15 Must-Try Spots for Fried Chicken in RVA
The saying goes, “Winner, winner! Chicken dinner!” But with these spots serving delish fried chicken all around RVA, you’ll be winning for brekkie, lunch, and dinner. Here are our 15 fave places to get your fix in Richmond.
— by Katie Brown, Contributing Writer
Ukrop’s Market Hall
If you're from Richmond, Ukrop’s brings on its own meaning of nostalgia. Everything they make is just GOOD! It used to be a full-on grocery store, but when that closed, they had to create a take-out location because their pre-made food is so popular! Enter: Ukrop’s Market Hall. Get yourself a two- or eight-piece meal, which comes with sides and a famous Ukrop’s White House Roll. Ukrop’s also has boneless bites and chicken tenders! BTW, don't sleep on their potato wedges, breakfast pizza, or rainbow cookies. And definitely grab yourself a bottle of their special sauce!
Location: 7250 Patterson Ave (West End)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken is one of those places where everything is like, “Oh, I LOVE Lee’s!” So, it's absolutely necessary to try it out for yourself. It has a drive-through, which makes it even easier to get your chicken fix! Don’t forget the honey mustard on the side of whatever you order.
Location: 2200 W Broad St (The Fan)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Lillie Pearl
This is one of Chef Mike Lindsey's concepts where he kills the game on fried chicken! For lunch, you can experience a Smashville Fried Chicken Sandwich with Nashville hot spice (beware: spicy!) or a regular Fried Chicken Sandwich — both have their homemade buttermilk ranch on it! On the dinner menu, you’ll find their more traditional fried chicken entree that comes with corn mash, collard greens, and, of course, a drizzle of spicy honey. Chicken wings are an option for both lunch and dinner, too.
Location: 416 E Grace St (Downtown)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Buttermilk and Honey
This is another one of Chef Mike Lindsey's concepts, which originally opened in Short Pump and now has a home in Hatch Local Food Hall, offering SO many different fried chicken sandwich options — anything from spicy to featuring pimento cheese or ranch to Asian-inspired. Oh!: Their chicken tenders are fire too!
Location: 12246 W Broad St (Short Pump) and 400 Hull St (Manchester, inside Hatch Local)
Hours: Found here and here
Menu: Found here
The Cocky Rooster
If you're looking for ALL THINGS CHICKEN, this is the place for you! Think: wings (fried, smoked, or boneless) with a ton of sauce options; tenders; and chicken sandwiches — all bursting with flavor. There’s a location in the Fan and in Short Pump, but FYI, the Fan location is take-out only.
Location: 2523 W Main St (The Fan) and 12171 W Broad St Suite D (Short Pump)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
River City Roll
We know what you're thinking: Wait, a bowling alley for fried chicken? But trust; whether you’re there for brunch or dinner, you can experience their fried chicken. For brunch, you can get their Southern Chicken Biscuit on a homemade white cheddar biscuit plus hot honey and aioli. Or for dinner, you can order the Fried Chicken Sandwich with hot sauce on a potato roll. Both pack a little heat but a big punch. Make sure to grab a drink on the patio when it's nice outside, or check out their weekend music line-up!
Location: 939 Myers St (Scott’s Addition)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Fuzzy Cactus
You have the option for great fried chicken for brunch, lunch, or dinner here. We’re talking biscuits, tenders, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, and wings! They even have a late-night menu, which also features some tasty options (fried chicken included).
Location: 221 W Brookland Park Blvd (Northside)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Cobra Cabana
This little hole in the wall is known for their unique menu names and is a place where you will always see their regulars. People rave about their Chicken Hen Shot First sandwich (which you can even make vegan-friendly by asking for tofu instead)! Plus, on Sundays ,they serve up their Gay-Fil-A chicken sandwich from 12 - 4 pm, donating 10% of its sales to Side by Side Virginia.
Location: 901 W Marshall St (VCU)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Wood and Iron
Whether you’re going for a drink or to catch a game, this place has lots of delicious fried chicken options — from sandwiches to biscuits to tenders to wings! The Chicken Sandwich can be spun in your choice of any of their wing sauces, and you can even add a honey drizzle. The brunch has a double chicken biscuit option — yum! Plus, their hand-dipped chicken tenders or their Crispy Chicken Salad are must-haves, if you love yourself some chicken tendies. They are also known for their wings, because, well, they are a game-day bar. They have hickory-smoked, grilled, bone-in, and boneless options with lots of homemade wing sauces. ALWAYS order a side of the ranch! (And try their cheesesteak egg rolls, too.)
Location: 1405 Roseneath Rd (Scott’s Addition) and 11400 W Huguenot Rd #109B (Midlothian)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here and here
Liberty Public House
This woman-owned restaurant and bar is located on the ground floor of the former East End Theater, and you can find a few different types of fried chicken sandwiches here. People rave about their Hot Chicken Sandwich, drizzled with their hot sauce! If you’re more into wraps, they have a garlic buffalo chicken wrap that sounds fire! But of course, they have a chicken sandwich that has Cajun pimento cheese on it, because let's be real: It's Richmond, and we all love some pimento cheese! Check out their Insta, too, because they’re always serving up different types of chicken sandwiches, like this one that I hope they bring back sometime soon!
Location: 418a N 25th St (Church Hill)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
The Grill
If you love some tendies, this is the place for you! They are hand-breaded and can be served with any sauce your little heart desires. Don't sleep on their ranch — it's out of this world. (Maybe even order some cheese fries to go with it!) And don’t worry: Of course they have wings, and chicken and waffles!
Location: 5724 Patterson Ave (Westhampton)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Mama J’s Kitchen
Looking for the best soul food in town? Well, this spot is for you! They have your classic fried chicken — and we know you’re going to love it, especially with their sides. (Hint, hint: Get the mac and cheese!) Plus, they have chicken tenders and fried catfish and catfish nugs, if you are feelin’ wild.
Location: 415 N 1st St (Jackson Ward)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Image: Hot Chick
Crafted
This locally sourced Southern restaurant has lots of options, one being the Lady Bird, which can be finished in three different ways: Nashville style, Alabama style, or DC style! There’s also a Fancy Fried Chicken entree. And don't forget to check 'em out for brunch one weekend to try their hush-puppy cake, fried egg, fried chicken, and pimento cheese dish!
Location: 4900-151 Libbie Mill E Blvd (Libbie Mill)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
HobNob
Talk about underrated, this place has some spot-on fried chicken dishes. Try their Fried Chicken Cobb Salad, Fried Chicken Fennel Sandwich, and Chicken and Waffles.
Location: 6010 Hermitage Rd (Lakeside)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
Hot Chick
Want to go to a restaurant completely dedicated to the fried chicken sandwich? That's Hot Chick, located in the 17th Street Farmers Market area! They level up on the creativeness with lots of different inspired flavors. Of course, they have your classic and Nashville styles, but they also have a Chicken Katsu, a Sticky Chicken (Asian inspired), and a Cali option. Plus, lots of meals that you can choose from, featuring white or dark meat, and a half or whole chicken. And you know I gotta love on their chicken tenders (and nuggets). They can accommodate gluten free diets, too!
Location: 7th N 17th St (Shockoe Bottom)
Hours: Found here
Menu: Found here
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