18 New York Restaurants Where Fried Chicken Still Tastes Like Grandma Made It
Fried chicken is more than just food in New York City. It’s a warm reminder of family dinners, Sunday gatherings, and recipes passed down through generations.
When you find a restaurant that makes fried chicken the way your grandma did crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned with love you’ve discovered something truly special.
1. Amy Ruth’s
Named after the owner’s grandmother, this Harlem gem brings family traditions straight to your plate. Every dish tells a story, and the fried chicken speaks volumes about love and care in the kitchen.
When you order the Rev. Al Sharpton special chicken and waffles you’re getting a meal that keeps folks coming back week after week. The chicken is perfectly seasoned with a crispy coating that crunches just right. Inside, the meat stays tender and juicy, never dry or overcooked.
Located on 116th Street, this spot honors its roots while serving up comfort food that tastes like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the portions are generous enough to share.
2. Melba’s Restaurant
If comfort food had an address in New York, it would be Melba’s on 114th Street. The relaxed vibe makes you feel like you’re sitting in someone’s living room, and the food tastes just as homey.
Their Southern fried chicken comes out hot and crispy, with seasoning that reminds you of recipes written on index cards and tucked in kitchen drawers. Pair it with their famous eggnog waffles for a combination that’s both surprising and satisfying. The chicken’s crust is golden and crunchy, while the meat inside is moist and flavorful.
Melba’s doesn’t try to be fancy it just focuses on doing comfort food right. That’s exactly what makes it special and worth the visit.
3. Red Rooster Harlem
Marcus Samuelsson took Harlem comfort food and gave it a little polish without losing the heart. Red Rooster serves fried chicken that respects tradition while adding its own creative touch.
Grab a crispy thigh, a fluffy biscuit, and maybe save room for a slice of pie afterward. The chicken has that perfect crunch on the outside and stays juicy on the inside, just like grandma used to make. The seasonings are spot-on, with layers of flavor that make each bite memorable.
Located on Lenox Avenue, Red Rooster combines soul food with a lively atmosphere. It’s a place where good food meets good vibes, and the fried chicken is always a highlight on the menu.
4. BLVD Bistro NY
Soul food gets dressed up at this Frederick Douglass Boulevard hotspot, but don’t worry the flavors stay true to their roots. BLVD Bistro proves you can have elegance and down-home cooking on the same plate.
The fried chicken here is seasoned with care and fried to golden perfection. Each piece has a satisfying crunch that gives way to tender, flavorful meat. It’s the kind of chicken that makes you close your eyes and remember family gatherings.
Though the atmosphere is more sophisticated than your grandma’s kitchen, the food carries the same warmth and authenticity. BLVD Bistro shows that traditional recipes can shine in any setting when prepared with respect and skill.
5. Sylvia’s Restaurant
Did you know Sylvia’s has been serving Harlem since 1962? That’s over six decades of perfecting fried chicken recipes that taste like home.
When you walk into Sylvia’s, you’re stepping into a piece of New York history. The fried chicken is legendary for good reason crispy skin, perfectly seasoned, and cooked with the kind of patience that can’t be rushed. Each bite delivers that nostalgic flavor that reminds you of grandma’s Sunday dinners.
Located on Lenox Avenue, this iconic spot has fed everyone from locals to celebrities. The chicken comes with classic Southern sides that complete the experience. It’s soul food at its finest, prepared the way it’s been done for generations.
6. Jacob Restaurant
How does a neighborhood restaurant become a local favorite? By cooking fried chicken the way families have been doing it for generations.
Jacob Restaurant keeps things simple and delicious. Their fried chicken has that perfect golden-brown color and a crust that crackles when you bite into it. The meat stays juicy and tender, never greasy or overdone. It’s the kind of food that makes you want to bring your whole family.
Though it might not have the fame of some bigger spots, Jacob Restaurant has something just as valuable consistency and heart. Every plate of fried chicken comes out tasting like it was made with care and attention to detail.
7. Charles’ Country Pan Fried Chicken
Pan-fried chicken hits different than deep-fried, and Charles knows exactly how to do it right. This Harlem spot specializes in chicken that’s crispy on the outside but cooked with a technique that keeps every bite moist and flavorful.
When you order here, you’re getting chicken made the old-fashioned way in a pan with just the right amount of oil and heat. The result is a crust that’s crunchy without being heavy, and meat that tastes like it came straight from a home kitchen. The seasoning is simple but perfect, letting the chicken’s natural flavor shine through.
Charles’ proves that sometimes the traditional methods are still the best methods for fried chicken.
8. Peaches HotHouse
Though Peaches brings Nashville heat to Brooklyn, the cooking style still honors traditional Southern recipes. If your grandma liked her chicken with a kick, this is your spot.
The fried chicken here comes with layers of flavor and just enough spice to make things interesting. The crust is thick and crispy, seasoned with a blend that makes your taste buds wake up. Underneath all that crunch, the chicken stays tender and juicy.
It’s comfort food with attitude, served in a lively atmosphere that matches the bold flavors. Peaches HotHouse shows that traditional fried chicken can handle some heat while still tasting like home cooking at its finest.
9. Pies ‘n’ Thighs
Are you ready for fried chicken that combines Brooklyn cool with Southern soul? Pies ‘n’ Thighs delivers both in every crispy, juicy bite.
This Williamsburg favorite takes fried chicken seriously, using techniques and recipes that would make any Southern grandma proud. The chicken is brined, seasoned, and fried to perfection, resulting in meat that’s incredibly moist with a crust that shatters when you bite into it. Pair it with their famous buttermilk biscuits for the complete experience.
Started as a small spot serving big flavors, Pies ‘n’ Thighs has grown while keeping the quality consistent. The fried chicken remains the star of the menu for good reason.
10. The Commodore
When a Brooklyn neighborhood spot nails fried chicken, word spreads fast. The Commodore has built a loyal following by doing comfort food the right way.
Their fried chicken is straightforward and delicious no fancy tricks, just good cooking. The seasoning is balanced, the coating is crispy, and the chicken inside is always juicy and tender. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel satisfied and happy, just like eating at grandma’s table.
Located in Williamsburg, The Commodore combines a relaxed vibe with quality food. The fried chicken might not be the only thing on the menu, but it’s definitely worth ordering every time you visit.
11. Bobwhite Counter
It’s hard to find authentic Southern cooking in the East Village, but Bobwhite Counter brings those flavors straight to downtown Manhattan. This small counter-service spot punches above its weight when it comes to fried chicken.
The chicken is prepared with care and attention to traditional methods. Each piece comes out with a golden, crunchy exterior and meat that’s seasoned all the way through. The portions are generous, and the sides complement the chicken perfectly.
Bobwhite proves that you don’t need a big space to make great fried chicken. Sometimes the best food comes from the smallest kitchens, where every order gets personal attention.
12. Root & Bone
Root & Bone takes Southern cooking seriously, bringing family recipes to the East Village with respect and creativity. Their fried chicken honors tradition while adding a modern touch.
When you order the fried chicken here, you’re getting food made from recipes passed down through generations. The chicken is brined for hours, then fried to achieve that perfect balance of crispy and juicy. The seasoning blend includes herbs and spices that create layers of flavor in every bite.
Though the restaurant has a contemporary feel, the food stays true to its roots. Root & Bone shows that grandma’s recipes can thrive in any setting when prepared with love and skill.
13. Milk River
Though Caribbean grandmas season their chicken differently than Southern grandmas, the love and care in the cooking is exactly the same. Milk River brings that Caribbean home-cooking feel to Brooklyn.
The fried chicken here has unique flavors that set it apart think jerk spices and island seasonings mixed with traditional frying techniques. The result is chicken that’s crispy, flavorful, and different from what you’ll find elsewhere. Each bite delivers a taste of the Caribbean with that familiar comfort food satisfaction.
Located in Carroll Gardens, Milk River offers a fresh take on fried chicken while keeping that homemade quality. It’s proof that grandma-style cooking comes in many delicious flavors.
14. Peaches Shrimp and Crab
Are seafood restaurants allowed to make amazing fried chicken too? Peaches Shrimp and Crab proves they absolutely can.
While this Brooklyn spot focuses on seafood, their fried chicken deserves just as much attention. The chicken is seasoned with Southern spices and fried until the coating is perfectly crispy. Inside, the meat stays moist and flavorful, cooked with the same care they give their seafood dishes.
It’s a great example of how traditional cooking techniques can be applied across different dishes. The fried chicken here tastes like it came from a family recipe, prepared with patience and attention to detail that makes every bite satisfying and delicious.
15. Sweet Chick
Sweet Chick has multiple locations across New York because people can’t get enough of their chicken and waffles. When a restaurant expands, you know they’re doing something right.
Their fried chicken hits all the right notes crispy coating, juicy meat, and seasoning that makes you want another bite before you’ve finished the first one. The chicken pairs perfectly with their fluffy waffles, creating a combination that’s both comforting and exciting. Each location maintains the same quality, so you know what to expect every time.
Though the atmosphere is more modern than grandma’s kitchen, the food carries that same sense of warmth and satisfaction that comes from a well-loved recipe.
16. Dirty Bird To Go
When you need fried chicken fast but don’t want to sacrifice quality, Dirty Bird To Go has your back. This spot proves that takeout can taste just as good as sit-down dining.
The chicken here is fried fresh to order, so you’re always getting hot, crispy pieces. The seasoning is simple but effective, letting the chicken’s natural flavor come through. Whether you’re grabbing lunch or dinner, the quality stays consistent.
Sometimes the best comfort food is the kind you can take home and enjoy on your couch. Dirty Bird makes fried chicken that tastes homemade, even when you’re eating it straight from the container on your coffee table.
17. Mable’s Smokehouse & Banquet Hall
Did you think a barbecue joint couldn’t make incredible fried chicken? Mable’s Smokehouse proves that mastery of one cooking style often translates to others.
While they’re famous for smoked meats, their fried chicken deserves equal recognition. The chicken is seasoned with a blend that includes hints of smoke and spice, then fried until the coating is perfectly crunchy. The meat inside is tender and flavorful, showing the same attention to detail they give their barbecue.
Located in Williamsburg, Mable’s offers a full Southern experience. The fried chicken fits right in with their other comfort food offerings, tasting like something you’d find at a family reunion in the South.
18. Footprints Cafe
How does a small Harlem cafe compete with bigger restaurants? By cooking with heart and using recipes that taste like home.
Footprints Cafe serves fried chicken that combines Caribbean and Southern influences, creating something uniquely delicious. The chicken is marinated with island spices before being fried to crispy perfection. Each piece delivers flavor that reminds you of family cooking, where recipes are measured with love instead of measuring cups.
This community spot focuses on quality over quantity, making sure every plate of fried chicken meets their high standards. It’s the kind of place where regulars know the staff by name and the food consistently tastes amazing.
