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Fans Say These 5 Grocery Stores Have the Best Fried Chicken
Everyone who loves fried chicken has a strong opinion on where to get the best version. Quite a few swear by Popeyes, some praise KFC, and of course, Jollibee is a favorite among many. But for some serious fried chicken aficionados, the best version of this crispy, salty dish might be at the grocery store.
If you’re on the hunt for grocery store fried chicken that’s as good as what you’ll get at a restaurant, the first supermarkets you stop at should be the chains with dedicated fan followings.
Scroll through social media, and it will become clear which stores have loyal devotees to their hot, ready-to-eat fried chicken. Reviewers online aren’t afraid to be honest: One store is clearly considered top tier, with quite a few shoppers sharing its crispy fried chicken in social media clips, while consumers have made it evident that you should avoid certain establishments when you're craving this dish.
To help you plan exactly where to go the next time you’re in need of a grocery haul and a good drumstick, we’ve rounded up five grocery chains with wildly popular fried chicken that you need to know about.
Publix
If one grocery store fried chicken had to be named as a collective favorite, it’s undoubtedly the version from this Florida-based supermarket. Served hot in the deli section, Publix’s fried chicken selection includes breasts, wings, thighs, and drumsticks. In one TikTok clip, Florida-based food reviewer Mandy (@eatdrinkbemandy) calls this chicken “amazing,” and a commenter agrees, saying, “Publix chicken is 10 out of 10.”
As Food & Wine has previously reported, this chicken is known for being “consistently juicy and tender, with a thick, well-seasoned coating that is very crisp.” The fried chicken at Publix is double-breaded, which likely accounts for its ultra-crispy crust that has won over so many fans.
Acme
According to this Northeastern grocery store’s website, its fried chicken is available after 10 a.m. every day, and you can often get a discount on “Cheep Chicken Mondays.” One shopper posted online saying that “If you want fried chicken, and you want good fried chicken, don’t go to Popeyes… You gotta go to the Acme. Because the Acme makes the best fried chicken.”
Comments under her post agree, with viewers raving about Acme’s fried chicken as well. Another fan notes that, “I am a fried chicken connoisseur. From the South. And you are correct. But they have to put it in a paper bag. The plastic makes it soggy.”
Stop & Shop
One fan of Stop & Shop’s fried chicken calls it the “best box of chicken” in Long Island. The store’s prices are often credited for providing good value, with one mother and major fan of the dish noting that she fed her family of 6 for under $25, a price that even included sides. This chicken is also brined, which helps infuse it with salty flavor throughout and prevents the meat from becoming dry.
Kroger
Kroger’s 8-Piece Fried Chicken currently has 174 five-star reviews and 43 four-star reviews out of 258 reviews online. Customers say they love how consistently well-seasoned, crispy, and moist this fried chicken is.
One review proclaims, “Honestly, this is the only grocery store fried chicken that I've actually enjoyed. It wasn't overly salty like others that I've tried. It was fresh and juicy with just the right amount of breading.” The chicken is hand-dipped and breaded daily, which might help account for its extra crispy texture.
Walmart
Perhaps the most controversial of all the options is Walmart’s fried chicken. The chain’s Freshness Guaranteed Fried Chicken is listed as a best-seller on the grocery chain’s website, but some of the recent one-star ratings indicate many folks aren’t fans of the product. One review notes, “The chicken was overcooked and so dried out it was brittle. We could not eat it.”
However, the passionate fanbase for this chicken can’t be ignored either. A five-star review calls it a “family favorite” and says, “The chicken is always moist and has a fantastic taste, and the breading is very good,” while recommending that you don’t purchase the chicken at the very end of the day if you want a fresh product.
Conclusion
If you shop at Walmart regularly, it’s worth trying this chicken to see if you’ll become another fan. We recommend taking a road trip to try all five of these options and see which one earns your long-term loyalty.