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OCT
29
2011

Southern Fried Chicken and Chinese Food

Louisiana Fried Chicken in El Monte

Southern fried chicken and Chinese food. Is it a match made in heaven or an unholy alliance? This question begs to be asked at Louisiana Fried Chicken in El Monte.

For a long time, I've been interested in eating at Louisiana Fried Chicken. I used to pass by outlets of this chain in some of L.A.'s African American neighborhoods like Manchester Square and Vermont-Slauson. I never stopped by to eat there because it was just too dangerous.

One day, I was shopping at my local Home Depot when I happened to notice a Louisiana Fried Chicken restaurant occupying a retail space in the same plaza - what a pleasant discovery! Later, I found out that this particular LFC also serves Chinese fast food. That last aspect sealed the deal: I had to drive over and give LFC of El Monte a try.

Louisiana Fried Chicken is a chain of fast food restaurants serving Cajun style fried chicken and other dishes like gumbo and dirty rice. Joe Dion, a former associate of Jack in the Box and Pioneer Chicken, developed the concept here in Los Angeles (how ironic that you won't find LFC in Louisiana) and LFC grows its brand through licensing and co-branding, instead of through franchising or a corporate system, which helps explain why the El Monte location exists as such.

What I ate:

1. One Piece Chicken Combo (3.29 USD): Diner's choice of chicken and side, roll, and 12 oz. fountain drink. I chose a thigh, coleslaw for my side, and Barq's Root Beer to drink. The fried chicken was delicious. It was well spiced and peppery (there was paprika in the seasoning), the meat was moist (it was a thigh, after all), and the skin was oh so crispy - an excellent fast food variety of fried chicken. On the other hand, the roll and coleslaw were downright disgusting. The roll was like hardtack and the coleslaw had this pungent flavor that was kind of off putting. With the exception of french fries (hard to F up), I wouldn't order any sides here.

2. One Item Hong Kong Style Chinese Food Plate (3.75 USD): Diner's choice of fried rice or chow mein (or both) and one entrée. I went for half and half and sautéed chicken with green beans. The fried rice and chow mein both had sat out too long in the steam table but they were still satisfactory nevertheless. The sautéed chicken with green beans was actually quite good. The beans still had snap to them and the sauce was garlicky, peppery, and full of flavor.

Prices are typical for this kind of restaurant. On the Chinese side, a one item plate costs 3.75 USD, two items cost 4.75 USD, and three items cost 5.75 USD. For Louisiana Fried Chicken, the one piece chicken combo sells for 3.29 USD; two pieces, 4.19 USD; three pieces, 5.09; and four sell for 6.09. Chicken-only meals start at 9.99 USD for eight pieces.

The dining room is tiny! Most of the patrons I observed took their orders to go.

This restaurant also serves blended ice drinks and boba. If you venture to try one of these drinks, you're a braver person than I!

Parking: Parking is not a problem, especially when you have Home Depot for a neighbor.

The Bill: 7.69 USD.

My Rating: No star out of four stars (satisfactory). Open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday, 10 AM to 8 PM. Credit cards accepted. www.louisianafriedchicken.com

Last Word: If you crave southern fried chicken along with chow mein and broccoli beef, Louisiana Fried Chicken of El Monte is the place for you.

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