Polydish city guide

Best Circassian chicken in Chicago

“Shredded chicken under a rich paste of crushed walnuts and stale bread thickened stock.”

Circassian chicken

What the real thing tastes like

Circassian chicken (Adyghe: Адыгэ чэты; Kabardian: Адыгэ джэд) is a dish of shredded boiled chicken served under or in a rich paste made with crushed walnuts, and stock thickened with stale bread. Circassian chicken is a classic Circassian dish, adopted by the Imperial Ottoman cuisine. Although it was typically served as a main course, it became popular as an appetizer. Being an Imperial-era dish, it can also be found in other cuisines of the Eastern Mediterranean. A similar walnut sauce and a chicken dish made with this sauce is known as satsivi in Georgian cuisine.

0 voices, one story

Circassian chicken is shredded boiled chicken cloaked in a walnut paste—crushed nuts thickened with stale bread and stock into something rich and clinging. Born from Circassian kitchens, it traveled into Ottoman imperial courts and spread across the Eastern Mediterranean, shape-shifting from main course to appetizer depending on who was serving it.

Order it here when it has

  • rich paste texture
  • cross-cultural classic
  • adaptable to multiple courses

Walk away when you see

    Restaurant-level rankings for Chicago land as the Polydish review engine processes this city's reviews. Explore the dish itself while you wait —

    Circassian chicken on Polydish →