When you think of fried chicken, you probably think of the mom and pop restaurant in your city, or maybe Popeyes or KFC. But there’s a better place to get your fried chicken fix, and it’s usually cheaper, too: the grocery store.
Supermarket delis and hot bars all over the country have really good fried chicken that flies under the radar. Because you’re getting it from a grocery store, it’s cheaper than a restaurant; there can also be regular sales on it, saving you even more money. Here are some of the best grocery store fried chicken spots that reviewers recommend the most.
Kroger
Kroger is one of the biggest grocery store companies in the country, and it operates a number of regional chains like Pick ‘n Save as well. No matter what the Kroger-owned store near you is called, though, chances are the fried chicken is legit. Reviewers on TikTok say the chicken pieces are reliably large and better than other grocery stores.
“Kroger’s deli fried chicken is better than like 80% of mom & pop places,” said one fan on Reddit.
“It’s always been really good,” responded another Redditor. “Used to be a staple after church when I was a kid.”
In another Reddit thread, a Kroger deli employee says that “the amount of fried chicken that I sell every day is getting out of control!” You know people wouldn’t be buying that much chicken if it wasn’t good. Plus, it’s usually only $8-$10 for 8 pieces.
Publix
You can’t have an article about grocery store fried chicken and not include Publix. The store’s deli is legendary, especially the chicken tender “Pub subs” made with homemade fried chicken. (Just thinking about them makes us sad that we don’t live anywhere near a Publix.) But the more traditional bone-in fried chicken is just as good.
It’s got more flavor than most fried chicken, thanks in part to an abundance of spices and seasonings that other places don’t include. The crust is always really thick and crunchy, too, and people love that it’s not greasy like fast-food chicken.
“When I lived in Nashville, Publix was where I went for fried chicken if I needed it at the last minute,” said one fan on Reddit. “They are so accommodating, if they didn’t have it, they would immediately fry up a batch. It was always fresh and always consistent.”
Stater Bros.
Stater Bros. is a small grocery chain of about 160 locations in Southern California. You may have never heard of it, but fans of its fried chicken are loud and numerous. Reviewers on TikTok say that even the white meat is juicy, the skin is crispy and crackly, and it’s better than restaurant fried chicken.
“There’s more crunch here on the skin,” says a TikTok reviewer. “…Less oily, the breast is cooked just as well.” He eventually gives the chicken a 9.5 out of 10 and says it’s a contender for the best grocery store fried chicken — something which he’s posted many review videos about.
In a thread on Reddit about the best fried chicken in Los Angeles, Stater Bros. comes up again and again. “Crispy,” said one commenter. “Excellent seasoning.”
“Nothing like picking up a basket of stater bros fried chicken and wedges and going out to fairmont park with the family on a saturday,” replied another fan.
Albertsons
Another West Coast chain (though much larger than Stater Bros.), Albertsons is well known for its delicious, inexpensive fried chicken. There’s often daily deals and specials on it when you can get it for even cheaper, and those days are when the fryer doesn’t get a break.
It came out on top of the L.A. Times’ best grocery store fried chicken list, and the reviewer noted it for its brittle crust with lots of black pepper and spices that taste similar to poultry seasoning. “The chicken is wonderfully succulent, with juices that run freely when you tear it apart.”
TikTok reviewers tend to agree. “It’s got everything I was looking for in grocery store fried chicken,” summed up one fan.
Wegmans
Wegmans, an East Coast supermarket chain known for its over-and-above customer service and ready-made meals, may not have the cheapest fried chicken — $20 for 8 pieces — but fans say the price is worth it. The flavor and seasoning gets deep into the chicken, leading many to believe that the chicken is brined before cooking.
“I can tell they brine their chicken before frying, so some people might not like them,” explained one Redditor in a thread about Wegmans. “They are so moist, I loooove salty juiciness!”
A TikTok review also mentions how moist the meat is. “Really juicy, really crunchy,” they say.
And if you’re a sandwich fan, some people mention that Wegmans has a really great Buffalo chicken tender sub, very similar to Publix. Yes, please.
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WinCo
WinCo is best known for its low prices, so you might not expect it to have great prepared food, but the fried chicken is right up there with every other supermarket offering. Plus, it’s probably one of the cheapest on this list. In one TikTok video, a dad gets an entire family meal with 12 pieces of fried chicken, two 1-pound sides, and rolls for just $20. Honestly, it could be mediocre and we’d still love it at that price.
“This chicken is perfectly cooked,” he says in the video. “I like the seasoning on the breading because it comes with a lot of flavor… Well cooked, seasoned, and it’s a great deal.”
Bonus: Some WinCos toss their fried chicken in seasoning when it comes out of the fryer. People especially love the lemon pepper and buffalo rubs.
Jewel-Osco
Jewel-Osco is a large Chicago chain of supermarkets, and it’s well known for some of its prepared foods, including fried chicken. In one TikTok video, the reviewer encounters a huge line through the store just for the fried chicken counter, which holds massive amounts of chicken. They were waiting because at some locations, you can get incredible deals on buckets of mixed pieces or chicken wings: as low as $8. The Monday deal is called Cheep Chicken Mondays. Get It? We’d wait in line for those kinds of prices — and puns — too.
Fans on Reddit also sing the chicken’s praises. “It’s well seasoned,” said one Redditor. “ And the batter is perfection. And juicy. I don’t even want to go anywhere else.”
One person reveals the secret to why it’s so good. “I used to work the fryers at Jewel. They do a double breading,” they explained. “They will put the chicken in a batch of the breading and then put it in the box until it gets cooked. It gets breaded a second time (again, fresh breading) before getting put into the fryer. Very satisfying…”
Do you have a favorite grocery store fried chicken? Let us know in the comments.
