Kentucky may be world-famous for Colonel Sanders’ recipe, but ask any local and they’ll tell you the real fried chicken magic happens far from the chain restaurants.
Tucked into small towns and historic buildings across the Bluegrass State, family-owned buffets keep the tradition alive with golden, crispy chicken served the old-fashioned way — endlessly refilled and always with a side of Southern hospitality.
These are the spots generations of Kentuckians defend fiercely, where Sunday lines stretch out the door and the smell of sizzling chicken is enough to make you weak in the knees.
1. Claudia Sanders Dinner House
Colonel Sanders’ wife created a fried chicken legacy all her own! When I first walked into this white-columned mansion, the aroma nearly knocked me sideways. Their Sunday buffet features the crispiest, most tender chicken I’ve ever tasted – rumored to use the Colonel’s original recipe before KFC modified it for mass production…