Yelp Elites Claim This is the Best Fried Chicken in Indiana

The battle for the best fried chicken title continues in Indiana as Yelp Elites unveil their new favorite.

Growing up in southern Indiana, fried chicken was a staple at my house. My family would usually order it from our local grocery store after church on Sunday, and it was always a meal I looked forward to. I've had a lot of great fried chicken over the years, so it's quite hard to pick a favorite. Some of the major chains that stick out in my mind are Church's Texas Chicken and Bojangles, but my regular go-to place is the JayC Food Store. That said, one restaurant in Indiana is now said to have the best fried chicken in the state.

The Best?

In 2023, Cheapism claimed that no one makes fried chicken better than Hollyhock Hill in Indianapolis. However, the Yelp Elite Squad has now chimed in on the matter and picked their favorite. According to Yelp, elite worthiness is based on a number of things, including well-written reviews, high-quality photos, a detailed personal profile, and a history of "playing well with others." Reviewers with an elite badge belong to a diverse community of writers, photographers, and adventurers with a colorful Elite badge on their Yelp profile. In essence, these reviewers claim to know their stuff.

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New Take

So, what place have these elite reviewers chosen to be the king of fried chicken? Their verdict was Shani’s Secret Chicken, which is located just over 20 minutes from Hollyhock Hill. Shani’s currently rocks 4.4 stars on Yelp based on 89 reviews, whereas Hollyhock checks in with 3.6 stars based on 244 reviews. Pictures from both locales offer a glimpse of crispy goodness, and I can definitely see how both would be strong contenders for the title of best fried chicken in the Hoosier state.

Having tried neither establishment, I personally can't choose a favorite. However, if I find myself in Indianapolis with a craving for deep-fried, crispy chicken, it's good to know I have some solid options. Additionally, both restaurants are so close together that it wouldn't be difficult to get samples from each location to compare. Perhaps a round of blind taste testing is in order.

15 Best Places for Fried Chicken in Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky

Regardless of whether you're a fan of white meat, dark meat, or all of it, if it's fried chicken you crave, it's one, or all, of these places you'll want to go to get it.

Gallery Credit: Ryan O'Bryan