Drop just about anything in hot oil and it’s bound to come out of the fryer more sinfully delicious than when it went in. Crispy, crunchy, and full of juicy flavor, fried chicken may be among life’s guiltiest pleasures. While fried chicken sandwiches, wings, and tenders populate menus all over town, but several restaurants do it better than anyone else.
Whether you’re on the hunt for by-the-piece or by the bucket, check out these restaurants slinging tasty drumsticks, wings, breasts, thighs, and boneless bites that justify driving down the block or to the far reaches of Dallas-Fort Worth.
The Slow Bone
The Slow Bone’s fried chicken is available by the individual piece, which makes a great addition to a brisket platter, or by the whole bird if you’re with a group or have a huge appetite. Every piece begins with a special smoked brine, while potato starch in the batter gives it its crisp bite. Don’t sleep on sides like brussels-cauliflower au gratin and squash casserole. 2234 Irving Blvd., Dallas, slowbone.com
Street’s Fine Chicken
The Street family has been serving good ol’ fashioned Southern comfort food for decades, and one of their latest ventures focuses almost exclusively on chicken. The wait for French fried chicken flies by when you settle the which-came-first debate with an order of sriracha-spiced deviled eggs. Each order of chicken or half chicken comes with a buttermilk biscuit and a side from a long list that includes Tabasco cheddar goat cheese grits, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and maple-glazed brussels sprouts. 5211 Forest Ln. #108, Dallas, streetsfinechicken.com
Brick & Bones
Dive bars may not always be known for spectacular food, sometimes only offering pretzels, peanuts, or chips from a nearby vending machine. But, if you’re lucky, your dive bar of choice serves killer fried chicken. At Brick & Bones, it’s all about the bird. Snag a 10-piece bucket of 24-hour-brined chicken fried to order, then accentuate your clucker with sides like habanero bacon mac, Mexican corn, poblano mashed potatoes, and green beans. 2713 Elm St., Dallas, bricknbones.com
Babe’s Chicken Dinner House
Come for the fried chicken, stay for the Hokey Pokey… or vice versa. Babe’s Chicken Dinner House has grown into a DFW metro phenomenon with 10 knick-knack-filled locations across nearly every corner of the region. Fried chicken, and all other entrées, hit the table family-style, so sides of house salad, green beans, Grandma’s corn, mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, and gravy arrive in portions large enough for groups to share. When the Hokey Pokey starts playing, jump to your feet to work off a tiny bit of what you’ve eaten before the peach cobbler and banana pudding arrive. Multiple locations, babeschicken.com
bbbop Seoul Kitchen
What bbbop serves is “Not Your Mama’s Fried Chicken.” Head to this Oak Cliff restaurant and order the Korean-style poultry by the half chicken. Get it coated with spicy chili or soy ginger sauce, alongside pickled daikon radish, slaw, and rice. Dining in a large group? Try the family meal, which includes 10 pieces from a whole bird, with double rice, Mandarin orange peanut salad, vegetable potstickers, and a gallon of specialty tea. 828 West Davis St., Dallas, bbbop.com
Bubba’s Cooks Country
Before inspiring Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, Bubba’s Cooks Country was wowing Dallasites with fried chicken. The 1950s diner-style decor makes the circa-1981 business feel like it’s been around forever. Plus, it’s a great value served fast. Order at the counter, then find a seat while the staff plates up super-juicy fried chicken. Get a single piece with a side and a yeast roll or cornbread. Or, opt for a larger portion, including a three-piece feast with double the sides and bread for a meal that’ll fill you up for hours. Be the king or queen of your next picnic by stopping here for a bulk family pack. 6617 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas, bubbascookscountry.com
Roots Southern Table
Celebrity chef Tiffany Derry won over the nation with her cheerful personality and infectious smile when she appeared on Bravo’s Top Chef. Still, her duck-fat-fried chicken declared victory over the hearts, souls, and stomachs of people across DFW. The chicken is only served family-style and is a large enough portion for four. Seasoned with Derry’s signature Creole spice, the chicken is coated and fried in duck fat, then served with drop biscuits and pepper jelly. Try it with sides like rock shrimp fried rice or fried yams with garlic butter. 13050 Bee St., Farmers Branch, rootssoutherntable.com
Hattie B’s
At Hattie B’s first North Texas location in Oak Lawn (with a Plano outpost coming later this year), fried chicken comes in many forms, including bone-in, boneless, jumbo tenders, wings, and boneless sandwiches. Each option can be ordered in one of seven heat levels, from Southern-style (mild) to Shut the Cluck Up! (a four-flame, ghost pepper-infused hotness not for the timid). Grab a boozy ICEE drink to cool things off if you need to. 3827 Lemmon Ave., Dallas, hattieb.com
Mike’s Chicken
Tenders and fried chicken on the bone lure lines of people to both locations of this fan favorite that began in a laundromat back in 2014. Add on homemade sauces, fluffy biscuits, and from-scratch side dishes (including a different version of coleslaw at each location if you want to compare mayo vs. vinegar), and you’ve got everything you need for a happy tummy. Multiple locations, mikeschicken.co
Norman’s Western Japanese
The moment this restaurant opened last year, the dining room filled with patrons, and the buzz hasn’t slowed since, making it one of the most sought-after reservations in Dallas. Known for its noodles, hand rolls, and robata skewers, the restaurant deftly merges Texas and Japanese cuisine across the menu. Don’t skip the Korean fried chicken. Served hot, crispy, and boneless (with a few pickles for extra tang), it’s craveable and utterly shareable.4002 Oak Lawn Ave., Dallas, normansjapanese.com
Bad Chicken
Despite the alternative meaning of the word “bad” used in the restaurant’s name, you’ll find nothing but good things on the menu here. Wings take center stage, but the Bomb Bowl with popcorn chicken and either curly fries or mac and cheese is a hearty supporting player worth seeking out. Get a version already tossed in sauce, or select your own dipping duo from a list of 26 different sauces and dry rubs, including creamy queso for a slight upcharge.5014 Ross Ave., Dallas, badchicken.com
