People have said that it's not as good as it used to be but that's just a lie. Martins is fantastic! I had their fried chicken and it was perfect. I'd recommend the dark meat as it was better. I had the greens, mashed potatoes, and black eyed peas. The greens could use some salt but everything else was 10/10. It's not super nice in there but it's clean and the servers are very kind. Theres a very small town feel to it. Will come back! read more

I had really high hopes for Martin's just because I know that sometimes the best food places are unsuspecting. The place is not the cleanest-- floors needed vacuuming, chairs were held together with duck tape.. but I pressed on hoping the food would redeem the space. Service was friendly. However, it was awkward listening to the waiter/waitresses/hostess/ kitchen staff have a conversation with each other across the entire restaurant. This was especially true after a patron sent something back and the kitchen came out loudly exclaiming that they wanted to see the food that "wasn't good enough." I had the fried chicken, greens, okra, and mashed potatoes. The chicken was fantastic. Perfectly cooked, juicy, and the tastiest fried skin/breading. That's where the goodness stops. The turnip greens were flavorless and complete mush, as though they had been sitting on the heat all day. Mashed potatoes were clearly from a box based on the consistency, color and flavor. Gravy had no flavor as well. There wasn't enough salt on the table to make it all better. The okra came out about 15min after we got our plates. It was fresh, but again, flavorless. My husband had the fried pork chop. It was just okay -- cooked well, zero flavor. Butter beans were good flavor wise, but definitely seemed to have been sitting for a while. It was odd to us that the only things you could get to drink were water, tea, lemonade, milk, and coffee. The second star is only for the chicken. I doubt we'll go back because the above experience for $50 is not worth it. read more

When we went there in 2021, it was fairly good. The older waitresses oozed the old south charm. And the food? It was like a good Southern family home cooking place. Now, I don't know what has happened since then, but something did. To begin with, the place always looked "used". It had been there a long time and that's expected but this time the chairs looked badly worn and the carpet was in need of help. But it looked clean over all. The workers were friendly but very busy. They had a teenage boy who seated us who was in need of some grooming. But he was polite, so we let it slide. The waitress was very casual and nice as well. But it looked like this one poor lady was handling the entire side of the place by herself. I can overlook all of the above if the food is good but... To begin with, I ordered the same meal I ate in 2021 and yes, I remembered it! As a turkey lover, I recalled it as a Thanksgiving kind of meal that I enjoyed which was why I ordered it again. It was billed on the menu as: Sliced turkey, stuffing, three sides and cranberry sauce. I could eat Thanksgiving 365! And that first time was like reliving Thanksgiving at Moms. Not this time. Aside from being out of broccoli (which limited the green sides down to green beans and/or collard greens- which I do not like) there was an issue with things not being as presented in the menu. The "stuffing" or "dressing" was a small heap of mushy something. It was thin, watery and bland. Horrible! The "sliced turkey" was fractured white meat of turkey, fractured so much that it seemed to meld into the mushy dressing. The two were undiscernable. And it, too, was bland. There was something they called turkey gravy but it was definitely a canned or otherwise prepackaged gravy: bright yellow in color and gloppy in texture. The mashed potatoes were fine, a little salty but fine, though I am not sure if they were homemade or from mix or what. The "green beans" were not what I had before. Before I had what, at worst, had been frozen green beans, though well-seasoned and cooked through. This time I was given Italian beans from a can that had no flavor to them. And then there was the mac n cheese. The test of a good Mom and Pop place is the M&C and this batch failed. Over cooked elbow macaroni in a non-saucy glob of light orange gunk that tasted like flour and not cheesy at all. If that sounds bad, worse was the pie. They used to serve cake and some damn good cake, too! But we were told today they serve pies. I ordered the lemon meringue. I make lemon meringue pie so I know fully well what one should taste and look like and this was NOT it! The fill looked like leftover banana pudding with the bananas extracted. It wasn't set and the meringue slid off of it. The meringue itself had a wateriness that I couldn't quite figure out but it was lightly toasted on top. The corn muffins were good, though they could have gone without being dunked in butter. Over all, I cannot give this place the report I would have liked to have given a landmark in Montgomery. Its sad, too. read more

Friendly fast service with several options to choose from on the menu. Fried chicken is the most popular. Delicious corn muffins and amazing mile high lemon meringue pie. read more

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Wonderful service ~ the lady waiting our table was super! Every morsel of food on two plates was the best country cooking! Furnishings are kind of old, but no one seems to mind that. We will definitely be back ! read more

the broccoli and cheese that I only had a few bites of made me sick within an hour of eating there and I called to speak to the manager who interrupted me before I could even finish and informed me that no one else had any problem with their broccoli and cheese and she's sorry it didn't sit right with me and have a good rest of my day. read more

Best fried chicken ever! Sides were great. Service was excellent and amazing cornbread brought to every table.

Martin's was like a little bit of home. For those raised in the south, you know what I mean when I say butter peas, collard greens and fried chicken. The two meat came with another side so chose the broccoli casserole. Had I come on the day when the fried green tomatoes or fried okra were the option, I definitely would have swapped out the broccoli casserole. Generous portions and I easily could have split this meal with someone. They definitely know southern cooking here. It's not a fancy place by any means, just good cooking. Our server seemed a bit tired or put out, I couldn't tell which thus the 4 stars. I did go later afternoon following the lunch rush so that could have been the issue. read more

Martin's Restaurant - That's two pieces of chicken! So juicy on the inside and super crunchy on the outside! - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

Always some of the best fried chicken in town. When I get to visit Montgomery, I always stop here.

Nice local establishment a true southern down home restaurant. The atmosphere was old fashioned and the staff were friendly. However I have to rate just a three because they didn't have several of the items I wanted to eat. The fried chicken was good but the sides I had to settle for were just average. Hopefully if I'm in town again I can try the sides and other menu items to conduct another review. read more

Martin's Fried Chicken is the star of the menu, without question!Each piece is fried to order, resulting in a crackly, golden-brown crust that shatters to reveal juicy, tender meat inside. The seasoning is balanced and addictive, focusing on depth of flavor rather than heat. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this Montgomery landmark delivers on its reputation with every bite. If you love fried chicken, Martin's is a pilgrimage you won't regret. The "pulley bones" are a must try! The service is excellent and the restaurant decor offers an at home feel! read more

Home of the Alabama's Best Fried Chicken. Here was my experience. https://www.mashed.com/264585/the-best-fried-chicken-in-every-state/ AMBIANCE: Parking: It's in a plaza. Didn't have much issues here. Seating: Inside seating, great for groups. There's room for about 50 people. Vibes: Nothing too flashy in this area. Just a busy plaza and neighborhoods in the area. The spot itself is pretty classic. You have drawings of children's interpretations of a chicken, along with awards and articles about this historic place. This is no hidden gem so this place is adored by locals and tourists our here trying "Alabama's best chicken" FOOD: Martin's Fried Chicken Chef Salad (Recommend) The special thing about this is their famous fried chicken; aside from that, it's your regular salad - cabbage, carrots, cheese, tomatoes, and boiled egg. The chicken was well-breaded, juicy, and had a good crunch. There are a lot of things to eat in Alabama, so if you want something lite, then this is your best bet. However, I felt like I didn't have the complete fried chicken experience; I'll order a side of fried chicken next time. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! It was busy, but they handled things professionally and well. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Wonderful! Great selections, delicious chicken, and a reasonable price. I had a great experience here. I wish I had more room in my stomach to try our more of these things. If y'all are in the area, definitely stop by here! TIPS: * They have many signature award-winning dishes (like their pie), so be sure to come hungry. * The complimentary bread is included! read more

Martin's Restaurant - Wooo! - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

southern traditions of cooking We brought some Michiganders here and the staff helped them understand the menu and make good selections. Always a great experience to come for lunch for a Montgomery tradition. read more

NOT the best fried chicken.... I read somewhere that this was the best in Alabama, so I put it in my notes in my IPhone several months ago. Well I found myself driving through Montgomery around lunch time. So I stopped. The breast of chicken that my wife and I got was over cooked very dark and dry. I used to work in a butcher shop and have cut up hundreds of chickens, These chickens must've been run over by a lawn mower. I wish now that I had taken a picture. These BREASTS ??? had the neck, backbone and ribs still attached. I've never seen anything like that ???? Our two sides , pickled beets, and mashed potatoes were good. I've removed Martin's restaurant from my notes in my phone. read more

We've eaten at Martin's in Montgomery numerous times and tried just about every meat and three that they have. The service and food is always good. The business itself needs a complete makeover! It is just old looking and old feeling. Doesn't effect the food though. Always a go to when we are in the area. read more

if you're looking for southern-style comfort food with that home-cooked feel, this place has it. My boyfriend got the fried chicken and I got the beef tips! BOTH entrees were tender and juicy! The collards and butter peas were perfectly cooked and seasoned just right. I loved that none of the food was too salty! The only thing keeping this review from 5 stars is the cornbread muffins were kinda dry...but all in all this place offers great food at an even better price! We will be back, yall! read more

Superior fried chicken and sides. I swing by every time I'm in Montgomery...worth it!

After spending the day checking out the Legacy Museum Campuses, had worked up an appetite. The consensus was southern comfort food. We found Martin's Restaurant not far away. We had a large party of about 16-20 so we called ahead, no reservations were needed and they assured they could accommodate us. We arrived and sure enough there were seats for each of us. We all were ready to order quickly. I had the catfish special with cheese grits, dressing and greens, a side of hot water cornbread and an Arnold Palmer. The catfish was whole so had to navigate through bones but it was tasty. The dressing and gravy was scrumptious. The greens were good, not many stalks and stems and the cheese grits could have had a little more cheese but gobbled it down all the same. I tasted some of my friend's food also and the fried chicken was the best tasting dish. I'll for the next visit. The staff service was great, provided suggestions and everything we needed. read more

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We arrived around 1:15 and the place was packed with locals. This is down home southern cooking establishment. Their specialty is fried chicken although they offer other dishes as well. We ordered a fried chicken plate with coleslaw and Blackeyed peas. We also had a fried catfish fillet plate with sides of cabbage, green beans and Blackeyed peas. The meals come with some really delicious cornbread muffins. Overall the chicken was hot and crispy but nothing special. The coleslaw was ok and the beans were very under seasoned. The fish was crispy but the breading fell right off the fillet. The green beans were canned and well......tasted liked canned green beans. There is a high salt content in every dish but not many other seasonings. The service was good. The only issue we had was the chicken plate was to come with two thighs. We only received one but we're told the other would be right out. We had finished our meals before the second piece of chicken arrived. Again, this was a very popular place with the locals but was not our favorite. Since we are from the south we expected something a little different. read more

Martin's Restaurant - Fried chicken plate......waiting for the second piece of chicken to arrive. - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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Save yourself and go to KFC! It is a favorite with the locals but I am not sure why. The carpet is so disgusting I have no words. The fried chicken was over cooked and dry, the cornbread is okay, and the dressing very bland. Probably the best item was the green beans. I was really disappointed. read more

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I was told I had to go here because it had the world's best fried chicken and I have to say that it did not disappoint in that respect. The fried chicken here is generously portioned and a great value, on top which it is perfectly cooked, incredibly crunchy and not in the least bit greasy. It is a delicious treat! I do tend to like a little more spice to my fried chicken and I was surprised that the flour was not more seasoned. It was great, not saying it wasn't, but my ideal fried chicken would have a little more kick. I'm not disappointed though, as overall I would 100% go back here! No question about that. They won me over long before the food came out, when they brought the rolls and cornbread and I realized there was real butter on the table and real lemon juice for my water. This place does do things right. The lima beans were the best lima beans I have ever eaten, they were perfectly seasoned, but not with meat, and they were not greasy, they were just perfect. I think this is the kind of place that does beans and greens well. I didn't know that when I ordered, so I also order the macaroni and cheese, which was possibly the WORST mac and cheese I have ever eaten. It did not taste of cheese at all, but like Macaroni floating in milk that had orange food color added to it. I'm not exaggerating. I'll eat the Kraft blue box stuff and like it, when I don't have time to cook. I'm no snob in that respect; this was seriously bad. The squash casserole was also not cheesy tasting, though it clearly had something that looked like cheese on top of it. It tasted like boiled squash, which is fine, but not what I was hoping for with a squash casserole. The sides here are a little iffy. My husband got the green beans and I did not get the chance to try them as he ate them all, which must mean they were good. The interior is comfortable, if a bit crowded at times. This looks like a place that I would have gone to have dinner with my dad, way back in the day. It is legit country on the inside and situated in a shopping plaza on the outside. Nothing to brag about in appearance, but mostly excellent food (with a few misses) at a darn good value. read more

The food continues to be great and represents southern cooking nicely! I went at an off time but the service was great and the food came out rather quickly. Very homey feel to the ambiance. read more

Martin's Restaurant - Friend chicken dinner - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

I called and asked their menu for tonight because I was going to order 2 plates to go, which would cost more than $30. She was so rude....called menu out so fast I didn't have time to write it down. I said slow down a little, she said 'I don't know how many times I've called this out' just very rude. I said 'I'll go somewhere else'!! The food really isn't good enough to put up with a rude employee. Plus cost too much. read more

I am an out of town we and was looking for some good fried chicken. This fried chicken is well known with the locals. The pie was fabulous. The servings were big enough for two so I took some home for my husband. read more

Too late to cook dinner so after picking the grand baby up we chose this spot. All these years of passing by this place, and hearing my brother in law speaking of it (who's now decreased) I hope the trip be worth it... read more

Love the home cooked food and the service is awesome. Their fried chicken and cornbread is unbelievable

This is our favorite place to go in Montgomery, AL for southern food! We were recommended to go here from a foodie when he was around the area and we are thoroughly impressed. We had the catfish, fried liver, BBQ ribs, and fried chicken, all were good and at a good price. The platters also come with a bunch of sides too, our favorite was the fried okra. Make sure to check the menu so you know what they are serving each day, especially you are looking for a specific dish. It seems like it a family run business with a lot of local repeat customers that come here. You will leave here stuffed and satisfied. read more

Martin's Restaurant - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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So, I was on a business trip, and an associate that lives in Mobile, said we need to go here for lunch. We did, and I can honestly say, this is the best fried chicken I have ever had. We came on a Wednesday, and I ordered the fried chicken, and the sides that I ordered were collard greens, rice and gravy, and butter peas. All were amazing! I must have had 10 homemade cornbread, and a few Arnold Palmer beverages. Service was great, the price was right, and the next time I am in Montgomery, I will stop by again. Stay hungry my friends... read more

This place is special. Perfect spot to get that southern hospitality and delicious food. We love their fried chicken mashed potatoes and collard greens. The pie is out of this world too. This place is truly a read more

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Martin's is a Montgomery institution that despite my 40+ years in Montgomery I had only visitied once years ago. I read this week that Martin's had the #1 fried chicken in the state according to AL.com so my wife and I decided the famous Sunday lunch. First and foremost the fried chicken. Not only is it not the best in the state, it is not the best in Montgomery. Davis Cafe and Martha's Place is much better and the best fried chicken in Montgomery is in a Jackson Hospital cafeteria. The pieces are enormous which I think does not make the chicken better. It was served too hot as well such that one could not even pick it up and eating with your fingers (the much preferred way) was impossible. I had thighs which were very ordinary for fried chicken. My wife felt the same although her wing was a bit better. We both choose the rice and gravy and the gravy is some sort of yellow tasteless gravy that merely lubricates the rice. The blackeye peas were about what one expects from industrial canned peas, without much character. The cornbread was just ok. Our server was very attentive and did a good job. The ambiance is certainly mid to late 20th century with wood paneling so about what one would expect The value of the food is good with our meal only costing about $35 for two which is not bad and for that reason alone I gave 3 stars instead of 2. If you want a meal with food that we once thought was ok after church, then Martin's is your place. If you want better chicken with better vegtables, then there are better choices. Al.com, Really! read more

We come often, not regularly, but often. 90% of the time service is good the food is ALWAYS good. This time I was very disappointed. We went around 2.30 ordered our chicken dinners and waited. After we ordered our meals the group beside us had two more join them, probably 10 total. They ordered about 5 minutes after we did, chicken dinners but received their food about five minutes after ordering, we still hadn't received ours, that's ok it's only been 10 minutes. 10 minutes later our meals came, short a piece of chicken, each plate. She said the cook said it would be a couple of minutes, we're seasoned restaurant managers, so we know things happen, but we also know she was tip shopping, thinking that the other table would tip her more, so she had, without a doubt given our chicken to them, which again, I understand wanting money, but not all folks tip the same or even well for that matter. 38 minutes later we still didn't have the rest of our meal. 42 minutes later we left with our chicken in a box, if I had wanted to take it home I would have ordered Togo, but again things happen. My husband tipped her 20 dollars ONLY TO SHOW HER THAT YOU SHOULDN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER. Our check was 34 dollars and we probably would have tipped the check like we often do, if we had been treated the same as the group next to us. read more

Good country cooking and known for fried chicken and home cooked vegetables. Get there early as it gets crowded.

A nice little southern restaurant. Customer Service: Great! We didn't sit inside;we ordered to go Quality: Good, similar to home cooked meals Cost: $$ decent for a meal size, it will have you full af P.S. We ate so fast, I forgot to take a pic read more

Good local food....definitely down home southern cooking. This restaurant is very close to Maxwell AFB, good for groups, large portions, reasonable prices and friendly staff. I met my friend for dinner one night while I was in town and we both ordered the ribs. They were very tender and tasty. We both thought our sides were great as well. The sweet potato casserole was good enough to be pie! :-) We didn't try the desserts because we were so full, but I hear the pies are fantastic. Thanks for a great dinner! read more

Martin's Restaurant - Ribs, greens, sweet potato casserole and beans. So good! - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

Our guide Montgomery tours jake took us to this restaurant the fried chicken was perfect all 5 agreed ( I am. Vegetarian) and the lemon Meringue was fabulous best meringue ever ( I did taste that I The waitress was so nice !!!answer all questions with that southern accent This is not a restaurant for anyone on diet or vegetarian but for a taste of old south food this is a good start read more

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Martin's is a must-go when in Montgomery. The fried chicken is famous, as is the sweet tea. The place was packed, the food came out quick, and it was good to catch up with old friends. My only disappointment, they ran out of collard greens! read more

Oh boy! Mighty fine corn muffins with all its fixins. Husband and I both had the vegetable plate - black eyed peas, green beans, stuffing with gravy! I also had the sweet tea and pecan pie. Our friend had the fried chicken and the other had turkey & gravy. We left with more corn bread muffins to go and our pies. Totally satisfied! read more

Martin's Restaurant - Vegetarian plate! Delicious! Corn bread is to die for. - Southern Near Me - Montgomery, Alabama

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The server was extremely pleasant but the food was less than desirable. Extremely bland and everything from a can. Very disappointed with my visit here from Baltimore. read more

This place is average to say the least. It is pre breaded plant fried chicken sold as famous chicken. Well I guess Pilgrims's is famous because they sell it at every gas station you go to. The potato salad is store bought not homemade and the turnip greens came out in f a can. So if you like this type food go to Publix and eat out of the deli. The food is the same. Maybe better at Publix. Also the mashed potatoes are instant. read more

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Got in sort of late on Wednesday night and wanted to go somewhere that was very "Montgomery." After a little research, Martin's seemed like our best bet. It's been open a crazy long time and offers typical meat and three, home cooking options. It's a fairly spacious restaurant. Decor isn't really my style, but it's simplistic and comfortable and it's fun how they highlighted the restaurant's history. The service was a mixed bag; two ladies waited on us, and one was really frazzled and tired and mixed up all three of our drinks, while the other also seemed a little tired but still on top of it. Overall, they were both pleasant and our food came out quickly. The lady working the cash register was lovely -- she'd been working at Martin's for over 30 years. Wow! We all ordered the fried chicken with two sides. Between us, we got butter peas, macaroni and cheese, and collard greens. Hot corn muffins were also brought out to the table; though they weren't super flavorful, I enjoyed their warmth and toastiness, and they were good with a pat of butter on top! I thought the chicken was pretty good -- I enjoyed the breading and the flavor. Not among the best ever, but solid. My mom's was sadly pretty dried out, though. The butter peas were definitely the best side, cooked to the right softness and nice and salty. On the downside, the macaroni and cheese had basically no flavor and was an unpleasant, mushy texture, and the collard greens were also not very good. Also, the sweet tea wasn't CLOSE to sweet enough for me, which is unusual at a meat and three! Also worth noting -- I'm guessing they do a big lunch business, because they were out of a lot of options by the time we got there at 6:30. No steak tips left, and not a single dessert left except for banana pudding. A shame, because I really wanted to try a slice of their chocolate pie. On the whole, not a terrible experience; but if I find myself in Montgomery again, I'll probably be trying something else. read more