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A fried chicken sandwich with a claw attached on a white tray.

16 Extra Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwiches in the Bay Area

Where to find extra crispy options from mild to hot

by Dianne de Guzman, Becky Duffett, and Luke Tsai Updated Oct 5, 2022, 1:42pm PDT

4 comments / new

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by Dianne de Guzman, Becky Duffett, and Luke Tsai Updated Oct 5, 2022, 1:42pm PDT

4 comments / new

Patricia Chang

It’s hard to resist a fried chicken sandwich when it’s really done right, ideally with crispy and juicy chicken nestled on a pillowy bun. Fortunately, the Bay Area has many spots that cater to the craving. Try one of the many dedicated fried chicken sandwich shops that call the Bay Area home, as well as the assorted butcher shops and tiki dens that also serve excellent varieties. Whether you prefer white meat or dark meat, and whether you like that fried chicken drenched in hot sauce or topped with herb slaw, here are some great sandwiches to seek out now.

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Hi Tops

This gay sports bar in the Castro is known for big screens and a big scene (their motto: “Cold pitchers, hot catchers”). But don’t underestimate the food, and in particular the chicken sandwich, which features white meat fried very thoroughly and topped with a punchy slaw.

2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

A massive chicken sandwich at Hi Tops

Also featured in:

RT Rotisserie

The fast-casual spinoff from Michelin-starred Rich Table, RT Rotisserie primarily spins juicy rotisserie chickens for excellent salads and sandwiches. But they are not averse to the deep fryer. Don’t miss Sally Hurricane’s namesake southern fried chicken sandwich, decked out with chipotle yogurt and pickled onions on a fluffy brioche bun.

101 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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WesBurger n' More

WesBurger is the local authority on the art of the smashburger, but Texas native Wes Rowe also serves up a not-small fried chicken sandwich. You’ve got two options: A southern-style fried chicken sandwich battered in buttermilk and topped with slaw and pickles, or a Nashville hot chicken sandwich that’s also brushed with spices. And there are often specials with different fixings.

2240 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Fried chicken sandwich from WesBurger

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Hotbird

This Nashville-style hot chicken pop-up from Iyasare alums Aaron Nam and Caleb Longacre deserves the long lines it generated at various Off the Grid locations over the past couple of years, before opening a permanent location in the Twitter food hall. They fry Mary’s chicken breasts, dip them in hot oil mixed with spices, finish them with dry spice powder, and serve them on buns with apple vinegar slaw, dill pickles, and sauce. Customers choose their spiciness level: mild, medium, hot, or burnin’ (with Carolina Reaper peppers). Yes, people do cry, and even medium is pretty hot.

Market Square, 1355 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Hotbird’s Nashville hot chicken sandwich

The Bird

This fried chicken sandwich-dedicated shop comes from the team behind Super Duper, and it’s doing what that local burger chain does so well, but this time, for chicken. The original location is downtown, ideal for lunch breaks, and there’s a new location in Hayes Valley. Their main sandwich offering is only eight bucks, prepared with a berbere spice rub in two heat levels, regular or spicy. Celery, apple slaw, mayo, and pickles provide some acid and added crunch.

115 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Birdbox

Plenty has been said about Birdbox and its chicken sandwich since it made its debut during the pandemic — the sandwich with a singular chicken claw stretching outside of the bun — but it’s still one worth seeking out at its new home near Oracle Park. The classic yeast is always a strong option, but you can kick things up with the spicy falcon or the hot and tangy, which includes hot honey and sambal on your bird. (The squeamish can still order a chicken sandwich, sans claw, by going for the chicken breast option.)

680A 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

A fried chicken sandwich from Birdbox.

Also featured in:

The Sunday

Emeryville’s new restaurant the Sunday is perhaps making more of a name for itself as a place that merges brunch classics with Korean food, but it also has two standout fried chicken sandwiches to try. The classic fried chicken sandwich featured a craggy, crunchy chicken slab nestled inside a brioche bun with coleslaw and tomato; meanwhile, the chipotle fried chicken sandwich offers a more fiery option, with a chipotle adobo sauce.

3986 Adeline St, Emeryville, CA 94608

Also featured in:

16 Standout Spots for Brunch in the East Bay

Xingones at Fort Green

One of the East Bay’s most popular pop-ups, Xingones is known for its Mexican tacos and its American-style fried chicken and waffles. And there’s probably no dish on the menu where the two cuisines come together as beautifully as the torta-style fried chicken sandwich, which comes topped with a curtido slaw and house-made remoulade.

736 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by XINGONES OAKLAND (@xingonesoakland) on May 9, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT

Also featured in:

World Famous Hot Boys

Nashville hot chicken mania hit the Bay Area a couple years back, and the self-declared “World Famous” Hotboys pop-up has now made it permanent in Uptown Oakland. Their chicken comes in whole, half, and quarter portions, or on a sandwich, and the heat levels turn up from “southern” and “mild” to “hot hot.” Even the medium is pretty darn hot. Try the loaded “Krinkle Kut” fries or mac and cheese on the side.

Open in Google Maps

1601 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Nashville hot chicken sandwich at World Famous Hotboys

Hotbird

This Nashville-style hot chicken pop-up from Iyasare alums Aaron Nam and Caleb Longacre moved its location from the Twitter food hall in San Francisco out to Oakland. The sandwiches are still as you remember: They fry chicken breasts, dip them in hot oil mixed with spices, finish them with dry spice powder, and serve them on buns with apple vinegar slaw, dill pickles, and sauce. Customers choose their spiciness level: no heat, mild, medium, hot, “xtra” hot, or burnin’ (with Carolina Reaper peppers). Yes, people do cry, and even medium is pretty hot.

1951 Telegraph Ave #2, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hotbird_Oakland (@hotbird.oakland)

The Kon-Tiki

Step into this dimly lit tiki den at the edge of Oakland’s Chinatown for classic rum cocktails, fried food, and over-the-top decor. In between rounds of mai tais, the fried chicken sandwich from chef Manuel Bonilla is a total delight, slathered with ranch, slaw, and Monterey Jack. Add $1 to make it “Nashville hot” if you please.

347 14th St #3906, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

A fried chicken sandwich at the Kon-Tiki

Also featured in:

ABURAYA

This popular punk rock fried chicken joint is the only place where you can nab this fully loaded sandwich: two pieces of Japanese-style chicken karaage, sweet-and-spicy Japanese barbecue sauce, onion, tomato, avocado, and coleslaw — all served between two slices of Texas toast.

Open in Google Maps

362 17th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Beauty's Bagel Shop

Philosophically, bagel purists may find the notion of a fried chicken bagel sandwich odd or even offensive, but Beauty’s hasn’t ever been much for following the bagel rules — just serving fresh, often still-warm bagels in as many delicious permutations as possible. Served with a beet slaw, the fried chicken here is crisp and juicy without being greasy, and the best thing about serving it on a bagel is that it makes fried chicken for breakfast a viable, deeply craveable option.

3838 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alanna Wright (@servedinspoonfuls) on Dec 27, 2019 at 6:07pm PST

Also featured in:

Hawking Bird

Oakland native James Syhabout may own Commis, a Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant, and Hawker Fare, serving colorful Thai street food — but that doesn’t mean he’s not into fried chicken sandwiches. At Hawker Fare’s chicken-focused spinoff, Hawking Bird, Syhabout’s sandwich includes a chicken thigh marinated in garlic and ginger, dipped in rice flour batter, and double fried before it’s topped with a fierce slaw featuring lots of lime and chiles.

4901 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit Website

Sandwiches and a beer at hawking bird

Also featured in:

Bakesale Betty

Alison Barakat is the Bay Area’s original fried chicken sandwich lady, rocking a blue wig and courting a line down the block in Temescal. Her sandwich is an Oakland urban legend that precedes the latest fried chicken sandwich hype, made with buttermilk-brined breast meat and a jalapeño slaw. Use both hands and don’t forget to grab napkins. Don’t skip out on a cookie or a pie slice, if you’ve still got room.

5098 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit Website

A fried chicken sandwich sits on a table at Bakesale Betty

Also featured in:

Clove And Hoof

This restaurant and butcher’s shop sources from local ranches to serve the best cuts around. As one would expect, there’s lots of meat on their prepared food menu, and a burger is a popular choice. But the fried chicken sandwich is a hot take, covered in caramelized fish sauce, with fresh pineapple, herb salad, and green curry mayo.

4001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

Visit Website

The glass window outside Clove and Hoof

Also featured in:

16 Juicy Burgers in the East Bay

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Hi Tops

2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

This gay sports bar in the Castro is known for big screens and a big scene (their motto: “Cold pitchers, hot catchers”). But don’t underestimate the food, and in particular the chicken sandwich, which features white meat fried very thoroughly and topped with a punchy slaw.

2247 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94114

Visit Website

A massive chicken sandwich at Hi Tops

RT Rotisserie

101 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94102

The fast-casual spinoff from Michelin-starred Rich Table, RT Rotisserie primarily spins juicy rotisserie chickens for excellent salads and sandwiches. But they are not averse to the deep fryer. Don’t miss Sally Hurricane’s namesake southern fried chicken sandwich, decked out with chipotle yogurt and pickled onions on a fluffy brioche bun.

101 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Visit Website

WesBurger n' More

2240 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

WesBurger is the local authority on the art of the smashburger, but Texas native Wes Rowe also serves up a not-small fried chicken sandwich. You’ve got two options: A southern-style fried chicken sandwich battered in buttermilk and topped with slaw and pickles, or a Nashville hot chicken sandwich that’s also brushed with spices. And there are often specials with different fixings.

2240 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Visit Website

Fried chicken sandwich from WesBurger

Hotbird

Market Square, 1355 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

This Nashville-style hot chicken pop-up from Iyasare alums Aaron Nam and Caleb Longacre deserves the long lines it generated at various Off the Grid locations over the past couple of years, before opening a permanent location in the Twitter food hall. They fry Mary’s chicken breasts, dip them in hot oil mixed with spices, finish them with dry spice powder, and serve them on buns with apple vinegar slaw, dill pickles, and sauce. Customers choose their spiciness level: mild, medium, hot, or burnin’ (with Carolina Reaper peppers). Yes, people do cry, and even medium is pretty hot.

Market Square, 1355 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Visit Website

Hotbird’s Nashville hot chicken sandwich

The Bird

115 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105

This fried chicken sandwich-dedicated shop comes from the team behind Super Duper, and it’s doing what that local burger chain does so well, but this time, for chicken. The original location is downtown, ideal for lunch breaks, and there’s a new location in Hayes Valley. Their main sandwich offering is only eight bucks, prepared with a berbere spice rub in two heat levels, regular or spicy. Celery, apple slaw, mayo, and pickles provide some acid and added crunch.

115 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Visit Website

Birdbox

680A 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Plenty has been said about Birdbox and its chicken sandwich since it made its debut during the pandemic — the sandwich with a singular chicken claw stretching outside of the bun — but it’s still one worth seeking out at its new home near Oracle Park. The classic yeast is always a strong option, but you can kick things up with the spicy falcon or the hot and tangy, which includes hot honey and sambal on your bird. (The squeamish can still order a chicken sandwich, sans claw, by going for the chicken breast option.)

680A 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Visit Website

A fried chicken sandwich from Birdbox.

The Sunday

3986 Adeline St, Emeryville, CA 94608

Emeryville’s new restaurant the Sunday is perhaps making more of a name for itself as a place that merges brunch classics with Korean food, but it also has two standout fried chicken sandwiches to try. The classic fried chicken sandwich featured a craggy, crunchy chicken slab nestled inside a brioche bun with coleslaw and tomato; meanwhile, the chipotle fried chicken sandwich offers a more fiery option, with a chipotle adobo sauce.

3986 Adeline St, Emeryville, CA 94608

Xingones at Fort Green

736 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607

One of the East Bay’s most popular pop-ups, Xingones is known for its Mexican tacos and its American-style fried chicken and waffles. And there’s probably no dish on the menu where the two cuisines come together as beautifully as the torta-style fried chicken sandwich, which comes topped with a curtido slaw and house-made remoulade.

736 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by XINGONES OAKLAND (@xingonesoakland) on May 9, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT

World Famous Hot Boys

1601 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Nashville hot chicken mania hit the Bay Area a couple years back, and the self-declared “World Famous” Hotboys pop-up has now made it permanent in Uptown Oakland. Their chicken comes in whole, half, and quarter portions, or on a sandwich, and the heat levels turn up from “southern” and “mild” to “hot hot.” Even the medium is pretty darn hot. Try the loaded “Krinkle Kut” fries or mac and cheese on the side.

Open in Google Maps

1601 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Nashville hot chicken sandwich at World Famous Hotboys

Hotbird

1951 Telegraph Ave #2, Oakland, CA 94612

This Nashville-style hot chicken pop-up from Iyasare alums Aaron Nam and Caleb Longacre moved its location from the Twitter food hall in San Francisco out to Oakland. The sandwiches are still as you remember: They fry chicken breasts, dip them in hot oil mixed with spices, finish them with dry spice powder, and serve them on buns with apple vinegar slaw, dill pickles, and sauce. Customers choose their spiciness level: no heat, mild, medium, hot, “xtra” hot, or burnin’ (with Carolina Reaper peppers). Yes, people do cry, and even medium is pretty hot.

1951 Telegraph Ave #2, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hotbird_Oakland (@hotbird.oakland)

The Kon-Tiki

347 14th St #3906, Oakland, CA 94612

Step into this dimly lit tiki den at the edge of Oakland’s Chinatown for classic rum cocktails, fried food, and over-the-top decor. In between rounds of mai tais, the fried chicken sandwich from chef Manuel Bonilla is a total delight, slathered with ranch, slaw, and Monterey Jack. Add $1 to make it “Nashville hot” if you please.

347 14th St #3906, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

A fried chicken sandwich at the Kon-Tiki

ABURAYA

362 17th St, Oakland, CA 94612

This popular punk rock fried chicken joint is the only place where you can nab this fully loaded sandwich: two pieces of Japanese-style chicken karaage, sweet-and-spicy Japanese barbecue sauce, onion, tomato, avocado, and coleslaw — all served between two slices of Texas toast.

Open in Google Maps

362 17th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Visit Website

Beauty's Bagel Shop

3838 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Philosophically, bagel purists may find the notion of a fried chicken bagel sandwich odd or even offensive, but Beauty’s hasn’t ever been much for following the bagel rules — just serving fresh, often still-warm bagels in as many delicious permutations as possible. Served with a beet slaw, the fried chicken here is crisp and juicy without being greasy, and the best thing about serving it on a bagel is that it makes fried chicken for breakfast a viable, deeply craveable option.

3838 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alanna Wright (@servedinspoonfuls) on Dec 27, 2019 at 6:07pm PST

Hawking Bird

4901 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Oakland native James Syhabout may own Commis, a Michelin-starred tasting menu restaurant, and Hawker Fare, serving colorful Thai street food — but that doesn’t mean he’s not into fried chicken sandwiches. At Hawker Fare’s chicken-focused spinoff, Hawking Bird, Syhabout’s sandwich includes a chicken thigh marinated in garlic and ginger, dipped in rice flour batter, and double fried before it’s topped with a fierce slaw featuring lots of lime and chiles.

4901 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit Website

Sandwiches and a beer at hawking bird

Bakesale Betty

5098 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Alison Barakat is the Bay Area’s original fried chicken sandwich lady, rocking a blue wig and courting a line down the block in Temescal. Her sandwich is an Oakland urban legend that precedes the latest fried chicken sandwich hype, made with buttermilk-brined breast meat and a jalapeño slaw. Use both hands and don’t forget to grab napkins. Don’t skip out on a cookie or a pie slice, if you’ve still got room.

5098 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Visit Website

A fried chicken sandwich sits on a table at Bakesale Betty

Related Maps

Clove And Hoof

4001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

This restaurant and butcher’s shop sources from local ranches to serve the best cuts around. As one would expect, there’s lots of meat on their prepared food menu, and a burger is a popular choice. But the fried chicken sandwich is a hot take, covered in caramelized fish sauce, with fresh pineapple, herb salad, and green curry mayo.

4001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

Visit Website

The glass window outside Clove and Hoof

Related Maps