A-Frame: All You Can Eat Fried Chicken

Whenever someone asks for a recommendation for a place to eat on the Westside I always tell them how much I love the food and service at A-Frame, one of my favorite places in LA.

The wait is always long but so worth it. Founded by Roy Choi, famous for LA's Kogi taco truck and my other fave place, Chego, A-Frame embodies what you would imagine a modern picnic in Los Angeles to be: comfort food with asian influences and a whole lotta LA flava.

A while back A-Frame started doing an All You Can Eat Fried Chicken. Fried chicken is right up my alley, after all I've held my own Fried Chicken Face Off and made it my mission to try and taste most of the fried chicken in LA.

Since this deep-fried experience is only offered on the weekends I kept missing the opportunity to go, but it was time to rectify that. I went with a group of friends, some of whom were wise enough not to partake in an all you can eat chicken fest and one who was mostly vegan (she had the potato pancake). As for the rest of us, it was a fried chicken free for all.

When the plate was set down I was slightly disappointed to see chicken and little else. Previously the all-you-can-eat experience came with side dishes, but the waiter explained that they lowered the cost of the meal and got rid of the sides. I have to say, it's a little hard to choke down all you can eat fried chicken and nothing else. Sides would have only added to the meal and I would have gladly paid the higher cost.

The wait staff is attentive and seem to know if you're ready for more chicken before you do. Future rounds come two pieces at a time, as much as you can handle.

The chicken arrived cooked to order, fresh and hot. Only thighs and legs, dark meat - the way fried chicken should be. The chicken was fried a dark brown, breaded in rice flour to make it extra crispy but allowing the meat to stay moist, two main factors for great fried chicken. It came with a side of lemon (wearing a bonnet, no less) which is how most Japanese fried chicken comes. I love it because the hit of acid helps balance out the oil and freshen up the flavor.

Paired with the chicken were two flavorful sauces, one bright red gochujang tonkatsu sauce, the other a stark white creamy bleu cheese sauce. I'm pretty sure you're supposed to choose one or the other to dip into but I dare you not to slather both at the same time all over the fried chicken.

The more I ate the chicken the more I enjoyed it. That being said, I admit I only ate a measly 3-1/2 pieces before I could take no more. I still think side dishes would have helped my attempt. Meanwhile at the other side of the table it was an all out battle for fried chicken glory. At last count I saw my two brunch companions going neck and neck (drumstick to drumstick?) at about 6-8 pieces each. Hats off to them for getting their money's worth.

Since A-Frame is normally only open for dinner, it's a nice change of pace to be there during the day and to meet up with a bunch of close friends for a leisurely weekend brunch. The fried chicken may have bested me this round, but I'll be ready next time. Or maybe I'll just go mostly Vegan. Oof.

A-Frame
12565 W Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90066
All You Can Eat Fried Chicken: Sat & Sun 12-3, Mon 11-5