fried chicken

Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern – Top Notch Food & Drink

by Franklin on September 6, 2017

Jimmys Famous American Tavern - Chipotle Ketchup2 Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, JFAT for short is one of those establishments turning out solid cuisine for a slightly higher price point. With the rapidly eastward growing city of Brea, JFAT is a nice addition to Village at La Floresta. Joining heavyweights like Mendocino Farms, Slapfish, Urban Plates, and Whole Foods, JFAT fits right in. We were lucky enough to get hosted by JFAT and had a chance to try some of their dishes. We also took home a bottle of their chipotle ketchup. No joke, this stuff is really delicious. I’d call it more of a BBQ sauce than a ketchup, and the sauce actually has a nice kick to it. It isn’t too sweet or smokey like a BBQ sauce, and it has some reminiscence of a ketchup. The kick from the chipotle peppers is really pronounced and is good with almost everything they have.

Jimmys Famous American Tavern - Santa Fe Caesar2 The Santa Fe Caesar salad was interestingly delicious. I usually like traditional caesars (with sardines and all), but the addition of the grilled corn gave a nice texture. Contrastingly, the avocados gave a nice creaminess. The southwestern flavors really punched up this salad. One thing I would change is the salad presentation. The dressing was on the bottom of the whole stock of Romaine and there wasn’t a lot of it. Either a half cut of the Romaine or more drizzle of the dressing on top and bottom would have helped.

Jimmys Famous American Tavern - Burger2 This burger was massive and the flavors worked amazingly. The patty was cooked to a perfect medium. The bacon and onion rings gave a nice smokiness and depth of flavor — Shout out to the Double Western! The best part of this burger was that Anaheim chili. The pepper gave a nice flavor throughout the burger and balanced it out nicely. Honestly, we took some time finishing up other dishes and of course, taking pictures. Even so, the fries were crispy and the burger was juicy after sitting there for some time.

Jimmys Famous American Tavern - Flatbread2 The flatbread was quite a treat. The sweetness and saltiness really played well together. The pear and black fig jam made this “pizza” subtly sweet. The sharp blue cheese was needed as it made each bite creamy and funky. My favorite, the prosciutto was nice and salty to flavor the whole thing. The addition of arugula gave a nice rounded flavor to the whole dish.

Jimmys Famous American Tavern - Fried Chicken Could this have been my favorite dish of at JFAT? The buttermilk fried chicken was last of our meal, but not the least. I’d like to have had actual bone in chicken pieces as the filets were kind of boring. What saved this dish was the garlic mashed potatoes and the addition of thyme gravy. The thyme gravy flavored the whole dish perfectly. In hind sight, the dish was missing something — I guess at the time, I didn’t know what it was. I think a nice dab of Louisiana hot sauce would have been a perfect pairing to bring everything together.

Jimmys Famous American Tavern - Inside My experience at JFAT was an awesome one. The decor was a nice mix of old American tavern with modern accents. The staff was wonderful and the food was spectacular. JFAT is definitely the premiere eatery in the Village at La Floresta center. Their happy hour menu also seems to be something that everyone can enjoy. Their menu changes seasonally, so we definitely would be coming back to see what they have in store.

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Mendocino Farms (Fairfax) – Not Fried Chicken

by Franklin on November 3, 2015

Fried chicken is good. Everyone loves fried chicken! I mean, don’t quote me on this, but even vegetarians love fried chicken. People even put it between two slices of bread and call it good. Putting fried chicken in a sandwich is a good idea, but I would rather have my fried chicken sans bread. Mendocino Farms does a sandwich called the “Not So Fried” chicken sandwich. It has shaved roasted free range chicken, but it’s rolled in Mendo’s krispies. With herb aioli, mustard pickle slaw, tomatoes, and pickled red onions, the sandwich is quite delicious for not having fried chicken in it. All on a toasted ciabatta, the sandwich really has the qualities of a friend chicken sandwich without being fried chicken. What’s better than this sandwich? Fried chicken, obviously, but the sandwich will do if a sandwich is what you are looking for. Did you count how many times I wrote “fried chicken?” FRIED CHICKEN!

Check out the post here for the Mendocino Farms of Marina Del Rey. I got the Kurabota Pork Belly Banh Mi of course.

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Tokyo Fried Chicken Co. – I’m Guilty

by Franklin on February 4, 2015

It is always good to see a somewhat popular restaurant in Monterey Park that isn’t Chinese or Asian. Even though Tokyo Fried Chicken Company suggests something Asian, I still think of it as southern fried chicken. Though it may have some Japanese influences, it is all about the fried chicken here. Fried chicken was the main event today, and we had a feast indeed.

We started things off with chicken skins. When I saw that on the menu, I knew I needed to have it. I remember as a kid, I was forced to throw the chicken skin away when eating KFC or Pioneer Chicken — my dad was kind of a health nut. Well, I got my revenge with these fried chicken skins. The basket was full of crunchies, almost like a basket of chicharon, I was dipping them and popping them in my mouth. They were delicious and such a guilty pleasure.

The sauces were key. The ponzu was much needed as it did a good job in cutting the fat of the fried goodness. The acidic and the fatty chicken was a great mixture. I wasn’t really a fan of the sweet soy sauce though.

The chicken was the main dish, but sadly the chicken wasn’t the main event. I have had my share of fried chicken (guilty), but their chicken was very different in a way not pleasing to my palate. As a savory and salty lover, their chicken was a bit on the sweet side. The sweetness was a bit off-putting. Even the chicken was a bit tough and seemed like it was more chuncky than juicy. The batter was crunchy though and had good flavors.

Mac and cheese with fried chicken go together like mac, and cheese. Their was quite delicious with the nori on top. The cheesy dish combined with the seafoody seaweed was a nice mix. It was cheesy and macy — delicious!

Dessert was made possible by Quenelle of Burbank. The push pops orange creamsicle of manderine orange and vanilla bean was nostalgic to the max. I remember eating the Flintstone push pops as a kid, and these were just delicious. The ice cream bar, apple pie a la mode was delicious as well. The apple pie ice cream, brown butter glaze, and graham cracker strusel crust was exactly what I imagined. If you were to make an apple strusel crisp pie into an ice cream bar, this would be it. The ice cream was a perfect ending to our fried chicken dinner.

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Jim Dandy – Fried Chicken and Fritters

by Franklin on September 19, 2014

You have fried chicken, then you have Jim Dandy. I had high hopes for Jim Dandy, and for good reason too. It’s not Church’s or Popeye’s, and it sure is not KFC. Although Church’s and Popeye’s has a special place in my heart, I have no love for KFC. Jim Dandy is on a new level of fried chicken. Is it even mightier than my all time favorite, Pioneer Chicken? It just might have better fried chicken, but it can never touch the nostalgia factor that Pioneer has. Situated just on the verge of South LA, Jim Dandy sits on a corner, all alone. The bullet proof glass where you order from is telling of the neighborhood. A little dangerous? Well that depends on who you are. For me, it was just a little bit of my childhood. All I came here for was the chicken, but it turns out, I got a little more.

The fried chicken is quite tasty. The chicken itself has a pure flavor. The original has less flavor, but all the crunch and chicken essence you need. The spicy though, is not really hot spicy, but just has more spices. This is where all the flavor of a good fried chicken was. The spices were just right, and the chicken wasn’t salty or overly flavored with other ingredients. The batter is light, yet satisfying. At this point, I thought we as a community should replace all KFC restaurants with a Jim Dandy. That would be my service to the community.

I ordered a side fritter with my wing. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I assumed it would be dry and quite stale tasting. I couldn’t further from the truth. The fritter, covered in powdered sugar was quite possibly the best thing I ate in quite some time. Such a simple thing really, it was more like a donut. Fried in either shortening or animal fat, the fritter was so light delicate. The somewhat warm inside was so fluffy and cake like, but the outside crust was the main attraction. It was so crispy, mixed with the powdered sugar, it was just a perfect bite every time. I might even like these more than the chicken. It is just that good. All fritters will be compared to Jim Dandy from here on out. Take my word. Get the fritters.

When will I ever visit Jim Dandy again? Soon I hope. The chicken and fritters is such an affordable meal and a delicious one at that. I came for the chicken, but I left with a memory of the best fritters I ever had. I’ll be back sooner than later.

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Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner – Fried Chicken and the Boysenberry in the Center of it all

by Franklin on June 29, 2012

Knott’s Berry Farm is know for many things. It really was a farm back in the day — it’s not just a name. Today, kids know it for Snoopy, teens seek thrills on their roller coasters, and adults and old folks know Knott’s for their jams. For me, I am all about the food. Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner is a popular spot for people who want fried chicken. The country style interior and waitresses in olden day attire gives Mrs. Knott’s Chicken a certain charm you can’t get anywhere else. Once you enter (possibly after waiting an hour), you are taken back to when Knott’s Berry Farm first opened. It wasn’t about roller coasters, Snoopy, or fun in the sun all access passes. It was all about food.

I may come here for one thing, and one thing only — their home made biscuits! They are tiny little biscuits wrapped in a cloth napkin. They come on a plate by about 10 to 12 at a time. They are warm and fluffy, right out of the oven. I usually put boysenberry jam on it, and is probably the only time I get to eat that delicious jam. I usually over do it and eat about 3 before the the main course. I can eat these with jam all day, and I would be full and satisfied. If you don’t come here for their chicken, you definitely need to come here for the biscuits.

I always get the fried chicken. Why wouldn’t I? They made their mark on this stuff — I have to order it. I got mine with corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cabbage with ham. Their chicken is light and the batter isn’t too overwhelming. The seasoning isn’t too overdone either and they llet the juicy chicken shine on its own. The sides were nothing special, though it was a good accompaniment to the chicken. If their fried chicken was a lot more crispy, it would probably be the best fried chicken ever.

With the chicken dinner, you get a choice of chicken noodle soup or rhubarb. At the time, I didn’t know what rhubarb was, so I went with the chicken noodle. Though not a fan of chicken noodle soup, this was probably the best I ever had. Thicker than normal, the chicken broth was hearty and delicious. I wouldn’t mind having a bowl of this when I’m sick, or any regular day for that matter. This was thick and creamy like a chowder more than just soup. Maybe that is why I liked it so much.

At the end, I treated myself to a huge slice of boysenberry pie. Boysenberry is a cross between a blackberry, loganberry, and raspberry. Walter Knott’s, owner of Knott’s Berry Farm, and his partner were responsible for cultivating and growing the boysenberry. Without the help of Walter Knotts and coining the name boysenberry, none of these roller coasters and Snoopy might not even exist today. More importantly, the boysenberry wouldn’t have existed, and the jam, and the pie, all of it might not have been around. That is one important berry. The berry is tart like raspberry but sweet like a blackberry. The pie is warm and the boysenberry filling has a perfect tart and sweet balance. A perfect ending to a great country style meal.

Knott’s Berry Farm is special in that everything associated with it has no credit to food, but food deserves all the credit. The restaurant and pie business grew to Knott’s Berry Farm, and it is great to see that food is the driving force for a business. It is a piece of history that I am happy to take part in, though it is through the consumption of fried chicken. Others may see Knott’s Berry Farm as a theme park, but all I see is pies, biscuits, jam, and fried chicken.

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The Kitchen – Quirky Atmosphere with Home Style Cooking

by Franklin on March 5, 2012

The Kitchen in Silver Lake was intriguing to me. I was first introduced to this place by a friend and was told about the cool concoctions they have here. Pear pancakes? Delicious mac and cheese? I was sold. Upon arriving, I couldn’t help but notice the interesting layout of the whole restaurant. A mural on the side, the small, quaint space, and the different people dining there, it was all just different — in a good way of course.

I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken. It was a 7oz boneless fried filet topped with country gravy. It was served with garlic mashed potatoes and succotash. The chicken was crispy, and believe it or not, tasted healthy. Though fried, it was light and the chicken was juicy. The gravy mixed in with the potatoes and vegetables from the succotash was a good mixture.

The mac and cheese in my opinion was a disappointment. My ideal mac and cheese is very cheesy, gooey, and savory. Theirs, though made with extra sharp cheddar and a garlicy cream sauce, was a bit lacking in flavor. The cream sauce made more of a soupy bottom, and the decadent cheese flavor I yearned for was missing. Hints of garlic flavor saved this dish in some ways, but it just needed to be more creamy.

It sucks that I couldn’t order the pear pancakes. I wouldn’t mind coming here during breakfast time to give them a try. The cuisine here was less refined in a good way. The food was straignt forward and had no pretension at all. Our waitor, who seemed to be the owner was friendly and genuinely nice to us. He conversed with us and made us feel as comfortable as possible. He just seemed like a cool, down to earth kind of guy. That, you can’t find just anywhere. I guess that’s what The Kitchen is all about — the people.

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BBQ Chicken – Spicy Does a Body Bad, In a Good Way

by Franklin on June 14, 2011

Eating here was just out of luck, chance, random act of randomness. I always seen this place on Vermont in Koreatown, but we needed to eat dinner in Irvine. I saw BBQ Chicken and thought I’d give it a try. I went inside, and it looked promising.

The name BBQ Chicken is a bit misleading. They don’t specialize in BBQ at all. They are more of a specialized fried chicken restaurant. Amazingly, Koreans do fried chicken well. BBQ Chicken’s fried chicken was really delicious. Not dry, not too greasy — it was just good good food.

We ordered the half and half, one regular and one spicy. The chicken here is delicious — plain and simple. The sides as salad and rice were perfect for this. The pickled daikons were perfect. It helped cut the rich fattiness of the fried chicken. Add that with some rice and side salad, it was a great meal.

Warning: If you love spicy food, I would reconsider the spicy chicken. Honestly, the spicy sauce they put on the chicken was uncomfortably spicy. It was good, nice and crispy, but this stuff was mouth torturing. Even for the advanced spicy food eaters, this would be a challenge. Hey, if you love spicy food, order it. Just remember that I warned you.

After the spicy meat sweats, I looked back on the meal. For a good price, I had a really tasty meal. Decent fried chicken and experienced some of the spiciest food ever. If you happen to be at Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center or Koreatown in Los Angeles, check out BBQ Chicken. You will regret eating it, and regret not eating it.

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Roscoe’s House of Chicken n’ Waffles – LA’s Favorite Breakfast for Lunch and Dinner

by Franklin on May 10, 2011

Remember Fresh Prince of Bel Air when Wil Smith would talk about Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles? Did you watch the episode of No Reservations where Anthony Bourdain goes to Roscoe’s? Heck, even Snoop Dogg took Larry King there on CNN. It is safe to say that Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles is popular amongst celebrities and the residents of Los Angeles. It is the official Chicken n’ Waffles of Los Angeles and Dine Delish.

Let’s see what we ordered. We got the combo of red beans and rice with 2 thighs. We also got Mac and cheese and collard greens with 2 thighs. And of course, we ordered the waffles.

Why thighs? Personally, I like dark mean — it’s just juicier and tastier. White meat is usually too dry for me. The fried chicken is really exceptional here. It is crispy and not too greasy. The waffle was great too — nice and dense with a crisp outside. I like to soak mine in syrup and eat it with the chicken. I love the contrast of salty and sweet.

The sides were good too. My favorite were the red beans and rice and the mac & cheese. Something about the rice and beans was comforting and of course mac & cheese always hits me in the soft spot. What is southern comfort food without beans and rice or man & cheese. Their cornbread was good too. I slathered on some butter, and I was good to go. These things are a must with fried chicken for an ultimate southern feast.

What is L.A. without Roscoe’s Chicken n’ Waffles? We’d be stuck eating KFC or Popeye’s and popping in some Eggo’s in the toaster. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it wouldn’t be as glamorous — certainly not worthy of all the media. I really don’t know how the two food items became such a pair, but at this point, all I care about is how good it is.