by Ahsan Washington
July 6, 2025
They don’t seem to be plucking’ round
Who knew July 6 was Nationwide Fried Hen Day? Not solely is in the present day the proper day to tug as much as your favourite spot and order a correct two-piece, it represents excess of meals—it embodies a culinary artwork that many Black of us have mastered. Throughout the nation Black‑owned institutions mix their experience to a soulful dish that’s deeply-rooted in taste. Take a look at these eight eating places that don’t pluck round in terms of frying up scrumptious crispy hen.
Willie Mae’s Scotch Home
Since 1957, Willie Mae’s Scotch Home in New Orlean has remained a family-owned institution delivering conventional New Orleans soul meals. Willie Mae Seaton established the restaurant which her granddaughter Kerry Seaton Stewart continues to function. Willie Mae’s is a should go to vacation spot for culinary fanatics on account of its easy ambiance mixed with memorable flavors, nonetheless, is famend for its tender crispy hen, and even earned a James Beard Award in 2005.
Busy Bee Café
Since 1947 Busy Bee Café has stood as a culinary treasure in Atlanta, Georgia, delivering distinctive Southern dishes. Tracy Gates owns this Atlanta institution which stands as a cornerstone within the metropolis’s Black culinary group and receives admiration from each native residents and civil rights leaders. Busy Bee Café’s menu showcases its deep-rooted historical past by means of a scrumptious two-piece combo that gives yams, collards, and scorching cornbread. Busy Bee has received the James Beard Award in 2022 and acquired a Michelin Bib in 2024. Nevertheless, it’s the golden brown fried hen that steals the present.
Lo-Lo’s Hen & Waffles
The culinary treasure Lo-Lo’s Hen & Waffles emerged in Phoenix, Arizona throughout 2002 by means of the efforts of its founder Larry “Lo-Lo” White. Each chunk of the Hood Classics two-piece delivers crispy perfection alongside a soul meals legacy that stands unmistakable. Lo-Lo’s transports the Deep South’s wealthy flavors into the Southwest creating a vital vacation spot for meals fanatics.
Honey’s Kettle Fried Hen
The famend Honey’s Kettle Fried Hen in Culver Metropolis, California emerged in 2000 below Vincent Williams’ management. By its distinctive kettle-frying methodology Honey’s Kettle delivers a lighter but crispier fried hen expertise that maintains full taste integrity. A pleasant two-piece kettle-fried hen paired with honey-drizzled biscuits graces the menu. The ambiance echoes conventional Sunday dinners whereas incorporating a particular West Coast aptitude that makes it distinctive.
Charles Pan-Fried Hen
Charles Pan-Fried Hen emerged as a Harlem important by means of its supply of mouthwatering delicacies within the early Nineties. Charles Gabriel makes use of conventional strategies to create his well-known dishes. Experiencing the two-piece skillet-fried combo turns into a necessity the place crispy hen items meet collard greens over a mattress of rice.
The Hen Hut
Since 1957, The Hen Hut has been delivering its signature crispy fried hen to Durham, North Carolina patrons. The Thorpe household possession has maintained the restaurant as a cornerstone of Durham’s Black group all through a few years. Hen Hut stands out as a vacation spot the place guests can expertise native delicacies by means of its budget-friendly choices and powerful family-oriented atmosphere. Among the many various menu choices, the two-piece darkish meat mixture with baked mac and potato salad stands out as a buyer favourite.
Ezell’s Hen
Established in 1984 by Ezell Stephens and Lewis Rudd, Seattle’s Ezell’s Hen delivers crispy hen items alongside conventional facet dishes. Ezell’s Hen which constructed a powerful buyer following for its tasty meals now operates past Seattle whereas supporting different Black companies by means of grant packages.
Cleo’s Southern Delicacies
Chef Kristen Ashley established Cleo’s Southern Delicacies as a Chicago landmark in 2019. By her completely seasoned crispy hen Chef Ashley grew to become “Chicago’s Fried Hen Queen,” and it’s essential to expertise their Fried Two-Piece with Spicy Remoulade. A pleasant mixture of taste and texture emerges when the fried hen is pay with honey cornbread muffins and candy potatoes.
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