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The Infatuation
The Ezell's Power Rankings
By Kayla Sager-Riley,
1 day ago
Sure, Seattle is known for things like coffee, teriyaki, and maybe even a tartar sauce-crazed burger chain. But for decades, locals—and Oprah—have been singing the praises of another famous franchise: Ezell’s Famous Chicken. It doesn’t matter if you’re a long-time loyalist (we’re talking back when they still had Hidden Valley honey mustard) or a novice—this guide is for you. We visited 10 nearby Ezell’s locations, ate a whole lot of chicken, and ranked them.
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No rating: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop. We only rate spots where you can eat a full meal.
Our top Ezell’s location happens to also be the very first. Going to this Central District spot is a rite of passage—a Seattle destination in its own right, rivaling all those other tourist traps that don't have any delicious fried chicken at all. While this is a takeout-only counter, the spicy tenders taste just as good when eaten off the hood of your car while sipping a Faygo and congregating with the plump neighborhood crows who survive off chicken bones and dinner rolls.
The recipes at all Ezell’s are basically the same, but sometimes you come across a location that seems to put a little extra “oomph” into everything. Here at the Renton Highlands outpost, the chicken is just a bit more seasoned, the cajun fries are extra crisp, and even the soda tastes like it has a pinch more carbonation. It’s no wonder you can usually find a long line of people waiting for their weeknight chicken dinner.
This location is pretty compact—a walk-up counter with just enough room for a few guests to patiently wait for their order. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. There’s a giant photo of Guy Fieri with the owner hanging on the wall that deserves a spot in the Smithsonian. And when you're driving along Rainier on one of those endlessly dark winter evenings, the restaurant's glowing red sign and windows foggy with steam are like a comforting siren song for crispy chicken skin.
We think the city planner who decided to put an Ezell’s steps away from an AMC movie theater deserves a raise. While this Eastside location is nothing extraordinary, it’s still one of the greatest rainy day one-two-punches we know. Enjoy some thick mashed potatoes with peppery brown gravy and a perfectly golden chicken breast before sitting down and digesting it all in one of those comfy theater seats. And if a few pieces of chicken just so happen to fall into your bag and sneak into the theater with you, then so be it—things happen.
While Ezell’s tends to be more of a grab-and-go kind of spot, a handful of locations actually have very pleasant seating areas. This strip mall location along Rainier is one of the nicer sit-down Ezell’s we’ve been to. It's bright with big windows and comfortable booths, and you can smell the frying chicken from the parking lot—which we love, but is probably a bummer for the gym goers next door.
When we say we want a half pound of tenders, we don’t really mean it. We mean a half pound of tenders, plus a few extra pieces that magically appear in there for good measure—and this Lynnwood location gets that. Whether it’s an oil-specked paper bag heavy with chicken or a take-out container of coleslaw so full it can barely close, these folks do portions well. Sit down inside the decently sized dining room among little league baseball teams and coworkers on their lunch break.
This Ezell’s location in Wallingford is a walk-up counter, but it's located in the middle of what we would scientifically call a “fried chicken desert.” It’s the go-to place for nearby residents who require a two-piece dark meat combo, side of gizzards, peach cobbler—or more realistically, all three.
If you live in West Seattle, this location is truly a godsend, seeing as there are no other Ezell’s across the bridge. There are a few four-seaters at the otherwise nondescript restaurant situated in the lot of a Thriftway. And if you absolutely can’t wait to tear into your order, those tables are convenient. But really you're here to grab a four-piece combo and maybe some tasty fried okra before hopping on the Fauntleroy ferry or hanging out at Lincoln Park.
While we have had some chicken tenders here that are a bit on the stringy side and the fries may not always be piping hot, sides like mac and cheese and creamy potato salad are tasty. Plus this location is smack dab in the middle of a shopping center with a Safeway, pet supply store, and florist—so you can end those errands on a high note.
This recently opened location in Kirkland has a huge dining area (seriously you could fit an entire wedding reception in here), but it’s just a little too new and polished for our liking. It’s so new that the place doesn't even smell like chicken skin and yeasty bread rolls. Plus, the tenders are tiny and dry. We’ll come back when enough chicken has been fried that we can wear the scent of the restaurant as a cologne.
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