7 Best Fried Chicken Joints in Missouri for 2024!
Missouri is a state that may be famous for its barbecue, but believe us when we tell you that the cooks in the Show Me State are no slouches when it comes to fried chicken, either. Chefs from all over the state have honed their brines and spice mixes for years, creating little morsels of succulent, crispy goodness. For 2024, these are Missouri's top 7 fried chicken restaurants!
Southern, St. Louis, MO
Southern, St. Louis’ upscale answer to down-home cooking, may reach a culinary pinnacle with its fried chicken. Inspired by Nashville-style hot chicken, at Southern, you pick the pieces you want, a couple of sides, and just how hot you want your chicken. Heat choices range from original (“hint of spice”) to cluckin’ hot (“may burn the next day”).
Ms. Kim's Fish & Chicken Shack, Fulton, MO
Ms. Kim's Fish & Chicken Shack is a family-run business with pride and happiness. Their oil is free of trans-fats and cholesterol, with chicken and fish cooked one-by-one and to specifications. Customers are invited to savor their meal, with 15-20 minutes required for a delightful culinary experience.
Portia’s Café, Kansas City, MO
When it comes to comes to comfort classics like fried chicken, the most outstanding examples can often be found in the humblest of establishments, such as Portia’s Café in KC. Portia’s is all about signage and social media and marketing. Rather, they concentrate on what’s most important to their customers: The food. And Portia’s loyal fans come back for the food—especially the fried chicken plate—time and again.
Farmers Gastropub, Springfield, MO
Although fried chicken can be miraculous in its simplest form, an occasional elevated take on this favorite comfort food can be downright mind-blowing. Take the fried chicken at Farmers Gastropub in Springfield, for instance: You get their delicately fried chicken, paired perfectly with bacon and mushroom miso mac and cheese, blue cheese, green onions and a honey sriracha sauce. We dare you not to lick that plate clean!
MEs Place Soul Food Kitchen, Joplin, MO
Fried chicken is a soul food necessity. So, it’s really no surprise at all that MEs Place Soul Food Kitchen in Joplin does fried chicken as well as they do. They use generations-old family recipes to make all the restaurant’s food. But that crispy, golden chicken seems to outshine everything else—even the catfish.
Farmhouse Restaurant, Branson, MO
Folks who feel a hankerin’ for fried chicken in Branson frequent the Farmhouse Restaurant. While they have fried chicken in several guises—chicken tenders, chicken sandwich, for example—you want the house specialty chicken-fried-chicken platter (no, that is not a typo). It’s hand breaded, fried chicken that’s served Sunday dinner-style with mashed potatoes, a biscuit, and an additional side, such as sweet potato or fried okra.
Grace Meat + Three, St. Louis, MO
Another Nashville-style hot chicken entry, Grace Meat + Three does everything right. From perfectly brined, breaded, spiced and fried chicken to just the right balance on the Nashville hot sauce (you can go without, if you must), there are no misses at Grace. We loved the collard greens and hoppin’ john side dishes, too.
