2 Alabama restaurants rank on ‘Absolute Best Fried Chicken in the South’ list—find out where

If there’s one thing I know about Alabama, it’s that we love our fried chicken. Can you blame us? The crispy, tender goodness is one of the best comfort foods I can think of. It comes as no surprise that two Alabama spots ranked on Mashed‘s Absolute Best Fried Chicken in the South list. Keep reading to find out where.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Everybody has their own opinion about where you can get the best fried chicken. But you know when it’s on a “best fried chicken in the South” list—it’s gotta be good.

So, who made the cut?

Gus’s Fried Chicken

Coming in at #2 overall is Gus’s Fried Chicken. Originally hailing from Memphis, Gus’s Fried Chicken has been using the same tried and true recipe since 1953.

According to Mashed, Gus’s Fried Chicken is “not nearly as hot as Nashville Hot chicken, but enough to get your sinuses clear.” Sounds just right to me.

To offset the spice, the original recipe founders Na and Maggie Bonner made sure the beans and slaw are slightly sweet and served with every meal. Plus, each meal at Gus’s comes with a good ol’ slice of white bread, a nod to the original fried chicken sandwiches Na and Maggie served over 60 years ago.

Gus’s has over 30 locations in 14 different states, including one in Birmingham, AL. To get a taste for yourself, find the location nearest to you.

Martin’s Restaraunt

Longtime Montgomery staple Martin’s Restaurant also made the list, ranking #11.

Martin’s is a no-frills institution that’s been servin’ up legendary fried chicken since the early 1920s.

In the 1930s, Alice Martin sold the meat and three spot to the Merritt family, who have been running the place for over 80 years now.

Fun fact: Martin’s is one of the only places around where you can get the “pully-bone”, a tender and delicious part of the chicken that is usually thrown out by commercial chicken producers. Since Martin’s prides themselves in using the whole chicken, you can snag a “pully-bone” while they’re hot.

You can visit Martin’s in Montgomery at 1796 Carter Hill Rd.

Who else made the list?

I’m glad you asked. If you find yourself traveling across the South in search of some top-rated fried chicken, here are 11 more spots that Mashed thinks you should try:

• Prince’s Fried Chicken—Nashville, TN
• Buxton Chicken Palace—Asheville, NC
• Mama Dip’s Kitchen—Chapel Hill, NC
• Gizzards and Livers—Wilson, NC
• Bertha’s Kitchen—Charleston, SC
• Crosby’s Chicken—Bamberg, SC
• Willie Mae’s Scotch House—New Orleans, LA
• O’Steens Restaurant—St. Augustine, FL
• Brown’s—Charlottesville, VA (recently transitioned to new owners)
• Busy Bee Cafe—Atlanta, GA
• Bojangles—chain based in Charlotte, NC

Where’s your favorite spot to grab fried chicken in Alabama? Tag us @thebamabuzz and let us know.