View Los Angeles Fried Chicken Sandwiches in a larger map
This story comes courtesy of Food GPS.
By Joshua Lurie & Tess Minsky
We get it. Angelenos have a steady supply of pristine, seasonal produce at their disposal, but sometimes, it’s more satisfying to opt for comfort food that may not be local, organic, or sustainable, but still tastes damn good. It is with great appreciation for an evergreen comfort food classic that Food GPS presents 12 of the best fried chicken sandwiches L.A. has to offer.
Numbered establishments on the map correspond to information below for easy reference. Establishments also appear in alphabetical order instead of in order of preference.
All photos by Food GPS.
Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches In LA
1. Canele(01 of12)
More restaurateurs are descending on Atwater Village every month, but Chef Corina Weibel and front of house business partner Jane Choi remain at the head of the pack. Canelé is especially popular at brunch, which includes a simple but impactful Fried Chicken Sandwich ($15) featuring thigh meat coated in crispy batter, crunchy slabs of tangy pickled green tomatoes, creamy mayo and thin-shaved onion on a soft toasted bun. The towering sandwich comes with a lightly dressed mixed greens salad. – JLCanele3219 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039
2. Cooks County(02 of12)
Chefs Daniel Mattern and Roxana Jullapat joined forces with restaurateur Claudio Blotta and his wife Adria on this refined seasonal restaurant in 2011. They continue to add flourishes to their menus. At lunch, they now offer a Fried Chicken Sandwich ($14) that combines juicy thigh meat shrouded in a thin sheathe, a tangy Calabrian chile & apricot chutney that finishes with some heat, light aioli, and crisp lettuce on a soft house-baked brioche bun. A slightly bitter arugula and radicchio salad completes the balanced plate. – JLCooks County8009 Beverly Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90048
3. Food + Lab(03 of12)
Nino Linsmayer and mom Esther followed up on the success of their eco-friendly West Hollywood cafe by opening a branch of Food + Lab in Silver Lake, complete with wooden tables, a blackboard menu backed by white subway tiles, and the occasional tabletop dandelion. Organic Chicken Wienerschnitzel ($10.50) is a nod to Esther’s time in Salzburg, Austria, complete with a chicken cutlet that’s breaded and pan-fried in vegetable oil until crispy, then pressed in soft ciabatta with tangy lingonberry chutney and aioli. The sandwich comes with a container of tart pickled carrots and cauliflower. – JLFood + Lab7253 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046
4. Free Range(04 of12)
On Sundays from 10 am – 2 pm, Free Range founder Jesse Furman sets up shop at West Hollywood’s Melrose Place Farmers Market to sell free range poultry products. The former Red Medicine bartender and MILK wholesale manager produces an exemplary fried-chicken sandwich ($9) that combines juicy tempura battered thigh meat, crunchy cabbage, pickled green onions, jalapenos (or possibly Fresno chiles) and honey mustard aioli before stacking elements in a soft, griddled roll. – JLFree Range8400 Melrose PlaceWest Hollywood, CA 90069
5. ink.sack(05 of12)
Michael Voltaggio’s more casual creative outlet showcases thoughtful, snack-sized sandwiches down the block from his ink. flagship. Cold-Fried Chicken ($5) consists of chicken thighs that his team cooks sous vide before they’re breaded, fried and chilled. A centrifuge helps to separate curd from tangy buttermilk, which joins ranch seasoning in a “cheese.” Hot sauce from Gindo’s Spice of Life adds some punch, completing a sandwich that comes on a chewy, ciabatta-like roll. – JLink.sack8360 Melrose Ave. #107Los Angeles, CA 90069
6. MessHall Kitchen(06 of12)
MessHall Kitchen resides in the hills of Los Feliz and is complete with a natural juice bar, beautiful wooden tables, and fancy, outdoor fireplace. The Fried Chicken Sando ($15) is available during their fabulous weekend brunch. The heaping piece of fried chicken is served up with a mild honey mustard sauce, fresh spinach, bright and tasty pickles and a large side of thick, seasoned French fries. The chicken is great and the sandwich is even better. – TMMessHall Kitchen4500 Los Feliz Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90027
7. The Misfit(07 of12)
The Santa Monica Promenade is where you’ll find a delicious fried chicken sandwich specimen ($12). A juicy Jidori breast with a whole lot of fried is sandwiched betwixt a brioche bun. A hefty portion of spicy mayo coleslaw, pickles and tart apples accompany the chicken on the bun while a pickled, vegetable medley accompanies the sandwich on the plate. It’s big, it’s messy, but boy is it worth every bite. Extra bonuses about The Misfit: free salted chocolate chip cookies and a happy hour that starts impressively early (noon -7pm). – TMThe Misfit225 Santa Monica Blvd.Santa Monica, CA 90401
8. Plan Check(08 of12)
Chef Ernesto Uchimura may have worked for Umami Burger, but he’s quickly carved his own culinary identity, one cast iron skillet at a time. He’s the executive chef at this Little Osaka gastropub, and there are two more Plan Checks in the works for L.A. Yes, burgers are front and center, but Uchimura’s become at least as well known for fried chicken. His Southern Fry ($10) sandwich features a boneless, crisp-sheathed smokey fried Jidori chicken, spicy green pimento cheese, duck breast ham, and pickles on a soft panko-littered bun. Yes, it’s served in skillet, like almost everything else at Plan Check. – JLPlan Check1800 Sawtelle Blvd.Los Angeles, CA 90025
9. Simplethings Sandwich & Pie Shop(09 of12)
At Simplethings, the chicken is a thin layer amidst a wonderfully crispy, coconuty, fried layer. It’s juicy and sweet and free range. The Fried Chix sandwich ($9.50), layered with a cumin slaw and a tomato, is served on focaccia that’s been slathered with a Tabasco mayo. The cumin offers an unexpected twist and the bright burst of the tomato mixed with that mayo really make the sandwich sing. Overall, the sandwich is solid and the only thing that makes it better is also ordering a cutie pie to end the meal. – TMSimplethings Sandwich & Pie Shop8310 W. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048
10. The Sandwich Smith(10 of12)
This Little Tokyo newcomer splits a corner space with more ambitious nighttime concept, Fickle. Regardless of the time, you’ll find a central communal table, lantern chandeliers, and an artful pig diagram by the tempting donut case. Buttermilk fried chicken factors into three different sandwiches at the hybrid restaurant: The Original, Central Street Chicken, and The Ace of Clubs. The Original ($9.95) features a soft oversized French roll, a juicy buttermilk fried chicken thigh, garlic aioli, cheddar cheese, creamy cole slaw, pickles, and vivid red tomato. The sandwich smiths can work on construction, since the fried chicken sandwich quickly becomes a mess, but the flavor’s good. – JLThe Sandwich Smith362 East 1st St.Los Angeles, CA 90012
11. Son of a Gun(11 of12)
This Mid-City restaurant from Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo has a nautical theme. Yes, those are fishing poles, and yes, that’s a stuffed deer head wearing a captain’s hat. Grab a seat at the communal wood table, or cozy up to a booth, and by all means order the fried chicken sandwich ($12). Boneless breast meat bathes in buttermilk and cayenne and dresses in a crispy breadcrumb coat. The chefs pile on sweet, tangy bread and butter pickle cole slaw and spicy Sriracha aioli. – JLSon of a Gun8370 W. 3rd St.Los Angeles, CA 90048
12. The Hungry Cat(12 of12)
This Santa Monica spinoff from David Lentz resides at the base of Channel Road, which spills into PCH and the wide beach. Walk past a hallway lined with baskets of shells, a raw bar decorated with a menacing diver’s helmet, and a giant tuna that hangs on the wall, to reach the dining room. Just once, ignore all the seafood options in favor of the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($15) featuring juicy thigh meat, pickled jalapeno, and a tangy, sweet slaw that incorporates cabbage and cucumber. The sandwich comes with crispy skin-on French fries that bathe in scalding rice oil before getting tossed with parsley. – JLThe Hungry CatLocations in Hollywood, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara
Joshua Lurie is the founder of Food GPS, a guide to Lurie's favorite restaurants. To read more Food GPS stories, click here.
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