The 9 Best Spots For Fried Chicken In Austin
Every fried chicken fanatic has a favorite spot in Austin. It’s just really delicious food that tastes GREAT on a hot summer day paired with a Dr. Pepper, and equally great on a cold rainy day paired with creamy mashed potatoes. We love fried chicken here in Austin, so it only seems fitting to share a map of some of the best-fried chicken restaurants in town.
Austin, Texas is not just home to some of the best restaurants in the country right now, but also is recognized as a city full of really great fried chicken. (Spicy Boy’s! Lucy's! And helllooo T22!!) Whether you like it spicy, sweet, or originally crispy, or consider it your perfect comfort food, we’ve got you covered!
The search for the best fried chicken in Austin took us all over the city and produced this epic list. Read on to see our final review of the best fried chicken restaurants in Austin!
Best Fried Chicken In Austin
1. Spicy Boys
The 2 food trucks from fried chicken experts Spicy Boys are parked at well-known breweries, including Zilker Brewing on East 6th St and St Elmo Brewing Company at The Yard in south Austin. And if you’re not a beer person, both of the Spicy Boys locations are near other popular bars in Austin.
Enjoy a fried chicken sandwich or some of the addictively delicious wings that Spicy Boys is known for, topped with their special spice and herbs blend, chili-honey, crispy onions, and scallions. Pair it with an icy cold beer and a side of their perfectly crispy tater tots with tingly Sichuan seasoning, and their OG fried chicken sandwich is going to be one of your favorite things to eat in Austin in no time at all.
WEBSITE | Multiple locations
2. T22 Chicken Joint
It was originally branded as a spot to get Nashville hot chicken in Austin, so they called it “Austin Hot Chicken.” Now T22 Chicken Joint (Tumble 22) has several locations in Cedar Park, Lake Austin, and Round Rock, serving hot chicken with spice intensity that can range from mild to very spicy.
If you’re feeling brave, go for the “Stupid Hot” but be prepared to regret your decision almost instantly. Don’t sleep on the sides and desserts here! Their housemade pies are some of the best in the city.
WEBSITE | 7211 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
3. Top Notch
Top Notch is one of the OG restaurants in Austin (see it on our list of old-school classic Austin restaurants!), so if you’ve lived here for more than a minute, then you should already be familiar with it. Top Notch has really great burgers and delicious shakes, but… their super crispy fried chicken is the main reason you should visit this north Austin restaurant.
Be sure to grab the Texas toast, french fries, and a few other side dishes. The chicken is great by itself, but a heavy serving of gravy will only make this Austin fried chicken even more delicious.
WEBSITE | 7525 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
4. Lucy's Fried Chicken
An Austin staple for more than 10 years, Lucy's has been a popular place for one of the best locally-owned chicken restaurants serving all sorts of southern favorites. It’s a a sit-down restaurant that’s pretty casual and family-friendly, and it makes a really fun weekend brunch destination, too.
They do the basics really well (you can literally order a bucket of fried chicken on their menu), but they also have some other delicious menu items. Try the fried chicken nachos, smothered in refried beans, cheddar, cotija, crema, guac, and (of course) crispy fried chicken. This is also a great place to get raw or grilled oysters. And, similar to Tumble 22, this Austin fried chicken restaurant has incredible pies. Don’t leave without trying a slice of their pecan pie smothered in whipped cream! Photo: Lucy’s Facebook
WEBSITE | 2218 College Ave, Austin, TX 78704
5. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Although it's technically not a local restaurant (Gus’s is a Memphis-based fried chicken restaurant with locations all over the country), it’s a must-try if you’re looking for the best-fried chicken in Austin.
Each piece of chicken at Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken is extra crispy, crunchy deep-fried to a golden crisp while remaining perfectly juicy and moist on the inside. They season it with just the perfect amount of spice. No matter the location you visit, from Tennessee to Texas, each plate includes a side of beans, coleslaw, and white bread. Photo: Gus’s Facebook
WEBSITE | 117 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
6. Colleen's Kitchen
Colleen's Kitchen serves some of the best buttermilk fried chicken in Austin. It’s served family style with three breasts and three thighs, but you’ll definitely want to add the collard greens, roasted garlic mashers, and four cheese mac n cheese to the table.
If you haven’t been, Colleen’s Kitchen is a sweet, beautifully decorated, comfortable southern restaurant in the Mueller district. It’s the type of place you might want to meet up with your mom, a group of girlfriends, or perhaps on a dinner date before going to a movie at the Alamo. Photo: Colleen’s Kitchen facebook
WEBSITE | 1911 Aldrich St STE 100, Austin, TX 78723
7. Mattie's At Green Pastures
Mattie’s is a brunch & special-occasion restaurant in a 19th-century home with an antique-chic lounge, bar & patio areas. It’s a truly stunning place to eat…one of the most beautiful restaurants in Austin. The historic mansion has a sprawling oak-shaded lawn, a large outdoor dining space, and peacocks wandering the property! It’s no surprise that this is one of the most popular wedding venues in Austin.
However, to keep with the theme of the best-fried chicken in Austin, here’s this: the fried chicken from Green Pastures' restaurant Mattie's is definitely one of their most iconic dishes. It’s dunked and fried to a crisp golden brown and served with mashers, gouda, bacon, baby kale-shaved brussels sprouts, pickled onions, and buttermilk ranch. Be sure to pair it with one of their amazing southern cocktails.
WEBSITE | 811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704
8. Golden Tiger
Golden Tiger is a food truck in front of Whistlers cocktail bar that serves burgers and fried chicken sandwiches, and here’s the truth: there is no better food to eat at 11 pm after a few drinks than a fried chicken sandwich at Golden Tiger.
There are three varieties of fried chicken sandwiches: Classic, Thai, and Buffalo. They all have a deep-fried chicken thigh, so they’re super juicy, but the sauces distinguish them from one another. The Thai features sweet chili sauce, the original has gochujang mayo, and the Buffalo has Buffalo sauce with a side of blue cheese or ranch.
WEBSITE | 1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
9. Hank's Austin
The restaurant scene in northeast Austin (Windsor Park area) is still sparse despite the growing population, and so Hank’s is a much-needed restaurant to grace the scene. It’s a darling restaurant with a large outdoor patio, a coffee shop component, a great happy hour, and…an absolutely delicious fried chicken!
The brined fried chicken at Hank's is definitely one of the best in Austin. It’s all the things you love in fried chicken—super golden brown, crispy, and absolutely bursting with flavor. You can find it on their lunch and dinner menu.
WEBSITE | 5811 Berkman Dr, Austin, TX 78723
This post is part of the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance City Guide! To see more guides to the ATX food scene, click here.
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