as a metaphor for the neighbors, big hugs, big luv, and big, beautiful meals that leave you satisfied to your soul.
I heard your chef beat Bobby Flay, is that true?
It's not just a rumor, it's true! Season 20, Episode 1. You can even get the very sandwich Chef Paul beat Bibby with on Saturday and Sunday brunch!
What other TV appearances has Paul done?
Iconic Foods on Chicago’s public TV station WTTW, available on streaming. Chef Paul is also a regular on WGN News at Noon.
Awards?
For just a sampling:
"Best New Restaurant" by both Chicago Magazine and Chicago Reader
"Three Stars" by the Chicago Tribune
Big Jones was named "Best Fried Chicken North of the Mason-Dixon" in 2009 by Bon Appetit, and the singular Best Fried Chicken in America by Eater's National restaurant critic in 2017
Other awards have included several nominations for Best Chef: Great Lakes by the James Beard Awards, and Best Chef by the Jean Banchet Awards.
In 2013, our crawfish etouffee was named Chicago Tribune's "Dish of the Year" for the entire city of Chicago.
Can I find you on Social media?
We're on Facebook as bigjoneschicago
and TikTok as bigjoneschicago.com
