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Jays Chicken

4.4 (43 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Order Jays Chicken Takeout or Delivery

Jays Chicken Photos

JAYS CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Jays Chicken

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Cajun chicken tenders, honey biscuit, red beans & rice.
Michael T.

Who knew that all it took to enjoy great fried chicken in Cincinnati was to visit a corner Marathon gas station in Pleasant Ridge? Well, apparently, EVERYONE but me. The owner is quite friendly and his menu offers an enticing selection of chicken preparations (fried, tenders, sandwiches) and a varied list of side items, including jambalaya, red beans and rice, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and those addictive honey biscuits. Jay's is a Krispy Krunchy Chicken franchise. The franchise started in Louisiana back in the late 80s, in the heart of Cajun country. They've now got more than 2000 locations nationwide. I'd like to think Jay's location is the very best. Because it is.

Chicken tenders special
Oneya O.

I had heard rumors of the deliciousness of this chicken for several years and finally stopped in to try it. I ordered the tenders special and found the chicken to be hot and fresh. Service was also friendly and efficient. Definitely worth a stop if you're hungry in the area.

Front
Bill W.

Delicious boudin balls, tender and juicy chicken strips, a tasty dipping sauce, and fluffy honey biscuits... this is great on-the-go food! Yes, it's a Marathon gas station, but this was darn good chicken. Not sure how a Louisiana Cajun style roadside chicken takeout ended up in Cincinnati, but I'm glad they did! With 16 more hours on the road ahead of us, this quick stop hit the spot perfectly for breakfast. And we weren't alone- there was a steady stream of customers getting chicken while we were there. In addition to being a great spot for chicken, they had a convenience store, and, of course, the gas station!

Netra A.

Stopped to get gas and happened upon this chicken spot within the gas station. The smells were getting my attention so I started talking to KeKe, the server. She said that people drive from all around to come get their chicken. I took the bait and decided to get a two piece dark with a biscuit. The chicken has Cajun seasoning that wasn't spicy at all. So I preceded to devour my chicken. The chicken was nice and crispy while piping hot. I had to let it cook for a moment so I could eat it. The crust wasn't really anything to write home about. The actual meat was good, however I still wasn't overly impressed to the point I'd come back for more. Popeyes chicken is just as good if not better. I'd actually rather eat Indie's in comparison. Now the butter biscuit with additional butter topping stole the show. It was on harder side but the taste was soooooo delicious. While the biscuit was very impressive I wouldn't come back for more of this food. They had sides but I didn't get any of them.

Taking this BBQ sauce to the face like a champ! Love Jay's 3 Pieces Chicken , biscuit & fries!
Susie C.

Had never been here before, doing a yoga training one exit north, head good things and shot down the red bank exit for some fried chicky!! I got the $6.99 special ( ate it over two meals ). The size and flavor of the tenders were perfect and the potatoes were right there too, great value. I'll be back on my next friend chicken crave!!

2 piece chicken with a biscuit
Christy T.

Tried this for the first time after hearing it had great reviews. Chicken was piping hot and fresh. There was a bit of Cajun seasoning making it just a touch spicy but not too bad. The best was the buttery, honey biscuit that was sweet and hot a great combo with the chicken. In other news, a friend ordered it for a party Friday night, never had confirmation about the delivery and had to go back online to determine THEY had cancelled her order without notifying her due to not having a driver. So, we had to scramble for plan B for chicken. So a couple points off for that, but overall, good comfort food!

2 piece breast combo and delicious honey biscuit.
CJ H.

I moved to a new place last month just up the road from this place. Several people told me to check it out and it is a hidden gem. Yes it's inside a Marathon gas station but don't let that fool you. The food is great. This will be my go to fried chicken spot when I don't want to deal with the hassle of making it downtown to The Eagle. I got a 2 piece combo and unlike other places you are asked which type of pieces you want. I was able to get 2 chicken breasts in a combo without paying extra which is very rare in my food travels! My wife had potato wedges for her side and I had mac and cheese. The potato wedges are thick cut with a mild Cajun seasoning. They were great. Disclaimer on the Mac and cheese. Although it is a pretty good side they have a kick to them bc red pepper flakes were baked in. If you like spicy Mac and cheese it's a good compliment to the chicken. Speaking of chicken both of my pieces were nice and juicy cooked inside of a flavorful but not overbearing breading. The last highlight of this meal was the honey biscuit which is melt in your mouth good. Will return often to this spot. You know it's good when people in the gas station overhear you tell the cook it's your first time and you need a second to look over the menu. Recommendations were flying in from everyone who all said this will be our first visit and not our last.

Jay's Chicken Kennedy Heights
Tom J.

One of the best meals I have eaten recently came from a gas station No, no, don't take pity on me, no need for that. Honest! The gas station is the Marathon at the corner of Highland Avenue and Kennedy Avenue, in the Pleasant Ridge\Kennedy Heights area, and the food was from Jay's Chicken, which operates inside the Marathon station there. I arrived late, about an hour before close, so the selection was somewhat limited. I picked up a couple of chicken tenders, which were very good with just a hint of spice, and a couple of biscuits. The biscuits are on the small side, and look a bit like muffins - but were phenomenally good, especially with a little bit of the honey butter the fellow manning the stand offered to me. It looks like they not only have fried chicken by the box, lunch, or piece, but also cajun/creole influenced items like red beans and rice, jambalaya, cajun-style fish, and boudin balls. I am looking forward to going back soon at an earlier hour to sample some of these other items, and to get some more of those wonderful biscuits Recommended

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Swampwater Grill

Swampwater Grill

4.2
(484 reviews)
4.1 mi
$$

We have been wanting to try this place for awhile now. Went on a Thursday evening, special was…read moreseafood boils and place was crowded. Told it would be 45 minute wait, but seating at bar was first come first serve. So we sat at the bar. Service was great. Brian bartender was top notch and did a great job of explaining menu, drinks and specials. Was not pushy or didn't try to steer us towards one item or another. Jalapeño poppers for appetizer was good. Wife got the swamp water mahi mahi with side of jambalaya. She loved it and only offered me 1 bite! I got the swamp water pasta. This was also fantastic! Portions are large and filling. We didn't try any desserts as there was no room Cool vibe to this place. Nice ambiance. You could tell there were many regulars and everyone was very friendly. Will definitely go back to try the pork chop and the seafood boils next time!! Cost for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 draft beers and 2 wines was under $100. That's a great deal!!

I love Swampwater Grill! My BFF is an enormous crawfish fan, so we definitely always make it there…read morefor a couple of dinners during the spring season but it's a year-round destination for us. I'm not a crawfish person (too much work) so I usually get the Louisiana BBQ shrimp (which is NOT BBQ sauce - it's like butter and herbs and it's spicy but in a cumin way, not a Tabasco way). This time I got the wings that come with the same sauce and they are 10/10. Ranch dressing is housemade and the real deal. The char-grilled oysters are not to be missed. Happy hour has deals on both food and drink (as all good happy hours should) and includes oysters. Overall, prices are super fair because the portions are huge and most things come with a side or two. The jambalaya is worth bringing home if you don't have room and the cornbread is moist even the next day. And it's weird but I like the side salads, they aren't just white iceberg lettuce and two cherry tomatoes. Service has always been great. You can't get seated until at least half of your party is there but that's fair. We accidentally got a table for six and had eight show up and they just let us pull up a couple chairs and get in their way but acted like it was no big deal. Get there early because it fills up quick, including the parking lot. It's an old-school restaurant and the decor fits. It's got corny signs, tables made out of wine barrels and a fireplace in the corner. There is outside seating that I haven't sat at (I mean it overlooks a parking lot and there is usually someone smoking but at least it's there). There is a grumpy but capable bartender and young people working the host/ess stand who greet you cheerily and always say goodbye on the way out. Swampwater is right next to the Riverside Antique Mall, so make it a day and do some shopping beforehand. Both are more than worth the visit.

Photos
Picture looking towards front of restaurant from our bar seats
Picture looking towards front of restaurant from our bar seats
Smoked chicken with sides
Smoked chicken with sides
Swampwater Grill

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Laveau

Laveau

4.1
(53 reviews)
6.8 mi

Wow!! Can't believe this place has been here 2 yrs and we had not tried it or even knew it was…read morethere. Great Cajun/creole food and atmosphere! Service was friendly, quick, polite and helpful with menu and drink selections! Drinks- hurricane, grenade, ruby slipper and square (their take on an old fashion). Drinks were strong and great flavor. Appetizer- crawfish boudin balls were outstanding. Plenty to share. Entrees- blackened catfish and the Cajun pasta (both suggested by server). Large portions and superb!! Definitely will be back!!

We stopped here before a show a Taft Theatre. Laveau offers a New Orleans dining experience and we…read moredecided to give it a try. I'm glad we did. We were here on a Tuesday and the restaurant was not hopping. Here's hoping it hops other days of the week. The place is cute and our booth was very cozy. Our waiter, Scott, was helpful and pleasant. I ordered a Iberville Hand Grenade to start. It was slightly sweet and strong. It was a nice start for our dining experience. We started with Fried Green Tomatoes. Scott explained there was currently a shortage of asparagus, so no asparagus on this appetizer, but I didn't miss them. We both thought flavor of this dish was completely satisfying. I ordered Pasta Laveau with Shrimp, which was delicious. Mark had the Gumbo, which he thoroughly enjoyed. I'm glad this place is close enough to stop in before a show. I think I'd bring friends back to give it a try. Overall, a good experience and a good meal.

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Cocktails
Cocktails
Menu
Menu
Entry

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Entry
Knotty Pine On the Bayou

Knotty Pine On the Bayou

4.0
(293 reviews)
11.6 mi
$$

So first of the ambiance is kinda confusing, like it feels like they want to be a fine dining…read morerestaurant, while also kinda being a sports bar. Not to mention the fact that you HAVE TO HAVE A RESERVATION, was mind boggling for the place. Like the server was very nice and all, that is a plus. Though sadly the food, we had the gumbo and etu fay, it was honestly pretty sad. Like it's up there with the top 5 most sad restaurants I've ever eaten at. The food was pretty bland, and lacked any form of spice. Not to mention it was hard to tell what was actually in it, like a lot of the ingredients tasted over cooked. So yeah it's going to be a no for me.

We visited Knotty Pine On the Bayou on a Thursday. The restaurant is pretty good size. I didn't…read morerealize this until it was time for a restroom break. It was a long walk. The wicker chairs in the section to the left of the bar as you face the bar were unusually deep and low. Over time I think we all adjusted, but sitting in them definitely felt unusual. There are other chairs throughout the restaurant. I recommend finding a table with different chairs. Our waiter was knowledgeable and very efficient. We hadn't checked on the website, but found out Thursday is oyster day, with $1 oysters and fried oysters and $1.50 for Oyster Bienville. The fried oysters were delicious. The raw oysters were good, though I had one that was gritty. We are going again in two weeks and will try the Oyster Bienville along with other assorted oysters. Two of us had the special Pan Seared Sea Bass. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint. The crisp on the top was delicious and the fish itself was delicate and moist. It did indeed melt in my mouth. The potatoes were very good, though I didn't finish all of them. The greens were good. Mark had a ribeye and is still raving about it today. He ordered the preparation version made with just salt and pepper. He also had a cup of gumbo. He said it had an amazing depth of flavor. We wrapped up with dessert. Three folks had Key Lime Pie. I opted for Karma's Opera Crème Cake. Oh my goodness, it was huge, sweet and delicious. I tried a bit of key lime and it just didn't compare. That said, those who had the Key Lime Pie loved it. Not only would we return, but we have the date already scheduled. I'm looking forward to trying something different.

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Inside
Inside
Catfish Filet with Rice and Gravy and Collard Greens
Catfish Filet with Rice and Gravy and Collard Greens
The place is gorgeous rustic!

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The place is gorgeous rustic!
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

3.9
(972 reviews)
9.3 mi
$$$

We arrived a few minutes early from our reservation time. We were greeted by the hostess and seated…read morequickly at our table. Our server, Chloe, introduced herself with a smile and provided us with a quick refresher. I knew from her energy that we were going to be in great hands for the evening. (and I was not wrong, lol) Chloe was personable, attentive, friendly, and down to earth. The service she provided us was excellent! I ordered the Swamp Thing for a cocktail. Sweet, fruity, and pretty... that green cocktail did exactly what it needed to do, lol. FIVE STARS! Now, on to the food... The Gator Bites are a MUST. I ordered the hot honey sauce on the side just to play it safe and I am glad I did, because babyyyy, that spice had no boundaries. If you're a lover of spicy things, you'll be good to order as is, lol! I also ordered the Roasted Oysters. Another MUST! The oysters had a parmesan crust with lemon garlic butter drizzled over them... They were gone in minutes! I was on the fence for my entree, but then my girl Chloe clocked that Pasta Mardi Gras and the rest is history. It was creamy, savory, and packed with flavor. I knew my girl wouldn't let me down! Our experience was excellent! I definitely recommend reservations. Pappadeaux wasn't terribly busy when we arrived, but by the time we finished up & headed out, they had a line out the door. If you're in the Cincy area, add to your foodie list! Overall, a great restaurant for a GNO, date night, or any celebration.

Food and Drink: Pappadeaux's!!! From the jump, I want to say a 10/10 experience. I had the Salmon…read moreAlexander special with crawfish, shrimp, scallops, and dirty rice. For appetizers, we had the roasted oysters and the hot honey gator bites. Everything was phenomenal. The special had a white wine sauce to die for and everything was wonderfully seasoned, I also had my salmon blackened which was chef's kiss. The gator bites were tender like chicken and the oysters were so flavorful! For the drink, I had the Swamp Thing cocktail and I was happily buzzed after finishing it. It was sweet, refreshing and the alcohol wasn't overpowering. Highly recommend Pappadeaux's if you're ever in the Cincinnati area!!! Customer Service: Chloe was our waitress and she was knowledgeable, sociable, funny and caring. She did a wonderful job in giving recommendations and telling us about the specials. She checked on us consistently and was never overbearing. The staff was timely with the appetizers, and the ebb and flow of the crowd seemed under control and all waiters/waitresses were ensuring orders were correct. Thank you Chloe for the top-tier service!! Ambiance: Pappadeaux's is typically upscale causal to business casual, but everyone is free to come as they are! It is family friendly for all ages. The decor gives an intimate open dining vibe. When it gets busy, it's BUSY. But the wait will be worth it! I guarantee there is something for everybody. This place is perfect for any occasion, celebration, graduation, birthday, date night, family dinner, a day trip - whatever your heart desires. The Cincy location is the best!

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Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

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Jays Chicken - cajun - Updated June 2026

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