This fried chicken joint is readying its launch in Babylon Village

They claim their fried chicken rivals the best in the business.

“We want to take on Raising Cane’s and Chick-fil-A,” said Josh Gatewood, founder of Yankee Doodle’s Dandy’s, one of Long Island’s newest fried chicken joints. “I truly believe that if you try our chicken as is, it’s better.”

According to Gatewood, the secret to perfect chicken tenders lies in using a specific cut: the underside of the breast. “It’s the filet mignon of the chicken,” he told Newsday.

Pair that with freshly frying the chicken in peanut oil and adding just the right seasoning, and you have the recipe for perfect Southern fried chicken, he explained.

Soon, the Babylon Village community will be able to judge for themselves.

Yankee Doodle’s Dandy’s is set to open across from the LIRR station at 14B Railroad Ave. on Oct. 1 — marking its second location on Long Island. The first opened in Islip last December.

That’s where he dreamed up a restaurant concept centered around the fried chicken he had come to love at the University of Tennessee.

The chicken there was like nothing he had ever tasted growing up in Connecticut.

But there was one major problem. He was sorely lacking in funds. Yet he was confident.

So to bankroll the restaurant he envisioned, Gatewood tried and tried again to land a spot on the hit TV game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” For him, fourth time was a charm.

That’s when his number was called.

When Gatewood appeared on the show in 2012, he was asked what he would do with the million dollars — should he win. He didn’t even blink.

“I’m going to start Yankee Doodle Dandy’s in New York City,” he said.

Spoiler alert: Gatewood didn’t win the million dollars. But he did take home $25,000.

And that was enough for a food truck.

A year later he launched the instantly popular Yankee Doodle Dandy’s all-American food truck in New York City, which 10 years later he parlayed into the Islip location.

Along the way, Gatewood was offered the opportunity to set up his American food truck outside the Nassau Coliseum for Islanders games, back when the team was splitting time with Brooklyn.

The Coliseum gig was a success, proving there was a demand for Yankee Doodle Dandy’s on Long Island. It was there that Gatewood met Anthony Mastrantonio, the owner of Dang BBQ, who later introduced him to the Islip area.

Yankee Doodle Dandy’s eventually opened at 454 Main Street in Islip. Now, they’re expanding to Babylon, with a second location set to open across from the LIRR station in just a few weeks.

For this new venture, Gatewood brought on his longtime employee and college friend, Ryan Giles, as a partner.

“I truly think our brand fits the Main Street vibe and brings additional Americana to what might as well be a town out of a John Cougar Mellencamp song,” said Giles. ” Babylon seems like an incredible and logical next step as we continue to grow our presence in Suffolk County. We love being able to showcase American culture, pride, and food and are looking forward to being part of the Babylon community as well.”

The food truck is still in operation in the city.

“I love the idea of it being in Babylon because of the people who commute to New York City,” Gatewood said. “And doing the food truck in the city for [over] 10 years adds the brand value to the commuters who would recognize me from the food truck.” 

As the name, that dates back to 1600s, when his ancestors came to what is now the United States. The song Yankee Doodle was used by the British to mock how the Americans dressed. Eventually, the Americans embraced the song, giving it patriotic meaning. Naturally, with the type of food they specialize in, it felt like the perfect name.

“It’s such uniquely American, and we specialize in American food,” Gatewood said.

---

Top: Buffalo chicken tenders from Yankee Doodle’s Dandy’s. (Credit: Facebook)