You walk in, greeted by, "Welcome in" by friendly staff…read more Atmosphere is a time capsule, which gives a one of a kind experience. Original crispy fried chicken, warm biscuit, creamy macaroni salad, mashed potatoes with a golden gravy. I'll most definitely come back, they have Orange whip!

Pioneer Chicken is an iconic piece of Los Angeles history! Once a thriving fried chicken chain with…read morelocations scattered throughout LA, Pioneer Chicken is now down to just two remaining restaurants, including this longtime Boyle Heights location. For many Angelenos who grew up eating here, Pioneer Chicken holds a special place in their hearts. It's more than just fried chicken; it's a taste of their childhood! I've been wanting to check this place out for quite some time and finally got around to giving it a shot! Walking inside felt like stepping back into the 1970s! I absolutely loved the retro aesthetic, vintage advertisements, historical photographs, and iconic rotating sign outside. There's something charming about a restaurant that has preserved so much of its original character. It's easy to see why nostalgia keeps this place alive! **THE FOOD:** The employee working the register was incredibly friendly and helpful when I asked for recommendations. I ordered the **3-Piece Chicken Dinner ($14.99)**, which includes two sides and a biscuit. I was undecided about the sides, so I asked for suggestions and went with the Spicy Rice and Mashed Potatoes. **Spicy Rice:** Probably the better of the two sides. It had a nice little kick of spice and contained a few small pieces of chicken. It wasn't bad, but nothing particularly memorable either. Just okay. **Mashed Potatoes:** Unfortunately, these were a major disappointment! They were incredibly dense, and not in a good way. The texture was unpleasant, and I really didn't enjoy them. I almost always feel obligated to order mashed potatoes with fried chicken, but these weren't worth it. I wouldn't recommend them! I was also disappointed that mac and cheese wasn't offered as a side. **Fried Chicken:** Now for the main attraction, and unfortunately, the biggest disappointment! At first glance, the chicken looked promising! It had a beautiful golden-brown exterior with a thick, crispy, almost kettle-cooked-looking crust. Visually, it looked delicious! Sadly, looks can be deceiving! The chicken was **INSANELY GREASY!** I honestly lost count of how many napkins I went through. The breading was excessively thick, making it feel like I was eating more batter than actual chicken. The meat itself wasn't particularly flavorful or enjoyable either. I reached for their hot sauce, hoping it would add some much-needed flavor. While it helped slightly, it wasn't enough to save the meal. Between the excessive grease, overwhelming breading, and underwhelming meat, I just couldn't get into it. I hate wasting food, but I ended up throwing away most of the chicken and mashed potatoes because I genuinely wasn't enjoying them. **THE SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE:** Thankfully, the service and atmosphere were the highlights of my visit! The employees were polite, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. One thing I found interesting was that the credit card machine prompted customers to leave a tip. That's not something I typically encounter at fast-food chains like KFC or Popeyes. That said, I'm happy to tip when I receive good service, and the employees here certainly deserved recognition for their friendliness. One of my favorite discoveries was the pair of old-school, coin-operated baseball pinball games! For just a quarter, you get to try hitting a home run by landing the ball in the hole. The best part? Regardless of whether you succeed, you still win a bouncy ball! I absolutely loved this little attraction! The employees were even happy to break my dollar into quarters so I could play. It's these little touches that make visiting a nostalgic establishment like Pioneer Chicken special. I also enjoyed looking through the old photographs and advertisements documenting the chain's history. There's something fascinating about seeing how a once-popular LA institution has evolved while holding on to its identity. **FINAL THOUGHTS:** From a food standpoint, Pioneer Chicken was a **2/5 experience** for me. The chicken was excessively greasy, the breading overwhelmed the meat, and the sides were disappointing. For a restaurant built around fried chicken, I expected much better. However, I'm bumping my overall rating to **3/5 stars** because of the friendly service, wonderful nostalgia, and preserved retro atmosphere. I think Pioneer Chicken is one of those places where the emotional connection is stronger than the food itself. People come here to relive childhood memories and experience a piece of LA history that has largely disappeared. I'm genuinely happy Pioneer Chicken is still around, keeping its legacy alive for longtime fans and curious first-time visitors like myself. I'm glad I finally experienced this iconic LA institution, but unfortunately, the food didn't live up to its nostalgic charm. **Would I return?** Sadly, probably not. While I loved the atmosphere and appreciated the employees, the chicken simply wasn't good enough to bring me back.

Man, I gotta tell you!…read moreI saw this spot featured by In The Kut on YouTube and I was hooked just by how the place looked. It had those old menus that just by looking at it, you KNOW the food is fire! This spot is located in the historic Boyle Heights area of L.A. At first, it was hard to find. It's next to a large BofA building that kind of hides it. Once we parked in the lot behind the building,e stepped out and immediately got a whiff of that grill! I stepped up and ordered the pastrami burger combo (burger, fries, and a drink). I also ordered the onion rings on the side, which I'll describe in a bit. The pastrami was nice and lean- not too fatty. I spread some ranch onto it and my eyes rolled back into my head after that bite! The ranch is thicker than others that I've had. There is also what looked like dill in it. The burger also came with a small side of spicy mayonnaise. It was perfect! Then I saw the onion rings. They are the size of a glazed donut! Just massive! 4 come in an order. That's probably enough. The breading is that smooth one- not the rough panko one. You know that one is going to slap! My whole meal was $24. Not too shabby. Bonus- they were blasting some oldies like Barbara Mason the whole time. You KNOW I'll be back! Shoutout to the young guy (I forgot his name!) working the register. He was really cool and friendly! I can't wait for our next visit!

Ok, maybe I had high hopes for this place, but I'm not I was disappointed either…read more To start off, the young lady behind the window was great. She helped me select a nice choice out of their burger selection. She was polite and very helpful in answering my questions., I picked the avocado bacon burger. Here is where the good and room for improvement could happen. To start the meat was very tasty with a nice bit of char, but a little on the dryer side. The bacon had good flavor as well, but the avocado was barely there. Don't get me wrong this taste like a backyard barbecue burger and I would definitely like to dry their pastrami burger next. Now as for their onion rings, it would be for the fact I took them to go, as they must have steamed in the bag and gotten a bit soggy. The batter was like a bear batter and loved the portions of onion to batter ratio. So minus being a bit soggy and oily, I still liked them. I think the highlight was the ranch dressing. I loved their ranch dressing for sure. Hahaha Now since I didn't stay to dine in, I can only say it was a hot afternoon and there was outdoor seating with some in the shade and some that you would definitely get your tan on. I'd definitely be back, and like to try their other selections.

There was a dead roach by the cashier window. The cashier didn't want to clean it up and didn't ask…read moreanyone else to, even after she said she would. I don't even like leaving reviews. Maybe add cleaning the area in front of the window to the cashiers duties. Other than that food is usually ok.

Lately I've been on a food tour of Los Angeles and my latest fixation is burritos. Of course I had…read moreto come and try Al & Beas. They're on every list. It's a small shop, very limited indoor and outdoor seating. There was a line even at 2pm. I was chatting with my fellow line mates and most of them have been coming here for years. They said the cheap prices, consistent quality, and familiarity keep them coming back. After trying their chile relleno and green salsa burritos i can agree. Simple food, simple recipes. I felt like i was eating my grandma's food. It tasted like the food I grew up on. Don't be shy, ask to share a table with someone when there are no seats. The patrons are friendly. I can't wait to go back. Tip: don't come here expecting to be in and out. They have a sign that says it perfectly "We don't make fast food. We make quality food as fast as we can".

Needless to say, like other positive reviews, best hot chicken in the US…read more But this review is specifically for their customer service. I recently had an issue with my order caused by a third party, and the team listened to my concerns and resolved the issue promptly. Everyone was incredibly friendly, attentive, and professional throughout the process. The team is amazing they deserve 10 stars.

One of the best Nashville hot chicken sandwiches I've ever had. Sometimes the line can be long and…read moreparking isn't always easy but this sandwich is worth it. It's a thick piece of chicken with crispy coating and the spice is so flavorful. The medium had me sweating! The place is more for take-out (I ate it in my car) but there is outdoor seating as well that's great for people watching

I went at night time Tuesday the girl was alone taking oder in the front and in drive tho. She is…read morestill having amazing customer service. The food was good. Kathy was her name will come back again. Hope they are treating her right.

What a wonderful surprise a very good location. Believe me…read moreeven though under same brand some are not nearly this good. Selena C. was cleaning dinning room, greeted me and rang me up while answering questions on rewards! What a great employee! Selena C. definitely deserves recognition: reward/raise! No I don't know her or anyone at this location. Yet I know good employees while by owning my own businesses and working restaurants and fast food! Good order fresh tasty zucchini. See pics!

This is my go to place when I am hosting at my home…read more Everyone always says the food is great. And in my experience the service is also great

The roasted chicken was amazing! I had a thigh, drumstick, and wings! I had the most perfect flavor…read moreand was cooked to perfection. The lady who helped me was so sweet and helpful! I will definitely go back for the chicken!

If I could rate this restaurant a 6/5, I would. These tacos are super delicious and I would go out…read moreof my way to get them! Can't go wrong with handmade tortillas and perfectly flavored meats! Ordered the Steak Picado (flank steak), Mole Poblano (shredded chicken), and Cochinita Pibil (shredded pork). Feel free to check out their menu, which will have more details about the fillings. There's plenty of seating inside with several tables; however, there's only street parking. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant. They serve some really great tacos!

1. The staff are joyful. 2. The music is poppin'…read more3. The stewed meat - especially the beef - is unique and full of flavor 4. The tortillas are made in house and PHENOMENAL Best i've ever had! 5. The tamale - OMG! The masa - also best I've ever had! 5. Know that the enchilada is unlike any enchilada we've had - I'd say it's just a larger taco. But the cheese enchilada is still delicious as a big taco. Looking for a late Friday night taco spot that was still open near DTLA. Hubby, and I ventured into Boyle Heights and went into one of the few places open. We did not come because of YELP reviews. We did not come because of reputation. We came in completely blind, and it was fantastic. Don't go expecting it to be fancy. It's not. But it's clean even if it's hard to find the wash bowl after using the bathroom. What it is is full of life, flavor, Joy, and just genuinely good feeling food. Like somebody's grandma's food. The 3 staff members working there were all senior citizens. But they had great energy and attitudes. The lady taking orders was extremely helpful explaining the menu, pointing out each item that we ordered on our sampler plate, and checking on us regularly. The other woman who was making the dough for the tortillas was working hard, as was the cook. My favorite memory is seeing the cook start jiggling and bouncing along to the merengue music, as my husband and I had been the entire time we were there. All of us just wiggling our hips fast to merengue, no words, just big smiles, cuz ... how can you not? While there I was able to see all of their accolades, learn that Guisados is a Boyle Heights staple, and that it is named for the term that means "stewed meat and vegetables." They have vegetarian options so if that's your lifestyle, wiggle your way to Guisados! Finally, the Jamaica agua fresca was on point!

Had the double cheeseburger with everything, fries were great! Service was fast and polite. Catches…read morethe essence of Los Angeles

Love this spot! Had a great 1st experience. Tasty food,…read moresuper friendly service, small restaurant offering covered outdoor seating. They have burgers, hot dogs, tamales and pastrami. Reminds me of The Hat. Great prices!! The chili cheeseburger was big, filling, and delicious! Fries and onion rings were perfectly salted and crispy! I was in heaven when I saw how much came in the box Get the orange bang! It's so good you'll want to get a large!

A small, unassuming, humble corner restaurant tucked away in Boyle Heights serving up the best…read morechicken omelette I've ever had. Stumbled across this place cause I was in the area for a job. Upon walking in, the vibes are very cozy and intimate, not a lot of seating though. My waiter, Gabriel, was extremely friendly, welcoming, and had very good knowledge of the menu which I appreciate a lot. Now back to the omelette-- oh my god. Best omelette in my life I think. The eggs were soft, pillowy and cooked to PERFECTION. Not overdone and not super runny either. The chicken was extremely tender and flavorful. The sauce they used was sweet and savory, the pickled onions balanced it all out with the perfect acidity. I wish I was around this area a lot more, I'll definitely be coming back!

A Boyle Heights gem! We came here for brunch and boy did this place exceed our expectations. CHECK…read moreTHIS PLACE OUT! We ordered the Huarache - 5 stars! (5 hour cooked suadero meat) Chilaquiles - 5 stars! (we liked one sauce over the other) Enchilladas - 4.5 stars! The place itself is small and cozy with a vibrant warmth of good vibes. DO expect a wait time and 2 hour metered parking is available out front. The service itself was amazing and all the food tasted like it was cooked from scratch. I loved the rustle and bustle of cooking noises in the background and my friend and I overall had a lovely time!

The best food and nicest workers amazing service The food is…read moretoooo good Super happy i stopped in Clean olace and big smiles

I went to grab some lunch and got the pastrami madness special. It was spot on - the temperature,…read morethe flavor and the portions were good. I will definitely go back for another.