Chicken Wing Thing: 777 Noodle House, Olde City Grill, The Original Sab E Lee, and Que Huong

Here's a post to add to my Chicken Wing category, an additional Chicken Wing Thing post. As regular readers know, I love my chicken wings........

777 Noodle House:

I've already done a couple of posts on this bargain of a Chiu Chow Noodle House. And since they also own the "Louisiana" Fried Chicken shop next door, it was only right that I try their chicken wings.

On the good side, this was very juicy and lip melting hot! On the not-so-good, the batter was pretty crumbly, and it was a pretty bland wing overall. I enjoy a few dishes here, but this is not one of them.

777 Noodle House
4686 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92105 

Olde City Grill:

*** Old City Grille has closed

Of all the Cheesesteaks I posted on, Olde City Grill in Pacific Beach was the best I had hands down. A week or so later, I visited again to confirm my findings. I also decided to have some wings....which are sold "by the pound". I decided to go with some pretty straightforward "Buffalo" wings.

I was surprised to find that a "pound" here consisted of 6 wings. I've often mentioned the "Kyochon line" when it comes to pricing. Anything over, say a dollar a wing should be darn good. From the sauce point of view, it was pretty routine... fairly tangy, decent heat, but nothing special. From the size point of view, these were some fairly hefty size wings. I am however,  a fan of smaller wings, since the skin/crust to meat ratio is much better. If I wanted plain meaty.... I could get drumsticks, right? There was one other item I didn't care for.... the Bluecheese dressing was more like mildly flavored Bluecheese Mayonnaise (or if you really want to be fancy aioli).

 
Personally, I'll stick with the cheesesteaks.....

Olde City Grill
967 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109

The Original Sab E Lee:

**** This location of Sab E Lee has closed

Actually, I've had the wings at TOSEL a couple of times, but have never thought of it as something the place does well.

I recently returned just to have the wings....... and it confirmed that even though there is much to like at TOSEL, and I do mean a lot, I don't think chicken wings are on that list. The wings just don't have that spicy-sweet-savory flavor or crisp, yet sticky texture of the good wings in Thailand.

The bitter burnt garlic did not do the dish any favors.......

Don't even ask me about the neon orange sweet-sour sauce.....

The Original Sab-E-Lee Restaurant
2405 Ulric St
San Diego, CA 92111

Que Huong Restaurant:

**** Que Huong has closed

I recently had a wonderful lunch with one of my favorite FOYs (Friends of Yoso), Dennis. As always I enjoyed the company, and you can read about our meal here. I'd first eaten at Que Huong back in 2005, and have been going back off and on since then. I never did try the Fish Sauce Chicken Wings until FOY "Yummy Yummy" mentioned it to me in 2008. I gotta say, it was love at first bite.... and yet, there are several different version of wings on the menu, and I wanted to try the Tamarind Wings....... and Dennis was nice enough to help me through a meal. I ordered a half and half... a half order of Fish Sauce Wings, and a half order of Tamarind Wings.

No these aren't gigantic wings..... they are "small but mighty"... you know folks like that. They may be diminutive, but are full of attitude and flavor. The Fish Sauce wings delivered that sweet-salty punch that they always do for me.

The Tamarind Wings......

Were like the Fish Sauce Wings' weaker cousin....... I wanted something with a tangy "punch", but these were fairly mild. I still gotta try the butter wings...... and other stuff......

Thanks for putting up with me Dennis!

Que Huong Restaurant
4134 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

So there you go, a few more wings for my collection.

Comments

[Darwin]

Howdy Kirk! Long time follower, first time poster.

Thanks for the chicken tips. I was in the mood for some chicken wings actually. I might try out Sab E Lee since I haven't been there yet.

[Dennis]

Hi Kirk, Que Huong was fun! Thanks again. The fish sauce wings were definitely my favorite too, though the tamarind was pretty tasty as well. I need to finally try Kyochon one of these days. I haven't been back to the Korean BBQ Chicken joint off convoy since they opened. I wasn't impressed then but my visit was literally a few days after they opened. Maybe it's worth another try, we'll see.

[Kirk]

Hi Darwin - Thanks for taking the time out to comment! You have a nice blog yourself!

Hi Dennis - I had a great time as well. I've been back to BBQ Chicken..... but it was pretty much the same.

[Rosa]

"It ain't nothing but a wing thing, bay-bee!"

TOSEL's wings look positively mouth-watering...

[kat]

chicken wings!! mmm!

[Tammy]

Wings again?

Kirk,
We tried the wings at TOSEL last year and they were wonderful. I don't remember the sauce came with it though. It was so good that Mr. C wanted to buy them for the tailgating party.

My first really good wings experience was when my students bought salt and pepper garlic chicken wings at a 99Cent Chinese food to our potluck party. It is now a taco place. I think it's one block away from 777 on the same side. So sad.=(

[AZ]

I'm really old school because I remember a time when you couldn't give away chicken wings. Now they are a delicacy commanding a high price. Who knew!

[Kirk]

LOL Rosa!

Double mmm Kat!

Hi Tammy - More wings! Of course, you know how much I love them. After having TFC in Thailand, these don't even compare.... I'm thinking of making my own version.

Hi AZ - I miss those days.... wings used to be so cheap!

[Carol]

I used to get the chicken wings at TOSEL all the time but not so much anymore. They have not been all that good. The garlic used to never be burnt and had a good amount of spiciness (usually). And I'm with you on the size of the wings. The second joint is still my favorite.

[Su-Lin]

I love your dedication to the chicken wing!

[Kirk]

Hi Carol - I'm in total agreement.... it all about ratios of skin to meat.

Hi Su-Lin - I guess I do have thing about wings! ;o)

[Frankin]

Hey Kirk-
I know you're not much a fan of Phuong Trang, but I find their wings to be quite good. Also, if you like traditional Buffalo Style-Hamilton's Tavern in South Park has some really good ones. If you go with a buddy, get the "Deer Hunter" wings, it's like a Russian Roulette of wings-one wing is mind numbingly hot. Kinda fun to see who gets it.