"Dulan’s is an LA soul food institution with three locations around South LA. Our favorite of the bunch is their recently renovated flagship on Crenshaw, which has a big dining room ideal for a group lunch or dinner before a show at SoFi. The walls at this casual counter-service spot are lined with framed photos of Joe Biden, Janet Jackson, and various A-listers who’ve dropped by over its three decades in business. The true celebrity at Dulan’s, however, is the golden fried chicken. It’s a well-seasoned love triangle of salt, pepper, and crunch, and you won’t find a consistently juicier version anywhere in LA. A close runner-up is their smothered fried pork chops bathed in a black pepper-flecked gravy, plus sides of braised greens, candied yams, red beans, and complimentary cornbread muffins. Sit on the covered sidewalk patio if it’s nice out, or grab a table near the neon sign inside for a little more privacy. Food Rundown photo credit: Nicolas Zhou Fried Chicken Dulan’s signature fried chicken comes in quarter and half orders, with the latter costing $5 more. Consider this a very easy $5 to spend. Whether you’re a drumstick or thigh person, every piece of Dulan’s chicken is so juicy you’ll have to dab your lips with a napkin after each bite. The breading is on the thinner side, so it’s not too heavy (by fried chicken standards). photo credit: Nicolas Zhou Smothered Pork Chops If you don’t give a you-know-what about your daily sodium intake, indulge in this platter of tender fried pork. The pepper-flecked gravy is clearly salted by someone who values well-seasoned food—you’ll want to lap all of it up with the rice and cornbread that comes with this entree. Collard Greens These ain’t just greens. These soupy, wilted, fully-loaded collard greens with minced garlic and chunks of smoked turkey. Candied Yams You need to have a big sweet tooth to appreciate how rich this side is. These yams are definitely candied. Mac & Cheese It’s mac and cheese. The pasta and gooey cheese are glued together, as opposed to being one cohesive thing. It tastes good, though. Corn, Okra, and Tomatoes Sometimes we just wanted soupy, salted vegetables with a meat-and-carb meal to balance things out. This side is just that. Peach Cobbler This dessert gets a big thumbs up for coming out piping hot from the kitchen. It is a flavor bomb of warm spices, though, so if you’re not into cinnamon and allspice, the potpourri essence might be overwhelming." - Sylvio Martins
