Bojangles Is Coming Back to New York City With 20 New Locations

There are few foods more American than fried chicken. Whether you’re eating it at a picnic or it’s your go-to weekend meal, there are plenty of things to love about this dish. While you can make your own fried chicken at home, nothing beats the convenience of getting fried chicken at one of your favorite restaurants — and eating at one of these spots is a fun treat for the whole family.

Bojangles is one of the most popular fast-food fried chicken restaurants, and if you're a fan of this restaurant and live in the northeast, you're in luck. The restaurant announced a franchise deal that will lead to up to 20 locations in New York and 30-35 locations in New Jersey.

You might love Bojangles, but if you don't have one near you or you're looking for some alternatives, I’ve found that our family prefers these 8 other fried chicken restaurants. In this slideshow, we'll discuss everything you need to know about the new Bojangles locations and some of the alternatives to this option.

This post was updated in September 2025 to include updated information about the locations of fast-food restaurants.

Recently, Bojangles announced a multi-unit franchise agreement that will lead to expansions into New York and New Jersey over the next 10 years. There are plans for the first of 20 locations to open in Brooklyn later this year. Additionally, the company signed an agreement with a franchisee that will lead to 35 locations across New Jersey.

The Bojangles opening in Brooklyn isn't the first to appear in New York, but it will be the first location to return to the Big Apple. The first Bojangles in New York City appeared in the 1980s, but a location hasn't opened in New York since then.

Whether you're craving fried chicken and don't have a Bojangles near you or you're just looking for some other options, these 8 alternatives are just as good, if not better, than Bojangles.

Jollibee is a fast food chain based in the Philippines that now has over 70 locations in the US as of 2025. While this restaurant does serve other items, such as pasta and burgers, it’s known for its Chickenjoy Fried Chicken.

Jollibee has over 1,000 store locations across the globe, but it’s starting to grow in the US as well. Despite the many other delicious items on the menu, they’re best known for what they call the Chickenjoy, which is their signature fried chicken. This dish is juicy, crunchy, and full of flavor. You can order it in buckets with sides such as fries, mashed potatoes, or Jolly Spaghetti. Their family meals are also the perfect option for busy weeknights.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken serves Cajun fried chicken that’s freshly made and hand-breaded. Although most of the locations are located within gas stations, they have some of the most highly rated chicken tenders out of any fast food restaurant.

A gas station may seem like a strange place to find some of the best fried chicken in town, but anyone who has tried Krispy Krunchy Chicken will tell you how good it is. The first Krispy Krunchy Chicken was opened inside a convenience store in Louisiana. There are over 3,000 locations today, and 97% of them are in gas stations. They also recently added chicken nugget meals to their menu, which is a great choice for young kids.

Raising Cane’s is a fried chicken restaurant that started in Louisiana. The restaurant has grown significantly since the first location opened in 1996, and there are now over 800 different locations nationwide.

Raising Cane’s knows how to make delicious chicken fingers. The fried chicken tenders at this fast food restaurant are juicy while still having a satisfying crunch on the outside. Raising Cane’s gets their chicken to taste so good by marinating the tenders for 24 hours. Their fried chicken is always fresh, and they offer a kids combo that includes chicken fingers, fries, and Cane's sauce.

Popeyes is one of the most popular fried chicken spots out there. This restaurant is known for its famous fried chicken and biscuits. Popeyes was created in Louisiana and has now grown to be one of the biggest fried chicken chains in the country.

Popeyes has some of the best fried chicken out of any fast food restaurant. When you eat the delicious, buttery fried chicken from Popeyes, every bite has the perfect amount of crunch. The buttermilk coating on the fried chicken keeps the chicken juicy without sacrificing the crispy breading on the outside. With the kid's meal, you can choose from boneless chicken, tenders, a chicken leg, or even mac & cheese.

KFC was one of the first major fast food restaurants to popularize fried chicken on a national scale. Compared to many other restaurants that serve meals you can eat on the go, KFC serves family-style meals with fried chicken and delicious sides.

KFC was not only the first fast food restaurant known for its fried chicken, but it has also become one of the most well-known, if not the most well-known, fried chicken restaurants. What makes KFC's fried chicken stand out from the rest is the seasoning they use on their chicken. The restaurant is also known for its delicious sides like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw.

Zaxby’s is another fast food restaurant that specializes in different types of fried chicken. The first Zaxby’s location opened in Georgia in 1990, and the chain has since grown to over 700 locations across the country.

Zaxby’s is known for its chicken fingers, chicken wings, and signature sauces for dipping. When you order from Zaxby’s, you can choose to have your chicken fingers tossed in a variety of sauces. They have different options such as hot honey mustard, barbecue, and buffalo garlic blaze. Zaxby’s also offers chicken-finger plates that include fries, coleslaw, and Texas toast.

There’s no doubt Chick-fil-A is one of the top fast-food restaurants in the country. It's known for its excellent service and delicious chicken sandwich. You can’t go wrong when you order chicken nuggets, chicken strips, or a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A.

Aside from the delicious seasonings that go into the batter, the secret to the success of Chick-fil-A’s chicken is the fact that they pressure cook it. This is what keeps their chicken juicy in every bite. No matter what type of chicken you choose to order at Chick-fil-A, it’s delicious when dipped in the signature Chick-fil-A sauce. We also love that they often give a book or activity in their kids' meals instead of a toy.

Guthrie’s Chicken carries the name of the “original chicken-finger restaurant.” This restaurant was first created in Alabama and has been serving delicious chicken fingers since 1965.

Even though Guthrie’s only serves chicken fingers, there’s no need for any other meals on the menu. When you go to Guthrie’s, you can order what’s known as a “Gut Box,” which is a meal that contains the delicious signature tenders, crispy crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and Guthrie’s signature sauce. Kids also get their own box, which includes two chicken fingers, half an order of fries, and a juice box.