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A basket of crispy fried chicken.
Fried chicken at Love & Honey Fried Chicken.
Love & Honey Fried Chicken.

Ultimate Destinations Around Philly for Crispy, Crunchy Fried Chicken

Where to find the juiciest, crispiest fried chicken in Philly

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Fried chicken at Love & Honey Fried Chicken.
| Love & Honey Fried Chicken.

There are rules when it comes to frying chicken — rules and techniques and philosophies and credos. The idea is simple: juicy meat, crispy skin. But easy-sounding ideas often stumble in execution. Fortunately for Philadelphia, there's some true fried chicken talent in the city's dining scene, with chefs pulling off the right balance of crispy on the outside, tender on the inside chicken, with grease nowhere in sight. Here are 15 great options for fried chicken in and around the city.

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Debreaux's

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In the parking lot of the Overbrook train station, the Debreaux’s menu explicitly states “Southern food is not fast food.” That’s why customers call ahead to place orders for the fried chicken, with its extra-crispy shell, and sides of mac and cheese and crazy rice.

Tsaocaa (multiple locations)

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Bubble tea and fried chicken make for a delightful combo, especially at Tsaocaa, a chain of tea shops that have a handful of locations around Philly. The fried chicken sandwich can be made with honey garlic, extra spicy, or buffalo sauce, plus sweet potato fries make the meal.

Booker's Restaurant & Bar

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Booker’s in West Philly is a weekend neighborhood brunch destination not only for its floral outdoor seating area but its delicious eggs, pancakes, and chicken and waffles. The strawberry butter is a bonus. Looking for something more substantial? Booker’s offers a fried chicken, waffles, and shrimp entree too.

Beyond their sushi and refined Japanese dishes, the return of Pod comes with notable fried chicken menu options. They are now serving crispy Karaage fried chicken (served with pickled cucumber and miso mayo for dipping) and an impressive “JFC” (Japanese Fried Chicken) bucket that’s flavored with ramen seasoning and Japanese pickles on the side.

A bucket of fried chicken,
“JFC” (Japanese Fried Chicken) bucket at Pod.
Pod.

The Love.

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This Rittenhouse hotspot is known for their signature fried chicken with comeback sauce at dinner. But even during lunch, they even have the delicious “Take me Away” Nashville hot chicken sandwich served on griddled brioche with pickles and comeback sauce and the “Lovebird” buttermilk fried chicken plate with buttery grits, collard greens and comeback sauce that’s perfect for brunch.

Big Chicken

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This new chicken spot at The Concourse at Comcast Center is founded by legendary NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. Weekdays from lunch to early dinner, there’s a variety of chicken sandwiches (try the “Shaq Attack” with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, and spicy chipotle barbecue), popcorn chicken, and salads to choose from.

Bud & Marilyn's

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Marcie Turney and Val Safran's retro Bud & Marilyn’s specializes in homey Midwestern cuisine, like the crispy half chicken with biscuits, house-made hot sauce, honey butter, and pickles. It’s enough to share, especially alongside an appetizer or two like fried cheese curds.

Dinner and a show is the name of the game at South Jazz Kitchen on N. Broad, and music sounds that much better when you’re eating buttermilk fried chicken with smoked turkey collard greens and sweet potato gratin. It would be a good idea to get an order of the honey butter cornbread too.

Hatch & Coop

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Craving a late-night fried chicken sandwich? Hatch & Coop is open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The fried chicken is layered with different sauces on a buttered, toasted roll — or go for the chicken and waffle sandwich with honey butter hot sauce.

Crunchik’n

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The menu at fast-casual Korean spot Crunchik’n, run by a father and daughter team, includes crunchy Korean fried chicken that’s marinated for 24 hours before being fried and then glazed in a choice of sauces ranging from mild honey soy to sweet chili super spice. You can get a side of tteokbokki if you’re really hungry.

Redcrest Kitchen

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This beloved restaurant has had many changes, but one thing that’s been consistent is their tasty fried chicken. Their legendary half fried chicken (served with scrumptious buttermilk biscuits and spicy collard greens) is just the beginning of their love for the bird — try their awesome chicken tenders or one of their juicy chicken sandwiches (the “South-By-Southwest” sandwich that comes with pickled jalapeño and charred jalapeño mayo is a stand-out).

Federal Donuts

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The Tel Aviv fried chicken sandwich at Federal Donuts is something only Philly’s Mike Solomonov could pull off — a twice-fried chicken breast with Za’atar seasoning, schug tehina, Israeli pickles, and a slice of heirloom tomato on a potato roll. Though it’s not always on the menu, chicken tenders and donuts are, so you’ll never go hungry when stopping by this beloved local chain

Love & Honey Fried Chicken

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In Northern Liberties, Todd and Laura Lyons serve a takeout/delivery only menu of the ultimate American comfort foods: extra-crispy golden-brown chicken (tenders, wings, and sandwiches), potato salad, tater tots, cornbread, and banana pudding. Their chicken gets a touch of sweetness from a drizzle of honey after frying.

Andy's Chicken

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The chicken at Andy’s is double-fried with a caked-on breading so bubbly and crisp it’s hard to imagine eating chicken another way. Go for the original or choose from options like honey garlic, sweet chili, or golden soy. Add on a bulgogi rice bowl as a side dish.

Corinne's Place

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Cross the bridge for this James Beard-winning soul food restaurant in Camden serving golden-brown, never-greasy fried chicken alongside baked mac and cheese, candied yams, and black-eyed peas. Don’t forget to add a slice of sweet potato pie to the order.

Debreaux's

In the parking lot of the Overbrook train station, the Debreaux’s menu explicitly states “Southern food is not fast food.” That’s why customers call ahead to place orders for the fried chicken, with its extra-crispy shell, and sides of mac and cheese and crazy rice.

Tsaocaa (multiple locations)

Bubble tea and fried chicken make for a delightful combo, especially at Tsaocaa, a chain of tea shops that have a handful of locations around Philly. The fried chicken sandwich can be made with honey garlic, extra spicy, or buffalo sauce, plus sweet potato fries make the meal.

Booker's Restaurant & Bar

Booker’s in West Philly is a weekend neighborhood brunch destination not only for its floral outdoor seating area but its delicious eggs, pancakes, and chicken and waffles. The strawberry butter is a bonus. Looking for something more substantial? Booker’s offers a fried chicken, waffles, and shrimp entree too.

Pod

Beyond their sushi and refined Japanese dishes, the return of Pod comes with notable fried chicken menu options. They are now serving crispy Karaage fried chicken (served with pickled cucumber and miso mayo for dipping) and an impressive “JFC” (Japanese Fried Chicken) bucket that’s flavored with ramen seasoning and Japanese pickles on the side.

A bucket of fried chicken,
“JFC” (Japanese Fried Chicken) bucket at Pod.
Pod.

The Love.

This Rittenhouse hotspot is known for their signature fried chicken with comeback sauce at dinner. But even during lunch, they even have the delicious “Take me Away” Nashville hot chicken sandwich served on griddled brioche with pickles and comeback sauce and the “Lovebird” buttermilk fried chicken plate with buttery grits, collard greens and comeback sauce that’s perfect for brunch.

Big Chicken

This new chicken spot at The Concourse at Comcast Center is founded by legendary NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. Weekdays from lunch to early dinner, there’s a variety of chicken sandwiches (try the “Shaq Attack” with pepper jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, and spicy chipotle barbecue), popcorn chicken, and salads to choose from.

Bud & Marilyn's

Marcie Turney and Val Safran's retro Bud & Marilyn’s specializes in homey Midwestern cuisine, like the crispy half chicken with biscuits, house-made hot sauce, honey butter, and pickles. It’s enough to share, especially alongside an appetizer or two like fried cheese curds.

South

Dinner and a show is the name of the game at South Jazz Kitchen on N. Broad, and music sounds that much better when you’re eating buttermilk fried chicken with smoked turkey collard greens and sweet potato gratin. It would be a good idea to get an order of the honey butter cornbread too.

Hatch & Coop

Craving a late-night fried chicken sandwich? Hatch & Coop is open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The fried chicken is layered with different sauces on a buttered, toasted roll — or go for the chicken and waffle sandwich with honey butter hot sauce.

Crunchik’n

The menu at fast-casual Korean spot Crunchik’n, run by a father and daughter team, includes crunchy Korean fried chicken that’s marinated for 24 hours before being fried and then glazed in a choice of sauces ranging from mild honey soy to sweet chili super spice. You can get a side of tteokbokki if you’re really hungry.

Redcrest Kitchen

This beloved restaurant has had many changes, but one thing that’s been consistent is their tasty fried chicken. Their legendary half fried chicken (served with scrumptious buttermilk biscuits and spicy collard greens) is just the beginning of their love for the bird — try their awesome chicken tenders or one of their juicy chicken sandwiches (the “South-By-Southwest” sandwich that comes with pickled jalapeño and charred jalapeño mayo is a stand-out).

Federal Donuts

The Tel Aviv fried chicken sandwich at Federal Donuts is something only Philly’s Mike Solomonov could pull off — a twice-fried chicken breast with Za’atar seasoning, schug tehina, Israeli pickles, and a slice of heirloom tomato on a potato roll. Though it’s not always on the menu, chicken tenders and donuts are, so you’ll never go hungry when stopping by this beloved local chain

Love & Honey Fried Chicken

In Northern Liberties, Todd and Laura Lyons serve a takeout/delivery only menu of the ultimate American comfort foods: extra-crispy golden-brown chicken (tenders, wings, and sandwiches), potato salad, tater tots, cornbread, and banana pudding. Their chicken gets a touch of sweetness from a drizzle of honey after frying.

Andy's Chicken

The chicken at Andy’s is double-fried with a caked-on breading so bubbly and crisp it’s hard to imagine eating chicken another way. Go for the original or choose from options like honey garlic, sweet chili, or golden soy. Add on a bulgogi rice bowl as a side dish.

Corinne's Place

Cross the bridge for this James Beard-winning soul food restaurant in Camden serving golden-brown, never-greasy fried chicken alongside baked mac and cheese, candied yams, and black-eyed peas. Don’t forget to add a slice of sweet potato pie to the order.

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