The Absolute Best Fried Chicken in Columbia

Columbia is a town where you can find fried chicken under a heat lamp and fried chicken that makes you forget you circled the block three times for parking. I ate my way through buffets, breweries, and a Korean BBQ spot to sort the real deal from the menu afterthoughts.

The best crust in town has a peppery bite, and the gizzards at a plain room on Decker Boulevard are worth the grease. I also learned where not to order the chicken, but that’s a cautionary tale for later.

Consider this your map.

Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe

Highlights
Worth the drive
Allergen adjustments welcome
Friendly, attentive service
Large party ready

Mr. Friendly's is worth the drive, though I didn't have to drive far. The fried chicken arrived hot, the crust audibly crisp. They adjusted the breading for an allergen without fuss. Service stayed attentive even with our large party. Nothing fancy. Just honest food, well made. I left full and quietly satisfied.

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929 Kitchen & Bar

Highlights
Best flavors in town
Made-to-order dishes always
Inspired cocktail and kids menu
Attentive, remarkable service
Worth the tricky parking

Parking is a puzzle, but the chicken solves it. 929 Kitchen & Bar cooks each order fresh, and the flavors are the best I found in town. The crust has a peppery bite; the meat stays juicy. The cocktail list caught my eye, and the kids' menu didn't get ignored. Service was remarkable, almost too attentive. I forgot the parking by the second bite.

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Golden Fried's

Highlights
Crispy golden chicken gizzards
Fair prices, generous portions
Friendly, attentive service
Fresh, well-seasoned cooking
Wide menu variety

Golden Fried's is a plain room with a wide menu. I ordered the gizzards, and they were golden, crispy, and salty in the best way. Portions are generous, prices fair. The chicken itself is fresh and well seasoned, though not fancy. Service was friendly without hovering. I ate too much. I would do it again.

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Carolina Buffet

Highlights
Southern cooking, simple quality
Homemade mac and cheese
Fair buffet pricing
Friendly, skilled cooks
Worth a return visit

Carolina Buffet does southern cooking with simple quality. The fried chicken sits under a heat lamp, but it stays surprisingly crisp. The mac and cheese is homemade, thick, and cheesy. Buffet pricing is fair for what you get. The cooks were friendly, almost like family. I will return, mostly for that mac and cheese.

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Palmetto Pig Bar-B-Q Restaurant

Highlights
Buffet with fried chicken
Sweet hush puppies
Downtown Columbia location
Fried pork skins available
Delicious sides throughout

Palmetto Pig is a downtown staple. The buffet includes fried chicken, which is decent, but the sides are the real draw. Hush puppies are sweet and soft. Fried pork skins add a salty crunch. The chicken was not the best I had, but the whole meal felt comfortable. I left with a full plate and no complaints.

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Home Team BBQ

Highlights
Smoked wings were a hit
Brisket tacos impressed everyone
Service stayed fast despite crowd
Generous portions justified the price
Ribs earned high praise

Home Team BBQ is loud, crowded, and fast. The smoked wings were a hit at our table, brisket tacos impressed everyone. Ribs earned high praise. I did not order fried chicken, but the wings were close enough. Portions justified the price. Service never lagged despite the crowd. A good stop, though not for traditional fried bird.

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Three Notch'd Brewery & Craft Kitchen - Columbia

Highlights
Velvety smooth beer cheese
Garlic parm fries incredible
Personable, professional service
Dog-friendly outdoor seating
Rich, homey chef specials

Three Notch'd Brewery is more bar than chicken joint. The beer cheese is velvety, smooth. Garlic parm fries were incredible. My chicken came as a rich, homey chef special, not a standard fried piece. Service was personable and professional. Dogs sat outside with us. The chicken was fine. The fries were better.

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MOA Korean BBQ & Bar - Columbia

Highlights
Warm staff, beautiful space
Excellent first Korean BBQ
Best MOA galbi
Delicious banchan sides
Worth the price

MOA Korean BBQ is a beautiful space, warm staff. I tried fried chicken here, though it's not the main draw. The galbi was the best I have had. Banchan sides were delicious. The chicken was crispy, glazed in a sweet heat. Worth the price, especially for a first Korean BBQ. I left impressed.

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Market On Main

Highlights
Outdoor bar with lawn
Friendly, patient bartenders
Great crowd for sports
Live music on weekends

Market On Main is more about the bar than the fried chicken. I did not find fried chicken on the menu, but the outdoor lawn and bartenders were friendly. Sports crowds fill the place, and live music plays on weekends. If you want chicken, go elsewhere. If you want a cold beer and good company, stay.

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Motor Supply Company Bistro

Highlights
Excellent bar service
Inventive, changing menu
Local ingredient focus
Stylish, inviting atmosphere
Skilled, creative cocktails

Motor Supply Company Bistro changes its menu often. The fried chicken, when it appears, is inventive. Local ingredients show. I sat at the bar, and service was excellent. Cocktails were skilled, creative. The atmosphere is stylish, inviting. My chicken was moist, the crust a bit different, with herbs. Not classic, but memorable.

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The Reggae Grill | Jamaican

Highlights
Wings hit or miss
Oxtail caused illness
Fried mushrooms shine
Brown stew delights
Red velvet wins

The Reggae Grill is a gamble. Wings were hit or miss, my oxtail made me ill. But the fried mushrooms shine, and brown stew delights. I ordered the red velvet cake, which won. The fried chicken was not on my plate. I would return for the mushrooms, not the chicken. Be careful.

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Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint Columbia SC

Highlights
Consistent, well-seasoned burgers
Exceptional fry sauce
Top-notch customer service
Crispy fries, soft inside
Wide beer selection

Jack Brown's is a burger joint, so I skipped the chicken. The burgers are consistent, well seasoned. Fry sauce is exceptional. Fries are crispy outside, soft inside. Service was top-notch. They have a wide beer selection. If you want fried chicken, this is not the place. But if you want a good burger, stay.

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