Ohio takes its fried chicken seriously, and once you start tasting your way across the state, you understand why people happily rack up highway miles for a good plate. From Serbian-style farmhouse recipes in Barberton to Korean double-fried wings in Columbus, the range here is wider than most folks expect.
This roundup pulls together seven spots, each with its own style, story, and signature crunch, so you can pick the one that fits your next road trip or weekend craving. Some lean old-school and homey, others go modern with creative sides and updated recipes.
A few have been feeding the same towns for decades. What they share is a reputation for chicken that keeps people coming back.
Save this list, share it with a fellow chicken fan, and start mapping out which one you visit first.
1. Belgrade Gardens, Barberton, OH
Barberton chicken is its own category in Ohio, and Belgrade Gardens has been shaping that reputation from a farmhouse setting since 1933.
The specialty here is Serbian-style fried chicken, served with the sides that make Barberton chicken famous. Think hot rice, coleslaw, and the hot sauce that regulars talk about long after the meal is over.
The menu stretches beyond the bird too, with chicken noodle soup, dumplings, and cabbage rolls rounding things out.
Prices land in the friendly $10 to $20 range, and the vibe stays casual, cozy, and historic. It works well for solo diners, groups, and families, with a kids menu and high chairs on hand.
One nice detail for planners is that reservations are accepted and parking is usually plenty. The restaurant is closed Mondays, then open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 7 PM and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 7 PM.
Weekend afternoons and Sunday get busy, so a midweek visit is your best bet for a quieter table.
2. Ron’s Roost, Cincinnati, OH
On the west side of Cincinnati, Ron’s Roost has built its name on generously sized pieces of fried chicken that anchor a genuinely big menu.
The kitchen goes past the chicken with prime rib, ribs, and a lineup of German-leaning sides like German potato salad and German hot bacon slaw. Comfort food fans can also find mock turtle soup and chicken livers.
The setting is relaxed and family-friendly, with a fireplace and sports on the TVs. It reads as a hometown spot rather than a polished dining room.
Expect to spend around $10 to $20 per person. There is a salad bar, dessert options, and a kids menu, which makes it an easy pick for groups with mixed appetites.
Hours run Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8:30 PM, Friday and Saturday until 9 PM, and Sunday until 8:30 PM. Saturday evening is the busiest stretch, while mornings stay quiet across the week.
Reservations are accepted, and parking is usually easy to find.
3. Soho Chicken + Whiskey, Cleveland, OH
Cleveland’s Lorain Avenue is home to a modern Southern kitchen that puts fried chicken front and center at Soho Chicken and Whiskey.
The chicken comes out crispy and juicy, often paired with homemade biscuits. The rest of the menu plays in the same lane, with chicken and waffles, deviled eggs, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and pimento cheese.
Sides steal the show too, including a Gouda mac and cheese and collard greens that regulars pair with the chicken.
This is the more upscale entry on the list, with a per-person range around $20 to $30 and a trendy yet cozy feel. It is owner-operated, and the service tends to match the atmosphere.
Hours are limited, so plan ahead. The spot is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM for brunch.
Friday and Saturday evenings fill up fast, and reservations are recommended for both dinner and brunch.
4. The Eagle OTR, Cincinnati, OH
Set right in the middle of Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood on Vine Street, The Eagle OTR brings a lively beer hall energy to Southern comfort food.
The fried chicken is the headliner, described as crispy, moist, and well-seasoned. Popular orders include the half chicken and the fried chicken sandwich, and the mac and cheese earns plenty of attention on its own.
Other Southern classics fill out the menu, from spoonbread and collard greens to a kale salad and a fried chicken BLT.
The room stays casual, trendy, and busy, drawing college students, families, and groups. There is a full bar, outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome outside.
Per-person prices run about $20 to $30. Hours are generous, with Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday until midnight, and Sunday until 10 PM.
Vine Street parking can be tricky and there is often a wait, so reservations for dinner are a smart move. Plenty of nearby restaurants make the whole block easy to explore.
5. CM Chicken – Columbus, Columbus, OH
Fried chicken fans looking for something beyond the classic Southern style should point the car toward CM Chicken in Columbus.
The specialty is Korean fried chicken, with wings, tenders, and drumsticks fried to a serious crunch and tossed in bold sauces. Options include soy garlic, curry, spicy garlic yangnyeom, and a lemon spring onion with snow onion topping.
Beyond the chicken, the menu spans onion rings, fried calamari, and curry tteokbokki, giving the table plenty to share.
The atmosphere leans trendy and casual, with K-pop on the TVs and a relaxed setting that draws college students and groups. Prices sit in the approachable $10 to $20 range.
The kitchen is closed Monday, then open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, Friday until 10 PM, Saturday from noon to 10 PM, and Sunday from noon to 9 PM.
Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest windows, and parking is usually plenty. The staff are known for helping first-timers pick a sauce.
6. Mel-O-Dee | Restaurant • Catering, New Carlisle, OH
A vintage diner in New Carlisle has been serving comfort food all day since 1965, and Mel-O-Dee earns its spot here on the strength of its broasted chicken.
The fried chicken dinner is the reason many people make the trip, often paired with the creamy coleslaw and the fresh homemade bread that comes to the table.
Breakfast runs strong too, with biscuits and gravy, western omelets, hash browns, and hashbrown casserole. Save room for pie, since the pecan pie and other homestyle pies are a signature finish.
The feel is small-town diner through and through, casual and cozy with efficient service. Prices land in the $10 to $20 range, which keeps it easy on the wallet.
Hours are broad, with Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 8 PM, Saturday until 9 PM, and Sunday until 8 PM. Weekend and Sunday afternoons draw the biggest crowds.
Reservations are not accepted, so plan around the busy stretches. Parking is usually plenty.
7. Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen | Amish, Mt Hope, OH
Deep in Ohio’s Amish country, Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen in Mt Hope serves down-home cooking that has become a Holmes County landmark for hearty meals.
The fried chicken and broasted chicken are the stars, but this is a full country spread. Expect pot roast, pork spareribs, chargrilled prime rib, real mashed potatoes with gravy, and a salad bar to build a plate around.
Then come the pies, and there are plenty of them, from cherry and pecan to a turtle sundae pie and peanut butter cream. The homemade dinner rolls are worth the trip on their own.
The setting is cozy, quiet, and family-friendly, with an all-you-can-eat buffet and daily specials. Prices stay in the $10 to $20 range, which makes the generous portions even more appealing.
Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM, and it is closed on Sunday. Saturday afternoon is the busiest, and reservations are not accepted, so expect a wait during peak times.
Several Amish restaurants dot the area, but this one keeps drawing regulars back.
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