Typically recognized as a Southern cuisine classic, it can be hard to find mouthwatering fried chicken in the Northeast. Luckily these seven restaurants in the Hudson Valley will do just the job. Enjoy fried chicken anytime of day either on top of waffles or next to flavorful Southern-style sides including macaroni and cheese, wedge potatoes, collard greens, or coleslaw.
Darlings
838 Route 32, Tillson NY 12486
Open seven days a week, Darlings serves fried chicken two ways: order a platter with three pieces ($22) or five pieces ($35) or on a sandwich ($19). They also have a vegan fried “chicken” made out of battered and fried oyster mushrooms (small $18, large $29). On the side they offer green beans, fries, poblano macaroni and cheese, cucumber salad, corn muffins, and many more Southern classics. The fried chicken sandwich comes with coleslaw, pickles, and pimento aioli (also able to be substituted for fried mushroom). For dessert, they have an assortment of pies from Rosie’s Bakehouse including strawberry, custard crumble, salted maple, and banoffee, along with ice cream. At the newly debuted weekend brunch at Darlings, you can order chicken and waffles, served with maple syrup, honey butter, and Louisiana hot sauce. Darling's hours are Monday to Friday 4pm to 12am and weekends 12pm to 12am.
Kitty's Market and Cafe
60 S Front Street, Hudson NY 12534
Kitty’s Market and Cafe is open with their full food menu Thursday through Sunday from 8am to 7pm and just for grab-and-go coffee, groceries, and pastries on Monday (8am to 7pm) and Tuesday (8am to 4pm). For lunch, try their half ($13) or whole rotisserie chicken ($25) with a selection of sides including cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, smashed and fried fingerlings, and rice with a garlic confit (all $7). For an extra buck, you can get one of five house sauces with your chicken, including Hudson Valley Ranch, herbed labneh, and chili oil. The Kitty’s pastry case includes coconut almond carrot cake, malted oat cinnamon buns, turnovers, black-out walnut cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. Over on Kitty’s full-service restaurant side, open Wednesday to Sunday evenings, the Chkmeruli fried half chicken is an American take on the traditional Georgian garlic chicken dish ($35).
Ruby Mae [Currently Moving Locations]
40 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401
Open for five years in Kingston—first on Hasbrouck and later on Broadway in the Rondout—Ruby Mae serves Southern soul food inspired by Texas, New Orleans, and the Carolinas. Ruby Mae is currently moving locations and is planning to announce their new location via social media shortly. Menu favorites are their fried pickles ($10), chicken and waffles ($20), and chicken dinner (with two pieces of fried chicken, $20)). Ruby Mae’s also offers seafood boil in a bag, shrimp and grits, fried or blackened catfish dinner, smoked ribs, fried steak, and much more. On the side, choose from soul food classics like baked macaroni and cheese, collard greens, creamy grits, string beans, waffle fries, candied yams, fries, corn on the cob, and fried okra.
PAKT
608 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401
Cult favorite PAKT recently closed their in-person dining and brunch service but will continue to use their kitchen to cater, prep for their food truck, and host private events. Offering eclectic, inventive food with Southern influence, PAKT can customize the menu for each client depending on the size of the group and type of event. Enjoy their fried chicken in the form of chicken and waffles with jalapeno jelly. Other fried favorites are their fried avocado sandwich, fish fry, pickles, and green tomatoes. For dessert, they offer a large array of options including their maple bourbon pecan pie, peach cobbler, strawberry shortcake or banana pudding made with housemade Nilla wafers.
Essie's
14 Mount Carmel Place, Poughkeepsie NY 12601
The menu at Essie’s is a mix of Caribbean and American Southern cuisine, offering both buttermilk fried chicken and chicken and waffles with vanilla butter, local honey, and syrup (for $25). On the side, try their hand-cut potato wedges with parmesan or everything bagel wedges. Their buttermilk fried chicken and the chicken and waffle are both available as one of Essie’s “communal meals” for four people but must be ordered one day in advance. Essie’s is open for dinner Wednesday through Thursday from 4pm to 9:30pm along with Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm. On the weekend they are open for brunch, Saturdays from 11am to 3pm and Sundays from 11am to 3:30pm.
Mama Roux
96 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550
NOLA-inspired Newburgh eatery Mama Roux’s fried chicken can be ordered multiple ways. For $25, you get three pieces served with mashed sweet potatoes, cider-braised collards, and a buttermilk biscuit, or for $28, you get an eight-piece bucket with no sides. At brunch, opt for Korean fried chicken and waffles served with gochujang-honey-barbeque sauce ($22). For dessert, check out their bourbon-apricot bread pudding, apple beignets, or chocolate stout pot de creme. Mama Roux also hosts a Drag Brunch monthly, tickets are $20 and include a complimentary mimosa and along with performances. Proceeds of the event go to the Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center. The next Drag Brunch is August 28, featuring performances by Andora TeTee and Sandra Lopez. Mama Roux is open for Sunday brunch from 11am to 4pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to 9pm and Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 10pm.
Tilda's Kitchen
630 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401
Tilda’s Kitchen is a project of the Hudson Valley Current, a nonprofit aimed at supporting the local economy through an IRS-recognized alternative currency. Tilda’s Kitchen is designed to be a community-based restaurant, relying on volunteers and donations. Ninety percent of the products used in the restaurant are sourced locally, and every Friday the entire meal (appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert) features ingredients from a local farm. Their fried chicken dish comes with two pieces of buttermilk fried chicken and a side of honeyed carrots ($12). Tilda’s Kitchen has flexible pricing options for both their restaurant and market. They are open Tuesday through Thursday from 9am to 3pm, Friday 9am to 10pm, and Saturday 9am to 3pm.
