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Libby Wiersema lived in California and Alabama before settling in South Carolina 38 years ago,
where she's covered the state's best culinary offerings and tells the stories behind the food.
Fried chicken - quintessentially Southern and delicious.
It’s the aroma that first snags you—that lush wave pulsing with hot fat, peppery spices and sizzling meat. It shoots through the olfactory nerves to the gustatory niches of the brain, yanking the tummy into full alert.
The initial crunch, the release of grease on the tongue, the bloom of heat and spice on the palate and the burst of moistness as the teeth tear tender meat from bone, well, it’s nothing short of gastronomic heaven.
Thanks to South Carolina chefs and talented cooks who have mastered the art of fried chicken, this delectable drama plays out every day in restaurants and dining rooms across the state.
Ready to discover the best fried chicken ever? Here’s a sampling of South Carolina restaurants, dedicated chicken shacks and other operations famous for their Southern fried chicken finesse.
Annie O's specializes in Southern-inspired meals made with all-natural ingredients.
Annie O's 11 Target Road, Hilton Head Fried chicken and Nashville hot fried chicken draw the poultry loving crowds to Annie O's in Hilton Head, where the chicken is fresh and all natural.
Leon's Poultry & Oyster Shop 698 King Street, Charleston Lightly battered, crispy and seasoned just right - the fried chicken at Leon's Poultry & Oyster Shop in Charleston is a cult favorite and goes especially well with a cold glass of champagne.
Nigel's Good Food 9616 Highway 78 Ste 11, Ladson 7000 Bowen Pier Drive Unit 2, Hanahan 3760 Ashley Phosphate Road, N. Charleston The heart of any authentic soul food experience is fried chicken. Nigel's Good Food, located in Ladson, Hanahan, North Charleston, is proudly representing. The fried Geechee wings are particularly addictive.
Pickled Cucumber 828 Surfside Drive, Surfside Beach Fried chicken holds top position on the menu at Pickled Cucumber in Surfside Beach - bustling meat-and-three - and customers like it that way.
Cahill's Market & Chicken Kitchen 1055 May River Road, Bluffton Get farm-to-table fried chicken at Cahill’s Market and Chicken Kitchen in Bluffton, a folksy café and farmers market. Goes great with the stone ground grits.
Sink your teeth into a platter of hot fried chicken at Fayz.
Fayz at the Lake 13028 SC-260, Manning Located on the shores of Lake Marion, Fayz in Manning is a homey café serving up a hefty fried chicken dinner with four pieces of crusty perfection.
Biddie Banquet 220 John C Calhoun Drive, Orangeburg Make no bones about it, Biddie Banquet in Orangeburg might be a modest operation, but it is a sizzling hotspot for fresh-from-the-fryer, fried chicken goodness.
Drake's Duck-in 1544 Main Street, Columbia Serving the capital city’s hungry since 1907, Drake’s Duck-in in Columbia is a true institution. The fried chicken is legendary, too, fried up fresh to order and served piping hot.
Bernie's 1311 Bluff Road, Columbia Since 1979, Bernie’s in Columbia has been serving its broasted version of juicy, non-greasy fried chicken and luring customers with the tagline: “Come try my chicken!”
For more than 70 years, Columbians have been sinking their teeth into fried chicken from Zesto.
Zesto 504 12th Street, West Columbia Tailgaters and hungry folk, in general, consider Zesto in West Columbia to be the fried chicken capital of the capital. Broasted and lightly seasoned, it’s always hot and ready whether you want a snack or a bucket.
Little Howie's 103 Williamsburg Street SE, Aiken 2234 Main Highway, Bamberg Don’t let the humble appearances fool you. Little Howie's in Aiken and Little Howie's in Bamberg draw fried chicken fans and keeps them coming back for more.
OJ's Diner 907 Pendleton St, Greenville 5284 Calhoun Memorial Highway, Easley A pair of family-run diners that garnered legions of fans with their made-from-scratch dishes, OJ’s in Easley and Greenville proudly use a time-honored recipe for fried chicken.
Steak House Cafeteria 316 E Main Street, Walhalla Though T-bones were the signature dish when it opened in 1973, Steak House Cafeteria in Walhalla has made a name for itself as the home of the “Arabian Chicken,” its much-lauded recipe for fried chicken. If you get lost, just ask for the “Chicken House” and a local will direct you there.
The Shrimp Boat 1411 Cherry Road, Rock Hill Despite its name, The Shrimp Boat in Rock Hill is the place where locals go for fried chicken. Marinated in a secret blend before it is battered and fried, the dish is so popular at both locations that their tagline is: “Ain’t no chicken like Shrimp Boat chicken!”
Yogi Bear’s fried chicken comes with a side of honey for extra zing.
Sunrise Drive-in 3624 E Palmetto Street, Florence Locals still swear by the fried chicken at Sunrise in Florence, an iconic restaurant that operated as a drive-in eatery back in the day. This classic fried chicken is prepared when ordered, but it’s totally worth the wait.
Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken 514 S Fifth Street, Hartsville For more than four decades, Yogi Bear’s in Hartsville has been the "last-man-standing" of the once-burgeoning franchise. It continues to firmly hold its spot as the favorite fried chicken shack in the Pee Dee. The hint of honey and secret spices in the batter make this broasted chicken stand out from all the rest.
Joe's Grill featuring Jewel's Deluxe 306 Russell Street, Darlington Lightly battered, freshly fried chicken was always a star of the menu at Jewel's Deluxe. In 2023, the beloved Darlington cafe moved operations and joined forces with another local favorite, Joe's Grill. Now known as Joe's Grill featuring Jewel’s Deluxe, you can find the same great fried chicken.
Jimmy B's 1963 US Highway 76, Marion Ask anyone in Marion where to find the best fried chicken and they’ll point the way to Jimmy B’s in Marion, a hidden hub of Southern comfort food.
Libby Wiersema lived in California and Alabama before settling in South Carolina 38 years ago,
where she's covered the state's best culinary offerings and tells the stories behind the food.
