Hot chicken is trending in Southern California, but founder of Blazin’ Chicks Henry Lu has a deeper rooted attachment to the food. Fried chicken was where Henry got his start in the restaurant industry, and it is what inspired him to bring his take on hot chicken and Southern comfort food to the San Gabriel Valley.
Henry Lu has been in the restaurant industry since 2007. Following a business opportunity, he moved to Mississippi where he first learned techniques and recipes to make fried chicken. Henry eventually returned to California and opened two restaurants including Pokelicious, a poke restaurant that used to be where Blazin’ Chicks is currently. When Pokelicious saw a severe dip in sales, Henry knew it was time to shift gears. Hot chicken was becoming wildly popular in Southern California, and Henry thought back to his start in the restaurant industry: frying chicken. He never thought it would become so big in California, but with the boom in mind he made the difficult decision to shut down Pokelicious and open Blazin’ Chicks in its stead.
Henry takes immense pride in serving quality food at Blazin’ Chicks. All of the chicken undergoes a ten hour marination and every ticket is prepared to order, allowing them to serve exceedingly flavorful and tender chicken sliders, tenders, and wings. Their bestseller is the double slider combo, an item inspired by Henry’s “past culinary experience in Mississippi and the growing trend for hot chicken in California.” Blazin’ Chicks also offers a highly customizable experience, allowing patrons to choose the types of chicken, spice levels, and whether they would like to order a la carte or as a combo. In addition to exceptional chicken, you will also find a variety of slides ranging from butter rice to collard greens and kale slaw.
Like many businesses, Blazin’ Chicks was heavily impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and saw a drastic dip in sales. To adapt, Henry and his team implemented after hours cleaning and sanitizing, requiring the use of gloves and masks when handling food, sanitizing point of sale electronics, and installing shields and barriers between staff and customers. Henry says, “Our sales numbers are small, but we are content in that we can pay the rent, keep the fryers frying, and provide a paycheck for our hardworking staff.” Prior to the pandemic, Henry and Blazin’ Chicks often partnered with local schools for fundraising events but have since extended their community outreach and efforts to pay it forward. “Since the pandemic started, we’ve worked with giving back to the community including frontline workers in the medical industry, law enforcement, and emergency first responders.We would like to expand on that when funding and staff are available.”
In the future, Henry hopes to grow Blazin’ Chicks and open additional locations. Definitely visit or order from Blazin’ Chicks to treat yourself to a mouthwatering meal and support Henry’s dream of sharing his Southern style comfort food with people everywhere.
Visit Blazin' Chicks!
Phone: (626) 872-2096
Instagram @blazinchicksla
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