Updated March 2021

One could argue that fried chicken is perhaps the most classic dish ever created in the history of food.  If you’re a meat-eater, chances are extremely high you share a love of fried chicken just like the other 99% (assumptive, made-up calculations) of the world.

Most have a personal connection with fried chicken dating back to our childhood as well as generations before us.  Fried chicken dates back to the Scottish immigrants who brought their traditions of deep-frying chicken in fat and introducing it to the southern United States.  It eventually became a southern staple and was later enriched with seasonings and spices from newer recipes to improve the flavor.

If you’re planning to round up your friends and family for big bucket of fried chicken with all of your favorite sides and an ice cold drink, here’s a list of our favorite fried chicken spots in Austin.

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Tumble 22

Multiple Locations | Tumble 22 features a menu of chicken-fried specialties with a fiery uniqueness all its own.  At it’s core, Tumble 22’s offerings is the chicken itself, which is all-natural, sourced in Texas and contains no additives. The chicken is tumbled in seasoned flour, fried and coated in Chef Harold’s special secret blend of seasonings.  When the chicken meets the sauce, it is dipped in a choice of four chef-made sauces: Wimpy, Hot, Dang Hot and Fire in the Hole. It’s crispy, juicy and second to none.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

117 San Jacinto Blvd. | Memphis based Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken may not technically be a local spot, but I dare you to eat it without calling it one of the best in town.  Each piece of chicken is fried to a golden crisp, all while staying perfectly moist and juicy inside with a slight spicy kick to it. Every plate comes with their standard side of beans, coleslaw and white bread just as does in it’s Tennessee flagship.

Colleen’s Kitchen

1911 Aldrich Street, Suite 100 | Colleen’s offers some of the finest buttermilk fried chicken in Austin, which is offered in a six piece box of breasts and thighs, or in a meal that offers two pieces with a house made biscuit, greens, and mashed potatoes. For brunch get their fried chicken and waffles meal special.

Hoover’s

2002 Manor Rd. | Hoover’s Cooking has been serving honest-to-goodness classic Texas home cooking on Manor Rd. for the last 15 years by native Austinite Hoover Alexander. He grew up helping his family hand pick farm fresh produce carrying the tradition on to his restaurant making him a pioneer in Austin’s famous farm-to-table movement before it was cool! Their fried chicken is a classic crispy recipe full of flavor and a home cooked touch.

Lucy’s Chicken

3 Locations in Austin | Lucy’s is one of Austin’s favorite homegrown restaurants that just happens to be known for its amazing fried chicken where you can literally get a bucket of fried chicken the way our founding fathers intended it to be served (not really).  Is it weird that my personal favorite is the cold chicken?

Spicy Boys

1701 E 6th St. | Get down on Spicy Boys’ addicting signature fried chicken leg quarter topped with the signature spice blend, chili-honey, crispy onions and scallions.  Pair it with a cold one from Zilker Brewing and you’ve got yourself a real happy meal.  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.

Top Notch

7525 Burnet Rd | If you’ve lived in Austin for more than 5 years, you should already know everything there is to know about Top Notch.  It’s the same place on Dazed and Confused where Matthew McConaughey first said “Alright, alright, alright!”.  This classic burger joint has been serving up delicious and crispy Texas free-range fried chicken since the 1970’s, so your parents were probably chowing down on this back in their glory days.

Bill Miller BBQ

Credit – Hideaway Kitchen

Hideaway Kitchen & Bar

4323 South Interstate 35 | Hideaway’s community kitchen serves scratch-made comfort food and craft cocktails that Austinites and southerners love. Their 3 Piece Fried Chicken Dinner special features perfectly seasoned fried chicken pieces with potato salad and grilled corn-on-the-cob.

Hank’s Austin

5811 BERKMAN DRIVE | Super golden brown, crispy and bursting with flavor and a little bite of spice with a side of hot honey for dipping – all of what you want in fried chicken and so much more.  That’s what you can expect at Hank’s, as they’re delicious fried chicken can arguably hailed as one of the top offerings in town.  It’s available on the menu all day and is extremely addictive.  You’ve been warned.

Salty Sow

1917 Manor Rd | Salty Sow has the very best happy hour in town.  It also happens to be the only time you can get their amazing honey butter fried chicken and biscuit deal for only $5.  Add an order of their tacos duck fat fries, crispy brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, and a cocktail and you can actually walk out of their without spending more than $40.  After eating their chicken you’ll wish they offered bucket orders with biscuits, but I dream.

1886 Cafe & Bakery | The Driskill

604 BRAZOS ST. | The 1886 Honey Glazed Fried Chicken is cured overnight in a mix of thyme, rosemary, garlic, shallots, and salt, this southern favorite is then slow-cooked in duck confit and dredged in our famous hangover rub. Get it while it’s hot when it’s fried to order and topped with local Round Rock Honey.

Wu Chow

500 W. 5th #168 | Wu Chow’s Spicy Sichuan Fried Chicken features a spicy bowl of organic chicken, sichuan peppercorns and chilies are about as impressive as the upscale decor of the restaurant itself.  If spicy Sichuan tickles your tongue a little too much, I’m sure they’ll remove the chilies, but why on earth would you want to remove yourself from such a heated experience.

Thai Fresh

909 W Mary St. | Gluten-free fried chicken with a side of sticky rice and Thai sauce will hit the spot every single time.  If you don’t instantly fall in love with this chicken, you’re simply not human.

Loro

 2115 South Lamar Blvd. | The fan-favorite Chicken Karaage, which also appears on Loro’s regular menu, rounds out the happy hour menu at only $6.  Tyson Cole’s dry fried Chicken Karaage is dressed with sweet chili gastrique and topped with fresh herb salad and spicy aioli on the side. The chicken makes an outstanding addition to the restaurant’s variety of complex Southeast Asian cuisine, creating a balance that is the perfect counterpoint to the richness of a smokehouse.

Rosewood

1209 Rosewood Ave. | Rosewood celebrates the traditions and inspirations of South Texas cuisine while focusing on whole animal utilization in a historic 1890 home setting.  Their fried chicken is outstanding, mixed with a combination of deep southern tradition and an elevated presentation you won’t find in any of the other contenders.  It’s only available during happy hour from 5 – 6:30 pm, so plan accordingly.

Popeye’s Chicken

Editor’s Note – If your tastes buds prefers the flavor of your neighborhood fast food spot, Popeyes is one of the most popular fast-food chains in America that is known for their fried chicken and their famous chicken sandwich. The main reason why their fried chicken is so popular is that they’ve mastered the way of frying their chicken. The chicken at Popeyes menu is juicy, flavorful and crunchy. Though Popeyes is present all over the world, their prices are very affordable in comparison to their menu.

CHICKEN SANDWICHES

Happy Chicks

FIXE

500 W 5th St, Austin | This bad boy is only available during Daily Social hours for only $9.  The fried chicken sandwich comes on a house made sunchoke roll, along with sweet tea pickles, chicken mayo, a sunchoke & benne seed roll and arrives with a side of salt & pepper fries.

Flyrite Chicken

2129 E 7th St. | Flyrite uses fresh local ingredients from better the best possible sources, including all-natural chicken raised without antibiotics. Their delicious sandwiches, wraps, and shakes are fresh and made to order.  The crispy chicken breast is served on a toasted whole wheat bun with homemade pickle chips and your choice of sauce.