Astoria Restaurant Has Some Of America's Best Fried Chicken: Ranking

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Astoria: famed for its souvlaki, seafood, shawarma, and... fried chicken?

Apparently so, according to a new nationwide list by Eater, which ranks an Astoria eatery as one of the very best fried-chicken purveyors in the United States.

The restaurant in question: The Freakin Rican, a Puerto Rican spot on a quiet block of 34th Avenue between 43rd and 44th streets. It earned a spot on the list for its chicharrones de pollo: a chicken nugget-like dish prepared in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, where chef-owner Derick Lopez was born.

To achieve his chicharrones, Lopez marinates boneless thigh chunks in adobo, paprika and apple cider vinegar and then fries them in a spiced batter — resulting in nuggets with a "deep bronzed color" and "a profound crunch," Eater critic Ryan Sutton raves.

"Sprinkle a bit of sazon seasoning over them for extra salt and aroma, or squeeze a bit of lime on top to cut through the fat," Sutton adds.

Freakin Rican is the sole New York City restaurant on Eater's list, and one of just two in the state, along with the Taiwanese spot Eatery 19 in Syosset.

Lopez, who grew up in the South Bronx, began his culinary career by selling food at street festivals while making a living as a makeup artist, QNS reported last year. He opened The Freakin Rican in 2018.

Read Eater's full list of the best fried chicken in America here.