Unearth The Voyage
Virginia’s chicken scene is way more exciting than you might think. From old-school family joints that have been frying up crispy birds for half a century to trendy newcomers slinging Nashville hot sandwiches, the Commonwealth has something for every craving. Whether you’re chasing juicy rotisserie, sticky Korean glazes, or that perfect gas-station guilty pleasure, locals have strong opinions about where to get their fix. Here’s our ranking of the chicken chains Virginians can’t stop talking about.
1. Pollard’s Chicken (Hampton Roads OG)
For more than five decades, Pollard’s has been the gold standard in Tidewater fried chicken. This family-run operation knows exactly what locals want: perfectly seasoned, crackling-crisp skin that shatters at first bite, juicy meat underneath, and sides that taste like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house.
You’ll find Pollard’s scattered across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth, each location buzzing with regulars who wouldn’t dream of getting their chicken anywhere else. The secret? They’ve never tried to reinvent the wheel or chase trends.
Old-school recipes, consistent quality, and that unmistakable taste of home keep generations coming back. It’s the kind of place where your parents ate as kids, and now you’re bringing your own children.
2. Chicken Fiesta (Richmond’s rotisserie go-to)
Richmond runs on Chicken Fiesta, and once you taste their Venezuelan-style rotisserie birds, you’ll understand why. Charcoal smoke works magic on these chickens, creating impossibly juicy meat with a flavor that gas or electric ovens simply can’t match.
The Tex-Mex sides—black beans, plantains, rice—turn every meal into a mini fiesta on your plate. Multiple RVA locations mean you’re never far from your next fix, whether you’re grabbing lunch downtown or dinner in the suburbs.
Richmonders are fiercely loyal to their Chicken Fiesta, treating it less like fast food and more like a neighborhood treasure. The aroma alone as you walk through the door is worth the trip, all smoky and seasoned perfection spinning away.
3. Biscuitville (Southside & South-Central VA breakfast hero)
Biscuitville takes breakfast seriously—like, really seriously. Every single biscuit is made from scratch throughout the day, which means you’re always biting into warm, flaky, buttery perfection that puts frozen biscuits to shame forever.
Their chicken biscuits have achieved legendary status across southern Virginia, where this North Carolina-born chain has planted deep roots. Crispy fried chicken tucked into a cloud-soft biscuit is how mornings are supposed to start, especially when you’re rushing to work or fueling up for a road trip.
The menu keeps it simple but does everything exceptionally well. Folks across Southside and South-Central Virginia plan their morning commutes around Biscuitville stops, because once you’ve had the real deal, nothing else quite measures up at breakfast time.
4. Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken (Central VA classic)
Honey-dipped fried chicken sounds almost too sweet, but Lee’s has perfected the balance over decades. Each piece gets hand-breaded before frying, then finished with their signature honey glaze that caramelizes into something magical—not sticky-sweet, just subtly glazed and ridiculously addictive.
Central Virginia, especially around Richmond, has embraced Lee’s as comfort food royalty. The brand’s been around long enough to have serious nostalgia power, but the chicken still tastes just as good as people remember from childhood visits.
Unlike trendy newcomers obsessed with heat levels and Instagram-worthy presentations, Lee’s keeps things classic. Sometimes you don’t want innovation; you want reliable, delicious fried chicken that reminds you why this dish became an American staple in the first place.
5. Royal Farms (gas-station chicken that’s actually great)
Gas-station chicken shouldn’t be this good, yet here we are. Royal Farms—affectionately called RoFo by devoted fans—has built a cult following around fried chicken that happens to be sold alongside fuel pumps and Slurpees.
The convenience-store chain keeps expanding across Virginia (Carrollton got a location in 2024), and locals are genuinely excited about it. That’s because RoFo chicken is pressure-fried fresh throughout the day, staying crispy and hot whether you’re grabbing it at 7 a.m. or 11 p.m.
Road-trippers and shift workers have spread the gospel: this isn’t just acceptable for gas-station food, it’s legitimately delicious chicken that beats plenty of sit-down restaurants. The Western Fries ain’t bad either, making RoFo a surprisingly satisfying meal stop that never disappoints hungry travelers.
6. Nando’s PERi-PERi (NOVA’s flame-grilled favorite)
South African-Portuguese fusion might sound exotic, but Nando’s has made PERi-PERi chicken feel right at home in Northern Virginia. Flame-grilled birds arrive at your table basted in fiery chili marinades, smoky and customizable from mild to “extra-hot” that actually means it.
Multiple Virginia locations—Mosaic District, Pentagon Row, and beyond—keep NOVA residents happily burning their taste buds. The beauty is the spice level control; everyone at the table can order their perfect heat without compromise.
Nando’s vibe is casual-cool, somewhere between fast-casual and sit-down, perfect for quick lunches or relaxed dinners. The PERi-PERi sauce bottles lining the tables invite experimentation, and regulars develop fierce loyalty to their favorite heat levels like it’s a personality trait worth defending.
7. Bonchon (Korean double-fried crunch)
Korean fried chicken changed the game, and Bonchon brought that revolution to Virginia. The double-frying technique creates an impossibly thin, shattering crust that stays crispy even under sticky-sweet glazes—a feat regular fried chicken just can’t pull off.
Soy-garlic or spicy are the classic choices, both brushed on after frying so the coating never gets soggy. Wing purists obsess over Bonchon’s texture, that perfect crackle followed by tender, juicy meat that’s never greasy despite being fried twice.
Virginia’s Bonchon locations draw crowds who’ve been converted to the Korean-style approach, where chicken is meant for sharing, savoring, and probably ordering seconds. It’s messier than American fried chicken, requires more napkins, and absolutely nobody minds because the flavor payoff is completely worth it every single time.
8. Raising Cane’s (newer to VA, already mobbed)
Raising Cane’s arrived in Virginia and immediately caused traffic jams. The hype is real: their laser-focus on chicken fingers, crinkle fries, Texas toast, and that mysterious Cane’s Sauce has created a devoted following that borders on obsessive.
From Charlottesville and Richmond to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, the full Virginia directory proves Cane’s rapid expansion shows no signs of slowing. Drive-thru lines wrap around buildings during peak hours, filled with people who’ve decided these particular tenders are worth the wait.
The menu’s simplicity is either genius or boring, depending on your perspective, but fans argue it means Cane’s does one thing exceptionally well. Fresh-cooked tenders, never frozen, arrive hot and juicy every time. That sauce—tangy, peppery, slightly sweet—ties everything together into fast-food perfection.
9. Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken (NOVA/Nashville-style upstart)
Nashville hot chicken took over the food world, and Hangry Joe’s is leading Virginia’s charge into cayenne-dusted glory. This fast-growing Northern Virginia favorite specializes in sandwiches and tenders that range from pleasantly spicy to “why did I do this to myself” levels of heat.
Numerous VA locations keep popping up, each one packed with people chasing that perfect burn-and-flavor balance. The name Hangry Joe’s perfectly captures the vibe—this is food for when you’re dangerously hungry and need something bold to match your mood.
Pickles provide crucial cooling relief between bites of fiery chicken, while soft buns soak up the spicy oil in the best possible way. It’s messy, intense, and addictive, the kind of meal that leaves your fingers stained orange and your taste buds tingling for hours afterward.
10. El Pollo Rico (Arlington/Fairfax legend)
El Pollo Rico’s Peruvian rotisserie chicken has DC-area residents crossing state lines into Virginia just for dinner. The crispy, crackling skin alone deserves awards, but it’s that addictive green sauce—tangy, herbaceous, slightly spicy—that turns first-timers into lifelong devotees.
Virginia outposts in Arlington and Fairfax stay busy with locals who’ve been coming for decades and newcomers who finally understand what all the fuss is about. The chicken emerges from rotisserie ovens perfectly cooked, with meat so juicy it practically falls off the bone.
Generous portions mean you’re taking leftovers home, which is great because El Pollo Rico chicken tastes amazing cold the next day too. That green sauce gets hoarded in refrigerators, rationed carefully, and occasionally fought over by family members who all want the last spoonful.
11. Krispy Krunchy Chicken (all over VA—don’t sleep on it)
Krispy Krunchy Chicken hides in convenience stores across Virginia—Richmond, Roanoke, Virginia Beach—and consistently surprises people who assumed gas-station chicken couldn’t be this legit. The Cajun-spiced coating brings serious flavor and a satisfying crunch that rivals dedicated chicken restaurants.
This brand has quietly built a serious following among people who’ve discovered that sometimes the best food comes from unexpected places. The spice blend hits different than typical fried chicken, with paprika and cayenne adding complexity beyond just salt and pepper.
Prices stay reasonable, portions stay generous, and quality stays surprisingly consistent across locations statewide. Krispy Krunchy proves you don’t need fancy dining rooms or Instagram-perfect decor when your chicken speaks for itself. Just hot, crispy, well-seasoned birds that satisfy cravings without breaking the bank or requiring reservations.
12. Wingstop (sauce-lover’s paradise)
Wingstop conquered Virginia with sheer variety—over a dozen sauce and dry-rub flavors mean you could visit weekly for months without repeating your order. From Richmond and Annandale to Lynchburg and Virginia Beach, locations keep wing fanatics busy experimenting with flavor combinations.
Lemon Pepper stays perpetually popular, but adventurous eaters explore Hawaiian, Mango Habanero, Cajun, and limited-time offerings that rotate through. The tenders and sandwiches hold their own too, giving non-wing eaters solid options while everyone else debates whether Original Hot or Atomic reigns supreme.
Wingstop’s consistency across locations means you know exactly what you’re getting, which matters when you’re craving specific flavors. The fries—seasoned or Louisiana—complement wings perfectly, and the ranch and blue cheese actually taste homemade rather than generic. It’s dependable, customizable, and exactly what Virginia’s sauce lovers needed.
