San Antonio Food Trails Highlight: Cluck Yeah!

In honor of National Chicken Month, we’re giving one of the world’s most versatile ingredients its well-deserved moment in the spotlight. San Antonio restaurants are frying it, roasting it, saucing it, spicing it and drawing inspiration from culinary traditions around the globe — proving there’s a whole lot more to chicken than the drive-thru.

This month’s Food Trails Highlight brings together everything from the best of the traditional to crispy wings and Filipino adobo with plenty more worth digging into. Consider it your excuse to branch out from your usual order and discover just how many delicious ways San Antonio does chicken.

Chatman’s Chicken // No need to overcomplicate a classic. Chatman’s signature fried chicken is crisp, generously portioned, and served alongside the homestyle sides that have made this East Side institution a longtime local favorite. 1747 S WW White Rd, (210) 359-0245, instagram.com/chatmanschicken.

Attagirl’s Southern fried wings

Cullum’s Attagirl // Attagirl’s Southern fried wings spend 48 hours in a buttermilk marinade before hitting the fryer, resulting in the kind of crispy, juicy chicken this neighborhood hangout has built its reputation around. Add a little hot honey if you’re feeling extra. 726 E Mistletoe Ave, (210) 437-4263, cullumsattagirl.com.

Southerleigh Haute South // Chicken is serious business at Haute South, where the signature Haute Chicken puts Southern-style fried chicken front and center. Even better: a gluten-free option means more diners can get in on the crunch. 5822 Worth Pkwy, Suite 112, (210) 236-8556, southerleigh.com.

Wayne’s Wings // The name tells you exactly what to order. Wayne’s signature wings arrive with plenty of crunch and a seriously deep roster of house-made sauces and seasonings. This is a stop where trying just one flavor feels nearly impossible. 4453 Walzem Rd, (210) 300-3891, wayneswingssa.com.

La Hacienda de los Barrios // La Hacienda’s Creamy Poblano Enchiladas tuck shredded chicken into three corn tortillas before covering them in the restaurant’s house-made creamy poblano sauce. Rich, comforting and unmistakably San Antonio, they’re a decidedly Tex-Mex addition to this month’s chicken lineup. 18747 Redland Rd, (210) 497-8000, lahaciendabarrios.com.

Nonna Osteria // Nonna’s Chicken Cacciatore takes things in a rustic Italian direction, pairing roasted chicken with San Marzano tomato sauce, Kalamata olives and crispy focaccia. It’s savory, comforting and a reminder that fried chicken certainly doesn’t get to have all the fun. 401 S Alamo St, (210) 224-8800, nonnasa.com.

Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant, Market & Bakery // Sari-Sari’s Chicken Adobo showcases one of the Philippines’ most beloved comfort foods, with chicken taking on the savory, tangy flavors that make adobo so distinctive. It’s a delicious way to experience the Filipino flavors this longtime San Antonio favorite is known for. 5700 Wurzbach Rd, (210) 647-7274, sari-sari-satx.com.

Paradise Unknown // Paradise Unknown may be known for its cocktail program, but Wok Wey’s Chinese Five-Spice Wings make a compelling case for ordering food with that next round. Aromatic, savory and packed with spice, they bring an unexpected flavor profile to the Trail. 238 Losoya St, (210) 436-1278, paradiseunknown.com.

Box St. All Day’s Asian-inspired twice fried wings

Box St. All Day // Brunch brings the heat with Box St. All Day’s Asian-inspired twice fried wings—a fiery, indulgent departure from the usual eggs-and-pancakes routine. It’s the kind of savory brunch order that makes hitting snooze a little less tempting. 623 Hemisfair Blvd, Suite 108, (210) 476-5705, boxstallday.com.

Pete’s Hot Chicken // Pete’s goes all-in on Nashville hot chicken, bringing the Tennessee specialty’s signature combination of crispy fried chicken and chile-fueled heat to the Alamo City. Pick your spice level, grab plenty of napkins and prepare for a little fire with every bite. 2418 S Presa, instagram.com/peteshotchicken.