Illinois’ Best Hole-in-the-Wall Fried Chicken Is Just Down the River

Hole in the wall restaurants have found a niche in American culture going back decades. Whether it’s barbecue, hamburgers, burritos or even Chinese food, excellent comfort food can be found at the most unassuming places. That includes fried chicken.

 Fast Eddie's fried chicken has remained excellent since the 1970s

Per the website Cheapism the best hole in the wall fried chicken joint in Illinois is in the river town of Alton, at Fast Eddie’s Fried Chicken.

Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken - Alton, Illinois

If you’ve been anywhere near Alton, Illinois, you have heard of Fast Eddie’s Bon Air. The legendary bar that serves delicious food and cold beer with live music performances is renowned. Fast Eddie’s Fried Chicken is not the same thing. It’s not in the same location, it’s not even adjacent to Fast Eddie’s Bon Air in Alton.

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There is a connection though, and it goes back to the 1970s when Eddie Sholar Sr. opened up a neighborhood fried chicken joint. Calling it a joint may seem informal, but it’s not a restaurant you can go in and sit down and eat at, and calling it a shack doesn’t seem proper either. It’s in-between. Joint it is then.

 light, crispy, and juicy. Fast Eddie's Fried Chicken is a must-try

Eddie’s son would go on to plant the Fast Eddie’s flag closer to the Mississippi river and grab attention and plaudits from across the region, while the senior Eddie kept cranking out next level fried chicken 12 blocks away, and would eventually hand it down to his daughter. In a world that can never seem to quite capture things as they used to be, Fast Eddie's fried chicken found a way. Never change. Just look for the huge chicken wearing a top hat on the corner of 7^th and Central. Once you’ve been there you won’t forget where it is.