Miss Leon’s at Hiro’s Asian Kitchen

Incredibly delicious!
I did not have the opportunity to enjoy the cooking of Miss Leon at her previous location. I’m embarrassed to say, that I never even knew of her masterful cooking until it was on social media that she was closing. If I had rushed in to experience it before she closed, I would have been moaning and groaning that I had missed out on some of the best fried chicken in the city.
Now that she is back at Hiro’s, I can say, I have a new favorite fried chicken joint that also has some kick ass sides.
After an afternoon of realtor open houses, a group of friends and I decided to head down to Miss Leon’s after reading Kay X.‘s fabulous review. Three of the four are BIG fried chicken fans, so it was an easy decision. I’ll be honest, having Southern comfort food served up in the ambiance of an Asian restaurant, is weird. Get over it, look beyond it and enjoy it. Some of our new popular chicken joints can take some lessons from Miss. Leon, especially on the side dishes.
Being Sunday, Miss Leon’s was offering the all you can eat fried chicken special with all the sides. Only catch, it was all dark meat. Our waitress and Miss Leon were very accommodating to me, I forgo the all you can eat and got a huge no bone chicken breast. It had a thin crispy coating on the outside with juicy and succulent meat inside. The seasoning was flavorful without the heat that so many of the new trending restaurants are touting. I like a spicy heat, but I don’t need my tastebuds burnt every time I eat. I want my palate to be able to enjoy and taste the side items.
For my sides I choose green beans and mashed potatoes. As usual, I was talking and not paying attention when the waitress was telling the sides and did not hear the magic words; Mac-​n-​Cheese. However, my puppy dog eyes got me a bite from one of my friends serving and it is by far the best M-​n-​C being served at an chicken restaurant. I love the fact that she uses long macaroni noodles instead to the typical elbow. It is baked with a thick crispy top of cheese, that will clog your arteries and have you dying happy.
The two sides I choose were also winners. The green beans were fresh, seasoned well and prepared with the right amount of snap in the texture. My mashed potatoes were done in my opinion, the right way. They were not overly whipped and creamy. They had a few bumps and lumps, that gave them the farmers wife and Southern Comfort texture. None of the food was overly salty — just the right amount.
If you are the type that needs to hear a negative comment, the only one I have is that they did not have iced tea. Who eats fried chicken without a nice cold glass of ice tea? However, for the finger licking good chicken, they do have linen napkins — one of my favorite things when dining out.
I’ll be back and I recommend all my Unilocal friends who love fried chicken to check Miss Leon’s out.
When: January 24, 2015
Why: Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

Thinking out loud, Miss Leon is up to something she is not just bluffing, woo — food so good I hit my dance like Usher, woo (then Dab)!
When Miss Leon’s space in The Grove was bought out I was distraught. Since then, several chicken places have opened up; its like fried chicken is the new rage yet thus far I’ve only taken the time to review her spot and that is because it is FIRE. Did you know American’s eat more chicken than beef? With the said if you are in The Lou and want amazing southern fried chicken — you get here, you come here as soon as you can (Dab Dab).
Miss Leon’s down home southern fried chicken recipe includes a terrific buttermilk marinade that is left to bathe for hours; and the chicken is liberally seasoned. The result is chicken that is evenly cooked, unbelievably beautiful, splendidly crisp, tender and so moist, amazingly delicious and just completely worth it (Dab)!
The greens are fresh, spicy and delicious!
The Mac & Cheese is 27 times better than anything at other places even popular BBQ places (I said it). Leave some room for dessert. The peach cobbler is marinated overnight in vanilla, orange juice, several spices along with Grand Marnier; and is lovingly topped with a generous portion of ice cream and caramel sauce. I don’t even like bread pudding but hers is bonkers (Dab).
On Sundays only, there is an all you can eat offering that includes her famous chicken and all the sides — so you win walking in the door. Until Miss Leon has her own kitchen some of the offerings may remain limited. At present the side items are mashed potatoes and gravy; mixed greens; green beans; macaroni and cheese; and sweet butter corn and she doesn’t serve her appetizers like she did at the old location (Dab).
I can’t wait to make it in on Sunday for brunch. The menu clearly says «Tastes like you Grandma’s cooking» … I agree. Unless I’m held at gun point — sweetie pies will never see me again. TRUTH (Dab on em like).