SOUTH CITY FRIED CHICKEN
TRAVEL ACROSS THE USA ONE BITE AT A TIME

A foodie favorite these days is a damn good fried chicken sandwich. People will line up for hours for a tasty one. And one of the most satisfying fried chicken sandwich joints, without super long lines, is South City Fried Chicken in Downtown LA.

From the folks at Preux & Proper, beloved for its refined and elevated Southern cuisine, South City Fried Chicken offers tastes and flavors that define the US of A.

But it’s not all about the fried chicken sandwich here, as the most popular menu items are the Fried Chicken Boxes, which include the Chicken & Waffle where four cinnamon sugar spiced chicken tenders come with two cornbread waffles, whipped butter and Vermont maple syrup, and the Chicken & Biscuits where four seasoned chicken tenders come with south city fries, a buttermilk biscuit, Alabama white and Carolina gold.

At South City Fried Chicken there are no heat lamps and no freezers. Everything on the menu is made-to-order. No detail is too small, from the homemade pepper mixes and sauces, to the employment of Jidori chicken, an artisan-take on poultry farming by utilizing hand-pulled methods over machines, and brioche buns from La Brea Bakery. Each Fried Chicken Sandwich begins with Jidori chicken in marinade and buttermilk brine, marinating together for a minimum of 24 hours.

“South City Fried Chicken is the canvas on which to experience a story that is important to Josh and I,” says Chef Sammy Monsour. “Our food honors Southern culture, the people we come from, and connects us with our guests.”

While you can’t go wrong with either of the fried chicken boxes, a must-have side are the addictive Chicken Bacon & Cheese Fries with Turbodog brown ale cheese sauce, Memphis rib rub, cilantro and jalapeño. This is so decadently delicious!

As for the fried chicken sandwiches, well, prepare to visit Chapel Hill, Birmingham, New Orleans, and Nashville. It’s a journey you’ll be so happy you went on.

The Chapel Hill sandwich is a true family affair that begins from the recipe box of Chef Sammy’s father himself with Pop’s Slaw, Jenny’s pimento cheese created and shared by Chef Sammy’s sister Jenny, house pickles and crispy Tar Heel country ham.

The Birmingham sandwich is dressed with Alabama white, or as Chef Sammy refers to it, “A gangster version of Ranch dressing” made of Duke’s mayonnaise, horseradish, apple cider vinegar and seasonings. There also is hickory-smoked onions, Tillamook cheddar, and house-made horseradish chimichurri made from bright California olive oil and raw herbs including cilantro, scallions, and garlic.

A favorite sandwich of mine is the New Orleans where Chef Sammy pushes the envelope on big, bold flavors on what he refers to as “a funky-ass sandwich to match the energy of NOLA.” A cool combo of Cajun spice, there’s creole remoulade, Thai basil, collard green kimchi “to add that funk you feel in your soul when you visit New Orleans,” a fried egg, and ginger-miso BBQ for the all-important umami. Is simple messy goodness.

Last but not least, there’s the Nashville sandwich, a masterful combination of Jidori chicken breast, house pickles, and cookout slaw liberally seasoned with Nashville hot, a smoky Tasso spice blend before it ever hits the fryer. Choose your heat level from hot to XXX to reaper to hellfire.

“As you eat your way through our menu, city by city, we hope y’all enjoy the rich and complex flavors we were inspired to share,” say co-Owners Joshua Kopel and Chef Sammy. We’d like to think that each and every bite you take is an expression of true grit Southern culture, and no matter what you choose, you’re in for one heck of a good story. This is our love letter to The South, written in flavor.”

South City Fried Chickenis located in Corporation Food Hall at 724 South Spring Street. Open daily from noon to 9pm. Call 213-278-0008.

Story By: Jose Martinez

Photography Courtesy Of: South City Fried Chicken