Dino's Famous Chicken — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I decided to visit Dino’s today Wednesday 3/26/2025 at 2:50pm for my lunch break, I was craving their chicken and fries. Upon arrival, I found myself waiting for half an hour just to reach the window and place my order. Unfortunately, the staff all seemed to take a break all at once, leaving a long line of frustrated customers without any service. It was incredibly disrespectful, especially since we weren't even informed about their break. Only two employees remained, and they didn't acknowledge us at all. When we inquired about the delay, their response was simply, "I don't know."

With only 45 minutes for lunch, it was disappointing to see such poor management. A business can't function effectively under these circumstances, especially when it creates hostility among customers. If I were the owner, I would never allow this to happen, as it directly impacts my revenue and disregards the patrons who support us.

Additionally, the food was not up to par. The chicken and fries I received were prepackaged and not freshly made, and to make matters worse, the dish was overwhelmingly spicy, as if a gallon of red pepper flakes had been added.

As a loyal customer for many years, this experience has left me reconsidering my visits, and I believe many others would share this sentiment. If a business doesn’t prioritize its customers, it raises the question of why it’s open to the public in the first place. It’s truly disappointing, and I feel bad for the negative experience created...

I came to Dino’s Famous Chicken & Fries (Pico Blvd location) on a whim after seeing the solid reviews. I was open to trying something new, even though the prices gave me a bit of sticker shock. I asked the cashier if the fries were good and whether they could be made crispy — he said yes, so I went for it.

When the food came out, it was… baffling. The chicken was soaked in juice — not sauce, not marinade, just watery runoff. And the fries? All dumped underneath the chicken, completely soggy and drenched. It was like they had been boiled, not fried.

Maybe that’s a “house style,” but there was no heads-up that the fries would be swimming in chicken runoff. If they had placed the fries on top or on the side, they might have stood a chance. Instead, what I got was a soggy mess.

I politely brought it up to the cashier — the same guy I spoke to earlier — and mentioned the fries were completely soggy because of how the plate was put together. He just shrugged. No apology, no explanation, no offer to make it right. Didn’t even ask to see the problem. I literally said, “Okay, well, I’m not coming back,” in front of a line of other customers, and he didn’t seem to care.

That kind of dismissive attitude is enough to guarantee I won’t be back. It’s one thing to have a unique food style, but it’s another to treat customers like their feedback...

Honestly I'm pretty disappointed. I'm no stranger to hole in the wall joints, and I get why everyone loves this place, but I just don't. Maybe it was the hype with 4.5 stars on Yelp? Maybe it looked really great in the Chef's Night Out: Animal episode? Maybe the photos on Yelp look really great? Whatever the case, the chicken was just dry. Much of the marinaded crust of the chicken was borderline inedible. The spicy, peppery, citrusy marinade itself is good especially when the juices get all over the fries. And I'm a big fan of their fries. I'm that guy that goes to In-N-Out and orders my fries light and this is something along those lines, except with a bit more crispness to it. The juices and spices really kick it up a notch.

The interior is what you would expect from a hole in the wall. It's kinda dirty, old, and the people who frequent the place seem a bit sketch. But hey, I assume these types of things are the reason why the prices are so low so it's all good. They even have their own parking lot outside and that's another plus.

If the chicken was better, I'd come back for more even if it's not that close to me. Unfortunately, the fries aren't enough to bring me back on their own and the photos of the other offerings don't look that...