The Most Flavorful Chicken Shop in San Francisco

Roost & Roast

★★★★☆ 4 (169) • $$

"Tasty hat yai (fried chicken) meal! I went with the 2 piece combo with papaya salad and roti. Fresh and flavorful. Great crunch on the fried chicken. Nice assortment of dipping sauces. My partner ordered the hat yai box with curry sauce, roti, and rice so I got to dip my roti (curry sauce not included with the papaya salad combo). Quick serve environment: order on a tablet and pick up at the counter. Outside seating only. Perfect for takeout or a casual meal."

Chef P's

★★★★☆ 3.5 (256) • $

"I have been coming here since I was a little girl. Started off at the other location. Was so happy when they moved to this location, which was literally around the corner from where I lived. The owner knew of my family since we would frequent this place, especially after church. She would always ask about my brother, which I think is so thoughtful.I love, love, loooooveee their chicken fried rice. I would always get it as a kid, and will continue to order it. It has always been so flavorful, huge chunks of chicken which I've never experienced elsewhere.I love their beef & broccoli.Took my husband here for the first time since he's been in California, and he loves their sesame chicken."

Left Wing

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (160) • $$

"I came in to H mart with my friends to check out the food court. It was very crowded with all the tables basically taken. They have seats to eat in for people eating there and the restaurants surrounding. It is good that they have. A system that calls out where the food you ordered came from and a number is on the screen. When I saw the Chicken Wing place, I was gravitated to order their Ginger and Honey Wings. I asked the cashier which one was best or she liked and she said it depends on your taste on whether you like it dried or with sauce. I opted for with sauce which was the 8 wings for $16.99. It was pricey for the amount of wings but it was a good amount when I saw it. It was piping hot when I got it. But when I tasted it I was a disappointed because the flavor was there and tender but the wings were not crunchy. If they were, it would have been a good crunchy fried chicken.I am not sure if I would come back to buy the chicken."

Barnyard Sando

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"tried the pop up at gai chicken and rice, and quite enjoyed the crispy chicken salad. huge portion, flavorful with the coleslaw and bbq sauce, and the chicken was seasoned well"

Crave’s Birdhouse

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4)

"Ordered food from the kiosk a couple times here. It's all the way downstairs at sfsu. I have no been disappointed every time I have ordered and my food has been out in a reasonable amount of time. The staff is friendly and was helpful when their kiosk was down. It can get a little busy around lunch time so I prefer taking my food elsewhere. Chicken sandwich is pretty fire !"

Chick N Coop

★★★★☆ 3.6 (122) • $$

"Loved it would come back! The ambiance takes us back to the past, owners and servers were excellent. This is a "don't judge a book by its cover". Would recommend and keep coming back. The chicken is a must! Got chicken, rice and corn. Rice was also flavorful. Make sure to let them know what kind of sauce you want, they usually give bbq sauce but if you want normal gravy, just tell them. Also there is an option of having the sauce on top of the chicken or any protein you choose, or place them in the side."

The Roost

★★★★★ 4.6 (31)

"The Tenderloin District does not disappoint with the food options! It's currently Restaurant Week, and I've been wanting to try The Roost for awhile. So this was the perfect opportunity to try their menu. As you can tell from the name, they do chicken. And they do it well! The baked chicken leg was moist and had so much flavor from the ancho-chili mustard rub. And I loved the slaw! Normally I don't eat coleslaw because it's usually drenched in dressing, but not this one. It was perfectly dressed and had a good crunch. The rice was good too! It had some earthy flavors to it. My meal also came with sweet potato croquettes with a sriracha aioli, and a brown butter chocolate chip cookie. The croquettes were perfectly fried, and I loved the sweetness of the potato with the slightly spicy sriracha. And the chocolate chip cookie had chocolate at every bite! I came back the next day to get their vegan chickpea corn cakes. Delicious!! I did travel an hour with them, so they lost a little of the crunch. But nonetheless still good. It's not on their main menu (yet?) so if you're vegan, hurry up and get some now before their Restaurant Week menu ends on April 10. The cakes also came with garlic cauliflower roasted perfectly and kale. And the people who work there are super nice and friendly! I noticed they've been getting a lot of online orders, so that's a testament to how good their food is. They do have indoor dining with a few tables just inside. The place is super clean and lots of vertical space. They do have signs asking for vaccination status if you're dining in, fyi, so get that prepared. The Roost is definitely on my go-to list for lunch options in the area. I should've come here sooner!"

Respectable Bird

★★★★☆ 4.2 (89) • $$

"Got their fried chicken sandwich with waffle fries at first Friday Oakland. Fries and chicken were crispy but tasted a little dry- The flavor was decent but the texture, though crunchy gave me the feeling that they had been frozen for a while and not cooked thoroughly through. Only get it spicy if you are confident in handling spicy food. It's spicy!"

Naked Chicken

★★★★☆ 4 (16) • $$

"I wasn't expecting too much from a food truck in a setting with other trucks that have almost no vegan options, especially one that headlines with chicken.But there it was, a vegan Thai chicken dish! Not too spicy, some rice and vegetables. There was yellow onion, but easily avoided.Tasty and filling lunch. Would definitely get again."

Foghorn Taproom

★★★★☆ 4.1 (106)

"Dang these wings are excellent. I ordered buffalo (extra crispy), Nashville (hot), and Hot Honey Crunch and they were all not only perfectly cooked, awesome in flavor, and absolutely enormous but they also arrived hot and crispy via delivery! These may be my new favorite SF wings. Prices are reasonable, about $9/5 wings. I also got the Loaded Nashville Fries (xtra hot) and I loved the combination of flavors. I'd say the Nashville tenders are even better than the Nashville wings. Even though I'm a spice fiend and would try all the spicy items hotter next time (considering scorpion and reaper!), my favorite wings were shockingly the Hot Honey Crunch. As a person who never goes for sweet tinged wings, I was shocked at how awesome and well balanced these were. Great experience, will definitely be a repeat customer!"

Red Hat Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.5 (11)

"Tried out this place with a Groupon. The peri peri hot wings and the Korean bbq. Both were really good. Chicken was moist and juicy."

Hunan Empire

★★★★☆ 3.9 (190) • $$

"Love most all of the dishes but they're Wor Wonton soup is so good has shrimp chicken beef and barbecue pork lots of vegetables great broth just love it! Everything is so fresh and the owners are so nice my go to for good Chinese food!"

Chicken King

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Fried chicken is perfect and amazing. Seasoned well, perfect crunch, hot and juicy. The honey biscuits are also amazing. The only complaint is the sides, Mac n cheese needs seasoning but has GREAT texture and consistency. The coleslaw is a good size but a little on the sweet side, not my favorite but not bad. Service has been great both times, will definitely be going back."

Birdbox

★★★★☆ 4.1 (85) • $$

"I've heard many great things about Birdbox and knew I had to make a visit during my trip. Unfortunately, Claude the Claw did not meet my expectations . I ordered my sandwich in the Spicy Falcon seasoning with a side of fries and while the fries were absolutely delicious, the sandwich couldn't seem to compete with the side it came with. The sandwich was good, the seasoning definitely had the kick it promised, but the flavor did not stand out from many other chicken sandwiches I've had elsewhere. Additionally, I understand that although sandwiches aren't necessarily the most mess-free foods, with the packaging it came with it was a bit hard to eat. The food wasn't bad. However, as a spin-off of the Michelin-starred restaurant Birdsong, I was hoping for a better sandwich. At a price point of $18 just for the sandwich, it is not someplace I would consider returning. The interior of the restaurant is pretty cute. It's a self-service establishment which makes the experience a quick and simple one. I did wish that hand wipes were available for customers since eating the sandwich became a pretty messy process."

What The Cluck - Haight

★★★★☆ 4.3 (254) • $$

"Honestly felt like a hole-in-the-wall shop since I walked right by it and missed it. Chicken was really flavorful and tender! I loved that it was so soft. The guy working there was really kind when he was serving me. Loved the atmosphere - it's smaller and there's only a couple seats, but I liked the coziness of the place."

Kokio Republic

★★★★★ 4.5 (66) • $$

"I believe Kokio Republic was a food truck or a pop up because I'm pretty sure I've tried them before they opened their spot in the TL. Regardless, I'm glad they're here because they add to the diversity of restaurants you can find in this hood. I ordered the boneless KFC with the sweet/spicy sauce and the disco tteo-bokki skewers (comes with two). I feel like the sweet/spicy sauce is less sugary than others I've had, which is fine by me. I'm assuming the sauce is made with gochujang, and if so, it is very savory. The roasted sesame seeds add to the umami flavor. I think they used chicken breast, so it was a little dry but it does come with a lot of sauce. But what I really liked was the skewers! The rice cakes had a bit of crunch to them since they were fried, and it was a nice contrast to its chewiness. I like how they alternate it with fish cakes to add a spongier texture to the appetizer. And it's dressed in a delicious spicy sauce that has just the right amount of heat. The portions are large for one person so I was able to stretch this out for 3 meals. And because of a Grubhub deal, I definitely got my money's worth. They do have combo meals (that still looks large for one person lol), but I really just wanted chicken and the skewers. I wish one skewer was available for the combo meals, but tbh I would want two anyway. I got this to go so I can't comment on the ambiance too much. But the space looks clean. And it's conveniently located across from the 38 and 27 lines, so it's easy to get to by bus. Parking is tough to find, so I don't recommend that. I definitely need to try their Brussels sprouts and the soy-garlic KFC."

Love Burn

★★★★☆ 4.3 (381) • $$

"One of the best chicken sandwiches, I ever had. I got the medium spice level with hot honey.The chicken had a great level of spiciness, super crispy from the outside and very moist from the inside. The portion size is huge, good enough for 2 meals.With the addition of hot honey, it takes you to a different world of food bliss.We also got fries and coleslaw. Both were nice and tasty but portions were small and can be better for those too as the sandwich."

What the Cluck - Berkeley

★★★★☆ 4.3 (3)

"What the Cluck is a chicken & rice restaurant, this is a cloud kitchen location btw. We saw that they had a bogo deal for chicken & rice soup on Uber eats and decided to order for dinner. I was a little surprise with what I got: chicken and spinach in soup with rice on the side. In reviewing the description of what I ordered, I realized I got exactly what I ordered. While the food was not bad, this is the first time I ate chicken rice in this manner.I've had their food before at the old oakland location, and I was a little disappointed with what I ordered. The soup quality was good, but the rice, for me the rice had a clear drop in quality, and lastly, I expected to get some dipping sauce with my meal, and non was provided, and I had to make my own sauce at home. TLDR, food was ok, had some difference in quality compared to other locations of what the cluck I've had. Stick with their classic, and skip this chicken in soup thing."

Fili Taste Grill & Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (16)

"If you've been fortunate to go visit a matriarchal Filipino home, you know that you'll NEVER go hangry. They'll feed you until your pants seams bust and send you home with Tupperware of leftovers.Then, the next time you visit, she'll say, you've gotten "fluffy"....but in a blunt way. Several months ago, I called Pampanguena Cuisine for a lumpia tray and the phone just kept ringing. Come to find out, they closed and Fili Taste Grill & Restaurant took its place in in early June 2024 . They're open for takeout and dine-in. No outdoor seating. While there was no lola onsite, dining at Fili Taste felt like an extension of their home and we left with plenty of leftovers. M E N UFilipino Fare - Array of skewers and a handful of a la carte dishes: Sizzling Sisig, Fili [Grilled] Chicken, Lechon Kawali (fried pork belly), Grilled Jumbo Squid, and Bitter Melon Soup. Combo plates available during lunch from 11 AM - 3 PM: Two proteins/lumpia plus rice for $14.99. If you spend over $35 for two people, it's FREE unlimited rice. Order at the counter (pick your skewers), seat yourself, and pay after you're finished eating. F O O D* SKEWERS ($2 each): https://tinyurl.com/4z8szcb7- Pork BBQ - Chicken BBQ - Pork Stomach - Hot Dog - Chicken Feet - Chicken Heart (x2) - sorry no pic- Kwek-Kwek: Battered + deep fried quail eggs Fili is one of two Filipino restos in the bay to have such a large array of skewers (like Dollar Hits in LA). Most of the skewers are brushed with a savory sweet glaze and perfect if you're looking to get a good sampling of proteins. * Inihaw na Pusit: Grilled Jumbo Squid ($14.99): https://tinyurl.com/mryfcde7Tender and pleasantly chewy with a nice char. Make sure to grab some housemade soy-vinegar-chili dipping sauce from their condiment station. * Fili Chicken, Inasal-Style ($14.99): https://tinyurl.com/msn9ta3pEveryone has their own recipe/variation but inasal chicken is usually marinated with vinegar, calamansi, lemongrass, garlic, and ginger...and annatto for that red hued skin. The whole chicken legs were juicy and lightly seasoned so the soy-vinegar-chili dipping sauce came in handy. * Silver Lechon Kawali: Deep Fried Pork Belly ($14.99): https://tinyurl.com/47dfeb9xFav items of the night! Golden brown and crunchy bursting with juicy porky goodness. It was bit oversalted for me but balanced when dipped into the accompanying sweet mang tomas sauce. * Soup of the Day - Bulalo: Filipino Beef Shank Soup ($19.99): https://tinyurl.com/pkdbcxrwLeast fav item - while the bulalo looked ginormous, it was mainly a huge bone with marrow and two small pieces of beef. The beef was still tough, and the bok choy and corn were undercooked. It just needed to be simmered longer to achieve a rich, soulful broth. * Garlic Rice (Free for spending over $35 for two)No Filipino meal is complete without rice and I was happy the garlic rice was part of the min. spending freebie. S E R V I C EFriendly, warm, pinoy hospitality with prompt food service. A M B I A N C ENo-frills casual dining area with 7-8 tables.P A R K I N GStreet parking can be challenging during peak hours. Overall, if you're looking for tasty Filipino eats with warm hospitality in the city, give this new local small business a try!"

Next Level Clucker

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Nextlevel Clucker is delicious! I gobbled my Chik'n tempeh Bacon Ranch Burger so fast and enjoyed every bite--I didn't give myself a chance to take a photo! This is my family's first time ordering from Nextlevel Clucker and we will be back for seconds! Oh, and the tots and shakes were great too!"

Clay Oven

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (656) • $$

"Let me paint the picture here. It starts on a Thursday afternoon-almost-evening in downtown San Mateo. Naturally, I've been drinking at Barrel Bistro, also recommended. A smoked old-fashioned or two-maybe-three since you asked. No judgement. I'm off on Fridays, and don't be jelly.Anyway, suddenly buzzed and ravenous, I stumble into the nearest Indian restaurant and ask for a tikka masala prepared "extra-extra-extra-extra-not-White-guy-hot." Oh. I should note that I'm offensively White. Like, dude-bro Silicon Valley douche-supreme White. I can't help it, people. Born this way. The result of being so cliche White, other than being instantaneously punchable, is that nobody believes I'm also addicted to XXX anus-melting spicy foods. I am. To the point that I've been to the ER a time or two because my mouth wrote checks my stomach absolutely could not cash.Okay, back on track here. The gentleman at Clay Oven questions my seriousness. I reassure him. And off he goes to see that my order is prepared as asked. I'm happy to report that despite my overwhelming Whiteness--again, usually resulting in a 70% debuff or more in spiciness--this plate comes out dark red like nuclear molten lava, and I've no doubt the same Mordor fire will be melting San Mateo plumbing systems at some point soon.So if you legit like spicy foods, I highly recommend the tikka masala assuming you also ask for it extra-extra-extra-extra-not-White-guy hot. Also, as tikka masala is not typically the spiciest of dishes, I can only surmise that other offerings will be even spicier should you ask for themButter naan also good.Thumbs up to all spicy fanatics."

Katak Thai Chicken Rice

★★★★☆ 4.3 (67)

"Very impressed with warmth welcoming hospitality from staffs // owner.The highlight: of course CHICKEN RICE, perfectly executed, very tender with aromatic of Thai jasmine rice and the sauce was very tasty with a kick of ginger and Thai chilli. Do not forget the combo of steam and crispy chicken at the same time. Great food, very convenient location, lively staffs. Coming back for sure."

Lunette

★★★★☆ 4.1 (142) • $$

"We came here after watching Nite Yun's story on Chef's Table and we were not disappointed. It was my first time trying Cambodian food and I absolutely loved it. The KTPP's broth was amazing - it was deep but not heavy, a little vinegar-y? It was such an unexpected flavor but so hearty. You get a good amount of noodles and you will be full. This is in the ferry building so it can feel busy with people walking by you but the red plastic trays, plastic utensil holders all make you feel like you're eating at a street food stall. I really loved those little details. I'm already craving the KTPP as I'm writing this - the worker told me she has this everyday for lunch and I can see why she wouldn't get tired of it. Also would recommend you to watch the Netflix episode where you'll learn more about Nite's story behind this dish and it'll make it even more meaningful."

Starbird Chicken

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (80)

"One of my go-to spots for a tasty salad delivery! Always fresh vegetables and their crispy chicken is so good. I definitely recommend the Green Goddess Cobb Salad, or the Thai Chicken Salad! Their salad dressings never fail.Since this a ghost kitchen, I always do delivery. Keep in mind, there is not indoor dining or real brick & mortar. So it might be a little confusing finding this place. Look for the SoMa Food Pickup on Morris."

Roosters Peruvian Rotisserie

★★★★☆ 3.9 (28)

"Peruvians love to go to Peruvian restaurants so when my friend chose this newer spot for a lunchtime meetup, I happily hopped on BART and made my way across the Bay. I was happy to hear familiar cumbia playing and to see the bright photos, posters, and mural that are practically required from any Peruvian-owned business. The server asked us to choose any table we wanted and had that familiar and charming Peruvian accent. Other Peruvians arrived for lunch which boded well. My friend and I opted for classics: I ordered the quarter pollo and she chose the lomo saltado. The food was solid. I prefer my pollo a little more juicy but it was flavorful. The aji amarillo sauce was so good we finished it before our meal ended. Portions were large as Peruvians would expect so we had leftovers to go. I will definitely return."

What the Cluck - Geary

★★★★☆ 3.9 (17)

"We had What the Cluck cater and the food was delicious! We had the crunchy chicken with rice, it came with a sweet sour looking sauce and cucumber slices. We also had the mango sticky rice. Ordering was easy and delicious! I would come again."

Hetchy's Hots

★★★★☆ 4.2 (108)

"Hetchy Hots sandwiches are huge! The chicken is hot, crispy, and juicy. Everyone loves that, right? Our favorite was the Rancher Dancher because it has the right amount of spiciness and also the ranch gave a good taste. If you haven't tried it yet, do yourself a favor and order now!You can order online and then pick it up! They practice COVID protocols seriously."

Aria Korean Street Food

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (28) • $$

"I should have read the reviews more thoroughly. I thought it was gonna be chicken wings... it's boneless thighs... still good but not wings. The Bulgogi taco is waaay too spicy for me. I had to download DoorDash app to buy this good and it did not allow me to use the Yelp offer... oh well Good thing Maria at DoorDash was really nice and helpful"

Chick & Jajang

★★★★☆ 4.2 (286) • $$

"It was easy to order at the kiosk for take out orders! It was pretty quiet here on a weekday lunch of course. I ordered the honey and cheese fried chicken and gosh, it's so crunchy and delicious!! It also comes with pickled radish."

Split

★★★★☆ 3.5 (167) • $$

"Walking around SF, we decided to get a quick lunch and Split hit the spot. I chose the Crispy D'Lux (Chicken, bacon, avocado and sriracha dressing on a challah bun) and Carol chose the Sonoma (Roasted chicken, apple, goat cheese and walnut currant spread on a toasted francese roll). Both were delivered quickly and excellent.Nice place for lunch."

SF Chickenbox

★★★★☆ 4.2 (212) • $$

"I stumbled upon this place after having a few drinks at bamboo bar, and I was glad that I did! I ordered the sucio, and a side of potato salad . The chicken sandwich was made perfectly, and it was juicy! It just needed extra sauce, which came at an additional cost of $1.25, for a small container (insert sad broke face) . The potato salad needed a bit more flavor too. The service was really chill, and even offered to let me charge my phone while I was waiting! Over all I would most definitely stop by, and try my sandwich with another side."

Jollibee

★★★☆☆ 3 (110) • $$

"I had nothing but a positive, albeit simple, experience with Jollibee. With so many nearby choices, my mom opted for some chicken strips from Jollibee and it was a first time for both of us. We waited in a longish line, but it went quickly enough. Friendly service at the counter, beeper given, and maybe a 5 minute wait for food.As stated, she ordered the chicken strips and upon suggestion got the creamy siracha dip to go with. YUM! I was surprised at how tasty it was! Crispy outside, tender inside. Good quick option. Wish I lived closer so I could try other options at Jollibee."

Starbird Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.1 (165) • $$

"So far I've only tried their chicken chop salad and Thai chicken salad and both have been delicious. The chicken chop salad is perfect for those who are looking for a more refreshing and lighter flavor. As for the Thai chicken salad, the dressing is definitely a lot more flavorful so maybe start with only adding half of each container first before proceeding to add more. The Thai chicken salad has a fish sauce like flavor and definitely tastes more like a Thai dish and even has a little kick to it. Both salads were very generous in serving size and the chicken was moist and delicious. The restaurant is fairly spacious and has a good amount of seating. They have a parking lot behind their store within the building and both times that I've been there, finding a spot was not hard at all."

Starbird Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.2 (73) • $$

"Okay its Starbird. Perfectly fried chicken sandwiches and tenders? Yes please and let me count the ways. 1) Now in Palo Alto so 5 minute drive for me2) perfectly fried and seasons chicken 3) Excellent dipping sauces 4) Lemonade both classic and seasonal are the bomb5) Nom nom tasty sandwiches 6) excellent customer service7) Seasonal specials they actually get input from customers on What not to like? BRING BACK THE TACOSOtherwise this is a must stop for us"

KH-Chicken King

★★★★☆ 4 (8)

"The location is a bit frightening at night but the food is definitely worth it. I think this is more of a grab and go chicken place. I ordered the 2pc dark chicken combo and the spicy chicken sandwich meal with wedges. The leg and thigh was juicy and flavorful but the crust was slightly lacking. 7/10The biscuit was brushed with honey and very soft and buttery. Definitely a need if coming here. 9/10 The spicy chicken sandwich was juicy and tender with perfectly melty cheese which was unexpected and extremely delicious, unlike other chicken sandwiches, but the chicken could be crispier. 9/10 The potato wedges were perfection. Soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside and varied in size. Also, the portion is large and definitely worth it as a side. 10/10 Furthermore, the service was amazing. Run by a very sweet couple, definitely support their business and try it out!"