Happy Chickenzz – Albuquerque, New Mexico

“And believe me, a good piece of chicken can make anybody believe in the existence of God.”
~Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Two things came to mind when my friend Nader and I approached Happy Chickenzz during our inaugural visit in September, 2019. First, I mused, “if happy cows come from California (a 2002 marketing campaign for California cheese), where do happy chickenzz come from.” My second rumination was to wonder if the ‘zz’ at the end of the word chicken is an indication that the chicken is so boring, it’ll put your taste buds to sleep. You know, zzzzz. As we were quick to learn, it’s not only the chickenzz who are happy here.  So are diners.  Endorphin-rush happy! Fully sated and blissfully happy! As for putting taste buds to sleep, these chickenzz have so much personality, so much depth of flavor, so much  that they’ll wake up the most staid of taste buds and delight even the most pedantic of palates.

Happy Chickenzz started off as one of six original food pods at the pristine El Vado multi-use complex on Central Avenue just east of the Rio Grande.  In October, 2024, Happy Chickenzz relocated to the Bourbon House, a bourbon and craft bar with a large space for dancing.  Happy Chickenzz occupies a corner spot.  On a concession stand type window, you’ll be greeted by chef-owner Tony Chalenphonh, a friendly guy with a perpetual smile.  It won’t be the only time you’ll see Tony.  He makes it a practice of visiting diners at their tables to ensure they’re enjoying their meals.  At El Vado, the food pods may have proffered wonderful food, but their success was largely predicated on the weather.  It’s a challenge to attract diners when it’s cold, windy or even too hot.  The Bourbon House is comfortable year-round.

Tony told us a little about his eatery’s concept.  Essentially, Happy Chickenzz is about actualizing the flavor of fried chicken and showcasing its distinctive flavors with exciting sauces all served in a welcoming environment.  Tony also hopes to introduce Duke City diners to elements of Laotian cuisine (hopefully to include laarb and Lao jerky).  Now that he’s no longer ensconced in a shared space, he’s been able to introduce more diversity to the Happy Chickenzz menu.  Now you can find smash burgers, sandwiches and even pizza on that menu.  At El Vado, he was pretty much bound by a “non-compete” agreement that prevented him from offering foods available at other pods.

Most people love chicken which to me is the most boring of all proteins (except when fried)–at least the way it’s prepared at far too many restaurants.  We didn’t quite know what to expect from Happy Chickenzz though it was a virtual certainty it would be far superior to the Colonel’s cluckers (not that it takes much).  Whether at El Vado or within the Bourbon House, Happy Chickenzz lives up to the vision Tony has.  It’s also made a believer of my Kim who loves fried chicken even more than her dutiful husband does.

14 August 2018: When it comes to chicken wings, many experts say fry, fry, fry again.  Alas, the problem with some double-fried wings is that the second frying renders them as desiccated as a mummified body.  Not so at Happy Wingzz where  wings (available in quantities of six or twelve fried chicken wings) are as moist, tender, crispy and delicious as any wings you’ll find anywhere in the Duke City.  With six flavors (garlic soy–spicy or regular, Cluckin’ Hot (Laos/Thai inspired),  buffalo, lemon pepper, Cajun, BBQ), you’re sure to find one to make your day.  You can also enjoy your wings “naked” (no sauce, not eating nude).  Being fire-eaters, Nader and I enjoyed a six piece order of Happy Wingzz with Cluckin’ Hot sauce.  That sauce has a pleasant piquancy with a little chaser of fruity sweetness.  It infiltrates the light batter and lends its fiery personality to the entire chicken.  What a great introduction to Happy Chickenzz.  During my second visit, my friend Kelley Warnock and I shared an order of Happy Wingzz with a spicy garlic-soy sauce.  Another winger!

14 August 2018: When he delivered our meal, Tony also brought us a disposable plastic cup with an even more incendiary sauce than the Cluckin’ Hot.  At the time, the Carolina Reaper-Ghost Pepper sauce paired two of the most potent peppers in the world.  At 2.2 million Scoville units, the Carolina Reaper is currently the hottest pepper in the world and the Ghost Pepper (1.04 million Scoville units) ranks seventh.  What we appreciated most about this sauce is that it’s not about heat for heat’s sake.  This sauce not only had a fiery personality, it has flavor.  Both are intense and memorable.  They imprint themselves on your taste buds and remain active well beyond your meal.  We mostly used it on the rice and the “Shut Your Mouth” chicken, thoroughly enjoying the endorphin rush.  Tony has since replaced those incendiary peppers with Thai peppers which are still too hot for most people.

22 August 2018: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, better known as Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on HBO’s “Game of Thrones” can’t be typecast, especially after recently portraying the Kentucky Fried Chicken Colonel and hawking KFC’s Double Crispy Colonel Sandwich.  In the huge hands of the 6’9″ 397-pound former professional strongman, the sandwich looked puny.  Had he been holding Happy Chickenzz El Vado OG Chicken Sandwich, it would have appeared much more proportionate with his gigantic hand.  The El Vado is one seriously large chicken sandwich, a fried (or grilled if you prefer) chicken breast, fresh greens, Sriracha aioli sauce and a three-blend cheese.  With huge flavors to match the sizeable sandwich, it’s sure to become a local favorite.  The large chicken breast is moist, juicy and best of all, lightly breaded.  With its pleasant piquancy, garlicky, tangy-sweet personality the Sriracha aioli is a great touch.

19 September 2019:  In a recent article for Business Insider, Irene Jiang described true love in terms only a foodie would appreciate: “True love is a chicken sandwich that makes you feel full, whole, and taken care of. It’s a bun that envelops your chicken in a comforting embrace, a thick slab of juicy, crispy chicken that reminds you of a Southern city you’ve never been to.”   For the longest time, denizens of the fruited plain have found true love in chicken sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A, the most popular chicken chain under spacious skies.  When Popeye’s debuted its own chicken sandwich, America showed how fickle it could be, with social media and local television talking chasing after the pretty new face.  For a few weeks, a war ensued in which devotees of both sides declared their allegiances.

When a well-meaning colleague asked me to weigh in, my personal and very local bias was on full display.  “Why,” I asked “aren’t local loyalists being asked who’s truly got the best chicken sandwich: Happy Chickenzz or Chile Chicken Nashville Hot Chicken?”   And shame on you if you declare your love for those chump chains without having tried the locale fare.  In addition to the El Vado described above, Happy Chickenzz offers the Diablo (fried chicken breast topped with Cluckin’ hot sauce, fresh slaw, chipotle aioli and a three-blend cheese served on a toasted bun with a side of seasoned fries).  Not only might it make you cry tears of joy, you may shed a few on account of that Cluckin’ sauce which packs some serious heat.  The fried chicken is magnificent–among the very best in town with neither Popeye’s or Chick-Fil-A even close.

7 December 2024:  The Land of Enchantment’s perpetual “red or green” debate has nothing on another dining dispute.  Most New Mexican’s may have a preference while still loving the other.  Most of us recognize that some dishes go better with red while other dishes can only be made with green chile.  A much more contentious debate exists regarding pineapple on pizza.  Among detractors is Chef Gordon Ramsay who doesn’t mince words: “You don’t put f—ing pineapple on pizza.”   Famous foodie Stanley Tucci also weighed in: “It’s so repellent, were I to think of it, I might not survive.”  Paris Hilton and Justin Bieber, on the other hand, love pineapple on pizza.  So does Duane “The Rock” Johnson.

As a cynic who eshews parasocial interaction (a perceived relationship between an audience and performers, particular on television and online) and tends to dislike egocentric personalities, celebrity opinions carry as much weight as a mouse’s point of view.  Pineapple on pizza may not be my favorite topping, but I won’t kick if off the table if offered or if I trust the pizzaioli.  Tony’s menu includes five different pizzas including one called Luau (mozzarella, bbq pork, pineapple, Sriracha drizzle).  It’s an excellent pizza, clearly demonstrating the chefs talents go far beyond chicken.  About as thick as a Detroit style pizza, it’s got a crust reminiscent of fresh bread.  Toppings are generously applied and the bourbon-tinged barbecue sauce is fantastic.  It’s got just a bit of bite and tempers the sweet pineapple very well.  On this pizza at least, I’ll have to agree with Paris Hilton and Justin Bieber probably for the first and last time ever.

“Happy Chickenzz is Albuquerque’s, first and true international house of chicken!”  That’s how the Happy Chickenzz website describes this purveyor of pleasing poultry.  Not only will it make you happy, you’ll happily recommend it to your friends.

Happy Chickenzz
9800 Montgomery Blvd.,  N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 417-6823
Web Site | Facebook Page
LATEST VISIT: 7 December 2024
1st VISIT: 14 August 2018
# OF VISITS: 4
RATING: 22
COST: $ – $$
BEST BET: “Cluckin’ Hot” Happy Wingzz, Spicy Garlic Soy Happy Wingzz ,El Vado Chicken Sandwich, The Diablo, Th
REVIEW #1058