Alabama holds some of the South’s best-kept secrets when it comes to fried chicken, and I’m talking about the kind that makes you close your eyes and remember Sunday dinners at your grandmother’s table. These aren’t the flashy chain restaurants you’ll find on every corner.
Instead, they’re tucked away in small towns and neighborhoods where recipes have been passed down through generations and every piece comes out of the fryer with love baked right in.
1. Red’s Little School House – Grady
Imagine eating your lunch where Alabama kids once learned their ABCs, and you’ll understand the charm of this converted one-room schoolhouse. The building may have traded textbooks for menus decades ago, but the lessons in perfect fried chicken continue daily.
Travel writers across the state consistently rank this spot among Alabama’s finest bird destinations, and one bite explains why. The crust achieves that magical balance between crispy and tender, while the meat stays juicy enough to make you wonder if they’ve unlocked some secret frying formula…