This was my first visit to Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken since its acquisition by The Wonder Group. The most noticeable change is the ordering process: the self-service kiosks are gone, replaced by actual staff taking orders. It's a small but welcome improvement. More importantly, the food remains outstanding. New York City's fried chicken scene has exploded over the past five years, with no shortage of excellent options, but Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken continues to hold its place among the city's best. The brand's roots stretch back much further than its 2013 fast-casual debut. Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken was launched by chef brothers Eric and Bruce Bromberg as a standalone concept in Manhattan's East Village, but its signature fried chicken originated at their legendary Blue Ribbon Brasserie in SoHo. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, the brothers opened the Brasserie in 1992, where their matzah-meal-breaded fried chicken drizzled with wildflower honey quickly became one of the restaurant's most celebrated dishes and earned national acclaim. Recognizing the popularity of the dish, the Brombergs opened Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken in 2013 as a dedicated fast-casual concept. The East Village flagship combined fine-dining technique with a laid-back, fast-food atmosphere, serving its famous fried chicken. In February 2026, The Wonder Group acquired Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, making it the company's first full acquisition of an independent restaurant brand. Based on this visit, Wonder appears to have followed the golden rule of restaurant acquisitions: improve the ordering experience if you must, but don't mess with the chicken. read more

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Hey friends! I could smell this spot on my walk to the train station so decided to stop in lol. I could smell the seasoned chicken! I'm not a fan of chicken but the smell was very tempting. Blue Ribbon is a fast casual spot know for their chicken. I ordered the smash burger. It comes with lettuce, tomato, their special sauce and American cheese. I can't say that I would go back. It lacked a lot of flavor and was underwhelming. I did enjoy the smoky taste from the grill though. +Customer service was friendly. +Plenty of indoor seating. +Prices are average. I paid about $9 for a single patty. I hope you enjoy! read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Logo - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

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The kiosk is still a buzzkill but I can't solely blame them for this depressing trend. Went with a 2-piece so I could diversify and the tender dog was a solid new option, as was the chipotle barbecue sauce. read more

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I decided to pick up a lunch here and to my delight I enjoyed my visit. It was clean inside and spacious so I decided to dine in. I brought me a chicken sandwich and a drink. The sandwich was really good. It wasn't dry, but rather crispy and juicy. Great seasoning and flavor. I wanted to take home some additional pieces but it was pricey and I have to budget my funds in this economy. The service was fast and the staff were friendly. I would recommend and would do another visit. Maybe later in the summer to bring along some chicken pieces for a picnic. A thumb up for me. Happy Yelping! read more

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Was not in the mood to cook. Did not want to dine in, on the non stop raining day. Wanted to give Blue Ribbon a second try because my niece thought it was great. Ordering was a breeze, the staff are all very friendly, and accommodating. We sat down while waiting for our order. The atmosphere was quiet, very clean, and relaxed. However the chicken was not good. If your using the various dipping sauces, than that will help the chicken taste better. However the chicken was tasteless, I have had way better from the grocery store deli for a fraction of the cost. But this is the Lower Eastside. I grew up on the best mac & cheese, and this was an insult. Would I personally take friends and family to this spot, definitely not. They would think I have lost my mind. The chicken is pre cooked, and they warm it up. Not a fan of salt, and this place hits the spot if seasoning is not your choice, you will not have to worry. The stars that I give this place is reflected upon the good service, friendly staff, clean restaurant, but the fried chicken is terrible, unless you add a dipping sauce to it, to give it taste. read more

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Got the combo fried chicken and fries!! Fries is good so does the fried chicken but not as good as I had 10 years ago... but still very good fried chicken and fries !! read more

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- very salty - nice customer service - quick turnover - tasty hot and sweet chicken sandwich - lots of fries - greasy - spacious interior read more

Experience here was decent but a few misses that couldn't be ignored but I'll get to that gradually. Coming up here, I could easily smell the chicken being prepared from this establishment and it had me eager to enter the restaurant. The moment I came in I was greeted by the woman behind the ordering section so service is definitely a high mark for she was very accommodating with me setting up my order. Wait time wasn't overly long, I'd say about 7 minutes it took for my food to reach the table. I ordered the Tender Supreme Combo which came with fries, Cole slaw and a drink and a chicken Smashburger. I went with the chicken burger first and I know these can be an acquired taste but I can safely say I truly acquired how good that burger was. Compliments to the chef. Now onto the combo. The shoestring fries they had, not bad but I've certainly had better and they put a lot of them on my plate, I didn't care much to finish it all. I didn't touch the cole slaw because I've never been a fan of it so that leaves the tenders which were sublime! Just incredible. The sides here maybe average but the chicken is definitely solid, tender and juicy with the right amount of breading, wish I could say the same for the Chipotle Honey dip I chose with it. It wasn't terrible but jt didn't mesh well with the tenders, I prolly should've went with ranch. They also have a selection of their own kinds of fountain drinks. I tried out the creme sods and it was also very good. I've always been a fan of original drinks as opposed to the regular stuff that they easily could've had so the fact they went this extra mile for their drinks is great. As for the place in general, it's pretty big. Not enormous but plenty enough of seating and it wasn't too crowded so I was able to eat in with comfort. read more

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My favorite fried chicken ever. I bring everyone here to try it! A bit pricier for fried chicken but 100% worth it to me. Service is always great! Super chill spot with lots of seating. I loved the seasoned fries too! Although I must say when I first tried this spot years ago, the Mac and cheese was much better but it's still pretty good. Overall great spot, great chicken!! read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Mac and Cheese Small, Fried Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

If the prices were a bit lower, this would be 5 stars for sure. This is some of the best chicken I've had in NYC or maybe anywhere, and I travel the country often. We got the 4 piece meal and added on a small side of Mac and cheese and a couple drinks and it was $37. Nice open design inside with plenty of seating and the staff was friendly enough. This chicken had great flavor and a great crunch. The white meat chicken was still nearly as juicy as you'd expect a thigh to be. Literally the only thing I didn't love about this chicken was the cost. The fries were shoestring style which isn't normally my favorite cut, but these were good. The Mac and cheese was very good. This had a blend of cheeses that was a bit foreign to me past the smoked Gouda up front, but it was very tasty. I'll absolutely go back, just needs to be on a payday haha. Blue ribbon fried chicken - Didn't Suck! read more

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Rating: 9.6/10 I came into Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken looking for something beyond the usual fast food experience -- something that stands out from the commercial chains like Popeyes, KFC, or Jollibee. These places have set a baseline for my chicken fixes, and I always expect at least a few things: decent quality, solid service, and something memorable enough that makes me want to come back again. Blue Ribbon absolutely delivered -- and even surprised me. Let's talk about the chicken: if it's texture you're looking for, they nailed it. The batter was crispy in a good way, with a satisfying crunch in every bite, and the seasoning was noticeably different in a good way too -- flavorful, and clearly crafted with care. It stood out immediately from the typical fast food options like KFC, and it wasn't that it was so good that it stood out specifically, it was that I could taste the difference and it is also incredibly good. But the surprises didn't stop there. The fries were another highlight -- thin-cut and extremely crispy. Not your average fries, and definitely one of the most unique takes I've had in a while. What really stuck with me, though, was their attention to the overall experience. First, the digital ordering system offered a free Brussels sprouts add-on -- something I didn't see listed on the main menu (or maybe I missed it), but it was a thoughtful touch. That unexpected bonus made me start wondering: what else are they doing differently? Then there were the sauces. For a fried chicken place, they had an impressive variety. I only tried the honey sauce, but it was flavorful and unique enough that I'd come back just to sample the rest. Lastly, their soda -- all cane sugar-based. The taste was noticeably better and more natural than what you'd find at other places, and I honestly wanted to try every option just based on that. Overall, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken gave me more than just a good meal. From the crispiness of the chicken and fries to the thoughtful little details in their service and menu design, this is a spot that stands out. Definitely not just another fried chicken joint -- I'll be back, and I'll be bringing people with me. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Ordering Counter - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

They have their own soda (pop)?! I've been out of the loop on this one. Fantastic flavors with the hot honey chicken paired with attentive staff, quick service, clean tables, and great tasting fountain drinks. read more

Used to be good but now outsourcing to a ghost kitchen. Big family order, and chicken was dry, breading falling off, and too expensive for poor quality. Cal or go to the actual location and do not order on Door Dash. When we called the storefront to ask about it they said they had no order from us and "the other place" was making the food, so they could not help us. read more

i ordered a chicken combo. the order arrived missing a part of it and one of the pieces of chicken tasted bad. it tasted like the chicken had gone rancid, i couldn't eat it. it tasted sour and oily. i wont order from them again. don't waste your money. read more

Maybe I ordered the wrong thing off the menu or maybe I ordered the right thing on the menu, either way I will not be going back I should have kept this mystery alive and never tried this place. That fried chicken sandwich was not good, the coating on the Fried Chicken came right off. Although the fries were really French and the staff was very friendly, maybe their Fried Chicken is better but certainly not going back for that chicken sandwich with the options in Manhattan. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Chicken sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

Solid chicken spot. I had the gobbler sandwich since I was craving something thanksgiving-themed, and it definitely hit the spot. We also got the "plate" version of the sandwich which came with even more food. Lastly, we got their spicy chicken sandwich that came with a ton of hot peppers and it is definitely HOT! read more

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This was by far the worst experience I've ever had. When I first called Blue Ribbon for help with my order, the employee I spoke to was completely unhelpful. Then, when my order finally arrived, it was completely wrong. My order totaled $17, but I received someone else's order that was over $70 -- nothing I had ordered at all. I felt terrible for the people whose food I received. On top of that, the food was ice cold, so cold it felt like it had never been cooked or had been sitting out forever. I did get my money back, but that doesn't change the fact that I was left hungry, and I know the people who actually ordered $70 worth of food were probably just as upset. Honestly, they would have asked for a refund too if they had received this food. Extremely disappointing service and a serious drop in quality. Do not order from here. read more

I have never experienced this level of unprofessional behavior, and it needs to be addressed. My fiancée, her sister, a friend, and myself were standing outside in heavy rain and briefly moved under cover. We did not realize we were blocking an entrance. A security guard at this establishment, wearing glasses, forcefully pushed the door open, striking my fiancée's friend in the back, and told us to leave the area. When I told him to relax after he had hurt someone, he stepped directly into my face and said, "I will slap you in the face, white boy--you don't know who you're talking to." I walked away while the others attempted to get an Uber. The guard then came back outside and said, "Get off my restaurant. This is my neighborhood." To be clear: 1. We were unaware that we were blocking the entrance. 2. Threatening and physically intimidating people--especially those not on the premises--is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. Appropriate action should be taken. No one should be treated this way, particularly when we were not inside the restaurant and posed no threat. read more

This review is only for takeout food only and not the employees or dining in. I was very very disappointed in the entire meal except the biscuits. We had a large family-sized order my brother ordered plus additional sides and didn't really like any of it. The chicken was beyond dry and was a very serious coughing and choking hazard. I had two different pieces, a thigh and breast and eating both was almost impossible to swallow. While the skin and coating was nicely crisp, the saltiness was penetrating and too heavy handed. I've had dry chicken but never like this, and I was surprised at how dry the chicken was since this is a Bromberg Brothers restaurant. I would never imagine they could produce fried chicken with this level of dryness. I love fried chicken and typically make my own using a combination of recipes from Tyler Florence's double-dipped fried chicken, Martha Stewart's mahogany fried chicken, David Rosengarten's rendition and Alton Brown's GE recipe going back 30 years. I have experimented with many variations of flour blends and brines and never had chicken anywhere near as dry as Blue Ribbon's. I'm not sure how they could allow the sale of chicken this dry, other than the fact that because it was take out, the restaurant figured the person placing the order wouldn't complain as they weren't eating it directly in the restaurant so give that person all the dry pieces. And as other reviewers have mentioned, the level of salt is incredible to the point where it was unpleasant to eat. The french fries were also incredibly salty. The liquid smoke in the mac and cheese was too overwhelming. No one should use liquid smoke as a flavoring agent as it's completely artificial ingredient and overwhelms everything. I felt very sad watching the littlest family members trying to eat this chicken. Had I known, I would have made my own fried chicken, french fries or potato salad, mac and cheese, pickles and slaw. and brought it to them as I don't like seeing them eat food like this, and I told my brother to tell me in ADVANCE and I will make an entire meal including homemade pickles, so that they don't order take out from Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken again. read more

I come here often for lunch as I work close by. They recently redid the eating area and made it more open and spacious. They have a fountain machine for refills with fun cream soda flavors. The service can be hit and miss. Most of the time, there are almost no one in line and the cashier is nowhere to be found. I would have to wait a few minutes before someone came to take my order. I ordered the fried chicken bowl with mac and cheese. The bowl was huge and very filling. I was able to get two servings out of it. The mac and cheese was heavy and very filling. It was a bit greasy but, overall tasty. The fried chicken was tasty and well seasoned. I was bit disappointed that it wasn't chicken breast but chicken thigh meat. I would have rather chicken breast as it was better. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

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Ohhh baby! After 15 years of not eating meat, the first thing I wanted was fried chicken. Like a chicken TENDER. A juicy, crispy one. And I've had my fare share of tenders the past year, but holy hell, these hit the SPOT. Especially since I was hungover... I walked by here and the smell radiated. It followed me for the next few hours, I had to go back. I intended to just get tenders, but when I walked up, I saw ads in their windows for tender hot dogs - like what?! Had to do it. Plus they were only around $6 each. Absolutely divine. Unforuntately my hungover self was still hungry, so I went back to the counter and ordered just a massive tender for $4 with a dipping sauce. They gave me two, maybe cause they were smaller? But they were still massive to me, so I only ate one and brought the other home. Can't wait to go back and eat everything on their menu. Drooling as I write. Throws Chickfila or Canes of Chicken Express of Golden Chick a run for their monies...! read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Menu as of October 2024 - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

i'm a little sad to see that this place has an overall mid review! when i went with my friend, we loved it! we came on a slower day so it was nice being able to grab a table upon arrival. they have a self service order screen which made it quick to order. we really liked the food and are eager to come back to try their other options. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

Went here today a second time because I really enjoyed the chicken sandwich and sweet potato fries. Last time I asked for a cup so I could get ice to have a soda I brought since they don't have Diet Coke and he gave me one! This second time he said he couldn't give me a cup unless he charged me for the cup! Really? You're going to charge me for a cup? I'd rather go somewhere else for lunch next time, sorry not sorry! read more

I ordered the BBQ Boneless Chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl And A Strawberry Milkshake. Overall the food was MID. It looks good and it's aesthetically pleasing but the best thing was the chicken. The Mac & Cheese was creamy but it didn't really have any flavor. The milkshake was not better than Shake Shack. I'm not here to bash them but for the prices I feel like it's underwhelming. The customer service is good plus they have a kiosk which helps the ordering process. The food looks AMAZING but for the price and taste it's all presentation. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - BBQ Mac & Cheese Bowl 16 oz Milk Shake - Strawberry - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

**Came here starving, left out lazy & full I've been here a few times in the past, didn't really remember the food being as good as the very last time though. This may be a new menu item, but it's a bowl with Mac and cheese surrounded by the juiciest, perfectly fried chicken chunks you could imagine. Not sure how many times I scorched the inside of my mouth trying to eat the fresh fried chicken this night, but we'll worth it. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Fried chicken Mac & Cheese Bowl - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

Never had chicken with honey or spicy honey. I always knew it was a thing, but it was my first time trying it, extremely delicious. The service was fast and they were very pleasant and welcoming to me and my friends who were just stopping in for a taste. read more

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The chicken is always good and the sauce is fantastic. I always have delivery so I don't know about the restaurant.

Food took 25 mins for dine in, service could not care less and they prioritized to go orders. Not worth your time for average fried chicken.

HORRIBLE!!!!! We were standing outside and the "security" guard shoved the door into my friends back telling us to move. We didn't realize we were a few feet in front of the door and apologized but he verbally attacked us and got right in front of our faces, threatening to slap and punch my friends. He told us it was his neighborhood and cursed at us for doing nothing. The man was so rude and no one should be spoken to like that. This man should be fired. read more

Sweet Potato Fries Small Original hot dog Hot and Sweet Sandwich The Firebird(spicy) Sandwich -solid and crispy chicken, very tender. -chicken can be more flavorful, sauce carries the dish -nice dine in area, casual ambience, bit more elevated fast food spot -quick to get food, straightforward service read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Sweet Potato Fries Small Original hot dog Hot and Sweet Sandwich The Firebird(spicy) Sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

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I love the fried chicken here. Honestly one of my favs. The chicken is amazing, the seasoning makes It even better, and the honey sauce ties it all together. My go to is the wings, thigh, and leg. I've also tried the chicken tenders which are also really good. Honestly you can't go wrong. Its a solid 10 every time. The staff is friendly, and the restaurant is pretty big, so theres always seating. It hits every time. read more

My family and I were visiting from California. We read reviews about blue ribbon, fried chicken and when we came to New York, we wanted to try it. To our delight it was just as good as all the other people said it would be so I would like to say that our host that rang us up had a wonderful attitude gave us wonderful service and we would recommend this place to any and everyone because the food was delicious, but Jay he was the icing on the cake. This was the best customer service we had in New York City. Thanks Jay. We'll be back. We need blue ribbon in California. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Wing supreme with Mac and cheese, coleslaw, pickles, a deliciously moist biscuit , and all the sauces and a drink. - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

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Well, it ain't Bubba's chicken in Dallas, but it comes pretty close for New York City

My first time trying this was during the panini and it was extra crispy & got me the itis (which is good!). My second time going here has just been a few years after and I would say that the chicken sandwich experience was a little different. Inflation sucks so it was more pricey, it wasn't as crispy as before & the bread was soggy to the point where it was wet. But you know what, I still gobbled that sandwich like a Turkey on thanksgiving. The seasoning was good & the chicken was tender itself. The place is overall clean, however I would suggest fixing the kiosk machine. My friend & I ordered through there and waited about 20 minutes just to find out it was ready already as a to-go order. And it didn't help because the person working at the front told me "I called your number 100 times" and I was confused because I didn't hear it (we sat the closet booth to where you pick up your food), and we didn't see our food on trays. There was a little misunderstanding, but I'm not gonna lie I was hurt. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Hot and Sweet Sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

Popped in for a snack and decided to get a whole chicken sandwich. I'd never been here before, though I heard good things. It's a decent chicken sandwich that hits the spot. Pretty crowded on a Friday, so there's a wait, but they turn orders quickly. This place is a step up from Chick-fil-a and other fast casual fried chicken sandwiches like Shake Shack. I'm a big fan of Mike's hot honey and the chicken was tossed in it. Glad I tried it! read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Hot and Sweet Sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

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I don't understand why not more popular as chicken is amazing. Fast service and plenty of utensils/other things when business was better. Easy in/out - I don't get it. read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - Wings and biscuit - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

I went there on a whim after not having been there in a long time. I thought it was time to revisit this place. I had the one piece chicken with French fries. The Chicken Breast. Well.. it was one of the biggest pieces I have seen! Flavor was great - I know they are using good chicken. You know how sometimes chicken can get that funky not so fresh taste? Well that was not evident here. Not much to say.. it was a very solid fried chicken place. read more

I've been able to try the chicken and tenders both to-go and to stay. The chicken is pretty good - it's a unique spice that's not too hot and the crisp is great but it's not something I ever crave, and certainly not worth the long wait. I'm not sure why it takes so long since it always looks like there's a ton of chicken just like, right there. Both to go and to stay it's a 40 minute wait and the place isn't packed. The fries are shoestring, and pretty good, and the portion is decent too. For the price, $12 for a two piece dark and fries, it just seems pricey and it's overall an okay meal. The honey doesn't make a lot of sense to me personally but for those that like it as an option of a sauce. read more

This place is a cute, updated, modern place. It's clean and pretty big if you want to dine in. The menu is pretty big and the food looks promising. However, it just did not deliver. The chicken was kind of cold, tasted a little old, and lacked flavor. It was missing the key elements of a good chicken tender. The chicken and fries were also extremely oily, which wasn't my favorite. The slaw was in a tiny container, but it was ok, because i didn't like it at all. I did also get a Buffalo chicken dog, that was probably the best thing. The milkshakes were good. The loaded fries were probably the best because the bacon tasted so good. Thoroughly disappointed thought. The service was great though. The cashier was so knowledgeable and friendly. read more

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Tight space. But the chicken slaps! Hella pricey spent $40 on two meals. Crispy breading on the chicken with a juicy interior But the star was the Max & Cheese (the smoky flavor is incredible) read more

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken - 2 piece dark (fries and coleslaw) - Chicken Wings Near Me - New York, New York

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