Some of the best fried chicken in Georgia is hiding at the far end of a gas station parking lot in Buford. Suthern Cluck Chicken and Waffle is a small, family-run Southern kitchen that cooks every order fresh.
With a 4.7-star rating from more than 700 reviews, people keep talking about its crispy, juicy chicken and homestyle sides. If you love real comfort food, this little spot deserves a place on your list.
A Southern Kitchen Tucked Off Buford Highway
Blink and you might drive right past it. Suthern Cluck Chicken and Waffle sits at 1643 Buford Hwy NE, Suite C, in Buford, Georgia, sharing a lot with a Marathon gas station.
Visitors say to head toward the end of that lot, where the restaurant waits quietly. It does not look flashy from the road, and honestly, that is part of the charm.
One first-timer told others not to let the location scare them off. I agree with that advice completely, because what happens inside that kitchen is worth the short hunt.
The restaurant calls itself a Southern spot, and the menu backs that up. You will find fried chicken, chicken and waffles, brisket, oxtails, rib tips, fried fish, and a long lineup of classic sides.
It holds a 4.7-star rating across 731 Google reviews. For a small, independent place, that kind of steady praise says a lot about how much people care about it.
Family Roots and a Very Personal Touch
Picture this: you are halfway through your meal, and the owner walks over just to ask how everything tastes. That happens a lot here.
Suthern Cluck is a family owned and operated restaurant, and the owner, Charlene, is known for stepping out of the kitchen to greet guests. Diners describe her as personable, humble, and genuinely kind.
Several reviewers mention that she came to their table to check on the food. One guest said it was the kind of small gesture that made them want to return, even though they lived far away.
She also reads the reviews and answers nearly all of them, often with playful lines about clucking with guests again. The word cluckliciousness even shows up in her replies, which made me grin.
That hands-on spirit shows up in the cooking too. She has mentioned that she usually builds the oxtail plates herself, which tells you how closely she watches what leaves the kitchen.
Fried Chicken Worth Writing Home About
Here is the headline, plain and simple. People cannot stop raving about the fried chicken.
One family said it was honestly some of the best they had eaten in a long time. Another group of three walked out agreeing it was the best chicken they had ever tasted, period.
So what makes it special? Diners describe it as juicy and crispy, not greasy, and without a heavy coat of breading.
Words like immaculate, perfectly fried, and perfectly seasoned pop up again and again.
My favorite story came from a guest whose aunt runs her own successful restaurant with highly praised chicken. He admitted this chicken was better, then joked that he would never tell her.
Not every bite wins everyone over. A couple of reviewers had a piece arrive barely warm or felt a sandwich was too thin.
Still, the overwhelming feeling is clear: if you want a fried chicken fix, this is the place to get it.
Chicken and Waffles, the Namesake Plate
With a name like Suthern Cluck Chicken and Waffle, you know what the house specialty is going to be. Chicken and waffles is the most talked-about dish in the reviews, with dozens of mentions.
You can pair the waffle with wings or with chicken tenders. One diner ordered three-piece wings with a waffle and called the wings juicy and full of flavor, while a friend loved her tender and waffle combo.
Here is a heads-up I appreciated. The waffle leans sweet rather than plain, so many people find they do not even need syrup.
One guest felt hers was a little on the dry side, so your mileage may vary. Others happily added a piece of fried fish on the side for a bigger feast.
The kitchen also serves breakfast plates with sausage, eggs, cheese grits, and a waffle. One morning visitor loved it, though she thought the grits were a touch too cheesy for her taste.
Brisket, Oxtails, Rib Tips and More from the Meat Lineup
Chicken may get top billing, but the rest of the menu holds its own. Brisket shows up in reviews as often as turnip greens, and one regular called both the chicken and brisket perfect.
Fried turkey wings are a staff favorite. A guest who asked for a recommendation was steered toward them and said they came out fried to perfection with a one-of-a-kind sauce.
The fried fish has its own fan club, too. Diners call it top tier and absolutely amazing, though one person found it thin and a bit bland for roughly five dollars a slice.
You will also find oxtails, rib tips, smoked chicken, and pulled pork combos. The oxtails get mixed feedback, with one unhappy order and an owner who quickly offered a replacement meal.
A spicy barbecue sauce rounds things out. It is thin and watery, one guest noted, but it packs enough flavor that she would order it again.
Sides That Taste Like Grandma’s Kitchen
Ask any Southerner and they will tell you a plate is only as good as its sides. On that front, Suthern Cluck delivers.
The turnip greens might be the surprise star. Several people say they have a unique flavor, and one guest admitted turnips are hard to make tasty, yet this kitchen pulls it off.
A few folks, though, are not fans of sweeter greens.
Candied yams earn plenty of love as well. Even a disappointed customer said the yams were the one thing she truly enjoyed.
Homemade mac and cheese, collard greens, baked beans, and fried okra round out the favorites. The large okra order is huge, enough for about four people to share, according to one stunned diner.
Not everything lands for everyone. Some found the potato salad too sweet, the corn dry, or the green beans and potatoes a bit salty.
The crinkle cut and hand cut fries, on the other hand, get thumbs up.
Cupcakes, Cobbler and a Sweet Finish
Save room. Seriously, save room, because the desserts here have ruined more than a few diets.
The homemade red velvet cupcakes with nuts are legendary among regulars. One mom and her 10-year-old son were genuinely sad they had not bought a backup cupcake, calling them moist and downright ridiculous.
Another guest raved about the coconut cake, describing it as moist and satisfying. Peach cobbler also earned a happy nod from a husband who ordered it after his meal.
The cornbread deserves a mention too. A returning diner noticed it had a new recipe, now baked in a cake pan, and was moister and a little sweeter than before.
On the drink side, expect sweet lemonade, sweet tea lemonade, Kool-Aid, and a surprisingly wide soda selection. One group was blown away by the variety, and a solo diner was happy to find Fiji water.
Cooked to Order, So Bring Some Patience
Fast food, this is not. And that is a good thing.
Every order is cooked fresh when you place it, so nothing sits under a heat lamp. As the owner put it in one reply, the food is not sitting around, it is cooked per order.
That means waits can stretch. One reviewer said her order took about 20 minutes and suggested ordering ahead if you are short on time.
Most guests say the wait pays off. Plates arrive hot and fresh, and people repeatedly call the meal worth it.
A few small extras help the time pass. Staff have handed out samples so first-timers can taste before deciding, which the owner says helps everyone find a good starting point.
You can also order and pay using a tabletop kiosk. One tip from a regular: it could use a wipe down now and then, but it makes ordering simple.
Atmosphere, Service and Who Will Love It
Clean. That word comes up in review after review, and I love seeing it.
One guest even noted a 97 health inspection score, an A.
The dining room is small and quaint, with mainstream pop playing low enough that you can easily talk. Someone also raved about a surprisingly decorative bathroom sink, a fun little detail you might not expect.
Service usually shines. Diners praise patient, helpful servers, a polite young man at the counter, and a team member named Harmony who made one visit special.
Fairness matters, so here are the other side notes. One visitor found the seating area a bit warm, another had to ask for napkins and ketchup, and a couple of guests reported rude treatment or burnt wings.
Overall, though, it suits families, comfort food fans, travelers passing through Buford, and anyone craving a homestyle Southern plate. Groups also find catering worth a look, since one diner discovered it through a work event.
Planning Your Visit and the Final Word
Ready to go? Timing matters, because the schedule shifts during the week.
Suthern Cluck is closed Mondays. It opens Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM.
You can call ahead at 678-926-3684 or check sutherncluck.com.
Arriving near closing time may mean some items, like the mac and cheese, are already gone. One guest learned that the hard way.
Prices feel fair and reasonable to most people, especially for the area. Portions are generous, though big group orders can add up quickly.
So, is it worth the trip? For me, the answer leans strongly toward yes.
It is not perfect every time, but the fried chicken, the soulful sides, and that warm family touch make Suthern Cluck a little Buford treasure I would happily cluck back to again.
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