As far as Northeastern eateries go, Chicken Lou’s has built a dynasty.

The small grab-n-go sandwich shop has won best on-campus eatery every year The News has hosted Best of NU since it started in 2001, giving it seven titles.

Located at 50 Forsyth St. for about 18 years, Chicken Lou’s started as a catering business in the ’70s, said owner Dave Ferretti.

Ferretti said the shop’s most popular meal is the TKO, a hearty grilled sandwich stuffed with baked chicken, bacon, honey mustard and Swiss cheese, which goes for about $5 and outsells other menu options more than six to one.

“I’m not real sure [what makes the TKO so popular], to be honest with you,” he said. “I think I’ve maybe eaten one in my life.”

The restaurant is so popular it has a Facebook dedication page, hosted by the mysterious “Ch’iacute;cken Lou,” who has 1,526 friends, including 1,419 friends at Northeastern. (Allegedly, Ch’iacute;cken is a Northeastern Alum in an open relationship.)

While Ferretti said he was unaware of the eatery’s secret Facebook admirer, he said he’s proud to accept his seventh consecutive Best of NU award.

“It’s nice that we can serve our customers and they can have as much fun as they do in here and still enjoy the food,” he said, adding jokingly, “I don’t know whether they come for the food or they come for the abuse, but we can dole them both out just as easily.”

Ferretti said that to many of the faithful, Chicken Lou’s feels like family.

“We’re the surrogate parents when they’re not with their parents,” he said.

– Maggie Cassidy, News Staff