Good fried chicken is a Southern delicacy, easily spotted on menus throughout Oklahoma. We’ve searched high and low for the tastiest fried chicken in Oklahoma and are proud to highlight some of the best spots in the state.
Florence's Restaurant – Oklahoma City
Boasting Oklahoma's first James Beard Foundation Award is Florence's Restaurant, an iconic Oklahoma City cafe open since 1952. Though Florence and her daughter Victoria have experimented with new recipes throughout the years, many menu items are based off Florence's original plan and family recipes – "Good country food for the soul." Signature dishes include their famed fried chicken with secret seasoning, chicken-fried steak slathered in homemade gravy and yammed fried chicken paired with complimentary cornbread muffins and yeast rolls. These fried favorites aren't complete without sides of candied yams, seasonal collard greens or macaroni & cheese. Make sure to ask about the daily specials, ranging from the popular honey & heat fried chicken to classic chicken & dumplings.
Eischen’s – Okarche
You can’t even utter the words “fried chicken” in Oklahoma without Eischen’s Bar coming to mind. Known as the oldest bar in Oklahoma, this much-loved Okarche institution opened shortly after the end of Prohibition. Their fried chicken became an instant hit when it hit the small, eight-item menu during the 1960s. Order the house specialty, the whole fried chicken, and savor chicken that comes to your table right out of the fryer with a side of fresh-cut onions, sweet and dill pickles, and fluffy white bread.
Rockin H Land & Cattle Co. – Temple
During the week, Rockin H Land & Cattle Co. is known for their steaks. Sunday lunches, however, are for Southern fried chicken. This Temple restaurant takes diners on a journey back in time to the potlucks of their childhood with tender pieces of chicken perfectly seasoned and tossed into the fryer. They’re served alongside classic favorites like pepper gravy on mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas slow cooked with generous chunks of bacon.
Charlie's Chicken - NE Oklahoma
When you're craving chicken in northeast Oklahoma, head to one of 20 Charlie's Chicken locations in the area. The first Charlie's was opened in Muskogee by founder and Oklahoma native Charles Randolph. As the decades passed, Charlie's grew in popularity due to the fast and efficient service of their homemade fried chicken. Some of Charlie's most popular chicken dishes include their famous Chicken Chunks as well as chicken and dumplings and additional options like meatloaf and catfish. Charlie's Chicken is a must-try dining destination whenever you're visiting the 918 area.
Southern Belle Restaurant – Heavener
The name says it all at Southern Belle Restaurant in Heavener, where Southern comfort food reigns supreme. The house specialty here is a boneless chicken breast that sits in a special marinade before it is battered and deep fried. This heavenly chicken is served with a house-made dipping sauce that gives an extra zip of flavor. Southern Belle is known for more than their unique chicken - the restaurant is set inside a restored passenger train car from the 1940s, making a meal here a truly unique experience.
Wanda J's Next Generation Restaurant - Tulsa
Good soul food has the ability to touch more than just your taste buds. Wanda J's Next Generation Restaurant in Tulsa hits the mark with perfectly seasoned and flawlessly fried pieces of juicy chicken accompanied by hearty sides. The recipes for the sweet yams, macaroni and cheese and collard greens are top notch, pair perfectly with Mama J's chicken fry. Wash it all down with some of the best iced tea in Tulsa.
Roy's Fried Chicken - Coweta
The fried chicken at this Coweta restaurant is so good they put it right in the name. Roy’s Fried Chicken has been a local favorite since opening in 1978. Although they moved to a brand new building in 2018, the chicken recipes remain the same. The most popular menu item - “chunks” - may not have the most appealing name, but these pieces of boneless white meat chicken have been breaded and fried to perfection. Try it with a side of made-in-house ranch dressing.
The Chicken Shack - Arcadia, Harrah & Mulhall
Located right on Route 66 in Arcadia, The Chicken Shack is a dive restaurant with incredible personality. The menu is small, but that has allowed staff to truly focus on the dishes they create best, including the delicious “broasted” chicken, which is a combination of broiling and roasting. Order the half or whole bird plus tried-and-true sides like slaw, beans and wedges. Quality food takes time, and each meal is made to order, so sit back and enjoy live music several nights a week on the heated/enclosed patio called The Backyard. The Chicken Shack also has locations in Harrah and Mulhall.
Nashbird - OKC/Edmond/Norman
Inspired by the flavors of Nashville, Tennessee, Nashbird is a hot chicken counter service restaurant and bar with multiple locations in central Oklahoma. This fun and affordable chicken joint lets you customize your meal with dark or white meat, thighs, wings or boneless options, as well as four heat levels: chirp, kickin’, hot dang and crazy hot. They also offer signature flavors like buttermilk ranch and southern fried. Pick up a bucket for a crowd or try one of the unique options like the hot chicken wrap, chicken biscuit, hot chicken tacos or the “Nashvillian,” a boneless breast stacked with mac and cheese, bacon, onion rings and ranch on a brioche bun.
