While Foley boasts countless attractions from outlet shopping to championship golf, there’s only one thing that truly satisfies after a day of Southern adventures: perfectly fried chicken. (Maybe someday, boiled peanuts will suffice.) It’s great for crispy cravings, family gatherings, and that essential comfort food fix. But you’ve got to find the right bird, and that’s where we come in.
Our favorite spots make buttermilk batter an art form, turn sides into main events, and create the illusion of grandma’s kitchen. Just remember that eating is the easy part. Choosing where to go is another story.
Chicken Salad Chick
$ | (251) 240-0058 | WEBSITE
If you’re looking for a satisfying lunch that won’t weigh you down, grabbing a trio at Chicken Salad Chick is a smart move. The chicken salad options are plentiful, the service is consistently friendly and patient, and there’s no better combo than a cup of their poblano soup alongside a BLT melt with jalapeno chicken salad. No offense to your usual sandwich spot.
Bird Dog Chicken Co.
$ | (251) 234-5600 | WEBSITE
Someone wise once said that a trip to Foley isn’t complete without chicken. (OK, that was us.) Still, Bird Dog Chicken Co. is the only choice for a meal in town, whether you’re craving hot chicken fingers with a side salad or flavorful wings with buffalo sauce. Their menu has nary a clunker among them—though you’re in especially good hands with the chicken Philly sandwich, steaming hot fries, and tenders you can customize just how you like.
The cashiers are always nice and polite, and the clean, welcoming atmosphere makes you feel valued and eager to return.
Chick-fil-A
$ | (251) 971-6505 | WEBSITE
This fast-food joint’s freshly renovated digs possess all the efficient minimalism of a well-oiled Southern drive-thru operation, only conveniently located in Foley. The chicken’s from local suppliers, the biscuits are from-scratch daily, and the perpetually cheerful staff is from a place where “my pleasure” is the customary salutation. (Don’t worry, they will genuinely mean it.) Grab some nuggets, washed down by a refreshing-enough lemonade.
Just be prepared for the parking lot dance—that drive-thru line does have a tendency to stage a polite blockade at the entrance.
foosackly’s – Foley
$ | (251) 970-2412 | WEBSITE
Whether or not you should swing by this chicken joint depends on how desperate you are for a quick, satisfying bite. But the real draw is in the kitchen by way of perfectly fried chicken fingers. Crispy, golden tenders are served piping hot with a side of homemade honey mustard—and they outshine the competition at Canes and Zaxbys down the road. If you have trouble deciding what to order, the combo meal with fries and cole slaw hits the spot on a busy day.
Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings
$ | (251) 943-0400 | WEBSITE
Many fast-food runs in Foley involve quick bites, but in turn, they also involve the usual fluorescent lighting that can’t lift a mood. Escape it at Zaxby’s, a team-run chicken counter located along the main strip. Sure, the dining room isn’t fancy, but it’s comforting to watch the staff work with efficiency while friendly chatter fills the space. Share baskets of BBQ boneless wings, a delicious Cobb salad with grilled chicken, and crispy chicken fingers that stay hot better than a heat lamp.
If a bad day ends up sneaking in, we don’t blame it for turning around.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
$ | (251) 970-2425 | WEBSITE
This fast-food joint feels like a cross between a lively Louisiana bayou shack and a well-oiled hospitality machine, and we’re all in. Chicken is the main event. It’s great with buttermilk biscuits and honey, or constructed as a spicy chicken sandwich with pickles and Cajun-spiced mayo. The other sides, like crispy golden fries and creamy mashed potatoes with gravy, perform swimmingly as supporting characters.
KFC
$ | (251) 943-3100 | WEBSITE
For a fast-food chicken joint in a small Alabama town, this KFC location is surprisingly earnest. Within its fluorescent-lit dining area is a meal that starts with hot, fresh chicken we’d strategically serve at a casual backyard gathering—and concludes with a biscuit or two to bring home. There’s care behind pairing crispy tenders with mashed potatoes, or coleslaw with a side of gravy. Order a bucket, let it ride, and worry about the modest bill later.