I want some fried chicken!
Been years since I've had me some good fast food fried chicken. Don't live in the city or I'd hit Korea town.
Tell me your favorites: Popeye's, KFC? Any other chains you can think of in New England Area? Won't eat at Roy Rodger's...brings back a painful memory (I broke my tooth there 18 years ago).
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15 Comments:
When I was a kid new to the States, KFC was the "it-chicken." I think maybe the chain concept was new and exciting or something, because it was OK then to have a bucket at a dinner party.
Some things changed with KFC and I grew to dislike it. I hate almost all chain places... but a fast-food chicken fix is Popeye's. The competition here, Church's, is kinda lame tasting and more greasy (though they have tasty bisquits and you can get a pickled jalapeno pepper on the side).
I can't imagine what the calorie/chemical/carcinagen (3 C's) count is at any fast food chicken joint.
I recently had better-than-expected success removing the breast bone and spine from a chicken (watched the video first!), putting on pepper and salt and grilling that sucker on a gas (!) grill. The fat just melted down into the flames and this time, the flareup was welcome as it singed the chicken skin and the darn thing came out as if it were a wannabe roast chicken in a German beer tent (well, a smaller, out of the way beer tent, not a big brewery beer tent). Totally accidental and, save for the delicious crispy skin you get when fried, much better than Kentucky Fried Churcheye's.
TikiPundit at 6:57PM on 08/02/08
I love Popeye's chicken and the red beans and rice! Everything at Popeye's has a bacon-y flavor. It's a good thing I don't live close to one or I'd weigh 400 pounds!
P.S. If you get the mashed potatoes have them hold the gravy because it's really nasty.
Calichef at 7:49PM on 08/02/08
Do you have a Pollo Campero?
sobriquet at 9:26AM on 08/03/08
As far as what can be available across the US, I'd have to say Popeye's is superior in flavor and their sides are better. My xbf managed a Popeye's and he altered the red beans and rice recipe and cut the lard by 2/3 changing the flavor rather minutely. I got to be the guinea pig. He did the same with the dirty rice. It was great having free Popeye's.
If you have a Super K-Mart, they have the best fried chicken in flavor and texture. The Super K-Mart I've gone to (Brooklyn, OH) may just have an awesome person frying the stuff though. I hate hate hate the flavor of chicken skin and chicken fat, so the perfect fried chicken is when the chicken skin is not chewy, but cooked such that the skin is practically nonexistent and still have a perfectly peppery honey brown coating. Since they sell so much, you're almost always guaranteed a fresh batch during the day.
Both places are not off the chart salty like KFC. I can't stand on my feet or close my hand into a fist after eating KFC, because their food makes me swell badly.
If you happen by Cleveland, there are a ton of mom & pop barbecue/rib joints that sell fried chicken. I'm positive we have more pizza and barbecue/rib joints per square mile than anywhere in the US. Each place has their own batter and way of frying that makes the experience unique. Too bad I'm not a fan of either to truly appreciate it. I go to these places to humor the husband. :)
Cassaendra at 10:18AM on 08/03/08
I ate at a KFC for the first time is about 8 yrs as my hubby really wanted fried chicken. We went because they now have a spicy chicken that even looked good to me! I actually ate some of the meat! I liked it as it wasn't bland but spicy and crispy. My hubby was shocked I went there as I feel they are mean to the chickens and I don't eat meat. I was surprised that it was good:) but it was.
I don't make fried chicken at home as it is such a messy job I feel like the whole chicken gets sticky.
I hope your quest is successful.
love2cook at 12:24PM on 08/03/08
Assuming you mean fried chicken, as in whole pieces and not boneless breast strips... Grandy's and Popeyes are both very good, and consistent.
KFC is not bad, but they're hit and miss, depending on the variety, and the location. I say location because in my experience KFC has a significant quality control issue, and many stores are understaffed or poorly trained.
FastFoodCritic at 2:18PM on 08/03/08
KFC was my junk food of choice in college and always retained a certain nostalgic appeal. But after not having eaten it for many years I took my son to a local KFC and was appalled. The chicken was so soggy with grease it was almost inedible. After building this up to my son I felt embarassed. So maybe that was just an isolated experience but I haven't felt any desire to go back since.
I've found that some supermarkets that have in-house cooked food do a decent job with fried chicken. Especially if you get it soon after it's cooked and not when it's been sitting around for hours.
bluepiano at 11:58PM on 08/03/08
My choice du jour of fried chicken isn't available in your New England zone. But Chicken Express down here in the south is pretty good. It's a guilty pleasure now and again and this topic is sorta encouraging me in that direction for dinner....
feriorrenna at 12:53PM on 08/04/08
Do you have a Hardees in your area? They are mostly known for their burgers (kick-butt!!) but they also make really great fried chicken -especially when it's hot and fresh!!
pjacob01 at 1:55PM on 08/04/08
I am fortunate to live in an area with many family-owned restaurants and taverns that serve incredible fried chicken. I can think of a dozen places within 10 minutes that serve great fried chicken -- I live in a fairly rural midwestern town. The locals here like to go out to eat so we have many options for great food. I have had KFC and Popeyes but would never recommend them.
lakeloverhh at 3:42PM on 08/05/08
Thanks, y'all! I appreciate your input. This is why I LOVE Serious Eats.
bessfour at 3:49PM on 08/05/08
I have never had KFC, Hardee's, Popeye's ever...When I was little, my parents used to go to a place in Maryland that was called Johnnie's (or Johnny's-not sure which) Chicken. They had the BEST fried chicken-well at least from what I can see (when I see others eat that chicken it looks small and way greasy). Great biscuits and cole slaw too! I want that place. Now. I wonder if they are still open...
Butrflygirly at 4:13PM on 08/05/08
Heh, reporting back - I indeed did indulge in my guilty pleasure fried chicken last night in honor of this thread and DAAAAY-AMN it was good. My diet hates you secretly though, but don't mind her - she's jealous of pleasures...
feriorrenna at 8:58PM on 08/05/08
@feriorrenna....Well, where the hell was this daaaaaaaamn good chicken?
And it is entirely my pleasure to have your diet hate me.
bessfour at 9:03PM on 08/05/08
Twas nowhere special, the aforementioned southwestern chain. It hit the spot though, I was craving it all weekend from this thread and my car was in the shop. D:
And I'm so not walking the 5 miles for it in the 107F weather. 95F, maybe...
feriorrenna at 7:35PM on 08/06/08