Even though Cowboy Chicken has only been open a couple of weeks, Justin Sanchez and his family — wife Ann, and their 5-year-old son, Jason — are big fans. This is their third visit to the California Avenue restaurant.
Five-year-old Jason Sanchez enjoys his drumsticks during a visit to Cowboy Chicken with his parents. This is the third time the family has been to the restaurant, which has only been open since Oct. 6.
General manager Wendy Dodson calls out a take-out order and readies to deliver a dine-in order. Cowboy Chicken, located at 5620 California Ave., opened earlier this month.
Word travels fast in Bakersfield about good food. Cowboy Chicken was full of customers at lunchtime, a feat for a place that's been open less than a month.
Andrew Walton removes cooked chickens from the rotisserie. Chickens are marinated for 24 hours and roasted in wood-burning ovens at the new Cowboy Chicken.
Chickens are marinated for 24 hours and roasted in wood-burning ovens at Cowboy Chicken.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Chicken with green beans and "potaters," on the menu at Cowboy Chicken. Those side spuds are a must-order item, according to columnist Pete Tittl.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Even though Cowboy Chicken has only been open a couple of weeks, Justin Sanchez and his family — wife Ann, and their 5-year-old son, Jason — are big fans. This is their third visit to the California Avenue restaurant.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Five-year-old Jason Sanchez enjoys his drumsticks during a visit to Cowboy Chicken with his parents. This is the third time the family has been to the restaurant, which has only been open since Oct. 6.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Finish your meal at Cowboy Chicken with the apple cobbler, to which you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
General manager Wendy Dodson calls out a take-out order and readies to deliver a dine-in order. Cowboy Chicken, located at 5620 California Ave., opened earlier this month.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Barbecue sandwich with ranchero beans on the menu at Cowboy Chicken.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Word travels fast in Bakersfield about good food. Cowboy Chicken was full of customers at lunchtime, a feat for a place that's been open less than a month.
Alex Horvath / The Californian
Andrew Walton removes cooked chickens from the rotisserie. Chickens are marinated for 24 hours and roasted in wood-burning ovens at the new Cowboy Chicken.
Like many in Bakersfield I’ve purchased that amazing value known as a Costco rotisserie chicken for $5. Like the $1.50 hot dog and soda, it seems designed not for profit but as a way to build foot traffic. It’s hard to resist, but local grocery stores have added similar products, sometimes costing the same, sometimes more expensive. For a busy family, it’s a great quick meal.
Now Cowboy Chicken has invaded from Texas, after opening in Fresno and San Diego, and this place is a game changer — if you can find a parking spot. The chicken here is rotisserie, but it’s made with a wood fire. And it’s superior for that very reason, adding a subtle smokiness that is typical of good barbecue but not in an overpowering sense. That and some amazing side dishes tells me this place is going to round up a lot of Bakersfieldians.