4. Restaurants

Ezell’s Famous Chicken

501 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA, 98122
  • (206) 324-4141
  • Store is closed

Ezell’s Famous Chicken Menu

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  • Peter C.

    The Seattle Ezell's is a dive restaurant in a dodgy neighborhood that serves the best fried chicken in Seattle. What makes them special is their consistency and quality (and for me, their participation and connection to the community). Ezell's chicken is moist and meaty, and never greasy or oily. The service is efficient and simple, and the sides are good but nothing special. None of that matters. It's the chicken that packs them in and is the reason I keep coming back. The batter is first rate and is available in original or spicy flavors. I'm a fan of their chicken strips which I always order "half-and-half" so I can enjoy both flavors. If you're afraid to leave your suburban shelter and venture into the big bad city for some great local food, you can always hit up Ezell's in Renton or Woodinville.

    (4)

  • Corliss P.

    I recently came back and tried their spicy fried okra! So good! Perfect amount of spice, crispy, fresh and hot! It takes 10 minutes since it is made to order but it is worth the wait! We got half a pound and it was a very generous amount. Plenty for 2 or 3 people to enjoy and only 3 bucks or so. It even still tastes good when it's cooled down. I kind of wish this place had seating because it's a little easier than eating in the car but their food is delicious so I don't mind too much. I like how you can see them dredging the chicken in flour and batter so you know you are getting freshly made chicken! My usual is the spicy strips with ranch and a roll. Tender chicken and crispy coating with a little kick. The rolls were a little different this time. They were more airy for some reason but still good. For 1/2 pound of strips, a roll, and lots of fried okra it was only 10 bucks. I call that a pretty good deal. Their food truck comes to my campus every week which I am very happy about!

    (5)

  • Tan Lo S.

    I Love Ezell's chicken! The best in Seattle! :) Their mashed potatoes are the bomb. Not to mention their gizzards. I could eat that all day. I think their spicy is the best. I love going to Ezell's and it's family owned. I will go to Ezell's over KFC and Popeye's! Their biscuits are warm and soft. Ps. I don't mind the location

    (5)

  • Karin K.

    If you want cheap, good, quick food, you'll get it here. But don't think you'll get the best chicken you've ever had in your life for these prices. Their sides, too, are good, not great. I'm love chicken livers so I tried them here -- don't bother. They take forever and are overcooked and dry.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    You cannot eat here! Unless it's in your car... I had planed on dining in, but instead took home some of the better fried chicken I've ever had. The sides are well done too especially the sweet coleslaw ala KFC. I tried the spicy chicken which threw the taste off just a little - stick with the original when you first try it.

    (4)

  • Lee C.

    HO-LY CHIC-KEN!!! If I were a crack addict, this would be my crack. (that sounded wrong) But for some of the best F'in chicken...You have to find an Ezells. You need to go with the Spicy (its not THAT hot you pansy). You can get it as boneless and it's still pretty awesome. Snack packs are the way to go...cuz the buns are the bomb. Man, everything is good. I can't think of one thing to complain about especially since one is about to open right around the corner from me up in Bothell! Now I won't have to drive into the CD or Woodinville for this. It'll be blocks away. This chicken kicks that crap out of KFC and Popeyes...I haven't found another contender to come close.

    (5)

  • Kirsty G.

    I was hosting a gathering this weekend, and wasn't feeling up to cooking for 16, so I called up Ezell's. The person on the phone was efficient and helpful (if not particularly animated) and in 5 minutes I had a mess of chicken and sides ordered. The price was better than I expected (less than $10 per person) even with the delivery charge and we had plenty of food. The delivery person was great. She carried each dish in and advised me on how to keep the chicken warm in the oven since we woudn't be eating for a bit. The lunch was a huge hit, and everyone raved about how good it was. And, it makes great leftovers. ;)

    (5)

  • Anuj K.

    I feel like I have to write a review about this place because it's a couple blocks from where I live, and right across the street from Medgar Evers pool, so I smell it ever time I walk over to the pool to exercise. What a torture. The smell of fried chicken coats the air of the Central District because of Ezell's, and though I typically don't eat chicken, the $1.4 Monday special for 2012 has convinced me to stop by a couple of times. I've only tried the spicy, which isn't too spicy and it adds some flavor. I can imagine the original is just salty. The chicken is very moist and tender, and it's well-cooked. I'd go back, especially because it's so close. Worth trying.

    (4)

  • Doug T.

    I used to come here a lot in college.. I stopped when I had kids as the menu didn't really have anything for them.. they added chicken strips and pie since then so the kids love it.

    (4)

  • Jayme D.

    The best friend chicken EVER! This is a great place to grab dinner and bring it back home. You better have an empty stomach because the fresh scent of homemade bread is entrancing. I've had the both the spice fried chicken and the spicy chicken tenders. Both are moist and flavorful. The outside is breaded perfectly. It is crispy and delicious. I couldn't ask more from a friend chicken joint.

    (5)

  • Emily A.

    Ohhh Ezell's... I adore this place!! Fresh, juicy chicken tenders (I like spicy) with just the right amount of crispiness, a huge mound of crinkle fries, and a warm soft roll -- NEVER GETS OLD!! In addition, there selection of Faygo is a big plus. Love this place!

    (4)

  • Raemuz T.

    Delish!

    (5)

  • Charlene I.

    I won't even lie, the only chicken I've ever ordered here have been the strips, but I'm good with that! lol The 1/2 lb spicy strips w/ ranch & their homemade rolls make my life complete. The chicken is always perfectly seasoned and fried to perfection while the meat inside is still juicy. And the rolls; that's some of the best bread I've ever had, for real. Haha! Honorable menu items: fried okra, sweet potato pie The customer service is OK here... I don't usually get greeted by a friendly person, but my food comes out fast and delicious so that's all that really matters. LOL

    (4)

  • Dana D.

    A Seattle staple of excellence. The food lives up to their reputation of being the best, so good that Oprah Winfrey endorsed them! The menu is reasonably priced, and full of a variety of meal options. I highly recommend their spicy version of their fried chicken. If you're in the mood to treat yourself, or hungry for southern comfort -this is your place. DOWNSIDE: Greasy, greasy, greasy, but very delicious! *A great idea for catering a party, office function, ect.

    (5)

  • im j.

    They have a 1984 price ($1.40) promotion (Monday only), so I stopped by since I have not been here forever. Well, did not miss much from all those years. Quality is way down due to promotion ( I hope ) Many people in line for a Very dry and doughie, gummy crust check breast. It's freshly cooked, not that they are not just came out. The famous roll was palely white, also gummy to catch up with volume of people, I guess. Might try again but in the morning this time.

    (2)

  • Kimberly G.

    Despite the negative reviews, I decided to check this place out tonight. A line to the door is always a good sign; service was still fast and my order was ready in about 5 minutes. I ordered the snack pack: one piece (spicy breast), fries and a roll and a regular size fountain drink for $6.00. There was plenty of food, I was full from this. A regular meal consists of roll, two sides, and two pieces of chicken. I'd definitely like to try some of the sides next time or the dessert. How else do I say I'll definitely be going back? The roll was good and tasted fresh. The fries might be frozen crinkle cut fries but they were cooked great, hot, crispy and fresh. The chicken breast appeared small but had a lot of juicy, flavorful meat. The skin was where the spice was, it was crispy enough for my liking but not an extra thick layer of breading. I didn't eat a lot of it because it makes me feel like I'm still being healthy. My only complaint on this visit would be the absolute lack of any seating. I apologize to anyone who rode the #4 bus back downtown and had to watch me pig out in my seat. There was no way it was going to stay good on my ride all the way back to West Seattle.

    (4)

  • Gemma S.

    I come here for one thing, and one thing only--the spicy fried chicken. Rolls ain't biscuits, so be warned that they may not be to your taste (they sure aren't to mine), and do not bother with the gravy, it's tasteless muck, which is unconscionable for a fried chicken restaurant. But the chicken itself? I don't know that I'd call it the best I've ever had, or the best in the country, but it is Done Right. Go with the spicy. The regular is good, but the spicy is their specialty. One caveat: don't go right before closing time, unless you like all white meat. Real chicken eaters eat dark meat, so around closing time, they'll be fresh out. Prices are a little high, compared to the rest of the country, but if you live in downtown Seattle and you want good fried chicken, it's really the only game in town, and isn't everything in Seattle overpriced, anyway? Bonus: they have a parking lot.

    (4)

  • Kim C.

    Great chicken!! But it's not as spicy as we has hoped and we didn't know there wasn't seating at the restaurant. Luckily it was a nice day so we ate outside nearby. Sauce containers were pretty small and they charge 25 cents for more... But none of that makes it a bad restaurant, the food is GREAT just not overly spicy (which is what we were looking for)

    (4)

  • Bianca S.

    If Oprah gets Ezell's Famous Chicken Fed-Ex'd to her, it has to be good (true story). If you want some good fried chicken (regular or spicy), this is the place to get it. Their house made bread rolls are so soft and yummy that it's a must if it's your first time. The side selections are great and they have ones that other fast food joints won't have such as fried okra (which I love) or gizzards (yum!). If I know I'm ordering fried okra (or if you order gizzards), it's good to call it in because they're made to order and take about 10 minutes. By the time I get there, it's waiting for me and I place the rest of my order. The wait isn't long, even when there's a long line. The only setback is that this is a grab and go kind of place with no indoor or outdoor seating. It's actually a pretty small place. However, my friends and I are not strangers to eating in the car right outside in the parking lot (because we love Ezell's and can't wait to get home to eat it) since customers get one hour of free parking.

    (4)

  • Candi K.

    Came here after the sad defeat of the Seahawks against the Falcons. We needed some comfort food to lift our spirits so came to Ezells. Its been a while since I came here. Most def need to get the spicy (its really not that spicy but has more spices to it). and got the baked beans and coleslaw. I love their coleslaw, I like it when there's extra sauce. Their baked beans are also good (a little on the sweet side). I need to come here more often for my fried chicken needs.

    (4)

  • Clover A.

    I don't care what anyone says, this is some damn fine fried chicken. And yes, I have also had crack chicken from the quick mart on MLK & Jackson. Still, this is the perfect fried goodness for me. Other locations don't do it as well for some reason, or maybe I'm just nostalgic, because this is my favorite place for a hot plate of strips and fries with ranch and bbq on the side. Oh, don't forget an extra half dozen rolls, they rock.

    (5)

  • Scott S.

    Finally tried this place, but wish I had done it sooner. We ordered the spicy chicken strips on the person at the counter's recommendation. Plus a side of mash potatoes and gravy, which reminded me of the old school KFC version that I remember when I was a kid (in a good way). Keep in mind there's really no place to eat when you come here. Many people just stand behind their cars and eat from their trunk lids, which is what we did. We were in and out of there in 15 minutes at the most. Delicious. I'll be going back.

    (5)

  • Loreto M.

    Ezell's is just OKAY. Its not all that and I think their real claim to fame was Oprah talking about how much she loves their chicken. In all honest, the best part about their chicken is the size of the pieces that you get - their pretty big when you compare them to other fried chicken restaurants. As far as flavor is concerned, POPEYES has a much better flavor. If you take the 3 major fast food chains and Ezell's; I would rank it 1) Popeyes 2a) Ezells 2b) Churchs 3) KFC - and Ezells only has a slight edge on Churchs because the chicken is a bit more flavorful. I will say this though, Ezell's has some good gizzards. But some fresh gizzards from safeway can actually compete with them.

    (3)

  • Frine S.

    EVERYTHING has been great with my visits . I'm out of words, just what food is supposed to taste like !

    (5)

  • Kristi C.

    Ezells was the only place open after my cousins birthday last night. I had heard they had great chicken strips among other things. Boy were they right. They were fried perfectly, not to hard! I also had fried okra and it was also fried perfectly. In the past at other places the okra is often fried too hard for me but not at Ezell's. Looking forward to going back.

    (4)

  • Tnt G.

    We tried the Mill Creek location as I'm a big fried chicken fan and reviews have been positive. I'd say don't bother with the regular chicken as it lacked flavor (albeit with good crunch) but the spicy version is wonderful! I did not get the MSG vibe from the chicken or any of their sides, which is unusual but great for me as I hate the puffy feeling the next day. Beans had lots of molasses, potato salad was mashed with big chunks but tasty (sour cream?) and the cole slaw was great if basic. Rolls are soft and pretty darn good. Sweet potato pie was tasty- maybe some orange zest in it?Would I go back? Yes, but only for the spicy version. Oh, and the stuff reheats well if nuked lightly then baked at a high temp briefly. It retained the crunch, too.

    (5)

  • Ken V.

    I love fried chicken, so I keep an eye out for what locals recommend when I travel. Based on a recommendation I dropped by this location, waited in line, and ended up with what I consider a very solid experience. The chicken was cooked just right, still holding its juices. Sides were good.

    (4)

  • Monte C.

    Ezell's, I so want to give you five stars- more than I can ever say. I make the journey here sometimes two + times per week and buy dinner for my entire staff. I have forgiven the fact that you have made mistakes in at least 75% of my orders- given me the wrong sides or left out something over and over that I had paid for. I have forgiven the fact that your staff rarely say thank you or even look at the customers in the eye when they speak and rather tell you what to pay and hand you a receipt. I have forgiven the fact that you are always out of something I want- whether it is a style of chicken or the mashed potatoes but always something. I forgive it because at least you have still given me awesome chicken and delicious rolls. But, finally I give up and just cant forgive. The last four times I have taken time to drive all the way to your spot and get there and you have your open sign still on yet the doors are locked and it is still more than a half hour before your supposed to close. Last night I arrive at 9:20pm- you are supposed to close at 10pm. Open sign still on, doors locked. The park lot is full of people parking , walking up to the door and being locked out- full of people trying to give you business, at least ten cars of people during the short time I was there doing the same thing. But you close early. Within the last 3 weeks, this has happened to me at least 4 times. Do you do this every day? Why don't you change your closing time? When someone advertises that they are open til 10pm, I expect them to actually be open. I see this happens when people are slow- but your busy - people wanting to come in and cant. I will no longer be wasting my time hoping you are open- I thought closing times meant that was when you close. Once, twice even I could let is slide- every time - sorry, you just lost my business. I spent about $100 week with you at a minimum... that's over $5,000 year, gone.

    (2)

  • Melissa C.

    Definitely the best fried chicken in Seattle. But what REALLY impressed me was the fried liver, fried gizzard and fried okra!!! And their roll is so soft and delicious; a bit on the sweet side so I usually eat them as desserts :) Too bad this place doesn't have any seating in the store... Fried food is meant to be enjoyed while it's hot and fresh! And the location is a bit too unsafe to just enjoy the delicious chicken while sitting in a car parked in the lot (I almost witnessed a fight the last time I did that...) Now if only they serve waffles too... *day-dreaming*

    (4)

  • Dennis S.

    I love me some fried chicken and I especially love me some Ezell's Fried Chicken! Oprah also used to love her some Ezell's Fried Chicken, this is evidenced by the now faded photo of her that hangs on the wall next to the register haha. Light chicken, dark chicken... it don't matter, it's all greasy and good. I like to get mashed potatoes and corn for my sides, with a few packets of hot sauce to soak my chicken in. The employees of Ezell's Fried Chicken are hard working people and provide good service. Just be be a little cautious of the people in the parking lot at times, it can get a little sketchy.

    (5)

  • Danielle M.

    Omg! You really can find good soul food in seattle if you know where to look, and Ezell's is some of the best fried chicked Ive ever had! Crisp, flakey coating with just the right amount of spice is why opra gets these morsels shipped over to her. The rolls are light and fluffy and the other sides are delicious too. Thank goodness I got my meal fast, because I was hungry! Theyve got faygo soda here too if youre into those...

    (5)

  • Todd T.

    By far the best fried chicken I've ever had!! The way they get the outside so crispy and the inside so juicy, is a miracle of culinary science! But They get only 4 stars because I'm not a big fan of their sides. The mash potatoes and gravy are terrible! They taste bland! But the dinner rolls are the best! Definitely recommend Ezells!!

    (4)

  • Gary W.

    Every so often I revert to my southern roots and need to have either a fried chicken steak or fried chicken FIX. Today was one of those days when you need something deep fried with a follow-up bite of jalapeño washing it all down with cold Coors beer. I don't think I've seen so much fried chicken in my life, of course it's a Saturday night so Ezell's is stocking up for the rush. As I waited for my 8 piece + rolls, I could see into the kitchen and there was literally a table of dough for the rolls that must have been the size of baby's crib mattress. Ezell's is the best for carry out fried chicken.

    (4)

  • Jimmy W.

    Every once in awhile I have to have some of their chicken. It's quite good, and they have some of the biggest chicken pieces I've seen. Always get their spicy, because that's where the flavor's at. Their rolls are even better than their chicken too. The chicken is a little pricey compared to other fast-food places, but it's probably worth it, especially if you don't go too often/ Downside: their mashed potatoes and gravy are awful. Tried them once and ugh. Their okra is good, but expensive and takes a long time to prepare. Fries are just frozen crinkle-cut fries...nothing special at all. Of note, they just won an award for the country's most life-changing chicken.

    (4)

  • May N.

    Picked up an 8 piece family/group meal of the spicy chicken with some friends. I'd say it's pretty tasty, but nothing mind blowing. Better than something as generic as KFC for sure. The skin was a little salty for me, but still tasty. It came with rolls that were pretty nice, but also nothing out of the ordinary. Super fast service, nothing super special since it's kind of an in and out place. I think I'd probably give it a 3.5 if I could, but I can't bring myself to give it a full 4.

    (3)

  • Jaclyn Nicole B.

    I wish I didn't have to smell you every morning when I am hungover. I've only had your yam pie, which is so amazing... as for chicken, well I can say... People really like you, I'm a vegetarian, but because I can hear people, and see people all the time packing through your doors like you're handing out money I'll just write a review about how great you are. But seriously, you smell potent in the morning.

    (5)

  • J Todd S.

    A real shame, as we were expecting much better. And perhaps it was because this was from their food truck. But I've had much better fried chicken at Popeye's and KFC. The breading pulls right off the meat, was not flavorful or seasoned well, and was quite dry. The rolls were boring as were the fries. I admit to being a fried chicken snob, but this is not even close to being the best in Seattle, and certainly would never even compete in the deep south. Sorry, but I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Frankie O.

    This is more of a 3.5 than a 4. I picked up some chicken, mashed potatoes, and rolls here on Sunday. It was my first time trying Ezell's. I'm a fried chicken fanatic. When I lived in the south for a year, this is what I ate (Publix of course...I look like less of a blob than it sounds). There is no where to sit; you just run in order what you want and your food will be ready in less than 5 mins. I like this! Its quick, and I refuse to eat fast food in the restaurant seating area anyways. We got home, plated up our spicy chicken tenders, our dark spicy chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and the warm rolls. The dark spicy chicken was the best out of everything. The crust on it was phenomenal; this is the crust you are supposed to get on fried chicken. Very dark, crisp/crunchy, not too light not to heavy, doesn't fall apart from the chicken as you eat. The tenders were just fine, the mashed were not great, however the rolls were a perfect compliment to this meal! Quite sweet, nice enriched white bread in the form of a roll. There's not doubt I'll be back, but if there was a Publix here, there would be some competition. I'm sorry if this seems biased...just trying to make a relevant comparison.

    (4)

  • Tony T.

    Great place! The best fried chicken I have tried thus far in the West coast. I tried fried chickens in California and Washington, and I can see why Oprah recommends this place. This is really a gourmet fried chicken restaurant. This is a must try for anyone who is in town and wants a taste of Washington at it's finest. Their sweet potato pies are good too. The chicken is always fried to perfection. It's not too greasy. Service is quick and decent. The original is good but quite bland. I would recommend the spicy chicken. The rolls are just the best! Upon first bite of a roll, it's just so soft and fluffy, somewhat sweet, yet good enough to eat all day. I never get tired of it.

    (5)

  • Leah B.

    One should onlyl eat here like once every 3 months, or you will become a fatty mcfat-fat. BUT IT'S SO GOOD! Sometimes I just want to order a big bucket of rolls and hug them, but dont' want people to look at me funny. They're THE BEST! Spicey chicken is my favorite. After reading reviews that they have chicken strips, i may need to go back to investigate. The smell lingers in your car for about 4 blocks after you drive by. They also carry Faygo, for all your Insane Clown Posse needs :) Note: you can't actually eat at the 23rd ave location. Carry out only.

    (4)

  • King T.

    We were looking for something to eat for dinner, and my friend was RAVING about this place. He kept talking about how it was the greatest fried chicken ever, and that Oprah would fly this food to her whenever she had a craving for it. OK...fine. I was visiting, and even though there were 2358923857987 other places I could've gone in Seattle, I decided to trust my friend and go to Ezell's. It's VERY small...most people just came in to order and take their food home. The food was a little pricey for fried chicken. I ordered a few pieces of the Original fried chicken as well as mashed potatoes and rolls. Meanwhile, my friend decided to order like $25 worth of fried chicken and chicken strips. OK, it must be good if my friend was dropping down all this money on just fried chicken. Unfortunately, I am no longer listening to my friend when it comes to food, nor am I listening to Oprah. The chicken just wasn't good. There was no taste and it was super dry. The skin slid right off the chicken, which was annoying because I wanted to eat the skin WITH the meat. The mashed potatoes were pretty terrible as well. I'm not sure why people love this place, but I sure didn't.

    (1)

  • Stephanie M.

    Location, meh. Spicy fried chicken, AWESOME! The first time I had Ezells was leftovers from my boyfriend and I didn't think so much of it then. But finally, we got fresh Ezells--spicy chicken strips, biscuits, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, the works--and OMG I couldn't stop eating. I never knew that Fried Chicken could be so deliciously crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The biscuits were fluffy and buttery! Humorous note about the location. As we were leaving, a bulleted car pulled up behind where we were parked and asked this girl for her #. I was in the car secretly watching this interaction, but from the looks of it I think he succeeded! See now, Ezells is also bringing people together!

    (5)

  • Angela B.

    5 stars for the super cool absolutely amazing staff that work there, but 1 star for the food, equals a good 3 star rating. So I walk into Ezell's and everyone is super friendly and nice and make you feel like you are part of the family. The cashier gave me advice on what to order and answered all of my questions, and she was sooo nice, I really liked her. She let all the rest of the staff know I was an Ezell's newbie and had never tried their chicken before. The manager came right over and said hello to me. The cashier let me know that after I tried the chicken, if there was anything I didn't like, I could return it. Wow! I told her I was sure I was going to love it, and not need a refund. I asked for my chicken spicy, but there was no spice at all in it :( So sad cause I love spicy foods. The chicken was ok, I'm not a huge fan of meat with bones in it, so it was probably more "personal preference" than Ezell's cooking. They also don't have any place to eat/sit inside the restaurant, so I had to eat in my car. I understand though that they are right across from a high school, so probably if they put in seating the kids would stay all day long. But again, they made me feel so welcome and they had such great Southern hospitality, that I think I'd come back here just for the great customer service and positive attitude.

    (3)

  • Linda V.

    Friendly, Fast, Yummy enough. You know when your friends hype up a movie and tell you "OMG you HAVE to see it it's so amazing!!" so you have super high expectations going in and then are basically set up for disappointment? Wellll...this is what happened here. I had super high hopes for Ezell's, as I've been told it's Oprah's favorite fried chicken joint, it's the best fried chicken ever, etc etc. Truth be told, this place is good, and pretty fast. I got a combo meal with three pieces of dark meat + a biscuit/dinner roll like thing. I was with friends who got sides, and they were pretty good. The actual chicken was fine and tasty. Did it live up to its name? Ehh I honestly can't say so, but I mean it was good enough and satiated me fine. I'd come back if I'm in the area and craving fried chicken, but I can't say I'd go out of my way to drive out there specifically for Ezell's.

    (3)

  • Jennifer D.

    During my first visit to Seattle, my friend highly recommended Ezell's Chicken by saying "This is one of Oprah's favorite things. She had the chicken FLOWN to her when she was in Chicago and craved them!" Who's going to argue with Oprah? Not I. What my friend failed to tell me was that Oprah made this endorsement in 1994 (That's right. I googled this because I was so disappointed in the chicken). Things change after 18 years. I wanted to be a Power Ranger 18 years ago. There's not much to say besides: the chicken was average, sides were boring, but I did like the dinner rolls.

    (2)

  • Vi N.

    Ezell's, you were just alright. Not the worst fried chicken I've ever had, but nothing that makes me understand all the stellar reviews and the deep deep obsession that forces Oprah onto her private plane to get a bite. I've been told I need to eat the strips and not the bird, but shouldn't either be good for so many starry and happy reviews?

    (3)

  • Chris W.

    Things I love- Mostly the sides. Fried chicken livers, biscuits, gravy, mash, slaw, okra! etc. Not so much- The chicken (it was ok, but nothing magical), the oil (tasted like fish the last time i went), the price. If this was more in par with Popeyes' prices, I'd choose this every time. Right now, what it primarily has for me is location. Still a great local chain, but not God's gift to fried chicken.

    (3)

  • Matthew M.

    This time of the year my allergies make me kind of out of it. Most of the time I am in a twilight haze of fog. Somehow in this daze I ended up getting out of a car with a friend after work and walking into Ezells. I think this place has magical powers. The second I walked in I knew something good was going to happen, so I committed the corner streets to memory and we waited for the deliciousness that was about to ensue. Next stop friends house for movie and chicken. When we arrived, we didn't talk. We ate, actually, no I take that back, I don't think you eat this chicken. I think you meditate through happy trance like states of being while the chicken some how dissappears in front of you. My friends cat who hates me and I dont mean in the way that most cats hate people. This cat honestly would be very pleased with itself to kill me. I am nearly positive the cat is a ghost writer for the SAW series of movies and I am the cats muse. This evil cat was staring at me wantingly, so sweet and pathetic hoping beyond hopes I would give it just one bite. I didn't. I mean I thought for a moment sure for peace and brotherly catly love but then I just couldn't stop eating this amazing chicken. I actually thought for half a second if I gave this cat one tiny morsal we would be buds forever, go fishing together, tell jokes and eat donoughts in coffee shops until our twilight years. I just didnt care and so I am sure we are even worse enemies now. If I lived across the street I would gain 20 lbs just thinking about eating there every night.

    (5)

  • Alison V.

    So I really wanted to like Ezell's. I heard so much about it. Even Oprah loves it. It must be great, right? Overall, it's good. But nothing special. This is one of those places I'm not in love with but I default to when I want fried chicken instead of going to KFC. The past few times though my spicy chicken has been super bland and not at all spicy. And on one recent visit my mashed potatoes & gravy tasted yicky - there definitely was something not so fresh about them. However, if for no other reason to go here it's the dinner rolls. OMG, they are to die for. I really could just go here and order a bunch of rolls.

    (2)

  • Tramale T.

    Do you remember the first time you had sex? I remember it fondly. You were young and innocent. Your partner was gentle and sure. I was about 100 yards away with a camera. It was a night of passion neither I nor the Internet will soon forget. The internet never forgets. The way many of these reviews read from some of my most respected Yelper buddies, I would have thought I was going to have a "first time messing up a lady's lady parts" moment. That was not the case. If anything, I would say the experience was akin to--at best--an unexpected old fashioned in the back of a Volkswagen. Very nice, but not life affirming. Let me start with the neighborhood, because that seems to come up more often than other reviews. This location is supposed to be located in a "rougher" section of Seattle. I do not wish to offend or make anyone feel like I'm being critical of their assessments, but just because there is more than your average 1 black and/or hispanic person per mile average that you typically see in Seattle...does not a rough neighborhood this make. You want to see a rough neighborhood? Also known as "da hood"? If you want to see that come home with me during the high holidays and I'll take you to the east side of the city of Detroit where I grew up. Assuming you survive, you will note that Seattle doesn't have *anything* remotely resembling a bad neighborhood within its borders. True story. Anyway, I felt really good about Ezell's because, upon entry, you can clearly see that there is actually REAL chicken back there getting prepared for the frier. Oh happy days. None of that pre-fried, par-cooked, frozen BS that the Colonel or his cohort serves. No sir, this is real food being made very, very, very bad for you in the most natural way possible. I hope they're using a zero trans-fat grease to cook that chicken in. Ha-ha, fooled you! Eating fried chicken is like drinking a fifth and driving blindfolded. You are not trying to be "healthy" by eating deep fried chicken, so don't even attempt to climb up upon that high horse of yours. Just suck it up and get some plaque all up in those self-righteous arteries of yours. This is going to be good. Flavor wise, the chicken leaves a little to be desired. We actually found that reheating the chicken in the oven the day after turned out better flavor than on the day it was purchased. This could be because Ezell's prepares itself for volume by continuously frying chicken. If you go on an off day, you could possibly get pieces that have been sitting slightly longer than normal. This is all conjecture on my part, as I've not done the actual science to prove this hypothesis. The rolls are, as mentioned by others, exceptionally good. They also pair very well with the main product. Side dishes are a mystery, because they were completely avoided on the virginal voyage towards this fried chicken mecca. The peach cobbler and sweet potato pie, on the other hand, was sampled. Best I ever had? Hardly. Would I eat it again? Definitely. And, that's exactly how I feel about the chicken and how I'll end this review.

    (3)

  • Rhea M.

    We love Ezell's. Best fried chicken in Seattle, delicious potato salad and mashed potatoes and gravy to boot. Spicy batter is yummy! Some if The workers are super nice and friendly, while some are not so. Despite the lack of indoor seating, there is no better fried chicken in Seattle... Well, except at my house. ;)

    (4)

  • Crystal G.

    Ezell's is the shiz, but the employees are seriously lacking in customer service. I used to be able to get good chicken with a smile, not any more.

    (3)

  • Darth V.

    3 Clone Soldiers walk into a bar. The bartender takes one look at them and asks them what they want. They all reply in unison "Nothing. We're clones". Didn't crack a smile at that? Giving your screen a look of "Really, Vader, really?" right now? Congratulations, you have the exact same look on your face the cashier at Ezell's Fried Chicken had the entire time Lady Vader and I were in front of her placing our order (sans stupid non-joke), as well as everybody else in the joint as we knocked another item off the Foodie 100 list. Anyhow, more on that later. This place is located in one of the more ghetto-fabulous parts of town. With the possible exception of their Lynnwood location, this is the worst of them in terms of surrounding area. Let's put it this way: In the time it took us to walk from the Deathstar in the parking lot to the front door, we were accosted by someone asking us for either spare change or a piece of chicken. Yeah, I get that times are tough because the Rebellion keeps using all of your hard-earned credits to pay for their war against me. But maybe a person shouldn't be wearing a brand new pair of Nike's when they're panhandling. But that's neither here nor there. Point is, ambiance? There ain't any. Friendliness or customer service? There ain't any. Advice what the best sides are and what tastes good besides the chicken? There ain't any. A place to sit down and eat your chicken? There ain't any. So why the 4? I'll tell you why: Because the chicken and the biscuits are frickin' amazing. Stormtroopers who find themselves on Death Row due to following my orders should order this as their last meal. It's stunning the amount of insolence I'll put up with when you at least hand me something delicious to compensate for it. Each piece is perfectly cooked, and the breading is fantastic on both the regular and cajun varieties. 2 breasts can easily satisfy a hearty appetite (I'll leave you to concoct your own jokes from this statement; my gift to you). And if someone walked up to me and told me that the secret to why the biscuits are so delicious is because they are laced with the tears of tortured Gungans, I would believe it. As to the sides: Just be forewarned that when they say small side, they mean SMALL. We ordered small sides of corn and baked beans, and each tub was about 2 forkfuls. Good, but miniscule. The peach cobbler was substantial at the small size level, but it was fairly mediocre. Too much lard in it, peaches were obviously canned (I get that they are out of season, but in that instance, at least go with frozen). On the upside, they have fried okra, which made the Lady Vader squee (no, really, she literally "squee"'d - I guess she misses the South). One other complaint I do have is that it appears that all the chicken was sitting in plastic tubs near the deep fryer, but was not over any form of ice or cooling packs. I couldn't tell for sure, though. I don't know, maybe they just sell that much chicken to where they can get away with it, but it gives me some concern. If I end up with salmonella tomorrow, I'm calling the health department, going back there to carve all of them up just like I did the younglings after Padme dumped me....and severely reducing this review score. As it stands though? Spectacular fried chicken, and kudos to them for having the okra; so much so that I'm giving it a high rating in spite of its questionable location, the unfriendly staff, the small side portions, and the lack of any seating. 3.7 Deathstars (rounded to 4)

    (4)

  • Avian N.

    I guess Ezell's is okay if you're dying of hunger. A bit better than KFC, in taste, but probably not customer service, and that's saying something. The rolls are delicious, and the strips that I got would be more on the dry side, like they've been waiting out for a while. The mashed potatoes and gravy are grooooss. I've had better out of a box. If I'm going to take the plunge and inhale a crap ton of saturated fats to clog my arteries, it better count. And for that risk, I recommend not to resort to Ezell's.

    (3)

  • Tim G.

    If you're looking for fried chicken AND a scandal, look no further than Ezell's. If you're looking for really good fried chicken...check with your favorite blue-plate restaurant, because this place isn't what I would qualify as one of Oprah's Favorite Things. It's OK, but nothing great. The chicken doesn't really have much flavor and the sides are really lacking. But it is relatively cheap, fast, and the service wasn't rude or anything. So for that, they get a solid 3. I've had it a few times now, and it has ranged from 3-stars, to 1, but I would bet that more often than not, they are a 3-star establishment. Now I'll need to go taste test the Lake City location and see if the real flavor went with the original owner. Or maybe I'll just go to KFC or something.

    (3)

  • Adrienne R.

    We'd heard good things about Ezell's, so we stopped by on our way home from work. To start, this location has major parking issues. It actually seems to have enough parking considering the number of people in line (even on a busy Saturday night), so I don't know if employees park in the lot and take up spaces or if people park there and walk-off. Also, the people parking seem to have some issues with navigating the lot. Walking in, we were not aware there was no seating. No problem, we took our meal home. But it is something to be aware of. We ordered a half-spicy, half-regular 8-piece for 3 of us to eat. Those who ate the spicy said they liked it a lot. It could have been spicier, but it does have a kick. It was good fried chicken. It is better than many locations and the cost is on par with any location you might just get fried chicken at (such as KFC). For about $25 we got dinner for 3, and leftovers for 1 at lunch and 2 at dinner. It was really good as leftovers, too. We ordered sides of mashed potatoes and gravy and fries. The potatoes and gravy were okay. The fries were okay. However, if you combined the gravy with the fries, it was spectacular. And it was a great base for a yummy poutine... We wanted to try the sweet potato pie, but we refrained. Next time. Because there will be a next time. Next time we'll get sweet potato pie, fries and gravy. And fried chicken.

    (4)

  • Dae Y.

    oh how long it's been Ezell! i can't believe it's been this long. i missed you! i shared a mixed white/dark 4pc w/ potato salad and corn selected. since it only comes with 1 roll, i got an extra order of rolls. those little rolls are the tastiest little buggers to go with their fried chicken. ordered spicy also. but i think they could up the burn level and i would like it even more! parking lot is one way, so don't turn in from the 23rd side. and when i happen to go there was no line. i was in and out very, very quickly with my delicious meal.

    (4)

  • Hunter E.

    Best spicy fried chicken we can ever remember having!

    (5)

  • Swim K.

    I tend to believe two things with people that Yelp too much. They are babies and love to do half stars. Get's on my nerves but I am getting ready to do both. Ezell's is simply okay. I'm from the East coast and have lived and/or been in Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte, Alabama, Jacksonville, Macon, GA, South Carolina and Tenn. so I am biased. Despite the weak Oprah endorsement the best fried chicken I have tasted at a restaurant is hands down Glad's Knight's Chicken and Waffles in Atlanta. Ezell's gets three and a half stars from me. I know fried chicken is not the best food for you so they lose half a star for showing me how they cook the food. The food is best so I do not want to see it being deep fried. They also lose another half star for the measly sitting area. The final half star is lost for the shorta, kinda, not that that great facility. Just feels not as clean as it should be for a restaurant.

    (3)

  • Champika F.

    Delicious fried chicken. The chicken tenders are amazing and the french fries are perfect. So good... I wish they existed on the East Coast as well.

    (5)

  • Shannon R.

    Ezells. Could this unassuming eatery with graffiti'd walls truly be home to Oprah's favorite fried chicken? I'm not a huge Oprah follower or fan, but I can see she's had her fair share of the finer things in life (and like all yelpers, loves to share them). Well, the first time I went, I honestly thought they forgot to put salt in the batter. It was the blandest chicken I've ever tasted. However the crispiness and crunch are perfection. And when paired with their very tasty sauces, I can see how this can quickly become an obsession. Only 3 stars for the hazy stupor one falls into after eating there, and the giant pimple I get each time I indulge in that much grease.

    (3)

  • Goodie M.

    Spicy is the business. then i made my chipotle honey sauce for dipping 1 tsp chipotle adobo sauce (from the canned chipotle) 4 tsp honey a pinch of cinnamon

    (5)

  • Quinn I.

    Although I will probably never allow myself to eat a1/2 pound of chicken tenders ever again, I have to say Ezell's made them pretty darn amazing! Probably some of the best fried chicken I have ever had, and the sides were equally fatteningly delicious. Everyone needs to do this once in their life, really. People of Seattle: Head to Ezell's, grab your food (everything is to-go), hop across the street to the park and eat yo' chicken!

    (4)

  • Sy S.

    I went back two weeks ago and was very disappointed. Chicken was not fried fresh. It was hard-crispy like it had been under heating lamps for a few hours. Thus the meat was also not juicy. The only reason why I keep returning to Ezell's is because it's the most convenient place to get chicken in the Cap Hill/CD area. And I got a better look at the Oprah pic. That endorsement is from, like, 1989.

    (2)

  • Thai D.

    After hearing about Ezell's for months, I finally tried it two weeks ago. And then had it twice in the same week afterwards, and including (and especially) on my birthday. HOLY SNAP this chicken is GOOD! The skin on the spicy... lord, that's some good stuff. Makes me believe there is a god. Oprah's smiling picture by the cash register has a hand-written essay written by the weight-shifting mega-host that reads "I don't know what's better, the chicken or the sweet potato pie!" So I tried the pie. Whoooo! That's some of the best sweet potato pie I've had. Man, I wish fried chicken was good for you, because I'd eat Ezell's everyday. It's that damn good. I'm glad I don't live next door to Ezell's, because I'd become obese in less then 6 months. I don't watch Oprah, I don't read the books she recommends, and I don't care if she's the most powerful woman in America, all I can say is that bitch knows her fried chicken!

    (5)

  • Joshua B.

    Finally, some fried chicken like I remember growing up on the east coast. Perfect amount of greasy fried breading (not all crumbly and hard) and juicy, mouth watering chicken (cooked right) on the inside. We got a whole mess of stuff from here for a party we had at our house and no one was disappointed (except maybe the vegetarians who had to suffice with salad, hummus and crackers - sucks to be you). I will echo what others said about the sides. The rolls and mashed potatoes were good, but not great. The fried gizzards and okra were tasty, though. The fried okra in particular were very spicy, but in a good way. I'd liken Ezell's fried chicken to the food at Popeyes or Roy Rogers (if you're old enough to remember those) only a little bit better. I'll definitely be going back again, just maybe I'll wait for the arteries to clear out.

    (4)

  • Denea Y.

    My favorite cheap meal in Seattle? Some Ezell's spicy fried chicken drumsticks (you get to choose whatever pieces you want), their mouth-watering biscuits, and some overly sweet unnaturally colored soda. I've never eaten true Southern fried chicken, but Ezell's is the best I've had. (Even better than my hometown Kansas City's Strouds,' which I may get beaten for.) There's a tiny parking lot for this fast food joint, but I've never had trouble nabbing a spot and the food comes up lickity split.

    (5)

  • J S.

    Meh. Overrated and overhyped. Ezell's only claim to fame is once upon a time back in the early '90s Oprah paid a visit, got piggy over their chicken and was rumored to have it flown to Chicago on a regular basis. Ezell's chicken is nothing to write home to Mom about (whose fried chicken is ten times better). I haven't tried any of the sides but like I said, the chicken is just ok. The space is to-go only so you'll either eat in your car or take your meal home with you and the staff have that East Coast attitude: curt, concise, crabby and sometimes intimidating. Honestly, I prefer KFC crispy over Ezell's (I know, sacrilege). However, Ezell's is a Seattle institution which is why I give it three stars and (like Dick's burgers) they serve up a mediocre product with elevated expectations due to hype and standing in Seattle. Yet whenever I'm on this side of town I do make an effort to visit for a chicken breast. Go figure.

    (3)

  • Daniel N.

    This place is good, I like the spicy fried chicken. The seasoning with that hint of spice is what makes me a repeat customer. The original recipe tastes okay and so recommend on getting the spicy recipe because that is unique and won't find anywhere else in Seattle

    (4)

  • Kris C.

    Definitely get the spicy vs original, it's not hot at all and has much better flavor. The sides are awesome too...mashed taters, BBQ beans and cole slaw...Mmm!

    (4)

  • Cheri H.

    Oh so good....The chicken, the batter, and the rolls. Yummmm.

    (5)

  • Brandon G.

    This is the best fried chicken restaurant I have ever been to. The chicken is perfect. It comes in two flavors, spicy and original. I highly recommend the spicy. Its so juicy and the breaded outside is just perfectly crispy. Last time I was in Seattle I had to stop here on my way to the airport because I had meant to go the entire time I was there and wasn't able to and I wasn't about to leave until I got my chicken. The bread pudding is delicious and the coleslaw is great as well. One of the best and most amusing thing about this place is that it is in kind of a rough neighborhood in Seattle, on a street corner and looks like a dive. They have no seating and just an aisle when you walk in to go and order and pick up your chicken and thats about it. The people who work there where BIG black shirts that say things like "GOD IS GOOD" on the front and "ALL THE TIME" on the back... My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

    (5)

  • Elaine J.

    The rolls are delicious, the strips are awesome. *Shrugs...Not much else to say. Not greasy, just right.

    (4)

  • Tyler M.

    Oh my GOD. The end.

    (5)

  • Kim-van T.

    Looks like this is the popular after school spot for the high school students right across the street. How'd this place make it my food list to Seattle you ask? Well.. you can't expect to eat fancy and expensive every night! Especially when fried chicken just sounds so good! Plus I read all the reviews about the killer fresh baked rolls - how could I pass that up?? I wasn't sure what to order but the three high school girls in front of me all ordered the same thing - the half spicy chicken strips with fries and roll - so I followed suit. The bf got the three piece spicy dark meat meal with roll, baked beans, and corn. Our food came out super fast and we rushed to the car to take it back to the hotel (no seating inside folks). YUM-MY. The crust on the fried chicken is so yummy! I wish the chicken had been a little bit spicier though. The rolls are so light and fluffy - I can see why they're considered a "Seattle favorite". A little bit out of the way if you're staying in downtown but if you're craving fried chicken Ezell's can't do you wrong.

    (4)

  • Brian L.

    Is it bad to say that I'd rather have Popeyes? I mean, don't get me wrong, their fried chicken is perfectly moist, decently flavorful and most importantly, FRIED; but still, it could be better seasoned, and when I ask for spicy, dammit I expect some heat! Rolls = four stars; Baked Barbeque Beans = three stars; Carry-Out Only = half star deduction. p.s. My first night in Seattle, a local told me "you gotta try Ezell's. But don't go alone. Or at night." I laughed and went anyway- you know what, this place is far from hood. But then again, unless you're hardcore like us folks from The Go, you might reconsider.

    (3)

  • a a.

    Had spicy four piece with slaw and beans... No dining area... Moist chicken, but not enough flavor. Tiny side dish portions. Nothing special at all... Probably won't go back.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth W.

    One day, today, I got a jolt of hankering for good traditional soul fried chicken. So where is my place of choice? Ezell's! I was so dedicated to my cravings that I took a half an hour ride alone on public transit from downtown to this area called Central District that I never visited. I tried the Ezell's chain up in Lynnwood, but I heard that recently they closed down. That's the saddest news I heard all month. I can't help but mourn. But, my love for Ezell's will never die, and neither will the other Ezell's chain. There surely will be a huge protest riot if Ezell's was to close down in Seattle. After coincidental meetings with weird annoying individuals, I reached this block of a spot. Don't ever come to this neighborhood alone, especially if you're a female in her late teens. There might be people waiting for your doom, LOL (I tried to make it sound less serious by adding a lol). SO I went all out. I ordered two pieces of spicy dark chicken (thigh and breast), two sweet rolls, one slice of sweet potato pie, and one small peach cobbler. The lady that was at the cashier made me feel so inappropriate when she keep asking me to repeat the order, I kept saying over and over, "thigh and breast, thigh and BREAST, THIGH AND BREAST". Just so you know, ordering parts of chicken can make you feel like a phone sex operator. All of that only was ~$11. What an awesome deal! Remember that this place is only for to-go, no seating anywhere. Unless you want to eat it on the parking lot, I suggest take it home. The chicken skin is my favorite part of all, so crunchy, so good and greasy. The "spicy" was all in the skin, you can taste the spices. In contrast, the meat was tender and oily (unlike the hard dry ones you get at KFC), made all of my fingers drenched with oil, still finger-licking good! The sweet rolls aren't as good as I remembered them to be, but still pretty damn good. Eat them hot! Right out the oven! I want to eat my chicken with hot white rice, but I was too lazy to cook them in the rice cooker :( plus, I can't risk getting my chicken all cold and soggy. The peach cobbler you must get! The pie crust is nice, cinnamon was all over the place. Slight sweetness from the canned peaches, they don't necessarily look beautiful, yet, it tastes like fast food heaven. The sweet potato pie wasn't tasting like sweet potato, it was okay compared to the peach cobbler. The crust was quite burnt, smokey flavor. But, once the cravings hit, the first on my mind is Ezell's. I'll never betray you darling, no more affairs with that white-haired Colonel. He's the past, you are my now!

    (4)

  • Lisa V.

    It comes to mind the oh so lyrical poet of Sir Mix-A-Lot when I visited Ezell's over the weekend..... Every time we do, the sucka M.C.'s wanna battle-- I'm the man they love to hate, the J.R. Ewing of Seattle-- Picked up the posse on 23rd and Jackson-- headed for the strip, yes we're lookin' for some action-- the limo's kinda crowded, the whole car was leanin' back-- Maharaji's watchin' T.V. with two girlies on his lap-- And even thought we were a block off 23rd & Jackson..... it wasn't quite the bumpin' scene as this 'hood was probably even 5 or 10 years ago. Let's be honest, I wouldn't have been going to Ezell's then. But this is the place that Oprah raved about in the 80's and I have always wanted to try it. And now with the gentrification of the city, one of my best girlfriends owns a condo about 15 blocks from there. Yep. So the chicken.... It was good. Kind of Roscoe's good. Its greasy and you def want to call Mama and take a nap afterwards. Well, we felt kind of queasy too, as we just inhaled all that grease, but def a Seattle institution that I'm glad I finally checked out. Who knew there were so many locations of Ezell's!

    (4)

  • Angela Y.

    This is the best fried chicken I have had in years!! They were super crispy and even after you ate the skin, the inside is juicy with flavor. The gizzards and livers were great too. The only complaint I have is they don't have any seating area, but that certainly doesn't stop me from going to this place!

    (4)

  • Lc C.

    This sh!t right here! This sh!t right here! Is FIRE! I think I might know of a secret ingredient Ezzels uses inn there oohh so famous spicy fried chicken... its LEMONGRASS... I'm Chinese with a complex palate and to my goodness gracious truth, I can taste lemongrass in the spicy chicken. I've eaten there for many years now and I am certain, oother than that I LOVE Ezells!!!

    (5)

  • Melissa V.

    I work up the hill at the hospital and we have few food options for our lunch breaks on the weekends. I discovered this place through word of mouth and gave it a shot. Loved it. I stop by at least once or twice per month. I've tried the regular chicken, but found it to be too hard on my stomach.( I think too greasy for me) However, the chicken tenders are awesome and don't leave me weeping in pain on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night. The prices are way reasonable and the portions are big. I always spring for a few extra rolls, because they are the bomb. Service is pretty quick, which is good, because they are almost always busy. Everyone has been nice on all my visits. I'll keep coming back .

    (4)

  • Martha T.

    Ah Ezell's. Can't go wrong with fried chicken. This place always delivers when I am craving fried chicken. Tried the desserts once, it was alright. The slices of the pies were so small though for what you pay.

    (3)

  • Mario L.

    myself n a friend were caught in traffic trying to get to Ezell's due to a combination of football season for the UW Huskies/Seahawks game, and a populace of inept drivers who were probably tweeting about the game. having just arrived from Europe my friend was getting irrate/frustrated at the sluggish backup: "ALL I WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW IS EAT FRIED CHICKEN, DRINK SOME BEERS, N WATCH TRUE BLOOD!" u do not want to mess with someone n their homebody obsessions. these r the real road rage threats to society- people whose only solace after a 9 to 5 job is cemented by a rush to c the finale of Breaking Bad or some other spellbinding program. we eventually got to Ezell's with a fervent lust so deep it could reach in to the pits of hell n b fried. i like Ezell's bcuz there's no pretense about it- most people LOVE fried chicken (even the guilt ridden/knowing people who don't/won't tolerate animal abuse n the fucked up food system that feeds our crispy chicken lovin faces) but we thought there n then that nobody could love fried chicken more than us. okay, we have to include Oprah in the circle bcuz every time u look at her framed portrait signed n up on the wall next to the counter, before u make an order u think to yourself, "how do u eat fried chicken Oprah? do u love it more than i do? u can't! i secretly think that i love it more than u do but that's my pride talking so how about we compromise? u love original more than i do n i will love spicy more than u Oprah. k, we got this. *hugs*" at the counter my friend ordered chicken n then when it was my turn my tongue was tied- "umm...i think, i think...i want....uhhh...ILL HAVE THE CHICKEN!" memories of being indecisive as a child for reasons which included having decisions about ordering McDonald's Happy Meals dictated for me surfaced from the popping fry oil of my past. in a miraculously fast fashion, our order was processed n ready in 2 minutes. we were amazed at the alacrity (lol, alacrity- i sound so smart using big words: alacrity alacrity alacrity!) of Ezell's ability to temporarily satiate the unsatiable lust for finger lickin comfort food. we went home, sat down in the living room, ate Ezell's, drank some PBR's, n watched a couple episodes of True Blood, while i wondered between bites of chicken what it would take to give up this delicious convenient contradiction.

    (5)

  • Emily A.

    This place smells better than it tastes. Fried chicken is bland... It needs more seasoning/flavor and I'm not talking about spicyness. There are other tastier fried chicken, as sad as it is I think KFC is more flavorful. The French fries are boring too, I think they might be frozen and just stuck in the oven or fried

    (1)

  • Melissa N.

    I love fried chicken and this sure does hit the spot! Spicy fried chicken here is bomb.com by far one of the better spots in town to get chicken. Their rolls are not so bad either. Service was friendly and quick just the way I like it. YUMMO

    (4)

  • Andrea P.

    I was here recently for a convention, and I listened to you fellow yelpers and decided to try this place with my boyfriend...well I was wrong.. One night, we went over to try it and wow were we disappointed! We went in with expecting some good chicken..what we had seemed to be Fried chicken that looked like frozen at first then deep fried. How sad! The service was okay, the lady in front was pretty helpful but looked like she was stressing out about orders ahead of us. The food was nothing but a disappointment, the chicken tasted like it was cooked, frozen then deep fried so it left a SUPER greasy mess...not my taste. The mac & cheese had no flavor and came in a super small container..when I think of SMALL i dont think of "sample small" If there's anyone in Seattle reading this and can point me to a better chicken place, i'd love it! This place was nothing but a HUGE disappointment.

    (1)

  • Kayan H.

    Had the spicy 2 piece dark meat dinner. Yum!! I tried four sides and this is the order of my favorite to least: potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, mashed potato w/gravy. I loooove mashed potato w/ gravy so was disappointed that it wasn't delicious, but everything else was so good that I forgave them. The chicken wasn't super spicy and the breaded skin was perfect texture and crunch. Great meal for $6.50! No wonder Oprah loves it! I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Jenny T.

    It's all right. I don't see what all the hype is about. There's not even a place to sit.

    (3)

  • Kathy A.

    More of a 3.5/5 review. I'm not a huge fried chicken fan, but Ezell's is pretty darn good. This is far better than KFC (although I do love their biscuits). The rolls here are really tasty and the chicken is succulent! Also, I don't know what it is about the baked beans here, but I LOVE THEM! I could eat them nonstop for days.

    (3)

  • Chi N.

    Oh MUh, Ga!* Their Spicy Chicken is da BOOOOMMBBB. They are real crispy on the outside and the spiciness is not sinus-DRANO spicy but enough to want a cup of water near by. The spicy chicken has a good unique flavor to it and the meat inside is fully cooked yet soft n' juice-ay. I personally like the drumstick. I also recommend getting the slaw, it has a surprisingly refreshing flavor. The mashed potato was ok, wasn't the greatest. I also tried their fried okra which has a semi-crispy fried layer on the outside, gooey okra on the inside. The seasoning tastes similar to their regular fried chicken batter. I like okra but I wasn't too crazy about it. People mentioned service issues here.. Personally, their service should not hinder anyone from trying their fried spicy chicken... One bite and you realize that stale look of the employees was worth enduring. You cannot dine in here anyway. so order nOOOW and take 'em to your belly where they belong. *Ga means chicken in Vietnamese.. I think?!

    (4)

  • Michelle Y.

    Um. How can I justify giving 5 stars to a fried chicken joint in the middle of Central surrounded by weird creepy people. How is it possible I can rate it that high. Let me think. Oh yeah...the chicken is frickin' delicious and cheap and if you need greasy chicken to shove in your face then this is the place to go. Once I found out about Ezells I went there nearly every other night for several weeks which is both sad and amazing at the same time. I prefer the dark meat spicy 3 piece combo myself. The rolls are alright (they become much more edible when you slather butter on them). The pie is decent too...but its definitely the chicken. Even Oprah likes it...How can you disagree with Oprah?

    (5)

  • Henry W.

    I don't know how this place got such a high star rating.. unless everyone likes dry, lukewarm fried chicken. I'm from the south and even the HEB Grocery Market has better fried chicken. The chicken strips were drenched in oil and still dry, overcooked, and lukewarm. Pretty much the only thing I tolerated were the rolls.. crisp on the outside, soft on the outside, and buttery sweet. Another negative was being accosted in the parking lot right after exiting our car by four bums for money.

    (2)

  • Jasmine M.

    Baked beans baked beans baked beans! The fried chicken here is definitely better than KFC and I am very impressed by how clean the kitchen looks too and how efficient they are. However, the best side dish for me here was the baked beans that tasted homemade and had the right tangy taste to it. I got to say, I was a little disappointed by their mashed potato that didn't taste as fresh as it should. My husband thinks that they microwaved it. If you are a huge fan of fried chicken, you should definitely check this place out. Keep on eating, diners!

    (4)

  • Andy W.

    Having had a lot of great fried chicken in the south, I came to Ezells hoping for the best after hearing all of the hype, but I left fairly unimpressed. The fried breading was way too thick and hard, and it wasn't particularly bursting with flavor or spice. Very dry. And the mashed potatoes were similarly disappointing.

    (2)

  • Seong P.

    Ezell's was our last stop before heading to the airport. I got a spicy breast and drumstick with coleslaw and potato salad. The chicken was juicy and flavorful enough for me although I didn't find it spicy. The sides were ok but not special. I would request that Ezell's be included in any future Seattle trips.

    (4)

  • Cameron B.

    Stopped by today to give the chicken a try. It happened to be a throwback deal where I picked up 2 pieces of dark and a roll for the circa 1984 price of $1.40. I added a 1/2 of tenders. Must say its some of the best fried chicken I've had, and service was fast! Plan on taking your food to go as there is no seating provided.

    (4)

  • Philip R.

    Finally got over to try Ezell's and it made me a fan! The woman at the register offered up the nicest greeting I've encountered at any Seattle business. I was out the door with my order in 90 seconds. The aroma filled the car- I almost had to pull over and dive in, but I exercised self control on the one mile drive home. The spicy breasts were succulent with an appropriate heat factor and fantastic crunch. Just greasy enough to lubricate the lips and require finger lickin'. The rolls are a delightful sponge of white bread nostalgia. The slaw was good, but its slaw. I'll be back for sure!

    (4)

  • Robb M.

    Best fried chicken I've yet had in the PNW. Only edible fried liver I've found west of the Mississippi. Service is always friendly and fast. The mased potatoes and gravy are a bit mass-produced tasting, but the other sides are all good. The chicken pieces are much larger than I find most places.

    (4)

  • Jacob R.

    This is Ezell's chicken we're talking about here. How have you not heard of this place? Why are you wasting your time reading reviews of this place? Go eat there now! Seriously, best fried chicken in town. Anyone who tells you otherwise has NO idea what they're talking about. It's all about the bun and getting it spicy. Trust me, get it spicy. The spicy has much more flavor. As far as the sides go, who cares about the sides? They're ok, but the chicken is as good as it gets. P.S. Get it spicy.

    (5)

  • Mairead R.

    Four people and a television marathon = family bucket of spicy fried chicken, buttery rolls, sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, coleslaw, and mashed potatoes and gravy. The chicken has a phenomenal crust, light and flaky but very spicy. (The regular is good but spicy is superior.) Their rolls are Parker House style, very buttery and best eaten straight out of the bag. While sweet potato pie is certainly a good speciality, the peach cobbler is a dense, sugary mess of amazingness. Sides aren't all spectacular but I'm hardly one to say no to comfort food.

    (4)

  • Dub N.

    Supposedly this is very popular place within Seattle. I liked the spicy way better than regular! The COLESLAW is the best! Don't get mashed potatoes! Peach cobbler was good, but really sugary, not the best ever. Price could be cheaper, but whatev, its good.

    (4)

  • Nerick M.

    I absolutely love fried chicken, especially the type with the succulent meat and the well-seasoned crispy skin. So when I heard that Ezell's is the place to go for this type of fried chicken, I had to check it out. I'd give it an A-OK rating because I feel that although it is delicious, it's lacking something. I've been by all three locations (Renton, Skyway, and Central District, mostly). The service is always nice and fast. I do enjoy the variety of sides they have to accompany their main dishes. If you go, be sure to try the fried okra and their best side.....THE ROLLS! They make these rolls to perfection.

    (3)

  • Hawkstothesuperbowl G.

    In my opinion, this is one of THE most overrated places in ALL of Seattle. Sure, it's good fried chicken, but that's about it. Is it THE BEST? No. My review for it would have been worse if that one lady who worked the cash register was still working there. Extremely rude and unprofessional but shes gone now so whatever. The new lady cashier is extremely nice and friendly and always smiling and calling everyone "baby" and "dear". This place is good but it's not GREAT like many people claim it is.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Everyone who knows me knows that I love fried chicken. I mean, Popeyes is listed as my last meal on earth on my Yelp profile. So how excited was I when my friend told me about Ezell's? Favorite chicken of Oprah? SIGN ME UP. Walking into the restaurant, you see no tables to sit in. No nonsense fried chicken I was thinking...My expectations rose. Tried all four pieces (thigh, breast, leg, and wing) and all I have to say is..."Meh. I've experienced better." Yelp could not have put it a better way. It's fried chicken. It's good, but it's nothing to really brag about. The best way to put it, is that it's just fried chicken. Salt and Pepper is all you really taste. No butter taste and the batter isn't something special either. It's right next to Seattle University so I can see how it can be popular with the college students around here, but it's pretty expensive for fried chicken, so I don't see how they could afford it. I'm very disappointed Seattle. I think I'm just going to go to Popeyes in Tacoma.

    (2)

  • Shayne P.

    Our meal: 3-piece original chicken meal, mashed potato & gravy, coleslaw, fried gizzards, and sweet potato pie. If you're in need of fried chicken, but KFC is too far for you, visit Ezell's on 23rd & Jefferson. The parking lot is small (entrance on Jefferson) and the night we were there, it was packed! The chicken was delicious, but the sides were too small - enough for one person (I guess I was dreaming about KFC portions... oops!) The gizzards were alright, if you're a fan, they have better ones at Pike Place Market at this Chinese stand near the gold pig. If you're not, you must get the sweet potato pie! Do it! Will we come back again? Maybe - if i'm in desperate need of a fried chicken fix!

    (3)

  • Victor L.

    Ezell's is the real deal. Spicy is the way young Padawan... It don't get more Seattle than this, my friend.

    (5)

  • Felicia C.

    The fried chicken fell short of its legendary reputation- more greasy than crispy, and a little tough from overcooking instead of moist. However the sides are really great, cole slaw, potato salad, bread pudding, peach cobbler, etc.

    (4)

  • Felipe L.

    Fried chicken at its best, greasy but yummy... just consider its take out only. Pie was good as well.

    (4)

  • Robert S.

    So one of the best things about KFC closing on Capitol Hill, is that I don't even miss it !!! Because that means we have Ezell's every time no questions asked, if we are having Fried Chicken it is Ezell's Like last week I Was in the mood for Fried Chicken, so my partner went and got us some Fried Chicken with the works, Rolls, Greens, Baked Beans, Smashed Taters and Gravy, also he got some BBQ and some Peach Cobbler to finish it off now for me it is the Spicy Chicken, but it is all good it has always been nice and juicy and of so good, just doing this review is making my mouth water for more Spicy Chicken and some of that Peach Cobbler We are in Need of a late night Ezell's for that after midnight Chicken Cravings

    (5)

  • Charles M.

    8 piece spicy chicken - great! rolls were good, too. potato salad very good. even though i asked for cole slaw, i was given mashed potato with gravy. it tasted like old grease, so it was thrown away. fries were good as well, served unseasoned. food was hot and fresh. i did not like having to pay .25 cents for each pack of hot sauce, so i opted to buy a bottle for a dollar across the street. i would go back....cause the chicken was damn good.

    (4)

  • Kimberly C.

    Fried chicken place where Oprah special orders? Of course I'll try some. Was told before we went here that place wasn't as good as it used to be after the original owner passed, but I still had to try it. We ran through the rain to order the chicken, original style, some rolls and a snack pack. The ladies at the counter were very nice and very helpful. The chicken was good. Nothing special though. I've had better at some other places. The rolls were so soft and fresh. I could've had more of those any day. I'm not sure if I'd make it a point to specifically go here if I am back in Seattle (seeing as it's down the road from my brother's house, it could be likely). People in the parking lot are sketchy, do watch out.

    (3)

  • Ben S.

    There is a reason Oprah has it sent to her to Chicago.. Best fried chicken. Get the large spicy won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Aaron F.

    I came here by recommendation of a friend. I've had their chicken before, and its not bad. However, I had a HORRIBLE experience the first and last time I went to this place. This is a fast food place. It took me an HOUR to get the food. They weren't even that busy. At first they gave our order to someone else. Then they said we had to wait longer for them to cook a new batch of something. After an hour when we finally got out order, it was wrong (didn't notice until we got home). I would have left 15 minutes in had I not already paid. This place is horrible and run by completely incompetent people. We didn't even get an apology, much less the food we paid for.

    (1)

  • JeFF T.

    Everyone I talked to who's been to Seattle said I had to try Ezell's. Being the fried chicken fiend that I am, I made it a point to stop by early in the morning on our way up to Orcas Island. Cuz what's better for breakfast than a box of fried chicken and rolls? OK, maybe hash browns and eggs, but this was my chance to have Ezell's. We didn't quite get there right at opening time, but we weren't the only ones getting fried chicken at 10:30am. Pressed for time and not really sure what to order, we ended up with an 8 piece order of their spicy goodness, their heavenly rolls, and some cole slaw. Not being able to contain myself, I had to have a piece before I pulled out of their driveway. The chicken was moist and had a not so spicy taste to it. The spice was there, but it wasn't overpowering. It didn't appear to be marinated or brined to a taste that I could discern. It seemed simple. The skin was a nice golden brown and crispy. There was nothing really bad about it. I just expected a little more flavor to it. Definitely on par with some places here in the Bay Area, but I give the edge to Louisiana Fried Chicken or Jolibee's. The star of this meal, to me, was their rolls. It's the way rolls are supposed to be made...not too dense, but not too airy. I only wished I had bought more for the trip. They went well with the chicken. All in all, it was good chicken. I've had better, but this was worth trying....and a repeat visit is due...especially for the rolls!

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    It's a decent place to go for fried chicken if you want quick take out. I like the spicy and it's not that spicy. I usually pick up a meal pack for a potluck with a couple sides and the rolls. The sides aren't so good and the corn is soggy. The mashed potatoes is my favorite side but the gravy is just so-so. The rolls are great.

    (3)

  • Sonia Y.

    Nom nom nom... fried gizzards. nom nom nom. Okay, not only is the fried chicken to die for, like the perfect amount of crispiness but not too crispy to where it makes your mouth hurt when you eat more than one piece, but the chicken itself is actually super moist and juciy! It's not dried up and over-cooked like the other fried chicken places!!! I love this place. Okay, now on to my favorite thing, fried gizzards. Don't tell me what gizzards are because I really don't want to hear anything that will deter me from eating this fried gizzards, as I can eat them all day (but I won't because i'll probably get really sick, or have a heart attack or something chronic). Now a lot of you may actually not ever want to try fried gizzards, because either you know what they are or just don't like the sound of them, but I'm telling you to go try them! Especially the spicy kind, because those are the best. Now when you order the gizzards, make sure you order them FIRST, because I was a noob once and ordered them last and the lady scolded me because they take 10 extra minutes to fry than all the other things. All I can say is YUM!

    (5)

  • Anne N.

    Granted the place is a bit...sketchy after sunset...it's still a great place to grab some fried chicken when you're in the mood. I ordered a 4 piece dinner meal ($10) which came with 2 side orders and one SINGLE roll. I also tried the fried okras ($2.50) to see what it would taste like. First thing first. The chicken (orginal ) was pretty good. Crunchy and the meat wasn't too dry. The spicy version is also great but I wanted to cut back on the sodium. The side orders were TINY. Costco-sample size tiny. I was able to finish my mashed potatoes in a few scoops. The roll was delicious but I was disappointed the meal only came with one. They were nice and soft...hot and fresh from the kitchen...(sounds familiar?) Fried okras (original). Chopped into small popcorn-sized pieces, it wasn't anything special. Bland and slightly slimy inside (as expected). The usual wait time is 8 minutes for them but after 11 mins, the cashier (really sweet girl) offered us a few more extra pieces of fried chicken on the house. The okras eventually came out 15 minutes after ordering. Parking is easy (they have their own lot) but there's quite a bit of traffic on 23rd during rush hour (5-7pm) once you get closer to the 520 ramp.

    (4)

  • Nancy Y.

    I had such high expectations going into this place! I saw the signed picture of Oprah on the wall and thought to myself "It must be good if Oprah likes it!". She looks like she knows what good fried chicken is. BUT THE CHICKEN WAS DRY! The original was under-seasoned and the spicy was pretty good except for the breast meats that were so dry. Id take KFC anyday The rolls were amazing though. Fried okrah, meh. French fries, meh. Mashed potatoes and gravy, meh. Coleslaw, pretty good.

    (2)

  • Cynthia V.

    The best fried chicken~ I've been there a couple of times now and it's never failed to fullfill the needs of my tastebuds! The fried chicken is always fried perfectly. My friends and I always order the spicy wings. First they will ask you how many you need. Then they will ask you spicy or original. YOU WANT SPICY. The flavor is not too spicy but the seasoning is flawless. The batter is crispy and the inside juicy. Delicious! The sides are pretty good too. Kenny likes the cole slaw. I like the corn. My friend Veronica likes the sweet potato pie. They also offer bread pudding, peach cobbler, and MORE! Last time we went there, I ordered a family meal with two sides, a roll, and went back for a second order. Cannot get enough. I also recommend the dark meat. Its more juicy and more flavorful. The only negative thing is that there is no seating, and because it's so good, the parking lot is always full. I make sure to get a parking lot spot so that when I eat the food, I can go back for seconds!! haha :D There are also a lot of people that "HOLLA" at you as you walk into the resturant. The cashiers are really nice. They make you feel like you are an addict because they can see how much you want the chicken and they are so used to seeing people "EYEING" certain items on the menu board. They will call you out.

    (5)

  • andy t.

    Three years since I've moved from Seattle, I still get a craving for Ezell's fried chicken. Why does this craving always come on a Monday? I have no idea. But this takeout joint has to rank among the top 10 of fried chicken places in the U.S. Insider tip: Don't miss the fried chicken nuggets, with the spicy hot dipping sauce.

    (5)

  • Dawn C.

    While I've been eating Ezell's for years, they've changed the "regular" recipe and it's not as flavorful. I do love their portions (usually get the large chicken strips), and the rolls continue to be AWESOME. I hear there is a "family feud" going on and the "real" Ezell took his original recipe, which is why the current one is not as flavorful. I hope it gets resolved and the original recipe comes back to all their restaruants!

    (3)

  • Darin P.

    I'm biased, because I know the owners (awsome people!) and they treat me well when we are tailgating for the Seahawks games. They also took great care of us when they travelled to Detroit. But before all of that - it was the BEST fried chicken and bread I'd ever had. Love the spicy, too! If you love fried chicken you HAVE to try this place. If you don't like fried chicken - try it anyway. It could change your mind. Update: I had some fried chicken in TN and Dallas over the last few months. While it was good, I was in Seattle over the weekend and got my Ezell's fix. It is still the best fried chicken going! A hindquarter, some tenders, and bread and I was a very happy boy!

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Probably the best food I had while I was in Seattle last week. I found the folks working there incredibly nice and the food was out of this world. Spicy chicken, mashed potatoes and baked beans FTW

    (5)

  • L Eldub W.

    Being born in the south, I consider myself to be somewhat of an expert on canoe trips through the Appalachians, banjo music, and fried chicken. And I have four words for you - spicy fried chicken livers. I occasionally crave them. Ezell's has them, and they are always good, hot and fresh. Yum. And their other non-innard fried items are similarly wonderful. Not the best friend chicken in the area, but second-best and certainly a worthy contender. Oh, and the answer is Alberson's. Strange isn't it? Something to do with celery salt.

    (4)

  • Mat W.

    Still good ... get potato salad, not fries

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    Yesterday, as I was sitting in my car chowin' down on some fried chicken from Ezell's I noticed all the crows in the parking lot, and thought to myself, "man, those must be some of the happiest crows ever, all fat and stuff, if I were a crow I would totally live at Ezell's." Then I realized that was gross because it would be cannibalism. Ahhh well, back to sitting by myself in the car and eating some of the best fried chicken known to man. Life is good.

    (4)

  • Reza P.

    Ezell's can be pretty hit and miss depending on the time of day you to there. When you get the timing just right so that your chicken is right out of the fryer the experience is beyond compare. Like an addict, you'll find yourself returning time and again in search of that perfect fix.

    (4)

  • Joseph O.

    Just when you think you've seen it all, something happens to remind you that it's just not true. Case in point - Ezell's Fried Chicken. For some unknown reason, I had a craving for fried chicken. A Yelp search led me to Ezell's. The closest one was in the city, so I made a late night trek. I ordered the four piece original dinner, which comes with two small sides (I chose potato salad and corn) and a dinner roll, and a small peach cobbler. With tax, it costs over fifteen bucks! That's steep, especially in that area. (Let's just say I'm not in any hurry to walk around the neighborhood.) Under normal circumstances, I would have walked right out. However, I had driven a long way and I wanted to satisfy my craving. The chicken was nicely breaded and juicy, but here comes the kicker. The fried chicken tasted like it was completely bereft of salt. WTF?! Whoever heard of fried chicken that NEEDED salt?! I couldn't believe it. I'm sure there was salt used somewhere along the line, but I was unable to taste it. The potato salad was decent, except it also needed salt (?!). The corn came straight out of a can, or at least it seemed that way. The saving grace of the meal was the peach cobbler. Fantastic. If this place was Ezell's Peach Cobbler, I'd give it four or five stars. Ezell's Fried Chicken gets only two. Even if it had a proper amount of salt, I wouldn't consider it to be significantly better than any of the chains. At those prices, it damn well should be.

    (2)

  • Avitania B.

    I have many, many good things to say about Ezell's. But first, let me start out with the rolls. I want to blow them up to mattress size, and sleep on them. They are sweet, soft, puffed up, bready pieces of heaven. If I get my Ezell's Roll bed, then my blanket shall be their baked beans. Velvety, perfectly spiced, and just the right amount of smokiness. I can't say anything else about the chicken that hasn't been said. But yeah, that Oprah lady knows her chicken. Ezell's chicken is the bomb. Always perfectly crispy and juicy, with just the right amount of phalange-licking goodness. I write this right now in an Ezell's induced ecstasy. You should go there, too.

    (4)

  • David R.

    Your basic slaw, some good taters and gravy, an amazing roll and some wonderfully breaded chicken. All things that helped me fill up after a day of riding bikes. The chicken was good, a bit dry but I really liked how it was not super greasy and the breading/batter had a good taste. I opted for the regular over spicy but I think next time I will have to get the spicy for sure. I ordered the 2 breast/wing dinner and it was just under $8. Not a bargain but you get what you pay for, lots of food. The breasts just seemed really dry for my taste but I am usually more of a dark meat person so you can read into that what you will. I will be back to try the dark meat combo and more mashed potatoes. I could almost go just for that and the rolls.

    (3)

  • Kristina S.

    That is some good fried chicken let me tell you. No wonder Oprah likes it so much!

    (4)

  • Amy B.

    When I die and they look at my arteries - Ezell's will be fully to blame. I drive past Ezell's from Capital Hill to my parent's house and each time I make that turn onto 23rd, the rolls and chicken talk to me. They remind me how yummy and juicy the chicken is and how crisp and flavorful the skin is and how decadent and carby the rolls are and I just have so little control. This Ezell's is the motherload - where it all started and is the real deal. One of the things that I most enjoy about this location is the pure diversity of the clientele. You have teens from Garfield, old timer's from the CD, and soccer moms - all here to get the real deal. The best fried chicken in town.

    (5)

  • Serena H.

    I never made homemade fried chicken before, so seriously, this is just me comparing to other deep fried chicken I've had in restaurants or fast-food places. So that's a 4. The rolls were awesome (I aate it the day after, cold.. but still yummy). The chicken were pretty damn good - I like the thickness of the batter. It doesn't overwhelm you like you are eating 2 inches of batter. It is crunchy and it has flavour. Then you get to the chicken that is somehow kept moist and flavourful. I like it. I'm a fan because I won't deep fry at home, and I will come back for more. $5 bucks dinner is definitely not easy to find living in this city. Go Ezell's!

    (4)

  • Angie Q.

    Ezell's fried chicken is super yummy, I'd say the best in Seattle. Sure you could go to metropolitan market and get some fried chicken that's pretty good quality. But it can't beat Ezell's. Rolls are delicious, but sides aren't all that great (fries are the ones you use to eat in grade school/middle school). Chicken strips are good also! No tables, so get it to-go!

    (4)

  • Rob N.

    When I first moved to Seattle I moved into this ghetto house directly behind Ezells so every morning I was greeted by the smell of fried chicken (that only lasted 2 months). The chicken here is good, but I don't see why Oprah goes ape shit over this stuff.. Its just some fried chicken. I do like their spicy chicken strips, which is the only item I get off their menu. Note: The large size is enough for two people.

    (3)

  • Allon F.

    World class fried chicken. You cant go wrong with either their spicy chicken breast or strips.

    (5)

  • Andrea H.

    Pretty darn good. I got chicken strips and sweet potato pie. I don't eat this kind of food often but it was a treat.

    (4)

  • Maria J.

    I will forever love you Ezells. Again I stress this to all read below plz... This is NOT, I repeat NOT a place to eat at if you're dieting. I will suggest working out the next day. P.S That old purple or blue eye shadow on Oprah is so 1980's. Phone Harpo studio's and request a new updated one or orint one offline and paste her signature from her outdated photo. hehe

    (5)

  • Joe S.

    Get the spicy. Don't bother with the strips.

    (3)

  • Gavin N.

    Ezell's Fried Chicken is awesome . Other than kingfish cafe or Popeyes, which have their own awesome-ness. I really haven't had better fried chicken anywhere else in the Seattle-area. The pricing for Ezell's makes it a better pick than Kingfish, but the sizes of the chicken pieces is what puts it above Popeyes. The original and spicy (which is not spicy at all) recipes are also very good, being not greasy yet ful of taste. (I never order "white meat" fried chicken, that's like going to Krispy Kreme and asking if they have diet low-calorie donuts..who are you fooling?!?) Anyway so with such delicious fried chicken and good prices why only 3 stars? Well out of the 4-5 times I've been here, lines have been long, service has been borderline "fried chicken Nazi-ish", and no seating, making this place take-out only. Which forces you to either eat in the parking lot and/or in the skate park across the street if you can't wait until you go home. Had I written this review prior to going to Ezell's renton location, I would've given this location a 4 star (after I now see the potential in what an Ezell's location could/should be). I see myself only going to this Ezells if traffic to Renton from Bellevue is horrid and/or I'm already in the Seattle area when my fried-chicken craving hits...and there is no popeyes in Seattle. Ezell's is still awesome in my book, but it's the renton location for me from now on. ~G p.s. unless you aboslutely have to, do NOT order their mashed potatoes. The gravy is good, but the potatoes are dry, chunky as hell, and have no taste to them whatsoever. It's as if they hard boiled a bunch of potatoes, mashed them, and then just put it in a bowl.

    (3)

  • Robyn R.

    Does it need to be said again? Yes it does. This place is amazing, the chicken is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. The spicy chicken is truly spicy for a spicy amateur like myself, so consider that before jumping in head first. The cole slaw is a great accompaniment if the fried okra is just too much crunch for you in one meal. The only disappointment? Mashed and gravy. But I'd rather be in love with chicken than the mashed so do what you do well Ezell's and feed me! Oh and did I mention the ridiculously reasonable prices? A meal for 2 for $10 or less.

    (5)

  • Graceypoo M.

    hell yes! (placeholder)

    (5)

  • MJ Z.

    OPRAH. That's all I knew... OPRAH. Oprah had been here. She's blessed the place. I was turned off. Never went. But then I directed a play at Langston Hughes and we had hellishly long technical rehearsal days and nights. I relented. And it was good. It's not Kingfish good, no. But who really thought it was going to be? The chicken is tasty... spicy. The sides work and the bread... mmm... ooohhh.. the rolls. Go for the rolls! And get a red pop while you're there. My only complaint is that there were no greens. I moved here from DC and became accustomed to all the similar comfort food shops. But they all had greens. Ezells ought to have greens. 'Nuff said.

    (4)

  • Bon V.

    In my latest 'What Would Oprah Do" moment I implored a friend to bring me back some juicy morsels of goodness from Ezell's on his last trip to S-town. After your typical airline debacle (which resulted in a 4 hour Seattle-LAX flight turning into a 7 hour flight after delays, etc) I received my perfectly intact and impossibly delicious fried chicken and rolls. Aforementioned friend 'conveniently' left the receipt in the bag for me and I was surprised at the cost of a 8 piece and 4 rolls...around $18.00. I realized I'd never actually paid for my own Ezell's and this might be a factor of why I thought it was so good. If I'd ever paid for it myself the rating and my raving might be skewed differently. Food always tastes better when you don't have to pay for it yourself. Anywho, I shrugged it off and after reheating it the next day it was a tiny bit on the dry side but I'll still take it in this condition rather than nothing at all. Hey if Oprah can eat it flown in so can I!

    (5)

  • Molly B.

    I spent a long weekend in Seattle and stayed in a place that was less than a block from Ezells. I'd read the raving yelp reviews and seen the long lines at dinnertime and I decided I'd have to give it a try. My traveling companion and I never found ourselves hungry during the long-line-dinnertime rush and so we waited till later to head over to Ezells for a late-night snack. Big mistake. The food we were served was not very good. Because the crush of diners had slacked off, I think the chicken had been sitting under the heat lamps for way too long. The fried batter had darkened and the chicken was a little dry. We finished it but it was kind of a shame, especially considering the fat & calories involved. At that time of night they really should have been frying the chicken to order rather than letting it sit around under the heat lamps waiting for some poor unsuspecting and very hungry person to wander in. They did fry us up some okra while we waited though and that tasted okay. So all in all not a stellar experience. My advice to you would be to go when they're super-busy, brave the crowds, and wait in the long line so you can get your chicken fresh and hot and straight out of the fryer.

    (2)

  • William L.

    Spicy chicken is the best. If I could I would eat here everyday.

    (5)

  • Jill B.

    Chicken on Steroids! I have always liked Ezells for chicken, Finger licking good and then the rolls.....heaven, I'm in heaven, we always get a couple extras. But, seriously, what do they feed their chickens...they aren't plumped up w/saline, just plump and good. You can't go wrong for some good 'ole chicken. Glad there are multiple locations, too.

    (4)

  • Mel S.

    I haven't eaten Ezell's in awhile since I left the area but I have to say it was pretty damn good esp. the soft rolls. Yes I like the rolls more than the chicken...oh I love their chunky mash potatoes too!

    (3)

  • M I.

    When we first moved to Seattle, we lived two blocks away from this Ezell's. We've since bought a house in Rainier Beach, and, once again, find ourselves only minutes from the Ezell's in that location. My intro to the CD was through our occasional evening walks to Ezell's--usually late enough where only the walk-up window was open. "Why aren't they open later?" I asked the person in front of me. "It's not safe enough around here," the person responded. "It wouldn't be a good idea." So *this* is the kind of neighborhood we've moved into. Location aside, the food has been raved about from your average Joe to Oprah (whose old photo is proudly displayed on the walls). I have to admit that I'm a horrible judge of food and the difference between fried chicken from restaurant A and that from restaurant B. That said, I just know the chicken is good, but I never crave it. What I could have more of is the biscuits that are oh-so-soft and comforting. Their peach cobbler is good, too, but I could use a little more crisp with the crust.

    (3)

  • Rassamee H.

    I overdosed on Ezell's shortly after I moved to Judkins Park, but I am ready to get some fried chicken here as soon as the cravings return. Actually, I am getting a craving just thinking about it! I love their spicy chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and dinner rolls. I honestly have never tried anything else here because the aforementioned items are all I need to have a hunger satisfying, comforting, down home, superbly delicious meal. Hmmm....I think I'll get lunch there tomorrow!

    (4)

  • June N.

    Fried Chicken...so good. Fried Gizzards...spicy...so good. Rolls warm...so good. Peach cobbler...so good. Fago soda's...so sickeningly sweet...yet so good. Ezell's is where it's at. Fried Chicken done right. Screw the Col. because he doesn't have fried gizzards and peach cobbler! For the love of God you must try to Peach cobbler! I also hate coleslaw, but I like the coleslaw at Ezell's. Enough of the good, everyone says it's good. Here's the bad. Sometimes they run out of Peach Cobbler...the potatoes are a bit on the chunky side. They don't serve waffles. PEACH COBBLER!!!

    (5)

  • Y L.

    My wife and I went there this weekend. The chicken rocks in a home-cooked sorta way (especially the spicy!), and the biscuits are stupendous (strangely elegant in such a dive-y setting, with a high-class yeasty aroma). And we admired the autographed photo of Oprah on the wall. The only problem is that there's no place to eat it indoors. So we took our food to the parking lot, intending on eating it off of our car hood (we'd promised ourselves that we wouldn't mess up our new car's interior by eating in there). As I was chompin' on my drumstick, I noticed 2-3 crows on the fence, looking at me. By the time I'd worked myself around the drumstick bone, about 20(!) buddies showed up, as well as a seagull. Some of them even hopped up from behind the fence, like gangsters waiting for a mugging. They were all looking at us with uncannily intelligent eyes. "Get into the car," I whispered to my wife. "And take the chicken with you!" (Yes. It was that good!)

    (4)

  • Won M.

    When it comes to Fried Chicken, you can leave it up to Ezell's. One word, "Gluttony". Yes, it's so good, you will attain the ultimate stage of indulgence. It's like when Homer eats the ribwich kinda experience. You smell the chicken, your pupils grow and you drool. You eat the chicken and the the instant fried chicken induced high. Greasy? It's FRIED CHICKEN. Don't eat FRIED chicken if you don't want grease. I usually get into the description of the flavors at this point but I do not believe it is necessary here. Try it. You will know. BTW, make sure you know what you are ordering when you get in front of the cashiers because they will grill you if you are not ready. Make your choice between "Spicy" and "Original" even before you step to the Cashier. They will be nice if you are on it, but if you decide in front of them, they will destroy you. :)

    (5)

  • Maple C.

    OMG, best fried chicken EVER. The spicy ones (even though they're not the least bit spicy) are so freaking good. The skin is so crunchy and the meat is always tender... And the rolls, omg the rolls are so good...

    (5)

  • Ann M.

    I like the spicy chicken.

    (4)

  • Mags L.

    OMG how have I *not* reviewed this place yet? I love food. I love greasy foods. I love fried foods. I love Ezell's foods. Their fried chicken makes me warm inside. My sister's a big fan of the potato salad, but I'm more in love with the mashed potatoes. And the rolls, oh man, so fluffy! If you get more than one fried chicken, ask them to split your order between the spicy and original. Both are good in their own way. Reviewing this place makes me want to go get me some chicken.

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    The definition of Ezell means "sexy beast"...like me! Unfortunately I'm not the one to judge on who is the sexy beast. But the Ezell franchise sure can make some good fried chicken in the state of Washington. I came here for dinner and ordered the meaty three-piece meal. For $9.50 +tax, I get TWO HUGE breast pieces and a thigh piece (all non-spicy) with a roll and two sides (I got Macaroni salad and Potato salad). There are no seating at this location, thus all meals are to go. Therefore I took my meal back to my hotel and stuff my meal in my face. The meat pieces were moist and the outer-layer is so crispy! I can't compare the overall taste from KFC, Popeye's or other fried chicken places. But Ezell's version is pretty darn good. After my chicken meal, I indeed feel like a sexy beast! The area is located in a residential neighborhood and can be problematic to find this restaurant. My Visa was accepted for my solid meal.

    (4)

  • Carol H.

    I used to love Ezell' s it used to be and I mean USED TO BE THE BEST EVER.. NO MORE. We got some for our office today and the strips were pretty dried out and tasteless. I am going to get Heaven Sent in Lake City the original recipe for EZELL'S it is the best. The Peach Cobbler was okay and the rolls were good but the CHICKEN WAS NASTY dried out no flavor Sorry but you are not the same as what Oprah used to eat

    (2)

  • Nathan M.

    Definitely 4 star quality, but loses one from me for being a take out only drive-in. That's right, there is no covered seating for people who arrive without a car. There were not even picnic tables or benches on site. That is unacceptable to me both in that it is located near three high frequency transit lines and in a dense, walkable neighborhood and that the weather is frequently cold and wet. At least Dick's drive-ins tend to have awnings. Also, they messed up my order by giving me fries instead of Okra. By the time I checked, it was too late. One of the servers was surly and presumptuous when I asked for the drink cup I paid for, not a free cup of ice. How about some presumed innocence? I must not have ordered that one. So essentially, the pros are that the food is good (if they get your order correct) and the cons are the restaurant design (especially for a neighborhood so well served by transit) and customer service.

    (3)

  • James F.

    Okay, i know this is supposed to be the best fried chicken in seattle, but hear me out. I eat a lot of fried chicken. I mean. A LOT. and while this place is good, I was slightly disappointed. The rolls were great, the chicken was quality and perfectly fried, but the seasoning/batter was not super flavorful. Its defintely good, but I have had better. Keep in mind. when i say better, not in seattle. This may be the best southern fried chicken in seattle. But it doesn't really compare to the east coast or the south.

    (3)

  • Kristine H.

    So good. SO good. I have stopped here a couple of times for takeaway lunch and been pleased on both visits. There's no tables inside so your only option IS to take the food away. When you pull up, you'll sometimes see people sitting in their cars munching away happily on some chicken or a roll. I opt for getting a two piece (spicy) with mash + gravy and coleslaw plus one of those rolls! Oh yes, those soft and chewy rolls that are perfect for dabbing into a little of that gravy... if you're a carb fan, grab an extra, you won't be disappointed. If I'm with someone, I'll see if they want to split some fried okra. And save room for dessert, their cobbler is simply stellar!

    (4)

  • Laurie E.

    Great place - good food, portions and bang for the buck. The rolls are so good, I recommend ordering extra (kinda like King's Hawaiian but not as sweet). Love the fried okra and gizzards too.

    (4)

  • The Church Lady M.

    I always get so excited when I come here. "Ezells!" I exclaim. "Famous fried chicken!" and yet somehow I always walk away somewhat disappointed. The chicken is not as seasoned (not looking for spice, just seasoning) and there's a missing crunchy crispy element. Will I stop coming? No, because I am a dreamer and eternal optimist.

    (3)

  • Elmer E.

    Why does it take so long to get your food after ordering here?! It doesn't matter how busy it is. But if there is a line, you better have Words with Friends or a good book handy. After ordering, you walk toward the end of the counter past all the chicken staring out you. I'm not sure what you're waiting for because everything has been cooked! The chicken is ok - not that flavorful - and I only come here because it is close to home. The last straw was tonite when the only customer in line ahead of me could not figure out her huge order, asking questions, hemming and hawing, changing her mind. Why couldn't the other zombie employees standing around help me at the other register while Einstein was trying to figure things out?! There was just one other customer sitting in the place. I guess people are figuring this place out. If you want good fried chicken and speedy service, check out Heaven Sent in South Everett instead! THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE BOTHELL, NOT SEATTLE LOCATION!!!

    (1)

  • nate c.

    Chicken is good, but not anything special. Service is fine but nothing special. The BBQ sauce is the best thing about this place. The fries are usually undercooked, and their gravy might as well be fryer oil with a bit of mud and cornstarch for color and thickening.. Worst gravy I've ever had. It's also a bit overpriced for what it is. Meh.. Overrated

    (2)

  • Shirley K.

    I love their spicy chicken! It's well seasoned and juicy. They have really good buns too, they're nice and soft. I definitely recommend coming here for fried chicken!

    (5)

  • Caitlin R.

    Chicken is delicious, but pay cash. I had a $14 receipt that was turned into a $94 receipt after tip. IF YOU GO HERE, PAY CASH

    (1)

  • Sajani S.

    the spicy fried chicken! life is great

    (5)

  • Laura C.

    Ezell's is totally solid. One of my favorite takeout spots in town for fried chicken. Ezell's is great...it's not pretentious, prices haven't jumped over the years and they are FAST! A bit of advice: 1. Whatever you decide to order, get it spicy...I recommend the strips or a drumstick 2. Know what you want by the time you get to the register! 3. Tip the staff...they will remember it the next time you come.

    (4)

  • Franklin C.

    Superb rolls. Awesome gizzards if you're willing to wait for them to be fried up. I believe they're made to order. Only reason I don't eat this every time I eat fried chicken is because of the price. I speculate that might be other people's justification too but I guess you pay for a premium product.

    (4)

  • Wes M.

    Dood! It's Ezell's Chicken... What else do yo need to know?..? It's tasty!

    (5)

  • Ed U.

    Seattle ain't a midnight kind of town when it comes to satisfying the munchies. In the desperation only felt when you're staying at a discounted Holiday Inn, Jamie W. and I wanted a procrastinator's dinner but found few options open past 9PM. I found Ezell's on the Yelp list for late-night eats, so we trundled off into the dark unknown of the Central District. Upon first sight, Ezell's really looks like a converted Church's franchise. Upon second, third and fourth look for that matter. They even offer original recipe and spicy crispy options like any fast-food chain. The staff is genuinely friendly for a group surrounded by used frying oil, and there were so many variations on fried chicken parts that I was like a kid in a poultry slaughterhouse. Jamie went straight away for the $5.49 basket of Chicken Strips which satisfied his McNugget fix (see photo). I was torn since my default order at $7.59 is the combo two thighs and drumstick with cole slaw and dinner roll (see photo). However, I was also tempted by the $3.49 half-pound order of Fried Gizzards (see photo)... yes, Fried Gizzards, which I grew fond of at Harold's Chicken Shack near the University of Chicago campus. Memories. So I got both, dammit, and stop judging me. Thems gizzards were chewy good especially doused with hot sauce, and the dark meat pieces were fine although honestly nothing you couldn't get at a Church's franchise. By the way, you can't eat there. You wouldn't want to anyway. FOOD - 3 stars...good chicken, great gizzards AMBIANCE - 2 stars...rows of florescent lights and running chickens hand-painted on the window SERVICE - 3.5 stars...a friendly crew who gets along TOTAL - 3 stars...pretty good considering the fast-food vibe

    (3)

  • Ashleigh R.

    This place it pretty darn good. Not the best, best i have tasted, but pretty close. I do have to say the potato salad, it is the most amazingly perfect potato salad.

    (4)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - IMO, some pretty good fried chicken in Seattle! Go ahead and get the spicy. It isn't that spicy and it's much more flavourful. It's take-out only, so be ready to go to a park, to go home and plop in front of the TV while you inhale your food and slip into a food coma. If you want better fried chicken in Seattle, try Ma'Ono out in West Seattle...

    (3)

  • Dan C.

    Amazing place! Located on MLK Way. Kinda in a suspect location but for some real good fried chicken I would take a bullet. The best fried chicken 'i have tried in my life! Oprah recommends this place, and on this particular one, right by the cash register is a signed picture of a real young Oprah, I think. Ha. Ezells chicken is moist and not greasy. The service is so simple and the sides are alright. But everyone comes here for the chicken and not the sides. It was my first time here, and I absolutely devoured my 3 piece meal. It was so unbelievably gooooood. There are no seating inside, so we just took our chicken and happily ate it in the car. Hopefully before I leave Washington I can hit up this place again.

    (5)

  • Denechia P.

    I will always root for Black-owned businesses!

    (4)

  • David N.

    Ezell's spicy fried chicken is pretty good... it kind of spicy and can hit you. The skin is really really addicting and the chicken is super juicy. So the sides are sufficient and ok. None of them really stood out and the biscuit was kind of burnt. Like it shouldn't have been served. Also the chicken strips are on point for those girls who dont want to get messy. Almost but not quite the true Ezells experience. Don't let the sides hold you back, Ezell's is highly recommended, isn't the best in Seattle :) Tourist...please keep in mind the neighborhood...

    (4)

  • Kevin C.

    As a health professional, I essentially tell patients to eat less and to move once in a while. And after I tell them this, i go to places like Ezell's, and eat a meal where the protein is golden brown and where 2 out of the 3 sides are starches. Sometimes I feel bad. But most of the time I feel oh so good. Ezell's is perfectly great fried chicken-a crust that shatters in my mouth, and meat that's moist and tender. The sides were pretty blah-coleslaw was soggy, potato salad tasted like QFC. The worst part was that I went right before the lunch rush, and so they had tons of orders already fried up, waiting to be grabbed up by the overweight masses. This may be good for business, but it means my chicken was lukewarm. If I'm going to break my Hippocratic Oath, it ain't gonna be for lukewarm fried chicken. And that's a doctor's order.

    (3)

  • Junzha L.

    It's sad to see a local chain go downhill post-corporate sale, but alas that is what has happened here. Just to clarify, if your food gets me sick, I used to eat out of dumpsters and NEVER got sick that way, you automatically get only 1star, maybe 2 if the vomit was tasty and 3 if you genuinely looked out for me. After years of frequenting Ezell's, it managed to piss me off and get me sick. There's one lady that genuinely works her tail off at this location, and I wish she wasn't surrounded by amateurs.....

    (1)

  • Rebecca S.

    If I could eat only one meal for the rest of my life, it would probably be Ezell's spicy chicken strips with rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw, and sweet potato pie. Ezell's is pretty much perfect for what it is. It's take out only with free parking and the cashiers are always super nice and the food is always extremely hot and fresh after the five minute wait for it. The prices are also fair - my usual order is under $10. The only annoying thing is that the food varies in consistency. Sometimes the chicken is less spicy than usual, or extra crispy and delicious. I'm not a big fan of their fried okra or peach cobbler, but seriously, that sweet potato pie is to die for.

    (5)

  • Rowena D.

    My "go to" place for yummy fried chicken. Their rolls are excellent too. A must visit for someone who loves fried chicken.

    (5)

  • Hien L.

    This is way too overrated, the chicken isn't all that great. It tastes bland and greasy and even though I go to the school right next to it , I won't be coming here again. I can make better fried chicken then this.

    (2)

  • John F.

    Must really be difficult divulging your prices. I bet once the internet gets a whiff of your price they bolt? All I wanted was to see your prices...why is that so friggin hard to do? How much does $10 get me? Who knows...but I do know what McDonalds prices are and I KNOW I can get a decent meal for $10. Looks like I'm going to McDonalds tonight. Whose stupid idea was it not to mention prices on your website? Me thinks it is the same person holdin ya'll back.

    (1)

  • eric b.

    First and last visit! Having eaten real soul food and southern fried chicken from Maryland to the Carolinas I can say Ezell's is a sad story that comes nowhere close to the real thing. The workers were all Hispanic and friendly but just cant put the love in the food like a good ol' southern mom or grandma. Nor do they even seem to care to try. Chicken itself was a bit dry and the person butchering it in the store has no idea how to cut a chicken as the wings had a 1/4 of the breast attached, the breasts were the size of thighs and the thighs still had the tail attached (gross). We got an 8-piece mixed spicy and regular and it was all overcooked to a dark orange color and tasted like burnt flour. The spicy just seemed to be flour egg and too much cayenne as it just burned the mouth (no balance at all like the real thing) and really had a bland overall flavor. The regular seemed to also have no salt or other seasonings and was terribly bland. The mashed potatoes were gray in color and completely congealed. they seemed to have been put in containers, cooled and reheated several times and they were solid blocks the shape of the cups that had to be diluted with water and recooked at home to achieve a "mashed" consistency. The flavor was a bit like potatoes with iron mixed in. The gravy was hideous and tasted like rancid 2 week old fryer grease, Im not being silly or dramatic. It really did taste like it was made with a scoop of old grease from the fryer mixed with a pack of chicken gravy powder. Overall this place was a laugh. You want good fried chicken get a recipe and a 20+ year old cast iron pan from ebay. Alton Brown has a simple recipe that is tasty.

    (1)

  • Emily T.

    What Kool-Aid are you guys drinking because I certainly do not get the Ezell's hype. At all. Everyone from my boyfriend to Oprah has raved about Ezell's crispy skin, tender meat and finger licking flavor and I've come to a conclusion: You all be buggin. Unless "flavor" translates to "This chicken could use some dipping sauce" and "finger licking" also means "grease bath," I am convinced Ezell's is nothing more than fast and fried hype. Ezell, I would like you to meet your brother, KFC. The sides are ridiculous. I ordered a small side of potatoes and gravy to accompany my two piece original and I got maaaaaybe a tablespoon's worth of salty, brown gravy covered mashed spuds. I've been told that my opinion of Ezell's will change once I try their chicken strips or the dark meat, spicy meal BUT unless someone else is paying, my mind has been made.

    (2)

  • Arif V.

    First and foremost I have to say I have visited this place a number of times and it really is what they say. Fried Chicken and all the fix-ens that you want. Frankly this is one of those places like Dick's that are really part of the fabric of this city. I just have to say that the service that night was the best. I know I am coming to a semi fast food place. The service by Herbert was out of this world. The guy made us feel so at home and joked with us. You know I am simple you put yourself out there and generally you can create an atmosphere that the food will be just as spectacular. All was good, we did not get one of our sides but really its was no issue there was more then enough food to enjoy. You all need to put a Ezell's in the northend again, we don't mind driving down to South Seattle but the food gets cold by the time we get home.

    (4)

  • Alison M.

    I've had some really good fried chicken in the past and was excited to give Ezell's a try. I don't understand what the hype is with this place? To be fair, before writing my review, I visited 3 locations over the course of a few months. This stuff isn't even close for me to call mediocre. Did I catch all 3 locations on an off day? Not sure what kind of spices they use, but the flavor is dull. The only part of the chicken that was crispy was the coating. How does that happen? Maybe too much moisture when it goes in the fryer and the skin gets steamed? I don't know, I'm not a chef and I don't play one on TV. Whatever their secret spices are, it's carried into their other fried foods. Bleh... So I'll continue on my quest to find the ultimate fried chicken in the Puget Sound area. Peace out!

    (2)

  • Phil C.

    I honestly don't see why some people rave about this place. The fried chicken is nothing special... the ladies who run the deli counter at the Beacon Hill Red Apple market make chicken that is better than this. Yes, Oprah allegedly recommended it - but judging from the faded photo of a very young-looking Ms Winfrey on the wall she hasn't been inside the place for a span of time that can probably be measured in decades rather than years. Update: we just did a taste test of both, and Ezell's came out as dry and rather bland (the Red Apple chicken is consistently moist and flavorful). We've taken Ezell's down to 2 stars as a result.

    (2)

  • Katy H.

    I've always heard people rave about Ezell's. Now - hear me! It's flippin' awesome. I'm not a huge fried chicken fan. I guess I always imagined KFC style food. Cheap, greasy, sloppy, etc. Ezell's is a who other ballgame! It wasn't greasy, the batter was light and crunchy, they have spicy, original and other flavors to choose from, and it's just great quality chicken! I tried both the original and the spicy and loved them both. The spicy definitely has a real kick to it. The baked beans were also to die for. Definitely made there and not some cheap stuff from a can. The same goes with the biscuits. They reminded me of popovers. So tasty and fresh! I'm now a much bigger fan of friend chicken than ever before.

    (4)

  • Thanh B.

    This is a fast food set up so I didn't expect much. The chicken is so tender, crispy and perfectly seasoned its hard to find anything that compares. I ordered a bucket of spicy chicken. There is no seating so everyone sits in their car or does take-out. There are a lot of beggars and home less so be careful. There is an autographed Oprah photo displayed. The food is excellent, the environment could be better. I would get so fat if I lived here.

    (4)

  • Bill L.

    I've eaten there a few times. Enough to know it's WAY overrated. When they opened in the U-District years ago, the service was downright horrible! To me it was a spicy version of KFC. The best fried chicken I've had in Seattle was at the Old Homestead, which is now gone. At the Old Homestead it was always all you can eat and they'd say: "Finish that last piece and I'll bring you a platter that you can take home". You just don't get service like that anymore.

    (2)

  • Lisa B.

    I don't care if their food was hand made by God himself. The people who work behind the counter are the rudest I think I have seen in the longest time. And inept, too. I ordered a Faygo and a two piece...and the woman taking the order told me "You have to slow down." Really? Because saying "I'll take a Faygo and a two piece" is lightening speed speech? Maybe for someone that doesn't want to listen it is. I won't even go into the hell it took to get the Faygo at the end of the counter. Doesn't matter either because I will never go back.

    (1)

  • Laura B.

    You can only go here every so often because the spicy fried chicken is fantastic, but really greasy. Mashed potatoes are good too, but again, the gravy is really greasy. Definitely get the fried okra - we always eat it on the car ride home so we can enjoy it before it gets soggy.

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    The best chicken I've ever had! Enough said! Sides are awesome too!

    (4)

  • Gordon H.

    Chicken was crispy and juicy but I like the fresh rolls, which I could eat all day. Don't know if Oprah's endorsement is the result of the line of customers but I suspect so because of how slow people were ordering.

    (4)

  • Suzanne M.

    I was a vegetarian for over 15 years, and Ezell's chicken was one of the foods that switched me back to omnivore. It makes me really happy. Delicious and satisfying, feels like someone made it just for me. I've always had very friendly service here. Something about it reminds me of childhood too, like home cooking or something my mom made. As for the comments about the neighborhood, knock it off and get out more. It's not Bellevue(sterile), but it's sure not everything else some reviewers have written (and I've lived 10 blocks away for over 7 years). And it's fried chicken, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if it's greasy - plus that's only a problem if you eat here every night.

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    Oh how I miss you Ezells :(

    (5)

  • Scott O.

    I can no longer stand going to Ezell's. It used to be OK, but over the last couple of years the service has really fallen down. The people behind the counter just do not care - they don't like being there, they don't like the customers, and they could care less whether you're happy. Fried chicken is Soul Food. What's the point of buying your chicken at a joint with no soul?

    (1)

  • Henry Y.

    I was sure we weren't that close to the water, but some probably inbred and definitely fried-chicken-eating seagulls were hovering around the bins, waiting for scraps of spicy batter to fall off my two fisted clamp on my piece of dark. You ain't getting any, dirty birds! But it's hard to ravenously gorge and not lay waste a crumb or two, which unwastefully ends in the maw of the bird. While trucking over, my gal kept saying, "you eat, I watch. I don't eat the fried stuff". 20 minutes later, she was eating the fried stuff. "this is pretty good", she say. "It may not be that unhealthy". Wishful thinking. Delusions of healthiness aside, the chicken was pretty good, although not what-i'd-imagine-thomas-keller-fried-chicken-to-be great. Yeah, pretty good. The sweet potato pie was pretty good too. We are big sweet potato people (mostly of the baked and boiled variety), so that was a treat. Service was nice and friendly, and we got there right before the lunch crowd. I'd have preferred it as a late night bite but I could still feel it at the bottom of my stomach by then.

    (4)

  • Thomas J.

    If there's a better fried chicken place in Seattle, I haven't found it. I've settled on the spicy chicken, and it's been so long since I've had the regular that I honestly couldn't tell you what it tastes like. Comparing this to KFC is like comparing Starbucks to Stumptown. There are people who do that, also. They can have their double-downs and their triple caramel extra whip mocha. I'll take the good stuff, tyvm. Seek this out if you're looking for something a step above.

    (4)

  • Arry Y.

    Yes - when I first moved to Seattle, this was the place to go eat fried chicken. They say it's Oprah's favorite - she ships it out to Chicago once a month! Fan of their fried chicken (especially the spicy). Fan of their dark meat fried chicken (especially the spicy) - YUMMERS! Not a fan of their mashed potatoes w gravy. Not a fan of their cole slaw. Not a fan of their sides in general. Fan of their biscuit - so fluffy... so soft. It's like a delicate pillow that dances in your mouth. No sit in dining - take and go.

    (4)

  • Uhura J.

    The second stop on my Stress Eat Through November Tour was Ezell's. I love their spicy chicken, and I'm an absolutely sucker for their wings - which are hands down the best I've ever had. Big, plump, and juicy with a crispy delicious crust. Everything else is hit or miss and strongly based on personal preference. For example, I really like the rolls and sweet potato pie, but find the mashed potatoes and gravy only "fine". Though truthfully, the worst thing about Ezell's is the parking lot. Watch out for pedestrians, people driving the wrong way, and the lines snaking outside into it. But it's worth it.

    (4)

  • Lacey C.

    I'll keep this review short because there's really not much I can say about the greatness that is Ezell's. two words: Peach cobbler.

    (4)

  • Kellie S.

    I used to not really care for fried chicken. That was, until I had fried chicken from Ezell's. Then I realized what I was missing out on! Ezell's makes the best fried chicken I've ever had, no questions about that. They also have delicious dinner rolls and everything is fast, fresh, and yummy. I love popping in to get a couple of original fried chicken legs, and a dinner roll or two for like $5. You can't beat that. Ezell's is the only fried chicken I've ever liked. Before Ezell's, I'd only eat fried chicken if there wasn't really anything else to eat (say at a family gathering or something). I'm still not a fan of fried chicken... that is unless it's fried chicken from Ezell's.

    (5)

  • Joeblow L.

    Only got a taste of their fried chicken through their truck at the Fremont Farmers Market. Oh my, the chicken is so,flavorful, crispy, and the rolls are to die for. A full,on meal is a must on our next Seattle trip!

    (5)

  • Bacon M.

    Maybe I got my hopes up for more, and maybe I just went on an off day, but this was not amazing. I love fried chicken, alas this was about on par with Popeyes, but far greasier... Sigh... I'll try again, I really want to love this place. EDIT: I must have gone on an off - day, I've been back several times and have been consistently pleased.

    (4)

  • Allie S.

    Besides eating the food, what's the best way to tell if a restaurant is good? I think I found it out today. As I left my virgin visit to Ezell's, I found myself on the bus back to Redmond. "Ezell's?! Mmm, what're you takin' home?" "Just some rolls and a slice of sweet potato pie *awkward smile*" "... I'll give you $3 for the pie." Sure, that's basically a dollar and twelve cents pure profit for doing nothing but carrying a bag. But is a little over a dollar worth sacrificing food so good that random people on the bus are trying to BUY it from you? Probably not. I obviously kept the pie. I obviously ate the pie. I obviously regretted not buying the whole thing -- it was ridiculously good. I now know why Oprah has a hard time figuring out what she likes best. The chicken (spicy dark) and the mashed potatoes were amazing, the coleslaw was decent but not my style, and the rolls are basically bready heaven on earth. But the pie... oh, the pie... I licked the takeout container clean, and that's all you need to know about that.

    (5)

  • Victoria C.

    This is a review for the food truck, and a mighty fine review it will be. My cousin and I got combos at Ezelles, parked outside South Lake Union, right outside of MOHAI. The chicken was crispy and full of flavor, the krinkle cut fries classic, and the sweet rolls moist and flakey. To top it off, the service was so friendly it borderlines brown-nosing. The gal at the window downright gushed over my curls and said "if I had your hair I would be so vain." Aw, shucks. Plus, they take cards.

    (5)

  • L. T.

    This was pretty good fried chicken yummy yum yum The skin was crisp and the spiciest were perfect for me. We got the 16 piece and the little rolls reminded me of my childhood. The place is considered to be in a shady area but it was fine to me. Chicken was pretty good. This is a place that was worth trying.

    (5)

  • Jared M.

    You really can't go wrong here, this place is famous because the chicken is awesome. I try not to over-recommend places but this is one that I can say makes the best fried chicken I've had. The breading on the fried chicken is really killer. They serve food quick and while there isn't really anywhere to eat inside the restaurant, they deliver as well. I live close so this is a spot I can walk to. It's always packed but the line moves pretty quick and you can get food in roughly 15 minutes even if the line is at the door.

    (5)

  • Andy H.

    One word: OPRAH someone told me this was oprah's favorite chicken joint. Hearing that already made my meal taste substantially better. But in all seriousness, best fried chicken I've ever eaten. Better than Popeyes.

    (4)

  • Sho I.

    I came here on a Sunday evening to be a fat kid thinking that no one would be here. And the result? Long ass line! There's a reason for the high demand: the chicken here is just amazing! I've had original, spicy, chicken tenders, dark chicken, and all the different sides (e.g. mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, cole slaw). Below is my 2 cents for each one: Original v. spicy = SPICY is BETTER, so choose it! It is actually not that spicy if you compare it to other spicy food. Good kick that gives it some flavor, but does not detract from the overall intended taste of the meat. Chicken tenders = warm and tender and not too dry! I usually get the tenders with honey mustard (you get a choice of sauce), but the place also has ranch and BBQ sauce. Dark chicken = this is my usual go to (e.g. "3-piece dark") when I go to Ezell's. It is just so finger lickin' good I don't even how to characterize it! Rolls = warm and moist (funny how some people don't like the word 'moist'), but honestly I grew up with Popeye's and like their buttermilk biscuits more. That's probably just me though. Other sides = mashed potatoes and coleslaw are solid and complement well with the chicken. Plus, if you're like me, you'll feel a little bit healthier and less guiltier by eating them. Both are essentially vegetables, no? Just as a forewarning this place is not a sit down because there are no tables, but I guess you can sit on the hood of your car as you eat in the parking lot. Also, sometimes the credit card machine there does not work; I've had that happen to me maybe a few times. And word on the street is that Oprah will sometimes order Ezell's to have it flown over to her. That's how good it is!

    (5)

  • Jennifer L.

    Where else to go for some hearty southern soul food besides the Oprah-endorsed fried chicken haven? The peach cobbler and potato mash were alright, coleslaw was fairly good and the bread roll the chicken came up with was SO GOOD. Slightly sweet and so soft, goes great with the chicken. And what you come here for, obviously, are the ginormous pieces of drumsticks and thighs with skin that's devilishly crispy and flavourful. Get the spicy version, it wasn't very spicy but just the right amount of flavour. That picture of Oprah in the smack of the resto was strategically placed and the endorsement was rightfully given

    (4)

  • Alden C.

    It has been longer than I would care to admit but finally I made my way to Ezell's. Sure, they are all over the Seattle metro area and I could have gone much sooner but several people informed us that in order to get the best Ezell's expereince you got to go to the original location. We were not disappointed! We got the four piece meal with spicy breading and simply fell in love with it. Definitely better than any other fast food chicken around. We got some mashed potatoes, coleslaw and biscuts which all was very good. There are no places to sit at this location but there is a nearby park where you can sit down and enjoy your meal. We aren't often in the CEntral District neighborhood but after this great restaurant finally got it's due on our taste buds we may very well be here more!

    (4)

  • Jenny J.

    Rolls are still sweet and dense but the food is not as good anymore. We went in two hours before closing and they only had potato salad and cole slaw for sides. No spicy-battered chicken with bones. No gizzards. Disappointing. The employee locked us in the restaurant to prevent people from coming in (late-night orders only through the window). Bone-in spicy chicken was overcooked. Boyfriend enjoyed his chicken tenders (monster).

    (2)

  • Jessica C.

    Apparently Oprah eats here! When you first arrive this place looks like any other fried chicken takeout place. So think of a KFC with no seating lol. They took our order pretty quickly and the food followed soon after. I got chicken tenders and they were good. The breeding was crunchy and not soft. I didn't try the drumstick but I'm sure those were good also. The bread was like a dinner roll which I actually prefer. Biscuits are sometimes too heavy and dense for me. The mash potatoes were great! Creamy and flavorful. The gravy was peppery and went well with the potatoes.

    (4)

  • Rosie V.

    I was given two thumbs up from a coworker who used to live near here, so with SIRI & my BF, we set out to find this "gem". The chicken was good- but nothing out of the "Popeyes box" The chicken was greasy and the "spicy" was barely detectable through the dripping grease. The baked beans were 50% Molasses 25% Brown sugar and 25% beans and that equals NO BUENO! Smh. Coleslaw was actually worse than KFCs! But the worst part about this visit was the dessert. Sweet Potato pie was meh at best, all I kept thinking was "where's the whip????" Peach cobbler was slop in a plastic container, it could have been good had it been baked correctly. I will never return. I talked to a local that worked at Zoopas and be informed me that Ezells Famous Chicken has changed ownership and the magic chicken that was is now at "Heaven Sent" Customer service was 4/5, not enough to help this atrocious food rating.

    (2)

  • Amanda S.

    I love myself some fried chicken. And to be honest this place is pretty decent. However, the staff is absolutely horrible. They are slow, rude and customer service isn't even part of their vocab. Did they make a mistake? "Well, we are busy" Did you forgot your sauce on the counter? "That's your own damn fault". SMH! #protip: Mashed potatoes and Cole slaw are the best sides.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth C.

    I'd be surprised if many people in Seattle were still unaware of the wonder of Ezell's, but I might as well add my voice to the chorus. I've eaten Ezell's a few times over the years, and it has been consistently good every time. A two piece meal is probably enough to satisfy a moderately hungry person, but a three-piece is enough to fully stuff you. Personally, I'm a fan of their dark meat. The thighs and drumsticks are hot, juicy, and crispy, and they're even better spicy. The roll that comes with is perfectly soft and if you like potato salad, then go for it--Ezell's is pretty great. Best of all, they're fast, which is a huge plus when there's a long line and you don't want to wait too much to satisfy your fried chicken cravings.

    (4)

  • Rohan K.

    We got the 8 piece combo for lunch and I must say it was well worth the hype. The spicy fried chicken was absolutely outstanding. Beautifully cooked, very moist, not too greasy like most fried chickens and bursting with flavor. It completely hits the mark. The baked beans were a really nice side and went well with the fresh warm bread. They seemed to be made in house and not canned which is always a good thing. The coleslaw was ok. Overall the food was outstanding, the portions were humongous and the prices well worth it. I wish it wasn't take out only though because unless you eat in your car parked outside, the chicken skin gets a little soggy and doesn't remain crisp until you get home(20 minutes). Can't wait to go back and get more. Definitely recommended as the best fried chicken in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Shane B.

    I've always wanted to love Ezell's, but their food has repeatedly let me down. I've tried their original chicken and their spicy chicken; Both of them ended up being pretty bland and unordinary in both taste and texture. I've been about three times, and I can't help but feel like the food does not justify the drive. The sides are about average as well. In terms of location and ambiance, there's no seating room, and the restaurant feels rundown and abandoned. It doesn't help that they only take cash. If you want really good fried chicken in the Seattle area, I don't know what to tell you. I'm still looking for a place myself.

    (2)

  • Laurie W.

    I had their chicken at a fair it was amazing. But then I got some at their store. And it was really dry.... That was disappointing.

    (3)

  • Linda H.

    Get the spicy fried chicken. It doesn't have much heat but it has good flavor. The cole slaw is fresh and has a nice mustardy flavor. This is a take out place rather than sit down. Bring cash. They have a card machine but it is down at times. There is a small parking lot that is convenient but it gets pretty busy here.

    (4)

  • Ken N.

    Yeah, the chicken was not worth the hype. We were stopping by a bunch of places to eat so we only tried the dark meat chicken. 1 spicy and 1 original. Spicy was definitely better. Both had really crispy skin and juicy meat. So why wasn't it that good? Needs more seasoning. It was kind of bland. I'd put this in the fast food chicken category. There's a bunch already cooked and being kept warm. So in comparison to other fast food chicken spots, I'd rather go to Popeyes. Oh yeah, no places to sit and eat so plan on doing take out.

    (3)

  • Vanessa K.

    I'm not going to lie I was a tad disappointed in this place. I was really looking forward to some wonderful fried chicken. We drove far after the playoff came after the Seahawks won, and after we stood outside a bar watching the game as every bar in Pioneer Square was filled. I have to admit, we were better fans than some of the actual fans who left the game and missed the last 4 minutes and overtime. Tsk Tsk. Anyways, returning to the fried chicken. We ordered the 8 pieces to share that comes with 2: breast, wings, thighs and drumstick. No substitutions...what a shame, because everyone knows dark meat is way better than white meat. The order also came with four rolls. We asked for honey, and we were charged $0.41 for each tiny ketchup size packet. Not even good honey, but regular honey you could get at KFC or something. Kind of disappointing, and expensive. There was no place to eat at the actual establishment, so we took it back to our place to eat. Upon first looking, the fried chicken was dark...I could tell that it wasn't fresh. It looked like it had been baking under the heat lamp. Which was odd because when we were there ordering, I saw A LOT of fresh fried chicken. I feel like we got take advantage and were given the older fried chicken pieces because we were not the usual customers at this place (insert 4 asians walking into buy fried chicken here). The fried chicken was NOT crispy. The hallmark of any fried chicken is that it is FRIED. Come on! The chicken inside itself was juicy, but that's about it. The rolls were good and tasted like hawaiian bread. I won't return again sadly.

    (2)

  • Shereen A.

    Apparently Oprah flies in her fried chicken from here to Chicago. SO, that being said, it's a no brainer to give this a try. First off, this place smells delicious. Chicken permeates the air from miles away drawing in crowds of hungry chicken eating people. The Monday specials in 2012 never got old. There's been a couple times where the lines are out the tiny door (no place to sit inside). So, we sat on the hoods of our cars, eating chicken and biscuits. You're probably thinking that's super ghetto, but really, it's to ensure we don't want seconds and have to drive back from Belltown. I suggest the spicy (even though it's not really spicy), it has a nice flavor profile. The biscuits here are some of the best I've had with fried chicken. So fluffy, chewy, soft, fresh, and delicious. Compliments the crunch of the chicken delectably. Monday after Monday you'd find us sitting on the hoods of our cars eating chicken and biscuits to our hearts content. This place is a must with grape drank.

    (4)

  • Steven H.

    pretty good chicken, not the best i ever had but it's also not the worst. this place is take out only.

    (3)

  • Navi R.

    Definitely one of my favorite go to for fried chicken in Seattle. Ezell's serves up delicious fried chicken with great taste and the crispy skin that I crave and love. I'm not into the tenders and boneless, so I HIGHLY recommend getting the dark meat pieces for juicy tender meat, plus the mess makes the experience that much more fun. And if you're feeling a little adventurous, get the spicy version. The spicy dark meat pieces are my favorite and it's quite hard to beat. One thing I really like is that despite the crispy batter, Ezell's food is never on the oily side. Man, writing this review is making me hungry. Their sides are also great. Really, you can't go wrong with anything here.

    (5)

  • Ravi S.

    My girlfriend and I both really enjoy fried chicken, so when we heard about Ezell's in Seattle, we had to check it out. Ezell's is more like a food trailer than a restaurant. There's no seating inside of the restaurant, so we just eat outside or in your car. We ordered a 3-piece dinner with dark meat (sides of mashed potatoes & gravy and beans) and a chicken strip dinner with fries. The chicken was awesome. It was fresh, juicy, and very flavorful. However, we ordered it to be spicy and it wasn't spicy at all. I hate to say it, but Popeye's has got them beat when it comes to seasoning. Popeye's also has them beat when it comes to biscuits. The rolls (they weren't really biscuits, let's be real) at Ezell's were just bland fluff like the cheap rolls you can get at Walmart. The rest of the slides were much better though. The mashed potatoes and gravy was awesome, and I liked the sweet barbecue sauce that the beans were swimming in. The fries that came with the chicken strips were nothing special though. After tasting everything, I'd recommend getting the chicken strips with mashed potatoes and gravy. Maybe bring some hot sauce in your glove compartment for the chicken too.

    (4)

  • Heidi P.

    I miss Ezell's spicy chicken two piece combo with peach cobbler and an extra bun. Droooool. Soon, I will have you Ezell's. Soon.

    (4)

  • Sabrina H.

    I hate fried chicken but my husband loves it and drags us to the most famous chicken spots in whatever city or state we are in. I have to say this has to be one of the best fried chicken spots I have been to in a long time. But just know there are no tables to sit inside so your going to take it home or eat in the car.

    (4)

  • Kassi K.

    BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER. The spicy strips and potato salad are my favorite. Don't forget the hot sauce and honey mustard! Get there earlier in the day if your ordering mashed potatoes because they do tend to run out in the evenings. Nothing fancy, just quick and yummy food!

    (5)

  • Tonka E.

    Best food I have ever put in my face. I would eat every day but my doctor would not like it. The spicey chicken is my jam and the best sides ever. My gramma loves the chicken too!

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    Pretty solid chicken strips. Nothing to compare to Raising Cane's back east, though. White meat, breading not too heavy. The chicken was a little drier than I like it, though. Beans and rolls were fantastic- don't leave without them. I got a single piece thigh to try their "real" fried chicken. It was honestly terrible. Very oily - which is ok if it has lots of flavor, but it didn't. The chicken was slimy, almost wet-feeling. We honestly couldn't taste a difference between the spicy and regular strips, but I'd get the spicy because there's less breading - just the right amount. We may be back, but not without exhausting any other chicken tender/boneless wing places nearby.

    (3)

  • Eric H.

    Great fried chicken but not where to sit. If it's nice, you can walk across the street and sit by the ball field.

    (3)

  • Chelsea S.

    We love Ezells! The smells coming from this joint at all times of day are mouthwatering. It is takeout only, they don't have tables, so it is perfect for picking up and taking home (.5 miles away). Their spicy chicken is way better than the original. Their chicken has always been moist with perfect breading and spice on the outside. All of their sides are good but are not the star of the show. The chicken is...and those rolls. I've yet to try the fried okra or the chicken fingers but will surely do so. Oh, and they sell Faygo, which unless you are from Michigan you probably don't know what it is but just trust that it is delicious!

    (5)

  • Jeremy B.

    I grew up in the South and fried chicken was a common meal and common fast food. I had the spicy dark chicken combo with mash potatoes and gravy and cole slaw. $7.99. I consider this a pretty steep price for the meal. The chicken wasn't very hot and it was pretty dry. The pieces were small. The homemade biscuit was excellent though and tasted very fresh. Potatoes were instant and cole slaw was mediocre. I don't think they make it themselves.

    (3)

  • Hayley A.

    WARNING; DO NOT LEAVE THE TIP LINE BLANK!!! My boyfriend got a Togo order and left the tip line blank, checked his bank statement and the charge was for $5 more than he actually paid. So don't leave the tip section blank because they will add their own tip!!

    (1)

  • Lin R.

    I don't know how some people have so much to say about this place. They sell such a limited selection of items. I had their chicken because I was craving fried chicken that day. The chicken was just okay. Not amazing but not bad either. It satisfied my craving and wasn't too salty.

    (3)

  • Erin W.

    I went to high school across the street and was lifeguard at the pool across the street. So yeah I know the neighborhood really well. And this place is just an essential in the hood. The chicken is good, especially if you actually know about fried chicken. I read some of the other reviews... Here's my suggestion; if you are worried about eating greasy food, don't go to a FRIED CHICKEN joint! It's is greasy, and delicious. The rolls are so good and light and sweet. I like the boneless tenders spicy when I'm feeding a group of people. My son likes the drum sticks and thighs and the beans and the corn. I like the slaw and the potato salad but I personally don't care for the beans, they are too sweet for me. The service is hit or miss, and not very friendly (like ever) but also has never been out right rude to me anyway. I accept the abrupt communication and yelling, because that's just how we are in this neighborhood. It's like home. I love Ezell's.

    (5)

  • T K.

    Update: I have since had the opportunity to have Ezell's a few more times. Three more times to be precise... and all subsequent experiences have turned my 1-star review into a 3-star review. My first experience left a negative impression due to poor food temperature and quality (2/3 of my order almost inedible). However, I've since been at catered events and visited Ezell's Express food truck and have had much better experiences. The chicken isn't the most flavorful, hence an average 3 stars. I think Popeyes has better chicken and fries. Ezell's sweet rolls are one of a kind though.

    (3)

  • Jules R.

    I went to school across the street from Ezell's. Never once gave it a try. It was the 90's! I was a vegetarian! I've since learned not to fear chicken (or beef or swine, for that matter!) and my sweetheart re-introduced me to Ezells after he played a round of 18 holes with a nice guy named Ezell. (turns out it was really him!) Now we go there at least once a month in the summer time. Perfect after work date: a bag of chicken, a blanket, 2 towels and a post-swim picnic at madrona beach. They have really yummy rolls and beans. Not a huge fan of the coleslaw, and I can't vouch for their desserts either - how can you think of dessert when there is so much yummy chicken?! Oh, and for people referring to this place as being in the "ghetto"... I say, Seriously? Ever think that maybe that's insulting to the residents of the neighborhood?

    (5)

  • Nori V.

    OMG! I LOVE THIS PLACE! I've been here gazillion times. Great crispy crispy chicken, gizzards, okra, potatoes n' gravy, coleslaw, sweet potato pie, etc AAAAAAAAND those sweet delicious mouth-waterin' ROLLS! Ya gotta git dozen X-tras! A MUST GO! =)

    (5)

  • Sonia G.

    It's good ole fried chicken when you need a greasy fix. The desserts are pretty good too!

    (3)

  • Aaron R.

    I grew up eating Ezell's chicken. It's definitely the best chicken in town, and the chicken strips are the best thing on the menu. I recommend getting the spicy chicken because it's not actually spicy but seasoned very well. The rolls are really good too, they're soft and sweet and like no other rolls I've ever had before. The fried okra and gizzards are really good too, they're not made to order but it only takes 10 minutes for them to fry it up for you. If you've never been to Ezell's you definitely got to check it out!

    (5)

  • Kari H.

    The food is decent, but the surly service just makes the whole experience very unpleasant. I placed a catering order with them for a 10am meeting. The catering manager was pleasant and told me I could come at 9:45am, even though they open at 10am, so that I could get to my meeting on time. When I arrived, the door was locked and I was told by a woman working there curtly, "We open at 10am." I explained that I was here for a catering order and was told, "We still open at 10am." When I explained further that I was told by a manager that I could come at 9:45am, she walked away from the window. A minute later, a young man opened the door for me explaining that my food was ready, but that they open at 10am. Yeah, I got it. No one helped me bring the food to my car, although the surly woman was "nice" enough to hold the door for me as she gave me dirty looks the entire time I walked in and out with three loads of food. It astounds me that employees would treat a paying customer this way and I will not order food for my company there again.

    (1)

  • Thach N.

    Hey if you like fried chicken you have to try this place. It has the best Fried Chicken it also is Oprah's favorite the have a picture of her in the restaurant. Check it out!! The Butter rolls are good too.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Best fried chicken I've had in Seattle so far. I like the sides too. I have always had decent service and like the mixed venue. I also tried the Lake City branch and thought it to be the same with a little less business, but quick service. As a local institution I'll take it over Dick's or Spuds any day. If anyone knows of better fried chicken, please let me know because the search is on. Thanks

    (4)

  • Ryan C.

    woweeeeee! came back to get old fried chickin! taste soooooooooooooooooooo goood! spicy ones aren't that spicy at all! gizzards was... UNHOLY! (greasy and cholesterol-ly in a good kinda way!) hahahahh! worth the wait IMO!! would've given a 5 if not being a litttttle pricey. got the 8 pieces (2 wings, thighs, breasts, & drums) for $15ish, ordered the 1/2 pund gizzards with it and total came put at $21ish. if it's cheaper, i'll be back EVERYDAY! oh ya i got like 5 rolls. it was good companion, but being INDONESIAN, fried chickin is best eaten with hot steaming rice and hot sauce! don't forget the ketchup too!! woo hoo!

    (4)

  • Nadine W.

    My expectations were probably too high.... I've heard for years that Ezells is the best friend chicken anywhere. Unfortunately, it was just average. There are a lot of good things, however. The staff here are exceedingly helpful and friendly and there are unique offerings (for Seattle) such a fried chicken gizzards. They also allow you to order chicken breasts only and have yummy biscuits. I'm not a fan of the Oreda style fries but that is just a question of personal taste.

    (2)

  • Sarah B.

    I went here after reading all the great reviews and never really experiencing a good piece of fried chicken that I didn't make myself. This place is incredible! Great easy menu and the spicy chicken is actually really nice and spicy. The mashed potatoes were alright (I make better) but the gravy was incredible. I usually don't eat coleslaw, but I tried some and it was so good. Just a great bunch of food. Only drawback is it makes your car smell like chicken for a few days so you sit there and crave it!

    (5)

  • Ron M.

    Best fried chicken and beer-battered rolls ever. That is all.

    (5)

  • Wesh W.

    The chicken...it calls me...it says 'Eat me, you stupid vegetarian motherf***er,' and God help me sometimes I do...

    (5)

  • Raymond W.

    These are things I love about Ezell's: One of the few places where I'll eat the skin. Better after-moving food than pizza. Baked Beans that I could bathe in. They sell Faygo. Seriously, I don't eat Ezell's that often, but when I do, I'm still thinking about it 3 days later.

    (4)

  • Occam W.

    Didn't live up to the hype. It was good (and cheap), but not great. It was quite bland.

    (3)

  • Tony G.

    One of the many food items we had when working overtime. I keep hearing about this place so was a little excited to try it. That or I was just hungry and was excited about eating anything. First off, the one thing I do remember from this place is the rolls. Talk about crazy delicious. So good in fact that I knew if I were to go back for seconds, one of my co-workers would have cut me. And she did. Now to the chicken. I got to admit, I thought the batter was ok, so I took it off. Hey, I am trying to see my abs here ok? The chicken itself was so damn moist it made me a little moist, and that is not supposed to happen so you know its great! Ezell's Fried Chicken makes working late a memorable event. Zipzap Zubidy Bop!

    (4)

  • Marta T.

    If it's good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for me! I went to Garfield so I had it a lot during high school , but I think it's impossible to get enough of this ridiculously delicious chicken. Ezell's also know how to cook it correctly so once you get past the skin, it moist, but not greasy. Man - writing this review is making my mouth water so I'm going to have to cut it short, but I'll leave you with this knowledge. The biscuits are top notch - get AT LEAST 2 for everyone in your group.

    (5)

  • Caroline C.

    The chicken was satisfying, as always. But not a big fan of the sides. The potato salad, was hardly potato salad. I like chunks of potatoes but it seemed more like it was MASHED potato salad. I think I will just stick with the fries.

    (4)

  • dean c.

    Yeah, Ezell's is the shit. It's gotta be the spicy, don't tell me nothin' about that original business. One thing that makes Ezell's special is that they use high-quality birds and portion the white meat in a way that I prefer to the grocery stores and other chicken joints. A chicken leg from Ezell's is often easily twice the size of one from Safeway. Plus, where else can you get spicy gizzards and livers? The sides and rolls are also good but not why you come to Ezell's. By the way, I've noticed quite a few negative reviews. You can't compare Ezell's to homemade fried chicken or what you pay for in a sit-down establishment, but you can compare it to other places where you buy fried chicken that sits under heat lamps and when you do you'll notice that it's pretty fucking good! And what do you really expect from the staff of a chicken joint at 23rd and Jeffferson? There's always a line here. To quote another Yelper, you don't eat the service!

    (5)

  • Simpson W.

    The original fried chicken spot in Seattle since I was a kid.. At one point Oprah used to have their fried chicken personally flown to her.. But I recommend the spicy chicken and order extra rolls cuz they're good! The sides are alright in my opinion, but if you want dessert, I recommend the peach cobbler!

    (4)

  • Rebecca K.

    Ezell's makes some damn tasty fried chicken. Their biscuits are just so-so and their mashed potatoes are of the ghetto instant variety--I liked the baked beans as a side better. I'd rate Ezell's higher than a 3 if not for the fact that the last time my boyfriend and I went there we got yelled at by a sassy customer for "talking too loudly" behind her while she was ordering her food. It should be noted that the same woman who told us off went running across the restaurant, screeching and yelling, "Oh hayyyyyyyyy!" when one of her friends walked through the door. Some folks also swore at us when we got our food before them. Basically, depending on the time of day you go, Ezell's customers can be of the not-so-friendly variety.

    (3)

  • Bryan W.

    Has anybody heard of or been to Grandy's chicken? They are located in the Texas/Olka area. Ezell's tastes very similar to that Grandys. That is to say that Ezell's is the BOMB!!!! Best chicken around hands down. The sides leave something to be desired but the chicken is the sh*t. As a quick aside, the area around it aint all that seedy. I mean come on, it's Seattle. :-)

    (4)

  • Zombie C.

    Shazaaam!!! your wish has been granted, that is if you wished for a place to get awesome fried chicken. I looked up fried chicken on Yelp and after reading some of the reviews sought it out. I usually get the 10 piece meal with both original and spicy. The spicy isn't so spicy that it's unenjoyable, and I suggest getting both if it is your first time visiting. I don't like coleslaw much but I think Ezell's has the best I've ever had, sorry Grandma. I don't think there is seating if you had dreams of spending hours getting lost in a blissful food nirvana.

    (5)

  • derek b.

    spicy over original anyday. got to love the snack packs. POTATO SALAD!!! little mustard flavor and mashed up potatoes are amazing. beans are standard, so is the slaw.

    (4)

  • Brian R.

    Total dive but great fried chicken and fried okra.

    (5)

  • Dave F.

    Very disappointing. And expensive! $30 for 8 pieces with 4 rolls. I even tipped $5! That's over $3 a piece (before tax n tip) and it was stale. Maybe Oprah likes stale dried out chicken. We do not. We can't see why they're so popular.

    (1)

  • Andre H.

    I went there hoping this was the one ezell still owned but alas it was one of the corporate bought out ones so everything I wanted was wrong. I wanted legs maybe wings no leg wing deal ok whatever, I wanted greens they don't have greens pretty frustrating , and the chicken I got was slightly salty and definitely made in old grease. never going back there if I want sub part chicken I'll get it on the cheap from a f grocery store.

    (2)

  • Jasmine G.

    Hands down the best fried chicken in the area. The pricing is awesome, the service is quick (usually), and always quality food. If you're local and go often I recommend checking Garfield's sports calendar. This place can be packed before/during/after basketball games and other sporting events. Doesn't usually get too busy after school but the area can be pretty congested. I've never had the spicy chicken but all my friends and family swear by it! The rolls are always fresh and the perfect accompaniment for the chicken!

    (5)

  • J M.

    Spicy fried chicken, roll, beans, cole slaw, fries, mashed potatoes. Amazing every time.

    (5)

  • Carly C.

    Yes. This is the stuff my dreams are made of. When you have a fried chicken craving, you must immediately go to Ezell's. It is always perfectly cooked- crispy skin, nice and tender. You can order spicy or original, but spicy is definitely the way to go! It always is crowded but the line tends to move very quickly. And it's not bad on the wallet either!

    (5)

  • Jennifer N.

    We went here for some semi late night eating on Saturday night (they close at 10 - we got there at like 9:55 lol). It was extremely yummy! We got some chicken tenders and dark meat chicken - absolutely scrumptious! Comparable in caliber to my favorite fried chicken place in Texas - Bubbas in Dallas. Don't miss this place if you love fried chicken! It's to go only, there are no seats inside, so you'll definitely be taking your chicken home with you. I'm excited to go back and try more things on the menu!

    (5)

  • Carmen P.

    I love fried chicken. I have NOT enjoyed Ezell's chicken in years. First of all, the servers are rude and act as though they could care less about your food. I kept asking myself why had the service and the taste changed. The chicken is bland and the rolls are missing some ingredient. I have yet to get my order correct when I order from there and they nickel and dime you for every little thing. I continued to go when I was in the area because I continued to think that maybe I was catching them on their bad days. Finally, I was told by a friend when I complained and said the quality is NOT the same as when I used to go, it was explained that this is NOT the same owner as the original Ezell's. I was told if I want to get the original Ezell's that has such a great flavor, then I would need to go to Renton. I rather have Popeyes Chicken than this.

    (1)

  • Joy M.

    I'm from San Diego... and I think i'd prefer Popeyes chicken haha. Customer service was decent only because they served you food, but other than that, nothing special here.

    (3)

  • Demitri R.

    I found this while walking around the Capitol Hill neighborhood. When the sheriff walks in to order food you know it's good. 3 piece white meat meal with coleslaw the creamy variety not that vinegar crap. Bread and an order of cinnamon raisin bread pudding. The chicken was fried to golden perfection and moist. The bread soft and delicious. It's enough for a meal for two days. It's off the beaten path and worth a trip.

    (5)

  • Anthony S.

    Best chicken and rolls in Seattle! Get the two piece spicy with a roll, fries, and ranch. And make sure to get a wing as their wings are HUGE!

    (5)

  • Scott X.

    Great fried chicken!!!...potato salad, cole slaw, mashed potatoes all home made...fresh baked rolls as well..... reasonably priced.... 2 thumbs up

    (4)

  • Charles S.

    Skyway Ezells "Horrible first impression". Walked into store at 5:40pm on April 8th '15, two girls working (one at register and one in front chicken). Girl in front of chicken was hacking / coughing really bad without any attempt to cover her mouth. Was hoping that she was not going to be the one serving up my dinner. Ordered a 3 price dark dinner. Asked what two sides I would like at then was told they were out of potatoes (I was going to order 2-potatoes). The other girl also informed the register girl that they only had one order of corn left. I said I would wait for the potatoes and asked what would be a good time to come back? They said; "No, we ain't making no more potatoes tonight". I've been in retail most my life and that was horrible service. If this was undercover boss they got problems... I did not purchase a meal and will never return. Had to give a star to post a review...

    (1)

  • Jennifer W.

    We are very lucky where I work we get one of their food trucks, I love good fried chicken. This is it, even if it their strips. They are crispy and yummy. Their sides are perfect, who doesn't love "comfort food?" I only wish the truck had their yummy macaroni and cheese ( I would have paid extra for it ) Oprah was right. She's rarely ever wrong.

    (4)

  • Elyse S.

    Since moving to the Greater Seattle Area ages ago, all I've heard about Ezell's is awesomeness. I was never able to try it, due to my gluten allergy, but I've been around plenty of people who do eat it and have never heard a bad word uttered about the delectable chicken. I can tell you, it smells amazing. I can also tell you that the folks working at Ezell's are fantastic. They are helpful when I have to make big orders for work, which makes me look like a rock star at the office. They are the real rock stars!

    (4)

  • Jeffrey S.

    I don't know if this is the best fried chicken I've ever had, but it's close enough to warrant 4 stars; and certainly the best in Seattle. Unfortunately, I haven't tried the sauces yet which may or may not change the overall chicken flavor. That aside, here's the brunt of my experience (with star ratings): - Coleslaw 5 - Beans 4 - Potato salad 5 - Potatoes & gravy 3 - Regular recipe chicken 4 (needs more salt, imo) - Spicy recipe chicken 5 (close to perfection) I'll compare it to KFC over Popeye's since most people are probably familiar with the aforementioned. It is MUCH less greasy/oily than KFC nor nearly as overly salty as KFC. Ezell's is probably a lot healthier in terms of preservatives and chemicals as well (it doesn't contain any to my knowledge), and doesn't leave you with that bloated MSG feel like most fried chicken. Ezell's is moist, tender and tastes like it was freshly cooked (unlike KFC and most likely Popeye's). The closest place I can recall to Ezell's is the defunct Rose's restaurant that had graced Hwy 99 for 50 years. Hands down, this is better fried chicken experience than KFC. And the best I've had in a very very long time!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    I've found myself thinking about Ezell's quite often since returning home after a day trip in Seattle a few weeks ago. It's a craving so bad that I've been tempted to BoltBus back up there every weekend. I can't compare this fried chicken with Popeyes because I've never eaten there. I feel Ezell's shouldn't even be compared with KFC because it's too delicious to be compared with a fast food restaurant that leaves one in agony & taking far too many trips to the bathroom. Ezell's is its own kind of famous chicken. Their spicy (mild spicy) chicken tenders were tender & very moist with mild, tangy flavors of all the right spices for the breading. Out of the prepackaged barbeque, ranch, tartar, & honey mustard dipping sauces the honey mustard is the way to go. The roll was incredibly warm, light, & soft with just a hint of sweet. Butter is absolutely unnecessary on these rolls; you'll mask the flavor which undoubtedly is the best (at least in Seattle). The crinkle fries were nothing to write home about. I'd suggest ordering a couple more rolls instead of a side of fries. Also, I tried a couple bites of the side of cole slaw my friend ordered & it was pretty good; light & creamy. There isn't any seating inside the restaurant nor even a place to stand & eat. There is a school across the street with some seating areas but the crows sat on the tree limbs & hovered over us while we ate. This was the only time during the trip we wished we drove. At least then we would've had a place to sit & also shelter from the cold & birds. There is a private parking lot but still not seating area. Maybe there is during the warmer season? Ezell's is... as the black guy with gold teeth standing in line behind us exclaimed, "It's chicken crack!" By the way, this guy specifically told me to tell everyone these fine, descriptive words of his & also that it came from "the black guy with gold teeth".

    (5)

  • Chelsea J.

    Best chicken ever. Love the chicken. Love the sides. The coleslaw is a tad sweet for my taste but that's a personal preference. I wish they had mac and cheese. This location is not in the best area but that's ok. It's worth it for this chicken. It's worth the drive wherever you're coming from. The spicy is spicy! Plenty of parking in back.

    (5)

  • Ryan S.

    Why did the human cross the road? To get awesome fast chicken. Had a ten minute break off work down the street. I needed fast-and this place does chicken... Fast chicken. I was slightly put off when I got out of my car in their parking lot and what I originally thought was a plant ended up being a man who promptly asked, "you got any change for a nigguh?". To which I replied, "Well that depends... Do you have any chicken for a crackah?" Zero transactions were made. I enter Ezell's which I now refer to as the chicken coop. The cashier was really cute and very nice, and knew all about their different kinds of chicken offerings. I got the half pound chicken tenders and slaw. It was delicious. The cashier even gave me an extra sauce, and everybody knows the last thing you want to do is run out of sauce. Everybody knows that. Bonus points. Was open until 10 on Easter Sunday btw too. Unholy bonus points. Will return to the chicken coop when it's time for fast chicken.

    (5)

  • Jesse M.

    I am a huge fan and supporter of all Ezell's locations. This I believe is the original location and has never disappointed me. The service is fast and friendly and the food is always consistent with it's delicious taste. The spicy strips smothered in honey mustard are to die for. The rolls are always warm and fresh and melt in your mouth. If you have never had Ezell's then stop whatever your doing and get to the nearest location. You will not be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Amy B.

    Just moved to Seattle and so fat this is the best fried chicken I've had since I visited Kentucky. I got the 8 piece spicy with creamy slaw and BBQ beans. I hope every chicken shack here is as good or better. The atmosphere is just the way I like it no seating, surly staff, quick service. Price wasn't to terrible $25+ and would feed 4 but no more. Slaw is about perfect.

    (4)

  • Jennie S.

    You will currently find the best fried chicken in Seattle at Ezell's. Rolls were okay and the coleslaw was sweet which is how I like it. Keep in mind that it's take out only. No frills. Come here, order what you want and get out. Oooh, check out Oprah's poster.

    (4)

  • Tobi G.

    A Seattle institution, Oprah approved. Fried chicken, sides, done. Get it spicy or bland. If you have 15 extra minutes to spare, order some fried okra with it.

    (4)

  • Skihiker S.

    This place has awesome chicken..... except when they don't. Seriously, how do you run out of Chicken Tenders 2-hours before closing? You just turned away 5 customers in a row. This is like the third time time this has happened to me, so one can only assume it happens more often. The staff is always super friendly, but jeez... get your stuff together so you're not turning paying customers away all the time.

    (2)

  • Laura B.

    Wow. This place is amazing. I never eat fried chicken so I don't have anywhere else to compare this to... but I ate here a few months ago and when I close my eyes I can still taste how amazing it is. I took it to go and drove to Jefferson park with a friend and walked out to the benches where you can see downtown and West Seattle. It was AWESOME! Love this place! I was trying to save this for my 100th review of the year... but it is getting too close to the end of the year for me to wait any longer!!!

    (5)

  • Nathan R.

    So, I drive by Ezell's every day to and from work. I have to say the tests of my will power have been challenged to the highest degree- as I purposefully held off for 3 months before going in last week. I knew once the flood doors were open, well there is danger on the horizon. The fried chicken is legit- and the fact they have fried okra puts it over the top. The fried okra was perfect- not mushy or bland, but crispy and delicious! In fact, I'm changing my review to 5 stars- just for the fried okra! Gizzards were top notch too- okay, dang it must resist...resistance is futile... Jean LUC! SAVE ME AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

    (4)

  • Mei W.

    Visited Seattle with my husband and being the fried chicken lover himself, he was adamant that we tried this place out! Fantastic fried chicken! Love the thick batter coating and crunch at every bite! Husband enjoyed their gizzards also. Came here twice (almost three times) during our stay. We will be back during our next visit! They definitely need a location in California!

    (4)

  • Nicole T.

    Was excited to eat here since the reviews were great and supposed Oprah said this was the best fried chicken she's had. I don't know when the last time she ate chicken but it was not "Oprah" worthy. The only think I liked was the rolls.

    (2)

  • Allison A.

    OK, this sucks because I used to love this place, but we got some bad food poisoning from the chicken on Thursday night!!! We bought a bucket, enough for three people, from the location on 23rd ave. The chicken smelled "off" and looked like it had been deep fried twice, the skin was so dark. We each tried a piece, thinking that maybe it was OK, but it tasted very bland -- we ordered spicy, but the skin tasted burnt and had no seasoning. It also tasted bad. Later that night, each of us (me, my husband, and our friend visiting from out of town) got food poisoning -- problems with stomach (uh, rather not go into detail), fever and chills, heart racing. This is hugely disappointing because we ate att Ezell's for years and it seems that the recipe/quality has changed and we haven't been back in a while because of it. We tried it this once to show our friend from out of town, hoping it had improved, and it ruined our night with him (and the next day recovering). My stomach still hurts just thinking about it.

    (1)

  • Craig T.

    I've been craving good fried chicken for a while after being disappointed a few times at other Seattle eateries. I definitely got my fix and found my go to place for fried chicken in Seattle now. They were open on Easter and I got the four piece mixed spicy fried chicken. I think the dark meat chicken was better than the white meat, but that's just my preference.

    (5)

  • L Marie J.

    It is OK, this is the original Ezell's location! I, personally, don't know what is so "famous" about it! I guess, that good old Oprah thought it was great and had it flown to her. I think that "Oprah" needs to have her taste-buds checked out if she can't find better chicken that this! I have had the chicken strips a couple times and there is no taste. They are good if doused in the barbecue sauce! What is up Ezell's, I think you have forgotten to season the chicken. I have heard that the spicy is good, but you can only get it with dark meat. I have no idea why they don't offer spicy white meat. Oh well. However, I do like the rolls! They are soft, fresh, warm and have a nice hint of sweetness to them. The fries are good also, yes they are just frozen fries and they are unsalted. I know, you are probably thinking, "yuck, unsalted fries, I think this chick needs "her" taste buds checked out." They do included a few packets of salt so you can salt them if you want. The mashed up potatoes are really good and homemade! The staff is friendly! You will, sometimes, find the line out the door but don't fret it moves quickly! Would I recommend? Hell ya, why not!

    (3)

  • Dana T.

    We had this delivered but it was still delicious. Chicken is so moist and the breading isn't too greasy. I will update my review once I go to sit down and eat. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone!

    (4)

  • Nancy M.

    After reading the reviews we really expected more. The chicken strips were great but the regular chicken was nothing special. It looked wonderful but turned out to be a disappointment. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't anything special. Not a lot of flavor unfortunately. And the fact that there's not a single table and chair to allow a customer to dine-in didn't help its rating in my mind. And the service wasn't anything exciting either. The woman working the counter left us feeling like we were bothering her by coming in. Honestly not sure why I'm even giving it 3 stars. I guess because it could have potential if the owner gave it a bit of attention and invested in some seasoning.

    (3)

  • Nick S.

    Want some bomb fried chicken, good service, and you want it all now? Ezell's has you covered at reasonable prices. Even though I can't say spicy chicken seems all that spicy, after finishing my tenders I could care less.

    (5)

  • Alex S.

    Alright, maybe I have been doing this wrong the whole time. Yes, Ezelle's has great chicken and their rolls will make you want to buy 6 dozen and fill up a small baby pool so you can bathe in it's glory. But Jesus Christ if you are an adventurous eater and enjoy things like tendons you MUST try the gizzards. The frequency that my household purchases spicy gizzards is disgusting. But there is nothing like a fresh box of Ezelle's fried spicy gizzards, rolls and their amazing potato salad with honey mustard dipping sauce. Ezelle's if you are reading this, please let me know when you have a punch card.

    (5)

  • Mara W.

    Chicken is tasty, spicy, and juicy. The cole slaw is great. The beans were a little drippy. The rolls were good. Wish they had biscuits.

    (3)

  • Damian L.

    Only get the spicy. The regular doesn't compare. I love the way Ezell's crust and chicken meat are not interrupted by globules of fatty skin. I love how the skin is always perfectly crisp and tasty. I love how the chicken meat is never dry and falls off the bone. I love how it's the only chicken I eat that is picked clean off the bone and doesn't leave behind 50 greasy napkins. Ezell's is my favorite fried chicken hands down. But remember, I'm only referring to the spicy.

    (5)

  • I B.

    I usually don''t do fried chicken; except for Ezell's. The service here is great--shout out to sweet Tina who will convince you to buy 24 pieces of chicken, even though you only need 12. The chicken is tender and well spiced. Also had an order of the spicy gizzards and they were excellent; not greasy like at the Pike Place Market stands. The baked beans are perfect (and I'm not a baked bean fan). Even the potato salad is creamy and good (not at all like the gross Costco version) Keep up the good work Ezell's and whatever you do, don't change your business model.

    (5)

  • James F.

    Wow what do they put in the Chicken? I can't seem to stop eating it! DAMN that's some fine fried chicken.

    (4)

  • maly o.

    Know why Oprah is fat? Because of this stuff and, man, is it WORTH IT!! My perfect meal from Ezell's consists of their gizzards (spicy), fried okra (spicy), baked beans, soft rolls and finished off with their peach cobbler (overpriced but I still get it everytime). Ezell's can also hook you up with Faygo (which makes my Midwest friends happy). Their gizzards take a while to make (okra as well) but well worth the wait. Also, be nice to the cashier. It doesn't help to be uppity or snippy or whatever. She/he doesn't need you to complete their day but you sure as hell need their chicken (spicy, of course). Also, when you are nice and get to know some of the workers, you may find an extra roll or piece of chicken slipped into your bag .. . YES!!

    (5)

  • Patrick T.

    Best chicken I have ever had. The sides are great too.

    (5)

  • Christina B.

    Ate there for my very first time while visiting Seattle, and was very impressed with the amout of flavor in their spicy chicken. It was hella juicy and flavorful-an excellent combination!

    (4)

  • Ryan S.

    K-F--Who? KFC is absolutely no comparison to this place. Not only the fried chicken outmatches them, but the rest of the menu is not bad either. I think over the four years I've eaten at this place after basketball games and I think I've had just about everything on the menu. And the funny thing is, I don't think I've hated anything at all. Obviously, the fried chicken is what makes the meal. A greasy hunk o' meat, greasy, but great. Obviously if I ate here every day (my dream) I would be very very large. But sometimes, ya just gotta make the most of life and splurge a little. Healthy people beware...

    (5)

  • Nick D.

    I love me some Ezell's.. Right by my house, great fried chicken.. I gotta check my visits, so i don't end up there a few times a week!!!

    (4)

  • Rachel L.

    It's been a LONG time since I ate chicken. But, of course, Ezell's has been around since way back then. And lo, in those yesteryears, this was the best damn chicken in town. That said, one of the reasons I became a vegetarian at the age of 10 was food poisoning from - yep, you guessed it - good ol' Ezell's Spicy Fried Chicken. Just had to share.

    (3)

  • Vince T.

    Ezell's is quite good, but for some strange reason korean fried chicken back in the bay area just tastes better...

    (4)

  • Pamela H.

    I'm all about the spicy breasts. The chicken here was sooooooooo good that I really wished I had ordered more than 2 pieces. Really. The biscuits were nice and soft, the beans were nice and sweet and the potatoes were nice and full of huge lumps. The chicken was so good that I can totally forget about the lumpy potatoes. I didn't have any coleslaw but my co-worker particularly enjoyed that it was full of real mayo. The customer service leaves a lot to be desired (store on Renton Ave). But the chicken is sooooooo good that I am sure to return.

    (4)

  • Josh F.

    I dig ezell's ever since i went to high school across the street. Funny thing is i'm not even wild about fried chicken. but i hit this every couple months.

    (4)

  • dannydan d.

    It's good friend chicken, nonetheless. But I have had better in LA, the korean fried chicken. The roll and sides are good. The batter is good, but again... since I have had that friend chicken in LA, my standard went up way high... but yeah, it's good... for Seattle.

    (4)

  • Cam B.

    Pretty damn good, but not quite mind-blowingly good.

    (4)

  • Jolene N.

    Awesome chicken... not the place for Atkins fans as this ain't your Atkins protein diet candidate. Yummy. The sides are fantastic too. I love the slightly sour coleslaw. I wasn't a fan of the mashed potatoes, but maybe that was just a bit too many carbs after the chicken carb casing. We went during the high dinner hour at the 23rd Ave location and had to wait 20 minutes to get our takeout dinner.

    (4)

  • Katniss B.

    Ok...so I had to give it another try. This time we ordered a pound of fried gizzard and one fried chicken leg. The fried gizzard was good. I don't normally eat gizzard and I thought it was good. The chicken was good, but lacking in flavor.

    (3)

  • Vanessa F.

    OOOhhhhhhh mannnnnnn....that's all I have to say. Crack rock chicken.

    (5)

  • Henry G.

    i don't know... what can i say? I LOVE THIS PLACE... oprah was right when she said this is the best fried chicken, it is amazing! get the spicy, not really spicy, just really flavored very very well... GO NOW!! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING!!

    (5)

  • Jean K.

    Ok maybe this isnt exactly gonna keep you skinny...but unless you are insanely hungry any meal on their menu is $8 and under. The spicy fried chicken is really good (i'm a breading person...if only they could have chicken flavored breading -i dont need the chicken- id be happy) and those rolls are sweet and light. i love baked beans but i just couldnt do it last night, but i bet theyre good. service? eh, but the shit is to go...who cares!

    (4)

  • Mike R.

    Mrs. Rouftop and I always try to eat healthy when we're together. We bake whole wheat bread, get our vegetables from an organic CSA, rarely eat out, and generally enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh, home cooked, delicious, wholesome foods. But within the heart of every health-conscious hippie freak such as myself, there lies a clock. It counts down the number of days since I've had anything held together by nothing more than grease and batter. It yearns for white flour, buitter, lard, schmaltz... and it ticks. Oh, the ticking. Tonight the Mrs. went off for sushi with her coworkers. Seizing the opportunity, I hightailed it to Ezell's, bought a 2 piece dark meat snack combo with a side of fries, and zoomed back home -- the entire trip took less than 30 minutes. Knowing what my wife's own internal clock would do to her on finding the scent of friies in the home, I ran up to our rooftop picnic area and started chowing. This is fantastic chicken. Incredibly juicy on the inside, delicious thick batter crust. Fries hit the spot. The roll spun my glycemic index off the charts with its comforty goodness. I lapped it up like I hadn't eaten in weeks. And so the clock has been reset. I hope my wife liked her sushi, because she is going to be jealous!

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    I lived here for an embarassingly long time without visiting Ezell's. I'm from the south and this is the second best chicken I've ever tasted - perfectly crispy/salty. I'm not sure why the sides and rolls get such great reviews, but the chicken is just about perfect. If you go down there after the high school lunch break and before people get off work, you can be in and out in a couple minutes. I'm used to the intimidating "what u want" attitude at little joints in atlanta or ordering a cheesesteak in Philly, but I've been struck by how incredibly nice the people are every time I go. I ride down to Ezell's on my bike, grab a couple plates, hang a bag on each handlebar, and it's still crispy and hot when I get home. It's not terribly greasy, so the crispiness stays crispy for a good while. You can eat well for about $5. Ezell, I could kiss you. (in a very heterosexual, viking sort of way)

    (5)

  • S B.

    Almost as good as Harold's Chicken Shack in Chicago.

    (4)

  • Ian C.

    How did I grow up near this place 30 years ago, and never got around to having it until recently? No idea, it's awesome. Maybe not the best, but the best I've had, and the sides make it. The only critiques: 1) no need to get mashed potatoes and potatoe salad - the potato salad covers your RDA of potatos, and is awesome, while the mashed potatoes just taste like mashed potatos, no big deal. 2) My dining mate reported that she preferred her Okra as entire pieces of Okra, not the niblets that they had. I'm ignorant enough of these epicurean distinctions within Okra, and thought they were jsut great. Strangely the cats really dug the Okra too, but that may be from the chicken flavor that was cooked into them from the grease. All in all, a great experience, I got a coke, a large order of the tenders, and three sides for about $20. And yes, the parking lot is a little sketchy, but that's the neighborhood and it's been like that since before most of us lived here, so whatever. (As an FYI to anyone interested, if in Tacoma, try the Fish house Cafe for the fish version of Ezelles)

    (5)

  • Randy C.

    I've been going to Ezell's for a while now, and I have never had a bad experience (even when I got a bullet in my trunk). The food is always juicy and fresh and the service is always speedy. What do I recommend? A large order of original chicken strips, with their bomb BBQ sauce and Faygo Redpop!. Oh yeah, get an extra roll...

    (5)

  • Janel Marie M.

    I was really looking forward to trying this place out after reading all of the reviews and was sadly disappointed. The chicken was overcooked, sides pretty small, fries were limp/oily, and the rolls were just OK. The meal was definitely not spectacular. To me...the meal did not live up to the ratings it has received so far.

    (2)

  • bonne b.

    I'm glad I don't live closer or I'd stop by for take out once a week. The chicken is GREAT, as are the mashed potatoes and the Sweet Potato Pie!! Forget cooking...Invite some friends over and pick up dinner. no one will be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Suepattra M.

    Sometimes I dream about Ezell's spicy fried chicken. I miss it and I haven't found anything similar in the Bay Area. Forget KFC's extra crunchy formula. Forget Popeyes spicy stuff. This fried chicken (spicy or reg) is MUCH better. It's Oprah's favorite. It's not a chain. It's a Seattle institution. Unfortunately, it is also a royal pain to get to if you don't live in the neighborhood, so plan accordingly. But if you're driving, they at least have a parking lot. Cash only, but there's an ATM inside.

    (4)

  • rachael d.

    Did I just die and go to heaven? I think so, not only is the chicken to die for the potatoe salad and cole slaw are going to make it very difficult to cut this unhealthy grub from my diet....hhmmm yeah I don't think I will, no one has that kind of will power.

    (5)

  • Julie F.

    Just another vote in the ocean of voices ... this is the best fried chicken I've ever had. It's crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside ... the first time I had it I thought they must be using super chickens because the meat to bone ratio was so high. This is the perfect thing for a movie night with friends or a quick bite when you want something sinful and delicious.

    (5)

  • Aileen T.

    So I came here because I actually saw the episode where Oprah mentions she has the chicken flown out to her in Chicago. (I'm so embarrassed to mention this..). Not sure what the big deal is. The chicken is decent, no doubt greasy (not a bad thing in my book!).. but I'd never make the drive for it again.

    (3)

  • Chani B.

    I love this place. Not only do they have a picture of Oprah, but they now have an ATM. Yes, their sides portion sizes have become smaller,but the chicken is damn good. The only other damn good chicken is Southern Kitchen in Tacoma and my BIL's chicken in PA. This is prob the best fried chicken in Seattle,but we shall see..... moo hoo ha ha ha

    (3)

  • Esteban D.

    Being a local boy, I've seen my share of Ezell's chicken in my life. There's the one in Skyway and also in Shoreline, too. I have to say that family businesses are among my favorites when it comes to going out because I know their money isn't gonna go to some giant business demon somewhere else that doesn't even care. With that said, let's just say that their quality just isn't what it used to be. The last time I went there, it wasn't so packed, and it seemed like they were bored. I ordered the spicy chicken and when I ate it, it was dry as cardboard. I understand the concept of wanting to sell what you've got, but I swear to you this chicken tasted like it had been sitting for 6 hours. I guess it's always a good idea to go to a restaurant that's busy so you know their food is getting sold and fresh stuff is getting made. I just didn't think I'd have to worry about that with Ezell's, and since then, I always do.

    (3)

  • CK Dexter H.

    Seattle's top junk food.

    (3)

  • Michael W.

    Oprah loves this place and I can see why. They're chicken always hits the fried spot. Get spicy cuz it just taste better. Their fries are them old school accordian looking ones, but are tasty. And I love me dem sweet rolls! The next day though, you will feel like you're having a heart attack from all that grease. It's worth it though if you love living on the edge.

    (5)

  • Kaari D.

    I really like fried chicken. I'd heard lore of Ezell's chicken through the years and finally tried it today. Verdict: good chicken, but not mind blowing. Maybe the hype got to me and my expectations were too high?? The chicken was good, but I expected more spice from my spicy chicken. It had a kick, but no spice, if you know what I mean. The sides I had were the mashed potatoes and gravy and the cole slaw. Good slaw, potatoes weren't very good. Overall, fine lunch, but nothing I'll be thinking about tomorrow.

    (3)

  • Jake K.

    all about the spicy fried. best in the city.

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    It's not hard to get into a "I-love-fried-chicken-MORE" fight with the patrons that hang out in the parking lot. Eat it HOT and pick up minimal sides - chicken here is your primary objective.

    (4)

  • Kirsten F.

    This is no Bojangles (kick-ass southern fried chicken bojangles.com ), but might be the best Seattle has to offer. I was disappointed and I feel like this place has been over-hyped. The chicken was crispy, but not very flavorful. The mashed potatoes had more flavor than the chicken! The corn was basically out of the can and the rolls were ok, but not what I would expect based on the other reviews. Given that it costs $16 for 8 pieces of just ok chicken, I'll probably make my own or hit the grocery store next time I'm in the mood for fried chicken!

    (2)

  • jenny w.

    If you want a heart attack in a box with southern flare and great juicy chicken this is the pkce to go. THeir biscuts melt in your mouth with their sweet fluff. Their gravy is dark and their potatoes real. Do not skip out on the sweet potatoe pie!! THis place is the best

    (5)

  • Ass Man Z.

    Best chicken in Seattle! Oprah used to have it sent to her in Chicago...and that girl knows how to eat!

    (5)

  • S C.

    Their original recipe wasn't that impressive, but I really liked their spicy chicken and the rolls. With home made pickled radish, yum!!! I wouldn't go during lunch hour though, because I made the mistake of going on a weekday around 1230 and it was overflowing with high school kids from across the street. It was a very long wait before I could bring home my favorite junk food!

    (5)

  • Franklin D.

    I can't believe that I didn't know about this place any sooner. A friend from college who went to school at Garfield tipped me off about it. Excellent fried chicken and southern food in general. I used to never like greens but this place as well as a couple places in NorCal have sold me on them. Don't forget to get a few extra biscuits, you only live once, and if you eat here too often it won't be as long as you expected so enjoy it.

    (4)

  • Victoria G.

    The best fried chicken in the city! I once ate half a sweet potato pie in one sitting. I don't recommend doing that but I do recommend Ezell's.

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    Forget KFC, I've never had better fried chicken than from Ezell's, not even when I lived in Georgia. My son's best friend lives 2 blocks away and how they can live with that delicious aroma that can penetrate a car with the windows rolled up 3 blocks away I don't know. Sweet potato pie is hard to do right, I've tried and failed many times, so I just get it from Ezell's now.

    (5)

  • Rick L.

    Yo momma wished she made chicken this good! For reals, I haven't had chicken like this since I lived in the south - and that's saying something. DO NOT skip on the mashed potatoes, it's like heaven on your tongue!

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    supposedly, oprah has ezell's chicken flown in to chicago when she binges. i can't attest to the truth of theis rumor, but the chicken is damn good. there's no place to eat here,, its take out only. that doesn't stop people from hanging out int he parking lot and eating, which can make things a little sketchy on a saturday night. just be prepared.

    (5)

  • MM R.

    My husband makes a point of chowing down on this stuff once every football season. Delicious and the real thing in the fried chicken category. If this is your hankering - go get it. I love all the sides, mashed potatoes, biscuits, beans, etc.

    (4)

  • katie j.

    Being that I attended high school across the street from Ezell's, I have had my fare share of this amazing food. It is possibly the most heavenly food I have ever had. . . .it is worth the trek to 23rd Avenue and it is as good as they say.

    (5)

  • Eva S.

    get the sweet potato pie and lots of sides but avoid the rolls (way too yeasty!) oh, and chicken rocks, too

    (4)

  • bethany s.

    This is 5 star fried chicken and rolls and 2 star service and speed. But if you haven't tried it - it's a Seattle MUST!

    (4)

  • Terry F.

    Great fried chicken and side dishes. And it's so very Central District. No eat-in, only to-go. Oprah loved this chicken so much she had it flown out to Chicago on at least one famous occasion. Ezell's burned down not so long ago -- late 90's or early 00's -- but they rebuilt and are as great as ever!

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    Darn good fried chikin'. Forget KFC, forget Popeye's, this thing is so good I overate by much. Rolls is sweet like honey, and beans were wonderful. Be prepared for the guilt when you see that the bottom of the container is sooo greasy and you've finished all the chicken!

    (4)

  • Joolie T.

    the chicken is fresh, batter is yummy, and crispy. i love the sweet rolls. it melts in your mouth. i usually buy a few of those! i'm not too fond of the mashed potatoes, but everything else is a winner.

    (4)

  • megan d.

    the side dishes are to die for collard greens and potates are one of my weanesses. this the only ive eaten chickenb at in the past 6 yearsd and still didn't like because well idont like chicken. but when i lived with a bunch a boys they alays loved me when i brough the chicken home.

    (4)

  • janaya a.

    By far Seattle's best fried chicken. The sides are all tasty too!

    (5)

  • Jessica G.

    H-O-L-Y Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! Oh mah goodness, this place is so so so so so so so so so good! I'm not gonna lie: when I first saw it, I thought it was pretty ghetto. But I'm so glad I stepped inside, because this fried chicken blows my mind. You MUST get it spicy. I repeat: YOU MUST GET IT SPICY! It's not so spicy that you can't handle it, trust me. It just gives the chicken a little extra kick. The combination meals are generous; for a 2 or 3-piece meal, you get two sides and a biscuit. The sides pale in comparison to the chicken, though. I don't know what they do to it, but it makes me drool the minute I walk inside the place and catch the first whiff. And you must try the sweet potato pie! It is amaaaaaaaaaaaazing. There is NO place to sit and eat here, so you need to take it to go or eat in your car. There is a private parking lot, but there's also plenty of street parking. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy but nothing too intimidating. Trust me, if you're going to get stabbed, you might as well do it while getting some tasty fried chicken.

    (5)

  • Tiffany S.

    Spicy fried chicken. Enough said. Also, it seems that every time I've tipped 20%. I get extra rolls. Strange coincidence lol.

    (5)

  • Marc M.

    This is the original location and has stood the test of time as a Seattle food icon thanks to serving a consistently good product that has literally fed generations of local residents. Any time you stop in, you will get the exact same level of service and you'll also enjoy the exact same quality of food as consistency seems to have become Ezell's hallmark over the years. There's just something comforting about opening up your containers and finding what seems like home made goodness from the famous fried chicken, I recommend that spicy over the original, to any of their sides and especially those deliciously fluffy rolls. I could seriously eat way too many of those than I ever should be allowed to.

    (4)

  • Kevin W.

    I've been waiting to try this place for some time now, partly because I drive by the location quite often, and partly because Oprah says it's her favorite fried chicken. I figure a billionaire would know more about fine dining than I do, but luckily I form my own opinions and don't listen to what others have to say when I'm writing my reviews. Nevertheless, I would like to ask Oprah whether it's because of her that this place claims to be famous. But for a place that gets such attention, it sure is small. My local KFC isn't that big, and it's still bigger than Ezell's. It also looks like KFC in that the chicken pieces being heated are clearly visible in the back. I ordered a four-piece mixed dinner, and the whole thing was ready to go for me in a cardboard box before I could even finish paying. That's good because it truly is fast food, but it's also bad because they're trying to rush me out the door, leaving me to eat my meal in my car instead of sitting down at the restaurant. The chicken pieces themselves are crisper and less soggy than what I'm used to with fried chicken, but still kind of greasy. I feel that each piece is made with slightly more care than at a generic fast food restaurant. The chicken is good, but not THAT good. I had one of each of their wings, thighs, breast, and legs, so I don't think it was because I didn't sample enough that I wasn't too impressed. There's also the baked rolls, mashed potatoes with gravy, and coleslaw that came with my meal. Honestly, there's not much to say about them because they're standard and come with no surprises. If I were rich, I'm not sure I would have this chicken flown all the way out to Chicago. There's a lot of better and healthier food I could be eating instead.

    (3)

  • Candy C.

    I'd say it's about 3 1/2 stars, with an extra half star for having livers and gizzards. The okra and the rest of the sides I tried were just OK. I've only been there twice, but both times, the chicken was juicy, crispy, and not greasy.

    (4)

  • Danielle C.

    In a place like Seattle where it is a land of vegan, Thai and Vietnamese food, sometimes I just want fried chicken, so I go to Ezell's. Their fried chicken is really delicious. I like their chicken tenders more, actually because they are super juicy and full of flavor. Get the spicy ones, with a sauce! The Ezell's food truck comes to my workplace once a week and it is absolutely divine when the food is fresh. Sides: The rolls are okay, hinting slightly on the sweet side. They are much better fresh, obviously. The fries are very average, nothing to write home about. I wasn't a huge fan of the mashed potatoes because the gravy was very bland. The potato salad was good though because the mayo sauce they use is a bit tangy. Some Cons: This location unfortunately does not have any seating. The people that tend to loiter around the area also look a bit shady but I suppose they are harmless.

    (4)

  • Linda Z.

    I've heard so many great things about Ezell's that I really wanted to like it. The chicken was good, but it was lukewarm at best which made it soggier than it should have been. I tried a piece that was hot and it was much crunchier and tastier. The sides are good but only slightly better than average (I got the mashed potatoes and cole slaw). The rolls, however, are really great. Overall ok but not sure I'd drive there from the Eastside again.

    (3)

  • Melyssa M.

    Obviously different staff. I've been coming here forever but the new staff are rude and don't understand that by being uptight they are losing business to loyal customers. The chicken hasn't been as good over the last year or so anyway. Won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Clint W.

    I know it's not good for you, but I had a craving for fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Time for an Ezell's run. Maybe it's that the weather finally started getting nicer and it gets people in picnic mode, but chicken, slaw, rolls and mashed taters came my way. That, plus a beverage and a little vitamin D, hit the spot. P.S. the parking lot is big enough so that take out isn't painful and there is even a spot across the street with 2 hour parking.

    (4)

  • Fidel P.

    Fried goodness!! I ordered the chicken strips (spicy). The chicken is crispy and fresh, don't let the long lines bother you, the line goes pretty fast and they do a great job getting you in and out pretty quickly. The beans are really good, a bit on the sweet side, mashed potato are good fresh and have that home made taste. French fries are nothing out of the ordinary. Overall if you klike frioed chicken then you will like this place, Heck, if its good enough for Oprah its gfood enough for me too!!!

    (5)

  • Tuan V.

    I don't see what's special about Ezells. Honestly, the chicken strips is like a step above Safeway hot food chicken. And that's pretty low of a standard. The chicken is dry, and I don't think it's that flavorful. Sometimes, it's also too peppery. What's good, though, is there sauce! This enhanced the chicken more. And there fries are so boring and mundane. Would I bus for 30-40 minutes from U District to go here and eat for free? Hell no. If I lived a block away and was hungry and lazy, would I eat here and pay? Definitely. What I trying to say is that it's not a restaurant that you should go out of your way to eat. Sometimes there are restaurants that I wait 2-3 hours for, I just don't think Ezells is special enough to support that. Heck, I can see myself spending couple hundred bucks for a plane ticket to LA to eat In-and-out, Chick-filet or Chicken and Waffles, because those are actually worth it.

    (2)

  • Adam R.

    If your posted hours say you close at 10 pm, you shouldn't close at 9:30. It is an absolutely atrocious customer experience for me to waste my time driving to your restaurant only to find it closed. There is no excuse for it. Heaven Sent has better chicken and better service.

    (1)

  • Sarah M.

    One of the first places I've eaten that has "famous" in the name, and actually lives up to the hype. Great fried chicken at a reasonable price. Skipping the crinkle cut fries next time, they are not my favorite kind (I'm admittedly a fry snob).

    (4)

  • Rafael Z.

    I come here whenever I'm hungry and in the area. I always get a half pound of spicy strips w/fries & biscuit. The fried chicken is second to none and is always delicious. Service is quick but the only downfall is there is no seating so you have to eat in your car or somewhere else. I would go here anyday before a fast food chain like KFC.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Best fried chicken in Seattle - perfectly seasoned and not too overly fried. Hits the spot. Worth the hype. Dinner rolls were delish (usually hate rolls) - Ezell's are fluffy and freshly baked, with just a touch of sweetness.

    (4)

  • Susan G.

    Spicy strips with rolls and hot sauce.......... Omg. To die for. Skip the sides for the most part imho. But Sometimes I get the mashed potatoes to scoop a bit & gravy with the amazing rolls..... Guilty as charged :)

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    The Order: Chicken Tenders (Original flavor), Potato Salad, Fresh Roll. The crunch on Ezell's fried chicken tender is thick and dry yet light. Not one patch of sogginess. You can tell it's homemade and unlike those factory tenders where you get a perfect inch of fried batter around the entire chicken. Flavor? It's well seasoned but not distinct enough to stand up to the hype of its "famous original recipe". The potato salad is just that: potato. And, that's the way I like it. Chunky-smooth and not one bit of a half-way cooked potato. However, the star of the meal? The fresh roll. Usually, you don't think much of a roll. The expectation is low to none as it's generally viewed as the filler item to a "combo" meal that nobody cares for. Well, Ezell's fresh rolls deserve its own menu board. They are delicately sweet, chewy, and moist, reminiscent of Hawaiian rolls and coco bread but better. Usually, the best things come unexpected and that's why Ezell's fresh rolls was the star of the meal.

    (4)

  • Taffy K.

    Recommend by Seattle residents, I tried this place for the first time and absolutely fell in love! Their spicy chicken tenders are fried juicy enough where the chicken is not dry like pther fried chicken. It os completely different from other chicken places I've tried in California. I didnt really enjoy theor mashed potatoes, as it tasted bland.

    (4)

  • Aldrich T.

    Nothing special. I was disappointed, especially after hearing and seeing all the rave about this place. Chicken was quite bland and expensive and comparable to generic fried chicken at grocery stores. The dinner rolls are really good at least. Heh.

    (2)

  • Leigh F.

    I don't care for the fried chicken, but the gizzards are pretty damn good. Things you need to know: - If you're paying with a card, you better have your ID with you because they check 99.9% of the time and will shut you down if you don't have it. - Ranch is an additional charge and if you forget to order it, you will have to get back in line. - Spicy is better than regular and it's barely spicy at all, just in case you're a wimp. - The rolls are bomb. - Be respectful to the people who work there and they'll be nice to you. If you're rude, they'll have no problem reciprocating the attitude. That's all.

    (3)

  • Darlene L.

    Finally got to try Ezell's chicken at tonights Yelp Elite event. Even though the food truck was slammed, we still got some fast and friendly service. Their original and spicy chicken were so flavorful and juicy. I will for sure be making my way to their stores around town. Now I know why Oprah loves them!

    (4)

  • Bryan I.

    So we're in Seattle for a weekend of gluttony, and we'd already hit all the usual suspects (Paseo, Top Pot Donuts, Nouveau Bakery, etc.), when we got advice from a local that we HAVE to visit Ezell's if we want the BEST fried chicken in the state, possibly the country. After thinking I already got the best of the best chicken from Pine State Biscuits and Screen Door, and Flogene's, this was now a must-visit before heading back to PDX. What did I find? * An awesome little fry shop that does chicken right. No tables, no chairs, * Tons of celebrity cred (a la a signed pic of a very young Oprah), * 2 registers ready to get you in and out as soon as possible. * Oh bruddah, their spiced fried chicken is seriously KILLA!!! The breading was crisp but not burnt, with just the right amount of spicy kick to enhance the flavor without burning your tongue off, and the meat was oh so hot and moist that you'll be certain they fried it just minutes before Tips: * Do NOT doddle, hem, or haw or they will get a little perturbed that you're killing their efficiency (especially when there are 5-20 people in line behind you :-). * Though there's no seating, there are highschool bleachers across the street offer a great place to eat and watch a ballgame :-) * Try to get there early on a weekend to avoid long lines Any carnivore in the Seattle area needs to check this place out! Oh yeah, and don't just get the chicken, at least try out a roll and some of that sweet potato pie!!! You won't regret it!!! ***Review #2 in the Yelp 30 in 30 Challenge!***

    (5)

  • Melissa N.

    I grew up eating Ezell's during high school in Renton and I love love love their student special. I'm glad there's one in Seattle that I can go to. I'm just sad there's not a a seating area, which is why I deducted a star. As for the chicken - my go to is the chicken strip combo that comes with fries and also a roll. I always get it with honey mustard. I also really like just the drumsticks. Skin is definitely my favorite part of the piece. Nice and crispy, not too oily. :) I have also tried their bread pudding. Pretty tasty I must say. I am so excited they have a food truck! I think they'll gain a lot of business this well as well.

    (4)

  • Tim C.

    The fried chicken here is legit - take it from a North Carolinian who has had his fair share of this delicious.. meat. I'm a huge fan of the spicy fried chicken, which is dark meat, as opposed to the regular fried chicken, which is white meat. I'm a dark meat guy who likes things spicy, so it makes for a perfect combination, in my opinion. The skin has an amazingly crispy and crunchy exterior while the chicken itself is moist and flavorful, making every bite a burst of joy in your mouth. You really have to just try it to believe it. AND for the rest of this year (2012), on Mondays you can get a two-piece chicken dinner with a roll for less than $1.50. That's an unbeatable price for any fried chicken, much more so for Ezell's. Oh, and their dinner rolls are pretty awesome, too. The only downside - there is no seating inside or outside, so you have to enjoy your chicken in the car or elsewhere. But it's flippin' worth it!

    (5)

  • George G.

    Ezell's Famous Chicken catered a huge event for our school - serving well over 600 guests of all ages. The reservation process was easy; the food arrived on time (actually a few minutes early) and exactly as promised; the crowd loved every menu item we served and came back for seconds. We hope to make this an annual event with Ezell's.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    Really good chicken, only thing it's missing is white gravy....but that's coming from a Texas native. It hit the spot!

    (4)

  • Nadeem K.

    I used to live in Seattle on Capitol Hill and now have moved to San Francisco. Among the things that I miss the most is Ezell's chicken. This place is VALUE for money. The chicken is amazing, portions are generous are tasty and the price is great. The service is quick (this location is takeout only) and efficient. It's pure taste, value, no-nonsense fried chicken.

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    This place has the BEST fried chicken I have ever had. The prices are great and the food is great. Best part is, you don't have to wait long to get the best chicken ever. The location is pretty divey, but that's where all the best food is found. Soooo much better than any other fried chicken place I've ever been to.

    (5)

  • Deborah D.

    Actually, I do want to rate higher than that. The chicken does taste good. However, I've went to the Central District location at least 3 times, I got very very cold chicken so it doesn't taste as good as it should be. I am so disappointed. I think the owner need to manage their process better to keep their good food really good.

    (2)

  • Casey S.

    Ezell's reputation precedes it. After hearing nonstop about how Oprah has made this her chicken of choice (even shipping some cross-country!), I had to check it out when I lived about 15 minutes away. The verdict? Hype can be a funny thing. The breading doesn't have that satisfying crunch that makes good chicken great, coming out very mushy. The skin is (arguably) the most satisfying (and fatty) part of the chicken, so why skimp out?

    (3)

  • Lea A.

    I'm tired. I just came back from a work trip and am too lazy to go cook and do much else. Also, when you're grumpy and tired what better way to turn that evening around than indulging in comfort food ala fried chicken?! No better way. The first time I went to Ezell's I actually (stupidly) asked them to just give me 1 bread roll instead of the regular amount (4). I was stupid, because these weren't ordinary bread rolls: these were sweet, warm, soft brioche-y buns that are simply perfect. So. Get the buns, carb lovers! For meat lovers, yes, yes, the chicken itself is fantastic and the SPICY seasoning is the way to go--but I have to say, I didn't get the eyes rolling back into my head until I had the deep fried chicken livers. YE GODS. I love me some chicken livers and these are mutant large, and wrapped in their famous breading? Yes, please. Warning: if you order livers, you do wait a little longer since they cook these to order. My hubby and I drove down here to get our chicken fix, but we are SO looking forward to having the new one open up closer to home. If I'm still hanging on the last 10lbs, it's because of this place.

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    Spicy friend chicken breast and wing combo, so so good. The sides are lame, but who case, that chicken is fantastic.

    (5)

  • Alex M.

    Best fried chicken of my life! I find myself craving it all the time now that I have finally tried it. Always busy, but always very quick service. The chicken is super crispy and tender to the point where it practically falls off the bone with every bite. I would recommend the two piece spicy combo dark meat with fries. It is just the right amount of food to fall into a euphoric food-coma. The rolls are sweet and a perfect balance to the whole meal. They even sell Faygo pop, which is a big deal for anyone from Michigan like me. Oprah knows good chicken- and you should too!

    (5)

  • Susy W.

    Something's different at Ezell's :( I wish I had written a review for the past 10 years of delicious fried chicken Ezell has provided, but I had to write about my last experience at Ezell's which wasn't great. I may be a little biased since HALF of our order was missing (something we discovered when we got home.) That was a total of 40 minutes of driving, for half of our meal. Although I am fully aware that I should have checked my order before leaving the store, I will say that I was very distracted because it just wasn't the same Ezells that I knew and loved. 1) The menu has changed. Chicken strips is now chicken tenders... that in itself threw me off. 2) They no longer sell Faygo soda :( 3) My 1/2 lb chicken tenders meal (now comes with fries and one side) was missing. And although I ordered ranch dressing, which was on the receipt itself, I got BBQ sauce. The old Ezells had these orders down to a T, I never had issues with food missing in my order. 4) The chicken itself was eh. I wouldn't have driven 40 minutes for it. I'm giving it a star because I called their main # and they refunded the meal. It took a while due to their POS system. I know the original Ezells and partner divorced but I didn't realize that the real Ezells did not get to keep the original name and store. I will be visiting Heaven Sent Fried Chickens for my future fried chicken cravings from now on.

    (1)

  • N L.

    The chicken was solid and price was reasonable. I'll give it another try, but my first encounter didn't wow me. The chicken wasn't quite as crisp or spicy as I like it, but I really enjoyed the butter roll.

    (4)

  • Kristina K.

    Oprah and Guy Fieri have been here! My Seattle reviews are LONG overdue (nearly 4 months, to be exact) and a lot of the places that I've tried, I've also forgotten. Ezell's is an exception. It may be in a semi-shady location. You may question some of the characters that hang out outside. You may even question the cleanliness of the restaurant. But you won't question the taste of Ezell's fried chicken. No, no you wont. It's delicious. Juicy. Crispy. Piping hot. The biscuits are awesome. Hot. Fluffy. Semi-sweet. I didn't go with the spicy. I went with non-spicy. I must be a pansy.

    (4)

  • Sonya J.

    Great juicy chicken. don't love their cobbler, it's too sweet for me.

    (4)

  • Cam T.

    Dreams of hot, spicy, steamy legs fill my nights. You know the type: lush golden skin enveloping robust muscular thighs, moist succulent breasts, searing drumsticks made for clutching while billows of steam fill your mouth. Illusory images of luscious phantom chicken flesh covered in crispy, spicy fried skin fill my nights while saliva pools in my empty mouth. Bittersweet memories of spring yeasty homemade buns make me sigh again & again. And don't get me started on the thick molasses-y baked beans or ambrosial sweet potato pie. I know it's my just desserts for forsaking your many charms for the unknowns of stumptown & while I still can't say it was anything but for the best, my taste buds keep saying, "A little gratuitous groveling never hurt anyone." So while a long distance relationship is still out of the question & recurrent fantasies notwithstanding, you don't happen to have a pied-à-terre squirreled away in PDX, do you? I'll make it worth your while....

    (5)

  • Shasta L.

    I had just finished running 5 miles, and my sweat was on like Donkey Kong after lifting some serious weights. I was exhausted and thirsty and in need of some serious rejuvenation... So I went to the no-nonsense, you-better-know-what-you-want-to-order-ASAP Ezell's in the Central District. I know what you're thinking..what a waste of exercise..but don't you sit there and judge me from the safety of your computer! If you were 1/10th as hungry as I was, you would have AT LEAST eaten a doughnut to reward your gym efforts. I was tired and hungry and on the verge of some serious crankiness, so you best believe I stuffed my face with 1/2lb of spicy chicken strips, potatoes and gravy, and a fluffy ass roll. And 5 miles be DAMNED because I enjoyed every single bite of my meal, and I'm definitely going to do it again.

    (4)

  • Coleena S.

    I work around the block from here so I feel so blessed. I'm not a "meat on the bone" kind of girl, but I'll eat chicken strips till the sun comes up! I loved their spicy chicken strips, their mashed potatoes are on another level! Mmm Texture people, sometimes food is just as much about texture as it is about flavor. I could swim in these potatoes like Scrooge McDuck swims in his money pit. Oh and let me wax poetic about their delicious bread. I brought some Ezell's to my office to sit and savor in privacy. When I took one bite in to the bread I was immediately upset that I only got myself one. Although my thighs are thankful for that. I don't know how to limit myself from good food. Ezell's is like the pied piper of chicken and I march myself there again and again for the good bird. As a matter of fact, I'm salivating...guess where I am going for lunch!

    (4)

  • Samantha G.

    I hate how my bus stop is in front of this place because I always make a stop to Ezell's!!! I love their spicy chicken, but I don't recommend their regular chicken cuz I don't think it has much flavor. If I'm in a hurry I'll pick up a half pound of their spicy chicken strips with some honey mustard. I don't know if its just me but it seems like their chicken isn't as spicy as before and their rolls look like they got smaller as well.

    (4)

  • Gene D.

    If there's internet access in heaven; this is a message for gatekeepers of Samuel Stephens, co-founder of Ezell's. Sam's funeral was today. He was 48 years old. He will be greatly remembered in Seattle by so many. He contributed to the food, music and auto industries like no other. And he will be missed very, very, very much. Sam, if you have an H-1 connection and are following up on Ezell's reviews, just know the sun shone brightly today and your earthly good-bye was simply beautiful. We love you. And the chicken is still the best in the world, just as you set out to make it.

    (5)

  • Michelle Z.

    Tasty fried chicken! I'd always heard about the wonders of Ezell's - so famous for their amazing fried chicken that even Oprah raves about them! I made it here last weekend, on a rainy Seattle Sunday and was delighted to discover that all the rumors are true. We indulged in the original recipe; thighs and wings, and I'm happy to report it was delicious! Crunchy skin, tender white meat, a little on the greasy side, but hey what else can you expect from fried chicken? They serve biscuits and Fay-go, a brand of soda that was foreign to me, but turned out to be fruity and Fanta-esque. I'd definitely come back here, especially on a dreary, rainy Seattle day - this chicken definitely added a spark of color to the grey day.

    (4)

  • D.J. Y.

    Roll'n wid da homies. We hit dis sheeeet up. WORD to yo mutha!! As of 9/25/07 no recent drive bys, it's all dat, phat!

    (5)

  • Jen H.

    it's a bit of a ghetto location, but so worth it! we go umm.. way too often. not a fan of any of the sides, but the chicken is so frickin finger lickin it's getting a 5!!!! i'd suggest making your own sides though. seriously. oh and get extra rolls. you will want more!

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    There's something about their spicey fried chicken and muffin looking biscuit things that keeps me coming back here. I've tried the fried chicken here that isn't spicey and I feel like I can get better and cheaper stuff at QFC or Safeway, so it's got to be whatever they use in their spicey fried chicken recipe. Possibly crack? It's overpriced, the sides are tiny, the location is a little ghetto, but I don't really care. I still come here when I want fried chicken.

    (5)

  • Nina N.

    I wish you could get this delivered to california and show california that fried chicken can be F'N good and cheap!! people love paseo in seattle, but I think that they forgot that you existed ezell :)

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    I'd expected a LOT out of this place because of all of the hype, and I have to say it's definitely the best fried chicken I've had in Seattle so far, but overall it didn't quite live up to expectations the time I went. Don't get me wrong, the fried chicken combo I ordered was really good. But I think there are two really important experiences that have changed my perception of fried chicken: Roscoe's in LA, where you sit down and get served the chicken straight from the fryer accompanied by waffles, or Popeye's, where you might eat it later but the biscuits are almost as important as the chicken. At Ezell's, there's no room for eat-in, so your chicken is invariably a little colder or soggier than were you to eat it on the spot, and they don't serve biscuits. I definitely recommend the peach cobbler, though -- delicious microwaved with a little vanilla ice cream. This place is definitely worth trying, but don't go in with crazy high expectations, and you might consider picking up some fast food biscuits to accompany your meal.

    (4)

  • Edward D.

    Just stopped in there today for the first time with my family, because I heard that Oprah liked this place so much she has it flown to Chicago when she wants some. Ordered: 16 pieces of spicy fried chicken (came with 6 rolls) 1 sweet potato pie The chicken was so moist! On the ezell's website it says the chicken is marinated for 24 hours before its cooked. You won't be sorry about ordering the chicken, because even my wife said "there is love in this chicken". Spicy was enough to taste the spicy, but it wasn't fire hot. It was just great. The size of the chicken pieces is much larger than other chicken places, because on their website, it says they cut the chicken into 8 pieces, where other chicken places cut them into 9. Also, Ezell's uses 3-pound chickens, where the other chains use 2-pounders. THE SWEET POTATO PIE WAS AWESOME! The rolls were awesome. The rolls aren't so spongy, as they are creamy. We ordered the whole pie, and it was so good that we consumed it as soon as we got home. You can't eat there, because it's strictly take out, but don't let that stop you from going here because you won't like any other fried chicken afterwards. Whoever is knocking this place in stars because of decor, ambiance or not having a place to sit needs to go order elsewhere because that will leave more leftovers for those people who love this place... Will definitely be back soon!

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    I've been going to this place for years! Best fried ever! But I have to say the quality in recent years has slid a bit...don't get me wrong, I still eat here AT LEAST 2 times a month, but I just wish they would revisit the old days. In my opinion, it's STILL THE BEST PLACE IN SEATTLE FOR FRIED CHICKEN! I lived in Chicago for two years, and nothing even came close to the fried chicken Ezell's has. For that matter, I have yet to see a place that has chicken as good a theirs...except for in my own kitchen!!!

    (4)

  • David G.

    Ok yes I know it's a dive hole-in-the wall, but it's my favorite fried chicken ever! And I crave it. I will fly up to Seattle just to get some...and yeah I know Oprah (and other famous people) fly this chicken to them, but I prefer to come to the chicken and get it fresh and hot. I only get to have it once a year or so, and price shouldn't matter when it's something you really want. Sometimes the building and the location really do not matter. If you are in or near Seattle, you must try it and don't be so materialistic! It's just good food!!!

    (5)

  • Robert W.

    I've eaten this stuff a few times on long work days. Today is the last time. I would literally rather eat nothing than eat this stuff. First, the positives (yes, there are some. Big offset coming): The baked beans were okay, though far more sugary than good ones in the midwest or south. The mashed potatoes weren't outrageously salty, and they had pepper which is always a nice touch. I skipped the gravy, whose texture and color reminded me of a cleaning product. One key negative: the chicken. Midwestern children of the 1980s may remember a very slow fast food joint called Shorty's Fried Chicken. They used the lowest grade dark meat and cooked it dry. You needed a gallon of soda to tolerate a two piece. Ezell's reminds me of Shorty's, though it's a little better - at first. After three tiny chicken strips, I got a headache and lethargy that I've only experience with excessive MSG. Yes, I suspect Ezell's is using MSG. I don't really care if it's true, though, because I feel doubly awful - first for wasting calories on this crap (I actually threw up in my mouth a little) and second for feeling like Perez Hilton after an all-you-can-eat sushi marathon at a strip club.

    (1)

  • Andrew J.

    Ordinary fried chicken in Seattle. Don't get me wrong, its good stuff, but I've had better. Chicken that I had tasted like it had been sitting under heat lamps for about an hour, which made it a bit soft and warm. Don't let Oprah taste fool you, go try for your self.

    (4)

  • Steve Japan 4.

    Once every couple months, around 3:27am, I'll think about how good this fried chicken is. How good is it you ask? Good enough that every couple months it'll haunt you at 3:27am is the answer to that. I've had fried chicken all across the country, from good ole soul food down south, to japanese style wings on the east, to homestyle fried thighs in the north, but this is the spot that comes to mind when I think of fried chicken. Delectable stuff.

    (5)

  • Mitchell A.

    Now this fat boy knows Fried Chicken and DEAR GOD Ezell's is the most incredible I've ever had. And those rolls...*wiping tears*. I got a three piece original dark w/ mashed potatoes, coleslaw and a roll. Hot, crispy, not greasy... know what it tasted like...tastes like more.

    (5)

  • Ema C.

    Don't do the Colonel's Special Recipe or the Golden Arch. Just go to Ezell's and you'll get the fresh stuff, made by locals. The side portions are small compared to the super duper value XXXX large size fries at the regular fast food joints, but it's all about quality, and not quantity! On top of that, they use earth friendly packaging for their take out containers and sides: all the food containers are compostable and meet the ASTM D400 biodegradable standard: ie that cup containing your cole slaw will be dirt in 90-180 days if it sits in your garden. So yes. Ezell's gets 5 stars for me for good fried chicken and compostable containers!

    (5)

  • Oliver S.

    Ezell's fried chicken is delicious. I went here with a group of friends and we all ended up getting the 2-piece meal with two sides. I got the regular fried chicken. This fried chicken isn't any ordinary fried chicken that I've tasted. The breading is crunchy and the meat is moist. The breading is also well spiced and adds an extra layer of flavor to the chicken. It's a crunch in your mouth followed by a blast of delicious flavor. And even if the chicken is fried, it's not as greasy as one would expect fried chicken to be. The sides were also pretty tasty, but nothing out of the ordinary. The fries are crinkle cut and prone to getting soft. I didn't mind, but I know that some might get annoyed by the soggyness. I also had a taste of the baked beans; sweet, but the taste was not distinguishable from canned variety I've bought at QFC. Meals usually also come with a sweet roll. It's a great complement for soaking up all the oil you just ate! There's no place to sit in this location so plan to take your order to go. There's not a lot of parking, but I don't think it'll be hard to find a space considering this is not a sit down location. Considering there are not a lot of fried chicken locations in the Seattle area, it's great that Ezell's is very much on point with their chicken.

    (4)

  • Lee A.

    I ate the best fried chicken in the world on a farm in Waldron, Arkansas. The chicken was slaughtered by my ex-boyfriend's dad, and cooked by my ex-boyfriend's mother. Dessert was biscuits with chocolate gravy. Yeah, I thought about that chicken when I broke up with him. I'm still sad about that chicken. Ezell's? Was not the best meal of my life. I found it bland, fries undercooked, the cole slaw way too sweet. The roll was the best part. That's not exactly a rousing tribute to Ezell's if you know what I mean.

    (2)

  • Alysia A.

    okay what the hell. the fried chicken here is ridiculously good. it is epic. it should be gifted a huge golden drumstick. the flavor and crunch is knock out good, the chicken is tender as a mother fucker. i remember the first time my best friend took me to ezell's and we ate it right there in the parking lot. i thought "it's all going according to my plan." they have a signed photo of skinny young oprah on the wall. i hear she gets that shit flown to her. no shit girl, save me a piece.

    (4)

  • Riley F.

    Best fried chicken and biscuits you can buy. One of the few places around that carry Faygo Soda. Best time to go is later in the day or ANYTIME that the neighboring school is empty. Most customers here are highschoolers and the parking lot is small. Not to mention you would most likely avoid the panhandlers that are ALWAYS standing outside.

    (4)

  • Chris T.

    Oh my god! Hung over one Sunday afternoon, I had this intense primal craving for something cheap, tasty, meaty and greasy; I wanted some friiied chic-ken! Spotting this little shack out the corner of my eye, I swerved and gracefully darted into the last parking spot - right next to a 650i convertible (half the cars were bimmers, wtf?) Very cautiously I walked in to this ghetto store, and BAM! A cloud of yummy oily goodness smacked me into caveman mode. Oh my god, salivatory glands: ON! Went with family pack #1: 4 pieces each of breasts and thighs, 4 dinner rolls, side of of coleslaw, side of potato salad, and a slice of sweet potato pie. Cost: $25ish. Full tummies: 4 Satisfaction: :D x 4 The chicken breasts were just, the most juiciest, crunchiest, yummy ones I've ever had! I didn't even notice they were breasts until I reached over for the legs (cause, chicken breasts are always dry right? NOT!). The dinner rolls were just so marshmellow soft, SWEET, and tasty! The coleslaw put KFC's to shame. Potato salad, thumbs up. And the sweet potato pie, wow, delicious! I'm definitely dropping by here again when I'm in comfort food mode. Did I mention that this place ROCKS, and that it's delicious? :D

    (5)

  • Jamie W.

    The spicy chicken strips were very tasty. Lots of grease, lots of chicken strips for a half pound order, but not much spice in what was supposed to be spicy chicken. The coleslaw tasted about the same as that from Kentucky fried chicken. Nothing special. The corn tasted okay. Nothing special. The bread roll was so-so. The best side treat was the sweet potato pie which was very good, and I highly recommend that as a desert. Overall, Ezell's was okay.

    (3)

  • Abby L.

    We heard this was one of Oprah's favorite things, and I can see why! The chicken is always crispy, and the sides taste amazing - my favorites are the chicken strips, dark meat fried chicken, potatoes and gravy (the gravy tastes fresh and flavorful!), the soft / sweet rolls that come with the chicken orders, the cold coleslaw and of course, the hot sauce. Best fast food ever, every time I go here, there is a crowd, someone is getting a party tray, and potentially they will be out of a side if you get there too late. We are so happy this place is close by!

    (4)

  • Kyle T.

    Ezells is so good that I roll up my windows when I drive by. Just the smell is enough to make you want to stop for some chicken. and beans. and rolls. and faygo. damn, now I'm hungry for Ezell's.

    (5)

  • Tim C.

    Straight up legit fried chicken. I'm sure everyone can count of the food being awesome, but go there and buy food even if you have your doubts cause the experience can be life-changing as well. My friend and I walked into the building and were already expecting OG fried chicken because of the decor, but the homeless dude trying to sell us a stolen Mariners backpack and then turning around to leave revealing that he was sagging without underwear... I will never forget Ezell's and Seattle. God bless America.

    (5)

  • Stephanie P.

    Ezell's was one of the first meals I had as an authentic Seattle resident --- after a friend and I spent most of the day moving all my crap into my new apartment, we went and gorged on fried chicken as our reward --- and I think it was an excellent introduction to Seattle dining. After all, if it's good enough for Oprah, that's good enough for the rest of us, right? I went to the 23rd Avenue location, which is not that impressive to look at, maybe even a little on the sketchy side. But don't be frightened off before you give it a try! There is a small parking lot, which is always full, and street parking for the resourceful. You can choose between Original and Spicy Chicken, and we tried both, but we both preferred the original recipe, which is crunchy, flavorful, and surprisingly not that greasy. They have chicken strips too, but why bother when you could be gnawing meat off the bone? They have several side dishes available, like mashed potatoes and gravy, beans, and coleslaw. I wasn't terribly impressed with the coleslaw, but the potatoes were good and the baked beans were AMAZING. Seriously. I'm not even that big a fan of baked beans, but these have a rich, smoky-sweet sauce that will take over your brain and not let go until your fork is scraping the bottom of the carton. Each dinner comes with a roll, which are also good --- light and fluffy, but not the best I've ever had. Desserts include peach cobbler and sweet potato pie, and apparently the sweet potato pie is a hugely popular house specialty. We didn't order it, for some reason --- I think we were too focused on the chicken and beans to think as far ahead as dessert. But there are customers who stop in just to pick up a sweet potato pie, so that has to mean something. Service is fast and relatively friendly, and the prices are reasonable, especially if you're getting a family meal, which I am not ashamed to say that my moving buddy and I did. The only downsides I can think of are that there aren't many locations, and the ones they do have aren't really close to me, so I can't go as often as I want to. Which is whenever I think about those baked beans, which is pretty much every day. Ezell's!

    (5)

  • Jens J.

    Service and quality has improved the last few months at Ezell's. I would say that right now Ezell's does deserve the positive hype it gets as an awesome fried chicken experience. If I order the 4-piece original recipe with cole slaw and mashed pototoes as sides, I know I will be very content. If I'm feeling especially decadent, I will spring for a piece of sweet potato pie (if you take it home and heat it up in the microwave, it is even better). So maybe when Oprah Winfrey ate one of their drumsticks ten years ago she was onto something.

    (5)

  • Kyle J.

    The whole reason Oprah got fat. Ezell's is always great and always friendly. I drive right past KFC and will go here any time im ready to consume some good greasy southern fried chicken. The gizzards are always a great addition to any meal just like the rolls the sides arent always the greatest I go there for the chicken

    (4)

  • Ryan P.

    I love this place. Moving closer to it's location in the CD will make it though for me to stay away. I have never been disappointed with anything that I have had here. The fried chicken is fantastic, the rolls are to die for, and the sweet potato pie is the best end cap to the meal. Also, the service is fast and if they're out of something the'll let you know and offer to swap it out for you right on the spot (or you can also wait for a fresh batch of what you ordered). There really isn't any seating on site, but it's great to take it to go and head to the park and just lay out, eat some fried chicken and enjoy.

    (5)

  • ARIeL P.

    Drove out to this place while I was in Seattle because I had heard about how good it is. I even got lost but I was destine to get some chicken. The spot I went to was in the hood. It was dark at night barely any lights outside the place. The place was not okay to dine. So I decided to drive back to the hotel. The food was still hot but DAMN the chicken was just salty. If you like your food salty, then this is for you. I was disappointed but then again, not everyone has the same taste buds. I love fried chicken but his is not the business for me Seattle. Maybe the quality has dropped since I heard this was even on the Opera show.

    (2)

  • Brad F.

    How can ANYONE say that KFC is better than this place? It really boggles my mind. Get spicy. Just do it. The service was lightning fast! The cashier said "Your number is 36," and then I heard "Number 36, your order is ready" about five seconds later. Nuts. Just a few small things keep this from a five-star review. One, the chicken is really really greasy, which probably does add to the taste, but it didn't sit so well in my stomach afterwards. Second, the mashed potatoes were a bit of a disappointment. Pretty bland.

    (4)

  • Teresa R.

    There is an art to eating Ezells and I think my friends and I have perfected it. Order the chicken strip dinner plus 1 roll and make sure to ask for hot sauce. Open up the roll and put a few chicken strips in there and pour some sauce over it. Eat it like a sandwich and its a lil bit of heaven in your mouth...hmmmmm! If you want the fried chicken make sure to order the spicy...its much more flavorful.

    (4)

  • Xander S.

    I love this place. This is what fried chicken was MADE to be like, awesome and full of so much flavor you wonder why it's not dripping with it. I'm not sure if it's any more healthy than KFC, but it definitely tops it on any other feature. I've been to Harold's Chicken Shack back in Chicago, so I've had some FINE fried chicken, and without being able to compare them side-by-side, I can't tell which one is better! If you ever have a craving for friend chicken, and you're within an hour's drive of this place, it's worth it. Fortunately for me, it's one bus stop away =).

    (5)

  • Jodie H.

    Fried chicken!! The best around! mmm!!

    (4)

  • Naomi R.

    Small spicy lemme get dat!!!!!! This place is so good! I love the sweet potato pie and the chicken is like no other. I wish it was closer but that's probably a good thing since I'll eat there every day. Cool tattoo machines and stickers too. Ugh....I want it now!!!

    (5)

  • John H.

    I lived in Seattle for years and often heard people rave about Ezell's. However, there was never one very close to me. Then they opened one in N. Seattle on Lake City Way, so my review is specific to that location. I went in for lunch and got the "3 piece" dinner. I put that in quotes b/c I got 3 BIG pieces of chicken that were more like 4-5 pieces that you get elsewhere. You know, like at the "wing joints" where you order 10 "wings" and you get 10 wing-halves (5 drumettes, if you're lucky, and 5 of the lower wing joint). I like it hot, so I ordered "spicy," and I got baked beans and cole slaw as my sides. Now from here on out, I'm going to review Ezell's by comparing it to my all-time favorite fried chicken joint, Popeye's. As I mentioned before, the "3 pieces" I has were HUGE, more chicken that you get with a 3 piece dinner at Popeye's. 1 for Ezell's Ezell's "spicy" is not nearly as spicy as Popeye's, which some people might appreciated but for folks like that I say, there's "regular" you know? Spicy should bite back! Score 1 for Popeye's. Ezell's roll was fluffy and light (maybe too light, like eating air), but it was a bit too sweet for my taste and was served at room temp. I much prefer Popeye's biscuits, which have more substance and are served warm. 1 more for Popeye's. Ezell's baked beans are darn tasty, but again a bit too much on the sweet side for my tastes, and I got a **REALLY** tiny, teensy, weensy portion. :-( I much prefer Popeye's red beans and rice, which is not only a much larger serving, but also tastes GREAT! Popeye's 3, Ezell's 1. Ezell's cole slaw was very good, but also a VERY small portion. I call this one a draw, 1/2 point each. So to sum up, that would be Popeye's 3 1/2, Ezell's 1 1/2. The winner and still champion, POPEYE'S!! Now if Popeye's would only open up one in the North end. Until then, I'd still rather drive from Wallingford down to Renton for Popeye's (16 miles), than up Lake City Way for Ezell's (only 6 miles). To me, Popeye's is worth the extra miles. But if you're in the North end and jonesing for some really good fried chicken, you will not be disappointed with Ezell's.

    (3)

  • Michael J.

    SORRY PEOPLE BUT EZELL'S IS NASTY AS HELL. When I went here I ordered a 2 piece (drumstick & breast), along with smashed potatoes, & cole slaw as sides. Whats amazing is that both the cole slaw, & smashed potatoes were both nasty!! The chicken LOOKS good, but trust me thats about it. It tasted way too greasy, & just doesn't taste like what real chicken is supposed to taste like IMO (in my opinion). The only good thing I can say about this place is that the service was fast.You still have to deal with Garfield High School teens overcrowding the place during lunch time hours as well. The place looks dingy & old! KFC is way better than this place. I'd never waste my time going to this place again.

    (1)

  • Isabel M.

    I really don't understand what all the fuss is about, might have something to do with Oprah def not the chicken.

    (2)

  • Aaron F.

    This is a fried chicken joint that stands out from the rest - nothing more, nothing less. Here's why it's so good: 1) Quality meat. Nothing questionable about it. 2) Cooked in a way that makes the skin crispy and the meat tender as can be - no dried out meat here. I don't know what the negative reviewers expected. Don't expect atmosphere or some magical experience. Don't expect to feel good or healthy - you absolutely won't. Don't eat here every day, but on that occasional day where you need some comfort food, this is one of your best destinations.

    (4)

  • Joseph S.

    I used to live on the corner of 23rd and Jefferson...right across the street. Regularly, I would wake up with a smile on my face as the tastiness lapped at my nostrils. So when I say, "It's some tasty shit!" Rest assured, it's some tasty shit. I mean, really, there's a picture of Oprah on the wall saying it's damn good. Word is, she gets her chicken flown in from there. All French aside, the fact remains that they know good chicken, biscuits and all the appropriate sides. Not to mention, if you're legit, you don't order off the wall. You order a large spicy or a snack pack. Me: "Lemme get a large spicy (lots of chicken tenders, 2 biscuits, and choice of sauce), large side of beans and a large side of potato salad." In fact, I once had the above referenced meal twice in one day! To the best of my knowledge, it hasn't been repeated since...me, I had to take a very long nap after. In all seriousness, this is real fried chicken. The owner employs people from the neighborhood and does right by the people. You can't eat inside, but if you want to be real, eat in the parking lot like everyone else. I lived across the street but at in the lot occasionally just to be seen! Oprah's Book Club step aside for Oprah's Food Club. And I ain't talkin' about Skinny Oprah!

    (5)

  • Mindy H.

    I can't say it's as good as it gets, because frankly, I'm not a very big fried foods fan so I don't have a ton of other places to compare this place to. But this is pretty damn good, especially for a place making fried chicken. I don't know about you, but the first time I came here, I expected the chicken to be wicked greasy and such like KFC. But no. Not very much grease at all. And oh, my, god, have you TRIED their soft rolls!? THEY'RE HEAVENLY. I don't understand why everyone raved about just the chicken when we were re-directed back to my original school building. I was drooling for the chicken on my first day, but once I got a taste of those rolls ... oh, thank you whoever invented napkins. They're not cheap if you're planning to eat there often, but once in a while, I'd say their prices are just fine. I don't understand how so many people at my school can afford to go there practically every day for lunch, but I can definitely understand WHY they do it. Their fries, their chicken, and their rolls are BOMB. I haven't tried anything else because I really can't afford to be eating that much stuff so often, but man, if I ever want to just let it go for a day and treat myself to some good freakin' food that I don't have the luxury of eating often? This is definitely the place I'd go to. And I just had the Spicy Chicken today after stealing a piece from my friend's lunch. All I have to say is: *dies.

    (4)

  • Robyn P.

    Ezell's has my heart. there's nowhere better to go for cheap, fast comfort food. i prefer boneless chicken, so I always get the spicy chicken strips - a pound of them hits the spot after a night of debauchery. They're perfectly crunchy, and they're not too greasy, overly breaded, or burn-your-tongue hot. I like to add a tub of mashed potatoes and gravy to my order, and throw in a few extra super-soft, melt-in-your-mouth rolls, pls! Is it just me, or does their gravy have that red-eye flavor to it? I swear I always detect a hint of coffee. whatever the case, it's delicious! Have yet to try their baked beans and sweet potato pie. But now that I've discovered that there's a new Ezell's about 10 mins away from where I live, guess where I'll be having breakfast on Sunday mornings? well, maybe not every Sunday morning. Dick's is another great cure for the common hangover :-)

    (5)

  • Remington M.

    Lived here almost all my life and i have only eaten the chicken strips and rolls, The rest of the chicken portions are unnaturally huge. the rolls are awesome opossom though.

    (5)

  • Andrew R.

    You know how Yelp asks what your last meal would be? It might not be Ezell's, but if it were I'd be satisfied. Their fried chicken is truly sublime: crispy and flavorful skin (go for the spicy) with delicious tender meat (I'm salivating just thinking about it). Not to mention the sides: their rolls are delicious and I highly recommend the sweet potato pie. Look for the picture of Oprah on the wall, she's a big fan -- and so too will you be after your first bite. Ezell's is a no-frills kind of establishment: you order your food, you go. But their service is almost uniformly polite and prompt and there's none of the "unless you're a regular you won't know what you're doing" pressure of some other places. Ezell's is a friendly place. But back to the chicken. Do yourself a favor and just go right now. If you've somehow managed to choke down KFC all these years without ever having a proper drumstick, then I pity you. But there is hope and it has several locations in the Puget Sound area.

    (5)

  • Victoria T.

    Disappointing. The livers were okay, a little dry, but seasoned well. The chicken did NOT live up to the local lore. It was greasy and cold. Blah.

    (1)

  • Suzanna F.

    So Allie. S and I have decided to complete that 100 things to do in Seattle list and Ezell's was stop #1. I've actually been here before in the past, but hadn't reviewed it yet, because I felt like I wouldn't do it justice without a more recent experience. Boy was I happy I went back! You know how they say KFC is "finger lickin' good?" Well, that's nothing compared to Ezell's! Ezell's is finger lickin/slurping/sucking/etc. good! I had the spicy chicken strips/roll meal and it was the perfect amount of greasiness and food for my belly. My older sister and I also shared a side of REAL mashed potatoes and gravy. Everything was better than I remembered (and I already had high expectations!). I'd be going here every day if I weren't afraid for my poor arteries... but it's definitely worth a few clogs every once in awhile!

    (4)

  • Mike T.

    "I could do shots of this hot sauce!" That was my friend as we were noshing on a 20 piece. She was obsessed with the hot sauce. The sauce came is those little take out condiment containers. You know, the ones you get Dick's when you get extra tarter sauce and ketchup... Ok, on to the chicken. The great part about Ezell's is that when you take the chicken home, it's still crispy and flavorful....granted you're not traveling to the likes of Everett or Renton. If you're on a budget, go for the pound of gizzards. Yes gizzards! You get the same lovely Ezell's fried chicken flavorful, nice chewy chicken meat, and you'll have enough left over to splurge on the hot sauce shots!

    (5)

  • Ross H.

    Not much that hasn't already been said, but there is no seating at this location, so be ready for a tasty meal in the parking lot or in your car. The chicken and rolls were the standouts for me. The mashed potatoes left something to be desired.

    (4)

  • Nanako E.

    Yeah, it's good. But I'm still a huge fan of Grinder's fried chicken in the UDist (r.i.p....I miss you guys so much. :( )Better than KFC but not mind blowing. I'm gonna admit that the rolls were really good, though. The mashed potato that came as a side was not that great. Service sucked but I wasn't expecting much.

    (3)

  • Ant S.

    Mmm-mmm good! Ezell's is everything you want from fried chicken: golden and crispy on the outside, juicy and tasty inside - so simple, yet so very enjoyable. The pieces are always a good size, right amount of crispness, and moist. The spicy variety is not at all spicy, but good all the same. I wish I was eating some right now. The mashed potatoes & gravy are perfectly salted and peppered, and a good consistency, which is all important in my criteria for mashed anything. The greens could use some salt and spice, but we don't go to Ezell's to eat vegetables, do we? I usually don't like coleslaw, but I really like theirs because it's crispy and fresh tasting, and not slathered in mayonnaise-y glop. The sides are a bit on the small side, so double up your order if your very hungry. The roll is a tad sweeter than I like them, but that doesn't stop me from eating 3 in a sitting. I only wish I lived closer to one of their 5 locations.

    (5)

  • Henrik B.

    Meh! Sometimes the chicken tastes good sometimes it's dry and bland. That in itself makes this a low scorer for me. I don't like inconsistency in a restaurant. The fact that Oprah likes it so much she'll fly it from Seattle to Chicago is a great sales argument, but it doesn't improve the product. And I'm not sure I even want to talk about the service. It can sometimes be so slow and uninterested that you wonder why the people behind the counter even bother getting up in the morning.

    (2)

  • JP P.

    We probably expected too high after reading all the good reviews but I thought this place was overrated. Chicken = What is so special about their chicken? My g/f and I were deeply disappointed. After a few bite, we both said we could have just get some chicken at KFC by my place. Their Spicy chicken wasn't that special either. Roll was pretty good. It reminds me of Hawaian Roll.

    (2)

  • Brandon G.

    Well, I went to this place once when there was one in Burien/White Center? ...and I remember it being nothing special. At breakfast today, a friend of mine was blabbing on about "you gotta get a pound o them spicy strips, child", and it was stuck in my head all day. So I went. First, the place has a real dive feel to it, which I like. They had many gumball type machines, in which I patronized. I am now the proud owner of 3 mustaches and a twilight tattoo. The spicy strips were fantastic and there were plenty of them. Its not all heavily extra crispy like some other places. The spice is subtle but tasty and it takes a minute or two before you get the effect. BBQ sauce was decent. Honey mustard was just some hidden valley junk. Popeyes really has them beat in the sauce category. They really need a spicy mustard sauce or two in my opinion. Rolls were sweet, nothing special. Fried Okra was a little too oily, but ok. I wasn't thinking straight and forgot to order slaw and mashed potatoes. I must do this next time. All in all, I still prefer Popeyes, but this place is a close second. Cheers!

    (4)

  • Jarrod L.

    It was unusually greasy for fried chicken, but not too bad. I was pleased with the amount of spice on the "Spicy," it being mild but still quite noticeable. The fried okra was much, much too greasy; the cooking oil was clearly not hot enough for it. The coleslaw was ok; nothing special but definitely not bad. The roll was a roll; nothing special. I don't think I'll be going back unless I happen to be close and especially hungry for fried chicken. It's no better or worse than KFC, but definitely worse than you can get from the deli of most supermarkets (which I find is consistently better than KFC, but still not as good as I can make at home).

    (2)

  • Tyler J.

    Ezells is by far, hands down, the BEST fried chicken spot in Seattle and possibly on the West Coast, with the arguable exception of Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. As a Garfield alum, I can honestly say that I was brought up on this chicken. In fact, it's sooo good that it is worthy of my first Yelp post! Haven't read all 100+ reviews but I am VERY surprised that no one has mentioned the BEST and ONLY order I ever make at Ezells, which would be the Large/Small Spicy Strips with a side of ranch. TRY it! You will not be disappointed. Order a large, and save the left overs for a snack or lunch the next day. Refrigerated spicy strips taste kind of like refrigerated Chinese food..for some reason, I don't know why, it tastes as good if not better the next day! Another important note to first timers: Eat your roll while it's hot! Don't believe me? Try eating half of it right when you get it, and the other half 20 minutes later. OK. I think that's it..other then the fact that I wish they wouldn't have taken their fried shrimp off the menu. But that's old school anyways...

    (5)

  • Wendell S.

    It goes without saying that this is the best chicken in Seattle. Some people has said that the chicken is bland. I concur. The "regular" has a nice crust, is tender, but has little flavor. So why is it the best chicken in Seattle. The "spicy". It is not "hot", it is spicy. Yes, there is a difference. The spicy is the most perfect blend of flavors ever put on one piece of chicken. I am aware that the phrase "most perfect" does not make sense. That is how good this chicken is. It defies the rules of grammar. I suspect the "regular" was created for people with bland pallets who consider black pepper "spicy". A few notes. If you order chicken strips you will have to wait 10 minutes as they are made to order. Also don't go during after school ours (between 3-5pm), because it is full of kids from the high across the street. Hey kid if you're not ordering chicken please get out of my way!

    (5)

  • Jake G.

    F**k Oprah, I WILL have this shit flown out to wherever I'm at. It's that good.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Whenever I'm in the CD or Seattle for that matter I always stop by Ezelle's. Great chicken great sides I munch out hard when I'm here. A legendary spot in Seattle. Even Oprah likes it.

    (4)

  • Kyoni R.

    If your in need of some really good chicken. you need to go into the hood. Right across Garfield high school. there is a little white building with a line of people through the door. this is home to Seattle's favorite fried chicken. The pirate never been there so I suggested it for lunch. We stop off and I order the box (10 pieces) of spicy chicken for $9.00. He did the same for mild. He is not much for spicy stuff. Something about acid reflux. I think he's just a wimp. Well we pick up our orders and head it to the van. We rip into the boxes and I can tell from the first bite he likes it. I tend to clean off my chicken and throw the bones to the crows outside. He goes ballistic because he thinks I'm littering. I say its natures way of recycling. If your a fried chicken connoisseur. I highly recommend the box deals at Ezells. Great bang for your buck !! Cook a tub of rice and you have dinner for 4. Can't go wrong !!

    (4)

  • Brian K.

    The best fried chicken on planet earth. Oprah has this delivered to her house. no joke.

    (5)

  • Thom H.

    My partner is from the south, and loves him some fried chicken. On one of our 1st dates, I thought I'd treat him to Seattle's best. He was skeptical. 4 years later, we're about to head over to pick up our favorite: spicy strips with honey-mustard + mashed potatoes and gravy. Delish! There have been only one or two times we've been disappointed: Out of potatoes, or the 'end' of a batch of chicken... but over-all; the best. I truly believe it's Ezell's that brought us together, and Ezell's that will keep us together.

    (5)

  • Mastiff B.

    Awesome fried chicken! So I only got one piece - a leg. I got it spicy...it's hardly spicy at all, but that doesn't really matter cause it's still darn good. It comes with a soft biscuit. I got the potato salad too, also really good. Meal cost me only 3 dollars and six cents. Woot! Good thing this place isn't in the bay area or I'd be going all the time!

    (5)

  • Angie B.

    I don't remember the last time I had fried chicken. Having lived in Seattle for 12 years I hadn't gone to Ezells until recently. We purchased both the original & spicy fried chicken for a party & everyone loved it. I also got a small order of fried okra (spicy) & it was delicious! I think the sweet potato pie was the biggest hit though... I will be back to get one of their smaller individual meals. Seemed very reasonably priced & all the people who came through while we were waiting for our mondo order got in & out in a few minutes. Also noticed that it stays open reasonably late, which is nice to know (I think 'till 10 or 11 most nights).

    (4)

  • Sarah V.

    You know it's good when it's 9:48 on a Sunday night, and you really, really want to get there before they close at 10:00. Mmmm, fried chicken. It's crispy, it's juicy, and it's still amazing when they get your order completely wrong.

    (5)

  • Ben L.

    Ate there for the first time today. Sooooo good.

    (5)

  • Jackie T.

    When you get an extra-crispy batch ... oh man. Heaven! I wish this place made biscuits.

    (4)

  • S S.

    I've been coming here for the past couple of years, but last night is the last straw. The chicken is decent, but I don't think it's as good as everyone says. I've mostly ordered the 2 or 3 piece combos. But the few times I ordered an 8 or 16 piece pack, they've shorted me a couple pieces EVERY time. CHECK THE NUMBER OF PIECES BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE PARKING LOT!!!! Even though they have signs posted everywhere about checking your order before you leave, how are you supposed to dig through the box and count the pieces on the counter? In the bigger orders they will leave pieces out. Then give you attitude when you tell them. They are unapologetic and actually giggle to each other about it when you tell them. I took it to my car and counted the pieces in napkins, hoping I'd be wrong about it, but nope, missing 3 pieces from the 16 piece order. They no longer have my business and I am spreading the word.

    (1)

  • Kira T.

    Have heard raves about this place for years, but have never indulged. Then a couple of months ago we moved to a place about 13 blocks away, and last night decided what the heck, let's get some Ezell's. Overall verdict? Decidedly "meh." Two stars. The rolls are lovely, light, and sweet (ours weren't hot, but if hot, would have rocked) and the chicken didn't taste like KFC. Not as greasy, and I could taste actual chicken beneath the indifferent breading. So that's something, but only 2 star something. So I am surprised by all the stars. What gives? I asked myself, figuratively scratching my head and looking ruminative. Did I go to the wrong place? (Check debit card transactions on-line. Nope, definitely Ezell's.) Are all the funny, astute, well-traveled, gourmet-types on Yelp Seattle afflicted with some sort of mass hallucination? (Hmmm... seems a tad unlikely.) And then it hit me. Not a one of the folks who gave this place a rave has ever had real, good, homemade fried chicken. Okay, I know. But hear me out? Maybe SOME have, but most folks are comparing Ezell's with other "meh" or bad fast-food fried chicken, because that's what there is out there. I'm not sure, of course, but my impression is that there's virtually no one over 50 on Yelp, precious few folks over 40, and that most of us are 20 and 30-somethings. That is to say, for the majority of reviewers, the benchmark for fried chicken is KFC or another fast-food brand, because fast-food fried chicken is about the only kind you can get now! (Unless you go to old school church socials, make your own, or are lucky enough to have an older relative who knows the knack and will serve it forth.) Now the multi-star reviews start to make sense. They're from folks who only have lackluster fried chicken for comparison! That "a-hah!" hit me this morning as I perused review after review of Ezell's that bore no relationship to my experience there last night. I have to admit Ezell's is better than KFC. I don't eat KFC often, but I remember it as leaden and oily, with leathery skin underneath a rather scabrous looking, too-thick coating, and stringy, greasy meat that doesn't taste much like anything. Ezell's is a great deal better than that. Which is damning it with faint praise, I know, but allow me to continue? My bench mark isn't fast-food. So when hearing the raves and working up a slavering head of anticipation, I was hoping to finally find some chicken that made an approach to what I remember as perfection, the "Ur" fried chicken we had on Channer Hill when I was little. The chickens slept in a big comfy coop in a glade next to the tank house and ran around every day in a broad run on the grass. They ate seeds and plants and bugs and grain and drank fresh well water, and after they had laid their life's allotment of eggs for us they had their necks wrung by my big burly handsome Grandpa Channer and were butchered and plucked and cooked by his wife Eleanor, my Grandma Channer. Grandma Channer didn't usually fry her chicken. She normally roasted the bird, which was thriftiest. It left a carcass to pick for chicken salad, and bones for stock. You can't make stock out of leftover fried chicken bones, so it's wasteful. It's messier to prepare and requires constant attention, unlike a roasted bird that you can "set and forget," to use the awesome locution of the awesome Ron Popeil. But when she did fry, it was glorious. And I don't use that word lightly. She'd soak the pieces in milk or buttermilk, toss in seasoned flour and cracker or bread crumbs, and then fry in a huge well-seasoned Dutch oven, in plenty of very hot fresh Crisco or lard. When the coating was a perfect shade of caramel brown and the juices popped and oozed from any blistered imperfections in the crunchy crust, she'd drain the pieces on a flattened out brown paper bag (or in later years, on paper towel, as she developed a taste for easier, more modern, methods), sprinkle them with salt, and... oy vey. Eyes rolling back in head, fight for the last piece, sneak down at night to grab an illicit piece if there was any left over, GLORIOUS. See, Ezell's isn't that good. And it's hellaciously unfair to compare it! But I did. And now at least I realize why I did. Grandma Channer's fried chicken is my Ur fried chicken, and you can't expect something made in an industrial kitchen - even a small, non-jumbo-chain-one - to compare with a toothsomely flavorful old bird that's developed flavor from running around and eating natural food, that has never been fed antibiotics, hasn't been injected with flavored water, and that has been fried to perfection in a small batch by someone who takes pride in their cooking, and will serve it hot, fresh, and with love. Not a fair comparison on any level. Still, I stick to my guns. Ezell's is not 4 or 5 star fried chicken. The rolls are mighty tasty, though!

    (2)

  • Tula L.

    This little southern girl wandered down to Ezell's one cold and dreary Seattle day, attempting to relieve some homesickness in a plate of homey goodness. Hallelujah! It worked. The chicken was fresh, crispy, and fried up right (enough frying and breading to have a distinct crunch and pull away from the meat when bit in to, but not so much that the skin is like a hard armor around the meat like some places seem to think appropriate...). I devoured it in the parking lot and it was piping hot. Then I had sweet potato pie. Oh, sweet potato pie I love you, I miss you, I think of you (almost) daily. Yes, the pie was good...I think I might have teared up a bit when the pie was gone. So, why 4 and not 5 stars? Well, I thought about it and decided that: 1. I wasn't really jumping with joy over the sides, the mashed potatoes were a little starchy-weird and the coleslaw was kind of horseradishy (which I realize is probably a bonus for some/most people) 2. If they had sweet tea I didn't see it, and what in tarnation do you drink with chicken other than tea? 3. The pie slice was small... But go! And if you have a lost, cold, wet, southern friend, do them a huge favor and take them with you!

    (4)

  • jeremy b.

    Having moved here from the south, I've been dying to eat some good chicken. I was a little disappointed when I found at that the closest Popeye's (the place to go to get my usual fix) was all the way in Renton. Today I decided I would finally give in and try the chicken that everyone, Oprah included, has been talking about. I ordered a 2-piece meal with baked beans and mashed potatoes. $7. Not that bad. The chicken, which I ordered spicy, was pretty flavorful. Granted I wanted even more flavor, but I realize that my Southern palette is much different that people here in the NW. The baked beans were good as well. Sweet but a little tangy. The mashed potatoes, however, were pretty disappointing. Even with gravy, it had little to no flavor and I had to resort to salt to finish eating it. All in all, it's a good spot and it reminds me of food back home. If you are looking for chicken and can't make it out to Renton, this is the place to go. The only things that disappointed me were the mashed potatoes and lack of variety of side items (no macaroni & cheese, no dirty rice). I guess I need to stop comparing it to how food tastes in the south. Oh well...

    (4)

  • Jenny D.

    So my friends think it's funny when I say something is sketchy. They laugh because I'm from Bellevue so I obviously think everything in Seattle is sketchy. I try to remind them I'm the one wandering around Florence at 2AM in my boxer-shorts trying to find my hotel NOT them, therefore I should be allowed so say something is sketchy without inciting a snicker. Anyhow, Ezell's is rather sketchy. To be fair I pulled up here with a big group of my boyfriend's stoned friends around 11PM, but still it was shady. Even if it is usually inhabited by Garfield high schoolers, some of these people are shady. I was patiently waiting in line for my chicken thigh (spicy, of course!) when, for some reason, my order arrived before this large man who had placed his order before mine. He looked like he was going to put his fist through my skull and eat my chicken while doing so. I meebled in a corner and asked my taller (more muscular) friend to fetch my bag of chicken for me, before dashing into the car. The chicken there is phenomenal. It's still tender on the inside, not into grindy little strips like KFC (read: it still tastes like chicken!!) The crust is mmm flaky and crunchy and just spicy enough so you don't work a sweat. I'm not a junk-food eater but I still loved this! It keeps well in the fridge too...just pop in the microwave the next day and it tastes ALMOST as good. Oprah get this stuff flown to her, and she is not messing around. This is good chicken.

    (4)

  • Adam C.

    Ezell's makes some amazing spicy fried chicken. I'd like to try their fried Oprah one day.

    (5)

  • Aaron E.

    If it's good enough for Oprah, it's good enough for me. For years I had heard all those stories about how Oprah has this ish flown out to Chicago and I decided I really should try this place out. I went to the Lynnwood location on my first visit and I have to say I was overall satisfied? Between a few of us we pretty much ordered at least one of everything to share. The chicken was delicious. A few weeks later a buddy brought a pleasantly stocked bucket of chicken and some sides to a partay I was at (well, the beginnings of a party at least). I recommend..... you get it to go. It travels well, really. The Lynwood location at least was ghetto... and not ghetto fabulous. It was outdated and looked dirty. If you just race in and out you can try and ignore the shabby interior. Also, the sides aren't really necessary. Just get a bucket of chicken and some rolls and you're good to go. The chicken itself is perfectly crispy on the outside and super moist on the inside. It always manages to be pipping hot as well. The rolls seem to be iffy. The first time I had them I wasn't a fan, but I quite enjoyed them round deux. So go ahead and get yourself a bucket and bring it home and have yourself some homemade (read: purchased from Whole Foods) Mac and Cheese along with your Oprah & Aaron certified fried chicken.

    (2)

  • Midge C.

    Ahhhh yeahhhh! I love fried chicken. I love spicy fried chicken from Ezell's even more! This place does it right- cheap, tasty, and you get a fluffy roll on the side (I ate mine on the way to my car). And for all of you that pick off the skin... WTF? Isn't that the best part? Just sayin'.

    (4)

  • Jeff G.

    A couple of times a year our bosses decide to unchain us from our desks and take us out somewhwere fun.(The first year they took us to Whistler for the weekend, but we're too big now unfortunately). Usually there's an open bar and good food as well. This year we took an Argosy boat out to watch the Blue Angels' dry runs on Thursday. It was the cool boat you've seen with the big glass windows and it was a perfect day. The Captain knows the "sweet spot"(his words) to anchor so that the planes were zipping right over our heads; very cool! Unfortunately though, the food was catered by my old nemesis Ezell's. I guess the boss is a big fan and decided to go more "picnic" than gourmet this time around. I knew where I stood on Ezells but I quietly waited to hear what other people thought. The bosses really liked it, but they're Canadian so what do they know about fried chicken. Most people thought it was okay at best. No one thought the spicy chicken had any kick at all and several people asked why Oprah thought it was so good. There were even leftovers which there never are at these events since we're mostly a group of overfed tech guys. So bottom line is that Ezell's still hasn't persuaded me of it's delciousness and I still don't understand why Uber celebrities are having it flown halfway across the country.

    (2)

  • C. Y.

    I don't get it. I've been to Ezell's a couple of times, because as a southerner, fried chicken is one of my all-time favorite foods and I kept thinking that I'd just caught them on an off day. But, I think it's always an off day there - the chicken is fried, but it's also dry and not especially crispy. I didn't even know that was a possible outcome for deep frying.

    (1)

  • Ryan D.

    If you love spicy fried chicken, then Ezell's will not let you down! The chicken is always juicy and flavorful; the breading is always crispy and spicy. If you don't like a little spice in your chicken, then I might suggest looking elsewhere for your chicken fix, because Ezell's plain recipe is pretty unremarkable. It saddens me to no end that they serve "rolls" rather than biscuits. Big, fluffy, buttery biscuits are the perfect accompaniment to fried chicken. I've not tried any of their sides, so I can't speak to those, but they always look pretty tasty! Last details: no seating (or any other place to eat in the shop), good parking, nice people, centrally located, accepts all major credit cards, open rather late.

    (4)

  • Cory C.

    Been hearing of this place for years and finally recently stopped by. I am now a fan! Their regular fried chicken, spicy fried chicken and rolls are awesome. Seemed a little on the pricy side for such a whole in the wall, but I'm sure I'll return some day.

    (4)

  • Le E.

    i guess if you're not in the south, this is as good as it gets up north. my bro, hubby, and i stopped here one night to get some chicken to go. we order the 16 piece with the potato salad and french fries. i say, if it wasn't for the flavorful crisp skin on the chicken, it would be just ehhh. the potato salad was great..garlicy, oniony goodness. the fries were aight, your typically frozen variety. it was quite a jaunt from our hotel, but i'm glad we gave it a try. get the spicy...its so much better than the original.

    (3)

  • Minh V.

    A little bit too much batter on the chicken for my taste. I have tried it a few times to make sure it was good or not. Seems each location is a little bit different in my opinion.

    (2)

  • Derek R.

    First off I love fried chicken...love love love....i have to have some black blood in there somewhere.... Lots of great reviews on this place!!! Lots of Hype!!!! OHHHH Shit its gonna be the BOMB fried chicken right?? The Big O has it sent to Chicago!!!! I cant wait!!! DAMNIT!!! Let down again...I walked in here at 7 15 pm You know dinner time..."Ill have the 3 pc meal dark...Ill take beans and can i get the corn??" Of course not cause they are out of corn so i decide to get the mashed which i heard thru the vine are shit.... but i said screw it ...We're out of those also was the reply...fuck me!! i thought...mind u its 7 15 ...so i settle with the fries which i guess they dont like to season??.... I also ordered 1/2 lb chicken gizzards (the main reason i wanted to go here) but after i was told it would take 20 min i reluctantly backed off... Did I mention it was dinner time?? The chicken was pretty good...Ive deff had bettter and deff had worse...but NO way does this chicken warrant a plane ride to Chicago...Oprahs just PLAIN crazy...kinda like the flavors of this food.... Ezells...it coulda been somethin special...Now I gotta find someone new! :(

    (2)

  • Elly G.

    We went here after several of our friends suggested it. The chicken skin is fried perfectly, tasted crispy and not saggy. The meat is also juicy. What makes it quite a disappointment is that it tasted bland. It needed more seasoning. This is also more of a take out place.

    (3)

  • Tyler J.

    This is one of the only fast food places I can spend $20 all by myself! I'm not a huge fan of meat on the bone so I tend to get a large half and half order of the chicken strips. Add large mash potatoes and a dozen of the melt-in-your-mouth biscuits to make a smothered chicken strip/mash potato sandwich, that's how I roll! And it has the Oprah stamp of approval. Not the current weight fluctuating shell of Oprah you see today but the real voluptuous Oprah from the 80's.. that's how you know it's good!

    (5)

  • Daniel T.

    Yummy fried okra, and spicy chicken strips. The chicken necks are great as well. Good finger licken' Fried Chicken

    (4)

  • Chad Y.

    Ezell's has great fried chicken and don't get me wrong, you will not be disappointed in it! However, I don't think it is all that it is hyped up to be. The fried chicken is definitely well seasoned and has lots of flavor, the sides are all good. BUT...the thing that you need to have if you go there, is their rolls. So buttery and good!

    (3)

  • Rien K.

    Best in seattle. This is the hq

    (5)

  • Thao L.

    Ambience: Fast food setup. Clean and well lit. Fav Chicken: Spicy chicken strips - 1/2 lb or 1 lb and comes with their sweet, fluffy rolls. Spicy is slight spicy - nothing that will make you go running for the milk. Fav Side: Beans...so tasty... Don't forget the rolls.

    (5)

  • Lindi C.

    I've always had a big butt. I guess it has to do with being part hispanic. At least that's what I'm guessing because my mom's butt is huge (love you, Mom!). Regardless, ever since I was little, it's been there - my big ol' butt . I used to have problems with it. My brother would tease me and it would make me cry. In high school, guys would refer to my butt as my "ghetto booty". But, as the years have gone by I've realized (thanks to cat calls and songs like "My Humps") that big butts are something to be proud of and flat butts are much, much worse! But, what does this have to do with Ezell's? Well, my resolution this year was to embrace my "ghetto booty" (notice the quotes) - and I mean, really embrace it. I want this thing to be huge like J-Lo's! I've been trying to think of ways to get this thing bigger and rounder, and I figured fried chicken would do the trick. Lucky for me Ezell's is right down the street from my work! I waited until the lunch rush was over until I went. I pulled into the lot and there were plenty of parking spots. I walked in and there were only 3 people in line. The other customers quickly placed and received their orders. I got up to the register and decided on the chicken strips with BBQ sauce. I ordered spicy, but they were out and they said it'd take like 8 minutes to fry some more. I wasn't that interested in spicy over the regular so I just took the regular. I also got a side of fries and a slice of sweet potato pie (hey, I said J-Lo size butt!). I took my bag o' butt fatteners back to the office (since there is no place to sit and eat there) and opened it up. To my surprise the chicken strip basket was huge and came with a roll - and DAMN was it gooooooood, finger-lickin' goooood! Luckily that filled me up because the fries were just ok. Crinkle cut fries aren't my favorite and they weren't seasoned at all. A little dip into the BBQ sauce helps though. After my chicken strips, roll and a few fries - I was far too full for the sweet potato pie but I had to try it. I just couldn't wait! The sweet potato pie is also delicious! I will be looking forward to eating it later on! The awesome part was that all of that food was only $7.65! Who are all these people getting butt implants? Just eat fried chicken! It's way cheaper and it tastes good too! Ezell's is totally going to help me acheive my resolution and I'd like to thank them having such cheap, delicious, greasy, fattening food. Even as I'm sitting here writing this, I swear I can feel my lovely lady lumps getting bigger. Watch out J-Lo, here I come! "Turn around, stick it out, even white boys gotta shout - baby got back!"

    (4)

  • Julia D.

    Believe the hype. This place is delicious.

    (4)

  • Crystal C.

    Still amazing.

    (5)

  • Lena B.

    Man, I went to high school at Garfield, and every so often, my and my friends managed to book it fast enough after that lunch bell rang to get to Ezell's before the line got too long, and let me tell you, that was a good day. Nowadays, I don't get down to the CD too often, but if I'm there, I'm always about some spicy strips, potato salad, and one of those rolls that smell like warm beer. Actually, I'm not sure why I order potato salad anymore, since I guess they either changed the recipes or I changed my taste buds, and it doesn't taste that good anymore. And to everybody who's like, oh, it's too greasy: It is fried chicken. FRIED. If you can't deal with some grease, then lobby management to offer, like, a tofu scramble or something. Otherwise, man up and prepare for some quality time in the powder room.

    (4)

  • Marissa W.

    I found this place entirely by accident, but I'm so glad I did! Their chicken strips are perfect: crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and with a tiny kick of spice in the batter. And you know how a lot of places don't bother to properly trim their chicken, so you'll find strips or blobs of fat in some of the chicken strips? Not so with Ezell's! In the entire 1/2 lb box of strips, I didn't find any chewy fat. The biscuit was so soft, buttery, and flaky... I didn't even add an butter or jam. it was incredible by itself. I also tried a small side of the potatoes and gravy. The small side really IS small - just about the size of the biscuit. But it's the perfect size to go with their large meat portions. Others here have said that their potatoes are bland, and I'll admit that they weren't super flavorful. But they were clearly homemade (unlike that "fresh from the box" taste you get from the potatoes at KFC), and tasty enough. I'd order them again. The price can't be beat, either. My whole meal was around $6. I can see why this place is so popular. It's going to be hard to fight the urge to eat here at least once a week... My cholesterol won't be able to take it!

    (5)

  • Benjamin L.

    If you love spicy fried chicken, then this is your place. Eat the rolls too. If you care about things such as friendly service and all that, then I'd say: Go to hell. It's Ezell's Fried Chicken joint, not Ezell's Friendly Service to Make You Feel Good Joint. I worked at a fried chicken joint in high school, and it just isn't fun. So I don't blame them for not being friendly. I wasn't friendly either. Go there because you love spicy fried chicken, deal with the less than friendly service, and be on you merry little way.

    (5)

  • Michael N.

    You know, there aren't a lot of fried chicken options in Seattle. I guess that Seattle just doesn't love the fried bird. In fact, the pickings are so slim in Seattle that after Ezell's, I'd say that Popeye's is clearly the next best fried chicken to be had in the area. Ezell's is pretty much as good as it gets in Seattle. The chicken strips are handmade and are fried using the same method as their normal chicken so that's a huge plus. However, unless you absolutely can't stand eating meat off a bone, the real stuff is the thing to get. The rolls are pretty damn good given what is usually served in other areas of the country (i.e. some roll straight out of a plastic bag), but their best side is their ultra-mayonnaisey potato salad which is thankfully not sweet.

    (5)

  • Mary M.

    This is the best fried chicken I have ever eaten. I would come here more often if I felt more safe in the neighborhood. Ezell's, please open a location on the Eastside!

    (4)

  • Tim J.

    Ezells is teh dankest fried chicken ive had here. I just gotta have it sometimes. Always dark meat always spicy. YUP

    (5)

  • Kenneth H.

    Fried Chicken done right. It can take a little while if there is a line, but generally it is food you want to get to go. My friends in Seattle swear by it and I haven't found that many places in the NW or the west coast for that matter that can rival Ezell's. Love the spicy (although it really isn't that spicy, it just has a better flavor), love the okra, love the prices (sorta). If you want fried chicken in Seattle this is certainly the spot to get it from.

    (4)

  • NANCY H.

    I absolutely love their fresh baked buns! They go perfect with the chicken and they are even good the second day. I am not too fond of the oiliness of the chicken, though it still is a flavorful meat. Great for take-out for picnics and romantic home-style date at the park food. Good For: family picnic food, butter rolls

    (4)

  • Lindsey D.

    We ordered one meal with spicy and one with original. I'm sure they gave us both original because we couldn't taste a bit of difference between them. The chicken was good though. The sides were average. I really enjoyed the rolls. Good food for a cheap price.

    (3)

  • Brooke M.

    Ezells is the place to go to eat fried chicken in Seattle, however, after four years of living one block away and smelling the grease emanating from there, I can only give it 4 stars... because frankly, just thinking about it makes me a little queasy. But I'm not too queasy to remember my first few experiences when the love was still new and the grease not so strong in my bedroom window. Yum! Now that I've been gone over a year, I might even stop in again, the next time I'm in the big City.

    (4)

  • Mark R.

    Dear god in heaven. Or hell as the case may be. That is some good chicken. Wow. I had the spicy chicken, and while I may regret it tomorrow, right now I'm filled with enough greasy bird to seriously threaten my immediate health. It has just enough kick to it. And the rolls........pure transcendence. This is clearly the most superior fried chicken in the Seattle metro area. Don't agree? Good, don't go there ever again, because that just means more for me. I would write more now, but my heart is starting to slow down and the light is starting to dim as my blood pressure plummets. Plus I think there might be a few crumbs I can still suck out of the carpet before the dog gets to them. I almost forgot to mention the sweet potato pie. Let's just say I'm about to go do unspeakable things to mine.

    (5)

  • Dennis B.

    I like Ezell's a lot, but am not as big a fan as the hype....and I love Oprah and know she loves Ezell's. However, I am always a little disappointed in the sides. I would like a more traditional biscuit, say, like KFC does. I do admit though, I get excited when my work caters with Ezell's (which is rather often) cause everyone gets sooooo excited. It is fun!

    (4)

  • Denice R.

    Every time I've eaten Ezell's chicken it's been lacking in taste, not moist and fresh, and either too dry or too greasy. Doesn't seem to matter if I get it in the shops or at a catered event. I wish I had better experiences here because it's in the hood but I can get better chicken at the KFC (that would be IF I went to KFC which I no longer do because of their animal cruelty issues).

    (2)

  • Bumble B.

    Had dinner for the first time from here tonight. All the reviews here on yelp helped me decide on this place. It was really good. I am from Georgia and miss me some southern cookin'. You can get it right here at Ezell's though. The fried chicken was crispy but like one other rater said, there aren't enough spices. It at least needs some salt and pepper. The potato salad will make you want to slap yo mama. It is that good! It is better than my Mama's and her's is dagum good! The only reason it doesn't get five stars is because of the service. I could barely understand the gal behind the counter and she obviously didn't understand me because instead of an extra, small side of peach cobbler I got an extra, small side of corn and I had already ordered a side of corn with my family pack. I know the sign said to check order before leaving, and I did and there was a C on the small container so I just thought C stood for cobbler...guess that's my bad but I repeated peach cobbler at least 3 times for her. Oh well, maybe next time 'cause I will definitely be back for the potato salad if for no other reason. Also I ordered a half pound of chicken livers and she said it would take 10 minutes to make them. That's fine but I didn't feel like waiting so I just skipped on those. But I definitely want to try them next time. Yum Yum!!!

    (4)

  • Evan M.

    Mmmmmmm. Oprah ain't lyin'! Y'see, I'm from the South and I know from fried chicken. You wouldn't necessarily think that the South's second coming (cuisine wise at least) would be fried chicken at almost the most oppositest part of the country (barring Alaska, but all they have there is fish, so we'll forget them for now). Oh, but you should definitely get the spicy style as it's 100 million times better than the regular stuff. You can pass on the sides, the coleslaw was meh and the sweet potato pie was eh ("meh" is worse than "eh" by the way). So get your butt (which will soon be much larger) over there and eat some chicken!

    (5)

  • Brian B.

    I had an enjoyable 3 piece dinner combo with baked beans and potato salad. The white meat chicken was delicious and what I believe to be high in quality. The crispy breading was amazing. Yum Yum.

    (4)

  • Jeremy C.

    I do like devouring the spicy fried chicken and biscuits they serve at Ezell's. I wasn't entirely impressed with the french fries, but the chicken and biscuits are phenomenal--you can NEVER go wrong with 'em. Whenever I'm in the CD and have an appetite, I often find myself gravitating toward Ezell's.

    (4)

  • Rachel B.

    Oh. I know everybody loves this place but it just doesn't do it for me. The chicken is too greasy and too salty. The mashed potatoes are not creamy enough and the gravy just doesn't suit me. The coleslaw is ok. And, well, they do have fruity sodas and that is cool. I love me some fruity soda. I guess I am picky about my fried chicken. I would rather just cook it myself I think. So, I'll eat here if a friend insists we go here. It is edible but just barely. Now, I know the wrath of Oprah is going to rain down on me. She loves this place.

    (2)

  • Erick M.

    A Seattle mecca for fried chicken. I have been making the trek since I was a tyke and am still going 28 years later. The baked bbq beans are amazing and so is the peach cobbler. Don't go home without both in your bag! And don't forget the rolls.

    (5)

  • Michael L.

    Oprah Oprah Oprah Oprah... OKAY?! Are you happy?! Oprah likes the chicken! She also likes Stedman. He is an asexual robot. She also recommended "The Road" by Cormac McArthy. That book was like, pretty ehhhhh. Anyway, there is so much more to Ezell's than Oprah. Like the fact that sometimes the girl with the gold teeth smiles at me when she's rude to everybody else. That makes me feel good. Also, the chicken is amazingly tasty. The best in the city, actually. I love the spicy chicken strips and ranch. Also, mixing the mashed taters with the cole slaw and a splash of Frank's red hot is the bomb. If I am in the area I will always stop by and try to get a smile from my gold princess. It's always easier on Sunday afternoons when everyone has come back from church. And oh yeah, I heard Oprah likes this place too. You can tell because she's in the photos inside lookin' like Reggie went buck wild with the makeup gun. Super '80's stuff. Man, her hairstyles were no joke back then.

    (5)

  • Katy B.

    Now this is what I am talking about. Not being a Seattle native, I get incredibly tired of the fussy local cuisine. Forget all of that prissy-NW fusion food! Eat like a real human! Get your hands dirty! Its about the meat. On the bone!! But personally, I enjoy getting a 'small spicy' and chopping everything up into bite sized-pieces, (perfect for sharing!) drizzing selected sauces on top, shaking the whole thing up in the serving bag (waste not, want not!) and throwing it over a mixed-green salad with perhaps a splash of vinaigrette and a side of oven roasted root vegetables.

    (4)

  • Jeniffer L.

    damn they had some good friend chicken. The biscuits were sweet and the chicken was spicy and crispy and juicy all in the same category. OMG the bread pudding was the S**** the best i've ever tasted. " Sorry mom" and i must say the mashed potatoes and gravy were the bomb too. I sure i will most definantly be adding this to my weekly splurge of fast food.....

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    i drive past ezell's twice a day and the smell drives me bonkers! i was pleased to find out that it tasted even better than it smells... got the spicy strips and mashed potatoes w/ gravy & it was awesome. the service was ridiculously fast. i will definitely go back when i need my grease fix

    (4)

  • Alexis X.

    One of the few times I don't agree with Oprah. I'm a huge soul food fan and Ezell's isn't doing it for me. Chicken is okay, and the sides are ho-hum. Been there once, and haven't been back since. I've shifted my soul food palate to Jones BBQ...

    (2)

  • Nate H.

    This is like in my opinion one of the best chicken places in Seattle. I like this place more than puppies which I'm from washington d.c. and we had them in the city so I go to eat fried chicken all the time. After coming out to Seattle and having to give up fried chicken this place was so good to have when I could. I got the chicken usually and it was always good and biscutts and fries everything was really good and reasonably priced. Just wish it wasn't so far and I could go there all the time. Place is one of my fav places to go get fried chicken, always friendly and lines aren't too long when I"ve gone. Highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • John M.

    Just about as good as fried chicken can be. Sweet Potato pie is special. Rolls are very good. Would be perfect, but they are a little sweet. Added sugar, I guess thats what people like. All the other sides are kind of plain. Recommended: It is top notch fried food.

    (4)

  • Carl L.

    This place is good, and Oprah likes it too! Apparently 1980's Oprah by the picture on the wall. But still, this place does good fried chicken, I reccomend the spicy recipe. Beans, potato salad, coleslaw and buns are good too. Friendly, patient service as well. If they like you, they will give you extra hot sauce.

    (4)

  • Jen G.

    I will admit freely that I used to be a fried chicken snob. As in, I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten-foot-pole. Mainly because I have deep-seeded issues with meat on bones. But that's my weird hangup. Don't try to read into it. So when my place of employment decided to cater one of our lunches with Ezell's FAMOUS fried chicken, I figured it was time to get over myself, throw away the years of shunning fried chicken and just try it. Because hello? It's FAMOUS! And for good reason! Ezell's fried chicken is dang tasty! Not at all greasy, but crispy and juicy, and spicy, too, if you opt for the spicy rather than the original. As I ate the chicken breast and enjoyed some of their sweet rolls, I had an epiphany. I am no longer a fried chicken snob. Let me tell you, it feels good to say that after years of self-inflicted repression. Thank you, Ezell's, for showing me the way.

    (4)

  • stacey d.

    HOLY CRAP! If you like fried chicken, you absolutely have to try this place. Not to mention, they have one of my favorite foods ever - fried okra (spicy or regular). JUST DO IT!

    (5)

  • Walter E.

    Best fried chicken I've tried so far. There's a reason Oprah orders it and is as big as she is...even the rolls were good that came with the meal.

    (5)

  • John H.

    It's true - this is some damn fine chicken, backed by great coleslaw and nice potato salad. We didn't encounter much of a crowd around 9 tonight, and perhaps due to that the service was quite relaxed and friendly. The real suprise though was I didn't find the chicken to be all that greasy. I mean, yes this isn't exactly health food, but c'mon! Compared to KFC this went down like filet mignon vs. taco bell taco meat. And LOVE the rolls. Don't miss out on the peach cobler either.

    (5)

  • Brad C.

    I've heard good things about Ezell's from people who have lived in Seattle far longer than I have so I decided to give it a try. I got a mix of dark and light fried chicken with a roll. The roll was delicious. Sadly, I can't say the same for the chicken. The chicken was tender but it had zero flavor once you bit beyond the batter. The service was pretty bad too. Sorry Ezell's but chicken in supermarket delis tastes better than yours.

    (2)

  • S O.

    It is all about the chicken strips here, spicy or plain - I get 50/50 of each. Get a roll or 2, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a peach cobbler. This is the one food place in Seattle that I craved when I was away in CA.

    (5)

  • Janet T.

    If you've never sunked your teeth into a delicious semi-spicy ezell's fried chicken wing, drum, etc then you're definitely missing out! It's probably my top spot to get fried chicken..oh and you can't forget their spicy gizzards, pies, sides and the oh so delicious rolls...the bread is sooo heavenly...makes me want to leave work early to venture over to 23rd to grab some fried chicken! Oh..btw...this location is in a seedy area so just be aware of your surroundings if you know what i mean.

    (4)

  • Elliot B.

    I just moved a block from this place. I'm from Louisiana and grew up on Popeye's and have had Willie Mae's in New Orleans. I had the spicy kind because I figure at this point anything around here claiming to be 'spicy' is just about right for my taste. It was just about as good as Popeye's and I consider that a huge compliment. I was bored beforehand and checked their website that claims their cuts of chicken are bigger than normal, but I didn't notice the difference. The sides are where they lost me. No flavor whatsoever. I got the mashed potatoes, which were covered in a some kind of gravy, and corn. They both tasted like hospital food. I couldn't finish them. And the people working their were far from the cheeriest people I've encountered so far. About as much hospitality as their sides had flavor. Not terrible, but I'd rather pray for a branch of Popeye's to open up nearby. It barely gets 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Danika M.

    I love Ezell's. It's true that Oprah is mad about the chicken here, and she should be. It is the most perfect thing in the universe. Firstly, Ezell's actually uses pteradactyl parts instead of chicken. These wings could fly. I like to get the spicy kind, and a snack pack is cheap but good and satisfying. The rolls are excellent, light and fluffy and buttery. Don't forget to get several hot sauces ( 12 cents each) for your meal. They have Faygo (all different flavors) and Hawaiian punch here, but I don't like that sugary crap. Just the chicken and some rolls, please. Yesssss.

    (5)

  • Michael N.

    No question the best chicken in Seattle. I stopped by last night and ordered a three piece mixed dinner. If you can't decide if you want the regular or the spicy you can always mix it up in your order. Chicken is the name of the game here -- meaning I would steer clear of the sides. They aren't terrible but they just don't match up to the chicken. This time around I must say that two of the pieces seemed uncharacteristically dry. Highly unusual for a place whose chicken is always spot on delicious!

    (4)

  • E S.

    Ezell's is the best chicken in Seattle. Are there other non-chain chicken places? No. But that doesn't mean Ezell's isn't damn good. I will say, however, that I hate how they don't take credit card. If you go, don't use that cash machine in there. Just sketchy if you ask me. Bring some cash, get some chicken. All the sides are awesome. The only thing keeping this from a 5-star review is how inconvenient it is to get there.

    (4)

  • Akiva S.

    I DON'T EVEN EAT CHICKEN AND I LOVE THIS PLACE WHY AM I SHOUTING

    (4)

  • Bill M.

    I love this place! I recommend the spicy chicken strips, and spicy breasts. The best fried chicken I have had. Not very healthy, but delicious nonetheless. BBQ sauce with the chicken strips is great! Heads up: Sketchy neighborhood, beggars always in parking lot. No problems per se, but country folk might be in for a shock. Take out only!

    (4)

  • Ang B.

    so glad i bought a whole sweet potato pie. the chicken is amazing, the okra is good, and the baked beans are super yum. so glad i live near it.

    (4)

  • My C.

    Oh so very finger lickin' good fried chicken is created here. I wanted to pass out after finishing up my fried chicken, it was so very juicy and so nicely seasoned. Just a little kick to it. You don't even need ketchup because it's already so flavorful from it's batter. Their fresh baked rolls were awesome too! num num!!!

    (5)

  • C C.

    This is a place I only go to when my wife isn't around to chastise me for eating so poorly. I do enjoy this particular treat about once a quarter - which about all my arteries can take. One should try the selection of deserts for a real taste of down home cooking.

    (4)

  • Christine B.

    I really don't understand what all the hype is about for this place. Based on what everyone told me, I was expecting the best fried chicken ever...dissapointing. There was hardly any flavor at all--spicy was not spicy. I wouldn't even call it mild. The rolls were good, but that's about it.

    (2)

  • Todd v.

    What can I say? It's fried chicken the way fried chicken is supposed to be done. Fresh, hot, crispy. Heart-stoppingly greasy. There's a spicy option, rolls (not biscuits), serviceable sides but nothing to write home about OR to distract from the tastiness of the chicken. There's no seating inside. There's a bum outside asking for your change - but he'll be easily placated when you tell him you put it in the tip jar. Their average piece is about 20-30% bigger than what you normally get. So, uh, don't order the 8 piece and think you and a friend can finish it. You can't. Go hungry and drive home fast.

    (5)

  • Xexilia B.

    Hands down the best friend chicken. It is beyond fried, this stuff becomes your friend.

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    Ezell's chicken is great. I usually order the 3 piece dark spicy dinner with fries, but sometimes I opt for strips and baked beans. Their rolls are delicious. This is the place that feels most like back home (Atlanta) to me.

    (4)

  • Becky P.

    This is one of the few places that I truly go out of my way to get to. The chicken is delicious, especially the spicy version, and it lasts well as a leftover. And the rolls are so tasty -- a perfect snack as you're driving home and your stomach starts growling because you can smell that awesome chicken. As for the comment below, it's always been hot when I've ordered it, even after driving for 15 - 20 min. to get back home.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :10:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Drive-Thru : No
    Caters : Yes

Ezell’s Famous Chicken

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