Reddit's Favorite Fast Food Chicken Doesn't Make Headlines Often

With fried chicken chains expanding across the U.S., there's no shortage of options if you're looking for a wing and thigh combo, or chicken tenders from a drive-thru window. The hardest part is choosing which one. Golden Chick might not have the same name recognition as KFC, or the viral hype of Raising Cane's and Popeye's, but among the ranking of chicken chains by Reddit, it belongs in the conversation for best fast food chicken. When a new location opened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, one Redditor shared, "It's literally the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life."

If you're outside of Texas, you may not be familiar with Golden Chick. The Lone Star State is home to 217 of its 250 locations, with nearby states hosting the majority of the rest. That's starting to change with franchise opportunities and a new modular prototype build that aims to lower the cost of construction and speed up the process. So, the next time you see Golden Chick in a headline, it may be because a new location is opening near you.

Part of Golden Chick's appeal is that its menu goes beyond the usual fried tenders and combo meals. Reddit threads are full of praise for the baked bone-in chicken, which is smothered in seasoning — an item not typically found on similar fast food menus. Others shout out the eight side items. If you're looking for something with color, the green beans and lettuce salad have you covered. But if you're craving something more savory, the mac and cheese and dirty rice are other go-to favorites, along with the yeast roll.

And what would a fried chicken restaurant be without a signature sauce? The Lotta Zing sauce is made with Golden Chick's signature seasoning;  an original recipe that's similar to a spicy salt. You can also get the Lotta Zing wings, which won't light your mouth on fire or require a waiver (like the much hyped Dave's Hot Chicken), but they'll scratch that spicy itch. One Redditor shared their sauce hack, posting, "I'm sure I'm not the only person that likes to mix the Zing sauce into the gravy ... better than Raising Cane's sauce."