There are quite a few spots in Houston where you can treat yourself to spectacular fried chicken, from staples like Frenchy’s to a number of chef-led restaurants that host space on their menus for top-tier versions of the classic Southern dish. If you’re on the hunt for some James Beard Award-caliber fried chicken, or if you want to experience the dish with Southeast Asian or Afro-Mexican flair, this is the fried chicken guide for you.
Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers
Fried chicken from a James Beard Award semifinalist? Yes, please. From celebrated Houston chef Greg Gatlin of Gatlin’s BBQ fame, this Creole restaurant in Independence Heights features a menu centered around Gulf Coast and Southern comfort foods. While the seafood is top notch, the “feathers” part of its moniker is equally worth exploring. The fried chicken, a half fried yard bird, sports a delightful crunch, and pairs well with sides like collard greens and red beans and rice. 302 W. Crosstimbers St., Houston, gatlinsfinsandfeathers.com
Esther’s Cajun Cafe & Soul Food
Esther Lewis-Bernard’s eponymous restaurant is a haven for good ol’ fashioned soul food. A quick journey through the line, where dishes like oxtails in brown gravy, smothered pork chops, and fried catfish entice behind glass, is proof of that. While there are plenty of standouts, Esther’s classic fried chicken is hard to pass up. This hand-battered, Cajun-style fried chicken is as crispy and lovingly fried as they come. Pair with sides like mac and cheese, fried okra, and yams, and you’ve got a dreamy fried chicken feast on your hands. 5007 N. Shepherd Dr., Houston, estherscajunsoul.com
Late August
Located at the Ion in Midtown, the former home of the Sears department store that has since been transformed into an innovation and technology district, this restaurant’s moniker is an ode to the time of year that the Sears catalog was mailed out. Along with a hefty side of nostalgia, Late August serves up a fried half-chicken with a side of potato salad and a house hot sauce—a simple presentation that lets the bird do all the singing. 4201 Main St. Ste. 120, lateaugusthtx.com
The Breakfast Klub
If you’ve lived in Houston for any length of time, there is a good chance you have witnessed the long lines snaking around this Midtown restaurant every day of the week. Is it worth the often more than hour wait to get a seat? It most definitely is. Here, the fried chicken and waffles star. They sport a perfect balance of flavor and texture, sweet and savory, and fluffy and crispy. At the Breakfast Klub, you really can have it all. 3711 Travis St., Houston, thebreakfastklub.com
La Lucha
Sometimes three pieces just won’t do, and you need to go all-in on an entire fried chicken. You can spoil yourself exactly this way at chef Ford Fry’s Heights restaurant, with executive chef Bobby Matos at the helm. La Lucha’s Pollo Especiale comes as a half ($23) or a whole ($44), with sides including biscuits and pickles. Consider adding on a half-pound of fried Gulf shrimp for a stellar surf-and-turf experience. 1801 N. Shepherd Dr. #A, Houston, laluchatx.com
Jūn
This restaurant from Top Chef finalist and James Beard Award semi-finalist Evelyn Garcia, with chef Henry Lu, is lauded for its adept merging of Mexican, Salvadoran, and Southeast Asian cooking techniques, ingredients, and flavors. The menu is a healthy mix of vegetables and proteins, with standouts like sausage with a sambal honey glaze; sweet potato with labneh; mussels in red curry; and a spicy take on fried chicken ($24), prepared with shrimp paste, ginger, Thai chili, and herbs. 420 E. 20th St. Ste. A, Houston, junbykin.com
Frenchy’s
If you grew up in Houston, you know Frenchy’s isn’t just fried chicken—it’s a rite of passage. The moment you step up to the counter to order, the aroma of crispy, golden bird seasoned with Creole spices hits you, and you know you’re in for a treat. The skin is crunchy, the meat juicy, and sides like red beans, dirty rice, and jalapeños are as much a part of the exerience as the chicken itself. Multiple locations, frenchyschicken.com
Himalaya
Himalaya is an Indo-Pak retail strip gem in the Mahatma Gandhi District where the food speaks for itself, and its masala fried chicken has a cult following. Chef Kaiser Lashkari’s bird is skinless, marinated in bold spices, then fried until crisp and golden, with flavors that awaken the palate from the very first bite. It’s not your typical Southern bird, but a welcome alternative. 6652 Southwest Fwy, Houston, himalayarestauranthouston.com
Dak & Bop
Dak & Bop is known for its Korean fried chicken with serious crunch. Pieces are double-fried, resulting in impossibly crisp chicken that packs tender meat inside. The chicken is excellent, but the real fun comes from choosing a sauce, like classic soy garlic or spicy sriracha honey lime. 1805 W 18th St, Houston, dakandbop.com
Barbecue Inn
Barbecue Inn is the kind of place your grandparents probably frequented and where the fried chicken hasn’t changed in decades… and that’s exactly why locals love it. Since 1946, this Independence Heights stalwart has been serving up generous platters of fried chicken that boasts crisp, golden-brown skin on the outside and juicy, flavorful meat on the inside. With sides like coleslaw, fries, and mashed potatoes with gravy, meals here feel like pure nostalgia. Don’t sleep on the fried shrimp, also a house favorite. 116 W Crosstimbers St, Houston, barbecueinnhouston.com
Bar Bludorn
Bar Bludorn brings the same relaxed luxury and polish as its sister restaurant Bludorn in Montrose, but it has a more casual, neighborhood vibe. Tucked away on a quiet street in Memorial, this spot is where area residents head for cocktails, dinner, and the indulgent fried chicken. Here, it is presented with peanut butter gravy, mashed potatoes and collard greens, and serves as an easy to share option for the table. 9061 Gaylord Drive, Houston, barbludorn.com
