Best Fried Chicken in Phoenix (2026)

Gus's Memphis-style fried chicken is the main event in Mesa, and the spice crust holds up even after a walk. Order the bone-in chicken and the mac and cheese, and don't skip the tenders if you have the table space. The room is casual and counter-service, next door to Oro Brewing on the same strip. It travels well, it's family-friendly, and it lands under budget without cutting corners on flavor.

Twist Hot Chicken in Peoria keeps the format tight: order at the counter, pick your heat level, and let the kitchen do the work. The Nashville hot chicken sandwich at the Hot setting is genuinely spicy, so calibrate accordingly. The tenders come out crispy, the fries are well-seasoned, and the loaded mac and cheese rounds out the meal. Small room, friendly staff, fast enough to work as a lunch run or a quick weeknight stop.

Dave's Hot Chicken in Gilbert runs the LA-born format that made the chain a national story: tenders and sliders built around a heat scale, crinkle fries on the side, and a kitchen that moves fast. The chicken sandwich is the flagship order, and the loaded fries are worth adding. Consistency matters here, so go on a busy service when the kitchen is running at volume. Counter-service, walk-in-friendly, and priced for a regular rotation.

The Camelback location of Gus's delivers the same spiced crust as the Mesa outpost: crispy outside, juicy inside, with a seasoning blend that leans salty and hits hard. The collard greens are worth ordering. Prices run a notch above strip-mall competition, so know what you're getting into before you go. If the value trade-off lands for you, the chicken itself is the real draw. Family-friendly room, casual service, good for a comfort-food dinner in Phoenix proper.

Mrs. Chicken in Phoenix stakes its claim as an early local entry in the hot-chicken space, with crispy fried chicken, grilled breast, and tenders with fries as the core menu. The room is casual and family-friendly, positioned as a neighborhood spot rather than a destination. Opinions on execution run wide, so go in with clear expectations: this is a budget-priced, counter-service chicken shop, not a polished production. The tenders are the safer order for a first visit.

Nashville Hot Chicken in Tempe makes a credible case for the style: the hot chicken sandwich and tenders are seasoned with enough complexity to stand out from the crowded field. The mild heat level is a solid entry point, and the hot fries are worth adding to the order. Note that the coleslaw comes mixed into some preparations, so ask if that matters to you. Walk-in-friendly, counter-service, and owner-operated with the kind of attention that shows up in a consistent product.