Brown’s Chicken & Pasta

As a little «snotty nosed kid» growing up in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, I have fond memories of Brown’s. Not necessarily for the chicken, definitely for the deep fried mushrooms. One bite of these golden fried time bombs would explode like molten lava and burn the shit out of your mouth. Hell, I knew better, however the anticipation was more than I could bare.
I stopped in recently for a 2 piece chicken and biscuit to walk down memory lane. Very Good…“Crisp, Flakey and served piping hot”.
However, Brown’s on Galena has an identity crises with multiple personalities; a Video Poker emporium and a Cantina called Tia-Wanna’s. Both occupy the same footprint. Only in Aurora!
I’m not sure what is scarier, the visually unappetizing «Tia» Lunchtime Mexican Buffet, or the weathered wood «Tia» sign out front!

Overpriced, overated. I ordered ribs, and to my horror I watched the «cook» open plastic packaged ribs from the fridge (store bought) and pop them in the microwave. He then placed them in a standard to-​go box like it was nothing. I had already paid. I could have bought the same ribs across the parking lot at Walmart for a fraction of the price… which is probably what they do. Steer clear of this place.

My family were Brown’s Chicken regulars back in the day, but I haven’t been in years. So today we took a coupon and went to the drive-​through. The place is combined with a taco joint and set back from the road in the Wal-​Mart parking lot. It looks kind of shady, and we had to wait for our food, but it looked good when we got it. The chicken and mushrooms were just like I remembered. We ordered probably too much food, but it was all tasty. Better than the other, national fried chicken chains. We’ll surely go back!