13 Georgia BBQ Joints That Locals Say Fry Up Chicken Just The Way It Should Be
Let’s face it: there’s good fried chicken, and then there’s transcendent fried chicken. The kind that makes you close your eyes, hum a little tune, and seriously consider licking the plate.
When you combine that golden, crispy-skinned glory with the smoky, savory magic of genuine BBQ flavor, you’ve hit the culinary jackpot. Georgia, a state steeped in BBQ tradition, understands this alchemy better than most.
Forget what you think you know about poultry perfection, because we’re about to reveal the hidden gems – the local favorites – where the fried BBQ chicken isn’t just a dish, it’s an experience.
1. Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room – Savannah
Savannah’s most famous dining experience has been serving hungry visitors since 1943, and the communal-style seating makes every meal feel like a family reunion. The fried chicken arrives at your table with a crackling golden crust that shatters with each bite, revealing meat so tender it practically falls off the bone.
Guests sit elbow-to-elbow with strangers who quickly become friends over plates piled high with comfort food classics. The chicken marinade recipe remains a closely guarded secret, passed down through generations of cooks who understand that patience creates perfection.
Lunch service runs like clockwork, with servers bringing out endless platters of chicken alongside classic Southern sides that complement every crispy bite.
2. Home Grown – Atlanta
Atlanta’s breakfast and lunch crowd flocks to Home Grown for their famous Comfy Chicken Biscuit, a towering creation that redefines morning indulgence. The cornmeal-crusted fried chicken delivers an extra crunch that sets it apart from traditional buttermilk versions, while the sausage gravy adds richness that ties everything together.
Each piece of chicken gets coated in a specially seasoned cornmeal mixture before hitting the fryer, creating texture that stays crispy even under a blanket of gravy. The restaurant’s commitment to using quality ingredients shows in every bite, from the flaky biscuit to the perfectly seasoned poultry.
The casual atmosphere and friendly staff make Home Grown feel like your favorite neighborhood spot where everyone knows your order.
3. The Busy Bee Café – Atlanta
Operating since 1947, this James Beard Award-winning establishment has perfected a fried chicken recipe that involves a full 12-hour marinade before anything hits the fryer. The peanut oil frying technique creates a distinctive flavor profile that regular customers can identify from across the room.
My grandmother used to take me here every Sunday after church, and I still remember how the chicken stayed crispy even during the drive home. The marinade penetrates deep into the meat, ensuring every bite carries the perfect balance of seasoning and tenderness that makes soul food legendary.
The restaurant’s walls hold decades of history, including photographs of famous patrons who’ve enjoyed these same flavors over the years.
4. Paschal’s – Atlanta
Civil rights leaders once gathered at Paschal’s to discuss strategy over plates of exceptional fried chicken, and that same recipe still graces tables today. The 12-hour brine followed by pressure-frying creates chicken that’s impossibly juicy while maintaining a shatteringly crisp exterior that modern techniques struggle to replicate.
Pressure-frying locks in moisture while creating a crust that stays crunchy long after the chicken leaves the kitchen, a technique that requires precise timing and temperature control. The restaurant honors its legacy by refusing to cut corners or modernize a process that already achieves perfection.
The walls display photographs and memorabilia commemorating the restaurant’s role in Atlanta’s civil rights movement, adding depth to an already meaningful dining experience.
5. Brochu’s Family Tradition – Savannah
Opening in 2022 might make Brochu’s the newcomer on this list, but their three-day chicken preparation process proves that dedication trumps longevity every time. The meticulous approach involves multiple stages of brining, seasoning, and resting that transform ordinary poultry into something extraordinary.
Each batch of chicken goes through specific steps over 72 hours, allowing flavors to develop and meat to tenderize naturally without chemical shortcuts. The result is a crust that crackles audibly when you bite through it, giving way to meat so moist it seems impossible.
The family behind the restaurant poured their hearts into perfecting recipes before opening, and their patience paid off with lines out the door.
6. Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken – Atlanta
Memphis gave birth to Gus’s legendary spicy fried chicken, but Atlanta welcomed this transplant with open arms and empty stomachs. The heat level sits in that perfect zone where your taste buds tingle without overwhelming the actual chicken flavor, a balance many restaurants attempt but few achieve.
The delicate exterior shatters easily while protecting incredibly juicy meat inside, proof that frying technique matters as much as seasoning. Gus’s doesn’t drown their chicken in sauce or gimmicks because the recipe speaks loudly enough on its own.
Memphis may claim ownership, but Atlanta has adopted Gus’s as one of their own, with locals defending it as fiercely as any homegrown establishment.
7. Southern Soul Barbeque – St. Simons Island
While smoked meats earn Southern Soul most of its fame, the fried chicken holds its own against the BBQ heavyweights on the menu. Island visitors come for the pulled pork and brisket but often leave raving about chicken they ordered on a whim.
Southern Soul’s chicken complements their smoky offerings perfectly, providing a different texture and flavor profile that rounds out any BBQ plate. The restaurant understands that variety matters when feeding hungry beachgoers who’ve worked up serious appetites.
St. Simons Island locals treat this spot like their own secret, though the steady stream of visitors proves the secret’s been out for years.
8. Sandfly Bar-B-Q – Savannah
Tucked away in a Savannah neighborhood, Sandfly Bar-B-Q serves locals and savvy tourists who’ve learned where the real food hides. The cozy setting feels more like eating at a friend’s house than dining out, with portions generous enough to share and flavors bold enough to remember.
I stumbled upon Sandfly during a wrong turn that turned out very right, and I’ve been grateful for that navigation error ever since. The chicken arrives hot and crispy, seasoned with the kind of restraint that lets the actual poultry flavor shine through.
The variety of Southern dishes means you can try something different each visit while always ordering the fried chicken as your anchor.
9. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q – Atlanta
Texas-style BBQ dominates the menu at Fox Bros, but their fried chicken incorporates techniques that set it apart from traditional Georgia versions. The innovative approach combines traditional Southern frying methods with flavor profiles borrowed from their BBQ expertise, creating something familiar yet distinctly different.
The chicken benefits from the same attention to detail that makes their brisket legendary, with careful seasoning and precise cooking times ensuring consistency. Fox Bros understands that innovation only works when you respect the fundamentals, so their chicken stays crispy and juicy while introducing unexpected flavor notes.
The restaurant’s popularity means you might wait for a table, but the chicken makes that wait worthwhile. Combining their fried chicken with classic BBQ sides creates a plate that showcases the best of both Southern cooking traditions.
10. Sconyers Bar-B-Que – Augusta
Augusta residents have trusted Sconyers for generations to deliver consistent, quality Southern BBQ and fried chicken without surprises or disappointments. The restaurant built its reputation on reliability, serving the same great flavors whether you visited last week or twenty years ago.
Sconyers’ fried chicken follows time-tested recipes that prioritize flavor over trends, with seasoning that enhances rather than masks the chicken’s natural taste. The meat stays moist inside its golden crust, proving that basic techniques executed properly beat fancy innovations every time.
Multiple generations of the same families have worked in the kitchen, maintaining standards and recipes that define what Augusta expects from great fried chicken.
11. Fincher’s Bar-B-Q – Macon
Convenience meets quality at Fincher’s multiple Macon locations, making great fried chicken accessible no matter which part of town you’re visiting. The restaurant chain maintains consistent standards across all their spots, so you know exactly what to expect when that craving hits.
Fincher’s chicken arrives hot and fresh at each location, with the same crispy exterior and tender interior that keeps customers coming back regularly. The restaurant proves that expansion doesn’t require sacrificing quality when you maintain strict preparation standards and train staff properly.
The variety of Southern sides means you can build a different meal each visit while keeping fried chicken as your reliable centerpiece on every plate.
12. Wiley’s Championship BBQ – Savannah
Competition BBQ requires precision, creativity, and skill that Wiley’s brings to everything they serve, including their outstanding fried chicken. The accolades lining their walls prove that judges and regular customers alike recognize exceptional food when they taste it.
Wiley’s applies the same meticulous approach to fried chicken that wins BBQ competitions, ensuring every piece meets exacting standards before leaving the kitchen. The restaurant’s success in competitions translates directly to the quality you’ll find on your plate during a casual lunch visit.
The combination of competition experience and commitment to consistency means you’re getting restaurant-quality food executed at championship levels every single time you visit.
13. Jim’s Smokin’ Que – Blairsville
North Georgia’s mountains provide the backdrop for Jim’s Smokin’ Que, where hearty portions and rustic charm define the dining experience. The mountain location means you’ve probably worked up an appetite hiking or exploring before you arrive, and Jim’s delivers the kind of satisfying meal that refuels hungry adventurers.
Jim’s serves up BBQ and fried chicken with generous portions that match the mountain-sized appetites of visitors and locals alike. The rustic setting adds authenticity to meals that already deliver on flavor and quality, creating an experience that feels genuinely connected to the region.
The combination of mountain atmosphere and excellent fried chicken makes Jim’s worth the drive, whether you’re coming from Atlanta or just down the road.