France

Fried Chicken Yum: New at CityWalk

Flying for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? LudoBird is new on the hill, too.

All eyes have been on the much-anticipated April 7 opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the new enchanted land inside Universal Studios Hollywood.

One of the reasons, of course, are some of the magical flying creatures associated with the J.K. Rowling books, from the loyal owls to the majestic Hippogriff (a beastie whose name is attached to the land's outdoor roller coaster). 

But not too far from The Flight of the Hippogriff, just a skip and a jump over at Universal CityWalk, another winged creation has alighted, this one very much about the thrill of the table (as opposed to coaster-style thrills).

It's LudoBird, from Chef Ludo Lefebvre, and if you've called upon the LudoBird at Staples Center, you know that the centerpiece dish is a much-buzzed-about fried chicken sandwich.

In fact, it's the Provençal Fried Chicken Sandwich, a savory concoction that's got food critics' eyes — and palates — thanks to its luscious batter, its big-flavor kapow, and the host of sauces that complement both.

Those sauces include béarnaise, an unusual but perfect choice for a fried chicken sandwich, and the gold-standard of saucedom, honey mustard. A spicy sauce, a special sauce, piquillo pepper, and cool-it-all-down ranch lend some zazzy love to the hearty dish.

Yep, there's slaw, as there should be alongside any fried chicken entree, and there are biscuits, too, with honey lavender flair. (Chef Lefebvre hails from France, hence tony touches like the Provençal style of his fried chicken and the countryside-esque herbiness of those beloved biscuits.) Potato salad and chips are also sandwich siders.

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Need to fill up before seeking out your first Butterbeer at Wizarding World? Make a beeline — or birdline, rather — for Universal CityWalk's newest entry into its eatery scene, one with fabulous French flair and hearty 'wich-filling goodness.

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