Fried chicken and doughnuts?! The best combo.
Alvernon Donuts isn’t the kind of place that holds Instagram campaigns or buzzworthy events with stylish people wearing photographable hats.
The old school doughnut shop has been holding it down for decades, out there on a quiet restaurant strip near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Owner Neang Pheng and her husband Poe Kem bought the place in 2003, decorating the funky old building with leafy plants and pictures of their native Cambodia, which they escaped as refugees to avoid the Khmer Rouge.
After all these years of hard work frying doughnuts at wee hours of the morning, a sign has emerged … two of them actually, posted prominently next to the front door: “Always fresh, tender and juicy. Genuine Broaster chicken. It’s incomparable!”
What’s “Broaster chicken,” you may ask? (Not out loud, but silently in your mind.) It’s actually a very common style of fried chicken, most notably used by fast-food giant KFC. The chicken is fried in a sealed pressure cooker, which results in less grease and is said to be healthier than your typical fried chicken. More importantly, it helps keep the chicken moist and gives the crust that indefinably wonderful, addicting, crispy crackle.
But KFC actually isn’t allowed to call their chicken “broasted,” because that name is trademarked by the inventor of the machine … a Wisonsin-based company that just happened to make this very special sign. You’ve probably never heard of this company, aptly called Broaster, but they license their products out to more than 5,000 businesses across the U.S., and are also very popular in the Middle East and South America.
With encouragement from her younger sister, Neang decided to bring back the broasted chicken in January after a several-year hiatus. “It’s really popular,” she says. Neang prepares a large batch of chicken every morning so that it’s ready to go by 10 a.m., using a special marinade and batter provided to them by Broaster. (She’s also experimenting with new recipes that combine the chicken tenders and doughnuts into one sweet sandwich, so feel free to ask about that too.)
Photo: Andi Berlin
When I inquired about the chicken, she brought out two large pieces of computer paper with all the possible combinations: 4 pc breast, wing, leg, thigh; 2 pc thigh/wing, 12 pc chicken tenders, macaroni, potato salad, etc. You can definitely make a meal out of chicken and various sides, but I decided to pair the savory with the sweet. In addition to my leg and thigh, I ordered a glazed doughnut with pink frosting for the ‘gram, and a blueberry cake doughnut for myself. I went wild on the honey mustard, barbecue and hot sauce, forgetting to even touch the Sriracha.
After trying it IRL for the first time, I now understand why chicken and doughnuts have achieved social media stardom. When the world got hip to Southern chicken and waffles in the ’00s, a portal opened leading us to a new flavor dimension. I would like to call this dimension “salty sugar crackle,” but the physics of it are still in their theoretical stages.
Photo: Andi Berlin
Chicken and doughnuts takes us further down this wormhole, leading to a delicious utopian fantasyland where maple syrup ceases to exist. In this new, uncharted universe, your mouth can pilot through a juicy chicken thigh encased in a salty crunch of fried skin and then sail through a nebula of soft sweet dough … and nothing gets soggy. It is, in fact, one of mankind’s greatest discoveries.
But there are actually two places in Tucson that serve this Broaster chicken and doughnuts dream team. The other one is Queen Donuts in the far southwest side community of Old Tucson Estates, where people ride golf carts around shopping centers pierced with red rock mountain buttes.
Photo: Andi Berlin
Not to be confused with the former Queen Donuts on St. Mary’s Road, this little shop is run by Neang’s brother Sar Oum and his wife Sue Kan. They’ve been serving Broaster fried chicken since they started 18 years ago. During my recent lunchtime visit, the place was packed with groups of people talking and ripping into their chickens. I watched Sue bring out a fresh batch of breasts straight from the broaster, piled high.
I paired my thigh and leg with a buttermilk bar, which also kind of looked like a chicken … but tasted like sweet breakfast cake. An older man sitting in the booth next to me started to chat and asked if I needed a dentist. That’s probably a good idea at this point, I thought. He gave me his card in the parking lot, and we shook hands, sealing the deal with sugar and fried chicken grease. But in an awkward twist, his hands were clean because he washed them before he left the shop. Sorry man! Chicken-handed again …
#BetterBeBroaster
Happy National Buttermilk Biscuit Day! 🧈🍞
Flaky, golden, buttery perfection—our buttermilk biscuits are reason enough to celebrate. But pair them with our juicy, crispy, Jumbo Popcorn Chicken? Now that’s a flavor combo worth craving! 🍗💥
May 15
Come see our VF-3 Ventless Fryer in action this weekend at the @nationalrestaurantshow 💥
#2025RestaurantShow #BetterBeBroaster
May 13
Happy Mother`s Day!
Today, we’re celebrating the women who fill our hearts — and our plates — with love. Treat Mom to something crispy, golden, and unforgettable. 🍗💕
Because nothing says "I love you, Mom" like a bucket of her favorite Broasted chicken!
May 11
🎣 Hook your customers with a Friday night favorite!
Our Beer Battered Cod Fillets are made from 100% skinless, boneless, whole muscle wild Alaskan cod—crisped to golden perfection in a rich, flavorful Samuel Adams® ale batter. 🍺🔥
Pair `em with our crispy potato wedges and you`ve got the ultimate fish fry combo that`ll have everyone coming back for seconds. 🙌🐟 Available at a Broadliner Distributor near you! #BetterBeBroaster
May 7
This week’s Operator Spotlight goes to Lucy’s Burgers located in Blaine, MN! 🔥
Lucy’s Burgers specializes in savory handmade burgers (fresh, never frozen), Genuine Broaster Chicken, state fair quality cheese curds, & fresh salads! 🍔
Join them for happy hour, relax by their cozy fireplaces, enjoy a cocktail on their patio, or catch the game with friends. At Lucy`s Burgers, great food and a welcoming atmosphere come together for an unforgettable dining experience. 😎
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
May 6
#FAQFryDay: How do I minimize Fryer downtime?
1. Always use Broaster filtering compounds & follow the recommended filtering procedures set forth in your Operations Manual.
2. Always make sure the filter screen is in place under the filter paper when you reassemble your filter pan.
3. If the pressure valve (small lever on top of Broaster) won’t fully close, the drain valve could be open & clogged. Remove clog with your ramrod & close drain valve.
4. Always keep spare O-rings on hand for cover & filter pan.
5. When filtering & cleaning your Broaster Pressure Fryer, always use the brushes from your Pressure Fryer Accessory Kit. These brushes were specially designed to quickly & easily clean the units. Contact your Local Authorized Distributor if you need replacement heads or brushes.
6. Once a month, verify screws for the probe guard are tight & not missing.
7. Keep copies of instruction sheets & job aides on hand near your equipment to ensure proper procedures are always followed. This is especially important when you have newer employees in the kitchen.
8. NEVER turn the unit on with water &/or cleaning solution in the cooking well. Always unplug your unit & place the cleaning flag on the latch column to alert others that the well is currently being cleaned with water.
9. Always use your handy O-Ring & groove cleaner tool when installing O-Rings or cleaning your groove. This tool was designed to not damage the O-Ring or the groove. If damage occurs to either component, this may cause your unit to not build pressure.
10. Always use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) Components & parts on your Broaster Pressure Fryer. Failure to do so may void your warranty.
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken #RestaurantIndustry
May 2
Today is a very special day for the Broaster Company—we get to celebrate two dedicated, hard-working, talented individuals for their 30-year anniversaries with us! 🎉
Troy Long and Ron Kollasch have been an important part of our Broaster family for 30 years now. We are so lucky to have them on our team! Drop a comment below to show them some love! 💬👇
May 1
🎩❤️ We had a delightful afternoon hosting the lovely ladies of the @redhatsociety for lunch today! They joined us to learn more about Broaster and enjoyed our famous Genuine Broaster Chicken 🍗 while sharing laughs, stories, and great company.
Apr 30
Who doesn’t love cheese curds? 🧀 Our Battered Cheddar Curds are covered with a light & tasty batter & par-fried to crispy perfection. Our curds are made from real Wisconsin yellow cheddar cheese that simply melts in your mouth. They’re frozen, ready to cook!
You gotta have ‘em! Ask your local Broaster Distributor for availability 👉 https://ow.ly/JwsO50VGkFy
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
Apr 29
Create delicious, smoked foods with the Smokaroma Pressure Smoker! 😍
The Smokaroma Pressure Smoker combines the modern scientific method of pressure cooking with pressure smoking to create delicious foods. Traditional pits require constant attention, such as turning the food and basting, while the Smokaroma Pressure Smoker eliminates the need for constant labor while producing flavorful results in much less time.
Standard Features:
✨ Fast and easy operation increases productivity.
✨ Requires minimum kitchen space, and casters are standard, making the unit portable.
✨ Pressure smoking reduces shrinkage up to 40% over other methods.
✨ Smoke up to 45 pounds of ribs in under 90 minutes.
Get in contact with us today for a quote! #BetterBeBroaster
Apr 28
#FAQFryDay: Does Genuine Broaster Chicken offer training?
Yes! When you become an operator, you will have access to our training experts along with training materials and our national marketing team! We are here to help you each step of the way.
Apr 25
We love our Broaster Distributor Trainings! 💪🍗
There’s nothing better than bringing in our partners from across the country to our headquarters in Beloit, Wisconsin, for hands-on factory training. From deep dives into Broaster® Equipment to sizzling, fresh-from-the-fryer food sampling (yes, the chicken is as good as you’ve heard), it’s all about learning, sharing, and extending our knowledge—together.
Big thanks to our incredible distributors who make these trainings so valuable! #BetterBeBroaster
Apr 24
The next time you’re wondering, “What’s the best pizza near me?” Check out Boss` Pizza and Chicken - Urbandale, IA 🙌🏼
They have daily specials & all kinds of family packages to make sure you are well fed for any event. When it comes to pizza and chicken, they have special recipes that you can’t get anywhere else, made with fresh, quality ingredients.
Thank you for being a Genuine Broaster Operator! 🍗
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
Apr 23
#FAQFryDay: How do I find a local service agent for my Broaster Equipment?
The quickest way to find a Service Agent who can work on your Broaster Equipment is to enter your zip code into our Distributor locator. The Distributor for your area along with their contact info will be displayed. Most Broaster Distributors have an in-house service department. If they don`t have one, they will have local service agencies that they use regularly and can refer you to.
View our Distributor Locator at Broaster.com/distribution
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
Apr 18
