Top Places For BEST Hot Chicken In Santa Ana

There’s nothing more satisfying than chewing a juicy hot chicken. Although chicken dishes are famous in Santa Ana, some places stand out above the rest. So, if you are in the area and are looking for the best hot chicken in Santa Ana, CA then here are the 17 best places that serve the best one.

Best Hot Chicken In Santa Ana

In this post, we will review some best places that serve tasty hot chickens in Santa Ana. All these places are famous and loved by the locals as well as the travelers.

Table of Contents

Cham Korean Style Food

If you have Korean food cravings then you should definitely visit Cham. Everything tastes fresh here. From tteokboki, spam musubi, and mild tofu soup to BBQ chicken, mozzarella cheese dog, and black bean noodles, everything is super tasty.

The owners, as well as the staff, are full of energy, and always at your behest to serve you. Moreover, the prices are also on point, nothing is too expensive here. As for the food quantity, it’s huge too. Plus, they serve flavourful seafood too.

However, Cham is in the Bristol Food Court, so if you are expecting a nice and warm ambiance then you won’t get it. But, the food here is out of the world. Overall, if you like amazing Korean food then try this place. If you happen to be in New York City and craving some authentic Korean cuisine be sure to check out our list of 9 Top Notch Korean Restaurants In New York City for a taste of authentic Korean cuisine.

Specials: Tteokboki, spam musubi, and mild tofu soup

Contact: +1 714-737-4694
Address: 1180 S Bristol St Ste 101, Santa Ana, CA 92704, United States(Get Directions)

Bird & Barrel

Bird and Barrel is always on the radar of the locals for many years. The food here is top-notch as they serve next-level savory flavored cuisine which includes original wings, mushrooms, and chicken katsu among others with assorted pickles being the favorite here.

Its cocktails are also very popular and particularly its french cocktail and mother plucker cocktail which are loved by many. Not to mention, all the dishes are quite heavy here; so don’t order a lot of food or you’ll end up leaving a huge chunk here.

The place is small but you’ll be welcomed by Carlos, who’s great at making you feel comfortable. All in all, you shouldn’t miss this place if you’re in downtown Santa Ana.

Specials: Original wings, mushrooms, chicken katsu, and french cocktail.

Contact: +1 714-584-3662
Address: 305 E 4th St Suite 105, Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States(Get Directions)

Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken

Next on our list of best hot chicken Santa Ana serves is this Gus’s world. There’s a saying that if you haven’t eaten Gus’s fried chicken, you haven’t tasted the real fried chicken. This is true. Its fried chicken is extremely good and can be called the best-fried chicken Santa Ana has to offer. It’s juicy, crispy, and sizzling hot.

Other food items include fried green tomatoes, sweet potato pie, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese among others. The place is spacious having an older southern-styled atmosphere. And, the music played here is also top-notch.

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Specials: Fired chicken, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato pie.

Contact:+1 949-336-3936
Address: 102 N Sycamore St, Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States(Get Directions)

Clyde’s Hot Chicken

Clyde’s is also famous for its fried chicken which is loaded with delightful flavor. The spices that are put on some of the dishes are just amazing. Its most famous dishes are original chicken sandwiches, macaroni salad, waffle fries, tender combo, and the sauce that comes with chicken sandwiches.

The food quantity is also decent, not too high nor too low. And, the prices are also reasonable. The atmosphere is simple, not too extravagant, giving you positive feelings. Moreover, the location is clean and tidy. And, the customer service is satisfactory.

Specials: Original chicken sandwich, macaroni salad, waffle fries, tender combo
Contact: +1 714-486-2212

Address: 1804 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705, United States (Get Directions)

The Chicken Rice

Chicken Rice is also famous for serving the best hot chicken Santa Ana has to showcase to the world. The chicken variety that they include is Hainan chicken, crispy chicken, hat Yai chicken, and orange chicken with Hainan chicken being the best by far.

The rice variety they offer you is ginger, brown, or white rice with 6 sauce options. The quantity of the food that they serve is huge. Be sure not to order a lot of items or there will be leftover food. The service is also good. Overall, you’ll love this place for its chicken variety. After enjoying a delicious plate of rice and chicken at Chicken Rice, be sure to check out our list of the Top 18 BEST Chicken Sandwiches In Santa Ana for a taste of delicious and creative chicken sandwiches.

Specials: Hainan chicken, crispy chicken, hat Yai chicken, and orange chicken.
Contact: +1 714-852-3467
Address201 E 4th St #139, Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States(Get Directions)

Ritter’s Steam Kettle Cooking

If you want to try some delicious seafood, this is the place. The seafood here is shrimp, clams, crabs, and white tilapia fish among others.

Ritter's Steam Cattle Cooking — Ritter’s Steam Cattle Cooking

The other food items they offer are jambalaya, pasta, and Rioters’ famous gumbo with shrimp, and white tilapia fish. Ettoufe, chicken, and sausage pan roast with clam chowder are the favorite.

Moreover, the ambiance of the location is also good. You’ll find it packed on weekdays also but attentive youthful staff will accommodate you very soon.

Specials: Shrimp, clams, crabs, and white tilapia fish.
Contact: +1 714-850-1380.
Address:1421 W MacArthur Blvd, Santa Ana, CA 92704, United States. (Get Directions)

Mr. Fries Man Santa Ana

Mr. Fries Man is rightly famous for its fries. Their fries are just pure joy to eat. Every bite tastes perfect. They are juicy, hot, and flavourful. This fire variety includes BBQ bacon ranch fries, lemon garlic shrimp fries, and Buffalo chicken fries among others.

Tricia, the owner of the shop, is amazing. She’ll come again and again to your table to make you feel comfortable. The place is very neat and clean, from bathrooms to tables and chairs, you won’t find any untidiness. As for the prices, they are reasonable.

Specials: BBQ bacon ranch fries, lemon garlic shrimp fries, and Buffalo chicken fries

Contact: +1 714-852-3692
Address: 1640 E 1st St Suite H, Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States. (Get Directions)

Dave’s Hot Chicken

If you want to get your hands on the best hot chicken Santa Ana offers then visit Dave’s Hot Chicken. Its chicken slider is the most famous as it has lots of fillings and is covered by delightful flavor. The other chicken items include chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders.

As for the fries, they are perfectly seasoned, and look crispy but are fluffy when you eat them. The place is small with decent indoor seating size and a small patio outside for eating.

The restaurant as a whole is clean in which you’ll notice the artwork on the walls which adds to its ambiance. Here, you’ll be immediately greeted by staff to make you refresh.

Specials: chicken slider, chicken tender, fries.

Contact: +1 714-439-0755
Address: 3332 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA 92704, United States. (Get Directions)

Husky Boy Restaurant

Husky Boy is in Santa Ana for years but still looks cozy and refreshing from the inside. The husky boy is famous for serving giant hamburgers which include bacon burgers, jr cheeseburgers, and cheeseburgers. The fries here are its best food items with all fries types being crispy and hot.

The service is acceptable, neither too good nor too bad. The location is excellent as it has lots of parking. Moreover, the place is spacious and will accommodate you even during rush hours. Lastly, The prices of the food items are on point.

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Specials: fries, cheeseburger, and bacon burger.

Contact: +1 714-547-9083.
Address: 2717 W McFadden Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92704, United States. (Get Directions)

Jay Bird’s Chicken

Jay Bird’s Chicken is the go-to place for tasting hot chicken items. The food items include fried chicken sandwiches, chicken Sandos, chicken tenders, small waffles, mac daddy & fries, crinkle-cut fries, potato salad, mac n’ cheese, and cole slaw.

The chicken sandwiches are the tastiest and spiciest of all the food items here. The chicken tenders are huge and juicy. Not to mention, the portion sizes are big and full of quality. Talking about the customer service, it’s excellent; would accommodate all your demands.

Food takes a bit of time to prepare but it comes out fresh and hot. Overall, you’ll get a satisfactory experience here.

Specials: Chicken Sandwiches, chicken tenders, and chicken Sandos.

Contact:+1 657-600-8828.
Address: 763 S Main St Ste 200A, Orange, CA 92868, United States. (Get Directions)

Charlie’s Best Burgers

Next on our list of the best hot chicken Santa Ana has to offer is this Charlie’s Best Burger. This shop is famous for the big-sized burgers that come with sizzling hot chickens.

This is a go-to restaurant for locals for a quick meal as the service is very fast. The atmosphere is always cheerful here, keeping you awake and energetic.

The food quality has always remained the same for years as they serve very big burgers with lots of fries. Overall, you will like this place for its big burgers and decent quality food.

Specials: fried zucchini, big fat charlie burger, and chicken sandwich.

Contact:+1 714-836-9300
Address: 140 S Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States. (Get Directions)

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Many locals call it the best Popeyes in Orange County due to its crunchy and perfectly seasoned chicken varieties. Their go-to chicken variety includes fried chicken, fry chicken, and chicken tenders. Other dishes include chicken sandwiches, cajun fries, deep-fried cajun turkey, and mac and cheese.

You’ll like its “sweet heat sauce” which is sweet as well as hot, true to its name. As for the prices, nothing here is expensive. The service is quick, you’ll be served in a few minutes. Overall, you’ll be served with delicious crunchy chicken along with other dishes that’ll satisfy your taste buds. In addition to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen’s delicious crunchy chicken and other dishes, Santa Ana also offers a variety of unmissable massage experiences.

Specials: Chicken sandwiches, cajun fries, deep-fried cajun turkey.
Contact: +1 714-834-9709.

Address: 1244 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States. (Get Directions)

KFC

This KFC restaurant is the most well-managed KFC in Orange County as it serves high-quality food in no time. Plus, they always serve you with a smile. The menu includes tender and crispy fried chicken, waffles, wings, and original chicken sandwiches. All the food items are freshly made, smell well, and look heavenly. And, taste-wise all are decent.

The original chicken sandwich is the most liked by people, it has a good bite and has a big piece of chicken in it. Moreover, they also have a restroom for you to get relax. As for the location, it is hygienic and clean. Overall, you’ll get a satisfying experience here.

Specials: Chicken sandwiches, waffles, wings.
Contact: +1 714-852-3922.
Address: 1345 S Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92707, United States. (Get Directions)

Buffalo Wild Wings

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly food bar then you should visit Buffalo Wild Wings. The menu has usual bar food dishes that include wings, nachos, fried pickles, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, burgers, and tacos.

Taste-wise, the chicken dishes might not be the best hot chicken Santa Ana offers to the locals but they all are good and will satisfy your appetite.

The atmosphere is good here as there are lots of TVs mounted to watch prime-time shows. The service is professional but you might observe that they are understaffed. The place isn’t big enough so you might have to wait to get accommodation. Overall, you’ll get what you pay for.

Specials: Nachos, fried pickles, onion rings.
Contact: +1 714-540-1737
Address: 3811 S Bristol St, Santa Ana, CA 92704, United States. (Get Directions)

The Golden Eatery

If you’re addicted to hot fried chicken then try this Golde Eastery. The chicken variety and their taste are just exceptional. From the sliders, golden Sando, and chicken tenders to the Nashville-styled wings, breakfast burrito, and tacos, everything is cooked to perfection.

The spices on the dishes are always on point if you can handle the heat. They have different heat level options which you can try. As for the price, it might be a bit expensive. Moreover, the service is decent. And, the operation is relatively small but the location is clean. Many reviews call they serve the best hot chicken hot Sanat Ana serves.

Specials: sliders, golden Sando, and chicken tenders.

Contact: (657) 757-2288.
Address: 201 E 4th St Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States. (Get Directions )

Wursthaus

Wursthaus is not only famous for its chicken but also for other food items as well. You’ll like its simple menu which includes pretzel buns, pretzel rolls, hot dogs, and chicken hatch chile among others. They also have homemade dipping sauces which are fantastic. As for the chicken dishes, they truly are delicious, juicy, and flavourful.

Its most popular food item is Pretzel buns which are huge. Also, its hot dogs are also famous as they are so satisfying too.

If you want any of the dishes to be spicy, they’ll be spicy. Moreover, the staff is extremely friendly as they genuinely care about the customers. They have both good inside and outside seating arrangements with lots of bars. Overall, this is a great spot for trying new dishes other than chicken dishes.

Specials: pretzel buns, pretzel roll, hot dogs, and chicken hatch chile.

Contact: (714) 760-4333.
Address: 305 E 4th St Ste 106 Santa Ana, CA 92701, United States. (Get Directions )

Best Hot Chicken Places Near Santa Ana

There is one place near Santa Ana that’s worth the mentioned because it serves great hot chicken varieties.

Cluck Kitchen

Cluck Kitchen is particularly famous for its hot chicken dishes which include Nashville hot chicken, fried chicken, chicken tenders, and spicy chicken among others.

All the chicken dishes are flavourful particularly its Nashville hot chicken which is juicy and flavourful from the inside and outside.

The spices are significantly spicier than the other food restaurants. It’s located in a plaza with limited indoor seating and minimal outside sitting. The ambiance is group friendly, and will always keep you awake. The service is top-notch.

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