Babe's Chicken Dinner House

Where are you really from Tia?? "me and my family IS crazy" is not the way folks in CA. talk. And where are the  . . . 's. And what were you doing in north Texas? Did you go to Six Flags?
Joe

On the way back to Dallas from our summer home we had a chance to stop at the fabled Loveless Cafe just west of Nashville.  Their fried chicken was excellent, but not as good as Babe's.  However, the Loveless biscuits - accompanied by their jams - made the stop more than worthwhile.
 
The various Babe's are indeed a food blessing for greater Dallas.

Greymo

[id="quote"]quote: [id="quote"]Originally posted by enginecapt

Ohhhh, wait staff and customers dancing the hokey-pokey. How nauseating. One rendition of that would guarantee I'd never return.

[id="quote"]



I am with you on this one.....................sounds terrible! Give me a break. Sounds plain disruptive to me.

It's really not a big deal.  The waitresses get up and dance sometimes with little kids.  It only occurs once or twice an hour.  The place is loud enough anyhow that it's just not an issue.  The food more the counteracts anything else.

Excellent piece by a transplanted NYC'er about his quest for fried chicken in Dallas.  http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/taste/stories/DN-friedchicken0927_gd.State.Edition1.2486541.html

After years of making every attempt to try Babe's during my annual visit to the Metroplex, I was finally able to hit the Carrollton location this past week.  I went with a work colleague and we both agreed that this was an excellent stop.  I found the chicken to be right up there in the top echelon of fried bird.  We ate more than our share of the mashed potatoes, and the green beans didn't go to waste, either.  I am not usually a fan of creamed corn, but this was delicious - real sweet corn.  I wouldn't say that I ate it by the bowlful, but I didn't push it to the edge of my plate, as I usually do with creamed corn.  The biscuits were light and buttery - the perfect compliment to the chicken.  Fortunately, I am more of a white-meat guy, while my buddy preferred the dark meat - so, I even landed an extra breast piece...which, I can happily report was consumed as take-out.....there was just toooooo much food.

At $10.99/per person, not only is the quality excellent, but it is wallet-friendly, as well.

When visiting my parents in Granbury we go to Babe's fairly often and agree with those that love it.  The last time we visited, this past weekend, I had the catfish (and tomato relish, which I didn't much care for with the fish, I don't think it added anything - it was kind of like a spicy green tomato bread and butter pickle) which was excellent.

As for the hokey-pokey and karaoke waitresses, it's hard to explain why it actually works at Babe's, whereas anywhere else in the western world I'd be gritting my teeth and grumbling something about another [expletive] cutesy line-dance.  But somehow the entire experience manages to come off as more genuine than you'd expect.

Actually, I guess that's Babe's in a nutshell - yes, it is contrived, but no, it doesn't feel it.

And, I swear there must be crack in that salad dressing.  I can come up with no other explanation why plain iceberg lettuce, pre-dressed, is SO good.

PapaJoe8


Where are you really from Tia?? "me and my family IS crazy" is not the way folks in CA. talk. And where are the  . . . 's. And what were you doing in north Texas? Did you go to Six Flags?
Joe

Twin... :~)

Anyone know of better fried chicken in N. Texas?
Joe

PapaJoe8


Twin... :~)

Anyone know of better fried chicken in N. Texas?
Joe

Hey JoePapa, Long time no hear.  The heck with fried chicken.  When i'm in N. Texas, I want deep fried sushi!

As good, perhaps better:  http://www.rickschophouse.com/ .  Rick's chef uses marinates his birds for 24 hours in buttermilk and spices and pan-fries them to order.  It's a rare treat to find perfect fried chicken in a "fine dining" location.
 
Different, but still great:  www.broaster.com .  Many "locally famous" fried chicken places broast (a patented process) their birds.  Check their store locator.  Places I've enjoyed this treat near Dallas are in Farmersville, Ft. Worth, and Dallas proper.  For some reason this crispy, thinly-breaded bird is best enjoyed with sour cream. 
 
Pollo Campero:  http://www.campero.com/ is a Central-American chain that uses something nearly identical to the broasting process and sells the best "chain" product available today.
 
I miss the original Popeye's spicy chicken that I enjoyed on 14th. St. in DC during the Reagan administration.  Popeye's really screwed up when they moderated the heat.  Today I can hardly tell the difference between "spicy" and "regular".  Back in the day their Red Rice & Beans and onion rings were firery hot as well.  They used to be such a treat.
 
I'm still looking for but have yet to find a great "hot chicken" (a la Prince's of Nashville) joint in the Metroplex.  Anyone have any recommendations?

MetroplexJim
 

Different, but still great:  www.broaster.com .  Many "locally famous" fried chicken places broast (a patented process) their birds.  Check their store locator.  Places I've enjoyed this treat near Dallas are in Farmersville, Ft. Worth, and Dallas proper.  For some reason this crispy, thinly-breaded bird is best enjoyed with sour cream.  
 

 
I saw a couple of large panel trucks recently that said "Broasted Chicken" on them.  They actually said "American Broasted Chicken" and they were in Cartagena, Colombia.

Gee  --  I don't care what they dance  --  as long as they keep the Fried Chicken (or Catfish, or Smoked Chicken) coming.
 
Good biscuits, good sides.  Really friendly service, with great managers (at least in Garland).
 
Make it a point to eat there about once a month  --  any more and I tend to gain weight.
 
Real nice down home type place  --  with very good food.

My first time ever in TX about a month ago, some family friends got Babe's carryout in Plano.  The friend chicken was OK, but the smoked chicken was stellar.   I thought the fried chicken was a bit bland. 
 
However, the green beans really made up for the mediocre fried chicken.  I'm not sure how much bacon grease they used to flavor those greens, but I suspect that if you stick them in the fridge, the next day you will be skimming  some nice solid chunks off the top.  Also, the creamed corn was quite tasty.

My first time ever in TX about a month ago, some family friends got Babe's carryout in Plano.  The friend chicken was OK, but the smoked chicken was stellar.   I thought the fried chicken was a bit bland. 
 
However, the green beans really made up for the mediocre fried chicken.  I'm not sure how much bacon grease they used to flavor those greens, but I suspect that if you stick them in the fridge, the next day you will be skimming  some nice solid chunks off the top.  Also, the creamed corn was quite tasty.

 
 
Happy to report Babe's is opening a new location in Arlington tx on 11/15 in the downtown district, a few blocks from both the Cowboy's and Ranger's stadiums. 
  
  
  
  
 

Tina and Kimmy, welcome to Roadfood!
 
Tina, I grew up around Garland. I lived at I30 and Rose Hill Rd. for a while. We had horses and Black Angus cows there. Then I moved to White Rock Lake in Dallas. My pet store was at Lovers and Greenville Ave.
 
Kimmy, you can edit your 2nd post if you want. And, in Texas we ant some bacon grease w/ our greens. And in our chili! :~)
 
Plb, hard to find but that Broasted chicken is good stuff! Know of one near you?
Joe

blee7300


WHERE IS THE CATFISH / GREEN TOMATO RELISH RESTAURANT...CITY? NAME? THANK YOU
 

Babes in Garland also has rather good catfish  --  and really good tomato relish on the side. 
 
Chicken fried steak is good, as is their smoked chicken.  I'm not crazy about their pot roast (mine is better), but other folks say it's really good. 
 
As far as the hokey pokey goes  --  I don't like it, at the same time, the food is really good  --  so, am I going to "cut off my nose to spite my face"?
 
Heck, some high end, very expensive places are also very uncomfortable  --  especially when folks go there to be seen, rather than to eat.
 
Babes is very friendly.  the floor managers handle any potential problems, like unhappy folks, very nicely.  It really is a family place.  Going there is always fun.

Joerogo, that's Chicken Fried Sushi here in N. Texas! :~)
 
Looks like Babe's might be the best fried chicken in this neck of tha woods. I have not found better in a restaurant around here..
Joe

Gotta second MetroplexJim's mention of Pollo Campero.
My favorite fried chicken in Dallas. An amazing chain out of Central America.

Texas Broasted Chicken in Dallas at 8424 Park Lane. Iffy neighborhood but, great broasted chicken! The chicken is well worth the iffy neighborhood.
Just bring your Uzi with you. 

MetroplexJim



 

 

 
I miss the original Popeye's spicy chicken that I enjoyed on 14th. St. in DC during the Reagan administration.  Popeye's really screwed up when they moderated the heat.  Today I can hardly tell the difference between "spicy" and "regular".  Back in the day their Red Rice & Beans and onion rings were firery hot as well.  They used to be such a treat.
 

Jim I know your comment is several months old but I did want to mention this. I found a Popeye's inside a truck stop at Vero Beach, Fl a couple of weeks ago. Whatever fond memories you might have of this chicken can now be filed in the round file. The spicy version still has a hint of something like tabasco sauce but has no discernible flavor whatsoever. I had a 2 piece with a pathetic biscuit and completely forgettable red beans and rice plus iced tea for about $9. Total waste of money. 

Twin, I had forgoten about Jim's post about Pollo Campero. And abot the good pan fried chicken at Rick's. Oh, and thanks for the Broasted Chicken tip!.
 
Ces, yep... Popeye's bears no resembelence of it's former self. Sooo sad. :~(((
Joe

Twinwillow


Texas Broasted Chicken in Dallas at 8424 Park Lane. Iffy neighborhood but, great broasted chicken! The chicken is well worth the iffy neighborhood.
Just bring your Uzi with you. 

Courtesy of the store locator on www.broaster.com , here is a safer places to get "Broasted" near Dallas:
 
1. BROASTER CHICKEN #889
335 E FM 3040 STE 10
LEWISVILLE TX 75067
Phone: 469-767-2200

2. BROASTER CHICKEN
3529 HERITAGE TRACE PKWY STE 159
FORT WORTH TX 76244
Phone: 817-741-8899

Thanks, Jim. You're a gem! But the "iffy neighborhood" Broasters is so much closer to me for when I crave a quick Broasters fix. So, I'll keep the Uzi loaded and drive just 5 miles rather than 30 plus miles.
 
I've been going to Pollo Campero lately because this terrific chain from Guatemala is now doing grilled chicken as well as deep fried.

The fact that Pollo Campero now has grilled makes it easier to get the wife there.  Their Preston/Bush location is near both our car dealer and our Docs.
 
Speaking of Park Lane east of the Central ... have you ever tried the "laboratory restaurant" of the Culinary Institute of Dallas?  Mrs. Metro loves it because everything is "proper"; I like it because it's an incredible bargain.  You have to call for times: http://www.artinstitutes.edu/dallas/about/ .

Babe's was recently featured on the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" - fried chicken edition.

hope I don't get that crabby when I get old...might as well sit in a wheel chair and have the food brought to you on a tray at that point...  if the food is good, I'd rather be surrounded by happy people enjoying themselves than a bunch of tired old crones bitching because they didn't get their early bird special on time.

russ.murray


I had not eat there but after your comments my heart say to go there and taste the amazing dishes

Unfortunately for you, Babe's does not serve alcohol.

MetroplexJim

russ.murray


I had not eat there but after your comments my heart say to go there and taste the amazing dishes

Unfortunately for you, Babe's does not serve alcohol.

 
Just a spammer from a foreign country (You couldn't tell???)

russ.murray


I had not eat there but after your comments my heart say to go there and taste the amazing dishes

 
Now, why would anyone slap a "spam" label on this post?
Would someone please enlighten me if Iv'ed missed something here?