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Philly's fried chicken game is strong, so check these out.
Philly's fried chicken game is strong, so check these out.

10 Fried Chicken Dishes to Try Before You Die

by Allison Stadd
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Philly's fried chicken game is strong, so check these out.
by Allison Stadd
1 comment / new

Federal Donuts wasn't the first to pair fried chicken and doughnuts, but it's certainly the most successful with a burgeoning empire that's even expanded to that haute-food-wasteland, the ballpark.

FedNuts' fried chicken, admiringly spotlighted in the New York Times, is golden and juicy, served either seasoned—dusted with tart buttermilk ranch—or glazed—coated in sticky-sweet honey ginger sauce, served in a cardboard box with with a warm honey donut along for the ride. Incidentally, the shop is celebrating National Fried Chicken Day on July 6 by giving away 10 Golden Tickets at both the Pennsport and Center City sites.

But, Philly's finger-licking-good fried chicken game is strong all over town, from Chef Anne Coll's perennial Korean fried chicken special at Meritage to the cult favorite KFC at Cheltenham's Cafe Soho, which was actually the inspiration behind Mike Solo's FedNuts birds. But, enough talk. Here are the 10 Fried Chicken Dishes to Try Before You Die, in no particular order.


All Fried Chicken Coverage [~EPHI~]
All Eater Guides [~EPHI~]

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Cafe Soho

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Cafe Soho’s crispy Korean Fried Chicken has found so much success -- Tony Bourdain featured it on his Travel Channel show The Layover -- that the crew was able to open a second location in Blue Bell.
468 W Cheltenham Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19126
(215) 224-6800
(215) 224-6800

Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar

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On Thursdays, fried chicken gets an upgrade thanks to Meritage’s Korean Fried Chicken special. For $17, you get two sides and twice-fried spicy sesame-glazed chicken.
500 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 985-1922
(215) 985-1922

REX 1516

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Southern-inspired Rex 1516 takes its fried chicken seriously. Chef Justin Swain brines drumsticks and thighs in sweet tea for 24 hours before dredging them in flour and spices, dipping them in buttermilk and house hot sauce, dredging again, then frying to golden-brown perfection.
1516 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 735-1116
(215) 735-1116

Also featured in:

Chick-a-licious

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Ignore the dumb name and let the double-fried Korean chicken -- 6 wings for $7, 4 drumsticks for $6.50 -- speak for itself. Bonus: they’re open until 10 p.m. seven days a week.
138 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 925-8881
(215) 925-8881

Jones

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Jones’ classic fried chicken and waffles, blanketed in warm gravy, doesn’t disappoint.
700 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 223-5663
(215) 223-5663

Resurrection Ale House

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The extra-crunchy double fried chicken at Resurrection Ale House, recognized by Bon Appetit a few years back, is served with spicy honey and a side of cornbread. It’s as good as you’ve heard.
2425 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 735-2202
(215) 735-2202

Khyber Pass Pub

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The fried chicken po-boy -- also available vegan -- is served on a real-deal Leidenheimer roll shipped from New Orleans topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, and creole mustard.
56 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-5888
(215) 238-5888

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Alla Spina

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The maple glazed fried chicken with mozzarella curd mashed potatoes is so good you’ll want to die. Marc Vetri, you can do no wrong.
1410 Mount Vernon St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 600-0017
(215) 600-0017

Warmdaddy's

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The Southern fried chicken dinner at Warmdaddy’s is worth the trip out Columbus Boulevard. You get all four pieces -- leg, breast, wing, and thigh -- served juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Or order it with waffles, topped with gravy and syrup.
1400 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 462-2000
(215) 462-2000

Federal Donuts

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The best of the bunch, Federal Donuts keeps making national headlines for good reason -- it’s just that freaking good. See above.
1219 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 687-8258
(267) 687-8258

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Cafe Soho

468 W Cheltenham Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19126
Cafe Soho’s crispy Korean Fried Chicken has found so much success -- Tony Bourdain featured it on his Travel Channel show The Layover -- that the crew was able to open a second location in Blue Bell.
468 W Cheltenham Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19126
(215) 224-6800
(215) 224-6800

Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar

500 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
On Thursdays, fried chicken gets an upgrade thanks to Meritage’s Korean Fried Chicken special. For $17, you get two sides and twice-fried spicy sesame-glazed chicken.
500 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 985-1922
(215) 985-1922

REX 1516

1516 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Southern-inspired Rex 1516 takes its fried chicken seriously. Chef Justin Swain brines drumsticks and thighs in sweet tea for 24 hours before dredging them in flour and spices, dipping them in buttermilk and house hot sauce, dredging again, then frying to golden-brown perfection.
1516 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 735-1116
(215) 735-1116

Chick-a-licious

138 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Ignore the dumb name and let the double-fried Korean chicken -- 6 wings for $7, 4 drumsticks for $6.50 -- speak for itself. Bonus: they’re open until 10 p.m. seven days a week.
138 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 925-8881
(215) 925-8881

Jones

700 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Jones’ classic fried chicken and waffles, blanketed in warm gravy, doesn’t disappoint.
700 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 223-5663
(215) 223-5663

Resurrection Ale House

2425 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146
The extra-crunchy double fried chicken at Resurrection Ale House, recognized by Bon Appetit a few years back, is served with spicy honey and a side of cornbread. It’s as good as you’ve heard.
2425 Grays Ferry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 735-2202
(215) 735-2202

Khyber Pass Pub

56 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
The fried chicken po-boy -- also available vegan -- is served on a real-deal Leidenheimer roll shipped from New Orleans topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, and creole mustard.
56 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-5888
(215) 238-5888

Alla Spina

1410 Mount Vernon St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
The maple glazed fried chicken with mozzarella curd mashed potatoes is so good you’ll want to die. Marc Vetri, you can do no wrong.
1410 Mount Vernon St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 600-0017
(215) 600-0017

Warmdaddy's

1400 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19147
The Southern fried chicken dinner at Warmdaddy’s is worth the trip out Columbus Boulevard. You get all four pieces -- leg, breast, wing, and thigh -- served juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Or order it with waffles, topped with gravy and syrup.
1400 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 462-2000
(215) 462-2000

Federal Donuts

1219 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
The best of the bunch, Federal Donuts keeps making national headlines for good reason -- it’s just that freaking good. See above.
1219 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(267) 687-8258
(267) 687-8258

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