BIZNOTE: Ezell’s Famous Chicken West Seattle ‘soft opens’ Monday (and, intermittently, sooner)

Thanks to Troy for the photo. The new West Seattle location of Ezell’s Famous Chicken is on track for the “early-to-mid-February” opening they told us about two weeks ago. The note on the door describes Monday (February 7th) as the “official” opening; a company spokesperson tells WSB they’re considering it a “soft open,” so hours etc. may vary. Whatever you call it, they’ll be selling chicken in two days, 13 months after we first told you about the plan to take over the space on the southeast corner of California/Fauntleroy (official address = 4205 SW Morgan), and a month-plus after the New Year’s Eve “sneak peek.” It’ll be the first fried-chicken-chain restaurant to open in West Seattle since KFC closed at 35th/Avalon in 2018.

ADDED 2:14 PM: They’re apparently having unannounced soft-open bursts before then, too. Kersti reports in comments that the next one is at 4 pm today.

4:05 PM: Big line, report Kersti and others. (photo added)

4:40 PM: Regular hours, once they’re officially open, will be 10:30 am-9 pm weekdays, 10:30 am-10 pm weekends. (Sunday update: What’s now posted online since then is slightly different.)

Kersti Muul February 5, 2022 (1:02 pm)

They are actually opening back up at four today. Guess where I’m getting dinner

Kersti Muul February 5, 2022 (1:17 pm)

That should say just went by noticed people eating, went to find out and they will reopen at 4

Derek February 5, 2022 (1:58 pm)

Wish we got non chain food over here

WSB February 5, 2022 (4:02 pm)

Do you mean Morgan Junction?

-Peel & Press
-The Bridge
-HeartBeet Café
-Little Prague
-New Teriyaki & Wok
-Grillbird just uphill
-Thriftway’s café

California/Fauntleroy is, though, the most chain-dense of the Junctions. Of the half-dozen now there, Ezell’s and Zeeks are, at least, locally based chainlets.
- Auntie February 5, 2022 (5:19 pm)
  
  And not at either junction, but indie and delish is Buddha Ruksa on 35th & Genessee.
wildflower February 5, 2022 (7:00 pm)

Taquitos Feliz and Coastline are a couple of my favorites. GrillBird, too.
Rocket February 5, 2022 (9:01 pm)

Dude come on. For a pretty small community that is hardly more dense than a suburb we have really great local food options. And just because Ezell’s has done well enough to dream about going National doesn’t mean you should root against their continued success. Like it replaced an AT and T store and there is Hawaiian style and Korean style local (technically chains as well as Maono and Bok a Bok have multiple locations) fried chicken within 5 to 10 minutes of there. Even thinking of it as replacing the KFC it’s a step away from corporate support. Endolyne Joe’s has ok fried chicken too if you need to stay committed to only supporting businesses with limited success. Also if you are complaining about them being a chain I really hope you have been hitting up Gino on Delridge recently.
- Chris D February 5, 2022 (10:54 pm)
  
  Well said Rocket
1994 February 5, 2022 (10:55 pm)

Derek – do you reside in West Seattle? There are many “non chain” dining out options in West Seattle, White Center, and Burien.
What Do I Know February 6, 2022 (9:36 am)

Ezell’s is a longtime Seattle restaurant that has expanded to the extent it can now offer grants to financially empower small Black-owned businesses and help them grow, seems like a good business model to me, and one to be supported in addition to having great food. So happy to have them in West Seattle.
Dave February 6, 2022 (1:11 pm)

Pepperdocks has the best burger in west Seattle in my opinion. Sunfish has the best deep fried salmon.
DMann February 7, 2022 (10:35 am)

Ezell’s in West Seattle….I remember hauling gunny sacks of spuds to their place across from Garfield High from my Produce Stand at 23rd and Rainer in the late 70’s. I’ll be standing in line for that crispy spicy chicken soon. Remember when Oprah Winfrey would send a private jet just to get her Ezell’s,

Kersti Elisabeth Muul February 5, 2022 (4:00 pm)

Ha. I’m not waiting in that line. I shouldn’t have said anything 🤣🤣

CarDriver February 5, 2022 (4:17 pm)

For those wanting “non chain” food in WS as WSB pointed out some of the places i can and will let you know as a native here there’s ALWAY’S been “non chain” places here. You just have to want to find-and patronize them.

Al Semple February 5, 2022 (4:22 pm)

Went today at 4 p.m. after the first thing I asked for was mashed potatoes there’s no mashed potatoes is no butter there’s nothing there. Seriously. I’ll be back

aa February 5, 2022 (5:15 pm)

I think it’s unfair to lump local companies with more than one location in the same category as ‘chain food’. There are so many local businesses in West Seattle the idea of looking at it as a place in need of non-chain food is preposterous.

Brian February 5, 2022 (6:01 pm)

I went at noon today and got some tenders and macaroni and cheese. They didn’t even charge anything for it!

Empm February 6, 2022 (9:45 am)

I don’t think of Ezells as a chain. I think of it as a local success story with great chicken.

East Coast Cynic February 6, 2022 (10:04 am)

I hope this outlet has online ordering for takeout like the others. Don’t want to be limited to ordering at the facility then waiting around for it to come together. Would rather come in, get it and leave.

WSB February 6, 2022 (10:35 am)

The link is already on the website. Not activated yet, obviously.
https://ezellschicken.com/locations/
Also note the posted hours (an addition to the website since yesterday) are slightly different than what they said at the restaurant yesterday – later Friday closing, later Sunday opening.
- East Coast Cynic February 6, 2022 (4:08 pm)
  
  Looked around a few days ago and didn’t see it. Good to know. That Thriftway parking lot is going to be busy.

Sorry, comment time is over.