Andy F.
Yelp
Ah, Zippy's. This is like going back to your parents house for dinner after being away for many years. You don't quite remember how the food tastes, how the food looks, and how much you actually miss their food.
Zippy's was like that for me. I used to go to it quite frequently when I was in high school. It was THE hangout spot after prep football games, win or lose (usually), or after hours of intense basketball games with my friends. I've pretty much tried the entire menu since I like to try different things, but after 15+ years, I don't remember! And I have never thought about going there since.
Back to the present day, my wife said she wanted Fried Chicken! I started to think about several places and searched on Yelp, but all of them are in town, so nothing was quick and convenient. Wait a minute! Zippy's has fried chicken! Can order online too? Nice! Curbside pickup? Even better!
Zippy's menu has not changed one bit. Everything offered is pretty much the same 15 years ago. Besides the price! $3.35 for one piece of fried chicken! Obviously, ordering one piece isn't the best deal. The more, the better. There's a 9-, 15-, and 21-pack. We opted for the 9-pack for $25 total.
After placing an order online, it gives you a choice to pick up ASAP or at a specific time. If ASAP, it'll tell you the estimated time your order will be ready, so you don't need to rush there.
This Zippy's is located in the Koko Marina Shopping Center in Hawaii Kai. It's all the way in the back corner. There's plenty of parking on that side. I believe it's still takeout only, but you can sit on the outdoor tables and enjoy the view of the marina.
Picking up was easy. You should receive an email after you place your order. It'll have a link to press when you arrive and parked in the designated stalls right in front.
The person who brought out our food was friendly and upbeat. The smell coming out of the box was intoxicating. It was so hard to not just grab a fried chicken and start eating while I was driving, but I held on for the 15 minutes to drive home, change clothes, and wash hands for 20 seconds.
Just like eating a home cooked meal made by your parents or grandparents, the first bite of the crispy and tasty skin and moist and tender chicken brought back a flood of memories, a sense of comfort, a warmth, an ease, a familiarity, a calm. Perhaps I'm exaggerating.
Now by all means, it's not the best fried chicken. It wasn't packed with flavor, or deep fried nicely. There were some dry parts. Some parts were fried too much to a dark brown. Some parts needed taste. Those are minor issues.
Overall, still a dang pretty good piece of fried chicken with a familiar taste and texture.