A new restaurant in Inman Square is inspired by the crunchy, spicy version of a fried chicken sandwich made famous in Nashville. Hot Chix Boston perfected their version of hot chicken over many years as a popular local pop-up. Buttermilk-brined chicken breast is dredged in seasoned flour to make a craggy crust, then gets its own level of heat to order, ranging from “not” to “extra hot.” (Even the mild version packs a punch!) The sandwich itself, on a plush brioche roll, cuts through the spice with sweet coleslaw, creamy remoulade, and half-sour pickles. Try it with a side of well-seasoned waffle fries—and probably a nice, cold beer to quell the heat.

At an erstwhile wine bar called Bisq, chef Alex Saenz perfected a fluffy fried chicken recipe he’d been developing as chef at Puritan & Co. Flavored with a touch of spicy chili salt, this perfectly crispy version has never left the chef’s sights. It’s on the menu at at Hemlock Grill, a green-side deck and restaurant at Brookline’s public golf course where Saenz is currently the chef; and it’s a menu centerpiece at one of his two Time Out Market takeout spots. Bisq Meats & Sandwiches (aka @bisqsandos) serves up a Fried Chicken Sandwich on a squishy potato bun, dripping with buttermilk ranch and topped with bread-and-butter pickles. Pro tip: Order online for takeout to eat at the next-door Trillium Fenway beer garden.

Third-generation family business M&M BBQ is built on meltingly tender pork ribs, but the brand has evolved a lot in 30-plus years. Currently the in-house kitchen at Dorchester Brewing Company, it’s a counter-service outpost with a menu that does as well by fried food as it does barbecue. Golden-brown chicken thighs are the irresistible main attraction on the Newmarket Square sandwich, which drenches fried chicken in house-made aioli and tops it with crunchy bread-and-butter pickles. We also love the Honey Hot Chicken Sammie, a soft brioche bun filled with hot honey-dipped fried chicken, pickles, tangy crumbled bleu cheese, and BBQ sauce-aioli.

Rotisserie chicken might be the star of Shy Bird’s show, but don’t sleep on the Ranch Fried Chicken Sandwich dressed up with a piquant pepper relish, cheddar, and a house-made pecorino ranch sauce. (Pro tip: ask for extra sauce on the side to use as a dip for the accompanying shoestring fries.) In fact, you’ll find fried, flaky poultry between two soft buns morning, noon, and night at this all-day cafe with locations in Kendall Square and South Boston. On the breakfast menu, Shy Bird offers up an English muffin Fried Chicken & Egg sandwich with hot honey and pepper jack cheese; and weekend brunch brings Chicken & Waffles on sugared Belgian-style waffles with maple-dijon syrup. Order online for takeout or delivery, or post up inside or on the lively outdoor patio.

It takes confidence to open a fried chicken sandwich restaurant directly across the street from a well-established location of KFC—and that’s exactly what Side Chick did. Within view of a fast-food location time immemorial on Columbia Road in Dorchester, Side Chick debuted in 2022 with a menu built around halal-quality “crispy chick.” Main Chick, the menu’s standard fried chicken sandwich, stands out with a thick, juicy cutlet and crunchy, bright-green shredded lettuce, plus a generous slather of oh-so-garlicky House White Sauce that’s creamy and craveable.