It’s hard to hate fried chicken. Whether you grew up loving a big old bucket of KFC or sunk your teeth into granny’s Southern fried chicken, it’s a sense memory most of us share. Brined in buttermilk, dredged in flour and given a nice hot oil bath, there’s nothing quite like it. Click through the above gallery for some of our favorite summer fried chicken spots — many with takeout or dine-in available. Spread a blanket and hit the park for a perfect afternoon.
Best Spots for Fried Chicken in Sonoma County
Brined in buttermilk, dredged in flour and given a nice hot oil bath, there’s nothing quite like fried chicken.
Sweet T's Restaurant + Bar: Sonoma County's Blue Ribbon Best. Southern Fried Chicken with garlic smashed potatoes, slaw, braised greens and a biscuit. 9098 Brooks Road S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Rosso, Santa Rosa: Best craveable classic. I’ve loved this fried chicken for years. Made with arborio rice flour and topped with a caramelized pancetta glaze, it’s crispy and sweet and just about perfect with creamy mashed potatoes. 53 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, rossopizzeria.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Dave's Hot Chicken: It may be a chain, but that doesn't mean this mild to Oh My Lord spicy chicken isn't awesome. Get a mix of sliders and tenders with coleslaw, fries and sauce. You won't regret it. 2240 Mendocino Ave. Suite C-1, Santa Rosa, 707-582-2200, daveshotchicken.com. (Courtesy photo)
Lou’s Luncheonette, Sonoma: It’s back to their roots for this oft-changing Sonoma spot, which was recently renamed Lou’s Luncheonette but was better known as Boxcar Fried Chicken. Their spicy fried chicken is as good as ever, and it’s available for pickup or outside dining at the picnic tables. 2698 Fremont Drive, Sonoma, lousluncheonette.com. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Sonoma Crust, Santa Rosa: The best fried chicken sando, because the juicy chicken breast is sandwiched between two waffles. 1040 N Dutton Ave. Suite A, Santa Rosa, sonomacrust.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
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Beer Baron, Santa Rosa: The Heatstroke Club isn't quite as frightening as it sounds. Made with spicy buttermilk fried chicken with bacon, lettuce tomato, pepper jack and a slather of Tabasco aioli, it's not for the timid, admittedly, but still well within the bounds of safety. 614 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-757-9294, beerbaronbar.com/santa-rosa. (Courtesy of Beer Baron)
Jam's Joy Bungalow, Sebastopol: Chef Jamilah's Charlie Hustle chicken sandwich is, well, legendary. Every Monday (and some other days, but definitely Monday), this coconut milk brined chicken gets a crispy fried coating dressed with Tamara pickles, sweet honey sauce, cabbage, sriracha and a toasted brioche bun. See ya there. 150 Weeks Way, Sebastopol, jamsjoybungalow.com. (Courtesy of Jam's Joy Bungalow)
Twin Oaks Roadhouse, Penngrove: This roadhouse classic is pretty much unrivaled in its awesomeness. A thick slab of juicy fried chicken gets the Nashville hot treatment with a brioche bun, bread and butter pickles, lettuce and mayo. 5745 Old Redwood Highway, Penngrove, hopmonk.com. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)
Mission Kitchen and Bar, Santa Rosa: There's just something about the sweetly spicy Korean fried chicken sandwich we just discovered at this Mission Avenue bar. Now with a large outdoor area. Chef Jesse McQuarrie is finding a new audience for his creative takes on bar food. 52 Mission Ave., Suite 111, Santa Rosa, missionkitchenbar.com. (@parkwestonphoto / Derek Coleman)
Sax's Joint, Petaluma: Top-notch chicken and waffles. Crispy, crunchy, sweet and crunchy. 317 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 707-559-3021, saxsjoint.com. (Chris Hardy/For Sonoma Magazine)
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Tip's Roadside, Kenwood: Fried chicken with mashed Yukons, peas and carrots. 8445 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, tipsroadside.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Brewster's Beer Garden, Petaluma: Fried chicken sandwich with goat cheddar, romaine, garlic mayo, bacon, Della Fattoria bun. 229 Water St., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Khom Loi, Sebastopol: Gai Tod (lemongrass fried chicken) with makrut leaf . 7385 Healdsburg Ave., Suite 101, Sebastopol, khomloisebastopol.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Folktable, Sonoma: Fried chicken with ranch dressing at Cornerstone Gardens. 23584 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, folktable.com. (Courtesy of Folktable)
Valley Bar + Bottle, Sonoma: Fried chicken with cucumber and coconut peanut curry. 487 First St. W., Sonoma, valleybarandbottle.com. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
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Zoftig, Santa Rosa: Philly sandwich with fried chicken breast, provolone, oven-roasted tomatoes and broccoli rabe. 57 Montgomery Dr., Santa Rosa, 707-521-9554, zoftigeatery.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Second Staff, various locations: This pop-up focuses on Asian-inspired fried chicken, including their Korean Goddess, coated in a tangy gochujang sauce; the Sichuan Warrior, with a numbing, garlicky chile crisp; and the Asakusa Kid, coated in citrusy sansho, shiso and nori. Details at second-staff.com and on Instagram @_secondstaff. Order ahead at second-staff.com/popup-snax if you want to assure yourself some fried chicken, because when the food is gone, it’s gone. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Easy Rider, Petaluma: Southern Fried Chicken Dinner with collards, mac n' cheese, bacon truffle gravy and Calabrian chili honey with The Derby cocktail. 33 Washington St., Petaluma, 707-774-6233, easyriderpetaluma.com. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)
Blue Ridge Kitchen, Sebastopol: Top-notch fried chicken and waffles at the Barlow in Sebastopol. 6770 McKinley St., Suite 150, Sebastopol, brkitchen.com. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Lunch Box, Sebastopol: Fried chicken sandwich. Watch for their forthcoming restaurant in Sebastopol. lunchboxsonomacounty.com. (Courtesy of Lunch Box)
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Hot Nashville Fried Chicken sandwich at Twin Oaks Road House (with a side of their chili)…dee-vine!!! No, seriously dee-vine!!!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/62f33e7deb02bceaec3a019d4ac4deefe1f4737bb021cf4f2b80e5aeeb518a4b.jpg Surprised that newcomer Taub Family Outpost on the square in Sonoma was left off this list. It’s not only delicious, it’s gluten-free! Take-Out all day/eve, and Dine-in & on the sidewalk at Dinner. 707.721.1107
Rocker Oysterfellers in Valley Ford has an amazing fried chicken.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken, Shell Station, Larkfield. Hands down great at a reasonable price. One day I waited too long and to still my craving, I went to KFC, where I never go. Badddddd mistake.
What about Timberline at the River? They have amazing Fried Chicken and their serving sizes are huge.
I love Sweet T’s, but you neglected to mention the Chicken & Waffles at Layla, at MacArthur Place in Sonoma.