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A plate of fried chicken, fries, and ranch and ketchup with a Trillium beer can visible in the background. — Some of the city’s best fried chicken can be found out on a public golf course in Chestnut Hill.

Where to Find Top-Notch Fried Chicken Around Boston

Crispy, juicy, sometimes spicy

by Erika Adams, Rachel Leah Blumenthal, and Terrence Doyle Updated Jul 18, 2023, 4:46pm EDT

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Some of the city’s best fried chicken can be found out on a public golf course in Chestnut Hill.

| Erika Adams/Eater Boston

by Erika Adams, Rachel Leah Blumenthal, and Terrence Doyle Updated Jul 18, 2023, 4:46pm EDT

Boston really loves its fried chicken, from Nashville-hot to buttermilk-brined to Korean. Chicken and waffles makes an appearance on numerous menus around town, brunch and otherwise, while other restaurants offer fried chicken sandwiches and other related dishes.

Whichever style you're seeking, there's probably a local restaurant that can satisfy your fried chicken needs. Here are 15 options to try in and around Boston.

See also: Where to Eat Chicken Wings in and Around Boston

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Neighborhood Kitchen

Hidden in a mostly residential corner of Medford, this local favorite serves a menu influenced by Haitian and Asian cuisines. The chicken and waffles are a highlight — choose red velvet, Asian sesame and scallion, or honey cornbread for the waffle and one of six flavors for the wings or tenders — but the Spring Street sandwich is also a must, featuring spicy fried chicken with chipotle mayo, bacon jam, and a pickle.

84 Spring St, Medford, MA 02155

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Overhead view of four round aluminum takeout containers on a table, two with thick waffles (one red velvet) and two with fried chicken tenders. — Chicken and waffles from Neighborhood Kitchen in Medford.

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Highland Kitchen

Somerville mainstay Highland Kitchen has a ripping spicy Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich not for the faint of heart (no refunds!). The concoction comes with shredded lettuce, buttermilk ranch, and pickles.

150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

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Trina's Starlite Lounge

Chill neighborhood hangout Trina’s has a fried chicken plate that doesn’t mess around. It comes with curried cauliflower, a mint pea salad, hot pepper syrup, and cornbread with honey butter. Or go for the fried chicken and waffles with hot pepper syrup — it takes extra time to make, but as they say, it’s well worth the wait.

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

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Two pieces of fried chicken with veggies and cornbread on the side, and a small dipping container of syrup. — The fried chicken at Trina’s Starlite Lounge.

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Hot Chix

Long a pop-up favorite around town, the Hot Chix team settled into this permanent space in Inman Square last year. The restaurant serves irresistible Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, biscuits, and other sides.

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1220 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

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A large piece of spicy fried chicken comes out the edges of a soft bun; it’s topped with slaw and pickles. Two biscuits sit in the background. — Chicken sandwich and biscuits from Hot Chix.

State Park

Can't handle too much heat? Opt for State Park’s Tabasco honey fried chicken rather than the Nashville hot. Either will more than satisfy all fried chicken needs, and each comes with appropriate sides. There's also a Japanese-style chicken katsu sandwich available, featuring panko fried chicken.

One Kendall Sq. Bld. 300, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Lily P's

Lily P’s focuses on two things: fried chicken and oysters. Diners will find a variety of ways to eat the ultra-juicy pressure fried chicken at the Kendall Square restaurant and bar, whether in one of several sandwiches (try the “hot n’ honey” — Nashville hot chicken with black pepper honey, arugula, and Duke’s mayo) or on a plate or on a waffle. The ambiance is fun, too, with darts, shuffleboard tables, and other entertainment. Find a counter-service offshoot at West End food hall Hub Hall.

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50 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142

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Closeup of a fried chicken sandwich with pickled onions, pickles, and mayo. — A fried chicken sandwich at Lily P’s.

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The Coast Café

Open for over a decade, this tiny soul food restaurant in Cambridge is perhaps best known for its fried chicken. About 300 pounds of chicken are served every week, chef and owner Tony Brooks previously told Eater, and the fried chicken combination plate (chicken, two sides, cornbread) is one of the restaurant's best-sellers. The chicken is marinated for 24 hours before frying, Brooks said.

233 River Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

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Overhead view of a black plastic takeout container in three sections. The small sections contain mac and cheese and collard greens; the large section contains pieces of fried chicken on aluminum foil. The container sits on a light wooden surface. — Fried chicken at the Coast Café.

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Fiya Chicken

Fiya Chicken opened in Allston in late 2020, further solidifying the neighborhood as the spot for Korean fried chicken. Fiya does twice-fried chicken in many forms (wing, tender, and sandwich), as well as corn dogs fried in pancake batter.

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1024 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

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Buttermilk & Bourbon

With a name like Buttermilk & Bourbon, a restaurant had better serve a good buttermilk fried chicken — and fortunately it does. Get it in the form of wings, boneless thighs, or a bone-in half chicken, served in a choice of styles (Nashville hot, sweet and spicy, or with barbecue syrup or white barbecue sauce). Might as well stick with the fried theme and get some beignets for dessert. There’s a location in Watertown, too.

160 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116

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Several pieces of fried chicken sit in a high-rimmed white bowl on a table with a vase of red flowers visible in the background. Plush red booth seating is also visible. — Buttermilk & Bourbon’s fried chicken.

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Crave

This Chinatown restaurant is especially proud of its chicken, hence its former name, Crave — Mad for Chicken. Fried Korean-style, it comes as wings and drums, chicken and waffles, and more.

75 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

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Moonshine 152

This South Boston restaurant's award-winning buttermilk fried chicken wings are served with a poblano ranch dressing. There’s also a fried chicken and waffle dish (named for Leslie Knope, one of several nods to Parks and Recreation at Moonshine 152) with Sriracha bourbon sauce and cinnamon honey butter.

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152 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127

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Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

The peach sweet chile country fried chicken wings are the move at Darryl’s, but the “glorifried” chicken and waffles (classic buttermilk or red velvet) are also excellent.

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

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Side Chick

This Dorchester newcomer arrived in early 2022, taking over the former Singh’s Roti storefront after Singh’s moved to a larger space nearby. It’s already building up quite a fanbase for its extensive menu of halal fried chicken in various forms, from sandwiches like the “hot Cheeto” (crispy chicken, lettuce, banana peppers, Cheetos, and cheese sauce) to fingers, wings, and chicken-topped salads.

692 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125

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Hemlock Grill

Local fried chicken fans know that one of the best around was at now-closed Cambridge restaurant Bisq during chef Alex Sáenz’s tenure there. Well, he’s still around, frying up excellent chicken at a Bisq outpost in Time Out Market in Fenway and just over in Chestnut Hill, at a golf course of all places. Hemlock Grill is open to the public for indoor and outdoor dining — you don’t even have to golf — with two fried chicken sandwiches (one is Nashville hot) or fried chicken by the basket, served with fries and ranch.

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1281 W Roxbury Pkwy, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

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Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

Brassica Kitchen’s legendary fried chicken needs no introduction. Order it for dinner — it's served with maple, mustard, cabbage, and optional hot sauce — or at brunch, with waffles. It’s outstanding.

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3710 Washington St, Boston, MA

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Neighborhood Kitchen

84 Spring St, Medford, MA 02155

Hidden in a mostly residential corner of Medford, this local favorite serves a menu influenced by Haitian and Asian cuisines. The chicken and waffles are a highlight — choose red velvet, Asian sesame and scallion, or honey cornbread for the waffle and one of six flavors for the wings or tenders — but the Spring Street sandwich is also a must, featuring spicy fried chicken with chipotle mayo, bacon jam, and a pickle.

84 Spring St, Medford, MA 02155

Visit Website

Overhead view of four round aluminum takeout containers on a table, two with thick waffles (one red velvet) and two with fried chicken tenders. — Chicken and waffles from Neighborhood Kitchen in Medford.

Highland Kitchen

150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Somerville mainstay Highland Kitchen has a ripping spicy Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich not for the faint of heart (no refunds!). The concoction comes with shredded lettuce, buttermilk ranch, and pickles.

150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Trina's Starlite Lounge

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

Chill neighborhood hangout Trina’s has a fried chicken plate that doesn’t mess around. It comes with curried cauliflower, a mint pea salad, hot pepper syrup, and cornbread with honey butter. Or go for the fried chicken and waffles with hot pepper syrup — it takes extra time to make, but as they say, it’s well worth the wait.

3 Beacon St, Somerville, MA 02143

Visit Website

Two pieces of fried chicken with veggies and cornbread on the side, and a small dipping container of syrup. — The fried chicken at Trina’s Starlite Lounge.

Hot Chix

1220 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Long a pop-up favorite around town, the Hot Chix team settled into this permanent space in Inman Square last year. The restaurant serves irresistible Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, biscuits, and other sides.

Open in Google Maps

1220 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

A large piece of spicy fried chicken comes out the edges of a soft bun; it’s topped with slaw and pickles. Two biscuits sit in the background. — Chicken sandwich and biscuits from Hot Chix.

State Park

One Kendall Sq. Bld. 300, Cambridge, MA 02139

Can't handle too much heat? Opt for State Park’s Tabasco honey fried chicken rather than the Nashville hot. Either will more than satisfy all fried chicken needs, and each comes with appropriate sides. There's also a Japanese-style chicken katsu sandwich available, featuring panko fried chicken.

One Kendall Sq. Bld. 300, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Lily P's

50 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Lily P’s focuses on two things: fried chicken and oysters. Diners will find a variety of ways to eat the ultra-juicy pressure fried chicken at the Kendall Square restaurant and bar, whether in one of several sandwiches (try the “hot n’ honey” — Nashville hot chicken with black pepper honey, arugula, and Duke’s mayo) or on a plate or on a waffle. The ambiance is fun, too, with darts, shuffleboard tables, and other entertainment. Find a counter-service offshoot at West End food hall Hub Hall.

Open in Google Maps

50 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142

Visit Website

Closeup of a fried chicken sandwich with pickled onions, pickles, and mayo. — A fried chicken sandwich at Lily P’s.

The Coast Café

233 River Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Open for over a decade, this tiny soul food restaurant in Cambridge is perhaps best known for its fried chicken. About 300 pounds of chicken are served every week, chef and owner Tony Brooks previously told Eater, and the fried chicken combination plate (chicken, two sides, cornbread) is one of the restaurant's best-sellers. The chicken is marinated for 24 hours before frying, Brooks said.

233 River Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Visit Website

Overhead view of a black plastic takeout container in three sections. The small sections contain mac and cheese and collard greens; the large section contains pieces of fried chicken on aluminum foil. The container sits on a light wooden surface. — Fried chicken at the Coast Café.

Fiya Chicken

1024 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Fiya Chicken opened in Allston in late 2020, further solidifying the neighborhood as the spot for Korean fried chicken. Fiya does twice-fried chicken in many forms (wing, tender, and sandwich), as well as corn dogs fried in pancake batter.

Open in Google Maps

1024 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

Buttermilk & Bourbon

160 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116

With a name like Buttermilk & Bourbon, a restaurant had better serve a good buttermilk fried chicken — and fortunately it does. Get it in the form of wings, boneless thighs, or a bone-in half chicken, served in a choice of styles (Nashville hot, sweet and spicy, or with barbecue syrup or white barbecue sauce). Might as well stick with the fried theme and get some beignets for dessert. There’s a location in Watertown, too.

160 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

Several pieces of fried chicken sit in a high-rimmed white bowl on a table with a vase of red flowers visible in the background. Plush red booth seating is also visible. — Buttermilk & Bourbon’s fried chicken.

Crave

75 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

This Chinatown restaurant is especially proud of its chicken, hence its former name, Crave — Mad for Chicken. Fried Korean-style, it comes as wings and drums, chicken and waffles, and more.

75 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

Moonshine 152

152 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127

This South Boston restaurant's award-winning buttermilk fried chicken wings are served with a poblano ranch dressing. There’s also a fried chicken and waffle dish (named for Leslie Knope, one of several nods to Parks and Recreation at Moonshine 152) with Sriracha bourbon sauce and cinnamon honey butter.

Open in Google Maps

152 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127

Visit Website

Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

The peach sweet chile country fried chicken wings are the move at Darryl’s, but the “glorifried” chicken and waffles (classic buttermilk or red velvet) are also excellent.

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Visit Website

Side Chick

692 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125

This Dorchester newcomer arrived in early 2022, taking over the former Singh’s Roti storefront after Singh’s moved to a larger space nearby. It’s already building up quite a fanbase for its extensive menu of halal fried chicken in various forms, from sandwiches like the “hot Cheeto” (crispy chicken, lettuce, banana peppers, Cheetos, and cheese sauce) to fingers, wings, and chicken-topped salads.

692 Columbia Rd, Boston, MA 02125

Visit Website

Hemlock Grill

1281 W Roxbury Pkwy, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Local fried chicken fans know that one of the best around was at now-closed Cambridge restaurant Bisq during chef Alex Sáenz’s tenure there. Well, he’s still around, frying up excellent chicken at a Bisq outpost in Time Out Market in Fenway and just over in Chestnut Hill, at a golf course of all places. Hemlock Grill is open to the public for indoor and outdoor dining — you don’t even have to golf — with two fried chicken sandwiches (one is Nashville hot) or fried chicken by the basket, served with fries and ranch.

Open in Google Maps

1281 W Roxbury Pkwy, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Visit Website

Brassica Kitchen + Cafe

3710 Washington St, Boston, MA

Brassica Kitchen’s legendary fried chicken needs no introduction. Order it for dinner — it's served with maple, mustard, cabbage, and optional hot sauce — or at brunch, with waffles. It’s outstanding.

Open in Google Maps

3710 Washington St, Boston, MA

Visit Website

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