Al Aseel Grill and Cafe

"This casual Palestinian restaurant has made a name for its comforting spreads of charcoal-grilled kebabs, hummus, and grilled chicken, which comes in half and whole orders. The most popular, though, is likely its fried chicken. Seasoned with sumac, oregano, and za’atar, the chicken’s tangy flavor pairs well with sides of cucumber-tomato salad and earthy, yellow rice. The thirst-quenching fresh mint lime juice is also a must-order." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Everything at this Palestinian restaurant in the Mid-West neighborhood is worth waiting for, especially the chicken. The service is inconsistent, but that doesn’t matter after the za’atar-spiced fried chicken arrives. Plated over a bed of fluffy rice and fresh cucumber salad, this extra-crispy chicken will make you question why you aren’t always eating fried chicken this way. Order with the mixed mezze that includes hummus, tangy labneh, and baba ghanoush, each of which complements the spicy chicken. " - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"Everything at this Palestinian restaurant in the Mid-West neighborhood is worth waiting for, especially the chicken. The service here can be inconsistent, but that doesn’t matter when the za’atar-spiced, extra-crispy fried chicken arrives. Plated over a bed of fluffy rice and fresh cucumber salad, this chicken will make you question why you aren’t always eating fried chicken this way. Especially if you order the mixed mezze with nutty hummus, tangy labneh, and baba ghanoush, each of which only makes the chicken taste that much better. photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen" - Chelsea Thomas

"This Mediterranean restaurant has long been known for some of the best fried chicken in Houston. Coated in spices imported from Jerusalem, this tangy fried chicken is plated over an earth bed of yellow rice with a refreshing side of cucumber-tomato salad." - Brittany Britto Garley

"Most are familiar with the Nashville or Korean iterations, but Al Aseel’s own Palestinian riff on fried chicken deserves some recognition. This strip mall gem serves halal fried chicken that is crisped to golden perfection, drizzled with zaatar, and presented with a side of yellow rice and a cucumber and tomato salad." - Sean Hekmat, Kayla Stewart