Short answer: The best fried chicken in St. Johns, FL is cooked to order, reaches 165°F inside, and goes straight to your plate instead of sitting under a heat lamp. A family-owned restaurant on County Road 210 serves it as tenders, a sandwich, loaded fries and tacos. Grilled and blackened versions are there for nights when you want something lighter.
Fried chicken is breaded chicken cooked in hot oil until the crust turns crisp and the meat is done.
Key takeaways
- Safe and juicy: Fried chicken must reach 165°F inside, the safe minimum for all poultry.
- Hot oil builds the crust: Food-service frying runs from 325 to 375°F, the range where a golden, crisp coating forms.
- Pick your format: Tenders, a sandwich, loaded fries and tacos each fit a different kind of meal.
- Feed a crowd: Tender trays serve from 3 to 30 people with at least 48 hours’ notice.
What makes fried chicken taste better?
Fried chicken tastes best when it is fried in properly hot oil, cooked all the way through and eaten soon after it leaves the fryer. That protects both the crunch and the juice.
Oil temperature sets the crust. The normal range for food-service frying is 325 to 375°F. In that range, most foods cook quickly and develop a golden color, crisp texture and good flavor (Source: Oklahoma State University Extension). Even in that range, fried foods take up 8 to 25 percent oil, so a lighter side helps balance the plate.
The safety line is simple. Breasts, tenders and every other cut of poultry need to reach 165°F inside (Source: FoodSafety.gov).
The flavor line is about time. Chicken that waits in a warmer after frying can stay safe, but steam builds under the breading and a crisp crust turns soft.
| Factor | Fried to order | Fried ahead and held |
|---|---|---|
| Crust | Crisp from the fryer | Softens as steam builds |
| Temperature | Hot when served | Kept warm until someone orders |
| Wait | A few extra minutes | Ready right away |
| Flavor | Seasoning tastes bright | Can taste flat or dry |
Fried to order skips that wait, so the crust is at its best when you bite in. We dig into this in five reasons fresh, made-to-order food beats fast food.
Should you order tenders, a chicken sandwich, loaded fries or tacos?
Order tenders for dipping, a sandwich for a full meal in your hands, loaded fries for sharing and tacos for something lighter.
| Dish | What you get | Best for | Ways to order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Tenders | 5, 7 or 10 pieces | Dipping, kids and big appetites | Make it a Combo for fries and a drink |
| Yardbird Sandwich | Fried chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, onion, dill pickles | A full meal in your hands | Add cheese if you like |
| Loaded Chicken Tender Fries | Fries loaded with chicken tenders | Sharing at the table | Order from the sharables |
| Chicken Tacos | 2 tacos with cabbage, cheese and Q-Sauce, plus 1 side | A lighter plate | Fried, grilled or blackened |
Want it wrapped instead? The Chicken Wrap also comes fried, grilled or blackened, just like the tacos. Blackened is not a breading at all. The style traces to chef Paul Prudhomme’s blackened redfish. The fish was dipped in butter, dredged in cayenne and dried herbs, then seared in a hot-to-smoking cast-iron skillet (Source: 64 Parishes). Pick blackened when you want spice and sear, and fried when you want crunch.
How much fried chicken should you order for a family or a party?
Order by headcount: individual plates for a family, packaged meals for a small group, and tender trays for a crowd. Every catering order needs at least 48 hours’ notice.
For a family dinner, the regular menu already scales. Chicken Tenders come in 5, 7 or 10 pieces, the kids menu has its own Chicken Tenders, and Loaded Chicken Tender Fries work as a shared plate. A Yardbird Sandwich covers the adult who wants a full meal. For bigger groups, match the headcount to a tray.
| Headcount | Best fit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 people | Small tender tray | Fried or grilled |
| 5 to 10 people | Tenders with Fries meals | Individually packaged, one per guest |
| 10 to 15 people | Medium tender tray | Fried or grilled |
| 20 to 30 people | Large tender tray | Fried or grilled |
Sides deserve a spot on the order. In CDC’s 2019 survey data, only 10.0% of U.S. adults met vegetable intake recommendations (Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report). A side tray of mixed greens, grilled veggies, coleslaw or mango wasabi slaw puts some color next to the tenders. Side trays come in medium (serves 6 to 10) and large (serves 20 to 30).
Request a quote on the We Cater page. For practices and booster events, see school and team catering. Adding wings? Our guide to the best wings near Durbin Park covers wing trays and sauces.
Where can you get fried chicken in St. Johns, FL?
You can get fried chicken in St. Johns, FL at Quig’s Meats & Eats, 100 Gateway Circle on County Road 210. Dine in, order online for pickup, or get delivery through a third-party platform.
Wherever you eat, Florida sets a baseline. The Division of Hotels and Restaurants licenses a restaurant only after a food safety plan review and an initial inspection. After that, unannounced routine inspections follow (Source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation). The state lets you view food inspection reports online.
Read any single report as a snapshot. The same state page notes that an inspection on one day may not represent an establishment’s long-term conditions, so look at the pattern across several visits.
How does Quig’s Meats & Eats make its fried chicken?
Quig’s treats fried chicken as a cook-when-ordered dish. Nothing is fried ahead, so nothing waits under a heat lamp, and the family-owned kitchen has run that way in St. Johns since 2023.
Fried chicken shows up across the menu. Try Chicken Tenders in 5, 7 or 10 pieces, the Yardbird Sandwich, Loaded Chicken Tender Fries or Chicken Tacos.
The kitchen also serves 100% Angus beef burgers, like the one in our favorite burger story. Read why family-owned restaurants stand out, or browse more posts on the blog for menu ideas.
Find us at Quig’s Meats & Eats, 100 Gateway Circle, Saint Johns, FL 32259, open every day from 11am to 9pm. Call 904-784-7844 with questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Yardbird Sandwich made with fried chicken?
Yes. The Yardbird Sandwich is built on a fried chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, onion and dill pickles. You can add cheese if you like. It is the pick for anyone who wants fried chicken as a full, hand-held meal rather than tenders to dip. The breast is fried when you order, so it reaches the table with its crust intact. If you want a side, add one of the menu sides, such as French Fries, Onion Straws, Cole Slaw or Potato Salad.
How many people does a tender tray feed?
Tender trays come in three sizes, and you can choose fried or grilled. A small tray serves 3 to 5 people, a medium tray serves 10 to 15, and a large tray serves 20 to 30. For a smaller group that wants individual portions, there are packaged Tenders with Fries meals for 5 to 10 people. Every catering order needs at least 48 hours’ notice. Request a quote on the We Cater page or call 904-784-7844, and include your date and headcount.
Can I get the chicken grilled instead of fried?
Yes, for several dishes. The Chicken Tacos and the Chicken Wrap both come fried, grilled or blackened, so you can pick the style that suits you. Tender catering trays also come fried or grilled. The Yardbird Sandwich and the Loaded Chicken Tender Fries are built around fried chicken, so order those when you want the crunch. Whichever style you choose, the chicken should reach a safe 165°F inside. Grilled is a good pick when you want a lighter plate on a busy weeknight.
What fried chicken options work for kids?
The kids menu has its own Chicken Tenders, which is the easiest fried chicken pick for younger eaters. It also lists a Kids Burger, Grilled Cheese, Grilled PB&J and Cheese Quesadilla, so a picky eater still has choices. Older kids with bigger appetites can share a 5-piece order of Chicken Tenders or a plate of Loaded Chicken Tender Fries. Add French Fries or Macaroni Salad on the side. For team events, the individually packaged Tenders with Fries meals keep each player’s food separate and easy to hand out.
Great fried chicken comes down to a safe 165°F, hot oil, a fresh fry and the right format for your meal. If you want fried chicken in St. Johns, FL, start on County Road 210 at Gateway Circle. Check the menu, plan your order, and visit the Quig’s homepage for hours and ordering options.
Sources
- FoodSafety.gov: Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
- CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Adults Meeting Fruit and Vegetable Intake Recommendations, United States, 2019
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation: Food and Lodging Inspections, Terms of Use
- Oklahoma State University Extension (FAPC-126): Deep Fat Frying Basics for Food Services
- 64 Parishes: Paul Prudhomme
Hungry yet?
Order online for pickup, dine in, or call 904-784-7844. Open 7 days a week, 11am to 9pm.