The Burn has often prided itself on being Northern Virginia’s leading news source for fried chicken news — admittedly a very niche news beat. But we love our fried bird and there are plenty of good options around the region for the traditional bone-in variety.
You have your big national chains — Popeyes, Bojangles, KFC. You have your Korean fried chicken brands — bb.q, Bonchon, Choong Man. You have supermarket fried chicken — Walmart, Giant, Publix (yes, the nearest Publix is in Stafford, but we’ve made the drive).
With all those in mind, we thought we would recommend some (slightly) more “off the beaten path” places that may not pop up on your radar immediately. The list was culled from our own experience, online reviews, and word-of-mouth.
With that mission, here are (in no particular order) Seven Places for Great Fried Chicken in Northern Virginia.
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Lowry’s Crab Shack
420 West Colonial Highway, Hamilton
Yes, the little roadside restaurant in rural Loudoun County is known for its tasty crab platters, crab balls, and crab cake sandwiches, but it’s almost equally famous for its golden fried chicken — repeatedly voted the best in the county.
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Roy Rogers
Multiple locations
We’re taking it old school with this recommendation. Roy Rogers has been around forever — or at least since 1968 when new ownership took over RoBee’s House of Beef and rebranded it as Roys. Because of that origin story, people often think of the chain for its roast beef sandwiches and its burgers before they think of the fried chicken. But if you haven’t had it in ages, it’s a worthy contender.
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Northside 29 Restaurant
5037 Lee Highway, Warrenton
We’ll give you one guess where the Northside 29 Restaurant is located. If you said on the north side of Highway 29, you’re a winner. The restaurant has been serving up home cooking since 1971 and one of its most popular dishes is its honey-dipped crispy fried chicken.
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Krispy Krunchy
Multiple locations
People sometimes sneer at “gas station” fried chicken, but there are some hidden gems out there. Krispy Krunchy has at least three locations in Northern Virginia — oddly all in Loudoun. Fans rave about it. Pro Tip: If you get Krispy Krunchy when its fresh out of the hopper, it’s delicious. If it’s been sitting under the heat lamp too long, take a pass.
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Cracker Barrel
Multiple locations
It’s hard to believe that Cracker Barrel was around for 50 years before the southern style restaurant chain finally added fried chicken to its menu back in 2019. Double breaded by hand and sprinkled with seasonings including three types of black pepper, the Barrel’s fried chicken is a taste treat.
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Founding Farmers
Multiple locations
Everyone knows about Founding Farmers. The upscale farm-to-table style restaurant has locations across the DMV, including two in Northern Virginia at Reston and at Tysons. But with the brand’s huge menu, it may be easy to overlook their fried chicken. While traditional Southern style is available, fans rave about the spicy version — lightly battered and drizzled with a hot honey cinnamon glaze.
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Honeymoon Chicken
Coming to Alexandria in 2025
Ok, we’re cheating a little with this last one. A Honeymoon Chicken location has been announced for the Carlyle Crossing center in Alexandria, but it’s not open yet. But we have been to the DC location of Honeymoon which the famed Michelin Guide put on its Bib Gourmand list for great affordable restaurants. And we concur — award-worthy chicken.
(Image at top of story: Krispy Krunchy Chicken)