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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 …

Tucson.com

#BetterBeBroaster

#FAQFRYday What is the difference between Genuine Broaster Chicken and Broaster Express?

Our Genuine Broaster Chicken Program is based on fresh chicken, prepared following the GBC recipe and cooked in a Broaster Pressure Fryer for amazing flavor, crispiness and juiciness! 

Our Broaster Express Program offers an irresistible selection of high quality, grab n go foods such as chicken, seafood, appetizers, and other fun favorites served fast for your fast paced customer base. These items can be cooked in either a Broaster Pressure Fryer or a Broaster Ventless Fryer. 

Need help deciding which program is best for you? Visit us online at Broaster.com/contact

#BetterBeBroaster #GenuineBroasterChicken #BroasterExpress
🎤 Turn it up… that’s the sound of crispy perfection!

Sizzle. Crackle. Crunch.

There’s nothing like the first bite of Genuine Broaster Chicken—pressure-fried for juicy tenderness and that signature golden crust. 

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Today is our favorite day—It’s National Fried Chicken Day, and nobody does it like Broaster. Golden, juicy, pressure-fried perfection since 1954. 🍗 #BetterBeBroaster #BroasterChicken #NationalFriedChickenDay
From our Broaster family to yours—wishing you a safe, joyful, and flavor-filled Independence Day! 🇺🇸🎆🍗

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Big power. Small footprint. 🔥
The Broaster 1800 is your high-performance pressure fryer—built for busy kitchens that need speed, consistency, and quality without taking up extra space.

✅ Round cooking well
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Perfect for operators who want to serve legendary Broaster Chicken. Visit us online at Broaster.com/contact for a quote!

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Golden. Crispy. Irresistible. 🍤 
Our Beer Battered Shrimp delivers pub-style flavor with a light, crunchy bite—ready in minutes. Serve it as a snack, app, or add it to a combo!

✅ Premium tail-off shrimp
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Bring the coastal vibes to your menu—no ocean required. 🌊 Now available nationwide through @dotfoodsofficial. Learn more here online at Broaster.com

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"I am starving for Broaster Chicken"  We are, too, buddy… We are, too. #BetterBeBroaster
Where do you get your Broaster Chicken fix? 🍗

Shout out your go-to spot and tag them in the comments! ⬇️ Let’s show some love to the places serving up that crispy, juicy goodness! 🙌

#BetterBeBroaster #BroasterChicken
#FAQFRYday 💬 "How much does your equipment cost?"

Great question! 💡 Pricing can vary based on your setup, needs, and location — so the best way to get an accurate quote is by connecting with your local distributor.

Ready to get started? We’ll point you in the right direction 👉 Visit Broaster.com/distribution
Our friend from Youtube says, "The chicken was juicy and the skin was flavorful."

Now we're hungry for Genuine Broaster Chicken 😋
#NationalOnionRingDay calls for something crispy, golden, and unforgettable! 🧅 

Let’s talk about one of our fan-favorite frozen picks — Broaster’s Beer Battered Onion Rings 🍺✨

Made with whole, sweet Spanish onion slices (never processed or extruded!), these rings are packed with bold flavor and crave-worthy crunch your customers will love bite after bite.

Now available nationwide through @dotfoodsofficial
#FAQFRYday 🍗💡 "Why is my chicken coming out too dark?"

If your chicken’s looking a little too golden… it might be your oil! 🔍

👨‍🍳 Pro Tip: It’s probably time to filter or replace your oil. Regular oil maintenance keeps your pressure fryer in top shape and your chicken perfectly crispy every time.

✅ Clean oil = Better taste, better color, better results!

NEVER BE FAR FROM BROASTED