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    Charles’s Pan Fried Chicken

    3.9 (367 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Charles’s Pan Fried Chicken Takeout or Delivery

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    CHARLES’S PAN FRIED CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Charles’s Pan Fried Chicken

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    Gavin L.

    Charles pan fried chicken is a recommended try! Their fried chicken was super juicy and flavorful, especially with the different sauces. Even without the sauces, it was good on its own, but the sauces elevated the flavors. The mashed potatoes were a little unflavorful and the green beans were pretty mushy to my liking but the chicken was very solid. I'd recommend getting the yams as a side and the mac and cheese! We also tried the sweet tea and the limeade and that was extremely sweet. After mixing it with water, it tasted better but just a heads up, that it tastes like drinking sugar water.

    Austin K.

    Came around 3pm on a Saturday, so there wasn't much of a line and I got to sit in one of the 3 seats to eat. However, the ordering process is convoluted and took more time than I expected to get my food. You order first at the far end before getting to the cashier to pay. I got the classic combo for 2 piece chicken, and you get to pick the part and type. I got pan fried thigh and leg, and did see a sign for a charge for large pieces, perhaps referring to breast? The chicken was tender but wasn't fresh so the skin had gotten a little soggy. I got coleslaw as my side which is a perfectly executed classic coleslaw - tangy, great balance of mayo, refreshing crunch. I wasn't feeling the cornbread at first because it was too fluffy rather than grainy but when I had it the next morning, it tasted even better. Perhaps, I was just a bit uncomfortable sitting there. All this for $11! I'd come back again but maybe to-go and heat up the chicken in an air fryer.

    Devin T.

    Ordered from here via the online portal. For some odd reason the store didn't get my order but the lady in the front assisted me. I only ordered a thigh. I just wanted to snack on something. This hit the spot. It was about a $1 up charge for ordering online and I only knew that before I looked at the price for the chicken while in store. So next time around I would order in store to save a few cents. Chicken overall was good.

    Classic Combo with Chicken, Yams, and Cornbread
    Raia S.

    I would give this place 5 stars just for the chicken itself and the $10.95 classic combo deal, where you get 2 pieces of chicken (you can also swap for turkey or shrimp), a side, and cornbread. The chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy but still flavorful on the inside, and a good portion. It was delicious with the honey and jerk bbq, a nice change from the usual sauces. I liked the yams, sweet and not too mushy. The only thing I didn't love was the cornbread... just a little dry and lacking flavor, but the sauces helped. This place deserves credit for giving folks good food at not nyc prices... how many places are still doing that ?

    Classic meal with one smothered thigh, pan-fried drumstick, cornbread and yam
    Kathleen S.

    Charles's Pan-Fried Chicken was just the Southern comfort meal I was craving. I was immediately warmly welcomed by a staff member, who patiently explained which of the vegetarian sides would be better if I had dietary restrictions. I opted for the classic meal with one piece dark BBQ chicken (I was given a thigh) and one dark meat of pan-fried chicken (given a drumstick), a large hunk of cornbread, and a generous portion of yam. The yam was too sweet for me, but the cornbread was perfect. It was soft and fluffy, not at all dense like what I've had too often at Thanksgiving and from the supermarket. Both pieces of chicken were also perfectly cooked in their own way. The pan-fried drumstick was truly tender and moist; I preferred it slightly over the BBQ to my own surprise (I generally avoid fried food). [[HIGHLIGHT]]I wish there was more seating than the three countertop high stools, but on a nice day enjoying takeout from Charles's in nearby Central Park is pretty hard to beat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop is very narrow with[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Very narrow inside
    Tu-Anh N.

    WHEN: Mon @3pm After lots of walking at the Natural History Museum, it was time for a late lunch! [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place has very limited seating but we were able to sit at the counter since it's not the busy lunchtime hour.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff is super friendly and here's what we ordered: PLATE: PAN-FRIED CHICKEN - $18.95 3 Pieces of Charles' Famous Pan-Fried Chicken with 2 sides and cornbread: CORNBREAD - Dense and dry. Not a fan. SIDE 1 - BAKED MAC & CHEESE - Dry. Like it's been sitting out for awhile and I just wish it was saucier. SIDE 2 - MASHED POTATOES + GRAVY - It's mashed potatoes...potatoes that were mashed and topped with gravy. You can't mess that up. PAN-FRIED CHICKEN - Pardon my ignorance, but I don't think I taste or sense the difference between pan-fried and deep-fried, but hey, as long as it's BATTERED AND FRIED, sign me up! It's pretty decent and standard southern style fried chicken but nothing over the top or mind blowing. This PLATE was big enough to share with one other with plenty of leftovers. I wish I knew about the CLASSIC COMBO ($10) and would have ordered that instead. It's 2 pieces with 1 side and cornbread.

    Pan Fried Chicken (3 Pieces), Mac and Cheese, Cornbread
    Christine L.

    Fried chicken is DELISH! Such crispy skin and super fresh, straight from the fryer! The chicken alone is honestly 5 stars, truly no notes. Sides are good, the Mac and cheese was tasty but honestly pales in comparison to the chicken. Cornbread is yummy too. The wait can be kinda insane though. It takes a while to order and even longer for the food to be fulfilled. Expect to wait 30-45 min at peak hour.

    Ebony M.

    The chicken is legendary. The pan-fried chicken has that perfect, thin, crispy skin, and the meat is moist and tender. I normally like the $10 2 piece special and a side. But I had a hangry child that wanted part of my food. The chicken was good, the sides were so-so. The mac and cheese was cold, and it had whichever dish that was beside the mac n cheese, some must have spilled into the mac, because I did not like tasting the other dish inside my Mac & cheese. The cornbread is always delicious. Elijah is a gem, upbeat, cheerful, and definitely makes ordering from this location pleasant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is primarily a takeout spot but there is a small area to sit, and eat.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Jenny L.

    Chicken was pretty salty for me! I'm not impressed! Yams were delicious & Mac & Cheese was ok!! Cashier was super helpful & friendly!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]There was a small 3 seat table for you to eat there!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Spent about $25 for a 3 piece meal w no drink & honey sauce since they don't have ketchup!!

    Alisa J.

    The fried chicken was cooked nicely but was just too greasy and unappetizing. Mac and cheese was ok. The cornbread was a bit too sweet and had a bit of a weird texture but I did like it. Service was great.

    Stacy C.

    Service here is southern hospitality at it's best. Even though it's not full dine in the way you get treated makes you want to stay. Stephanie, the lady who took care of me was super sweet and welcoming to me and everyone who walked in while I was there. It was bitter cold outside so I was glad there was a seat for me to sit and eat . ( there are 3 stools total) as this is more of a to-go location. (No bathroom) I got the 2 piece chicken special which comes with cornbread and one side so I chose baked Mac and cheese. I also got a half and half or as I call it Swamp Water- to drink. That drink was definitely made with the intention to refresh your soul,mmmm so good. Sweet and tart , perfection. The chicken was absolutely delicious, I asked for hot sauce and honestly after one dip in the hot sauce I'm glad I didn't pour it all over. The chicken needs zero condiments. It's perfectly seasoned and fried without being greasy or super crunchy/hard. I ate it down to the bones like a kid with no home training as my mother would say. I enjoyed the mac and cheese too, I couldn't finish my cornbread so I brought it home and the next day it waa still soft . Its not super sweet like most cornbread. . My tummy was super satisfied and I promised Stephanie I'd be back.

    3pc Chicken Plate
    Cameron N.

    Stopped by here after seeing a movie. Stephanie was kind and attentive. She as the best We both got 3pc meals that came with 2 sides, as well as cornbread as then we added on a dessert. The chicken was pretty standard. More of a chewy skin versus a crunch, but it was tender and tasted seasoned. My partner said the mac n cheese was decent ("tasted like chick-fil-a"), but everything else we tried was a let down. The greens kinda tasted canned almost like Glory, but not quite. But I ate them bc I needed to eat a vegetable. My bowl was about 75% stems. The green beans were so bad, we both took one bite and stopped eating them immediately. Same with the cornbread and the peach cobbler. I love yams but passed on them because they looked like cut up sweet potatoes with no sugar, cinnamon or anything. Idk, I think that maybe Charles Pan Fried Chicken should just stick to making chicken and nothing else.

    Cornbread
    Ming M.

    Wow! I discovered this place through Mealpal dinner and I am so glad I did. Friday's dinner was pulled pork, collard greens, mac and cheese and corn bread. The corn bread is the best ever: fluffy and sort of sweet, the way I like it. The collard greens were well-cooked and flavorful. The pulled pork was tender. It did not have any sauce and I forgot to ask for bbq sauce but I had some sauce at home and it was delicious. The mac and cheese did not disappoint either. The guys who work there are so nice and greet everyone with a welcome to Charles. That Charles sure can cook! I read they have catfish on certain nights. I will be back!

    Banana Pudding

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    13 days ago

    Service was impeccable. Soon as I walked in I got greeted and treated with respect. Would recommend the Harlem location to anyone.

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    FYI: If you are here on a Saturday- Elijah is the best! It doesn't look like fish fry Fridays is a thing anymore tho.

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    6 months ago

    So good! Great value! Elaine is a master at her craft! Got the combo chicken with the best Mac n cheese. Very fast service too.

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    Ask the Community - Charles’s Pan Fried Chicken

    Is there any seating? table for 4 possible?

    I recall there being just counter/booth seating enough for just 3 people. No tables.

    Is there any pork or meat in the sides?

    No meat in any of the side dishes! All good!

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    Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

    Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

    3.5
    (50 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    After a concert at the Prudential Center, we headed back to Penn Station and were absolutely…read morestarving. Thankfully, this place was right in front of the LIRR station! We hopped in line but waited less than a minute because the service was incredibly fast. I managed to snatch a table within 30 seconds, and my husband got our food in less than two minutes. The service was fantastic! The food was actually really good--we got the chicken sandwich, which features three chicken tenders with lettuce and their special sauce, served with french fries and a Coke. Everything was delicious and very well priced. Getting a seat and having such quick service made everything work out perfectly. I also loved the ambiance of the store, they play cool music and the decor is great, especially the disco balls! Después de un concierto en el Prudential Center, regresamos a Penn Station y estábamos hambrientos. ¡Por suerte, este lugar estaba justo enfrente de la estación del LIRR! Hicimos fila pero esperamos menos de un minuto porque el servicio fue increíblemente rápido. Logré conseguir una mesa en 30 segundos y mi esposo trajo la comida en menos de dos minutos. ¡El servicio fue fantástico! La comida estuvo riquísima; pedimos el sándwich de pollo, que viene con tres 'chicken tenders' (tiras de pollo), lechuga y su salsa especial, acompañado de papas fritas y una Coca-Cola. Todo estuvo delicioso y a muy buen precio. El haber conseguido mesa y que nos sirvieran tan rápido hizo que todo saliera perfecto. También me encantó el ambiente del lugar; ponen música genial y está muy bien decorado, ¡me gustaron mucho las esferas de disco!

    This was so disappointing. I'd heard so much hype about Raising Canes coming to NY, so when I…read morefinally walked across this location while starving in Penn Station I thought oh, this must be the moment. I ordered the three finger combo. What came out was just plain sad looking. Tiny chicken fingers, barely cooked fries. The Raising Cane's sauce was good but the vessels to that sauce were so lacking. The breading on these chicken fingers was nothing special and again, so so small. Service was fast at least, but the place itself was dirty and virtually every table needed a wipe down. I know, I know, it's Penn Station, it's supposed to be a little grimy. Honestly, if these chicken fingers weren't so tiny and my fries were properly cooked I could deal with a little grime. But come on.

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    Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
    Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
    Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

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    Fluffies Hot Chicken - Midtown

    Fluffies Hot Chicken - Midtown

    3.4
    (47 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    Amazed how freakin good this was. The literal definition of "hit the spot"…read more Trust me, get the Fluffies Filled Fried. None of the mess of a sandwich but all the enjoyment plus it's also fries.

    Got the classic chicken sandwich, regular seasoned fries, coleslaw -- $27…read more First of all, the box for the sandwich is huge. And it is a decently big sandwich. Get ready for some messy eating. But also get ready for some dry ass chicken. There's a reason why I only cook chicken thighs at home instead of breast. One is moist and juicy, the other is not. Fluffies was not able to make their chicken breast any less dry than I could. I had to drench each bite with sauce to mask the dryness. Remind me to only buy chicken sandwiches that use thighs only in the future. The crunch on the fry was a little hard, the sauce did work, but overall I felt like I ate saucy and fry rather than a chicken sandwich. The fries are aight. Very well seasoned -- that was the best part. But I felt like I was eating a toss up with each fry. Some had the perfect crisp on the outside, others felt stale? Like rhymes with the feeling of cold McDonald's fries, obvious not as bad as that but hints of that texture every few fries. It's like I got a fresh batch of fries mixed with an old batch of fries. The good fries were gooood. The bad fries were ugh. Maybe it's cause I went at 11pm but there was still a stready stream of customers. Coleslaw -- nothing special. Got it cause you gotta eat your vegetables for $2. This would be the first time that my slaw is so one-dimension in color though. Sandwich so underwhelming. Dat fry seasoning tho. Maybe I shoulda gotten the Mac/fries.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Fluffies Hot Chicken - Midtown
    Fluffies Hot Chicken - Midtown

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    Chirp

    Chirp

    4.3
    (279 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    This place is a quick serve option and it is directly opposite BNH photo video…read moreit looks like a diner, but they have cute tables and you order and pay at the counter and they give you your meal at the counter as well. I like that they had Jarritos other options for Mexican soft drinks, and I really like the Peruvian stirfry rice, which comes with roasted batter chicken- the flavors were incredible. We also tried the gravy chicken, which was delicious and I will definitely be back to try the fries and sausages As well as the dessert. The portion size were large, and I was only able to eat half of my portion so I would say definitely value for money The service was very quick and the lady at the counter was really nice and helpful. She answered all our questions for us as well. I'll be back!

    Stopped by to have lunch with a friend on a Saturday afternoon and there was a decent amount of…read morepeople. But after having the 1/4 chicken + 2 sides, i understand! The chicken was tasty, the maduros were cooked well and the fries were perfection. I love that it's a casual place where you order at the counter and pick up the food yourself. There were a good amount of tables so it wasn't too bad finding a seat and eating there.

    Photos
    Chirp
    Pork confit sandwich (pork confit, sweet potato, pickled onions, spicy mayo on a ciabatta roll) - slightly spicy w/ light crunch, delicious
    Pork confit sandwich (pork confit, sweet potato, pickled onions, spicy mayo on a ciabatta roll) - slightly spicy w/ light crunch, delicious
    Chirp chicken sandwich (rotisserie chicken, sweet plantain, honey mustard, lettuce, tomato, green sauce. On a ciabatta roll)

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    Chirp chicken sandwich (rotisserie chicken, sweet plantain, honey mustard, lettuce, tomato, green sauce. On a ciabatta roll)
    KFC

    KFC

    2.6
    (25 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This was my first visit to this KFC. It was July 4th Saturday. I ordered the Supergirl Ultimate…read moretenders Meal at the kiosk. I received it fairly quickly. I enjoyed my meal while being quite entertained. No tv or music but employees yelling at all the homeless using the self serve drink machine where my Mountain Dew flavored water came from. The biscuit was stale and the fries were bad. The quality of fries is the same at most KFCs. At least the tenders were tasty. I used the three special sauces for the dry fries rather than for the tenders. In addition, the dirty tables would normally warrant a one star rating but the chicken was good as well as the service.

    Let me be clear: I'm not a regular KFC guy. I avoid it most of the time, but I work around here…read moreduring late hours, and options get limited fast. So I rolled the dice. And let's just say... the house won. I ordered a Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Wings, Fries, and the 3-sauce flight. The sandwich? Dry, old, and looking like it clocked out an hour before I arrived. The chicken itself was hard on the edges and somehow soggy in the center -- a combination I didn't even know was possible. The mayo situation looked like someone whispered the word "sauce" over the bun and walked away. The Spicy Wings were no better -- overcooked, dark, and tasted like they'd been sitting in the warmer since lunchtime. Not spicy. Not fresh. Just... tired. The fries? Burnt, cold, and absolutely done with life. They didn't even pretend to try. The only thing that saved this meal from being a total loss was the 3-sauce flight. Credit where it's due -- the sauces were actually solid. They added enough flavor and moisture to make the rest at least edible. Without them, this review would've ended a lot sooner. I get it -- it's Penn Station, it's late, everyone's hustling, and the crowd is nonstop. But even with that, freshness shouldn't be optional. Overall: If you're starving and desperate, grab the sauces and hope for the best. Otherwise? Keep walking. There are better options within the same block, even during off-hours. Go to Gardenia. Gov's Take: 2 stars One star for the sauces, one star for being open. That's the fairest I can be.

    Photos
    KFC
    KFC
    KFC 3 Piece Original Tenders Box with nice tenders, my preferred Comeback Sauce, just "ok" fries and wrong Buffalo Ranch Sauce

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    KFC 3 Piece Original Tenders Box with nice tenders, my preferred Comeback Sauce, just "ok" fries and wrong Buffalo Ranch Sauce

    Charles’s Pan Fried Chicken - soulfood - Updated August 2026

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