Les Sisters' Southern Kitchen

21818 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA - (818) 998-0755

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Posted By Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch on 1/12/2007 11:14:00 AM

Les Sisters’ Southern Kitchen proves that delicious and varied cuisine can be found in every corner of the city of Los Angeles. Situated at the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley, this tiny restaurant is unobtrusively sandwiched between a tattoo parlor and a yarn shop. Inside, a one- or two-member waitstaff carries wide-mouthed Mason jars filled with iced tea and lemonade to hungry patrons seated at a handful of red-checkered tables. The décor is simple—Mardi Gras beads hang from the walls while a collection of hot sauces adorn the tables—but ambience is not what draws customers to this end of Devonshire Street. Rather, it is the authentic down-home cooking surprisingly found nearly 2,000 miles from the Bayou State.

Although Les Sisters’ boasts a diverse menu of barbecue, Creole/Cajun, and Southern foods, our favorite is the Southern fried chicken. This dinner consists of a half chicken, your choice of two side dishes, and a piece of cornbread. Sides range from the traditional fries and cole slaw to the more decidedly Southern black-eyed peas and hush puppies. We are fans of the sugary-sweet candied yams, balanced out by a bowl of vinegar-soaked collard greens. Regardless of whether you prefer your chicken ‘regular’ or with Cajun spices, each order is individually pan-fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside without sacrificing the tenderness of the meat. This is not fast food since each meal is made to order; as a result, you may need to wait a well-worth-it-while before your meal arrives.

If it is a taste of New Orleans that you are after, you will not be disappointed by the Creole (chicken or shrimp) or jambalaya (chicken, shrimp, or crawfish) dishes, which stretch to meet every edge of the plate. And, although we have never tried them, it seems that Les Sisters aims to satisfy even the meekest of palates by offering several differently dressed cheeseburgers (including the Cajun Spicy Hot burger!) in addition to the standard Southern fare.

Although portions are large and filling, it is important to plan your meal strategically in order to leave enough room for dessert. The sweet potato pie and bourbon bread pudding are certainly worth a try, but our taste buds consistently crave a piece of the buttermilk pie (if there is any left—unfortunately it is so good that it sometimes sells out halfway through dinner!). This creamy pie has just enough sweetness to satisfy any after-meal craving without overwhelming one’s tastebuds.

Les Sisters’ is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, but is only open for dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Timing is everything at this small haven, because with about 30 seats in total, you’re likely to be asked to wait outside until a table is free if you hit a rush.

Scorecard

Overall: Excellent - Worth a Detour

Southern Fried Chicken Dinner	BBQ Beef Sandwich
Buttermilk Pie	Shrimp Jambalaya
Iced Tea/ Lemonade

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Reviewers Photos [Upload Your Photos]

"This is a meal fit for two--crispy Cajun fried chicken, creamy macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and a corn muffin. "
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"The sweet, creamy, and deliciously unique buttermilk pie."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"This BBQ beef sandwich contains more meat than the roll can handle."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"The shrimp jambalaya is accompanied by a slice of grilled bread--perfect for soaking up the last drops of tomato sauce."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"You don't have to ask for the hot sauce here--several different varieties are available on each table."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"Even the storefront sign boasts the best item on the menu--the pan fried chicken."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch

"Les Sisters' no-frills storefront might detract some, but true food mavens know that these vittles far surpass the simple decor."
Chris Ayers & Amy Briesch