8 Family‑Run Fried Chicken Restaurants In North Carolina Worth The Trip

North Carolina’s family-run fried chicken joints are the beating heart of Southern comfort food. These treasured spots serve up crispy, juicy chicken with recipes passed down through generations, each bringing their own special touch to this beloved dish. I’ve spent years hunting down the crunchiest, most flavorful fried chicken across the state, and these eight family establishments are absolutely worth putting some miles on your car.

1. The Chicken Hut, Durham

Walking into The Chicken Hut feels like stepping into a time machine of deliciousness. This Durham institution has been frying up chicken since 1957, when Peggy Tapp and her husband first opened the doors. Their secret? They marinate the chicken overnight before hand-breading each piece. The result is skin that shatters like glass when you bite into it, revealing juicy meat underneath that practically melts in your mouth. Locals swear by their mac and cheese side: creamy, cheesy perfection that complements the peppery chicken like they were made for each other.

2. Grady’s BBQ, Dudley

Don’t let the BBQ in the name fool you; Grady’s chicken game is strong enough to make a rooster blush. Steve and Gerri Grady have been cooking together for over 35 years, creating a chicken that’s smoked slightly before being fried to crispy perfection. The tiny wooden building might not look like much from the outside, but inside it’s a temple to old-school cooking methods. Their chicken emerges from the fryer with a mahogany crust that’s seasoned just right; not too salty, not too spicy, just soul-satisfyingly good. Pro tip: Get there early because when they sell out, that’s it for the day!

3. Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, Asheville

“Hot” doesn’t begin to describe what Rocky’s does to chicken. Owner Rocky Lindsley created this mountain gem after perfecting his Nashville-style hot chicken recipe, and the locals can’t get enough of the fiery goodness. The chicken comes out with a deep reddish glow that serves as a warning; this bird bites back! But fear not, heat-sensitive friends. Rocky’s offers six spice levels from “Plain” to “Mt. St. Hell No,” so everyone leaves happy. The family atmosphere is as warm as the chicken, with Rocky’s kids often helping out on weekends. Their honey-drizzled sweet potato casserole provides blessed relief between spicy bites.

4. Jack’s Dining Room, Charlotte

Charlotte’s oldest Black-owned restaurant has been serving heavenly fried chicken since 1968. Miss Ethel’s grandson now runs the show, but the recipe remains untouched; a closely guarded family treasure. The chicken here doesn’t rely on heavy breading or spice mixtures. Instead, it’s all about technique; a quick dredge in seasoned flour and then a dip in oil that’s been heating since dawn. The result? Chicken with skin so thin and crisp it practically shatters, while the meat stays impossibly juicy. Regulars know to pair it with their cornbread; crumbly, slightly sweet, and perfect for sopping up every last bit of flavor.

5. Original Chicken ‘n Ribs, Charlotte

The Martinez family’s chicken recipe traveled from Cuba to Charlotte in the 1980s, creating a unique fusion that’ll make your taste buds dance the rumba. Their secret weapon? A citrus-based marinade that penetrates deep into the meat before it hits the fryer. The tiny kitchen produces chicken with a distinctive golden hue and citrus-tinged aroma that fills the small dining room. You’ll spot three generations working side by side most days, with Abuela still inspecting each piece before it leaves the kitchen. Don’t miss their yuca fries; crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and the perfect vehicle for their homemade mojo sauce.

6. Sweet Tea & Cornbread, Greensboro

Miss Cathy’s fried chicken makes grown men weep with joy. This Greensboro gem started as a food truck before the family saved enough to open their brick-and-mortar location in 2015. Her chicken gets a 24-hour buttermilk bath before being coated in a flour mixture containing 17 different herbs and spices. Yes, I’ve tried to guess them all, and no, I haven’t succeeded. The chicken emerges with a crust so flavorful you could eat it by itself (though the juicy meat underneath deserves attention too). The restaurant feels like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house; complete with checkered tablecloths and Mason jar sweet tea.

7. Pantry Fried Chicken, Greensboro & High Point

The Johnson siblings have chicken in their DNA. Their grandmother’s recipe has remained unchanged since 1969; a testament to the “if it ain’t broke” philosophy that makes this chicken so special. What makes Pantry’s birds stand out is their double-dredging technique. Each piece gets dipped in seasoned flour, then into a spiced buttermilk bath, then back into the flour before hitting the fryer. The result is chicken with nooks and crannies of crispiness that provide the perfect textural contrast to the tender meat. Their chicken comes out so hot it steams when you break into it, patience is a virtue worth practicing here!

8. Lillie Ann Home Cooking, Highway, NC

Blink and you’ll miss this roadside shack in tiny Highway, NC. But locals would drive blindfolded to find Lillie Ann’s legendary fried chicken if they had to (please don’t actually try this). The building might be humble, but the chicken is downright aristocratic. Each piece is fried in a cast-iron skillet; yes, a skillet, not a deep fryer; the way Lillie Ann’s grandmother taught her 60 years ago. This old-school method creates chicken with a uniquely uneven crust that ranges from shatteringly crisp to chewy-crisp. Cash only, no website, and they close when they feel like it. But trust me, the chicken is worth the gamble.