The women behind Café Lola and Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets have been on the cusp of creating of a fast-casual culinary empire for quite a while. 3 Little Chicks, their seventh concept, is more than enough to push them over that edge.
Months after opening their first Café Lola on the Strip, Lin Jerome and Alexandra Lourdes sprang to open their next eatery, named after their daughters, in the southwest this October. And while Café Lola and Saint Honoré certainly veer toward sweet treats, 3 Little Chicks is a lesson in savory.
Grilled and fried chicken sandwiches, tenders and bowls anchor the menu, with fries, apple cabbage slaw and fried pickles rounding out the sides. The Hot Chick ($12), a highlight for its mondo size and dark, fiery hue, checks all the boxes as a juicy, requires-both-hands kind of sandwich.
Prepare to get messy with this one, as the apple cabbage slaw dresses up a gluten-free breaded chicken breast that’s the size of an adult hand (we checked). The eatery’s house-made signature sauce seeps into the chicken, making every bite crackle with a peppery flavor explosion. The tenders ($9) also pack ASMR-levels of crunch and pair well with 3 Little Chicks’ flight of dipping sauces ranging from honey mustard to barbecue.
As indulgent as it must sound, this is the furthest thing from fast food. 3 Little Chicks’ sandwiches can be served with chick-branded gluten-free buns made with quinoa, a healthier option to up your nutrition game. And the chicken never left us feeling uncomfortably full. We had to save room for ice cream, after all.
3 Little Chicks’ vegan soft serve is not to be overlooked. The vanilla bean swirlie ($5) favors subtler, more neutral flavors, but you can top it off with sprinkles, gluten-free Oreos and granola and honey for an extra buck that’s worth the upgrade. The apple pie swirlie ($7), a dairy-free creation of cinnamon-glazed apples and cookie crumble with a dollop of caramel sauce, will also send your palate over the moon and back. The lack of milk isn’t missed here. In fact, the soft serve is even creamier without it. And it can be enjoyed on 3 Little Chicks’ charming outdoor patio or inside, against the rustic backdrop of a quaint, cafe-sized restaurant with a homegrown feel.
If a guilt-free meal exists, 3 Little Chicks’ selections comes close. Whatever Lourdes and Jerome have brainstormed in the kitchen has translated into cracking the code of clucking good chicken without the urge to loosen the waistband.
3 LITTLE CHICKS 7885 W. Sunset Road #180, 702-489-0138, 3littlechicks.com. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
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