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.)
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.
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.
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
#FAQFryDay: How do I know which Trademark Food Program is right for me?
The #ChickenExperts know!
👇
Broaster continues to innovate with the next generation of food service. If you have a youth sports center, a camp, or other cafeteria setting then you can deliver restaurant quality meals in a quick-serve timeline. Discover how Broaster can take you beyond traditional food service!
DM us to see what program fits best based on your needs!
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken #RestaurantIndustry
Feb 7

Wanted to celebrate #NationalChopstickDay but also wanted Genuine Broaster Chicken....guess we need some more practice! 🤷🏻
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Feb 6

Operator Spotlight goes to Keystone Turner Hall! 🙌🏼
Keystone Turner Hall is a banquet center in Keystone, IA. They host luncheons, birthday parties, meetings, and smaller banquets.
Not only do they host many events, but they also boast a six lane bowling alley with many leagues throughout the year AND operate a bar and grill! 🔥
Shout out to you!
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
Feb 5

The best time to eat Mozzarella cheese sticks, is all the time, and we have the perfect equipment to cook some in! 💯
The Broaster 1800 Pressure Fryer is our most popular model, offering the best combination of production capacity & space efficiency! Its built-in oil filtration makes filtering safe and easy. It can cook up to 40 pieces of fresh, bone-in chicken in as little as 10 minutes.
Standard Features:
🔥Designed for max space efficiency
🔥18” in overall width
🔥Available in gas or electric models
🔥Touch screen controller option now standard
Send us a DM if you want to learn more about our equipment!
#BetterBeBroaster
Feb 4

Instead of 6 more weeks of winter, the groundhog says you should go get Genuine Broaster Chicken 🤗
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Feb 2

#FAQFryDay: What Are The Features Of The Broaster Instant Burger?
The #ChickenExperts know!
👇
Instant Burger cooks great tasting burgers and other food products evenly without flipping or splattering grease.
🔺Cooks 2 fresh burgers in less than a minute. Over 200 burgers can be cooked in an hour.
🔺Meat is cooked through a direct energy transfer process where the energy is transferred directly through the meat.
🔺Compact design requires only 23″ x 16″ of counter space. No hood required to operate.
Send us a DM to learn more about our Instant Burger!
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken #RestaurantIndustry
Jan 31

Ever had a meal that just ‘Leaves You Wanting Mo’? 😏
That’s exactly what you’ll feel when you eat at Moe Moe’s Wingz & Things!
You can try their Moe Moe’s Wingetts which are made from our very own Genuine Broaster Chicken or check out their corn dogs and burritos!
Thank you for being a Genuine Broaster Chicken Operator! 👏🏼
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken
Jan 29

Watch us cook up the juiciest batch of chicken real quick! 😎
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Jan 28

What’s better than popcorn chicken? JUMBO Popcorn Chicken! 💯
Our Jumbo Popcorn Chicken is made from 100% breast meat. Marinated & coated in our proprietary products for a moist, delicious taste.
This food item is frozen and ready to be cooked in any of our pressure fryers or ventless fryers!
Reach out to your local Broaster Distributor for availability!
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Jan 27

#FAQFryDay: What Are The Features Of The Broaster Smokaroma?
The Smokaroma Pressure Smoker combines the modern scientific method of pressure cooking with pressure smoking to create deliciously juicy, smoked foods.
💥Requires minimum kitchen space in kitchen and casters are standard, making the unit portable.
💥Fast and easy operation increases productivity.
💥Pressure smoking reduces shrinkage up to 40% over other methods.
💥Smoke up to 45 pounds of ribs in under 90 minutes.
Want to learn more about our Smokaroma? Send us a DM! 🤗
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken #RestaurantIndustry
Jan 24

If you vibe with Genuine Broaster Chicken, can we be friends? 🤞🏼
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Jan 23

Looking for a place to watch Sunday football while enjoying some delicious Genuine Broaster Chicken? 🔥
Check out @main.gate.bar.grill in Springfield, IL. Anything from sandwiches, to pizza, to hotdogs and different chicken platters, they got it all!
Shout out to Main Gate Bar & Grill for being a Genuine Broaster Chicken Operator! 👏🏼
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Jan 22

Craving some juicy chicken tenders? We have the perfect equipment to cook some up in! 👏🏼
Check out our Broaster 2400!
💥Broaster 2400 Features:
* Large-capacity, high efficiency pressure fryer for more food per hour
* Faster service & greater sales
* Can produce 48-64 pieces of fresh bone-in chicken per cook cycle
* 48-64 pieces of fresh bone-in chicken per load
* 24” in overall width
* Available in gas or electric models
* Touch screen controller option now standard
DM us to learn more about our Broaster Equipment!
#BetterBeBroaster
Jan 21

Are you hungry for some wings? 🤔
Our Boneless Buffalo Wings are moist & flavorful with larger than average piece sizes! Made from tender, delicious 100% breast meat, these wings are marinated with a very mild heat & coated with our proprietary zesty breading. Your customers will love the lip-smacking flavor that these wings provide.
Perfect grab ‘n go snack or great as an appetizer! Our Boneless Buffalo Wings are carried at most Broadliner Distributors! 👏🏼
#GenuineBroasterChicken #BetterBeBroaster
Jan 20

#FAQFryDay: Where can I ask my questions in person?
The #ChickenExperts know!
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If you’d like to ask us questions in person, check out two of our upcoming events; The NAFEM Show and The NRA Show! Visit us at the NAFEM Show in Atlanta Georgia on February 26-28, 2025 and discover the equipment and supplies that will keep you and your foodservice operation one step ahead!
The National Restaurant Association Show will be in Chicago, Illinois on May 17-20, 2025. Come join us and be a part of the largest gathering of foodservice professionals in the Western hemisphere.
#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken #RestaurantIndustry
Jan 17
