Chicken Fight! 2025 Was So Clucking Good

Another year, another set of scrumptious winners to celebrate.

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Published on August 22, 2025 • 4:00 PM MDT

Updated on June 22, 2026 • 11:07 PM MDT

Once again fried chicken and chicken wing fans flocked to Elitch Gardens to celebrate Chicken Fight!, the state’s largest chicken-eating festival. This year we added on Burger Balooza, where eight great restaurants battled it out and festival goers enjoyed the fruits of the chefs’ labor.

From multi stages playing live music to an epic chicken wing eating contest to kid-free rides, Chicken Fight! 2025 was a success. We were all the winners last night, but these restaurants took home the top prizes.

Best Fried Chicken

Brutal Poodle's award-winning fried chicken bite. | Photo by Linnea Covington — *Brutal Poodle’s award-winning fried chicken bite. | Photo by Linnea Covington*

Judges Choice

3. Brutal Poodle: Chick Start My Heart with pickle-brined chicken thigh, Sriracha-dry-rub, green chili aioli, and carrot and jalapeno escabeche

2. Nola Jane: Spicy Marinated Chicken Thigh Cornbread Corndog

1. Former Saint: Denver Hot Chicken Slider on a sweet potato bun

People’s Choice

Nola Jane's chicken corndog was a big hit. | Photo by Linnea Covington — Nola Jane’s chicken corndog was a big hit. | Photo by Linnea Covington

3. Bacon Social House: Tender fried chicken with bourbon-maple bacon sauce

2. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center

1. Nola Jane: Spicy Marinated Chicken Thigh Cornbread Corndog

Best Wings

Chicken waffle wing from Chuey FU's Latin-Asian Grub. | Photo by DiningOut Staff — Chicken waffle wing from Chuey FU’s Latin-Asian Grub. | Photo by DiningOut Staff

Judges’ Choice

3. M.S.T Denver: Beef tallow fried chicken

2. Chuey Fu’s Latin-Asian Grub: Chick’in Waffle with maple syrup infused with DonFuLano Repasado tequila

Stoney's Bar & Grill made a Korean spiced wing for Chicken Fight! | Photo by Linnea Covington — Stoney’s Bar & Grill made a Korean spiced wing for Chicken Fight! | Photo by Linnea Covington

1. Stoney’s Bar & Grill: Korean-spiced wings with lime

People’s Choice

3. Fire On the Mountain: Blueberry Ghost Pepper

2. CD’s Wings: Grubby Garlic with garlic buffalo sauce, Cajun seasoning and ranch dressing

1. GQue Barbecue: Palisade Pearch Bourbon BBQ

Best Burgers

Sponsored by Harvest Moon

The peach burger from Tap & Burger during Burger Balooza. | Photo by Linnea Covington

Judges’ Choice

3. Tap & Burger: Palisades peaches, Pueblo chili, pepper jam, aged beef patty, and pepper jack cheese

2. Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse Belmar: Colorado Fuego with Flaming Hot Cheeto dust, roasted Olathe sweet corn, chili lime Raqulitas tostada, and Pueblo green chile queso

1. R!ot: Double Smash

People’s Choice

Great Divide Belmar coated the burger with hot Cheeto dust. | Photo by Linnea Covington

3. R!ot: Double Smash

2. Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse Belmar: Colorado Fuego

3. Tap & Burger: Palisades peaches, Pueblo chili, pepper jam

R!ot's burger made a quiet the scene in the tastiest way. | Photo by Linnea Covington — R!ot’s burger made a quiet the scene in the tastiest way. | Photo by Linnea Covington

Best Cocktails

Judges’ Choice

3. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center with High West Whiskey

2. Stoney’s Bar & Grill: Cucumber Mint Refresher with Jim Beam

1. Brutal Poodle: Southern Slime with Tito’s Vodka, peach lemonade, Mexican candy puree, and Tajin

People’s Choice

3. Fire On the Mountain with Mile High Spirits Distillery

2. Nola Jane with Wheatley Vodka

1. Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center with High West Whiskey

Linnea Covington Managing Editor Denver

Linnea Covington is a regional managing editor of DiningOut, covering Denver, New York City, and Phoenix. She comes to us with a long background in food, restaurant and drinks journalism. Over the last two decades she's written for tons of national publications including Denver Post, Washington Post, Forbes Travel Guide, 5280 Magazine, New York Magazine, New York Times, Time Out New York and more. Follow on Instagram: @linneacovington https://muckrack.com/linnea-covington

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