Fried Chicken

[missbrusselsprout]

Ok hounds. Give it to me straight. I love fried chicken--loooooove it. Where's the best place in LA?

[Brownmister]

Ahh yes. GOLDEN BIRD....may they rest in peace. Only one or two left. I remember being turned on to this chain by my pop. Probably the best FC in LA. Loved the spice salt on the fries with a four piece with a large cup of Strawberry soda

[Brownmister]

let's not leave out Cables coffee shop on Ventura and De Soto. Pretty darn good FC if I do say so myself

[sharkgirl88]

My husband and I were on our way home from a trip to Sears in Northridge last night when we chanced upon a place called Chi Chi's pizza. The place was teeming and people were coming out with boxes of leftovers. We looked at each other and shrugged, "Why not?" -- the worse that we could get was bad mall-like pizza, right?

Well, we ended up NOT ordering any pizza. He got their lasagna which was ooey, gooey, huge and piping hot. For $12.50 it was a gem of a meal. I, in turn, ordered their fried chicken. Out came half a bird, piping hot, moist and juicy. They pressure fry it so it's really tender and when you put a fork to it, the meat just falls off the bone. They serve it with salad, rolls and these HUGE, thick potato wedges that made my husband do the moonwalk of joy.

So, yeah, if you find yourself in the Northridge area and hankering for some chicken grease, try Chi Chi's pizza. And ok, next time we'll try their pizza :D

Enjoy :)

[wizardx]

Chi Chi's has some really good grub, especially for the area... Their Lasagne is Good and the Chicken, while it isn't "traditional" fried chicken, is very tasty and moist. I do miss the nice crispy, spicy skin that I find at M&M Soul Food or Mom's BBQ though, their Pizza is on my top 10 list and some of the best in the valley...

[CucumberBoy]

Mom's BBQ, Van Nuys.

http://www.momsbarbq.com/

-cb-

[girlheartsfood]

Dinah's in Glendale. On San Fernando Rd, just north of Los Feliz. It sho ain't fancy, but its pretty darn good.

[Barbara Ladden]

After reading on here about Honey's Kettle in Culver City, I went recently. Am going back next week. Crunchy, crispy, moist and tender. Good fries too. I'm hooked.

[broncosaurus]

If they're still around, Soul Follks (formerly on Tracton ave. downtown) deserves mention as one of the best joints for fried chiks. Though I think it's been said they now are a catering only outfit, whereabouts unknown (to me).

[irishkevbo]

Po Folks, Buena Park

[VealParmGuy]

Has anyone tried Louisiana Fried Chicken on LaBrea?

[justagthing]

Louisiana's is a chain also...I haven't yet tried it, but was told that each one is different. We have 2 in Long Beach, one has been around for awhile and the other opened last year inside a fast food chinese place...kinda weird combo to me.

[mstinawu]

That's very true. I've been to four or five different ones in the South Bay area, but the best ones are in Hawthorne. I loooovvveee their fried chicken--and it's super cheap!

[stevie666]

Yes. It's OK, but they don't put on enough of that fabulous seasoning so the bird turns out rather bland. Other stores spice it up more. (FWIW, the store in Indianapolis(!) loads it up and is it delish!!!) I can't wait until 500 time when I go back there so I can get a bucket for the race!

[LuluBleu]

I have to add that Cynthia's fried chicken is pretty good. Though I think on the bone is so much more flavorful in general. I used to love, love, love the fried chicken at Georgia's - I still think about it and it's been how many years since they closed?

This is fast food, but has anyone tried that Pollo Campero? There are a few locations around town...

[justagthing]

I went to the LB Pollo Campero a couple of weeks ago. I got there right before closing time and the gal at the drive through was really friendly. She even gave me extra since they were closing. I rally liked the flavors/seasonings of the chicken. Quite tasty for fast food chicken. I didn't care much for the pinto beans, but the fried bananas were yummy.

[annalulu]

I haven't tried it myself, so I almost hesitate to mention it, but my friends SWEAR by the fried chicken at the Hotel Figueroa downtown. Apparently they have a tiny menu serving only 4 items, and the friend chicken is out of this world. Would love a Chowhound perspective if anyone tries it

[rantsnravesnreviews]

What about Mexica Fried Chicken. I had this and it was abosolutley delightful at La Nueva Posada in Pasadena. You can see a pic here:
http://rantsnravesnreviews.blogspot.c...

[rachaels]

OH MY GAWD that looks awesome! I want to go there NOW.

[cajun_ribeye]

Aunt Kizzy's in Marina Del Rey is damn good! Crispy skin and never over cooked. There's also this hole in the wall called Uncle Andre's in Sherman Oaks that serves up good fried and bbq chicken.

[Fat Billie]

What about the place in Glendale?

[deadre]

I'm with you on Albertson's. I too thought it would be silly to throw them in the mix but if you get the chicken pretty soon after it's come out of the over, it is amazing. The longer it sits, well, not so great. I give it 4 stars...

[a_and_w]

I like Albertson's, too -- surprisingly good. Not, however, in the same league with Honey's Kettle. I just tried both recently within a couple of days of one another...

[KayZee]

Here's my take as a westside boy for a long time now. Let me just put it this way: I remember when the chrome was shiny at Johnies.

No on Dinahs. Cheap and unoffensive but for me, bland FC is a deal killer.

Yes on Albertsons. Cheap and generally tasty

A big NO NO NO on Honey's. I do like fried chicken and live for blocks away. I really wanted to like this place but gave up on it last year after about five visits. The wife hated it. And the kids weren't in love with it so we switched to the supers chicken. Two weeks ago we took 3 kids to a small concert at Culver City hall and couldn't agree on where to eat. I can't stand Howdy's or Pacificos. We're burnt out on Dapnhe's fast food Greek so I thought let's try Honey's again. People love it on CH and I'd previously moderated my dis-like of Tito's by going there again after 10 years so why not? Sorry, can't do the same with Honey's. Besides the unintelligble idiot who took our order, the 25 minute wait even though there were only about 5 table filled and most of them already had food, there's still that chemical aftertaste that I'm pretty sure comes from the pre-brined chicken they use.

Look, this is fast food deep fried chicken and you know that sign you see at print shops: Good, Fast, Cheap, pick any two? When it comes to fast food fried chicken, you should be able to get two out of three also. Even if you like the taste of HKC, maybe cuz you wuz raized on Pioneer take-out which it most reminds me of, it's still not cheap and the service is not just slow but boorish as well. Oh, and don't forget the pain in the ass parking.

sorry, I tried to like it but I couldn't.

Kurt

[tony michaels]

Go to Pann's and order the 6 piece chicken wing dinner, (and if starving get it with the waffle). If with the waffle, eat waffle first as wings will remain good for duration of dinner while waffle is only good while hot to warm. Enjoy the wonderful googie architecture and the classic rock and roll sound track playing at an appropriate (not too loud) volume.

Or if not in a chicken mood get the best patty melt in LA.

www.panns.com

[a_and_w]

LOL -- you may be right about the pre-brined chicken. Tried Albertson's again last night and agree the chicken is indeed better quality -- and the wait significantly shorter. Still, I was genuinely impressed with the seasoning and breading of Honey's Kettle and detected no chemical aftertaste.

[writergirl]

If you happen to be in OC, Knotts! Their chicken is so yummy! The sides aren't terrific, but the chicken itself is hot, tasty and moist.

As for Cynthia's on third, dry, tasteless and expensive (would it kill them to use a spice?) I felt bad that my husband had ordered it. The other food we've had there is fine, but the chicken got so much hype, and I'm not sure why.

[wizardx]

M&M soulfood! always tasty and moist!

[justagthing]

I second the vote for M & M's, plus great sides.

[that wilson girl]

Cynthia's on Third? Anyone else like to glam up their fried chicken and wash it down with a molten pot of blackberry cobbler a la mode?

I've heard tell of hystrionics and customer abuse at the hands of, well, if you don't know to whom I refer I won't name the individual. All I'm saying is this, the chicken's good enough that it might be worth enduring the abuse.

[wideeyedraven]

From what I understand, said individual is no longer involved with the operation. So...friend chicken, problem free.

[Emme]

I know there are dissenters, but that cobbler is frickin wonderful. Certainly, it's the crust... on the top and a treat that lines the bottom of the dish as well. Never loved the FC myself, not a big fan of debond fried breast and found it a bit too peppery... then again, never went there for the mains, just tried to order something to earn me a cobbler. We tried once to order salads and planned on a cobbler, but got sorely chewed out. For a birthday years back that I catered and held elsewhere, we had cobblers from Cynthia's in much more manageable individual portions.

[hungrygirl106]

I have never understood the hype about Cynthia's food. I agree with your assessment of the chicken. However, the cobbler is totally overrated; as my husband says, "it's a bucket of hot Smuckers" -- way too sugary!

[Emme]

That's funny b/c I've always found the blackberry part to be tart, and a nice contrast to the hot sweet crust and cool, creamy vanilla ice cream... To each her own!

[tanja]

Yes, it's definitely true. "Said person" is no longer involved and the service has improved much. However, not everyone likes overpriced, deboned fried chicken. If it's your thing, though, it's gooooooood.

[broncosaurus]

I've purposely kept away from this place on account of all the tales about the Wicked Witch of the Westside. Now that she has melted I'll have to try this supposedly great fried chicken. Hope they let me order extra breasts.

[justanotherpenguin]

i would like to 2nd (3rd?) pollo compero in downtown LA and the ambers in encino - both excellent. but don't forget about good old conrad's coffee shop. my wife and i go to the one in la canada, and their fried chicken is great. i believe that wednesday is special night and that its $7 or $8 for a dinner of four pieces. we split it. also, the one in lcf has a very nice bar, and carina the bartendress is very good.

[kproq323]

Have to say that Albertson's puts the others to shame. You also need to grab a dozen of the spicy crispy wings. Amazing. Who knew?

[Bob Brooks]

Ambers on Burbank Blvd. at Balboa, in Encino. It's technically broasted but it is really perfection in a bird.

[smssms]

the juiciest FC i've ever had is at maurice's on pico. good sides, too.

[Dommy]

The best I've had is at Flossies... Just moist and crisp hand-battered goodness... :)

--Dommy!

[FoodaholicinLA]

Dommy do you mean Flossie's in the shopping enter on Western and 29th, their FC is good I must admit but the FC at the M & M's on machester is really good too. Dinah's in Culver City can stand to be a lot better. And I will also say that Aunt Kizzys has great FC but don't get their black eyed peas, I mean who puts gravy on black eyed peas????! In all of my black eyed pea eating years I could have sworn thay they sort of have their own gravy...........well at least the way mama makes them anyway!

[Norm Man]

Flossie' is located on Redondo Beach Blvd. in Torrance:

Flossie's Restaurant
3566 Redondo Beach Blvd. (at Yukon)
Torrance
[phone]

[broncosaurus]

Be advised that Flossie's menu radically changes according to the specific day of the week you visit. I'd better not go into details except to say that if you want their great cornbread stuffing on any day other than a Sunday you're out of luck, and there are numerous similar examples an entree or item being available on tue, wed and thurs but not on other days, or whatever. Still the food is pretty good.
Another bizarre thing about the place...ordering two pints of some side orders is cheaper than buying one quart! Very odd...

[bulavinaka]

Most of Aunt Kizzy's food seems to be swimming neck-deep in something or another that is really rich... I ordered their vegetable dish one time thinking that I would be eating something lighter there - burried in ham hocks, gravy, and sauce, I had to walk away from that plate after only eating about a quarter of it...

[ipsedixit]

Traditional? PANN'S (www.panns.com

)

Non-traditional? FURAIBO ... maybe the best chicken wings around and the fried chicken is a close (very close) second, which is saying alot.

Furaibo Restaurant
2068 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles
[phone]

[Scotty]

thanks for saying this about Albertsons, I felt a little funny about saying something, but I think it is the best FC around. They are always frying it up and the most I'v ever waited is 10-15 minutes for a fresh batch (sure beats the 1/2 hour at honeys!)

[kjs]

a fresh batch from albertsons works for me...a close second is stater bros...and you can't beat the price !!

[jaydee]

here's a recent fave of mine - pollo campero. several locations in the LA area - recently opened in Hollywood (Sunset and St. Andrews).

[wilafur]

i personally like the fried chicken and biscuits at honey's kettle in culver city. however, the service SUCKS. a simple order of chicken can take upwards of 30mins.

[julietg]

as with all culver city rests (for lunch)- call ahead and go straight to the cash register when you get there.

[BBB]

I agree, love the chicken and biscuits at Honey's, but the service is definitely lacking. I try and justify it by telling myself that the chicken is fried fresh to order.

[eileen216]

I love the fried chicken from Honey;s Kettle, too. And I completely agree with you, the service is bad.

[a_and_w]

Honey's Kettle rocked my socks last night. Crisp, flavorful, and didn't sit heavy in my stomach -- some of the best fried chicken I've had in some time. However, as warned, there were service issues. I called ahead and got there about 25 minutes later, but my order still wasn't ready -- and it's not like the place was packed. Waited about 10 more minutes for the food. One poor lady who hadn't called ahead was hovering around the counter and looked like she wanted to murder me for my chicken...

[mstinawu]

I tried Honey's Kettle for the first time a few nights ago. I didn't have to do the waiting as my boyfriend when to go get pick up except that he had to wait around for 20min before actually getting the food so I can't really comment on the service except to say that they're slow. I'd except that though--it's "fried to order" fried chicken; that would certainly take awhile to cook up.

In any case, I thought everything we got there was delicious (except for the fries which were pretty boring and tasteless) from the pickles (my favorite) to the chicken to the macaroni salad and biscuits. I'm not huge on big artery clogging meals like this all the time, but every few months this kinda food SERIOUSLY hits the spot.

[blacksab67]

I've made this rec on the boards many times...but Dinah's on San Fernando (Atwater/Glendale) is a solid choice. Very cheap, too.

[Wes]

I CANNOT recommend the CULVER CITY Dinha's. They have gone down hill over the years.

[mephisto]

I took a chance and ate at Dinah's Culver City last night.

The service was great (Pam is really on her game), the food was very good (and lots of it) and the price was reasonable. I will be suggesting this to friends and returning very soon.

[Will Owen]

Our Roscoe's (Pasadena, on North Lake) consistently overcooks their chicken - great flavor, but REALLY crunchy. The breast meat, if you go for that sort of thing, is like really good-tasting balsa wood. Legs are better, but still semi-mummified.

Best I've had in SoCal is Pann's on the western edge of Inglewood and Henry Moffett's on Lakewood in Bellflower. Pann's wings are bigger and juicier than a lot of drumsticks I've seen!

[Curt the Soi Hound]

I found the same thing at their Long Beach location.

[kjs]

i agree - bone dry chicken at pasadena !!! love those waffles though

[ozzygee]

The Pasadena branch should just stop selling chicken and focus on the waffles. They consistently overcook and dry it out. It's a shame, really, that they can't get it right. However, the excellent waffles keep me going back.

[ciaoxtina]

Mmmm, Roscoe's. That stuff will kill you, it's so good.

[purplescout]

There was a long thread on this just a few weeks ago.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

[Hackenbush]

I've been to dozens of places. I know some will call this an obvious answer but I never had any better than the chicken at Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles.

Close runner-up: Golden Bird Fried Chicken, especially as made at Porky's BBQ over on Manchester near The Forum.

[monkuboy]

I vote for Golden Bird, again from Porky's. Roscoe's is good, but Porky's is exceptional. (just my two cents..). They are also friendlier at Porky's.

[Capybara]

Make it a third for Porky's. I haven't tried all the LA fried chicken choices, but the Golden Bird at Porky's is very good. (Better than Dinah's on Sepelveda, and better than Honey's Kettle (which I liked)and without the service issues of Honey's Kettle.

[Dommy]

How about the golden bird in the Baldwin Hills Mall? Any good?

--Dommy!

[monkuboy]

Haven't been there in ages but it should be the same thing. That's the original location and they have licensed the batter to Porky's. Everyone I know who has tried their chicken is nuts about it.

[Dommy]

Good to know! I read a while ago that not all GB locations are created equal and I originally assumed that was a just another 'branch'. :)

--Dommy!

[Norm Man]

I vote for the Golden Bird Fried Chicken at Porky's.

Porky's BBQ
801 E. Manchester Blvd.
Inglewood, CA 90301
[phone]

http://www.Ribs123.com