16 Detroit-area chicken sandwiches that are better than Popeyes

By Metro Times editorial staff on Sat, Sep 14, 2019 at 5:28 am

Detroit-area restaurants offer a diverse selection of chicken sandwiches, from Nashville hot to shawarma. You can skip Popeyes and head to one of these restaurants, where you're sure to find something that hits the spot.

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Second Best — Fried Chicken Sandwich

42 Watson St., Detroit; 313-315-3077; secondbestdetroit.com
Second Best’s fried chicken sandwich is made in the Nashville hot tradition: soaked in buttermilk, then coated in lard and cayenne. Served with fries, celeriac slaw, and ranch mayo, this might be Second Best’s fried chicken sandwich, but it could easily be your first.

Photo via Second Best Detroit / Facebook

Union Street — Fried Chicken Sandwich

4145 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-831-3965; unionstreetdetroit.com
The fried chicken sandwich at Union Street comes with a pickled mustard seed drizzle, bread and butter pickle, and creamy slaw on a soft potato bun. All sandwiches at Union Street come with seasoned house fries.

Photo via Union Street Detroit / Facebook

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Table at Fort Street Galley — Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

160 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-230-0855; fortstreetgalley.org/restaurants/table
Fort Street Galley might be a gussied-up food court, but this isn’t your average mall restaurant chicken sandwich. Table, run by esteemed chef Phill Milton, focuses on American comfort food with modern ingredients and a chef’s touch. Their Nashville hot chicken sandwich stays true to the classic while staying a cut above the rest with a cayenne-lard paste, bleu cheese, and a heaping load of fries to go with it.

Photo via Bridget Ekis

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Sweet Soul Bistro — Grilled/Fried Chicken Sandwich

13741 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-862-7685; sweetsoulbistro.net
For a Detroit soul food sandwich look no further. Sweet Soul Bistro offers a choice of grilled or fried chicken marinated in sauce, melted cheese, caramelized onions, crisp shredded lettuce, fresh tomatoes, mayo, and choice of sauce.

Photo via Sweet Soul Bistro / Facebook

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Slows BBQ — The Yardbird

2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-9828; slowsbarbq.com
Slows claims their Yardbird sandwich is “one of the top three best sandwiches in America” — a big plate to fill. Luckily, that’s what Slows BBQ does best. Served on a grilled roll, the Yardbird consists of smoked Amish chicken, sautéed mushrooms, cheddar, and Applewood smoked bacon covered with whole grain honey mustard barbecue sauce.

Photo via SLOWS BAR BQ / Facebook

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Hello Shawarma — Chicken Cream Chops and Hello Chicken Shawarma

12197 Conant St., Hamtramck; 313-707-0988; helloshwaramahamtramck.com
It may not be traditional Nashville-style, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good. The Chicken Cream Chops sandwich from Hello Shawarma feels familiar while tasting new. A thick coating of ranch with breaded chicken, lettuce, and tomato enhances the package. The Hello Chicken Shawarma sandwich is rolled with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, parsley, and Hello sauce, setting it apart from typical shawarmas and chicken sandwiches.

Photo via Hello shawarama restaurant / Facebook

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Saffron De Twah — Moroccan Fried Chicken Sandwich

7636 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 586-359-6138; saffrondetwah.com
You wouldn’t expect a Moroccan restaurant to be a place for a hot chicken sandwich, but expect the unexpected. An instant favorite at Saffron De Twah, the Morocco hot chicken sandwich offers a Moroccan-inspired twist on the Nashville classic. It's brined in coriander buttermilk, Berbere hot sauce, jalapeño, garlic, and ginger, then Southern-fried and bunned with caramelized honey butter, harissa carrot slaw, and harissa aioli.

Photo via Saffron De Twah / Facebook

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Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop -—Cambell, Jerk, Pulgini, Toney’s Caesar Rap

1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-961-2000; mudgiesdeli.com
Mudgie’s Deli & Wine Shop was voted Detroit’s best deli seven years in a row. Need I continue? Mudgie’s makes everything fresh, with old-world style bread and all-natural free-range chicken. If the list of signature sandwiches isn’t quite what you were hungry for, they also offer DIY-options.

Photo via Mudgie's Deli & Wine Shop / Facebook

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Lovers Only — The Extern

34 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-986-1174; loversonlydetroit.com
Don’t let the name intimidate you — Lovers Only applies to fried chicken sandwich lovers as well as romantic couples. The setting of the restaurant is beautiful, and expect to be equally smitten with the food. The Extern is a cold-fried chicken sandwich, served with a coating of thick-but-light crag, accented with cabbage and jalapeño slaw and a vinegary white barbecue sauce. The whole package is an appealing texture and flavor combination.

Photo via Tom Perkins

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Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles — Chicken BLT Sandwich

19345 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-861-0229; kuzzoschickenandwaffles.com
Known for their chicken and waffle combos, you can trust Kuzzo’s to handle a chicken sandwich. Either fried or grilled, the chicken BLT sandwich comes on Texas toast with Applewood bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and house-made Sriracha mayo.

Photo via Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles / Facebook

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Jolly Pumpkin — Perfect Fried Chicken Sandwich

441 W. Canfield St. Ste. 9, Detroit; 313-262-6115; jollypumpkin.com
We dare you to name a better duo than fried food and good beer. Jolly Pumpkin Brewery has both, offering the perfect fried chicken sandwich plus a large selection of craft beers on draft. Their Perfect Fried Chicken Sandwich, which is served with sesame cilantro slaw and turmeric aioli, drizzled with sriracha, and popped on a roll, definitely earns its distinction.

Photo via Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery Detroit / Facebook

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Green Dot Stables — Fried Chicken, Lansing Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, Fried Chicken Cesar, Katsu Curry

2200 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-962-5588; greendotstables.com
If you’re craving a quality chicken sandwich but don’t want anything gargantuan or messy, slide into this slider bar. Green Dot Stables’ sliders serve delicious food at low prices. With multiple affordable chicken sandwich options, it’s tempting to try them all!

Photo via Green Dot Stables / Facebook

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Detroit Beer Company — Fried Chicken or Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich

1529 Broadway St., Detroit; 313-962-1529; detroitbeerco.com
Chicken sandwiches come two ways at Detroit Beer Company: barbecue pulled or fried. Their fried chicken sandwich comes with a pickled cabbage slaw and spicy aioli, while the pulled chicken is tossed with a sweet barbecue sauce and served with a cucumber and cabbage slaw. Wash either one down with a pint from the wide selection of craft beers available on tap.

Photo via Detroit Beer CO / Facebook

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COOP Caribbean Fusion at Detroit Shipping Company — Midtown Crispy Chicken Sandwich

474 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-462-4973; coopdetroit.com
Everyone has a favorite meal from the Detroit Shipping Company’s food hall, but COOP’s fried chicken sandwich is worth your attention. Celebrity chef Max Hardy is a household name in the Detroit food scene, bringing African and Caribbean flavors to American classics. Served cafeteria-style, the Midtown crispy chicken sandwich is a juicy chicken thigh served with smoked bacon jam, pimento cheese, house-made pickles, and street style Caribbean corn.

Photo via Detroit Shipping Company / Facebook

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Chicken Shack — Chicken Sandwich

14630 Mack Ave., Detroit; 313-821-9200, and various locations; chickenshack.com
We couldn't talk about chicken sandwiches without bringing up Chicken Shack. You can get your chicken fix in many ways, but if you haven’t had it on a sandwich, get ready. Order it fried or grilled, large or small. However you get it, you can’t go wrong.

Photo via Chicken Shack / Facebook

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Central Kitchen + Bar — Buttermilk Fried Chicken

660 Woodward Ave. Ste 4A, Detroit; 313-963-9000; centraldetroit.com
This gastropub has all the American classics you’re craving, reimagined with vibrant twists to keep them interesting. The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich comes with Gruyère cheese, pickles, ranch, bacon, lettuce, and tomato served on a brioche bun. Enjoy it with a selection from their extensive menu of beer, wine, and spirits.

Photo via Central Kitchen + Bar / Facebook

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Boostan Cafe — Boostan Shawarma

3470 Holbrook St., Hamtramck; 313-456-8100; boostancafe.com
If you’re in the mood for Middle Eastern food, Boostan Cafe has great chicken shawarma sandwich options. Rolled with shredded chicken and cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, banana peppers, and Boostan sauce, you can’t go wrong with their classic Boostan Shawarma.

Photo via Boostan Cafe / Facebook

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The Apparatus Room -—Crispy Confit Chicken Sandwich

250 W. Larned St., Detroit; 313-800-5600; detroitfoundationhotel.com/apparatus-room
Located within the historic Foundation Hotel, this spot allows you to enjoy your sandwich in a fine-dining atmosphere. The crispy confit chicken sandwich comes with a bread-and-butter pickle, American cheese, and spicy mayonnaise. This is not your hole-in-the-wall fried chicken sandwich.

Photo via The Apparatus Room / Facebook

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Ale Mary’s Beer Hall — Fried Chicken Sliders

316 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-268-1939; alemarysbeer.com
Stop by Ale Mary’s for a selection of fried chicken sliders. With beer battered chicken, beer pickled peaches and jalapeños, and beer battered fries, the only thing missing is a cold beer.

Photo via Ale Mary’s Beer Hall Royal Oak / Facebook

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