Let’s remember, folks, this is not about the ambiance nor the service- this is strictly about the quality of the chicken fried steak. To start this quest off of becoming the authority on chicken fried steak in Los Angeles I needed to establish a baseline. I’ve had a CFS at IHOP in Palm Springs and I have had the CFS at Four N 20 in Studio City…Studio City is my hood so Four N 20 it is.

First impression: Holy crap, that is one small steak.

Taste: Everything a chicken fried steak should be. The breading was crispy and seasoned to perfection. The steak itself was tenderized to within an inch of it’s already brief life; thin and juicy, not tough at all. The gravy was white, peppered, thick, and salty.

Presentation: Not as important as taste; nonetheless, it is comforting to have the classic trinity of chicken fried steak, two eggs, and hashed brown potatoes. This will become more important at some of the other joints in town where the CFS is served with arugula salad in a bacon-coffee vinaigrette. I like my eggs served sunny side up and runny and I like my hashed browns a little crispy. You get extra points if you serve up some sourdough toast and provide at least two types of jelly.

Overall: This score will probably slide according to my experiences at the other chicken fried steak locations around Los Angeles- 7 out of 10. That means better than average.

I Wish: I wish the steak itself was a little bigger.

The search for the best chicken fried steak in Los Angeles has begun.

Paul Zies

dirtyandmean.com

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