When I went to Two Birds in Irvine I was expecting more. Not in terms of flavor or quality, but just more variety on the menu. Of all the restaurants in the Trade Food Hall, I think it has the least amount of main courses. It really doesn’t matter though, because the main dishes they do are quite satisfying. I should’ve guessed that a place called “Two Birds” would only have two(ish) main dishes with chicken prepared two ways.
Two Birds’ claim to fame is it’s use of local Jidori chickens. What are Jidori chickens? they are California raised fowl that are organic, vegetarian, and read the collected works of Charles Dickens (I’m assuming). The meat is minimally processed and is known for it’s freshness.
Two Birds’ “Bird in the Hand”
- Crispy or grilled chicken
- Salt & Vinegar slaw
- Fry sauce
- Potato Bun
When this sandwich came out, I was immediately overwhelmed by its size. The amount of chicken that is used can easily be used for two sandwiches. The salt and vinegar slaw is nice, but subdued because of the strength of the “fry sauce.” The fry sauce is tomato based and quite peppery, there is a little sweetness there as well. Even when battered and fried, I felt that the chicken really was the superstar of the sandwich. It had more flavor than I expected even without the sauce. The batter was pretty dark and a little hard but it didn’t take away from the flavor. I’d like to try the grilled version next time and see how the chicken compares, no doubt the absence of batter will change the dynamics of flavor.
Two Birds is a great example of a restaurant doing a few things really well, chicken lovers can’t go wrong when they come here. There are a handful of sides on the menu, but if you’re eating here alone, I doubt you’ll need them. The sandwich itself costs $9 which is a great price for the portion and quality. Not a fan of all the fancy stuff? you can also order the chicken by itself, make sure you stock up on napkins.
-Vy
Two Birds
2222 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612
| Saturday | 11AM–10PM |
| Sunday | 11:30AM–8PM |
| Monday | 11AM–9PM |
| Tuesday | 11AM–9PM |
| Wednesday | 11AM–9PM |
| Thursday | 11AM–9PM |
| Friday | 11AM–10PM |
More Chicken Sandwiches
Dave’s Hot Chicken, Fountain Valley CA
Project Social, Dana Point CA
