Chicken Chick UPDATE - Torrance

Still the best Hummus I've ever had. I can't even describe the satisfaction of the texture and the depth of the flavor. 

Best eggplant I've ever had. The Persian Eggplant is like a baked cake of sweet,  deep-roasted slices lattice-worked with creamy garlic yogurt.

Feeding multiple families is a cinch with the Combination #4 Platter. The Juicy Chicken drips with juice and a perfectly-balanced marinade with savor and a little acid. Beef Koobideh is perfectly seasoned, and the Chicken Koobideh is a strip of golden grind. 

Chicken Shish Kebab is similar, served with so much chargrilled veg.

Salmon is a flame-kissed fish. Not my favorite but good enough all the same. 

There are hot peppers to heat things up if you choose, and lots of onions to add some acid. I usually hate tomatoes, but their flame transforms them into something warm and welcoming. Lots of choices, but their Cherry Rice is the real MVP. They'll substitute it for the regular rice at no extra charge, and this slightly sweet, hint of fruity tartness is an ideal balance for the slabs of salty, fatty meat. Like everything else at this lovely local mom-and-pop, it's absolutely flawless. 

Chicken Chick - Torrance

I don’t hate chicken but I don’t love it either. I’ve had some good chicken but rarely, if ever, has one of those cluckers left any sort of lasting impression.

I guess it’s all about what you do to it because I’ll never forget Chicken Chick. They have the seasoning down to an art.

The Koobideh Combination is a show of their skill, a nicely spiced beef and a chicken to ruin all chicken. This chicken is JUICY. Each ground granule is like a tiny poppin’ bubble of soup that explodes in your mouth. The first bite momentarily stuns the palate with pure delight.

Compare with the koobideh, contrast with the rice. Substitute Cherry Rice for basmati to get a sweet n’ fruity bed of buttery bits on which your kebabs can rest.

The Barg is a chunk-of-meat choice that you’ll be glad you made. You can see the glistening juices on this skewer of lean filet, and you can taste more bold, beefy flavor than half the “wagyu” you’ll ever try. It’s juicy with minimal grease, compact cubes of hard-hitting savor.

Hummus, an unsung hero. An appetizer that can do so much more. You’ll never go back to supermarket Sabra. This hummus has a consistency like a thicker slurry, and the garlic and lemon make the earthy chick peas pop. Spread it on and spread it thick -  it literally goes with everything.

Wow, I had no idea something this good existed. I’m not as familiar with Persian cuisine as I’d like to be, but I’m about to get a lot more friendly with Chicken Chick. And although I don’t have a lot to compare with, I can’t imagine anything better.

Star Bakery - Los Angeles

Across the street from suave Sasaya, sits a sketchy-looking strip mall. A somewhat functioning laundromat and a tiny bodega-esque grocery store that looks suspiciously like a front for something that turns a much higher profit than dime-bags...of potato chips is enough to deter the bravest of souls.

Sandwiched between the two, Star Bakery sits. Persian and not the least bit prissy, their Baklava is less honey-loaded than I like but authentic by every standard. They make a decent Eclair as well, but the rule of thumb is to stick with what they do best.

Decent, okay, service without the smile, but it's also service without the scorn. Glad for the experience, without an overwhelming need to return.