House of Pies I think is my favorite. But it feels like it's hard to get it wrong, I don't think I've ever had a bad cfs like I've had a bad burger. The worst offender is super flaky breading that detaches easily. But plenty of places get a passing grade for good cfs from me: Jax grill, saltgrass, Dots was enormous, Live Oak grill. Even commercial places like dq steak fingers, dennys late at night, lubys and cracker barrel all satisfy.
I remember I used to eat those frozen frisbees called chicken fried steaks as a kid. A few years ago, I went around the state looking for great bbq and cfs. I loved visiting small towns trying their CFS and places I'd otherwise never go to. It also made me appreciate food that's been "made" as opposed to manufactured. One of the places that's considered among the best in the state is one somebody mentioned above : Goodson's in Tomball. I've never been, but always wanted to. Up here in the DFW area, the chain Babe's is considered good, but I find it hit-or-miss. I went to a small town north of DFW named Weston and the Old Weston Cafe that had good cfs, but it's sadly closed now. If you want a huge CFS that's pan-fried as opposed to deep-fried, head out west of Fort Worth to a tiny town called Strawn and try Mary's. Huuuuge CFS. I once took a pic of it, but don't have it anymore. It's like 2 or 3 cfs' slammed together or something. But it tastes great and is different from the usual deep-fried variety. It's a country joint. If you're a citiot ("city idiot"... lol), you may feel out of place. In East Texas, there's The Shed in Edom, Tx. Cramped quarters, but really good cfs. In North Dallas, there's the Old Depot Cafe in Frisco, Tx. This was among the best cfs I tried and it's not far from me. lol. Sad thing is they're only open for breakfast/lunch. I tried a chicken-fried ribeye at Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes (sister restaurant to Babe's) around Decatur, Tx. The only downside is they don't have mashed potatoes, but do have ooold school rosin potatoes. Generally no mashed potatoes with cfs makes me say "wth?" but, they had me at chicken fried ribeye. lol. The most disappointing one I went to was The Smokestack in Thurber, Tx (population 5!, I think -- it's considered a ghost town). Everyone recommended that place, but I guess they didn't change their oil because the cfs tasted like it came out of the smokestack. Nice people, though. One day I'll give them another shot. I went to at least 20-30 different places trying out cfs, but those are the places that I remember the most. You should try other cultures' take on cfs (well, cfs is really stolen from other cultures, probably) like milanesa, wienerschnitzel, etc. All of them taste great. Get away from the frozen cfs and Dairy Queen, bro. But it looks like you're doing that.
BTW, @ATXNekko nailed some of the stuff I like about cfs, but I'd also like to add, I hate when they pour the gravy on the steak and they pour too much. I don't want a soggy cfs. Put the gravy on the side if you're gonna do that! And country gravy, not brown for me, too.
The topic of who serves the best Chicken Fried Steak came up once at work and several of my coworkers mentioned a place close to Gulfgate Mall called “Kelley’s”. I’ve never been there myself but have always wanted to go see for myself. I will say this, the best chicken fried steak that I’ve ever eaten was from a place called “Bailey’s”. It was located on Irvington Blvd near Tidwell. I’m taking about 30yrs ago, and I can still remember how good they tasted, they were huge as well! They would serve the CFS with country gravy and a huge serving of fries...oh my goodness! You’d gain three delicious pounds every time you ate there!!! I haven’t got a clue why they closed that place down... ....... ....... .......
I definitely agree on ordering the gravy on the side. Not worth the chance of it messing up the goodness. Plus I can add more pepper and tabasco to the gravy if needed.
Kelley's is great!!! I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned until you did. Hickory Hollow BBQ Inn You guys really hit the nail on the head. There was a place in Tomball back in the day that was great too. I think back in the day, when they were hand breaded, you could find a good CFS in tons of places, especially ma & pop shops. I used to love Chicken Fried Steak lunch at school too. I think it was probably soy but compared to everything else, it was the bomb. Also, Grandy's had an all you can eat buffet that was perfect when you had the munchies.
It used to be Strack Farms on Kuykendahl just west of Louetta in Spring. At some point in the '90's it started going downhill and it finally went under in 2014. The property was sold and there's a Circle K there now. The Feed Store at 45 and Spring Cypress was a close second. It's El Palenque now.
We used to hit Grandy's buffet for the CFS all the time in college, but I don't know wth they put in that gravy because that stuff would fill you up like Slim-Fast or something. lol. The cfs is "meh" to me now but back when I was young, it was like caviar.
You’ve sealed the deal! I’m going to try that place (Kelly’s) out soon as I get a chance! The Grandy’s all you can eat CFS buffet wasn’t anywhere close to being the best in town, but I spent many a night there eating like there was no tomorrow! I know the chain doesn’t exist any longer in Houston, so I’m not sure if they’re still doing the buffet thing...probably not, or people like me would put them into bankruptcy! ....... ....... ......
Agree but please don't put the gravy in a small bowl and place it on top of my chicken fried steak. I want my food on plates and bowls not under them. I can't remember what state I was in, North of Texas and East of California, some friends and I stopped for dinner. I ordered the CFS and when the waitress asked if I wanted gravy I said, "Yes, cream please." She thought it was the strangest thing to have cream gravy with cfs. Said they normally just have it for breakfast but would ask the kitchen if they could make some up.. It blew my mind that someone would put brown gravy on it.
On a related note, growing up in Houston, our maid Dorothy made incredible fried chicken for us every Friday. Later, she wrote the recipe down for my sister and I just started using it to make fried chicken and fried pork chops. So good and so simple.
It's been over 15 years since I was last there. Use to love their bake potato soup when they would make it.
