When it comes to comfort food, it’s tough to beat fried chicken. It’s the rare food that’s just as delicious eaten cold standing in front of the fridge as it is fresh out of the fryer. Denver’s chefs offer up a smorgasbord of fried chicken dishes, from classic to creative. Here are a few favorites to, well, crow about, in no particular order.
The Post Chicken & Beer
Winner winner chicken dinner — literally! The Post Chicken & Beer in Rosedale won "Westword’s" Best Fried Chicken for 2021, and for good reason. The buttermilk-brine recipe — developed by Chef Brett Smith during a cross-country research tour — is delicious, extra crunchy and gluten-free, making it accessible to almost everyone. Best of all, you can order it up in a variety of dishes, from chicken chicharrones with pinto bean hummus, to deviled eggs topped with crispy chicken skin, to a spread of salads and sandwiches. It shines on its own with chorizo country gravy, but if you prefer yours dressed up, we recommend the Fried Chicken Ranch BLT with tomato jam and paprika ranch or the Chicken & Waffles with pumpkin seed butter, chorizo country gravy, chile-cherry chutney and maple syrup. Wash it all down with one of their in-house brews, such as the Howdy Western Pilsner or the El Corn Amber Lager, both of which have taken home medals at Denver’s Great American Beer Festival. And be warned: you’ll probably need an extra beer (or two) if you order it Nashville hot! You can experience it all at the Lower Highland (LoHi) location.
Steuben’s
Steuben’s in Uptown has a retro neighborhood diner ambiance with tried-and-true dishes to match. You can enjoy their fried chicken three ways every day: buttermilk-brined and on its own with mashed potatoes, a biscuit and chicken gravy on the side; on top of a Belgian waffle; or Nashville hot with a bacon brown-sugar glaze and served with Texas toast, pickles, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy. Prefer your chicken to go? Grab a 6-, 9- or 15-piece bucket of Steuben’s original or Nashville hot fried chicken with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy and scratch-made biscuits or Texas toast.
Osaka Ramen
We can’t recommend Chef Jeff Osaka’s mouth-watering ramen dishes highly enough. But before you start slurping, make sure to order his equally delicious Chicken Kara'Age small plate (pictured above). It’s a crispy dish of lightly battered, deep-fried citrus-shoyu marinated chicken served with spicy mayo. It may not be the southern style of which you first think, but Osaka Ramen's take on fried chicken is not to be missed.
Lea Jane’s Hot Chicken
Hot chicken is — well — pretty hot right now, but the bird inside Arvada's Freedom Street Social food hall stands out from the flock. Chef Nick Graves went all the way to Nashville to research and develop his unique spin on Nashville hot chicken, which he dishes out on deviled eggs, sandwiches, biscuits and even in a waffle cone with “angry” macaroni and cheese. You can also get it chopped into a chicken salad with savory smoked cheddar cheese or all on its own bone-in or as chicken tenders. For those who can’t handle the heat, don’t worry: there’s also traditional Southern fried chicken. There’s also a cluckin’ good lineup of sauces to choose from. We especially love the Comeback Sauce (similar to Louisiana Remoulade), the Alabama White BBQ Sauce and the Charred Onion Ranch. Cool down afterward with Lea Jane’s Banana Pudding with dulce de leche, Nilla peanut crumble and sea salt.
Welton Street Cafe
The family-owned Welton Street Cafe in Five Points served up Southern-style cuisine with a Caribbean twist for more than 20 years before having to close up in 2021 and find a new home. Luckily Fathima Dickerson was able to find a new, larger location (also on Welton Street), and it's rumored to be opening in late spring 2024. Bring your appetite (or a friend or two), because their beloved fried chicken entree is a juicy half-bird, seasoned and expertly fried for minimal grease, and served with two sides and cornbread or white bread. For the full Southern experience, order it with fried okra, a sweet tea and peach cobbler or sweet potato pie for dessert. And while we know this is supposed to be all about the fried chicken, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the pates (island-style fried pastries stuffed with various fillings) and frybread (deep-fried pastry dough rolled into a breadstick).
Blazing Chicken Shack II
The chicken at this Park Hill soul food restaurant snaps, crackles, pops and even hisses. Fried to order, the crispy/salty/juicy bird – served as an entree, sandwich or starter via fried chicken gizzards – is one of the most comforting bites in town. If you order the 1/2 fried chicken entree with two sides, we recommend the spicy collard greens with cabbage and turkey and the creamy mac & cheese, but really you can't go wrong with anything coming out of Blazing's welcoming kitchen. You'll likely be plenty full after all that, but be sure to grab a slice of caramel cake to go.
Bonus: Chook Charcoal Chicken
Okay, so the chicken at Chook isn’t technically fried. But it’s so delicious we couldn’t resist including it for those times when you’re all fried out and want something a little different. “Chook” is Australian slang for “chicken,” and the chook at this cozy Platt Park eatery (there are also outposts in Denver’s Hale neighborhood and in Greenwood Village) is cooked with care over a charcoal rotisserie, along with the veggies in the Charred Mixed Veg side, another favorite. Order your roasted chook with white or dark meat (or both!) and your choice of sauce: Mum’s Gravy, Chimichurri, Piri-piri, Macha (Hot) or Big A’s BBQ, or add pulled chicken to a salad or bowl.
5 More to Try
Tupelo Honey – Honey Dusted or Sweet & Spicy Fried Chicken
Linger – Korean Fried Chicken Bao Bun
Work & Class – Sunday Fried Chicken Special
Chicken Rebel – Winner of "Westword’s" Best Chicken Sandwich in 2021
Mono Mono – Korean fried popcorn chicken, wings, drumsticks and tenders
Vegetarian/vegan options
City, O' City – While the entire menu is vegetarian/vegan, the Chicken & Waffles stand out. You get bourbon-brined chicken-fried cauliflower with the incredibly delicious bourbon maple syrup along with chive creme fraiche and carrot bacon. Another great option is having the "chicken" on salad or pizza.
Pictured above: Osaka Ramen's Chicken Kara'Age small plate