Ask five Georgians where to find the best fried chicken in the state and you will probably get six answers, plus a long story about somebody’s grandmother. This list covers eight real places, from a 1940s Atlanta soul food counter to a mountain farm resort in Rabun County, where fried chicken shares the table with collards, biscuits, and banana pudding.
Some are famous for their history, some are known for communal tables, and a few are simple lunch stops where the line tells you everything you need to know. Save this one for your next road trip, then pick a side, because the debate over which kitchen does it best is not ending anytime soon.
1. The Busy Bee, Atlanta, GA
Since around 1947, a small storefront on M.L.K. Jr. Drive SW has been feeding Atlanta one plate of soul food at a time.
The Busy Bee sits in one of the city’s most historic areas, and its long run in the community is a big part of why it keeps landing in every fried chicken argument.
The star is simply called Busy Bee’s Fried Chicken, and it anchors a menu of classic sides. Think mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, potato salad, black-eyed peas, and a cornbread muffin to round things out.
Smothered pork chops also have a loyal following here, so indecisive groups may want to split plates.
The space is small, casual, and lively, with autographed celebrity photos on the walls. Service is quick once you reach the front, but a wait is common, especially on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons and evenings.
I would aim for an early lunch on a weekday if you want the shortest line. The kitchen runs daily from 11 AM to 7 PM, and takeout and delivery are available if you would rather eat at home.
Budget roughly $20 to $30 per person. Parking options include free and paid street spots and lots nearby, so check what is open before you circle the block.
2. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, Savannah, GA
Lunch at this Savannah institution comes with a side of new friends. Tables seat around 10 to 12 people, and you sit wherever there is room, so passing the fried chicken to a stranger is part of the deal.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room has been family-owned since 1943, and it still runs on a simple idea. Bowls and platters land on the table, and everyone serves themselves in true all-you-can-eat fashion.
Fried chicken and biscuits are the headliners, but the spread goes deep. Collard greens, okra and tomatoes, candied yams, butter beans, red rice, meat loaf, baked beans, and cole slaw can all show up, with banana pudding as a sweet finish.
Here is the catch. The dining room only serves lunch, Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM, and it does not take reservations, so the line on West Jones Street is a regular sight.
While you wait, you may hear a bit about the history of the building and dining room, which makes the time pass faster. Plan for about $30 to $40 per person, and give yourself extra time for parking, since spaces in this part of downtown can be hard to find.
3. H&H Soul Food Restaurant, Macon, GA
Music fans tend to show up at H&H for the walls and stay for the plates. The Forsyth Street cafe is covered with Georgia musical history, and famous artists have eaten here over the decades, which gives Macon’s soul food debate a soundtrack.
The restaurant dates to around 1959 and keeps a no-frills, classic room. It is a daytime spot, open 7 AM to 3 PM on weekdays and 8 AM to 3 PM on weekends.
Breakfast is a real draw. The country ham breakfast, breakfast burrito, and a local favorite called the Red Dog all live on the morning side of the menu.
Later in the day, Southern comfort food takes over, with plates like brisket, collard greens, and cabbage with sweet and hot peppers. Fried green tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and soul rolls make good starters for the table, and bread pudding is the dessert to save room for.
Prices stay friendly at around $10 to $20 per person. There is free lot and street parking, and the busiest stretches tend to be Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from morning into the afternoon.
No reservations here, so walk in and grab a seat when one opens up.
4. Minnie’s Uptown Restaurant, Columbus, GA
Lunch breaks in Uptown Columbus get serious when fried chicken is involved. Minnie’s is a lunch-only cafeteria on 8th Street, and its short daily window means timing matters.
The setup is refreshingly simple. You pick a meat, add your sides, and eat off disposable plates with plastic utensils, with no fuss and no pretense.
Fried chicken leads the pack, alongside catfish, pork chops, baked chicken, meatloaf, and hamburger steak. Sides include mac and cheese, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, rice and gravy, okra, and cornbread dressing, with a biscuit or cornbread on the side.
Portions are large, so an afternoon nap is a reasonable follow-up plan.
Dessert deserves its own mention. Red velvet cake, yellow cake with chocolate frosting, and brownies make it tough to leave without a to-go box.
Hours run 11 AM to 2:30 PM Monday through Friday and again on Sunday, with Saturday closed. Sunday afternoon is the busiest time.
Expect to spend about $10 to $20 per person. Parking nearby can take a little patience, so I would build in a few extra minutes.
5. The Smith House Historic Inn and Restaurant, Dahlonega, GA
Few restaurants can claim a gold mine shaft on the property. The Smith House can, and that bit of Dahlonega history adds a fun twist to a meal in the heart of Georgia’s original gold rush town.
The inn dates to 1899 and sits right in downtown Dahlonega on South Chestatee Street. It pulls double duty as a place to stay, with rooms on the main property plus cottages, and a restaurant known for family-style Southern dining.
Family-style is the key phrase here. Dishes are shared around the table, which makes it an easy pick for big groups, weekend getaways, or anyone who likes sampling a little of everything.
This is also a place many families return to across generations. Plenty of people first came as kids and now bring their own children, which says a lot about its staying power.
Check the hours before you go. The restaurant is closed Monday, open 11 AM to 3 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM to 8 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 11 AM to 7 PM on Sunday.
I like pairing a meal here with a stroll around the downtown square.
6. Dillard House a Mountain Farm Resort, Dillard, GA
Mountain views and a table crowded with bowls make a strong opening argument. Up in Dillard, near the North Carolina line, this farm resort serves hefty family-style Southern spreads in a dining room lined with knotty pine floors, walls, and ceilings.
The food arrives in waves. Fried chicken and fried okra share space with ribs, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cabbage casserole, butternut squash casserole, cole slaw, and a tomato, onion, and cucumber salad.
Save a spot for peach cobbler, which fits right in with the North Georgia setting.
Before you head out, the shop inside is a fun stop. It stocks Southern goods like biscuit mix, hot sauce, syrups, jams, and candies, which make easy souvenirs for the folks back home.
Timing is flexible depending on the day. Monday through Thursday, it serves from 11:30 AM to 7 PM, while Friday through Sunday adds breakfast from 8 to 10:30 AM before reopening at 11:30 AM until 8 PM.
I would save this one for a fall leaf-peeping trip or a weekend drive through Rabun County. Come hungry and bring people who like to share.
7. Wife Saver, Augusta, GA
Every Augusta family seems to have a Wife Saver order memorized. The name is a local fixture, and this long-running chain has several locations around the area, with the Washington Road spot serving as a handy stop in the city’s busy west side.
Fried chicken is the reason it exists. Chicken strips, mac and cheese, chicken and dumplings, and hush puppies fill out the menu, and banana pudding is the classic finish.
Convenience is a big part of the appeal. There is a drive-through, counter service, and seating inside, plus free Wi-Fi and plenty of free parking.
Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM every day, which makes it one of the easier stops on this list to fit into a schedule. Sunday afternoon brings the biggest crowd, while weekday mornings and midweek evenings tend to be calmer.
Most meals land around $10 to $20 per person. Catering is available too, so it is a common pick for office lunches and family gatherings.
No reservations needed. Just pull up, order a box, and let the debate begin in the car.
8. Paschal’s Restaurant & Bar, Atlanta, GA
History hangs on the walls at Paschal’s, and it is part of the meal. The restaurant holds a significant place in Atlanta’s past, and the decor and staff help explain that story to guests who are new to it.
Paschal’s Fried Chicken is the signature dish, and it is the reason this brick-walled Northside Drive spot shows up in so many local debates. Southern specialties round out the menu, including catfish fingers, blackened catfish, Voodoo Fried Shrimp, and Southern fried green tomatoes.
Sides like collard greens, yams, and Brussels sprouts keep the plates balanced. Paschal’s Famous Peach Cobbler and a glass of sweet tea make a fitting close.
Compared to the counter-service stops on this list, the setting is more polished. The dining room is spacious, there is outdoor seating, and there is a private dining room for larger gatherings.
Reservations are recommended for brunch and dinner, especially on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings. Tuesday mornings are usually the quietest.
Hours run 11:30 AM to 9 PM Monday through Thursday, until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 11 AM to 9 PM on Sunday. Valet and street parking are available, and most meals come in around $20 to $30 per person.
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