Lucas heads to South L.A. for chicken sausage, a staple of Los Angeles’ black community | Off Menu

Some things immediately come to mind when you think about food in Los Angeles: tacos, sushi and grain bowls, to name a few. But chicken sausage, long a staple in L.A.'s black community, doesn't always receive proper recognition. A recent piece from freelancer Garrett Snyder explores how chicken sausage found its way onto so many L.A. menus, and why it flourished.
During this week's episode of "Off Menu," Food columnist Lucas Kwan Peterson goes to South L.A. to visit two black-owned businesses that focus on chicken sausage, Mama's Chicken on Slauson Avenue and Best Buy Meat on Crenshaw Boulevard. At Mama's, Lucas talks with Karen Whitman, longtime proprietor who has worked at Mama's for 50 years. At Best Buy Meat, owned by father-and-son duo Walter Hart Sr. and Walter Hart Jr., Lucas learns more about the history of their business and how chicken sausage became such a beloved food in the community.
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In this episode:
Mama's Chicken
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Best Buy Meat
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Also featured:
Holmes Homemade Chicken Sausage
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Garrett Snyder's article on chicken sausage in South L.A.
www.latimes.com/food/story/20...
#OffMenu
#LATimesFood
#ChickenSausage

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

Hey everyone thanks so much for tuning into this week’s episode - please visit these businesses if you have a chance. This is the final episode for this first season of OFF MENU! I know, time flies! So please check out the previous 9 episodes and subscribe so you’ll know when the next season drops next year. And my colleague Jenn Harris will have a fantastic fried chicken show, THE BUCKET LIST, also coming out next year. Thanks and see ya soon!! 🥳

[@hannaleone88]

I ate there about 12 yrs ago. Mama chicken sausages on the grill are the best thing i have ever had.

[@moniboo523]

Lucus more new vids!

[@Caldwell4947]

My uncle Waltie and my Cousin Walt Jr! SO PROUD of them I remember being in that shop as a kid! My grandpa is his older Brother and he died. Seeing uncle Waltie reminds me so much of grandpa!

[@-los-7291]

Support your local mom and pops stores,restaurants etc ✊🏾

[@wiz101fan4life]

LA food times has become my the best food channel

[@jc8243]

I loved this video!! This is my home, my neighborhood and it was great seeing this platform visit such legendary business' that we care about and love. Crenshaw baby!!! RIP Nip

[@yadthink]

I love the series for spotlighting different segments of the LA food scene. I hope it continues, though your closing comments sounded, sadly, like closing comments. Thx, Lucas! Hilarious exchange at the end w/ your videographer!

[@biggdaddy202003]

Wow first comment! I have to say this has been a great series so far. Been a fan of Lucas since he was on Eater and now with LA Times. Great to see so many home cooks and small Mom and Pop spots get a chance to shine. Walter Sr. at best buy meat shop was straight up old school. We give you a quality product, fair price, and none of that stuff found in the main brand product. Shows there are still some people out there that still care about what they sell.

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

Ricky Cunningham thanks so much for watching!

[@bompton84]

Mamas Chicken sausage is a staple in my house 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mr2act15]

You are such a good interviewer, keep it up! You have the sense of what to say at the right time.

[@cchu1980]

4:12 and the awkward silence shortly after 😂

[@realf1rme]

Lmao

[@tonyzan5268]

Usually not a fan of ground up chicken, but may be these are good.

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

Tony Zan these are VERY good

[@JelaniB28]

You have to know how to season it

[@JennHarris]

Amazing episode Lucas!!!!! Can't wait for season 2 Lucas! OFF MENU SEASON 2 COMING AT YOU.

[@urgencylifestyle]

Very interesting, I'm glad y'all made this video. Love the food scene in Los Angeles!

[@rogergarcia1550]

Lucas, your statement at the end of this vlog is so true. Once again, great vlog Lucas!

[@Robynfound]

Lucas, you're the Ken Burns of docu food series

[@realf1rme]

That's crazy my mom brought some from her job the other day some lady gave her a box she said they were real good and I tried one they were real good and now I bump into this video Crazy

[@OutdoorsandCountryLiving]

Awesome experience I’m sure. It all looked great!! :) Blessings to you all.

[@bhutjolokia6990]

Learned some new history today!! That sausage looks really awesome!!👍👍😁

[@spaige5381]

It’s crazy. My granny goes to mama’s and her husband (RIP) used to go to Best Buy. Mamas edge them out in my opinion but I eat them both. Support black business

[@imbatmanbuturnot]

nice episode, thanks!

[@hungryburger5110]

never tried chicken sausage before, but they look good.

[@natchurldisaster]

I can't wait to still be here watching these awesome videos in another 6-12 months when there will be hundreds of thousands of subscribers all wondering where this came from and I'll be like, "I've been here since the beginning!"

[@818Yankee]

Never heard of chicken sausage before

[@Noposwowskis]

OMG I LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM THIS, wow i didnt know i can get some good sausage from here lol. I see now why it's popular it the neighborhood

[@hollywoodkev3822]

My #1 favorite spot!!

[@JelaniB28]

The fathers genes are strong. The son and grandson looks just like him.

[@kathyerickson9402]

Thank you so much for your parting words...well, not about the chickens...although, really...you though chickens were mammals?! Anyway, I love the idea of just visiting a new place and a new food, in your own city/neighborhood. Food brings people together and we need more "together" now than ever.

[@Californiansurfer]

Porto’s Cuban bakery Downey California. Andy Garcia regular.

[@skreviewer-3494]

Hope to try these places one day

[@foontes5187]

chickens are birds!! hahah lol!

[@nicholasesparza5036]

Best chicken links in South Central LA I recommend you guys to get the hottest one it has habanero inside the chicken link that shit is fire drive from Pasadena all the way to South Central LA 👌🔥

[@cadets323]

I live 2 minutes from Mama’s chicken and my auntie would always get a box to make her famous gumbo. This is a south central staple.

[@dcduvally3253]

How can I order these chicken sausage? Do you deliver? I live in Riverside, CA Please let me know. Love em ❤

[@hoagbizz6974]

I’ve been going to mamas chicken since I was super young

[@esinamafeku9924]

Hello, directions to your condiments?

[@audreyappleby1276]

She try to keep our box of links 😂they good ash tho

[@og2559]

We just do the chicken 🤣🤣🤣🤣I love when he said that

[@fifward6399]

I like to see stuff like this.

[@Mc007-]

I shop at Best Buy for all my meet his, son and I grew up together

[@noneck66er]

Black in LA and never heard anyone speak one the chicken sausage craze. I think the title here is a bit of an overstatement.

[@jmoore551]

Where you stay? That’s why my G.

[@94mac]

Jermaine Moore Malibu, Brentwood probably lol

[@klccostello1273]

Lhh. Chicken Sausage is synonymous with LA.

[@larrylo2985]

I hate when u broke boys cut them half trying to get 16 chicken links out of 8

[@paullwall3168]

Nipsey 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@dennisjing4961]

let the record reflect that a chicken is NOT a mammal.

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

Someone needs to tell Vesta that YEESH 🙄

[@sarahr7890]

Must be that whole egg laying thing 😂

[@cdubwang]

4:12 slightly awkward pause there

[@Noemyskillz]

Is this serving spoon?

[@brodaproducerproducer7124]

Chicken links 🔥🔥🔥

[@carlasingleton6416]

What is the address of the chicken sausage store?

[@latimesfood]

Best Buy Meats is at 7108 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043 Mama's is at 2510 W Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043

[@K1k05]

😁Excellent Lucas... 8^}

[@garymichael74]

The best chicken sausage to me is the one on 120th and central. Its fire with the stuffed garlic inside. Mamas is my next choice

[@TheWorldJr]

I used to steal this chicken from my uncle fridge every time I'd visit him lol that chicken is CRACK!!! When I saw the title I just new they had to go to Mama's!

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

Richard Jr mama’s is excellent!

[@bvincent546]

Is that David Wesley?

[@byronshort6721]

Barely recognized Lucas. Haven't seen him in a while.

[@surferxblood]

people lovvvvvveeeeee chicken 🍗

[@Noemyskillz]

Nev heard of a chickn sausage burger n im 4rm la

[@dm7744]

Noemyskillz so you never heard of mamas chicken on slauson ?

[@davidgreene6846]

Good food the chicken sausage is the best

[@calvingriffin3095]

Gotta stop watching these videos right before bed

[@imagesinla8575]

Yep, we lost a lot of our Asian community after the riots of 1992, especially from the Leimert Park area.

[@darrenyang6626]

been watching since the eater vids, and while i enjoy the history lessons and interviews, i think this show needs to focus more on the food and showing it, i don’t think we need to just see the person talking for most of the vid

[@illuzeweb]

There's always other video channels

[@chadtep7571]

Love the content but damn Lucas, where's your personality?

[@and1shoes178]

Chicken sausage is Not that popping. Never heard of this place

[@paulhernandez1977]

Damn, what's the LA Times budget that they were able to animate that mannequin so convincingly? But seriously, this guy is wooden. Next time just grab one of those chicken sausages off the grill - it'd be eminently more watchable.

[@rudystraight1750]

@M Crumb well he sold out and has a boss

[@rudystraight1750]

No such thing as healthy chicken. All ur chickens are fattened with sodium and water

[@JelaniB28]

Rudy Straight - Eat all the red meat and pork you want buddy. Your choice.

[@illuzeweb]

How do you know where they get their chick from though? 🤔

[@axuxaxux]

Love you, lucas.