FINGER LICKIN’ FRIED DELIGHT.

It’s crispy, it’s juicy and it’s not KFC.

Good fried chicken is a rarity these days. Aside from the “Colonel” you don’t see fried chicken advertised much at all (maybe Popeyes or Lee’s now and then). I guess that’s why KFC can keep selling it by the millions. It’s certainly not the Colonel’s recipe anymore. In fact, I doubt the Colonel would even recognize some of the ingredients in KFC now. See for yourself.
Secret Original Recipe Seasoning
Original Recipe Chicken
Fresh Chicken Marinated with: Salt, Sodium Phosphate and Monosodium Glutamate Breaded with: Wheat Flour, Sodium Chloride and Anti-caking agent (Tricalcium Phosphate), Nonfat Milk, Egg Whites,
Extra Crispy Chicken
Fresh Chicken Marinated with: Salt, Sodium Phosphate and Monosodium Glutamate. Breaded with: Wheat Flour, Salt, Spices, Monosodium Glutamate, Leavening (Sodium Bicarbonate), Garlic Powder, Natural Flavorings, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids.
You can see all their menu item’s ingredients at http://www.kfc.com/nutrition/pdf/kfc_ingredients.pdf
A double dose of MSG! The Colonel was from Kentucky, grandma didn’t use any MSG, trust me. Now, KFC marinates and breads with it. If your worried Chinese has MSG, watch out for that extra crispy!

Where can you go to get a bucket of Southern Pride without a double dose of MSG? There aren’t many, but we found 5 places that serve family meals to go and 1 that serves delicious dine in only dinners.

First, The Hitching Post. They have been proclaiming “Worlds Best Fried Chicken” on their signs for many decades and they have loyal fans that back them up on it too. The history has been lost but we were able to determine there once was a commissary with many local franchises back in the 50’s. The company went under and the individual franchisee’s were left to fend for themselves. Out of dozens, two of those still remain. Hyde Park (2715 Madison Rd. 871-9201) and Kellogg Ave (4535 Kellogg Ave 871-4293. The two are not affiliated in any way now.

We tried both and they are slightly different. However, they were remarkably similar when compared side by side with the other places we bought from.
Both are excellent but we think the Kellogg Hitching Post’s chicken takes top spot between the two. Good prices, great chicken. Dine in and buckets to go.
Second, Roy Roger’s. Yep, this place has been cranking out chicken forever and they still do it right. Pricier than the others we tried but top notch chicken it is. We especially like the extra kick of spice in the crispy breading. Once again, Roy Roger’s is a survivor of a long gone franchise. Dine in and buckets to go. Roy Roger’s 474 Roney Lane 528-0344.

Third, Batavia Station. A new comer to the Eastside Restaurant scene. They serve a variety of home cooked menu items & daily specials. Menu & specials aside, they should do stellar business with just their homemade fried chicken alone. They offer both the deluxe dine in dinners and the family buckets to go. The chicken is excellent. Crisp, juicy and well seasoned. Fixin’s include green beans, mashed potatoes & gravy (the real tater’s with the skins on and served slightly lumpy), corn, cole slaw and dinner rolls. Prices are cheap, portions are great and they gave us no guff over our “no thighs” request. It’s worth the 10 minute drive from the Eastgate KFC that’s for certain. Call ahead to get it even faster. Batavia Station 600 W Main St. 732-9800.

Fourth, Sleepy Hollow. They may not have “Worlds Best Fried Chicken” on their sign but they damn sure don’t fear a chicken throwdown either folks. People line up begging for Sleepy’s bird every Wednesday as early as 3,4 & 5 o’clock in the afternoon! Every Wednesday and only on Wednesday. That’s just how it is. The “Wednesday Chicken Special” comes with your choice of sides, the Hot German Slaw is the crowd fave and not to be missed out on. The cole slaw can’t be beat and neither can the chicken. It just may be the best in town. The special is dine in or carry out. $9.99 3 pieces, 2 sides & roll.
Finally, The School House. They also serve some fine fried bird and surround it with ample sides. It’s like a family reunion dinner, but just for you.
Bottomless bowls of cole slaw, mashed potatoes & gravy, beans and dinner breads cover the table. It’s a sweet spread to behold. The chicken (as with everything else they serve) is available dine in only, hours vary so call ahead. The School House 8031 Glendale-Milford Road, Camp Dennison
831-5753.
There you have it, I hope we didn’t leave anyone out and if we did let us know. Eastsiders are fortunate because these restaurants are spread out over the Eastside and one is certainly close to you. If your cravin’ crispy chicken let KFC & Popeye’s sell their chemical enhanced corporate recipe to some other sucker, make the drive to get the good stuff.
Corporate places don’t respect your business, they don’t deserve it either, they just expect it. That’s crap.
Example, a friend of EV went to the Eastgate Popeyes. He asked if they would swap the thighs for any other pieces. The teenager cashier said “No problem” but the manager overheard. The manager interrupted the order and called the kid in the office where she loudly reprimanded him saying “Absolutely not.. no substitutions at all! They get it as it comes period.” Embarrassingly the guy came out with a look like “sorry, I tried” and was thanked politely as our friend walked out. I told them not to go there in the first place but, they were cravin’ chicken and didn’t know where else to go. You won’t have to repeat that mistake, now you know where to go to satisfy your “Southern Tooth” cravings.