Pioneer Chicken

i was looking for a place to get good food from for the entire family. nothing too unhealthy. then i remebered abouth this place. a little on the expensive side compared to kfc. but it is more than worth it. everything was soooo good. everyone loved it and nothing was left over. them biscuits hmmm.

Pioneer Chicken is a SoCal original. What can I say to those that never had it before? Well for starters their strips are flat out delicious, their chicken is legendary and tasty. This review is highly influenced by nostalgia but this is one of my ho to places when craving fried chicken. The neighborhood is full of character and might not appeal to all but the chicken is worth it.

Pioneer chicken is just da’ Bomb!!!
I pass through this restaurant practically every week. The outside of the building is very old school which in a way kept me away from trying it. I guess this is where that quote fits perfectly «Never judge a book by its cover». One day I went over to my brother’s house where I invited myself to dinner (haha) and they were having fried chicken. I figured it was probably KFC but because the chicken was in a different container I ask my brother where the chicken was from, he mentioned it was from Pioneer.
«The one down Florence?»
«Yup, that’s the one».
Where to begin… we’ll start off with the outside of the chicken. I personally never ate the chicken’s skin, especially fried since it always tasted very doughy, but this was is so darn good. Crispy and extremely delicious! The meat is so juicy, yummm! Their biscuits are toasty on the outside and yet so fluffy on the inside with a nice buttery flavor. My favorite! Everything from their mashed potatoes to their rice is delicious! This place is just so good!
My only not so much complaint would be that they only take cash. I personally never really carry cash, which has kept me from going back more than I’d like too.
Anyhow, if you’re reading this review, you should definitely check them out.

Pioneer Chicken? I didn’t even know this place still existed! I remember there being a pioneer chicken in Norwalk Town Square where the current flower shop is. That was such a long time ago.
Well, I ate there and I can’t complain. The chicken was crispy and juicy on the inside. It wasn’t overly seasoned like KFC or some of the others.
The place itself looks like it’s from the 70s. Almost as though it never really left that era.
My only complaint is them not having hot sauce. What is up with that? Shame.

The fried chicken was very disappointing. Very thick yet crunchy batter. Too crunchy and the sides were okay. I’ve had better fried chicken from various places in Orange county.

Bombest fried chicken spot! Love all the sides, this place is old school, cash only, feels like you walked into 1983, because the store has never been updated. But the chicken tho, something about the breading… crispy, crunchy, i can eat 5 – 6 pieces easy, and im usually a 2 peice guy max. If you like fried chicken you will love this place

Just as it was when I was young. My wife WON’T eat chicken skin no matter what restaurant. But at Pioneer she eats the skin and doesn’t leave any meat on the bones.
We LOVE this place. So glad I found it again after 20 years.

5 stars for the chicken! I took him the Eco 12pc meal. 3 sides mashed potatoes, Coke slaw, corn. Plus an order of fries. Everything was deciduous. The only thing is They Only Take cash!!! It’s very odd for restaurants to do that because usually people carry their debit cards. Another thing… My biscuits? Yup they aren’t part of the family meal which I think it’s odd!!! They should be included in the family meals because the single plates have them. I drove from Whittier for this chicken, because it brought back memories from when I was a child. Let me add one more thing, they do charge for everything extra… Sauces… Refills and yes the cashier will ask you for the .27 cents. The cashier was alone and I think they need someone to help her. Overall the food is great

Chicken is sooo juicy!!!
Overall great fried chicken! Skin is nice a fluffy and crisp! Takes a bit to get your food out but I really don’t complain cause once I get it, it’s all over KFC lol.
Great spot if you really want some good crispy fried chicken!

I haven’t had Pioneer since I was 8 years old. The chicken was crispy and delicious, and the mashed potatoes had my favorite gravy. They also have a home made salsa and spicy rice here, new additions to the original menu but very delicious. You can put a price on fried chicken but you can’t on nostalgia. You will also feel like family here, they are friendly, generous and helpful.

Went to pioneer chicken on a whim last Thursday night for dinner and it was good.
I wish that I could give a higher rating, but unfortunately we waited so long in the drive thru that I won’t this time. It took us about 5 minutes before the person asked us our order, and another 5 to wait for the car in front of us to be served, and another ~5 for us to get our food. The person working that day was alone and was definitely taking her sweet time.
As for the food, it was definitely good. Got the gizzards which was a generous portion, but I wish it was more flavorful. The chicken was great! Very flavorful skin which was my favorite, but make sure that you eat it fresh. We kept it for lunch/​dinner the next day and the batter became watery somehow.

Unnaturally colored crunchy, crispy, moist fried legs and thighs. There was a time when I used to hit the Pioneer Chicken in Fremont at least once or twice a week for lunch. And then they all turned into Chinese Donut shops or Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits.
We infrequently make it down to Southern California but when we do, I like to drop in here for a taste of nostalgia. If only we had one somewhere in Northern California…

My husband has stories of him coming here since he was a kid, I’ve been coming here for about 8 years or so.
Their fried chicken is magnificent. Very crunchy, unlike any texture I’ve ever had before.
Go for their Meal Deal. Two pieces of fried chicken and mashed potatoes.
CASH ONLY.
50 cent refills.
Very slow service but friendly.
They charge for extra salsa.
Biscuits taste like they’ve been sitting or all day and are a bit stale bit have good buttermilk flavor. I’m sure if you catch them right when they are made they are amazing, though.
Very old fashioned looking, old seats. I think Theo leave out like that to give the feel of am old fashioned restaurant.

I love this greasy chicken. I cannot eat it very often because it is so heavy. But when I feel like reminiscing – this is the place to go. It is just how you remember: juicy, crispy, and a tangy coating.
However, it is a little pricy for what it is. I spent $ 10 for a two piece. It is cash only so leave the credit card at home.

I was really craving fried chicken this day so I quickly Unilocaled «soul food» and came across this place.
When I walked in (around dinner hours) there was no one in there – I can tell this place isn’t very busy so don’t worry about long lines – however, the service is quite slow…
I ordered a two-​piece combo (dark meat) and it comes with 2 sides (I chose fries and corn) to go. The fries were HOT and super crispy initially, but by the time I got home they were kind of soggy :(the corn was okay. The chicken was really good though!
I just want to point out that this place is cash only! There is an ATM machine right there by the cash register but it charges you $ 2.5 for every withdrawal… that’s a lot given that each meal is only a couple dollars, so don’t forget to bring cash!!!
There is a parking lot right outside with designated parking spaces so parking shouldn’t be a problem at all.

FINALLY!!!
Whenever someone spoke about old school fried chicken joints, Pioneer chicken was always brought up. So I needed to see what the fuss was about when the time presented itself. Finally it did while I stayed at my friends house not to far away. So I was on my way!!!
I came in on a Sunday. I wanted to pick some food up for myself and the Fam. I couldn’t tell which was the cash register so I stood there like a dummy for awhile and the girl said have you ordered UM NO. I mean damn I’m the only black chica in these parts, you’d know if I ordered or not LOL. She was nice after that snafu. So I ordered 11 wings and that’s because mom and I love that part of the chicken the most ! I’m made that I forgot to order a thigh :(Oh well. I also ordered fried gizzards mmmmm and some sides. So I also ordered biscuits which is a no brainer at fried chicken joints, spicy rice and potato salad. I forgot to order cole slaw for moms WHOOPS. I’m sad I also didn’t order mashed potatoes and gravy but that’s ok, I’ll get it next time.
So I waited in the lil dining room and people were getting their mad grub on. I don’t see people eat in fast food dining establishments much anymore. But this ain’t no KFC, this is specialty and has a piece of nostalgia. So after a light wait, I got my food and I was so damn happy to get home faster haha especially with the smell of fried chicken fuming my car. So I get home and I rip open the food and taste test immediately!!! Their friend chicken reminds me of Golden Bird. They both have their own unique taste but the look is the same. The batter is very good. The process is nothing like your usual commercial chained fried chicken eateries. I tore the wings up! The spicy rice was tasty but not that spicy so I added those bomb ass peppers you can order and the chicken within the side was a little dry. The potato salad didn’t taste store bought which is good. The biscuits are damn good. Add soft butter and honey and you make a perfect bite. The gizzards use the same batter process and they were good as well. My mom and I were well satisfied.
I will no doubt come back when I’m in the area and craving this type of fried chicken!!!

First of all: CASH ONLY!!!
This place is a blast from the past. One of my fondest childhood memories was picking up dinner at Pioneer Chicken with my mom when I was 4 years old after being picked up from preschool. Walking in here filled me with happy nostalgia.
The faux brick walls and the plastic menu adorned the counter behind the register. The dining room was appointed with dark maroon carpet, karosene lamps and fixed swivel chairs resembling stage coach wagon wheels. This is the last Pioneer Chicken I know of in existence that still looks as it did 30 years ago.
Some things have changed. Prepackaged pies and bottled water have taken the place of the fresh pies in the display cabinet. The corn rolling machine sits fallow on the counter, robbed of its buttery magic. Most crucially, the chicken recipe has changed. It is not necessarily better or worse than the original. Just different.
This is a mom and pop’s operation, just two people work this entire joint. After I placed my order, I leaned back against the railing and waited. The lady working the front steps into the kitchen to help out. There were 5 other people in the dining room waiting for their food and 2 cars idling in the drive through. A woman inside the restaurant strikes up a conversation with the person in the drive through. They were hollering and laughing, then exchanged numbers so that they could hang out later in the week. I sat down in a booth and to entertain myself with my phone. My food arrived from the kitchen 20 minutes later.
It was worth the wait. The thick batter and juicy chicken was perfect. Unlike many fast food chicken, this tastes like it was made from scratch. It was not too greasy and made me feel wholesome afterwards. Pioneer Chicken at this location is one of the best fried bird in all of California.

I was driving around the hood and found this nearby on the Unilocal app. I knew fried Chicken for lunch would put me to sleep so I was slightly hesitant. I gave in because I love fried chicken enough to endure a sleepy afternoon.
Food:
The fried chicken was very disappointing. Very thick yet crunchy batter. Too crunchy… like potato chip texture. I can’t taste the skin with a batter this thick. It also makes the chicken super greasy.
Service:
Fast food set up. There were only 2 tables occupied when I was ready to sit. There were no clean tables…
Environment:
In a rougher side of LA County. Very old design inside. The design makes this place feel dirty and not in a good way.
Price:
KFC prices.
Food: 2
Service: 3
Environment: 2
Price: 3

Let me put this simply:
This is the best fried chicken I’ve ever had in my entire life.
The taste, the texture, the presentation is hands down superior to any fried chicken out there including popeyes, el pollo loco, and church’s. Sad to see that there are so few of these restaurants but its well worth the trip to all those chicken lovers who appreciate quality and excellence.
Sometimes I shake my head at Unilocalers who have no taste buds and rate places so poorly. I guess service counts for a lot, but strictly speaking, this is the best chicken period. The environment and the service really don’t matter here. Want most perfectly made fried chicken you’ve ever had??? Then come here!

Updated review as of 1÷5÷14 (1^st reviewed 7÷18÷14):
Today, I picked up a couple of legs, a breast, some beans, and spicy rice from Pioneer Chicken.
Almost a world of difference from my visit last July!
Whoever made the chicken today did a great job. Granted, I took the drive-​thru lane at around noon so it was hot, fresh, crispy, and so juicy.
My 18-​month-​old also approved of the chicken. She’s pretty picky about how her chicken is cooked. She kept eating more pieces of it after she cleaned her plate the first time.
Our cats started begging for the chicken as soon as we got home with the to-​go bag, so that’s how I first knew it was going to be good.
And I take back what I said about the spicy rice before, however, this time it didn’t have any dark pieces in it.
It is SPICY, though! Too spicy for my toddler, ha!
The same friendly woman was at the window.
I still can’t give the place 5 stars because of that whole «CASH ONLY» bit… Still takes a while to get your food, too.
No matter what others may say, please don’t ever get rid of this place management. Thanks.
Unilocal challenge 2015 ³⁄₁₀₀