In Search of Golden, Crispy, Delectable Fried Chicken - Farmshop, Pann's, Jim Dandy, Huckleberry, The Brentwood, Republique, Honeybird, Howlin' Ray's and more!

Anyone here tried Crawfords by OG Tommy’s?

There is also another location in Burbank @Ns1

I had a conversation once with someone about the Crawford’s in Burbank when it opened and put it on my to try list. I quizzed them a little bit about their spice tolerance, and it seems actually spicy. I feel like nothing in Burbank remains spicy though, I’m annoyed at how mild everything is at the Guisado’s there.

Their opinion was best hot chicken the SFV, but I don’t think there’s much choice other than the various car wash tender joints and Gus’.

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Really? They do that? :man_facepalming:

I’ve had the OG Crawford’s on my list to try for quite awhile. Was about 1/2 mile away and something came up and had to abort. Some day


Yeah, when they first opened it was consistent with the other locations. Last two years I went a few times and it was barely spicy and the last time it was even a bit bland. Downtown LA one has been fine.

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Now it’s consistent with the majority of their clientele’s palates. :wink: It’s probably please the majority and make a living. Please a few and go out of business.

Update 8:

We had been hoping to take a long break from Fried Chicken after so many journeys (thanks in part to all the great FTC suggestions!). But a few months back, a ridiculous frenzy spread across the U.S. all due to a Fried Chicken Sandwich, and with that, another journey was born. :expressionless: :sweat_smile:

Popeyes


Let me state for the record that there is no dish in the world that is worth killing another human being for. Nor is there any dish that is worth wrecking your car over! Both of these things actually happened due to the mania that infested a certain portion of our population here in the United States of America over Popeyes’ (a fast food chain!) new Fried Chicken Sandwich. Very tragic and sad. :cry:

Our 1st visit to try Popeyes’ new Fried Chicken Sandwich was during its actual initial debut (with many local Popeyes locations flooded with a line of people and cars). We had no idea how crazy it had become, having read a random article on how the new Popeyes Sandwich was “so much better than Chick-fil-A” (which I haven’t tried since college, but thought was mediocre at best years ago).

We walked into one random Popeyes location during this 1st wave craze, and the manager said people were waiting for over 1 hour(!) for this Fast Food Sandwich. :expressionless: Wow.

At this level of stupidity, you might as well wait for Howlin’ Ray’s which is so much better.

But we made it to another location the following day when it opened, and were 2nd in line.

Classic Chicken Sandwich (1st Debut):

Note the size of the Fried Chicken Breast patty, and its color and texture (more on this later). Similar to @PorkyBelly’s experience, during the initial 1st Debut (before it went on hiatus), taking a bite, it was crunchy, the Fried Chicken Breast meat was moist, and while a bit salty, was actually surprisingly well-seasoned, and much better than any other Fast Food Fried Chicken Sandwich we could remember.

The Brioche Bun used while looking a bit sad was actually soft.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich:

The Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich was definitely spicier, and that was mainly due to the Spicy Mayonnaise. The Fried Chicken Breast was still sufficiently crunchy and nicely seasoned within. I could see myself enjoying one of these in a pinch from time-to-time, if there wasn’t any silly wait.

Fried Chicken - Breast & Thigh:

Since we were here anyways, we decided to order their standard Fried Chicken Breast and Thigh to see how it’s evolved over the years: It’s as @TheCookie has worried about - Total Salt bomb. :sob: It’s crunchy, has some seasoning mixture that permeates into the Chicken meat itself, but it was so salty, and one of the pieces was lukewarm, totally greasy. (Clearly fried in large batches awhile ago, sitting under a heat lamp.)

Cajun Rice:

Heavily spiced and well-seasoned, the Cajun Rice was good for a bite or two, but then I noticed how the amount of Salt in all of the items here started building up and overwhelming my taste buds. :frowning:

Green Beans:

The least salty item we tried on the menu, it had an appealing savoriness from the Turkey Bacon. :slight_smile:

Red Beans & Rice:

Ordered because @JeetKuneBao recommended it: It was also a pretty tasty side dish.

2nd Visit:

So then the “Hiatus” hit: For those that didn’t remember, the overwhelming demand for Popeyes Fried Chicken (and the inability of the staff to keep up, and it seems they kept running out of supplies (the manager at the store we went to told us they repeatedly ran out of the Brioche Buns, which is one key reason they were “sold out” or backed up)), Popeyes removed the Fried Chicken Sandwich from all locations and went on Hiatus for 3 - 4 weeks or so?

This 2nd Visit was after the Hiatus, when Popeyes reintroduced the Fried Chicken Sandwich.

Spicy Chicken Sandwich:

First off, look at how different the Fried Chicken Breast patty looks after the long Hiatus! (Compare it to the pics I posted earlier, above that during its 1st Initial Debut.) Popeyes Corporation clearly changed the Sandwich to make it faster, easier to cook and spit out.

Taking a bite:

Salty, soggy, no crunchiness. :cry: And the Brioche Bun now tasted like cardboard. Seriously. Dry, overly firm, they changed the sourcing for the Buns as well. Awful. :sob:

Classic Chicken Sandwich:

The Classic (Non-Spicy) Fried Chicken Sandwich was the same way. Totally smashed / squashed, the Fried Chicken Breast patty was a shell of its former self from the debut, very salty, and the Bun in this Sandwich was also dried out cardboard. :nauseated_face:

3rd Visit:

We waited a month or so, went to a 3rd random location and tried it one more time after the Hiatus, to see if it might’ve improved:

Spicy Chicken Sandwich:

Look at how squashed and flat that Sandwich is now! (Compare it again to the 1st Debut Pics above.) It tasted even sadder than it looked: Extremely salty, dried out, almost no crunch, and a Bun that still tasted like cardboard. :frowning:

Awful. Avoid at all costs.

It’s clear Popeyes stumbled onto something decent in its 1st Debut of the Fried Chicken Sandwich, and then in the chase to streamline and make it so that it could be more easily mass manufactured and spit out to meet demand, they ruined the Sandwich in the process.

To be clear it was never close to being truly a great Fried Chicken Sandwich even in its 1st Debut form, but it was decent and easily the best Fast Food Fried Chicken Sandwich around. After the streamlining and hiatus? Mediocre at best, and something I wouldn’t ever want to eat again.

Popeyes Louisana Kitchen
Locations throughout Southern California

Eagle Rock Public House (Revisit)


Since we inadvertently started another Fried Chicken Journey, we were meeting our friends from Pasadena and decided to revisit Eagle Rock Public House since it was in the area.

Amwolf - German Style PIlsner (Eagle Rock Brewery):

Refreshing, crisp, but not as overly hoppy as many IPAs these days. It went great with our Fried Chicken. :slight_smile:

Bucket of Fried Chicken (Whole Free Range Chicken, Smoked & Fried):

The one unique thing about the Fried Chicken at Eagle Rock Public House is that they smoke their Chicken first, and then fry it. The end result is a deeply smoky Fried Chicken that has a beautiful flavor permeating to the bone! :blush:

The exterior batter is lightly crunchy, and by itself, is unique for its smokiness, some juiciness but an average batter at best. However, when dressed up with their Housemade Hot Sauces:

And it transforms their Smoked Fried Chicken into something far better! :slight_smile: Their Housemade Hot Sauces also change throughout the seasons. On this visit, I liked their Smokey Serrano and the Thai Bird Hot Sauces the most with their Fried Chicken. :slight_smile:

Sauteed Broccolini (Apricot Chinese Mustard, Garlic Chips):

Excellent! Their Vegetables are usually good to very good, and their Sauteed Broccolini with a Housemade Apricot Chinese Mustard was a standout. :blush:

Eagle Rock Brewery Public House
1627 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Tel: (323) 739-0081

http://eaglerockpublichouse.com/frontpage/

Tender Greens


You know when something’s jumped the shark when a Salad Specialist is now serving Fried Chicken Sandwiches & Fries as well! :open_mouth: :sweat_smile:

The K-Town Fried Chicken Sandwich (Cabbage Slaw with Lime Fish Sauce, Kimchi Cucumbers, Gochujang Glaze, Aioli):

They fried our K-Town Fried Chicken Sandwich to order (not sure if this is a regular thing or not, but at least on our visit, that was the way it was prepared), so it arrived piping hot right out of the fryer.

It was crunchy, the Bun was a touch too big for the Sandwich, but soft, and the Coleslaw with Lime Fish Sauce was actually a nice counterpoint to help balance out the Fried Chicken itself. The only issue I had with it was the Gochujang Glaze was too sweet and overwhelmed parts of the Sandwich. Next time I’ll try it without any Gochujang Glaze which should make it better.

French Fries (Included):

And each Fried Chicken Sandwich comes with an order of French Fries included, a nice touch. These were also right out of the fryer and piping hot. :slight_smile: As a result, these were actually decent, thinner style Fries that were lightly salted. Not bad at all.

Even with the too sweet Gochujang Glaze, Tender Greens’ new Fried Chicken Sandwich was leagues ahead of Popeyes overrated Fried Chicken Sandwich.

Tender Greens
Multiple Locations throughout L.A. (See website for locations.)
https://www.tendergreens.com/

Hungry Fox


We had bookmarked this old-school, American diner serving up classic fare straight out of the 1950’s thanks to @JeetKuneBao’s enthusiastic recommendation.

What makes it interesting is that Hungry Fox is currently run by a Thai family, and you’ll see little glimpses of their cultural touch in some of the menu items.

Corned Beef Hash & Eggs:

Yes, we were on a Fried Chicken Journey but getting a chance to try old-school American Diner-style Corned Beef Hash & Eggs was too good to pass up. :wink:

The Corned Beef Hash had that classic taste that I remembered as a little kid eating at various American diners around the country. It’s meaty, lightly zesty, savory and just delicious! :blush: (@Gr8pimpin @wienermobile)

Their Hash Browns were perfectly crispy/crunchy with a nice crust, only lightly salted and a great combination with the Corned Beef Hash and the Sunny-Side Up Eggs. :slight_smile:

Thai Sausage:

But the surprise to this classic American Breakfast might very well be their Thai Sausage: As @JeetKuneBao has mentioned as well, wow! This is a powerhouse of interesting Thai flavors: Bright Lemongrass, Basil and other Herbs mixed in with the Marinated Ground Pork. This was so much better than the usual American Breakfast Sausage we usually see. :blush:

Fried Chicken & Waffles:

Fried to a beautiful golden-brown, Hungry Fox’s Fried Chicken is by far the crunchiest Fried Chicken we’ve had on this journey! It was super crunchy, piping hot and delicious! :blush: It didn’t have any crispiness, and was a bit heavy-handed / thick crunchy batter, but the Chicken within was moist and juicy, even the Chicken Breast portion. :slight_smile:

On the downside, it was a touch salty (but nothing like Popeyes), and the seasoning overall was rather straightforward.

Their Waffles were mediocre at best unfortunately. It was a bit thick, not crisped (even though it looked well toasted), and was serviceable. Howlin’ Ray’s Waffles (made to order) completely outclass this.

Hungry Fox was a surprise and a pleasant American Diner, with some enjoyable classics like their Corned Beef Hash & Eggs with crisped Hash Browns, and that wonderful Thai Sausage for Breakfast makes it even more interesting.

While their Fried Chicken may not be mind-blowing, it was super crunchy, fried to order, and the best Fried Chicken we’ve had in the Valley so far.

Hungry Fox
13359 Sherman Way
North Hollywood, CA 91605
Tel: (818) 765-7111

Hotville Chicken


As with the initial pop-up disaster / debut of Hotville Chicken in Chinatown a few years back, it seems Owner Kim Prince (whose background is in TV, and is the niece of the Prince family that actually runs Nashville’s famous Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack), is trying to rely on her last name to get as much publicity as possible, without actually having invented nor actually knowing the recipe of Prince’s famous Nashville Hot Chicken. :frowning:

One of the things that’s very frustrating is when you run across underhanded marketing / messaging, and this is the case with Hotville Chicken. As with their pop-up a few years ago, but now even more sly, Kim Prince is pushing the PR angle that she’s “Nashville Fried Chicken Royalty” at every chance she can get, but without actually explicitly saying the only thing that matters (that she actually is bringing Prince’s famous Nashville Hot Chicken and its authentic recipe to L.A.). Notice the giant wall mural at their new brick & mortar location:

It’s subtle at first: You see an old black & white picture of the Prince Family from Nashville, Tennessee. And it states that they are “the Pioneers of Nashville Hot Chicken since the 1930’s.”

THEN, you see a random (lame) quote from Hotville’s Owner, and her name is bolded “Kim Prince”.

Notice that they are trying to infer / slyly try to show that one truth (the OG Prince Family in Nashville were the pioneers of Nashville Hot Chicken since the 1930’s - which is true), is somehow tied to Kim Prince (a niece of the current owner) having her name in bold, as if by association and some pictures on the wall, customers would be stupid enough to think that Hotville Chicken is Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack. :expressionless: :angry:

Then look at their menu, with another subtle underhanded Marketing stunt:

Owner Kim Prince writes a story about how Nashville Hot Chicken was invented (that is well documented by the actual Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville in various videos and stories). It then talks about how the Prince family holds the recipe and it’s at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack.

All of that is the truth and fine in-and-of itself.

THEN, the next paragraph just jumps to saying a bunch of nothing but hoping customers infer that this Hotville is bringing Prince’s Hot Chicken here, but it’s not. It beats around the bush saying stuff like “Today, Hotville Chicken brings the pride of Nashville’s fiery-fried fowl to Los Angeles
” And then she bolds her name yet again “Kim Prince” to stress the fact that yes, her last name is the same last name as the real Prince family that invented Nashville Hot Chicken. But what kind of empty, soulless Marketing rhetoric is there in stating “brings the pride of Nashville
”?

It’s meaningless. But it’s subtle enough that they can’t be sued, because they didn’t state anything explicit that actually matters.

To make matters worse, the local media is just regurgitating the same meaningless PR / Marketing spiel as if it was noteworthy. The L.A. Times, Eater LA and other articles written about Hotville Chicken all write the same things, how Hotville Chicken is “Hot Chicken Royalty” or continually spouting that “Kim Prince is the niece of Andre Prince Jeffries” (the OG family that runs Nashville’s famous Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack).

Think about how lazy and meaningless that is. It’s like saying:

  • “ABC is the niece of Chef Michael Cimarusti (Providence)! She’s Sustainable Seafood Royalty!” :expressionless:

  • “XYZ is the 2nd cousin of Chef Wolfgang Puck! He’s California Italian Cuisine Royalty!”

Stop and think about how stupid that sounds.

So what if someone is related to a famous Chef? This isn’t the British Monarchy, where just because you’re related by blood, it automatically makes you any more privileged or special, or have the same cooking prowess as the famous Chef in your family.

The local publications should be ashamed. It’s just lazy journalism that says nothing. :rage:

Notice nowhere on the PR/Marketing of the restaurant or in articles does it say:

  • Hotville Chicken is bringing the original Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack recipe to L.A.! (because it’s not.)

Or


  • Hotville Chicken is the first official branch of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in L.A.! (because it’s not.)

As noted in the previous FTC thread on Hotville Chicken, haven spoke with the actual owner of Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack (Andre Prince Jeffries), she emphatically distanced herself and Prince’s Hot Chicken from this Hotville venture from her niece. It’s not Prince’s Hot Chicken, and if you Google images, it doesn’t even look the same.

It’s just disingenuous, underhanded and feels like they’re trying fool the L.A. folks into thinking this is somehow a piece of Prince’s Hot Chicken, and it’s not. (@J_L @PorkyBelly @TheCookie @CiaoBob @Gr8pimpin @attran99 @JeetKuneBao @paranoidgarliclover and others.)

The decor of the new brick & mortar Hotville is fine; it looks like an actual working restaurant now (compared to the pop-up location).

They offer 4 levels of heat at Hotville, we started with:

Fried Chicken (Half) - Leg Quarter (Level 1 - West Coast Plain) + Breast Quarter (Level 2 - Cali Mild):

First, the Level 2 “Cali Mild” is actually spicy. Secondly, it tastes synthetic / one note, and just “spicy” for the sake of spicy. :frowning: It’s not even close to Howlin’ Ray’s, and it is not hyperbole in saying Popeyes’ Spicy Fried Chicken has more nuance than Hotville’s Level 2 Cali Mild Spice. :angry:

And lastly, it’s totally overcooked and dry (see pictures above). :sob: Terrible.

Just one look at the weak batter and pale color and it had us worried: The initial bite was fine. It’s not terrible Fried Chicken, but their Level 1 “West Coast Plain” is much better than their Spicy Chicken (which is sad, considering their name). The batter is slightly crunchy (barely) and decently seasoned.

Fried Chicken Wings (4) - Level 3 Music City Medium:

This was searing spicy! But not in an interesting way, just really, really pure spicy, and one note, and it had this weird chemical taste that was unpleasant. :cry: :nauseated_face:

And it’s nowhere near as crazy as, say, Howlin’ Ray’s Level 4 Hot (that has Ghost Chili Pepper and other spices), but it’s an immediate searing spiciness.

Potato Salad:

Average Potato Salad. Not bad, but on the sweeter side.

The ‘Shaw (Fried Chicken Sandwich) - Level 2 Cali Mild + Mac & Smokin’ Cheese (Side):

Mac & Smokin’ Cheese:

Cheese-heavy (not as creamy), but a decent Mac & Cheese rendition. We couldn’t taste any “Smokin’ Cheese” per the name.

Kale Slaw:

I appreciate that they’re incorporating Kale into their Coleslaw to make it healthier, but this had way too much Sugar. It was very sweet, lightly dressed with Mayo. :frowning:

As for the Fried Chicken Sandwich itself? As you can see from the pics above, really greasy, the batter was borderline soggy, with a few sections having some crunchiness (barely). :frowning: And as before, with the Level 2 Cali Mild Spice level, it was noticeably spicy, but tasted synthetic and boring (just pure heat).

This was during their opening week, so we were hoping they might improve themselves. Despite their disingenuous Marketing tactics, we wanted to give them a fair shake.

2nd Visit:

Fried Chicken (Half) - Leg Quarter (Level 1 - West Coast Plain) + Breast Quarter (Level 2 - Cali Mild):

The Fried Chicken Leg Quarter as Level 1 “West Coast Plain” was even worse this 2nd visit. The batter was oil-laden, barely crunchy, a bit soggy in parts, and saltier than before (just look at the pic above).

Fried Chicken - Breast Quarter (Level 2 - Cali Mild):

The Fried Chicken Breast portion at Level 2 “Cali Mild” was the same as before: Whatever Hotville spice they are trying to develop is so laughably bad, it tastes like some weird synthetic compound they are throwing on the Fried Chicken to make it immediately spicy, but with zero nuance.

And it was completely overcooked yet again (see pics above). :rage: :sob: Dry, chalky, and synthetic Fried Chicken.

Fried Fish (Swai):

Hotville uses Swai for their Fried Fish. :frowning: Some versions of Swai at other restaurants in the past have been OK, but on this visit, the Fried Swai Fish was gross: It was a bit slimy inside (not “moist”), it tasted super muddy (worse than any Catfish dish we’ve had in recent memory), and while the Cornmeal battered exterior was crunchy and appealing, it was really off-putting with the sliminess and taste of dirt, and it was rather greasy. :cry: :nauseated_face:

Our friends and I all got sick after eating on this visit (and none of us had breakfast). :face_vomiting: :frowning:

3rd Visit:

Against all reasoning, we decided to come back a 3rd time to see if Hotville could improve (and brought even more friends to make sure we weren’t crazy).

The 'Shaw (Fried Chicken Sandwich) - Level 1 West Coast Plain + Seasoned Fries:

Their Fried Chicken Sandwich on this 3rd visit was adequate at best: The breading was a bit soggy, not crunchy, and a bit greasy. The weird color variation (see pic above) is indicative that they probably didn’t fry this evenly, nor at the right temperature considering how oily it tasted. :frowning: The Bun was a bit firmer than we’d like, but at least it wasn’t cardboard like Popeyes’ current version.

Seasoned Fries:

Mediocre mass-produced Sysco Fries. These were soggy, with barely any crisp, and tasted like the generic mass-manufactured Frozen Fries you find at many nondescript places around town. Avoid. :frowning:

Fried Chicken (Half) - Breast Quarter (Level 1 - West Coast Plain) + Leg Quarter (Level 2 - Cali Mild):

The Fried Chicken Breast as a Level 1 “West Coast Plain” was even worse than before: Uneven battering, slightly soggy, slight crunchiness, and as before on our previous visits, totally overcooked and dried out. :sob:

Fried Chicken Leg Quarter (Level 2 - Cali Mild):

From this 3rd visit, their spicy seasoning has not improved: It is still as boring, one-note, and chemically tasting as before. :frowning: (Not one of our friends on this visit liked Hotville’s spicy flavoring.) And as seen in the pics above, it was really greasy and oil-laden and soggy, barely crunchy in parts. :frowning:

In the end, Hotville Chicken is a mediocre Fried Chicken spot, using underhanded PR/Marketing tactics to try and fool people into thinking that it’s somehow Nashville’s Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in some form, which it isn’t. Their plain Fried Chicken is adequate (for the Leg quarter), better than Supermarket Fried Chicken, but avoid any version of their Fried Chicken Breast, as it’s completely overcooked every single time we’ve tried. Their spicy seasoning is downright awful: Just a pure type of heat for the sake of being “spicy” with a weird synthetic, one-note boring taste to it. :frowning:

For some folks thinking this might give Howlin’ Ray’s a run for its money, it’s nowhere in the same league. This easily falls to the bottom of L.A.'s Spicy Fried Chicken offerings. We’re in no hurry to return.

Hotville Chicken
4070 Marlton Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Tel: (323) 792-4835

Gus’s Fried Chicken (Revisit)


We did an immediate stop at Gus’s OG L.A. location on Pico, after our mediocre visit to Hotville, for a quick point of reference (and some of our friends hadn’t tried Gus’s yet).

Fried Chicken (Half):

Gus’s only serves their Fried Chicken in 1 style: Hot & Spicy. Taking a bite into their Fried Chicken Breast was met with cheers by everyone in our group. It was moist, juicy, and while a touch salty, it had a good light crispiness and a decent heat. Just look at the picture above compared to Hotville’s completely overcooked disaster.

Their Fried Chicken Thigh, Drumstick and Wing were all moist and had a thin crispiness (no real big crunch), and while they were all leaning a bit salty and their spiciness was straightforward, compared to the synthetic boring heat at Hotville, this felt like a masterpiece.

It still falls far short of Howlin’ Ray’s, but this was so much better than Hotville in every way. Everyone in our group felt the same way.

Slaw:

Lightly sweet, not too heavy on the Mayo, this tasted like a safe, standard Slaw and was an OK accompaniment to the Fried Chicken.

Collard Greens:

Earthy, a bit salty, but it was nice getting something green on this Fried Chicken Journey, so I was happy to take what I could get. :wink:

Gus’s Fried Chicken
1262 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Tel: (323) 402-0232

Manuela


Manuela is the latest restaurant helmed by Chef Kris Tominaga (formerly of The Hart and the Hunter (Melrose) fame). What’s interesting about Manuela is that it occupies a space within the Hauser & Wirth building in the Arts District in Downtown L.A. Here you’ll find an art gallery, retail stores, a beautiful open-air courtyard, and a full Herb & Vegetable garden, along with an open air Chicken Coop.

Fried Chicken Sandwich (Jalapeno Bread & Butter Pickles, Celery Aioli):

Chef Kris Tominaga’s take on the Fried Chicken Sandwich is rather unique: The Bread is pillowy soft (great!), the batter for the Fried Chicken Sandwich seems more akin to a Beer Batter for Fish & Chips rather than the craggy batter you see on most of these Sandwiches, but it works: It’s lightly crispy with some crunch, with moist juicy Chicken meat within. The Jalapeno Chilies provide direct, light spiciness from a natural source (as opposed to all of these elaborate (or bad) recipes of various spices and oils that some restaurants are using).

The seasoning was fine, but lacks that deep crave-worthy depth that Howlin’ Ray’s Sando instills with each bite. Overall, we’d be fine enjoying another one of these Fried Chicken Sandwiches, and it is easily much better than Popeyes over-hyped mess.

Manuela
907 E. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Tel: (323) 849-0480

http://www.manuela-la.com/

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Night + Market Song


Much has been said about Chef-Owner Kris Yenbamroong’s hip, vibrant Thai cooking at Night + Market (and its 2 additional branches), but they also happen to serve a Fried Chicken Sandwich (done Thai-style), which we’ve never gotten around to trying yet, so it made sense for us to add it to this journey. :slight_smile:

Pad Pak Kanaa (Chinese Broccoli Sauteed with Garlic and Bird Eye Chili):

Good saute with some Wok Hei (Breath of the Wok), perhaps a touch too much Oyster Sauce, but it had a really nice fragrant spicy kick from the Bird Eye Chili. :slight_smile:

Fried Chicken Sandwich (Chiengrai-style Fried Chicken Thigh, Papaya Slaw, Homemade Ranch Dressing, Jalapeno, Cilantro, Tomato):

Night + Market Song’s Fried Chicken Sandwich is mammoth in size, perhaps too tall, as its stacked with not only the Fried Chicken Thigh pieces, but a generous helping of Papaya Slaw, Tomatoes and other ingredients.

First, this is nothing like a usual “Fried Chicken Sandwich,” and I think everyone in our group understood the fan appeal immediately: Bright, tropical Green Papaya Slaw, reminiscent of a good Thai Green Papaya Salad, plenty of Jalapeno Chilies added a real heat, and the sweet-salty with a touch of tart Chiengrai-style battered Fried Chicken Thigh center helped to bring it all together. :slight_smile:

The one weakness of this version might be the White Bun, which was dryish, but sturdy enough to hold up to the ingredients without disintegrating. Our server mentions they get it from a local Thai bakery.

Night + Market Song
3322 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Tel: (323) 665-5899

Great White


As we stood for over 45 minutes waiting in line to place an order at Great White, seeing the eclectic Venice crowds - surfers, hamsters, tourists, homeless, and more hamsters - I began to have doubts if this was the right restaurant that was home to Bon AppĂ©tit’s “Best Fried Chicken Sandwich” winner.

Glancing at the menu, we all felt more out of place than @JeetKuneBao at Gjusta (which, @JeetKuneBao you’re totally fine hanging at Gjusta!), :wink: we see their top item is a Blue Smoothie Bowl (Banana, Pineapple, e3 Live Blue Algae, Chia Seeds
), and they have Charcoal Lattes, as in, it’s just pure Activated Charcoal Hand Whisked with Almond Milk & Honey. :sweat_smile:

But we pressed on, found a few small benches to pull together and eagerly awaited our food.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich (Crispy Chicken, Housemade Pickles, Lettuce, Great White Sauce, Fries):

This looked visually impressive. The first thing that stuck out was the soft, Sesame Seed Brioche Bun from a local Bakery known as Bakers Kneaded (cute name!). :slight_smile: This was excellent, and much better than every single Fried Chicken Sandwich earlier on this journey.

The one downer was that the Fried Chicken Sandwich was actually in pieces (not 1 whole Fried Chicken Breast or Thigh patty), but each of the bites were lightly crispy. There was an earnest attempt at seasoning the Fried Chicken within, but it’s nowhere near as nuanced or interesting as Howlin’ Ray’s Sando. I liked the Pickles with their Great White Sauce (lightly sweet, creamy) playing off of the Fried Chicken pieces within. :slight_smile:

If we didn’t have to wait about 1 hour+ for this Sandwich, I’d be glad to have it again, but there’s no way this is better than Howlin’ Ray’s Fried Chicken Sandwich (everyone in our group agreed).

Their French Fries arrived piping hot and they gave a generous amount (included with the Sandwich). This was a standard size Fry, lightly crisped and enjoyable.

Great White Venice
1604 Pacific Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
Tel: (424) 744-8403

Son of a Gun


Perhaps the least talked-about endeavor from Chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, it’s understandable considering their flagship Animal is still going strong, delivering some wonderful dishes for Brunch and Dinner years later. Still, Son of a Gun, their sophomore endeavor focused on Seafood, is still humming along, and they also feature a Fried Chicken Sandwich.

Lobster Roll (Celery, Lemon Aioli):

While it’s meant to be an Appetizer, Son of a Gun’s Lobster Roll at $12.50 (+ tax & tip) feels like bad QPR, as it feels like maybe ~30 or 40% the size of a standard Lobster Roll. It’s served as a Maine-style Lobster Roll, cold Lobster meat, dressed in Mayo. It’s very fresh and bright, and a tasty bite, but at that price, it feels like there are better options like Connie & Ted’s outstanding version. (@TheCookie)

Fried Chicken Sandwich (Spicy B&B Pickle Slaw, Rooster Aioli):

This is perhaps even more gorgeous than the Great White Fried Chicken Sandwich. Taking a bite, a nice slight crunch, the White Bun from Breadbar is pliable and on the sturdier side, but soft enough to make each bite pleasant. The Fried Chicken meat within is moist, a simple Salt-based seasoning, and the Spicy B&B Pickle Slaw is a good counterpoint, but there’s just a touch too much of it and it slightly overpowers the Sandwich.

Still this is tasty, and I’d be fine ordering another one of these again, if it weren’t for the price tag. At $20 (+ tax & tip) this is one of the priciest Fried Chicken Sandwiches on this journey. But it was a very respectable Sandwich, and so much better than either of the two over-hyped places (Popeyes and Hotville) that we encountered on this trip.

Son of a Gun
8370 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel: (323) 782-9033

Jim Dandy Fried Chicken (Revisit)


For those that haven’t been, Jim Dandy Fried Chicken is one of those OG, old school, to-go only places. They make Fried Chicken and a few sides, and that’s it.

This marks our 10th time(?) or so visiting Jim Dandy over the years, and the one key weakness they have is their inconsistency: Sometimes you’ll go and the Fried Chicken is piping hot and juicy and fantastic. Other times, it’s been sitting under the heat lamp, is warm (not hot), and overcooked.

Fried Chicken Breast, Thigh and Leg:

Fried Chicken Breast (Non-Spicy):

They didn’t have any knives to show a cross section, but Jim Dandy’s Fried Chicken Breast on this visit was juicy, moist, and delicious! :heart: Suffice to say, it completely blows away Hotville Chicken.

Fried Chicken Leg & Thigh (Spicy):

It was a beautiful batch today, a nice golden brown, the Spicy flavoring at Jim Dandy was a revelation compared to the awfulness at Hotville. A gentle, but noticeable heat, piping hot, crispy, moist and juicy. :blush: Everyone in our group (we had a couple first timers) agreed Jim Dandy was totally better than Hotville and would be glad to return, especially at these prices (viz., 4 pieces of Chicken for $4.99, or you can go a la carte and get it even cheaper).

If they were ever able to solve their inconsistency, Jim Dandy would be near the top for L.A. Fried Chicken, especially for the price.

Jim Dandy Fried Chicken
11328 Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Tel: (323) 779-5567

Crawford’s


This came up since @JeetKuneBao @Gr8pimpin and others were asking about it, so we added it to our journey for research for FTC. :slight_smile:

Walking into Crawford’s and it’s like you were transported to some 1970’s-ish era dive bar. :slight_smile:

Fried Chicken Sandwich (Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken, Coleslaw, Cheese Sauce, Comeback Sauce, Potato Bun):

The Buttermilk batter helped add a decent amount of crunchiness to each bite. But the frying skills of the kitchen were off on this visit (notice the dark spots, and greasiness in the pics). It was also way too much Cheese Sauce and Comeback Sauce, drowning the Fried Chicken. The Potato Bun was mediocre and dryish as well. :frowning:

Fried Chicken Basket (Regular & Hot (Mixed)):

Their “Hot” level Fried Chicken (they have 1 more level called “Uncle Mitch”) was really spicy, easily Habenero Chili-level or maybe spicier. It was an immediate, incendiary heat. However, the actual fry was really off: Greasy, oily, the Chicken tasted old (freezer burn maybe). :nauseated_face:

Their Regular (Non-Spicy) Fried Chicken suffered the same fate. Notice how dark, oily and unappetizing it looks? It tasted even worse. :cry:

Avoid.

Mac and Cheese:

This was diluted, with no real cheesiness. Just a bit of a buttery creamy sauce. :frowning: And it was warm (not hot).

Hotville was sitting as the Worst Fried Chicken on this journey so far, but Crawford’s just overtook Hotville for the bottom slot.

Crawford’s
259 N. Pass Ave.
Burbank, CA 91505
Tel: (818) 562-7080

Big Chicken


Opened by one of the most colorful, dominant centers to ever play for the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal, the restaurant is a humorous nod to many of Shaq’s nicknames. While playing in the NBA, Shaq was known as “The Big Aristotle” “Superman” and “M.D.E. (Most Dominant Ever)”. Towards the end of his career in Boston, he was known as “The Big Shamrock” and with the Phoenix Suns, “The Big Cactus.” :smile:

Still, Shaq always had a special place in the hearts of Los Angeles Lakers fans, and it’s fitting that he returns to L.A. with his new endeavor, the Big Chicken. :slight_smile:

Walking into the Big Chicken, you’re greeted by one of Shaq’s famous lines:

They also put up a nice sign about their All Natural Chicken (@TheCookie):

And while waiting for your food, you can be entertained by Shaq in various hilarious videos as he develops the Big Chicken from early concept to eventual grand opening (in one video he attempts to chase down a Chicken on a farm (he fails)). :smile:

Shaq Attack - Fried Chicken Sandwich (Pepper Jack Cheese, Jalapeno Slaw, Spicy Chipotle BBQ Sauce):

Taking a bite: A soft, fresh-tasting Brioche Bun gives way to a lightly spicy note and lightly crispy All-Natural Fried Chicken that’s moist and well-seasoned(!). It’s not overly salty, and the Jalapeno Slaw, the Spicy Chipotle BBQ Sauce adding some smoky sweetness and the Pepper Jack Cheese all combine together to make a tasty Fried Chicken Sandwich! :blush:

BC Fries:

Their BC (Big Chicken) Fries are rather interesting: Thin-sliced Steak Fries. It’s a bit unevenly salted during our 1st visit: Some pieces were way too salty, but then most of the Fries were fine (as if they didn’t toss the Salt with the Fries enough).

Shaq Daddy - Fried Chicken Sandwich (Swiss Cheese, Country Ham, Carolina Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce):

The Shaq Daddy Fried Chicken Sandwich stood out in being a pseudo-take on Chicken Cordon Bleu(!), here in this fast-casual restaurant. And it works: Again, a soft, fresh Brioche Bun, the melty Swiss Cheese works with the quick griddled Country Ham slice and then you get the Fried Chicken patty within, which tastes moist, fresh, and is slightly crispy. :slight_smile:

If there’s one quibble, it’s that the Fried Chicken could be crispier and crunchier. It’s a bit soft for the exterior batter (not soggy), but not very crispy or crunchy.

Uncle Jerome - Fried Chicken Sandwich (Nashville Hot Chicken, Lettuce, Mayo, Pickles):

The Uncle Jerome had real heat and spiciness. It wasn’t anything stronger than say, Howlin’ Ray’s Level 3 Medium, but it was at least nuanced and much better than Hotville Chicken’s Spicy Sandwich.

2nd Visit:

As with the 1st visit, when we walked in, there were a bunch of Lakers fans. There was some humorous signage on the wall:

Chicken Tenders (3):

Their Fried Chicken Tenders were fine. It had the same type of seasoning on their actual Fried Chicken Sandwiches, but in Tenders form. Be sure to grab a few of their Sauces along the back wall to enjoy with the Tenders.

M.D.E. - Fried Chicken Sandwich (Shaq Sauce, Pickles):

The M.D.E. (Shaq’s “Most Dominant Ever” Nickname) is their simplest / most basic Fried Chicken Sandwich on the menu. But it’s also a good starting point for people just to enjoy the Big Chicken’s basic Fried Chicken Sandwich simplified.

In this form, with just the Shaq Sauce (which tastes a little like a creamy BBQ Sauce), it’s OK. The Fried Chicken is moist and again, nicely seasoned (not overly salty like some places), but it’s still lightly crispy (with no crunch).

Charles Barkley - Fried Chicken Sandwich (Mac & Cheese, Crispy Onion, Roasted Garlic BBQ Aioli):

Charles Barkley, a.k.a. “The Round Mound of Rebound”, :smile: is a friend of Shaquille O’Neal’s, and apparently loves Mac & Cheese. Here, Shaq pays tribute to Sir Charles, and the result is a ridiculous, decadent Fried Chicken Sandwich. :sweat_smile:

Essentially, yes, it tastes like you’re eating a creamy, solid rendition of Mac & Cheese, with some slightly crisped Fried Chicken meat, and some Crispy Onions, and the Roasted Garlic BBQ Aioli is sufficiently garlicky, all on the same soft Brioche Bun, because why not? :slight_smile:

It’s actually tasty, but maybe a bit too heavy.

Overall, Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal was not and is not a Chef. :wink: The Big Chicken is a fast-casual eatery with a focus on various Fried Chicken Sandwiches. Surprisingly, these are actually decent / solid. The Brioche Buns are actually soft, and taste fresh (not the cardboard disaster that Popeyes is). The All Natural Fried Chicken patty is nicely zesty and seasoned, without being a Salt bomb, and some of the flavor combinations actually hold up quite well, like the Shaq Attack, Uncle Jerome, Shaq Daddy, and even the decadent Charles Barkley Sandwich works. :slight_smile:

I wouldn’t drive out of my way for Big Chicken, but the next time I’m in the area (at the Americana / Glendale), I wouldn’t mind dropping in and picking a Sandwich. They also have Beer & Wine, a variety of respectable local Breweries on Tap(!) (Firestone Walker, Stone Brewing, Santa Monica Brew Works, etc.), and Shaq Shakes and Ice Cream Cones.

Big Chicken
252 S. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91204
Tel: (818) 245-6886

Blazin’ Chicks


There are so many new fast-casual joints popping up around L.A. trying to cash in on the Hot Chicken craze, usually with variations on some adjective (Kickin’, Blazin’, Crazy, etc.) and a variation on “Chicken”. We normally wouldn’t bother trying a new Hot Chicken place, but we got suckered into trying it after reading about this new place on Eater.

Walking in, it’s another fast-casual place where you order at the counter and take a seat. Blazin’ Chicks has no bone-in Fried Chicken except for Wings (probably easier to control timing / cooking).

They offer 5 levels of Spice.

Fried Chicken Slider (Kale Slaw & Pickles) - Level 2 “Mild”:

The first disappointment is in the mediocre Bun: It’s nowhere near as awful as Popeyes’ new Cardboard Bun, but it’s average at best. Shaq’s Big Chicken Brioche Bun was much better than this (as a point of comparison).

The Fried Chicken patty at Level 2 “Mild” was really spicy: It tasted almost Habanero Chili level of spiciness for only being a Level 2 (Level 1 is “Naked”). The actual flavor was OK. A bit one note, and not as interesting as, say, Gus’s spiciness, and nothing like Howlin’ Ray’s.

Collard Greens:

These were rather tasty, but upon closer inspection it was clear the reason why: It was filled with tons of Pork Fat(!). :open_mouth: :frowning: I appreciate great porky flavor, but this was just too much. In our servings we got, it felt like ~30% of the cup was Pork Fat and the rest was Collard Greens. The Greens themselves were otherwise, very soft, long-stewed and fine.

Fried Chicken Tender - Level 1 “Naked”:

Probably the most ridiculously bad QPR on this journey (outside of Son of a Gun’s Lobster Roll), this Chicken “Tender” was $3 for a tiny sliver (see the Pickle on the side for reference). It was also dry, overcooked and chalky. :frowning:

Fried Chicken Wing - Level 3 “Medium”:

This was shockingly spicy. It didn’t taste as brutal as Ghost Chili Pepper (of which only a tiny hint of it is used on Howlin’ Ray’s Level 4 “Hot”), but it had an immediate, spiking heat that was far spicier than expected. The spice levels are rather extreme here.

The Fried Chicken Wing itself was decently fried, with some slight crunchiness, but it lacked any marinated flavor in the meat itself.

Blazin’ Chicks feels like a concept cashing in on the Hot Chicken craze, for the sake of cashing in. There is no advancement of flavors, nothing standout, and the frying technique is weak compared to Gus’s, Jim Dandy’s and other good places, let alone Howlin’ Ray’s. Avoid the hype (@JeetKuneBao and others).

Blazin’ Chicks
5728 Rosemead Blvd., Suite #102
Temple City, CA 91780
Tel: (626) 872-2096

Kismet


I would’ve never thought that the delicate, Vegetable-centric Israeli, Turkey, Yemen-influenced eatery from Chefs Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer would get in on the Fried Chicken Sandwich craze, but thanks to a video from the L.A. Times’ Jenn Harris, we found out that Kismet also serves their own version(!). Wow.

Broccolini (Kumquat, Pumpkin Seed, Mint):

This was a bit of a surprise being served chilled, but otherwise, nicely spiced Broccolini spiked by bits of sweetness from the Kumquat, brightness from the Mint, and an earthy Tahini spread beneath. :slight_smile:

(Off-Menu) Fried Chicken Sandwich (Housemade Brioche, Pickled Veggies, Fried Chicken Schnitzel, House-Fermented Tofu Sauce):

This is not on the menu; you have to ask for it and the kitchen apparently only makes a limited quantity of these per day.

In addition, this thing is huge: A massive Fried Chicken Sandwich, and while the Chicken Schnitzel is pounded and rather thin, it’s plenty of food and rather decadent. The Housemade Brioche Toast is buttery and has a nice toasty crunch, you get a bit of the tart and spicy from their Housemade Pickles, a bit of crunchiness from the Fried Chicken Schnitzel studded with White Sesame Seeds, giving it a bit of nuttiness, and then that House-Fermented Tofu Sauce adds a bit of creaminess with some funky tartness. :slight_smile:

It’s like no other “Fried Chicken Sandwich” for sure, and it’s rather interesting, but at $26 ($20 + Mandatory 20% Service Charge + Tax), this is the most expensive Fried Chicken Sandwich on this journey. :sweat: To be fair, it’s decadent enough that it could feed 2 people, but it also feels like you want something else (like the Broccolini, or another tasty Kismet Appetizer or Small Plate) to complete the meal.

Kismet
4648 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tel: (323) 409-0404

https://kismet.family/kismet-about

Huckleberry Cafe


One of Santa Monica’s beloved neighborhood Breakfast / Brunch Bakeries, Pastry Chef-Owner Zoe Nathan (Rustic Canyon)'s Huckleberry has been putting out wonderful Pastries and Breakfast items for years. They just happen to also have a Fried Chicken Sandwich that we’ve enjoyed before in the past. :wink:

Matcha Latte (Almond Milk):

Excellent, fragrant Japanese Matcha Green Tea with a wonderful steamed Almond Milk. :slight_smile:

Organic Fried Chicken Sandwich (Mary’s Organic Fried Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Cabbage Slaw, House Pickles, Bill’s Bee Honey Huck Hot Sauce, Housemade Aioli on a Toasted Brioche Bun, Mixed Greens):

This is just an excellent Fried Chicken Sandwich, and it’s Organic as well. :blush: It starts with one of L.A.‘s best Pastry Chef’s (Zoe Nathan) and her crew’s Housemade Brioche Bun, which is so fresh and soft. The Spicy Cabbage Slaw, some piquant from the Housemade Pickles, the Bill’s Bees Honey Hot Sauce adds some nice round heat, a bit of creaminess from the Housemade Aioli, and that Mary’s Organic Fried Chicken patty within that’s got a good crunchiness, and moist, juicy meat within that’s beautifully seasoned. It is not as good as Howlin’ Ray’s, but it is very good! :heart:

The side of Mixed Greens (included) helps to give you a good serving of veggies with your meal. :wink:

Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica CA 90401
Tel: (310) 451-2311

https://www.huckleberrycafe.com/

Republique


We had already had Chef-Owner Walter Manzke’s version of the Fried Chicken Sandwich before, but on this journey, after trying so many other places, it was important to see how it compared to the rest. And some of our friends couldn’t wait for a chance to try more of one of L.A.'s best Pastry Chef’s offerings. :wink:

Hikari Matcha Green Tea:

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake:

Oh yes! For those that didn’t know, Pastry Chef & Co-Owner Margarita Manzke’s legendary Salted Chocolate Caramel Cake was so popular for Dinner, it started dominating and “cannibalizing” sales of their other Desserts so it was taken off the menu (according to our server). It’s been gone for our last 3 visits, but it’s available for Brunch / Lunch right now! :blush: (@PorkyBelly @TheCookie @A5KOBE @attran99 and others)

It is as decadent and ridiculous as before: So chocolatey! The lovely Salted Caramel, moist, rich Dark Chocolate Cake! One of the best Desserts in L.A. :heart:

Fried Chicken Sandwich (Cabbage Slaw, Sweet Pickles, Potato Chips):

Being one of the top L.A. Pastry Shops / Bakery, it starts with the excellent Housemade Poppyseed Brioche / Pan de Mie Bun: Rather voluminous, but soft and pliant, and it holds up to the ingredients within, the Cabbage Slaw gives way to a crunchy Fried Chicken center with a zesty seasoning and moist Chicken within. Eaten together, it’s delicious! :heart:

Their Housemade Potato Chips are crispy and fresh, without being too oily.

2nd Visit:

We had to return one more time to make sure for consistency. :wink:

Fried Chicken Sandwich (Cabbage Slaw, Sweet Pickles, Potato Chips):

It’s gotten even better: Again the excellent fluffy Housemade Brioche Bun, the slight nuttiness from the Poppyseeds, the Fried Chicken within is crunchy and juicy, and has decent bit of spice. The confluence of flavors coming together, and the excellent execution make this a stellar Fried Chicken Sandwich! :heart:

Republique
624 South La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel: (310) 362-6115

Overall, another fun Fried Chicken Journey, even if we did get sick (at Hotville). Some overall thoughts on this journey:

  • L.A. is blessed with so many good-to-great Fried Chicken Sandwiches around town. They were all better than Popeyes (except for Crawford’s perhaps).

  • None of the Fried Chicken Sandwiches were even close to Howlin’ Ray’s.

  • None of the Bone-In Fried Chicken on this trip was as good as Howlin’ Ray’s.

  • Favorite Fried Chicken Sandwich (outside of Howlin’ Ray’s): Republique (w/ Huckleberry being a close 2nd). :slight_smile:

19 Likes

Thank you so much for the report! Excellent as always. So sorry to hear about Crawford’s but thank you for saving me a trip, I was curious about their OG location. LOL, maybe you’ll go there next :slight_smile: ? (Jk)

I’m glad you got to try Shaq’s place, because that was another place that just came up for me a few weeks ago, and bookmarked. I had no idea he had a restaurant downtown called Shaquille‘s.

Looking forward to Hungry Fox and their corned beef hash!!

1 Like

Thanks for another awesome thorough report!!

Couple notes
I still haven’t been to Gus’ fried chicken, but the chicken in your pictures looks seriously delicious. I’m not sure if they changed the temp they fry them since they first opened, but doesn’t look as dark and it looks perfectly crispy. I need to make a visit.

I freaking love Jim Dandy’s. I don’t think any place can compete in their price point. You can get 18 pieces for $20!! That’s crazy talk! I enjoy both the original and spicy, but their spicy is not really spicy like the newer spicy chicken places. Still delicious.

Next time you’re in Glendale area, try Rockbird. I had a really solid chicken sandwich there.

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Crawford’s closing up shop by end of the month if they haven’t already.

And there was that burn that @Chowseeker1999 had alluded to!

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Hi @Chowseeker1999 -

So, I guess you didn’t like Hotville Chicken. :sweat_smile: But your Gus’s Fried Chicken looks greatly improved. I’ll give them another try!

Which Popeyes locations did you go to? My favorite is at La Brea/Jefferson. I had the sandwich a couple months ago and thought it was definitely the best fast food Chicken Sandwich. Doubt I’d order it again because I don’t love Fried Chicken in a sandwich. Surprising, I know. I haven’t even had Howlin’ Ray’s yet. My go to at Popeyes is the Red Beans & Rice w/Spicy Chicken Cracklins on top! :yum:

Just for the record, folks. I don’t think anybody was actually killed or wrecked their car over a Chicken Sandwich. There were a few crazies doing what crazies do, act crazy. There are over 3,000 Popeyes locations in the U.S. and the media uses a few jackasses to paint all Popeyes customers with one big negative brush. :roll_eyes:

Tremendous research as usual! Thanks! :rooster:Cluck, Cluck.

3 Likes

It was a bloodbath! :rofl:

What an amazing report, @Chowseeker1999. Totally epic!!!

Question: do you think the Huckleberry version is worth ~$17? They also do “hot chicken nights” (https://www.huckleberrycafe.com/hot-chicken-nights-thursdays-fridays/), and I am thinking of going. But $17 for the plates they’re showing on-line seems a bit
 precious?

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Hi @Gr8pimpin,

Thanks. :slight_smile: I had heard about Shaquille’s in Downtown before, but figured it might’ve just been for tourists at L.A. Live, but after they announced a new place focused just on Fried Chicken Sandwiches, we figured it might be worth checking out. :wink:

Hope you like Hungry Fox when you visit. Please report back on how it compares with your favorite corned beef hash dishes. :slight_smile:

Hi @tailbacku,

Thanks, and thank you for the heads up on Rockbird; I’ll have to give it a try next time I’m in the area
 and when I can eat another fried chicken sandwich. :sweat_smile:

Hi @TheCookie,

Thanks. :slight_smile: Yah our visit to Gus’s OG location was better than our previous ones. It might’ve been the immediate contrast of having gone to Hotville (and the mediocrity we had), and then we all drove up to Gus’s right after and had that experience (to make it that much better), but it was solid.

Popeyes, yes! The La Brea/Jefferson one was our go-to as well. :slight_smile: And another one was in Pasadena when we visited our friends in the area. I’m like you: I prefer bone-in classic Fried Chicken vs. having it in a sandwich, but you should definitely try Howlin’ Ray’s Sando just once to understand why people love it so much. :wink:

For the Popeyes madness, actually I think it really did happen. Here’s one news article link to the murder. And I saw a video posted months ago when 2 customers were fighting to squeeze into the drive-thru of a Popeyes (huge line / deadlocked) and one driver was so desperate they squeezed against a concrete column and scratched up / tore up their car in the process, just to cut ahead of the other car(!). :frowning:

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I finally tried Popeye’s, didn’t enjoy it, batter to crunchy (hard?) and very salty. It’s a decent effort, not my cup of tea, prefer Chik-Fil-A for fast food option.

:100: agree with you!!

The Popeyes sandwich is COMPLETELY different than the rollout. I was there the first week and had one. Super thick, bun was different.

When I had the sandwich a few weeks ago, I had to research online to see if there had been a different preparation method, like something was missing. Because it was so completely different. Even the pickles, while they tasted good, weren’t the same.

I’ve had it two more times since.

The chicken is much thinner and the sandwich is now only suitable for conveniently scratching an itch.

Corporate denies that there’s any difference, but we aren’t the only ones noticing the change.

4 Likes

The biggest difference I noticed is they were making them 40 at a time so they sat under heat lamps for far too long.