Finally ventured to the Sepulveda / Santa Monica location of Zankou Chicken on Saturday afternoon. What a pleasure:

• A parking attendant (!?) waved me into an open spot in the parking lot south of the building – 20 seconds.
• Interior is bright and clean and airy.
• Two groups were staring at the simple menu above the counter, deciding. Asked if they are ready, then scooted in front to the counter – 10 seconds.
• Deciding to buy the 1/2 chicken plate – 0 seconds (prepared).
• Deciding to eat in or take home – 10 seconds (the network evening news was about to start in less than 10 minutes, and wanted to catch the latest pictures of Bush arriving in Moscow).
• Order was ready in 20 seconds.
• Back out to the lot, into the car, and home in less than 3 minutes.
  

The food – yum, yum, yummy. Chicken was hot and tender. Crispy skin outside, meat falling off the bone inside. Two fluffy pitas and hummus, garlic spread, pickled turnips and chopped tomatoes. The best $8.64 I have spent on food since the 25-or-so cent (memory fades) Thrifty single cones we used to get walking home from Junior High.

The WLA Zankou is open daily until 11 at night.