Golden Bird Fried Chicken

Filed under: South, Midtown, Eat — StyleGuide @ 8:07 pm

I’m taking a little break for the holidays.  I’ll re-post some of my earlier entries up until I get back to the regular schedule in 2008!

A bold statement, I know, to declare the best fried chicken in a city full of strong birds, whether Dinah’s, Roscoe’s or Honey’s. 

But I have to say, there’s something about Golden Bird.

First, the name.  “Golden Bird” is the perfect appellation for a chicken that, fitting for Los Angeles, is the color of a deep, dark suntan glistening with oil.  The tender meat sports a batter coating that is smooth, crispy and light. 

Served with the ubiquitous (but odd) side of crinkle cut sweet pickles in a tiny paper cup, the chicken is consistently good.  Sides, however, can be hit or miss, but heaven can’t be much better than those days you strike upon a buttery, flaky biscuit with its salty top baked a rich brown, creamy mac and cheese or greens spiked with tender chunks of pork and a sprinkling of crushed red pepper.

There’s a lot of nostalgia for Golden Bird chicken, an L.A. institution since 1953, as locations have diminished over the years.  Expect a resurgence with 14 new locations soon to be added to their five existing L.A. stores.

I hit the one at 4725 West Venice, just west of La Brea near the OSH.

Price: $ (under $10)

Where: Check www.goldenbirdchicken.com/contactus.html for locations

Call: 323-525-0488

Do you love Golden Bird?  Or does your heart belong to another poultry shop?  Tell me about it….

Posted in South, Midtown, Eat |