The Kluckin Chicken Serves Hot Birds Near Los Angeles Valley College

The Kluckin Chicken shares a space with Padrino’s Pizza in Sherman Oaks and specializes in hot chicken tenders that are available in a choice of bread.

Spicy Nashville-style hot fried chicken continues to proliferate throughout the Valley at restaurants like The Bellwether and in parking lot pop-ups like Bangin Buns. The Kluckin Chicken recently entered the frey and warrants a short detour to their location near Los Angeles Valley College in Sherman Oaks.

The Kluckin Chicken takes its preparation seriously, marinating boneless chicken breasts for 24 hours in “secret” spices including cayenne for heat. Every piece is fried to order, which takes about 15 minutes, and drizzled with Kluckin sauce—a blend of mayo, ketchup and some other “secret” ingredients. Tenders are available with seasoned crinkle-cut French fries and mayo-based coleslaw made with cabbage, kale and carrots.

Kluckin Combos let customers choose between gourmet burger buns, French rolls, pita wraps or to eat the chicken bare. I opted for Kluckin Combo #2 ($11.99) with two juicy, crisp-crusted fried chicken sandwiches on soft French rolls with slaw and pickles, and fries on the side.

Some hot chicken restaurants pride themselves on packing serious heat. Not so here. “Some places make you sign a waiver,” co-owner Wilson Manusyants says. “I don’t enjoy that.” For heat-adverse diners, the eatery sells an unspiced version, along with Kluckin mild or Kluckin hot, which is only moderately spicy.

Most people grab food to go, since the space houses just three tables.

13328 Burbank Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 747-344-6326