469305 Thu Dec 13 18:07:11 -0800 2007 13 14 Washington DC & Baltimore Area 0 3206522 I am from Texas and get a hankering for good chicken fried steak. I have had it at Chili's but certainly there is a better version in the area. Ideas? Thu Dec 13 18:07:11 -0800 2007 149191 stony 1 3207228 Elsie's Magic Skillet in Alexandria used to have the best, but Elsie sold the place and the CFS is no better than what you'd find at IHOP. Tastee Diners in Silver Spring/Bethesda/Laurel was decent, but they only served it on Sundays for some reason. Problem is, very few places serve it with a nice white peppercorn gravy, instead they drown it in a sort of bottled chicken gravy. Seriously doubt you'd find anything comparable to what you'd get in Texas, but good luck. This donrockwell thread mentions Southside 815, New Heights, Madhatter, and The Diner in Adams Morgan as having CFS. I'd be wary of American City Diner, as the last meal I had there did not agree with me. http://www.donrockwell.com/lofiversion/index.php/t7604.html Fri Dec 14 05:48:23 -0800 2007 3206522 12359 monkeyrotica 1 3207728 I feel your pain. I'm from Oklahoma and haven't found anything comparable to back home. Like you, I do Chilis once in a while. It's servicable, although it doesn't come with fried okra, which is necessary to the true CFS experience. Frank's Diner in Jessup does an ok CFS as well. Fri Dec 14 08:58:39 -0800 2007 3206522 11273 JonParker 1 3208840 CF Folks near Dupont has it as a special every Monday. I'm no expert, but their CFS with country gravy tastes pretty darn good to me... Fri Dec 14 13:56:55 -0800 2007 3206522 126991 aburkavage 1 3211274 I hate to say it---Cracker Barrel has it. They even have fried okra. If someone can come with a better alternative in NoVA, please post back. I'd be willing to give a try! Sat Dec 15 16:30:46 -0800 2007 3206522 14984 MizYellowRose 2 3212068 Well, it's a Cracker Barrel kind of food. You won't find a chicken fried steak at Ruth Chris' or Charlie Palmer just because they serve good steak. Though I'd be curious to see what Ray's interpretation would be if he chose to add it to the menu. I'll be it would be good. I'm not sure what makes one particularly good - seasoning and the gravy, I guess, and those are a matter of taste. The one time I tried a CFS (I think it might have been in a Hot Shoppe when they were around) I found it much too salty for my taste. I don't think there are any more Black Eyed Pea restaurants in the area, but you could look around. OK, I just did, and the home page lists only locations in Colorado and Texas, so maybe that's closed the circle. Black Eyed Pea was just a little classier than Cracker Barrel though on the same order, and had chicken fried steak (as well as chicken fried chicken) on the menu. Sun Dec 16 05:15:44 -0800 2007 3211274 10624 MikeR 1 4222698 Have there been more CFS discoveries? Fri Dec 05 08:06:32 -0800 2008 3206522 123581 WestIndianArchie 1 4222798 i'm from texas too darling and i feel your pain — chicken frieds are my heart's desire. anyway, there is one at king street blues in both alexandria and courthouse arlington. It's not amazing but it will do to sate a craving. i have heard the southside one is good but never tried it for myself. Fri Dec 05 08:41:42 -0800 2008 3206522 181498 littlew1ng 1 4222801 I'm not positive but I think Levi's Port Cafe on 8th might have them! Fri Dec 05 08:42:26 -0800 2008 3206522 129027 scotcheroo 2 4223416 Levi's doesn't do CFS. They do a mean smothered porkchop, though. Fri Dec 05 11:46:09 -0800 2008 4222801 12359 monkeyrotica 1 4222839 I have enjoyed a good chicken-fried steak at Frank's Diner on route One in Jessup, Howard county, Maryland. Fri Dec 05 08:52:08 -0800 2008 3206522 15018 elgringoviejo 2 4224250 The CFS at Frank's makes a fine alternative to bacon or sausage at breakfast, but it's not going to be satisfying to someone from Oklahoma or Texas looking for a taste of home. It's not even in the same league. Fri Dec 05 17:06:30 -0800 2008 4222839 11273 JonParker 1 4223493 I am also from Texas. Dallas. I grew up on chicken fried steak. Around here, people think its actually chicken and not beef. I have not found it around here to be very good. I wish you could come to my kitchen, I almost have it down to perfection including the country gravy. Good luck on your quest! Fri Dec 05 12:08:30 -0800 2008 3206522 23792 aaronswoman 1 4223547 Hunter's Head Tavern 9048 John Mosby Highway Upperville, VA 20184 www.huntersheadtavern.com I have never been but in Northern Virginian Magazine it said to have had good chicken fried steak! Fri Dec 05 12:23:54 -0800 2008 3206522 23792 aaronswoman