CHIGuide
The 10 Best Fried Chicken Spots In Chicago
You know you want fried chicken, and we know where to get it. From hole in the wall to fancy, these are the 10 best spots to get fried chicken.
Sometimes in life you need to eat a whole lot of fried chicken. And you owe it to yourself to make sure that fried chicken is exceptionally good. Luckily, Chicago is home to a whole lot of delicious options. From low-key and quick chicken joints to fancy steakhouses you may not know serve it, in no particular order, these are the 10 best restaurants in Chicago to get fried chicken.
The Spots
Seoul sassy jumbo wings. That’s all you need to know. Eat them and eat them often.
Casual counter spot serving some of the best bird in town. Douse your chicken in honey – it’s like Michael’s Secret Stuff.
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Call ahead for a carry out and get the sauce on the side. Dump all the sauce on it once you get home. Don’t ask questions.
Joe’s has fried chicken, and it’s fantastic. For real. Get some as an appetizer before you cap off your meal with stone crabs and steak. Power moves only.
Sit-down casual Southern style cuisine, although you don’t have to be Southern to enjoy it. The fried chicken has a solid crust with a heavily seasoned batter.
If you’re not spreading all of the honey butter on this boneless chicken then you’re not doing it right.
A newer steakhouse that also serves excellent fried chicken – we did not see that coming. The chili bourbon maple drizzle is doing all kinds of tingly things for us.
Gus's serves loads of spicy fried chicken on paper plates, but they're doing so in a cool Fulton Market warehouse space. There's even a full bar, and fried chicken and beer is a combo we can get behind.
Harold's Chicken Shack
Here’s the thing about Harold’s. Yes, it’s the most famous fried chicken chain in Chicago. But the whole operation is kind of a clusterf*ck. The original location no longer exists, each shop is individually franchised, and none of them are the same. Some are better than others, but it’s hard to say which is the best. The one thing we do know is it’s un-American of you not to give the closest Harold’s a try, and that’s why it’s still in our top 10.
