Top Spots for Chicken Fried Steak
Chicken-fried steak is an American classic, and people have strong opinions about it. For some, a restaurant has to bread the steak in-house. It’s a dealbreaker if it’s made from frozen or sourced elsewhere. Others don’t care how it came to be on their plate. They just want that classic CFS style they grew up with.
Regardless of which camp you’re in, the biggest challenge is finding an eatery that can consistently serve a great chicken-fried steak. We visited the best spots, and these are our top picks.
1. Gravy
Portland – NorthGravy’s country fried steak starts with an 8oz sirloin steak that they pound and bread by hand. Then it’s deep-fried. Lastly it’s topped with their namesake sausage gravy.
it’s almost not fair to compare Gravy’s with the others. It’s a legit steak which gives it a different texture. The breading isn’t dark tasting at all. Light and bright are adjustives that come to mind. The sausage gravy is right in harmony making for a delicious ensemble. It should be said that Gravy’s country fried steak is $24.50 making it the most expensive that we tried.
Video Episode 7 of my Quest to the Best Chicken Fried Steak: https://vanportinsider.com/reviews/the-best-chicken-fried-steak-episode-7/
2. Nite Hawk
Portland- North
Nite Hawk has been around since 1931 and a Café & Lounge since 1980. They make chicken fried steak the old fashioned way in-house. They start with a cube steak and bread it with their own recipe.
The gravy is made with bacon fat and sausage. I found the steak to be neither tender nor tough. Kink of in-between. The breading has a nice texture and their seasoning gives it just enough pizzazz. The gravy is on point with a savory flavor that compliments the steak well.
Video: Episode 3 of my Quest to the Best Chicken Fried Steak.
https://vanportinsider.com/reviews/the-best-chicken-fried-steak-episode-3/
3. Bertie Lou’s
Portland – Sellwood
Bertie Lou’s is well known for breakfast. They source their steak from a 3rd party yet it has a great texture and the flavor the breading is fairly neutral. But what makes Bertie’s CFS unique is their gravy that they make in-house. The seasoning is different and tastes excellent.
Video: Episode 4 of my Quest to the Best Chicken Fried Steak:
https://vanportinsider.com/reviews/the-best-chicken-fried-steak-episode-6/
4. The Diner
Vancouver – Central
.The Diner breads their chicken fried steak in house from pieces of steak they’ve ground up into a dense patty. Sometimes they freeze the steak after it’s been breaded. They top it with their white country gravy that is made without meat. I found that the texture of the meat to be similar to a hamburger patty, but with more body, a little bit more density than that. The gravy complements the steak very, very well.
Video: Episode 4 of my Quest to the Best Chicken Fried Steak:
https://vanportinsider.com/reviews/best-chicken-fried-steak-episode-4/
5. Cecilia
Vancouver – South
Cecilia has the same owners as Amaro’s Table, and they definitely know their way around fried chicken, so it’s no surprise that their chicken fried steak is top-notch. The gravy is seasoned a little differently than the traditional version, giving it a unique twist. It’s quite good, but my personal preference is still the classic white sausage-style gravy.
6. Billy Blues
Vancouver – West
I tried Billy’s chicken fried steak twice. The first ime was very good. The second time around was less than great. This could have been an off serving. No restaurant can hit a home run every time.
7. My Fathers Place
Portland – Central
My Father’s Place opened in 1978 and still run by the same family. But that location has been a bar for over 100 years. Their chicken fried steak with gravy comes with O’Brien’s (hash browns with peppers and onions), eggs and a biscuit. They source the CFS but the gravy is made in-house and in on point. BTW: Their bacon is excellent.
8. Joe Brown’s
Vancouver – Downtown
Joe Brown’s Cafe has been serving breakfast since 1932. Owner, Karen Carlton says they buy their chicken fried steak from a supplier but they make their own sausage gravy. Their steak is good but the gravy is great.
Video: Episode 1 of my Quest to the Best Chicken Fried Steak:
https://vanportinsider.com/reviews/the-best-chicken-fried-steak-episode-1/
9. 13 Coins
Vancouver – Waterfront
13 Coins is a swanky joint on the Vancouver waterfront. Their chicken fried steak starts with a cubed sirloin steak and pound it thin. Then they hand bread it. They make their own bacon gravy in-house. The dish comes with eggs, hash browns, and toast. It’s a classic example of a proper chicken fried steak. I didn’t care for the gravy’s dark flavor.
Video: Episode 5 of my Quest to the Best Chicken Fried Steak:
https://vanportinsider.com/reviews/the-best-chicken-fried-steak-episode-5/
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