Chicago Mild Sauce

South Side Chicago's signature sauce — a blend of hot sauce and barbecue sauce that defines South Side carryout chicken and ribs.

Compiled by APEX Legacy from published research and documented food history, under the editorial direction of Jonathan Jackson, Founder. How we write and review these pages →

Why it is ours

Harold's Chicken Shack, Uncle Remus, and hundreds of South Side carryout spots have served mild sauce on chicken wings and rib tips since the 1970s. Asking for mild sauce is a South Side credential.

What it does

Like DC's mumbo sauce, mild sauce carries tomato and capsaicin benefits but the sugar and sodium are the primary concerns. Black Americans' 1.5x hypertension rate makes the sodium load a real consideration.

How it is cooked

The classic South Side formula is roughly equal parts hot sauce (Crystal or Louisiana brand) and barbecue sauce, plus ketchup and sometimes a splash of vinegar. Each carryout has a house ratio.

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