Chicago is known for its variety of delicious foods, such as our world-renowned deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dog. Chicago is also a great place to eat fried chicken! Here are 5 places any fried chicken lover should try in different places around the city.

1. Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – 847 W. Fulton Market

Gus’s is Chicago’s version of a Southern fried chicken shack. Located in the West Loop, it brings Memphis-style spices and southern sides such as baked beans, cole slaw, and fried okra into one plate of delicious harmony. Customers order their chicken by the type of dark or white meat they want, and the plates come with the sides that you choose and a slice of bread. The coating on their chicken is a mix of spicy and subtly sweet, and the first bite has a light crunch that suddenly melts in your mouth. Gus’s fried chicken is a meaty treat that costs between $5 – $8 for a plate.

2. Honey Butter Fried Chicken – 3361 S. Elston Ave.

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Located in Avondale, Honey Butter Fried Chicken is not your typical fried chicken shack. With its modern decor and crafted local beers, Honey Butter Fried Chicken serves delicious chicken and a chic ambience. The restaurant serves chicken by the piece, sandwiches, and unique sides such as their pimento mac n’ cheese and their creamed corn with thai green curry. Each meal comes with a side of their honeycomb shaped corn muffins and their trademarked Honey Butter. If you are looking for a sweet piece of meat, Honey Butter Fried Chicken is the place you should go through. Prices range from $4 to $12.

3. Harold’s Chicken Shack – 100 W. 87th St.

Harold’s is a staple name in CHicago and it has every reason to be so. Located on the Southside of Chicago, Harold’s is a simple restaurant with small tables and booth. The great thing about Harold’s is that is just sells really good chicken. There are no special embellishments or fancy sides (although you can order extra fries or coleslaw). Harold’s is a place where you can get some of the best chicken in Chicago for around $5. One of their trademarks is their mild sauce, a tangy sauce that they drench their fries in and makes you want to eat more after one bite.

4.  Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken – 5611 W. Madison St.

Uncle Remus is sometimes seen as the West Side’s version of Harold’s. They both offer their chicken by the piece and have similar prices ranging from $3-$8 for a chicken plate. However, Uncle Remus offers more than just great fried chicken. They also offer barbeque and side items such as mashed potatoes and fried okra. They also have a different type of mild sauce. It is sweeter than Harold’s mild sauce and can almost be compared to sweet and sour sauces from Chinese restaurants. Although it is seen as a competitor to Harold’s, the chicken is just as delicious.

5. The Budlong Hot Chicken – 1008 W. Armitage St.

If you are looking to extra spicy, the Budlong is the place to go. The Budlong serves Nashville-style fried chicken in a tiny space that used to be a bakery. Customers pick their chicken by the type of meat and serves simply chicken and sides. They use hormone and antibiotic-free birds and the chicken is fried to order. They also use an exclusive spice paste with varying levels of cayenne pepper. They also offer a variety of cane sugar sodas and a unique gelato-based bourbon vanilla wafer milkshake. Prices range from $11-$30.

You cannot go wrong with any of these choices. All 5 of them are affordable and delicious!