Dining guide: Candidates for the best fried chicken in Lexington

Perhaps no state and no food item has as committed a relationship as does Kentucky and fried chicken.

KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken, despite culinary political correctness. Colonel Sanders began a trend which shows no signs of slowing down.

The ultimate comfort food, fried chicken with all the trimmings is ubiquitous in local restaurants.

And with Save-A-Lot on Southland Drive closing, we’re going to need a replacement. The deli there was known to have some of the best fried chicken in town.

Here are a few places that fry it up almost a good as your grandmother does.

This list includes a few chains but not major fast food ones. We’re not saying they don’t have good chicken. We’re just focusing on alternatives.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

321 East Vine Street, gusfriedchicken.com “Always fresh, never frozen” is Gus’s motto. Hormone-free and fried in peanut oil, it is available both in individual pieces and plates, where the chicken is accompanied by baked beans, cole slaw and white bread.

They offer a weekday special (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) which includes two pieces of chicken, one small side and a drink for $6.50 plus tax. 859-523-8008

Grimes’s Fast Food

4248 Saron and 325 Roosevelt Boulevard, grimessfastfood.com/ Formerly Richie’s, the name was changed to reflect 30 years of family ownership. Whatever the name, many foodies and restaurant critics alike claim it has the best fried chicken in Lexington, and attribute it to their patented blend of herbs and spices.

You can have your chicken regular or hot and spicy, in boxes or family packs, the latter of which includes 10 pieces of chicken, two pints of sides and five rolls for $28.75. 859-523-8222 (Saron) or 859-255-0445 (Roosevelt)

Indi’s Fast Food Restaurant

670 North Broadway, facebook.com/Indis.Lexington/ This popular drive-through spot on North Broadway is a good choice for spicy and regular chicken as well as wings, either in individual orders or family packs. It’s best to call for hours of operation as information on their website has not been updated. 859-233-7985

Merrick Inn

1074 Merrick Drive, themerrickinn.com/ Once the manor house for a horse farm, the Merrick Inn has been a family-owned restaurant for 40 years. Though it has an extensive menu, it is famous for its Southern fried chicken – white or dark meat and hand-breaded (two pieces are $17; four pieces are $23, with an additional charge for all breast meat). If you order chicken as an entrée, you get a choice of two sides, including such Southern favorites as green beans and corn pudding. 859-269-5417

Joella’s Hot Chicken

101 Cochran Road, joellas.com/ Joella’s currently lists a special temporary menu which in the chicken category is limited to jumbo chicken tenders; waffles and tenders, Big Wings, and what they call Vegan Chicken (a mix of soy-based pea, carrot, beet root, potato and seasoning). You select your heat level from Southern to Fire In Da Hole.

They offer a family picnic pack for four (12 jumbo tenders, one quart of sides and two dipping sauces, $37.99) and for eight (24 tenders, two 2-quart sides and two dipping sauces, $69.99). 859-269-9593

Josanne’s Homestyle Cooking

3449 Buckhorn Drive, facebook.com/JosannesHomestyleSoulKitchen/ Located on Buckhorn Drive off Man ‘O War near Tates Creek, this Black-owned, , veteran-owned and woman-owned restaurant specializes in Southern home cooking. The chicken and waffles – “made to order with love” — is a favorite. 859-245-0110

Ramsey’s Diner

Multiple locations; ramseysdiners.com/ This popular spot with four locations (Zandale, Andover, Harrodsburg Road and Tates Creek Road) serves up fried chicken in a number of ways. They have the traditional meat and three (fried chicken breast with three sides); fried chicken strips in a chef salad for the more health conscious, and a Buffalo fried chicken sandwich dipped in their hot buffalo sauce with a side of homemade bleu cheese dressing. 859-259-2708 (Zandale) 859-264-9396 (Andover) 859-219-1626 (Harrodsburg Road) 859-271-2638 (Tates Creek)

Parkette Drive-In

1230 East New Circle Road, theparkette.com This local favorite is a throwback to the 1950s “American Graffiti” style drive-in offering iconic burgers, fries and shakes, and equally legendary fried chicken baskets. Those looking for a healthier option can get their fried chicken atop a salad of lettuce, tomatoes and shredded cheese. 859-254-8723

Southern Countrylicious

4300 Winchester Road, facebook.com/SouthernCountrylicious/ This spot way out Winchester Road describes its menu as “Southern country food that feeds the soul.” Of course, their fried chicken breast meal with two sides feeds the body as well, especially if those sides are the mouth-watering skillet cornbread and green beans which have been cooked all day. 859-294-7704

Mi Mi’s Southern Style Cooking

126 East New Circle Road, facebook.com/mimissouthernstylecooking/ For those on a budget, Mimi’s on New Circle Road offers inexpensive soul food, including fried chicken, made from scratch daily. 859-523-0490

Winchell’s

348 Southland Drive, winchellsrestaurant.com/ Although not strictly devoted to chicken, Winchell’s, like the Merrick Inn and Ramsey’s, has become well-known for its poultry. They have a fried chicken platter served with country green beans and mashed potatoes for $15.99, and a chicken finger platter, hand-breaded, deep fried chicken breast strips served with fries and creamy cole slaw for $14.99. For something different, try Winchell’s Hot Chicken, a fried boneless chicken breast, dipped in their homemade spice blend and served over white bread with dill pickles for $15.99 859-278-9424

This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 6:00 AM.