This is a review for the food truck, and a mighty fine review it will be. My cousin and I got combos at Ezelles, parked outside South Lake Union, right outside of MOHAI. The chicken was crispy and full of flavor, the krinkle cut fries classic, and the sweet rolls moist and flakey. To top it off, the service was so friendly it borderlines brown-nosing. The gal at the window downright gushed over my curls and said "if I had your hair I would be so vain." Aw, shucks. Plus, they take cards. read more

OMG how have I *not* reviewed this place yet? I love food. I love greasy foods. I love fried foods. I love Ezell's foods. Their fried chicken makes me warm inside. My sister's a big fan of the potato salad, but I'm more in love with the mashed potatoes. And the rolls, oh man, so fluffy! If you get more than one fried chicken, ask them to split your order between the spicy and original. Both are good in their own way. Reviewing this place makes me want to go get me some chicken. read more

I know folks are utterly in love with the place. It's been recommended to me as the best fried chicken in the larger Seattle Area. Sadly... this was a great big assembly of "meh-to-ugh", and I am giving two stars because the dinner roll and nice staff at the Central Location saved it from a one-star. I went in to buy the 46$ family meal pack for an evening with friends. 16 pieces of chicken, 'mashed potatoes', mac n'cheese, coleslaw, and dinner rolls. A rather stately price for what I ended up having at home. The dinner rolls were very nice. They are not something I'd go out of my way for, if that was the only bit I'd buy there, however. The mashed potato, well, clearly a boxed product. It was too even, too seamy, and too frothy - trust me, you guys, I grew up on the instant stuff, I know when it's being implemented badly. At least throw some butter in the mix and a FEW actual mashed potatoes to cover up the flavour. Mixing the boxed stuff up with broth instead of water can help, too! You're a restaurant, just TRY to do more than the label says and at least make it your own? The mac was piping hot and I was looking forward to at least that not letting me down after tasting the mash. But in the time of driving home (just five minutes, as I live on First Hill) the sauce had separated into gooey chunks, the cheese had created several puddles of oil. I have never seen a roux separate out of a mac n'cheese before like this. The coleslaw was nice enough, but, again, tasted as if it was being made elsewhere. In a blind test-taste, I am not sure I could tell the difference between Ezell's and KFCs, I am sorry to say. ...and then... the chicken. I have... never tasted anything more bland... or dry. I am not yet quite sure how you can make a chicken thigh utterly bone-dry, but the team at Ezell's Central managed, which is a feat in itself. A friend gave me a bit of her chicken breast and that was even worse. A sad case of not setting the temperature right? Overcooking? Too long under the heating lamp? Whichever it was, it was not pleasant. To add to it - the batter tasted as if there was simply no spicing added, which is WEIRD; I'd have expected at least some salt, pepper, paprika - not to mention this was praised to me as the holy grail of chicken, so I actually expected way more than that. ..overall, really very disappointing meal. Not sure I'd go there again. I have a KFC on the way from work; next movie night may be from there again, if we want chicken. read more

So disappointing. I had a feeling with the attitude of the cashier that things weren't going to go the best with my order. The cashier was less than friendly complaining under her breathe about what a long day she was having and frankly put was just a smart ass when I asked questions. I should have checked my order because when I got home, an hour away in traffic, I realized they didn't include 2 sides, left tops off the sauces so they were all over the bag, didn't give us spicy as requested, only gave us wings (usually you get a breast and wing when you order white) and the fries were crumbs that looked like they were at the bottom of the fryer. I'll make sure to visit the Greenlake/Wallingford store instead next time. read more

I'd been by this spot a few times and it smells like heaven so of course I had to check it out for myself. It has it's pros and cons. Here's my honest opinion. The spicy chicken is bomb. Whether it's the tenders or on the bone, this is the best thing they do. It's relatively mild on the universal spicy barometer, but I'm not complaining. I don't need to sweat. I just want a bit of a kick. So it's all good. The regular fried chicken is fine. I wanted to get blown away, but it just wasn't anything spectacular. And if you're famous for it, my expectations are going to be kind of high. The sides are hit and miss. The slaw is boring, the fries are standard crinkle, but I liked the beans and I ALWAYS like the roll. There's pretty much no seating in the place tho, so you always want to plan on taking your meal home. I did get a kick out of the Faygo in the fridge too. Juggalos will stoked on this for sure. (Sorry, I'm well aware that plenty of non-ICP fans drink Faygo, but that's always where my brain goes first.) All in all, I'll still come back here for that tasty spicy chicken! You'll never hear me complaining about that! read more

So I really wanted to like Ezell's. I heard so much about it. Even Oprah loves it. It must be great, right? Overall, it's good. But nothing special. This is one of those places I'm not in love with but I default to when I want fried chicken instead of going to KFC. The past few times though my spicy chicken has been super bland and not at all spicy. And on one recent visit my mashed potatoes & gravy tasted yicky - there definitely was something not so fresh about them. However, if for no other reason to go here it's the dinner rolls. OMG, they are to die for. I really could just go here and order a bunch of rolls. read more

Ezell's has my heart. there's nowhere better to go for cheap, fast comfort food. i prefer boneless chicken, so I always get the spicy chicken strips - a pound of them hits the spot after a night of debauchery. They're perfectly crunchy, and they're not too greasy, overly breaded, or burn-your-tongue hot. I like to add a tub of mashed potatoes and gravy to my order, and throw in a few extra super-soft, melt-in-your-mouth rolls, pls! Is it just me, or does their gravy have that red-eye flavor to it? I swear I always detect a hint of coffee. whatever the case, it's delicious! Have yet to try their baked beans and sweet potato pie. But now that I've discovered that there's a new Ezell's about 10 mins away from where I live, guess where I'll be having breakfast on Sunday mornings? well, maybe not every Sunday morning. Dick's is another great cure for the common hangover :-) read more

This little southern girl wandered down to Ezell's one cold and dreary Seattle day, attempting to relieve some homesickness in a plate of homey goodness. Hallelujah! It worked. The chicken was fresh, crispy, and fried up right (enough frying and breading to have a distinct crunch and pull away from the meat when bit in to, but not so much that the skin is like a hard armor around the meat like some places seem to think appropriate...). I devoured it in the parking lot and it was piping hot. Then I had sweet potato pie. Oh, sweet potato pie I love you, I miss you, I think of you (almost) daily. Yes, the pie was good...I think I might have teared up a bit when the pie was gone. So, why 4 and not 5 stars? Well, I thought about it and decided that: 1. I wasn't really jumping with joy over the sides, the mashed potatoes were a little starchy-weird and the coleslaw was kind of horseradishy (which I realize is probably a bonus for some/most people) 2. If they had sweet tea I didn't see it, and what in tarnation do you drink with chicken other than tea? 3. The pie slice was small... But go! And if you have a lost, cold, wet, southern friend, do them a huge favor and take them with you! read more

"I could do shots of this hot sauce!" That was my friend as we were noshing on a 20 piece. She was obsessed with the hot sauce. The sauce came is those little take out condiment containers. You know, the ones you get Dick's when you get extra tarter sauce and ketchup... Ok, on to the chicken. The great part about Ezell's is that when you take the chicken home, it's still crispy and flavorful....granted you're not traveling to the likes of Everett or Renton. If you're on a budget, go for the pound of gizzards. Yes gizzards! You get the same lovely Ezell's fried chicken flavorful, nice chewy chicken meat, and you'll have enough left over to splurge on the hot sauce shots! read more

This is the best fried chicken restaurant I have ever been to. The chicken is perfect. It comes in two flavors, spicy and original. I highly recommend the spicy. Its so juicy and the breaded outside is just perfectly crispy. Last time I was in Seattle I had to stop here on my way to the airport because I had meant to go the entire time I was there and wasn't able to and I wasn't about to leave until I got my chicken. The bread pudding is delicious and the coleslaw is great as well. One of the best and most amusing thing about this place is that it is in kind of a rough neighborhood in Seattle, on a street corner and looks like a dive. They have no seating and just an aisle when you walk in to go and order and pick up your chicken and thats about it. The people who work there where BIG black shirts that say things like "GOD IS GOOD" on the front and "ALL THE TIME" on the back... My mouth is watering just thinking about them. read more

Having moved here from the south, I've been dying to eat some good chicken. I was a little disappointed when I found at that the closest Popeye's (the place to go to get my usual fix) was all the way in Renton. Today I decided I would finally give in and try the chicken that everyone, Oprah included, has been talking about. I ordered a 2-piece meal with baked beans and mashed potatoes. $7. Not that bad. The chicken, which I ordered spicy, was pretty flavorful. Granted I wanted even more flavor, but I realize that my Southern palette is much different that people here in the NW. The baked beans were good as well. Sweet but a little tangy. The mashed potatoes, however, were pretty disappointing. Even with gravy, it had little to no flavor and I had to resort to salt to finish eating it. All in all, it's a good spot and it reminds me of food back home. If you are looking for chicken and can't make it out to Renton, this is the place to go. The only things that disappointed me were the mashed potatoes and lack of variety of side items (no macaroni & cheese, no dirty rice). I guess I need to stop comparing it to how food tastes in the south. Oh well... read more

I wish I didn't have to smell you every morning when I am hungover. I've only had your yam pie, which is so amazing... as for chicken, well I can say... People really like you, I'm a vegetarian, but because I can hear people, and see people all the time packing through your doors like you're handing out money I'll just write a review about how great you are. But seriously, you smell potent in the morning. read more

If you need your fried chicken fix this is the place. Tenders, legs, breasts. Spicy or not spicy? So many choices, so little time. This location is the original. Located across from the beautiful Garfield high school. Drive, walk, take the bus, they are all good options. Parking is limited and can be non existent at times. Everything is made fresh and sometimes they run out of things. It happens. The sweet potato pie is served warm and has the perfect amount of sweetness. The fried okra is also a must get. My only complaint is that they seem to run out of fried okra a lot. Get the regular chicken tenders but the chicken spicy. It's better this way. The rolls are some of the best I've had. Some of the sides weren't really my favorite but the BBQ beans had some really good flavor. This place is always hopping and the staff are constantly on the move. Be prepared when you order or else everyone will hate you for being slow. Expect a line and expect to wait a little bit while they prepare your food. It's definitely worth it. read more

This sh!t right here! This sh!t right here! Is FIRE! I think I might know of a secret ingredient Ezzels uses inn there oohh so famous spicy fried chicken... its LEMONGRASS... I'm Chinese with a complex palate and to my goodness gracious truth, I can taste lemongrass in the spicy chicken. I've eaten there for many years now and I am certain, oother than that I LOVE Ezells!!! read more

WARNING; DO NOT LEAVE THE TIP LINE BLANK!!! My boyfriend got a Togo order and left the tip line blank, checked his bank statement and the charge was for $5 more than he actually paid. So don't leave the tip section blank because they will add their own tip!! read more

Despite the negative reviews, I decided to check this place out tonight. A line to the door is always a good sign; service was still fast and my order was ready in about 5 minutes. I ordered the snack pack: one piece (spicy breast), fries and a roll and a regular size fountain drink for $6.00. There was plenty of food, I was full from this. A regular meal consists of roll, two sides, and two pieces of chicken. I'd definitely like to try some of the sides next time or the dessert. How else do I say I'll definitely be going back? The roll was good and tasted fresh. The fries might be frozen crinkle cut fries but they were cooked great, hot, crispy and fresh. The chicken breast appeared small but had a lot of juicy, flavorful meat. The skin was where the spice was, it was crispy enough for my liking but not an extra thick layer of breading. I didn't eat a lot of it because it makes me feel like I'm still being healthy. My only complaint on this visit would be the absolute lack of any seating. I apologize to anyone who rode the #4 bus back downtown and had to watch me pig out in my seat. There was no way it was going to stay good on my ride all the way back to West Seattle. read more

The best friend chicken EVER! This is a great place to grab dinner and bring it back home. You better have an empty stomach because the fresh scent of homemade bread is entrancing. I've had the both the spice fried chicken and the spicy chicken tenders. Both are moist and flavorful. The outside is breaded perfectly. It is crispy and delicious. I couldn't ask more from a friend chicken joint. read more

If there's internet access in heaven; this is a message for gatekeepers of Samuel Stephens, co-founder of Ezell's. Sam's funeral was today. He was 48 years old. He will be greatly remembered in Seattle by so many. He contributed to the food, music and auto industries like no other. And he will be missed very, very, very much. Sam, if you have an H-1 connection and are following up on Ezell's reviews, just know the sun shone brightly today and your earthly good-bye was simply beautiful. We love you. And the chicken is still the best in the world, just as you set out to make it. read more

Love ezells chicken! We always get the spicy chicken strips, fries, rolls and maybe some sides. It is tasty for the whole family - even our toddler. We always go to Ezells when we feel like chicken. read more

It was unusually greasy for fried chicken, but not too bad. I was pleased with the amount of spice on the "Spicy," it being mild but still quite noticeable. The fried okra was much, much too greasy; the cooking oil was clearly not hot enough for it. The coleslaw was ok; nothing special but definitely not bad. The roll was a roll; nothing special. I don't think I'll be going back unless I happen to be close and especially hungry for fried chicken. It's no better or worse than KFC, but definitely worse than you can get from the deli of most supermarkets (which I find is consistently better than KFC, but still not as good as I can make at home). read more

Yes. This is the stuff my dreams are made of. When you have a fried chicken craving, you must immediately go to Ezell's. It is always perfectly cooked- crispy skin, nice and tender. You can order spicy or original, but spicy is definitely the way to go! It always is crowded but the line tends to move very quickly. And it's not bad on the wallet either! read more

I'm not going to lie I was a tad disappointed in this place. I was really looking forward to some wonderful fried chicken. We drove far after the playoff came after the Seahawks won, and after we stood outside a bar watching the game as every bar in Pioneer Square was filled. I have to admit, we were better fans than some of the actual fans who left the game and missed the last 4 minutes and overtime. Tsk Tsk. Anyways, returning to the fried chicken. We ordered the 8 pieces to share that comes with 2: breast, wings, thighs and drumstick. No substitutions...what a shame, because everyone knows dark meat is way better than white meat. The order also came with four rolls. We asked for honey, and we were charged $0.41 for each tiny ketchup size packet. Not even good honey, but regular honey you could get at KFC or something. Kind of disappointing, and expensive. There was no place to eat at the actual establishment, so we took it back to our place to eat. Upon first looking, the fried chicken was dark...I could tell that it wasn't fresh. It looked like it had been baking under the heat lamp. Which was odd because when we were there ordering, I saw A LOT of fresh fried chicken. I feel like we got take advantage and were given the older fried chicken pieces because we were not the usual customers at this place (insert 4 asians walking into buy fried chicken here). The fried chicken was NOT crispy. The hallmark of any fried chicken is that it is FRIED. Come on! The chicken inside itself was juicy, but that's about it. The rolls were good and tasted like hawaiian bread. I won't return again sadly. read more

Tasty fried chicken! I'd always heard about the wonders of Ezell's - so famous for their amazing fried chicken that even Oprah raves about them! I made it here last weekend, on a rainy Seattle Sunday and was delighted to discover that all the rumors are true. We indulged in the original recipe; thighs and wings, and I'm happy to report it was delicious! Crunchy skin, tender white meat, a little on the greasy side, but hey what else can you expect from fried chicken? They serve biscuits and Fay-go, a brand of soda that was foreign to me, but turned out to be fruity and Fanta-esque. I'd definitely come back here, especially on a dreary, rainy Seattle day - this chicken definitely added a spark of color to the grey day. read more

So, I drive by Ezell's every day to and from work. I have to say the tests of my will power have been challenged to the highest degree- as I purposefully held off for 3 months before going in last week. I knew once the flood doors were open, well there is danger on the horizon. The fried chicken is legit- and the fact they have fried okra puts it over the top. The fried okra was perfect- not mushy or bland, but crispy and delicious! In fact, I'm changing my review to 5 stars- just for the fried okra! Gizzards were top notch too- okay, dang it must resist...resistance is futile... Jean LUC! SAVE ME AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! read more

I've eaten this stuff a few times on long work days. Today is the last time. I would literally rather eat nothing than eat this stuff. First, the positives (yes, there are some. Big offset coming): The baked beans were okay, though far more sugary than good ones in the midwest or south. The mashed potatoes weren't outrageously salty, and they had pepper which is always a nice touch. I skipped the gravy, whose texture and color reminded me of a cleaning product. One key negative: the chicken. Midwestern children of the 1980s may remember a very slow fast food joint called Shorty's Fried Chicken. They used the lowest grade dark meat and cooked it dry. You needed a gallon of soda to tolerate a two piece. Ezell's reminds me of Shorty's, though it's a little better - at first. After three tiny chicken strips, I got a headache and lethargy that I've only experience with excessive MSG. Yes, I suspect Ezell's is using MSG. I don't really care if it's true, though, because I feel doubly awful - first for wasting calories on this crap (I actually threw up in my mouth a little) and second for feeling like Perez Hilton after an all-you-can-eat sushi marathon at a strip club. read more

Okay, i know this is supposed to be the best fried chicken in seattle, but hear me out. I eat a lot of fried chicken. I mean. A LOT. and while this place is good, I was slightly disappointed. The rolls were great, the chicken was quality and perfectly fried, but the seasoning/batter was not super flavorful. Its defintely good, but I have had better. Keep in mind. when i say better, not in seattle. This may be the best southern fried chicken in seattle. But it doesn't really compare to the east coast or the south. read more

Amaaaaaazing chicken and one of the few places that serves gizzards and livers! It's a definite go-to anytime I'm in Seattle. Staff is friendly, the food is always fresh because they go through so much it's constantly made. The only drawback is they can have quite a line especially on Sundays other than that never miss it! read more

Quick tip: rude customer service, no tables to dine-in, take out only, double check your food order, charge for sauces $0.45 each (ketchup is free though) Came here yesterday and ordered the 4 piece combo meal. The girl behind the counter was like the real version of Bon Qui Qui! She doesn't care about you. No hi. No welcome to Ezell's where they could fry it your way... heyyy! Nope. Nothing. But whatevs. I'm here for the fried chicken. I don't care about the service. I don't care that this place and the area looks seedy. Just give me some finger lickin' good deliciousness! Anyway, back to the 4 piece combo. I ordered the mixed meat, spicy, 2 sides of mashed potatoes, rolls, and a drink. THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME MY ROLLS!!! Ughhh. I didn't realize it until after I had left! And they also charge $0.45 for spicy sauce! What?! The chicken was not fried fresh. It's been sitting under a heat lamp. But their heat lamp must be broken or something because it wasn't hot when I got my chicken! Just warm. So sad. And the chicken wasn't even spicy! The skin was kinda crunchy and the white meat was surprisingly juicy so that was the main saving grace. Other than that, this place is a miss in my book. The mashed potatoes and gravy are nothing to write home about either. Overall, I'd say this place is a pass. I bet you they fried the chicken fresh and probably butcher the chicken fresh just for Oprah that's why she was raving all about it! Heck, I would too! But too bad. I'm not Oprah. And their food and service shows that I'm not Oprah! Smh... nope Ezell. You disappointed me. read more

The fried chicken was outstanding. Crispy cracklin on the outside and moist on the inside. We had both the regular and the spicy, and the spicy (not too spicy at all, just more seasoned) was our favorite. The rolls were pillowy and soft and just a tiny bit sweet. Mashed potatoes and gravy and mac and cheese were okay, nothing special, but the chicken and rolls are where it's at. Friendly staff. read more

If there's a better fried chicken place in Seattle, I haven't found it. I've settled on the spicy chicken, and it's been so long since I've had the regular that I honestly couldn't tell you what it tastes like. Comparing this to KFC is like comparing Starbucks to Stumptown. There are people who do that, also. They can have their double-downs and their triple caramel extra whip mocha. I'll take the good stuff, tyvm. Seek this out if you're looking for something a step above. read more

I like 'em because they're convenient, and because I can call ahead and get an order of fried chicken livers when the mood strikes. Flavor-wise the spicy is pretty decent, but I wouldn't drive out of my way for it, let alone place an order from Chicago like Oprah. (What is she thinking - you mean to tell me there's no good fried chicken in Chicago? Seriously?!?!) The other downer is it tends to be greasy, but that depends on whoever is frying I suppose. read more

Ezells. Could this unassuming eatery with graffiti'd walls truly be home to Oprah's favorite fried chicken? I'm not a huge Oprah follower or fan, but I can see she's had her fair share of the finer things in life (and like all yelpers, loves to share them). Well, the first time I went, I honestly thought they forgot to put salt in the batter. It was the blandest chicken I've ever tasted. However the crispiness and crunch are perfection. And when paired with their very tasty sauces, I can see how this can quickly become an obsession. Only 3 stars for the hazy stupor one falls into after eating there, and the giant pimple I get each time I indulge in that much grease. read more

Went into Ezell's yesterday around 6:30 p.m. and was served dry, overcooked fried chicken that had obviously been cooked several hours before...Sooo Disappointing!!! Been coming here for years and years...My favorite fried chicken spot in Seattle but no more....obviously any semblance of quality control is gone....SO SAD....won't ever be going back.... read more

During my first visit to Seattle, my friend highly recommended Ezell's Chicken by saying "This is one of Oprah's favorite things. She had the chicken FLOWN to her when she was in Chicago and craved them!" Who's going to argue with Oprah? Not I. What my friend failed to tell me was that Oprah made this endorsement in 1994 (That's right. I googled this because I was so disappointed in the chicken). Things change after 18 years. I wanted to be a Power Ranger 18 years ago. There's not much to say besides: the chicken was average, sides were boring, but I did like the dinner rolls. read more

Apparently Oprah eats here! When you first arrive this place looks like any other fried chicken takeout place. So think of a KFC with no seating lol. They took our order pretty quickly and the food followed soon after. I got chicken tenders and they were good. The breeding was crunchy and not soft. I didn't try the drumstick but I'm sure those were good also. The bread was like a dinner roll which I actually prefer. Biscuits are sometimes too heavy and dense for me. The mash potatoes were great! Creamy and flavorful. The gravy was peppery and went well with the potatoes. read more

Fried Chicken...so good. Fried Gizzards...spicy...so good. Rolls warm...so good. Peach cobbler...so good. Fago soda's...so sickeningly sweet...yet so good. Ezell's is where it's at. Fried Chicken done right. Screw the Col. because he doesn't have fried gizzards and peach cobbler! For the love of God you must try to Peach cobbler! I also hate coleslaw, but I like the coleslaw at Ezell's. Enough of the good, everyone says it's good. Here's the bad. Sometimes they run out of Peach Cobbler...the potatoes are a bit on the chunky side. They don't serve waffles. PEACH COBBLER!!! read more

The food was sooo good! Glad I came here! I was recommended to come here by a local. Customer service was quick and friendly. Only thing I didn't like, is the fact that there's no where to sit to eat! You can literally only pick up your food. So don't expect to enjoy your meal right then and there; unless you plan on eating in your car. read more

I went to school across the street from Ezell's. Never once gave it a try. It was the 90's! I was a vegetarian! I've since learned not to fear chicken (or beef or swine, for that matter!) and my sweetheart re-introduced me to Ezells after he played a round of 18 holes with a nice guy named Ezell. (turns out it was really him!) Now we go there at least once a month in the summer time. Perfect after work date: a bag of chicken, a blanket, 2 towels and a post-swim picnic at madrona beach. They have really yummy rolls and beans. Not a huge fan of the coleslaw, and I can't vouch for their desserts either - how can you think of dessert when there is so much yummy chicken?! Oh, and for people referring to this place as being in the "ghetto"... I say, Seriously? Ever think that maybe that's insulting to the residents of the neighborhood? read more

There is an art to eating Ezells and I think my friends and I have perfected it. Order the chicken strip dinner plus 1 roll and make sure to ask for hot sauce. Open up the roll and put a few chicken strips in there and pour some sauce over it. Eat it like a sandwich and its a lil bit of heaven in your mouth...hmmmmm! If you want the fried chicken make sure to order the spicy...its much more flavorful. read more

You really can't go wrong here, this place is famous because the chicken is awesome. I try not to over-recommend places but this is one that I can say makes the best fried chicken I've had. The breading on the fried chicken is really killer. They serve food quick and while there isn't really anywhere to eat inside the restaurant, they deliver as well. I live close so this is a spot I can walk to. It's always packed but the line moves pretty quick and you can get food in roughly 15 minutes even if the line is at the door. read more