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The 10 Spots for the Best Fried Chicken in Manchester That Will Knock Your Feathers Off!
They say cooking fried chicken is easy. You just coat it in some sort of mixture and deep fry it. It’s a no-brainer, innit?
Wrong! It may be easy to cook it, but it’s certainly tough to perfect. Fried chicken should be crispy, tender, and seasoned really well—so well that it’ll leave you gobsmacked!
So, we did the not-so-hard part of the research and tried all kinds of fried chicken in Manchester. After weeks of satisfied appetites and many second plates, we finally came up with our top ten. Cluck ‘em out!
Cardinal Rule
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Address: Northern Monk Refectory MCR – 10 Tariff St
Contact: [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday – Friday: 12 pm – 9 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
- Sunday: 10 am – 7 pm
Cardinal Rule does not play when it comes to chicken! They’ve perfected one of THE best fried chicken in Manchester with rich flavours, offering classic Southern-American style—perfectly crispy on the outside but absolutely tender on the inside!
They’re popular for their sandwiches, where instead of the usual buns, you get biscuits tightly hugging the chicken. They complement each other well, as the biscuits are fluffy while the chicken is crunchy.
Try out our favourite, the banging Miss Honey! It’s made with large fried chicken breast filled with chipotle mayo and honey. There’s a spicy kick to it, bringing out a tonne of flavours—a proper loaded meal!
You can also pair your chicken with the potato salad to refresh your palate.
Pro Tip:
Bring extra napkins and a hand sanitiser because eating the massive biscuit chicken sandwich will be slightly messy, just in case you can’t find a loo to wash your hands.
Chimaek
Media credit: chimaekuk
Address: Unit 8, The Quadrangle, Hulme St
Contact: 0161 236 0188
Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Sunday: 12 pm – 9 pm
The Korean food craze has made it to Manchester… and it’s absolutely delicious! The Korean restaurant Chimaek, pronounced as chi-meck, is a portmanteau of chi (fried chicken) and maekju (beer). And yes, their menu is best paired with a cold pint!
They double-fry their fried chicken, resulting in a crispier coating while retaining a juicy interior! With every bite, you’ll feel the crispness, yet it doesn’t taste oily at all.
The Honey Garlic Original Chicken is always a classic in Korean restaurants, and it always hits the right spots. For a bit of a kick, the sweet and spicy option has a decent amount of spice without feeling too hot! It isn’t complete without beer, though!
Pro Tip:
Get the best of both worlds and order a half and half—getting two flavours will make sure you won’t get bored with just one.
Yard & Coop
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Address: Agecroft House – 37 Edge St
Contact: Online contact form
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 12 pm – 9 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 10 pm
When you’re hungry, the Northern Quarter will never disappoint! It’s home to Yard & Coop, a place that makes to-die-for buttermilk fried chicken! It tastes like no other, which is no shocker because they use a super secret recipe.
You cannot miss out on the Cherry Coke BBQ Wings, which is inspired by the Deep South but with a twist—it’s sprinkled with popping candy and has an extra twang that adds a bit of surprise! It’s the Wingfest 2023 winning sauce, too!
But of course, the combos will always be winners, as they come with loaded fries and a side. The Dirty One is crispy buttermilk fried chicken with homemade cheese sauce, hot honey, and blue cheese. For a spicy crisp, the Buff Daddy hits the mark!
Pro Tip:
Dining with the family? Bring your little munchkins from 12 pm to 6 pm and take advantage of the kids eat free promo! Do you want to see more places where the tots can eat at zero cost? Click here!
Bird of Prey
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Address: Circle Square – Unit 49A Charles St
Contact: 0161 5238 825
Hours:
- Monday – Wednesday: 11 am – 11 pm
- Thursday: 11 am – 1 am
- Friday: 11 am – 4 am
- Saturday: 9 am – 4 am
- Sunday: 11 am – 12 am
One of the best places for chicken wings in Manchester is Bird of Prey, a restaurant in the Circle Square with a straightforward menu. It’s a brilliant spot when you’re craving late-night chicken wings dipped in sauce!
You get the choice of 5, 10, or 15 chicken wings (or strips if you don’t like them with bones), which come with different sauce options. The Buffalo Hot is a staple, where the fried chicken is coated in Frank’s Buffalo Sauce and blue cheese ranch.
Another must-try is the Louisiana Hot Honey for the right balance of sweet and spicy. Add the BoP fries for an added salty flavour to complement your juicy and well-sauced chicken wings!
Pro Tip:
Before ordering the wings, check the spice level if you aren’t used to hot sauces.
Bunsik
Media credit: bunsik_uk
Address: Piccadilly Gardens – 1A Parker St
Contact: Online contact form
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm
- Friday – Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm
Bunsik at Piccadilly Gardens nails our Korean food cravings to a tee. The menu fills our fried food needs, from chicken wings to corndogs! And everything is halal!
They serve Korean-style chicken, available in wings, boneless, or bites. But when it comes to munching on fried chicken, wings are the ultimate choice! The Honey Garlic Chicken flavour brings in the proper mix of sweet and sour!
For a little more filling, order a chicken burger! But it does go well with rice because it adds just the right neutral taste—the Buldak Mayo Cup Bap is yummy! You can also pair your fried chicken with tteokbokki, a rice cake in sweet and spicy sauce!
Pro Tip:
During peak hours, it gets busy since it’s right across the tram stop. Visit outside rush hours to get a table inside if you’re dining in.
BrewDog
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Address: 35 Peter St (bar locator)
Contact: 0161 467 1998, [email protected]
Hours:
- Sunday – Wednesday: 12 pm – 12 am
- Thursday: 12 pm – 1 am
- Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 2 am
Beer and fried chicken is a brilliant combination, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at BrewDog, a Manchester pub that serves banging beer! There’s a good variety that’ll mix perfectly well with juicy, crispy fried chicken, including alcohol free drinks!
It’s a no-nonsense pub that’s ideal for catching up with your mates, especially on Wednesdays during all-you-can-eat wings!
There aren’t loads of chicken choices, though. But the flavours are just right when you’re drinking beer. A classic choice is the buffalo sauce, which you can order with buttermilk chicken wings or beer-battered cauliflower!
The fried chicken wings are still crispy even when coated in sauce!
Pro Tip:
Don’t forget to pre-book for all-you-can-eat wings! If you want a free dessert, don’t be shy to challenge your server to a little game of rock, paper, scissors!
Cane & Grain
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Address: 49 – 51 Thomas St
Contact: Online contact form
Hours:
- Sunday – Thursday: 12 pm – 2 am
- Friday – Saturday: 12 pm – 3 am
Cane & Grain has the sauce and juiciness of fried chicken all sorted out. Sure, there aren’t loads of fried chicken choices, but sometimes, a straightforward menu is exactly what you need.
Plus, the place is spot on for having a natter with your mates. There are also tables outside when the weather allows it.
It’s a laid-back joint inspired by the ‘80s skate scene that adds a bit of a nostalgic feeling. It’s like a millennial heaven, innit?
What’s unique is that their chicken tenders are coated in cornflakes, resulting in a crispier exterior. The chicken wings covered with Louisiana sauce are yummy, especially when paired with chips and smooth, creamy ale.
Pro Tip:
Watch their socials for a free lunch! That’s a great way to kick off your week!
FOLK Didsbury
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Address: 169 – 171 Burton Rd, West Didsbury
Contact: [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday: 10 am – 10 pm
- Tuesday – Wednesday: 10 am – 11 pm
- Thursday: 10 am – 12 am
- Friday – Saturday: 10 am – 1 am
- Sunday: 10 am – 9 pm
Bring your mates to FOLK at Didsbury, a cosy neighbourhood bar that serves seasonal produce and diverse meals. There isn’t a massive fried chicken section on the menu, but the ones you get are amazing!
Usually, a chicken burger tastes better with ketchup and mayo. But here, you don’t need extra sauces because the buttermilk fried chicken is glazed with a spicy gochujang sauce and topped with kimchi mayo—absolutely bursting with flavours!
It has everything you love in a Korean fried chicken burger. The mix of sweet and spicy is spot on, and even if it doesn’t have the most authentic Korean taste, it’s still a cracking burger!
Pro Tip:
Avoid brunch hours because the place is usually packed!
Cleo’s Nashville Chicken
Media credit: cleos.nashville.chicken
Address: 63 – 65 Beswick St
Contact: +44 1616 695 950
Pickup and Delivery Hours:
- Monday – Tuesday: 4 pm – 11 pm
- Wednesday – Thursday: 3 pm – 11 pm
- Friday: 3:30 pm – 1 am
- Saturday: 3 pm – 3 am
- Sunday: 4 pm – 11 pm
Pricing: £
Website
You know the food is banging when the shop is local, small, and serves massive portions. Cleo’s Nashville Chicken is a hidden gem outside the city centre that we’re not gatekeeping anymore because everyone deserves to try their delicious fried chicken!
The Nashville Hot Wings are sweet and spicy with a well-seasoned sauce that’s packed with flavours yet not overwhelming. If you want to bite on something crunchier, the Nashville Hot Tenders will give you the crisp you’re looking for.
It would be a good idea to try the Solo Combo, composed of wings, tenders, the Classic ‘Ville burger, and fries. You get the best of everything, and they’re all fried, juicy, and flavourful!
Pro Tip:
Order online only because there’s no dine-in. Cleo’s only accepts pickup or delivery.
Frazers
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Address: 5 Bury Old Rd, Prestwich
Contact: 0161 460 4146
Pickup Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 4 pm – 11 pm (12 pm – 10:50 pm for delivery)
- Friday – Saturday: 4 pm – 1 am
- Sunday: 4 pm – 11:30 pm
Pricing: £
Website
The menu at Frazer’s is absolutely smashing! You get chicken burgers, wraps, hot wings, and fries. It’s like everything juicy, crispy, and mouthwatering gathered in one spot in Manchester!
They completely nailed their chicken, which is consistently crunchy with a juicy interior. The same goes for the Zinger Burger, where the crispy, flaky fried chicken is so big that it’s spilling out of the buns!
It’s full of flavours, too! The sauce just coats the fried chicken perfectly and every bite will have a spicy kick! You get to munch on a proper burger here!
You do need a drink to down all that crunch—and also something sweet and creamy to complement the savoury taste. Try the milkshake, which comes in various fun and chocolatey flavours, like Terry’s Orange, Kinder Bueno, and Milky Way!
Pro Tip:
If you don’t handle spice well, you can ask them for a different sauce to coat the chicken in. Try BBQ sauce!
