Where to find the best chicken fried steak in Flagstaff

Crown Railroad Cafe's breakfast CFS

Chicken fried steak also known as country fried steak or CFS is sinfully delicious when done right. This southern comfort dish is far from health food. But it sure makes for a scrumptious meal.
If you’re not familiar with chicken fried steak, you may be surprised to learn there’s no chicken in it. It’s typically a piece of tenderized round steak (one of the tougher cuts of beef) breaded and cooked in the style of fried chicken.
CFS originated in Texas, said to be the invention of German immigrants who brought with them a love of weiner schnitzel but found more beef on hand than veal. It has since turned into something you’ll find in every mom and pop café and diner across the mid-South and is spreading in popularity as the taste for this pan-fried piece of heaven grows.
Here’s a look at a few of the best spots across northern Arizona to get classic chicken fried steak…

Granny’s Closet
218 S. Milton Rd., Flagstaff
www.grannys-closet.com
Not a surprise that the cozy Granny’s features this down-home dish done right. At dinner, Granny’s chicken fried steak is served up with veggies plus mashed potatoes and gravy, or as they call it down South “the works.” You could opt for a side of fries, baked potato or rice but I recommend going traditional on this one. Granny’s CFS hits the spot when wanting a tummy full of comfort.

Miz Zip's CFS

Granny's CFS

CFS from Pine Country C

Crown Railroad Café
3300 E Route 66 and 2700 S Woodlands Village, Suite 600, Flagstaff
thecrownrailroadcafes.com
Looking to carb up with a big ol’ breakfast that’ll fill you up for the day? Then order up the chicken fried steak served with two eggs any way, two giant biscuits, potatoes and gravy at the Crown Railroad Café. This breakfast belly buster is not for the skiddish. But sure does taste good.

Miz Zip’s Cafe
2924 E Route 66, Flagstaff
For a taste of the Route 66 glory days, try Miz Zips homemade chicken fried steak and gravy any time of day. For breakfast they serve it with two eggs any style plus hashbrowns and toast. At dinner the CFS comes with soup or salad plus potatoes, beans and a hot roll. These tasty dishes are a true throwback to mom’s home cookin’.

Pine Country Restaurant
107 N Grand Canyon Blvd, Williams
Pine Country is a must stop when craving country classics like chicken fried steak. They have delish CFS served as both a breakfast and lunch dish. Pine Country's white gravy is the best around. It compliments the salty crunchiness of the CFS perfectly by adding a smooth, rich creaminess that is hard to beat. Don't forget to add on a slice of their homemade pies while you're there too.

Ski Lift Lodge CFS

Other spots to find Chicken Fried Steak in Flagstaff:

Ski Lift Lodge Restaurant
Hwy 180 at the base of Snowbowl Rd
arizonasnowbowl.com

Downtown Diner
7 East Aspen Avenue‎

downtowndinerflagstaff.com

Crown Railroad Cafe Flagstaff, Arizona

The Crown Railroad Cafe
3300 E Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
website: thecrownrailroadcafes.com
menu: see below

Adjoining a Howard Johnson Inn (that looks to be stuck back in time) on Route 66 in east Flagstaff is The Crown Railroad Cafe. It's an old fashioned diner complete with comfy booths and counter service. They serve traditional American breakfast foods (and lunch and dinner too).
As you dine, an electric trail circles the restaurant on the tracks above the tables - fun for kids, but I thought there was going to be tons of trains choo choo-ing up a storm in there from things I'd read about this place. But really, that and the train fabric covering the booth backs is all she wrote on the train theme.
The menu has 66 omlette choices, oddly enough none with sausage, onions and cheese, which is what my husband wanted. They do make substitutions so it was no problem. Omlettes run from about 6 dollars for plain up to about 9 bucks loaded.
The omlettes and other breakfasts come with hashbrowns or "those other potatoes" as they're called on the menu (which are onions, peppers and potatoes sometimes known as "potatoes o'brien") plus toast or a biscuit.
Other breakfast choices include pancakes, waffles and chicken fried steak plus other traditional breakfast fare.
Kids menu options are about five bucks including a drink and consist of everything from pancakes and sausage to a burger.
I ordered the two eggs (scrambled) with chicken fried steak and hashbrowns. The chicken fried steak was quite tasty. It comes with a white peppery gravy and is flavorful but not spicy by any means. One of the best chicken fried steaks I've had in town! I'd definitely get that again. The potatoes are a traditional diner style, served grated and pretty plain but not too greasy. The scrambled eggs were boring and dry. The biscuits are huge and fresh and come served with a side of gravy for those that like em smothered. All around, the food portions are large.
My daughters (ages 4 and 2.5) split the children's pancakes and sausage- which came with two big flapjacks and two sausages. They gobbled it up in a hurry and asked for more. Luckily the train kept them entertained, as did having some of my breakfast.
My husband's omlette came served burrito style, a thin wrap of egg around finely chopped up sausage mixed with cheese and onions. Though it could have used some more cheese, it was pretty good but pretty average. He got "those other potatoes" which were good but nothing to write home about.

Service during our visit was lacking, as no one came to give us drink refills despite many attempts at flagging the waitress down. She also got our bill wrong -charging us for coffee when no one ordered any. But when we did see the waitress she was nice.
All in all, The Crown Railroad Cafe is a good traditional American breakfast but nothing special and not as delish as some of Flagstaff's other breakfast spots like Brandys and LaBellavia.


Crown Railroad Cafe doesn't have its menu online, so here's a look at the menu in the restaurant as of March 21, 2010: