Chicken fingers are Johnny's thing. He is 2.5, and on our trip to New York City, he ordered them at four different restaurants in four days, which meant we had to rank them.
Welcome to the chicken finger wars. This is our ranking of kids' menu chicken fingers in NYC from our 3.5 days in New York City with a toddler, based on what I tasted and how Johnny reacted.
What Are the Best Kids Chicken Fingers in NYC?
Bad Roman's Chicken Parm Fingers were the best of the four we tried. Here is the full ranking:
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Bad Roman: Chicken Parm Fingers
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Tavern on the Green: Crispy Chicken Fingers
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P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson: Chicken Fingers and Fries
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Junior's: Chicken Fingers and Fries
One honest caveat before the details. There was no runaway winner here. If I am judging as a chicken finger connoisseur, none of these were "oh my gosh, these are amazing" chicken fingers. I would rather go to Zaxby's or Raising Cane's. These are kids' menu chicken fingers, and restaurants are not making them for adults, so take this ranking with a grain of salt.
Why Is Bad Roman Number One?
Bad Roman is clearly the winner. Johnny got the Chicken Parm Fingers, which are chicken fingers with melted cheese on top and marinara for dipping.
Johnny was not a fan of the marinara, but he enjoyed the chicken fingers. When I tried a bite, I called it quite possibly the winner of the chicken finger wars so far, and nothing after it beat it. I am not sure if it was just better chicken fingers, or better chicken fingers with that melted cheese on them, but either way it won. Read the full Bad Roman review.
Why Is Tavern on the Green Number Two?
Tavern on the Green takes second. The Crispy Chicken Fingers ($16 on the kids menu) were good, nothing too special, and it was a very large portion.
Even with Johnny eating some, about 80% of it was left, and we bagged it up to give to a homeless person later in the day. Read the full Tavern on the Green review.
Why Is P.J. Clarke's Number Three?
P.J. Clarke's is third. These chicken fingers were probably a little better than the ones at Junior's, but Johnny did not seem to care much for either of them. Read the full P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson review.
Why Is Junior's Last?
Junior's comes in last. The kids meal was two chicken fingers and some fries for $15.95, served with a soda, juice, or milk. That felt a little overpriced for the portion, but chicken fingers are what Johnny likes.
I had a bite, and if I had ordered chicken fingers for myself, I would not have been the biggest fan. The steakburger and the cheesecake are the reasons to go to Junior's. Read the full Junior's Times Square review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best kids chicken fingers in NYC?
Of the four we tried, Bad Roman's Chicken Parm Fingers were the best, followed by Tavern on the Green, P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson, and Junior's.
What are Bad Roman's Chicken Parm Fingers?
They are chicken fingers with melted cheese on top and marinara for dipping, from the Bad Roman kids menu.
Does Tavern on the Green have chicken fingers?
Yes. The kids menu has Crispy Chicken Fingers for $16, and the portion was very large.
How much is the kids meal at Junior's?
Every kids meal on the Junior Menu at Junior's 49th Street is $15.95 and comes with a soda, juice, or milk.
Were any of the kids' chicken fingers in NYC amazing?
No. There was no runaway winner. These are kids' menu chicken fingers, and none of them beat a place like Zaxby's or Raising Cane's.
Final Thoughts
Four restaurants, four orders of chicken fingers, and one clear winner in Bad Roman. Just remember these are kids' menu chicken fingers. None of them is an amazing chicken finger, but Bad Roman's came closest.
Interested in learning more?
