The chef and pitmaster behind one of Denver’s biggest restaurant openings of last year are keeping their momentum going with a new location focused on their barbecue chicken.
The sister concept to Tex-Mex barbecue smokehouse Riot BBQ, Chicken Riot will take over the property of the former Truffle cheese shop at 2906 E. 6th Ave., Denver. Pitmaster Patrick Klaiber and chef Manny Barella announced the expansion this week, slating the grand opening for Thursday, March 26.
Barella, a former contestant of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” introduced “pollo asado,” or roast chicken, in the opening menu of Riot BBQ last spring. The seasoned half-chicken, a play on cochinita pibil, became a standout.
“When we created the Riot BBQ menu, we had so many different chicken preparations we were excited about,” Klaiber said in a statement. “We knew it was a sign to give chicken the spotlight it deserves in a format where it can shine as the ultimate comfort food.”
Chicken Riot moves Klaiber away from his comfort zone at Riot, 2180 S. Delaware St., where he also acted as pitmaster for a prior concept, AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q.
The half-chicken, prepared either a la pibil or marinated in citrus, is served with two sides, such as Mexican fried rice and beef tallow black beans. The duo will also cook shredded chicken sandwiches, pulled smoked chicken Caesar wraps and, as a non-chicken entree, smoked turkey tamales.
Plates range between $13 and $19. A single tamale is $6.
Barella — who recently participated in a cookout fundraiser for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition — and Klaiber will share the space with The Spice Guy, which will sell its spices and seasonings inside.
Chicken Riot’s hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
