Cheapism, a website that finds and recommends high quality, yet inexpensive products in different consumer categories, recently examined customer reviews and expert recommendations to find “fried chicken joints in every state that offer fantastic chicken in an unpretentious atmosphere.” Two restaurants in Maryland made the list…one for the state of Maryland and one as the selection for DC.
In a surprising selection for Washington D.C., Cheapism went with Chicken Basket in Wheaton. This is surprising for two reasons– the first is that the restaurant is located in Montgomery County, Maryland, and the second is that the restaurant has been closed for at least a year. With that said, the original Chicken Basket owners still operate the Gaithersburg location that reopened in the summer of 2023, so if you’re interested in trying it out, you may just have to drive a little further out of the city (other Chicken Basket locations are not owned by the original owners of the restaurant).
For Maryland, Cheapism went with Frederick County’s Thurmont Kountry Kitchen, which has been serving the area for over 40 years. Per the article, the restaurant “serves a little bit of everything in a homey dining room, from pancakes to quesadillas. The broasted chicken is a standout, though. It’s got a thin, smoother coating than most fried chicken, letting the meat be the star. It comes with chunky, skin-on broasted potato wedges that are light and fluffy in the middle.”
Cheapism writes, “Next time you’re in the mood for Southern-style fried chicken, check out these hole-in-the-wall joints, walk-up windows, drive-thrus, truck stops, and gas stations for a bucket of fried goodness.”The full Cheapism article can be seen here.