The Best Fast-Food Fried Chicken, Ranked
These fast food joints are serving fried chicken worthy of grandma's approval.
To celebrate National Fried Chicken Day, we’re here to help you find the crispiest, juiciest, most delectable piece of poultry in fast food. Americans are passionate about fried chicken and loyal to their favorites, but there’s no denying that some chains do it better than others. Let’s get down to the details, so that you’re ending the day with a mouthful that is finger-licking good.
12. McDonald's
McDonald’s is the fast food entry-point for fried chicken. While their offerings have significantly improved over the past few years, they still aren't anywhere near the caliber of the fried chicken specialists out there. Two of McDonald’s revamped chicken items, the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich and the Chicken Selects (tenders), are inconsistent in size and freshness, and really lacking a flavor punch. Let’s just say that McDonald’s is not where you should celebrate National Fried Chicken Day. Now, onto the real competition…
11. Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC is the universal fried chicken chain, but don't be so quick to stick with what you know. While the Colonel’s chicken is a classic, competition is heating up and it might just be getting too hot in the kitchen. KFC’s bone-in chicken is consistently dry, and the breading is bland compared to the immediately distinguishable flavors of competitors. The sides outshine the main course — their signature mashed potatoes with gravy are famous for good reason, and their potato wedges often have a crispier crust than the wings. Sadly, their chicken is a case of quantity over quality.
10. Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits
Bojangles' is one of the least remarkable contenders in the fast food fried chicken race. The chicken is moist, but it isn’t flavorful. It has a nice crunch, but it’s always too thin. They have a wide variety of sides, but only a few of them are good enough to go back for (like the Bo-tato rounds). And while Bojangles' may be full of contradictions, their biscuits and breakfast menu are a sure thing. The fan-favorite Bo-berry Biscuit, baked with blueberries and slathered in confectioners icing, is the one thing that you’re certain to talk about when you’ve long forgotten the mediocre chicken.
9. Church’s Chicken
Church’s Chicken sticks to what they know — bone-in, hand-battered and deep fried. Their traditional, Texan-style chicken packs a bold flavor and is served in huge portions (everything’s bigger in Texas!). Church’s thick batter retains a lot of the frying oil though, which can turn the breading from crunchy to soggy in just a few short minutes. This chicken needs to be eaten fresh, right out of the frier. Otherwise the skin turns heavy and greasy, an obstacle to the meat underneath.
8. Wingstop
We are entering finger-lickin’ good territory. Wingstop is one of the few fast food restaurants committed to the art of the wing — and they are onto something. The chain is experiencing rapid growth, with over 1,250 stores open around the world. Their flavor selection matches full-service competitors like Buffalo Wild Wings, but at a lower price point, with speedier service and comparable quality. They have all the classics like Buffalo, Hickory BBQ and Louisiana dry rub, and are experimenting with new, bolder flavors like Ancho Honey Glaze and Harissa Lemon Pepper. If you haven't heard of Wingstop yet, you will soon.
7. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Raising Cane’s is the ~other~ Louisiana-based fried chicken chain. They have a solid trinity of chicken fingers, crinkle fries and Texas toast, but what really sets Cane’s apart is the chicken’s best friend — Cane Sauce. The blend of mayo, ketchup, worcestershire, black pepper and garlic is a perfect melange of tangy and rich, with a touch of sweetness. It is the ultimate flavor companion to the seasonings in their fingers and crinkle fries. Wash it all down with a swig of their homemade lemonade and you’re experiencing Raising Cane's at its finest.
6. Shake Shack
If you are surprised that Shake Shack made this list, you haven’t tried their Chick'n Shack sandwich. It was the first chicken item on their menu, and in true Danny Meyer fashion, he took the time to craft it to perfection. The Chick'n Shack is a thick hunk of all-natural chicken breast served atop a potato bun with lettuce, pickles and a slathering of delicious buttermilk-herb mayo. The piece of chicken is always too big for the bun (a good problem to have) and has one of the crispiest crusts of all the chicken sandwiches in fast food. At $6.69 it is the most expensive too, but the stellar sandwich is easily superior to many you’d find at a full-service restaurant for double the price.
5. Zaxby's
You may not have heard of Zaxby’s if you aren’t from the Southeastern U.S., but if you are, then you probably went there once or twice last month when you had too much Chick-fil-A. Zaxby’s advantage is their full range of menu offerings including bone-in wings, tenders and sandwiches. They even serve some great “Zalads” which are hearty, crisp and fresh, much unlike the standard fast food salad. The menu item that won Zaxby’s this top 5 spot is their adorable Nibblerz — a chicken tender tucked into a mini potato bun and oozing with their house Zax Sauce (similar to mayochup, but with a ton more flavor). Getting picky, because that is what it comes down to between these top spots, their breading lacks the satisfying crunch that many others do so well. Also, it is a little salty. But those chicken sliders are the most underrated item in fast food — there, I said it.
4. Jollibee
Jollibee is the Filipino fried chicken chain that’s about to take over the United States. If you’re skeptical, check out this recent New York Times story heralding the chain’s first Manhattan location earlier this year. “The pleasures of Chickenjoy, as it’s called, are immediate: The sheath of skin is as craggy as a thunderhead, crannies and crunch multiplying.” Uhm, I’ll have some of that, please! Chickenjoy is served in bone-in pieces buckets, or you can opt for Chicken Dippers, which are the boneless tenders. Every order of chicken is accompanied by a side of their signature gravy for dipping. They also boast a selection of Filipino side dishes unrivaled by any competitor on this list. Chickenjoy with a side of the famed Jolly Spaghetti? Or, how about Fiesta Noodles (Jollibee’s take on pancit palabok, a classic Filipino shrimp and noodle dish). Still hungry? Grab a Peach Mango Pie or Halo-Halo for dessert. Yes, all of this is available, and actually good, at a fast food chain.
3. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s is by far the smallest chain on this list, but their chicken packs the mightiest punch. Legend has it that Nashville Hot Chicken was first created as punishment for a womanizing husband. The accidental inventor is said to have thrown a heap of cayenne pepper into her husband’s batch of fried chicken after he came home late from a night of… well, use your imagination. Much to her surprise, he loved it! Prince's Hot Chicken Shack is credited as the first to serve it at a restaurant, but Hattie B’s is responsible for letting the secret out. Thanks to them, you can now find the real thing outside of Nashville, in Atlanta, Memphis, Birmingham and Las Vegas. The fiery spirit of the woman who invented hot chicken is in every scorching bite of Hattie B’s rendition, served with dill chips and white bread to cool down your taste buds. Like the nationwide obsession has, let’s hope the Hattie B’s chain spreads like wildfire.
2. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A is arguably America’s favorite fried chicken. The original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich could be called a masterpiece. Their nuggets are easily the best you can get, made from fresh, hand-breaded morsels every morning. Their signature sauces, Chick-fil-A Sauce and Polynesian Sauce, are practically drinkable. Thin shoestring fries are no competition to Chick-fil-A’s Waffle Fries, cut from cross-sections of whole potatoes. The instantly recognizable taste (and scent) of Chick-fil-A is all in the breading. When deep fried in peanut oil, the sweet and peppery batter takes on distinct flavor qualities that make it nearly impossible to duplicate. Coupled with the fact that it is straight-up addictive, it’s no wonder raving fans around the country are known to frequent Chick-fil-A multiple times a week. It’s just too bad Chick-fil-A doesn't offer a bone-in, traditional preparation. Good thing we have #1 for that…
1. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is home to America’s best fast food fried chicken. Popeyes has mastered the traditional T.L.C. method of hand-battered, deep-fried chicken at scale, without sacrificing quality. Their Bonafide Chicken and boneless tenders alike are consistently the crunchiest and most flavorful in the fast food circuit. Peeling off the skin and eating it on its own is otherworldly. The dark meat is as juicy as any other homemade, hand-breaded drumstick you'll find. We could go on about their chicken as a class of its own, but it doesn’t stop there. Popeyes serves the classic Southern sides, like red beans and rice, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and (best of all) biscuits at the same high caliber. Thank goodness for meat and sides that compliment each other rather than compete.
Food aside, Popeyes maintains the cultural magic that makes fried chicken so great — eating at a Popeyes is like eating at a mom-and-pop joint. For striking that rare and finicky balance between authenticity and the masses, Popeyes is most deserving of this top spot. It’s exactly where you should celebrate National Fried Chicken Day!
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