9 Chain Restaurants With The Best Fried Pickles, According To Reviews

Whether in the shape of chips or spears, there's no debate that fried pickles are a tasty treat for restaurant goers and home cooks. In 1963, pickles were fried for the first time in Arkansas at the Duchess Drive-In, and they've been a cultural mainstay ever since. Traditionally, this quick American snack is made from dill pickle slices that have been patted dry before being dunked into a buttermilk batter and then coated in flour mixed with seasoning. The covered pickles are then fried until golden and crispy, ready to be served with a dipping sauce of your choice. It's a simple and easy recipe that can be modified if you desire — one common modification is using beer or vodka as your binding liquid.

Fried pickles have become a fan-favorite appetizer at restaurants, and with whole Facebook groups dedicated to those who love the snack, it's no surprise that customers are looking for the best versions. We would argue that the appetizer should be offered everywhere, but for now, we'll happily take an order from these menus. These nine chain restaurants are considered to have the best fried pickles according to reviews, and we're already planning a date night to snag some.

Zaxby's is a fast-food chicken restaurant with more than 950 U.S. locations, primarily in the South, where it was founded. According to Zaxby's menu, its dill pickles are breaded in cornmeal, giving them a golden brown color before being served with a side of ranch. TripAdvisor reviews say that the fried pickles are served hot and crispy with golden, perfectly-browned breading. 

If you were wondering about the quality of the pickles, TikTok reviews compliment them for being crunchy, so no worries of soggy food here. While some other fast food restaurants only have fried pickles for a limited time, Zaxby's has made the fried side a permanent staple on its menu. This comes with good reason, as Facebook reviews rave that the pickles are some of the best at a fast food place.

Known for its wings, beer, and atmosphere, Buffalo Wild Wings (or B-Dubs, as it's lovingly nicknamed) offers breaded dill pickles served with B-Dubs sauce, which are a fan favorite for pickle lovers. Facebook users rave about the appetizer at Buffalo Wild Wings. They have been declared by many members as being the best fried pickles around, and we're going to trust that judgment. There's general agreement that they are best served with the restaurant's southwest ranch rather than the B-Dubs dip, which has a spicy honey mustard profile. Regardless, with over 20 sauces to choose from, you have an array of options to dip your wings or fried pickles into.

Some might think of Hooters as a bygone brand from yesteryear, but the chain actually thrived during the pandemic. Its fried pickles in particular will have you hooting with joy, as the restaurant features some of the best fried pickles on the market, according to reviews. The Hooters menu says that its fried pickles are handmade as soon as you place your order, before being served with Hooters' signature tangy dip. 

There's no denying the fact that the restaurant's appetizer is one of the best. The pickles are frequently recommended to fans asking where they can get their hands on the crave-worthy snack. Reviews found the fried pickles to be a perfect mix of pickle and breading, and many say that those from other businesses can't compare. Some comments go as far as to crown the fried treat with the title of "king."

Billed as the home of gourmet burgers, Red Robin was founded in 1969, making it only a few years younger than fried pickles themselves. Despite being known for its beef, Red Robin doesn't shy away from these golden-battered cucumbers.  

Red Robin describes its lightly battered fried dill pickles as crunchy and crispy, and that claim can be confirmed by reviewers. Facebook users mention loving the fried pickles, and think that they pair perfectly with the campfire mayo sauce that comes with the order. Customers on the whole agree that the appetizer is exceedingly yummy.

Famous for its soft rolls and cinnamon butter, Texas Roadhouse also has some of the best fried pickles, according to customers. These golden pickle chips are served with a side of ranch or Cajun sauce. Texas Roadhouse is frequently mentioned during conversations about favorite restaurant fried pickles on Facebook. Reddit users can't get enough of the starter — remarks of cravings and wanting to eat them all day, every day have been made about the restaurant's fried pickles. Reddit reviews even went as far as to declare that no other restaurant's fried pickles compare to Texas Roadhouse's.

Launched in 2005, Twin Peaks built its brand around five important areas: girls, scratch-made food, a lodge atmosphere, 29-degree draft beer, and sports. Now the brand has declared itself as the #1 sports bar, and with that obviously comes some great fried pickles. The sliced pickles are hand-breaded and fried as soon as you order them, and according to Facebook reviews, Twin Peaks is a favorite place to go for the tasty snack. Reviews on TripAdvisor were equally as glowing, with the starter being named the best by several. Still more TripAdvisor reviews mention being happy about the portion size of the fried pickles at the restaurant.

The Celtic-themed counterpart to Twin Peaks, it's no surprise that this saucy restaurant serves up some yummy fried pickles. At the Tilted Kilt, fried pickles are served with cayenne ranch dressing for dipping. Facebook reviews offer the restaurant as a recommendation when asked where to get the best fried pickles. Moreover, reviewers rave on TripAdvisor that the starter is delicious. If you're ever nearby, check out the Tilted Kilt, as fellow pickle lovers recommend it.

Cracker Barrel was created with home-cooking in mind and a solid country vibe. Though an unexpected rebrand in 2025 left loyal customers feeling betrayed by the company, it was eventually retracted after heavy backlash. Its country-fried pickles with a side of buttermilk ranch are intended to be shared, but we wouldn't be surprised if that was impossible. In a TikTok review of Cracker Barrel appetizers, the fried pickles are ranked high with numerous comments about the great flavor and perfect execution. Facebook pickle group members are no strangers to the restaurant's fried pickles either, with reviews noting how delicious customers find them.

Beef 'O' Brady's is a pub with Irish flair, known for a sports-bar atmosphere and plenty of green. You'll find the hand-battered fried pickles under the "Shareable Starters" heading on its menu. Yelp reviews describe the starter as being served hot and with a nice, crispy breading; other reviews rave about how amazing the fried pickles were in general when they went to the restaurant. Beef 'O' Brady's is also recommended when requests for the best fried pickles are made on Facebook. It seems that many agree with the restaurant's motto: "Good Food, Good Sports."

When deciding which chain restaurants should make the list for the best fried pickles, we researched and collected customer reviews from several sites, including Reddit, Tripadvisor, and Yelp. We also scoured social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok for consumer recommendations. Along with experience-based reviews, these restaurants' websites and menus were used to determine what made the appetizer unique to each place. All this information aided us in creating a list of the best spots for fried pickles, backed up by actual customers.