Yeah, it is in The Source right near the escalator for the parking lot on the first floor. I got the spicy (1 flaming heat symbol) and smokey hot (2 flaming heat symbols) and both brought the flavor and good amount of heat. And that with their rice cake and it my go to KFC spot.
BBQ always seems to be great when they first open and slowly become greasy, baby sized wings over time. My advice, go to BBQ when they first open and never go again
+1 Crack Shack has always been a solid option. Bummed the Century City branch shut down.
We’ve been going to the Buena Park locale for 4-5 years. We bring our own kim chee from home, pick up 20 bb wings and head over to Paiks noodles for jjajangmein. It’s our own little feast. My wife initially said it was ghetto but I don’t care. The bb wings have been consistently good since they are fried to order.
The Diamond Bar location went out of business because of poor quality over time and Chino Hills location seems to be going in the same direction. Irvine location is inconsistent, sometimes great and sometimes an oily mess. Definitely gonna try Buena Park since I do love their spice mix on the olive oil wings.
Yes the diamond bar location was not as good as Buena Park location the one time we tried it. Same thing with Honey Pig in Irvine. The OG Buena Park locations were significantly better than their offshoots.
Tried Pelicana today along with the great jjampoong at the source food court. The chicken was crunchy, not oily, piping hot, juicy and delicious. Definitely some good fried chicken. Want to try some of their other flavors. This was the 18 piece extra crunchy wings.
That looks like KFC.
It was much better than KFC. Not as greasy. But it did not have the secret blend of spices.
You ate all 18 wings by yourself!?
I was satisfied with 4, though I could go for 9.
Haha satisfied with 4 but could have went for 9. That could be the FTC motto.
Split the 18 piece and the jjampoong with my wife and 2 kids. It was the perfect amount but if we had maybe 25% more noodles nobody would have complained. The jjampoong place at the source does not have sari. Most noodle places do. Oh well.
Driving, I was starving and a KFC was right in front of me so I went and just ordered a la carte breasts. One original one extra crispy.
They were the best I’ve had at KFC in years. Even the original recipe was crispy and they weren’t greasy at all, probably right out of the pressure cooker fryer thingie.
Wish the extra crispy had the same seasonings as the original.
If the chicken was always that good… damn!
What’s everyone’s current favorite fried chicken that isn’t Korean/Asian? Anywhere LA/OC. Thanks!
A couple to try howlin rays, gus’, honeys golden fried, and yard bird.
I haven’t been exploring so I’m a little rusty. It’s hard to know if a once loved (or really liked) place is still good. But here are mine.
Howlin’ Ray’s - of course, but they’re sandwich & wing delivery only right now. 
Yardbird at Beverly Center - Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken & Cheddar Waffles. Pricey but enough food for two. Beware, lard is one of the ingredients.
Hotville at Crenshaw Shopping Center - Nashville Hot Fried Chicken. Not a bad substitute for Howlin’ Ray’s and no line. Psst… I like their Fried Fish best.
Met Her at a Bar in Mid-City - Thai-style Fried Chicken & Waffles w/Tom Yum Seasoning.
Thanks @hungryhungryhippos and @TheCookie!
I gotta try Yardbird one of these days. I love lard.
And Gus’s in Long Beach has actually been my go-to the last few years.
And I should have said besides Howlin’ Ray’s. 
Does anyone here like Tokyo Fired Chicken Co in MPk?
I liked it! It’s a bit salty and sides are meh. I like Gus’ better and Hotville better than Gus’. So I’ve never made the effort to get back there in recent times. But it was very popular in 2019, so if it’s still the same, you may have to wait a bit for a table.
We recently tried Tokyo Fried Chicken for the first time and were pleasantly surprised. The chicken was good but not outstanding with all the current options available: not super juicy, a decent crust but it was neither super crunchy or crispy. It did hold up well over a 20 minute drive or so and I would probably get their chicken over Dave’s Hot Chicken which was the next most recent fried chicken we’d had.
The dashi braised collards and potato salad really surprised us, though. I thought the dashi would feel like a tacked on detail that was either overwhelming or lost with the bacon and pot liquor but it added a nice depth that I like in braised greens that was surprisingly well balanced if a touch sweet. Likewise the potato salad kind of reminded me of a sweeter Korean potato salad but in a more American style with bacon. Well executed and I’d like to try them both again to see if the quality is consistent.
Good but typical cabbage with sesame dressing the same as you’d get elsewhere.
@TheCookie for regular one-person’s fried chicken craving, I’ve been happy with Pikunico at ROW DTLA with flavorful and moist thigh cut. I usually have this and Yaki Imo 
I haven’t been back to Gol Tong Chicken since before the pandemic but it used to be my favorite 
KFC in Ktown. Balance batter, juicy interior, perfectly crisp. The owner fried each oder one by one so there is a little wait. Good sauces, tho I always eat the basic one with sauces on the side.
Shiku at Grand Central Market is good with F&F desserts, haha. Yoshi San at Kaneyoshi And Jack at Endorffeine approved. I should try it out sometimes.
For fastfood I like Cane’s, particularly in Texas. Those locations in the West coast ain’t at gold somehow.
Other options that are good for sharing:
Yangban wings are meaty and nice, 1-2 wings with sides are enough for one. I finished the whole order and got tired after third wings since the sauce is quite sweet. Best to eat right away, Togo will get soggy so I would not get Togo wings myself.
Town Hof & Thanks Chicken is well like in Ktown, they have some good spicy sides.
Twozone Chicken is mild and well fried, the meet inside is just a tad dry just like Town Hof & Thanks Chicken but still acceptable. I ate this last Christmas somehow, haha.
Long story short, I like fried chicken a lot and I’m still looking for my ideal fried chicken in LA. Please let me know if you have a place you love so much and can’t live without. Mine was in SF and it recent closed permanently at the end of July.
The Lucky Pig
Oh I miss this perfectly brined and moist fried chicken the most. So flavorfully and reheating the best even after refrigerated… I only ate this fried chicken spot when I lived in the city.
Hi @Armillaria
Good report! I’ve had a couple on your list. ROW was one of our go-tos during the lockdown, as it was wide open with lotsa space and few pedestrians. We’d get the Hayato Bento Box and Fried Chicken at Pikunico. I also like the Fried Chicken Sandwich at Cane’s.
Food Talkers had (have?) a major love affair with Howlin’ Ray’s at Far East Plaza. Their business model has changed and is curiously still Postmates pickup & delivery only, but it’s still pretty excellent.
We usually get the Country Level (no spice) and the Mild (spicy) or the Medium (pretty darn spicy) and never skip the long stewed Greens. 
Happy Fried Chicken Eating!
