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The 10 Best Fried Chicken Joints in Manchester That Truly Bring the Crunch
I knew my chicken obsession had gone too far when I scrolled past a photo of poodle puppies and, for a split second, thought they were golden, crispy drumsticks. They looked spectacularly crunchy, too.
But truly, am I at fault? There’s just something about chicken dipped in seasoned batter and fried to that perfect crunch that speaks to the soul. It’s comfort food on a spiritual level, and no, I am not exaggerating.
So, if you’re yearning for some—uh, chicken, not puppies—my mates and I have rounded up the best fried chicken spots in Manchester. From saucy wings to stacked sandwiches, read on to find the crunchiest, juiciest, most flavour-packed bites in the city!
Bird of Prey
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Address: 49A Charles St
Contact details: +44 161 523 8825
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 11 AM – 11 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM – 1 AM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 4 AM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 12 AM
Pricing: ££
They’re not kidding when they named this place Bird of Prey, since you’ll see fried chicken in different fonts, if you will. Their menu includes wings, strips, tenders, and fried chicken sandwiches that also come in multiple sauces or glazes, so there’s variety in flavour style.
A solid bet for first-time orders is the BoP Fried Chicken Sandwich; it has their house sauce, turkey bacon, white Alabama sauce, and more—it’s packed but well-balanced. You could probably guess that, after hearing turkey bacon, this place is halal and has vegetarian items, too.
That said, it’s convenient that they’re in the heart of Circle Square, which means it’s a central and accessible location. This area also has quite the foot traffic, so weekends and late evenings can easily rack up a crowd and fill up the available seating.
| Pro tip: They’re prices are quite affordable or mid-range, but if you want a discount, order online to get that 20% off takeaway deal, then pick up to beat the potential queue at peak dinner times. |
Yard & Coop Manchester
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Address: 37 Edge St
Contact details: +44 161 710 2570
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Pricing: ££
One of the things that makes Yard & Coop’s fried chicken special is that they use chicken from a farm in Shropshire and get it delivered farm-to-fork within 48 hours. They understand that preparation is key, so they soak it in buttermilk and coat it in their secret crumb mix.
Their K-POP burger with fried chicken thighs, smashed cucumber, sesame, and buttermilk hot honey is a crowd-pleaser. And if you want something to really dig into, their Dirty Bird is a good start; fried topped with fried chicken, bacon, sauces, and more (great for sharing, too!).
Speaking of sharing, they run a promotion where kids eat free with every adult main meal, which is something you won’t see often. Lastly, here’s a neat detail: there are coop-style booths, wooden tables, murals and warm lighting, giving it that comfy and rustic vibe.
| Pro tip: They have a decent amount of promotions, so visit their socials for updates. You can go on a Wednesday to take advantage of the free wings promotion with every main, or go for the weekday lunch deals that cost around £8 each. |
Cardinal Rule
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Address: 10 Tariff St
Contact details: [email protected]
Operating hours:
- Wednesday to Friday: 12 PM – 9 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 7 PM
Pricing: ££
Cardinal Rule has the holy grail of Southern American fried chicken with fluffy biscuits as buns. They have these in various flavour combinations to make each one distinctive, and they even serve breakfast biscuits with gravy.
It’s also worth noting that the chicken is halal. As for vegans, you can swap chicken for fried cauliflower in many of their biscuit sandwiches. Their Miss Honey sandwich is a must-try; it’s a combo of chicken breast, chipotle mayo, and spiced honey that leaves a lasting impression.
You’ll find this spot inside the airy, open space of Northern Monk Refectory, which is an accessible area for meeting up or eating somewhere near bars and shops. Their setup here doesn’t accept bookings; walk-ins only, so expect a line if you visit on busy nights.
| Pro tip: It’s a good idea to ask your biscuit sandwich to be cut in half before serving; the layers are tall and packed, and this request makes it easier (and neater) to bite into without everything sliding out. |
CLUK – Saucy Fried Chicken & Cocktail Bar
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Address: 44 Canal St
Contact details: 07536 349110
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Monday: 12 PM – 9 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 12 PM – 11 PM
Pricing: ££
You’ll find CLUK in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village, which is known for its friendly, upbeat nightlife. But the main thing about them is that they’re a full-on Korean-style fried chicken and cocktail bar, so they’ll use the double-frying technique to get that trademark Korean crunch.
You can go for classic wings if you like to work the bone, or boneless bites if you just want a pick-up-and-eat situation without all the logistics (less messy too). One of their showstoppers is the Cheese Volcano chicken; think golden fried chicken topped with melted cheese.
If you’re coming with friends, you can go for the sharing platters so you can try out multiple items and sauces in one go. And not to forget about its part-bar nature, expect people coming for drinks and cocktails, which means a livelier crowd and buzzing atmosphere.
| Pro tip: Don’t skip dessert; they usually offer limited-run sweet specials like honey butter mochi bites, and they’re not always displayed on the menu, so ask your server what’s new. |
Dave’s Hot Chicken
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Address: Hanover, 27 Withy Grove
Contact details: +44 161 566 4260
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11 AM – 12 AM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 1 AM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 11 PM
Pricing: ££
Dave’s Hot Chicken serves fried chicken that has a kick to it—figuratively, that is, since they don’t shy away from heat and feature multiple spice levels to control how much burn you want. If you strip the spice, you still have a juicy chicken crisped with a crunchy coating.
Their signature spicy chicken slider is a bite-sized sandwich with well-seasoned chicken topped with pickles and sauce on soft buns. Seeing it in person, you might think calling it a slider is an understatement since it’s pretty chunky with a generous piece of fried chicken.
As for dietary options, their chicken is halal, but you might not find many vegetarian or vegan options on their menu—they’re usually just non-meat sides and not actual mains. On the flipside, they do have fun drinks like top-loaded milkshakes, slushers, and more.
| Pro tip: If you’re not good with spice but would like to partake, start at a mid-level (not “no spice”) and ask for an extra pickle on the side—the tang from the pickle helps balance and neutralise the first fire round. |
Kong’s NQ
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Address: 101, 103 Oldham St
Contact details: +44 161 948 4458
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 9 PM
Pricing: ££
The cool thing about Kong’s NQ is how they serve chicken in different ways; think sandwiches on seeded brioche buns, loaded plates, and more. Consistently, their chicken is brined (give or take around three hours) and then goes through a secret spice mix and a double-dredge.
Before getting to their signature sandwich, the fried chicken French toast needs a moment; it’s bread, fried chicken, bacon, maple syrup, and ice cream, giving that sweet and savoury contrast. Their sandwich has sriracha slaw and uses seeded brioche buns.
Vegan versions are also available. You can get the vegan counterpart of their Jerk Chicken Sandwich. Lastly, they’re located in an area with many other eateries, so you can make a bit of a food outing out of it if you like.
| Pro tip: They also have great promos, like their “Wings Wednesday” deals that get you bottomless wings for 90 minutes, and it usually goes for around £25 per person. |
Burgerism
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Address: 31 Stockport Rd, Denton
Contact details: +44 7494 397585
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12 PM – 11 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Pricing: ££
You’re not seeing it wrong, Burgerism is on this list even though they’re best known for their smash burgers. Beyond their beef burgers, they also serve wings that are freshly brined and dusted in secret seasoning, then finished in sauces like Buffalo, Lemon Pepper, and BBQ.
Plus, you can also get their FreeBird fried chicken burger at some locations (you could go for delivery, too). It’s deep-fried buttermilk chicken breast, bun, slaw, and comeback sauce.
If you’re wondering, all of their meat is halal, and if you visit with someone who has dietary preferences, they have plant-based or vegetarian options, too.
| Pro tip: If you’re planning to sit comfortably, consider heading in earlier, around lunchtime or early evening (7 PM) to avoid waiting time or longer queues. |
Yoki Social Table
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Address: 100 Barbirolli Square, Unit 1
Contact details: Instagram: @yokisocialtable
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Monday: 12 PM – 9 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 9 AM – 9 PM
Pricing: ££
Now, there’s a Yoki Social Table conveniently located inside the Society food hall, making it an accessible stop for lunch, dinner, or a pre-theatre meal.
They bring a Korean-street food style take on fried chicken, and it’s more focused than a general chicken outlet. You can enjoy them in different ways, like boneless thighs or wings, and served with fries or rice.
For a vegan alternative, they offer Korean Fried Cauliflower, with sides like mandu, kimchi, and more. You might not get a good gluten-free item, though, since their flour may contain gluten.
| Pro tip: For those planning to share with someone, order boneless thigh and wings with different sauces; you’ll get two textures and flavours without doubling up. |
ZAXXFRIED
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Address: 1b, Cavendish Terrace, Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Contact details: +44 161 637 5252
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 12 PM – 11 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 12 AM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 12 AM
Pricing: ££
ZAXXFRIED feels like the place you go to if you want fast take-away or eat in a casual, hybrid setup. You can choose from burgers and wings to strips and sides.
Their Nashville Hot Burger will give you the heat you want in a chicken sandwich, but for something more creative, their Sweet Pomegranate Burger, complete with pomegranate seeds, will give you that nice contrast in flavours.
And to end things with a guilty pleasure, you must try the fried Oreos—deep-fried in fluffy batter—an overall comforting dessert.
| Pro tip: If you’re driving from central Manchester, try to head early to secure a spot on Wilbraham Road or nearby side streets, since parking fills up especially on weekends after 7 PM. |
BRD Fried Chicken
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Address: 464b Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Contact details: +44 7440 769079
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11 AM – 11 PM
- Friday: 2:30 PM – 11:45 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 11:45 PM
- Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
Pricing: £
One of the highlights for BRD Fried Chicken is probably that the value angle is strong here. Many diners have been incredibly happy with the portion sizes and value for money.
Their menu leans into large chicken fillets in burgers and crunchy wings. You can get great deals. A single chicken burger meal will have a burger, regular chips, and a drink—quite affordable, too.
Lastly, this joint is more of a takeaway spot, rather than a dine-in session, but you could if you want to (it’s just a bit snug).
| Pro tip: Go for the double fillet burger if you’re feeling extra hungry; the price isn’t too far off from the single, and the extra layer keeps the sandwich hot longer. |
