PFC

It’s with a heavy heart that PFC is closing for good tomorrow at 3 pm. If you haven’t tried it, and you want to try amazing fried chicken, this is the place. My friend and I split the 4 piece ($ 11) Nashville Hot. It’s spicy and perfectly fried. We tried to go around dinner time and they were backed up by 40 minutes. We later returned after 10 pm and was able to order with only a 5 minute wait. I’m sure you’ll be able to find some sort of PFC iteration at the Playground in the future but this place has some legit fried chicken. 5 stars all the way. It’s too bad that it’s closing.

I LOVE FRIED CHICKEN. I get it everywhere I go. I’ve been wanting to try PFC for a long time but never got the chance until the DAY before it closes. Go figure.
My friend and I met up before an event to get food at PFC and Waygu Chuck to split due to the announcement they would close. When we got in line for PFC it was a 40 min wait and we could not wait for it because our event started in an hour. There was just no way. So I just went to Waygu Chuck to get a burger as well. So we just lamented that we would have never been able to try.
After our event however, we both noticed that on Unilocal it said that 4^th street market hours were until 11 and it was only a bit past 10 so we rushed over. We didn’t care that we’d be eating it later. We just wanted to at least say we tried.
We got the 4 piece Nashville Hot and split it between us. The staff was so nice to let us do that to go no less.
Once I got home I was able to try a small piece. Mouth is still on fire, nose is running. But damn was that some good chicken. Even with it sitting in a box on a 35 mins ride home it was still very crunchy.
I’m very said you are leaving. Hey Jason, can you just sell your fried chicken out the side of Playground? Do it like French Laundry’s Ad Hoc!

Playground Fried Chicken is one of the many restaurants in Downtown Santa Ana’s 4^th Street Market. If you’re looking for fried chicken with an extra kick, you’ve come to the right place. Fried chicken is one of those foods where in most cases, basic is the best. However, PFC gets it right with their unique seasoning you won’t find anywhere else.
I got the 2 piece combo, which came with a chicken leg and breast, plus a side of cornbread, red beans and rice and sweet potato salad. The first bite into the chicken leg was just… wow. Mind-​blowingly delicious. The citrusy combination of sweet and tart spices made this one memorable explosion of flavors. It was served with a side of yuzu dipping sauce, which when used sparingly, made the perfect accompaniment. However, the chicken breast was disappointingly dry. I know chicken breast has a tendency to be one of the drier cuts but the stark contrast with how juicy the chicken leg was made me wish I could’ve had a wing or thigh instead.
As always, the corn bread was amazing. But we all know there’s no such thing was bad corn bread. Sadly, the red beans and rice and sweet potato salad were both meh and forgettable in flavor. Again, I wish they had more options for sides to choose from but those were just the standard offerings for the day.

I used to be a PFC customer until I experienced the following.
Terrible customer service; the girl attending me didn’t have a great tone of voice or any enthusiasms for her job. I sat right by the counter and she never called my name. The wings were garbage. They tasted as if someone dumped them in vinegar. They had no meat. The two piece combo no longer includes potatoes. Instead they give you a bigger portion of cold old looking cornbread that tastes saturated in butter. They also include a side of butter to go with the meal. The two pieces of chicken they gave me were very small for the 9 dollars I paid.

*CRUNCH!*
Normally this is the harmonious sound of breading that can be heard when one bite’s into PFC’s fried chicken. But this time, it belongs to the sound of my heart breaking into pieces upon hearing the news that PFC will be closing their doors on February 1^st, 2016.
Fried chicken is an underappreciated artform in cuisine but Chef Quinn, the brainchild of Playground, manages to perfect it. First, there’s that crunchy, crisp crust, fried golden-​brown, and free of excess oil, but full of flavor. Once you get through that, you’re rewarded with super juicy, moist meat.
A 2 piece combo can be had for $ 10 and you have the option of choosing Original, Nashville Hot, and Lemon/Herb.The Nashville hot is smothered in cayenne and paprika giving a generous kick to the tastebuds. The Lemon/​Herb has an aromatic taste that could be little overwhelming, whereas the Original has a beautiful balance of spice that I highly recommend.
The potato salad ($ 3) has a nice comforting quality with a splash of acidity and the pasta salad ($ 3) is a satisfying combination with the fried delights.
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Conclusion: I haven’t had chicken this good since Adhoc in Yountville. Such a shame they’re closing down. Yes, the chicken comes at a steep price, but the quality shines through at first glance to your very last bite. Rush to 4^th Street Market in Downtown Santa Ana one last time to enjoy.
Extra Notes:
–Accepts credit card
–PFC stands for Playground Fried Chicken
–Helpful suggestive service
–Located inside 4^th Street Market in Down Town Santa Ana
–Décor is Cafeteria is hip and modern
–Restroom available

Flavoring of the fried chicken is very unique! But not very consistent. Sometimes it’s really good & sometimes it’s just okay. Green dipping sauce adds a nice tang to the flavor.
Cornbread is so moist! Definitely a side to get.
The 2-​piece combo is enough to make you full. Great comfort food.

One of the most moist and crispy chicken I’ve ever had. For $ 10, you get a combo that consists of a 2 piece, coleslaw, corn bread, and potato salad. Wasn’t a fan of the seasoning but I’m sure that puts me in the minority. With hints of cinnamon, thyme, and vinegar, the flavor was bit overwhelming. Without the option of any ketchup, I feel they were trying to make up for this with the seasoning. Unfortunately, mine had a very strong vinegar flavor. The corn bread on the other hand was perfect. Nice and sturdy on the outside as well as soft and sweet on the inside. Coleslaw was also the right amount of sweet and savory. Its a decent meal for $ 10 with great sides but even with the perfect texture and cook of the chicken itself, the flavor fell short. But like I said, everyone has a different palate, and even though the seasoning was a bit too much for me, my girlfriend absolutely loved it.

Yuuuum, I haven’t had fried chicken in forever! Last time I did was at Roscoe’s and I don’t remember it. Coming here, I was very tempted to get my chicken wings spicier than the original, I regret it cause I was legit crying lmao. I can handle spice but damn my mouth was on fire.
Will I come back? YES! that cornbread they have? It’s really good! I’m going to come by and for sure get the original and maybe try the other items they have on the menu. Then maybe I’ll update this review and have it longer in detail

Fried chicken with a twist.
This twist happens to be for the better. If you think you’ve had fried chicken before, then you are in for a treat. PFC offers their own spin on fried chicken that has my friends A-​ddicted.
Located in 4^th street market next to Noodle Tramp (also another good place to eat) and Wagyu Chuck. They offer fried chicken in varying sizes — 2 piece up to 8 piece. They also offer side dishes — I recommend corn bread for the soul. They do offer different seasonings for the fried chicken — I opt for the original seasoning.
Chicken is very tender, moist, and crispy. Not oily like your usual fried chicken. The best part? The dipping sauce that it comes with. It’s a bit sweet, but it’s exciting to the taste buds. I just can’t explain it. This is not your typical fried chicken with not your typical dipping sauce so come taste for yourself.
–1 star: fried chicken is not «hot out of the fryer hot» if you know what I mean. Give me that and I give this place all my stars.
Park right in front of 4^th street market at the meters. If there are no spots, then park in the parking garage right behind the building.
Overall, 4^th Street Market is a nice alternative to Anaheim Packing House if you’re looking for a warehouse to hang out at with plenty of food/​drink options.

I’ve been wanting to try PFC for quite a while now. Took forever but I finally was able to give it a go. I came through with the homie Lasty K. and immediately we recognized a very small line so off we went to order. As we were in line a lady informed us that we can order PFC from the Wagyu window. I was very perplexed about that but hey it worked.
I had the two piece which comes with a bunch of stuff that I didn’t recognize and some amazing cornbread. Im not that big of a cornbread fan but it tasted really really good. The chicken itself was super delicious. The meat was tender and the skin had the right amount of crunch for fried chicken. The texture was absolutely zesty and I would have been even more of a fan if it wasn’t for the overbearing seasoning. That was the biggest downside of the meal. They put way too much seasoning in the chicken I needed tons of water.
Overall, PFC is definitely way better than most fried chicken places. If they would cut down a bit of the seasoning I think they would have something special here. The fried chicken itself is one of the better ones I’ve had in quite some time. I’ll probably return still as the wings look absolutely delicious.

Ignore all the haters. This place is amazeballs! Had the fried chicken in both the original and the lemon. Holy cow! Easily the best chicken I’ve ever had thus far. I left singing… Literally singing of joy. I made up my own chicken song. Coming soon to iTunes ;).
The original has a sweet Cajun taste and is taken to a whole new level by the sweet/​lemon dipping sauce they give you. The lemon chicken is amazing my ONLY complaint would be that I felt the season should of been more prominent in the chicken. I felt it was very lightly seasoned.
The chicken itself is crunchy and extremely moist. No dry chicken here!
Let me talk about the cornbread. Holy shit is it amazing. Seriously wanted to take one home with me. THEY EVEN SELL THE BATTER. I had to contain myself from buying it because I know I’d eat the whole thing in a couple hours and be back for more.
I highly suggest this place. It’s amazing.

This is located inside 4^th Street Market. It apparently stands for Playground Fried Chicken (yes, playground as the restaurant nearby across from the market). Got the 2 chicken combo. There are 3 different flavors and the cashier recommended we get their original one, but the boyfriend wanted hot fried chicken. The hot fried chicken was definitely hot and at first, not too spicy, but it really does add up after a few more bites. According to the fried chicken expert, the boyfriend thought the coating was delicious and well-​seasoned, but the chicken itself was lacking flavor/​seasoning. Sadly, they lack in making their sides. It also was decently priced, at $ 10 before tax. I also got the tea, but pass on it. You order it and you go over to the bar area to the left of PFC to obtain your tea. Honestly, you’re better off getting water.
TLDR: Decent fried chicken. Sides aren’t anything to rave for. Hot fried chicken is hot/​spicy, and if it’s your first time, you really are better off getting their original one. Stay around for desserts here! Go to the popsicle place and get the blueberry lemon cream!

My new fried chicken crush. Lemon herb chicken changed my life. So yummy, if you like fried chicken, come here. Fried perfectly and very flavorful. Also tried Nashville Hot, kinda spicy but still fried perfectly. Overall a A + place

I got the two piece combo and it was very filling!
Fried chicken (lemon zest) — it was very flavorful and I definitely taste the lemon seasoning. It also comes with a half lemon so you can squeeze more lemon juice to make it as sour as you like! The two pieces is one dark and one light.
Sides– there’s various sides like a pasta salad, I think it was sweet potato, and 2 pieces of corn bread. I am a HUGE fan of cornbread and it definitely satisfied my expectations: soft and flaky and not too dry. It also came with a side of margarine butter!
Definitely worth trying if you love some good soul food

Playground Fried Chicken is basically Uncle Lou’s wing from Playground across the street, but with more flavors!
For my first visit, I shared an original 2-​piece chicken combo ($ 10), which comes with corn bread, pumpkin (halloween time) potato salad and macaroni salad. The chicken is cooked perfectly moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Honestly, I would just go with the 4-​piece chicken ($ 11). Their sides aren’t that great, except for their corn bread. They also have a lime/​agave dip for their chicken, and I HIGHLY recommend trying it! Enjoy.

I’m not the biggest fan of fried chicken, but even I have to admit this place has a certain something. It’s pretty simple fare as far as food goes, but with a menu this simple, you know they’re doing the fried chicken right.
Their unique blend of spices, done 3 different ways– original, lemon herb, & Louisiana hot– give the chicken a depth of flavor that will make sure you pick those bones clean. Their modest sides include things like BBQ beans, potato salad, & the softest, least-​dry cornbread I’ve ever had.
No, it’s not as exciting as some of the other options you may find here at the 4^th Street Market, but if you’re craving some good old-​fashioned down home cooking, there’s no better place to go.

If you are a fried chicken lover, you need to try the fried chicken at PFC. PFC is one of a number of fast food restaurants located at the 4the Street Market in Santa Ana. 4^th Street Market is a food court similar to that of the Anaheim Packing House but a lot smaller.
PFC is known for their fried chicken. I had a two piece that came with a thigh and leg, two sides, and cornbread. The chicken is perfectly moist inside and crispy on the outside battered lightly. It’s dusted with some sort of season salt/​paprika/​sweet dry rub after it’s fried. Dipping sauce for the chicken is unique. It’s a citrus sweet buttery type sauce. The cornbread with honey butter was very good and moist. I could care less about the potato salad and coleslaw. Potato salad was a bit tart for my taste and I’ve never been a fan of coleslaw.
With a lot of choices to choose from at 4^th Street Market, it worth a try.

Playground Fried Chicken… an extension from the Playground Restaurant right down the corner. Any who is here is my take.
Ambiance
Parking | Plenty of parking ranging from garage or street parking. Pick your poison!
Seating | The setup for 4^th street all varies, it’s shared with other restaurants and you can choose from outside to inside, high stool to regular chairs.
Feels | The ambiance is 4^th streets is generally vibrant. However I did go on a rainy summer Saturday evening and though there was live music, it was surprisingly slow and empty but still pretty cool. No tv around, just live music and the sounds of conversations from strangers.
Food:
Fried Chicken (Recommend)
We ordered the 8 piece and a split it to 4. To start it off, this fried chicken would go on a different category in comparison to the flavors of KFC, Church’s, and Roscoe’s. This new American taste has the crunch and texture from Korean Fried Chicken and superfluous southern spices. Definitely a different taste and that zesty honey sauce gives takes it to another flavor.
Customer Service | We were the only ones there and they were polite and delivered at a reasonable time.
Overall | 4 stars. Kudos on fusioning elements and providing a different taste. I definitely prefer this than the original Playground. If you’re craving fried chicken with a twist, then I would give this place a try. I’ll be sure to try their cornbread and potato salad next time.
TL;DR Tips:
* If you want water, go to the bar.

DIED AND WENT TO FRIED CHICKEN HEAVEN. (& I’m not even a big fan of fried chicken!!)
Seriously, hands down the best fried chicken I’ve ever ever ever ever had. I ordered the four piece and every bite was soooooo flavorful and cooked to perfection! They also flavor the chicken skin with cajun seasoning (i think) and it’s perfectly crispy too. UGH, I seriously drool thinking about it… I was so surprised how moist the chicken was and the sauce they give greatly compliments each other. Their house special pasta salad was also good too… anything with corn is great haha. Also, great service too. Lemon lime soda was refreshing too!
Definitely will be back for this… it’s sooo good. If you ever go to 4^th street market, this is one thing you MUST MUST get.

Stopped by on a Sunday for lunch. I ordered the two piece chicken combo for $ 10 which came with two pieces of chicken, a small side of slaw, a small side of potato salad and a piece of corn bread and honey butter. This is one of Jason’s spot from the Playground across the street.
The chicken is not what you expect if you are expecting typical fried chicken: but in a good way. It is crispy and coated with what I would call a «dry rub» of an interesting combination of spices that are both savory, exotic with just a very small hint of sweetness. The chicken was moist and very good. There was a perfect amount of flavor and spice. Interesting and very good chicken.
The potato salad was creamy, with a hint of bacon and very good. The slaw was okay. It did not have a lot of flavor or vinegar that I was looking for to offset the richness of the chicken. And, the corn bread was moist, with a hint of sweetness and, coupled with the very good honey butter, excellent.