Willing to make time to try NYC's BEST Southern Fried Chicken - But Where??!!

[Charles Yu]

Hello chow friends!

Its 'Yu' again!

I love crispy, crunchy, salty and savory food and I LOVE Southern Style Fried Chicken. Unfortunately, great tasting fried chicken is a very rare commodity here in Toronto. As such, for my upcoming short trip to NYC, I have fine-tuned my itinerary to allow me to go and find me some!

I have done a little research and come up with the following list:

- Amy Ruth's
- Birdies
- Chat 'n' Chow
- Dirty Bird to go
- Margie's Red Rose
- The Pink Tea Cup
- Rack & Soul
- The Shark Bar Restaurant

Of the above, with my limited time, which one shall I pick to satisfy my craving and provide me with a lasting impression?! Did I miss any?!

BTW, how safe is it for one to head up to Harlem and beyond, these days??!!

Thanks again!!

[stylish99]

This may be too late for your trip, but for the record, the fried chicken and cornbread at Delicatessen (54 Prince, near Lafayette) are divine! You wouldn't know it by the super chic and trendy atmosphere, but they make some serious comfort food there. Highly recommended!

[i8NYC]

The Cardinal, Pies & Thighs have great fried chicken

[i8NYC]

The Cardinal

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The Cardinal
234 E 4th St, New York, NY 10009

[ChefJune]

I'm not sure why you'd be looking for "great fried chicken" in New York! New Orleans, Atlanta, Charleston, DC.... even Chicago.

I live here, and I NEVER think of looking for good fried chicken.

That said, Harlem is well on its way to being gentrified (I don't think that's fine), but that is how it is. No more safety problems there than in any other neighborhood in Manhattan.

Oh, and you left Red Rooster off your list. Samuelsson is serving some delicious yardbird.

[ImStillHungry]

No one has mentioned the fried chicken dinner at Momofuku Noodle Bar. It'll give you an awesome Korean and traditional fried chicken to taste. I love this but have tried it with only four people and it's way too much food for four. I would recommend 6 people.

http://www.momofuku.com/restaurants/noodle-bar/faq/fried-chicken-faq/
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/0...

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Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

[ellenost]

The Noodle Bar fried chicken (both varieties) is excellent. Agree that it is too much food for 4 people.

[kathryn]

I thought the traditional fried chicken was only OK during my fried chicken dinner there. So if that's what the OP wants, it may not be the best place to go.

[lucyj]

I thought the regular form the fried chicken dinner was better than ok but not as good as some of the other places mentioned (a little too salty if I remember correctly) although with all of the sauces and "components" you almost don't notice the quality of the fried chicken as much. If you love fried chicken I think it's still worth it for the overall experience.

[mahler5]

Even for 6, you need 6 big eaters! The Korean chicken is unspeakably delicious.

[Charles Yu]

Nothing decent up here in Toronto!!

[prima]

If you were taking a 20something tourist out for fried chicken, and had narrowed the choices down to Blue Ribbon Brasserie, Hill Country or the Redhead (due to their locations), which restaurant would you choose?

[GoodGravy]

I would split them into 3 groups and send them all to get enough fried chicken for a taste test.

[prima]

I'm only taking one 20something tourist out for fried chicken. I might do my own staggered taste test over several visits, but will probably only eat fried chicken once on this visit. :-)

[villainx]

Blue Ribbon is fantastic, but mega long wait. The other two are also great. Hill Country is huge space, so you probably can go in and out fairly quick. I like Redhead a lot and it's a go to place for me, but I live not far from there.

[prima]

thanks, villainx ;-)

[kathryn]

Hill County Chicken is set up fast food style.

For table service, do one of the other two. Don't forget there's also Blue Ribbon Bakery in the West Village, where the wait will likely be shorter than the Brasserie in Soho.

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Blue Ribbon Bakery
33 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014

[prima]

thanks, Kathryn!

Happy to see Blue Ribbon Bakery is also open for lunch, and has their fried chicken on the lunch menu. http://www.blueribbonrestaurants.com/...

[Miss Needle]

I'd probably opt for Blue Ribbon or Redhead as they are in locations that a 20-something year old tourist would find fun -- Soho and East Village, respectively. That said, they both do a mean fried chicken.

[lucyj]

Haven't had it at Blue Ribbon but I really enjoy fried chicken at the Redhead

[prima]

Thanks lucyj & Miss Needle.

[rossnyc]

I haven't tried it in a few years, but I was amazed how great Virgil's fried chicken in Time
Square is.

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Virgil's Real Barbecue
152 W 44th Street, New York, NY 10036

[robinsilver]

So glad you liked the fried chicken at Virgil's. I am taking my 90 year old mother to a Barry Manilow concert that is at the St James, on 44th between Broadway and 8th, so don't want to have to walk to far with her, so was thinking about Virgil's. She loves ribs, and fried chicken, and I love fried chicken. I know I can get better barbeque, h*ll, I can make much better barbeque, or my husband can anyway, but seeing as I have judged many barbeque contests with lousy barbeque, the thing here is location, location, location.

[randymac88]

Surprised to see Hill Country Chicken not mentioned...two different preparations and it's excellent. Of those mentioned on the original list, I've had Birdies which I thought was terrible, and Dirty Bird that was pretty unremarkable as well.

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Birdies
149 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Dirty Bird
204 W 14th St, New York, NY 10011

Hill Country Chicken
1123 Broadway, New York, NY 10010

[RGR]

I mentioned Hil Country Chicken in my last post upthread. I didn't think either preparation was good.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[niajoy]

As someone who regularly makes fried chicken the way my southern grandmother taught me, I think that "Southern Fried Chicken" is subjective based on region/family preferences. Some people put real heat in the seasoning, some do honey dips, it all varies. If I am paying for someone else's chicken, I'd suggest heading up to Charles' Country Pan Friend Chicken in Harlem. It is similar to what my husband and I both grew up eating.

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Charles' Country Pan-Fried Chicken
2837 8th Ave, New York, NY 10039

[Ann900]

Charles Gabriel - aka CHARLES' Country Pan Fried Chicken in Harlem- does the fried chicken at Raxck and Soul- Boadway and 109th St on weekends-usually Fri and Sat.
I love the chicken at Red Rooster and Redhead, but for me, Charles is the absolute master of fried chicken..
If you go, call first to make sure he's cooking (when he's not , Rack and Soul's fried chicken is not special).
FYI- Shark Bar has been closed for some time .

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Rack & Soul
258 West 109th St., New York, NY 10025

The Redhead
349 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027

[tex.s.toast]

Since this thread has strayed from southern fried chicken ill put in a pitch for Ippudo's fried chicken appetizer. i might have been in the wrong mood for soup but it stands out as being better than the ramen i had on my last visit.

also, in bklyn, Van Horn Sandwich shop's friend chicken sandwich is awesome (also available not in a bun, i believe)

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Ippudo
65 4th Ave, New York, NY 10003

[angelhair]

I would stick with Korean fried chicken. I've never found really outstanding southern fried chicken in New York and I say that as someone who grew up in the south. Pies 'n Thighs especially disappoints. It's greasy, flabby, the crust is bland. There is plenty of great Korean fried chicken in the city, though.

[Phil Ogelos]

Where, where, angelhair?
do tell.

[Bkeats]

I was going to go with the real KFC - Korean Fried Chicken too! I like BonChon. Spectacularly good crust.

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Bon Chon Chicken
325 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016

[GoodGravy]

Red Rooster and Georgia's East Side BBQ are tasty. If you have time, try to squeeze in some Korean fried chicken too.

[foodwhisperer]

i was browsing the CH posts to help me decide what to eat tonite.Something easy , tasty and with a counter or bar. I just decided. Georgia's for what I think is the best ribs and chicken.

[RGR]

We went to The Dutch for lunch specifically to have the fried chicken. It did not disappoint.

Photo of The Dutch's Fried Chicken: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/5914395815/in/set-72157627144328600

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

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The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

[sgordon]

I have to say, I found The Dutch's fried chicken - while it had excellent crunch:moist ratio - a little bland and underseasoned. I like everything else I've had there, but the FC left me underwhelmed.

Also, forgot to mention: Peels' fried chicken is great, though it's not classic Southern-style a la Charles' or Amy Ruth's. But their "build-a-biscuit" with fried chicken, scrambled eggs, and red-eye gravy has become a favorite brunch of mine.

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Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

Peels
325 Bowery, New York, NY 10003

The Dutch
131 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

[fm1963]

I felt the same way about the fried chicken at The Dutch in Miami. I'm assuming that they used the same recipe as The Dutch in Soho, but maybe I'm wrong.

I liked the fried chicken at Blue Ribbon Brasserie though I can't claim that it's the best since I haven't been to most of the places mentioned in this thread.

Underwhelmed with Red Rooster, but others seem to like it.

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Blue Ribbon Brasserie
97 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012

Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027

[tpigeon]

I agree with you FM on the Dutch in Miami btw. The fried chicken is fantastic. It has been way too long since I have visited charles but still consider it a favorite.

[UWSHomeCook]

I thought I was the ONLY one who was underwhelmed by the fried chicken at Red Rooster. In fact, I was underwhelmed with all of the food. The cocktails were tasty though.

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Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027

[Ottojr]

Disappointed to hear that you were underwhelmed at Red Rooster. Well that saves me having to make a trip out of Manhattan.

[GaryUES]

Perhaps this is a post from outside NYC. Many people would be offended to see Harlem described as "out of Manhattan".

[rose water]

And it's inaccurate. Not only is Harlem part of Manhattan, but from the 2/3 right outside Red Rooster you can be just about anywhere downtown in like 15 minutes.

[Charles Yu]

Interesting how so many fried chicken places manage to create excellent crunch/moist ratio but fell short on the 'seasoning' side!! Unfortunately, all Toronto fried chicken places are like that??! Sometimes, I even find 'freshly made' KFC tasted better!! I hope the best of NYC taste better?!

[RGR]

I know it's considered non-Chowhoundish to like a chain chicken, but I really like Popeye's.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[Charles Yu]

That we have in Toronto!. Tasted kind of bland to me though!
Actually, I prefer the 'old style' KFC freshly out of the cooker. Unfortunately, nowadays, with 'healthier' oil being used, the taste is no longer the same!

[foodwhisperer]

I think any restaurant is Chowhoundish. We all have to eat, sometimes we are in a rush , sometimes chains are convenient. Popeyes happens to have good fried chicken, better than KFC and Roy Rogers. Now , if we start talking about White Castle chicken rings, i may start getting nauseous ,,haha,,

[Phil Ogelos]

@RGR,
I fully expect to see your terrible confession emblazoned on the cover of the next "National Enquirer" (with salacious pictures attached, of course! ;)

[RGR]

Phil,

LOL! The last time we ate at Popeye's, I did consider taking photos to post on my Flick but resisted the urge. But next time.... ;)

foodwhisperer,

Haven't had KFC in ages, but I agree that Popeye's is better. Never tried Roy Rogers.

Btw, we've tried the fried chicken at Hll Country Chicken, and I didn't like it.

http://thewizardofroz.wordpress.com

[betsydiver]

i always enjoy popeye's or used to since there is none around where i currently live in upstate ny

[lexismore]

I completely agree. I haven't tried it everywhere, but I much prefer Popeye's to a lot of non-chain fried chicken, such as The Dutch and Hill Country Chicken.

[ellenost]

My sister considers Popeye's the best fried chicken anywhere (of course it helps that their Lexington Ave. location is on her way home from work ;-)).

[kathryn]

For me, the issue is the chicken being dry by the time you get to the center of a white meat piece. The Dutch & Pies 'n' Thighs definitely do not suffer from this issue.

[kathryn]

Our favorite these days is Pies 'n' Thighs in Williamsburg, very convenient to Manhattan.

I love Amy Ruth's, too, but more for their fried chicken and waffles! Don't ignore the waffles!

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Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

[foodwhisperer]

I'm glad no one said Bubby's, that chicken is so overrated . I like the chicken Southern fried Chicken at Georgia's BBQ on LES. The ribs are great too

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Georgia's Eastside BBQ
192 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002

[MRS]

We loved the fried chicken at The Redhead!

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The Redhead
349 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

[sgordon]

First, Harlem's fine.

Second, Charles' Country Pan-Fried Chicken. Amy Ruth's is pretty good, too, especially if you want waffles with your chicken - the "Al Sharpton" is a heckuva meal.

Third, if you're willing venture to Brooklyn, Henry's End in Brooklyn Heights makes one of the best plates of fried chicken in the city. They're known for other things - wild game, mainly - but their FC is unjustly overlooked.

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Charles' Country Pan-Fried Chicken
2837 8th Ave, New York, NY 10039

Amy Ruth's
113 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026