The 26 Essential Fried Chicken Spots in Cleveland

Mr. Chicken

Multiple Locations

Mr. Chicken has been serving up chicken to the suburbs of Cleveland since 1968. And for years they've been perfecting the fried chicken sandwich. Roll through any one of their locations this weekend and rest assured they most-likely won't be out of your favorite sandwich option.

Photo via @mrchickencle/Instagram

Lox, Stock and Brisket

3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights

You'll find the best chicken sandwich on the east side at Anthony Zappola's new-school Jewish deli. Lox's Lincoln Park ($10) sandwich, served on an egg roll from Unger's Kosher Bakery in Cleveland Heights, comes with an enormous triangle of buttermilk battered schnitzel set off with fluorescent pickles, slaw and a touch of spicy mayo. Lox's sandwich is a masterclass in balance: buttery, sweet and crispy with just a hint of spice.

Photo by Karin McKenna

V's Gourmet Chicken

15418 Lakeshore Blvd.

The home of some of our favorite fried chicken in Cleveland unsurprisingly offers the best classic, soul food-style fried chicken sandwich ($7.50) in town. Served with the traditional accoutremonts of red onion, mayo, provolone and shredded lettuce, V's sandwich towers with chunks of immaculately crispy chicken breast and comes nestled in a pillowy kaiser roll from Orlando Bakery.

Photo via Douglas Trattner

Sauce the City at Ohio City Galley

1400 W. 25th St., Cleveland

Nashville hot chicken fans have Victor Searcy to thank for a crunchy, meaty, spicy sandwich version of that Southern staple at Sauce the City at Ohio City Galley. The kitchen can crank up the heat if that's how you like it, but they also sell one without the flames. It's all up to you.

Photo via Sauce the City

EDWINS

13024 Buckeye Rd., Cleveland

EDWINS made its name as a non-profit upscale French bistro helping formerly incarcerated individuals training in the culinary and hospitality industry. They’ve expanded to two more restaurants, a bakery and a butcher shop all while staying true to their original mission. Recently, they added a Nashville hot chicken sandwich on a temporary basis to their butcher shop menu and it was so popular they had to keep it full time.

Photo via EDWINS/Facebook

Hot Chicken Takeover

242 Main St., Westlake

Our nation is presently in the grip of a fried chicken frenzy. Celebrity chefs are unveiling fried chicken spin-offs, every other restaurant has added fried chicken sandwiches to the menu, and variations like Korean-fried chicken, fried chicken and waffles, and Nashville hot chicken continue to gain market share. Why are diners obsessed with fried chicken? Because it's delicious. Messy, but delicious. The best fried chicken shacks keep it simple, do it right and deliver the goods in an attractive setting with great customer service. That describes Hot Chicken Takeover to a ‘T’.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace

The Crispy Chick

5618 Woodland Ave., Cleveland

Head to Woodland Avenue in the Central neighborhood and you’ll find a new fast-food restaurant that serves only one entree: chicken tenders. They are some of the best tenders you'll have the pleasure of enjoying in Cleveland. They arrive fresh and hot on a bed of crinkle-cut fries accompanied by coleslaw, toasted garlic bread and a soft drink.

Photo via The Crispy Chick/Facebook

Mahall’s

13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood

When you only have two items on your whole menu, you know they have to be good. That’s the case at this Cleveland institution. Mahall’s may mostly be known for their live music and bowling, but that doesn’t mean they don’t serve up a mean fried chicken.

Photo via Scene Archives

Southern Cafe

11817 Detroit Ave., Lakewood

Sometimes for names of restaurants, simple is better, and the name of this place says it all. What would you expect at a place called Southern Cafe? Of course they have yummy fried chicken, especially when it comes with waffles

Photo via @Gone.Girl.Go/Instagram

Angie’s Soul Cafe

Multiple Locations

With soul cafe in the name of the restaurant, this is the spot for that good southern comfort cooking. While you can’t go wrong with the collard greens and candied yams, you'll have to get the fried chicken, in either dark or white meat.

Photo via @BakerDewayne/Instagram