8 North Carolina Fried Chicken That Tastes Like Sunday
Growing up in North Carolina, Sunday meant one thing in our house: fried chicken day.
The crackling sound of chicken hitting hot oil still takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen, where we’d gather around waiting for that golden-brown goodness.
From hole-in-the-wall joints to fancy restaurants with white tablecloths, the Tar Heel State has perfected the art of fried chicken that makes any day feel like Sunday dinner.
1. Beasley’s Chicken + Honey: Where Sweet Meets Savory
Chef Ashley Christensen’s downtown Raleigh hotspot changed my fried chicken expectations forever. The first bite delivers that perfect crunch before giving way to juicy meat that’s somehow both tender and substantial. Then comes the honey drizzle – not enough to make it dessert, but just right to enhance the savory seasonings.
Weekend brunch here means standing in line with locals who know the wait is worth it. Their chicken and waffles combo should be illegal – it’s that addictive. I’ve tried recreating it at home three times with embarrassing results.
Fun fact: Christensen won the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in 2019, proving North Carolina fried chicken deserves national recognition. The restaurant’s industrial-chic vibe with communal tables makes it feel like Sunday dinner with friends you haven’t met yet.
2. Dame’s Chicken & Waffles: The Sweet-Savory Symphony
My cousin dragged me to Dame’s in Durham during a family reunion, promising it would change my life. Eye-roll, right? Well, she wasn’t exaggerating. Their chicken arrives with crispy, herb-flecked skin hiding impossibly juicy meat that practically falls off the bone.
What makes Dame’s special is their schmears – flavored butter whipped with ingredients like maple syrup or chocolate hazelnut. These melty concoctions transform already excellent chicken and waffles into something transcendent. The Classic Schmear with orange-honeycomb butter still appears in my dreams.
The atmosphere feels like Sunday dinner at a cool aunt’s house – comfortable but with style. I’ve since converted at least seven friends into Dame’s devotees. Their chicken has the power to silence a table of chatty relatives – no small feat in a Southern family like mine!
3. Sweet Tea & Cornbread: Southern Comfort In Greensboro
Hidden inside the Greensboro Cultural Center, this gem serves fried chicken that would make any Southern grandmother proud. I stumbled upon it while visiting an art exhibit, drawn in by the aroma wafting down the hallway. Their buttermilk-soaked chicken gets dredged in flour seasoned with what tastes like at least a dozen spices.
The result? Chicken that’s moist on the inside with a crust that delivers a perfect spice-to-salt ratio. Their honey-drizzled version offers a sweet counterpoint to the savory seasoning. My artist friend and I ended up talking more about the chicken than the exhibition we came to see.
What makes this place special is how they honor traditional techniques while adding subtle modern touches. The cultural center location means you can enjoy amazing chicken surrounded by local art – feeding body and soul simultaneously. Their sweet tea lives up to the restaurant’s name – sweet enough to make you wink but not enough to make your teeth hurt.
4. Bojangles’: The Fast Food Chain That Does It Right
Normally, I’d never include a chain restaurant on a list like this. But I’d be lying to myself – and you – if I pretended Bojangles’ doesn’t deserve recognition. Their cajun-spiced chicken has saved countless road trips across North Carolina when hunger strikes miles from anywhere.
The seasoning offers a distinctive peppery kick that somehow never overwhelms. Their chicken stays remarkably juicy even under heat lamps – a miracle of fast-food engineering. My college roommate and I once drove 45 minutes just for Bojangles’ when our campus dining hall served mystery meat loaf.
Their biscuits deserve their own separate appreciation post. Paired with the chicken, they create that perfect Sunday dinner feeling, even when you’re eating in your car between meetings. Born in Charlotte in 1977, Bojangles’ proves that sometimes the classics become chains because they’re just that good.
5. Zack’s Hot Dogs: Burlington’s Unexpected Chicken Champion
Don’t let the name fool you! While Zack’s has been slinging legendary hot dogs since 1928, their fried chicken deserves its own spotlight. Last fall, I stopped in expecting just a quick hot dog lunch and ended up having a chicken epiphany. Their chicken has a distinctively crisp exterior that somehow stays crunchy without being thick or heavy.
The seasoning leans heavily on black pepper, giving it a distinctive bite that pairs perfectly with their homemade ranch dressing. The meat itself tastes clean and fresh – never greasy or overwhelming. My grandmother, a fried chicken purist, gave her rare nod of approval during our lunch.
The no-frills diner atmosphere adds to the experience – chrome counters, spinning stools, and servers who remember regulars’ orders. Three generations of the same family have maintained consistent quality for decades. Sometimes the places least known for chicken surprise you with the best versions!
6. The Chicken Hut: Durham’s Soul Food Institution
Stepping into The Chicken Hut feels like entering a time capsule of Southern cooking history. Founded in 1957, this Durham landmark has served generations of families seeking authentic soul food. My first visit came after a recommendation from a gas station attendant who noticed my out-of-state plates and took pity on my tourist ignorance.
Their chicken gets a simple treatment – lightly seasoned flour and a dunk in the fryer until golden perfection emerges. Nothing fancy, just perfectly executed basics. The skin clings to the meat just right, creating that ideal texture contrast between crisp exterior and juicy interior.
What truly elevates the experience is pairing their chicken with traditional sides like candied yams, collard greens, and mac and cheese. The restaurant’s walls feature photos chronicling Durham’s civil rights history, making each meal both delicious and educational. Community gatherings still happen here every Sunday after church – the ultimate endorsement.
7. Stamey’s Barbecue: The Surprising Chicken At A BBQ Legend
Heresy alert: I’m recommending chicken at one of North Carolina’s most famous barbecue joints! While people line up for Stamey’s legendary pork, their fried chicken deserves equal billing. During a Greensboro business trip, my colleague insisted we get the chicken instead of the barbecue. I thought she was crazy until that first bite.
The chicken gets a light smoke treatment before frying, creating a flavor dimension that most fried chicken places can’t touch. That subtle smokiness penetrates the meat while the skin still achieves that perfect golden crispness. The combination creates something truly unique in the fried chicken landscape.
The dining room feels like a church fellowship hall – simple tables filled with families passing plates family-style. They’ve been perfecting their technique since 1930, and that experience shows in every bite. Sometimes the best chicken hides at a place famous for something else entirely!
8. Brenda’s Good Eats: Rocky Mount’s Local Favorite
Blink and you might miss this unassuming spot on the outskirts of Rocky Mount. The building barely hints at the culinary treasure inside, where Brenda and her family have been frying chicken to perfection for over 30 years. A wrong turn during a thunderstorm led me to shelter here, and I’ve been making the detour ever since.
Their chicken gets a distinctive double-dredge treatment – flour, then a quick dip in buttermilk, then back in the seasoned flour. This creates nooks and crannies in the coating that fry up into extra-crispy delights. The seasoning balances salt, pepper, and what Brenda will only describe as her “special touches.”
The restaurant feels like eating in someone’s dining room, complete with mismatched chairs and family photos. Each order comes with Brenda’s homemade hot sauce on the side – a vinegar-based concoction that cuts through the richness perfectly. Cash only, no website, just extraordinary chicken served with genuine hospitality.