Fried Chicken Shop Ma Lou’s Swings Open Today in Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti’s newest casual dining recruit Ma Lou’s Fried Chicken debuts today. The restaurant is the first brick-and-mortar eatery by chef-turned-restaurateur Frank Fejeran — founder of Ann Arbor’s Chamorro-style barbecue trailer Ricewood.

Located at 15 W. Michigan Ave., the 1,200-square-foot restaurant seats around 30 diners at a mixture of picnic tables and booths. Fejeran spent the past year testing out recipes under the pop-up name Dirty Bird Fried Chicken before finally settling on the right recipes for the shop.

Diners can expect traditional Southern-style fried chicken with an “airy batter, double-dipped and fried to-order,” according to the chef, with a choice of spice levels from classic southern to medium to “spicy AF.” Each chicken order comes dressed with pickels and bread. Fejeran has also brought some innovations to the menu including a biscuit doughnut — biscuit dough that’s deep-fried and dipped in buttermilk-vanilla glaze. To drink, patrons can choose from soda, sweet tea, or horchata.

The restaurant opened its doors today at 3 p.m. and more locations are already in the works. Fejeran and his partner plans to target at least five Midwestern cities including Ann Arbor (likely the next location), Chicago, Toledo, Grand Rapids, Royal Oak, and Detroit. Scope out the opening menu below.

Ma Lou’s is located at 15 W. Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti; open March 3 and March 4 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; beginning March 7 open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 734-905-7994; website.

• 9 Things to Know About Ma Lou’s Fried Chicken, Launching Next Month in Ypsilanti [ED]

• All Opening Alert Coverage [ED]