We know what you’re going to say: “My mom makes the best fried chicken in the world.” And how could anyone argue with that? Maybe grandma takes the blue ribbon for fried chicken in your family, or another relative is known for his or her superb frying skills.

If that’s the case, please invite us over for dinner or a picnic. Fried chicken is ideal for summer eating, and Southern folks are famous for preparing delicious plates of the stuff, to be savored by hand or maneuvered with a knife and fork.

Although homemade fried chicken is arguably the best ever, that doesn’t stop us from ordering this traditional dish when we’re dining out. Plenty of restaurants in the Birmingham area offer delectable fried chicken, and the side dishes they serve are crave-worthy, too.

Here are our picks for the top five places for fried chicken in the Magic City. For this list, we’re sticking to eateries with Alabama roots, so Publix fried chicken isn’t eligible for inclusion. Sorry, Publix fans!

Now, let’s start snacking.

READ: AL.com’s top 5 picks for barbecue, pizza, burgers, ice cream, hot dogs, doughnuts and meat-and-three in Birmingham.

5. CRAFT’S

49 Church St. in Mountain Brook; 2118 Seventh Ave. South in Birmingham. craftsbhm.com

Remember Miss Dots, a fried chicken joint that relied on the recipes used by Leola “Dot” Rogers? John Cassimus of Zoe’s Kitchen helped Miss Dots to become a reality in 2016, opening locations in Mountain Brook and Tuscaloosa. The T-Town location has closed, but Miss Dots lives on in Crestline Village, now called Craft’s and owned by the O’Neal family. (In 2023, a second location of Craft’s opened on Seventh Avenue South, as well.) Things have changed over the years, but fried chicken remains the star of the menu, and we’re extremely happy about that. You can order it here in a variety of ways, from a whole fried chicken to mini chicken bites with dipping sauces. There’s flavor and crunch aplenty, and we really like having options — sandwiches, salads, bowls, wraps and more — when in need of a fried chicken fix.

Order this: Bone-in fried chicken, with white or dark meat, is a good place to start at Craft’s. As a side dish, try the yummy squash casserole.

MORE: AL.com’s picks for the best eats in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and across Alabama.

4. SAW’S BBQ

Six locations in Birmingham area, including Saw’s Juke Joint, 1115 Dunston Ave. sawsbbq.com

Saw’s is renowned for its barbecue, and rightly so. But there’s a wonderful fried chicken sandwich on the menu, prepared with a sweet tea brine and topped with white sauce and pickles. Goodness spills onto the plate when you order this sandwich, which boasts a hefty portion of crisp chicken and some marvelously messy toppings. It’s available at most Saw’s locations, and variations include Sweet Heat Fried Chicken (with “ranch, slaw, pickles and a little kick”) and The Colonel (”sweet tea chicken with pimento cheese and tomato”). Some folks like to pair this sandwich with fries, but as far as we’re concerned, it’s perfect as a solo act.

Order this: Sweet tea fried chicken sandwich, of course. Taylor Hicks, one of the owners of Saw’s Juke Joint, suggests extra pickles, and we’re definitely up for that.

RELATED: Where to get Birmingham’s best chicken sandwich

3. YO’ MAMA’S

2328 Second Ave. North in Birmingham. www.yomamasrestaurant.com

Yo’ Mama’s serves food with heart and soul, specializing in home-style dishes with Southern flavors. You can bet they’ve got fried chicken on the menu, and the scrumptious wings here have earned praise from ordinary folks, restaurant critics and celebrity chefs alike. Founded in 2015 by Denise Peterson and her daughter, Crystal Peterson, Yo’ Mama’s quickly became a mainstay on the Magic City restaurant scene. The downtown eatery received even more attention with a featured spot on Netflix’s “Fresh, Fried and Crispy” in 2021. Yo’ Mama’s plans to move to a new location at 2098 Fourth Ave. North, thanks to a $1.3 million investment from the City of Birmingham.

Order this: Chicken & Waffle is a mouthwatering treat at Yo’ Mama’s. The dish features Belgian waffles, six fried chicken wings, a dollop of syrup and fruit toppings. You might tempted to lick your fingers while eating wings at Yo’ Mama’s, and we won’t judge you.

READ: Randall Woodfin asked Birmingham for restaurant picks; here are 10 favorites

2. FIVE

744 29th St. South in Birmingham, other locations in Tuscaloosa, Mobile and Athens, Georgia. www.five-bar.com

Five entrees are on the menu at this casual-cool restaurant, which also offers five appetizers, five snacks, five signature cocktails … you get the idea. If that sounds too trendy or high concept, we promise that our favorite dish at Five Birmingham (also known as 5 Bar) will make you a believer. The panéed chicken breast — covered in bread crumbs and pan-fried — is light, tender and juicy, served with shallot caper cream sauce and mashed potatoes, plus a house salad. (Think mixed greens, seasonal fruit, goat cheese, nuts and a creamy vinaigrette.) It’s best when served on a single plate, with various flavors mixing and mingling. We never feel guilty about eating the delicious pan-fried chicken at Five, because it almost seems healthy. Win-win!

Order this: Panéed chicken breast, naturally. The jazz brunch on weekends offers chicken and waffles, if you’re looking for something a little more decadent.

1. EUGENE’S HOT CHICKEN

2268 Ninth Ave. North in Birmingham; 3232 Galleria Circle, Suite 101, in Hoover. www.eugeneshotchicken.com

Fried chicken nirvana? Eugene’s has earned a rapturous reputation that’s pretty close to it, even if you prefer your chicken without a fiery kick. Heat levels here range from “Lemon Pepper and Southern (no heat)” to “Stupid Hot (for the bold and daring).” Other choices are Mild, Hot and Hot Damn (”not too smart, not too stupid”). We like a restaurant with a sense of humor, especially when it serves fried chicken that’s crazy-good. Zebbie Carney, the founder of Eugene’s, started with a food truck around 2015, moved to a brick-and-mortar location downtown in 2017 and expanded to Hoover in 2020. More recently, the Eater website included Eugene’s Hot Chicken in its 2022 list of “The Best Fried Chicken in America.” Take your pick among chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, quarters, whole chickens, chicken and waffles, fried chicken salad and more.

Order this: Go for the gusto with a half or full bird, plus your choice of sauce and two sides. You can’t go wrong with Southern Slaw or creamy mac and cheese. Suggested heat level? Newbies might start with mild (”slight heat”) and work their way up the burn scale.

READ: Meet the chef who’s making hot chicken cool in Alabama

More on Alabama’s Best food:

Alabama’s best barbecue: Our Top 10

Alabama’s best burgers: Our Top 10

Alabama’s best pizza: Our Top 10

Alabama’s best ice cream: Our top 10

Alabama’s best hot dogs: Our top 10

Alabama’s best meat-and-three: Our Top 10