Between Two Slices: Namkeen

Namkeen in Chatham. Photo by Chris Gennone

I’ve only been to Nashville once, and I actually skipped visiting Hattie B’s or Prince’s for their popular Nashville hot chicken. What can I say? I was in a barbecued state of mind.

But when I had the chance to try a new Pakistani-influenced halal Nashville hot chicken sandwich place in New Jersey, I didn’t pass it up. When I first heard about Namkeen in Chatham, opened in October, I was intrigued. It almost seemed impossible to grab a sandwich there because of their consistently long lines for weeks. They even closed for a little while to renovate in order to accommodate the larger crowds. But on a recent Wednesday afternoon, I grabbed a friend and went, hoping to beat any kind of lunch rush. We succeeded.

Namkeen is small and cozy inside, with a handful of tables and counter space with barstools by the kitchen and the front window. My friend and I elected to brave the cold and sit at a picnic table across the street. Namkeen comes from the husband and wife team Usman and Amena Chaudhri, who strive to combine their love of Nashville hot chicken with their Pakistani roots. The result is inventive, refreshing, and delicious. In addition to the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, Namkeen also offers a chicken tikka sandwich, a hot chicken waffle sandwich, chicken and waffles, chicken tikka mac and cheese, masala fries and grilled cheese.

For this visit, I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich and the chicken tikka sandwich. I dug into the chicken tikka sandwich first, which featured fried chicken, tikka sauce, coleslaw, pickled onions, and mint chutney. The sandwich was as delicious as it looked. Between the purple pickled onions, orange tikka sauce, and the green oozing mint chutney, I stared at this sandwich for a few seconds with wonder. The brioche bun was soft and buttery, serving as a perfect vessel for the sandwich. The chicken was crispy and juicy, and the tikka sauce was savory, immediately picking up on all of the Middle Eastern flavors. The additions of the pickled onions, mint chutney and coleslaw gave it a refreshing crispness, slightly cutting through.

Tikkaville Sandwich:

Bread: 8.7
Filling: 8.4
Toppings: 8.8
Overall: 8.6

The Tikkaville, left, and the Nashville hot chicken sandwiches at Namkeen. Photo by Chris Gennone

Next was the main event. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich features hot fried chicken, pickles, coleslaw, and chipotle aioli. Spice levels range from naked to mild, medium and hot. I should’ve gone for it and went with the hot spice level, but I opted for medium. Again, the brioche bun was soft and delicious, and the chicken was even crispier without all of the sauces on top. I was surprised that the medium spice level was actually not too hot, but offered a slight pleasant kick. The pickles, coleslaw, and chipotle aioli were all complimentary to the sandwich and gave it a satisfying savory finish.

Nashville Sandwich:

Bread: 8.7
Filling: 8.8
Toppings: 8.7
Overall: 8.7

I was incredibly excited to try Namkeen and I was not let down. Both sandwiches were absolutely delicious and never overpowering. But the Nashville sandwich could’ve actually used a little more heat, and while the Tikkaville sandwich’s toppings were all amazing, I feel that it slightly sogged the sandwich a bit. Nevertheless, Namkeen is a refreshing Jersey and halal take on classic Nashville hot chicken, and is a top contender for one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve had. Despite all of the fried chicken and rich, savory elements on the sandwich, I felt great after eating it. Some sandwiches will immediately put me in a food coma, but Namkeen seems to be doing something right.

Between Two Slices Overall Score: 8.6/10

Namkeen, 233 Main Street, Chatham: Open for takeout only on Tues-Thurs from 11 am-8 pm, 11 am-10 pm on Friday and Saturday and 11 am-9 pm on Sunday.