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Willie Mae's Scotch House
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
252 reviews for Willie Mae's Scotch House
Review Highlights
"Bar none the Best Fried Chicken I have ever eaten."
(in 88 reviews)
"and the French Quarter, but well worth the trip."
(in 17 reviews)
"...a must-stop for me since it's a James Beard award winner."
(in 13 reviews)
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252 reviews in English
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Review from Preston B.
Baton Rouge, LA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fried chicken plate, lima beans & rice, sweet tea- Do yourself a favor.
Call in for to-go orders, or you can wait at the bar.
Perfect example of what wet-batter chicken is all about -
Review from Whitney J.
New Orleans, LA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I should put it out there that chicken isn't one of my favorite things in the world, but I do enjoy chicken "in the form of fried" on rare occasions... so my trip to the Scotch House falls under that category.
My opinion: it wasn't outstanding but it wasn't bad. In all honesty, I think I would have preferred a box of Cane's instead, but hey, that's just me.
My fried chicken loving friend that accompanied me said the chicken wasn't stellar like everyone claimed and that the wings (I didn't touch those) were much better than the breast. Bones freak me out so I stopped eating my fried animal when I saw the bluish structures poking out.
Should also mention that it looked like someone had a "menstrual mishap" in the girls bathroom. Whoops. -
Review from Chris D.
New Orleans, LA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ate at the famed Willie Mae's yesterday. We got there early, about 11:30, and were quickly seated in the back room. The floor tiles were unusually slippery, so watch your step! Derek, our waiter, was friendly and smiled a lot as he took our order. Pretty much the only thing to order is their famous fried chicken. The choice comes in with which side to get. Their house salad is humungous! I got the red beans and rice, which were soupier than I like usually, but was a very large portion served on an oval plate and had a unique flavor--I still can't pinpoint what spice or herb they use, but whatever it is, I haven't had it before.
The chicken has a unique, crispy crust to it. It seems to be more of a batter like you'd see on a conch fritter than the crispy breading you see on typical fried chicken. Nevertheless, it was dark brown, crispy, and good. The chicken was cooked perfectly and came out hot and juicy within a few minutes of us ordering it. Like I said, get there early, because when we left about 12:15, there was a line forming out the door already! -
Review from Justin L.
Metairie, LA
1/20/2012
Declared the best fried chicken in America (2005), today is 2011 and it is definitely Not the best in America.
It is good? Sure. Recommendable. Sure. But after perusing thru several reviews, I think the general consensus is that the place is alright to pretty awesome. For me, it's all right. The fried chicken retains a lot of grease. The chicken is solid, moist and tender, but the batter has what feels like pockets of oil hidden inside -- like buried treasure...minus the treasure.
The fries? Average. Red beans rice? Very average. Corn bread? Slightly above average.
Overall, I would recommend Willie Mae's just to give it shot. If you catch it on a good day, then consider yourself blessed because my first experience left me wanting a second chance to raise my 3 to a 4-star.
P.s. I went at 11:30am on a Friday for lunch. No line. Mildly packed. -
Review from R C.
Sylmar, CA
2/2/2012
My two sons and I were in New Orleans, and of course we had to try some fried chicken. This place was recommended by the locals. As it has been mentioned before, the restaurant is not in the best of areas, and you can still find evidence that Katrina did a number on this neighborhood.
The place looks like a regular house. You walk in an it is kind of dark and not very inviting, but then you catch a whiff of that wonderful chicken, and you are hooked. We each ordered the three piece with fries with a side of red beans and rice. The chicken was crispy on the outside, nice and tender on the inside and simply D E L i C I O U S. Yes, I agree Popeye's is good chicken, but it does not come close to Willie Mae's chicken. The only reason I am not giving them 5 stars is because it is pricey. Having said that, there is a long line of people waiting to get in. -
Review from Amanda W.
1/18/2012
They DO accept credit cards, or so says the menu, just FYI.
Anyway, yeah this place is touristy. I say whatevs, because the fried chicken was out. of. this. goddamn. world. The outside was crispy and flavorful, the inside was juicy and tender. Oh yeah, and the cornbread is good, too.
Everyone that worked there was kind, service was fast, and I really felt like they were taking care of us. Maybe that's because we were a table of 3 pretty ladies, though.
The only downside is that they made us switch tables after seating us, and my side of red beans and rice was lukewarm :(
I thought it was a little pricy, to be honest, but like I said there were a LOT of tourists there more than ready to pay that price. I would go back, for sure. -
Review from Alice C.
1/10/2012
The line is long, the weather is warm. Did I just wait for the best fried chicken?
Nope, but I suppose is a must nola experience.
The batter is thin here, and it is salty and bit greasy, almost too salty for me. The chicken is moist and tasty, and the side are really good. The white cream beans, green beans, and potato salad are my favorites. The fried pork chop is also delicious, but only in small portion which is a 6 oz cut. Corn bread is good, but I like mine a bit more crusty on the outside.
Came out to be $15 for a combo, a drink, plus tax and tips. No bad for a greasy food experience.
Service is excellent, our waiter Derek is attentive and cute!
Most of the locals just do the take out. I think I'll just do that as well next time I am in town. You have to drive or take a taxi. The line moves fast, although it is long, and average wait time is about 30 to 45 mins. -
Review from Greg M.
Cincinnati, OH
1/16/2012
The fried chicken is...PERFECT, in every way!!!
Yeah, the neighborhood is a little sketch, but don't let that keep you from the best piece of fried chicken you've ever sank your teeth into. Love the sides, too. Those seasoned green beans and rice, were just the ticket.
Great service, too! -
Review from Jeremy S.
Scottsdale, AZ
12/15/2011
Willie Maes is what you get if Colonel Sanders went to Church to pray he could fry chicken with the strength of Popeye, that would not leave him feeling like his chicken was on the LO LO's with Rosco! Hands down the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. Depends how you like it. These Chickens got head whacked and landed in a brown sack filled with flour spices, for clean-up they jumped into Crisco heaven for the final bath. Crunchy, Seasoned outside with a delicious perfectly juicy inside.
The place has charm but is dumpy.....That being said, being "Dumpy" has never steered me away from trying something said to be good. It's worth the trip.....!
Simplicity at it's best. Although perfect fried chicken is not so simple to achieve it's a basic southern food staple and it's remarkable! -
Review from John Paul G.
Miami Beach, FL
Two and a half-stars is more accurate. It is somewhere between "A-OK" and "I've had better." Probably more like, "It's just ok."
Came to Willie Mae's while bumming around aimlessly in New Orleans just before Christmas and was told it was the best fried chicken on the planet; fried chicken so good it would make you wanna slap your momma. Fail on both counts. Again, the fried chicken was solidly in the "meh, it's just ok" category. That said...
Willie Mae's is a little house in a rather run-down neighborhood that appears to being trying desperately not to slide into the category of one of those neighborhoods you just don't go to. Not that I have ever had any problem going into neighborhoods I have no business going into. In fact, I go into them all the time and have never encountered any problems. Same holds true with this one. I found that despite an appearance that may turn some away, the neighborhood was filled with damn fine folk. Period.
Willie Mae's is the same. It is staffed by a group of damn fine folk. I loved 'em. The food on the other hand?...fried chicken that bordered on the bland and dry side. Red beans and rice that were, I'm afraid to say, absolutely tasteless. "Seasoned" green beans which were mediocre at best. Add to the mix that they do not offer (a) collard greens or (b) okra and that is downright criminal. Something else criminal? Totally dry cornbread. I mean cornbread so dry, you need a gallon of sweet tea to get it down. Shame, shame, shame.
Be aware, it's a cash-only place as well. I was told that their "credit card machine was down" when I went in. But, the sign they have on the wall which reads "In God we trust, all others pay cash" tends to suggest - to my mind anyway - that their "credit card machine" is non-existent.
Anyway...all in all, it does not live up to the hype, despite what some others are saying here. Maybe I went on an off day, maybe not. But I was very much disappointed in my experience here and will likely never give them chance again to redeem themselves the next time I'm in New Orleans. -
Review from Ryan H.
Cedar Park, TX
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
The setting is great, nothing fancy about this place. Only the basics. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere feels very authentic.
I wanted to love this fried chicken, i really did. But I felt it was too heavy on the batter and a little greasy. Now I know it's fried chicken and greasy is the norm. But trust me, I have had fried chicken all over. I always seek it out where ever we travel. I have to say the chicken is slightly over rated. The sides here are great though.
We didnt have to wait in the long line that quickly forms after open. We got there around 11:30 or so and was seeded promptly. As we left, there was a line wrapping around the building. I wanted to tell the people as we were leaving to come back another day when the line is short, its just not worth the probably 2hour wait in line. -
Review from Linda X.
Miami, FL
1/28/2012
Prepare to wait in long lines outside and inside before getting a table. The chicken was good (not OMG fantastic) and I would have given this place a solid 3 star but since I did see a star (Spike Lee) at Willie Mae's I added another star = 4 star.
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Review from Jessi R.
Corpus Christi, TX
1/25/2012
BEST. FRIED. CHICKEN. EVER.
That's all you need to know. I don't think I will ever eat fried chicken anywhere else, ever again.
The credit card machine was broken when we got there, so bring cash as a back up. Also, when you first walk in there's a small room and it looks like that's it, but if it's a hot day walk down through the hall-there's a smaller dining area there and it's much cooler in that room.
Don't make the mistake we did and think you can walk from the streetcar stop on Canal. It's further than it looks, and the neighborhood is a little sketchy. But for the love MAKE THE DRIVE! -
Review from Alexander L.
Stevens Point, WI
11/30/2011
Somewhat of a local legend for their fried chicken, Willie Mae's must be a love it or leave it sorta place in New Orleans. While a few locals waxed poetically about how this was THE place for fried chicken (and I even overhead a conversation among local bohemians in Jackson Square where they engaged in a heavy debate on Popeye's VS Willie Mae's), most of the others we spoke to had reservations.
They'd shrug their shoulders and say that it was all hype. Unfortunately, I'd have to agree.
Located a bit out of the way in a bad part of town (at leaast according to a couple of cab drivers), Willie Mae's is a very small and homey restaurant. And do I mean homey. It feels as if you've stepped into a house-turned-restaurant ripped from the pages of 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' Not helping matters much is the suburban backdrop, but this could definetly be a plus if this kitsch is your kind of thing. It's like a theme restaurant, except for real.
It certainly is the real deal though, and you can see the water damage from Hurricane Katrina. Willie Mae's wears her scars proudly, and with a rich and ancient heritage like it has, it really does have a quaint sort of charm about it.
As for the menu, it is... somewhat limited. If you're not here for the chicken or the sides (green beans, fries, mashed potatoes), then there's always the soda. Or the fish. But that's about it.
Of course we just had to have the chicken!
To be honest, I'd say that the chicken is a bit overpriced, and perhaps aimed more at the tourist crowd than the local populace. Nevertheless, chicken it was!
Now, I've read quite a bit on how the recipe of Willie Mae's is a closely guarded secret. It's been passed from Grandma Willie to her daughter, but I'm not sure that's what I had the day we stopped by for a bite. Because it that was the secret recipe, I'm not really that impressed.
Granted, everyone does have their own opinion, and mine tends towards the over-flavored, but what was brought to our table was a disappointement to me anyway.
The tender meat was juicy, and had a fair amount of spice, but what killed it for me was the coup de grace of any fried chicken meal... The skin. Here, it was more of a fried shell, akin to banana fritters. Ultra-crispy, and unfortunately not my thing.
We left disappointed, but the service can't be faulted. As with most of New Orleans, Southern hospitality makes even the most drab of places sparkle, and here we had it in droves.
Too bad we never returned to Jackson Square to help settle that debate. It's Popeye's for me all the way. -
Review from Dubl A.
West Sacramento, CA
12/11/2011
O.Mah. GOODNESS!!!
Believe the hype folks, this is by far the best fried chicken you will ever get in your life.
Coating is golden. Coating is crispy. Coating is delicious.
Chicken is super moist and tender and melts in your mouth.
There isn't better fried chicken anywhere else in the world.
Damn, California is way to far away from this place! I'm gonna miss it.
go in there and try it out folks, you will definitely enjoy. -
Review from Perry C.
Cedar Park, TX
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had seen this on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and also from a couple of friends. This was by far THE best Fried Chicken EVER!! I highly recommend it!!
The food was great and the service was excellent! -
Review from Aaron J.
Alexandria, VA
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER!!!! Yes, I ordered the friend chicken, its what this place is about. It really has the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life. Tender, perfect seasoning, and just piping hot. The red beans and rice, were just flat out amazing. The mac and cheese, will make you want to smack ya motha, OR the person eating to your left.
This place is just awesome, the people that work there are willing to answer all your questions about the city.
As far as the location, catch a cab, get out and walk into the restaurant if you plan on going in the evening. Not in the best of neighborhoods for everyone, but well worth the travel.
If you think these food chains are delicious, Popeyes, etc. Here's the real thing, no doubt in my mind, you'll think those places are just a plain joke. I've almost refused to eat fried chicken for the last month and a half...yea, its that good!!! -
Review from Cynthia T.
Arlington, TX
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Finally had a chance to visit the FAMOUS Willie Maes Scotch House. The chicken was good but somehow I felt like I have eaten this chicken before? Oh yeah, at GSU in Ruston. Never the less the chicken was good, red beans and rice was just ok! Will chime back in once I've tried Gus's in Memphis and Syliva's in NYC.
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Review from Krista M.
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
We arrived to no line on a Monday at 2:30, so we were able to walk right in. They now accept credit cards, but your tip needs to be in cash.
Our server was very friendly and took good care of us. You know why we traveled to Willie Mae's, it is all about the fried chicken! And what fried chicken it was! Super crispy and juicy, with just the right amount of spice. I was in heaven, it was pretty amazing. I want some right now, if I lived close by I think I'd be in trouble, because I may not be able to control myself.
As a side I chose the rice with butter beans, I can't even describe how good they were, I could have just eaten that and been very happy, just order them. Do it!
The corn muffins, were hot out of the oven with great corn flavor and so tender.
Sure you need to travel bit out of the way through a little bit of a sketchy neighborhood, but i tell you it is completely worth it. -
Review from Joey C.
Houston, TX
1/4/2012
Location is very original ... their chicken is a bit greasy.
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Review from Greg W.
Dallas, TX
1/21/2012 1 photo
I had seen this place on a couple of shows on Food Network touting the best fried chicken in the history of the world! Not really a fried chicken connoisseur but was in the French Quarter and felt I had to check it out. Went early on New Years day. There were about 20 people in line @ 11:30 AM so I thought that was a good sign. The lined moved fast and we were inside and ordering in 15 minutes. Menu is sparce, you want the fried chicken or the fried chicken? But hey thats what we came for! Ordered all white meat chicken and red beans and rice from the attentive young waitress. Our food arrived quick and hot. Chicken was as advertised, crispy and good and the secret batter was very good. Small bowl of red beans and rice and the cornbread were good too. Lots of tourist diners and looked like some local regulars too. The place is small and had been redone since the hurricane. Its a short cab ride from the French Quarter. I would recommend this place if your in Nawlins...
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Review from Ashley C.
Anaheim, CA
11/3/2011
People.
Fried Chicken.
This restaurant is located out of the way off of the Canal Street Line in New Orleans, but is definitely worth the excursion. This is the best fried chicken I have ever had. I think I might have cried a little bit. Once more for the people in the back...
BEST
FRIED
CHICKEN
EVER
Don't be put off by the sketchy surrounding neighborhood, this place is an oasis and is clean and efficient once you get inside. Go forth and enjoy the chicken! -
Review from Eileen Z.
Very sad how downhill this place has gone. After visiting recently I am lead to believe that the "secret recipe" only comes out for celebrities and people who come in with TV cameras, oh and James Beard award food critics.
Let me give you the order of events when we went:
No wait, which was a nice thing..
sat down 10 minutes later
menus 10 minutes later
meal 10 minutes later
silverware and napkins 10 minutes later
beverages
cornbread??!?!?( yeah that never happened)
I wish I was making that up, but unfortunately I am not and we weren't the only ones this happened to while we were there. Their menu is pretty straightforward... chicken, pork chops, stuffed pork chaps and the sides are either a salad, red beans and rice or simmered green beans and rice with gravy.
I got the green beans and they were nothing short of bland, the gravy was ridiculously salty. The chicken was lukewarm and completely over-covered in a greasy SUPER salty batter the likes of a tempura. To pay $10 for 3 pieces of chicken and a side ($13 for all white meat), well let's just say I have had better at Popeyes.
The people who give this place RAVE reviews have clearly never had fresh Popeyes chicken or Lil Dizzy's. I am being quite serious. The funny thing is no one sends the food back or complains about it. It's the craziest thing I have ever seen. The people just lap it up like there is a golden ticket hiding inside or something.
I politely (in an event to not upset the zombie like masses) asked for a to go box.. which in my case meant to go right into the trash as soon as I walked out of there.
Won't be back (even if someone else is paying!)Listed in: Kid Friendly Eats, The Ugly
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/2/2010
This place is not kid friendly. Info needs to be updated. They seemed very put off that I brought a… Read more »
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Review from Sofia C.
Morristown, NJ
12/17/2011
Best Fried Chicken I have ever had! Crispy, golden, moist and perfectly seasoned. I'll stop here anytime I'm in New Orleans, a most visit.
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Review from Betty N.
**BEST LEMONADE AND MOST OVER RATED FRIED CHICKEN**
Waited 30 minutes or so for a table.
Surrounded by tourists.
Sat at the front window.
Clean and cute inside.
Super friendly service.
ORDERED:
*LEMONADE ($2.50, no refills) - Best lemonade. Ever. Freshly made and squeezed with love. Highly recommend.
*FRIED CHICKEN ($7.50) - Over rated much? Seriously. What was so great about the fried chicken here? The batter was too thick and greasy. The best piece was the thigh and it was borderline dry. Where were the true NOLA cajun flavors?
We waited 30 minutes for our fried chicken. Not cool, Willie.
I definitely preferred Jacque-Imo's fried chicken over this.
Maybe even Popeye's.
Don't take my word for it.
If you have the time and patience, give it a shot. You might like it, you might not.
But there are better fried chicken establishments out there without lines or tourists. -
Review from Jerry B.
New Orleans, LA
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fried chicken is my absolute number two(no punt intended) favorite food, where fine scotch is number one. I don't necessarily think that it's the most delicious food there is, but I am ALWAYS down for grubbing some good, fried yard-bird...which is just what I did.
Ironically, since Willie Mae's Scotch House is notorious for having the BEST fried chicken in the country, I did not expect much. Most places are way overrated. Although my boy "Peanut Butter" said "that shit be da bomb, ya heard?" and they have been featured on the Food Network and The Travel Channel, I had to try out this little ghetto treasure out for myself and find how good this chicken really is. Peanut Butter's description did not even come close to describing this bird. It was literally the juiciest, crispiest, flakiest, tastiest yard-bird I've ever had! Hell yea!
Unfortunately Willie Mae does not get his sorry ass out of bed till 11, then goes home at 3. What a lazy @%@%. So if you happen to find yourself in the Treme in the middle of the afternoon, put down the crack pipe and DO IT. Yes, go to Willie Mae's. You will not regret it, it is spectacular. -
Review from Mike D.
New Orleans, LA
8/8/2011
My kid came and spent 10 days hanging out. He came with a list of New Orleans dining institutions that he wanted to try. Willie Mae's was among his selection.
Cruised in on a Thursday afternoon, the restaurant was busy, but there were tables available.
I wanted to like Willie Mae's a lot better than I did. Nothing wrong with the atmosphere, it felt like an expanded version of dinner at Grandma's house.
The food was good, though, everything could have be a touch hotter...temperature wise. The chicken was what we came for, and it did not disappoint. The sides were excellent, especially the Butter Beans. But what really gave me pause were the variety of chipped dishes and cups. They need to invest in new plates and cups.
Wait staff was great!! -
Review from Scott S.
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The lemonade here is awesome! Did they get a James Beard award for their fresh-squeezed lemonade? Cause that would make sense. What doesn't make sense is an award for the fried chicken.
Okay, I get how some people can really like it for whatever reason, though I'm inclined to believe a large percentage of the people loving this chicken so much are those who are perceiving it as awesome because others perceive it as awesome because they think they're supposed to. It's like The Big Bang Theory of fried chicken. It's got a definite target audience and they love it, but no one seems to realize it kinda sucks, and the only reason to eat it is because it tastes kinda like Kaley Cuoco.
Here are my beefs about the chicken. When you order the fried chicken, you get 3 pieces. I was with a friend so they brought us a plate of 6 pieces. Half of them were wings! One breast, one thigh, one leg, and three wings? Willie, Y U SO stingy?! That was one level of disappointment. Another, was that it took quite awhile, probably a half hour outside in line, and a half hour inside at the table, so at least an hour total from parking to the commencement of the chickening. Another level was that the breading wasn't spicy. Another was that the meat wasn't especially juicy. Really, I don't understand what all the 5 stars are about.
On the plus side, the service was friendly and personable, and they even gave us a discount, perhaps because of the long wait, which was really nice of them.
Long story short, I finally went to Willie Mae's and my favorite fried chicken is still at Coop's Place.Listed in: Can you say OVERRATED?
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Review from Derek R.
Destin, FL
7/20/2011 2 photos
Awesome fried chicken & potato salad!
DEFINITELY lives up to it's reputation.
YUMO!! -
Review from Kelley M.
I really didn't know what to expect from Willie Mae's Scotch House. There are 200 reviews that indicated that I could either expect the best fried chicken in America or some seriously overrated fried chicken. On the way to Willie Mae's I even briefed the boy, telling him that the meal really could go either way. I figured the only way to know was to try it myself.
Well, my verdict is that Willie Mae's offers some of the BEST fried chicken in America. The fried chicken was DELICIOUS. The batter was perfectly seasoned and crispy. The chicken was hot and juicy. The meal was well priced-- $10 for three pieces of chicken and your choice of a side. Here is a little indication of the deliciousness: After we finished our lunch and our server cleared away the dishes, the boy noticed a piece of crispy skin that had been abandoned on the table (it must have fallen off my plate while I was eating) and proceeded to glare across the table at me and say with the utmost concern, "How could you let that go to waste?!". Seriously, it was that good.
The sides were pretty underwhelming though. The potato salad was alright and the green beans just tasted like the chalky ones out of a can. Next time I think I am going to skip the platter and just order the chicken separately (I think that is an option for $7.50). We added some cornbread muffins to our meal for 75 cents a piece and those were tasty. We topped off our lunch with housemade cheesecake topped with strawberry sauce. So very good.
We went at 2 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon and only waited a few minutes for a table. Apparently the people just ahead of us had waited quite a while though.
Beware: There are no free refills on drinks.
Also, contrary to the information on this page, Willie Mae's accepts most major credit cards.
Fried Chicken: 5 stars (at least)
Overall experience: 4 stars
P.S. Where is the 'scotch house' part of this place?Listed in: NOLA Lunch Spots
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Review from Jennifer T.
Kansas City, MO
7/26/2011
Willie Mae's, You're damn right I'm a fan!! The fried chicken was delicious, and the sweet tea was as southern as you can get - take it easy though, the refills aren't free!
While at the hotel, Randy our bellman, told us we need to try the butter beans, and after much discussion ordered them as an additional side.
Seriously, how can butter beans and rice be sooo good!! What are butter beans anyways???? Definitely a must have at Willie Mae's.
Our waiter, I wish I remembered his name, was great and had a real southern charm about him! Even drawing out his hoooneeyss and baaaaby.. so cute!
This joint has been featured on Food TV and the Travel Channel, plus is a James Beard award winning restaurant, not to mention all of the accolades from City/State posted throughout humble little place.
Some say it's the best, others say it's overrated.. I say at a price point of $10 per person, it's worth figuring out for yourself. -
Review from Laura M.
New Orleans, LA
6/21/2011
This fried chicken is not just a meal but a religious experience. This fried chicken is not just delicious (voted best in America!), but has a unique flavor and texture found nowhere else (at least nowhere else I've been).
I've made it a mission to try fried chicken at as many places as possible in the city and while I adore the wings at Big Mamma's Chicken and Waffles, and the chicken at several other spots in town, Willie Mae's has earned its title.
The side veggies are solid and staff offers hospitality as southern as its chicken.
Check it out! -
Review from Cork C.
San Francisco, CA
6/24/2011
I think my experience was a little abnormal in that we were seated right away. So I have nothing but positive things to say. The fried chicken is delicious. I would say it is a top contender for best in the country though I think I have had a few that were different but equal. You can taste the shortening and man is it good. Juicy, crispy, and crunchy, but not sharp or hard. My only complaint is I didn't have time to truly appreciate it since I got an important call mid meal and had to leave. I will certainly go back and take my time enjoying the tastiness.
Oh also, the lemonade is very sweet, the fries are a bit blah, and the butter beans are delicious. The waitstaff was great! -
Review from Tony F.
Brooklyn, NY
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's all about the fried chicken but it was not the best ever. Also, side dishes were bland. friendly staff.
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Review from Cliff C.
Kendall Park, NJ
11/16/2011
Ok i first of all love chicken, and this place doesn't disappoint. The fried chicken here is definitely above average and the service was good very nice n friendly staff. Why not 5 stars is because If your visiting NOLA the place is a $15 cab ride into the hood. But definitely worth the hike for lunch.
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Review from Kaylin B.
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
After reading the reviews here from fellow Yelpers, we were sold. We had to try their Fried Chicken. We arrived just prior to opening and soon after the place was packed. Good thing we arrived early.
The restaurant is in a small house in the remote part of town. It was a good 10-15 minutes from the French Quarter. Its very close to the 10 FWY. Since it is small, it has limited seating. The staffs there were all very nice. They only had 2 people to serve you so it resulted in slow service at times but they were genuinely nice.
Was this the best fried chicken I've ever eaten? Not really but it was good. It had a nice light batter and it was crispy. Seasoning was a bit subtle. I tasted more salt than seasoning. I would've preferred more seasoning. Chicken was perfectly cooked. It really did not need any ketchup. The butter beans with rice was pretty good. The green beans with rice was also pretty good. They also have a good salad with grape tomatoes, lettuce, and slices of bell peppers. We also tried their corn muffins, which were nicely done.
Tips:
1. Arrive early to avoid waiting in the heat.
2. 5 + group = 20% gratuity
3. No sharing or you pay $3
4. Each plate usually comes with one side (butter bean, green bean, potato salad, fries, or salad)
5. No separate checks -
Review from joshua h.
Bethesda, MD
5/25/2011
First off, just by looking at the place, you know it's going to be good - it just looks homey and comforting. Secondly, the staff there are really polite and the menu items are easy to choose from. All you need to get is the fried chicken. I mean come on, why else are you here? Finally the food - It was simple, and delicious - pretty much it was AWESOME. It had the perfect 3, which every fried chicken should consist of, but mostly fail to do - crispy, crunchy & juicy. Most of the fried chicken I had was crunchy, but not really crispy, and not juicy at all. ALSO if it was juicy, it was not even remotely close to being crispy or crunchy. Willie Mae's Scotch House has perfected the 3 and I can say that it is definitely one of America's best fried chicken (definitely one of the best fried chicken I have ever had).
I had fries as a side, which were standard, but my friend had the potato salad which was pretty money.
All in all, loved the fried chicken, highly recommend it and definitely going to have it when I visit Naw'leans again.
DO IT! EAT IT! LOVE IT! -
Review from Susan W.
Among the many blessings I have received in my life, I count the opportunity to savor this fried chicken as one of them.
I'd heard from other people that this place served great fried chicken. I was a little skeptical having eaten some fabulous fried chicken in both Memphis and Nashville. But I have to admit, Willie Mae's ranks right there with the best of them. It's fried crisp and golden and absolutely delicious. They cook the chicken in small batches so it does take a little while to receive your order, not to worry, it's worth it.
In addition, a couple of the side dishes were real standouts. The green beans are slow cooked and come in a large dish with a side of white rice and brown gravy. Wow, that's how I want my green beans from now on. The red beans and rice was great too.
Be sure to drive or take a taxi because Willie Mae's is located in a sketchy part of town. But that's part of charm, you feel like you're eating authentic comfort food "in the hood," and frankly you sorta are.Listed in: Five Star Fabulous, Fave Food New Orleans, My Last Supper
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Review from Loan N.
Tustin, CA
Part of the experience is getting to this place, you may be a little freaked out. It's in a hurricane Katrina affected residential area so some homes have been marked and abandoned. The parking for this place is kinda all over the place too. The place is on a corner and it's small but cute.
Ok let's get talking about the chicken! When I saw it on other peoples plates I thought, the chicken is dark so you think it's cooked in old grease or it's overcooked , well I was soooooo wrong! I bit into the leg, the crust was light and flaky, frankly amazing! It's savory and a little salty to compliment the red beans and rice and butter beans and rice. We also had the corn bread muffin which was good and the bread pudding was warm and divine! I can't wait to go back.
We went exactly when it was open so there was no wait. -
Review from Katie E.
Oak Park, IL
12/30/2011
Love, love, love Willie Mae's! I am a New Orleans native and a tough crowd. We waited about 20 minutes, but it was well worth it. Willie Mae's more than lived up to it's billing. The fried chicken was amazing - light, crispy and very tasty. Derrick, our server, was awesome and made me even more homesick. Those who complained about the atmosphere have obviously not been into a real New Orleans dive. Plus, where else can you be seated in a dining room with locals, tourists, a celebrity and too nuns. Only in New Orleans!
