Waaaaaay back during my college days at Dillard we bought McKenzie s fried chicken and the memory of it will last til my grave.....SOOOOOOOOO good. Sometimes I feel like flying back to NOLA just for McKenzie s chicken.
Ashton Nichole Laurent
+4.5
God damn, that was delicious.. Loved EVERYTHING we had. I wish their hours were expanded a bit, but I'll deal.
The chicken is excellent - exactly the way I like to cook it at home (but I'm frequently too lazy to do so). It tastes like it soaked in a weak brine or maybe a garlicky buttermilk, fried in a light breading (none of that hard, overly battered crust that makes the chicken tough), and tastes like it's very lightly seasoned with garlic salt. The sides were delicious as well, particularly the sweet potato casserole.
Brandy Cheramie Dufrene
+4.5
Been there twice so far and loved it both times! My family and I are barely done devouring our home style lunch and I simply had to sing McKenzie's praises!! The fried chicken is awesome and the "side item" of fried liver is my personal favorite! Cheap, good, and fast.. What else do you need in a take out joint?
Best Fried Chicken ever. Best fried chicken I have had in 50 years or so. Everybody's got a bias, and this is mine. I'm a northerner through and through, so I do not like my fried chicken spicy, but I -- and everybody -- does like it cooked just to tender and no more. McKenzie's is perfect: not too spicy and totally tender.
It's a dive, no doubt, but totally safe area now, and worth going to not just for the chicken, but for the atmosphere. You'll have to find someplace to eat your fried chicken, though. It's takeout only, and no place nearby to sit and eat. And you'll need a car to get there, unless you are on the Dillard University campus (which is a nice place to be in any event).
And did I mention the fried pickles. I thought it was crazy, too. Try them. they're cheap enough to experiment on. I'll bet you like them.
Too small?. Just a reply to the post about the chicken being too small: So you would rather eat the hormone/steroid infused chicken from Church's. Their wings are so large they are grotesque. I love the chicken at McKenzie's and McHardy's because they taste like home cooked and the pieces don't look like science experiments.
This is the best chicken in town for a great price. I love it
Gentilly's best chicken.... I grew up in Gentilly and McKenzie's has always been a favorite of my family, back when they only sold Fried Chicken and Fries. Since Katrina the menu offers a lot of new items, fish,shrimp, wings ,livers and tons of great sides, all the new items I have tried measure up to that great chicken. 5 pieces for less than $5.00 it's a steal....
Why u should never eat fast food!. Recently I got called 'elitist' for slamming fast food. What else can the poor afford, I was asked. Here's about the 20th place in NOLA I've found to disprove that thesis.
For the same price as fastfood you get much better flavor, fresher ingredients, variety, and aren't sending your money out of the community. Fight the chains!
McKenzies has been in this community since 1952, and is still owned by same family. Total dive, take out only. Very good, cheap fried chicken, okra, chicken livers, greens, soul, mac & cheese. Open only 9 - 5. $4.84 for 5 piece! FAST too. Fries and mustard greens also very good.
One of my favorite cheap eats in NOLA. (Maybe even a hair better than McHardy's nearby).
Thank you so much for a great experience! I'm from Atl & it's hard to find good fried chicken while out of town but this place is definitely the spot to go! They customer service was I didn't feel rushed although it was busy the cashier was very helpful & friendly. The chicken was fresh crispy & flavorful and you can't beat the price. Will definitely be my go to spot when I come back tp visit.
Definitely a staple in the neighborhood. This place has been around for years and the food/service has always been A-1. Some of the best fried chicken and fries in the city.
You're hanging out in an old bakery waiting for the best fried chicken in town. The best chicken livers. Made to order too! Great sides and generous portions. There's always a line, but it's worth the wait. I promise.
McKenzie's use to be a bakery as well as selling chicken in a box. As of 2day, no more bakery mostly chicken, seafood, po-boys. Chicken is as good as ever & po-boys are delish. Take-out only!
I actually just went in there to see the nostalgia at this Mckenzie store that is now a chicken place. When I looked in the window and saw the original displays and layout, it made me feel like a kid again, going to get day old donuts for a funeral or something for my mom, with my sister and i riding bikes or jumping over a train.
Really back good memories.
Unfortunately, I didn't even try the chicken, although smelled amazing and they were busy as hell.
They are probably the only ones that kept the original displays and the layout the way it was and I have mad respect for that!
I miss Mckenzie's and simple things like that from childhood.
This is the best fried chicken I've ever had and I've had a lot of different varieties because it's one of my favorite things to eat
Got party wings. Wait was not long about 10-15 minutes. Did not pre-order.
Smelled good and very good taste.
Not fried hard, slightly crispy like I like.
Food was exceptional, service a little slow only because of the amount of customers. Fresh, hot, and fried. What more can you ask for, really? Food is extremely fresh and battered in house and you can taste the difference.
First, if your OCD is on a high then you might be uneasy. Not the cleanest place, but that damn chicken is fier!!! I like the wait because I know it's being cooked like home. The sweet potato casserole, the chicken livers, all parts of the bird I've had from here. Oh and the potato salad and fried okra. The staff is mean but if your frying chicken and dealing with people that's to be expected. You won't be sorry SO GOOD!
The interior is definitely an eye sore and menus are easy to miss as they are typed on a sheet of paper and taped around the walls. The food, on the other hand, is GOOOOD! I have no complaints about that chicken.
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