Few dishes are as impressively versatile as well-prepared fried chicken. The marriage of a tender, melt-in-your-mouth interior with a crunchy, salty exterior is a tried-and-true food pairing, and fried chicken is no exception. Again, though, what makes the dish special is how well it lends itself to almost any culinary context.
As a comfort food, it checks all the boxes. If you drench a fried chicken breast in maple syrup and sandwich it in between two Belgian waffles, you have a thoroughly filling sweet-and-savory brunch meal. If a savory and/or sweet array of flavors sounds too decadent, though, fear not. Fried chicken, specifically Cajun-style fried chicken, can be either smothered in hot sauce or tossed in a spicy Cajun rub and served alongside some fries (or coleslaw to help you cool off).
Whatever variation of the classic dish suits your fancy, San Francisco is home to more than enough fried chicken spots to satisfy any palate.
See also: Hang Out & Cool Off Here At San Francisco's Best Beer Gardens
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1300 Battery St / Website
This hip eatery rests comfortably at the intersection of upscale and casual, pairing reasonable prices with creative, well-made modern takes on classic dishes. While its truffle mac-and-cheese and housemade meatballs are certainly worth tasting while you’re there, our focus is their wide assortment of mouthwatering fried chicken dishes.
While the undeniable classic on the menu is the 8-piece bucket of fried chicken served with any number of appealing sides (mashed potatoes, truffle fries, etc.), the ‘Kickin’ Fried Chicken sandwich takes the cake for us. Its chipotle slaw injects a bright burst of spice that balances out beautifully with the tomato’s sweetness and the red onion’s crunchy zest. Fog City’s location is absurdly scenic; be sure to stroll up to Coit Tower or down the Embarcadero after a meal.
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652 Polk St / Website
Brenda Buenviajé - the mastermind behind and chef proprietor for Brenda’s French Soul Food - grew up in a little town outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, and so was immersed from the get-go in southern food culture. You can rest assured, then, that Brenda’s offers some of the most authentic, true-to-New-Orleans creole cuisine in San Francisco. The menu is rife with southern staples (check out the gumbo and the shrimp n’ grits with the spicy tomato-bacon gravy). Lucky for us, though, Brenda’s has an entire section of the menu dedicated to fried chicken. All of the offerings come with warm, fluffy biscuits and a serving of red hot pepper jelly, enabling you to choose exactly how much you set your mouth ablaze.
Don’t let the fried chicken section eclipse Big Mama’s Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, though. You can’t opt out of the spice with the sandwich, but the mayo, lettuce and tomatoes, and creole slaw will all help soothe your tongue after the sandwich’s fiery glory. Don’t forget to try their molasses-black walnut iced coffee with whipped cream! It’s the closest you can get to Cafe du Monde on the west coast.
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4618 3rd St / Website
Aunti April’s is another must-visit southern soul spot that differentiates itself from its rivals with its many delicious surf-and-turf selections. Don’t worry, then, if fried chicken doesn’t sound quite filling enough, for their menu offers a number of clever seafood and chicken combos. We recommend Ton Ton’s Seafood Sampler as it provides a little bit of everything: a fish filet, a handful of shrimp, fried chicken wings and even some oysters. The Chicken-n-Waffles are an equally scrumptious option for any time of day. If you find yourself there in the morning, take advantage of their breakfast burrito and then stroll over to the nearby Pier 80 to take in the bay views.
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550 Taylor St / Website
We’re departing from the cajun world and moving to another similarly delicious culinary environs: Asian-American fusion. Sitting just a few blocks from Union Square, Cocobang offers a number of Korean-style takes on fried chicken dishes. For one popular menu item, Cocobang marinates a chicken breast in sweet sauce before frying it and serving it with pan-fried potstickers. The hot-and-tangy fried chicken is another lip-smacking option if sweet sauce just wouldn’t cut it. Don’t miss the spicy pan-fried kimchi and pork while you’re there!
See also: Indulge And Refresh Yourself With These Coolest Asian-Style Shaved Ice
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1031 Irving St / Website
Don’t let their simplicity deceive you; the original fried chicken wings are the stuff of San Francisco legend. Luckily for spice lovers, San Tung offers a much hotter option with fried chicken wings tossed in jalapenos. The vegetarian and pork chow mein are other beloved selections on the menu.
Buy your food to-go and then amble over to San Francisco Botanical Garden to have a lovely picnic; Golden Gate Park is just a block away!
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786 Bush St / Website
Step into Aliment’s lux modern ambience and enjoy any of several gorgeously-presented and inventively tasty fried chicken dishes. A lighter and always reliable option are the wings, which we highly suggest to pair with the delightfully sweet and not-too spicy mango-habanero sauce (though the barbecue sauce is another beautiful compliment). The slew of other dishes are all very much worth sampling, but our favorite is the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, which is served with the utterly out-of-this-world bacon mac-and-cheese. After your meal, take a short walk up Nob Hill to check out Huntington Park and the stunning Grace Cathedral.
However you choose to enjoy your fried chicken, the city’s myriad culinary offerings are sure to content even the pickiest of foodies. What’s more, these offerings will mesh with practically any occasion - a sit-down meal or a grab-and-go for a picnic at the park. Fried chicken is truly the dish that can do it all.
See also: Your Ultimate San Francisco Whiskey Guide
Photography by: Shardar Tarikul Islam/Unsplash
Few dishes are as impressively versatile as well-prepared fried chicken. The marriage of a tender, melt-in-your-mouth interior with a crunchy, salty exterior is a tried-and-true food pairing, and fried chicken is no exception. Again, though, what makes the dish special is how well it lends itself to almost any culinary context.
As a comfort food, it checks all the boxes. If you drench a fried chicken breast in maple syrup and sandwich it in between two Belgian waffles, you have a thoroughly filling sweet-and-savory brunch meal. If a savory and/or sweet array of flavors sounds too decadent, though, fear not. Fried chicken, specifically Cajun-style fried chicken, can be either smothered in hot sauce or tossed in a spicy Cajun rub and served alongside some fries (or coleslaw to help you cool off).
Whatever variation of the classic dish suits your fancy, San Francisco is home to more than enough fried chicken spots to satisfy any palate.
See also: Hang Out & Cool Off Here At San Francisco's Best Beer Gardens
View this post on Instagram
1300 Battery St / Website
This hip eatery rests comfortably at the intersection of upscale and casual, pairing reasonable prices with creative, well-made modern takes on classic dishes. While its truffle mac-and-cheese and housemade meatballs are certainly worth tasting while you’re there, our focus is their wide assortment of mouthwatering fried chicken dishes.
While the undeniable classic on the menu is the 8-piece bucket of fried chicken served with any number of appealing sides (mashed potatoes, truffle fries, etc.), the ‘Kickin’ Fried Chicken sandwich takes the cake for us. Its chipotle slaw injects a bright burst of spice that balances out beautifully with the tomato’s sweetness and the red onion’s crunchy zest. Fog City’s location is absurdly scenic; be sure to stroll up to Coit Tower or down the Embarcadero after a meal.
View this post on Instagram
652 Polk St / Website
Brenda Buenviajé - the mastermind behind and chef proprietor for Brenda’s French Soul Food - grew up in a little town outside of New Orleans, Louisiana, and so was immersed from the get-go in southern food culture. You can rest assured, then, that Brenda’s offers some of the most authentic, true-to-New-Orleans creole cuisine in San Francisco. The menu is rife with southern staples (check out the gumbo and the shrimp n’ grits with the spicy tomato-bacon gravy). Lucky for us, though, Brenda’s has an entire section of the menu dedicated to fried chicken. All of the offerings come with warm, fluffy biscuits and a serving of red hot pepper jelly, enabling you to choose exactly how much you set your mouth ablaze.
Don’t let the fried chicken section eclipse Big Mama’s Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, though. You can’t opt out of the spice with the sandwich, but the mayo, lettuce and tomatoes, and creole slaw will all help soothe your tongue after the sandwich’s fiery glory. Don’t forget to try their molasses-black walnut iced coffee with whipped cream! It’s the closest you can get to Cafe du Monde on the west coast.
View this post on Instagram
4618 3rd St / Website
Aunti April’s is another must-visit southern soul spot that differentiates itself from its rivals with its many delicious surf-and-turf selections. Don’t worry, then, if fried chicken doesn’t sound quite filling enough, for their menu offers a number of clever seafood and chicken combos. We recommend Ton Ton’s Seafood Sampler as it provides a little bit of everything: a fish filet, a handful of shrimp, fried chicken wings and even some oysters. The Chicken-n-Waffles are an equally scrumptious option for any time of day. If you find yourself there in the morning, take advantage of their breakfast burrito and then stroll over to the nearby Pier 80 to take in the bay views.
View this post on Instagram
550 Taylor St / Website
We’re departing from the cajun world and moving to another similarly delicious culinary environs: Asian-American fusion. Sitting just a few blocks from Union Square, Cocobang offers a number of Korean-style takes on fried chicken dishes. For one popular menu item, Cocobang marinates a chicken breast in sweet sauce before frying it and serving it with pan-fried potstickers. The hot-and-tangy fried chicken is another lip-smacking option if sweet sauce just wouldn’t cut it. Don’t miss the spicy pan-fried kimchi and pork while you’re there!
See also: Indulge And Refresh Yourself With These Coolest Asian-Style Shaved Ice
View this post on Instagram
1031 Irving St / Website
Don’t let their simplicity deceive you; the original fried chicken wings are the stuff of San Francisco legend. Luckily for spice lovers, San Tung offers a much hotter option with fried chicken wings tossed in jalapenos. The vegetarian and pork chow mein are other beloved selections on the menu.
Buy your food to-go and then amble over to San Francisco Botanical Garden to have a lovely picnic; Golden Gate Park is just a block away!
View this post on Instagram
786 Bush St / Website
Step into Aliment’s lux modern ambience and enjoy any of several gorgeously-presented and inventively tasty fried chicken dishes. A lighter and always reliable option are the wings, which we highly suggest to pair with the delightfully sweet and not-too spicy mango-habanero sauce (though the barbecue sauce is another beautiful compliment). The slew of other dishes are all very much worth sampling, but our favorite is the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, which is served with the utterly out-of-this-world bacon mac-and-cheese. After your meal, take a short walk up Nob Hill to check out Huntington Park and the stunning Grace Cathedral.
However you choose to enjoy your fried chicken, the city’s myriad culinary offerings are sure to content even the pickiest of foodies. What’s more, these offerings will mesh with practically any occasion - a sit-down meal or a grab-and-go for a picnic at the park. Fried chicken is truly the dish that can do it all.
See also: Your Ultimate San Francisco Whiskey Guide
Photography by: Shardar Tarikul Islam/Unsplash
