Chik’n & Mi Has One of the Best Happy Hours in Louisville
A shot taken in May 2020, shortly after Chik’n & Mi moved into its Mellwood Avenue location. Courtesy of Chik’n & Mi
It’s pretty simple: Chik’n & Mi has one of the best happy hours in Louisville. And I’m not just talking about cocktails here.
You’ve probably been to Chik’n & Mi, which moved to its current location at 1765 Mellwood Ave. in 2020, after owners Jason McCollum and Aenith Sananikone-McCollum had bought that and opened Hearth in the old farmhouse that has been home to several different restaurants over the past few years. The Asian fried chicken joint and noodle shop has diverse menu and a popular brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Chik’n & Mi even was named Best New Restaurant by Thrillist in 2017.
But let’s get back to happy hour (4-6 p.m. weekdays). Essentially, Chik’n & Mi takes the bulk of the appetizers menu and slashes prices anywhere from 20% to 50%. Lettuce wraps go from $7 to $4. Same for the egg rolls. Select salads, such as the Cherry Ginger and Banana Flower salads, drop from $8 to $5. Chicken or pork steam buns come in at $6 for a trio, and calamari drops from $15 to $10.
You get the idea.
My favorite part of the happy hour deal, however, are the oysters on the half shell, which are S1.75 apiece for as many as you want. Normally, they’re priced at $29 per dozen or $15 per half dozen, so that’s a decent discount. And the oysters the McCollums choose are from the northeast – bright, briny and citrusy, they’re delicious even without accoutrements (but rest assured, you can get the extras, like horseradish, cocktail sauce, house cucumber mignonette, etc.).
I went with friends recently, and we kicked off our happy hour feast with an order of calamari. The squid pieces were lightly fried with banana and red peppers, and served with a side of greens as well as ponzu mayo for dipping. Above average, especially at the price, and there were plenty to share.
Chik’n & Mi happy hour is worth it if only for these guys. Photos by Kevin Gibson
Next came a couple dozen oysters, and they were as delicious as always. We got all the extras, and some of the oysters got the treatment, while I ate several with just a squirt of lemon. Fresh and tasty.
We then ordered three each of the chicken and pork steam buns, each one topped with marinated cucumber, pickled red onion and hoisin, and served with more hoison and hot mustard. The sticky mini-buns are a light vehicle for the signature chicken and marinated pork. Each mini-sandwich offers up three or four bites of goodness.
By this point, I was starting to fill up, by my co-conspirators decided a three-piece order of fried chicken and an order of egg rolls, also numbering three, were in order.
My friend Shona literally said, “God, I love food.” It was a consensus.
I passed on the chicken, but we did get get a variety of sauces for dipping, and the house X-tra Hot sauce was as incredible as I remembered – like a mildly sweet soy that had been hit with a nuclear bomb. Packed with seeds from unidentified hot peppers, it was flavorful and fiery at the same time. I managed to finish off a crispy pork egg roll, thanks in part to that sauce (egg rolls come with sweet chili sauce and hot mustard, but I commandeered the hot sauce for my own purposes). I wish I had taken some of that sauce home.
By the time we were finished, we were all stuffed and happy. Oh, and a little tipsy. What happy hour would be complete without discounted cocktails? From sake bombs ($10) to cider sangria ($5) to a pitcher of Aeperol spritz ($20), there’s plenty from which to choose. And there’s always a discounted beer of the day for happy hour, as well as a Stovepipe Slam – which is 19.2-ounce can of Two Hearted Ale, Founders All Day Session IPA or Lagunitas Lil Sumpin’ Wheat IPA.
Yes, I’ll be going back soon, and I’m lucky enough that I can walk there. Is there a better happy hour in town? If so, I’d love to hear about it. Hit me up on Facebook (and please follow me) or shoot me a message here. I would love to hear your suggestions.
