National Fried Chicken Day: Where To Find Pittsburgh's Finest Fried Chicken

PITTSBURGH, PA - Thursday is National Fried Chicken Day, so indulging in that greasy delicacy should be on everyone’s bucket list today. But where to celebrate this most delicious of pseudo-holidays?

For guidance, we turned to Yelp to see what its reviewers consider to be the region’s best fried chicken joints. KFC surprisingly did not make the list.

What follows is an admittedly unscientific ranking of the top places in town to indulge one’s craving for fried chicken. Did Yelp users get it right? Let us know in the comments section below.

1. Carmi Family Restaurant, 917 Western Ave., North Side
“The food here is always spectacular,” raved one Yelp user. “I almost always get the smothered fried chicken with fried corn and mac and cheese. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and crisp, and the gravy puts the chicken over the top.” Added another: “Chicken and waffles. Enough said. Chicken came out hot with a perfectly crisp skin and moist meat. The waffles were lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar and had a slight sweetness to them.”

2. Chick’n Bubbly, 117 Oakland Ave., Oakland
We might sample this place after reading this Yelp review: “Ridiculously delicious sriracha-infused Korean Chicken Wings. This was the first place I ever tried KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and if this is anything to go by, I'm going to love it a long. long time.” Anoter reviewer opined: “A great Korean style fried chicken! Super crispy on the outside and moist inside. You can choose from two sauces, three different sizes. I believe with different combination of wings and drumsticks.”

3. The Coop Chicken and Waffles (food truck)
We’re not sure that people who crave tasty fried chicken care about this, but one Yelp scribe wrote, “The chicken is delicious and contains no added hormones, or antibiotics.” Apparently the food can be addictive. According to this Yelp reviewer: “We tried the Coop Chicken and Waffles food truck a while back and haven't been able to stop thinking about their food ever since. I started following them on Facebook so we could see where they're going to be.”

4. Soul Food Connection, 819 Wood St., Wilkinsburg
If you haven't had fried chicken at the soul food connection then you haven't had fried chicken,” one Yelpster raved. “They cook it up like they invented it. Expect steaming moist crispy perfectly spiced breasts and wings.”

5. The Pub Chip Shop, 1830 East Carson St., South Side
Chicken so good that it inspires theft? Apparently. One Yelpster wrote, “My friend had the fried chicken and sausage gravy, and when she wasn't looking I stole a few bites. It was fantastic.” Another ringing endorsement: “If you are a fan of greasy food, this place is for you.”

6. Quick-It Chicken, 820 Pennsylvania Ave., North Side
Said one reviewer: “Best soul food in Pittsburgh, straight-up. Cheap, delicious and fast.”

7. Hook Fish & Chicken, 1221 Federal St., North Side
“Whenever I get a taste for fried food we always frequent this place,” one Yelpster wrote. “Their chicken wings are delicious.”

8. Frisch’s, Caste Village Shopping Center, Whitehall
They apparently don’t just deep fry here. Wrote one Yelp reviewer: The chicken is the star here.. Broasting is frying under pressure, and the meat absorbs less oil than in traditional frying. Crispy outside, juicy within, and very delicious. I tried a thigh and some wings, and liked it all.”

9. Nana’s Place by Gibsons, 4510 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield
A disturbing mental image from this Yelp user who loves the place: “The smothered chicken...OMG I need to be smothered in those seasonings and sauce from head to toe.”

10. The Vandal, 4306 Butler St., Lawrenceville
Opined this reviewer: “The star player was fried chicken. Juicy and plumpy inside, crispy skin outside with bit of maple syrup or honey drizzled - made a perfect savory-sweet combo.”

Photos via Yelp.