When you hear the words “comfort food” what comes to mind?
The answer will vary from person to person, but for a lot of us out there, comfort food is synonymous with fried chicken. All four of my grandparents moved to Columbus from Appalachia, and fried chicken and fish were a frequent main dish at family gatherings.
Columbus is home to some really yummy fried chicken. Whether you’re on the hunt for southern fried chicken, Nashville hot chicken, or Korean fried chicken, you can find it here in the capital city.
Warning: what you’re about to read may cause immediate fried chicken cravings. I guess we all know what will be on the menu for dinner tonight!
CM Chicken
About: CM Chicken was the first space in Columbus to serve up delicious Korean fried chicken. The highlight of the menu is their tikkudak chicken, which is fried and then baked on a charcoal grill for extra crispy, smoky flavor.
Location: 1132 W Henderson Rd, Columbus, OH 43220
Website: CM Chicken
The Crispy Coop
About: If you’ve found yourself missing Uncle Nick’s Greek Fried Chicken, then prepare for some good news. The Crispy Coop is Uncle Nick’s Greek Fried Chicken reimagined. You’ve got a few flavor options at The Crispy Coop, including traditional, Nashville Hot, and Tennessee Mild.
Location: 1717 Northwest Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212
Website: The Crispy Coop
Meshikou Chikin
About: Meshikou Chikin is billed as “street fried chicken” and it’s delicious. The menu includes a variety of Asian-inspired flavors, including their signature Meshikou Garlic Bomb, which is made with a sauce recipe that’s been passed down in the family for two generations. The restaurant is drive-in car dine-in or carryout only.
Location: 1504 Bethel Rd, Columbus, OH 43220
Website: Meshikou Chikin
The Eagle
About: The Eagle is a must-visit on anyone’s fried chicken tour of Columbus. The fried chicken at The Eagle comes in four portions: a quarter of chicken (white or dark meat), half a chicken, and a whole chicken. They’ve got all the perfect sides for a fried chicken dinner, including cole slaw, collard greens, succotash, and mac and cheese.
Location: 790 N. High St, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Website: The Eagle
Fish and Chicken Inn
About: The Fish and Chicken Inn has some awesome sides and some of the best fried food in the city. The best part is that you can get it delivered straight to your front door through DoorDash, GrubHub, or UberEats.
Location: 1828 E Hudson St Columbus, OH 43211
Website: Fish and Chicken Inn
The Pearl
About: So this one isn’t a chicken place per se, but anyone who’s ever been here knows what’s up with the Southern Fried Chicken they serve up. You get two pieces of their famous chicken, a mess of collard greens, and they stop it all off with a super sweet sticky bun.
Location: 641 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 and 88 N. High Street, Dublin, OH 43017
Website: The Pearl
Mya’s Fried Chicken
About: What can be better than a great quality fried chicken with some pretty bomb breading? That same great quality fried chicken with pretty bomb breading and honey vinegar dressing. While the menu itself is pretty basic and straightforward, the taste and flavor are anything but. You can get your basic 2 or 3-piece cuts of bird but they also offer chicken biscuit sliders with their own herb honey drizzle.
Location: You can find the food truck here.
Website: Mya’s Fried Chicken
Hot Chicken Takeover
About: Hot Chicken Takeover may not be the only place to get hot chicken in Columbus anymore, but it is still one of my favorites. In fact, my husband and I love HCT so much that we served it at our wedding! You can get tenders, drumsticks, thighs, and more. PS don’t forget to get some banana pudding for dessert.
Location: Multiple locations
Website: Hot Chicken Takeover
