USA TODAY 10Best
You don't want to miss the fried chicken at these 10 fast food restaurants
Best Fast Food Fried Chicken (2024)
We live in a golden era — no pun intended — of fried chicken. Whether your craving is for bone-in fried chicken, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, or the mighty chicken sandwich, it's a safe bet that there are dozens of drive-thrus in your neck of the woods ready to take your order.
But which fast food chain serves up the most outstanding fried chicken? USA TODAY 10Best's editors and a panel of quick-service dining experts compiled a list of their top picks, then readers casted their votes to determine whose fried chicken is tops.
Here are the 10 best quick-service restaurants for fried chicken.
- Bojangles
- Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken
- Krispy Krunchy Chicken
- Chick-fil-A
- Golden Chick
- Popeyes
- Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders
- Guthrie's Chicken
- Pollo Campero
- Jollibee
Photo courtesy of Bojangles
No. 10:
This chicken and biscuit chain gets kudos for speedy service, buttery biscuits, interesting sides like sausage-laden dirty rice, and made-from-scratch Southern fried chicken. You can order Bojangles' beloved fried chicken on a sandwich, on a biscuit, or in a dinner or family meal.
Photo courtesy of Lee's Famous Recipe® Chicken
No. 9:
Born in the 1960s in Lima, Ohio, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken features honey-dipped chicken that's hand-breaded in a special blend of herbs and spices, then pressure-fried. Order the Famous Recipe or spicy versions alongside Southern-style sides.
Photo courtesy of Krispy Krunchy Chicken®
No. 8:
Get Krispy Krunchy Chicken at convenience stores, malls, college campuses, and supermarkets in more than 2,600 locations across 47 states. The chicken is marinated in a proprietary mix of mild Cajun spices, then double-breaded by hand and fried. Don't forget to add sides like jambalaya and a freshly baked biscuit drizzled with honey.
Photo courtesy of Boyloso // Getty Images
No. 7:
The largest restaurant chain specializing in chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A is beloved for its breaded, boneless chicken breast nestled between buttery buns. You can also enjoy their fried chicken in the form of nuggets and strips or atop their selection of salads.
Photo courtesy of Golden Chick
No. 6:
A family-owned company, Golden Chick specializes in fried and roasted chicken, freshly baked yeast rolls, and Southern sides. Enjoy this restaurant's fried chicken in the form of their famous Original Golden Tenders, multi-piece meals, and sandwiches.
Photo courtesy of Popeyes
No. 5:
Who could forget the chicken sandwich wars of the early 2020s, fomented by the introduction of a fried chicken sandwich to the Popeyes menu? Along with the classic and spicy versions of that sandwich, customers enjoy mainstays like wings, nuggets, tenders, and signature chicken meals.
Photo courtesy of Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders
No. 4:
Dubbing itself the "Home of The Filet Mignon of Chicken," Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders serves hand-breaded fried chicken tender meals, sandwiches, and wraps. Fans appreciate the homemade and specialty dips for tender dunking.
Photo courtesy of Eda Hoyman // Getty Images
No. 3:
Alabama-born, Guthrie's is considered one of the pioneers in fried chicken finger-only eateries. Although you can get sandwiches, buckets and chicken snacks, the outlets are best known for the "Gut Box," containing golden fried chicken fingers, fries, coleslaw, buttery Texas toast, and Guthrie’s signature sauce.
Photo courtesy of Pollo Campero
No. 2:
Pollo Campero launched in Guatemala in 1971, and its bold, complex flavors are lighting up the states. Steeped in generations of family recipes, their signature fried chicken comes with a dinner roll or tortillas, as well as sides like yuca fries and tasty Campero beans made with ancho and chipotle peppers.
Photo courtesy of Jollibee Foods Corporation
No. 1:
With 100 stores in North America, and more than 1,500 stores internationally, Jollibee is the largest and fastest-growing Asian restaurant company in the world. They're best known for Chickenjoy, the signature juicy, flavorful fried chicken. Order it in buckets or accompanied by sides — and don't forget to dip it in their silky gravy.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate,... Read More
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Allison Levine
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website is www.pleasethepalate.com and you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50... Read More
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at [email protected].
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
