Fried chicken is one of the most beloved fast food dishes in the United States. From KFC to Popeyes, there are many restaurants that specialize in this delicious dish. But which ones are the best? Based on the FoodBeast crew's travels, national impact, and overall quality of fried chicken, we've put together this list of the 10 tastiest fried chicken fast food restaurants you can find in the country. Let's start by saying that putting KFC in last place doesn't want to be negative.
KFC is like the McDonald's of fried chicken. They do a decent job on quality and keep the flavor train going with Nashville Hot, Georgia Gold, and whatever other fried chicken trends they're monitoring. However, all of the other chicken restaurants on this list were designed to be better than the good finger-licking poultry you can get from KFC. If you're not from the southeastern United States, you probably haven't heard of Zaxby's. This fried chicken restaurant specializes in original buffalo flavored chicken that's way above KFC poultry.
Church's is known all over the country for their hand-fried and battered chicken. They have the national reach of KFC, but they raise every aspect of their chicken to a level that even Colonel Sanders can't match. Raising Cane's is known for its legendary Cane Sauce. To quote Guy Fieri, you could put it on a flip flop and it would taste amazing. However, if you don't like to eat shoes, at least grab some of Raising Cane's chicken wands and chips to dip them into their next-level creamy sauce. Shake Shack is known for its burgers, but you should also respect its fried chicken game.
The Chicken Shack, which is the chain's signature fried chicken sandwich, is a delicious combination of fried chicken, buttermilk mayonnaise, pickles and lettuce. Wingstop knows how to give a touch of wild flavor to a consistently high-yielding wing. Whether it's classic buffaloes, spicy and fiery Brazilians, or even mouth-watering lemon pepper, Wingstop knows how to make delicious wings. Jollibee is the Philippine fast food chain that is going to take over the United States for its BOMB fried chicken. They keep it simple like Church's, and you can get it in tender form or in cubes of assorted pieces. What makes it stand out beyond the rest is a sauce full of onion and celery flavors that is absolutely ethereal. Popeyes and Chick-fil-A are basically tied as both restaurants have mastered the art of chicken.
While Popeyes comes out on top, it's because of the thinnest margins. In truth, both are the reigning champions of fast-food chicken. At the end of the day, there are many great places to get fried chicken in America. Whether you're looking for something spicy or something savory, there's something for everyone on this list!.
