“Chicken of Oz", family dinner  has been a restaurant in Taft since January 13, 1989. Located inside West  Kern Junction shopping center (which is also owned by Oz Katz since 2001) at 1107 Kern Street #3. The original and only owner, Oz Katz, has been serving the Taft Community for the Past 20 years, in the restaurant business.

For Katz, formally known for his 1985 state Track and Field Championship run in the 1500 meter (placing first), and 800 meter (placing third). Success didn’t stop there, as he went on to Traft College for the next two years continuing his education even further at CSUB, majoring in computer science but opted for a career in the restaurant business. Katz worked his way through college at McDonalds and Dominos where he gained tremendous experience that come to good use after receiving a degree in Fast Food.

Originally, Katz lived in Israel (where he still hold the national record in 800 meter since 1983, 1:47.8 http://eiger.tripod.com/records/nation_m.html.) His talent in Track and Field brought him to Taft, Where he went to College. Home for Katz  would now be in Taft, where he quickly Became a part of  the community as a restaurant    business owner.

The restaurant was named after the obvious of course, being that Oz happens to be the first name of the owner. However, for those of you that think of the “Wizard of Oz” when you go into the family diner, realize that it may not be the yellow brick road that leads you to this great and wonderful family diner, but more so the scenery you once saw through the movie, and now through “Chicken of Oz”. You’re almost certain to experience some of the same theatrical  moments that you once did through this classic movie made back in 1939. The best part of the experience is the meal that you get to eat while you surround yourself with a familiar family environment. All though “there is no place like home”, Chicken of Oz isn’t far from it when it comes time for a home cooked meal.

Chicken of Oz features several different menu items to choose from something for everyone. Originally, when the restaurant first opened in 1989, located at 829, Center Street, now located at 1107 Kern Street, the menu didn’t consist of much more than a few choices featuring the main course as chicken. Which takes you back to the other reason for the choice of name for the restaurant. The menu has changed quite a bit, leaving the chicken still a choice of favorites.

Weekly specials are changed from time to time, but you can look forward to every Tuesday having rare to find stuffed potatoes, hot out of the oven. On Wednesdays, the famous Hot Wings so many of us enjoy and as for Fridays, it’s the hot and juicy NEW YORK STEAK, surely to leave you feeling like you “There’s no place like home”.