This weekend, the city was packed with food enthusiasts eager to try one-of-a-kind food at the National Fried Chicken Festival on the New Orleans Lakefront.
Over 30 vendors, including restaurants, food trucks and caters, left their mark with their best fried chicken dishes in hopes of winning over festival goers and judges.
Attendance topped 107,000 over two days. The winners for the fifth annual event included Gus's World Famous Famous Fried Chicken and Bonafried, a local food truck.
Here's more of what was served and where you can find the restaurants that dished it up.
The Southern chicken sandwich with honey drizzle and pickles on a potato roll from Bonafried at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Bonafried
Like all good things, the Bonafried food truck can be a little hard to find. The rolling sandwich shop won the award for best use of fried chicken in a dish at the festival. Follow their Instagram @bonafriedtruck for location updates and business hours.
Mi-So Hon-Ney chicken wings with a sriracha truffle sweet chili cream waffle from Ba Chi Canteen at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Bi Chi Canteen, 7900 Maple St., (504) 373-5628
On Maple Street is Bi Chi Canteen. The Vietnamese noodle house has pho, ramen and rice dishes as well as variety of bacos, a soft shell taco that is the combination of boa and a taco.
Candied wings and garlic noodles from Finna Eat at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Finna Eat
Finna Eat is a Black-owned eatery building its presence through local and out-of-state festivals and events. Their slogan is "from the bayou to the bay." Find out more on Instagram @finnaeatfoods.
Fried chicken tacos from Divine Cuisine at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Divine Cuisine
Divine Cuisine Catering has a rotating weekly menu with delivery and store pick-up options. Find out more at divinecuisine.org or Instagram @divinecuisinellc.
Jerk fried chicken nachos from Afrodisiac at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Afrodisiac, 5363 Franklin Ave., (504) 302-2090
This Caribbean restaurant is known for its jerk chicken dishes and weekly oxtail special. They are a festival favorite in New Orleans, having participated in both the Beignet Festival and Fried Chicken Festival within the last two weeks. Find out more on their Instagram @afrodisiacnola.
Ice cream chicken leg: waffle and maple syrup ice cream covered in chicken skins and waffle cone bits from Bof Bars at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Bof Bars
Though their ice-cream chicken leg was a special for the Fried Chicken Festival, the shop regularly experiments with fun recipes and combinations. The custom bars are handmade in small batches. Find out more at bofbars.com or on Instagram @bofbars.
The fried chicken cup: crispy fried chicken, tossed in on old fashion sauce atop permanent slaw and orange garnishing from Whiskey and Sticks at the National Fried Chicken Festival on Oct. 1, 2022 at the Lakefront. (Staff Photo by Jabez Berniard)
Whiskey and Sticks, 2513 Bayou Rd., (504) 259-2025
The lounge was serving up more than just drinks and vibes at the festival this weekend. The shop's fried chicken cups were created just for the festival, but it regularly offers small bites, drinks and trivia night on Friday.
