the 2008 ypsilanti fried chicken showdown: installment 2

Here, as promised, is the second review by our friends Ol’ E Cross and Brackache. This installment finds them on Michigan Avenue, at Kluck’s.

Kluck’s Drive In
401 East Michigan Ave.

BA: Good and spicy, and I’m a fan of spicy. Not very crispy though.

OEC: Yup. Very good flavor, thick soft breading, reminiscent of that famous chicken chain just down the street.

BA: The coleslaw was nice but on the bland side.

OEC: If you think of the most standard slaw, this is pretty near it. I don’t mind a standard slaw. For me, coleslaw is pretty much just a sorbet to cleanse the pallet between bites of chicken.

BA: Crinkle cut fries were soft but not floppy, also on the bland side. I guess they have a limited spice allowance that goes entirely to the chicken, which is cool, that’s just how they roll.

OEC: They definitely invest their spice allowance in the right place.

BA: Speaking of rolls, “meh” again. Please, somebody spend the extra 25 cents and buy some biscuits.

OEC: Although white bread rolls are perfectly suited for sponging up surplus grease. I don’t mind a roll. It’s worth noting that the chicken dinner is pretty much one-size-fits-all. And, like Chick Inn, a lot more on the menu besides chicken, including good dogs and root beer.

Notes: Specializes in car service, but they do have inside dining. Cash only. (BA doesn’t have any cash, OEC will get this one.)

So, are you convinced yet that Ypsilanti should be the Per Capita Fried Chicken Capital of the Upper Midwest? If not, just wait till tomorrow, when we’ll find the grease-coated duo at Family’s Fried Chicken!

This entry was posted in Food. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.

16 Comments

  1. Posted August 12, 2008 at 9:06 pm | Permalink

    I don’t have any cash either.

  2. Sonic Reducer
    Posted August 12, 2008 at 9:40 pm | Permalink

    With cheaper gas for cash and no chicken without it, it’s a wonder anyone still uses plastic. Or banks.

    3.75 is your fingerlicks average? Kinda begs the question why you didn’t do a 1-10 scale.

  3. Brackache
    Posted August 12, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    7.5 on a 1-10? Might as well do 15 on a 1-20 for the hardcore decimalphobes.

    Shit, now I’m doubting my basic math skills.

    Looks right.

    …?

  4. KP
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 12:22 am | Permalink

    I’m just so excited to see the chicken reviews up and running.

  5. Ol' E Cross
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 12:49 am | Permalink

    SR, We wanted to me more Olympic in our assessment as decimals give the illusion of precision.

  6. Brackache
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 8:24 am | Permalink

    .1 deduction for employees grimmacing disgustedly at being handed floppy cash soaked in ass sweat, for instance. Bad poise.

  7. Robert
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 10:23 am | Permalink

    Pardon my ignorance. Do drive-ins like Chick Inn and Kluck’s always have servers on duty outside who’ll take your order and bring the food right to your car?

  8. Brackache
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 11:58 am | Permalink

    I’m fairly certain, Robert. We ordered inside at Klucks so I’m not 100% (but I assume so), but they definitely do at Chick Inn.

  9. Steph
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    I remember being scolded for trying to walk inside Chick Inn a few years ago. I haven’t tried recently, so it may have changed, but it was all car service. Even if you were on foot, you had to order though a speaker and have someone bring it to you.

  10. Paw
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 12:15 pm | Permalink

    Does anyone else see the image of Tom Monaghan’s face in the big piece of chicken at the bottom? It’s clear as day to me. Like a photograph.

  11. Paw
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 12:16 pm | Permalink

    It’s like someone breaded and fried his head.

  12. Robert
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 1:36 pm | Permalink

    It’s a miracle, Paw. I hope Brackache didn’t eat it. It could be worth millions on display at the Ava Maria complex in Florida.

  13. Brackache
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 5:15 pm | Permalink

    I just ate the Jesus ones.

  14. Epic Curious
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 7:15 pm | Permalink

    At long last, Mark is publishing something of actual, practical benefit to the community.

    Bout time.

    If these posts don’t make eager, affluent young buyers flock to Ypsilanti, nothing will.

  15. The Exterminator
    Posted August 13, 2008 at 9:55 pm | Permalink

    If those Land-o-Lake packets are as big as a Klondike Bar, that might actually BE Tom Monaghan’s fried breaded face. Without some less ambiguous scale measurement, we’ll never know.

  16. Posted August 13, 2008 at 11:56 pm | Permalink

    For the finest in Ypsi chicken Paraphernalia:

    “Don’t be a cluck, save Ypsi chickens” http://www.cafepress.com/YpsiGirl ; –

    “Ypsi chicks are the best!” http://www.cafepress.com/Ypsi_Girl2

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Connect

BUY LOCAL... or shop at Amazon through this link Banner Initiative John Maggie