Visited Chicken King while I was in Louisville, and I can see why it's a local favorite. This place serves some seriously good fried chicken. The dining area is small and no frills, so I'd probably use the drive-thru or take it to-go next time. We ordered the 4 whole spicy wings meal with two sides. I was surprised they include the entire wing, including the tip. Each wing comes with the drum, flat, and tip. The wing tip is actually my favorite part, and it's rare to find restaurants that leave it on. The chicken was incredibly crispy without being greasy, and the spicy seasoning had just the right amount of heat. I want that recipe! For our sides, we doubled up on the potato wedges, and they absolutely lived up to the hype. They seem like they're coated in the same seasoned batter as the chicken, giving them an extra crispy crunch on the outside. Pro tip: Order the purple drink! It has a grape flavor with a fruity twist, and it pairs perfectly with the spicy chicken. Overall, Chicken King is worth a stop if you're in Louisville. Between the huge portions and affordable prices, it's easy to see why it's been a longtime favorite among locals. read more

Chicken King - Purple drink grape drink - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

Someone brought their wings to a pitch in. Never being a fan of wings, I thought I would try them anyway. Much to my surprise I really liked them. Crunchy breading, juicy and tender inside. They were not spicey or dripping in any sauce, just regular breaded and I thought "I am going to have to go to this place soon" After doing some research I found that they have drive thru only for dinner hours. So I made my trip down Broadway to Chicken King and could not miss the big yellow sign nor the already 7 cars in the drive thru. Since this chicken has a otremendous fan base, I considered myself lucky to be #8 in line as others pulled behind me. The menu is packed full of items, so my first tip is to look up the menu online before you go...less pressure once you arrive...lol I ordered the 8 PC box (regular) for my husband, 3 PC tenders (that comes with 3 potato wedges) for myself and a medium peach cobbler to share. I was very disappointed that the tenders were not fresh nor freshly breaded. They were pressed and glued white meat formed into a tender. I actually only ate one, shared one with my dog and threw the last one away. The potato wedges were the star. I should have ordered more of those. My husband, who LOVES fried chicken was not impressed. He said KFC and Golden Corral has better. The peach cobbler was average. So, I am sorry to summarize our experience as not having a reason to return. read more

The chicken was so greasy and had NO seasonings! The greens were not tender at all and I had to chew them to death. You don't ever have to worry about me patronizing your place again! Pitiful!!!! read more

Chicken King - Wannabe Food!! Eat at your own risk! - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

The best Chicken and dumplings I've had so far. It's oddly always good.....the sides at least. Mashed potato and gravy, fried okra, fried cauliflower, Mac and cheese, seriously they were all good. Have only ordered via Door Dash so can't speak on anything else. read more

I recently saw some Chicken King reviews on social media and decided to give them a try. First, the line to the drive-through was around the building. That was impressive. I ordered tilapia, catfish, mixed greens, baked beans, mac & cheese, sweet potato casserole, potato salad, macaroni salad, green beans, deviled eggs, broccoli rice and cheese casserole, white bean soup, cornbread, pecan pie, peach cobbler, and dressing with gravy. I will start with the service. The wait was not excessive, given the line, and customer service was pleasant. The dishes I did not care for are potato salad, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, green beans, and dressing with gravy. The salads were a tasteless mayonnaise mess. Deviled eggs were watery and basic; the gravy could not save, let alone mask, the unpleasant taste of the dressing, and I don't believe the mac and cheese has real cheese in it. What I liked: the sweet potato casserole, pecan pie (the crust looks like it was purchased, so I'm not sure they made the pie), baked beans and potato wedges. The fish and greens were not well seasoned. Everything else I ordered was ok. I will not be returning as nothing I had warrants a repeat visit. I can admit I did not order the chicken they are known for, so I can't speak on that. read more

See all

Trades blows with Indis on different stuff like the sides. The chicken is more unique, got crazy amounts of batter on it.

I had higher hopes for a fast food place based on the reviews. I'm extremely picky about chicken and I don't like bone in chicken. This place is definitely a bone in place. The chicken tenders were mid. The drive thru can get super long, so I went into it expecting to wait awhile, but it honestly wasn't too bad. The sides definitely carried over the chicken tenders and I will go back for the sides. read more

Chicken King - 5-Piece Chicken Tenders, Sweet Potatoes Casserole, Mac & Cheese - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

It's all about the chicken at Chicken King! I live in Lexington but when I'm in town for business I almost always stop for this AMAZING chicken! I get the spicy dark meat. The team is no nonsense but very sweet. Just the right amount of heat that follows you for a couple minutes. Mmm! No dining in, just carry out or drive through. Also, I have randomly ordered the banana pudding and chicken and dumplings, and they were fantastic as well. read more

Chicken was. Delish. No doubt some of the best I've had in town. Only downfall was seriously long wait in drive through. Tried shrimp, 2 pc dk meat chicken, okra, sweet potatoes and strawberry cake. Sweet potatos knocked my socks off!!! I would get nearly everything again, except for the strawberry cake.... I'll make that at home. Sweet staff, great food. read more

I freakin love Chicken King. Food slaps. People working there are awesome. Now, listen, this place is super popular so they do run out of normal chicken. Their spicy chicken is great but it's also actually spicy (old folks read: get ya tums!). I've done the drive through only so I can't comment on the inside seating. Waiting in the car line can take some time. Be patient they're slinging a ton of food to a ton of families for a good price. Whenever I'm having a bad day I go line up for Chicken King. Why? Because it's like having thanksgiving on demand and how could that not make the day a bit brighter. This is soul food. Let's talk about the sides: Sweet potatoes? Perfectly seasoned, buttery, and brown sugar sweet. Corn bread? Moist! Baked beans? Sent me to heaven. If I was on my way to Norton, I'd ask the ambulance to pull over and get me Chicken King. That's how much I love Chicken King!! read more

We were looking for a local fried chicken joint during our road trip (I mean how can you not eat fried chicken in Kentucky) and came across Chicken King. We didn't know what to expect but the food here was delicious. It's a divey spot with a long drive through line but it's totally worth the wait and value (we spent $24 and got a huge amount of food for two people). The sides were okay but the chicken is definitely the main star -- it was everything you want in fried chicken: moist, crunchy, and flavorful. It was also still hot and crispy by the time we returned back to our hotel. We wish we had more time to explore the rest of the menu because it's so vast but if we ever return, we're definitely stopping by here again. Their seafood dishes sounds delicious. You just have to visit this spot to find out! read more

See all

I want to gooooooo home lol! Now maybe it's me, but I've been in Louisville Kentucky since Wednesday and I haven't had a GOOD MEAL since I've been here! This is my most recent try on something as simple as some Kentucky fried chicken. I did get chicken, along with corn bread, a whiting dinner, shrimp dinner, extra potato wedges, wings, collard greens, sweet potato casserole, corn bread peach cobbler and chess pie. I haven't eaten the cobbler as of yet, but so far the chess pie was the best thing I got. Next came the wedges, then fish, and last the chicken. The sweet potato casserole was thick, dry and not so great, and the collard greens were just terrible. The corn bread was ok. The chicken thigh and leg was huge and fried perfectly crispy but it wasn't flavorful. The fish was on the same level. The chess pie was tasty and it had a nice light crispy topping however it was EXTREMELY sweet. Bottom line this is a place that I wouldn't ask to go to, but it wasn't so terrible that if it was all that was open I would get a piece of chicken and the wedges read more

See all

Chicken King is the best fried chicken in Louisville. That's right. I said it's the best. Because it is. And it's just up the road from my house. (#winning) And now for my Chicken King poem... 3 pieces and 2 sides It'll cost you $6.99 Best fried chicken you'll ever eat At least in this city, it cannot be beat Why you tryna act like I ain't know When you the foo' that ain't even go Get yourself down to the Chicken King And you'll quickly see why they wear the ring read more

Chicken King - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

We heard that the Chicken King is considered the best fried chicken by locals in Louisville and I'd have to agree (though I am a visitor to Kentucky and don't have much to compare it to). My friend is from KY and so is her mother who is an excellent cook of Southern dishes. My friend said that their chicken ranks up near her mother's home made fried chicken. read more

I hate giving low reviews. I really do, I want to give the benefit of the doubt and try to excuse any mistakes or issues when I am giving a place my business. But the fact of the matter is that some things are easily fixed and if you choose to ignore them is when I get salty. So pull up a chair and listen to this bunch of BS. I was ordering for myself and two other people. I go to the website (this is a Friday at 3pm. Website says you can place a carryout order. OK, except the next available date is the following Tuesday at noon? What? OK fine, maybe the system is down or they dont do carryout on the weekends. I check Doordash. Doordash is SUPER HAPPY to take my delivery order - for higher prices on the food, plus $10 in "fees" that dont include the tip, so no thanks, you suck, Doordash. I decide I will go there in person. The lobby is closed and so you must take the drive through. The line is such that it wraps completely around the building. I am in line for 45 MINUTES. I FINALLY get to the speaker and it is like an SNL skit - the voice coming through is semi-garbled with static and almost impossible to understand. I am trying to be loud and clear without shouting across the neighborhood. We get to the end of my order and it is repeated back. For some reason the person working CANNOT understand that I want a 20 piece nugget and not a 9. We go back and forth on this for a few minutes. In the end, I drive up and you cannot even verify anything with the workers because they have this revolving door-looking window, where you put in money, it spins to a blank wall, and then it spins back with your food and change. You had one chance to speak and now you are stuck with whatever you get. The bag was suspiciously small and as I suspected, messed up. What I ordered: 6 piece spicy wing Rib Tip Box 20 piece nuggets with BBQ sauce 2 Sides of BBQ beans 2 SIdes of Mashed Potatoes 2 Banana Pudding What I got: 6 piece wing, not spicy, dry, came with no sauce. But it did come with three potato wedges and a roll one mashed potato and one side of beans 9 piece nugget with three packs of Chinese duck sauce (??) one banana pudding On top of it, everything was cafeteria level food. The nuggets were from a box. The mashed potato was clearly dehydrated potato. The beans are from a can. The only thing worth its salt was the banana pudding, but even it was not good enough to wait in a 45 minute line again. So in conclusion, IDK if Chicken King's owners are cheap (not upgrading the speaker system) or brilliant (making it look like they are so great they are slammed with cars day in and day out) or they simply will not hire more workers in order to get the lobby open again. But either way, they had their shot with me, and I'm over it. It shouldnt be this hard to order such mediocre food. read more

Omg I can't say enough about the Chicken Wings,Wedges, Jack Salmon,Pink lemonade mashed potatoes,dressing look this is the CHICKEN SPOT OUT OF ALL CHICKEN SPOTS you haven't had chicken wings until you've had CHICKEN KING read more

Excellent chicken. The wedges are top tier too. Decor needs some work, but that's how you know the food hits

Definitely some of the best fried chicken in Louisville. Their menu is super extensive which is awesome since they have so much to offer. Fried chicken: obviously fire, so good! Mashed potatoes: delicious Mac and cheese: tastes homemade and not fake, but not the cheesiest Fried rice: rice&beans would be a better pair than the asian style fried rice they serve. It's just a weird combo with fried chicken and potatoes Wedges: big and crispy !! read more

Chicken King - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I am such a fan of Chicken King! This spot has been on my list for a really long time. I'm not sure why it took me so long to actually check it out, because I had been hearing great things forever, but I finally checked it out a few weeks ago and it was as good as everyone says! The food is hot, fresh, and tasty! Plus the prices are great! B and I opted for two breast meals and dessert, so we had four chicken breasts, four sides, two rolls, a slice of cake and a slice of pie, and it was approximately $20 (if I'm remembering correctly it was on the lesser side of that). That's crazy! And awesome! We opted to go inside, rather than drive-thru, because it was our first visit and we wanted to check it out. It's definitely no frills. It's not a spot you want to check out for a fancy date night or anything, but the service was quick and friendly, and the food is totally worth a visit! We will definitely be going back to Chicken King! And if you're looking for delicious fried chicken and home-style sides and desserts, I highly recommend you check it out! read more

See all

I've been on Yelp for at least a decade never left a review. But I have to for Chicken King. It's hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. Yes the drive thru wait is long, but I'd go on an odyssian quest for this food. Sitting in my car for a while is NOTHING. Get the spicy with ranch, you won't regret it. I'm not a wings guy but the wings are also delicious -- actually crispy on the outside. Always good. read more

BEST Chicken in town! We stopped in for lunch. We both ordered the spicy chicken two piece. Chicken and wedges were yummy! We will be back again. Just wish they had livers! read more

Chicken King - 2 pc special - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This is the second time we've been here and it's equally amazing!! Usually when I get fried chicken, I'll eat just a breast and won't eat the skin. But here, I couldn't help but go back for more and I had a thigh after my breast. I picked off every bit of crispy skin that I could! I'm amazed at how good it is. Even after the 20 minute drive home, it was all still crispy and hot. read more

See all

Chicken King has the best fried chicken in Louisville. I've eaten at hole-in-the-walls. I've eaten at the big chains. I've had Indis. Chicken King reigns supreme. Any joint that can make a breast juicy, can fry chicken. I've eaten the thighs, wings, drums and breasts! I've had both the spicy and the plain (spicy is the way to go). Their sides are just as good. You have to try their macaroni salad and Mac and cheese. If you're new to fried chicken, this is what you need to order. Three piece dinner box dark and spicy with Mac and cheese and Mac salad. They also have Big Red on tap. You're welcome. They accept credit card as well while most of the local competition is cash only. Please go here. They also have a drive through for your convenience. Oh and get the cornbread! It's literally off the charts. The best I've had ever. read more

See all

Crown them! They are truly the chicken king, no competition. If you're looking for the best fried chicken in Louisville, hit this place up. Get how many pieces you want plus the boom boom sauce. Enjoy my friends. read more

Chicken King - 12 piece spicy - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

Man the fried chicken, potatoes and gravy and roll were off the chart aside from it being drive thru only and a rough area it was worth the wait read more

I've gotta be honest, the only reason I decided to try this place out was because of all of the great reviews it has. Living right next to here, I always happen to drive past it and I've gotta admit, it looks pretty dingy and a little ghetto. Well...Chicken King will teach you not to judge a book by it's cover! When I came through the drive through, the parking lot was packed, so they seem to get some pretty good business. The first thing I noticed was that they're menu has like, a million things on it. SO MUCH CHICKEN....If you want chicken wings, tenders, thighs, legs, shrimp, fish, etc... They've got it! (Guess that's why they're the 'King') I ordered a chicken breast, thigh, potato wedges and a roll. The potato wedges...AMAZING....the roll was soft and fluffy, while my chicken was about half and half. I remember that my leg was so incredibly dry and had absolutely no flavor, which really disappointed me... but then, I took a bite into the the breast and it was the complete opposite. The seasoning was near perfect and was super juicy! Maybe they just made a mistake, but I hope they're chicken normally tastes like my second piece instead of the first... Overall, a great experience and I'll be sure to come back soon!! read more

Chicken King - 3 piece special with wedges and a roll. - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Let me start out by saying that you don't go to Chicken King for the decor or ambience. You go there because the food is delicious! I read a recent Leo article comparing this restaurant with another locally owned establishment. So, I decided to take my partner on a couple of fried chicken themed dates in order to compare. We went there for lunch, and it wasn't busy, but there was so much to choose from that it took me quite a while to narrow down what I wanted. They had various chicken combos and so many sides to go with them. I chose the dark two piece special with potato wedges, a roll, and an extra side of broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole. My partner ordered a dark two piece snack with mac 'n cheese. Both were healthy portions of chicken, and the sides were adequate but seemed a bit small, which is probably a good thing if you're gonna eat more than one. The service was a little slow but super friendly and attentive. The chicken was some of the best I've had thus far with its crispy, spicy skin and moist, tender meat. It seemed a little greasy, but nothing too unexpected. The wedges were outstanding and had a very crispy battered skin that was served fresh and hot. The casserole was the best I've had at a restaurant, and the mac 'n cheese was creamy and savory Great little spot with friendly service and a huge selection. They even gave us a bag of cookies. I'll be back for another lunch sometime soon. read more

Chicken King - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

I love the soul food but the Drive thru line is crazy! 3 Whole Wings W/3 Wedge & Roll read more

CK hits the spot. My ultimate comfort food is fried chicken and at chicken king you have so many options (tenders, wings, drumsticks, breast, etc) and they are all amazing. I usually go with a drumstick, a side of mashed potatoes and *WHITE* gravy (the gravy is heaven-sent), and a side of green beans. The chicken is always juicy and perfectly crispy! In addition to the AMAZING food, you always have good convo while waiting in line. This place has character! A Louisville staple for sure. read more

Chicken King - Drumstick, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans with a roll All delicious! - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

The dressing was not done and looked as if it was stice top staffing mixed with hot water and served. The sweet potato pie was not cooked properly and was like cake mix! The caramel cake tastes like butter mixed with hazelnut frosting! A total waist read more

Look. The food is great but be ready to spend 40 min at least in the drive thru. It's as if they intentionally make you wait forever and cook like sloths. I genuinely don't understand how it's possible. I've been here many times and it's like this every time. There were 8 vehicles in line and we were here for an hour. 45 minutes a time. Just understand that you are making a commitment when you pull in because there is a curb that runs along the line of the drive thru that prevents you from getting out of line when you realize this is gonna take forever. The food is awesome. The people are nice most the time. It's just that you will be stuck for a long time. read more

Oh. Yes. If you're craving fried chicken, please look no further than Chicken King! I will scream it from the rooftops: this is by far the best fried chicken I've ever had. Ever. Don't let the facade fool you. These guys know what they're doing. I love spice, so I recommend ordering your chicken 'spicy' for full flavor. My absolute favorite to order are their wings, which are crispy, fried to perfection, and incredibly moist. I recommend the mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, as well as the greens as sides, but the potato wedges are huge, and seem to be fried in the same batter as the wings for an extra crunch! Yum! The only downside to Chicken King that I can seem to find is they run out of food quickly the later it gets. After about 8-9 pm, popular menu items are harder to come by, including my favorite, the wings. I've ordered chicken breasts spicy instead, and while it's still killer, it's just not the same. I'm okay with this though, because it comforts me that food here is made fresh in-house. Chicken King has a drive thru, and the staff is always incredibly friendly. What are you waiting for? You're welcome! read more

Awesome spicy fried chicken and wedges besides the long wait in the drive thru I've only had good experiences

How have I not reviewed Chicken King yet? 5 big stars all the freaking time. Their spicy chicken is really good. Not too spicy and with more flavor than the regular one. Get the dark meat, fried okra, and wear sweat pants. It's sooooo goooodddd. I can't say anymore than that. read more

8.7/10 chicken...4.4/10 safety - I love Chicken King. I have many fun memories from CK and all of them involve some insanely good chicken wings and pink lemonade or sweet tea. The booths might be a little sticky but eh, get it to go and eat it in the car or bring it down by the river. The staff is always friendly. Freaking love Chicken King. read more

Chicken King - Chicken King - KY - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

What to get: fried chicken specials Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: fast food, take out, very casual Wait: 5 mins (Thursday 10:30AM) Parking: small parking lot The Experience: Continuing on my fried chicken research, I had to check out the spot nearest to my campus. I've seen many classmates bring boxes of fried chicken into the library for a late studying meal, so I needed to find out myself what the hype was. We ended up walking there to celebrate a post-exam celebration and already the food was plentiful and fresh behind the glass barriers. I picked the spicy two piece dark meat special, which came with three potato wedges, a roll, and a drink. First off, you really can't beat the price! Only $5 for the meal. Second note: the chicken had an interesting breading layer. It was like it was coated with a thicken, crispy crust. The potato wedges seemed to also be fried in the same batter as it had a crisp outer layer akin to the chicken. The spiciness level is a barely noticeable kick. It's a decent meal to fill up, but not the most impressive fried chicken around. Glad I was able to try it though read more

Chicken King - 2 piece dark meat + 3 wedges + roll - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

While I was visiting my GF's family in Louisville, KY, since it was my first time in Kentucky I kept pestering her to get a photo with a friend chicken bucket in front of KFC. Instead, I was directed by her and her family still living there to go to Chicken King instead. I can't complain - this place was indeed good food-wise. While the Mc and Cheese was really so-so, but the country-style potato chips and fried chicken more than made up for them, especially once the sauce added. This place is however somewhat sketchy when it comes to the location, decor and ambiance. The amount of locks on the door and heavy, bullet-proof glass separating the staff from the customers would be more appropriate in a bank or a prison - but hey, maybe their fried chicken is really so good they were regularly robbed there. read more

Having passed the Chicken King many times on Broadway, I was always intrigued by the long lines and the suspect exterior. This places wreaks of local dive gone drive thru. I mean ... how could it be possible that a fried chicken joint could survive in the capitol city for KFC? After eating there, I'm still not sure... Here's my take: - Drive thru, speaker/mic system was terrible - impressed the order came out right - Spicy fried chicken, potato wedges, greens, fried catfish, mashed potatoes with gravy - Nothing was memorable or that good ... the 15 min wait (literally) was not worth it - Chicken wasn't spicy, nor that flavorful ... definitely would go to a KFC instead - Potato wedges ... think of a fully baked potato, quartered, then dredged in the same uninteresting fried chicken breading, and refried - Greens ... boiled with salt - Fried catfish ... this was okay. I would recommend Fish House instead. So if you find yourself wondering like I did.... keep wondering, and keep going. read more

Chicken King - Fried catfish with mixed greens and mashed potatoes - Fast Food Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

See all

Happy dance on everything that touches their golden goodness fryer (including very fresh oil at all times.) Chicken in both spicy and regular were both great, with my personal favorite being the spicy version with both cayenne and hot sauce marinade. Keels available. Necks and backs only upon request. Catfish (filets only) as plated or bunned. BBQ and Jerk styles are really good, too. Homemade desserts, like fresh peach cobbler and banana pudding are a must. Fried okra will keep you popping them like corn kernels. Fried cauliflower, too. As mentioned by others, sides are good but on the average side. All good though, nothing to kvetch over at all. Good greens, Mac and cheese, chicken fried rice (like a chicken dirty rice), and cole slaw were all fresh and good. Plenty of lot parking and drive up and to-go available by phone and web. What's missing? Hot sauces for the tables, butter and honey for the rolls; basically a little light on the fully prepped to-go boxes. Which means bring along your own something something's if your making a picnic out of it. But solid Southern goodness all around. And not owned by Yum! read more

Do you remember Sunday dinners at your grandmother's? Or how about those holiday feasts that leave you desperately in need of a nap? If the urge to be as full as a tick on a coon dog ever hits you, look no further than Chicken King in Louisville, Kentucky. Whether you miss Grandma's dressing & gravy, fried chicken, or chess pie, you'll find it all here in one place. If a downside to this place exists, it could only be the time you may have to wait in line. Other than that, you will undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised at how Chicken King comes through in a major way with soulful soul food made with heaping amounts of godly love. You can get your family dinner, or stop in for yourself and purchase the comfort food you love most. My son recently discovered the Carolina Gold chicken wings and was instantly hooked. I, myself have had a variety of things also, from the fish sandwich to the rib tips. You'll not be disappointed with whatever your selection. Get yourself to Chicken King as soon as possible. Every moment between now and then is time wasted! read more