So what, exactly, does Lexus taste like? According to owner of LA Chicken, Masamichi Kiyomiya, it's obvious: “Lexus is the most expensive luxury car imported from Japan.” He says a customer told him, “…you're like the Japanese Pollo Loco, man.” Kiyomiya was tickled by the idea, and his crazy chicken/Lexus campaign was off and running.
Kiyomiya says LA Chicken is special because of the way they season it before they grill it– with a dry spice rub–and because of their “secret sauce.” He'd admit to rice vinegar, red miso and chilis being ingredients, but the rest is a closely-guarded secret. You can order the grilled chicken in a taco, a burrito, a bowl, or on a skewer, and the skewers are under a dollar. You can also order pieces of chicken with sides like black beans, rice, macaroni salad, and potato salad.
So does it really taste like Lexus? Maybe, maybe not, but for the price, which is substantially less than a luxury car, it's worth a try. The rest of their eclectic menu is available on their website.
LA Chicken, 228 E 1st St, L.A., (213) 808-1013
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