I like eating fried chicken from the grocery store Deli when I tire of cooking. Their fried chicken is the biggest pieces and the most flavorful...in my opinion. Krogers or Safeway.

My wife loves Cracker Barrel (or “Crackle Barrel” as it usually rolls off her tongue) but I suspect it’s more a nostalgia thing than actually liking the food. I’m not a fan.

As for your meal, as much I don’t like to waste food I see no reason for you to punish yourself with several more unhealthy meals that won’t reheat to be as “good” as it originally was. Pick apart the chicken and make chicken salad or add it to soup or something if it really bothers you. Or mix everything together into a makeshift casserole.

We only eat breakfast at CB and only when traveling and it's the closest restuarant.

I find that mediocre fried chicken tastes better cold. I love cold fried chicken but it has to be refrigerator cold, not room temperature cold.

I've never been in a Cracker Barrel - or seen one? I'm not sure. We do pick up KFC about once every 6 months or so. Just chicken and a few biscuits, none of the other sides. Something about their mashed potatoes and gravy just isn't quite right.

But I don't mind the chicken, original crispy. I can fry chicken but somehow rarely do in the last many years.

DH's dad fried a lot of chicken for their big family but he always finished it in the oven, no crispy skin so it was probably covered. Newly married, one of DH's sisters called me one day and said a friend was there and frying chicken at her house. In a skillet. In hushed tones: She wasn't planning to put it in the oven. Could chicken be cooked safely in only a deep skillet and not put into a hot oven? I told her Yes, dear, of course, nothing to worry about and your chicken will be cooked through 😁

I have never been to a Cracker Barrel although we have one nearby. I have not had fried chicken in forever, but my mother made the best ever and she did use Crisco. Always served with mashed potatoes and homemade waffles. I'd give anything for that meal again.

Our Acme supermarket has good fried chicken - as long as t hasn't been sitting for too long under the heat lamps. DDIL told me last week that she went to the new Popeye's that just opened and she really liked their fried chicken.

I almost always get the chicken n dumplings when I go there or breakfast, since they serve it all day. I really like their coffee too. I do prefer my chicken n dumplings to theirs'.

Love the blueberry pancakes at CB.

Nicole, my mom always wanted to get Kroger fried chicken for gatherings. Tasty and easy. Miss gatherings with Mom and Kroger fried chicken

No Cracker Barrel localions near me. I've tried them a few times when visiting Southern states, and didn't find the food particularly good. Or at least not to my liking.

I tried to go to a Cracker Barrel once, but the line was out the door. A year or so ago a friend and I stopped in one, no line. We didn’t care for it.

We used to go to a chain called Black-Eyed Pea in Dallas, especially when we had a yen for ”home cookin’ ”.

I don't think we have them around here, but sounds like we're not missing much. I don't think it wouldn't be my kind of a meal out, anyway. My mom never made crispy fried chicken, so I have always made it her way, browned, then covered and finished. I used to eat KFC once in a while when I worked next door to one, but realized I always felt icky afterwards and swear I could feel my arteries clogging. Once a year or so I'll buy a piece or two of fried chicken from the grocery. It's always good. Good enough.

There used to be a restaurant in the area called The Big Yellow House. You went in and paid and were taken upstairs to a dining room. Young children were charged by the pound. There was a huge old fashioned scale for them to be weighed. They had a complete all you can eat chicken dinner but it also came with roast and all the sides, along with rolls and pie for dessert. They served the food family style and when you ran out of something they would bring you more. They had servers dedicated to walking around table to table with baskets of rolls and cornbread.

No Cracker Barrel restaurants near me either, but there is one in Bakersfield, which says a lot.

If I wanted fried chicken, I would go to Popeye's (not KFC), but then you said you were tired of fast food.

I love fried chicken, but I cannot remember when I last had it. I almost never make it because it is too messy, although I do make tempera often but not chicken tempura. I make fried fish more often than fried chicken - it is faster. There is a Sizzler close to me that has fried chicken wings, but I haven't been there in years. I really need to get out more.

When I worked in Compton, I used to go to a restaurant called Louisiana Fried Chicken for lunch, but they only served Chinese food.

We used to go out for breakfast and brunch a lot, but since I've retired, I've been cooking almost all of our meals. This way I get food that I like better, and we do not have to drive to get it.

When we went to Austin in August, we deliberately chose restaurants where we could get good leftovers, and the best one for that was Pappadeaux, which is also a chain but very good. The closest one to us is in Phoenix, unfortunately. However, there is a good Cajun restaurant in Redondo Beach, which is about 20 minutes from us. I just haven't gotten used to the new prices restaurants are charging. I think that $33 for fried chicken is a bit much, and that is a major reason why we do not go out to eat.

We'll eat breakfast there about once a year when in a pinch, but generally I'll call it Crapper Barrel.

I suspect like Sherry, the quality has gone down. It is certainly comfort food.

We have been maybe once or twice while traveling. Never my go-to.

No Cracker Barrels near me either. I have always been fond of KFC chicken but the recipe seems to have changed over the years.....or my taste buds have. Not quite as good as it used to be. And they keep changing the sides. There is a Jollibee opening somewhat nearby and I've heard their fried chicken is excellent. As a single person, I can't be bothered to fry chicken for myself but I enjoy a crisp piece now and again. I just won't go out of my way to find some :-)

I would probably peel off the fried skin and make chicken salad out of the leftovers. Sometimes you just have give in to the urge for something. I love the pecan pancakes at Cracker Barrel.

I'd prefer Waffle House for the pecan waffles, but the closest one is quite far. There's a CB near Ikea, and I'm tempted to go for breakfast because I'd love grits with breakfast, but Jim refuses to eat there. He's a smart guy.

" No Cracker Barrel restaurants near me either, but there is one in Bakersfield, which says a lot. "

You started my day with a solid chuckle, Lars.

I wonder how their marketing/location selection group came up with the 7 California sites they have. In addition to this one, also included are places like Victorville, Rocklin, Rialto, Santa Maria, and Sacramento. None in any of the state's populated regions. That says something too, I'm just not sure what.

The Bug Yellow House sounds like a great place! What a fun idea!

We once went to KFC, then saw The Perfect Storm. After the movie DH and I both commented on how good the cinematography and sound must have been, we actually felt a bit seasick. Later we decided it was the KFC. Haven’t had it since.

There’s a Jollibee on the way to our kids’ place. They serve spaghetti with the fried chicken, I don’t get the concept but DH says it’s good. Raisin’ Cane’s is newish in our area. It’s pretty popular, I tried it but I think I’ve decided fried chicken is something I want to have a proper meal of, not fast food. (Not counting Chick-fil-a, but I think it’s the sauce that makes it good.)

I very, very rarely want fried chicken, and I think that I have eaten at a Cracker Barrel only once (it might have been when we drive cross-country way back in 1980 - I remember nothing about the food).

My DD likes Popeye's, but now where she is living there are several mom'n'pop places that specialized in fried chicken (and fish) that she prefers.

My late mother always wanted to go to Bob Evans' to get a fried chicken dinner when I was shuttling her back to her city - I don't know if the quality has changed since the corporate ownership changed several years ago. (BTW my DD's boyfriend who is from Milwaukee loves Bob Evans' - makes gift giving easy hahaha!)

However, last week I really wanted 2 other rare meals - a BLT, and a hamburger with all the fixings - I made them at home, though. Had to go buy a loaf of bread and bacon, just for that.

Too bad you didn't enjoy your meal 😕

Guessing the urge to try and salvage your leftovers is an example of 'sunk cost' thinking, maybe?

Around here, Church's and Popeye's have had very good fried chicken in my past experience, but it's been years since I had any . Church's used to have fried okra too, which I loved - nobody else did that. Popeye's was spicier than Church's, and also had yummy red beans and rice, and biscuits too, IIRC.

My fave way to eat fried chicken, hot or cold, is with plenty of Crystal hot sauce, so I prefer it not to be very spicy to begin with.

P.S. I've never eaten at Cracker Barrel, as far as I can recall.

Not chicken, but we had a local restaurant here that was fantastic. It was the "Po Boy Factory". They had seafood platters, po boys, gumbo, crawfish platters, etc. It tastes just like anything on the Gulf coast. They were fantastic, then very good, then okay, then went belly up a few years ago. Quality and service went in the gutter.

The Bug Yellow House sounds like a great place! What a fun idea!

That was my initial thought, too. But I don’t think they’d get away with weighing kids in this day and age. 🙀

There’s a Cracker Barrel not too far from us but we rarely go there. DH doesn’t like it. I used to like it, but the last time we ate there I had to concede that DH was right. The food just wasn’t that tasty.

I think what I liked the best about it was the down-home atmosphere.

Oxnard, Victorville, Rialto... they're southern California towns with CB. So I guess that's "southern". However, there are many, many CBs in California. Maybe some folks just don't get out enough to know they exist all over. Including California.

We don’t eat fried chicken very often, but i can say without a doubt, Publix has the best fried chicken around the southeast. DH agrees and he is the one who eats it the most. He has tried Cracker Barrel and a few others and nothing compares. They also have excellent chicken tenders. Their deli also sells veggie sides although I prepare those at home myself. I would also rate Popeye’s a close second, although it has been a while since I ate there.

These days, our fried chicken comes from Publix - it's pretty tasty and convenient 🙂

There are some popular fast food, fried chicken places in Lexington. One is pretty good that isn't a chain, even though a little on the spicy side for me. Sketchy part of town, almost no parking but they do a lot of business because it's pretty good. I do crave chicken wings occasionally and have gone to Kroger or Wal-mart. Usually they're out of them, though. When really desperate I'll go to KFC, which is super expensive for a handful of wings, which is all I get. Good thing I don't crave it often.

Sherry, the restaurant you mentioned reminded me of Po Folks (I think that's what it was called) in Tucson, AZ, back in the 80s. It was kinda like Cracker Barrel but cheap and good. I remember getting fried okra and seafood gumbo there when I was a poor Airman living in the dorm. They served iced tea in mason jars and it had a country vibe.

Went out to a Korean bbq place with my daughter. She wanted to support them because a Hot Pot moved in right by them and she's hearing all the young people are flocking there. Food at Arirang 100 times better than Cracker Barrel. Have leftovers for breakfast in the morning. ( :

Kathsgrdn There were a few Po Folks restaurants in California. We used to eat at the one in Buena Park. Yes they were good.

When I was a kid, the local Kentucky Fried Chicken sold chicken livers. They were amazing! I've often thought I'd like to go to KFC with a container of livers and see if I could tip the cook to make me some, original style.

Jupidupi , Yes I like KFC Livers. These may not be the same, but they are good.

Fried Buttermilk Chicken Livers from "Southern Fried" byJames Villas

1 pound of chicken libers trimmed of fat

1 cup buttermilk

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of nutmeg (I did not use, do not like nutmeg, except in cookies)

Salt and pepper to taste

Peanut oil for frying (I do not use peanut oil, just Crisco vegetable oil)

In bowl, combine livers and buttermilk and let soak for about 5 minutes. In small dish, combine flour, soda, salt and pepper,

In cast iron skillet, heat 1 1/2 inches oil to 350*. Drain livers, dredge in flour, drop in oil. Fry about 3 minutes turning once. Drain on paper towel.

Since I am the only one who likes chicken livers, I buy unfrozen and freeze separate. I usually cook only two at a time. Just adjust the seasoning for available livers.

Sherry, my grandmother always soaked the chicken in buttermilk before frying - her fried chicken was way better than KFC!

My mom used to cut up and fry a whole chicken. I really liked the gizzard when I was a kid.

Kaths, I still like the gizzards, seldom have them since I haven't been frying chickens. I won't touch the heart or the livers, but enjoy the gizzards. Tavern fare. Right before Covid shut things down, we met friends from high school at a beach tavern and ordered a platter of breaded fried gizzards. We ate them all 😁

I dislike the liver about equal to how much I like the gizzard. I used to be fooled somewhat often at parties - someone would be passing around an appetizer tray and there would be something yummy looking wrapped in bacon and I'd take one, it would be a chicken liver every time and all I could do was chew twice, swallow quickly. Older and wiser now.

Even when my DD was a toddler, she loved my chicken livers made with soy sauce and ginger (and still does to this day). I will eat the hearts and gizzard too, but not especially fond of gizzards.

I used to come home from school and grab the gizzard while my mom was frying chicken also. love the gizzard, but not dark meat. Gizzard and breast for me.

We used to stop at CBs when traveling when I was a kid but I don't think I've been to one in nearly 50 years.

baked, poached, sauteed, fried, dark, white, or organ meat. Any and all chicken all kinds of ways. The only thing I won't eat is the bone/ligaments/tendons. Same with eggs, boiled, fried, scrambled, from sunny side up to well done. I will turn into a chicken some day.

My mom, on very rare occasions, would make fried chicken livers with a brown gravy and mushrooms served alongside scrambled eggs. She was known far and wide as a great cook, but I don't think I've ever seen that type of thing anywhere else in all my travels and past/current homes? But it's good. Dang good.

NYT egg and chicken liver recipe, so not unheard of!

Wildchild's Yellow House sounds like a home-style restaurant in upper NY State where we'd stop while driving from Chicago to Providence: The Krebs. I don't remember a scale to weigh children, but it had fixed prices for adults and children. We'd stop at lunchtime, but it was actually a *farmer's dinner*. Wonderful Pennsylvania Dutch style food.

OK, I looked it up. It's still called The Krebs, but is now upscale dining. The historic society site has photos from the 1940's, when we would have visited. If I could spell Skineatalas I'd tell you the name of the town. <wink>

I'm going to get flamed for this, I'm sure. But .... putting on my flameproof suit, I am going to say that I've only been to a Cracker Barrel twice. Each time, the only people I saw dining there were ... overweight, by a lot. And they practically licked their plates clean. Cracker Barrel's food, while may be "comfort food" to some, is heavy, overly portioned, and, IMO, not good.

Sorry to point out my negatives about the apparent lack of self-care by the patrons I saw there both times (two different states) but it was my experience and completely turned me off. I'm not intending to insult larger people. Just pointing out the patronage of Cracker Barrel that I saw.

We have a CB in town and it is right off the interstate exit. I think that's where most of their traffic comes from. We tried it a few years ago for breakfast. First time we ever had grits and didn't enjoy them at all. The whole meal was blah though. We rarely go out for breakfast because its pretty gross to try and eat when people have their morning grossness. Excessive coughing and hacking and mainly, the nose clearing. Sucking their mucus back in through the nose, gag!

My husband makes breakfast at our house and serves a variety of food, all delicious! We rarely go out to eat and have not sat in a restaurant since the initial lockdown back in March 2020. We get take away a few times a month, but try and use local restaurants.

There was a "Big Yellow House" restaurant on Hwy 101 just outside Santa Barbara - is that the one you were talking about, wildchild? I stopped there once with my young DD once, on the trip from picking her up from her dad's. I don't remember paying according to her weight, but I do remember that we enjoyed the stop.

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio Probably, They had quite a few scattered about the state. I didn't know it at the time.