The Mystery Of Happies Hand Made: What Happened To Joshua Skenes' High-End Fried Chicken Empire?
The culinary world is still buzzing about Happies Hand Made, a seemingly simple fast-casual fried chicken concept launched by one of the most acclaimed fine-dining chefs in America, Joshua Skenes. This venture, far removed from the three-Michelin-starred environment of his flagship restaurant, Saison, captured the imagination of food critics and diners alike with its paradoxical blend of high-end technique and low-brow comfort food. As of , the Los Angeles Arts District location remains on a temporary hiatus, leaving fans to wonder what the future holds for this "handmade" masterpiece of the fast-casual scene.
The concept was a deliberate, almost defiant pivot: a high-priced, high-quality take on fried chicken, house-made sodas, and tallow-fried potatoes, all served up in a surprisingly casual setting. Its temporary closure, announced with a cryptic note about "working behind the scenes," is currently the biggest news, fueling speculation about a potential rebrand, relocation, or a new, even more ambitious direction for Skenes's unique vision.
The Visionary Behind the Craft: Chef Joshua Skenes' Biography
Happies Hand Made is inseparable from the reputation and unique culinary philosophy of its founder, Chef Joshua Skenes. His background is one of intense focus on natural ingredients, primal cooking methods, and an almost obsessive dedication to quality—a philosophy he surprisingly applied to fried chicken.
- Full Name: Joshua Skenes
- Born: 1979
- Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida
- Culinary Philosophy: Known for his unique methodology, which often involves cooking over live fire and focusing on hyper-seasonal, wild-caught, and foraged ingredients.
- Flagship Restaurant: Saison (San Francisco). Skenes conceived Saison in 2006 and opened its first location in 2009.
- Accolades: Saison achieved the coveted Three Michelin Stars, establishing Skenes as an elite figure in fine dining.
- Other Ventures: Prior to Saison, he was the executive chef at the acclaimed Chez TJ in Mountain View. He has also been linked to other projects like Leopardo.
- Happies Hand Made Role: Founder and Visionary. He applied his rigorous fine-dining standards to fast-casual cuisine, focusing on the quality of every single component.
Skenes's decision to open a fried chicken spot in the bustling Arts District of Los Angeles was seen as a radical departure. It wasn't just a side project; it was an attempt to elevate the simplest comfort food to an art form, using the same meticulous sourcing and preparation techniques that earned him Michelin recognition.
The Menu Entities: A High-End Take on Comfort Food
The core of the Happies Hand Made experience was the menu, which, despite its simplicity, was executed with an unparalleled level of detail. The dishes quickly became legendary among Los Angeles foodies, not just for their taste but for the sheer audacity of their pricing and quality in a fast-casual setting. This was hand-made food in the most literal and high-cost sense.
The Iconic Fried Chicken and Tallow Fries
The star of the show was undoubtedly the fried chicken, often served as tenders. Skenes's unique methodology ensured that the chicken was far from ordinary. The poultry was reportedly sourced from the highest-quality producers, and the preparation involved complex brining and battering processes to achieve a perfect, shatteringly crisp crust and juicy interior. The dipping sauces were another point of focus, including a highly praised barbecue sauce that was noted for its intriguing mustardy note and lack of excessive sweetness.
However, the item that arguably received the most critical acclaim was the Tallow French Fries. These "fat fries" were fried in rendered beef tallow, a technique that imparts a deep, savory, and rich flavor that is impossible to replicate with standard vegetable oils. Critics called them some of the best French fries in L.A., a testament to Skenes's ability to turn a simple side dish into a culinary event.
Liquid Waffles and the Soda Fountain Concept
Beyond the savory items, Happies Hand Made was known for its unique beverage and dessert offerings, which formed the "soda-slash-tea fountain" aspect of the concept. The Liquid Waffle was a distinctive dessert item, a drinkable, creamy concoction that played on the flavors of a classic waffle.
The fountain itself was a key entity, offering house-made sodas and teas, such as the Kumquat Cream Top. This focus on handcrafted beverages reinforced the "Hand Made" ethos, ensuring that every element of the meal, from the main protein to the thirst-quenching drink, was created with the same meticulous attention to detail. The entire experience was designed to be a playful, yet pricey, fast-casual experiment, challenging the norms of the dining industry.
The Current Status: Why is Happies Hand Made on a "Quick Break"?
The most pressing question for fans and food critics is the current status of the Los Angeles location. Happies Hand Made is currently inaccessible to the public, with a notice indicating a temporary closure. This news, circulating in food forums and local reports, suggests the team is "working behind the scenes on something" and hopes to be "back in action soon."
The Speculation and Fresh Updates
While an official reopening date has not been announced, the temporary nature of the closure suggests a strategic pause rather than a permanent end. Several theories and fresh updates are circulating:
- A Rebranding or Menu Overhaul: Given Skenes's restless creative spirit, the break could be an opportunity to refine the concept. Early reports mentioned the restaurant starting with burgers and then expanding to chicken, suggesting the menu was always fluid. The break could be to finalize a new iteration of the fast-casual model.
- Focus on Other Projects: Skenes is a multi-project chef. The break may be a temporary diversion of resources to other ventures, such as the potential reopening of his other concept, Leopardo, which was also slated to return.
- Operational Refinement: Running a high-volume fast-casual operation with fine-dining standards is logistically challenging. The pause might be to optimize supply chains, kitchen flow, and staffing to ensure the "handmade" quality can be maintained at scale.
The fact that conversations and reviews about Happies Hand Made are still active in 2025 demonstrates its continued relevance and the high level of curiosity surrounding its future. The concept remains a fascinating case study in how a Michelin-star chef can attempt to disrupt the fast-casual market with an uncompromising focus on hand-made excellence and quality ingredients. When Happies Hand Made does return, it will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated restaurant reopenings in the Los Angeles culinary scene.
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