Fresno's best fried chicken?

[dimsumgirl]

I went to Chicken Man this afternoon in the hopes of picking up some of their chicken. Unfortunately, they are closed Sunday and Monday. I will have another opportunity tomorrow. Is Chicken Man the best fried chicken that Fresno has to offer? Other places to try? I'm thinking of doing a side by side taste test. If you have any ideas, I will give it a try tomorrow.

[dimsumgirl]

Thank you all for your replies. After reading Jeff's reply about eating the chicken right out of the fryer, I rethought ordering fresh fried chicken and carrying it for the three hour trip home. Didn't seem like it would do justice to yummy fried chicken. Next time I'm there, I'll have to go to Chicken Man and to Smokey's and eat it on the spot for a taste comparison. Appreciate your tips and can't wait to return to Fresno!

[Jeff Avis]

Dimsumgirl, I think you've made a wise decision. Not to say that picnic style or cold fried chicken isn't just as wonderful but for the sake of competion for the best fried chicken I would think you should sample it at the optimal time of freshness and flavor which would be directly from the fryer. Another place I've had some superb fried chicken is the old Fresno Basque Hotel on I believe F st. in the China Town area.

[dimsumgirl]

Jeff: I don't get to Fresno too often but maybe for my next trip, you and I should schedule a fried chicken chowdown so we can explore this venue together and do an official judging. Keep that in mind and start thinking about how to assign points. I'm thinking crispness, flavor, juiciness, presentation.... What else?

[alanstotle]

You might need some help with scoring, so be sure let us know when & where.

[dimsumgirl]

Jeff and I defintely need some help with the scoring. I am waiting for Jeff's feedback for scoring criteria. I am going to create a sheet for the "judges" to use so we can collect the scoring sheets and determine the winner at the end of the competition. We can use more judges so if there are others who are available to help, let me know. I might have to bring Mr. ds to come help as well.

[Jeff Avis]

Dimsumgirl, Sounds good to me! I think crispness,flavor,juiciness and presentation would be quite sufficent goals for competitors and maybe a simple 1-5 scale for points could do. I'm sure Mr. d , Polar Bear and alanstole,along with all the chowhounds interested in this chowdown will have further input and suggestions . I don't remember if my e-mail address is available thru Chowhound but I'll check and if not I'll post it for you next post.

[PolarBear]

It's on your profile, Jeff.

The three places mentioned would make for a very easy crawl. Smokey's and OBH are just a couple of blocks apart with easy access to Hwy 99 and CM is just off the Clinton exit @ 5 miles to the north.

OBH throws in a ringer flavor option, you can order it covered with garlic.

[KenWritez]

Steaks at OBH are acceptable but not stand-out, The meat quality is definitely Select.

So, save your steak eating for another venue, and let roll open the heavenly, radiant gates of glory that are the OBH garlic fried chicken....

The garlic on the fried chicken isn't an option, it's a necessity. Don't get me wrong--the chicken is fine without it, but the garlic adds an incredible depth of super-smooth garlic flavor that has to be tasted to be believed! I tried a piece of non-garlicked chicken from my wife and it tasted blah by comparison.

Warning, Don't go to the OBH for ambiance! The decor is Early Retirement Home or 1969 DMV. The sides (which come with the meal) are edible but forgettable: An okay beef stew, potato salad, a chicken soup, sometimes a limp green salad. The waitresses are busy, efficient and not interested in coddling you. They are not there to be your friend. The food is designed to satisfy hungry, hard-working people who don't demand much from dinner apart from quantity. That said, the garlic fried chicken is a happy aberration, one to be enjoyed and savored. (It's pretty greasy but that only adds to it.)

[PolarBear]

You make a really good point, Ken, in fact I'd go so far to say as a general rule never order the steak option at a Basque place. However, for my dear FIL, god love him, it's just fine since they will gladly cook it to just beyond charcoal and bring him a bottle of catsup to smother it in.

[PolarBear]

You are correct:

Old Basque Hotel
1102 F St (half way btw Fresno and Tulare Sts.)
Fresno, CA 93706
[phone]

[Jeff Avis]

PB.....Garlic covered,,,,,,,,, no fair,,,,,,no ringers,,,,,,,LOL!!

[scarmoza]

I crave that fried chicken so badly sometimes. And their potato salad!

[PolarBear]

I really pine for the potato salad with shrimp that they used to serve at the Santa Fe Basque before they moved out to 3110 N. Maroa. Can't recall, does OBH include the shrimp in their salad?

[scarmoza]

I don't remember shrimp in their potato salad but it's been a while. It is more like a ensalada russa, too.

[KenWritez]

Their potato salad has had shrimp in it in the past, but they don't always put it in. Their's isn't a bad salad, but mine is better. <bwg>

[scarmoza]

Last night, as I was trying to relax and fall asleep - the image of their salad came to me and there were little shrimp in it! I then remembered a real life conversation about the shrimp.

As one of the courses, they also serve a green salad dressed in very well seasoned oil and vinegar, too - right? Or am I confusing salads?

[KenWritez]

Yes on the green salad service, but dunno if I'd call the dressing "well seasoned." AIR, the salad was overdressed.

Sides are all "institutional food"-level of quality, with the exception of the beef stew last time I was there, about a month ago.

The stew meat was moist and tender and IMO was unsold steaks that needed to be used. Overall the stew flavor was good. Not great, but good.

[PolarBear]

The one time I had it at Smokey's I thought it was the best I'd ever tasted, even better than my cousin's cooked in the old cast iron skillet (but don't tell her that!), and surpassing CM's, at least by the amount of meat. I could have eaten just one of the thighs and the two sides and taken the other and the drumstick home for dinner. Greg had taken it off the lunch menu but was happy to prepare it for my anyway. Imagine all you have to do is ask.

Smokey's BBQ
1342 Tulare St. @ D btw Ventura & Fresno (exits off Hwy 99)
[phone]

[alanstotle]

Whatever you do dsg, please report back with the results of your taste-tests.

[Jeff Avis]

dimsumgirl, I'm so hooked on the Chicken Man fried chicken and have been for nearly 30yrs.Rudy Junior is the cook and owner. I knew his father Big Rudy. They were always obsessed with changing fry oil at certain intervals.I think you will notice the attention to detail in the chicken and other selections they offer there ( like the Hamburgers and ribs and beans and fries) but we're talking about fried chicken now . Nothing fancy and be prepared to wait for your order to be cooked to perfection.

[dimsumgirl]

Thanks for your speedy reply Jeff. Since you are hooked on the CM fried chicken, I must ask what it is that you order. I am taking this chicken home for DH to enjoy. He loves fried chicken. The chicken will have to travel almost three hours before it is enjoyed but I am equipped with ice chest and blue ice. DH generally enjoys chicken thighs so I was going to order a 4 piece chicken a la carte order. Tell me if I should order something other than that. I have taken home chicken from the Foster Farms before. I was thinking of staging a side by side taste test. What do you think? Shoud I do that or just order the 8 piece from the Chicken Man?

[Jeff Avis]

dimsumgirl, My general order is the fried chicken dinner and I always Have a piece or two to take home. It's great as a midnight snack or the next day but I must stipulate to truely enjoy it you really need to have it served directly from the fry oil and that's the way Rudy serves it. So hot and crispy but if that is not possible I would suggest that you order the 8 piece but at least have a piece while it's hot! enjoy!