The Bacari team, brothers Robert and Daniel Kronfli, and chef/partner Lior Hillel recently opened Byrdie’s Rotisserie, a restaurant featuring slow-cooked chicken made as sandwiches, bowls, platters, plus roasted vegetables. Byrdie’s Rotisserie is located on 3rd Street, not coincidentally next to Barcari W. 3rd.
Hillel graduated from the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu and was offered a position at the world-famous, three Michelin starred Jean Georges Restaurant in New York City. He met restaurateur Daniel Kronfl, and the Bacari partnership took off. Presently, Barcari has five locations.
The interior is bright with colorfully painted walls. One wall has an outline of the state of California. The map depicts the cities where their produce is grown. For example, their potatoes come from Weiser Family Farmers, located just southeast of Bakersfield on the map. They acquire their chicken from a company that breeds cage-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free chicken.
Of course, I had to try The Original ($10). Since I like it spicy, I opted for The Spicy Original with fresh tomato, red onion, pickle, red cabbage, and Byrdie’s Habanero Hot Sauce on a toasted buttered brioche bun. The charred bun added a welcome, slightly bitter taste.
Chicken combos include chilled and hot sides such as fingerling potatoes, brussels sprouts, broccolini, street corn, coleslaw, and french fries. Most sides are $4; the outlier is the truffle mac and cheese at $7.
They marinate the chicken for 24 hours and slow roast it the next day. Because I wanted to taste the chicken by itself, I also ordered a Quarter Chicken ($8.50) (wing and a breast). The chicken was nicely seasoned, juicy, and tender.
Their delicious rotisserie chicken is available as Quarter ($8), Half ($14), and Whole ($22). They also have chicken bowls.
Byrdie’s Rotisserie will match meals ordered at its restaurant with an in-kind meal donation to the LA Regional Food Bank, thanks to co-owner and longtime food bank board member Robert Kronfli.
Byrdie’s Rotisserie, 8030 W. 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048; 323.433.4034; byrdiesrotisserie.com