(8.5)

Bobo’s Chicken

Bobo’s Chicken
Usually on 23rd Street between Lottie and MLK ???
Usually open from 7PM – 4AM on Friday and Saturdays

Bobo’s Chicken may be the most infamous eatery in OKC but although everyone seems to have heard of it, very few have actually had it.

For the uninitiated, Bobo’s is a concession trailer that can usually be found parked off 23rd street (see map above) and only opens late at night on Fridays and Saturdays. It is usually easy to spot as they put HUGE flood lights. There are underground rumors that others have seen it during lunch hours and at other locations but I for one have only seen it in this one place as early as 7 PM and as late as 4 AM. If anyone has a sighting please post it here!!

So why have so few people actually eaten from this place? Well, how do I put this delicately… Bobo’s is located in one of the highest crime areas in the city and attracts a sometimes mean looking crowd – depending on when you show up. After 2 AM this place can look like the set of a Tupoc Shakur video shoot. I have actually seen two midget Latino gangsta rappers get out of a low rider with hydraulics (I swear you can’t make this stuff up!!) Although I have never had any problems, I have felt threatened on occasion and have heard stories about shootings and the like. Personally, the air of adventure of going here is kind of fun (until I get jacked).

So why would you travel to one of the worst parts of the city in the middle of the night and brave being mugged, shot, etc.?? Great fried chicken of course!!!
They do a few things here I had never encountered before – first they smoke the chicken before breading and frying it. When you get this stiff in the car it actually smells like barbeque. Next, with every order they include some fried bread (ummm..), French fries with a spicy seasoning sprinkled on and if you want -they pour honey over the top it all. Now the thought of covering fried chicken and French fries with honey seemed wrong to me but as it turns out it is pure genius when it comes to this stuff. They also have catfish baskets (excellent) and shrimp (never tried it) – sans honey here I think.

Prices are good as well you can get a 7 piece wings-n-things chicken basket for 10 bucks and it will easily feed two.
Please post your Bobo’s stories and pics here as everyone I know that has eaten here usually have a good one. In the mean time do as they say and “Follow your nose to Bobo’s”.  Just be sure to watch your ass while you are doing it.

(8.5)

Anne’s Chicken Fry

What could be better than settling in for some home cooked, fried food after a weekend spent at upscale sidewalk cafés in Dallas?  I was asked to choose a restaurant of my choice to dine at for my birthday.     Having heard wonderful things about Anne’s Chicken Fry I decided to give this place a shot.  I also thought it would be a good place to spoil myself, since I’m always going to eat healthier tomorrow and this was the perfect excuse to binge on some good southern cooking.  I do have one suggestion for the owner; and that is maybe “All Things Fried” might be more descriptive name for the eatery. 

The staff at Anne’s, from what I can see, are all overweight women that are quite efficient with no emphasis on customer service.  They most likely live in a trailer or possibly a van down by the river.  In most cases one would view this as negative aspect of a dining experience.  In this case, the crude pushy service only made the experience better. 

During this visit I ate Jalapeño Poppers as an appetizer; Chicken Fried Steak with Navy Beans and Green Beans as sides; a side of Chicken Fried French Fries.  Also ordered was a bowl of Navy Beans and Fried Shrimp.  Overall I thought the food was well prepared and lacking Seasoning, namely salt.  That was easily fixed with the shaker at the table.  One possible Scenario that I have for the lack of salt is that the median age there was probably 76 so the restaurant probably responds to the needs of its customers.  Of course if you have blood pressure issues I have no clue why one would go to a chicken fry house…I digress.

The Chicken Fried French Fries were nothing short of brilliant.  I was hesitant about ordering these because I knew I was now being glutinous.  The waiter frankly informed me that they “keep well”.  After I was muscled into ordering them I was amazed at how good they were, with a little salt.  The main attraction, Chicken Fried Steak, was very tasty and as I have been told, you CAN cut the steak with a fork.  The green beans were flavorful but the Navy beans, also referred to as Senate bean soup was lacking flavor, Louisiana hot sauce would have done the trick.  As if we have not had enough grease, we ordered the Fried Peaches.  The waitress mentioned that it was accompanied with a special sauce.  I inquired about the flavor of the sauce; the waitress replied “If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.”  I for some reason believed she had no problem following through with her threat.  Nevertheless, the peaches were awesome.

The Décor is corny Route 66 Memorabilia the walls are adorned with pictures of Elvis, which is not too cool in my book along with some pretty cool antique type thingies.  I encourage everyone who is a little low on grease to stop by Anne’s for a fill up.  It’s pretty freaking wonderful.