Fried chicken is an enduring classic and usually conjures a specific image of dining: a heaping platter of varied chicken pieces with thick, crispy crust and juicy meat inside, accompanied by sides like mashed potatoes, gravy and biscuits.
These Michelin-recognized restaurants present this dish in ways that our inspectors noticed as exceptional, sometimes challenging tradition with unique twists. From a giblets platter at chef Antoine Westermann’s upscale poultry bistro Le Coq Rico in the Flatiron District to the yakitori bar Tori Shin to the Southern classics at Melba’s in Harlem—this finger-licking list leads you through as wide a range of interpretations as it does settings.
Clear the day, invite a friend or five and get ready for some delicious fried chicken. (Turn things up a notch by cramming as many spots as your stomach can handle into one day for a killer food crawl.)
Related Recipe: Chicken Fried Chicken
(Photo: Buttermilk Channel Facebook page.)
Buttermilk Channel
BrooklynWhat It Is: Doug Crowell's warm and relaxed Court Street favorite in Brooklyn.
What to Order: Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich served on house-made bread with butter pickles and savoy cabbage slaw ($15) and Catskill Brewery Freak Tractor wild ale ($7).
What Our Inspectors Say: "The name may refer to the tidal strait but also evokes feelings of comfort and cheer in a place that's already cute and where the close-set tables and large bar both add to the animated atmosphere. The kitchen seeks out worthy suppliers and with no little skill imbues each dish with that little extra something, be it the cod with Littleneck clams, the fresh linguini with beets or indeed the buttermilk-fried chicken. This care is even evident at weekend brunches on standouts like short rib hash."
Reservations: The restaurant accepts reservations for dinner for parties of all sizes, but does not accept reservations for brunch.
Hill Country Chicken
Gramercy, Flatiron & Union SquareWhat It Is: At Hill Country Chicken on Broadway and 25th, founder Marc Glosserman brings to life the Southern-style cooking of his mother and grandmothers (“Betty” and “Mama El”) he experienced growing up in Texas.
What to Order: A thigh ($4), a drum ($2.75), cheesy fried mash potatoes ($3.75), buttermilk biscuit ($1.50) and an ice cream float ($4.50).
What Our Inspectors Say: "Gussied up in a happy palette of sunny yellow and sky blue, this 100-seat homage to deep-fried down-home country cooking serves exemplary fried chicken offered in two varieties. The ‘classic’ sports a seasoned, golden-brown skin; ‘Mama El's’ is skinless and cracker-crusted. Both are available by the piece or as part of whimsically named meals, like the ‘white meat solo coop.’"
Reservations: No.
Fried chicken piled high at Momofuku Noodle Bar. (Photo by Gabriele Stabile.)
Momofuku Noodle Bar
East VillageWhat It Is: David Chang’s über popular Momofuku Noodle Bar has drawn crowds for its ramen and pork buns since its opening in 2004.
What to Order: The $150 meal (which you must order in advance) includes two whole fried chickens—one Southern-style and one Korean-style—served with mu shu pancakes, baby carrots, red ball radishes, bibb lettuce, four sauces and an herb basket. (There's also a fried chicken and caviar meal for those that want to spend a few extra Benjamins and really ball out.)
What Our Inspectors Say: “This elder member of David Chang's culinary empire is hipper and hotter than ever. A honey-toned temple of updated comfort food, decked with wood counters and a sparkling open kitchen, the service here may be brisk. But rest assured, as the menu is gutsy and molded with Asian street food in mind. . . . Korean fried chicken with seasonal greens is fit for a king; while more modest items, including desserts like candy apple truffle, are beautifully crafted and rightfully elevated to global fame.”
Reservations: Required for the fried chicken. You can reserve online up to four weeks in advance.
Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too
Upper West SideWhat It Is: Miss Mamie’s Spoonbread Too is a country-style kitchen with a red-checkered floor that’s served the likes of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and both Bushes.
What to Order: Famous southern fried chicken ($17.95) and a scoop of homemade peach cobbler ($6.95).
What Our Inspectors Say: “Come to Miss Mamie's and plan to indulge, Southern style. This tiny institution sports a bright, clean dining room, and is furnished with comfortable wicker chairs, roomy tables, and lots of flower arrangements. But despite its somewhat sophisticated appearance, the kitchen still embraces such tried-and-true classics as fried chicken thighs with black-eyed peas and collard greens, Louisiana catfish, and a creamy red velvet cake for dessert.”
Reservations: No.
Fried chicken and waffles at Clinton Street Baking Company. (Photo by Mark Weinberg.)
Clinton St. Baking Company
Lower East SideWhat It Is: Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman’s 32-seat darling offers up breakfast and brunch specialties. (Tip from the staff: the least busy times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.)
What to Order: Fried chicken and waffles ($17) and a hard blueberry lemonade ($11).
What Our Inspectors Say: “Having finally expanded to include the space next door, the comfort level and service of this brunch-focused bijou has greatly improved. And what started as a bakery is now a legend—one that draws a perpetual crowd waiting for ample rewards. A little bit country and a little bit food lab, this kitchen has achieved such success in NY that the owners now have outposts in Japan and Dubai. Breakfast for dinner is always a treat, especially when golden-brown Belgian waffles are served with warm maple butter and topped with buttermilk-brined fried chicken for a flawless marriage of sweet and savory.”
Reservations: Available for dinner only.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie
SoHo & NolitaWhat It Is: The Bromberg brothers’ Sullivan Street iconic mainstay that’s open until 4:00 a.m.
What to Order: Fried chicken served with mashed potatoes and collard greens ($28.50) and—after many hours drinking to your heart’s content—a banana split ($15).
What Our Inspectors Say: “Blue Ribbon stays open until the wee hours, serving somewhat simple but particularly memorable food to SoHo's stylish set. Moreover, this unaffectedly warm and very classic bistro boasts zero pretense and deserves all praise that comes its way. Its décor may have stayed the same through the years—think timeless—but those bar seats remain a hot ticket. . . . Fried chicken with mashed potatoes takes home the gold medal for comfort classics, while banana-walnut bread pudding with caramel sauce is the very essence of decadence.”
Reservations: Available, but not required.
The giblet platter at Le Coq Rico. (Photo: Le Coq Rico.)
Le Coq Rico
Gramercy, Flatiron & Union SquareWhat It Is: Here, heritage breeds are cooked to poultry glory.
What to Order: The giblets platter ($17), which features leftover parts of the animals including duck liver, heart and apple brochette, glazed wings, chicken liver on horseradish toast, and the spiced poultry cromesquis (a variation of the croquette). To drink, try one of the bar’s signature “Coq’Tales,” like the “Son of a Rooster” made of reposado tequila, spicy ginger syrup, crème de mure, chile and lime juice ($16).
What Our Inspectors Say: “Chicken takes the spotlight at Le Coq Rico, but these birds go well beyond the basic. Tucked into a gleaming interior at the base of a Beaux-Arts building, the restaurant offers two distinct dining areas—the main room with its stylized décor of whitewashed brick and white oak floors, as well as a glossy counter area overlooking the open kitchen. There is a list of chicken breeds to choose from including Plymouth Rock, New Hampshire and Rohan Farm Duck.”
Reservations: Available, but not required.
Tori Shin
Midtown WestWhat It Is: Chefs Shu Ikeda and Atsushi Kono’s Tori Shin is best known for its skewered meat.
What to Order: Nagoya-style spicy fried chicken, a.k.a. deep-fried drumstick parts in a spicy sweet sauce ($16), and Asahi super dry draft beer ($8).
What Our Inspectors Say: “A small bar pouring sake, shochu, and Japanese whiskey welcomes patrons into the multi-level dining room, featuring myriad table seating options that include a mezzanine with gold leaf walls. However, nothing compares to the entertainment of sitting at the counter, in front of the chefs fanning charcoal. This may be a serious and sophisticated restaurant, but the warm service as well as the upbeat atmosphere keep it approachable.”
Reservations: Accepted for the dining room and required for counter.
Fried chicken and biscuits at The Dutch. (Photo by Noah Fecks.)
The Dutch
SoHo & NolitaWhat It Is: NoHo Hospitality’s famed comfort fare hangout where oysters and fried chicken will fill most of the plates in sight.
What to Order: Hot fried chicken, which comes with honey butter biscuits and cole slaw ($32), and sparkling wine by the glass ($15+).
What Our Inspectors Say: “Buzzy and beloved since day one, chef Andrew Carmellini's The Dutch quickly became a major hit and SoHo institution. Its primo corner windows open on to the sidewalk, tempting guests inside with a stocked oyster bar, cozy banquettes, and sharply dressed service staff. The menu is just as seductive as the space, familiar but with fresh updates.”
Reservations: Available, but not required.
Melba’s
Harlem, Morningside & Washington HeightsWhat It Is: At Melba’s in Harlem, the vibe is relaxed and homey, and the food is pure comfort.
What to Order: Southern fried chicken and eggnog waffles and a “Rose in Harlem,” a sour cocktail made of Alizé Rosé, tequila and triple sec.
What Our Inspectors Say: “With its colorful spirit and lineup of Southern classics, this comfortable spot—as charming and lovely as its namesake owner, born-and-bred Harlemite Melba Wilson—is a perfect reflection of the neighborhood's flavor, culture, and past. . . . Equally enticing is the Southern fried chicken—darkly bronzed, sweet and salty when paired with Melba's iconic eggnog waffles.”
Reservations: Available, but not required.
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