Bayou Grille- Inglewood

Bayou Grille
1400 N La Brea Avenue
Inglewood
310-673-0824

Who Dat?? Who Dat?? Who Dat??

As most readers of The New Diner know, I love the BALTIMORE COLTS. The New Diner is named after the movie, Diner, where Eddie wouldn't marry is beloved, because she couldn't pass a test about the BALTIMORE COLTS. At the end of the movie the BALTIMORE COLTS fight song was being played at the wedding. I guess Eddie gave his belove a make up test. I loved the movie but Eddie is a douchebag, he should be like me and NOT marry the woman he loved because she failed the BALTIMORE COLTS test!!!!!

I hate with a passion that damn NFL team in Indy. And no, stupid people, it is not the same team or franchise. That beautiful horseshoe and blue uniforms belong to BALTIMORE!!!! Johnny Unitas didn't play in the village known as Indy, he played in BALTIMORE. The NFL Champions of 1958, the BALTIMORE COLTS made the NFL the TV giant it is now, didn't happen in the village known as Indy. How does the NFL repay BALTIMORE? Allowing a jerk drunk owner to buy the team. Then doing nothing when the drunk jerk owner STOLE the BALTIMORE COLTS in the middle of the night, like a common thief. Then screwing BALTIMORE out of an expansion team in 1993.

I was soooooooo damn happy to see the New Orleans Saints beat that NFL team in Indy and win the Super Bowl. Even though I was happy as hell for myself, I was happier for the people of New Orleans. After all the suffering the people in New Orleans went through after Hurricane Katrina, it was great to see that city rebuild and have something to cheer about. Oh, I have never seen a bigger idiot than Michael Brown, FEMA director, who was so damn clueless in his handling of the situation.

As my way to thank the New Orleans Saints for beating that damn NFL team in Indy in the Super Bowl, I wanted to go to a Cajun/Creole restaurant. A quick search lead to Bayou Grille in Inglewood, it also helped that the owner is from New Orleans. This Bayou Grille isn't related to the Bayou Grille in Carson.



I got the tiger shrimp po boy, $7.29, with lettuce, tomato and mayo. The shrimp were huge and there were plenty of them, nice cornmeal batter shrimp in every bite!!! The french bread was nice and soft, with a chewing texture. This was amazing. One of the best po boy's ever.



I also got a small jambalaya, $3.99, with chicken, crawfish, and Louisiana turkey sausage. The jambalaya came in a to go container, so hot, there was steaming coming out. But I put it on a plate and it got cold pretty fast. But this had a ton of tender chicken, crawfish and sausage. It was a bit underseasoned, when I think Cajun, I think tons of seasoning and flavor. It was good, not great.

Service was good. The young man taking my order was nice and friendly.

Bayou Grille has the best shrimp po boy in LA. It is the best best Cajun restaurant I've been to in LA, much better than Gumbo Pot, Uncle Darrow, and the Bayou Grille in Carson. My favorite BBQ place, Phillips in Inglewood, is only about a mile away!!! Who DAT!!!!!!

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen
202 E Manchester Blvd
Inglewood
310-671-3345

A rainy night, I'm hungry, and I'm near LAX. What should I do? I decided instead of taking the 105 to LAX, I would go down Manchester and pass by the Forum. I loved the Forum because I saw the "Showtime" Lakers, not the Lackers of today who are lead by Kobe the Rapist. The Forum is now owned by a church and basically sits empty on most nights. As I drove away from The Forum towards La Brea, I saw a sign for Soul Food Kitchen. I said, I know where I'm going for dinner.

Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen is a cafeteria style soul food restaurant. There is nothing fancy about Dulan's, you order your food at the counter and then sit down or get your order to go. Dulan's is right next to a flower shop.

I got the smothered chicken, all white meat, with corn, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes with gravy, $11.99. After I paid, I was handed a bag and man it was heavy!!! Always a good sign. I opened the box and there was a lot of food.

There were two wings and a breast piece. But the smothered chicken was on top of the mashed potatoes, making this a mushy mess. The chicken was moist and tender but not much flavor. The gravy was also pretty bland. The mashed potatoes tasted like they were made from a box. Wasn't impressed. When I first got the box, I saw to my horror, okra with my corn. I hate okra bu I just ate the corn. The corn was sweet and tender. Very good. The mac and cheese was so gooey and cheesy with very tender macaroni.

Service was good. But I got there about dinner time and they were waiting on a lot of entrees. While it is always nice to get a hot meal, you wonder why they aren't more prepared for the dinner rush.

I wouldn't go back to Dulan's Soul Food Kitchen, again. The food is only average, though the portion size is huge.

Golden Bird Chicken-Closed

Golden Bird
801 Manchester
Inglewood
310-671-2900

Golden Bird is in the same restaurant as Porky's BBQ in Inglewood, which I reviewed earlier. Golden Bird used to be one of the better fried chicken places in LA. But something happened and there are very few Golden Bird restaurants left.

I never went to a Golden Bird back in their hey day but I wasn't impressed with the Golden Bird of today. I ordered the two piece, breast and wing, chicken and biscuit combo for about $5. The skin was crunchy but it didn't have any type of flavor. Even today's Pioneer Chicken has a better flavor with the same crunch. But the chicken was a good sized piece and was juicy. But it was just too bland and nothing special about it. I'm not sure what's missing, maybe more spices or something.

The chicken includes a side of mac and cheese which was very good. Soft macaroni with lots of burnt pieces of of goey cheese. Some of the best mac and cheese around.

Golden Bird is ok but I still like Louisiana Fried Chicken much better. I wouldn't rush back to Golden Bird and if I'm in the area I would much rather go to any Louisiana Fried Chicken.

Porky's BBQ-Closed

Porky's BBQ
801 Manchester
Inglewood
310-671-2900

I finally got a chance to go to Porky's BBQ. I don't like to go near the Forum anymore because too many memories about the great "Showtime" Lakers. But I went today to try Porky's. I thought the food was OK but hardly overwhelming.

The pork rib lunch is a steal at $7.99 that includes one side along with dirty rice and Texas toast. I had the mac and cheese as my side. The prestentation of the ribs is eye catching. The put the ribs on a pile of sizzling green peppers and onions. The ribs were well smoked and fairly meaty but it was kind of bland and didn't have alot of flavor. They were also a lit on the mushy side, almost too well done. The mac and cheese was pretty good. Lots of cheese and just slightly burnt that adds a nice tough to mac and cheese. The dirty rice was tasty with greens, spices and some meat which I think is pulled pork.

Service was pretty good. One minor issue, I asked to get seperate orders for the chicken and BBQ but he put it all on one order. Not that big of a deal but still something to be careful of. But if the couple in front of you take forever to order, it maybe awhile before you can place your order. I can't believe some people think they can take forever to place an order. I mean I could have placed my order, paid and got through half the meal and they still wouldn't have decided what they wanted.

I would not go back to Porky's. While they had good sized portions and the prices were good the food wasn't anything special.

Phillips BBQ #2 -Inglewood

Phillips Bar B Que #2
1517 Centinela Ave
Inglewood
310-412-7135

I finally went to all three Phillips Bar B Que locations. There is no difference between any of them. They are all great and some of the best BBQ in the LA area. All Phillips are take out only. Phillips #2 is on Centinela just east of La Tejeria.

I ordered the pork ribs for $11.50 which includes a 25 cent charge for sauce on the side. I understand why they charge for sauce on the side and I don't care because Phillips is great BBQ. The ribs are excellant. They have a great smoked flavor and are tender. I ordered the mix BBQ sauce. Well it's very spicy for my tastes. It's hotter than most hot versions of salsa. It's very spicy. I will stick to the mild sauce which is tends to be on the sweet side.


But Phillips BBQ is so good you don't need BBQ sauce. The meat is so good and right under your nose is a wonderful smoke flavor.

The two sides were mac salad and cole slaw. I didn't care for the cole slaw but the mac salad was very creamy and fresh.

The Phillips BBQ. on Crenshaw and Adams is the newest location. The original Phillips is in Leimert Park. I don't notice any differences between the three locations. One of the best BBQ in the LA area.