Best Fried Chicken in Austin
Fried chicken is probably the most classic food ever made in the history of food. Most have a personal connection with fried chicken dating back to our childhood years and also decades before us. Fried chicken dates back to the Scottish immigrants who brought their customs of deep-frying chicken in fat and introducing it to the southern US. This eventually became a southern staple and was later enriched with seasonings and spices or herbs from brand-new recipes to enhance the flavoring.
Fried chicken is the ultimate comfort food, crispy, chewy, and juicy. This deep-fried goodness hasn’t ever gone out of style, whether you’re into chicken-fried chicken, diving in by the bucketful, or munching away on wings. If you’re craving fried chicken right now, check out the list below of the top fried chicken in Austin.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
117 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin, TX 78701; 512-474-4877
Over 60 years ago in the small community of Mason, Tennessee, Napoleon “Na” Vanderbilt created something amazing – fried chicken that could unite a community. In an era of divisive racial attitudes, the residents of Mason found that they could all – black and white – agree on how much they loved Na’s fried chicken. – gusfriedchicken.com
Lucy’s Fried Chicken
2218 College Ave. Austin, TX 78704; 512-297-2423
Lucy’s is an Austin institution and one of the few places in town devoted solely to fried chicken. Lucy’s offers something for all tastes on its extensive range of fried chicken variations, such as chicken boudin and fried chicken spaghetti.
When we think of Lucy’s Fried Chicken, we can almost taste the home cooking! Lucy’s is a top contender for the best fried chicken in Austin because of the crunchy, handmade batter on the fried chicken and the perfectly seasoned fries with an unexpected kick.
One of Austin’s favorite homegrown restaurants, Lucy’s Fried Chicken is helmed by local chef James Holmes. The offerings include fresh gulf oysters, an innovative take on comfort food classics, and fried chicken that’s pretty dang perfect. Freshly-made sides, salads, and pies round out the menu while the bar offers creative craft cocktails and plenty of cold beer. 7 days a week – lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. – lucysfriedchicken.com
Tumble22
7211 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78757; 512-520-1998
Tumble 22 allows you to choose your fried chicken type and heat level, ranging from “Wimpy” to “Cluckin’ Hot”! This is one of the many spots in Austin where you can find the best fried chicken. Grab one of their family packs and go for a picnic at the park.
Tumble 22 Hot Chicken is blazing a new trail in Austin! Inspired by Nashville hot chicken, Harold Marmulstein, Salty Sow Chef and Owner is expanding his portfolio bringing his chef-inspired knack to the newest venture Tumble 22 Hot Chicken, changing the way Austin experiences chicken. The chicken is fried and coated in Chef Marmulstein’s own secret blend of spices, getting its heat from the cayenne and spice dip. The basic components of the dish are chicken, a combination of spices, and careful cooking in hot oil. MSG is not used in the preparation of any of Tumble 22 chicken or products. – tumble22.com
Donkey Mo’s Korean Fried Chicken – HMart Food Court
11301 Lakeline Blvd. Austin, TX 78717; 737-717-6905
Having lived in Austin for over 30 years, Min Choe has firmly planted his roots and is currently pursuing his dreams in the restaurant world with his wife, Jenna Choe, and his three beautiful kids. A graduate of the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, he brings a strong background in entrepreneurship and leadership. He has founded over 6 restaurant concepts and continues to explore the next best opportunities. – cknhospitality.com
Flyrite Chicken
6539 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78757; 512-243-6258
Flyrite’s chicken sandwiches are simple but delicious! Locally labeled sandwiches such as the Club 512 and The Greenbelt add a fun twist to this smaller local fast-food restaurant’s crunchy fried chicken sandwiches.
At Flyrite, we believe fast food should be real food. We use ingredients you can trust, from better sources, including all-natural chicken raised without antibiotics. Our delicious sandwiches, wraps, and shakes are fresh and made to order. Our planet-friendly packaging is compostable or recyclable, and our service and atmosphere are designed to elevate the whole experience. It’s fast food you can feel good about. – flyritechicken.com
Bush’s Chicken
9815 Brodie Ln. Austin, TX 78748; 512-280-1600
The Bush family created a uniquely marinated, superior product with a friendly in-store atmosphere where people feel comfortable bringing their family to mealtime. For those people on the go, the Bushes wanted their drive-thru service to be the quickest in town. Rather than one car at a time ordering over a speaker system, Keith had the creative idea of sending his employees to each vehicle to get orders from multiple drive-thru lanes. That meant a shorter wait time for customers and better service! – bushschicken.com
Happy Chicks
214 E 6th St. Austin, TX 78701; 512-469-0002
Happy Chicks has chicken for everybody, including original, spicy, grilled, and vegan options. Take it from a woman who enjoys a variety of sauces with her fried chicken: Happy Chicks has fourteen homemade Happy Sauces to elevate your meal.
So, nothing against tacos or pizza, but sometimes you’re craving a little something different. We got you. A little country and a little rock & roll. A little sweet and a little savory. Or in our case: a little garlic ranch and a little spicy buffalo. Ever been at a party and dropped a piece of fried chicken into the queso bowl? Hey-yo! That’s delicious. Talk about a happy accident. C’mon over. We’ve got the best tenders in town, scrumptious sides and 15 sauces made fresh every morning, for whatever you’re craving. At Happy Chicks, the menu is simple, but the number of possible flavor combinations is just about endless. Go crazy. Get happy. – happychicks.com
Hoover’s Cooking
2002 Manor Rd. Austin, TX 78722; 512-479-5006
Hoover Alexander’s roots run deep through Texas. A native East Austinite and a fifth-generation Texan, Hoover and his cooking are inspired by the state itself. Hoover has always associated food with bringing people together, and the delicious and distinct flavors on our menu strive to bring together the melting pot of cultures and people who make up this great state. Hoover recalls going out to the family farm in Utley, Texas, and picking fresh peas, melons, greens, and tomatoes from the field and watching his father butcher farm-raised meats. He grew up eating what is now known as “farm-to-table.” Hoover’s relationships with area farmers allow us to bring fresh, local food to our tables every day. – hooverscooking.com
KFC
5607 N Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78751; 512-323-6970
Visit your local KFC at 5607 N. Lamar Blvd for a fresh batch of our world’s best chicken. Hand-breaded and freshly prepared! Our chicken isn’t made a fast way or the easy way. It’s made the hard way. Each fresh batch of the world’s best chicken starts with our cooks inspecting each individual piece. Then, our fresh chicken is carefully rolled 7 times in our secret blend of 11 herbs and spices before being rocked 7 times and then pressure-cooked at a low temperature to preserve all the great taste we’re known for around the world. From our Original Recipe® along to our Extra Crispy™ chicken, home-style sides, and buttermilk biscuits, we’re here to meet your chicken needs all day long. Call us for some freshly prepared delicious, complete family meals at affordable prices. – locations.kfc.com/tx/austin/5607-n-lamar-blvd
Hi Wings
2525 W Anderson Ln #135, Austin, TX 78757; 512-334-9004
Hiwings is proud to serve you truly delicious and fresh chicken cooked with the most carefully selected (and the best!) ingredients. We genuinely take the taste and the quality of our food into our number-one consideration hence we put a priceless yet undeniably the best ingredient: love. Enough with the words, come in and try ’em! – hiwingsatx.com
