BOK BOK CHICKEN

I have to hand it to a restaurant chain with a good sense of humor. When you read the name Bok Bok Chicken you might think that it refers to some ethnic cuisine but it’s not that complex. Instead it’s named after the clucking sound that chickens make. Pretty simple. Pretty funny.

You may already be familiar with the name Bok Bok Chicken thanks to a funny Saturday Night Live commercial parody about the chain’s fictitious mascot resembling internet urban legend Momo. The joke being that the chicken mascot is tempting children with chicken to steal their souls.

A Las Vegas-based family-owned company serving Mediterranean fast-casual food, the concept is simple: serve fresh-casual fare from free-range rotisserie chicken to marinated carved beef shawarma and much more. The recipes embody the flavors the owners grew up with in a delicious, affordable and approachable way. With three locations throughout L.A., including Downtown, Eagle Rock and Culver City, the fare is hearty and fab.

Founder Silva Chamanian offers sound advice for first-time guests.

“I would encourage they ask for samples and we would be happy to get them a taste of whatever they desire. For a first-time order, I would recommend cheese boreg with zataar, chicken plate with hummus (which includes rice pilaf, fattoush salad, toom — a garlic sauce — and pita) and an order of ashta for dessert.”

During our recent visit to the Culver City Bok Bok, we feasted on a bevy of bites. We were fans of the chicken wings, which are tossed in a honey barbecue glaze and served with a tangy Mediterranean dipping sauce and fresh cucumber sticks.

Another favorite included the Shawarma Plate with flame-broiled, marinated beef with rice pilaf, roasted tomato, piaz, fattoush and tahini.

And a strong recommendation is the cage-free, hormone-free and antibiotic-free whole chicken served with toom, pickles, and fresh pita. For $12, it’s a great deal.

The Sides are also a great choice, as options include falafel; cheese boreg (fried dough filled with cheeses, green onion, parsley and spices) served with zaatar; hummus; sarma (grape leaves stuffed with rice, onion and spices); and chicken or beef kabob served a la carte.

If you save room for dessert, the Gatnaboor (rice pudding with cinnamon and rosewater) is a good choice, as is the owner-recommended Ashta (shredded filo dough with sweet cream and pistachios). And of course, there’s baklava, which is always a Mediterranean favorite.

At Bok Bok Chicken, the atmosphere is chill. The food is fast-casual, not fast food and the fare is hearty and healthy with plenty of options to choose from.

Bok Bok Chicken is located in Downtown, Eagle Rock and Culver City. Open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: Bok Bok Chicken