Ezell's Chicken
Encyclopedia
Ezell's Famous Chicken is a Seattle fast food
restaurant. The first restaurant was opened on February 3, 1984 in Seattle, Washington's Central District
neighborhood, which is still open today. The restaurant chain has 6 other locations in Skyway, North Seattle, Renton
, Lynnwood
, Woodinville
, and Lake City. In 2006, Ezell's opened a location on the Microsoft
campus in Redmond
.
Ezell's was made famous when talk show host Oprah Winfrey
called it her favorite fried chicken. There are a number of photos of her on the wall of the original restaurant proclaiming her love of the chicken. It is also said she has the chicken flown to her in Chicago when she has a craving.
However, it is now widely documented that Ezell Stephens had been fired from EFC, with the company pressing charges against Ezell for unauthorized store openings, and sharing the trademark secret recipe (as of 9/2010). Currently, the only three "actual" Ezells are in Lake City, Seattle, WA; Woodinville, WA; and Everett, WA. These three locations are the only stores that Ezell still owns. As of November 2011, Stephens has changed the name of his three Ezell's locations to Heaven Sent Chicken.
, Ezell's offers many other favorites such as spicy breaded chicken, baked beans
, sweet rolls, potato salad
, mashed potato
es, coleslaw
and sweet potato pie
.
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant. The first restaurant was opened on February 3, 1984 in Seattle, Washington's Central District
Central District, Seattle, Washington
The Central District is a mostly residential district in Seattle located east of Cherry Hill, west of Madrona and Leschi, south of Capitol Hill, and north of Rainier Valley...
neighborhood, which is still open today. The restaurant chain has 6 other locations in Skyway, North Seattle, Renton
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
, Lynnwood
Lynnwood, Washington
Lynnwood is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. The population was 35,836 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest in Snohomish County and twenty-ninth largest in Washington State. The city is a mix of urban, suburban, small city, crossroads and bedroom community to many...
, Woodinville
Woodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
, and Lake City. In 2006, Ezell's opened a location on the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
campus in Redmond
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
.
Ezell's was made famous when talk show host Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
called it her favorite fried chicken. There are a number of photos of her on the wall of the original restaurant proclaiming her love of the chicken. It is also said she has the chicken flown to her in Chicago when she has a craving.
History
The restaurant started over 20 years ago by Ezell Stephens and Lewis Rudd. In 1978 they talked about opening a restaurant, when Ezell got out of the Coast Guard and Lewis out of the army. After 6 years of night school, they finally got the funding to open in 1984.However, it is now widely documented that Ezell Stephens had been fired from EFC, with the company pressing charges against Ezell for unauthorized store openings, and sharing the trademark secret recipe (as of 9/2010). Currently, the only three "actual" Ezells are in Lake City, Seattle, WA; Woodinville, WA; and Everett, WA. These three locations are the only stores that Ezell still owns. As of November 2011, Stephens has changed the name of his three Ezell's locations to Heaven Sent Chicken.
Menu
Besides serving its classic southern fried chickenFried chicken
Fried chicken is a dish consisting of chicken pieces usually from broiler chickens which have been floured or battered and then pan fried, deep fried, or pressure fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior...
, Ezell's offers many other favorites such as spicy breaded chicken, baked beans
Baked beans
Baked beans is a dish containing beans, sometimes baked but, despite the name, usually stewed, in a sauce. Most commercial canned baked beans are made from haricot beans, also known as navy beans – a variety of Phaseolus vulgaris – in a sauce. In Ireland and the United Kingdom, a tomato...
, sweet rolls, potato salad
Potato salad
Potato salad is a dish made from boiled potatoes, the versions of which vary throughout different regions and countries of the world. Although called a salad, it is generally considered a side dish, as it generally accompanies the main course....
, mashed potato
Mashed potato
Mashed potato is made by mashing freshly boiled potatoes with a ricer, fork, potato masher, food mill, or whipping them with a hand beater. Dehydrated and frozen mashed potatoes are available in many places...
es, coleslaw
Coleslaw
Coleslaw, sometimes simply called slaw in some American dialects, is a salad consisting primarily of shredded raw cabbage. It may also include shredded carrots and other ingredients such as fruits and vegetables, apples, onions, green onions, peppers and various spices.-History:The term "coleslaw"...
and sweet potato pie
Sweet potato pie
Sweet potato pie is a traditional side dish in the Southern United States. It is often served during the American holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving, and is similar in many ways to pumpkin pie...
.