This Is My Favorite Food in New Hampshire – You Must Try It Here

When most people think of iconic New Hampshire cuisine, the foods that first come to mind are usually seafood, maple syrup, and cider donuts. Those who haven’t spent much time in the southern part of the state may be a little surprised to find out that another local food is extremely popular among the residents of Manchester. If you have tasted the famous chicken tenders at the Puritan Backroom restaurant, you certainly know what I am talking about. 

The Puritan Backroom holds a special place in my heart. I grew up only blocks from the restaurant and spent many hot summer days devouring their homemade chocolate M&M ice cream. The family-run restaurant has been in operation since 1917 (a year before my grandmother was born in the city) and has been one of my family’s favorite places to eat for generations. Although everything at this iconic restaurant is tasty, the chicken tenders are the food that draws me back time and time again whenever I visit.

Rumor has it that the folks at the Puritan invented the chicken tenders in 1974. I’m not sure if this fact has been proven, but locals claim Manchester to be the “Chicken Tender Capital of the World.” Now, that is quite a title!   

I have to admit that I am not a huge meat-eater. If it weren’t for a few key favorite meat-based dishes (Puritan chicken tenders being one of them), I would probably be a vegetarian. But there is just something about these flavorful fingers that has me eating them practically by the dozen.

The tenders are prepared in several different flavors (including spicy, buffalo, and coconut), but I prefer the original or “regular” version. And always fried (they can also be broiled) and with fries and the signature Puritan Backroom duck sauce for dipping. You can order them in a variety of sizes, either as an appetizer or an entree, from both the Puritan take-out counter or the Backroom. I’m not sure what the secret recipe is to make these tenders taste so delicious, but I am certainly not alone in loving them. The Puritan Backroom has received multiple awards for its iconic dish throughout the years.

My love for this simple comfort food also has something to do with the nostalgia of the restaurant. I can recall many happy times enjoying dinners in the Puritan’s long-gone casual Front Room take-out restaurant. When the restaurant was remodeled, this space made way for function areas where I would later attend high school reunions, baby showers, and other events. It would also serve as a comforting spot to gather after the burials of beloved family members and friends. Although I never worked at the restaurant, several friends and classmates scooped ice cream at the Puritan's take-out counter and bussed tables in the busy Backroom.

But it is always the chicken tenders that immediately come to mind when I think of this special Queen City landmark. While I probably couldn’t pack in as many as I used to, they are just as enjoyable to eat today as they were all those years ago. I’ve also discovered that they taste even better when paired with one of the Backroom’s award-winning frozen mudslides. Now that is a combo well worth coming home for!

Do you have a favorite regional dish? If so, please tell us all about it. Find out more about the best chicken tenders in New Hampshire at the Puritan Backroom restaurant website and the Puritan Backroom Facebook page. For even more great eats at nostalgic New Hampshire restaurants, check out the book, "New Hampshire Diners: Classic Granite State Eateries" by Larry Cultrera. And find more exciting ways to explore New Hampshire using our new Travel Planner!