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    Al's Hot Chicken

    4.2 (1.1k reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Al's Hot Chicken Photos

    AL'S HOT CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Al's Hot Chicken

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    Fries are plentiful along with my THE NASH SANDWICH Combo 1 Xtra spicy
    Karen T.

    What happened ?!! I ordered takeout on Yelp and ended up picking it up at Dama Grill? I'm so confused. Don't get me wrong but the sandwich was good (large piece of chicken and very spicy like I like it) but someone tell me what's going on?? Are you Al's or not?

    Sundays. Not open at 11:00am. Dude says 11:30am.
    David N.

    There's always, Maher here, and is a really great guy. He makes sure your food is the way you like it. And the hospitality is endearing. But only chicken tenders! No more chicken pieces or buckets.

    Devin S.

    There's no denying the fried chicken craze is everywhere lately, with new spots popping up left and right. But let me tell you, nothing compares to Al's. Their chicken stands out for its size, juiciness, and perfect crispiness. The signature seasoning? Absolutely unmatched. Unlike other places that drown their flavorless chicken in sauce, Al's Hot Chicken doesn't need to rely on that trick. I'm thrilled to see more locations opening up, and you can bet I'll be stopping by the next time I'm in the area. I love that they offer more than just hot chicken sandwiches and tenders, with a great variety of sauces to choose from too. While there weren't many employees at this particular location, the one at the front counter was extremely friendly and helpful. It was my first time there, so I asked for a couple of recommendations, and they did not disappoint. I went with combo number three, which came with tenders and fries. The chicken was incredibly juicy, with or without sauce, and you could really taste the care they put into it. They definitely know what they're doing in the kitchen. I also tried the macaroni and cheese, and it was incredibly creamy with the pasta cooked perfectly to al dente. It was a nice complement to the meal and added to the overall experience. I do wish the menu had more kid-friendly items or options for vegetarians, but overall, I had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back. The restaurant was clean and well-organized. While there isn't a ton of seating, and it can get crowded, as long as you go at a decent time, you should be fine.

    Suyeon H.

    I have nothing against this place but my brothers and I were wondering how this place has such a high review on Yelp. The chicken took forever to come out and the chicken had WAYYYYYYY TOO MUCH spice powders. It was pretty empty at a dinner time. They had a free soda for checking in but the owner seemed to have no idea what it was. I am glad I got to try it but I just think this place a mediocre place who is trying to copy Dave's Hot chicken place.

    2 Waffles Leg & Thigh
    Usman P.

    Halal fried chicken and waffles? Heck yes! Ended up going to Al's for the first time today and absolutely loved it. Here's a rundown below: Parking: There's a lot in the back with a decent amount of spaces available, including a decent amount of street parking nearby. Service: Friendly and welcoming staff. Ambience: Comfy vibe, very casual. Decent mix of seating inside as well as outside with a tarp for protection from the rain and sun. Food: I'd ordered the 2 piece leg and thigh combo /w waffles. Hands down some of the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life. Great Nashville spice rub, crispy and flavorful with every bite, and succulent chicken. Went really well with the white sauce that was complimentary with the order. The waffles had nice texture, served with a side of butter and syrup, so without hesitation I slathered it all over the couple of pieces that came with the order. It was an absolute sugar rush, and very filling. Can't wait to come back!

    6 Jumbo Wings
    Chloe N.

    Came here on a Saturday afternoon and it was pretty empty. Service was super friendly and there was a little wait for our food but it came out sooo hot and fresh. The nashville rub on the chicken was perfect, it was the perfect amount of sweet and spicy.

    Mia K.

    Based on reviews I was hoping to really like Al's. Love Nashville hot chicken and is the only friend chicken I occasionally allow myself to indulge in. Even though my experience fell short, I might give it another try, if I'm in the area. Why? Better prices than other hot chicken places in West LA, good service and a small private parking lot in the back, a huge commodity in LA. I learned that next time I should order a higher spice level. Quarter Chicken meal was moist but covered in dry spices and I guess a thin batter. Next time I'll order at least one higher spice level. Maybe it was a bad day, but my chicken didn't taste spicy at all. The taste resembled the BBQ on flavored potato chips. Only a few bites were randomly spicy. Got 2 sauces with my order, 8 kinds. Service was good. The employee offered sauce samples. My side of cole slaw was great. A little expensive for almost $7 but a large amount. Usually don't like sour pickles but its acidity balanced with the chicken and sweet slaw. I liked the krinkle cut fries and lots of them! The interior is fun, chickens on the wall and a screen with concert footage. When I went in spring they took Covid precautions with open doors. Felt comfortable enough to eat indoors. They have a big covered patio in front. They also have chicken sandwiches, strips and waffles. Also curious about banana pudding, another fave!

    Menu
    Andrew G.

    Let's just say that I am an avid hot chicken sandwich consumer, so I have high standards when trying a new restaurant. Upon entering, I was a bit hesitant based on the fact that the restaurant will split into two restaurants, one mediterranean restaurant and a hot chicken restaurant, which were served by the same people and had a shared kitchen. However, when I received my sandwich, I was surprised by the size and excited to take a bite. Boy, oh boy, that sandwich was delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and juicy and the sauce pack just enough punch. That, paired with the coleslaw and bun, made a sandwich that is worth coming back for. If you are in the Culver City area, I would highly recommend visiting Al's Hot Chicken.

    THE NASH SANDWICH Combo 2. One box
    Jason L.

    In a land where there are so many Nashville-style fried chicken places, competition is a little tough. Located right along Venice Blvd, you can't miss this place. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant if you can't find street parking. Al's makes it easy to come here with two people. All you gotta do is get the combo #2 which gets you a slight discount on 2 sandwiches and 2 fries compared to ordering a la carte. The sandwich itself isn't all that special. I thought the bun was whatever and the chicken was a little dry. It looks juicier than it actually is. The chicken itself wasn't crispy, but rather crunchy because it was over fried. The fries were way overcooked and was more hard than crispy. While it sounds like a good deal, you can get a better fried chicken sandwich elsewhere. In addition, the self-serve drink station is gross. We just got 2 cups of water and the water came out warm and there were particles inside the water. The floors inside were sticky too. They need a cleaning!

    $8.95 Combo #1 - Terrible
    Trent N.

    Doesn't make a top 10 Nashville hot chicken sandwich shop in LA. There's a sign at the cash register that says write an honest Yelp review and get an extra strip for free. I guess that's why there are so many reviews. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich combo #1. This comes with a sandwich and fries for $8.95. The sandwich is terribly disappointing. It is small, flavorless, the cole slaw is bad. There's really nothing good about it. I also ordered fried pickles and they were terrible. The breading was bad. On some of the pickles the breading was almost non-existent. At least the crinkle cut fries were ok. I felt sick after eating. Almost every single chicken shop in LA is better than here.

    Melanie L.

    Okay listen, I'm not a huge fan of hot chicken sandos but my fiancé is so we decided to give Al's Hot Chicken a try...and tbh I might finally understand the hot chicken sando craze! We got the Nash Sandwich Combo #2 and boy is it worth it. Two sandos w/ fries for only $20?! What a steal. We tried it in Medium and Hot - we love spicy food so both were very doable for us but if your spice tolerance is low then I'd definitely stick to mild. For sauces we got Al's Hot Sauce (a subtle spice creamy sauce), Al's Honey Sauce (kinda like if you mixed honey mustard and bbq sauce), and Al's White Sauce (basically Mayo with pepper). The slaw was very good and the pickles had a nice twang to it. We preferred the Hot Sauce and White Sauce with the sando but I really liked the Honey Sauce with the fries! I love that they offer more variety on their menu than just hot chicken sando and tenders and that they have a good selection of sauces for you to choose from. I definitely recommend this spot!! Good portion size & very affordable.

    Posters
    Aneesa M.

    We come here often and love the Nashville style chicken! The place is accessible from the front or through West LA international market (door is by the spices!)

    Chicken strips and waffles
    Kelly N.

    I'm a sucker for chicken and waffles so I had to stop by after seeing all of the rave reviews. Al's definitely did not disappoint! The chicken was hot and fresh and the waffle was the perfect sweetness. The food was absolutely delicious and I can't wait to come back and try more. So happy I found a new chicken and waffle place to enjoy!

    (Sandwich Only) Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich - good size!

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    Al A.

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    I love it always great quality and sauces are tasty! Staff in front are really nice as well!

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    Al A.

    Thank you for stopping in! :D

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    Al A.

    Thank you for stopping in! We look forward to having you back.

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    Page 1 of 28

    Ask the Community - Al's Hot Chicken

    Do you fry your chicken in peanut oil?

    No, we always fry our chicken in canola oil or vegetable oil

    Do you brine your chicken?

    Thank you for your interest, yes of coarse we always brine our chicken for 24 hours That’s why I our chickens taste flavorful and delicious

    It's not in zabihah app Or mention with different name?

    All the chicken we sell is zabiha Halal That’s why it tastes better We will contact zabiha.com to be… 

    It's is 100% or partially halal?

    100% zabiha halal

    View All 10 Questions

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    4.2
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    9.0 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    If you have a minute, I'd like to share a story:…read more I've been meaning to try this place for years, ever since I read their opening in the LA Times. In the article, they mentioned that they had a sandwhich in homage to Pok Pok, a legendary Thai place in Portland that was famous for their fish sauce chicken wings. Unfortunately, this sandwhich was only offered on the weekday lunch menu, which stymied my efforts to try it. In my mind, what I was expecting was a piece of fried chicken coated in the same sauce that Pok Pok was known for, turned into sandwhich form. The "Bring back pok pok" is not that. Which was a disappointment for all of 10 seconds. While the sandwhich was not what I was expecting, it was still excellent on its own merits. It's a fried chicken sandwhich but instead of lettuce and tomatoes, they've used some sort of dried pepper spread, thai basil (I think) and jalopenos). It reminded me more of a bahn mi. It's a flavor profile that works well. I tried a piece of my friends fried catfish, and it was similarly good. The catish was flaky without being dry, and not only was the breading well seasoned, but it was still crispy at the end of the meal. The only thing a little underwhelming was the cornbread. It wasn't bad, but it didn't feel like it did anything noteworthy, and ours could have used a bit more butter (or maybe some more salt). Our server was great, though it was easy for him since we were the only customers for a long while! Still he was easy to talk to and I appreciated how he kept stopping by to fill up our water (they use tiny glasses). The inside has nice "upscale casual" vibes. If I worked in downtown, I could see myself coming here after work. Overall, a pleasant surprise.

    Had me at Happy Hour @joyce_dtla…read more What a lovely place for happy hour! Really great southern food! Service was wonderful and loved that it was dog friendly with an outdoor patio. Crystal and Ricardo were both great with delicious recommendations and lovely personalities that enhanced our overall experience! Our dog even got a dog treat and a water bowl . Happy hour menu was satisfying! We loved everything we ordered except the fried hen was slightly salty that day, but it happens. The skin had good seasoning and loved that it was light! The broiled oysters came with toast and this satisfying gravy sauce that reminder me of French onion soup! They had the best hush puppies I have tried. The Mac and Cheese was solid. My drank was very well made! Would recommend!

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    The Rising Sun

    The Rising Sun

    4.2
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    10.3 mi
    $$

    Very nice hidden gem here, it's located off the beaten path, romantic and whimsical with a…read moregoth-like feel. I tried the beignets and they were really tasty, server was attentive and a good looking crowd showed up for "The Obscure" reserved seating for tasting and I was told mocktails if you're not into the spirits of that sort.

    If you've ever wondered what would happen if a chill LA patio and a New Orleans street parade had a…read morebaby, The Rising Sun is exactly that child, and it's thriving. The outdoor patio feels like you accidentally wandered into a breezy corner of the French Quarter. Warm lights, casual seating, and that "kick back and stay awhile" energy. Ordering through the app and picking up at the window makes you feel like you're part of a secret club, the kind where the password is "extra napkins, please." * Chicken Po' Boy, WOW...This thing is stacked. Crispy chicken, tangy sauce, and bread that holds everything together like it's doing core workouts. It's messy in the best way, the kind of sandwich that demands respect and maybe a bib. * Fully Loaded Cajun Tots, These tots don't play around. They show up dressed to impress, cheese, toppings, flavor, the whole squad. It's basically a tiny potato block party, and you're invited. * Beignets, very delicious, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and dusted with enough powdered sugar to make you question your laundry choices. One bite and suddenly you're hearing jazz horns in the distance. Their coffee game....Dangerously good. My boogie coffee drink - latter came out smooth, sweet, and caffeinated enough to make me consider running around the block a few times. It's the kind of drink that makes you shimmy in your seat and say, "Yeah... life is good." This place nails the New Orleans vibe without trying too hard. Great food, fun energy, and a patio that makes you forget you're in LA traffic territory. Come hungry, come curious, and definitely come ready for powdered sugar on your shirt. Miguel C.

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    The Rising Sun
    Beef burger sliders
    Beef burger sliders
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    Annie's Soul Delicious

    Annie's Soul Delicious

    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    5.0 mi
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    Annie's can take the crown for BEST Soul Food in LA…read more This restaurant is always extremely busy & now I can finally understand why. The level of authenticity can be felt the moment you walk in. Every patron of the restaurant can be seen expressively enjoying their food. When you order a main protein, it comes with your choice of three sides & ofc their famous cornbread muffins. All the food is insanely filling so prepare to take home leftovers. * Beef Links 10/10: A massive, spicy beef sausage on top of a soft & fresh slice of white bread. It can't get any better. It stayed hot throughout my meal & was appreciated so much. That is f***g good. * Cornbread muffins 10/10: DELICIOUSLY served as an appetizer before your meal comes out. Comes fresh & hot with a side of sweet/cinnamon butter. It's perfect. * 8 Pc Wings 10/10: Seriously the best wings I've ever had in my life. Soul food restaurants know exactly how to coat the wings so that they become insanely crispy when fried. That aside, the Hot Honey seasoning was especially flavorful & mouthwatering. *Mac n Cheese 9/10: This is my style Mac. Not too ooey-gooey wet but just a perfect amount of cheese & roux. One point off because it has a smokey taste which just isn't my preference. * Candied Yams 11/10: MY GAWWWD. I'm in heaven. If you like very sweet potato's paired with a perfect buttery cinnamon dressing, then step right up. These are insane. I'm obsessed with that type of thing. *Greens w Turkey 3/10: Was not the biggest fan of this side. The flavor of the turkey overpowered the whole dish. The greens clearly basked with the turkey rather than just being placed together. I couldn't taste the greens, just meat flavoring. * Cabbage 7/10: I love cabbage. This side isn't anything crazy, it's a very simple thing for you to pair with whatever you ordered. Every meal needs one side that rlly holds it down. *Fried Okra 12/10: Seriously, you cannot get soul food without trying fried okra. This is just amazing. Perfectly crispy & delicious.

    Almost hate to write this, but fair is fair. For background, I'm from Southside Chicago, parents…read morefrom Mississippi, and literally grew up on delicious soul food. Everything always from scratch. Everything. We had a table of 6, celebrating niece going back to Spelman College for her junior year. We ordered a ton of food. Each meal comes with three sides. Portions are generous. I had the salmon croquettes, black eyed peas, red beans, and rice & gravy (to go w my croqs) The red beans and the black eyed peas, were delicious. Cooked perfectly, seasoned really well, and the right amount of liquid base. I also had a bit of my mom's greens--and they were GOOD!!! BUT! Not so fast (in my Columbo voice). The salmon croquettes, were not croquetting. There was no flavor. None. Except for the natural salmon taste. The patties were too thick, there was no discernible seasoning, and no onion or green peppers at all. It was like eating a salmon burger, as opposed to a croquette. AND I LOOOOOVE CROQUETTES. Mom's pork chop was okay at best. It didn't taste like anything, was a lil over cooked and a tad tough. But lacked seasoning. Nephew's catfish was tasty. Aunt said her short ribs were good. Niece had wings and shrimp combo, and said they were okay, not great. Peach cobbler was good. Yams too soupy. Dressing was so drowned in gravy, we forgot it was dressing. So, mixed day at Annies. We had issues with the proteins. The veggies and legumes were deliciously spot on. I commented that if I ever end up back, I'll just get red beans, black eyeds, and some greens. Soul food has to be seasoned well. Has to. Croquettes have to have onions, green peppers, or is just a salmon patty. I took a pic of my leftovers. The meal started w 3 croqs. I ate one there. Broke this one open to show y'all the MEH-ness. Oh! GREAT STAFF! Everyone was awesome. I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars, overall. Halfway there.

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    Front dining and waiting area
    Front dining and waiting area
    Jerk chicken egg roll
    Jerk chicken egg roll
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    Stevie's Creole Cafe

    Stevie's Creole Cafe

    3.9
    (1.3k reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Just went for the first time on July 12th. I had the South LA breakfast with grits, fried chicken…read more(breast and a wing), scrambled eggs fried hard. My girlfriend ordered the creole catfish with crawfish sauce, rice, red pepper cabbage, and Mac n cheese. We had two corn bread muffins with peach cobbler butter. Out of scale of 5 Grits, 5, perfect amount of butter. They had fried onions on top,.. I never see that before but it was fire Pancakes, 6, past the scale, if you like fluffy pancakes, these are perfect. Fried chicken, 4.5, breast wasn't dry like white meat usually is and that batter was crispy and very well seasoned. Personally I didn't need any hot sauce. Be careful with that spicy ranch, it tasted like a ball of fire in my mouth. Creole Catfish, 7, past the scale! That crawfish sauce and seasoned rice made that catfish taste heavenly, nbs. Mac n cheese, 4, taste like your granny made it. I loved the bake with some char on the cheese. Red Pepper Cabbage, 5, I don't even like cabbage like that but this was seasoned to perfection! If you like Caribbean cabbage (it's not the same but similar) you would fs like this. Cornbread, 3.5 with the butter, you HAVE to put the butter on it. I think it's made that way on purpose because the peach cobbler butter is what makes it good. Overall great atmosphere and good service. Keep in mind the restaurant is small so if you want to eat inside and not on the front patio, you might have to be patient to wait for a party to finish up since there aren't many tables inside. We happened to catch a table right when some people were leaving so we didn't have to wait long for them to clean the table and sit us. After we ordered, we weren't waiting forever for our food and the two ladies that were working front of the house were doing everything from packing Togo orders to serving food. As busy as they were, they still took the time to help my girl decide what to order and made sure we our food came out the way we wanted it.

    What went well? What didn't? Lol. This was my first…read moreexperience at the original restaurant. What a treat indeed! Everything went well, and as a review suggests I would highly highly highly recommend this spot! And while the one on La Brea is also great and I've certainly reviewed it a lot of times, I dare say the ambiance and interior of this one has it beat!

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    Stevie's Seafood Gumbo
    Stevie's Seafood Gumbo
    Seafood only Gumbo (small)
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    Chocolate chip cornbread!
    Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice

    Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice

    4.0
    (480 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    One of my favorite foods as a child was fried chicken...not chicken nuggets, not ice cream, not…read morepb&j...it was fried chicken, lol. Although it's no longer my FAVORITE food and I only indulge sparingly, I still have an affinity for it, and can quickly separate the good from the bad. Willie Mae's can confidently go into the good pile. The perfect texture of the batter is the standout. It's light and crisp. Head to head, I think I prefer the flavors and juiciness of Gus's fried chicken. I'll have to give Willie Mae's another go to confirm that this is indeed the case. But Willie Mae's is situated in a better area, it's got civilized sit down table service, cuter decor, and it has way better sides. Knowing myself, I predict that one day, I will decide to remove poultry as well from my diet (I've long excluded mammals from my diet). Hopefully more visits to Willie Mae's will happen before that day organically comes upon us.

    The only time I had been to Willie Mae's was in New Orleans. It blew our minds and tastebuds…read more Absolutely divine. When they opened in the westside, I believe it was a take out only situation. Since I do not live in the area, it was not a convenient situation. During this recent DineLA restaurant week, I met a friend there for lunch. Now they have a fairly large sit down dining room that was quite busy and it seems like there was a steady stream of takeout. Our server, Desiree was fantastic. She told me this branch was started by the same folks of the original in New Orleans. Due to a an issue with the freeway closure and horrible traffic, we were very late and she kindly honored our reservation. The food was fantastic. Great crunchy and spice on the chicken (it is on the spicy side so be careful if you cannot handle the heat). The little corn breads were just the right amount. We tried the yams, which is a must, but also shared some of the other sides. The cabbage is cooked kind of like collard greens. The butter beans and rice is very tasty. We also tried the mashed potatoes and gravy. All sides are vegan, which I thought was done for the local L.A. crowd, but we were told the sides are vegan in the original recipes. Next time I'd like to try the gumbo and other dishes on the menu.

    Photos
    Family meal with Butter beans, Mac n cheese, French fries, and Brussel sprouts
    Family meal with Butter beans, Mac n cheese, French fries, and Brussel sprouts
    Willie Mae’s Restaurant - Venice
    A la Carter menu

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    A la Carter menu

    Al's Hot Chicken - chickenshop - Updated August 2026

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