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Eater's Ultimate Fried Chicken Picnic Guide

An updated guide to the best take-out fried chicken in D.C.

by Octavia Silva Apr 29, 2016, 3:30pm EDT

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Family Meal at Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

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by Octavia Silva Apr 29, 2016, 3:30pm EDT

It's almost time for outdoor picnics and backyard barbecues. Fried chicken, a timeless classic and one of the top picnic foods of all time, can be a cornerstone of these spring and summer outings.

Plus, few things taste better when there's a crispy coating tightly gripping the skin and perfectly cooked meat underneath. Taking the whole experience outside is too good of an opportunity to pass up. Local restaurants know this and offer boxes and platters to go for fried chicken enthusiasts to feast wherever they wish. Sides are also available, but, let’s be real, the chicken is where it's at.

Luckily, the D.C. area also offers a whole host of flavors, ranging from traditional Southern, to Nashville hot chicken, and the twice-fried Korean variety. Here's a list of restaurants that not only specialize in the comfort food but also offer it up for take-out, satisfying those fried-chicken needs for picnics, lunches in the park, and more.

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Art and Soul

Art and Soul serves their buttermilk fried chicken in ready-to-go picnic lunches for two. The $40 chicken meal comes with biscuits, coleslaw, potato salad, a cookie, and cherry soda.

415 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

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Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

D.C.’s grab-and-go chicken and doughnut spot has several options. Prices are $5.75 (two pieces), $11.00 (4 pieces) or $19.75 (eight pieces). Five chicken fingers are $7.50.

1308 G St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

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Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits

Venture into the depths of Union Station for a ton of take-out fried chicken options at Bojangles. The 12-piece box comes with six biscuits, while the 20-piece comes with 10 biscuits.

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50 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, D.C. 20002

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Bonchon Chicken

No fried chicken list would be complete without BonChon. The Korean twice-fried chicken is flavored with soy garlic. It's available to-go as wings, strips, drumsticks, or a wing and leg combo. Order sizes range from three to 20 pieces with prices from $12 to $30.

1015 Half St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

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Boss Shepherd's Restaurant & Whiskey Bar

Boss Shepherd’s also offers take-anywhere fried chicken. Get half of an entire 12-hour brined chicken (leg, breast, thigh) with deep-fried potatoes and a buttermilk biscuit on the side for $24.

513 13th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

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Boundary Stone Public House

Boundary Stone’s fried chicken can be ordered to go anytime. It comes with rosemary fingerling potatoes and collard greens for $15.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Busboys and Poets

Every location of Busboys and Poets has their herb-encrusted fried chicken. The meal, which can be taken to go, includes a chardonnay cream sauce, mashed potatoes and collard greens for $16.

2021 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Central Michel Richard

Michel Richard's acclaimed fried chicken dish goes for $24.50 at lunch and $25 at dinner. It includes two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes and a salad.

1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

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Crisp

Crisp has a Southern fried chicken platter for $15 that includes half an Allen Farms chicken and a choice of two sides (stewed okra and tomatoes, barbecue beans, greens, chopped slaw, or fries).

1837 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Crown Fried Chicken

Open daily until 4 a.m. and then open again at 6:45, H Street’s Crown can satisfy a take-out fried chicken fix at just about any hour of the day. The exceedingly affordable meals start at $3.95 for two pieces and a side with a 21-piece and two-side order available for just $23.95.

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716 H St NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20002

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Family Meal

The famous fried chicken at Bryan Voltaggio’s restaurant with locations in Ashburn and Frederick is available to-go as four pieces with two biscuits for $15.

800 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701

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Flavors

The Falls Church soul food restaurant serves up fried chicken platters and dinners with quarter-chicken of white or dark meat. Platters ($10.50, white; $8.50 dark) include fries and cornbread and dinners ($14.95, $12.95) include two sides and cornbread.

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3420 Carlyn Hill Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041

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Momofuku CCDC

During Friday lunch hours (specifically Fridays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.), Momofuku has a fried chicken meal that can be enjoyed to-go. It consists of two pieces of chicken, one biscuit, and kimchi coleslaw for $12.

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

Pearl Dive has a six-piece fried chicken meal accompanied by bacon-braised greens, creamy coleslaw, and jalapeño corn muffins for $25.

1612 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009-4307

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Popeyes

Popeye’s now offers the $5 Bonafide Big Box, which includes two mixed pieces or three chicken tenders with two regular sides and one biscuit. Their options for sides are coleslaw, Cajun fries, red beans and rice, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, and onion rings. With three locations in D.C. alone, it’s easy to satisfy that Popeye’s craving.

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5200 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

The Chickery

The Chickery Sampler consists of ¼ rotisserie of choice, one chicken feather, one chicken finger, one side, ½ naked salad and a dipping sauce. They also offer The Chickery Box, which has one chicken feather, one chicken finger, one side, ½ naked salad and a dipping sauce. Sides at The Chickery include jalapeño cheddar corn bread, garlic smashed potatoes, crunch top mac ‘n’ cheese and shoestring fries.

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1300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

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The Fainting Goat

Starting Monday June 6, Fainting Goat will have “Picnics at the Goat” every Monday until the end of September. They’re starting with a fried chicken feast. This will include smoke gouda mac ‘n’ cheese, peel and eat shrimp, creamy coleslaw, cornbread and pretzel salad with mascarpone and macerated strawberries. Prices will range from $25-$50 per person.

1330 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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The Hitching Post

This Upshur Street hole-in-the-wall offers a four-piece fried chicken dinner with a choice of two sides for $16.

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200 Upshur St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20011

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Art and Soul

415 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Art and Soul serves their buttermilk fried chicken in ready-to-go picnic lunches for two. The $40 chicken meal comes with biscuits, coleslaw, potato salad, a cookie, and cherry soda.

415 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

1308 G St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

D.C.’s grab-and-go chicken and doughnut spot has several options. Prices are $5.75 (two pieces), $11.00 (4 pieces) or $19.75 (eight pieces). Five chicken fingers are $7.50.

1308 G St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits

50 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, D.C. 20002

Venture into the depths of Union Station for a ton of take-out fried chicken options at Bojangles. The 12-piece box comes with six biscuits, while the 20-piece comes with 10 biscuits.

Open in Google Maps

50 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Bonchon Chicken

1015 Half St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

No fried chicken list would be complete without BonChon. The Korean twice-fried chicken is flavored with soy garlic. It's available to-go as wings, strips, drumsticks, or a wing and leg combo. Order sizes range from three to 20 pieces with prices from $12 to $30.

1015 Half St SE, Washington, D.C., 20003

Visit Website

Boss Shepherd's Restaurant & Whiskey Bar

513 13th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Boss Shepherd’s also offers take-anywhere fried chicken. Get half of an entire 12-hour brined chicken (leg, breast, thigh) with deep-fried potatoes and a buttermilk biscuit on the side for $24.

513 13th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Boundary Stone Public House

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Boundary Stone’s fried chicken can be ordered to go anytime. It comes with rosemary fingerling potatoes and collard greens for $15.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Busboys and Poets

2021 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Every location of Busboys and Poets has their herb-encrusted fried chicken. The meal, which can be taken to go, includes a chardonnay cream sauce, mashed potatoes and collard greens for $16.

2021 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Central Michel Richard

1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

Michel Richard's acclaimed fried chicken dish goes for $24.50 at lunch and $25 at dinner. It includes two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes and a salad.

1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Crisp

1837 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Crisp has a Southern fried chicken platter for $15 that includes half an Allen Farms chicken and a choice of two sides (stewed okra and tomatoes, barbecue beans, greens, chopped slaw, or fries).

1837 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Crown Fried Chicken

716 H St NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20002

Open daily until 4 a.m. and then open again at 6:45, H Street’s Crown can satisfy a take-out fried chicken fix at just about any hour of the day. The exceedingly affordable meals start at $3.95 for two pieces and a side with a 21-piece and two-side order available for just $23.95.

Open in Google Maps

716 H St NE, Washington DC, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Family Meal

800 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701

The famous fried chicken at Bryan Voltaggio’s restaurant with locations in Ashburn and Frederick is available to-go as four pieces with two biscuits for $15.

800 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701

Visit Website

Flavors

3420 Carlyn Hill Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041

The Falls Church soul food restaurant serves up fried chicken platters and dinners with quarter-chicken of white or dark meat. Platters ($10.50, white; $8.50 dark) include fries and cornbread and dinners ($14.95, $12.95) include two sides and cornbread.

Open in Google Maps

3420 Carlyn Hill Dr, Falls Church, VA 22041

Visit Website

Momofuku CCDC

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

During Friday lunch hours (specifically Fridays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.), Momofuku has a fried chicken meal that can be enjoyed to-go. It consists of two pieces of chicken, one biscuit, and kimchi coleslaw for $12.

1090 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

1612 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009-4307

Pearl Dive has a six-piece fried chicken meal accompanied by bacon-braised greens, creamy coleslaw, and jalapeño corn muffins for $25.

1612 14th St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20009-4307

Popeyes

5200 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

Popeye’s now offers the $5 Bonafide Big Box, which includes two mixed pieces or three chicken tenders with two regular sides and one biscuit. Their options for sides are coleslaw, Cajun fries, red beans and rice, green beans, mashed potatoes, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, and onion rings. With three locations in D.C. alone, it’s easy to satisfy that Popeye’s craving.

Open in Google Maps

5200 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20011

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The Chickery

1300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The Chickery Sampler consists of ¼ rotisserie of choice, one chicken feather, one chicken finger, one side, ½ naked salad and a dipping sauce. They also offer The Chickery Box, which has one chicken feather, one chicken finger, one side, ½ naked salad and a dipping sauce. Sides at The Chickery include jalapeño cheddar corn bread, garlic smashed potatoes, crunch top mac ‘n’ cheese and shoestring fries.

Open in Google Maps

1300 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

The Fainting Goat

1330 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Starting Monday June 6, Fainting Goat will have “Picnics at the Goat” every Monday until the end of September. They’re starting with a fried chicken feast. This will include smoke gouda mac ‘n’ cheese, peel and eat shrimp, creamy coleslaw, cornbread and pretzel salad with mascarpone and macerated strawberries. Prices will range from $25-$50 per person.

1330 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

The Hitching Post

200 Upshur St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20011

This Upshur Street hole-in-the-wall offers a four-piece fried chicken dinner with a choice of two sides for $16.

Open in Google Maps

200 Upshur St NW, Washington DC, D.C. 20011

Visit Website

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