Fried chicken is a quintessential Southern food that Charlotteans just can’t get enough of. From no-frills joints serving up golden crispy bird to upscale eateries putting their own spin on this classic, there are plenty of great options for fried chicken around the Queen City. Here’s a guide to the top places to get your fried chicken fix in Charlotte.
Traditional Fried Chicken Joints
These spots stick to the tasty traditions of frying up juicy, crispy chicken just like grandma used to make.
Price’s Chicken Coop
Price’s Chicken Coop is an iconic family-owned joint that’s been frying up chicken since 1962 This no-frills spot is a beloved favorite among locals who keep coming back for the perfectly seasoned, crispy-on-the-outside and juicy-on-the-inside fried chicken You can choose white or dark meat chicken and complete your meal with classic sides like fries, slaw, and fried okra. Price’s does fried chicken right – no bells and whistles needed.
Mr. Charles Chicken and Fish
Another long-standing Charlotte favorite, Mr Charles Chicken and Fish has multiple locations serving up soulful fried chicken. They offer a wide array of fried chicken parts and meals to satisfy any craving. Their recipe delivers crisp, seasoned chicken with great flavor The daily specials make this a great spot for comfort food any day of the week.
Nana Morrison’s Soul Food Kitchen
For homestyle fried chicken that will transport you straight to grandma’s kitchen, head to Nana Morrison’s Soul Food Kitchen. This family-owned restaurant uses recipes passed down through generations to create soulful dishes like juicy fried chicken, smothered pork chops, and mac and cheese. Big portion sizes ensure you’ll leave full and happy after enjoying their delicious fried chicken.
Nashville Hot Chicken
If you like a little spice with your fried chicken, these spots are serving up crispy chicken slathered in fiery Nashville hot sauce.
N.C. Red
N.C. Red puts a Nashville hot spin on their fried chicken, offering it up “northern raised, southern sourced” style. You can get juicy white or dark meat chicken drowned in spicy cayenne pepper sauce for that classic Nashville heat. Their selection of sides like pimento cheese grits pairs perfectly with the fiery chicken.
Poppycox Food Truck
This food truck is bringing Nashville hot chicken to the streets of Charlotte. Their fried chicken breast sandwiches come topped with spicy Nashville hot sauce, cool ranch slaw, and pickles for a perfect blend of flavors. You can customize your heat level, but locals recommend going for the hot to get the full experience. Keep an eye on their schedule to catch them around town.
Gourmet Fried Chicken
These restaurants elevate simple fried chicken to new culinary heights with creative preparations and high-quality ingredients.
Haberdish
The fried chicken at this hip NoDa eatery is a favorite of local chefs for good reason. Haberdish puts their gourmet Southern spin on crispy fried chicken and serves it alongside unique dipping sauces like Alabama white BBQ sauce. The chicken emerges from the fryer juicy and bursting with flavor.
Dōzo
Dōzo’s karaage fried chicken offers a Japanese twist on the classic dish. Marinated chicken is lightly fried in potato starch for an unbelievable crispy texture. The chicken is then tossed in creative sauces like yuzu kosho or sweet miso. Every preparation is uniquely delicious.
The King’s Kitchen
The King’s Kitchen serves up French cuisine with a Southern flair, including a standout skillet fried chicken. They utilize quality local and seasonal ingredients to create dishes packed with flavor. The fried chicken emerges crisp on the outside while remaining juicy and tender.
Fast Food Fried Chicken
When you’re on the go and need a quick fried chicken fix, these familiar fast food chains have you covered.
Bojangles’
No list of Charlotte fried chicken would be complete without iconic Southern chain Bojangles’. Their signature perfectly seasoned, crispy chicken comes in meals, sandwiches, tenders, and more. You can douse it in their sweet Bo-tastic sauce or fiery Cajun seasoning. Their drive-thrus make Bojangles’ the perfect place to grab fried chicken on the go.
Popeyes
Popeyes satisfies all your fried chicken cravings with their crunchy, spicy take on the classic Southern dish. You’ll find bone-in or tenders meals along with po’ boys and chicken sandwiches on their menu. Stop by this quick service spot when a fried chicken fix is calling your name.
KFC
When Colonel Sanders got his start right here in North Carolina, he helped put fried chicken on the map across America. KFC’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices gives their fried chicken its signature flavor. Their no-fuss chicken on the bone and crispy chicken sandwiches are fried chicken favorites for fast food fans.
So whether you’re looking for traditional Southern-style chicken, spicy and crispy Nashville hot, or gourmet fried bird, Charlotte offers endless options for great fried chicken. Get out and explore all the Queen City’s top spots for this delicious down home specialty. Your taste buds will thank you.
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We live in a golden era — no pun intended — of fried chicken. Whether your craving is for bone-in fried chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, or the mighty chicken sandwich, its a safe bet that there are dozens of drive-thrus in your neck of the woods ready to take your order.
But which fast-food chain serves up the most outstanding fried chicken? USA TODAY 10BESTs editors and a panel of experts compiled a list of their top 20 picks, and we need your help to determine the winners. Whose fried chicken do you think is tops?
Vote once per day for your favorite until ballots close on Monday, July 7 at noon ET. The top 10 fast-food restaurants for fried chicken, based on our readers votes, will be announced on Wednesday, July 16.
This chicken and biscuit chain gets kudos for speedy service, buttery biscuits, interesting sides like sausage-laden dirty rice, and made-from-scratch Southern fried chicken. You can order Bojangles beloved fried chicken on a sandwich, on a biscuit, or in a dinner or family meal. Photo courtesy of
The largest restaurant chain specializing in chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A is beloved for its breaded, boneless chicken breast nestled between buttery buns. You can also enjoy their fried chicken in the form of nuggets and strips or atop their selection of salads. Photo courtesy of Churchs Texas Chicken
The first Churchs opened in 1952, right across the street from the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, offering home-cooked fried chicken to-go and a jalapeno on the side for a squeeze of tangy heat. The chicken is handcrafted in small batches all day long, and comforting sides include mac and cheese, fried okra, mashed potatoes, and their Honey-Butter Biscuits. Advertisement Photo courtesy of Daves Hot Chicken
From tenders to sliders to bites, Daves Hot Chicken offers a wealth of crispy poultry dishes, each one paired with pickles and a healthy dose of Daves sauce. Visitors can choose from seven separate spice levels for their chicken, with the top tier — Reaper — drawing in daring diners thanks to its staggering amount of heat. Photo courtesy of Golden Chick
A family-owned company, Golden Chick specializes in fried and roasted chicken, freshly baked yeast rolls, and Southern sides. Enjoy this restaurants fried chicken in the form of their famous Original Golden Tenders, multi-piece meals, and sandwiches. Photo courtesy of
Alabama-born, Guthries is considered one of the pioneers in fried chicken finger-only eateries. Although you can get sandwiches, buckets and chicken snacks, the outlets are best known for the “Gut Box,” containing golden fried chicken fingers, fries, coleslaw, buttery Texas toast, and Guthrie’s signature sauce. Advertisement Photo courtesy of
Dubbing itself the “Home of The Filet Mignon of Chicken,” Huey Magoos Chicken Tenders serves hand-breaded fried chicken tender meals, sandwiches, and wraps. Fans appreciate the homemade and specialty dips for tender dunking. Photo courtesy of Jollibee Group
With around 100 stores in North America, and more than 1,700 stores internationally, Jollibee is the largest and fastest-growing Asian restaurant company in the world. Theyre best known for Chickenjoy, the signature juicy, flavorful fried chicken. Order it in buckets or accompanied by sides — and dont forget to dip it in their silky gravy. Photo courtesy of Ad Cucina
KFC rolls chicken in their recipe of 11 herbs and spices, then pressure-cooks it at a low temperature to recreate the recipe born in a Kentucky service station in 1930. Order it in their famous bucket, on a sandwich, or in the form of nuggets or tenders. No matter what, you cant go wrong with this time-tested chicken.Advertisement Photo courtesy of Krispy Krunchy Chicken
Get Krispy Krunchy Chicken at convenience stores, malls, college campuses, and supermarkets in more than 3,200 locations across 48 states. The chicken is marinated in a proprietary mix of mild Cajun spices, then double-breaded by hand and fried. Dont forget to add sides like jambalaya and a freshly baked biscuit drizzled with honey. Photo courtesy of Lees Famous Recipe Chicken
Born in the 1960s in Lima, Ohio, Lees Famous Recipe Chicken features honey-dipped chicken thats hand-breaded in a special blend of herbs and spices, then pressure-fried. Order the Famous Recipe or spicy versions alongside Southern-style sides. Photo courtesy of Doucefleur // Getty s
Louisiana Fried Chicken got its start in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s (based upon Louisiana recipes), and it has since expanded with franchise locations across the country. Fans love the chickens unique spices and fantastic crunch, which can be enjoyed in the form of pieces, tenders, and nuggets.Advertisement Photo courtesy of Meagan Klementowski
The staff at PDQ (which stands for People Dedicated to Quality) prepares its menu in an open kitchen without preservatives, and they turn orders around quickly. Get your fried chicken fix with tenders, nuggets, sandwiches, or salads. And try a dipping sauce like the zesty PDQ sauce with a kick of garlic and pepper. Photo courtesy of
Pollo Campero launched in Guatemala in 1971, and its bold, complex flavors are lighting up the states. Steeped in generations of family recipes, their signature fried chicken comes with a dinner roll or tortillas, as well as sides like yuca fries and tasty Campero beans made with ancho and chipotle peppers. Photo courtesy of Popeyes
Who could forget the chicken sandwich wars of the early 2020s, fomented by the introduction of a fried chicken sandwich to the Popeyes menu? Along with the classic and spicy versions of that sandwich, customers enjoy mainstays like wings, nuggets, tenders, and signature chicken meals.Advertisement Photo courtesy of
Raising Canes offers chicken tenders that are marinated, hand-battered, and cooked to order for that perfect crispy exterior and juicy interior. Crinkle-cut fries and Texas toast take care of the carbs, and Cane’s Sauce is made fresh every day. Photo courtesy of Shake Shack
Shake Shack is best known for burgers, but this famed company is no slouch when it comes to fried chicken either. During a visit, guests can enjoy a hearty Chicken Shack sandwich slathered in buttermilk herb mayo, or opt for the Chicken Bites, a savory selection that comes with a choice of delicious sauces. Photo courtesy of bernie_photo // Getty s
Hand-breaded chicken tenders that are bathed in a Southern-style buttermilk marinade are the stars at Slim Chickens. Although you can choose among other sauces, many go for the Slim Sauce that sings with herby tomato flavors and a dash of pepper. Advertisement Photo courtesy of Wingstop
Wingstop serves classic and boneless wings in a dozen flavors, from the always popular lemon pepper and hickory smoked BBQ to mouth-searing atomic and sweet-and-spicy mango habanero. Diners also enjoy their fried chicken sandwich and crispy tenders. Photo courtesy of
Zaxbys is known for their tasty, hand-breaded chicken and more than a dozen distinct sauces for dipping. Order chicken finger plates, boneless or traditional wings, or a generously portioned chicken sandwich. Advertisement
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Why order chicken tenders at a restaurant #chickentenders
FAQ
Where’s a good place to get fried chicken?
- Howlin’ Ray’s. 4.7 (8k reviews) …
- Gol Tong Chicken. 4.8 (2.5k reviews) …
- Fat Daddy. 4.4 (67 reviews) …
- Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. 4.2 (1.8k reviews) …
- Rice Chicken. 4.7 (190 reviews) …
- Humble Bird. 4.8 (396 reviews) …
- Tenkatori. 4.8 (332 reviews) …
- Dinah’s Chicken.
Which fast food sells real chicken?
- Chick-fil-A. Chicken plays a central role at Chick-fil-A, so the chain is dedicated to ensuring the quality of its meat. …
- BurgerFi. …
- El Pollo Loco. …
- Culver’s. …
- Chipotle. …
- Elevation Burger. …
- Panera Bread.
Which fast food restaurant is known for its fried chicken?
Taste preferences can vary, but some popular fast food chains known for their fried chicken include Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, and KFC. Each has its unique seasoning and cooking style, so it’s best to try them and decide based on personal preference.
What company sells the most fried chicken?
Leading the market, Chick-fil-A commanded a 45.5% share in 2023 , significantly ahead of competitors like KFC and Popeyes.