Where to Eat: Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich @ Honor Bar, Beverly Hills

The Eats: Classic American fare including burgers, salads and of course, Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich

The Location: Beverly Hills

The Vibes: Upscale, casual, masculine

Good for: Alone, dates, small groups (but not ideal for small kids)

When-To-Go: Opens daily at 11:30 a.m.; closes at 11 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and at midnight Friday & Saturday

The $$ Factor: Mains, $10 - $16; Sushi, $14 - $20; Sides $5 - $9; Cocktails, $15 - $16

The Names behind the scenes: Hillstone Restaurant Group, which runs other restaurants like its namesake in Santa Monica, Gulfstream and Houston’s

The 4-1-1: While I technically walked in wearing sports attire, there seems to be a dress code; you can read it here

Parking Situation: Nearby metered street parking and a few local parking garages

I’ll Be Back…: For Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich!


A good friend of mine told me she had tasted one of the best fried chicken sandwiches — possibly of her life — at this teeny tiny bar in Beverly Hills, called Honor Bar. In fact, it was so good, that she had gone back twice in one weekend.

The best fried chicken sandwich was found … in Beverly Hills, out of all places?

I was dubious. 

So clearly, I did what any self-respecting foodie would do; I hopped right on over to see for myself. 

I arrived on a chill Saturday afternoon. As I walked up to the hostess stand, my skepticism was greeted with a warm smile. The one-room restaurant was packed to the brim, with patrons either perched up at the long rectangular bar to the left or crammed together in tables or booths hugging a brick wall to the right. And while the space itself was swanky and debonair, with muted earthy tones, nostalgic photos of L.A. and rich woods throughout, the vibe was laid-back and casual.

One of the first things I noticed — right from when I entered and until we said our goodbyes — was the impeccable customer service. Throughout our entire meal, servers politely and professionally checked in, never letting water glasses get too low and graciously assisting with each and every request (and trust me, as anyone who's dined with me knows, I had quite a few). The spectacular service was a tiny detail, but one that stood out and made a long-lasting, positive impression.

But alas, more about this fried chicken sandwich that had led me here in the first place. Officially known as Ding’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich (pictured below), it’s piled high with golden brown fried chicken, tomatoes, Swiss cheese and kale, all balanced between two toasted buns. One bite into it, and I understood just exactly what my friend was talking about. That was a pretty damn good sandwich. It was the flavor and seasoning of the chicken, the right level of toast for the bun and the uber-fresh veggies, all working together to create a very filling, delightful sandwich to eat. Plus, paired with the lightly salted, crispy French fries, it turned out to be a very satisfying meal.

Another close contender is the Carnitas sandwich (pictured below), with slow roasted pork, pickled onions, sliced avocado and Monterey jack cheese. Smooshed between two toasted buns as well, the pork was so tender and the tangy onions gave it a nice bite. It was even better topped off with the house barbecue sauce, which had a slight kick to it.

Aside from these two sandwiches, Honor Bar serves up a few other burgers, daily pizzas, sides and interestingly enough, sushi (pictured below). The menu is by no means exhaustive — there are only seven main options, 10 sushi platters and a handful of sides — but what I’ve tasted so far makes it certain that I'll be returning. They also serve up classic cocktails, from hand-shaken daiquiris to margaritas and Manhattans.

In the end, I was drawn in by Ding’s sandwich and sold over by it, in addition to other tasty options and great service. I appreciate that even though it’s upscale and modern, it’s not pretentious and overly stuffy.

So the next time you just so happened to be in Beverly Hills, craving a fried chicken sandwich, you know where to turn.

See you there soon!

For more information: 

Website, Instagram, Tel: (310) 550-0292

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