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A big fried chicken sandwich with lots of greens from Banh Oui Melrose.
The fried chicken sandwich at Banh Oui
Banh Oui [official]

17 Places to Win the Fried Chicken Sandwich Wars in Los Angeles

Where to find the most finger lickin' good sandwiches in LA

by Eater Staff Updated
15 comments / new
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The fried chicken sandwich at Banh Oui
| Banh Oui [official]
by Eater Staff Updated
15 comments / new

Big name chefs, restaurateurs, and national chains have honed in on the ultimate comfort food — the fried chicken sandwich — gifting the City of Angels with some of the best iterations in the country. From the fiery hot chicken at Howlin’ Ray’s to the Hong Kong-inspired creations at BOLO, the city has it all. Here now are 17 essential fried chicken sandwiches in Los Angeles.

Removed: Corner Grill, Fundamental, Badmaash

Added: Banh Oui, Fuku, Dune, Lettuce Feast

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Dave’s Hot Chicken

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Dave’s Hot Chicken is in full-on expansion mode, having inked a deal for a new location up in North Hollywood. The bigger, brighter second outlet (the first is down on Western) is still teeming with fans who come through for that perfect Instagram shot to go along with their bright red, and rather spicy, tender sandwiches.

5166 Lankershim Blvd Ste D, North Hollywood, CA 91606
(818) 358-4793
(818) 358-4793
Two chicken tender sliders and a fries combo meal.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Wonho Frank Lee

Lettuce Feast

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Street food sensation Lettuce Feast is out to conquer the seemingly impossible: make a meatless, all-vegan fried “chicken” that actually tastes good. So far the crew is keeping up with that promise, playing to endlessly long lines at pop-ups around the city. For those who want the full experience, opt for the spicy version.

14320 Ventura Blvd #604, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(424) 261-3659
(424) 261-3659

Dune

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With an accessible location in Downtown and a second in Atwater Village, Dune is one of those LA standbys that works for any mood. While its Middle Eastern platters are irresistible, hone in on the fried chicken shawarma that’s unexpected and wholly satisfying.

3143 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 486-7073
(323) 486-7073

Also featured in:

Friends & Family

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East Hollywood bakery Friends & Family knows how to turn up the flavor on its lunchtime fried chicken sandwich. The secret ingredient is a seasonal chutney that graces the top, adding sweetness and balance to the fried bird.

5150 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 668-2000
(323) 668-2000

Also featured in:

Electric Owl

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Chef Ernesto Uchimura’s Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich at Electric Owl in Hollywood is dangerously spicy, so be prepared to chug some water and use plenty of napkins to dab sauce stains gathering around that big smile.

1451 N Gardner St, West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 545-6565
(323) 545-6565
Electric Owl
Electric Owl
Farley Elliott

Banh Oui Melrose

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There’s a lot to like with Banh Oui’s fried chicken sandwich, offered on a robust roll with Lebanese garlic spread, pickles, kale slaw, plenty of chiles, and a welcome smear of pate.

6909 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 852-3944
(323) 852-3944
A big fried chicken sandwich with lots of greens from Banh Oui Melrose.
Banh Oui Melrose
Banh Oui [official]

Kali

Copy Link

Chef Kevin Meehan knows his way around a fine dining dinner menu, but for lunch he’s more than willing to keep it casual. That’s why you’ll find an approachable alternative to beet risotto and high-end fish in the form of a fried chicken sandwich. The simplistic option is served tall thanks to a heavy tuft of cabbage slaw.

5722 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 871-4160
(323) 871-4160
Kali Kali/Instagram

Also featured in:

Son of a Gun

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This behemoth of a chicken sandwich is a towering construction of audibly crispy and powerfully seasoned fried chicken, vinegary slaw, crunchy bread and butter pickles, and spicy mayo. It’s more than a little ironic that this chicken sandwich has become the most popular dish at Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s seafood restaurant.

8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-9033
(323) 782-9033

Also featured in:

Howlin' Ray's

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Everyone has to wait in line for this behemoth, but it’s well worth it. The huge boneless breast is fried until it attains a crisp crust spiced with a combination of ghost, habanero and cayenne peppers. The spice is balanced by sliced pickles, slaw, a special “comeback sauce,” and a classic buttery bun.

727 N Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 935-8399
(213) 935-8399
A bright red spicy chicken and fries order from Howlin’ Ray’s.
Howlin’ Ray’s
Jakob Layman

Also featured in:

Preux & Proper

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There’s something special about the Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich at Preux & Proper, downtown’s New Orleans-inspired Southern restaurant. The chicken, massive and seasoned with all the right spices, comes topped with slaw and a buttered bun. House pickles are served on the side.  

840 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 896-0090
(213) 896-0090

Also featured in:

Pikunico

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Chef Kuniko Yagi’s Japanese-style fried chicken sandwich comes squished between a turmeric-tinged bun with pickled daikon, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, lemon aioli, and miso jam. The jalapeno’s heat is a pleasant surprise.

767 S Alameda St Suite 122, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 278-0407
(213) 278-0407
The fried chicken sandwich at Pikunico in Los Angeles.
Pikunico
@GastronomyBlog

Also featured in:

BOLO at Smorgasburg

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Consider this fried chicken sandwich a love letter to Hong Kong. First comes a Jidori chicken cutlet, then a chili-garlic aioli and a Cantonese slaw, finally the whole thing is sandwiched between a hot, butter-toasted pineapple bun (bolo). This sandwich is seriously savory, a touch spicy, and just sweet enough to keep things interesting.

787 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(718) 928-6603
(718) 928-6603
BOLO
BOLO
Jakob Layman

Also featured in:

Highly Likely Café

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Settle into the Lil Chicky sandwich at this sunny West Adams spot. Hidden in between the milk bun and beneath the tempura-fried chicken breast is a minty slaw, pickled red onions, Kewpie mayonnaise, and a bit of labneh.

4310 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
(310) 622-4550
(310) 622-4550

Fuku

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With its plush potato roll and crunchy pickles, this Southern-style sandwich is the star at Fuku. It’s a reasonable buy at $8 and a solid deal with a drink and fries at $11. Order it as a “knockout” and the sandwich comes loaded with seasoned cabbage and a spicy mayo-like sauce. 

1315 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Loaded fried chicken sandwich on a tray at Fuku.
Fuku
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Night + Market Sahm

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With the opening of his Venice restaurant location, chef Kris Yenbamroong is officially in the Westside fried chicken sandwich business. His lunchtime favorite comes topped with papaya salad and ranch dressing, making it a big, spicy, delicious mess, filled with Thai flavors and served not far from the beach.

2533 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Night + Market fried chicken
Night + Market fried chicken sandwich
Night + Market

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Great White

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The fried chicken sandwich at Venice cafe Great White is so popular, Bon Appetit named it the best version they ate all year. And for good reason: The chicken is dredged in rice flour, served with a tangy sweet onion mayo with champagne dressing, and offered with bibb lettuce on a sesame brioche bun. Not bad for a fried chicken sandwich worthy of national attention.

1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291
(424) 744-8403
(424) 744-8403
Great White
Great White
Great White/Instagram

Also featured in:

Painter's Tape

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This neighborhood restaurant has a much more creative touch than one might expect for Gardena. The fried chicken sandwich is especially good, with a hunk of pepper-fried chicken breast coated in a crispy coat. Finished with honey mustard and crunchy green lettuce, it's enclosed in a perfect white bun.

1725 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 353-3780
(310) 353-3780
Painter’s Tape
Painter’s Tape
Farley Elliott

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Dave’s Hot Chicken

5166 Lankershim Blvd Ste D, North Hollywood, CA 91606

Dave’s Hot Chicken is in full-on expansion mode, having inked a deal for a new location up in North Hollywood. The bigger, brighter second outlet (the first is down on Western) is still teeming with fans who come through for that perfect Instagram shot to go along with their bright red, and rather spicy, tender sandwiches.

5166 Lankershim Blvd Ste D, North Hollywood, CA 91606
(818) 358-4793
(818) 358-4793
Two chicken tender sliders and a fries combo meal.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Wonho Frank Lee

Lettuce Feast

14320 Ventura Blvd #604, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Street food sensation Lettuce Feast is out to conquer the seemingly impossible: make a meatless, all-vegan fried “chicken” that actually tastes good. So far the crew is keeping up with that promise, playing to endlessly long lines at pop-ups around the city. For those who want the full experience, opt for the spicy version.

14320 Ventura Blvd #604, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(424) 261-3659
(424) 261-3659

Dune

3143 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

With an accessible location in Downtown and a second in Atwater Village, Dune is one of those LA standbys that works for any mood. While its Middle Eastern platters are irresistible, hone in on the fried chicken shawarma that’s unexpected and wholly satisfying.

3143 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 486-7073
(323) 486-7073

Friends & Family

5150 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

East Hollywood bakery Friends & Family knows how to turn up the flavor on its lunchtime fried chicken sandwich. The secret ingredient is a seasonal chutney that graces the top, adding sweetness and balance to the fried bird.

5150 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 668-2000
(323) 668-2000

Electric Owl

1451 N Gardner St, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Chef Ernesto Uchimura’s Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich at Electric Owl in Hollywood is dangerously spicy, so be prepared to chug some water and use plenty of napkins to dab sauce stains gathering around that big smile.

1451 N Gardner St, West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 545-6565
(323) 545-6565
Electric Owl
Electric Owl
Farley Elliott

Banh Oui Melrose

6909 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

There’s a lot to like with Banh Oui’s fried chicken sandwich, offered on a robust roll with Lebanese garlic spread, pickles, kale slaw, plenty of chiles, and a welcome smear of pate.

6909 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 852-3944
(323) 852-3944
A big fried chicken sandwich with lots of greens from Banh Oui Melrose.
Banh Oui Melrose
Banh Oui [official]

Kali

5722 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Chef Kevin Meehan knows his way around a fine dining dinner menu, but for lunch he’s more than willing to keep it casual. That’s why you’ll find an approachable alternative to beet risotto and high-end fish in the form of a fried chicken sandwich. The simplistic option is served tall thanks to a heavy tuft of cabbage slaw.

5722 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 871-4160
(323) 871-4160
Kali Kali/Instagram

Son of a Gun

8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

This behemoth of a chicken sandwich is a towering construction of audibly crispy and powerfully seasoned fried chicken, vinegary slaw, crunchy bread and butter pickles, and spicy mayo. It’s more than a little ironic that this chicken sandwich has become the most popular dish at Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo’s seafood restaurant.

8370 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 782-9033
(323) 782-9033

Howlin' Ray's

727 N Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Everyone has to wait in line for this behemoth, but it’s well worth it. The huge boneless breast is fried until it attains a crisp crust spiced with a combination of ghost, habanero and cayenne peppers. The spice is balanced by sliced pickles, slaw, a special “comeback sauce,” and a classic buttery bun.

727 N Broadway #128, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 935-8399
(213) 935-8399
A bright red spicy chicken and fries order from Howlin’ Ray’s.
Howlin’ Ray’s
Jakob Layman

Preux & Proper

840 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

There’s something special about the Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich at Preux & Proper, downtown’s New Orleans-inspired Southern restaurant. The chicken, massive and seasoned with all the right spices, comes topped with slaw and a buttered bun. House pickles are served on the side.  

840 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 896-0090
(213) 896-0090

Pikunico

767 S Alameda St Suite 122, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Chef Kuniko Yagi’s Japanese-style fried chicken sandwich comes squished between a turmeric-tinged bun with pickled daikon, watercress, alfalfa sprouts, lemon aioli, and miso jam. The jalapeno’s heat is a pleasant surprise.

767 S Alameda St Suite 122, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 278-0407
(213) 278-0407
The fried chicken sandwich at Pikunico in Los Angeles.
Pikunico
@GastronomyBlog

BOLO at Smorgasburg

787 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Consider this fried chicken sandwich a love letter to Hong Kong. First comes a Jidori chicken cutlet, then a chili-garlic aioli and a Cantonese slaw, finally the whole thing is sandwiched between a hot, butter-toasted pineapple bun (bolo). This sandwich is seriously savory, a touch spicy, and just sweet enough to keep things interesting.

787 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(718) 928-6603
(718) 928-6603
BOLO
BOLO
Jakob Layman

Highly Likely Café

4310 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016

Settle into the Lil Chicky sandwich at this sunny West Adams spot. Hidden in between the milk bun and beneath the tempura-fried chicken breast is a minty slaw, pickled red onions, Kewpie mayonnaise, and a bit of labneh.

4310 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
(310) 622-4550
(310) 622-4550

Fuku

1315 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401

With its plush potato roll and crunchy pickles, this Southern-style sandwich is the star at Fuku. It’s a reasonable buy at $8 and a solid deal with a drink and fries at $11. Order it as a “knockout” and the sandwich comes loaded with seasoned cabbage and a spicy mayo-like sauce. 

1315 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Loaded fried chicken sandwich on a tray at Fuku.
Fuku
Wonho Frank Lee

Night + Market Sahm

2533 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

With the opening of his Venice restaurant location, chef Kris Yenbamroong is officially in the Westside fried chicken sandwich business. His lunchtime favorite comes topped with papaya salad and ranch dressing, making it a big, spicy, delicious mess, filled with Thai flavors and served not far from the beach.

2533 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Night + Market fried chicken
Night + Market fried chicken sandwich
Night + Market

Related Maps

Great White

1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291

The fried chicken sandwich at Venice cafe Great White is so popular, Bon Appetit named it the best version they ate all year. And for good reason: The chicken is dredged in rice flour, served with a tangy sweet onion mayo with champagne dressing, and offered with bibb lettuce on a sesame brioche bun. Not bad for a fried chicken sandwich worthy of national attention.

1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291
(424) 744-8403
(424) 744-8403
Great White
Great White
Great White/Instagram

Painter's Tape

1725 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247

This neighborhood restaurant has a much more creative touch than one might expect for Gardena. The fried chicken sandwich is especially good, with a hunk of pepper-fried chicken breast coated in a crispy coat. Finished with honey mustard and crunchy green lettuce, it's enclosed in a perfect white bun.

1725 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 353-3780
(310) 353-3780
Painter’s Tape
Painter’s Tape
Farley Elliott

Related Maps