Updated June 2020
Fried chicken connoisseurs this one is for you. In Austin, we’ve got it covered, from classic Southern to late-night Korean style fried chicken. Here are the best Austin restaurants for fried chicken in the city, in no particular order.
SEE ALSO: 24 Spots With The Best Brunch In Austin, Updated 2020
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Bird Bird Biscuit
Austin’s newest breakfast spot serves up a pretty mean fried chicken biscuit sandwich. Queen Beak sandwich has fried chicken, cayenne black pepper honey, and bacon-infused chipotle mayo.
COVID-19 update: In the wake of Covid-19, like many restaurants in Austin, Bird Bird Biscuit had to re-evaluate their business in order to survive the crisis. Owners Brian Batch and Ryan McElroy quickly pivoted their service model to only accepting online orders for takeout. Customers can order biscuits and sandwiches by visiting the restaurant’s website and quickly grabbing their orders to-go through a service window. “We have found that, in addition to ensuring our guests’ well-being, our new pick-up window has allowed us to serve our guests in a way that makes it more convenient for them. Gone are the days of waiting in a long line. By focusing exclusively on online ordering, our guests can schedule their pick-ups and wait from the comfort of their homes or vehicles,” said Batch.
2701 Manor Rd, birdbirdbiscuit.com
Rosewood
This is the buttermilk fried chicken with Thai fish caramel and pickles at Rosewood – and it’s delicious! It’s available on their curbside pick up menu.
1209 Rosewood Ave
SEE ALSO: 16 Best Tacos In Austin, Updated 2020
Tumble 22
🔥 If you like hot chicken, you’re going to love Tumble 22’s Nashville-style hot chicken (t22 chicken joint). It’s super juicy and flavorful. Choose your fire level: wimpy, hot, dang hot!, and fire in the hole!! Of all the fried chicken joints, Tumble 22 is my favorite because it’s super flavorful and the chicken has juicy meat.
COVID-19 update: NEW Chicken Picnic special: All day Mondays and Tuesdays, guests can pick up a $20 dollar Chicken Picnic family meal for four. The New Chicken Picnic meal includes 12 pc crispy tenders, collard greens, beans, and slaw (regularly $30).
What to order: try any of the family pack bone-chicken with coleslaw, fries, and mac & cheese.
7211 Burnet Road (7211 burnet rd), tumble22.com
Culinary Dropout
If you want fried chicken but your friends don’t. Go to Culinary Dropout so there’s something for everyone else. The fried chicken at Culinary Dropout is solid. The chicken is drizzled with honey and comes with a buttermilk biscuit and mashed potatoes.
11721 Rock Rose #100, culinarydropout.com/location/austin/
Fixe
The crispy fried chicken sandwich with sweet tea pickles, chicken mayo, sunchoke & benne seed roll and served with salt & pepper fries. Only $9 during their happy hour from 4-7pm, seven nights a week at the bar, lounge or outdoor patio.
500 W 5th St, fixesouthernhouse.com
Photo Credit: Lucy’s Fried Chicken
Lucy’s Fried Chicken
Helmed by beloved Austin chef James Holmes, Lucy’s serves up Southern staples like Holmes’ famous fried chicken, deep-fried deviled eggs, raw and grilled Gulf oysters and housemade pies in a diner-style environment with an old Austin feel. Pick between the bucket o’ chicken, Lucy’s cold chicken basket, or fried chicken spaghetti.
What To Order: Bucket o’chicken, calf fries, and sweet tea pie.
2218 College Ave + 5408 Burnet Rd, lucysfriedchicken.com
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
Located on the intersection of San Jacinto and 2nd Street, Gus’s Fried Chicken serves fried chicken in a laid back, southern-style diner. This famous Memphis fried-chicken chain serves the chicken Nashville style with herbs, spice, and little breading that gives a huge punch of flavor. Con: the food is served on styrofoam plates and plastic cutlery.
What To Order: 2 piece dark, potato salad, and fried pickles with ranch, fried okra, or fried green tomatoes.
117 San Jacinto Blvd, gusfriedchicken.com
Loro
I always order the fried chicken karaage, a fried marinated chicken thigh dish with sweet chili and seasonal pickles, at Loro. Pair this signature dish with a boozy slushy, chilled beer or signature Japanese Sake, to cool off the hottest Austin temperatures.
What to order: chicken karaage or Crispy Smoked Chicken with honey, coconut-cabbage slaw, and hot sauce.
2115 S Lamar Blvd
Max’s Wine Dive
Another food chain (this one is from Houston) but I had to include Max’s Wine Dive in my Best Fried Chicken in Austin city guide because it’s actually really good. Their Famous Southern Fried Chicken is made with jalapeño-buttermilk marinated chicken, mashed potatoes, collard greens and Texas toast. The fried chicken is super crispy and juicy with the honey-chipotle dipping sauce. Even the gluten-free version is really good.
What To Order: Famous Southern Fried Chicken plate with extra chicken, and Nacho Mamas Oysters.
207 San Jacinto Blvd, maxswinedive.com
Gourdough’s
Prepare to have your mind blown. Gourdough’s serves up fried chicken + deep-fried doughnuts. Try the Breast Lift (blackened chicken breast with bacon), Saussy Cock (fried chicken breast with buffalo sauce), Mother Clucker (hand-battered fried chicken breasts & honey butter), and Country Clucker (crispy fried chicken breast, potato pancake with warm cream corn and candied jalapeños).
What To Order: Country Clucker at the Gourdough’s Public House and Mother Clucker at the Gourdough’s trailer.
1503 S 1st St, gourdoughs.com
Photo Credit: Chi’Lantro BBQ
Chi’Lantro BBQ
Chi’Lantro’s K-pops ($7.50 for 6 or $12.50 for 10) Korean fried chicken wings are served with gangnam sauce or honey butter served with spicy ranch. Finger lickin’ good!
What To Order: K-pops, and kimchi fries.
*Multiple locations, chilantrobbq.com
24 Diner
24 Diner just launched new Fried Chicken Budgets on Fridays!
Fried Chicken Friday details:
TO-GO BUCKETS (serves 4) – $30
- 6 pieces (Bone-in, breast, thighs and legs)
- 2 sides (Choice of Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes w/ sausage gravy, braised bacon green beans, or local veggies)
- 4 biscuits
DINE-IN CHICKEN PLATE – $16.95
- 2 pieces bone-in chicken (dark and white meat)
- 2 sides (Mashed potatoes w/ sausage gravy & braised bacon green beans)
- Biscuit
600 N Lamar Blvd
Spicy Boys
Named one of the Austin Chronicle’s top 100 restaurants defining Austin dining now, Spicy Boys food truck is throwing down their own spin on spicy Asian-inspired fried chicken, wings, and sandwiches to rival any version of the southern classic.
Get down on Spicy Boys’ addicting signature fried chicken leg quarter that, according to Austin Monthly, will “make you abandon all decorum”, topped with the signature spice blend, chili-honey, crispy onions and scallions. Pair it with a cold one from Zilker Brewing (best breweries in Austin) and you’ve got yourself a real happy meal.
Feel like sharing? Try the crispy boneless wings, tossed in your choice of seven wing sauces, ranging from the mild Thai BBQ and Citrus-Miso to the numbing Lemon-Sichuan and the namesake Spicy Boys level heat, for *real ones only* bold enough to try.
1701 E 6th St
Hoover’s Cooking
The everyday special is Hoover’s Awesome Austin Fried Chicken is a three-piece chicken served with 2 sides for only $10.49. It’s served every day so you know it’s good and I can vouch for that. I also like the chicken fried steak here.
Hours: Every day from 11am – 10pm
2002 Manor Rd, hooverscooking.com
The Rolling Rooster
I recently tried The Rolling Rooster and added them to my Black-owned restaurants in Austin guide. While this Southern comfort food spot serves soul food like fish and oxtail plates, they’re known for their chicken and waffles and they were so good!
Hours: Monday to Friday from 11am – 11pm, and Sunday 11am to 9pm
1104 E. 11th St @ Historic Victory Grill
Top Notch
I did have the fried chicken from Top Notch once and it was under-fried and soggy so I was underwhelmed. I do need to go back and give them another chance.
7525 Burnet Rd
Pitchfork Pretty
– closed
This guide is part of the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance 2015 City Guide. For more info about the Best Eats in Austin, check out our complete list of guides to delicious food in ATX!
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