Atlanta is a town that loves its fried chicken. And every night of the week there’s some fantastically juicy, crunchy and delicious fried bird to be found. So, we did some exhaustive - and very tasty - research to find the best bets for fried chicken each night.
So, who’s down for a Southern fried chicken crawl?
Monday: One Eared Stag
Every Monday Chef Robert Phalen is serving up platters of fried chicken in Inman Park. The skillet fried chicken is incredibly juicy and well-flavored. Plus, the price makes it one of the best deals in town. For $15 you get three pieces with two sides and a biscuit. For $22 you can get a whole chicken and $32 gets you two. The sides change every week and include anything from grits to braised red cabbage.
Tuesday: The Colonnade
It doesn’t get much more old-school Atlanta quite like an early supper of fried chicken at The Colonnade. When we say old-school, we mean it, too. They’ve been serving Atlanta for nearly 90 years. Complete your meal with yeast rolls and sweet tea and you’ll know why this is your Mom’s favorite restaurant.
Wednesday: Watershed
Watershed on Peachtree has received so many accolades that it’s no surprise they should be a stop on your fried chicken crawl. It’s only available on Wednesdays and in a limited amount, so get there early! The chicken is soaked for 24 hours in buttermilk and fried in ham hock flavored fat, which results in a ridiculously tasty meal. Good news for Atlanta, Watershed began extending their fried chicken service to Wednesday lunches. Win.
Thursday: Star Provisions
It should be no surprise that the team behind Bacchanalia is also serving up some of the best chicken in town. Available to go, it makes a great addition to a picnic basket or to simply inhale in the car en route to said picnic. Cooked up in a cast iron skillet with pork drippings, it has incredible flavor that you’ll be thinking about long after you finish licking the plate.
Friday: General Muir
Known for their bagels, pastrami and burgers, The General Muir is serving up a fantastic fried chicken on Friday nights. Todd Ginsberg has definitely made this his own. Inspired by Korean style fried chicken, he brines the chicken, then cools it and tosses it in a mixture of cornstarch and flour. Then he steams the chicken before frying it. This results in a thin crust that is incredibly crunchy and flavorful. He only cooks up a small number each Friday, so get there early!
Saturday: Table and Main
Tucked away in an old house on Canton Street in historic Roswell, Table and Main is serving up Southern staples the way they should be done. All natural local birds from Springer Mountain are used to create their famous dish. The fried chicken is piled high on a plate of collard greens specked with ham. This is definitely their “Wow” dish. On a beautiful night, grab a seat on the patio under trees and order the fried chicken with a bourbon cocktail. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Sunday: Busy Bee Cafe
Folks in Atlanta have been flocking to Busy Bee Cafe since 1947. Greeting them has been piles of fried chicken - moist flesh covered in a crisp and flavorful skin that has been deep fried in peanut oil. Grab an order with a side of collards and candied yams for only $14. Don't forget the sweet tea to close out your week-long fried chicken adventure.
