Fried chicken isn't health food, so it's only an occasional guilty pleasure. If I'm going to indulge, forget about KFC. I want fried chicken that is fresh and authentic, like something your grandma, or your cousin named Joe Bob might whip up for a family reunion.
Not long after landing in South Reno, I started seeing ads for Joe Bob's Chicken Palace, 7689 S. Virginia St. The logo features a regal-looking chicken.
Joe Bob's is a little hard to spot from South Reno's well-traveled main drag. It's set back behind the Terrible's Car Wash at the intersection of South Virginia and Longley/Huffaker. But the fried chicken here is the real deal, cooked to order, crunchy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside, with zero percent trans fat. The menu asks customers to allow 20-25 minutes for your fried chicken order to be ready. It is well worth the wait.
Fried chicken dinners at Joe Bob's include cole slaw, a roll and butter and your choice of mashed potatoes, fries or potato salad. A two-piece fried chicken dinner costs $7.49, a four-piece dinner costs $10.99 and prices go up from there, depending on how many pieces of chicken you've ordered (an equal mix of white and dark meat).
It's my family's consensus that Joe Bob's fried chicken rocks, but the sides are just so-so. The mashed potatoes are especially blah, with an almost soupy consistency. So we've started ordering boxes of the fried chicken to go, making our own side dishes at home.
Joe Bob's dining room, when we've eaten there, has a look and feel that is hard to describe. It's like it can't decide whether it's a casino, a bar or a restaurant. The old-time road signs and vintage photos on the walls are kitschy and fun, but the volume on the big-screen TV is muted (while showing sports events) in favor of '70s music marathons. On one occasion, we heard non-stop Steve Miller and another time, it was all Bob Seger.
As well as fried chicken, Joe Bob's serves hot wings, ribs, burgers and other sandwiches such as pulled pork and BBQ beef brisket. I suppose we should try them sometime but the fried chicken is too darn good.
For more information about Joe Bob's, call the South Reno location at (775) 852-1942 or visit
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