Thumbs-up for North Canton's new chicken eatery, The Howlin Bird
Dan Kane | The Repository
Nael Taki, a 2005 Hoover High School grad, is owner of North Canton’s new fast-casual restaurant The Howlin Bird.
Repository / Dan Kane
NORTH CANTON I was stoked to see a new business launching in the former Main Street Grill location at 123 S. Main St. in the heart of downtown.
And I was heartened to learn that the new restaurant is owned by a 34-year-old North Canton native, Nael (pronounced Nile) Taki, with his comfort-food concept centered on chicken tenders and rotisserie chicken.
I was pretty excited to give The Howlin Bird a spin, and my first experience there made me eager to return soon.
I'll cut to the chase: The chicken tenders, made from whole white-meat tenderloins, are terrific -- above average in size, non-greasy and packed with flavor. They are marinated in a seasoned buttermilk brine for an hour, then dredged in a seasoning blend and flour, then fried. The feeling I got was Southern-fried chicken.
Taki said the Howlin Bird, which opened Dec. 10, has been going through about 1,000 pounds of tenderloins a week.
"We have a dedicated chicken breader, who is literally breading chicken tenders all day long," he said.
Adding to the tenders' appeal are seven housemade dipping sauces. I sampled and much enjoyed the Bird Sauce, with mayo, mustard and molasses; the heat-bringing Howlin Sauce, made with chilis, fish sauce, soy sauce, garlic and onion; Molasses BBQ, with ketchup, brown sugar, orange juice, molasses and other ingredients; and Garlic White Sauce, a thick creation with raw garlic, mayo and vinegar. Sauces are included with tenders orders; but you might want more; extras are 50 cents apiece.
Hand-breaded chicken tenders and housemade sauces in a carryout order from The Howlin Bird.
Repository / Dan Kane
"The sauces are all my signatures that I've been producing for the last eight to 10 years," said Taki, an executive chef in the Los Angeles area for 10 years before returning to North Canton.
The rotisserie chicken, brined for 10 hours in a salt-sugar-buttermilk brine then slow-roasted for two hours on the spit, was moist, flavorful and very good. But because I frequently dine on grocery-store rotisserie chicken, the tenders at Howlin Bird were a bigger attraction for me.
Side dishes at The Howlin Bird include mac ‘n’ cheese, creamy coleslaw, and pan-fried Brussels sprouts topped with melted cheese and bacon.
Repository / Dan Kane
The restaurant's most popular side, and understandably so, is pan-fried Brussels sprouts topped with melted Parmesan-mozzarella cheese blend and abundant crispy crumbled bacon. Just typing that description makes me crave more.
I'd also recommend Howlin Bird's mac 'n' cheese, which is small pasta shells with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and an appealing stringiness and saltiness.The creamy coleslaw, with apple cider vinegar and mustard seeds, also is good. Other side choices are fresh-cut fries, wild rice pilaf, baked potato and house salad.
The menu also includes entree-sized salads, three different chicken sandwiches, a house burger, loaded fries and housemade desserts.
Rotisserie chicken and chicken tenders are available in individual entrees, but Howlin Bird's "flock meals" are perhaps the best value. For myself and two friends, I ordered the Medium Flock ($34), which was a whole chicken cut in half, eight tenders, three dipping sauces, four sides and three rolls. It was a feast with leftovers, and food was packed in sturdy foil containers. Next time, I might order the Small Flock ($25), with 14 tenders, three sauces, four sides and three rolls.
The view of the dining area at The Howlin Bird in North Canton.
Repository / Dan Kane
Taki said that about 80 percent of business is carryout and 20 percent dine-in currently, no doubt due to COVID-19. The full menu can be viewed at HowlinBird.com, and orders can be phoned in. "At 5 o'clock, the phone starts ringing off the hook," Taki said. Carryout orders have been averaging about 30 minutes.
There is a counter for payment and pickup located just inside the back entrance to the restaurant, which has a large parking lot accessible from Harmon Street SW. The inside dining area is clean and bright, with booths, tables and a small bar with beer, wine and cocktails.
The Howlin Bird
123 S. Main St., North Canton
234-714-9000
TheHowlinBird.com
Ratings (1-poor, 2-fair, 3-good, 4-very good, 5-outstanding)
Food: 4.5 (everything fresh, flavorful, housemade)
Service: 4 (carryout order was ready on time and well-packed)
Value: 4 ($34 Flock Meal fed three people with leftovers)