Named after chef Kristen Ashley’s grandmother, Cleo’s Southern Cuisine melds beloved family recipes with Creole classics. At Ashley’s Bronzeville restaurant (not far from her childhood home), she serves authentic comfort food that leaves a lasting impression long after your final bite. No order is complete without Cleo’s wonderfully crunchy, addictively juicy fried chicken, which can be ordered by itself, atop waffles or on a stacked sandwich. After just one bite, you’ll understand what all of the hype is about.
It’s Chicago’s diversity that makes it both an amazing city and a great place to eat fried chicken, drawing on the delicious crispy bird preparations of various cultures. Chicago’s fried chicken offerings run the gamut of geographical origins, heat tolerance and quirky accompaniments (French toast stick towers, anyone?). Some of the best restaurants in Chicago serve flavor-forward wings meant to be picked clean and sandwiches meant to be devoured—and some are among the best cheap eats in Chicago. You’ll find chicken that's fried once, twice or three times, and paired with special sauces to enhance the experience—and the napkin count. Satiate your cravings and get your handy greasy with the best fried chicken in Chicago.
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