7 Fried Chicken Dishes Every Foodie Must Try
Perfectly browned in buttermilk or flavored with South Asian spice, you’ll want to try them all
However it’s served—hot or cold, spicy or stuffed, on a waffle or even a doughnut—there’s no question that fried chicken is the king of comfort food.
Is there a more perfect dish than fried chicken? It’s one of the most versatile comfort foods around, with golden, crispy skin enveloping juicy, tender meat. Serve it hot or cold, alongside waffles for breakfast or mashed potatoes for dinner—it’s always going to be delicious. Here are seven best fried chicken dishes, from the traditional to the unusual, that are served at some of our favorite spots around the country.
Wings and a waffle at The Breakfast Klub (Houston, Texas)
If you love the blend of sweet and savory, chances are you’re on board with the enduring Southern soul food staple that is chicken and waffles. The Breakfast Klub’s signature dish includes six of their fried-to-perfection wings on top of a fluffy Belgian waffle, topped with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and a single strawberry. Best of all, if you have a late-night chicken craving, they serve until 3 a.m. on weekends.
The Country Clucker at Gourdough’s (Austin, Texas)
This doughnut shop wasn’t the first to experiment with the combination of fried chicken and doughnuts, but they may have perfected it. The Country Clucker is a fresh doughnut topped with fried chicken breast, potato pancakes, creamed corn and candied jalapenos. Indulgent? Yes. Worth it? Completely.
¼ Chicken at Price’s Chicken Coop (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Locals love this Charlotte institution, which has been serving up boxes of perfectly fried chicken (using peanut oil, naturally), take-out only, since the 1960s. Bring cash, because they don’t take cards, and don’t skimp on the napkins, because you’re going to need them. Our suggestion? Grab a large sweet tea and some potato salad to go with it. Then head to Freedom Park and snag a picnic table—if you can wait that long to dig in.
Hat Yai Fried Chicken at Hat Yai (Portland, Oregon)
Sure, Korean fried chicken is big right now, but if you haven’t had Thai fried chicken, you’re really missing out. A popular street food in southern Thailand, the secret is the crispy shallots. This Portland spot specializes in the spicy chicken; it’s served with sticky rice, and you can get it by the quarter, half and whole bird.
The Cordon Bleu at Denver Biscuit Co. (Denver, Colorado)
A spin on the classic dish of breaded chicken stuffed with ham and cheese, this sandwich is destined to become its own type of legend; it piles buttermilk fried chicken, ham, cheddar and local honey butter high on a flaky biscuit. You can even add another side of fried chicken (if you haven’t died of happiness, that is).
Fried chicken at Willie Mae’s (New Orleans, Louisiana)
It’s always a good sign when the side dishes outnumber the entrees, and at Willie Mae’s, you’re spoiled for choice. Get three pieces of Ms. Willie Mae’s best southern fried chicken, served with your choice of 12 sides, including butter beans and cornbread muffins, and prepare to be blown away by what Eater says might be the best fried chicken in America.
Hot chicken at Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack (Nashville, Tennessee)
The hot chicken trend that’s been making its way across America originated at this Nashville restaurant. It’s been serving up the spicy dish for almost a century. Legend has it the dish was born when a scorned woman doused her lover’s dinner in spicy sauce, but instead of asking for water, he asked for seconds. Now, visitors to Prince’s can do the same, and choose their level of pepper pain—anywhere from plain to XXX Hot.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Houston, Austin, Charlotte, Portland, Denver, New Orleans, Nashville.
More to Explore
Eat for Less Than $50/Day
Treat yourself to Houston's culinary staples and still fill your belly on a budget of $50 a day.
Best Nashville Restaurants
It may be known as "Music City," but Nashville could just as easily be called Food City.