Have you ever had that sudden, overwhelming craving for juicy, crispy chicken strips? I know I have! There’s something about that perfect combination of tender chicken inside and crispy coating outside that just hits different Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, dinner solution, or just a satisfying snack, chicken strips are always a good idea But the big question is where can you find the best chicken strips near you? Let’s dive into all your options!
Why Chicken Strips Are So Darn Popular
Before we jump into where to find them, let’s talk about why chicken strips have become such a beloved food item. They’re versatile, convenient, and satisfy that comfort food craving we all get Plus, they’re perfect for dipping in your favorite sauces!
Chicken strips go by many names – chicken tenders, chicken fingers, or chicken fillets – but they all refer to that same delicious boneless piece of chicken breast that’s been breaded and fried to perfection. The beauty of chicken strips is their universal appeal – kids love ’em, adults crave ’em, and they work for almost any casual dining occasion.
Top Places to Get Chicken Strips Near You
1. Fast Food Chains
Chick-fil-A
If you’re looking for consistently delicious chicken strips, Chick-fil-A should be at the top of your list. Their Chick-n-Strips are boneless chicken tenders seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded and cooked in 100% refined peanut oil. What makes them special? That crispy, satisfying outside with a juicy, tender inside.
Chick-fil-A offers several ways to enjoy their strips:
- Individual Chick-n-Strips meals
- Family Style Meals (perfect for feeding a group!)
- Various dipping sauce options to customize your experience
Pro tip Chick-fil-A has seven different sauces for endless “flavor adventures” as they call it Their website even suggests specific dipping duos like “a hot and cool combo” or “bold and sweet can’t be beat” pairings
Other Fast Food Options:
- KFC – Known for their Original Recipe strips
- Popeyes – Famous for their crispy, spicy coating
- Raising Cane’s – Specializes exclusively in chicken fingers
- Zaxby’s – Offers their “Fingerz” with Zax Sauce
- Wendy’s – Has homestyle chicken strips
2. Grocery Stores & Supermarkets
Target
Target carries various brands of chicken strips in their grocery section under Meat & Seafood. Based on their trending searches, popular brands include:
- Just Bare chicken
- Perdue chicken (including thin sliced chicken breast)
- Smart Chicken
- Farmer Focus chicken
You can find both raw chicken strips that you can cook yourself or ready-to-eat options. This is great if you prefer to heat them up at home or want to incorporate them into other recipes.
Other Grocery Options:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Publix
- Safeway
- Local grocery chains
Most grocery stores have both frozen and fresh options in their meat departments or freezer sections.
3. Delivery Services
When you’re really craving chicken strips but don’t want to leave the house, delivery services are your best friend.
DoorDash
DoorDash can bring chicken strips directly to your door from various restaurants in your area. Their platform specifically has a “chicken strips near me” search option that will show you all available restaurants serving chicken strips within your delivery radius.
Other Delivery Options:
- Uber Eats
- Grubhub
- Postmates
- Instacart (for grocery store chicken strips)
The beauty of these delivery apps is that they’ll show you exactly which restaurants near your location offer chicken strips, complete with ratings, prices, and estimated delivery times.
How to Choose the Best Chicken Strips
Not all chicken strips are created equal! Here’s what to look for:
Quality Indicators
- Freshness: Fresh chicken strips typically taste better than frozen ones that have been sitting for a while
- Breading: Look for a nice, crispy coating that isn’t too thick or too thin
- Meat quality: Restaurants that advertise “whole breast meat” usually offer better quality than those using processed chicken
- Cooking method: Some places pride themselves on cooking in specific oils (like Chick-fil-A’s refined peanut oil)
Portion Size and Value
We all want good value for our money! Consider:
- How many strips come in an order
- The size of each strip
- Whether it comes with sides or sauces
- Special deals or combos available
DIY Chicken Strips at Home
If you’re feeling ambitious, making chicken strips at home is surprisingly easy and can be healthier and more cost-effective.
Quick Recipe Idea
- Get chicken breast strips from Target or your local grocery
- Season with salt, pepper, and your favorite spices
- Dredge in flour, then egg wash, then breadcrumbs
- Fry in oil until golden and cooked through (or bake for a healthier option)
Frozen Options
If cooking from scratch isn’t your thing, there are tons of frozen options:
- Tyson crispy chicken strips
- Perdue SimplySmart organics breaded chicken strips
- Store brand options that can be baked or air-fried
Target’s grocery section has many of these options in their freezer aisles.
The Best Dipping Sauces for Chicken Strips
What’s a chicken strip without a delicious dipping sauce? Here are some favorites:
Classic Options
- Ranch
- Honey mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Ketchup
Specialty Sauces
- Chick-fil-A sauce (a unique blend of honey mustard, BBQ, and ranch)
- Buffalo sauce
- Sweet and sour
- Spicy mayo
Chick-fil-A suggests some interesting “dipping duos” on their website – pairing two different sauces together for a unique flavor experience. For example, they suggest trying spicy sauce followed by ranch for “a hot and cool combo.”
What Makes a Really Good Chicken Strip?
I’ve eaten my fair share of chicken strips (probably more than I should admit), and I’ve found that truly great chicken strips have:
- A juicy, tender interior that’s actual chicken breast, not processed meat
- A crispy, well-seasoned exterior that doesn’t fall off when you bite into it
- The perfect thickness – not too thin that they dry out, not too thick that they don’t cook through
- Seasoning that penetrates beyond just the breading
Healthier Chicken Strip Options
If you’re watching what you eat but still want to enjoy chicken strips, look for:
- Grilled options instead of fried
- Baked versions at grocery stores
- Places that use cleaner oils (like Chick-fil-A’s refined peanut oil)
- Strips made with organic or NAE (No Antibiotics Ever) chicken
Target carries several brands that focus on healthier chicken options, including Smart Chicken and Farmer Focus, which both emphasize quality and humane raising practices.
Local Gems vs. Chain Restaurants
While chains like Chick-fil-A offer consistency, don’t overlook local restaurants in your search for awesome chicken strips! Many local diners, pubs, and family restaurants make amazing homemade chicken strips that blow the chains out of the water.
How to find them:
- Check Yelp or Google reviews specifically mentioning chicken strips
- Ask friends and family for recommendations
- Look for “house specialty” mentions on local restaurant menus
How to Satisfy Your Chicken Strip Craving Right Now
- For immediate satisfaction: Use DoorDash or another delivery app to search “chicken strips near me”
- For a quick pickup: Find your nearest Chick-fil-A location using their restaurant locator on their website
- For at-home cooking: Head to Target or your local grocery store for frozen or fresh options
- For feeding a crowd: Consider Chick-fil-A’s Family Style Meals or buying in bulk from your grocery store
My Personal Chicken Strip Journey
I gotta admit, I’m somewhat of a chicken strip connoisseur (is that even a thing? well it is now!). I’ve tried strips from practically everywhere in my area. The best ones I’ve found combine that perfect crunch with juicy meat inside and have just the right amount of seasoning.
My go-to order is usually a 4-piece with honey mustard AND ranch – because sometimes you just need two dipping options depending on your mood with each bite!
Whether you’re grabbing Chick-fil-A’s perfectly seasoned Chick-n-Strips, picking up a package from Target’s meat section, or getting them delivered through DoorDash, you’ve got plenty of options to satisfy that chicken strip craving.
The next time you find yourself wondering “where can I get chicken strips near me?” remember this guide and all your delicious options. From fast food joints to grocery stores to delivery services, those crispy, juicy strips are never too far away!
Now if you’ll excuse me, all this writing about chicken strips has given me a serious craving. I think I know what I’m having for dinner tonight!
FAQs About Finding Chicken Strips Near You
Q: Are chicken tenders and chicken strips the same thing?
A: Technically, chicken tenders come from a specific part of the chicken breast, while strips can be cut from any part of the breast. However, most restaurants use these terms interchangeably.
Q: Which fast food place has the best chicken strips?
A: This is subjective, but Chick-fil-A consistently ranks high in consumer polls for their Chick-n-Strips, with Raising Cane’s and Popeyes also being popular choices.
Q: What should I look for when buying raw chicken strips from the grocery store?
A: Look for strips that are pink (not gray), don’t have a strong smell, and ideally say “no antibiotics” or “organic” if those things matter to you.
Q: What’s the quickest way to find chicken strips near me right now?
A: Using a food delivery app like DoorDash and searching “chicken strips” will show you all nearby options that can be delivered to your location.
Q: Can I get good chicken strips from grocery store delis?
A: Yes! Many grocery store delis (including some Target locations) offer freshly made hot food sections with fried chicken strips that are ready to eat.
