Two Miami-area restaurants were just named among the best fried chicken places in the country.
Eat This, Not That, part of a media franchise covering food, health, dining and recipes, recently ranked the top 25 fried chicken restaurants in the U.S., as well as Le Chick Miami in Wynwood and Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach have ranked the top 25 fried chicken restaurants in the US. list.
At No. 6 is Wynwood’s trendy Le Chick, opened in 2018 and inspired by Rotisserie Amsterdam, a Dutch restaurant known for its rotisserie chicken, burgers and cocktail bar.
Le Chick was praised for its upscale version of everyone’s favorite Southern fare.
“Le Chick is known for using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients and serving fried chicken dishes with an extra edge,” the story says. “For example, there’s a fried chicken casserole drizzled with spicy maple syrup, homemade ranch dressing and toasted honey mustard, and there’s a sandwich piled generously with butter lettuce, house pickles and Swiss cheese on a soft brioche bun.”
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Ashley James, director of events and communications at Le Chick, says the chicken stands out because of the way it’s prepared, especially the crispiness of the breadcrumbs.
“What makes it so great is that we brine it in-house for 24 hours in buttermilk and use really fresh, locally sourced ingredients,” she said.
Wynwood has changed a lot since Le Chick opened its doors in a building that was once a shoe warehouse. The restaurant, which also uses products from neighboring businesses such as Zak the Baker and Panther Coffee, started out making chicken and burgers but has expanded its menu and cocktail offerings, James said. Le Chick just started a new program on the third Wednesday of the month called Midweek Mixology, where guests can try different spirits and learn to make new cocktails.
“We’ve come a long way,” she said. “We now have a wood-fired grill, so we serve wood-fired dishes that are higher. We organize more experiences, catering and private events. We have a beautiful outdoor lounge area. It really is a beautiful location, a perfect spot in the heart of Wynwood.”
The other South Florida spot on the list was another upscale Southern restaurant, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach. Famous for its swinging Mason jar lights and casual and polished atmosphere, the restaurant was founded in Miami in 2011 by restaurateur John Kunkel and now has locations in Las Vegas; Dallas; Washington, DC; Los Angeles; Chicago; Denver; and Singapore.
With more than 6,200 Yelp reviews and a 4.4-star rating for its Miami location, Yardbird ranks number one. 20, is “the definition of a top-tier fried chicken restaurant,” writes Eat This, Not That. “One of the standout dishes is Lewellyn’s fine fried chicken, featuring half a bird seasoned with a hot honey sauce. Another must-have menu item is the chicken and waffles special, made with honey hot sauce, a sharp Vermont cheddar cheese waffle and bourbon maple syrup.
The best place for chicken in the US, according to Eat This, Not That, is Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, founded in Hollywood, California by Harlem native Herb Hudson in 1975. With seven locations in Los Angeles, the restaurant is a celebrity favorite as Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder and former President Barack Obama.
If you go
The chick: 310 NW 24th St., Miami; www.lechickmiami.com; 786-216-7086,
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar: 1600 Lenox Ave., Miami Beach; www.runchickenrun.com; 305-538-5220
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