Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken

This is a chain but not a real well known one. There about 140 stores usually dotted in smaller cities in the midwest and south. Looking for some fast food chicken? Short answer: you won’t go wrong picking up Lee’s.
So who is Lee? Well he was Colonel Sanders nephew. He actually helped his goateed, string tied uncle develop his secret receipt in the 1930s. Later he went into business himself, starting his first store here in Lima. (the original store no longer exists.)
Here is the difference between Lee’s and KFC: Lees is much more smoother and saturates, in my opinion, into the meat where KFC has a noticeable spice bite that sits on the skin. I really can’t say which is better, they are just different and it will depend on your mood: an introspective Lee’s or an outgoing Colonel. The only weakness is that sometimes meat quality and density can lack, KFC is more consistent with this. Like KFC they have white meat and drum sticks, mash potatoes and other sides, biscuits, and other chicken dinners.
Of course this is not Nashville perfect chicken. But for fast food, it will do.

While on a northbound trip to Michigan, we began looking for a place to stop for lunch other than the usual choices you find along interstates. The girlfriend hit up the Internet for some starting points and Unilocal for some suggestions and the Lee’s reviews got her craving fried chicken Based on her research, it seemed like there would be a lots of variety at the restaurant that’s not what we experienced (more below).
Food: As a disclaimer I’m not a fried chicken connoisseur and rarely visit fast food type chicken joints.
Despite my extensive lack of knowledge of chicken, I can definitely say this chicken was good! It was explained to me that they pressure cook it and, while I don’t know what that has to do with anything, it definitely works here. We both got 2 pc combo which comes with a side of your choice and a biscuit (and its cheap $ 2.89)! Trying of fake a bit of health consciousness, I got the red beans and rice while she got the mac and cheese. I will say that while the chicken is tasty the sides we had were lacking. In fact, my red beans in rice were flat out disappointing as compared to the New Orleans namesake and I didn’t eat it. My girlfriend said the mac-​n-​cheese was exactly like KFC’s. The biscuits were fine but smallish.
Also, in the car we saw that they offered several cooking styles including «famous recipe», «crispy + spicy» and «over roast», however, once there I didn’t see any of those on the menu board. I studied it for a long time because I wanted the oven roast version so if it is there, I’m blind.
Like most chicken places, the menu also includes multi-​piece boxes for larger groups, there are sandwiches, chicken wings and apparently they are known for their gizzards… I took a pass. 3 stars for food (kudos on the chicken itself, minuses for the sides and not being able to find the cooking styles).
Service: after studying the board and approaching the counter our service was fast and friendly with our food being ready in barely a minute I think. 3 stars for service.
Value: is excellent. our two combos plus two ice teas came less than 9 bucks. 4 stars for value
Atmosphere: were standard fast food layout but bright and clean. They even had Thanksgiving decorations out. Bathrooms were clean too. 3 stars for atmosphere.
Due to the fact that I’m not much of a fried chicken guy, I’d probably go with something else if I was local but the chicken itself is good and very nicely priced. The sides are week, however, so I would probably only do chicken.
Food: ⁷⁄₁₀; Service: ⁷⁄₁₀; Value: ⁹⁄₁₀; Atmosphere: ⁷⁄₁₀

After eating at so many chicken shacks over the years, Lee’s Famous Recipe is THE BEST!
The skin on fried chicken is so bad for you, but tastes so good!
The gravy for the mashed potatoes is so delicious I will drink it out of the foam container like its kool-​aid.
I have to order the cole slaw on each visit, as it is sweet and finely chopped.
The baked beans are savory and the biscuits are fantastic right out of the oven.
If you are feeding your family, this is a affordable place for everyone to fill up.
My only knock to the place is the sweet tea. Its «ok», not nearly as good as McDonalds sweet tea. The Lee’s tea has too much of a sun tea flavor.
I would love to see them add a sweet, cornbread. As long as it was not cornmeal gritty and super sweet.
I love Lee’s.

I know there are Lee’s outside of Lima, and they suck, but for some reason the ones in Lima are really good.