Best of Guide: Fried Chicken
When you dine in New Orleans, you’ll hear a lot about how fried alligator tastes like chicken. Know what else tastes chicken? Chicken. And, like everything else that winds up in our kitchens, New Orleans does fried chicken better.
Chicken is so popular here in the birthplace of Popeyes that, every October, we gather for the National Fried Chicken Fest on Lake Pontchartrain. Fortunately, you can enjoy this Southern favorite throughout the year at some of our favorite restaurants. Here’s where you can find the best fried chicken in the area!
LOFT18
If chicken wings are your thing, head to LOFT18 in Old Metairie. They are absolutely fabulous and you get your choice of sauces – Buffalo, Sweet & Spicy, Honey Glaze, BBQ, Korean, Parm Garlic, Knockout Sauce, Cajun Dry, Mano Habanero, Nashville Hot, and Lemon Pepper. You can also order them naked, bone in, or boneless. And the best part is if someone asks if you ever got a birdie at LOFT18, you can say yes. Read our review.
Tupelo Chicken Tenders from Hard Rock Café
Named after the birthplace of Elvis Presley, the Tupelo Chicken Tenders at Hard Rock Café, are “the king.” They’re spiced just right, the portion size is generous, and they’re served with a heaping helping of awesome fries. They’re just what you need to keep you going after a day of celebrating life in New Orleans. Read our review.
Messina’s Runway Café
Tuesday’s Blue Plate Special at the art deco Lakefront Airport is Southern Fried Chicken, served with macaroni and cheese, collard greens and cornbread. In three letters? TDF. For brunch, opt for the Chicken and Waffle, a single Belgian waffle topped with a Southern fried chicken breast. Oh-so good.
Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop
If you can pass up Chef Ron’s amazing gumbo entrees, you’ll find the Southern Fried Chicken is among the best you’ll ever taste. You can even get a Fried Chicken Breast on the side (great with red beans & rice). And as long as you’re going fried, we recommend you start with Fried Green Tomatoes, served with Cajun shrimp and crawfish cream sauce.
Porter & Lukes
While the menu calls it “chef’s almost famous fried chicken,” we think they’re being modest. New Orleans food critic Tom Fitzmorris ranked Porter & Luke’s one of the dozen best restaurants to get fried chicken. See if you agree.
3rd Block Depot Kitchen + Bar
This creative eatery in the W Hotel on Chartres serves one of the best chicken entrees on the planet. Their Fried Chicken Sandwich is crusted with andouille and slathered in Crystal Hot Sauce Mayo and Creole slaw. Fast food chicken sandwiches simply can’t compete.
Crescent City Brewhouse
Speaking of exceptional sandwiches, this Fried Spicy Chicken Sandwich on a pretzel bun with pimento cheese, Buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickles and fries is selfie-worthy – especially when washed down with a handcrafted beer. Walk it off with a stroll on the river, right across the street.