The fried chicken at Buttermilk Channel. (Image from http://www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com)

This singular Southern staple has popped up in some unexpected restaurants lately, and some might say that NYC has gone full-blown, fried chicken-crazy. Here’s a look at some of the tastiest birds to hit the table. – Kelly Dobkin

Bubby’s Tribeca

(credit: atfirstbite.com)

120 Hudson Street
New York, NY 11211
(212) 219-0666
bubbys.com
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Bubby’s offers 24-hour salvation in the form of chicken and waffles. The soul-food classic, rarely found on downtown menus, is made with a buttermilk-battered Bell & Evans bird and is deep-fried to a delicate crisp and served alongside steaming waffles and syrup.

Buttermilk Channel

(credit: buttermilkchannelnyc.com)

524 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 852-8490
buttermilkchannelnyc.com
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When the word “buttermilk” is involved in the name of a restaurant, it’s a safe bet that there’s some serious fried chicken being churned out inside. The comfort food-infused menu at this Carroll Gardens eatery includes some of the best buttermilk fried chicken in the five boroughs, served alongside cheddar waffles.

Charles’ Pan-Fried Chicken

(credit: Flickr)

2841 Frederick Douglass Blvd
New York, NY 10039
(212) 281-1800

Charles Gabriel is Harlem’s legendary fried chicken master. Instead of plunging his birds into a deep-fryer like so many, the secret to Charles’ original recipe is his old-school pan-fried method, as noted in the namesake.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs

(credit: Flickr)

166 S. 4th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 529-6090
piesnthighs.com/
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This much-blogged about Williamsburg favorite that serves up comfort foods like brisket, hush puppies, and of course, pie, among other things, reopened in a new location to some minor hysteria earlier this year. Ten bucks will buy you three pieces of the crispy bird along with one side, and a biscuit.

Rack and Soul

(credit: Flickr)

258 West 109th Street
New York, NY 10025
(212) 222-4800
http://rackandsoul.com/
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When you’ve got Harlem fried chicken-master Charles Gabriel as consulting partner, you know the fried chicken’s legit. This Upper West Side soul food depot serves up a full array of classics and some seriously tasty deep-fried poultry.