Did Cowgirl NYC's Famous Frito Pie and Chicken Fried Steak Live Up to the Hype?

Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

I was really looking forward to trying Cowgirl’s Frito pie and chicken fried steak, two quite interesting dishes to try as a Frenchman, representing Southern comfort food in New York City. I discovered the Frito pie few years ago at House of Que, a Texas BBQ restaurant in Hoboken that unfortunately closed. I love chili, that I use to make while leaving in France, being influenced by the western movies I was watching, and so, this is the kind of dishes that work for me: besides the fun plating that is in a bag of Fritos, the first time I tried it, I loved the crunch that the Fritos gave. At Cowgirl, the Frito pie ($15), Fritos were layered with a delicious chili, and topped with sour cream, cheese and some jalapeño. That combination made every bite into a satisfying mix of salty, savory, and cheesy, with the heat of the jalapeños. Quite comforting.

Frito pie at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Frito pie at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Then came the chicken fried steak ($23). Let me first clarify what this southern dish is as this is not chicken, but a tenderized beef steak coated in seasoned breading, fried until golden and crispy, then smothered in creamy pepper-flecked gravy. It reminded me the fried veal my mom used to make when we were kids, but without the gravy, that made it even more savory. With it, they asked what side I wanted and I decided to get their grits, that were delightfully cheesy (if you are wondering, I did not eat the broccoli). I did not regret my choice at all: the entire dish was very comforting, the golden and crunchy coating giving way to a tender beef underneath, while the creamy gravy added richness to every bite. It was like a trip to Texas without the price of the flight. This dish is a must have for sure.

Chicken fried steak and grits at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Chicken fried steak and grits at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Jodi being vegetarian, she got their chopped up salad ($15), and I should mention that I got their frozen espresso martini ($16) that was quite refreshing and an interesting way to serve this classic brunch cocktail. Of course, we could not leave without trying their homemade desserts, and settled for the key lime pie ($8), that was good, although not as tart as expected.

Frozen espresso martini at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Chopped up salad at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

Key lime pie at Cowgirl in the West Village, New York, NY

For sure, I was not disappointed with my meal at Cowgirl. I would certainly go back there, maybe for these same dishes that I really loved, or to try some other Southern comfort dishes they have on their menu.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Cowgirl - 519 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014