Chicken Dinner
Photograph: Filip Wolak
Photograph: Filip Wolak

The best cheap fried chicken in NYC

For cheap fried chicken in NYC, head to these spots to find wall-friendly versions of the golden-crusted classic

Michele Herrmann
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Fried chicken remains an everyman’s food staple, and though some places can get a bit fancy, cheap fried chicken in NYC is where it’s at. Throughout the city, this breaded and well-seasoned wonder can be found with budget-minded prices and reasonable portions. Whether you want a classic dish at soul food restaurants or need to Instagram the latest and trendiest chicken-and-waffles dish, we’ve found the best offerings that won’t break the bank. Get your fingers ready and bite into this list.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to cheap eats in NYC

Best cheap fried chicken in NYC

  • American
  • West Village
  • price 1 of 4

At its Chelsea and Tribeca locations, lunchgoers can get a $9 special combo featuring two pieces of fried chicken, a side and a chocolate-chip cookie. There are also fried-chicken sandwiches with spicy mayo ($8.95), or fried chicken with kale salad ($9.95), but if you want buttermilk-dipped bird straight up, you can get a two-piece meal for $7 or good ol’ chicken fingers at $7 for three.

  • Soul and southern American
  • Bedford-Stuyvesant
  • price 2 of 4
Peaches HotHouse
Peaches HotHouse

This Southern regional eatery in Bedford-Stuyvesant cooks up classic fried chicken, as well as its fiery Nashville-style cousin ($15). Get the former as a sammie topped with crisp slaw and served with french fries ($12).

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  • Midtown East
  • price 2 of 4

Located in Urbanspace’s Vanderbilt Market, this counter-service stand puts together chicken sandwiches that may tingle your taste buds (hello hot sauce!) but won’t scorch your bills. The Original Chicken Sandwich comes humbly with mayonnaise, hot sauce and pickles, while the Spicier Chicken Sandwich is just that, with pickled jalapeno, spicy mayo and Havarti.

Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Don S.

  • Korean
  • Midtown West
  • price 1 of 4

The weekday lunch special at this Korean fried-chicken franchise will leave your appetite full and your pocket not empty. Here, their signature wings and drumsticks can be bought for $8.95 in soy-garlic or spicy varieties, or do a half-and-half combo.

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  • Soul and southern American
  • Carroll Gardens
  • price 2 of 4
Wilma Jean
Wilma Jean

This casual Carroll Gardens spot dishes out buttermilk-dredged fried chicken as a thigh ($4), drumstick ($3), a breast and wine pairing ($7) or as a sandwich ($7) or taco ($8). Add on their well-noted tater tots ($4, with additional toppings ranging from $1 to $2 each) and make your inner child happy.

  • Soul and southern American
  • Williamsburg
  • price 1 of 4

Fried chicken takes center stage at this Southern eatery in South Williamsburg. Pad out a chicken biscuit ($7.50)—featuring a crispy cutlet on buttermilk bread slathered in hot sauce and honey butter—with $5 sides like macaroni and cheese or smoked pork collards.

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  • American
  • East Village
  • price 2 of 4
Bromberg Bros. Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
Bromberg Bros. Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken

This East Village counter operation has solid price choices for combos and sandwiches, as well as some darn good sauces to accompany them. A fried-bird sandwich comes with shredded lettuce, tomato and pickled cucumbers on a toasted bun, or if you want poultry at its most unadulterated, opt for the Wing Man (two wings for $7.95) or the Drum Line (two drumsticks at $9.95).

  • Soul and southern American
  • East Village
  • price 1 of 4

This Southern comfort-food venue will leave patrons satisfied with its fried chicken and soul-food sides. During happy hour (3pm to 7pm), you can get chicken and beer for $5.35 or chicken and a biscuit ($3). If you want to pop in during lunchtime, their fried-chicken sandwich includes one side for $11.75, with optional zesty pimento cheese for a buck.

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  • Flushing
  • price 2 of 4

In Flushing, this trendy Korean chicken spot recently updated its menu but still gets touted for its traditional and fusion fare—don’t worry, fried chicken is still included. The crispy fowl includes a half chicken for $11 (whole is $20) and wing portions in 12-piece ($14) and 20-piece groupings ($25).

Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Jill R.

  • Korean
  • Midtown West
  • price 2 of 4

This Korean restaurant-club hybrid offers plenty of fried-chicken options, including standard wings, drumsticks and mixed combinations in soy-garlic, spicy and half-and-half varieties (portion sizes range from small at $9.95 to large at $22.95). There’s also a fried-chicken “burger,” with soy-garlic sauce, lettuce, tomato and red onions with a side of fries ($14.95).

Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/PhechPloy Patt P.

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