6 California Chicken Fried Steaks That Are A Meal And A Half
California might be famous for its health food trends, but it’s also home to some seriously indulgent comfort food. Nothing says ‘go big or go home’ quite like a chicken fried steak that’s so massive it can’t be contained by its plate.
These six California spots serve up chicken fried steaks that are criminally large, impossibly crispy, and worth every delicious calorie.
1. Paul’s Place’s Plate-Eclipsing Phenomenon
What began as a neighborhood secret in Cypress has become a Southern California pilgrimage destination. Paul’s double-dredged technique creates a crust so substantial and crispy that first-timers often gasp when the server approaches with their order.
The beef stretches a full inch beyond the platter’s edge on all sides. Regulars know to request extra napkins and wear dark colors – this beautiful mess demands respect and preparation.
2. Keno’s Restaurant’s Family-Sized Favorite
Since 1978, this Anaheim institution has served chicken fried steaks so massive they require their own zip code. The gravy arrives in a separate boat – not because they’re stingy, but because there’s simply no room on the plate for it all.
Three generations of the same family have maintained the exact recipe, including the 12-step breading process that creates a crust that somehow stays crispy until the very last bite.
3. Rudford’s Round-The-Clock Legend
At 3 AM in San Diego, bleary-eyed diners witness culinary magic as Rudford’s serves up hand-breaded steaks that hang precariously off the plate. The 24-hour diner has perfected its pepper gravy recipe through decades of late-night experimentation.
Navy personnel from the nearby base have been using this mammoth meal as a hangover prevention strategy since the 1980s. The crispy-to-tender ratio is mathematically perfect – a comfort food equation solved.
4. Willow Ranch Restaurant – Buttonwillow
Weary I-5 travelers discover salvation in Buttonwillow at this unassuming roadside stop. Ranchers supply the beef directly to the kitchen, where it’s transformed into a chicken fried masterpiece with a crust so perfect some consider gravy optional (though you’d be crazy to skip it).
The plate-dwarfing portions became legendary after a famous food blogger’s car broke down nearby in 2015. What began as misfortune ended with viral fame for this rural gem.
5. Black Bear Diner’s Mountain-Sized Masterpiece – Bakersfield
Truckers and locals alike swear by this Bakersfield staple where the chicken fried steak arrives looking like it could feed a small family. The golden-brown crust shatters perfectly with each fork cut, revealing tender beef underneath that’s been pounded thin but somehow remains juicy.
Smothered in creamy pepper gravy that cascades down the sides, this behemoth comes with two eggs, hashbrowns, and toast that struggle to find space on the same plate. Early birds get the best seats at this always-busy diner.
6. 17th Street Grill
17th Street Grill in Tustin is where comfort food meets California cool, think chicken fried steak with a golden crust that crunches louder than your weekend plans. The portions are generous enough to make your fork question its life choices. Locals swear by the creamy gravy that cascades like a savory waterfall over the crispy edges.
It’s the kind of place where the booths feel like home and the plates come with personality. If you’re not full by the end, you probably didn’t order the chicken fried steak.
