Finding truly exceptional chicken in Vacaville shouldn’t be this hard. But just because we lack the poultry palaces of cities like Nashville or Atlanta doesn’t mean you should settle for dry, flavorless disappointment. Our research uncovered everything from crispy fried perfection and smoky barbecue to global flavors that’ll make your taste buds sing. So skip the mediocre chains and discover the local gems worth clucking about.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
$ | (707) 437-4406 | WEBSITE
Our go-to chicken joint in Vacaville also has an excellent chicken sandwich. It’s incredibly crispy and packed with so much flavor, you could use it to do taste bud curls. Plus, you can choose from classic sides like mac and cheese or biscuits. We like the massive chicken sandwich that comes with pickles, mayo, and not too much breading. There’s so much chicken in this that you could use all the pieces that fall out to make yourself a smaller sandwich. Popeyes also has a drive-thru.
But we do recommend pulling over—this sandwich demands your full attention and two hands.
KFC
$ | (707) 448-7141 | WEBSITE
Anyone who’s found themselves craving a solid fast-food chicken fix in Vacaville (us, on more than one occasion) should swing by this spot. Luckily, KFC is quite consistent with its offerings, so it’s easy to rely on. The $20 fill-up meal is a great deal, offering a basket of fries, four different sauces, four pieces of chicken, four biscuits, and a basket of chicken pieces—a perfect way to satisfy that fried chicken craving.
It’s also a great place to order a delicious deep-fried Cajun turkey for Thanksgiving, which is tender, juicy, and full of flavor.
Chick-fil-A
$ | (707) 421-9631 | WEBSITE
If what you want is a chicken sandwich so perfectly balanced you need to pause and appreciate it before taking another bite, this fast-food spot tucked into Vacaville can help. The toasted buttered bun is stacked with a crispy chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, and your choice of sauces. We love the classic chicken deluxe sandwich, which comes with a juicy patty that stays hot and tender through every bite.
Chick-fil-A is also open pretty early, which also happens to be when we crave a SunJoy drink the size of a small bucket.
Kiki’s Chicken
$ | (707) 584-6900 | WEBSITE
Here’s another chicken spot you should visit with an empty stomach. Kiki’s Chicken is a modern eatery in Vacaville that has several excellent wing options to choose from. We like the BBQ style wings. They normally come with fries, but order them with the sauce switched out—it pairs better with the crispy skin, fresh seasoning, and ample seating available. Then there’s the boneless wings—practically the same thing as the regular wings, but covered in a delicious sauce and served with a michelada.
Jollibee
$ | (707) 402-1030 | WEBSITE
This Filipino comfort food spot is located in Vacaville right in the heart of the chicken restaurant scene, which explains why you can find the best fried chicken here. Still, we like their more straightforward Filipino classics better, including the Palabok family pack, Spaghetti family pack, 10-piece Chicken Joy with gravy sides, and burger steak meal. The fried chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, probably thanks to their consistent preparation.
If they only sold that Chicken Joy, we’d tell you to come with an empty stomach. The Ube Pie and Peach Mango Pie make perfect sweet endings, and the outside seating with umbrellas is ideal for enjoying everything. While most workers are friendly and organized, some may lack that extra customer service touch. Overall, it’s a great place for large quantities of authentic Filipino flavors at reasonable prices.
Angry Chickz
$ | (707) 660-8205 | WEBSITE
The chicken at Angry Chickz is so juicy, you just can’t fight the urge to compare it to the last perfectly cooked piece you had. The biggest and most exciting one is the #1 combo. It comes with two hot chicken sliders that pack a nice kick even at the mild level, plus fries that are the perfect texture when ordered extra crispy. There’s a lot going on inside these sliders, but somehow no ingredient—from the soft bun to the coleslaw and pickles—gets lost.
They mesh beautifully like a classic comfort meal. Take a moment once you’re finished and proceed to try the surprisingly tasty Angry Mac with loaded fries underneath, though maybe go one level down on the heat.
Sharkys Chicken And Fish
$ | (707) 514-7577 | WEBSITE
Sharky’s Chicken and Fish is one of Vacaville’s only walk-in-friendly spots where you can get a filling meal for under $15. And their box meal with chicken thighs and fries is not only a preposterous $8.99—it’s also really good. All the standards inside (crispy chicken, well-cooked fries, good ranch dressing) are solid. But its greatest strength is the catfish nuggets packed inside.
That’s why it’s our go-to order, but the shrimp po’boy, fried snapper, and cod are also some of the best decisions you can make in Vacaville—or for takeaway, where the hole-in-the-wall feel just adds to the charm.
Chicken Express
$ | (707) 422-2310 | WEBSITE
There’s a lot of talk about the tacos at Chicken Express. They’re good. But the best thing on the menu is the super chicken burrito. The walk-in spot loads it with flavorful roasted chicken, fresh potato salad, crisp coleslaw, and a side of carrot cake. This is the best value you can get for under ten bucks in Vacaville, so keep it in mind for a quick lunch. Our only issue with it is that we swear the tacos have gotten smaller lately. We can’t prove this, but at least they’re still really tasty.