Best Fried Chicken Sandwiches in Austin

This guide is part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance’s 2023 City Guide. #atxbesteats

Updated February, 2023

Going through my pictures of food I’ve taken out during the pandemic and I’ve realized I’ve eaten a ton of fried chicken sandwiches! Oops! I’m guilty and not ashamed though because they’re seriously the best. You’ll rarely find me order something else if there is a fried chicken sandwich on the menu.

---

Galaxy Cafe

A longtime fixture in Austin, Galaxy Cafe is open for dine-in and take out and their menu blew me away! I really really loved their spicy fried chicken sandwich – it has fresh jalapenos so beware of you can’t handle the spice! I loved the kick!

Address: 1000 W. Lynn St.; 8127 Mesa Dr.; 9911 Brodie Ln.

---

Dai Due

While you can’t dine-in at their butcher shop, you can get all the meat and food to-go from Dai Due! I spotted a fried chicken sandwich on their menu and screamed out loud when I read that they add pickled watermelon rind! This sandwich was fabulous and I think it’s moved up to my top 3 fried chicken sandwiches I’ve ever eaten!

Address: 2406 Manor Rd.

---

Looking for a yummy burger to take out? Well, here are some of my favorites that are doing the take out game really well – Where to Take Out the Best Burger in Austin

---

Little Ola’s Biscuits

While Olamaie isn’t open, they’ve opened up Little Ola’s Biscuits and slinging biscuit everything every Thursday-Sunday! I missed Olamaie’s biscuits so much and this little take out only biscuit-making shop has made my dreams come true. Their fried chicken biscuit is excellent so be sure to order it and do not share it with your partner/roommate/family! Make them order their own. 🙂

Address: 14735 Bratton Lane

---

Bird Bird Biscuit

Whenever I’m STARVING and literally wake up craving a fried chicken biscuit sandwich, Bird Bird Biscuit is my go-to. I hope online and order it, drive over and pick it up at the biscuit window, drive home and devour it! These are HUGE, super satisfying and thicc! My 99% usual order is the Queen Beak because I’m a sucker for fried chicken, bacon-infused chipotle mayo and cayenne black pepper honey!

Address: 2701 Manor Rd.

---

Spicy Boys

Both of their trucks (Spicy Boys at Zilker Brewing and Spicy Boys popup Soursoup St. Elmo Brewing) are serving up all the fried chicken and I’m here for it especially if you’re East or South! The O.G. and Hot Gai are my sandwiches of choice and ALWAYS order the tots! Food from their trucks pairs perfectly with craft beer!

Address: 1701 E. 6th St.

---

Vic and Al’s

From the owners of Patrizi’s, Vic and Al’s opened up across the street serving up some of the best Cajun food I’ve had in Austin! I highly recommend getting the Fried Chicken poboy and a side of gumbo! Oh, and a cocktail to go!

Address: 2406 Manor Rd.

---

Chicken As Cluck

The newest addition to Austin straight from San Fran is Chicken As Cluck – a ghost kitchen with perfectly delish fried chicken sandwiches (mild, hot or XXX hot) available for pickup or delivery! Ghost kitchens are all the rage right now – makes sense due to the pandemic – but I think it’s a genius idea and hope it continues! We tried the Evil Ex Girlfriend fried chicken sandwich – seasoned with ghost peppers so it’s not for the heat intolerant folks! It definitely burned and I had residual burn for a while too 🙂 I’ll try a milder version soon. The chicken was perfectly fried and not soggy!

Address: 5610 N. IH 35, Kitchen #6

---

Old Thousand

Amazing news! You can get Old Thousand’s famous Mala Fried Chicken as a SANDWICH! It’s packed with flavor and while I just ate one, I’D EAT ANOTHER right this very second! It’s only available during lunch at the Burnet Rd. location – order online and pair it with some fries (which they do very well btw)! I had their green beans as well because veggies 🙂

Address: 4805 Burnet Rd.; 1000 E. 11th St.

---

Tumble 22

Ok I’m a wimpppppppppppp when it comes to hot chicken so the Tumble 22 “wimp” or “hot” is all I can take but they have several levels of hot so get out there if you haven’t already! Crispy, delicious, flavorful and satisfying – all the necessities of an epic fried chicken sandwich or fried chicken by itself!

Address: 7211 Burnet Rd.; 4501 N 183A Toll; 2304 Lake Austin Blvd.

---

Roots Chicken Shak

Holy Mother of Chicken Sandos! Get your bootie to HEB Mueller’s Main Street Food Hall and order you a Big Bird from Roots Chicken Shak stat! This spot is owned by Chef Tiffany Derry – the fried chicken is duck fat fried and noticeably better than those I’ve had elsewhere. The fry is so well-seasoned and the chicken was just so dang huge! Also, reasonably priced at $7.99!

Address: 1801 E. 51st Street.

---

Brooklyn Breakfast Shop

FINALLY tried the Sweet Heat fried chicken biscuit sando from Brooklyn Breakfast Shop and it lives up to all the hype! Did you know they opened a location inside PrepATX (off 183 and Cameron Rd.) so those of us central and north Austin can get our hands on their epic sandwiches 7 days a week!

Address: 7800 S. 1st St. and 1300 E. Anderson Lane, Building D

---

Colleen’s Kitchen

My first time back to Colleen’s Kitchen since 2019 and this time I had brunch. They have the little sliders on the menu and one of them is a Fried Chicken Biscuit and LET ME TELL Y’ALL…IT’S SOOOO SCRUMPTIOUS. Small but mighty and I was stuffed!

Address: 1911 Aldrich St. #100

---

La Plancha

New to East MLK, right next to Mi Mundo Coffee, is La Plancha. They focus on Mexican Street Food, like tacos, tortas and quesadillas, street corn, and papas fritas. I’ve had the LA Hot Chick twice (take out and dine in) and I highly suggest ordering it to enjoy there! If you like buffalo sauce and jalapeno ranch, then this torta is for you. Get a side of fries for sure!

Address: 1701 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.

---

Songbird

Meanwhile Brewing has a new food truck – Songbird – and it’s a must visit! Chef Joshua comes from some highly-acclaimed restaurants and is also a Chopped winner! I had the Brutus and sidewinder fries. Both were fantastic! I’ll go back from the Classic and General and let ya know what I think. But they’re both fried chicken sandwiches and looked absolutely divine.

Address: 3901 Promontory Drive

---

Hold Out Brewing

This brewery has a solid beer menu and food! The Comeback Chicken Sandwich was calling my name and it takes a lot for me to pass one up. I’m glad i ordered it because it was perfectly crispy, huge and absolutely divine! It was pretty filling so I didn’t order curly fries even though I wish I had!

Address: 1208 W. 4th

---

There are some awesome fried chicken sandwiches out in Austin that aren’t listed here and I know I know – as I get to them, I’ll add them here. In the meantime, send me your fried chicken sandwich recs down in the comments!

Bon Appetite,

Shveta

August, 2020

This guide is part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance’s 2023 City Guide. Check out more of the best eats in Austin, curated by Austin food bloggers, on the full list of guides.