Just in Time for Labor Day – Best Fried Chicken in LA

If you don’t feel like cooking this Labor Day, it might be the perfect opportunity to indulge in some of Los Angeles’ best fried chicken. The city has many standout chicken options that can impress even the most dedicated fried-chicken eaters but below are my favorites.

There’s Culver City’s Honey’s Kettle which offers pressure-cooked fried chicken using peanut oil, which is supposed to be a healthier than alternative frying methods. Honey’s Kettle chicken is super crisp on the outside while the inside stays moist. The chicken is served with honey packets to lather across the top of your chicken. Honey Kettle’s biscuits and kettle fries are perfect accompaniments to the fried chicken. You can dine in the restaurant or they can accommodate small or large to-go orders.

KyoChon Chicken is right around the corner from Hancock park, located on 6^th St. just east of Western Ave. They specialize in Korean-style wings and drumsticks that come with your choice of seasoning. They offer hot and sweet, soy garlic or half and half. They also have honey wings which are super crunchy and just a bit sweet but can sometimes end up being on the greasier side. Orders come with a side of pickled radishes that help to cut the heat of the spicier chicken. Their wings and drumsticks are small and would be better served as an appetizer as opposed to a main course.

While you might frequent nearby Fairfax Avenue’s Plan Check for their burger, another shining star on their gastropub menu is their fried chicken. This dish is incredibly labor intensive. It’s cold smoked with hickory wood and then buttermilk brined for six hours. You can order the chicken either in sandwich form or as a plate served with yam preserves and spicy pickled okra. The sandwich is served with pimento cheese, duck breast ham and pickles. The duck breast ham is juicy and rich and pairs perfectly with the chicken and pimento cheese. Whether you order the plate or the sandwich, the chicken is perfectly breaded with just the right amount of crunch.

Editor’s note: We weren’t the only ones thinking of fried chicken this weekend. Check out Eater LA’s list of their reader’s favorites for even more choices.