Short answer: The best fried chicken in St. Johns, FL is fried when you order it, and cooked to a safe 165°F inside while staying crunchy outside. On County Road 210 that means chicken tenders, a fried chicken breast sandwich, and loaded tender fries made fresh to order. A family-owned kitchen at 100 Gateway Circle serves all three every day from 11am to 9pm.
Fried chicken is chicken coated in seasoned flour or batter and cooked in hot oil until the outside crisps and the meat inside is fully done. Tenders, sandwiches and bites are simply different cuts of the same idea. This guide covers what to look for in fried chicken in St. Johns, FL, how the different styles compare, and how to get it hot and fresh.
What makes fried chicken taste better?
Better fried chicken starts with a fresh breading, hot oil, and frying close to the moment you eat it. The coating should shatter when you bite it, and the meat should be juicy, not dry. Above all it must be cooked through: all poultry is safe once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (Source: FoodSafety.gov).
The biggest difference you can taste is time. Restaurants are allowed to keep cooked food at 135°F or hotter until it is served (Source: FDA Food Code 2022). That is safe, but steam softens the crust while it waits. Chicken fried to order reaches you before the crunch fades.
- Hand-breaded: a seasoned flour coating applied in the kitchen, not a frozen pre-coated product.
- Fried to order: cooked when you order, not hours before.
- Whole muscle meat: real strips of breast for tenders, and a full breast for sandwiches.
- Good sauces: ranch, blu cheese or a house sauce to dip into.
Tenders, sandwich or bites: which fried chicken should you order?
Order tenders if you want to dip, the sandwich if you want a full handheld meal, and loaded fries if you are sharing. All three use the same fried chicken, so the choice is really about how you want to eat it. Chicken is America's favorite protein for good reason: Americans were projected to eat 1.48 billion wings in a single Super Bowl weekend in 2026 (Source: National Chicken Council 2026), and tenders ride the same wave.
| Order | What you get | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Tenders | Breaded strips of chicken breast | 5 pcs $12 · 7 pcs $15 · 10 pcs $21 | Dipping, sharing, picky eaters |
| Yardbird Sandwich | Fried chicken breast with lettuce, tomato, onion and dill pickles | $12 · with cheese $14 | A full lunch in one hand |
| Loaded Chicken Tender Fries | Cheese fries with fried chicken bites, bacon, cheese sauce and jalapeños | $15 | Sharing with the table |
| Chicken Tacos (2) | Fried, grilled or blackened chicken with cabbage, cheese and Q-Sauce, plus 1 side | $12 | A lighter fried chicken fix |
| Kids Chicken Tenders | A kid-sized tender meal | $9 | Children |
Prices reflect the menu at the time of writing. Check the live daily menu for current pricing.
Is fried chicken a good choice for families?
Fried chicken is one of the easiest meals to please a whole family, because the same chicken works as tenders for kids and as a sandwich or salad topping for adults. Families are eating out more than ever. Americans spent $1.41 trillion on food away from home in 2025, more than half of the $2.51 trillion spent on food overall (Source: USDA Economic Research Service 2026).
A few ways families make fried chicken work for everyone:
- Tenders for the kids, a Yardbird Sandwich for the adults.
- Add fried chicken to a Mixed Green or Caesar salad for a lighter plate.
- Turn any order into a combo with fries and a drink for $5.
- Pick up a 10 piece tender order and split it with sides for a quick family dinner.
Where can you get fresh fried chicken in St. Johns, FL?
For fresh fried chicken in St. Johns, FL, Quig's Meats & Eats on County Road 210 fries every order to order. The restaurant is at 100 Gateway Circle, Saint Johns, FL 32259, about 10 minutes from the Pavilion at Durbin Park and a short drive from Beachwalk and Twin Creeks. It is open daily from 11am to 9pm, so it works for lunch, dinner and late-afternoon cravings.
Not sure yet? Most people check first. 97% of consumers read reviews for local businesses (Source: BrightLocal 2026). You can read what St. Johns locals say on Google and Yelp.
How Quig's makes its fried chicken
At Quig's, every order is made fresh the moment you ask for it, and the chicken is fried to order rather than held. Nothing waits under a heat lamp. The same fryer turns out the jumbo wings covered in our guide to the best wings near Durbin Park, so if you cannot decide, get both.
Quig's is family-owned and has been part of St. Johns since 2023. We wrote about why that matters in why family-owned restaurants stand out. If you are comparing a quick lunch, our weekday lunch guide lists the fastest orders on the menu.
Can you get fried chicken catering for a group?
Yes. Fried chicken tenders are one of the most popular catering trays because they travel well and suit every age. Trays come in three sizes: small serves 3 to 5 for $30, medium serves 10 to 15 for $60, and large serves 20 to 30 for $120. Grilled tenders are also available. A tenders-with-fries package starts at $65 for 5 people. See all options on the We Cater page, and check school and team catering for practices and fundraisers. Local orders also keep money in the community: locally owned restaurants return about twice as much to the local economy per dollar as chains (Source: American Independent Business Alliance).
Frequently asked questions
Are chicken tenders the same as fried chicken?
Chicken tenders are a type of fried chicken. They are strips of breast meat, coated in seasoned breading and fried until golden. Traditional bone-in fried chicken uses pieces like thighs and drumsticks instead. Tenders are boneless, cook evenly, and are easy to dip, which is why they are a favorite with kids and adults alike. At Quig's, tenders come in 5, 7 and 10 piece orders, and the same fried chicken goes into the Yardbird Sandwich and the loaded tender fries. Grilled tenders are an option on catering trays.
What sauces go best with fried chicken tenders?
Ranch and blu cheese are the classic dips, and both come with tender catering packages. Q-Sauce, the house sauce, is a popular choice on chicken tacos and appetizers. If you like heat, ask for a wing sauce on the side: Buffalo Mild, Medium or Hot, Spicy Ranch, Mango Habanero or Burnout XXXX. Garlic Parm and BBQ suit anyone who wants flavor without spice. Extra sauce is $1, so it is easy to try a couple and find a favorite for next time.
How do I keep fried chicken crispy for takeout?
Open the container as soon as you get home so steam can escape, because trapped steam is what softens the breading. Keep sauces on the side until you are ready to eat, then dip instead of pouring. If you need to reheat, use an oven or air fryer at around 375°F for a few minutes rather than a microwave. For the crunchiest result, eat in or order pickup and eat it soon after. Quig's fries every order to order, so the fresher you eat it, the better it is.
Is there fried chicken near Durbin Park?
Yes. Quig's Meats & Eats is about 4.7 miles south of the Pavilion at Durbin Park, roughly a 10 minute drive along County Road 210 depending on traffic. The menu includes hand-breaded chicken tenders, the Yardbird fried chicken sandwich, loaded chicken tender fries, and boneless wings. You can dine in, order online for pickup, or use a delivery platform. The restaurant is open every day from 11am to 9pm. Call 904-784-7844 if you have questions about an order or catering.
Ready to order? See the full daily menu, compare it with the burgers in our burger guide, browse the Quig's blog, read why made-to-order beats fast food, or find more places to eat in our CR-210 restaurant guide.
Sources
- Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature · FoodSafety.gov
- Food Code 2022 · U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- Americans to Eat 1.48 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LX · National Chicken Council
- Food Prices and Spending · USDA Economic Research Service
- Local Consumer Review Survey 2026 · BrightLocal
- The Local Multiplier Effect · American Independent Business Alliance
Hungry yet?
Order online for pickup, dine in, or call 904-784-7844. Open 7 days a week, 11am to 9pm.