8 Georgia Fried Chicken Chains That Deliver & 8 Mom-And-Pop Spots That Truly Shine
In Georgia, fried chicken isn’t just a meal—it’s a tradition, a point of pride, and practically part of the state’s identity.
From the crackle of crispy, golden-brown skin at beloved chains to the perfectly seasoned bites served in tucked-away diners and family-run kitchens, the Peach State consistently delivers some of the finest fried fowl in America.
I’ve spent years crisscrossing the state, sampling plates that range from simple and soulful to creative spins on a Southern classic. Now, I’m excited to share my absolute favorites—the spots where each juicy, flavorful bite will make your taste buds dance with delight.
1. Zaxby’s: Georgia’s Homegrown Chicken Sensation
Born right here in Statesboro back in ’90, Zaxby’s holds a special place in my Georgia heart! Their chicken fingers with that addictive Zax Sauce still make me weak in the knees after all these years.
The first time I tried their Buffalo Zalad, I nearly wept with joy – spicy, crispy, and somehow still feels like a responsible adult choice. Their Texas Toast deserves its own fan club too.
Zaxby’s beats out national giants like KFC in popularity here, and with good reason. That distinctive flavor profile – slightly peppery, always juicy – captures something uniquely Southern that chain copycats just can’t replicate.
2. Chick-fil-A: Atlanta’s Gift to the Chicken Sandwich Universe
Y’all remember your first Chick-fil-A sandwich? Mine came after a Little League game – that perfectly seasoned chicken, the buttered bun, those two crucial pickles. Pure magic!
Headquartered in College Park since forever, they’ve mastered the art of consistent quality. Their drive-thru efficiency should be studied by NASA – I once timed them at 2 minutes flat during lunch rush.
The waffle fries deserve their legendary status, but don’t sleep on their breakfast menu. Their chicken biscuit saved me through countless Monday mornings when nothing else could motivate me to face the day.
3. Popeyes: Louisiana Soul with Georgia Devotion
Remember the Great Chicken Sandwich Wars of 2019? I waited in line for 45 minutes at the Popeyes on Ponce just to see what the fuss was about. Worth. Every. Second.
Their spicy chicken hits different – that crackling crust shatters with a satisfying crunch before revealing juicy meat beneath. The red beans and rice side feels like something your Louisiana grandma would make if you were lucky enough to have one.
My personal hack: order extra biscuits and save them for breakfast with honey. Something about their dense, buttery texture actually improves overnight in the fridge – a rare food science miracle!
4. Bojangles: Cajun Kick with Southern Comfort
First encountered Bojangles on a road trip through South Georgia, and pulled over immediately when the scent of those seasoned fries hit my nostrils from the highway. Their chicken has this distinctive Cajun kick that dances on your tongue without overwhelming it.
The real star? Those made-from-scratch biscuits that somehow manage to be both flaky and substantial. I’ve witnessed grown adults fight over the last one.
Their sweet tea deserves its own category – liquid Southern sunshine with enough sugar to power a small town. Pro move: grab their Bo-Berry Biscuits for dessert, those blueberry-stuffed treats drizzled with icing will haunt your dreams.
5. Church’s Chicken: Atlanta’s Budget-Friendly Bird
Growing up, Church’s was our Friday night treat when mom didn’t feel like cooking. That first bite of their pepper-speckled crust takes me straight back to childhood.
Headquartered right here in Atlanta since the 50s, they’ve perfected affordable, satisfying chicken that doesn’t break the bank. Their honey-butter biscuits should be classified as controlled substances – impossibly sweet, buttery pillows that melt in your mouth.
My grandmother swears their chicken tastes closest to her own recipe, which is the highest compliment a Southern woman can give. The jalapeño bombers provide that perfect spicy counterpoint to the sweet tea that’s practically mandatory with any Church’s meal.
6. Mrs. Winner’s: The Nostalgic Comeback Kid
Finding a Mrs. Winner’s after they nearly disappeared felt like spotting a culinary unicorn! Their chicken has that old-school flavor profile that modern chains just can’t duplicate – slightly salty, perfectly seasoned, never greasy.
The biscuits deserve their legendary status – each one looks handmade with those slightly imperfect edges that tell you someone’s grandmother is back there making them. My personal tradition: grabbing their chicken biscuits for Saturday morning college football games.
When they started closing locations years ago, I panicked and learned to make copycat recipes. Nothing compared to the real thing, so their comeback has been the tastiest redemption story in Georgia fast food history.
7. Publix Deli Fried Chicken: Supermarket Sensation
Let me share a secret that native Georgians guard jealously – Publix fried chicken might be the best chain chicken in the state. Found this gem during college when budget was tight but cravings were strong.
The chicken emerges from behind that deli counter with skin so crispy it practically shatters, while the meat stays impossibly juicy. The seasoning hits that perfect middle ground – flavorful enough for adults but not too spicy for kiddos.
My tailgating hack: grab a family pack cold, refrigerate overnight, then bring to room temp before the game. Something magical happens during that rest period – the flavor intensifies while maintaining that signature crunch.
8. Chicken Salad Chick: Clucking Good Comfort
Not your traditional fried chicken joint, but this Atlanta-based gem deserves its spot! First discovered their Fancy Nancy chicken salad when catering my sister’s baby shower, and the family nearly forgot about the incoming baby.
While they focus on chicken salad varieties, their flavors range from fruit-and-nut combinations to spicy buffalo versions that satisfy every craving. The sandwiches come on croissants so buttery they should be illegal in at least seven states.
Perfect for when you want chicken comfort without the guilt of deep-fried options. Their pimento cheese side makes a compelling case for being the best in Georgia – creamy, slightly sharp, with just enough pimento kick.
9. Mother’s Best Fried Chicken: Decatur’s Crispy Crown Jewel
Stumbled upon Mother’s Best during their pop-up days and followed them like a groupie until they opened their brick-and-mortar in Decatur. Their chicken changed my understanding of what fried chicken could be!
The spice blend in their crust contains something magical – I’ve tried to decode it for years without success. Think warm heat that builds gradually rather than smacks you upfront.
Local chefs make pilgrimages here on their days off, which tells you everything. The sides rotate seasonally, but if the collards are available, order double. They simmer them with something smoky that complements the chicken’s crispy exterior in a harmony that makes me want to write poetry.
10. Home Grown: Reynoldstown’s Comfy Chicken Paradise
First time I tried Home Grown’s famous “Comfy Chicken” was after a night that involved questionable decisions and multiple dance floors. That open-faced biscuit smothered in sausage gravy with perfectly fried chicken on top restored my faith in humanity and cured ailments I didn’t know I had.
The place looks unassuming from outside – exactly as a true local gem should. Inside, the mismatched chairs and local art create the perfect backdrop for what might be Atlanta’s most perfect comfort food.
The staff remembers regulars’ orders, and the kitchen somehow maintains consistency while clearly cooking with soul. Weekend brunch means lines, but trust me – worth every minute of the wait.
11. Zeke’s Kitchen & Bar: Smyrna’s Southern Soul
Found Zeke’s by accident during a wrong turn in Smyrna, and that detour became the best food mistake of my life! Their fried chicken arrives with a crust so perfectly seasoned you’ll want to eat the crumbs off your plate when nobody’s looking.
The family recipes shine through in every bite – you can taste the generations of refinement. The mac and cheese side deserves its own fan club with that perfect crispy-top-to-creamy-center ratio.
What makes this place special beyond the food is how the owners work the room, checking on tables and sharing stories. Last visit, Mr. Zeke himself sat down and told me about how his grandmother taught him to fry chicken using a cast iron skillet that’s still in the kitchen today.
12. Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: Hot & Spicy Atlanta Favorite
My Tennessee friends bragged about Gus’s for years before they finally opened in Atlanta, and I showed up on opening day ready to be disappointed. I’ve never been happier to be wrong about anything in my life!
Their chicken comes with a spicy kick that sneaks up on you – not immediately fiery, but building with each bite. The skin achieves that mythical perfect texture: shatteringly crisp outside while staying attached to impossibly juicy meat.
The sides don’t get enough credit – those fried green tomatoes and chess pie transport you to a Southern grandma’s Sunday table. Pro tip: their sweet tea provides the perfect cooling counterpoint to the chicken’s heat.
13. bb.q Chicken: Duluth’s Korean Fried Chicken Revolution
My Korean-American college roommate dragged me to bb.q in Duluth, promising it would change my fried chicken worldview forever. Five years later, I still make the 40-minute drive from downtown Atlanta whenever the craving hits!
Their double-fried technique creates a crust with an audible crunch that echoes through the restaurant. The secret weapons are their glazes – from honey garlic to the fiery “wings of fire” that make your lips tingle in the most pleasant way possible.
Unlike American-style fried chicken, the Korean approach results in less greasy, more crispy perfection. The pickled radish sides provide that perfect palate-cleansing counterpoint between bites of glazed chicken heaven.
14. Choong Man Chicken: Gwinnett’s Korean Crispy Treasure
Discovered Choong Man during a food adventure with friends who promised “chicken like you’ve never had before.” Their snow onion chicken – fried to golden perfection then topped with a mountain of shredded onions in a slightly sweet, creamy sauce – literally made me gasp out loud.
The restaurant itself feels like a secret club where everyone’s bonded by their love of perfectly crispy chicken. Their tikkudak method partially fries then bakes the chicken in a charcoal oven, creating a unique smoky flavor profile that’s utterly addictive.
Don’t skip the pickled radish cubes that come alongside – they provide the perfect tangy counterpoint to the rich chicken. My Atlanta friends now measure road trip distances by “how many Choong Man chickens it would take to make the drive worthwhile.”
15. Brochu’s Family Tradition: Savannah’s Chef-Driven Chicken Haven
Took a weekend trip to Savannah and asked locals for their chicken recommendation – everyone pointed to Brochu’s with reverence in their voices. One bite of their pressure-fried chicken explained everything – juicy beyond belief with seasoning that somehow enhances rather than masks the chicken’s natural flavor.
Chef Andrew Brochu brings fine-dining techniques to comfort food classics, resulting in fried chicken that’s simultaneously familiar and revolutionary. The homemade hot sauce comes in a little bottle that I may or may not have attempted to smuggle home in my purse.
The family-style service creates this wonderful communal vibe where strangers become friends over shared chicken platters. Their seasonal sides showcase whatever’s fresh at the Savannah farmers’ markets that week.
16. Sandfly BBQ Southern Soul: Savannah’s Hidden Gem
Last summer, got gloriously lost in Savannah and ended up at Sandfly BBQ Southern Soul on a local’s recommendation. Their fried chicken isn’t even the main attraction (it’s a BBQ joint!), yet somehow steals the spotlight with its perfectly seasoned, golden-brown glory.
The family recipes date back generations, with subtle tweaks that elevate without losing authenticity. Their chicken arrives with a crust that audibly crackles when your fork touches it, revealing juicy meat that practically sparkles with moisture.
The sides deserve their own praise – particularly the Brunswick stew that accompanies the chicken like they were destined to share a plate. Chatting with Miss Polly, the owner’s mother who still helps in the kitchen at 82, was worth the trip alone.