Atlanta takes its fried chicken seriously, some might even say reverently. Across the city, you’ll find generations-old recipes, Michelin-recognized plates of comfort, and everything from Korean spots to classic Southern dining rooms perfecting the craft. If you’re craving the best of the best, this list will point you towards Atlanta’s crispest, juiciest, and most unforgettable fried chicken.
Table & Main
With its wide front porch and rustic-chic restored dining room, Table & Main delivers the Southern experience to match its signature fried chicken. The Roswell favorite earns its Bib Gourmand status with a half-bird brined in buttermilk, fried to golden-brown perfection. The skin is crunchy, the meat is juicy, and the portion size is nothing short of belt buckle-bursting. 1028 Canton St., Roswell, tableandmain.com
Busy Bee Café
This Vine City icon is Atlanta soul food royalty, serving some of the city’s best fried chicken since Lucy Jackson helmed the kitchen in 1947. In all that time, the landmark restaurant has racked up James Beard American Classics honors and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition for its famously crisp, juicy, and deeply seasoned bird—as delicious atop a buttermilk waffle as with a side of expertly cooked greens. 810 M.L.K Jr. Dr. SW, Atlanta, thebusybeecafe.com
Gaja Korean Bar
Neon lights and concrete walls set the stage for bold flavors at this East Atlanta Village favorite. Gaja is beloved for its affordable small plates and some of the best bulgogi inside the city limits, but the fried chicken is the surprise star. Coated in your choice of gochujang and tofu ranch or cocoa-cola-based soy garlic sauce, the generous pile of twice-fried thighs is built for sharing. 491 Flat Shoals Ave., Ste. A, Atlanta, gajaeav.com
Roshambo
This 21st-century diner from the team behind Muss & Turner’s is a top pick for Southern classics with a twist. Case in point is its Party Barrel, a KFC-style (but much more gourmet) bucket of crispy, juicy fried chicken served with soulful sides like mac and cheese, garlic green beans, and biscuits with honey butter. While you’re indulging, be sure to check out the playful nods to Atlanta history throughout the decor. 2355 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, roshamboatl.com
Mother’s Best Fried Chicken
What began as a beloved pop-up is now a Decatur Square staple offering reimagined Southern nostalgia. Chefs Ean Camperlengo and Ross Wincoff season their pickle- and brown sugar-brined chicken with a 14-spice blend and serve it in family-style buckets, sandwiches, or tender baskets. Paired with velvety potatoes, collard slaw, and a smoky signature “Mom Sauce,” this is comfort food rooted in thoughtful technique. 406 Church St., Decatur, mothersbestchicken.com
Deliliah’s Everyday Soul
Casual counter service with a smile is the order of the day at Deliliah’s Everyday Soul. With locations inside two popular Atlanta food halls, this family-run spot from Delilah Winder and Delana Reeves serves up soul food on the go in the form of jaw-stretching sandwiches anchored by their signature fried chicken, which you can also order by the piece with sides like Oprah-approved mac and cheese, collard greens, and golden brown cornbread. Multiple locations, delilahseverydaysoul.com
Lickety Split Southern Kitchen & Bar
It doesn’t get much more homestyle than Lickety Split Southern Kitchen & Bar. Just minutes from the airport, this beloved, woman-owned neighborhood restaurant serves a golden, crackly bird that stays juicy all the way through. Add in the hoecakes, tangy slaw, and a cozy, wood-trimmed bar that locals treat like a second living room, and you’ve got a dose of pure Southern comfort. 1155 Virginia Ave., Ste. F, Hapeville, licketysplitdining.com
South City Kitchen
A trusted name in Atlanta since 1993, South City Kitchen blends Southern staples with refined technique in its stylish dining rooms across the metro. Its buttermilk-fried Springer Mountain Farms chicken is a menu cornerstone to this day, served with a side of garlicky collard greens, creamy Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and a fragrant honey-thyme jus. It’s a polished, approachable take on comfort cooking. Multiple locations, southcitykitchen.com
Paschal’s
The building may be newer (the restaurant moved in 2002), but the legacy is palpable at 75-year-old Atlanta staple Paschal’s. Founded in 1947 by brothers James and Robert, the Castleberry Hill venue’s secret-recipe fried chicken has fueled powerful conversations with leaders like Maynard Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr. Today, the two-story, brick-lined space is perfect for family gatherings over some of the city’s best chicken, greens, and black-eyed peas. 180 Northside Dr. SW, Atlanta, paschalsatlanta.com
The Colonnade
A time-warped soul food institution on Cheshire Bridge Road, the Colonnade has been serving its signature golden-crisp fried chicken to Atlantans in the know since 1927. Under the stewardship of new owners (and longtime patrons) Paul Donahue and Lewis Jeffries, its storied charm lives on alongside fixtures like hostess Rhea Merritt, who’s been manning the front door for more than 50 years. Visitors come for the bird, but stay for the classic martinis and old-school warmth. 1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd., Atlanta, thecolonnade.restaurant
Kimchi Red
Atlantans don’t mind venturing outside the city limits for great fried chicken, and Kimchi Red in Alpharetta is no exception. This Korean fried chicken powerhouse from owner Joy Lee nabbed the distinction of having Yelp’s best-reviewed fried chicken in the U.S. in 2023. The menu features fried-to-order chicken tossed in bold house-made sauces, from sweet honey-butter pepper to spicy jeonju or ramen-topped red Buldak, all finger-licking good. 3630 Old Milton Pkwy., Ste. 110, Alpharetta, kimchi-red.restaurants-world.com
