Birdies LA – Fried Chicken and Donut Heaven In Downtown Los Angeles
By Samantha Dockser
Birdies LA opened just two months ago and serves up delicious and fresh fried chicken and donuts. Run by Chef Jason Harley and business partner Keith Bae, Birdies’ concept is simple – “fresh, fun, all natural food, served fast.”
Birdies’ donuts are as beautiful as they are tasty. Sous Chef Jake Epstein explained to me that when Birdies says fresh, they mean it. They make their donuts in very small batches to make sure none of them are sitting out too long. They would rather sell out of a flavor than sell you a stale donut. None of their donuts are out on the counter any longer than two hours. And the freshness is noticeable.
Birdies offers a selection of signature artisanal donuts which flavors include Triple Chocolate, Lemon Thyme Pistachio, Strawberry White Chocolate, Blueberry Lemon, Cinnamon Nut Crunch, and Boston Crème filled Black & White to name a few. And don’t hesitate to ask for a taste. The knowledgeable staff are more than happy to provide you with a sample and an in depth description of what you’re tasting.
Two of my favorites were the Candied Bacon Maple and Horchata Twist with Dulce de Leche. I am a big sucker for anything maple bacon, and this donut did the trick. The combination of sweet and savory just melts in your mouth.
And the Horchata Twist with Dulce de Leche may sound like its going to be too sweet, but don’t worry, it is perfect. And so pretty!
And how could I almost forget? Birdies sells a 24k Gold Edible Donut for $100. This is not a joke. And if maybe $100 for a donut is a bit out of your price range, don’t worry. You can still taste a little bit of money, and for $10 you can buy a Red Velvet Donut topped with a little bit of gold.
And not to be outdone by the donuts, there’s Birdies Fried Chicken. There is something for everyone on this menu. Whether you want a leg, thigh, breast, or wing, Birdies has got it! And their sandwiches are unreal. I had the joy of devouring a Birdies Original. This fried Chicken Breast Sandwich is served with coleslaw, Buttermilk Ranch Mayo, Tillamook Cheddar & cured pickles. And Jake even added an over easy egg to mine! Every calorie consumed was so worth it.
If you are feeling braver, you may want to try the Birdies Spicy. The chicken is exactly the same as Original, but Birdies Spicy comes with Ghost Pepper Mayo and pepper jack cheese to give it a solid kick.
Two things left to say. One, thank you Birdies for a Hedonist’s dream afternoon. And two, who wants to buy me a gold donut for my birthday in July? I’ll love you forever.