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March 4, 2026
When you think of the best fried chicken spots, the South may be the first region that comes to mind. But in the Midwest, you’ll find an unexpected food haven. Cincinnati brings together Southern flair and Midwestern charm to cook up delicious fried chicken. One of the best ways to explore a new city is to eat your way through it, and Cincinnati is a great place for that, ranked as one of the most affordable, entertaining destinations of 2025.
To compile a list of the best fried chicken joints in Cincinnati, we researched which restaurants were the most highly rated and reviewed, and selected local favorites from hometown publications. We selected restaurants representing a variety of styles, including traditional options and saucy creations, and even included a surprising gas-station fried-chicken find. There is no specific order to the list, just the top-five fried chicken spots we found in the Queen City.