Wayside chicken has it. And I don't know what it is, but it's got it. I usually go for their big eater-1 breast, 2 thighs, 1 leg and 1 wing. With that comes rolls which are equally high quality and fresh, not obviously reheated from a fridge like your fast food chicken establishments. I wish I could speak more about the sides, but the mashed potatoes are so on point I've never had anything else. Location is a bit tight for parking-mind your timing when you go. It's near the university and I've been stuck in traffic when they block off the roads for football games. Also note hours-they're closed Sunday and Monday and aren't open late. But no hyperbole-best fried chicken in Charlottesville read more

The chicken was bland, very little seasoning. The macaroni and cheese tasted like Wawa macaroni and cheese. The banana pudding was a little runny. The employees were very friendly, though. The parking lot can get very crowded. read more

Hoped this would be a lot better than it was..... Sadly this is probably more of a 2 stars, the chicken pieces were skimpy and tiny. The batter really didnt have much personality and the bread was dry. I did actually enjoy the greens so that was probably the only saving grace. I've been to countless "meat and 3's" in my life and this was on the lower end. I honestly prefer KFC to this chicken. If you are expecting something special or legit southern fried chicken, this aint it. read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - 2 pc Chicken Lunch - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I took a day trip to Charlottesville and decided to stop here after seeing the reviews. The place has that old school charm. It looks like a place that people have enjoyed for years and I immediately wanted to try it. The lady at the counter was very friendly and helpful. I ordered my food to go and it was ready in less than 5 minutes. I decided to stop at a park and eat and everything was hot. The chicken had well seasoned crispy skin. The mac n cheese, however, tasted like the stouffers frozen kind. I, also wasn't a fan of the collard greens due to their lack of flavor. Next time I come back I'll try some different side but decimates the fried chicken. read more

See all

Womp womp. Wayside has fallen off in the last few years. This has kinda been a trend with some staples on JPA unfortunately. I was hoping wayside would be spared but no such luck. The Mac and cheese is not good, and the rolls are just store bought king's Hawaiian or similar. The green beans are fine, but kinda just from a can style. Nothing to write home about. I like the collard greens but these are just ok. Mashed potato's are basically the powder in a box kind with plain gravy. So basically all of the sides are super generic. The chicken itself used to carry the meals. Now it tastes a little bit blander and drier than it used to. Really sad bc I remember it being juicy hot and very seasoned. At this point I think browns is the best in cville. Overall it's a decent spot to get fried chicken, just generic. read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

AVOID their chicken tenders. I bought them twice. Mistake! They are a tough a show leather. Plus, they have a bad attitude.

Food. I ordered 3piece with two sides. Came with two rolls. chicken was flavorful. Potato salad was ok. Green beans CAN!!! Rolls hard! First and last order for me! read more

Everything here is amazing especially the breakfast biscuits. And the food is so cheap. I highly recommend read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - Country Ham Egg & Cheese on a Biscuit - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

Amazing fried chicken meal!!! Exactly what I needed! Juicy, skin crispy, excellent flavor. I got the 3 piece meal and added a thigh......perfect! Will def be coming by again. I was traveling for work! read more

I grew up going to Wayside. I'm sure it has changed hands a few times in the last 30+ years. With that being said, I came here for lunch and the staff were friendly, but my chicken was dry. The sides were fine, ain't gonna complain about those. But that chicken, well, maybe it was an off day.... read more

I was actually disappointed for the first time getting food from here. It really wasn't seasoned that well. The chicken was soggy on the bottom and the potatoes were instant. Probably not going to try it again. read more

It's a small restaurant with indoor tables. Many things to order on the menu. It smells so good inside. The chicken was flavorful and the tenders were huge. The space was popping when we came during lunch time. The service was good and quick. read more

Service was wonderful! Fried chicken was moist and crispy outside as well as The chicken tenders. Sweet tea was homemade! We will return when we are in the area. read more

Wayside has gone downhill over the last couple of years. Ordered the 8 piece family meal.... over $30! The pieces were small. Used old oil. The first time we actually threw out the leftovers..... Very disappointing. Will not be returning. read more

Long time customer but yesterday was very disappointing. The 2 counter people were constantly on their phones. One was nonstop tossing her hair around and scratching the scalp without ever washing hands. The burgers were full of gristle and tasted like filler. A huge let down from an old favorite. read more

The fried chicken here is my favorite in Charlottesville. The chicken is fried well-- light and crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside. The portions are awesome. And the prices are unbeatable in the area. The monthly special eight-piece box of fried chicken (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 legs, and 2 wings) costs 10 dollars and lasts me two meals. I like to reheat the chicken that I have left over from the special in my air fryer and it tastes just as fresh and hot as when I ordered it. read more

We decided to stop here after visiting the apple orchard nearby. This place was not only pretty cheap it was delicious! I got a bbq plate and everything about it was good. They also have all types of bbq sauce you can choose from for your food which is nice! Will be back read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

I ordered pick up for a family gathering and it was excellent! The lady on the phone could not have been nicer. wayside fried chicken is the best in Charlottesville! read more

Friendly and fast service! The fried chicken is awesome and the sides (wedges and hush puppies) were hot and fresh. And such a great value compared to the chain places. 8 pieces with the sides fed 2 of us for 2 meals! read more

Delicious and CHEAP fried chicken. We also loved the hushpuppies, cornbread, & fries. Mac & cheese isn't the best in town, but regardless it was demolished. Catering is awesome--we had a large order so they loaded everything into my car themselves. Also, their special sauce was quite delicious on everything. read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - Fried chicken - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Fried chicken was pretty good, nice and juicy but not as crispy as I would've liked, i think it was because i went mid-day and not during lunch. Fries and hushpuppies were delicious. Mac n cheese and collards were kind of bland. But i love that they have cheerwine as a fountain drink! Will be back read more

Oh! MyGod! The! Chicken! And! Dem! Col! Lard! Greens! The only thing preventing me from giving Wayside 6-stars is the fact that it's so far from me. Almost hidden away (as most gems are), Wayside has some delicious *ss food. We called in our order and it was pretty much ready by the time we arrived. We then drove about 30-40 minutes back home. You would think that the chicken might lose some of that crisp-crunchiness to it during that travel, but it could not have been any less true. The chicken slapped like none other. It was as if the chicken went to the gym and trained everyday to become the best chicken there ever was before sacraficing itself to be a whole snack (in this case a meal). And the collard greens. I must not have eaten vegetables in a while, because my body needed that. Come here to eat! Worth the trip! read more

So, I told y'all I was gonna put y'all on! Fried chicken from Wayside Chicken is today's feature. Want lunch under $5? Done. I'm talking a two piece, side and roll. The chicken is crispy, fresh and juicy. Just delicious. Ask for hot sauce to really set it off. This past trip I got their monthly special for dinner. This is the 8 piece box for $10. And of course I had to get some of their hush puppies. All of this came out to $13.91 (plus tip). This easily fed 2 people with leftovers. I hope you stop by and if you go tell them Marley Recommends sent you, not because they know who I am but because I think it would be funny. *ordering tip: I recommend ordering in person and waiting instead of calling your order in. It never takes a long time and insures your chicken is hot and ready to eat* Follow MarleyRecs on Instagram for more. read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - a hand holding a fried chicken - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

Don't know why it's taken me so long to checkout Wayside when I live so close to it. I tried their 2 pc with 1 roll and a small side of fries. The fries definitely surprised me with how perfectly crispy yet fluffy on the inside they were. They were also seasoned perfectly, tempting me to grab another as I ate my chicken. My chicken was hot, fresh, and as expected juicy and flavorful. Wayside chicken is what you expect from good southern fried chicken. We visited near closing so my friend who ordered an 8 pc was given 2 complimentary pieces which was very nice of them to do! Because of the nature of fried chicken, I don't think I would have been able to eat more than 2 or 3 pieces before hitting a limit. I would recommend getting some of their sides along with the chicken to add variety. read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - a basket of fried chicken - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

See all

If you love fried chicken,you gotta try this place. The chicken is cooked perfectly, crunchy and flavorful on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. The mashed potatoes with gravy is the best I've ever had in my life. No lie. Mashed potatoes are my favorite food and I have eaten plenty in my life. Theirs are even better than mine. The gravy. Omg so goooood! The baked beans were delicious too with pieces of bbq meat in them. But I am cringing to write about their mac n cheese. It is not homemade. Its the kind you might find at a the KFC. I was shocked really they weren't making it from scratch. Go for the chicken, baked beans and mashed potatoes but ditch the mac n cheese please!! read more

Oh wayside how i miss you. UVA is my alma mater and wayside was literally across the street from my last apartment. The best fried chicken no frills type of place. All the sides are great and you can get a great meal for the cheap. and dont leave out there without getting their special sauce (its ranch and hot sauce, i hate ranch but im in love with this sauce so that is saying something) You can eat there its old school booths since its really an old school place or you can take it to go and eat on the lawn but either way you will enjoy your meal. read more

Now, it's not the best fried chicken I've had! I'm old school and love pan fried chicken, but Wayside is arguably the best in Charlottesville! read more

This chicken is "da BOMB" The Collard Greens and Mac & Cheese are not. The rolls were rolls. (keep on rollin' ;) I ordered a 3pc Meal: 3 Pieces of chicken w/2 small sides + 2 rolls. Whom-ever is making that chicken knows EXACTLY what their doing. I can't think of any other fried chicken that I crave (except Popeye's - when it's hot & spicy). Sorry to say the side tasted like they had been sitting in warm water bath for hours. So no to that, but that chicken will make you slap your mama for not making it like that! read more

Wayside is a classic fried chicken place of Cville. I am an avid fried chicken connoisseur, so I know good fried chicken when I taste it. The best thing about Wayside is the cheap costs and short wait times. As for their food, it's good for the price you pay. The fried chicken was crispy and juicy but a little greasy. The roll along with the mac and cheese were very bland and lackluster. But I will definitely be going back because their deals are unbeatable and the food is comforting and homey. Totally recommend if you're looking for a cheap, quick meal. read more

Wayside Takeout & Catering - 2pc Meal - Southern Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

This place has been talked up so much I finally had to try after 2 years of living here. The chicken was on point and def lives up to the reputation this place has. As for the other items on the menu... not so much. Had a side of corn and it tasted a little funky almost like it was soaking in vinegar or some sort. Didn't taste good at all. We also got a side of Mac and cheese and it tasted bland to us. The biscuits were good and the hush puppies. I'd def come back but only for the chicken. read more

Our kids loved the fried chicken. I enjoyed the baked since I'm Gluten free. It was nice and moist. Great service and friendly staff.

Amazing little greesy spoon! Had the steak n cheese and a cheeseburger! Mmmm next time im in town ill try them again!

Delicious fried chicken - my go to is the 3 piece meal with dark meat, and sides of cole slaw and mashed potatoes. I know white meat is healthy but the dark pieces are juicer and taste much better. read more

This tiny place serves some very, very good Southern fried chicken, and some other decent items, as wel, and has been doing so for years and yearsl. The crust is thin, much like that at Price's Chicken Coop in Charlotte, there is very little greasiness, and the taste is nice, though it is mildly seasoned compared to much fried chicken found in the South. The 3 Wing Lunch comes with a roll and one side. The wings were perfectly fried, the roll was rather ordinary, as was the Mac & Cheese - cost was $4.39. W e ordered a single thigh, which also was perfectly fried, with very little grease, and cost $1.32. I like that you can order individual pieces, which more chicken places did this because ordering plates or luchs forces you into getting side, and frankly most chicken places do not shine in this area, although the fries here (more of a steak fry) were absolutely excellent. Also ordered a foot long hot dog, but would not do so again, chili was nothing special, rather bland actually. There is limited seating here, maybe 6 booths, a couple of small tables, and some stools along the front - most folks seem to get take out. We were there about 11 AM on Friday, and folks were ordering take out fot tailgating at the UVA game the next day. It is a little difficult to get to depending on the direction you are coming from because a part of Jefferson Park Avenue is close for bridge work, and will remain so for at least another year. But this place is worth finding, the fried chicken is great. read more

See all

Getting takeout from Wayside was an easy choice during this quarantine craziness! They have an awesome deal currently for 8 pieces of chicken (2 wings, 2 drumsticks, 2 thighs, 2 breasts) for only $10! The outside breading is delicious and crispy, and not overly greasy, and the meat inside is moist and flavorful. For sides we got the collard greens, mashed potatoes & gravy, and mac & cheese - all super yummy, however the chicken is certainly the star of the show. Wayside is a delicious no frills spot, and it definitely lived up to the hype!! read more

The best fried chicken I've ever had. This spot is a hidden gem that anyone visiting Charlottesville should try out. Highly recommend their baked beans and potato wedges as well read more

Absolutely best value in Charlottesville! Grandma's fried chicken! Green beans & potato wedges are my go to sides! And treat yourself to a slice of pie... lemon merengue or apple or pumpkin! read more

Really, really good and down home food. Casual atmosphere and quick service most of the time. You gotta try it if you haven't.

Most amazing fried chicken I've ever had, and I don't even like fried chicken! Each bite starts with a satisfying crunch and ends with tender, juicy chicken crumbling in your mouth. One cannot simply have one piece of chicken. The funny thing is that although I'm sure they used a ton of oil, the chicken doesn't taste overwhelming greasy. There's parking in a small lot outside and some seating in the restaurant. The cost is super reasonable. For a cheap price, you get a ton of food! Great place to go to if you're craving unhealthy food. read more

See all

Burgers are awesome!!! Four stars because the chicken could use more seasoning. But I'll go back for the cheeseburger anyway.