One more “comfort food” WS needs more of

Seems we’ve dissected the pizza issue down to the last clove of garlic. Now if you can bear one more food fight … WS needs non-KFC fried chicken. Got a craving for spicy fried chicken tonight and we had only two real choices: drive to Renton for Popeye’s, or drive to the Central District for Ezell’s. (We chose the latter.) Long ago, Ezell’s had a nearby outlet — the south-of-White Center spot that was previously a Wendy’s and more recently El Chalan (now mysteriously closed; even its entrances are blocked). Yes, we know grocery-store delis have fried chicken, but that’s not the same!

16 Replies to "One more "comfort food" WS needs more of"

  • The House February 3, 2007 (10:07 pm)

    You sure got that right, but don’t expect to find genuine Southern Fried Chicken anywhere within 3000 miles of here (my ole’ stompin grounds). We used to make fried chicken that would make you slap yo’ momma!
    Although we’re limited, you’d be surprised at how good Endolyne Joe’s Fried Chicken Platter is! Give it a whirl sometime!

  • Sue February 3, 2007 (10:30 pm)

    Endolyne Joe’s has an awesome southern fried chicken and biscuits dinner. It’s only available after 6pm and it’s not exactly cheap, but definitely worth it if you want fried chicken! And it’s on their regular menu, so it doesn’t change when they introduce the festival menus every few months.

  • MargL February 3, 2007 (11:10 pm)

    The Alki Homestead has some pretty good fried chicken. At least they did before the place sold… not sure what it’s like now.
    There’s a story about Ezell’s in the paper today – http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003554579_ezells03m.html
    Never did enjoy the chicken at the White Center location. It always seemed to taste burnt and of slightly rancid oil.
    Also not surprised the El Chalan is closed. Went there once – had cold food with a hair included, slow service and a 1-man lounge act singing American show tunes.
    I’d be happy to have the Wendy’s back!

  • eric February 4, 2007 (9:09 am)

    the white center ezell’s was terriible! not surprised it didn’t last- nothing like the original.

    one other thing we need is some good bbq!

  • Jiggers February 4, 2007 (10:28 am)

    SUPER BOWL BABY!! I’m gonna order a Pags I think.

  • Jiggers February 4, 2007 (10:31 am)

    Eric: That was few years ago over their were the old Wendy’s was. I missed Wendy’s, but I’m not surprised either because Ezelle’s was downright expensive.

  • Campbell February 4, 2007 (11:30 am)

    I eat at the Skyway Ezell’s once a week. what great chicken. the best around by far and worth the trip. popeye’s isnt too far from it down the hill in renton. was wondering, what is the story with the bbq joint at the morgan junction. i’ve driven by numerous times and have wondered about it. it is located at the rear of the building on the corner. i think it may be closed now. it looks like the old bar is too. anybody eat there?

  • Administrator February 4, 2007 (12:19 pm)

    The barbecue place behind Corner Inn was hit by a fire last year — before that, it was mostly open seasonally (closed in winter), don’t know if it ever reopened after the fire. We got their stuff a couple summers ago … it was OK, nothing stunning, but then we went back anyway and were told “oh, we’ve run out, we had some big orders” and decided not to bother after that.

  • Josh S. February 4, 2007 (12:45 pm)

    Ezell’s is great chicken and worth the drive. Homestead is fnatastic, but not sure you can get it to go. I was recently surprised during the power outages when I had fried chicken from the deli at the Admiral Metropolitan Market – extremely fresh, big pieces and tasty! The meal came with veggies and mashed potatoes/Gravy – also much fresher and tastier than most deli food.

  • Jo February 4, 2007 (1:10 pm)

    You can get chicken to go from Alki Homestead. I think 8 pieces for 10.95. I don’t know if that’s for a full meal, or just chicken.

  • eric February 4, 2007 (2:53 pm)

    The BBQ place behind corner inn was the Backdoor BBQ. It did burn and has never reopened. I don’t remember it being seasonal, but I would say that running out of meat can definitely happen – given the time it takes to do ‘cue right, it’s not like they can just through another pork shoulder on the grill and have it ready for you. Hopefully someone will open a good place soon!

  • Burienite February 4, 2007 (8:31 pm)

    Here’s what happened to El Chalan. The property was purchased by Mayor Greg Nickel’s brothers, Mark and Thomas Nickels, who are developers (company name-Nickels Brothers Partners). They plan to tear down the building and build a 4-story mixed use building on the property, 22 apartments with commercial space on the ground floor. The owners of the El Chalan restaurant didn’t own the property, only rented it, so that is why it is closed. It was a wonderful restaurant that many of us will miss. I’ve not heard if the owners of El Chalan plan to open in a different location.

  • knlranch February 5, 2007 (8:46 am)

    I’ll second the comments on El Chalan being a wonderful restaurant that we’ll miss.

    Hopefully they’ll re-open, maybe even closer to the Morgan Junction! I’ll keep my eyes on this website for details….

    -KS

    PS: Vote Early and Vote often! (http://seattle.metblogs.com/archives/2007/02/blarch_badness_1.phtml)

  • Leah February 7, 2007 (11:38 pm)

    Berry’s BBQ in White Center (on 16th- a block south of McDonalds) has great BBQ. Has a small space to eat in or you can carry out.

  • opus February 16, 2007 (10:33 pm)

    El Chalan was awful! I tried it twice, and just gross, gross food. I am an adventurous eater. Lingua tacos from the truck, dried squid from the Viet Deli, you name it I will eat it, but that place just made crappy food. Actually made me sick. The service was horrible, and I could not get over the fact that I was sitting in a wendy’s. Most people that I know that have tried it echo the smae thoughts. I hope they learned their lessons, and try some other business.

  • LuckyLou February 22, 2007 (11:43 pm)

    Hey, I know it’s cool to knock KFC, but their fried chicken really is good. Sometimes you get a weird rubbery piece, as with ANY fried chicken place, but for the most part it’s great, and cheap.

    I used to be business associates with the president of Ezell’s. It’s awesome chicken, and we’d have it almost every day we saw each other. As great as it was, there were the occasional time when you got one or two that weren’t right. i fthat had been the one or two times yo’d tried Ezell’s you would have thought it was lousy.

    So give the KFC a chance!

Sorry, comment time is over.