Fried Chicken Favorites Span Four States

Several low-key, locally loved restaurants are highlighted for standout fried chicken and Southern or soul-food cooking. In California, Honey’s Kettle in Culver City is praised for its fried chicken, while Winnetka’s family-run, Black-owned Les Sisters’ Southern Kitchen draws regulars for spicy fried chicken alongside Louisiana dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya. Orlando’s Nikki’s Place and Hardeeville, South Carolina’s Chickin Lickin are also presented as unpretentious neighborhood favorites whose reputations rest on their food. In Charlotte, Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish received Tasting Table’s pick for North Carolina’s best fried chicken, with its long-standing community following and soul-food menu helping earn the recognition.