The Best Fried Chicken In Miami 2014 | Tasting Table MIA

We've declared August 11-22 Fried Chicken Fortnight. Watch for two full weeks of recipes, chicken talk, chef tips and more.

Many argue that Florida isn't really the South—but Miami's chefs have got the Southern comfort food thing down. And that means our town has got some cluckin' good fried chicken. Here are our favorite birds.

1. Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach
The Llewellyn fried chicken ($26) at John Kunkel's flagship James Beard-nominated Southern restaurant soaks for 27 hours in a brine spiked with sugar, salt, paprika and cayenne pepper. It's his grandmother's recipe, and comes with spicy Tabasco honey for kick.

2. Joe's Takeaway in South Beach

How long 'til October? We're already jonesing for Joe's. It's not just the stone crabs that do it for us—the sister takeaway shop of the seafood-focused restaurant makes some of the juiciest, most golden, crisp chicken in town. Best of all, it's only $5.95 (for a half chicken).

3. Whisk Gourmet in South Miami

The day the Connor siblings landed in Miami by way of Charleston, South Carolina, comfort food in this city got a boost. Their fried Bell & Evans chicken breast ($21.95) is marinated for 24 hours in buttermilk with smoked chili powder. After fried, it's drenched in rosemary and bacon gravy. Y'all gotta try it. 

4. Drunken Dragon in South Beach

You can't come here without sharing an order of the Twice Fried Fried (that's not a typo) chicken wings ($14). The melt-in-your mouth tender meat is enveloped in a terra-cotta like crisp batter. And we love the Korean version of buffalo and blue cheese dipping sauces. 

5. The Federal in the Upper Eastside

Frying chicken must be one of chef Cesar Zapata's favorite things to do, because the menu always has a new version. We fell in love with the peanut-marinated chicken "McNuggets," but we're also smitten with Ceez's smoky fried chicken ($19). The crisp breast is served with a creamy, ranch-style sauce that works well with the batter's earthy aftertaste.

6. Tongue & Cheek in South Beach

T&C's menu is filled with whimsical takes on traditional comfort food, and one of our favorites is the insanely good fried chicken ($22). It's served with pickled red cabbage, a cheddar and bacon biscuit and a side of creamy Tabasco hollandaise. Make sure you ask for extra sauce; it's so delicious that you'll run out of it with your first piece.

7. The Dutch in Miami Beach 

We get a little pang of nostalgia every time we think about the all-you-can-eat chicken during the late Southern Fried Sundays. Luckily, the country-fried lollipop chicken wings ($14), served with tangy Scotch bonnet jam, keep us satisfied. Here's hoping for a comeback!

8. Fritay Fried Pork & Chicken in North Miami

This list wouldn't be legit without a hole in the wall, and we've got just the one: Haitian fast-food restaurant Fritay serves many delicious fried things, including Haitian fried chicken wings ($7.49) seasoned with thyme, garlic, peppers, sour oranges and shallots—a tropical crackling of flavors.