Panko-fried chicken thighs. Peruvian yellow sauce. Sriracha mayo. These are the ingredients behind one of the best chicken sandwiches in Jersey City and you can order it daily from No Forks Given.
“When it comes to cooking, I love mixing different flavors,” says owner and chef Wyatt Harte. “I like adding my own little twist — big or small.”
Take for instance, their Peruvian fried chicken sandwich. It deliciously marries flavors from South America and Asia in a perfectly crisp and juicy sandwich you won’t want to put down. Then there’s the Korean fried chicken sandwich, which is equally generous in size, and offers a distinct sweet and spicy taste paired with a sriracha sambal mayo that’ll leave you licking your fingers.
We met up with Harte and his fiancee Midori Munguia on a winter afternoon where even the cold weather couldn’t keep Harte’s fans away.
You can follow No Forks Given via their Instagram account to find out where they’ll be next.
How did the idea for No Forks Given come about?
The name No Forks Given came from the fact that I love mixing flavors. I wanted a name that was a play on words and also catchy. I think it just represents the fact that when it comes to cooking I love mixing different flavors and don’t give a fork. We’re not reinventing the wheel at No Forks Given, but we’re trying to bring a unique concept to Jersey City, while having fun mixing flavors.
Where do you get inspiration for the international items on your menu?
My fiance being from Peru, has opened me to the complex and beautiful flavors of Peruvian cuisine, which has influenced me a lot as a chef. Korean and Asian flavors I picked up from working in prior kitchens throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. I also love American comfort food, so I try to incorporate that with an Asian-Latin mix.
The pandemic has battered the food industry. What has the city done well to support small businesses and what do you wish they’d do better?
The pandemic took everyone by surprise. That said, we believe the city has done its best to maintain businesses and residents aware of any updates, provided testing centers, and encouraged safety with the citywide mask initiative, #maskup. With the new ordinance being finalized, the fees have not been enforced until after the state of emergency is lifted, which is a huge help for us. As a food truck owner, the dream would be to have a food truck hub like they have in other cities around the country. City-owned facilities for the trucks to park and commissary space for trucks to run their businesses more smoothly and continue to bring diversity through our food to Jersey City.
What does No Forks Given have in store for JC in 2021?
We plan to have a few more seasonal special items on the menu. We do hope to expand — it’d be a dream to have a brick and mortar. Fingers crossed!
