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Fried chicken at Lou's Food Bar
Fried chicken at Lou's Food Bar
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The Ultimate Guide to Fried Chicken in Denver

This is where you can find Denver's best fried chicken.

by Jessie Levine
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Fried chicken at Lou's Food Bar
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by Jessie Levine

An early stage fried chicken renaissance is happening in Denver. Restaurants are elevating the game for the brined, flour-coated, and hot-oil-bathed bird to their menu. From the Post's irresistible (and gluten-free!) creations to the must-have potato-flour-dredged bird at the Squeaky Bean and the weekend-only offerings at Comida and Work & Class, there is a lot of eating to be done. Our hearts are still broken that Tom's Home Cookin' and the BSide shuttered but the fried chicken at new spots like the Wild Standard and Royal Rooster are easing the pain.

If we missed you favorite, please leave it below in the comments.

Disclosure: the editor is married to one of the developers behind The Source.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Ace Eat Serve

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501 E 17th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 800-7705
(303) 800-7705
Visit Website
Eight piece chicken is dry-rubbed and left to rest for 12 hours. Then it is tempura battered and fried at a low temp to crisp the skin and not dry out the chicken. To order, it is flash fried at a high temp. It is then wok-tossed with a gochujang honey sauce, lime leaves, Thai chilies, lemongrass, garlic, and ginger. The bird come atop kimchi, garnished with sesame seeds.
Adam Larkey

2. Black Eye Capitol Hill

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800 Sherman St
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 955-1205
(303) 955-1205
Visit Website
Fried chicken graces the offerings of Black Eye Cap Hill's breakfast menu, served daily, with cheddar, chive, and bacon biscuits.
Facebook

3. Comida @ The Source

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3350 Brighton Blvd
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 296-2747
(303) 296-2747
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The Fried Chicken Option is offered on the Mexican cantina's brunch menu. Buttermilk fried chicken is served with chimayo chile over roasted garlic mashed potatoes, jalapeño bacon jelly and spicy collard greens.
Adam Larkey

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4. Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery

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1900 16th St Unit C
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 420-0614
(720) 420-0614
Visit Website
Next time you work up an appetite strolling the 16th Street Mall, pop into Honor Society and order the gluten-free chia seed fried chicken. You can get it as a sandwich or on its own with sides.
Facebook

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5. Lou's Food Bar

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1851 W 38th Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 458-0336
(303) 458-0336
Visit Website
Chef Frank Bonanno offers Nashville-style fried chicken so hot and blistering hot that the amazing side will be a welcome break. You can order it medium or hot, but it is all served naked. Don't miss the black eyed pea salad side.
Facebook

6. Royal Rooster

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3316 Tejon St
Denver, CO 80211
(720) 420-0622
(720) 420-0622
Visit Website
Royal Rooster is Justin Brunson's newest addition to Denver's fried chicken renaissance, and it is a lunchtime only fried chicken sandwich eatery, a la David Chang's wildly popular Fuku concept, housed within Old Major. Red Bird Chicken from Englewood supplies the birds, which come with house-made buns and sides.

7. Sakura House

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1255 19th St Ste A
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 292-2323
(303) 292-2323
The kara age, Japanese style fried chicken, offered as an appetizer at Sakura House in Sakura Square, is an excellent option by itself or as an precursor to a heaping bowl of ramen.
Yelp

8. Steuben's

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523 E 17th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 830-1001
(303) 830-1001
Visit Website
Eight pieced all natural chicken is buttermilk-brined for 24 hours and then tossed in seasoned flour and fried at a low temperature to crisp the skin and cook the chicken through but keep it juicy. Then, to order four pieces (a half chicken) is refried to heat through and served with mashed potatoes, biscuit, and chicken gravy.

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9. The Cluck Truck

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1400 S Sheridan Blvd
Denver, CO 80232
(303) 408-2961
(303) 408-2961
Visit Website
For a fried chicken fix on the go, look no further than the Cluck Truck. The mobile food vendor can be found posted up in front of your favorite breweries like Black Shirt, Copper Kettle, and Strange Craft serving expertly fried chicken with sides of thinly sliced, tart yet slightly sweet pickles, and spicy ranch-type sauce.

10. The Post Brewing Company

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105 W Emma St
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 593-2066
(303) 593-2066
Visit Website
The fried chicken at the Post is a specialty. The buttermilk-drenched bird is cooked in a pressure-cooker, a process that allows it to retain its flavor without making it greasy. A bucket of 12 pieces is available for $32. The chicken is gluten-free.
Facebook

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11. The Squeaky Bean

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1500 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 623-2665
(303) 623-2665
Visit Website
This fried chicken, served at dinner only, is buttermilk brined, potato flour dredged with classic spices, and fried in peanut oil. It comes served with a succotash made with vegetables from Bean's farm and a buttermilk foam.
Facebook

12. Welton Street Cafe

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2736 Welton St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-6602
(303) 296-6602
Visit Website
An oldie but a goodie, the Welton Street Cafe has been serving soul food to Five Points for many years now. The fried chicken is not to be missed and comes with a variety of sides.
Facebook

13. Wild Standard

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1043 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(720) 638-4800
(720) 638-4800
Visit Website
Boulder's Wild Standard serves up a mean bird of the Pok Pok variety. The Pok Pok fried chicken on the dinner menu comes with local greens, mint, cilantro, and sweet basil.
Facebook

14. Work & Class

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2500 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 292-0700
(303) 292-0700
Visit Website
A weekly occurrence, this fried chicken shows up for Sunday supper only. It is served with house-made buffalo sauce. A variety of sides are available to accompany the fine bird.
Facebook

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1. Ace Eat Serve

501 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Adam Larkey
Eight piece chicken is dry-rubbed and left to rest for 12 hours. Then it is tempura battered and fried at a low temp to crisp the skin and not dry out the chicken. To order, it is flash fried at a high temp. It is then wok-tossed with a gochujang honey sauce, lime leaves, Thai chilies, lemongrass, garlic, and ginger. The bird come atop kimchi, garnished with sesame seeds.
501 E 17th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 800-7705
Visit Website

2. Black Eye Capitol Hill

800 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203
Facebook
Fried chicken graces the offerings of Black Eye Cap Hill's breakfast menu, served daily, with cheddar, chive, and bacon biscuits.
800 Sherman St
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 955-1205
Visit Website

3. Comida @ The Source

3350 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216
Adam Larkey
The Fried Chicken Option is offered on the Mexican cantina's brunch menu. Buttermilk fried chicken is served with chimayo chile over roasted garlic mashed potatoes, jalapeño bacon jelly and spicy collard greens.
3350 Brighton Blvd
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 296-2747
Visit Website

4. Honor Society Handcrafted Eatery

1900 16th St Unit C, Denver, CO 80202
Facebook
Next time you work up an appetite strolling the 16th Street Mall, pop into Honor Society and order the gluten-free chia seed fried chicken. You can get it as a sandwich or on its own with sides.
1900 16th St Unit C
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 420-0614
Visit Website

5. Lou's Food Bar

1851 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
Facebook
Chef Frank Bonanno offers Nashville-style fried chicken so hot and blistering hot that the amazing side will be a welcome break. You can order it medium or hot, but it is all served naked. Don't miss the black eyed pea salad side.
1851 W 38th Ave
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 458-0336
Visit Website

6. Royal Rooster

3316 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211
Royal Rooster is Justin Brunson's newest addition to Denver's fried chicken renaissance, and it is a lunchtime only fried chicken sandwich eatery, a la David Chang's wildly popular Fuku concept, housed within Old Major. Red Bird Chicken from Englewood supplies the birds, which come with house-made buns and sides.
3316 Tejon St
Denver, CO 80211
(720) 420-0622
Visit Website

7. Sakura House

1255 19th St Ste A, Denver, CO 80202
Yelp
The kara age, Japanese style fried chicken, offered as an appetizer at Sakura House in Sakura Square, is an excellent option by itself or as an precursor to a heaping bowl of ramen.
1255 19th St Ste A
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 292-2323

8. Steuben's

523 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Eight pieced all natural chicken is buttermilk-brined for 24 hours and then tossed in seasoned flour and fried at a low temperature to crisp the skin and cook the chicken through but keep it juicy. Then, to order four pieces (a half chicken) is refried to heat through and served with mashed potatoes, biscuit, and chicken gravy.
523 E 17th Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 830-1001
Visit Website

9. The Cluck Truck

1400 S Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80232
For a fried chicken fix on the go, look no further than the Cluck Truck. The mobile food vendor can be found posted up in front of your favorite breweries like Black Shirt, Copper Kettle, and Strange Craft serving expertly fried chicken with sides of thinly sliced, tart yet slightly sweet pickles, and spicy ranch-type sauce.
1400 S Sheridan Blvd
Denver, CO 80232
(303) 408-2961
Visit Website

10. The Post Brewing Company

105 W Emma St, Lafayette, CO 80026
Facebook
The fried chicken at the Post is a specialty. The buttermilk-drenched bird is cooked in a pressure-cooker, a process that allows it to retain its flavor without making it greasy. A bucket of 12 pieces is available for $32. The chicken is gluten-free.
105 W Emma St
Lafayette, CO 80026
(303) 593-2066
Visit Website

11. The Squeaky Bean

1500 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
Facebook
This fried chicken, served at dinner only, is buttermilk brined, potato flour dredged with classic spices, and fried in peanut oil. It comes served with a succotash made with vegetables from Bean's farm and a buttermilk foam.
1500 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 623-2665
Visit Website

12. Welton Street Cafe

2736 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
Facebook
An oldie but a goodie, the Welton Street Cafe has been serving soul food to Five Points for many years now. The fried chicken is not to be missed and comes with a variety of sides.
2736 Welton St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-6602
Visit Website

13. Wild Standard

1043 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
Facebook
Boulder's Wild Standard serves up a mean bird of the Pok Pok variety. The Pok Pok fried chicken on the dinner menu comes with local greens, mint, cilantro, and sweet basil.
1043 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(720) 638-4800
Visit Website

14. Work & Class

2500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Facebook
A weekly occurrence, this fried chicken shows up for Sunday supper only. It is served with house-made buffalo sauce. A variety of sides are available to accompany the fine bird.
2500 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 292-0700
Visit Website

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