New York may have the mart cornered on pizza , bagels , and black & white cookies … but electrocute crybaby ? Sure , we may not be in the South , but that has n’t stopped this metropolis from making a name for itself in the fry - poulet scene . From casual , over - the - counter roast serving a mean chicken & waffles , to sit down - down restaurants doling out Korean - inspired offstage , the fried - fowl craze , which first took off in the city back in 2009 at spot like Momofuku Noodle Bar and Locanda Verde , is still go strong . And with proceed openings of erstwhile - school - elan southerly stick and more imaginative modern spots in recent years , there ’s arguably never been a sound clock time to bask fried bird in New York – particularly at these 14 places .
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
Part of the Bromberg brother ’ empire ( Blue Ribbon Sushi , Blue Ribbon Brasserie ) , this fast - casual , order - over - the - tabulator joint come in ready to hand in a miscellanea of scenarios . Buzzed , hungry , and want to honour yourself after an intense night of karaoke ? Good news : it ’s heart-to-heart ‘ til 2 am seven day a week . Hankering for a individual drumstick in the center of the night ? You ’re in destiny : in addition to family - manner platters , the 65 - seat outer space also service up item-by-item matzo - crust bit ( breasts , thighs , drumsticks ) for a few one dollar bill a dad . Looking to broaden your foodie celestial horizon ? put the Beak to Butt , a melange of fried neck opening , backs , hearts , and ventriculus lathered in hot sauce . And the listing get on …
Charles’ Country Pan-Fried Chicken
North Carolina - born chef Charles Gabriel draw his start over two 10 ago , peddling some serious comfort food from a hand truck . Today , he makes southerly soul solid food thaumaturgy from his Harlem trap - in - the - bulwark . Using an old - fashioned frying proficiency in a casting - iron skillet , Gabriel coats the meat in a peppery wry rub , soften it in an egg wash , and dredges it in flour . What that means for you : greaseless - on - the - outside , juicy - on - the - inside birds that are burst with flavor ( it ’s flavour three clip , BTW ) . It ’s so tasty that you ’re in all likelihood exit to require to go with the all - you - can - eat dinner ( which is just $ 13.99 ! ) . Collard jet , gumbo , and black - eyed pea plant are there to attend to , should you want a healthy boost .
Sweet Chick
Outfitted with blackboards and wood paneling , this wizardly Williamsburg spot dole out luscious Southern eats like smoked paprika - spike shrimp & grits , and crawfish hush puppy with jalapeño jam . But the genuine headline act is the cherubic & savoury chicken & waffles . Made in gratifying - tea saltwater , dip in buttermilk , and dredged in a spice portmanteau word , the whole impressively crispy shebang sits on a bed of flavored waffle ( Francis Bacon - cheddar , rosemary - mushroom , walnut - parmesan ) .
Peaches HotHouse
A bite of the Nashville - style hot fry Gallus gallus from this Bed - Stuy restaurant is almost as skilful as read a road misstep down to Tennessee . Seasoned twice with a grampus jazz band of cayenne and ghost chili peppers – the hottest in the world – the crunchy , flavor - packed long suit is so beneficial it will , quite literally , make you bawl . We suggest pairing it with a side of sweet edible corn on the Larus marinus or mild philander potatoes , which will have your back when things get heated .
Pies ‘n’ Thighs
Since opening inside a beer closet in 2006 , Pies ' n ' Thighs has relocated and expanded into two neighborhoods . No matter the scenery , the resistless electrocute fowl – which comes in the form of a bucketful , box , sandwich , or chicken & waffles – has remained top - notch . Opt for the free - reach fried chicken box , which comes with three - pieces of crispy , gamy chicken , a buttermilk biscuit , and your alternative of a side ( burnt end parched beans , tall mallow hominy grits , and smoked pork collards ) .
Somtum Der
Sure , ripe ol' Southern fried chicken will always hold in a peculiar spot in your heart . But if you want to see other birds from fourth dimension to prison term , there ’s plenty of exploring to do as well . Expand your taste buds ( and inevitably , your waistline ) with the deeply - fried chicken at this East Village Thai spot . Marinated in garlic , white common pepper , coriander root , lemongrass , and red curry paste before hitting the frier , Somtum Der ’s electrocute wimp provide a nice charge that you wo n’t get elsewhere . If you need to take affair from tepid to red-hot , dunk the Gallus gallus in a particular dressing made up of chili powder , fish sauce , tamarindo sauce , and laurel wreath sugar .
Root & Bone
leave behind it toTop Chefvets Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth to make comforting country grub feel surprisingly refine . The bird , which take out from McInnis ’ grandmother ’s formula , is brine in angelical teatime , pressure - fried for furthermost moisture , topped with dehydrated maize & dill , and plated with a side of bourbon Tabasco honey . Slightly citrusy , more or less hot , and altogether addictive , it ’s just as in force as the stuff served to the south of the Mason - Dixon line – or so you might twist up thinking . ( Oh , and there ’s a takeout food counter for those who finger like receive their bird on the running . )
Yafa Deli and Grocery
At first glance , this Clinton Hill spot looks like your fair food shop … and it would be , if not for its Methedrine subject of heavenly fried chicken . sell by the patch , its thighs , drumstick , and breasts are everything you could want – piquant , crunchy , and most significantly , cheap . Once you ’ve scranch through the crispy cocoon ( fry to the perfect bronze shade ) , you ’ll find nothing but unfermented , tender meat on the inside . Just $ 1.50 a pop ensures you ’ll be back at Yafa ’s for lunch , dinner party , a belated - night bite – and let ’s be honorable , probably breakfast the next dawn , too .
Wilma Jean
Husband - and - wife team Rob Newton and Kerry Diamond pull out all the closure at their southerly - fried Gowanus restaurant . draw from the Arkansas syndicate formula of Mr. Newton , the crybaby is pawn in salty saltwater and douse in buttermilk before it hits the frier . The answer : a divinely prosperous - chocolate-brown boo that do in several camouflage . ( Get it on a stick , straightforward - up in a bucket , by the piece , on a spud roll , or mixed in a collard unripened salad ) . With side like tater yearling and pimento Malva sylvestris , braise collards with country ham , and mac & cheese , Wilma Jean wo n’t do you incorrect .
Sylvia’s Restaurant
This Harlem soul - food staple fibre has been drawing in folk for its mouthwatering fried wimp since 1962 , so there ’s really no reason why you have n’t checked it off your bucket list yet . Sinking your teeth into the crispy , tippy light or dark meat is a in truth spiritual experience . cake it in hot sauce or devour it naked . It ’s so good , in fact , that the eating place ’s recent possessor , Sylvia Woods , was even dubbed the " Queen of Soul Food . "
Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter
You ca n’t discuss deep-fried poulet in the metropolis without acknowledging this Alphabet City eating place . Here , the gratuitous - range chicken is brined overnight in sweet tea ( hence the hint of clams ) , then popped into a pressure cooker . Order the boneless chicken sandwich or bone - in fry chicken supper , which come with a flaky hot biscuit and side salad . Chef / possessor Keedick Coulter uses only humanely raised animals and local , sustainable garden truck – so somehow you finger good after stuffing your boldness with pounds of meat ( and an out - of - this - populace pecan pie bread pudding ) .
Paula’s Soul Food Cafe
The menu at this Bronx soul - nutrient joint is packed with full-blooded classic like beef brusque costa , fried whiting sandwiches , and BBQ crybaby , which are all perfectly tasty , but the buttermilk fried chicken is deserving the trek alone . get in at the table dressed in nothing but a layer of grease , Paula ’s fry bird is as no - frills as it beget – and couple perfectly with side like candied yams , cornbread , Sir Tim Rice & beans , or collard super acid ( it comes with your option of two ) . final stage things on a sweet note with banana pudding or pecan pie .
The Redhead
No , it ’s not a superficial moniker used to describe a fille you once met at a legal profession – it ’s an East Village gastropub dispatching some of the most mercifully delicious fried crybaby in the metropolis . New Orleans - born chef Meg Grace douse the razzing , after several hours of brining , into buttermilk before rubbing it in a house mixture and frying it until it ’s crunchy . juxtapose with the crispy , well - seasoned ( and greaseless ! ) outside , the meat inside is as gentle as a John Legend melodic phrase . Top off the hearty function with amazing side like kung pao escarole and chickpea - scratch fries .
Buttermilk Channel
At this Carroll Gardens restaurant , deep-fried chicken rules all . Fried not once , but twice , after spending all Nox in a buttermilk batter , the tantalizing , nipping - skinned bird is plated atop a cheesy cheddar waffle with savoy cabbage slaw and a balsamic maple syrup concoction . side like the buttermilk - whipped Solanum tuberosum and cauliflower gratin round thing out nicely , and the homey aura ( the communal board is fashioned from ceiling beams from an previous Red Hook storage warehouse ) seals the deal .
The Commodore
The guy wire behind this later - night , hipster - packed eating house / prima donna prevention is the same ( Stephen Tanner ) churning out soul nutrient atomic number 79 at Pies ' n ' Thighs . Much like his other Brooklyn / LES space , the fried chicken here just melts in your mouthpiece . grade the fry Gallus gallus plate , which arrives with three healthy , peppery thighs that crunch with each pungency , alongside biscuits and live sauce and honey butter for dipping . Cocktails like the namesake Commodore ( a piña colada with amaretto ) are sure to get a good bombination fit . But whether you ’re sober or not , the deep-fried bird never disappoints .
Birds & Bubbles
Combining Champagne and fried crybaby , this Lower East Side haunt has everything you could require from a Southern - vogue articulatio , and more . dog a looking glass of bubbly with dishful like the Splitty - Split , a one-half - chicken that ’s cooked and served in a frypan , or Winner Winner Chicken Dinner , a whole skirt which come with the whole kit – three side , jalapeño cornbread , a buttermilk biscuit , and more . Head to the backyard to domiciliate it all down under twinkling strings of light .
Sugar Freak
Trust us when we say this New Orleans - inspired restaurant is worth the trek to Astoria . Taking the fried chicken biz to the next tier , the virtuoso here mop up up bird in five unlike flavors : cinnamon sugar , chili honey , cherry white pepper , spicy , and classic . Choose between white or dark meat , and one side ( deep - fry Zea mays everta okra , odoriferous potato chips , or sautéed collard greens with Francis Bacon , to name a few ) . If that ’s not enough southerly hospitality for you , the cheerful ambiance – with its quilted patchwork pillow and exposed brick wall – should do the trick .
Bonchon
This Midtown East ( and Midtown West , and Astoria , and FiDi , and Bayside ! ) restaurant – whose name literally interpret to “ my hometown ” – puts up stiff competition against its K - Town counterparts . And that ’s all thanks to its habit-forming Korean fried - to - decree wing , which come embrace in a choice of juicy or sweet soy garlic sauce . For indecisive types , go halfsies is also an option .
Mitchell’s Soul Food
Harlem is n’t the only ‘ hood that can satisfy your individual - food craving . At Johnsie Mitchell ’s Prospect Heights articulatio , the Mary Leontyne Price are cheap and the circumstances more than generous . The move here is to order the dark heart – the crispy , peppery Earth’s crust puts up a tough front , but one bite into it will unleash the moist and tender meat inside .
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Root & Bone|Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
Sweet Chick|Lani Lee/Courtesy of Sweet Chick
Pies-N-Thighs|Flickr/Bionicgrrrl
Root & Bone|Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Wilma Jean
Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter|Flickr/bionicgrrrl
The RedHead
Buttermilk Channel
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Birds & Bubbles|Andrew Zimmer/Thrillist
Bonchon|Flickr/Young Sok Yun
