I got lucky! That's right, I got really lucky.
While visiting friends in Houston not too long ago one suggested going to the world-famous Turkey Leg Hut for lunch. Not one to turn down a food adventure I figured why not? So off we went.
For my northern skin folk let me hip you to the "thang" about turkey legs and wings. They are HUGE in the South! It's common to see them being sold (or given away) in bars, off food trucks in the hood, at BBQs, State Fairs, out of trunks and portable grills outside of clubs/football games/events, etc.
It's truly "hood food" in the best possible way and a hustler Chef's go-to product. You won't see or hear of them sold outside the hood, and the franchises and chains won't sell them.
In the South most clubs close at 2am, at that hour your eating options are slim. There was Krystal (R.I.P. White Castle clone that you are), Taco Bell and Waffle House, all of which were pretty much guaranteed to send you to the bathroom for a round of praying to the water Gods, or in the case of the Waffle House maybe to jail since it can get raw at that hour in there.
Trust me, if you've never experienced a Waffle House 2am fight....well...let's just say you haven't really experienced the Durrty South at it's absolute best. But I digress...
To get right to it, a properly smoked or fried turkey wing or leg is delicious beyond compare, and this is from a guy that's not a big fan of turkey. Depending on where you are (Louisiana I'm looking at you here), they make an amazing bar and/or street food and its common to see hustler-Chefs set up outside popular clubs, bars and strip joints selling them.
PSA Break
During a rather freelance period of my life I worked as a bartender and serving turkey legs or wings as a bonus for the regulars was a thing on Fridays. I gotta give my man in Baton Rouge, Lil Walt - The Turkey Wing King props here for spoiling me with his wings. They are The Truth!
As good as they were I would hear rumors and rumblings about this restaurant in Houston that had elevated the game. Rumor had it this place served STUFFED turkey legs.
If you haven't heard of the Turkey Leg Hut here's a short video to get you up to speed:
Many of you though probably know TLH from a rather infamous lawsuit that got national attention:
Does it live up to the hype?
You damn right it does! It's all that plus some. I'm not a big turkey fan, sure Christmas and Thanksgiving I will indulge but outside those holidays it's rare that I get with the bird. I don't dislike it, it's just not that exciting to me as food (I also put grits and catfish in this category, sorry). Every now and then though you run across someone that can take the mundane and predictable and turn it into a masterpiece and the Turkey Leg Hut does all that plus some. Stuffed turkey legs! Who would have thought you could do that!
The Parking Situation
Though it's in the hood, parking is a NIGHTMARE with parking hustlers all around the place (I saw signs advertising $10 parking ($10!!!! Seriously?). If you are fortunate and park nearby, on a good windless day the first thing you will notice is the smell of a smoker.
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is "soul food cool". What's that you say? My melanated folks probably know what I'm talking about but for those who haven't activated their magic melanin I'll explain. Soul Food Cool is that laid back feeling you get when you walk into Mama or Gramma's kitchen That comfort that comes from familiar smells of good things cooking from people that look like you, for people that look like you.
As a New Yorker I've been to more than my share of restaurants in my day, this is what NYers do. But there's a special something that feels right when you walk into a Black-owned restaurant that's really killing it with their food. The staff seems happier and friendlier, the vibe is electric and the customers take on an aura of cool. Maybe I'm just trippin' but I know what I can feel. Even seated outside under a big tent the vibe here was alive and kickin'. Needless to say I loved the place and plan to hittem' up when I'm in Houston (and don'ty mind smelling like smoke).
