When it comes to comfort food, it’s tough to beat fried chicken. It’s the rare food that’s just as delicious eaten cold standing in front of the fridge, as it is fresh out of the fryer. Denver’s chefs offer up a smorgasbord of fried chicken dishes, from classic to creative. Here are a few favorites to, well, crow about, in no particular order.
Fried Chicken Restaurants in Downtown Denver
Tupelo Honey Kitchen & Bar
With strong southern roots, Tupelo Honey built its reputation on scratch-made classics, with its fried chicken pretty much acting as their calling card. While you could definitely stop in to this Denver Union Station restaurant and get something other than fried fowl, why would you when it’s this good? (And versatile — you can get it honey-dusted, sweet-and-spicy-sauced, gravy-topped, in tender form or on a waffle.) When fried chicken is this dialed in, the decision is easy.
Work & Class
Available on Sundays only, Work & Class’s Buckets & Bubbles special feels like a deliciously crispy bonus for those in the know. You get six pieces of bird plus a bottle of bubbles for $40. And it all comes from multiple James Beard Award-nominated chef Dana Rodriguez, who’s pretty much made it her signature to balance comfort foods with culinary polish. Talk about a Sunday Funday.
Five Points
Welton Street Cafe
The family-owned Welton Street Cafe in Five Points served up Southern-style cuisine with a Caribbean twist for more than 20 years before having to close up in 2021 and find a new home. Luckily, Fathima Dickerson was able to find a new, larger location just up the street, and Welton is back and better than ever. (If you count their new liquor license as better than ever.) Bring your appetite Chook — and a friend of two — because their beloved fried chicken entree is a juicy half-bird, seasoned and expertly fried for minimal grease, and served with two sides and cornbread or white bread. For the full Southern experience, order it with fried okra, a sweet tea and peach cobbler or sweet potato pie for dessert. And while we know this is supposed to be all about the fried chicken, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the pates (island-style fried pastries stuffed with various fillings) and frybread (deep-fried pastry dough rolled into a breadstick).
Uptown and City Park
Steuben’s
Steuben’s in Uptown has a retro neighborhood diner ambiance with tried-and-true dishes to match. You can enjoy their fried chicken three ways every day: buttermilk-brined and on its own with mashed potatoes, a biscuit and chicken gravy on the side; on top of a Belgian waffle; or Nashville hot with a bacon brown-sugar glaze and served with Texas toast, pickles, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy. No matter which iteration you pick, it's a crispy, juicy win every time.
Blazing Chicken Shack II
The chicken at this Park Hill soul food restaurant snaps, crackles, pops and even hisses. Fried to order, the crispy/salty/juicy bird — served as an entree, sandwich or starter via fried chicken gizzards — is one of the most comforting bites in town. If you order the 1/2 fried chicken entree with two sides, we recommend the spicy collard greens with cabbage and turkey and the creamy mac & cheese, but really, you can't go wrong with anything coming out of Blazing's welcoming kitchen. You'll likely be plenty full after all that, but be sure to grab a slice of caramel cake to go.
South Denver
The Post Chicken & Beer
Winner winner chicken dinner — literally! The Post Chicken & Beer in Rosedale has won awards for its fried chicken, and for good reason. The buttermilk-brine recipe — developed by Chef Brett Smith during a cross-country research tour — is delicious, extra crunchy and gluten-free, making it accessible to almost everyone. Best of all, you can order it up in a variety of dishes, from chicken chicharrones with pinto bean hummus, to deviled eggs topped with crispy chicken skin, to a spread of salads and sandwiches. It shines on its own with chorizo country gravy, but if you prefer yours dressed up, we recommend the Fried Chicken Ranch BLT with tomato jam and paprika ranch or the Chicken & Waffles with pumpkin seed butter, chorizo country gravy, chile-cherry chutney and maple syrup. Wash it all down with one of their in-house brews, such as the Howdy Western Pilsner or the El Corn Amber Lager, both of which have taken home medals at Denver’s Great American Beer Festival. And be warned: you’ll probably need an extra beer (or two) if you order it Nashville hot.
Near Denver
Chook Charcoal Chicken
Okay, so the chicken at Chook isn’t technically fried. But it’s so delicious we couldn’t resist including it for those times when you’re all fried out and want something a little different. “Chook” is Australian slang for “chicken,” and the chook at this cozy Platt Park eatery (there are also outposts in Denver’s Hale neighborhood and in Greenwood Village) is cooked with care over a charcoal rotisserie, along with the veggies in the Charred Mixed Veg side, another favorite. Order your roasted chook with white or dark meat (or both!) and your choice of sauce: Mum’s Gravy, Chimichurri, Piri-piri, Macha (Hot) or Big A’s BBQ, or add pulled chicken to a salad or bowl.
Vegetarian and Vegan Options
City, O' City
While the entire menu is vegetarian/vegan, the Chicken & Waffles stand out. You get bourbon-brined chicken-fried cauliflower with the incredibly delicious bourbon maple syrup, along with chive creme fraiche and carrot bacon. Another great option is having the "chicken" on salad or pizza.