Top 10 Best Fried Chicken Restaurants in South Carolina

South Carolina has a fried chicken scene that ranges from James Beard-honored soul food institutions to old-school cafeterias, Lowcountry markets, roadside legends, and modern Charleston restaurants that treat poultry with serious attention. This Discovery Matt ranking highlights fried chicken restaurants across the state that stand out for flavor, reputation, history, and overall destination appeal. Some are known for crispy Southern classics with sides, others for honey-fried chicken, pressure-fried "broasted" chicken, or elevated chef-driven takes, but each one has earned a place in South Carolina's fried chicken conversation.

1. 1

   Bertha's Kitchen

   North Charleston

   Bertha's Kitchen takes the top spot as one of South Carolina's most important soul food restaurants. The North Charleston institution, founded by Albertha Grant's family, earned a James Beard America's Classics Award in 2017, and fried chicken remains one of the dishes most closely associated with its legacy alongside lima beans, red rice, and okra soup. It ranks first because it combines exceptional Southern cooking with genuine cultural significance.

   Known for: James Beard-honored soul food, crispy fried chicken, North Charleston institution

2. 2

   Leon's Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop

   Charleston

   Leon's Fine Poultry & Oyster Shop brings a more polished, chef-driven fried chicken experience to Charleston. The restaurant describes itself as a Southern joint serving fried chicken, oysters, salads, beer, Champagne, and cocktails, while past food coverage has highlighted its signature chicken for an Old Bay brine and lard-frying method. It earns a high ranking for making fried chicken feel both casual and special at the same time.

   Known for: Fried chicken and oysters, Old Bay-brined chicken, Charleston dining scene staple

3. 3

   Bernie's Chicken

   Columbia

   Bernie's Chicken stands out in Columbia for its broasted chicken, a pressure-frying process the restaurant says keeps the meat moist and juicy without feeling overly greasy. The chicken is bought fresh, cut in house, marinated, and breaded in a house spice blend, giving Bernie's a clear, chicken-first identity. It lands in the top three because it is not simply another Southern plate-lunch spot; fried chicken is the entire point.

   Known for: Broasted chicken, fresh in-house prep, Columbia fried chicken favorite

4. 4

   Cahill's Market & Chicken Kitchen

   Bluffton

   Cahill's Market & Chicken Kitchen is a Bluffton standout rooted in family recipes and Lowcountry comfort food. The market's own story says its added eatery allowed the family to share a fried chicken recipe that made owner John Cahill a local "poultry kingpin," and its daily menu continues to center fried chicken alongside pork chops, catfish, collards, mac and cheese, and sweet potato soufflé. It earns a top-four spot for turning country-style fried chicken into a genuine destination meal.

   Known for: Family-recipe fried chicken, country sides, Bluffton market-and-kitchen charm

5. 5

   Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken

   Hartsville

   Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken is one of South Carolina's most unusual and beloved fried chicken institutions. The Hartsville restaurant is the only remaining Yogi Bear's Honey Fried Chicken location, and local sources note it has served the community for decades with its signature sweet-savory chicken identity. It ranks highly because it is both a nostalgic roadside food landmark and a truly distinctive fried chicken experience.

   Known for: Honey fried chicken, one-of-a-kind surviving chain location, Hartsville landmark

6. 6

   Sunrise Drive-In

   Florence

   Sunrise Drive-In gives Florence a classic mom-and-pop fried chicken representative. Public reviews and local descriptions point to a broad comfort-food menu with chicken dinners, chicken tenders, liver-and-gizzard combinations, burgers, fries, and other diner staples. It earns its place here as a genuinely local fried chicken stop that feels rooted in everyday South Carolina dining rather than trend-driven restaurant culture.

   Known for: Chicken dinners, local drive-in feel, Florence comfort food

7. 7

   Annie O's Kitchen

   Hilton Head Island

   Annie O's Kitchen has built a strong Hilton Head reputation around Southern comfort food, especially its fried chicken. The restaurant's menu labels its version "Our Famous Fried Chicken" and notes that it has been voted best in Hilton Head and Beaufort County, with bone-in chicken meals, wings, and strips all featured. It lands in the top ten for delivering a polished island-town take on a classic Southern plate.

   Known for: Famous fried chicken meals, Hilton Head favorite, Southern comfort plates

8. 8

   Pickled Cucumber

   Surfside Beach

   Pickled Cucumber returned in Surfside Beach in 2025 after previously operating in Conway, and fried chicken remains a core part of its menu identity. Local reporting said the restaurant reopened with the same comfort-food lineup, including country fried chicken, pulled pork, and 15 to 20 homemade sides, with the owner specifically recommending the fried chicken to first-time diners. It earns a spot as a Grand Strand comeback story with serious comfort-food appeal.

   Known for: Country fried chicken, homemade sides, Surfside Beach comeback

9. 9

   Biddie Banquet

   Orangeburg

   Biddie Banquet brings Orangeburg a humble, old-school fried chicken stop with strong local praise for its Southern plates. Public menu references and customer summaries consistently associate the restaurant with fried chicken dinners, chicken livers, gizzards, mac and cheese, collards, and other comfort classics. It ranks here as a no-frills spot that fits the category through straightforward, satisfying execution.

   Known for: Fried chicken dinners, Southern sides, Orangeburg comfort-food favorite

10. 10

    Steak House Cafeteria

    Walhalla

    Steak House Cafeteria rounds out the list with one of South Carolina's most beloved cafeteria-style fried chicken experiences. The Walhalla restaurant has operated since 1973 and proudly promotes its fried chicken, while regional tourism coverage notes that owner Abed Yassen's chicken has been praised as among the finest in Blue Ridge Country. It closes the ranking as a small-town institution with real staying power.

    Known for: Cafeteria-style fried chicken, Walhalla institution, longtime local favorite