‘The Chicken Man’ Alex Tominsky’s guide to his favorite chicken in Philly

Last fall, Alexander Tominsky consumed 40 rotisserie chickens, one a day for 40 consecutive days, earning local fame and the nickname “the chicken man.”

Months after his chicken-eating streak, which culminated Nov. 6, he’s frequently recognized on the street, by fans and haters alike. “Usually people ask me if I’m the guy who ate the rotisserie chickens and I’ll say yes, and they’ll say, ‘You brought a bunch of people together to cheer for something in the spirit of togetherness’ and ask me for a picture,” says Tominsky.

Though Tominsky, a server at Rittenhouse Square’s Barclay Prime, swore off chicken for two weeks, he’s back on the chicken and brimming with recommendations for his favorites in Philadelphia.

The rotisserie chickens of Tominsky’s famed eating streak mostly came from Rittenhouse Market. “It’s near where I work and also, the customer service is awesome. It was interesting to see their reaction go from ‘who is this guy who’s out of his mind, coming in every day to buy rotisserie chicken’ to them being excited about it and giving me thumbs up as I walk in — and that’s even before I went public about the chicken eating.”

“I find them to be consistent and very simple but super tender, and they’re just the perfect size for you to eat two and not feel bad about it.” Don’t you think they have a kick to them? “I have a bit of tolerance when it comes to what people would consider a kick, so maybe a mild tingling sensation.”

“I just got a half pound from the Acme on Passyunk. It was pretty good. I put it on a bagel. It had little raisins in it which I enjoyed. I suspect it’s made with leftover rotisserie chicken, but it was a very, very good chicken salad.

“The broth was really rich — almost like a classic chicken noodle soup, which is comforting. They put in a generous portion of chicken. But I was also excited to be at a new restaurant. I really did enjoy it and I’m not one to pander.”

“Café Nhan’s just has a really good flavor. I get it spicy. They make their own chili oil so I spice it up a bit and the chicken is cooked perfectly. And — this means a lot to me — the staff is so nice. They’re all so welcoming and they make sure you’re in good spirits. And that affects the enjoyment of the food. Sometimes I get the phở gà with blood cubes, which is more for the bún bò huế, but I like the blood cubes in [the phở gà] as well.”

“This one is easy: Crown Fried Chicken, right on Broad Street. I work in Center City so after a long, busy night, I’ll walk home and stop in Crown Fried Chicken. I like dark meat, so I’ll order some thighs and then walk and eat chicken. It’s so fun to see people’s reactions to watching you eat chicken like a slob walking down Broad Street.”

“Great chicken taco and they’re open pretty late. It is good, quick taco street food. You’re not there to sit down. Grab a bunch of tacos and eat them quickly. It’s not a pretentious place and it seems like the people there just love to cook.”

“I really like the chicken skewers at Hardena and I get those a lot.”

“The Stogie Joe’s ones are the best. Have you had their homemade BBQ sauce wings? No? Oh my God. Can I do a shout-out to their sauce? It’s insane. Definitely a clutch option. They are awesome. Their chicken wings are crispy and if you’re getting it to go, you get celery wrapped in aluminum foil. That whole place is great.

As for replicating the glory days of his rotisserie chicken, don’t hold your breath. “It was so special, and I think trying to recreate that is wrong. It shouldn’t be tampered with. There was a certain magic that happened on that pier.” While Tominsky may be steering clear of rotisserie chicken, give him any other preparation of chicken to witness his boundless enthusiasm.