Best Fried Chicken In Manchester

Published . By DESIGNMYNIGHT.

In this guide, we’ve come up with some of the best places for fried chicken in Manchester. Fried chicken encompasses many different cuisines, from Korean to American and Caribbean cooking, making it one of the most sought-after and diverse foods. Keeping this in mind, DesignMyNight is here to cover all your cravings, whether that’s dining-in spots or late-night takeaways.

The best places to have fried chicken in Manchester

Cardinal Rule

  • Southern American, Halal
  • 10 Tariff Street, Manchester M1 2FF

Home of authentic Southern American fried chicken sandwiched between fluffy 'biscuits', Cardinal Rule is the city's answer to something a little different than your standard wings and strips. With help from friends in Virginia and Texas, they've come up with the ultimate biscuit recipe that's definitely "not a f*cking scone" to complement their perfectly crisp, halal fried chicken in Manchester.

Toppings and sauces include buttermilk ranch and pickles, bacon, BBQ sauce and candied jalapenos, or classic pimento cheese. Find them tucked away inside Northern Monk Refectory, serving Wednesday to Sunday.

Fried chicken in a Southern American biscuit at Cardinal Rule Manchester, topped with ranch sauce and pickles.

 

Bird of Prey

  • Fast Food, Chicken, Halal
  • 49A Charles Street, Manchester M1 7DF

Head to Circle Square just off Oxford Road and you'll find Bird of Prey, the fried chicken aficionados with the slogan "not your bog standard bird". Serving until 11pm or midnight all week, they're making sure you get your fix from lunchtime through to late (even post-pub) dinners.

Since opening in 2022, they've fast become a favourite for speciality buttermilk chicken breast or thigh in generously sized burgers, topped with the likes of blue cheese and Buffalo sauce with cheese, or gravy and BBQ sauce-covered turkey bacon. You can even try out the insanity hot sauce on wings or strips.

Fried chicken burgers and shakes at Bird of Prey.

 

Zaxxfried

  • Chicken, Halal, Takeaway

  • 1b, Cavendish Terrace, Chorlton M21 0UA

Zaxxfried Chorlton is a takeaway joint that fried chicken-lovers would be mad to miss. Using halal meat in their burgers, with a choice of juicy thigh meat or breast, favourite flavours here include the Nashville Hot and Golden Buffalo.

Fries are crispy as they come too and perfect with 'Comeback' sauce, with wings and Oreo-based sweet treats also a specialty.

Fried chicken burgers at Zaxxfried.

 

Wingstop

  • Chicken, fast food
  • 11-13 Piccadilly M1 1LZ; Trafford Centre M17 8AA; Parrs Wood Entertainment Centre, East Didsbury M20 5PG

Since its first venue in the UK in London's West End, Wingstop has expanded up and down the country, bringing punchy flavours to the masses - and Manchester's three venues are no exception. Coatings on boneless chicken, tenders and wings all hold up perfectly even when smothered in sauce, and the range of options really stands out from the crowd. Fries are equally crisp and well-seasoned. 

Lemon pepper (great on wings), Brazilian citrus pepper (for more wings), original Buffalo (top pick for boneless), Korean BBQ (another fantastic boneless choice) and Louisiana rub (brilliant on tenders) make up our best picks for flavour, with everything from ranch to blue cheese sauce for dunking.

Flat lay showing wings, fries, tenders and pieces on metal trays topped with branded paper at Wingstop.

 

Yard and Coop

  • Chicken
  • 37 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW, UK
Yard & Coop is one of those lucky restaurants that are able to call the Northern Quarter their home. It has a lovely open plan modern design making it a friendly place to grab a bite, making Yard & Coop a perfect fit for the hip Northern Quarter. Yard & Coop specialises in buttermilk fried chicken and is easily the customer favourite, making them a must try.
 

Chimaek

  • Korean
  • Unit 8, The Quadrangle, Hulme St, Manchester M1 5GL, UK
If you’re in Manchester and you want chicken, but also fancy pushing the boat out, you should try Korean fried chicken. There is no place better to go for Korean fried chicken than this gem! Chimaek, meaning double fried chicken with a beer (a Korean tradition), can be found just off Oxford Road, near the Oxford Road Train Station. Definitely worth visiting if you want fried chicken with a difference.
 

BrewDog Manchester Outpost

  • Beer, Pub
  • 144 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP, UK
This BrewDog establishment, the Outpost, which only opened in 2019, is already a favourite of students and professionals. This is because it’s on the University of Manchester campus as part of the new business school complex, therefore it’s in a prime location for everyone based in and around Oxford Road – the busiest bus network in Europe incidentally. The Outpost has a massive space upstairs, good hygiene measures and friendly staff. Not only is the Outpost in a prime location, the beer specialists also have incredible chicken dishes, such as their buffalo chicken wings, which are a must-try.
 

Cane & Grain

  • American, BBQ
  • 49 - 51 Thomas Street, Manchester, United Kingdom, M4 1NA, UK
From this award-winning bar and restaurant comes some of our favourite chicken wings in Manchester. Not only can you dig into fried chicken wings (house BBQ flavour or Louisiana hot), but also perfectly crunchy cornflake chicken tenders - you can even go for their piled-high house chicken tray, featuring Cajun fried chicken, six wings, seasoned fries, cornbread, slaw and pickles, served with gravy. Located slap bang in the Northern Quarter, this giant gem is spread across three floors with ribs, rum, beers and bourbon also their specialities.
 

 

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