Where to Find Fantastic Fried Chicken Around Atlanta
When you’ve got a craving for that crispy, crunchy, hot-out-the-frying-pan bird, there’s no shortage of places to get fabulous fried chicken around town. However, there are a few spots that stand out above the rest. Check out our list!
1. Busy Bee Cafe
810 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
When you’re looking for the best fried chicken in town, you might as well go for a veritable Atlanta institution. Busy Bee Cafe has been operating in Atlanta since 1947, opened up at the height of the segregation era by self-taught cook, Lucy Jackson and is still Black-owned today by restaurateur Tracy Gates.
2. Buttermilk Kitchen
4225 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30342
Buttermilk Kitchen is one of our favorite stops for a delicious, southern brunch. Everything on this menu rocks like the cinnamon roll, shrimp and grits and blueberry pancakes. And their fried chicken is certainly something special. Try the fried chicken sandwich, breakfast biscuit or chicken and waffles to get your fried chicken fix. You’ll be back soon!
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3. Cupanion’s
4920 Roswell Rd Ste. 14, Atlanta, GA 30342
Cupanion’s is Sandy Springs best kept secret! This unassuming little spot right by Kroger has brunch food like you wouldn’t believe, and their fried chicken biscuit and fried chicken lunch sandwiches offerings are perfect when you need your fix. The portions are hefty and the chicken is deliciously crunchy and crispy.
4. Delilah’s Everyday Soul
Delilah’s Everyday Soul has some ridiculously amazing comfort food. This lowkey spot is located inside the Chattahoochee Food Works. Delilah’s is a true Southerner’s restaurant, serving up some real good fried chicken that’ll make you want to come back for more. Make sure you also grab some of their famous mac & cheese!
5. Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken
231 Peachtree St Suite A-05, Atlanta, GA 30303
This fried chicken spot comes to ATL by way of the small town of Mason, Tennessee, serving up an old family recipe for fried chicken that’s been passed down over the years since the restaurant first opened in 1953. You can grab their delicious and affordable Southern comfort food in Sandy Springs, Chamblee, and Downtown Atlanta.
6. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Multiple locations
There’s a lot to love about Nashville, but we’re really glad to be able to not have to make the drive to Tennessee because we can now grab a Nashville style bird any time we want at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. If you really can’t do spicy, they can do “Southern” style chicken too without any heat.
7. Krispy Krunchy Chicken
Multiple Locations
If you’ve been following along with Atlanta Eats for a while, then you know we’re huge fans of this gas station chain. Krispy Krunchy Chicken is connected to gas stations all over Metro Atlanta so you should be able to find them pretty easily. Their chicken is tender and juicy and we could never get enough of it. Be sure to try the frires, mashed potatoes and/or honey biscuits on the side.
8. Magnolia Room Cafeteria
4450 Hugh Howell Rd, Tucker, GA 30084
If you agree that Southern fried chicken shouldn’t be pretentious and fancy, Magnolia Room Cafeteria is the place for you. Come as you are to this Tucker meat and three and grab some comfort food that’s mega bang for your buck. Their fried chicken is always piping hot and hits the spot juuuust right.
9. Mother’s Best Fried Chicken
406 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030
Mother’s Best is the latest and greatest when it comes to fried chicken in ATL. It’s out in Decatur but we can assure you it’s worth the drive. You can get buckets from 4-16 pieces of chicken, tenders or a fried chicken sammy. And don’t forget about the sides! Their taters and gravy hit and you can never go wrong with a crinkle cut fry.
10. Ms. Icey’s Kitchen
1371 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta, GA 30033
This hot brunch in Decatur has a perfectly seasoned, herb marinated fried chicken and waffles dish that we crave time and time again. Sidle on up to the bar for a great cocktail, and whatever you do, order the skillet cornbread!
11. Paschal’s Restaurant
180 Northside Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
For some of the best fried chicken in the city, head on down to Paschal’s. Open since 1947, this spot quickly became a staple in Atlanta’s community. It served as a meeting place for some of the most influential civil rights leaders like MLK. Today, people from all over can still enjoy Paschal’s finger-licking good chicken.
12. Ponko Chicken
Multiple locations
We don’t know what it is about Ponko Chicken that makes their food seriously addicting. Maybe it’s the rice oil that differentiates their cooking style from other fried chicken spots, or maybe it’s their slightly sweet “OG Sauce” will have you reaching for bite after bite. But whatever it is, try this “East meets West” spot for fried chicken that’s got a serious craveability factor.
13. Publix
Multiple Locations
There’s this super cool hole in the wall spot called Publix, ever heard of it? We’re just playing, but we certainly couldn’t write about chicken and not at least mention the fried chicken magic Publix has going on. Their chicken tender sub is honestly one of the best choices you could go with. And on a night when you’re not sure what to get for dinner or don’t feel like cooking, it’s never been easier than to run into Publix and just grab a bag of fried chicken from the deli and mashed potatoes or mac and cheese on the side.
14. Roc South
3009 Buford Hwy NE, Brookhaven, GA 30329
Roc South is a fantastic Black-owned spot on Buford Highway with all the soul food goodies. The fried chicken + collard greens and mac and cheese is unreal. You’ll love the sexy interiors with velvet touches as well–it’s as much about the vibe as it is about the food.
15. Roshambo
2355 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305
Modern American food meets classic diner vibes at Roshambo and we are loving it. Everything on this menu is incredible, giving you great portions, options and so much flavor. We are obsessed with their fried chicken and there’s a few ways to enjoy it. For brunch, you can get chicken and waffles, or if you wanna share with the table, we highly recommend The Party Barrel. This option includes a whole bird cut 10 ways, scrambled eggs, heirloom grits and biscuits with honey butter. It is so fun and delicious and we highly recommend adding bubbles to your order. For dinner, enjoy The Party Barrel with mac and cheese, collard greens and biscuits with honey butter on the side.
Use our map below to find fried chicken near you!
When you’re looking for the best fried chicken in town, you might as well go for a veritable Atlanta institution. Busy Bee Cafe has been operating in Atlanta since 1947, opened up at the height of the segregation era by self-taught cook, Lucy Jackson and is still Black-owned today by restaurateur Tracy Gates.
This hot brunch in Decatur has a perfectly seasoned, herb marinated fried chicken and waffles dish that we crave time and time again. Sidle on up to the bar for a great cocktail, and whatever you do, order the skillet cornbread!
Cupanion’s is Sandy Springs best kept secret! This unassuming little spot right by Kroger has brunch food like you wouldn’t believe, and their fried chicken biscuit and fried chicken lunch sandwiches offerings are perfect when you need your fix. The portions are hefty and the chicken is deliciously crunchy and crispy.
If you agree that Southern fried chicken shouldn’t be pretentious and fancy, Magnolia Room Cafeteria is the place for you. Come as you are to this Tucker meat and three and grab some comfort food that’s mega bang for your buck. Their fried chicken is always piping hot and hits the spot juuuust right.
There’s a lot to love about Nashville, but we’re really glad to be able to not have to make the drive to Tennessee because we can now grab a Nashville style bird any time we want at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. If you really can’t do spicy, they can do “Southern” style chicken too without any heat.
We don’t know what it is about Ponko Chicken that makes their food seriously addicting. Maybe it’s the rice oil that differentiates their cooking style from other fried chicken spots, or maybe it’s their slightly sweet “OG Sauce” will have you reaching for bite after bite. But whatever it is, try this “East meets West” spot for fried chicken that’s got a serious craveability factor.
This fried chicken spot comes to ATL by way of the small town of Mason, Tennessee, serving up an old family recipe for fried chicken that’s been passed down over the years since the restaurant first opened in 1953. You can grab their delicious and affordable Southern comfort food in Sandy Springs, Chamblee, and Downtown Atlanta.
Roc South is a fantastic Black-owned spot on Buford Highway with all the soul food goodies. The fried chicken + collard greens and mac and cheese is unreal. You’ll love the sexy interiors with velvet touches as well–it’s as much about the vibe as it is about the food.
Delilah’s Everyday Soul has some ridiculously amazing comfort food. This lowkey spot is located inside the Chattahoochee Food Works. Delilah’s is a true Southerner’s restaurant, serving up some real good fried chicken that’ll make you want to come back for more. Make sure you also grab some of their famous mac & cheese!
For some of the best fried chicken in the city, head on down to Paschal’s. Open since 1947, this spot quickly became a staple in Atlanta’s community. It served as a meeting place for some of the most influential civil rights leaders like MLK. Today, people from all over can still enjoy Paschal’s finger-licking good chicken.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published September 25, 2020 and last updated January 13, 2025. Please check the restaurant websites for the most updated information.
