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9 of the Bombest Fried Chicken Dishes in Seattle

by Eater Staff
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by Eater Staff
1 comment / new

For this map, Eater has employed the help of longtime fried chicken eater and writer, Tallulah Anderson, who also happens to be the daughter of Seattle bar, restaurant and nightlife magnate, Linda Derschang, who also (probably) loves fried chicken. Is your favorite fry not on this list? Let us know in the comments.
maono-friedchicken.jpg

Ma'ono [Photo: Geoff Smith/LookAtLao]

From a Sunday afternoon picnic to your parents' basement, fried chicken is staple of American dining. Lucky for us (not so much our pants), Seattle has a fair share of options for the crisped poultry connoisseur. There is no better way to fight seasonal depression than a fat plate of fried goodness with mashed potatoes, baked beans, or coleslaw.

It's like pa always said, "If it ain't fried, it ain't worth shit."

Here now, in no particular order, a map of where to find some of the best fried chicken in Seattle for your Fry-day menu planning.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Ezell's Famous Chicken

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Fried Chicken On the Go: Picnics should not be reserved for those three warm summer days a year. It’s not our fault we live in a perma-grey city, so don’t punish yourself, get proactive. All you need is a blanket, a bottle of bubbles, some fried chicken from Ezell’s and voilà, instant picnic! The best part of an indoor picnic? No unwelcome banana hammocks.

[Photo Credit]
501 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 324-4141
(206) 324-4141

Also featured in:

Kingfish Cafe

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Old School Fried Chicken: Honey, now this is fried chicken. Prepare to be transported straight down south from the moment you enter The Kingfish Café. From the traditionally prepared buttermilk fried chicken to the exceptionally warm service, they know how to treat you right! A word of warning: be sure to get there early, their fried chicken sells out most nights.

[Photo Credit]
602 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 320-8757
(206) 320-8757

Also featured in:

Local 360

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But What is Fried Chicken?: This is not fried chicken as we know it, this is a bacon mousse chicken roulade with cheesy grits, collard greens and a sunny side up egg. It may not be resolution- friendly, but if you’re already saying, “Screw it. My skinny pants can go fit themselves,” order up the NW whiskey flight as a pairing. You’re going to need a lot of whiskey to make it through that roulade.

[Photo Credit]
2234 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-9360
(206) 441-9360

Also featured in:

Smith

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Fried Chicken and Waffles (w/ a Side of Nepotism): Hard not to love a dish that combines two favorite food groups: sugar and fried shit. Serious kudos to whomever invented this idea because it’s freaking genius. Smith’s take on this dish is a little lighter (they use only half a waffle) which the rest of your day will thank you for. Of course, if you pour enough maple syrup on top, you can more than make up for the lost calories.

[Photo Credit]
332 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 709-1900
(206) 709-1900

Also featured in:

Rainier BBQ & Restaurant

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For An Adventure: Feeling world-weary? Buttermilk no longer giving you the hit you need? Try the fried quail at Rainier BBQ with a squeeze of lime and a dip of salt and pepper. It will undoubtedly turn that frown upside-down. Best enjoyed with a cold beer and a companion that thinks greasy hands are charming.

[Photo Credit]
6400 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 760-1090
(206) 760-1090

Also featured in:

Frank's Oyster House & Champagne Parlor

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Fried Chicken in Good Company: Fried chicken finds a refreshing companion in oysters and champagne at Frank’s Oyster House. Considering the gut bomb level inherent with fried chicken, there is something truly delightful about starting the dining experience with oysters on the half shell (especially topped with bloody mary granita). Pro-tip: Bottles of champagne are 30% off on Tuesdays.

[Photo Credit]
2616 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 525-0220
(206) 525-0220

Also featured in:

The Wandering Goose

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Best Way to Spend Your Fried-day Night: It’s Friday evening, the entire weekend is ahead of you, where does one start? At the Wandering Goose, right at 5pm for their Friday Night Fried Chicken Feast, of course. Talk about Southern hospitality: You get meat and three sides, a bucket of beers if you want em’ (3 for 9 bucks), and a warm smile straight from North Carolina. If you’re lucky there might even be a slice of cake in it for you.

[Photo Credit]
403 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 323-9938
(206) 323-9938

Wayward Vegan Cafe

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Best Vegan Fried Chicken: There are many worse things than being a vegan at a Super Bowl party thanks to the Wayward Café. Pick up a few orders of their buffalo fried chiggen pieces on your way to the bash and prepare for all your carnivorous friends to be immediately confused.

[Photo Credit]
5253 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 524-0204
(206) 524-0204

Also featured in:

Ma’ono Fried Chicken & Whisky

Copy Link

The Obvious Choice: Beloved by local alt weeklies and Fox News alike, Ma’Ono is indubitably the bomb.com. Just don’t forget to reserve your bird when you reserve a table or they might run out (especially on busier nights). Sure, you can make a delicious dinner of burgers or noodles but if what you really want is that fried goodness, it would be a tragedy to go all the way out to West Seattle and return rebuked because of poor planning. Don’t be a cautionary tale: reserve your chicken ahead of time.
P.S. If you have space in your belly get a couple scoops of popcorn ice cream. It’s sweet and salty heaven.

[Photo Credit]
4437 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 935-1075
(206) 935-1075

Also featured in:

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Ezell's Famous Chicken

501 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

Fried Chicken On the Go: Picnics should not be reserved for those three warm summer days a year. It’s not our fault we live in a perma-grey city, so don’t punish yourself, get proactive. All you need is a blanket, a bottle of bubbles, some fried chicken from Ezell’s and voilà, instant picnic! The best part of an indoor picnic? No unwelcome banana hammocks.

[Photo Credit]
501 23rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 324-4141
(206) 324-4141

Kingfish Cafe

602 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Old School Fried Chicken: Honey, now this is fried chicken. Prepare to be transported straight down south from the moment you enter The Kingfish Café. From the traditionally prepared buttermilk fried chicken to the exceptionally warm service, they know how to treat you right! A word of warning: be sure to get there early, their fried chicken sells out most nights.

[Photo Credit]
602 19th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 320-8757
(206) 320-8757

Local 360

2234 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121

But What is Fried Chicken?: This is not fried chicken as we know it, this is a bacon mousse chicken roulade with cheesy grits, collard greens and a sunny side up egg. It may not be resolution- friendly, but if you’re already saying, “Screw it. My skinny pants can go fit themselves,” order up the NW whiskey flight as a pairing. You’re going to need a lot of whiskey to make it through that roulade.

[Photo Credit]
2234 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-9360
(206) 441-9360

Smith

332 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Fried Chicken and Waffles (w/ a Side of Nepotism): Hard not to love a dish that combines two favorite food groups: sugar and fried shit. Serious kudos to whomever invented this idea because it’s freaking genius. Smith’s take on this dish is a little lighter (they use only half a waffle) which the rest of your day will thank you for. Of course, if you pour enough maple syrup on top, you can more than make up for the lost calories.

[Photo Credit]
332 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 709-1900
(206) 709-1900

Rainier BBQ & Restaurant

6400 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118

For An Adventure: Feeling world-weary? Buttermilk no longer giving you the hit you need? Try the fried quail at Rainier BBQ with a squeeze of lime and a dip of salt and pepper. It will undoubtedly turn that frown upside-down. Best enjoyed with a cold beer and a companion that thinks greasy hands are charming.

[Photo Credit]
6400 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 760-1090
(206) 760-1090

Frank's Oyster House & Champagne Parlor

2616 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105

Fried Chicken in Good Company: Fried chicken finds a refreshing companion in oysters and champagne at Frank’s Oyster House. Considering the gut bomb level inherent with fried chicken, there is something truly delightful about starting the dining experience with oysters on the half shell (especially topped with bloody mary granita). Pro-tip: Bottles of champagne are 30% off on Tuesdays.

[Photo Credit]
2616 NE 55th St, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 525-0220
(206) 525-0220

The Wandering Goose

403 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Best Way to Spend Your Fried-day Night: It’s Friday evening, the entire weekend is ahead of you, where does one start? At the Wandering Goose, right at 5pm for their Friday Night Fried Chicken Feast, of course. Talk about Southern hospitality: You get meat and three sides, a bucket of beers if you want em’ (3 for 9 bucks), and a warm smile straight from North Carolina. If you’re lucky there might even be a slice of cake in it for you.

[Photo Credit]
403 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 323-9938
(206) 323-9938

Wayward Vegan Cafe

5253 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

Best Vegan Fried Chicken: There are many worse things than being a vegan at a Super Bowl party thanks to the Wayward Café. Pick up a few orders of their buffalo fried chiggen pieces on your way to the bash and prepare for all your carnivorous friends to be immediately confused.

[Photo Credit]
5253 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105
(206) 524-0204
(206) 524-0204

Ma’ono Fried Chicken & Whisky

4437 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

The Obvious Choice: Beloved by local alt weeklies and Fox News alike, Ma’Ono is indubitably the bomb.com. Just don’t forget to reserve your bird when you reserve a table or they might run out (especially on busier nights). Sure, you can make a delicious dinner of burgers or noodles but if what you really want is that fried goodness, it would be a tragedy to go all the way out to West Seattle and return rebuked because of poor planning. Don’t be a cautionary tale: reserve your chicken ahead of time.
P.S. If you have space in your belly get a couple scoops of popcorn ice cream. It’s sweet and salty heaven.

[Photo Credit]
4437 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 935-1075
(206) 935-1075

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