You may think a chicken sandwich is simple. After all, the basic ingredients are just chicken and bread, perhaps with some pickles, salad, and condiments thrown in. But there are so many ways you can take it to the next level – and so many ways it can go wrong. Here we reveal where to find the best chicken sandwich in every US state, from fast food favorites to local gems.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the most delicious chicken sandwiches in every US state, ranked up to the very best of them all.

We’ve based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each sandwich in its place of origin and beyond, and the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. This list is unavoidably subjective.

Prince's Hot Chicken is a Nashville must-visit. The legendary shack, opened in 1945, is consistently named among the country's most important restaurants – and its fried chicken is loved by customers. Try it in the joint's signature fried chicken sandwich, The André, which comes piled high with boneless breast, slaw, and pickles (plus either Kickin' Ranch or Sweet Heat sauce).

Chicken Scratch specializes in – you guessed it! – chicken, so it's no wonder it's the place to go for the best chicken sandwich in Missouri. The crispy chicken sandwich, served with lettuce and dill pickles, is a clear winner with customers. However, the chicken salad sandwich and the BBQ chicken sandwich (featuring pulled chicken, barbecue sauce, pickles, and coleslaw) are highly recommended, too.

Launched in 2021, the Sonic Chicken Slinger has become a staple menu item at Sonic. A crispy chicken filet with lettuce, pickles, and mayo served up in a brioche bun, the Slinger is simple but packed full of flavor. It also has a reputation as one of the healthier chicken burgers on the market.

Victory Sandwich Bar serves a menu full of imaginative combos. Particularly favored by customers is the spicy Tea Bird, a chicken sandwich loaded with ghost pepper Jack cheese and sweet tea mayo. As well as the food, customers also adore the industrial chic décor – complete with hanging lights, wooden booths, and a leather stool–lined bar.

This family-run burger bar gets rave reviews for its gourmet burgers – especially the Carolina Chicken. It's made by loading fried chicken, house-made barbecue sauce, coleslaw, and mac ’n’ cheese into a brioche bun, and it's one for those who are seriously craving a comfort food hit. Don't miss the amazing menu of adult milkshakes while you're here.

Somewhere between a fried chicken joint and a sandwich shop, BRD cooks up juicy, boneless fried chicken thighs and serves them in a variety of sandwiches – from honey mustard and barbecue to the customer favorite, the Sweet & Spicy Brd (which comes with banana peppers and sweet chili mayo). Diners love the perfect balance of flavors, saying the hot banana pepper cuts through the rich fried chicken in the most delicious way.

Ma'ono, run by James Beard Award–winner and Hawaii native Mark Fuller, has four locations in Seattle – and hordes of customers come here to try the brined, buttermilk-soaked, twice-fried chicken sandwich. The chicken is spiced to your preference, from plain to generously seasoned (with Carolina reaper and ghost peppers), then served on a Hawaiian bun with daikon pickles, Kewpie mayo, and iceberg lettuce.

For crispy, juicy, flavorful chicken and showstopping sandwiches, head to Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Chicago. This diner serves a wide range of fried chicken dishes, but one of the main attractions is the Honey Butter Fried Chicken Sandwich. A firm favorite, the sandwich is a simple combination of fried chicken and extremely generous lashings of honey butter in a brioche bun. People consistently praise its amazing flavor, saying it's 'beyond delicious.'

Shake Shack has been one of the fast food success stories of the 21st century. Since opening in 2004, the cult chain has expanded to more than 400 locations. Sure, the fries and the burgers get most of the headlines, but don't sleep on the Chicken Stack Burger. It's the perfect combination of a crispy chicken breast, pickles, herby mayo, and a toasted potato bun.

The perfect place to stop for a quick chicken-based meal, Rooster's offers up a whole host of chicken sandwiches – including a tasty club – but it's the fried variety that customers really love. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions, on your choice of bun (white, wheat, or jalapeño Cheddar), it's incredibly satisfying. Fans say that the chicken is beautifully cooked, and the ingredients are always fresh.

Nashbird – which has five locations in and around Oklahoma City – is beloved by locals for its tender and juicy chicken, which is perfectly crispy on the outside. The signature offering here is the Nashvillain: a fried, boneless chicken breast, mac ’n’ cheese, bacon, onion rings, and ranch dressing in a brioche bun. However, customers also love the Hot! Chicken Sandwich, which comes with slaw, pickles, and lemon mayo.

Arrive hungry at Austin spot Tumble 22 – this joint knows how to feed its diners well! Customers can't get enough of The O.G., a sandwich piled high with fried chicken breast, coleslaw, pickles, and Duke's Mayo. There are also exciting monthly sandwich specials available, like the Hot Hawaiian O.G. (a bun stuffed with a boneless chicken thigh, caramelized pineapple, jalapeños, slaw, and sriracha aioli).

The food is anything but scary at Zombie Burger + Drink Lab; satisfied customers rate the use of quality toppings and ingredients very highly. Besides the burgers, there are several chicken sandwiches on offer. Stuntman Mike's, a towering handheld stuffed with Nashville hot chicken, Cheddar, coleslaw, and pickles, is the top choice, but you really can't go wrong with any of them.

Jack in the Box joined the so-called chicken sandwich wars with the December 2020 launch of its Cluck Sandwich: a crispy chicken fillet slathered in the chain's Mystery Sauce, served in a brioche bun with pickle slices. You could also upgrade to the 'deluxe' version that added mayo, bacon, guacamole, and Cheddar. But sometimes simple is better, and it's hard to beat the one-two punch of crispy chicken in a bun.

In a state with endless food choices, it’s not easy standing out – but Sweet Chick has gained a reputation for serving impeccable fried chicken. With five locations in New York City, this mini chain is consistently rated highly for its juicy yet crispy chicken. Customers particularly love it stuffed inside the OG sandwich with herbed mayo and butter pickles.

Parked outside a gourmet grocery shop with the same name, Bodega food truck serves some of the best fried chicken sandwiches you'll ever eat. The triple-fried chicken sandwich gets a big thumbs up from diners, who adore both the tender, moist chicken and the spicy Mexican sauce that goes with it. The views of the stunning Teton mountains aren't bad, either!

As its name would suggest, Republic Kitchen + Taphouse's twice-fried chicken sandwich features chicken that's double-fried for extra crispiness (which, unsurprisingly, people absolutely love). It's then served Southern or Korean style, depending on your preference. The former incorporates mustard, pickles, and slaw, while the latter is tossed in Korean honey butter and topped with kimchi, garlic aioli, and pickled jalapeños for a spicy kick.

A signature dish at this inviting burger joint in Rogers, Big Orange's Hot 'N' Hot Chicken Sandwich is a firm favorite among customers. The hulking handheld features a spicy version of the joint's Southern fried chicken, plus pepper Jack cheese, mayo, butterleaf lettuce, and dill pickles. Fans say it always hits the spot, and the spice level is perfect. Can't make it to Rogers? There are also two Big Orange locations in Little Rock.

This Texas fast food chain hit the headlines in 2020 when, in a bid to emulate the success seen by Popeyes' chicken sandwich, it launched the Big & Golden. To make this delicious creation, one of Golden Chick’s baked hourly airy buns is filled with a juicy chicken breast, which has been marinated in brine before being breaded and dipped in batter. The sandwich is finished with signature Lotta Zing sauce – a blend of sweet, savory, hot and umami flavors – and five thinly slices pickles.

This Delaware spot is renowned for serving great food. The crispy Hot Honey Fried Chicken sandwich is something special, seasoned with an Old Bay and brown sugar mix, and served with house-fermented honey, pickles, red onion, and arugula. Diners say the towering sandwich is extremely tasty, and they love how well-seasoned the meat is.

There are three Revival restaurants in Minnesota, all of which serve an incredible array of Southern dishes – from shrimp ’n’ grits to mac ’n’ cheese. However, it's the fried chicken sandwich that's the star of the show. A simple yet delicious combination of fried chicken, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickle, it's utterly mouthwatering. Most people suggest having it Tennessee hot, for an extra kick.

There are three Revival restaurants in Minnesota, all of which serve an incredible array of Southern dishes – from shrimp 'n' grits to mac 'n' cheese. However, it's the fried chicken sandwich that's the star of the show. A simple yet tasty combination of fried chicken, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickle, it's utterly delicious. Most people suggest having it Tennessee hot, rather than Southern style, for an extra kick.

Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack is all about Nashville-style hot chicken and Southern soul food. Made to classic, all-American recipes using local ingredients, the chicken comes in a variety of flavors, from mild honey to extra hot. A customer favorite is the Rocky's Way Chicken Sandwich, which sees toasted white bread filled with chicken tenders, cheese, lettuce, and mayo. Fans say if you're craving a fried chicken sandwich, there's no place better than Rocky's.

Wendy’s Classic Chicken Sandwich launched in October 2020, with the new sammie replacing its Homestyle Chicken Sandwich, which had been on the menu for over a decade. The Classic Chicken features a premium crispy chicken filet topped with mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, all served up in a toasted bun. Fans say it has the perfect blend of juiciness and crunch.

If you love a chicken sandwich, head for Ma Lou's Fried Chicken in Ypsilanti. There's a good selection on offer here, but two sandwiches stand out as customer favorites. The OG combines fried breast or thigh with Cheddar, smoked Gouda, slaw, and pickles, or, if you prefer something spicier, try The Hot Chick. To make it, the joint's classic fried chicken is slathered in a Nashville hot baste, then slotted into a bun with bacon, lettuce, tomato, jalapeño ranch, and pepper Jack cheese.

Cutty's – a specialty sandwich joint in Brookline – makes a big deal out of fried chicken sandwiches. In fact, once a month, Cutty's holds a 'super cluckin' Sunday' event, where fried chicken sandwiches are the only thing on the menu. The much-loved OG Honey Mustard consists of crispy fried chicken, Cheddar, mayo, lettuce, and shaved onion, all nestled inside a buttered brioche bun. Heaven!

With locations in Providence and Warren, Chomp's trademark is comfort food. There are six chicken sandwiches on the menu, but the star attraction is the BBQ Hot Honey Fried Chicken, which sees tender Southern fried chicken dipped in barbecue hot honey, then served in a bun with jalapeño cream cheese, Alabama white barbecue sauce, and house pickles. Customers say it's juicy, flavorful, and unique.

The fried chicken sandwich at The Bird comes either classic or spicy – but rest assured that whichever one you choose, you're guaranteed a deliciously satisfying bite. With celery, crunchy apple slaw, mayo, and pickles all packed inside a freshly baked bun, it's everything a mouthwatering chicken sandwich should be.

Church’s Texas Chicken started life in 1952, serving chicken in various forms, and now has locations across the US and in other countries. Its chicken sandwich, which launched in 2020 following an ongoing campaign by Church’s fans, is the item that remains enduringly popular. A honey-butter brioche bun is filled with a juicy, hand-breaded chicken filet, three crispy pickles, and either regular or spicy mayo.

Housed in an old tow truck station, Brew Bird in Fargo focuses on all things fried chicken. The highly rated chicken sandwiches, described by customers as 'outrageously delicious,' come with a variety of toppings – but the Buff Bird has proven to be a local favorite. To make it, crispy chicken breast is dipped in Buffalo sauce, then served in a bun with bacon, tomato, slaw, and blue cheese ranch vinaigrette.

It’s the bread that makes the sub sandwiches from Krazy Moose Subs so special. It’s freshly baked each morning, beautifully fluffy, and has a crust that's just the right level of crunchy. As for fillings, customers are big fans of the chicken bacon ranch sub. Many say it's their go-to order thanks to the generous amount of chicken and the tasty sauce. The Buffalo chicken sub is a close second, if you're after something with a bit more heat.

Farm-to-table gastropub Rowley Farmhouse Ales serves award-winning drinks and a menu of classic dishes with a New Mexican twist. The chicken biscuit sandwich is loved by customers, who say it's packed full of flavor. It features a fried chicken breast, horseradish cream, and house-made pickles and it comes served on a white Cheddar biscuit with a choice of fries, onion rings, or salad.

Sometimes you just can't beat a classic – and Birdcall's menu is filled with delicious options that play on favorite flavors. Loved by customers, the Southern is a crispy fried chicken sandwich served with pimento cheese spread and Southern slaw. It's praised for its generous size (you'll want to come hungry), and diners can't get enough of how juicy and crispy the chicken is.

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is so adored that people line up for hours whenever a new outlet opens. Its chicken sandwich sees a hand-breaded breast filet placed on a bed of lettuce and garlic mayo in a toasted brioche bun. It might sound simple, but chicken sandwich fans say it’s one of the best they’ve ever tasted.

Simply served in a potato bun with shredded lettuce, dill pickles, and mayo, the fried chicken sandwich at Royals is loved by customers, who say it's flavorful and moist. You can choose your heat level – from none to mouth-burning 'gonzo' – plus it comes with your choice of sides, including coleslaw, broccoli, salad, and crinkle-cut fries.

Bringing a taste of Nashville-style hot chicken to Utah, Salt Lake City's Pretty Bird is something of a local legend. To make its fried chicken sandwiches, juicy, flavorful fried chicken thighs are paired with slaw and pickles, topped with a creamy, buttermilk-based sauce, then served in a buttered bun. Unsurprisingly, customers can't get enough of them.

Restaurant and bakery Willa Jean receives rave reviews for its food and service – but it's the delicious fried chicken sandwich that has customers coming back for more. The irresistible combo sees juicy, perfectly seasoned fried chicken paired with special WJ Sauce and lettuce and slotted into a brioche bun with potato chips. The result is a taste sensation!

Happy customers say the Hen Solo from popular Pete's Pub is the best chicken sandwich they've ever tasted. A huge, hand-breaded chicken thigh piece is paired with pickle chips and honey and served in a plump brioche bun for a simply delicious treat. Look out for the regular chicken sandwich specials, too.

Zaxby’s launched its Signature Sandwich to much fanfare in March 2021, with the advertising slogan, ‘The chicken sandwich war ain’t over yet.’ With fans saying Zaxby’s serves the juiciest, most flavor-packed chicken in the US, it’s no surprise that the item was a big hit. The sandwich consists of a hand-breaded chicken filet, pickles, and Zax Sauce (or Spicy Zax Sauce), all stuffed into a split-top potato bun. The chain also introduced its Signature Club Sandwich, adding cheese and bacon to the mix.

Morgantown locals have been lucky enough to enjoy this superb fried chicken spot for over a decade. Dirty Bird's menu features a selection of specialty sandwiches, plus an array of fried chicken dishes. Customers love the Vera Cruz sandwich, which comes with fried chicken breast, pepper Jack cheese, jalapeños, sliced avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cilantro-lime mayo.

The Buffalo chicken sandwich – a hot sub featuring chicken breast smothered in Buffalo sauce, ranch, and provolone – is a favorite with Sidewinder Subs' customers, who love the soft bread, warm chicken, and perfectly melted cheese. You can’t really go wrong with any options on the extensive menu, though, and the friendly staff often get a mention from happy diners.

Local breweries are often great places to find tasty, filling food – and the superb Backslope Brewing in Columbia Falls is no exception. Diners are big fans of the joint's fried chicken sandwich, which they say tastes comforting and familiar. The chicken is brined in pickling liquid before being fried and served with house slaw, aioli, and a spiced tomato glaze.

Be sure to arrive hungry if you’re planning a visit to Basilisk, a much-loved fried chicken shop in Portland. That way, you'll be able to handle the signature fried chicken sandwich, which comes stacked with house-pickled cucumbers and cabbage slaw. Guests say the chicken is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside – and they love the sandwich's generous size.

Wingstop sparked a social media frenzy when it launched its chicken sandwich in September 2022, with a four-week supply of sandwiches selling out in just six days. The item in question consists of crispy chicken tenders, crunchy slaw, pickles, and house ranch, packed into a toasted brioche bun and the best part is that it's available in any of the chain’s signature flavors, from sweet and tangy Hawaiian to super-hot Atomic. 

With several locations in Alabama, Saw's BBQ is the place to go for perfectly cooked meat and poultry. Its deliciously tender smoked pulled chicken with white sauce and pickles makes for a stellar sandwich filling that locals just can't get enough of. Spice fans will also love the Sweet Heat Fried Chicken Sandwich with ranch, slaw, pickles, and 'a little kick.'

You might be surprised to hear that Florida's best chicken sandwich comes from a Thai tearoom, but the overwhelmingly positive reviews for KrungThep Tea Time are hard to argue with. The Thai fusion restaurant is known for its Gra-Prow Chicken, which combines chicken, basil, onion, red bell pepper, and mozzarella with spicy basil mayo. Those looking for extra spice can upgrade the sandwich by adding fresh Thai chilies.

Fried chicken is at the heart of the menu at The Crack Shack, which offers both fried chicken pieces and a range of seriously mouthwatering sandwiches. A firm favorite is the Firebird, featuring spicy, fried thigh meat, cool ranch, crispy onions, and pickles in a potato roll. People love how flavorful the meat is and the way the mild sauce and cold pickles help to balance out the heat.

You could argue that this one isn't technically a sandwich, but we're willing to let it slide – the Handsome Biscuit's Stevie is worth bending the rules for. Fried chicken is topped with pickles, wholegrain mustard and honey, but instead of a typical roll, it's served between house-made biscuits. You can opt for a bun instead, but why would you?

Fans of McDonald's will tell you that the McCrispy is a chicken sandwich that could go up against any of the sandwiches on this list. The regular version is a crispy chicken filet with crinkle-cut pickles on a toasted potato roll, while the Deluxe McCrispy adds salad and mayo to take things to another level. It's relatively easy on the waistline, too – the Deluxe McCrispy has just 530 calories a portion.

Indianapolis joint The Eagle pairs juicy yet crispy chicken breast with hot honey, coleslaw, spicy mayo, and house pickles to produce a sandwich that customers absolutely rave about. People love how incredibly crispy the chicken is, as well as the soft sub roll it's served in. A word of warning: the sandwich is pretty big, so make sure you come hungry.

Want to sample one of Florida's most delicious chicken sandwiches? Head to chef Art Smith's Homecomin' at Disney Springs. Art's Hot Chicken Sandwich consists of crispy fried chicken tossed in Buffalo-style hot sauce, topped with tangy slaw, pickles, and icebox dressing. Customers love the sandwich, attentive service, and stunning views in equal measure.

Customers absolutely love the satisfying chicken sando at The House of Hot Chicken. Spiced to your liking, a huge hunk of crispy chicken breast is topped with pickles, coleslaw, and SOSauce in a brioche bun. Take it easy with mild or go all out with the extra hot 'roof's on fire' option. The menu also features chicken wraps and tacos.

Although the Craftbird Food Truck serves up a whole host of lip-smacking treats – from chicken tenders to truffle mac ’n’ cheese bites – it's the Yardbird Chicken Sandwich that comes out on top. Featuring pickles and sriracha honey on top of a big piece of fried chicken in a sesame bun, the sandwich is loved by customers because of the perfectly cooked meat and tasty contrast of rich, sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.

Burger King doesn't get any points for innovation for its Royal Crispy Chicken sandwich. After all, the handheld is a classic combo of chicken breast filet, savory sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes on a potato bun. But when it comes to comfort food, as this popular sandwich proves, sometimes doing the basics well is all you need to keep people more than happy.

Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen crafts local ingredients into the most incredible sandwiches. A firm customer favorite is the Vietnamese fried chicken sandwich: a buttermilk-marinated fried chicken thigh is paired with bánh mì pickles, cilantro aioli, and nước chấm (Vietnamese dipping sauce) and served in a toasted brioche bun.

This top-notch chicken sandwich from Love & Honey Fried Chicken is simply a delight. To make it, a buttermilk-fried chicken breast is drenched in hot chili oil, then piled high with buttermilk ranch slaw, sweet pickles, and buttermilk ranch dressing. Customers say the sandwich is incredibly flavorful and that the chicken is crispy and moist.

Regional produce and wholesome ingredients are a major draw at this healthy Honolulu joint. Sprout's sandwiches are piled high with leafy greens and Hawaiian vegetables (think Waialua sprouts and juicy local tomatoes). Nothing beats The No Comply, though – a tasty chicken salad sandwich with macadamia nut pesto, Maui butter lettuce, tomatoes, and roasted garlic mayo.

There are locations in several other states, but Nashville's Hattie B's is the flagship store – and it's one of the best places to grab a chicken sandwich in the area. You can choose your heat level, from mild Southern style to 'shut the cluck up' (translation: extremely hot), but whatever your preference, this is one chicken sandwich that's guaranteed to deliver on flavor and texture.

After proving a bestseller in 120 countries around the world, KFC's Zinger Burger launched in the USA in 2017. Consisting of a peppery, double-breaded crispy chicken filet, a dash of spicy sauce, and a handful of lettuce in a toasted sesame bun, the Zinger is also available as a Stacker (with two chicken filets) and as a Tower Burger, with an added hash brown. The legendary item was originally created in Trinidad and Tobago in 1984.

Dirty Birds does something incredible to its chicken. The meat is brined in leftover liquid from pickling green beans and cucumbers for two days, coated in batter, then fried until perfectly golden brown. The result? A crispy, salty exterior and moist, tender meat. The OMAHAWT sandwich combines fried chicken thighs with a burnt cayenne pepper dip, pickles, and mayo, and it comes served on house-made ‘dirty white bread.’

Trolley car restaurant Palace Diner seats 15 people, serves just a handful of dishes for breakfast, and offers only four sandwiches at lunch. Not that anyone minds, because its fried chicken sandwich is simply superb. A fried chicken breast, which customers say is perfectly cooked and juicy, is paired with cabbage slaw and fresh jalapeños – and the sandwich is served with a wedge of iceberg lettuce dripping with dressing.

Boxcar Betty's three South Carolina locations (plus one in Chicago and one in Charlotte) serve super-crispy and tasty chicken in an array of delectable sandwiches that are sure to suit everyone's tastes. The much-loved signature Boxcar sandwich comes topped with pimiento cheese, peach slaw, house pickles, and spicy mayo. If you prefer, you can swap the fried chicken for grilled.

Famous for its beef brisket, burnt ends, and ribs, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is one of the best places in the whole country to enjoy truly incredible barbecue meat – and it also serves some delicious pulled chicken. Guests love the Chicken Z-Man, a sandwich piled high with the joint's superb smoked chicken, crispy onion rings, and barbecue mayo.

This much-loved sandwich shop in Lexington gets some impressive reviews – and rightly so. As well as serving delicious food, DV8 Kitchen operates as a second chance employment opportunity for people in the early stages of substance abuse recovery. The menu features several mouthwatering options, but we say go for the customer favorite: the orange marmalade chicken breakfast sandwich. To make it, perfectly fried chicken tenders are drenched in delicious honey butter and orange marmalade, then stuffed between house-made biscuits.

The 2019 launch of Popeyes' signature fried chicken sandwich – which comprises 12-hour marinated fried chicken breast, fresh pickles, and creamy mayo in a soft brioche bun – led to a 38% jump in same-store sales that year. Since then, the mania has continued, with the chain expanding into countries all over the world so people everywhere can enjoy the crispy chicken goodness.

Mexican food truck Las Abuelas specializes in ridiculously tasty chicken sandwiches. One of its most popular offerings is the De Lujo, with plump and juicy chicken breast, avocado, Cotija cheese, tangy slaw, chipotle mayo, and roasted serrano crema, all served on a toasted Martin's roll. The sweet potato fries and tater tots are highly recommended by customers, too.

This Chick-fil-A recipe dates back to 1964 and is a true classic. Chicken breast is perfectly seasoned and breaded, pressure cooked in 100% peanut oil (to retain its juiciness), and served with dill pickle chips in a toasted, buttery bun. The Original Chicken Sandwich remains the bestseller in the US, having only briefly dropped to second place when Popeyes' chicken sandwich launched in 2019. To put its popularity into context, the sandwich accounted for a staggering 45% of all online chicken sandwich orders in the US in 2020.

The menu at Howlin' Ray's might be small, but it's all you need if you're after a sensational chicken sandwich. The Sando features the joint's famous crispy fried chicken – and it's spiced to your liking, from no heat to seriously hot. It's then paired with slaw, comeback sauce, and pickles in a butter bun. Diners have been known to say it's the greatest sandwich they've ever tasted.

Now discover where to find the best cheeseburger in every state

Last updated by Dominique Ayling.