It’s hard to hate fried chicken. Whether you grew up devouring a big bucket of KFC or savoring your grandma’s Southern-style recipe, it’s a memory that sticks. Brined in buttermilk, dredged in flour and given a nice hot oil bath, there’s nothing quite like it. Grab a blanket, head to the park and make it the centerpiece of a perfect picnic afternoon. Here are a few of our favorites.
Editor’s Picks
Shokakko Food Truck
These twice-fried chicken sandwiches ($16) are five-napkin affairs. Go for the “Mother-Clucker” with piles of slaw, pickled jalapeños and “Bang Bang” dip made with gochujang, chili crunch and fermented chiles on a brioche bun. It’s fiery and filled with umami but not tongue-singeing. You can find Shokakko’s latest schedule of stops at Instagram.com/eat_shokakko.
Belfare Sonoma
Belfare’s piled-high classic fried chicken sandwich is filled with dill pickles, Cajun cabbage and spicy sesame mayo, and served on a Parker House bun. 1410 S. McDowell Blvd., Suite D, Petaluma, 707-774-6029, belfaresonoma.com
Twin Oaks Roadhouse
A thick slab of juicy fried chicken gets the Nashville hot treatment with a brioche bun, bread and butter pickles, lettuce and mayo. 5745 Old Redwood Highway, Penngrove, hopmonk.com
Lou’s Luncheonette
Lou’s Luncheonette is all about classic fried chicken. Try their spicy Nashville fried chicken, chicken and waffles or country fried chicken with cornbread and collards. 2698 Fremont Drive, Sonoma, lousluncheonette.com
Khom Loi
Two-bite fried chicken pieces scented with lemongrass and fried lime leaves make this dish almost impossible to put down — or share. 7385 Healdsburg Ave., Sebastopol, 707-329-6917, khomloisonoma.com
Lo & Behold
Chef Sean Kelley’s “Almost Famous” tenders ($14), and they are the juiciest strips of crunchy, salty, fried chicken bits I’ve ever had. Dipped in homemade ranch with a side of pickles, they’re worthy of a standing ovation. 214 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-756-5021, loandbeholdca.com
Songbird Parlour
Sunday nights are hot honey fried chicken nights at this cozy Glen Ellen restaurant. What began as a monthly pop-up has become a wildly popular weekly event, available for dine in or takeout. Reservations strongly suggested. 14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, 707-343-1308, songbirdparlour.com/fried-chicken-night
Lunch Box
Lunch Box serves up a variety of great sandwiches in Sebastopol, including a fried chicken. 128 N. Main St., Sebastopol, lunchboxsonomacounty.com
Mendocino Farms
The “Not-So-Fried” Chicken Sandwich gets its crispy crunch from “Mendo Krispies” — flash-fried polenta bits. It’s a healthier take on the classic that doesn’t get lost in translation. Montgomery Village, 2400 Sonoma Ave., Suite D4, Santa Rosa, mendocinofarms.com
Acorn Cafe
Dive into this banh-mi riff on fried chicken. Crisp, juicy breast meat is sandwiched between two togarashi-topped buns and topped with housemade teriyaki sauce, pickled daikon and a slather of spicy mayo. Each bite is creamy, crunchy, sweet, pickle-y and delicious, with a restrained crunch that tickles rather than tearing up the inside of your mouth. Required eating. 124 Matheson St., Healdsburg, acornhealdsburg.com
Marla Fried Chicken Frydays
The fried chicken pop-up you’ve come to know and love (or should) returns weekly from 5-8 p.m. each Friday at Marla SR cafe (208 Davis St., Santa Rosa). Now and throughout the summer, they’ll fry milk whey-brined chicken for a crispy bird that crunches back at every bite. Details at Instagram.com/marla_sr.
Underwood Bistro
There’s a not-so-secret Thai menu at this classic French bistro you’ll want to explore. Along with pad Thai, the Hat Yai fried chicken is a revelation. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com
More Great Fried Chicken
Petaluma
Sax’s Joint
Top-notch chicken and waffles. Crispy, crunchy and sweet. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com
Brewster’s Beer Garden
Fried chicken sandwich with goat cheddar, romaine, garlic mayo and bacon on a Della Fattoria bun. Yum. 229 Water St., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com
Windsor
Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar
Blue ribbon-worthy Southern fried chicken with garlic smashed potatoes, slaw, braised greens and a biscuit. 9098 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com
Santa Rosa
Dave’s Hot Chicken
It may be a chain, but that doesn’t mean this mild to Oh My Lord spicy chicken isn’t awesome. Get a mix of sliders and tenders with coleslaw, fries and sauce. You won’t regret it. 2240 Mendocino Ave., Suite C-1, Santa Rosa, 707-582-2200, daveshotchicken.com
