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Where to Eat Fried Chicken in Atlanta

by Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Jul 19, 2016, 10:21am EDT

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by Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Jul 19, 2016, 10:21am EDT

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Is there any dish that represents Southern cooking more than fried chicken? Probably not. When it's done right, it's savory, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside — pretty much culinary perfection in one bite. In Atlanta, good yardbird can be found at plenty of restaurants, from those that have been in business nearly a century to new establishments on the scene.

If you're looking for the best of the best, look no further. These 16 restaurants, mapped north to south, are sure to leave you licking your fingers and considering seconds.

Don't see your favorite fried chicken joint on this map? Give it a shout-out in the comments or via the tipline.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Table And Main

1028 Canton St
Roswell, GA 30075

(678) 869-5178

Visit Website

Table & Main offers huge, crispy portions with classic Southern sides such as potato salad, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes.

Also Featured in:

2. The Colonnade Restaurant

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324

(404) 874-5642

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Serving up Southern cuisine since 1927, it's no surprise that The Colonnade knows what it's doing when it comes to fried chicken. As Jon Watson once said, "It's old-school chicken, done right."

Open in Google Maps

3. Watershed on Peachtree

1820 Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 809-3561

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The bird at this James Beard Award winner is available at dinner on Wednesdays, and once it's gone, it's gone. It's considered by many to be the best in town.

Also Featured in:

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4. The General Muir

1540 Avenue Pl NE Ste B-230
Atlanta, GA 30329

(678) 927-9131

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If you serve a Southern staple and it's featured in Garden & Gun, you're doing something right. Chef Todd Ginsberg steams his chicken first, allowing for a quick fry and incredibly crisp skin. Find it at The General Muir on Fridays.

Also Featured in:

5. D.B.A. Barbecue

1190 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306

(404) 249-5000

Visit Website

D.B.A. does a little pre-cooking before frying, and because it's a barbecue restaurant, the chicken sits in the smoker for a little while. The apple-brined, hickory-smoked Smoke-n-Fried Chicken is available only on Sundays.

Also Featured in:

6. South City Kitchen

1144 Crescent Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

(404) 873-7358

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In business for more than 20 years, South City Kitchen now has three locations in Midtown, Vinings, and Buckhead. This fried chicken is a fine rendition, and it's dressed up with garlic collards, smashed red bliss potatoes, and honey-thyme jus.

Also Featured in:

7. Mary Mac's Tea Room

224 Ponce de Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30308

(404) 876-1800

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Like a few other restaurants on this list, Mary Mac's is a seasoned veteran, dating back to 1945. The fried chicken is double-battered to add extra crunch.

Also Featured in:

8. Busy Bee Cafe

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30314

(404) 525-9212

Visit Website

Yet another restaurant that's been around for a while, Busy Bee opened in 1947. Here, the chicken is marinated for 12 hours, hand-breaded, and fried. If that isn't good enough for you, get the smothered version, which is topped with pan gravy.

Also Featured in:

9. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

231 Peachtree St NE Ste A-05
Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 996-2837

Visit Website

This Memphis favorite arrived in Atlanta in August 2015, and it's been a hit ever since. With a spicy, extra-crispy version of the dish, Gus's is looking to expand further in the Atlanta market.

10. Hop's Chicken

675 Ponce De Leon (Ponce City Market)
Atlanta, GA

Visit Website

James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Linton Hopkins is getting in on the fast-casual fried chicken trend. Hop's fried chicken is available by the piece or in buckets, and if you're craving Chick-fil-A on a Sunday, the Ponce City Market stall's sandwich is a good substitute.

Open in Google Maps

11. Richard's Southern Fried

99 Krog St NE Ste T
Atlanta, GA 30307

White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails chef Todd Richards is serving up Nashville-style hot chicken inside Krog Street Market. While it isn't as fiery as what you might find in the music city — nothing outside of Nashville is — Richards' bourbon hot sauce can help to turn up the heat.

Open in Google Maps

12. Spice To Table

659 Auburn Ave NE Ste 503
Atlanta, GA 30312

(404) 220-8945

Visit Website

Chef Asha Gomez's cooking is a melding of her roots in the southern regions of India and the United States, and her Kerala fried chicken is a perfect example.

Open in Google Maps

13. Revival

129 Church St
Decatur, GA 30030

Visit Website

When Kevin Gillespie and executive chef Andreas Müller opened Revival, they aimed to recreate meals that might be served by a diner's Southern grandma. Mission accomplished. The fried chicken might be the best around.

Also Featured in:

14. Star Provisions

1198 Howell Mill Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

(404) 365-0410

Visit Website

At Anne Quatrano's iconic Westside market, the fried chicken is available to go, by the pound. For those who prefer the dark crust that comes from frying in a skillet, Star Provisions won't disappoint.

15. One Eared Stag

1029 Edgewood Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307

(404) 525-4479

Visit Website

Robert Phalen is one of a few chefs in town who serves fried chicken one night a week. It's available in limited quantities every Monday, and it usually doesn't last long.

Also Featured in:

16. Gaja

491 Flat Shoals Ave SE Ste A
Atlanta, GA 30316

(404) 835-2126

Visit Website

Gaja offers a take on Korean fried chicken in East Atlanta Village. This boneless thigh is served with tofu "ranch" and scallions, and it comes with kimchi, rice, and Korean sides.

Open in Google Maps

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1. Table And Main

1028 Canton St, Roswell, GA 30075

Table & Main offers huge, crispy portions with classic Southern sides such as potato salad, collard greens, and fried green tomatoes.

1028 Canton St
Roswell, GA 30075

Visit Website

2. The Colonnade Restaurant

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

Serving up Southern cuisine since 1927, it's no surprise that The Colonnade knows what it's doing when it comes to fried chicken. As Jon Watson once said, "It's old-school chicken, done right."

1879 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

3. Watershed on Peachtree

1820 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

The bird at this James Beard Award winner is available at dinner on Wednesdays, and once it's gone, it's gone. It's considered by many to be the best in town.

1820 Peachtree St NW
Atlanta, GA 30309

Visit Website

4. The General Muir

1540 Avenue Pl NE Ste B-230, Atlanta, GA 30329

If you serve a Southern staple and it's featured in Garden & Gun, you're doing something right. Chef Todd Ginsberg steams his chicken first, allowing for a quick fry and incredibly crisp skin. Find it at The General Muir on Fridays.

1540 Avenue Pl NE Ste B-230
Atlanta, GA 30329

Visit Website

5. D.B.A. Barbecue

1190 N Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

D.B.A. does a little pre-cooking before frying, and because it's a barbecue restaurant, the chicken sits in the smoker for a little while. The apple-brined, hickory-smoked Smoke-n-Fried Chicken is available only on Sundays.

1190 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306

Visit Website

6. South City Kitchen

1144 Crescent Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

In business for more than 20 years, South City Kitchen now has three locations in Midtown, Vinings, and Buckhead. This fried chicken is a fine rendition, and it's dressed up with garlic collards, smashed red bliss potatoes, and honey-thyme jus.

1144 Crescent Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309

Visit Website

7. Mary Mac's Tea Room

224 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

Like a few other restaurants on this list, Mary Mac's is a seasoned veteran, dating back to 1945. The fried chicken is double-battered to add extra crunch.

224 Ponce de Leon Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30308

Visit Website

8. Busy Bee Cafe

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

Yet another restaurant that's been around for a while, Busy Bee opened in 1947. Here, the chicken is marinated for 12 hours, hand-breaded, and fried. If that isn't good enough for you, get the smothered version, which is topped with pan gravy.

810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr SW
Atlanta, GA 30314

Visit Website

9. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

231 Peachtree St NE Ste A-05, Atlanta, GA 30303

This Memphis favorite arrived in Atlanta in August 2015, and it's been a hit ever since. With a spicy, extra-crispy version of the dish, Gus's is looking to expand further in the Atlanta market.

231 Peachtree St NE Ste A-05
Atlanta, GA 30303

Visit Website

10. Hop's Chicken

675 Ponce De Leon (Ponce City Market), Atlanta, GA

James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Linton Hopkins is getting in on the fast-casual fried chicken trend. Hop's fried chicken is available by the piece or in buckets, and if you're craving Chick-fil-A on a Sunday, the Ponce City Market stall's sandwich is a good substitute.

675 Ponce De Leon (Ponce City Market)
Atlanta, GA

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

11. Richard's Southern Fried

99 Krog St NE Ste T, Atlanta, GA 30307

White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails chef Todd Richards is serving up Nashville-style hot chicken inside Krog Street Market. While it isn't as fiery as what you might find in the music city — nothing outside of Nashville is — Richards' bourbon hot sauce can help to turn up the heat.

99 Krog St NE Ste T
Atlanta, GA 30307

Open in Google Maps

12. Spice To Table

659 Auburn Ave NE Ste 503, Atlanta, GA 30312

Chef Asha Gomez's cooking is a melding of her roots in the southern regions of India and the United States, and her Kerala fried chicken is a perfect example.

659 Auburn Ave NE Ste 503
Atlanta, GA 30312

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

13. Revival

129 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030

When Kevin Gillespie and executive chef Andreas Müller opened Revival, they aimed to recreate meals that might be served by a diner's Southern grandma. Mission accomplished. The fried chicken might be the best around.

129 Church St
Decatur, GA 30030

Visit Website

14. Star Provisions

1198 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

At Anne Quatrano's iconic Westside market, the fried chicken is available to go, by the pound. For those who prefer the dark crust that comes from frying in a skillet, Star Provisions won't disappoint.

1198 Howell Mill Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

Visit Website

15. One Eared Stag

1029 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307

Robert Phalen is one of a few chefs in town who serves fried chicken one night a week. It's available in limited quantities every Monday, and it usually doesn't last long.

1029 Edgewood Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30307

Visit Website

Related Maps

16. Gaja

491 Flat Shoals Ave SE Ste A, Atlanta, GA 30316

Gaja offers a take on Korean fried chicken in East Atlanta Village. This boneless thigh is served with tofu "ranch" and scallions, and it comes with kimchi, rice, and Korean sides.

491 Flat Shoals Ave SE Ste A
Atlanta, GA 30316

Visit Website

Open in Google Maps

Related Maps