The good news: You don’t have to go to Louisiana, Nashville or Atlanta to get incredible fried chicken. The even better news: You still have plenty of time to hit up these 18 amazing fried chicken joints in NYC this summer. Get extra napkins.
The Best Fried Chicken in New York City, Ranked
Side of mac and cheese = mandatory
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Published Jul 8, 2016
18. Hill Country Chicken
We’re all about the crunchy cracker breading. Order the thigh and drumstick deluxe with a buttermilk biscuit and a side of cheesy fried mashed potatoes.
Locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn; 212-257-6446 or hillcountrychicken.com
17. Wilma Jean
This no-frills chicken sandwich won us over. It’s not fancy and it’s not big (you should probably order two), but it’s pretty damn tasty.
345 Smith St. (at Carroll St.), Brooklyn; 718-422-0444 or wilmajean345.com
Larry L./Yelp
16. Talde
OK, it isn’t the fried chicken you’d order down South, but these Kung Pao fried chicken wings by Top Chef alum Dale Talde really pack a punch. (Just make sure to order a giant glass of water.)
369 Seventh Ave. (at 11th St.), Brooklyn; 347-916-0031 or taldebrooklyn.com
15. Burnside Biscuits
The chicken and waffles at this Astoria spot are definitely worth the schlep. Make sure you ask for extra syrup.
32-07 30th Ave. (at 32nd St.), Queens; 917-832-7822 or burnsidebiscuit.com
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken/Facebook
14. Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
Get your sammie straight up, with bacon or with macaroni and cheese. (Or both. We won’t judge.)
28 E. First St. (at Second Ave.); 212-228-0404 or blueribbonfriedchicken.com
CSMurda/Instagram
13. Charles' Country Pan Fried Chicken
No deep fryers here. Or real plates, for that matter. But we’re here for amazing chicken, not a four-star dining experience. And this pan-fried deliciousness is the real deal.
2841 Frederick Douglass Blvd. #1 (at 151st St.); 212-281-1800
Pies 'n' Thighs
12. Pies 'n' Thighs
You can get fried chicken for breakfast, lunch and dinner at this now-famous NYC spot. (Just, um, maybe not all in the same day, OK?)
Locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn; 212-431-4737 or piesnthighs.com
11. Bonchon
Whoa, this Korean chain has over 100 locations internationally. And after sampling the spicy soy garlic wings, we think it could use a few more.
Locations in Manhattan and Queens; 212-221-3339 or bonchon.com
10. Sticky's Finger Joint
Ever since we were ten years old, we’ve been dreaming of a classy chicken finger restaurant to call our own. And then there’s the s’mores fries...
Multiple locations in Manhattan; 212-777-7131 or stickys.com
9. Root & Bone
What’s the secret to Root & Bone’s mouthwatering chicken-and-waffle sandwich? Shh, the meat is brined in sweet tea with cayenne and paprika.
200 E. Third St. (at Ave. B); 646-682-7076 or rootnbone.com
8. The Redhead
Ignore the salad. Pair a few pieces of the buttermilk fried chicken with a side of tots and the bacon peanut brittle. You won’t be disappointed.
349 E. 13th St. (at First Ave.); 212-533-6212 or theredheadnyc.com
7. Birds & Bubbles
Buttermilk fried chicken and Champagne, together at last.
100B Forsyth St. (at Grand St.); 646-368-9240 or birdsandbubbles.com
Sweet Chick
6. Sweet Chick
Bring your veggie friends--believe it or not, the vegetarian chicken and waffles is every bit as good as the real thing.
Locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn; 646-657-0233 or sweetchicknyc.com
Buttermilk Channel
5. Buttermilk Channel
It’s Beyoncé’s favorite place to get fried chicken. Need we say more?
524 Court St. (at Huntington St.), Brooklyn; 718-852-8490 or buttermilkchannelnyc.com
4. Fuku
Brave the lines and your reward is an out-of-this-world spicy chicken sandwich. It’s worth it.
163 First Ave. (at Tenth St.); fuku.momofuku.com
3. Bobwhite Lunch And Supper Counter
This quaint lunch spot serves up Southern charm (just look at those adorable plates) and some damn delicious chicken.
Locations in the West Village and East Village; 212-228-2972 or bobwhitecounter.com
2. The Commodore
The only dive bar where you can play video games, drink cheap beer and eat some of the best fried chicken on earth.
366 Metropolitan Ave. (at Havermeyer St.), Brooklyn; 718-218-7632
Peaches HotHouse
1. Peaches Hothouse
A heaping plate of Nashville-style fried chicken (read: super spicy) with a side of mac and cheese is last-meal territory, people. Put it on your bucket list.
415 Tompkins Ave. (at Hancock St.); 718-483-9111 or bcrestaurantgroup.com