Stroud's - Kansas City, MO

Posted By Michael Stern on April 1, 2007 6:41 PM

Stroud's makes the most delicious fried chicken in America.

It is fried in a heavy iron skillet and arrives at the table a shade of gold that is breathtakingly beautiful. Each piece is audibly crusty, but not the least bit bready; there is just enough of an envelope of crust to shore in all the chicken juices. The crust itself is thin, brittle, and as flavor-packed as bacon, but in this case, with essence of chicken and spice. Once you crunch through it, juices flow down your chin and fingers and forearm: you are an unsightly mess, but you don't care because the juices are ambrosia.

The mashed potatoes are fluffy-textured, with an intense flavor of pure potato. As you fork up big mouthfuls of these spuds you learn new respect for real mashed potatoes and new intolerance for bogus ones. The only way these lovelies can be improved is if you ladle some of Stroud's gravy on them. It is zesty, pan-dripping gravy, redolent of chicken and powerfully peppered.

At the risk of sounding hysterical, we must tell you that the cinnamon rolls that accompany this meal are fantastic, too. Tasting more of yeast and cinnamon than sugar, they are big, swirly things with only the faintest hint of caramelized cinnamon butter around the base.

Expect to wait when you come to Stroud's: first for a table, then for the chicken, which is pan-fried to order. When we came by in the middle of a Sunday afternoon in spring, the wait for a non-smoking table was 45 minutes. We were too hungry for that, so we took a smoking table, which was available almost right away.

Overall Rating

Fried Chicken Dinner

Gizzards & Livers (mixed plate)

Chicken Soup

Cinnamon Rolls

Cream Gravy

Chicken Noodle Soup

Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Cottage Fried Potatoes

30 out of 30 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By David Kiehl on November 13, 2011 11:46 AM

Michael Stern, has anyone eaten at the Wichita, KS restaurant? You would not call it Roadfood, you would call it road kill. Greasiest chicken I have ever eaten. Maybe it was just the day I went but if this is a four-star establishment then KFC gets a 49-star rating. I hope in the future you rate restaurants by city and state rather that rating it as a chain. I will never look at another rating by Road Kill.com.

Overall Rating

Mashed Potatoes

Fried Chicken Dinner

Green Beans

1 out of 3 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Larry Settle on August 10, 2011 4:28 PM

Stroud's is truly a great place to eat. There are actually three in the Kansas City area. I am most familiar with the one off of I-35, north of the river: Stroud's Oak Ridge Manor.

The fried chicken is second to none, but if you really want some fine eating, try their pork chops (two ten-ounce chops) in garlic butter sauce. They also offer fried pork chops, but the garlic butter chops are wonderful. Something else worth noting is that you can mix and match, chicken and chops for instance. The best of both worlds.

Overall Rating

1 out of 1 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Amy Powers on September 21, 2007 3:22 PM

I am a Southerner through and through, so Roadfood.com's challenge that Stroud's fried chicken and mashed potatoes are the best sent my family on a scenic drive and an hour-long wait outside the busy restaurant. It was very inviting, with a few historical buildings and a beautiful pond for the kids to enjoy. Once inside this rustic early 1800's home, the smell of good food and the noises of good fellowship were welcoming.

After ordering, it was a short wait before a fresh and delicious salad with homemade dressing came to the table. And not too long after that came the entree and sides on large refillable platters. My first bite into the creamy, buttery mashed potatoes revealed that I was now eating the best my mouth has ever tasted. The juicy fried chicken was hot and delicious as well. As finger lickin' as it was, a true Southerner will always prefer her mama's chicken over someone else's. The only thing missing from this perfect scenario was sweet tea; however they did serve Coca-Cola products, so that redeemed them.

The experience was delightful, with the final delivery of hot, homemade and aromatic cinnamon rolls. The precious waitress knew we were on our way back to GA so she threw in a few extra for the road, which was a good thing, as we were already too full to enjoy them to their full potential. Stroud's is an excellent adventure in Kansas City, MO.

Overall Rating

17 out of 18 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes