Looking for restaurants? Our top picks are Rice Chicken, The Hills Pub and Fast Times, ranked by diner ratings. The full list below updates as menus change.
Discover the top-rated dining experiences
Find the best places for fried chicken in San Diego. Curated list of top-rated restaurants serving exceptional fried chicken.
San Diego's Premier Fried Chicken Destinations
San Diego's fried chicken scene offers a world of flavor, ranging from the classic American comfort food found at The Hills Pub to the crispy perfection of Korean specialties at Rice Chicken. You can explore unique global twists like the aromatic Thai preparations at Soi OB, savory Chinese dishes from Mom Kitchen, and even Middle Eastern-inspired poultry at Shawarma Guys. Whether you are craving a traditional basket at The Nautilus Tavern or an unexpected Italian-style crunch from Knockout Pizzeria, this collection highlights the most delicious and diverse crispy poultry across the city.
30 restaurants in Best Fried Chicken in San Diego | Top Spots
- Rice Chicken · rated 5/5: Korean.
- The Hills Pub · rated 4/5: American.
- Fast Times · rated 4/5: American.
- Soi OB · rated 4/5: Thai.
- The Nautilus Tavern · rated 4/5: American.
- Mom Kitchen · rated 4/5: Chinese.
- Shawarma Guys · rated 4/5: Middle Eastern.
- Knockout Pizzeria · rated 4/5: Italian.
- O'Brien's · rated 4/5: American.
- Phileas Foggs · rated 3/5: American.
- Dirty Birds Bar and Grill · rated 3/5: American.
- Monarch Ocean Pub · rated 3/5: Seafood.
- BHC Chicken · rated 3/5: Korean.
- Go Go Sushi & Ramen · rated 3/5: Japanese.
- Shawarma Guys · rated 3/5: Middle Eastern.
- Cafe Pascale Grill & Deli · rated 3/5: American.
- Hash House A Gogo: American.
- The Corner Drafthouse: American.
- Carnitas' Snack Shack: Mexican.
- Gaslamp Pizza: Italian.
- Bub's At The Ballpark: American.
- Long Island Mike's Pizza: Italian.
- Soi 30th: Thai.
- Papa John's: Italian.
- Indya: Indian.
- Papa John's: Italian.
- Ridgewalk Social: American.
- Waterfront Grill: Seafood.
- OB Noodle House Bar 1502: Vietnamese.
- Frank's Pizza Joint: Italian.
How this list is built
Chefi analyzes each restaurant’s menu and tags every dish’s dietary suitability with an ingredient-based engine. Restaurants with at least three matching dishes on their current menu rank first, ordered by diner ratings, with the number of matching dishes breaking ties; owner-verified restaurants are highlighted at the top. Lists refresh as menus and ratings change.
