CLEVELAND, Ohio-- Fried chicken is always a hit. Once reserved for special occasions or Sunday dinner, it’s a mainstay of American diets nowadays. And as temperatures in Northeast Ohio begin to creep up, this crispy battered dish will soon be the centerpiece at family picnics in the park or at the beach.
The history of this comfort food is a murky one, since almost every country has its own version of the dish. But the first references to what we would consider American fried chicken actually show up in a British cookbook in 1747: Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy.
Fried chicken made it’s transition to the nightly American table about the time Harland Sanders began franchising his Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. Today, it’s the ultimate convenience food, with many grocery stores selling it in their prepared food sections.
In fact, there are so many fried-chicken options out there now, it’s difficult to know what’s best. We’re here to help. We sampled fried chicken from eight local grocery chains and big-box stores and reviewed them below.
Two stores we visited served their fried chicken cold, while the others kept it hot from the fryer. To get the truest taste, we chose to eat the chicken as it was sold -- cold or hot.
We bought eight-piece packages, where available, priced from $5.99 to $10.99.
What we found: Just because you dunk your chicken in batter and deep fry it, it most definitely does not all taste the same.
No. 8 Walmart fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings)
Price: $7.44
Our thoughts: This particular fried chicken tasted like it was yesterday’s leftovers that had been re-fried. Very dry, with an “old grease” taste. Have plenty of napkins available to catch all of the grease, which drips with every bite.
Editor’s Note: The chicken available when we visited was pre-packaged. We were told that unless the pre-packed bird was sold out, freshly-packaged meat was not available, even though they had some under the heat lamp in the case. In addition, we didn’t get the promised wings, though our package did contain four drumsticks.
No. 7 Heinen’s fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings)
Price: $10.99
Our thoughts: The breading on this fried chicken was very light in color and only slightly crispy -- certainly not enough for that crunchy texture you expect from fried chicken. This chicken lacked any flavor. Both the meat and the breading were bland, the pieces were smaller than others we tried, and the meat -- overall -- was on the dry side.
Editor’s Note: Variety packs sell out quickly, so customers wishing for a freshly made eight-piece pack of fried chicken are asked to order 24-hours in advance. We did have to wait about half-an-hour because our order wasn’t ready when we arrived, but it was hot and fresh when we left the store.
Individual packs are available, which include breasts, wings, or drumsticks.
No. 6 Whole Foods fried chicken
What you get: Sold in the cold case by the pound. You may choose a variety or just your favorite pieces.
Price: $9.99/lb.
Our thoughts: These large pieces were covered in thick breading and well cooked. The meat was moist and tender. The breading offers a unique spice blend. Was that Rosemary or Paprika? Either way, the spices are not overpowering. Sadly, by serving it cold, we missed out on what would have likely been a crispy crust.
No. 5 Giant Eagle fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings)
Price: $7.99
Our thoughts: Served hot, these good-sized pieces of chicken were juicy and well-cooked with a nice, crunchy coating. Sadly, it was a bit on the salty side, and slightly greasy.
No. 4 Acme fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings) also comes with jojo’s
Price: $10.99
Our thoughts: Large pieces of chicken with a crunchy skin, the breasts were cooked through, though remained moist and tender. The large wings made up for the smaller-sized thighs. The breading was mildly seasoned, but with a decidedly peppery taste. Slightly greasy.
Editor’s note: Sold as an eight-piece combo with jojo potatoes.
No. 3 Lucky’s Market fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings)
Price: $9.99
Our thoughts: Served cold, this chicken is a great option for your next gathering. Large, meaty pieces of poultry has a nice, thick, well-seasoned coating. The only downside we found was that the skin could be a bit chewy when served cold
No. 2 Meijer fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings)
Price: $5.99
Our thoughts: Meijer’s fried chicken offered up the largest pieces of chicken we found anywhere so you will get more value for your money with this selection. Large pieces of chicken were well cooked, yet remained juicy and tender. The thick, flavorful breading, was crunchy and offered a nice level of spice.
No. 1 Dave’s Markets fried chicken
What you get: 8 pieces (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, 2 wings)
Price: $9.99
Our thoughts: This meaty bird was well-cooked all the way through, regardless if it was a breast or a wing. The large-sized pieces were juicy and tender. The chicken is fried skin-on, but it comes out crunchy and nicely spiced and something you might find yourself eating all on it’s own -- it is that good. In spite of being deep-fried, it’s not greasy. By the line that is always present at lunch and dinner times, they definitely have a hit on their hands.
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