For years my friend Sherri has been singing the praises of Zankou Chicken, a Lebanese fast-food type chicken place (sort of like an independent El Pollo Loco except, you know, actually good). She kept pointing out the one in Pasadena but since we don't spend much time there, we've never gone.
Until lo and behold, we learned about one in Anaheim! Finally we have lived our destiny and discovered the ultimate in chicken cuisine. Close your eyes family members, but this stuff is actually better than my mom's. It was so flavorful and juicy (and they have an all dark meat option!) and the accompanying garlic sauce was amazing. It's also served with beets, tomatoes, and yellow chili peppers which I ignored, and with an awesome hommus (incl. a pita bread to eat it on)--much healthier than french fries (not that I don't love french fries, mind you, but a side dish like hommus made me feel very good about myself as I peeled off the chicken skin and ate it plain).
Zankou Chicken gets a two thumbs up from me!
Posted by Shelby at August 9, 2005 08:44 PMThere used to be a chain of restaurants very similar to this called Koo Ko Roo or something like that. Chicken a la El Polo Loco with a Middle Eastern twist.
Posted by: Katrina at August 10, 2005 06:49 PMNo...KooKooRoo is different... and it's still randomly around. Also good....but different. I can't explain how. Ethnically...or culturally. Zankou is Armenian. The beets are pickled beets (and they usually call them "pickles"). I don't like them... but that's just me. I could eat Zankou every day if it didn't give me dragon breath. Shelby...try the chicken tarna and the shawerma. The tarna has a spice added and the shawerma (pronounced sharna) has tahini sauce (also...it's beef). Tahini is made from sesame seeds and is pretty good. I like the shawerma sandwich.
Posted by: Sherri at August 20, 2005 12:51 AM