Poultry has proved to be an invaluable asset to humanity. Despite being a stable source of food for over 2,000 years, chicken is often regarded as a tired, bland and boring protein. I’m here to argue the contrary.
In truth, chicken and chicken eggs can make for some of the heartiest and most satisfying meals around. And with a little creativity, they can pack a powerful punch of flavor too. To prove my personal credo, I went on a chicken run around Central Florida to find some of the most deliciously interesting chicken and egg dishes.
So, if you’re tired of the same old poultry-forward protein that we’ve been eating for centuries, try one of these incredible dishes to reinvigorate your love and appreciation of it. Hail the humble chicken!
Bacon Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich on a Donut — Duck Donuts in Daytona Beach
1405 Cornerstone Blvd. C, Open 8am-5pm Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm Friday and Saturday and 8am-6pm on Sunday
24 miles from the Beacon office
I know how this sounds, it seems like a heart attack waiting to happen. Surely this is against the laws of nature, but stick with me. Maple drizzle, bacon bits, American cheese and an impossibly fluffy scrambled egg are sandwiched inside a plain cake doughnut. Perhaps it is the classic, almost bready texture of the cake doughnut that makes this beast of a breakfast sandwich surprisingly balanced.
Despite its indulgent lineup of ingredients, this dish is remarkably palatable and tasty. The savory bacon adds a textural crunch, the egg and cheese supply a solid foundation, and the doughnut and maple drizzle offer just a touch of sweetness to round out the dish. It’s not too sweet, not too salty, not too rich or greasy. Everything is just right, which makes it oh so delightful.
Duck Donuts specializes in all things cake doughnuts. Each is made to order so they are always fresh and warm and wonderful. If you’d like your doughnut sandwich made any differently, they’ve got you covered.
I can think of no other egg dish that can contend with this truly American masterpiece in terms of uniqueness. This is my go-to when I need all the comfort of an egg-forward breakfast with all the sinfulness of a cheat-meal.
Huevos Rancheros — Café Con Leche in Daytona Beach
2761 S. Ridgewood Ave., Open 7am-8pm Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday
25 miles from the Beacon office
This vegetarian Mexican dish is truly a fresh take on a breakfast classic. Gooey fried eggs are topped with homemade pico de gallo and served with tortillas or toast. I had mine with a side of maduros, or sweet plantains, to add another dimension of flavor to the mix.
Huevos Rancheros, or “ranchers eggs” in English, was created by the working class in 16th-century Mexico to be a healthful and hearty breakfast that can carry you through a day of hard labor.
At Café Con Leche, you can get a plate any time of day, though breakfast is $2 extra after noon. Though it might be considered sacrilege to forgo their namesake (sweetened coffee with milk) alongside it, and for good reason. Nothing satisfies my soul quite like hearty eggs with fresh salsa, and a fresh cup of coffee.
Be warned, this dish may not be suited to cilantro haters. But if the thought of an herbaceous salsa and perfectly cooked fried eggs sounds as scrumptious to you as it does to me, then this is a must-try breakfast for sure.
Nashville Hot Chicken — Dave’s Hot Chicken in Altamonte Springs
155 Cranes Roost Blvd., Open 11am-10pm 7 days a week
29 miles from the Beacon office
Full disclosure — apparently (at least, according to my friends and family) I have an unnaturally high tolerance to spice. That’s why the equalizing force that is the choose-your-own-spice feature at Dave’s Hot Chicken is such a crowd-pleaser.
When you think of Nashville hot chicken, you usually think of gloved hands, liability waivers and terrible, terrible pain. But here, you don’t have to endure physical pain to enjoy top-notch chicken. The truth of the classic Nashville take on chicken is that it’s leagues above any fast casual chicken joint in terms of flavor. Dave’s version comes out of the kitchen at your specified spice level (with seven options in total) impossibly fast and piping hot and crispy. The menu is limited to focus on their specialty chicken and seasoned crinkle-cut fries. The seasoning of the chicken is more than just spicy though, it’s incredibly flavorful and addictive, too.
I tried a chicken tender and a chicken sandwich with kale slaw and seasoned fries, and I chose the hot spice level with trepidation. Unlike most “spicy” chicken, this version actually lives up to its name. That being said, and thanks in part to the magic of their deliciously rich milkshakes, next time I will surely try my hand at the extra-hot level.
Egg Tarts — Qi Dragon Bakery in Orlando
6971, 7400 Southland Blvd. # 109, Open 9am-5pm Tuesday and Thursday close at 2pm
43 miles from the Beacon office
Egg tarts seemed like an obvious choice for this collection. This delicious pastry of Chinese origins consists of a lightly sweetened egg custard baked in a flaky pie crust. These little beauties are typically sold in dim sum restaurants and at Chinese bakeries.
Trouble is, much to my disappointment, they are shockingly hard to come by in Central Florida, let alone within Volusia County. And what a pity! Egg tarts have a rich history in native Chinese cuisine, and after you try one, the reason for their popularity becomes clear. These tarts somehow strike the perfect balance between sweet and savory without going too far in either direction. The lush texture of the custard combined with the crunch of the crust makes for a satisfying experience, and the individual portions are just the right size for a single serving.
In my search, I finally struck gold when I found Qi Dragon Bakery. This little hole-in-the-wall joint has a huge selection of Chinese baked goods, plus boba tea and smoothies to wash them down. And there, front and center on their wall of baked goods, sat the elusive egg tarts. Everything here was an absolute bargain; I grabbed two of the tarts for a total of two dollars and change. With my great success in hunting down the perfect dessert to sing praises to the humble egg, I scarfed down my victory tart. And let me tell you, that piece of victory was delicious.
Chicken Adobo — Pistang Pilipino in Kissimmee
4149 W. Vine St., Open 11am-8:30pm Tuesday-Sunday, closed on Mondays
59 miles from the Beacon office
Tragically, Filipino food is perhaps the most overlooked and underrated cuisine in America. Even I, a self-proclaimed aficionado on all things foodie, am criminally uneducated in the art of Filipino cuisine. This ends now.
The most delightful aspect of Filipino food in my eyes is its blend of cultural influences. Several rounds of colonization and hardship forced folks to get creative with their recipes to make ends meet. While the origins of this melting pot of flavors are nothing to celebrate, leave it to the unrelenting nature of humanity to turn misfortune into something beautiful, or in this case, something delicious.
Filipino food has touches of Spanish, Chinese and Indian influences in addition to its Indigenous traditions. So, you can go from curry to lechon in a single meal.
At Pistang Pilipino, you’ll find a slew of authentic classics. They offer all manner of chicken dishes that you’ve likely never tried but definitely should. I myself was tempted by the fried chicken skins and chicken afritada, but ultimately sided with one of the Philippines’ most famous dishes enjoyed by Americans: chicken adobo.
As a Puerto Rican myself, I know what some of you are thinking. But this isn’t the Goya brand Adobo seasoning that many of us grew up with. Rather, this version is a sweet and sticky sauce, typically made with soy sauce and lots of aromatics. It’s thick, rich, and incredibly addictive. I had mine with garlic rice, which made for a truly stellar combination.
If you ever find yourself in Kissimmee and crave a chicken dish so indescribably scrumptious that you might be tempted to fight someone over the last piece, do yourself a favor and get a plate of chicken adobo from Pistang Pilipino.
