Beaufort Co.’s best fried chicken put to test. How top 2 fared with this group: journalists
With less than 24 hours to go before voting ends to name the best fried chicken in Beaufort County, our reporters wondered how each of the final two contestants would fare in a taste test.
So we conducted one!
The bracket started with 33 contenders and was narrowed down in a series of votes to the last two restaurants standing: Maryland Fried Chicken in Beaufort and Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen in Bluffton.
Both restaurants have long histories of providing customers with scrumptious fried chicken and delicious Southern sides.
What we ordered
Maryland Fried Chicken’s Budget Box includes nine pieces of chicken with two sides and rolls for $23.22. We chose french fries and potato salad, and they were out of rolls when we picked up our order. We ordered online.
Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen’s to-go special includes eight pieces of chicken with two large sides for $24.50. We chose mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. We ordered over the phone.
We picked up both orders around lunchtime on Wednesday.
The scores
Six Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reporters tried each restaurant’s fried chicken and scored both on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best.
Cahill’s came in first with an average score of 3.83. Reporters said the chicken had a “brighter” flavor overall and they liked the seasoning in the crust. It tasted fresh and was tender. (While we didn’t score the sides in this contest, we’d recommend readers order the mashed potatoes and gravy. It was amazing!)
Maryland Fried Chicken fell slightly short with an average score of 3.16. Reporters said the chicken had a stronger chicken flavor, a very crispy crunch, and was juicy throughout. We liked the less-expensive price for more chicken.
Depending on whether you find yourself North of Broad or South of Broad, we don’t think you can go wrong with either restaurant.
The main event
Tell us what you think with your official vote by clicking here.
Round 4 voting ends at noon on Friday, Oct. 14.
Our polls are not meant to be scientific, but they are a lot of fun, and you are sure to discover some great places to dine if you give these contenders a try.
This story was originally published October 13, 2022 at 2:32 PM.
