New Golden Daisy is your prototypical Cantonese takeout deli with roast meats hanging in the window and big vats of prepared dishes sitting on the steam table. But by far, the best thing to get is a big carton of the restaurants excellent fried chicken wings — all drumettes. The restaurant is open for takeout from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Call in or walk up to order.

These are some of the most succulent, flavorful fried chicken wings in town, available in a whole range of internationally-inspired sweet, savory, or spicy varieties: everything from a pad Thai-inspired version to mango habanero or Jamaican dry jerk. Order online for pickup or delivery.

Celeb chef Tyler Florence has made Wayfare Tavern a go-to destination for California-style fried chicken thanks to an intense cooking process that involves a sous vide machine, an overnight rest, and Florence's grandmother's flour mixture before it finally hits the Fryolator. Order online, or get delivery via Caviar or DoorDash. The restaurant has also opened for outdoor dining. Don’t live in the city? During the pandemic, the restaurant has even launched a fried chicken food truck, which brings Wayfare’s chicken to specific drop-off points in Redwood City, Pleasant Hill, and San Rafael on a set schedule.

During the coronavirus crisis, Corey Lee has converted his three-Michelin-starred operation at Benu into a test kitchen for his forthcoming Korean restaurant, San Ho Won. The $46 prix fixe is a full-on, multi-course feast — one of the most exciting takeout options in the city right now. And whenever it’s available as an entree, Lee’s take on fried chicken should not be missed: half of a Cornish hen that has been mostly deboned and stuffed with glutinous rice before it hits the fryer. It’s a kind of cross between Southern-style fried chicken and Korean samgyetang (normally a soup). And it is spectacular. Pre-order on Tock for pickup in front of Benu.

Sweat tea brined fried chicken is always a good choice at chef Rusty Olson’s dependable, Carolina-influenced Southern joint in the Tenderloin. Get it on a plate with collards and Hoppin’ John on the side — with an option, for heat lovers, for Nashville hot or Carolina dipped-style chicken. Or go for a big six-piece dinner, with a full slate of sides, meant to feed a family of five. Order online for same-day pickup.

Birdsong, the Michelin-starred fine dining spot in SoMa, has basically turned itself into a fried takeout fried chicken shop — a remarkably successful one, by all accounts. Customers can opt for a sandwich or the “Birdbox” ($35), which comes with a big hunk of fried chicken, hot sauce, Peruvian-style purple cornbread, and a chocolate chip cookie. In all cases, that chicken comes with the claw attached, making this most striking-looking takeout options around. Order online for pickup, or get delivery via Caviar.

If there's something wrong about eating fried chicken and waffles on a loading dock in an alleyway, then you don't want to be right. Just follow the smell of sweet waffles to this small takeout window in SoMa where there's bound to be a line of fried chicken fanatics waiting to get their fix — especially now that the restaurant has opened up its parklet for outdoor dining. Call in or order online.

Like a slightly gussied-up take on Popeyes, with outstanding crunch and a bit of slow-building heat, the BFC (Brenda’s Fried Chicken) is probably the most popular dish here. Apart from the juicy buttermilk chicken, what sets Brenda’s Meat & Three apart is, of course, the “three” — the choice of three mostly excellent sides that come with each meal, like cream biscuits, cheese grits, and tomato and okra maque choux. Order online, or get delivery via Caviar.

During the pandemic, Um.ma has shifted its focus to become, mostly, a grill-your-own-meat Korean barbecue spot on its lovely back patio, but the restaurant is still serving many of its customers favorites for takeout. Top of the list: its excellent gochujang- and honey-glazed Korean fried chicken wings. Order online, get delivery via one of the third-party apps, or, if you’re comfortable, grab a seat on that patio.

Two things are bound to happen when you go to San Tung. You'll wait for a long time (even picking up takeout). And then you'll eat some of the best dry-fried chicken wings you've ever had. By far the restaurant’s most popular item, the wings are deep fried in batter and tossed in a sticky-sweet sauce with garlic, ginger, and red peppers. That magical combination has made them an absolute legend among San Franciscans. Call in to place your takeout order.

Yes, it’s fast food chicken served out of a gas station convenience store (in the Mission, in this case). But there’s a reason Krispy Krunchy proponents swear this is best Southern-style fried chicken in the entire city. Juicy flesh and well-seasoned, unfailingly crunchy skin — hence the name — are the hallmarks here. Walk up to order.

Hard Knox café is back open for takeout AND dine-in, including plates of their juicy, hot fried chicken. Order a plate of spicy or regular fried chicken snuggled up with sides like collard greens and coleslaw, or have it resting atop a fluffy Belgian waffle. If you’re not quite ready to dine at the restaurant (which has a lovely parklet), order your chicken to go, online.

If you want chicken in a bucket in SF, you can either go for fast food (no judgement here) or head to Front Porch, where the "Bucket O' Chicken" — ten juicy, cornmeal-encrusted pieces of happiness — will run you $31. Buy a bottle of the excellent housemade hot sauce while you’re at it and you’ll be set for the night. Call in or order online.