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Savory Fried Chicken
Category: Restaurants Filipino Filipino [Edit]
9174 Franklin BlvdSte C
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 395-3905
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 7 pm
Sat 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
96 reviews for Savory Fried Chicken
Review Highlights
"The lumpia were some hot yummy little treats."
(in 28 reviews)
"The gravy is yummy and goes great with the chicken and the..."
(in 36 reviews)
"Savory Fried Chicken is hidden behind Walgreen's."
(in 2 reviews)
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96 reviews in English
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Review from Cindy S.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
So that's why this place is called "Savory Fried Chicken!" I've been to this place twice and both times you would think I inhaled my food since I felt my taste buds begging for more after I was done. I love that this place is simple, quick, inexpensive and the fried chicken is fantastic.
I ordered the half fried chicken, pork lumpia and rice combo. The fried chicken was the perfect size, skin was tasty and crispy (not greasy at all), inside juicy and overall... well, savory! A brown gravy is served with the chicken. I don't know whats in the gravy but its so good my boyfriend practically drank his and half of mine. I like the gravy on my rice with a little vinegar on the fried chicken. YUM!!! The lumpia was pretty good- have it with or without the sweet and sour sauce. Rice was fresh, I'll have to try the fried rice and the grilled chicken next time I'm in town.Listed in: Fried Cockle-doodle-doo!!!
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Review from Tu H.
Elk Grove, CA
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Savory Chicken sells CHICKEN. Grilled or Fried. This is what makes this place the place. People are calling it a Filipino place because of the other dishes it sells, I just call a good chicken place...simple but effective.
Food: I come here for the chicken and the chicken only, because honestly the other dishes are not that good. Foreals. It's not. I'm not hating, so calm down there haters. I give this place a good rating for its awesome fried and grilled chicken. You can't go wrong, both are amazing and the price makes it tastes even better. $10 for a whole chicken. DAMN.
Service: Almost non-existent. So not bad and not good, order and the get heck out.
Final Verdict: This place is more like a 3 star, but it deserves an extra star because my mom actually likes it. A little back story here, my mom doesn't like 90% of restaurant food, she thinks all can be cooked at home...and she can cook most of them too. No lie. -
Review from Sunny L.
9/13/2011
SFC is the place to be for your chicken cravings. Laced with a simple selection of food, its main focus is obviously the fried chicken. To compliment the tasteful bliss of chicken are linguisa, tomato rice, rice, and all sorts of different items. The chicken is fried to a crispy skin and a savory inside to make your mouth angst for more. Bite after bite, the chicken didn't disappoint on flavor. This a great place for fried chicken. I would definitely recommend this place for the chicken!
Pros: Chicken Chicken and Chicken
Cons: Location, Some sides weren't that great.
Stars: 4.25 -
Review from Lincoln D.
Antelope, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fail.!! we get there in 2hrs. before they close and went we got there and got told they about to close.. Tsk..TSk.!! Smh.!!
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Review from samantha l.
Sacramento, CA
My mom and I have been wanting to try out Savory Fried Chicken for some time now, but it seemed like whenever we would think of it, it'd be closed. So be aware, they are closed Saturdays for dinner, and all-day Sunday. Finally, we were able to make it out to Elk Grove on a weekday.
My mom, sister, boyfriend and I ordered:
Fried chicken: The skin is nice and crispy. The chickens are kind of smaller than what I expected, but it was still enough and pretty tasty. The chicken is also served with a side of brown gravy, an interesting twist. (They also have grilled chicken, but the man behind the counter recommended that we stick with the fried chicken).
Lumpia: Pretty average; very greasy, but I still enjoyed it.
Adobo Chicken: The chicken was very moist/tender and the sauce was good, especially over white rice. This may have been my favorite dish.
Won Ton soup: The won tons were surprisingly good.
Fried Rice: Not very flavorful, but it works.
Steamed rice: Average.
Overall, it's nothing fancy, but it's pretty tasty overall. The four of us were fed for about $20 too. The restaurant is very casual, it seems like they must do a lot of take-out orders.
Notes:
-Everything is served in/on styrofoam or paper dish ware and the utensils are plastic.
-They are located in a strip mall with plenty of parking. -
Review from Melissa W.
Elk Grove, CA
6/27/2011
I went to this restaurant because of all of the great Yelp reviews. This place is hidden behind the Walgreen's and is very hard to see from the street.
I thought the owner was VERY nice and we got our food super fast. The fried chicken was flavorful and the lumpia was crispy and piping hot! I was not a fan of the gravy... but they can give it to you on the side. Also- the rice was very plain and didnt have a ton of flavor. Overall experience was average. -
Review from Phuoc L.
Elk Grove, CA
1/18/2011
I literally live across the street! But I never knew about this place until one random day my friend told me to try it. This place is hidden behind Rite Aid off of Franklin Blvd, and if you didn't have a Yelp app to find it, you would never know about it.
My friend raved about the chicken and the java rice and said it was amazing. So that's exactly what I had. The chicken was pretty tasty I admit, but the rice was similar to Spanish rice but wasn't as impressive as my friend made it out to be. The place is very small and plain, not much to see. Definitely a hole in the wall but not too bad.
I haven't been back here for almost 6 months now and I've actually forgotten about it until now. Maybe if I'm hungry and don't feel like anything else around, I might come back for the chicken.
Although I wasn't quite as impressed as others, many that I know do really enjoy it. Because of that, I would highly recommend this place, at least once! I soundly support hole-in-the-wall places and you won't be disappointed to say the least. -
Review from Jamie M.
Napa, CA
9/20/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Moving from San Jose, I tend to miss some of the places I've been to. So when I saw this place at the same plaza where my tailor is, I immediately did a double take. Could it have been the same one as back home? Walking in the restaurant, indeed it was, and cleaner too! One thing that I did notice that was different was that instead of garlic rice, they have java rice (similar to Spanish rice) as an option. The java rice wasn't that bad though.
My main concern was whether or not the chicken tasted like back home. After devouring my meal, I can say it tastes just like home. Each bite of the juicy chicken along with the crispy skin dipped in their magical gravy was pure bliss. Thanks Savory for having a piece of home in Elk Grove. -
Review from Xue S.
Sacramento, CA
6/28/2011
Great place for a good deal. I used to work near it and never knew about it until one day my old co-worker was talking about lumpia. So I went online and Savory Fried Chicken came up, practically around the corner.
I was pregnant at the time but I called in to order, thank goodness to thier online menu someone posted. Went in, picked up my order, took it back to eat at work....everyone was in aww. =). Chicken was crispy, YUMMY! Lumpia was good, not the best but good..
Defintely would go back when I'm in the area again. -
Review from Stacie J.
Folsom, CA
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
The place is a little small papa and mama shop. The food was reasonably priced and the fried chicken is to crispy on the outside and moist and flavorful on the inside. I ordered the mini lumpia and steam rice with the order. The lumpia was ok. Overall, I would definitely come back here for lunch.
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Review from Grace B.
11/4/2010
My review will be based off the chicken dish I ordered. I cant review the other foods.
FOOD - Crispy Chicken
It was good. Not like I would say WOW it was great. I dont feel that way.
It's like normal fried chicken. It's served with rice. It tasted okay.
SERVICE
The workers here are not very friendly. They are always behind the counter and they "just work". Im not going to say, WOW they are so friendly, I wanna come back.
It's just over all Eh.....its okay. -
Review from ari g.
Sacramento, CA
Overall I say 3 stars. For the fried chicken, 3 1/2 stars. Add a fried egg with the longanisa meals, its a filipino staple.
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Review from Angel S.
Long Island, NY
8/23/2010 4 photos
I've had extensive "philosophical" discussions with foodies regarding the difference between "crispy" and "crunchy," whether there is a difference and, if so, which style is better for fried chicken. This week, I found my answer.
"Savory Fried Chicken," a little fried chicken shop in Elk Grove, truly lives up to its name, serving deep fried chicken without an ounce of starch or batter. This kind of deep frying is known to many as Filipino-style fried chicken, which is markedly different than the traditional American-southern style fried chicken. Very few places that claim to specialize in Filipino-style chicken actually succeed, even esteemed restaurants in Daly City, the hub of Filipino cuisine (Yes, I'm looking at you, Max's). For the most part, deep frying chicken without starch or batter either loses that "crunch," or robs the chicken of its flavor.
Not here. For some reason, Savory succeeds where others fall short. Yes, the chicken is not as "crunchy," as chicken covered in starch, but insofar as it lacks crunch, it makes up for with "crisp," plus it retains its flavor and juice. "Cruchy," if not done right, tends to be dry. "Crispy," however, is juicy and succulent. Whatever formula this place is using to season its chicken is working. The seasoning is perfect and the flavor is infused even in the whitest parts of the chicken.
For $10 for a whole chicken, they offer good value. Alternatively, you can opt for a $7 combo, consisting of 1/2 chicken, a heaping serving of rice, and another side dish of your choice.
Unfortunately, the side dishes are far below average, with the exception of the won ton soup, which was just okay. Dessert options are just as bad, if not worse. I barely finished the halo-halo (a traditional Filipino dessert).
Overall, sometimes it's okay to be a one-hit wonder, as long as that one hit is a big one. Savory Fried Chicken is just that - great fried chicken, not much more. -
Review from Helen L.
New York, NY
1/18/2011
This place is located in a small hidden shopping center on franklin blvd and laguna blvd. I was really excited to try this place but as soon as I walked in, there were about 2 take out orders and no one sitting down. Food is cheap but not very appetizing.
Service here was mediocre, not very friendly but not mean either. eh.
Food: chicken was kind of dry, nothing special and really had no taste. Served with rice and gravy. I wanted the combo with wonton but they were out of it so I got pork lumpias, which were also not that great.
Overall, this place did not make an impression on me -
Review from Ricky N.
10/23/2010 1 photo
Oh man... I'm pretty sure everyone gets that feeling now and then. The feeling where your mouth waters and you just can't stop thinking about it.... you look at the time every chance you get to count down the minutes until you're off work or out of class..... to get your fix for FRIED CHICKEN!!!
Whether it's KFC, Church's Chicken, Raley's Deli... people have got to have their fix for fried chicken every now and then... so YES that's how it started for my sister and I. We had this uncontrollable craving for fried chicken and looked no further but to use Yelp to locate our dining destination.
Upon walking in, my expectations were very casual and YES it was very casual dining... with the old school tables and chairs and everything. I didn't mind too much cause I expected it. Pretty basic menu and of course, we had to go with the combo.
We both got the #3 which was Half Fried Chicken with Steamed rice and 4 pc Lumpia. If you're familiar with filipino food, then you know what Lumpias are and they also have serve Pancit noodles and etc.
He was a fairly nice gentleman and answered all our quesitons willingly. Two combos came out to $16.31 exactly cause I just pulled the crumpled receipt out of my pocket. A little pricey for lunch... but too late now!!!
The food came out 10 minutes later, as he had mentioned... it was steaming hot which was great. A large serving of heaping Rice and Half of a Crispy Fried Chicken as expected. I also tried to house sauce gravy everyone had been raving about and it was alright at first but really grew on me and I started to dip EVERYTHING in it lol.... even the lumpias and rice. The chicken was very tender and fresh.... flavor was alright, not very well seasoned and slightly greasy.
I do have to mention that when I was handed the trays of food... the tray was extremely dirty and greasy. Had grimy debri on it and it wouldn't even come off my hands with a napkin =/
All in all... it was an okay experience. Somewhat met my expectations and for $16 I could've had a better lunch elsewhere. Yes, it was fulfilling but maybe I'll come back someday... not anytime soon =/
Ratings
Ambience: C +
Cleanliness: C -
Service: B
Food: C +
Price: C
Overall: C + -
Review from J W.
Elk Grove, CA
2/12/2011
Nothing to write home about. Not bad, but not that good either.
For whatever reason, their fried chicken doesn't taste very savory. It's kind of bland and it seems they have to rely on the sauce/gravy that they give you on the side to make the chicken taste like anything. I ran out of gravy/sauce for my chicken. I think the whole/half chickens are better than any of their Adobo chicken dishes b/c I ended up not liking what I ordered and ate more off my husband's plate. Maybe I just needed to order their whole/half chicken b/c the Adobo chicken wasn't good. Prices were ok, but I don't think it's a great deal, just ok.
I live close by, about 2 miles or so away and have only been here once. The plates are kind of small and for a mom and pop place, you can tell they're really just trying to hang on because they're in a bad (invisible, hidden behind a Walgreens and no one would know to come here unless you knew it's there to begin with) location, and that's why the portions are not good. They give you all the food on these styrofoam plates which can barely hold up the weight of liquids and rice (which are heavy), I guess they can't even afford to get better styrofoam plates?
The service wasn't good, the female owner can show a bit more friendliness or at least pretend. The woman who owns this place looks grumpy like she's doing you a service by taking your order. The apathy really gushes out of her. There's a guy who works there in the back (he's a younger dude) and he seems nicer and at least smiles. The middle age woman really looks pissed off all the time, she can't even crack a fake smile.
Food = B-
Service = D
Not sure if I'll come back as I was disappointed since I've had amazing Filippino foods before (from potlucks when coworkers bring their home-cooked meals), but this place doesn't quite cut it. Not all that savory... =( -
Review from Alma M.
Elk Grove, CA
3/21/2011
I'll put 2.5 stars. The chicken is average. It does not stand out for me for me to say "wow". I would like to say that I come here when I want chicken from a filipino restaurant but since they close at 7pm during the weekday, close at 3 on Saturdays, and not open on Sundays it is hard to get in before they close. I do wish the weekday hours is extended atleast to 8 or 9 and 7 on Saturdays.
I've only been here twice and it's just ok. I might change my rating to 3 if I get a chance to try it again and when they extend their hours. -
Review from Logan S.
Sacramento, CA
7/2/2011
The fried chicken is comparable to (the now closed) Max's restaurant. Very moist. I come here maybe once a month, I don't live in the area, so I do drive out of the way to go there.
As for the service, I wish they would bring my food out to my table. Especially when the restaurant is empty... they DO have a tip line on their receipt and I forget that they don't bring out my food, so I leave a tip and regret it later.
Also, when dining in, they give you the cheapest plastic forks in history. It would be nice if they had normal metal forks that is capable of tearing through a piece of chicken. After giving up on the plastic fork, I usually just resort to using my fingers.. -
Review from Marian H.
Elk Grove, CA
9/3/2011
I love this place! Finally a decent Filipino restaurant in Elk Grove! The fried chicken was crispy and very tasty plus the yummy gravy they serve with it. The grilled chicken was very tasty too. Love the halo halo for dessert, way better than chow kings! The only problem I have with this restaurant is their flimsy plastic utensils. Next time I'll bring my own spoon and fork.
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Review from Leah B.
5/27/2010
Did I really just eat at a place named Savory Fried Chicken? Indeed, I did, and the chicken lived up to the name!
I read the reviews before I went, so I knew not to expect traditional style southern fried chicken. I must admit, though, that I was a little skeptical of how good fried chicken could be without first being dipped in batter and flour. But let me tell you, I was wrong! My chicken was extremely juicy and tender. The skin had a nice crispy texture and was delicious in a robust, yet, understated way.
To be honest, it wasn't even the chicken that made me obsess about trying this place. It was all about the side dishes. I've weaseled my way into the hearts of enough Filipino families to have had the pleasure of indulging in some top notch Filipino food frenzies. So you can only imagine my excitement when I read their menu online! The Pancit Bihon was good, but it was served cold and was lacking in flavor. The lumpia were some hot yummy little treats. I even ordered some to go for my hubby to try, but I ate them before he got home--what a fat ass!! The fried rice was muy delicioso, but there wasn't anything super special about it.
Overall, it was a tasty little lunch! I didn't expect to say this, but the chicken truly was the show stopper. Too bad it's all the way in Elk Grove! -
Review from Mama L.
UKUpdated - 9/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
4 stars based on the food alone.
Haven't been here in a while (not cuz the grub aint groovy). But pretty much the same as the last time.
Good grilled yummy chicken, decent portions with that yummy tasty like pancake syrup sauce, YUM! Huge chunk of rice, bad for the hips but good for the lips. :)
Diniguan good, vinigary. A lil vinigary than I'd like, but still tasty.
Pancit is a no-no, dry, def wont get again.
Customer service the same. Funny how the mom & son have the exact same expressions on their faces. Emotionless. lol. I get a kick out of seeing it, so I try n make small talk to see if she'll budge. Yeahm it dont work. Lemme know if you can make her smile.
I think Id come more often if they had a salad or veggies as an option or smiled more or both.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/19/2008
Add a half star please...
My gripes: um...can u serve veggies please?
My Greats: The first time I… Read more »
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Review from Soumary A.
Sacramento, CA
9/2/2010
I found out about this place from yelp. My bf and I were hungry and wanted to try out something different, BUT when we randomly pick restaurants, we always end up at nasty places so we yelped "restaurants in Elk Grove" and ended up here!
The Good: I LOVED the fried chicken! It is fried to a perfect crisp and the chicken meat was still very juicy. I also liked the side of gravy that they provided us to dip our chicken in. It was a perfect combination. The lumpia was also a tasty treat that satisfied my taste buds.
The Bad: The service lol. Right when we walked in, the man that worked there just looked at us and went behind the counter. Least he could say is "hello" or something more welcoming than just a stare. He didn't talk much to us and left the building once we got our food. The restaurant is also a little on the small side, but it's okay because there was nobody else there but us anyways.
All in all, the food is great. I don't care much for service anyways is the food is bomb haha =] -
Review from Marifel J.
Elk Grove, CA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
My all time favorite is the charbroiled/grilled chicken. The meat is very tender and flavorful. It also comes with this teriyaki sauce that is to die for. Pour it over your chicken and rice and your mouth will be watering.
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Review from Roger B.
Elk Grove, CA
6/26/2011
Food is good. Service is horrendous! What's wrong with the lady that owns this place? So unpleasant! I've been here 5-6 times and she is always b#tchy ...
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Review from JR L.
San Jose, CA
5/10/2010 1 photo
The fried chicken here is ridonkulously good; I'd even say it's a notch above Max's and Chow Kings.
I usually go with fried chicken and lumpia with the garlic fried rice. This is not your typical fried rice either... it's not greasy and it has a very aromatic yet not overpowering garlic taste. Try it once and you'll never think of fried rice the same, I guarantee it.
I recently tried the palabok and pork adobo, both were pretty good individually but failed to shine behind their signature chicken dishes. Definitely try the halo halo here. I've stopped by on occasion just to pick it up when I've had a sweet tooth craving. They top it with a big piece of flan which brings it from good to awesome status in a heartbeat.
The owners are super friendly, but then again what Filipino people aren't? They always say "goodbye, see you next time" as if they know I'll be back... yes I will be back.
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Edit. I showed up one time and their sign said closed about an hour before their typical closing time... I walked in anyways and the owner said they had run out of chicken! O_O
I was their on a halo-halo trip so it didn't matter to me, but I thought it was strange that they would run out of their signature protein. I still heart you Savory Fried Chicken, as long as you don't run out when I want some.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Kathy K.
Sacramento, CA
5/8/2011
Good, savory chicken indeed... I finally caught the dang place open on a week day since I was on vacation from my swing shift work schedule. (They're closed weekends!) I was super hungry and was satisfied by my $10 meal, consisting of their infamous fried chicken, Fijian rice I think it was called, and lumpia. Don't forget the "Atsara", or pickled mixed veggies- it will complete your meal. It's"soulful" worthy chicken. It is a good alternative to the old Molina's "turo-turo" that once stood here. If you're lazy and do not want to whip up dinner after work for the fam-dizzle, pass by and pick up excellent fried cluckers here.
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Review from Anthony W.
Sacramento, CA
Ah like it, Ah like it a lot...
This place is a cheapskate paradise! Talk about bang for the buck. For $7.50 you get half a chicken, rice, and a side. A full rotisserie chicken is like $7 right? and doesn't nearly taste as good! Lumpia is 4 for $2.50 and this fried plaintain & jackfruit called turon is only a buck for 2. The value here is outstanding.
I was able to order two combos in a way to try many things. We were able to try the following: grilled chicken, fried chicken, longanisa, pork lumpia, and fried rice. I added on a turon to try since the kids like fried banana in the past.
The chicken was very good overall. I preferred the grilled chicken over the fried actually. I think the reason is because the fried chicken is very similar to the crispy skin chicken you get at chinese restaurants, so the flavor was familiar. Each type of chicken comes with a different sauce. The grilled comes with a sweet BBQ sauce which was awesome. The fried comes with a thicker gravy type sauce which reminded me of american brown gravy but had some added flavors, possibly anise? The meat was moist and the breast meat was not too dry. The grilled chicken was marinated nicely and had lots of flavor. The crispy chicken skin was just that, crispy and tasty.
The lumpia came with a sweet and sour dipping sauce and were most excellente. The longanisa was sweet, moist, and superb. I could eat these sausages all day long. I would recommend the fried rice over the steamed rice. it was not "fried well" in the sense that it was still very moist and fluffy. It had peas and carrots in it and a light flavor which didn't compete with the rest of the meal. Let's say it is lightly fried. I didn't eat much of the Turon but one bite was sweet and crispy and the kids seemed to enjoy it.
Service was friendly and courteous. I went at an odd time (4pm, Tues) and the place was empty. They prepared my food fresh so it took 5-10 min to get it, but I'm definitely happy to wait for food cooked to order.
Once again I must emphasize the bang for the buck. We fed a family of 4 for under $20 and had a little bit of leftovers to boot. Get over there and bring your pocket change, you'll love the value!Listed in: ROTDs
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Review from David O.
Mmmmmm......Savory Fried Chicken! This place makes me want to invite over tons of relatives I barely know, sing karoake, and relive all of Manny Pacquiao's fights!!
The fried chicken is GOOD. The grilled chicken is EVEN BETTER. The BBQ sauce on it is....well....savory.
You'd think the dipping sauces aren't necessary, BUT they are too good not to use. Sweet and sour sauce are usually just OK. This one I wanted to put it on everything. The gravy that comes with the fried chicken compliments the chicken perfectly.
The fried rice was also surprisingly good. All the flavor of fried rice was there, yet the rice was still as fluffy as steamed rice.
All this and the place is a great value too. I'd say the best way to do it is order for a group and share some half chicken combos so you can try the different sides. I'm tempted do that even when I go just by myself!!Listed in: Self-indulgent ROTD List
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Review from Janice Ian P.
Elk Grove, CA
5/3/2011
My home kitchen. Lucky me this place is close to home. The chicken is their specialty but my boys and I go there for fried rice and longanissa. The way they cook fried rice is like fresh white rice not oily at all. The perfect way to cook longanissa is to grill it and slightly burnt. My boys and I can never get sick of this place.
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Review from Stacy B.
Elk Grove, CA
8/15/2009 ROTD 12/10/2009
Well, well, well. Savory Fried Chicken. How was I supposed to know this was a Filipino restaurant???
Yelp. That's how.
My first meal there was at 7:30 on Friday and my second meal (take-out) was noon on Saturday.
Can you tell I liked it?
The Grilled Chicken is AMAZING. Tastes so close to home cooking! I normally pass on chicken breasts, but I am shamefully admitting that on Friday I ate an ENTIRE half chicken, 3 pieces of Pork Lumpia (gave the 4th to the bf) and all of my Fried Rice.
On Saturday, I ordered the same fricking thing for lunch! Plus a side of Pancit Palabok! Now, being the Whitest Filipino Ever, I didn't know what Palabok meant, but I had some tasty rice noodles in a fishy sauce with chicharrones.
No, I didn't eat ALL of it. I fancy myself a lady for the most part...
Anyway, they serve a super awesome mystery sauce with their chicken. Previous reviewers are correct...totally unnecessary! But it is delicious!!! At least try it on a few bites.
Next I'm gonna try the Siomai, even though I haven't a clue how to pronounce that one. I'll try to wait longer than 17 hours between SFC meals this time... -
Review from jd d.
Sacramento, CA
11/23/2008
Three words.
O M G... ok Three Letters. Oh My Guummahffaaaahhhh!!! So, I over exaggerate. Whatever...
Totaaaaaaaaaaaal RIVALRY on MAX's Chicken and Chow King Chains and also, you can't compare this from Jollibee since the "BEE" only does Fried Chicken. But man... SAVORY....why the heck does it really remind me of the Mother Island?
1) Taste. The Filipino taste is there. You just know it. Its in the Grilled Version / Sweet Gravy. Its in the Fried Version / Tasty Gravy (YEAH let me get to that).
2) The people who work there. HAHA, ok, yeah, dead give away.
3) The MENU CHOICES. Yum.
Ok now the food.
I preferably would choose the Fried over the Grilled. Now, I haven't tried, but am hoping, that I can get the Fried Chicken TASTY GRAVY (I call it that LOL), instead of the Sweet Gravy that comes with the Grilled Chicken. Then, maybe, just MAYBE, I would swing more towards the Grilled side. The Brown Tasty Gravy is way better than the Dark Sweet Gravy IMO. The Dark Sweet Gravy is kind of on the Salty side, but it could probably be a more "healthier" than it's Brown Tasty Gravy Counter Part
But that Fried Chicken though... JESUSMARYJOSEPH (say that the Filipino way!) ! Normally I'd get the quarter chicken and when I bite into that and finish, there's literally TWO BONES LEFT: the thigh bone and the other small hip bone. I can seriously crunch down the lil-itty-bitty pieces . Its that FRIED, its THAT CRISPY, its THAT BUCKING FUTT DELICIOUS. Excuse the CAPS, but that's WHY I'd go here over those other chains. Shoot, I can probably do the same to the Half Chicken!
So, aside from the chicken...is the other yummy sides you can get: Lumpia, Longonisa, Shomai, Won Ton Soup, and others that I forgot. "Savory" combos these sides with either a Half or Quarter Chicken. Its better to get the combo though... the sides are mathematically expensive...
PRICES.... Combos are GREATLY PRICED. VERY VERY reasonable for what you get IMO versus some places. Ranges from the 6~9$ range. But the sides are normally 2~3$ in range... W T F is THAT?!?! That's like 1/3 the cost of your meal. Hence YOU MUST GET THE COMBO! I mean you can get the chicken on its own, but that's like getting a SIDE... Did you say El Pollo Loco? OH... see... NOW that's a DIFFERENT STORY. Savory HAS better prices, and BETTER QUANTITY.
Overall, I like the place. I've never seen it busy, yet, but be sure to expect it to be. Not a lot of seating but that's okay. Location, for most it might be burdensome since its like on Franklin and Laguna, but its with in the boundaries.
Oh, my buddy even asked "Is this the SAME Savory chain like the one in Philippines?" The answer was "NO, we're a different kind." HEHE.
I plan to eat here every now and then. Major Hunger Pangs because of that CRUNCHY CHICKEN!!!
You're one of my new favs... AND DON'T CLOSE!!! PLEASE!!! -
Review from Kaycie L.
Sacramento, CA
10/22/2009
*** Thanks Yelpers for your thoughts! ***
4 Stars for their chicken... simply fried chicken... without batter.
My girlfriends and I came here for dinner. One of them thought we were having soul food because of the name. Lols... I told her it was the actual name of the restaurant.
Anyhow, the food came out the way you seem them on Yelp. I ordered the half chicken with lumpias for $6.99. What a deal. It also comes with a side of rice and gravy. The chicken's skin was crispy and tasteful. The chicken's meat was tender, juicy, and yummy!!! It's almost like home fried chicken without the mess. I didn't try the gravy but I dipped the chicken meat with the chilli sweat and sour sauce. Not too much. The lumpia was ok, but I like the chicken a lot more.
The atmosphere is very casual, simple, and... simple. It looks like one of those places you order and pick up. The service was cool. The lady was nice.
The location is a little bit difficult to find. It's right behind Walgreens on the drive thru for the pick up for the pharmacy side.
I'll definitely come back here to order fried chicken for dinner...
P.S. ~ Don't you just love cheap eats???? =) -
Review from D. A.
Elk Grove, CA
10/9/2008 1 photo
Filipino food at chain restaurants... SUCKS. Too crappy, too dry, too little, too expensive for the amount of food you get, etc. To get the good stuff, your best bet would be an invitation to someone's Filipino mama's house for dinner or a party. But finally, there's hope...
Find Walgreens http://www.yelp.com/bi...
If headed south on Franklin Blvd, find the Walgreen's store as you're approaching Laguna Blvd. Savory Fried Chicken is hidden behind Walgreen's.
The Fried Chicken
I ordered the leg quarter with fried rice. Without any coating, the chicken + skin was crisp fried. Initially biting into it, I got a dry salty taste, but past that, the inside was tender and moist. Yum. The gravy is pretty much that stuff you'd find made and the Thanksgiving table, only a bit smoother. The gravy seemed to work with that initial salty/crispy bite. The fried rice didn't look like much, rice + peas + carrots, but like another reviewer mentioned, was surprisingly moist, as if it were steamed rice.
Insider(?) Info
I mentioned the name to a woman who visits her home land on a frequent basis. She was actually excited to hear that name, "Savory Fried Chicken." Her sister is a food critic in the Philippines - she reviews everything from the famous Chefs to the food carts in the street. Out of all of the chains in the Philippines, her sister mentioned that Savory Fried Chicken is one of the oldest (AND better chains) around. As she looked at the menu I took with me, she claimed that there were some items missing, that Savory Fried Chicken was well known for - one of them being (someone correct my spelling if needed) Pancit Canton. Regardless, she was definitely excited to find out that they exist in Elk Grove.
Comparisons
At Chow King, their chicken was dried up and stale at times. Max's was slightly better, yet NOT good enough. Once, I went to a Goldilock's, known for their great cakes, for a Chicken Adobo lunch. For over $5, all I got was a few drummettes that seemed to be overdone with soy sauce and uninspired. I swore never to eat at a Goldilock's again.
I hear that Savory's steamed chicken is even better than the fried chicken. I don't know why... everything is SO basic, I could probably learn cook the items myself - still... I'm actually craving the Fried Chicken w/Gravy right now. -
Review from Kevin I.
San Jose, CA
3/27/2010
If you eat out enough and travel around the Bay Area frequently, you may find certain restaurants that are absolute gems. Usually these places are those holes in the wall that you fall in love with and enjoy sharing the secret with friends, or even greedily keep it all to yourself. These take out places, dives, family run joints, etc, always renew my faith in people that culinary boundaries will be pushed and make me believe that I will never run out of amazing things to eat.
Savory Chicken is the best out of all of them.
My relationship with Savory goes back more than a decade (yikes I feel old) to the old Milpitas days on Landess. It was there that I first enjoyed my half fried with fried rice and the love affair began. Whether you prefer the fried (crispy skin, thick gravy) or the charbroiled (thin skin, juicier, tangy gravy) you simply can't go wrong. The multiple flavors hidden in each chicken, the blending of flavors with the excellent fried rice... you won't be going away hungry!
A word about the fried rice... if you're used to overly oily, browned and burned grain this will turn your world upside down. Lightly fried with vegetables and egg (along with a nice helping of garlic) it quickly becomes as addictive as the chicken. I recall the proprietor mentioning to me in the Milpitas days that people would often trek from Daly City just to have the fried rice (and still do so today!).
Try Savory next time you have a craving for some down home cooking... come hungry, leave satisfied and yet wanting more. -
Review from Dale N.
Stockton, CA
9/3/2009
"3 1/2 stars"
I pretty much agree with Chona S. I even happened to order that same item...a #3 - half a fried chicken, fried rice and lumpia.
The food was good but not outstanding. To me it seemed that they just dropped the chicken in the deep fryer...no batter, no seasoning. The chicken though, was tender, hot and juicy. The rice, too, seemed to lack seasoning...but that was remedied by adding a bit of soy sauce.
If you live near this place, it certainly is worth a visit, but not worth driving any distance for. The place was clean and comfortable, the girl at the counter was patient with me since it was my first visit. The food was served within 5 minutes and was hot. They have the normal sauces available, sweet and sour, spicy and soy. One grip is that the soda is in cans... I am not a fan of canned soda in a restaurant. Gets pretty expensive if you want a 'refill'! ;) I purchased a second soda.
I also had a side of the won ton soup with dinner...and that was very good.
I was still hungry after I finished my meal (imagine that!)...since I had not eaten all day. I ordered a side of 10 additional lumpia. Now, before you think I overate, let me say that the lumpia are about the side of my little finger. But they are good.
Worth a visit... I would go back if I was in the area or lived nearby.
The food is certainly worth the price...a great value! -
Review from Allie A.
7/6/2009
Yelp comes to the rescue once again! I was in Sacramento for the weekend, and remembered that this place had been recommended quite highly. I didn't really know what to expect (it's in a strip mall surrounded by empty stores), but lordy, how nice it is to walk into a Filipino restaurant that is 1) clean, with great 2) service, 3) prices and 4) food.
Usually you're lucky if you get one out those four at your typical Filipino restaurant (I can say that because I'm Filipina), but SFC hit a home run with me.
For $6.99, I got half a fried chicken, a huge serving of white rice, and four pieces of lumpia with a cup of the mystery brown gravy. The chicken was a good sized portion, unfettered with flour or too much spice. The super crispy skin was just slightly blistered, indicating a good deep quick fry. The meat itself was very juicy, moist and tender. Like others, I was a bit wary of the gravy, but it went well with the chicken.
It was worth going a little out of my way for this little Filipino treasure. I will be back, no doubt about that! -
Review from Mark G.
Elk Grove, CA
3/22/2008
I was initially expecting (because of the name) a fried chicken joint, but to my surprise, "Savory" is a terrific Filipino establishment, serving pancit, lumpia, and of course, fried chicken, among other things. The chicken is soooo good! It's moist and flavorful, with a light golden crispy skin. My favorite is the chicken and pancit combo...and for under $8, it's a great deal too.
Tucked away behind the Walgreen's at Franklin/Laguna, this spot is a bit hard to find at first. The owners sold the original location in Milpitas (which was hugely popular for many years), and it's a treat to have them here. The place is very clean and pleasant, and I'll be coming back again for my Filipino "fast food" fix! -
Review from Jeff P.
Elk Grove, CA
7/24/2008
The fried chicken here is outstanding. I tried it because the prior reviews of this place were so good.
I ordered take out for my wife and I. We both had the #3 combo. The chicken was so flavorful and the gravy is one of the best I've ever had. The fried rice was pretty good. The lumpia was good but nothing above average.
Upon entering I was greeted with great service with a smile. The staff was very nice. I had called in my order in was warm and ready to go when I arrived. The service overall was outstanding.
Overall I think Savory Fried Chicken is great, but there is room for improvement. Just don't change the recipe of that fried chicken and gravy, they are awesome. -
Review from Eddie B.
Elk Grove, CA
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time here and it will not be the last! Chicken was crispy outside and juicy inside, fried rice and lumpia were very good too! If you live nearby it is definitely a place you have to try!
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Review from Verdane G.
Elk Grove, CA
I'm glad that they decided to build Savory here in Elk Grove. My dad would always buy this for us in San Jose. The chicken and sauce is delicious! My son actually ate his chicken and not just the skin! It's just too bad that it's located in the cuts and hidden behind Walgreens.
