Best chicken you have ever eaten..........................

I worked at the Primadonna Hotel which is on the California/Nevada stateline, which is on Hwy 15, which connects Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
 
They had the best chicken I have ever eaten in my life. It was in the coffee shop, and occasionally, they would allow the employees to eat it. This chicken had a heavenly taste, dark golden brown, slightly sweet, just juicy bird made upm exactly, correctly.
 
I lost that job in 1993 and never went back. 17 years later, I am still thinking about that chicken!
 
 
 

Did you ever try to get the recipe, or,
did you ever try to duplicate it ????

Are you referring to fried, roasted, or grilled?

My favorite chicken ever is, oddly enough, found at a taco truck in Columbus, OH called Los Potosinos.

They call it 'pollo al carbon', which really just means grilled chicken, but it's oh so much more. They refuse to divulge any secrets, but it seems pretty obviously to have been marinated, rubbed, spatchcocked, and then grilled at low heat for quite a while.  I've had hardcore foodie friends wonder how they made it so tender, and others who have been trying in vain to replicate the spice mix.  No luck there, unfortunately.

Love it!

Taco Drew - now I know where I've seen that name before.  For anyone who wants to see a picture of this delicious looking chicken that he is describing go to this link.

http://tacotruckscolumbus.com/2009/03/18/los-potosinos/

I haven't been there yet but I may have to go now.  I mean like right now.

Best chicken I've ever had was Belgrade's chicken in Barberton, OH. Lard & fried, but tastes so good. I also like Hopocan's & White House chicken there as well. I get some when I go back to Ohio to visit family. lol There is also this yummy broasted chicken we'd get in Amish country in Ohio in Walnut Creek. Now I'm craving the juicy chicken. lol

hatteras04 - yep, you found me out!  

I'd recommend calling them a few hours ahead of time and ordering a whole chicken.  That way you'll be able to eat it at it's best, just as it comes off the grill.  They'll be inclined to serve it with tortillas, beans, lettuce etc., but I have to admit to being happiest just eating it as-is.

The best chicken I ever had was....Gus's in Memphis, TN. Sure it's a hole in the wall, but that's part of it. Besides, you can always get it to go. Juicy on the inside, nice crunchy exterior. Now the sides are nothing to write home about, but all you really wanted was that chicken, wasn't it?

Probably 20 years ago in Helena AR on Biscoe Street was a New Orleans Fried Chicken place that had the Ultimate Fried Chicken - it was consistantly superb every time.  I can't recall if it was a chain or not but that chicken was so good - we would get a box of it and a 6 pack and ride the dirt roads throwing chicken bones out the windows of the truck.

Good times..........

The chicken I use when I substitute for veal and make chicken marsala. Then again, there's the chicken I use in chicken parmigiana.

Around dallas ft worth the place to go for fried chicken is Babe's chicken house. www.babeschicken.com  Southern Cooking magazine said it was one of the best in the south. Now has 9 locations scattered around the metroplex all owned by the same family. Most menues consists of your choice, fried, grilled, chicken fried steak,tenders, cat fish and pot roast. You get 1 each, breast, thigh, leg, and wing. The cfs is bigger than the platter and loved by all.  All meals come with salad greens, creamed corn, pole beans in pot likker, mashed potatos, biscuits, gravy, all you can eat. Honey, Sorghum and butter are on the table. Everything is delicious except the salad which is just lettuce with a sweet vinagarette. Don't get me wrong , it is tasty but it is just lettuce.

Haven't had it recently but Pollo Loco in LA, was damn good 25 yrs. ago...a chain, no less.

Haven't had theirs in about three years (AZ), but Pollo Loco gets my vote for the best chain chicken.

When I lived in Charlotte some 15 years ago, Prices Chicken Coop was about the best I'd ever had.

Chain Chicken sounds like a recipe for roadfood !!! I would agree that the 8 piece plate (basically one cut-up grilled chicken from El Pollo Loco was the top of the 'chain' list for me too. It had to be 'Well-Done'...that was my one issue with El Pollo Loco..if they were busy, sometimes chicken would be rushed and come out still pink in the middle.

Senor Boogie... We spent a lot of time in 1993-95 at the Stateline casinos. Living on the high desert we could get up there for dinner if we left right after school. A good Dinner and some Keno and slots and then head for home (140 miles each way) We like Whiskey Petes, but the Primadonna was second on the list...before the roller coaster  was there.

Fried chicken at The Chicken Place in Ireland, IN. 
Deep fried to order-crispy,juciy inside.  Also, don't forget sweet/sour cole slaw, german potatoes or great french fries.

 One of the issues I have in naming a fried chicken "Best", is the lack of consistency that even 'Great" Chicken Places seem to have. A lot of the 'quality' seems to depend on the time of day, size of the crowd, side-dishes, and probably a few other things I am not adding in here.

Locally we have a couple of favorite places in the Louisville area.
   Claudia Sanders  Dinner House in Shelbyville, KY. They do the original recipe Colonel Sanders Fried Chicken. When the place is jammed, often the Chicken is prepared in large batches and does not have that "fresh-cooked-to-order" taste and feel that it does when we visit on a quiet day during the week. (Not a U K Basketball Game day!). We really like their chicken (and Livers), when it is done right, but that can be a bit of a 'hit or miss' deal.  At least the great Veggies served with the dinner make the whole thing well worthwhile.

THe second place we go for good Fried Chicken is Huber's Family Farm Restaurant in Starlight Indiana. Although it is growing and expanding, it has managed to keep the family image of the 'farm-fresh' dinners as the focal-point of its menu.  I would rank it above Claudia Sanders for the Chicken and Livers, but nobody beats Claudia Sanders for the wonderful Veggie side-dishes like Glazed Beets, Corn Pudding, and Stewed Sweetened Tomatoes !!!

I still have a warm spot in my heart for Deacon Burton's Soul Food here in Atlanta (gone, alas, along with the Deacon). It was a short walk from work - some dark meat fried chicken, griddle cakes, and peach cobbler were the perfect meal.
I was living hand to mouth back then, and once got to the register realizing I was flat broke. The Deacon said "Oh, it's okay, you pay me next time!" - I found someone I knew in there who owed me pretty much that much money and was able to pay up then. I still like that bit of karma.
I have fond but dim memories of family dinners at Cohen's Chicken House in Junction City, Kansas. The place to eat in town, but it was gone, burned down when I visited some 16 years ago. Wish someone could help me with some memories of the place.

My favorite chicken was Kenny Rogers' Roasters, circa early 1990s before they all closed down.  The chicken was wood fired and had a citrus and pepper marinade. $4 got the manager's special, 2 chicken legs, 2 thighs, 2 sides, and a corn muffin, which was a steal.  Unfortunately, in the same month, all 3 Boston Markets and 2 Roasters closed.

Best fried chicken - hands down, Stroud's, Kansas City.  Nothing like it; best chicken dinner around.
Best grilled chicken - my own, using the Cornell recipe.  Simple, easy, and very, very good.
 

Best chicken or turkey I ever had, Boston Market. Period.

Greg

mayor al


 One of the issues I have in naming a fried chicken "Best", is the lack of consistency that even 'Great" Chicken Places seem to have. A lot of the 'quality' seems to depend on the time of day, size of the crowd, side-dishes, and probably a few other things I am not adding in here.

Locally we have a couple of favorite places in the Louisville area.
   Claudia Sanders  Dinner House in Shelbyville, KY. They do the original recipe Colonel Sanders Fried Chicken. When the place is jammed, often the Chicken is prepared in large batches and does not have that "fresh-cooked-to-order" taste and feel that it does when we visit on a quiet day during the week. (Not a U K Basketball Game day!). We really like their chicken (and Livers), when it is done right, but that can be a bit of a 'hit or miss' deal.  At least the great Veggies served with the dinner make the whole thing well worthwhile.

THe second place we go for good Fried Chicken is Huber's Family Farm Restaurant in Starlight Indiana. Although it is growing and expanding, it has managed to keep the family image of the 'farm-fresh' dinners as the focal-point of its menu.  I would rank it above Claudia Sanders for the Chicken and Livers, but nobody beats Claudia Sanders for the wonderful Veggie side-dishes like Glazed Beets, Corn Pudding, and Stewed Sweetened Tomatoes !!!

 
Al, you took me to Hubers and their fried chicken was among the best I had ever ever had.
 
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I, too enjoyed Huber's with Al and Janet.The chicken was awesome, and their fried biscuits with apple butter were exquisite!

I second the Grillman's choice;  Stroud's crispy, juicy pan fried chicken with those buttery, mashed potatoes. Loveless Cafe's chicken was also very good.

 
I had some fantastic pan-fried chicken at, of all places, the Moose Lodge in Hillsboro, Illinois.  Not offered every day, but fabulous if you're there when they serve it.
 
Otherwise, for me, it's a tie for places still existing: Stroud's in Kansas City, MO, and Hollyhock Hill in Indianapolis. Also very good, especially on the Sunday buffet in the dining room (when the chicken is disjointed, rather than served in quarters): Beaumont Inn, Harrodsburg, KY.
 
Other great pan-fried chicken places, now gone: Mrs. Peter's Chicken Dinners in Kansas City, KS, Sleepy Hollow in Oklahoma City, and Laughner's cafeterias in Indiana (yes, it was a chain, but the fried chicken was delectable).   
 
I've only been to Huber's once.  I had the fried chicken livers. They were very good, but no better (in my opinion) than the fried chicken livers at Beaumont Inn's Olde Owl Tavern.
 
 
 

Speaking of livers, rumaki, I tried some at Hubers, and they were good. But the absolute best chicken livers i have ever had was at a tiny downtown Raleigh N.C. restaurant-they were sauteed with onions and madeira wine, and served over an herbed crostini.Absolutely fabulous. And there was an independent retaurant in the riverwest area of Milwaukee named Jim's, and they made a pan fried chicken that was to die for.We called it yardbird.

Ann, those livers sound marvelous!

For fried chicken it would be a Philippine fast food joint that is popping up around here... 
 
www.jollibee.com
 
 

rumaki-
I am so disappointed in not getting to Mrs. Peter's before they closed down.  I was in their parking lot in 1999, only to find they had gone out of business.  Not sure when they closed, but probably didn't miss them by much.
 
The two best to my taste are Stroud's and Bon Ton Mini Mart.  While Hollyhock Hill is very good, I wouldn't put them in the conversation with the other places.

Mrs. Peter's was great.  They had wonderful chicken and very good biscuits, as I recall.  And the restaurant had tons of chicken figurines throughout.  It wasn't "cutesy" -- rather, I'd call it whimsical.   I got to go twice, both times when on business in Kansas City, MO.
 
I admit that I grew up eating Hollyhock Hill's chicken, so there may be a nostalgia factor there for me.  I only get back there a couple of times a year, most recently in April.  The relishes are outstanding, and the sides are OK, but the chicken is the star.  And it tastes exactly the same as it did when I was a child.  I love it!
 
I forgot to add two other good places -- the Brookville Hotel in Abilene, KS, and the Castle Cafe in Castle Rock, CO.   I also enjoy White Fence Farm in Denver, but mostly for the ambience and side dishes (especially the fritters) -- the chicken is acceptable, but not outstanding.

The best chicken I ever ate was 4 years ago at Peekamoose Restaurant in upstate NY. it was so good, that my fiance and I both had it 2 days in a row! Simply prepared Stone Church Farms free-range roasted chicken, with a pan gravy green beans and mashed potatoes - it was beyond description. So good, in fact, that as a veteran of many kitchens as a server, I politely (and quietly) told the waitress that we thought it was the best effin' chicken we had ever had, and would she please tell the kitchen staff exactly that? We were rewarded with loud hoots of laughter from the kitchen immediately, as she went back there to share our feedback. (The other meals we ate there were amazing as well - first time I ever had Salsify.) We stood the kitchen staff a drink a drink at the end of their shift, and hope to return there again sometime.
Peekamoose Restaurant
8373 Rt. 28
Big Indian, NY 12410

I really enjoyed the chicken (along with the other items) at the Daniel Boone Inn in Boone, NC.  After foolishly not checking we found they did not accept credit cards. There were several large signs attesting to that fact but we didn't see them. They did accept our personal check for payment though we lived several hundred miles away. The chicken was quite good.

Gus's in Memphis is tops on my list.  I was watching a fried chicken show on one of the food channels and they showed Gus's.  There is no flour used.  Its only a rub mixed with a little water.  Who would have thought!!!!!!!!!!!  Makes it gluten free.

Tell you what, I had some damn good chicken at Wheatberry Tavern in Buchanan, Michigan, about half an hour from South Bend proper. It was righteously smoked and bbq'd, crisp skin and juicy, tender meat, with the bbq sauce on the side.

hannahbannah


Gus's in Memphis is tops on my list.  I was watching a fried chicken show on one of the food channels and they showed Gus's.  There is no flour used.  Its only a rub mixed with a little water.  Who would have thought!!!!!!!!!!!  Makes it gluten free.

 
Wow. Thanks. I had been to Gus's in Memphis years ago but now that I am gluten free I forgot that they used no flour. That's great.

Chicken Bonne Femme at Tujague's restaurant.  My brother was visiting from Houston, we sat at a small table in the bar and had a couple beers, ate a half order of this dish with our hands.   I can never remember the name, so end up calling it garlic-chicken which you have to love garlic to appreciate it.  Two serving portions, either half, or whole bone-in, looks like it's been fried, but actually I think it's broiled, crispy, loaded with garlic.  It's topped off with thin slices of potatoes and finely chopped parsley, either you can get it as an appetizer, or entree, and a must eat to eat it in the bar.

I have to think it was probably the pan fried chicken I had at one of the colonial taverns in Williamsburg.  Took awhile but was worth it. I just took my time with my peanut soup.
 
The first time I had korean fried chicken also stands out as outstading.
 
My grandmother made her chicken some way I have been unable to duplicate - I was years from being concerned about cooking last time she cooked it for me :(  It is almost like it is stewed in  buttermilk or sour cream, but then baked until crispy.  The skin is both crisp but then melt in your mouth and rich. 
 
Not been able to recreate the results (since I didn't know the technique or even the ingredients this is not surprising)

My mom's fried chicken.
 
I've been to some of the places mentioned and they were pretty good.  But not as good as fried chicken I used to get at home.

My late mom's Jewish pot roast chicken. After frying a couple of heaping tablespoons of chopped garlic and a large chopped "Spanish" onion in a dutch oven, she added a (Kosher) cut up chicken sprinkled with salt and pepper and plenty of Hungarian paprika, and a couple of sliced carrots. She then stirred and fried (sauteed) the chicken until slightly browned. And then, the secret ingredient. A cup of, ketchup! Add nothing more! Give it a good stir and put the (covered) pot in a 300 degree pre-heated oven for two hours or, cook low on the stove top.  
Voila! You won't believe how much gravy was made. And the chicken, ohh, that chicken! And, the incredible smell that filled the house. Serve with rice. Fantastic!  You must make this easy and incredible chicken dish!

The fried chicken wings at Niecie's in Kansas City are one of my favorites. Also, stuffed chicken wings at Pok Pok in Portland, OR.

Beach Road Chicken in Jacksonville Florida is a favorite.   Great fried chicken cooked like it used to be in the south.  It isn't broasted or pre-breaded,  just fried like it used to be.  They also serve creamed peas with it and mashed potaoes with cream gravy and biscuits and slaw.  Outstanding!     

Large Man:  Where were you last fall when I was trying to find good Roadfood places to eat at while I was in Jacksonville for a conference??????? 

Other than my mother's and grandmother's..   It has to be Rudy Jr's Chicken Man here in Fresno...  we can't even wait til we get home to start eating it..  it's german fried chicken...so the spices are a little different... but interesting!

Champy's.  Chattanooga.  This week.  Every week.  Perfectly marinated, breaded, and fried consistently.  And their "chicken on a stick" at the Bessie Smith Strut was also superb.  Alternating pieces of chicken, potato, and onion all battered on a stick and fried as one large mass.
 
But when you're on the road, there's no better chicken than a Chick-Fil-A sandwich.

NPR did a story yesterday morning and mentioned Pann's coffee shop near LAX airport in LA.  The reporter said Pann's is the best fried chicken you'll ever have.
http://www.npr.org/2011/0...signs-of-the-space-age
Michael Stern has a review on this site and he says Pann's chicken is good but not in the same league with the KC chicken joints. 
http://www.roadfood.com/R...Review/7443-8159/panns
Both NPR reporter Neda Ulaby and Michael said the place's Jetson's style architecture was the outstanding feature.
 

the one which i have eaten at Malaysia is the best so far 

Where in Malaysia and how is it prepared?  I'm going to  Kuala Lumpur on business in October, and would love a recommendation.
 
 

At a place callled Roaster's down the road on International Blvd from the Seattle International Airport across from the Red Lion hotel.

Best "non-fried":  El Pollo Rico in Arlington, VA.  "Peruvian-style" roto-cluck that is marinated then has spices pushed under the skin before the rotisserie.
 
Best fried:  Rick's Chophouse in McKinney, TX.  Marinated in buttermilk, lightly breaded, and pan fried in lard.  Just the way grandma used to do it before her unfortunate CVA.  Insanely good.  And a totally unexpected item on a chophouse menu.

ynotryme


Around dallas ft worth the place to go for fried chicken is Babe's chicken house. www.babeschicken.com  Southern Cooking magazine said it was one of the best in the south. Now has 9 locations scattered around the metroplex all owned by the same family. Most menues consists of your choice, fried, grilled, chicken fried steak,tenders, cat fish and pot roast. You get 1 each, breast, thigh, leg, and wing. The cfs is bigger than the platter and loved by all.  All meals come with salad greens, creamed corn, pole beans in pot likker, mashed potatos, biscuits, gravy, all you can eat. Honey, Sorghum and butter are on the table. Everything is delicious except the salad which is just lettuce with a sweet vinagarette. Don't get me wrong , it is tasty but it is just lettuce.

 

Mrs. Metro and I love Babe's, too. 
 
It was featured recently on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" show.

Jim, have you tried Express Chicken?
 
We had it one night and I found it rather salty but still good.  What I really liked is that they served gizzards.  Didn't eat them though because a twenty minute wait in a fast food take out is not fast food.

Best ever....the broasted chicken at Bublitz's family restaurant in Hartford, WI...and I saw alot of it..I waitressed there from '82 to '84 for mall money...they had the best recipe and broasting it made it even better than any pan fried chicken I have had thus far....sadly, the Hartford restaurant went the way of the dinosaurs, BUT, they do have a newer location right off Hwy 41 in Lomira, WI that is also now a brewpub.  Haven't had the chicken at that location, or since about '90, but if it is as good as it was in the '80's....it is worth a stop:

www.bublitzsrestaurant.com
 

mar52


Jim, have you tried Express Chicken?

We had it one night and I found it rather salty but still good.  What I really liked is that they served gizzards.  Didn't eat them though because a twenty minute wait in a fast food take out is not fast food.

 
Yes!  They opened a place here in McKinney, TX last year and it's a big hit. 
 
Their wings are very generously sized and six of them is actually a meal.  I especially like their deep fried corn and their sweet tea.  A buddy of mine calls it "crack tea".  It is addictive. 

I live in Rome, GA and sometimes shop in Chattanooga. Where is this place? Would love to visit.

HAS TO BE BREEZYS TAVERN NEAR WASHINGTON PA- MMMM GOOD!

This is a hard one.  Chicken could be anything from my grandmother's chicken pot pie, to the cashew chicken I do in the wok.  I guess my all time favorite would be the thighs that I do over charcoal and slather with my BBQ sauce.  Of course those thighs are mighty tasty when Mrs. OC fries them as well.

californyguy


HAS TO BE BREEZYS TAVERN NEAR WASHINGTON PA- MMMM GOOD!

Yes.  They do a fine broasted chicken.
 
http://www.breezyheightstavern.com/

Ok can we have a clarification?
 
Best Fried?
Best BBQ?
Best Grilled?
Best Pan Fried?
Best Hot Chicken?
Best Broasted?
 
Well....
 
Best Hot Chicken?  Prince's in Nashville, TN
 
Best Fried Chicken?  Stroud's with local favorites claudia Sanders and kopper kettle and huber's rank up there too
 
Best BBQ chicken?  Big Bob Gibson's (not the white BBQ either), decatur AL or Clark's outpost BBQ in Tioga, TX
 
Then there is my mom's fried chicken
(TRUE STORY)
 
One day my father's current wife was fixing fried chicken for us and my grandmother (so his wife and his mother were there).  As we were eating dinner he looked at me and said "Your mother made the BEST fried chicken I have ever eaten"  His wife looked crossly at him and my grand mother sort of "harumpfed" at him, neither spoke to him the rest of the evening.
 
My mom does make some mighty fine fried chicken.

My grandmothers...1614 E 14th St. Chattanooga Tn.  Summer of 1955

ChrisOC


This is a hard one.  Chicken could be anything from my grandmother's chicken pot pie, to the cashew chicken I do in the wok.  I guess my all time favorite would be the thighs that I do over charcoal and slather with my BBQ sauce.  Of course those thighs are mighty tasty when Mrs. OC fries them as well.

Ina Garden's recipe for chicken pot pie is wonderful.  One of my husband's favorite dishes.  You can find her recipe on the food Network website.

Just back from Kuala Lumpur, where I had fantastic, grease-free, fried chicken, cooked in a wok (not stir-fried; more like deep-fried) at the National Press Club there. It was on a small buffet, and I raved about it so much that the chef insisted on making an additional batch for me so I could have it "hot from the wok."  The pieces are cut up in to smaller than we'd do it in the US for fried chicken -- thighs cut in two; breasts into four -- but not hacked up into small pieces as in Chinese-style cooking. 
 
There was some kind of spice used to season the chicken -- not five spice powder, not curry, not turmeric.  I don't know what it was.  But it was delicious!