The 14 Best Fried Chicken Spots In Atlanta

Busy Bee’s has been consistently great since the '40s, with diners including Dr. Martin Luther King and former President Barack Obama stopping by for their famous fried chicken with a side of slow-cooked collard greens and buttery mashed potatoes. The chicken is fried in a very light batter that’s more seasoning than bread, which ramps up the flavor of the juicy meat (it’s mastery, at this point). The West End classic is takeout-only since the dining room is indefinitely closed. But that hasn’t stopped the crowds, so expect to wait in the parking lot with neighborhood regulars, soul food connoisseurs, and jittery tourists at least 20 minutes after your online order should’ve been ready. But this chicken is worth the wait.

Every third Wednesday at Oreatha’s, a jazz musician roams through the tables playing R&B covers. And Ginuwine's "Pony" played on a violin is just vibey enough to drown out the crunching of your Korean fried chicken dinner. This upscale soul food spot in Cascade Heights stands out from its fast-casual neighbors and works just as well for a romantic date night as it does for a fun meet-up with friends. Whatever the scenario, everyone is here for the homestyle comfort of the deeply seasoned half bird. Pair it with an Old Fashioned, and since there's a Whiskey Wednesday special, this could easily become your new favorite day of the week.

Getting a bucket of fried chicken in Atlanta isn’t as easy as it should be, but Mother’s Best Chicken in Decatur delivers when you need a cool place to feed a small crew. Buckets range from half- to two whole birds and come with two or three sides, like savory LA-style red beans and rice and tangy collard green coleslaw. The thin, crunchy, herby chicken breading is outstanding. The food comes out fast. And the nostalgic diner vibes are fun. Just know the place gets packed, so come for a late lunch or early dinner unless you want to perfect your speed-eating technique while making awkward eye contact with the people hovering near your table.

General Muir’s Friday Fried Chicken is a solid spot to kickstart your weekend. It’s only available on Fridays, when you get a half bird with your order. The chicken is fried to crackly levels, with each bite almost loud enough to reverb at the table. It’s satisfying but mildly spiced, so the “hot sauce in my bag” crew will feel prepared when visiting this Emory Point restaurant and delicatessen. The chicken comes with a refreshing watermelon ricotta salad and fried plantain, which is best enjoyed with a wine on their relaxed patio, where you can spot everyone from families to Emory doctors having a low-key meal.

The fried chicken at Lickety Split Southern Kitchen & Bar is fried golden brown, juicy inside, and seasoned down to the bone. The meal includes a huge breast and two crunchy wings, all topped with a light sprinkle of parsley flakes. And the sides at this Southern spot are equally delicious, specifically the tangy, creamy coleslaw and savory greens. This is a great anytime chicken meal, but it works especially well for a lowkey lunch or no-fuss dinner when you want to watch the game at the bar.

Mukja Korean Fried Chicken is not a place where you have to ask for your chicken fried hard—it's standard here. The Midtown spot has everything we love in an excellent fried bird: a light crispy exterior (where the chicken doesn't get lost in breading), an inside that stays tender and juicy, and savory seasonings that penetrate deep into the meat. Slide through for the half bird combo with tasty sides like elbow macaroni in smoked gouda sauce or the spicy Korean slaw loaded with scallion and garlic. And with free Midtown parking, nothing should keep you from joining Mukja's crew of takeout regulars and lunching coworkers who, like us, revere this place.

At The Colonnade in Morningside, Atlanta’s second-oldest restaurant, you’ll find quintessential Southern fried chicken with thick breading and juicy meat. It’s so well-seasoned that your table hot sauce might get mad and run away to where it'll feel better appreciated. Each order comes with four big pieces and two sides (go for the collard greens and sweet potatoes). And the bar makes a decent dirty martini—an iconic chicken and cocktail pairing every Southerner should enjoy at least once.

Paschal’s, a one-time gathering place for Civil Rights legends like MLK and Ralph David Abernathy, has a lot in common with its West End neighbor, Busy Bee. With a rich history here too, they're often frequented by politicians looking for photo opps and visitors looking to pay their respects. But Paschal’s is where you can go for a sit-down, soul food dinner. The polished duplex is huge (they moved to this location in 2002), so clusters of colleagues often file in for lunch and large families pack the place on Sunday afternoons. And nearly every tabletop will have Paschal’s signature dish—chicken fried in a light but very well-seasoned batter. And sides like perfectly cooked collard greens and hearty black-eyed peas round out an elite combo.

South City Kitchen, which has several locations around town, is an Atlanta classic with great Southern staples like fried green tomatoes and grilled pork chops. With this down-home menu in a fine dining setting, their fried chicken has to come correct. It does. There is nothing too complex here—it's consistently crunchy with a very light seasoning and breading that isn’t too thick. Coupled with a complimentary basket of pillowy cornbread and soft biscuits, it's an anytime-is-a-good-time comfort meal. Expect to sit with a business crowd at lunch and dressed-down tourists and pre-theater patrons at dinner.

Head to Roshambo in Buckhead for a bucket with a side of nostalgia. The crunchy chicken has a herby spice mix (they won't tell you the recipe) that makes it extra savory. You can order the Party Barrel, either a half or whole bird, broken into four to eight pieces. And just like your bucket from back in the day, it comes with three sides—sweet corn on the cob, creamy mac and cheese, and buttery biscuits—a substantial meal for sharing. Even the old-school diner feel of this place is a nice throwback to a time when fried proteins were at the top of our Atlanta food pyramid.

The Companion does many things well, like their double patty burger. So even though this restaurant is hidden away in an Upper Westside neighborhood, it always fills up with regulars who come from near and far because they know the deal. And those who really know, get here on Wednesday nights when their fried chicken special is on the menu. Their golden brown chicken thigh sits on a bed of whipped potatoes, and sometimes comes draped in crisp shredded cabbage and sometimes with garlicky green beans. But no matter the side, the dish feels like watching fireflies from the porch at dusk.

If your lunch break calls for something more spirited than cold breakroom pizza, Soul Food & Culture’s stall in Krog Street Market will have a fried chicken combo in your hand within minutes of taking your place in line. You get three large whole-fried wings that are crispy, wonderfully seasoned, and come with pickled onions, which provide a nice tang to contrast the saltiness. Order it with not-too-sweet candied yams and moist cornbread and zone out from the food hall chaos—as well as the office disarray that awaits you back at work.

Like most food halls, Chattahoochee Food Works can be hectic. So Delilah's Everyday Soul is where you’ll want to head when you want a comforting, sit-down meal. Expect to be greeted with old-school charm, a smile, and some easy-going banter while you wait on them to fry up your order. The chicken is juicy, seasoned through-and-through, with a crispy coating that isn’t just flour—you can actually taste the spices. The sides (you get two with the dark meat plate) are good too, like gooey mac and cheese or cornbread that's as sweet as cake.

When you’re showing visiting friends a taste of Atlanta fried chicken, Hop's in the touristy Ponce City Market is a smart go-to. The chicken here is the prototypical example of what good fried chicken should be—snappy breaded skin surrounding moist, fresh-tasting meat. You can buy your chicken as a single piece (thigh, breast, or drum) or as a half- or full-bird order. We suggest pairing it with a soft Parker House roll for a quick lunchtime fix. Just skip the regrettably bland sides (nasty cole slaw and tasteless mac and cheese), and search the food hall for side dishes elsewhere. We suggest fries from H&F Burger or a salad from Bibi.