These days it seems that chefs must constantly compete to remain relevant in modern culinary culture. Especially in San Francisco, where food trends roll in and out with the fog. But no matter the direction the most recent current shifts or what the latest fuss is about, there will always be a place in our stomachs for classic comfort food like old-fashioned, finger-lickin' good fried chicken. We traversed the city, foregoing salads at the peak of their season and sacrificing the efficiency of our arteries, to bring you our top ten favorites.
10. Fish & Farm
Not -so-obviously located in the Mark Twain Hotel near Union Square is Fish and Farm, a farm-to-table-type restaurant serving sustainably sourced New American cuisine. It might be surprisingly dark inside for a 5 p.m. dinner reservation, your server might take four long minutes to describe all the specials to you, and the soundtrack might jump from Rhianna to Paul Simon to Pitbull, but we promise this bizarre take on fine-ish dining will be worth it if you just order the fried chicken. Half of a chicken (four pieces) is served with buttery pureed potatoes, well-seasoned greens, cornbread madeleines, and a small glass filled with Crystal hot sauce butter. Their take on homestyle fried chicken is as good as the sides, and the sides are great.
9. Frisco Fried
Yes, Bayview is further afield, but the fried chicken at Frisco Fried is not only good enough to make the list, but it is also the most affordable of our favorites. The chicken is cooked well and the crunchy skin has a hard-to-put-your-finger-on-it savory component that rumor has it is simply garlic powder. And although, nothing here is necessarily happening very fast at all (expect to wait 10-15 minutes for your food), this spot may just be San Francisco's more locally owned and operated answer to fast food restaurants like KFC. Added bonus: the all black and orange interior would suggest you're in good company if you're a Giant's fan. That or someone just really likes Halloween.
