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Casual Dining - Wooboi
The spicy Sando at Wooboi.
Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

18 Essential Fried Chicken Sandwiches Around D.C.

Crave-worthy sandwiches come in classic styles or with Asian, Nashville, and super spicy twists

by Tim Ebner, Gabe Hiatt, and Vinciane Ngomsi Updated
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The spicy Sando at Wooboi.
| Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
by Tim Ebner, Gabe Hiatt, and Vinciane Ngomsi Updated

A few summers ago, it was all about the Popeyes effect. When the fried chicken chain debuted its chicken sandwich, the nation was consumed in poultry panic. From that time on, some D.C. restaurants added crispy poultry options to try to ride the wave, while others, like affordable standout Roaming Rooster, benefited from added attention on their preexisting specialty.

Here are 18 lip-smacking fried chicken sandwiches to order around D.C. right now.

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Roaming Rooster

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This D.C. favorite comes from brothers Michael and Biniam Habtemariam. They’ve grown from their original food truck to a business with a four-truck fleet to a whopping 11 standalone locations all over the DMV, including the Woodridge original, Western Market, another on U Street NW, and more.

3176 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018
(202) 507-8734
(202) 507-8734
A classic fried chicken sandwich with slaw from Roaming Rooter
A classic fried chicken sandwich with slaw from Roaming Rooter
Laura Chase de Formigny for The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Brookland's Finest Bar and Kitchen

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This neighborhood haunt sells a Southern-style chicken club with applewood-smoked bacon, mozzarella, tomato, and a Crystal hot sauce remoulade on a brioche bun for $17. Brookland’s Finest offers it with grilled chicken, too.

3126 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 636-0050
(202) 636-0050
WASHINGTON, DC - March 2: Shannan Troncoso is the chef at Brookland’s Finest
Brookland’s Finest chef Shannan Troncoso.
Kate Patterson for The Washington Post via Getty Images

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Federalist Pig

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Prepare to get messy. This fried chicken sandwich, referred to as the “Jimmy Muscles,” is a chicken breast sandwich piled high with pork belly, jalapeno relish, a sticky garlic and ranch sauce, and herbs on a sesame seed bun.

1654 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 827-4400
(202) 827-4400

Also featured in:

Lucky Buns

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Many people gravitate to this Adams Morgan hangout for burgers, but don’t sleep on the fried chicken thigh sandwiches. A Hot Tiger Bun has Sichuan pepper paste, a Dirty Bird Bun has Shark brand sriracha, and a Japanese-style Katsu bun come with tonkatsu sauce, karashi mustard slaw, nori, and soy-pickled cucumbers. There’s a Thai chili mumbo sauce version, too.

2000 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
202-506-1713
202-506-1713
Lucky Buns/Facebook

Service Bar DC

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This Shaw cocktail bar, a favorite of service industry workers, is known for its lemon-brined fried chicken. It offers an original, hot spice dust, buffalo, and deluxe fried chicken with a panko breadcrumb crust.

926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 462-7232
(202) 462-7232
A Rake’s Progress chef Opie Crooks created a fried chicken sandwich for Service Bar with “Snake Oil” hot suace butter and buttermilk dressing.
A Rake’s Progress chef Opie Crooks created a fried chicken sandwich for Service Bar with “Snake Oil” hot suace butter and buttermilk dressing.
Rachel LaMarca/For Service Bar

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Right Proper Brewing Company (Multiple locations)

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This local brewery and pub in Shaw serves a popular riff on a certain chain’s iconic fried chicken sandwich. The Southern-fried “chick-filet” ($15) comes on a brioche bun with Boursin cheese, pickles, lettuce, and tomato.

624 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 607-2337
(202) 607-2337
A chicken sandwich from Right Proper
A chicken sandwich from Right Proper
Right Proper Brewing [official]

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Boundary Stone

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Boundary Stone’s “Triple H Chicken Sandwich” is exceptionally hot, with fried chicken, Triple H sauce (honey hot habanero), lettuce, pickles, and blue cheese, all on a brioche bun.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

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Ghostburger

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The Shaw hotspot’s fried chicken sandwich comes with pickles, chipotle mayo, and hot sauce. A “Single Crispy Chick” and “Double Crispy Chick” are also available as part of their “Build a Burger” option. 

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 827-5237
(202) 827-5237

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Unconventional Diner

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The fried chicken sando at this veteran eatery is topped with slaw, sexy sauce, honey-sriracha, pickles, and served on a sesame-seed bun with fries. Feel free to add a sunny egg for $2; bacon for $2; and a housemade cheese sauce they call “Cheez” (a blend of melted fontina, cheddar and American with milk and turmeric) for $2. 

1207 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 847-0122
(202) 847-0122

Also featured in:

Present Company Public House

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Chef Lincoln Fuge brings a fine dining touch to the pub food at this standout firehouse bar with a brick-lined patio on Massachusetts Avenue NW. The Nashville native’s hot chicken sandwich ($17) comes with a Maine maple sugar and whiskey sauce, pickles, and slaw on a potato bun. Speaking of spicy, Fuge also showcases hot sauces made from chiles grown in his garden to go along with his Hook and Ladder line.

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 289-1100
(202) 289-1100
The patio at Present Company
The patio at Present Company
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

Love, Makoto

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Enjoy three versions of fried chicken sandwiches at Love Makoto’s Love on the Run. First up is the chicken and the egg ($18); fried chicken katsu, sunny-side-up egg, lettuce, cabbage, teriyaki sauce, mayo, and Japanese mustard on a housemade bun. The second ($16) infuses teriyaki and comes piled high with lettuce, shiso coleslaw, teriyaki sauce, wasabi sesame, mayo, and Japanese mustard, Finally, the chicken and the egg ($16) boats lettuce, shiso coleslaw, spicy mayo, Japanese mustard, and shichimi togarashi on a housemade bun.

200 Massachusetts Ave NW Suite 150, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 992-7730
(202) 992-7730

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken (Multiple locations)

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This homegrown chain serves fried chicken sandwiches on doughnut buns at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a honey-hot sauced iteration and a twist on the classic BLT. Astro’s anticipated beer hall is opening in Shirlington on Tuesday, September 19.

1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 809-5565
(202) 809-5565

Also featured in:

SUCCOTASH (Multiple locations)

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Available at lunch and brunch only, those with a craving for southern spices will find Succotash’s crispy chicken sandwich topped with pimento cheese, coleslaw, Duke’s remoulade, and a side of french fries.

915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 849-6933
(202) 849-6933

Also featured in:

Hot Lola's

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Chef Kevin Tien’s hot chicken sandwich combines flavors from Nashville and the Sichuan province of China. Find it in varying heat levels at his fast-casual spot inside the food hall at Ballston Quarter.

4238 Wilson Blvd Level C, Arlington, VA 22203

Also featured in:

Bluejacket

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The fried chicken sandwich ($16.50) at this sprawling brewery in Navy Yard is coated in one of D.C.'s favorite condiments: sweet, sticky mumbo sauce. It can also be doused with a hot-wing style Buffalo sauce.

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 524-4862
(202) 524-4862

Also featured in:

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Open Crumb

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Along with Ghanaian carryout like red red stew full of black-eyed peas and plantains, chef Peter Opare’s Anacostia storefront offers a $8 fried chicken thigh sandwich served on soft, buttery buns he bakes himself.

1243 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020
(202) 610-9979
(202) 610-9979
The fried chicken sandwich from Open Crumb, right
The fried chicken sandwich from Open Crumb, right
Deb Lindsey/for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Also featured in:

Wooboi Hot Chicken (Multiple locations)

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Chef-owner Minwoo Choi serves some of the area’s spiciest hot chicken sandwiches ($12) at this local shop, with locations open for pickup and delivery in Herndon and Alexandria. Customers pick from six heat levels, ranging from “classic” to “code blue.”

531 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314
The Sando with level-two heat at Wooboi 
The Sando with level-two heat at Wooboi 
Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Also featured in:

Blue Rock

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Inspired by the classic Nashville hot chicken delicacy, Blue Rock’s chicken bathes in a brine, is dusted with a secret spice recipe, and then doused in a sauce that’s a cross between Buffalo sauce and Laoganma (Chinese chili crunch). The restaurant serves it with house made pickles and marinated melon to help refresh palates between bites.

12567 Lee Hwy, Washington, VA 22747
(540) 987-3388
(540) 987-3388

Also featured in:

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Roaming Rooster

3176 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018

This D.C. favorite comes from brothers Michael and Biniam Habtemariam. They’ve grown from their original food truck to a business with a four-truck fleet to a whopping 11 standalone locations all over the DMV, including the Woodridge original, Western Market, another on U Street NW, and more.

3176 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, DC 20018
(202) 507-8734
(202) 507-8734
A classic fried chicken sandwich with slaw from Roaming Rooter
A classic fried chicken sandwich with slaw from Roaming Rooter
Laura Chase de Formigny for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Brookland's Finest Bar and Kitchen

3126 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

This neighborhood haunt sells a Southern-style chicken club with applewood-smoked bacon, mozzarella, tomato, and a Crystal hot sauce remoulade on a brioche bun for $17. Brookland’s Finest offers it with grilled chicken, too.

3126 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017
(202) 636-0050
(202) 636-0050
WASHINGTON, DC - March 2: Shannan Troncoso is the chef at Brookland’s Finest
Brookland’s Finest chef Shannan Troncoso.
Kate Patterson for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Federalist Pig

1654 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009

Prepare to get messy. This fried chicken sandwich, referred to as the “Jimmy Muscles,” is a chicken breast sandwich piled high with pork belly, jalapeno relish, a sticky garlic and ranch sauce, and herbs on a sesame seed bun.

1654 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 827-4400
(202) 827-4400

Lucky Buns

2000 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Many people gravitate to this Adams Morgan hangout for burgers, but don’t sleep on the fried chicken thigh sandwiches. A Hot Tiger Bun has Sichuan pepper paste, a Dirty Bird Bun has Shark brand sriracha, and a Japanese-style Katsu bun come with tonkatsu sauce, karashi mustard slaw, nori, and soy-pickled cucumbers. There’s a Thai chili mumbo sauce version, too.

2000 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
202-506-1713
202-506-1713
Lucky Buns/Facebook

Service Bar DC

926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

This Shaw cocktail bar, a favorite of service industry workers, is known for its lemon-brined fried chicken. It offers an original, hot spice dust, buffalo, and deluxe fried chicken with a panko breadcrumb crust.

926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 462-7232
(202) 462-7232
A Rake’s Progress chef Opie Crooks created a fried chicken sandwich for Service Bar with “Snake Oil” hot suace butter and buttermilk dressing.
A Rake’s Progress chef Opie Crooks created a fried chicken sandwich for Service Bar with “Snake Oil” hot suace butter and buttermilk dressing.
Rachel LaMarca/For Service Bar

Right Proper Brewing Company (Multiple locations)

624 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

This local brewery and pub in Shaw serves a popular riff on a certain chain’s iconic fried chicken sandwich. The Southern-fried “chick-filet” ($15) comes on a brioche bun with Boursin cheese, pickles, lettuce, and tomato.

624 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 607-2337
(202) 607-2337
A chicken sandwich from Right Proper
A chicken sandwich from Right Proper
Right Proper Brewing [official]

Boundary Stone

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Boundary Stone’s “Triple H Chicken Sandwich” is exceptionally hot, with fried chicken, Triple H sauce (honey hot habanero), lettuce, pickles, and blue cheese, all on a brioche bun.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

Ghostburger

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

The Shaw hotspot’s fried chicken sandwich comes with pickles, chipotle mayo, and hot sauce. A “Single Crispy Chick” and “Double Crispy Chick” are also available as part of their “Build a Burger” option. 

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 827-5237
(202) 827-5237

Unconventional Diner

1207 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

The fried chicken sando at this veteran eatery is topped with slaw, sexy sauce, honey-sriracha, pickles, and served on a sesame-seed bun with fries. Feel free to add a sunny egg for $2; bacon for $2; and a housemade cheese sauce they call “Cheez” (a blend of melted fontina, cheddar and American with milk and turmeric) for $2. 

1207 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 847-0122
(202) 847-0122

Present Company Public House

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Chef Lincoln Fuge brings a fine dining touch to the pub food at this standout firehouse bar with a brick-lined patio on Massachusetts Avenue NW. The Nashville native’s hot chicken sandwich ($17) comes with a Maine maple sugar and whiskey sauce, pickles, and slaw on a potato bun. Speaking of spicy, Fuge also showcases hot sauces made from chiles grown in his garden to go along with his Hook and Ladder line.

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 289-1100
(202) 289-1100
The patio at Present Company
The patio at Present Company
Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Love, Makoto

200 Massachusetts Ave NW Suite 150, Washington, DC 20001

Enjoy three versions of fried chicken sandwiches at Love Makoto’s Love on the Run. First up is the chicken and the egg ($18); fried chicken katsu, sunny-side-up egg, lettuce, cabbage, teriyaki sauce, mayo, and Japanese mustard on a housemade bun. The second ($16) infuses teriyaki and comes piled high with lettuce, shiso coleslaw, teriyaki sauce, wasabi sesame, mayo, and Japanese mustard, Finally, the chicken and the egg ($16) boats lettuce, shiso coleslaw, spicy mayo, Japanese mustard, and shichimi togarashi on a housemade bun.

200 Massachusetts Ave NW Suite 150, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 992-7730
(202) 992-7730

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken (Multiple locations)

1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005

This homegrown chain serves fried chicken sandwiches on doughnut buns at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including a honey-hot sauced iteration and a twist on the classic BLT. Astro’s anticipated beer hall is opening in Shirlington on Tuesday, September 19.

1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 809-5565
(202) 809-5565

SUCCOTASH (Multiple locations)

915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Available at lunch and brunch only, those with a craving for southern spices will find Succotash’s crispy chicken sandwich topped with pimento cheese, coleslaw, Duke’s remoulade, and a side of french fries.

915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 849-6933
(202) 849-6933

Hot Lola's

4238 Wilson Blvd Level C, Arlington, VA 22203

Chef Kevin Tien’s hot chicken sandwich combines flavors from Nashville and the Sichuan province of China. Find it in varying heat levels at his fast-casual spot inside the food hall at Ballston Quarter.

4238 Wilson Blvd Level C, Arlington, VA 22203

Bluejacket

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

The fried chicken sandwich ($16.50) at this sprawling brewery in Navy Yard is coated in one of D.C.'s favorite condiments: sweet, sticky mumbo sauce. It can also be doused with a hot-wing style Buffalo sauce.

300 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 524-4862
(202) 524-4862

Related Maps

Open Crumb

1243 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020

Along with Ghanaian carryout like red red stew full of black-eyed peas and plantains, chef Peter Opare’s Anacostia storefront offers a $8 fried chicken thigh sandwich served on soft, buttery buns he bakes himself.

1243 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020
(202) 610-9979
(202) 610-9979
The fried chicken sandwich from Open Crumb, right
The fried chicken sandwich from Open Crumb, right
Deb Lindsey/for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Wooboi Hot Chicken (Multiple locations)

531 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Chef-owner Minwoo Choi serves some of the area’s spiciest hot chicken sandwiches ($12) at this local shop, with locations open for pickup and delivery in Herndon and Alexandria. Customers pick from six heat levels, ranging from “classic” to “code blue.”

531 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314
The Sando with level-two heat at Wooboi 
The Sando with level-two heat at Wooboi 
Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Blue Rock

12567 Lee Hwy, Washington, VA 22747

Inspired by the classic Nashville hot chicken delicacy, Blue Rock’s chicken bathes in a brine, is dusted with a secret spice recipe, and then doused in a sauce that’s a cross between Buffalo sauce and Laoganma (Chinese chili crunch). The restaurant serves it with house made pickles and marinated melon to help refresh palates between bites.

12567 Lee Hwy, Washington, VA 22747
(540) 987-3388
(540) 987-3388

Related Maps