There was a Fried Chicken thread in the lounge. I recommended a couple places -

[The Polack MSgt]

Out here in the prairies of SW Illinois.

That thread is dormant now, but I thought the info was worth a repost here in the "Chicago plus corn and soybeans state" Group. Because folks coming through may need a good spot for fried gizzards and such.

I think the best national chain is Popeyes. Or Pope Yes! as my 6 year old daughter called it when they opened on Misawa AB Japan...

I enjoy Raisin' Canes chicken fingers, but I agree with a previous poster that "Fried Chicken" Means on the bone chicken.

Locally, there are some great options around St Louis - But unfortunately, Sweetie Pie's is not on the list.

Hey, don't look at me like that. It's good, just not great, and the green beans and Mac & Cheese are average.

Lee's Fried Chicken is great if you're in a good franchise and the iced tea is worth the ridiculous mark up for a take home gallon.
It's top notch tea.
But when it comes to the actual fried chicken? There is a LOT of difference in quality depending on location.

Locally famous Southern Illinois family restaurant "The Good Ol' Days" in New Baden is really good, but a bit salty and the sides are just average... Their Pie is phenomenal though, so it's worth a trip up I64 IMHO
www.goodoldays.net/

The absolute best fried chicken around here in the corn fields of SW Illinois is at the restaurant in the Original Springs Hotel.
Perfect crunch, juicy meat, just the right level of salt and black pepper in the old school crust.
This place is said to be haunted, and it's probably by the spirits of folks looking for a 2 piece dinner with corn bread and slaw.
https://www.theoriginalspringshotel.com/

Super obscure bonus recommendation - The Eagles Nest has the absolute best butter milk soaked fried gizzards in the whole world.

It's in Addieville Illinois a town of 200 or so a good 10 minute drive past the ass end of nowhere.
Worth it.
So delicious.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/eagles-nest-addieville

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Gizzards are tough and tasteless.

I can eat a plate of fried livers with onions. Sorry, I am a barbarian.

[The Polack MSgt]

4. About 9 miles off I64 40 miles east of St Louis - The Eagles nest makes soft delicious gizzards

It's the Sparkly Unicorn of organ meat.

Not kidding. DELICIOUS GIZZARDS!

[Sanity Claws]

2. Does the chicken have a corn flake coating?

DU old timers will get the reference.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. You are flirting with disaster

We're talking Pandora's box-level, plague of frogs stuff

[Sanity Claws]

5. I miss those old days

Remember when we were banned from talking about chicken for a few days?
Then someone started a thread on turkey.

[Cirque du So-What]

14. Yes, I remember

I couldn't believe the levels of passion inspired by coatings for fried chicken.

[Atticus]

6. The restaurant at the Giant City State Park lodge is locally famous for its fried chicken. The

park is just south of Carbondale, Illinois, home of SIU.

Their from scratch dinner rolls are also excellent.

[The Polack MSgt]

7. Locally famous places are legit famous for a reason

I occasionally travel to Ida and other small towns around Carbondale, as well as Metropolis.

I'll make sure to stop by Giant City State Park lodge next trip - Do they have slaw and cornbread tho?

[Atticus]

8. I usually have slaw with whole kernel corn as my sides. Honestly don't know about

corn bread.

Several good local wineries in the same area. In season, the apples and peaches---plus cider and jam---are great.

[customerserviceguy]

9. Marked for later

My lady and I are planning a round-the-country trip in November, sounds like this Springs Hotel place should be on our list of places to go!

[The Polack MSgt]

10. The Original Spings Hotel is my wife and my go to for date nights

The restaurant is good the bar is fun and the spa facilities are also good.

So book a massage and a soak in the mineral water then eat dinner and have a couple beverages at the bar.

Next morning have a cholesterol orgasm breakfast combo, plus a soak in the baths to cure any hangover symptoms, get another massage and be on your way.

If you are a ghost story aficionado, there are monthly specials for late night "ghosty tours" that are pretty popular.

One of my favorite places so I hope to pump up the commerce so it stays open

[customerserviceguy]

11. Not into the ghost thing so much

but the rest of it sounds great! And we love cholesterol orgasms at breakfast time!

[murielm99]

12. A chicken thread?

Be careful.

[The Polack MSgt]

13. I am staying away from corn flakes vs Panko vs flour vs batter

Arguments.

I support all the ways that fried chickens express their delicious selves