The Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches In Seattle

Just about any fried chicken sandwich is some degree of delicious. Deep-fried pieces of poultry coated in spices on buttery buns just hardly ever go wrong. But while the floor is high, only certain fried chicken sandwiches are worth driving across town for, particularly in Seattle where burgers often get most of the glory. You'll find those sandwiches right here in this guide.

THE SPOTS

Triangle Spirits

Within the dusty facade of a wood-paneled dive in Fremont , Triangle Spirits casually serves the best fried chicken sandwich in town. Their brittle dredge is delicate, breast meat stays moist without tasting waterlogged in buttermilk, and simple toppings—lettuce, pickles, and plain ol’ mayo—prop up the poultry nicely. It’s all stacked on a sturdy ciabatta bun that holds everything in place, making it a perfectly acceptable car meal.

Cookie’s Country Chicken

At Cookie’s in Ballard , fried chicken comes in many forms—on the bone, as strips or popcorn-style bites, and even tossed in a poutine bowl. And with a dredge that has a softer, more subtle crunch, it doesn't get in the way of what's important, which to be clear, is the meat itself. Gravitate towards the Barn Burner sandwich (a classic display slathered in Duke’s Mayo) for the juiciest success. But really, you’ll want to use the thing as a vehicle for the many homemade dipping sauces Cookie's serves, like habanero ranch, sunny sauce (think Thousand Island), and creamy chipotle sauce.

Ma'ono Fried Chicken

Ah, old reliable. Ma’ono at University Village has been around for a while, and their chicken sandwiches absolutely still hold up. There’s a bit of a Nashville-style thing going on, with a craggy breading that gets a dunk in smoky pork fat before a shower of bright crimson seasonings. Between that smoky heat, chunky daikon pickles, a squirt of kewpie, and a buttery hawaiian bun, it’s the only thing we want after blowing our savings on Mother denim. And, let it be known that you can order a fried (pork fat-free) vegetarian patty that’s pretty dang satisfying.

Novelty Hill / Januik Winery

Sliders would like to remind you that they’re sandwiches too. We didn’t think we’d find some of the area’s finest at a Woodinville winery , but here we are. The tenderly dredged babies at Novelty Hill-Januik are damn delightful, with impeccable juiciness, a lemon-forward mayo, sharp pickled red cabbage, and itty bitty brioche rolls. A plate of three pairs really well with their zesty GSM rosé.

Oasis Tea Zone

Normally, we’d pop into Oasis for a pristine brown sugar bubble tea and to watch UW students procrastinate by way of Taiwanese popcorn chicken buckets. But it’d be a mistake to ignore their spicy sandwich. It’s a simple construction—just creamy orange mayo and slaw on a squishy bun—but it’s so satisfying that we’d brave parking on The Ave just to swing by for dinner.

Big Max Burger Co.

When the moment calls for fancy fast food, that’s where Big Max comes in by way of homemade nuggets, herb-salted fries, and little gem caesar salads. Their Hot Mama Hen is no exception, with buttermilk-fried breast, a slick coating of hot honey glaze, bread and butter pickles, and drippy ranch. And at $13, the price is still on par with some other non-fancy places in town.

Mt. Joy

Capitol Hill has more than a few options in the late-night fried chicken sandwich department, but Mt. Joy is really the only one to seek out. We’re not just saying that because they’re open until 2:30am on Fridays and Saturdays. For sandwiches, go get the spicy version dripping with habanero honey. Even without a brine, the breast meat isn’t dry and the herb-flecked crust is well-salted. The best (and worst) part about this place? Each time an order is ready, a speaker blasts an audibly accurate cock-a-doodle-do—making the weekend late-night rush sound like a barnyard hootenanny.

The Chicken Supply

The Chicken Supply specializes in spectacular Filipino fried chicken dredged in a blend of tapioca starch, rice flour, and potato starch—all gluten-free . They’ll only serve sandwiches on occasion, though, so if you see them announced on Instagram, drop your plans. The only thing better than the restaurant's fried chicken is when you smash it between toasted pandesal halves with bread and butter pickles, fresh tomato, lettuce, and tart calamansi remoulade.

Farmboy Bites

It doesn’t seem fair that the same brewery walkup window serving one of Seattle’s best smashburgers also makes a fantastic fried chicken sandwich—but don’t question it. Order the Thigh Baby, a brined and chonky thigh that has a perfect ratio of heat to sweetness (courtesy of hot honey and habanero). The meat melds nicely with the brine of thick pickles, a crunch of slaw, and a bun that holds its integrity despite absorbing a lot of sauce. And it’s best washed down with one of Future Primitive Brewing ’s hoppy IPAs.

Damn The Weather

If you’ve ever taken the time to whack a Ziploc bag full of Corn Flakes with a rolling pin on a journey to coat chicken, you’ll appreciate the sandwich at this Pioneer Square bar. The cornmeal-crusted exterior retains its grainy crisp nicely, while pickles cut through the grease and help bridge the gap between chicken richness and garlicky aioli. It’s kind of a big beast, but doable without having to unravel your silverware bundle.