These 5 Restaurants Prove That You'll Find The Best Fried Chicken In The Country In Ohio
By Sarah McCosham|Published July 06, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Kentucky might be hailed as *the* fried chicken capital of the country (Corbin *is* the Birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken, after all), but Ohio certainly holds its own in terms of this all-American favorite. All across the Buckeye State, you’ll find an array of places poultry fans flock to when a craving for crispy, finger-lickin’ fried chicken strikes; these are longstanding local favorites that give the ‘ole Colonel a run for his money. Case in point: five fan-favorite restaurants that prove you’ll find the best fried chicken in the country, right here in Ohio.
1. Hitching Post Kellogg - World's Best Fried Chicken
Hitching Post Kellogg - World's Best Fried Chicken, 4535 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45226, USA
This restaurant boasts itself as the "world's best fried chicken" -- and locals agree. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and served with oodles of gravy, and it's so popular, folks can order a 100 piece bucket to share. Now we're talking.
Forget the "best fried chicken in Ohio" -- this might well be the best fried chicken in the entire world! I'm not exaggerating, either. I was first introduced to the Schoolhouse's fried chicken as a kid, and between the crispy drumsticks, creamy mashed potatoes, and honey-topped cornbread (all available in unlimited quantities and served on each table's Lazy Susan), the Schoolhouse Restaurant is, for me, the standard by which all other fried chicken is measured.
3. Hopocan Gardens
Hopocan Gardens, 4396 W Hopocan Ave Ext, Norton, OH 44203, USA
A longstanding local favorite, Hopocan Gardens in Barberton, Ohio, has been serving up some of the best fried chicken in the country since 1942. Their secret? A killed fried chicken recipe that ALWAYS arrives hot and perfectly crispy... and a special spicy wing sauce that takes the whole experience to sizzling heights!
4. Miller's Chicken
Miller's Chicken, 235 W State St, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Athens is a college town, so the culinary competition here is stiff. You'll find delicious pizzerias and sandwich shops, taquerias and coffee shops, but Miller's Chicken might just top them all. Unassuming yet impossibly charming, Miller's does one thing and does it well: crispy, crunchy, authentic signature fried chicken.
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5. Village Inn Chicken
Village Inn Chicken, 4444 S Cleveland Massillon Rd, Norton, OH 44203, USA
Barberton seems to have the Buckeye State fried chicken market cornered, with Hopocan Gardens (#3), White House Chicken, *and* Village Inn Chicken all within town limits. They're all worth writing home about, but folks can't get enough of the ridiculously juicy chicken from Village Inn. Paired with homestyle sides, and you've the makings of a memorable meal!
Tell us: where do you go when a fried chicken craving strikes in Ohio? Have you visited any of these fried chicken restaurants before? If your favorite restaurant didn’t make the list, please nominate it and tell us what makes it something to cluck about.
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