Dirty Bird To Go
Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Manhattan/West Village204 W 14th St
(between 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10011 (212) 620-4836
- Nearest Transit:
14th St-7th Aves (1, 2, 3, F, V, L)
14th Street (PATH)
14th St-8th Ave (A, C, E, L)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: None
37 Reviews for Dirty Bird To Go
One of Dirty Bird To Go's Favorite Reviews
I get the chicken fingers and a special side every time I go for lunch.
The fingers are big, plump, cooked perfectly, and the batter is a touch sweet and not heavy. They are perfect and make up for every gross chicken finger you've had at Appleby's, etc.
For those who don't like the sides, maybe ordering the specials is the way to go. I've had roasted broccoli and garlic kale, both of which weren't overcooked and very flavorful. After forcing down so many unappetizing, flaccid sides at good restaurants, I appreciate the veggies here even more. They give me more energy to fight the after lunch doldrums.
And Boylan's diet sodas are 100 times better than Coke or Pepsi.
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I love their fried corn bread croutons. I'm usually not a huge fast food fan, and when I think rotisserie chicken, I remember those awful dinners my dad used to pick up from Boston Market back in the day. I liked the chopped bits of veggies in my salad, the lemonade was a bit too sweet, and if I was feeling truly gluttonous that day, I would have gotten the bag of cookies b/c they looked damn good. For a tiny little place, however, I was surprised at how easy it was to rack up a bill.
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love love love this place.
here's the way I roll.
fried chicken (organic or free-range)
garlic kale
mac-n-cheese
arnold palmer (i think they call theirs dirty palmer)
very friendly counter crew.
its a few blocks down from whole foods, but i always take the extra steps because the food is that much better and less pricey than
whole paycheck.
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UPDATE.
Sean and I have become "regulars". We love the food - they promised us fresh corn in the summer - Sean was there last week and he told me it's arrived.
I don't usually re-review - but I saw Paula M's comments - and I have to disagree.
Sean's on 14th way west - he says he's never missing an item. He likes how they ask if you want the plastic cutlery. He checked with his neighbor - they put him onto this place - they said that they've never missed anything.
I can't speak for everyone - but I'm just telling you what I know.
So there.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/22/2008
Skipped down from FIT with my friend Sean. He said he had been to this place, and wanted to check… Read more »
I honestly don't understand how a single food-loving soul could be so unappreciative of such a healthy, delicious, unique spin on "fast food." People griping on the cost apparently don't understand the quality of food they are buying. Go to Poppeye's, McDonalds, wherever... and eat that hormone laden crap, pay your $1, and induce liver failure. I will keep eating at Dirty Bird every chance I get and thoroughly enjoy their free-range chicken knowing that I'm not eating beak. I LOVE YOU DIRTY BIRD!!!!!!!!
Oh, and hey, you, "Keeley S.", you need to grow a tastebud. That cornbread is the best I've ever had.
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I have had everything on the menu and have never once been disappointed. The fried chicken is to die for. Crispy and clean on the outside and moist and succulent on in the inside. I don't know what they season this stuff with, but Colonel Sanders must be rolling over in his grave. The sides are beyond compare. Try the mac n cheese, or the kale greens, or the smashed potatoes, or the... hell, just try them all. I honestly can't think of a better place to get fried chicken in all of New York City.
Hey guys, keep up the good work.
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THE BEST CHICKEN I'VE EVER HAD. Period. I'm in the city one week a month and have tried the fried and rotisserie 20 times each. They've always been perfect! Probably the best meal in NYC when it comes to true value. The innovative sides, "bad ass" cookies and Boylan's soda all add to the experience and charm of this W. 14th St. gem. I saw Mario Batali, the famous chef, in there a couple months ago chowing on some chix. If it's good enough for him...enough said. TRY THIS PLACE !!!!!!!!!
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This place is really terrific but jesus, you can NOT walk out of there without dropping a pretty penny. The chicken strips are delicious and the sauce is jaw-droppingly good. I even adore the pepper infused vinegar. I also like to fancy myself an arnold palmer expert and they have a killer one (the secret is peach iced tea). The place is small and unassuming, but it is always pretty packed despite the hefty fee. This is a place that will haunt my dreams, but would also haunt my wallet.
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I find it hard to believe that Dirty Bird has managed to stay open as long as it has with it's current management. The only reason we continue to order from dirty bird is because we love fried chicken- and like that they have organic. Otherwise I do not think we would ever call back- BEWARE: it is likely that something will be missing from your order if you ask for more than 4 items. GOOD LUCK!!
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I was also very confused about the amount of food they give you. $20 for one meal? I thought that spending $20 from a fast food type restaurant would be enough for two people, but I was sadly mistaken. We ordered the 4 pieces with 2 sides and when we opened the bag, we discovered about 2 ounces of sides and 7 bites of chicken. The macaroni and cheese was pretty good, but that cornbread is disgusting. The chicken is pretty good but it is definitely too expensive for what small pieces you get. One of the pieces was literally the size of a chicken nugget, yet cost about $5. I don't know what kind of midget chicken this came from.
Thank you for the $20 appetizer; I will go make some dinner now.
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I've been here a few times cuz it's just around the corner from my studio when I am craving for Chicken strips. The strips are much bigger than McDonald's nuggets and taste much less greasy or doughy. Of course, the price difference is BIG and so it's not really a cheap meal.
The Honey Mustard dipping sauce makes the strips taste even better! I also order the Roasted Chicken which is juicy but can be too greasy at times. The steamed broccoli and buttered cauliflower is pretty good but some times the buttered cauliflower seems a bit too greasy as well.
It's a decent place for a quick bite but pretty pricey for chicken!
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After hearing about this place from friends, I finally made it there over the weekend. The food is DELICIOUS. I don't know what the last reviewer was talking about. The chicken is full of flavor - you can definitely tell it is not the same processed chicken they use over at KFC or Popeyes. Yes, the pieces are smaller - a small price to pay to know I'm not pumping antibiotics and other genetically engineered crap into my body. Their sides are pretty good. I was skeptical about the mac and cheese - it's a bit on the pale side - they tell me it's because they use white cheddar - but it's pretty damn tasty and I just had to tell myself that perhaps cheese is supposed to be this color. I don't really have an opinion about cauliflower, but now I'm a convert - it's pretty yummy. Ok - I have to agree, cornbread is a little weird, but the mashed potatoes are to die for.
My friend ordered the chopped salad with chicken - he loved it. The hearts of palm are a nice touch.
I don't know what people are bitching about the price for. When was the last time you people walked into a macdonalds and got change if you ordered something ontop of their "value meals". No, this place isn't going to serve you chicken mctenders (or whatever that hormone filled crap is called) but the meat is tasty, the food is real, the place is clean, and the people behind the counter aren't rude or idiots.
If you want giant chicken Keeley S - go feed on some hormone chicken at KFC. Quit your whining and appreciate some real tasty organic food.
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I finally found a place where my roasted chicken isn't covered in salt and MSG! I stopped in for a quick dinner with a friend after reading all the positive Yelp reviews. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The simmered greens were fantastic - and instead of bathing them in butter they used a tasty garlic infused olive oil. The chicken was about as moist and succulent as chicken gets - right into the heart of the white meat. I wish I lived a bit closer because I could easily see making this place a weekly routine. P.S. The owner was on-site during my visit - super nice guy and genuinely interested in making the place a success.. P.S.S. Make sure you try a tall cold glass of their organic peach ice tea (un-sweetened) - it's the perfect compliment.
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Season all. Season salt. Pepper oh pepper. Hot sauce me. One packet, two packet, three packets would be too much sugar. Especially when it's not Splenda.
Dirty Bird To Go had me reaching for anything I could spice up my food with. The chicken needed some salt, maybe some pepper, more flour? I was tempted to douse it with hot sauce but the bottle just looked...dirty. Go figure. I threw some pepper on that thing and just decided to embrace the chicken flavor. I got a two piece meal with mac n cheese and an organic peach iced tea. On a green fiesta speckled plate divided into three sections like a tv dinner, I was served one big breast and a tiny pinky sized wing. Poor little chicken, I wish I had a drum. The skin was fried and dark in color. Buttermilk, huh? I guess. The chicken was light and just fried tasting. It actually tasted home made. The meal comes with 2 slices of cornbread. The cornbread was triangular and flat. It was not cornbread. It was more like polenta. Sweet flavored polenta with a nutty flavor. I actually liked it a lot and the more I ate it, the more I felt like I was eating cookies. I could probably eat a whole pan of that stuff. Slather it with butter, throw on a little honey. Yes let's call it a party. On to the mac n cheese. It was the white kind. I have no idea what kind of cheese they used but it was good. Kinda expensive for a scoop of mac n cheese ($3) but I figure I must try all the mac n cheese in NYC. The peach iced tea was bland. I had to put in two sugar packets.
I must say I was a little disappointed with Dirty Bird. Chomping on the chicken, I started thinking about all the chickens I've had in my life. With the $12 bucks I spent at Dirty Bird, I could have had a bucket from KFC or a box from Popeye's. I thought of my mom's little drummettes and how those are a no fail satisfying dinner. I remembered the buttermilk fried chicken from Chez Pannisse. They offered a three course prix frix meal for $20 at the cafe upstairs. Ahh fried chicken. I guess when I buy fried chicken, I want to feel sick afterwards. I want to eat up all the crispy bits of skin. I want the meat to be juicy and salted. At Dirty Bird, it wasn't the chicken that made me feel nauseous. It was the sides. Fried and fat, they were guilty pleasures.
The menu at Dirty Bird is really good. They even have mysterious cookies at the counter. Their chalkboard sign on the sidewalk is enticing. And their orange awning and chicken motif is too cute. But their food is damn expensive for what it is. Not worth it in my opinion.
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I have no idea where all the praises are coming from but this place ain't all that. Are you people on drugs?
I had the 2 piece with 1 side. Lets start with the sides. The unleavened shallot cornbread was greasy and bland. The Mac n Cheese was weird. It was kinda creamy but had no taste of cheese and was way mushy. The chicken - greasy. Not seasoned enough for my taste. The pieces were small too. It came with a small container of vinegar with a jalapeo - very southern, but lack on that southern flavor.
I had it delivered - the delivery speed was OK
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So I figure that if a Piece of Chicken in Hell's Kitchen is scrump, then clearly anything prefaced with the name Dirty should be even more so. I was wrong. The chicken isn't my favorite fried chicken in the city, though there aren't that many places to compare it to, worthwhile comparisons, that is.
On da flip, their Mac and cheese and coleslaw...Now we're talkin! The mac and cheese blows the top off of a Piece of Chicken, and their cole slaw has no rival now. They have both earned a much sought after spot on my lists, respectively.
Tip: Go early, or call ahead, as they tend to run out of things during lunch and again after 6pm.
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I'm addicted to this place and probably go here for lunch at least twice a week. The fried chicken is awesome, perhaps among the best in the city. The chicken fingers are also great. For $4.32 you get three nice-sized chunks of fried chicken bliss.....
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This is really good rotisserie chicken - better than any other non-Latin place I've had for takeout (Boston Market, Chirping Chicken, Whole Foods, etc.). Made me want to do the Dirty Bird dance that the Atlanta Falcons used to do (http://images.cnnsi.co...)
The fried chicken didn't wow me that much. It may be healthier than most but I prefer their rotisserie.
They do a good job with the potato side dishes - I like the roasted potatoes a little better than the smashed potatoes.
The mac and cheese uses what tastes like a white cheddar. Better than average.
I'm surprised this place hasn't opened up other locations in the city...
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Chicken: Insanely delicious and horrifyingly no good for you, as is anything worth doing. Believe the hype.
Sides: Not worthy of the chicken. More butter, more oil, more grease, please!
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Gotta hand it to the Yelpers. I found this while surfing around and, having a weakness for fried chicken, I had to go. Went for the fried chicken and the fried chicken only. Was not disappointed. Nice crispy skin with terrific flavor and some real moist and tender meat. This is how fried chicken should be done. The only complaint might be that while the meat is juicy and tender, its not quite flavorful. Maybe a more seasoned brine for the birds would help. But, it does serve as a terrific blank palate for the pepper vinegar they have at each table. Yum! (I have to assume the chicken is brined, theres no other way it could stay so moist unless they're sitting in the back squeezing juice in with a Ron Popeil Meat Injector (boy that sounds wrong).
Seems most Yelpers aren't thrilled with the sides. The cornbread (free with the meal) was alright. A bit too savory for my tastes (shallot cornbread). Only took a peek at the other sides being ordered. None looked especially tempting. I do have to say that the rotisserie looked damn good and I'll definitely be trying that next time. Unless, the call of fried birds takes hold of me first...
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Very delicious fried chicken! I only tasted the fried chicken so I can't attest to the quality of the sides or the rotisserie style. Definitely worth a bite. Friendly service and a very nice little shop. There's very little seating (hence the "to go") and take out may be the best option if you want to have a full feast.
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When this place opened up, they had the BEST Fried chicken I have EVER tried. It was simply unbelievable. But for some strange reason, after a few weeks, they changed the recipe (I believe there were problems with the head chef) and now the chicken is just Great.
Yap, no doubt about it, this is good chicken. It's crispy, salty and sweet at the same time, buttery, oily... everything you want in a woman.
Ahh.. I mean - Chicken!
Complaints??
Well, the sides are pretty ordinary. Nothing exciting about them, the cornbread is kinda crappy, and the chicken itself is small.
Work on it Dirty Bird, you're off to a good start, just change the sides and you should stay in business for years to come!
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I have a very bad habit: every time I eat fried chicken, I eat every last bite of crispy breaded skin, take 2 bites of the chicken, and I leave the leftover, half eaten pieces for someone else. It's my favorite way to eat fried chicken.
That is, until I found Dirty Bird. It is the single most delicious fried chicken I have ever tasted. And worthy of being consumed in its entirity.
Organic, brined, buttermilk dipped pieces are deep fried, creating the perfect crisp skin, while the chicken stays plump, juicy, and succulent.
It may not be the healthiest, but I feel better knowing that I am eating sustainable, organic chicken. And the chicken itself is SO delicious, that I'll even eat the entire piece, meat and all.
And as a side... who knew Roasted Broccoli could taste so delicious?
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Name one thing better than fried chicken.
Can't? Didn't think so.
This place does THE BEST fried chicken. Its not too greasy and always comes out quickly, all hot and perfectly crispy. I like it better than Pies n Thighs in Williamsburg (too greasy in my opinion) and i think its probably the best fried chicken i've had in the city. A 2-piece comes with 2 sides and i always get roasted potatoes and mac and cheese. Their mac and cheese is to DIE for and the roasted potatoes are good too. Everything comes with corn bread which is triangular and of a really weird consistency-- i hate it. Its not crumbly or bread-like at all. Its very thin and sort of.. compressed looking. They also do arnold palmers here which go perfectly with fried chicken in the summer time.
There is very limited seating (maybe only enough room for 6 people tops) and its all at counter space. In the summer if you can grab a seat by the windows that open up fully, its perfect. They also do other things like chicken fingers (i think) and rotisserie chicken, but i've only ever had the fried chicken. Why risk it? Its perfect.
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Fried chicken is crack in a box. A delivery staple - quick and cheap - but dangerous if you have a propensity for addiction.
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It doesn't have the most appetizing name but the Dirty Bird is damn good. A great option for take-out or delivery. Both the fried and rotisserie chicken were delicious. I love the sauces it comes with as well... the pepper vinegar for those who like a tangy flavor or the honey mustard for those who prefer something a bit sweeter. And what about all the sides?? It'd be so boring to just eat chicken on its own. Some really good sides to try... yes, the portions are small but perfect if you want to sample a bit of everything. I'd recommend the roasted potatoes, mac & cheese, and seasonal veggies (something a bit healthy to help get rid of the guilty conscience for eating fried chicken, mac & cheese, etc). I wouldn't bother w/ the dirty rice (blah) nor the super dry cornbread.
How great that being a New Yorker, we don't even have to bother with crap like KFC or Popeyes since those places will be put to shame by the Dirty Bird! Even the rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods (pretty good for takeout) and even some of the recently trendy Korean fried chicken will have a hard time matching up to the Dirty Bird.
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I've been here many times since it's on the way home after work. I've always ordered the quarter rotisserie chicken (breast and wing) and one side. For $9. And everytime, I think to myself, does it really taste that much better than the whole roasted chicken I can buy at Balducci's for $7?
Well, that long-running dispute was settled about two months ago when I watched one of the workers drop a potato on the floor that they were preparing (I'm assuming it was for the roasted potato side) . She picked it off the floor and kept on chopping. No rinsing. Not discarded. Mind you, I was waiting for my quarter roasted chicken and ROASTED POTATO side when I saw this.
So, what did I do? Nothing. I took my order and ate it all, including the last dark, overly crispy, mostly-skin, oil soaked potato wedge. It's that tasty, and dammit, I'm gonna get my $9's worth. But I haven't been back since.
Yeah, yeah, I might be overreacting. It was on the floor for less than 5 seconds after all, and I'm sure the roasting process takes care of any possible live cultures that imprinted themselves on the potato upon impact with the floor. But it bothers me. Much like the image of Kramer-as-rotisserie-chicken after he used butter as suntan lotion that sometimes pops in my head when I eat rotisserie chicken. It's just enough to make me not want to eat it.
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Deep fried orgasms.
Bring a date, get the 4 piece chicken and also order the roasted potatoes and mac&cheese. Then order a lemonade and a rootbeer and devour the whole thing as fast as you can. This is the best fried chicken in NYC.
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The name sounds a bit perverse, which is appropriate, because the food here is perversely freakin' delicious. Not only are the rotisserie and fried chicken dripping with juicy goodness and seasoned to perfection, they're also free range organic birds, so you know you're getting the good stuff. I disagree with the criticism of the sides - the mac and cheese was satisfyingly rich and creamy. But, I just don't get the corn bread. It looks and tastes like those dry, flavorless cakes Frodo and Sam subsisted on during their quest in Lord of the Rings. But everything else was so addictively tasty, that I've put this place on my speed dialer for delivery.
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Got the 2 piece - white meat - Really good fried chicken. Juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and big - prolly the biggest breast i've ever had. Not too greasy, either. Decent roasted potatoes and steamed broccoli (vegie side). They were out of mac'n'cheese when i went. sigh.
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Oh my lord, Organic barbecue. It was like I died and, somehow, ended up in heaven (not the gay club - the restful post life haven). A heaven with expensive, not at all worth it side dishes.
Its a reason to leave the Upper East Side, thats for sure.
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If I was just rating the chicken I'd give this place 4 stars but on my way out I grabbed a bag of their cookies (a ginger snap chocolate chip mix) and I'm still thinking of about them.
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I agree with Joseph E - fried organic chicken with a side of jalapeno vinegar is the way to go. Even better, put some honey on that chicken!
This place was started by some New Orleans natives, including a woman who won a James Beard award for best up-and-coming chef. But Popeye's it's not. They toned down the spices for wimpy non-Louisiana palates, and I noticed that the sides are termed "Southern inspired," which I take to mean "not really Southern."
The dirty rice wasn't very dirty, and truthfully, it tasted a lot like couscous. The mac and cheese was good, not amazing. The side portions are teeny ... like ... really small. The cornbread is not your standard cornbread, it's sweeter and much more dense, kind of like a flat cornbread cake. It's "Southern inspired," but it's pretty good.
Get the cookies. They're awesome.
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Great fried chicken and rotisserie. After the first time eating here I went back 3 times that week. The chicken is 5 stars, but the sides kind of suck and are expensive so don't get them (except the potatoes). But seriously, for a killer organic chicken with some jalapeno vinegar on the side you can't go wrong here.
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ok the chicken is good. very very good. and maybe organic chicken is just small, but i was pretty disappointed. for two of us, i got the 4 piece chicken, two sides, two lemonades, and a bag of cookies. the total came out to $27. when we got home and spread out the goods, it equaled one order at mama's. for over double the price. *&#^%&$#)%(
we decided that it would be awesome to do a taste test of mama's vs. dirty bird, so we ran down the street to find that mama's had been cleaned out. damn damn damn.
anyway, the potatoes were good. the mac and cheese sucked for me--was it the cheese they used? i dunno but i'm kinda a snob about mac n cheese. the chicken was good but small. the lemonade was good. and i thought the molasses choco chip cookies were awesome. i would have given this place 1-2 stars based on the prices and small portions, but the cookies bumped them up. if i'm ever in the area again, i'll only get chicken and cookies from here, then i'll go to mama's and get a bunch of sides.
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such a good option for take out or delivery in the neighborhood. their fried chicken is the best, and i highly recommend the mac n cheese and the brussell sprouts. i think it's a bit expensive, but i still go all the time. order a root beer and it's on...
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Fabulous. As a Southerner, their fried chicken is so close to what I get at home. I haven't tried the rotisserie because I've become so attached to the fried.
The other posters are completely right -- the sides are expensive and not worth the price. The dirty rice is basically regular rice with specs of spices in it. The mac and cheese is mild but the best side I've found there considering the option. I'm not a fan of the super flat cornbread, but that's just my personal taste.
So save some money -- get the incredible chicken and make sure they give you the peppered vinegar to pour over it.
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