Drumstick, Please! Bite into National Fried Chicken Day July 6

Can’t help but crow about the crispiest, most golden holiday of the year: National Fried Chicken Day, Thursday, July 6. Leave your backyard chickens at home and fly the coop so those birds won’t know you’re out sinking your teeth into some of the South’s best fried chicken. Can’t wait for that dinner bell! Places to roost:

• For added “Ole!” of Spanish-style fried chicken, visit Gypsy Kitchen for tapas plates of Gypsy fried chicken ($10). Adobo marinade seasons boneless thighs before they’re fried to crispy perfection and partnered with romesco and tamarind yogurt sauces for dipping
• If you can’t wait for Thursday’s dinner bell, be an early bird and hit Korean Fried Chicken Night, every Wednesday at Midtown Takorea & Ssam Bar. Crow over chef Tomas Lee’s whole fried chicken (all-natural chicken, twice fried to a golden brown in a gluten-free rice flour batter) served with fried rice, tempura-citrus Brussels sprouts and an assortment of house-made kimchi and pickled veggies, enough for four friends, all for $60. Reservations for KFC Night (via OpenTable or by calling 404-532-1944) are strongly encouraged. KFC Takos are available every night, featuring Korean fried chicken, chipotle aioli and jack cheese served in a flour or corn tortilla with tako salad tossed in a soy sesame vinaigrette ($4.25 each).
• Southern fried chicken breast perches atop “Feed” entrées on the dinner menu at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails. Classic Southern sides of buttermilk mashed potatoes, tiny green beans and andouille red-eye gravy fill the plate ($18). Executive chef Derek Dollar locally sources ingredients, some coming from right out back on Milton’s Acre, the backyard garden at his historic Crabapple restaurant.
• At The Southern Gentleman gastropub in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, there’ll be plenty of finger licking and lip smacking going on as guests rip into fried Springer Mountain half chicken (yes, half a bird) served with melt-in-your-mouth baked mac-n-cheese and braised collards.
• Succulent meat inside surrounded by crackling crunch on the outside, fried chicken is a signature dish at Revival, chef Kevin Gillespie’s Decatur cottage restaurant. This prized bird may be enjoyed family style, served in the style reminiscent of meals around the table of Gillespie’s grandparents. Bring the flock and let Revival fill the table with hors d’oeuvre, relishes, trimmings and Gillespie family iron skillet cornbread plus dessert, tea and coffee.
• Buckhead flies into Smokebelly BBQ for the barbecue joint’s Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. These fired-up guys fry buttermilk-spice brined boneless chicken breast until golden brown then toss aforementioned breast in Nashville hot or damn hot sauce ($10) and serve with Alabama white sauce and pickles. Mild-mannered folk can order a chicken sandwich with simply fried chicken ($9.50).