If you’re not a fried-chicken fan, be prepared to make Honeybird, an unassuming fried-chicken restaurant on Foothill Boulevard, an exception. After trying it with two friends, I sure did.

At a glance, the restaurant has a minimalist-hipster type vibe, with succulent terrariums hanging off the back wall, music of an unidentifiable genre playing softly in the background, lots of light from the storefront windows and a chalkboard menu.

A look to the menu is enough to make any mouth water, boasting a wide range of foods including Southern comfort classics such as mac ‘n’ cheese and shrimp po’ boys, and multicultural foods, like the Chinese chicken salad. I ordered four pieces of mixed chicken à la carte with garlic mashed potatoes, one of my friends decided on The Honeybird (their signature fried-chicken sandwich), and the other requested the three-piece chicken lunch meal. And all of us haggled over the waffle-cut fries.

Although the food is pricey for a fast-food place, with each of our orders totaling over ten bucks, it was worth it. Everything looked picturesque — the fried chicken was golden-brown with a pop of green from the garnish, and the Honeybird sandwich’s cider slaw practically glistened. The waffle-cuts were perfect— smoking-hot and crunchy even after they cooled down — and the chicken was moist while managing to retain its crunch. Their sauces were a bit peculiar, with straight-up honey sitting on the counter, as well as a spicy Honeybird signature sauce. Mixing the two and dipping the chicken results in a symphony of flavors. As for the garlic mashed potatoes, the consistency — only partly mashed with lumps of potato skin floating about — was a bit disappointing, but the side proved true to its name, with a distinct garlic flavor.

Towards the end of the meal, guests began gushing in, and soon the place was nearly full. As to why the place has been so successful, co-manager Danielle Denig said, “It’s the way we brine our chicken — we do that for 28 hours— and our all-natural, local ingredients. It’s what we’re known for, and the people keep coming back.”

True to its name, the way honey attracts flies, Honeybird attracts an array of patrons, coming in from beyond the borders of La Cañada Flintridge. Whether it’s the quality of ingredients that draws eaters in, or the way Honeybird innovates on traditional Southern flavors, one thing is for certain: hungry customers will be buzzing about Honeybird for a while.

Honeybird:

714 Foothill Blvd.

La Canada, CA 91011

Hours:

Monday closed

Tues.-Fri. 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Happy Hour 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.)

Sat. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Brunch), 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday closed

www.honeybirdla.com