Let me give it to you straight, Porter's is, by far, the best fried chicken I've ever had (pft Sweetie Pies? Hudaks? garbage in comparison). However, if you make Porter's too much of a habit, your health insurance company will hate you. Dripping in grease, Porter's puts you on the fast track to Flavortown, USA and heart disease. As they say, good things don't come easy. One tip: Make sure you get it SPICY. Sure, it takes an extra 20 minutes to prepare, but I would wait a lifetime for their spicy fried chicken.
(5)
Christine F.
Mmm, ghetto goodness. If you are craving fried chicken, no place does it better than Porters. Generous portions, absolutely delicious food. Simple, straightforward. Don't expect to dine in. It's takeout. Taking it next door to The Cue to add a beer and pool to the mix makes for a winning combo.
(5)
Tuan L.
I tried this place cause my friend told me its similar to King Edwards chicken. They do have similar style. It was good chicken but living 40 minutes away is too far for me to drive. Maybe if I'm in the area again ill stop by. I recommend this place if your in the area.
(4)
Mike U.
(Trumpets) *************************My 100th Yelp Review************************** I decided that my 100th review would be on a genre dear to my heart, fried chicken. A special shout out to Front Porch and San Tung in SF, for letting me know how good fried chicken can really be, in all it's different styles. Came here hearing off of yelp talk that porter's had some of the best fried chicken in all of st. louis. i don't know if it's a clear cut winner but porter's is up there for it's thin crispy skin and succulent meat, i think it could have been seasoned a little more, but delicious nonetheless. the corn fritters were little spheres of deliciousness and i'm looking forward to trying the okra fritters the next time i go back. and the underrated side dish award goes to the cole slaw, which my friend, a cole slaw connoisseur if there ever was one, declared the "best cole slaw of my life." it did have a nice sweetness to it. I finished it off with a slice of sweet potato pie which was fine, but not spectacular. i can see why it's been advised to get carryout, although the cashier was very nice and food was brought out to the table (in a white box) the inside has all the charm of a beatup corporate fast food joint without any of the familiar colors or logos. there's also a bar underneath the tables that makes it very uncomfortable to sit on the inside...just get it to go. i wish the pieces of chicken were bigger and i wish the mashed potatoes were better (next time i'll opt for the $0.40 french fry upgrade). other than that, it's cheap, tasty, and judging by the diversity of it's carryout clientele, way more popular and well known than the 8 reviews on yelp would have you believe.
(4)
Katie C.
I sat through a three hour continuing education photography class on an empty stomach. After class I bolted to the car, fished my parents' GPS out of the console. With trembling hands, turned it on. Search. Restaurants. Fast Food. (It was an emergency, ok?) Burger King? No. Mc Donalds? No. Taco Bell? Hell no. Jack in the Box? Maybe. Hardees? No. Porters? Porters. Porters. That sounds familiar. I think I saw it on Yelp. I think it's local. I think it's fried chicken. Set as Destination. It was raining (I'm with you Craig B., what it is about rainy days and fried chicken?) but I got there in no time. I ran inside, elated to see that my subconscious had been correct, I had seen it on Yelp and it was indeed fried chicken. I asked the girl whether I should get the tenders or the pieces and she responded without hesitation, "tenders." Tenders it was, with fries instead of mashed, cole slaw, and Dr. Pepper (of course.) I sat shivering in a booth (it was freezing inside, but it's an old place and I like that) and waited for my food. When she brought it I wanted to hug her. I ate it as fast as my cold shaking hands would let me. It was delicious. I dipped my tenders in honey mustard but next time I will ask for gravy. It does not take the place of Bush's in Waco for me, but Porter's is a winner through and through.
(4)
Mandi L.
I had the tender sandwich and potato salad. Both good. Nothing too special. Next to the place I do laundry so I will probably keep trying new things. Service was great though.
(3)
MaryPat G.
Best fried chicken great service. Best to call ahead.
(5)
Craig B.
I've read all eight reviews of Porters on Yelp and looked forward to visiting. My virgin visit came today as I decided to venture out in the rain for some chicken. It seems rainy days = fried chicken lunch in my brain. I found the restaurant easily and walked inside. The store was not busy, probably due to the rain. I ordered the three piece dinner which came with a leg, thigh and a breast. As I waited I spoke with the son of the original owner about the establishment. He was very friendly and customer service is definitely king at Porters. My food arrived in less than three minutes and I was back on the road heading to work to begin chowing down. For my money the chicken is just okay. The batter does not taste like much. I guess I prefer country picnic style chicken where you can taste the salt and pepper in the breading. It was not the chicken I read about in previous reviews. The mashed potatoes are instant and I do not fault a chicken joint for going this route. Potatoes take time and I prefer the time be spent on making great chicken. The coleslaw was good. It didn't appear to be creamy or overly drenched in a vinegar base. It was sweet and chopped fine. A nice palate cleanser. I got to tell you, this is the first review I have written where I feel bad for stating my opinion. The place seems very nice and I am a firm believer in supporting small independent stores over larger chains. I will definitely have to go back and see whether today's chicken is what is consistently served day to day.
(3)
Ruben H.
If you want to know more about the FRIED CHICKEN from Porter's..this is not the review. This review is mostly based on one of the side dishes, the Gizzard! A dish that might be simple to execute but hard to acquire the degree of texture and taste. However, I believe that Porter's by all (comparing to 4 places) have one of the best taste in batter and deep fried of Gizzard. The Gizzard itself is crunchy to the bite, not talking about the batter but the meat itself, therefore indicating that it is fresh ingredient . I would totally recommend it if you prefer such a delicacy. Also the portions is extremely generous! Next time, I will try the fried chicken.
(4)
Liz G.
It's just a little hole-in-the-wall place between a laundromat and billards bar, but the chicken is good. I mean, how can you not love some fried chicken?
(4)
C B.
we ordered chicken and fish dinners tonight. we thought the chicken was tasty and crunchy but the pieces were small. We did not find it to be greasy. The fish was ok nothing special. Coleslaw was average and the potatos were from a box. But the real disappointment was the cheesecake dessert. it was not made from fresh ingriedents more like a box powder mix...the texture was meally and the taste was not that of cheesecake. I actually think over all i probably will not be back, there are better fried chicken establishments in STL....even KFC would be a better choice.
(3)
Zach T.
Porters has always consistently been amazing. Just be sure to take a menu home and call ahead first. But even if you don't, it is ALWAYS worth the wait.
(5)
Stephanie S.
I've said it a billion times, and I'm going to say it again: I LOVE YELP. Because without Yelp, there's no way I would have found this gem of a place. This place is definitely easy to miss; I can't remember how many times I've driven past the little strip mall that Porters is located in. Anyway, on to the food. It's GREAT. I ordered the regular fried chicken bucket and a side of corn fritters. It was ALL good. The corn fritters were like little bites of heaven in my mouth. Think hushpuppy, with little kernels of corn spread throughout. They were served piping hot, and they were just...wonderful. The star of the show, however, was the chicken. This is some of the best fried chicken I've had in St. Louis. MUCH better than the overrated-ness that is Hodak's. The breading was flour based, and it was just flavorful enough not to overpower the juicy, tender meat of the chicken. Adding a little bit of Porter's hot sauce on top just made it all the more delicious. I finished off my meal with a piece of sweet potato pie. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything to write home about, either. I'm so glad we have leftovers. I know what I'm eating for breakfast tomorrow morning!
(4)
Lynn S.
Really good fried chicken. Always get it to go as the inside is not very conducive to enjoying your meal. They also have good fried shrimp, but I usually just get the chicken to go. Good fries, also. One they gave me a bun which had mold on it, so I always double check before gobbling down.
(4)
Kellee F.
Eh. Now, be warned: This review is coming from a Popeyes devotee. I'll start with the pros: 1) Fast & friendly service. I went at noon on a Monday and I expected the place to be packed. It wasn't and we ordered & got our food within 15 minutes. 2) The actual chicken is juicy. Sometimes fried chicken can fry the juice right out of the chicken. I can deffo say that the chicken was succulent...yes, succulent. The biggest con is that it just wasn't all that like some here said it was. No shade, but the crust was paper thin and had no bang. I've heard that the spicy is what's hot so I may try it again before my vacay is over. For now, Popeyes should rest assured that my loyalty is with them.
(3)
Meg M.
Okay, So for those whom know me know i may not be the best chicken fan in the world. With that said, i have to say that this may be one of the exceptions (there are a few here in st.louis!) to this rule! When i worked at one of the places close to there this was a staple for the week, usually on fridays would someone (sometimes myself, i'm a good drone when i need to be!) and this would be an awesome lunch. Now, i have to say that i am a true fan of the fish dinners they have here more then the chicken (please don't throw any bones at me!) I love, love love the friend shrimp (i'm a fan of most things from the sea in terms of food!). So yeah, as most of the other people say this is delish, and i DO agree with them.
(4)
Matt R.
Let me first apologize to my mother for the hurt I'm about to cause her. Now. This is hands down the best fried chicken in St. Louis. In a nondescript strip mall, sitting between a laundromat and a small pool hall sits what is arguably the best fried chicken I've ever had. Being originally from the south I don't make that statement lightly. Crisp, thin, crunchy crust that is muy flavorful covering moist and tender chicken. The best part? It's that way each and every time. No inconsistencies here. Personally, we buy a box (yeah, I said a box) of plump drumsticks to bring home for guests and a handful of their homemade hot sauce. But if you're into white meat it's all good. By the way, it's also phenomenal cold and doesn't get soggy so for that next picnic outing you could do a hell of a lot worse. Chicken isn't the only thing they are rocking out, but it's hard to order anything else. The catfish is also ridiculous, and these little corn fritters they make are extremely addictive. Lots of other options, but chicken is king here. There are a few booths and tables inside if you desire to eat in. While there's certainly nothing special about the decor, it's always been very clean on my dozens of visits. The people who know about Porters, are religious about Porters. And to be honest I'm a bit hesitant to write this review since it's already busy enough and I don't particularly want to wait in line. It's easy to pass by this place and never notice it, it's just North of a KFC (which I find hilarious that the people going to that KFC don't know what is 100 yards away) and on the same side of the road. p.s. - They do make a "spicy" version of their chicken, but I'd advise against it since it's a different crust altogether (cornmeal based). And while very good, it really doesn't compare. So just get regular, slap some hot sauce on that bitch. Who needs Calgon to take you away when there's Porters?
(5)
Lauren L.
DELISH! and SO cheap! I miss this place so much. It's the only fried chicken I'll eat. Soooooo good Perfectly crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. You get a little cup of mashed taters, coleslaw, and a roll. And it's like $6 for 3 pieces of white meat. There's a KFC practically next door. I hope when I come back to St. Louis that the KFC is out of business cause of Porter's delicious, homemade, non-genetically modified chicken.
(5)
Chelsie M.
As advised by other yelpers we called this in for pickup. It was a very clean typical local chicken joint. Me and hubby ordered the 3 piece special (Special you get to pick your pieces). By default it came with a side of mashed potatoes, cole slaw and a roll. I don't like cole slaw so I asked to substitue with another mash, it was no problem. The chicken was GRRRRREAT, it tasted just like homemade...And that is where it ends, the potatoes were flavorless, with some weird looking white gravy (I guess) but the gravy was sort of a yellowish color so I don't know, but they were plain and bland, and the roll was hard and crusty. So all in all, I would go again only get chicken and make my own sides at home.
(5)
R O.
Passed by twice while on a business trip out in the "LOU". It was a 50/50 deal for me. The first time I ordered the chicken wing combo. Man the wings were on hit. Crispy, juicy, hot, seasoning just right, even the skin had good flavor. Came with mash n gravy, nothing special, and cole slaw, nothing special again. I was impressed compared to the other fried chicken spot I tried in the area. Next visit though wasn't the same. I tried the mixed piece combo and they served me some oversized/undersized soggy/extra crispy pieces. When I bit into the breast it was borderline almost 99.97% cooked a.k.a raw. WHY ME! So looking forward to a good meal. BTW the fish is average. I can get this stuff down the street. I would come back for those wings anytime
(3)
Noelle O.
Best fried chicken evahhh! Get the spicy recipe. Not a nice sit-down place, so best to get it to go.
(4)
Josh D.
Good food at a fair price, I don't live in the area so the few times we have went we always eat inside. Seems like most people get to go orders as normally we are the only ones eating inside.
(4)
Private M.
Very good fried chicken. My wife and I went here for the first time yesterday. We both got the 3 piece meal with mashed potatoes, slaw and a roll and a drink. Out the door it was only $13 total. My wife ordered the spicy chicken and they make you wait 15 minutes for it because they cook it fresh. I don't know if the regular chicken was cooked just then either, but either way you could tell both the spicy and non-spicy had been very recently cooked. Very good chicken. The meat was tender and the spices good. The breading had just enough grease to not make it flavorless and dry, which is. Remember folks, fried chicken is supposed to be a little greasy, otherwise it has no flavor. The owner was working the counter and was a really nice guy and struck up a good conversation as it was slow when we walked in (around 11:15 AM). We sat there for an hour and probbaly 2 dozen people came in for to-go orders, many buying huge buckets 'o chicken. Check it out. Good food, good prices, friendly service.
(4)
Angela J.
I've gone to Porters for years and it's a steal for around $5 you get like 13- 14 good sized wings and a great buffalo sauce and a roll...The Chicken is by far my fave in STL...
(5)
Jake S.
I'm gonna make this short and sweet. If you feel like clogging your arteries, there is no better place to do it. We got take out chicken strip sandwiches and onion rings. Well, I took the chicken strips off the bun because I didn't want anything to mask the delicious chicken I was eating. It is good frickin' chicken! Get take out, don't eat there. The clientele is a little shady...
(4)
Kate L.
Having read all the great reviews about Porters on Yelp. We decided today was a perfect day to go grab some chickens to accompany the fresh batch of cheddar and apple biscuits we just baked. Our mission for chicken yielded enough foods for two more meals. We ordered: Chicken Meal with Mash Potatoes and Coleslaw, Porters Burger, Fried Gizzardss and Fried Okra. They don't lie when they say everything taste great when dip in batter and deep fried. The chicken was crunchy and oh soo juicy on the inside. The Porters burger is essentially a country fried steak on a bun. yumm. The fried gizzards is actually really good... don't get turn of by the word "gizzards" because chit'lin done right is a party for your taste buds...chicken gizzards is no exception. Fried okra yummy... my favorite! I didn't really care for the mash potatoes and coleslaw. One negative is the seasoning for everything was a little on the salty side for me. But next time we crave fried goodness, Porters is definitely worth the drive.
(3)
Juan C.
This place is just ok. I would rather go to KFC.
(2)
Bill C.
Best fried chicken and catfish in STL. I am not a huge fan of the cole slaw's but their other sides are really good. Corn fritters are excellent and the service is very friendly. It is actually easy to get to from I-44 if you are heading out of STL.
(5)
Adam R.
Amazing fried chicken. Definitely the best I've had in a long time. The place is kind of a "hole-in-the-wall," but that actually adds to the charm. You can sit down (we did - there were 6 of us), but it seems most people take-out. Get the spicy fried chicken!!! It takes a little longer than the regular but it's totally worth the wait. Cole slaw is excellent too!
(5)
Christal V.
The Catfish is delicious! Perfectly fried everytime! Staff isn't very friendly or helpful. Call in your order or you'll be waiting around, with the scowling staff for 15 minutes or more...
(4)
David M.
Try the spicy chicken! It's excellent. I wish I had ordered more so I bought a bucket to take home.
(5)
D P.
Based on the reviews we read here, we stopped by today for our first visit. The chicken is alright, but way to greasy and not very hot. This chicken is not near as good as Gus' Chicken in Memphis. We liked the sides, especially the cole slaw.
(2)
Andee A.
I went to Porter's for lunch today based on the great reviews I read on Yelp. I was looking for a place to take my husband on his birthday (he loves fried chicken). Let me hasten to add that I am not a fried chicken lover, but I will have a piece every now and then when my husband brings it home from Dierberg's (his favorite). So take this with a grain of salt, OK? I thought it was greeeezy. Tasty. The chicken under the crust was delicious, but there was waaaay too much grease. Ick. The corn fritter? To die for.
(2)
Leggs T.
Decided to visit Porters with my boyfriend. We arrived about an hour before they closed on a Saturday night. The place is tiny with limited seating. We ordered our food. It took about 20 minutes or so. There are only two available selections for sides but you can substitute for others for an additional charge. They also have Jalapeño poppers, fried okra, liver, gizzards etc. Although I realize some of these are not actual sides it would be nice if you could substitute for one of these options for $1-$2 more instead of having to purchase them separately. Or perhaps offer smaller portions. We wanted the full experience so I ordered the catfish meal which came with two sides and a biscuit. My bf got the chicken which included two sides and a biscuit. We also got a side of okra. I must say it was a lot of food. It barely fit on the table. I was not impressed with the chicken. It wasn't even seasoned. I've had better at Popeyes. However the fried gizzards were amazing and I was glad we splurged on them. You also get a huge box of them. While we were eating and while there were two other separate couples waiting on to go orders the cashier started stacking chairs. Then she proceeded to mop the floor. Really? She didn't even put down a wet floor sign. Ok I will give you a little bit of a pass and let you stack the chairs but you can't wait to mop until after we leave. It will take you 5 seconds to mop the tiny lobby. The restaurant didn't close for another half hour. We felt rushed. I will go back for the gizzards but pass on the chicken and perhaps go a lot earlier so I don't interfere with end of shift side work.
(2)
Kristen M.
I have to say, this fried chicken was pretty good, and for the price, it was spectacular! We got two two piece meals, with mashed potatoes, coleslaw and a role for UNDER $10! The coleslaw was delicious and creamy, the fried chicken had just enough crunch. I don't eat fried chicken often, but I would definitely go back here!
(4)
Joe R.
I decided to try Porter's because I wanted to try some place closer to my place in Franz Park. Of course I checked out what other Yelpers on here had to say about the place and then browsed over to their website to check out the menu. I thought it was interesting that they offered two different types of chicken boxes. A regular consists of their choice of chicken parts while a special means you get to choose. I went with a 4 piece regular box and subbed in french fries (no additional charge) and mashed potatoes as my sides. The girl taking my order was nice and said it would be ready in about 10 minutes. After setting out on my voyage for fried chicken and passing through the Manchester speed trap known as Maplewood, I arrived at the place that sits between a coin laundry and a pool hall. If you're heading south on Big Bend it will be on your left. The place was very bright, I arrived and the girl at the counter asked if I had a pick up order. She called back to the kitchen and a minute later my food was ready. The place is kind of on the small side, I don't think there were any tables larger than 4 top in the place which makes me think they get a lot of to-go business. They had stacks upon stacks of white boxes ready to go which I was thinking was in anticipation of a lunch rush. I arrived home after again making my way through the Maplewood car trap and settled down for my dinner. This time I got 2 thighs, a leg and a wing. The chicken was a little darker than golden brown in color and the breading was more flaky compared to Hodak's shake'n'bake breading. It was also, as others pointed out, very greasy but good. I was surprised at how much flavor the chicken had. The fries were great too, just the right amount of salt and were both perfect in color and crispness. Then I got to the mashed potatoes. This is where it went down hill. Now I like my mashed potatoes and I don't mind fake/boxed potatoes but these were the absolute worst potatoes I've ever had. The cup, which much resembled a coffee cup held one small ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes floating in about 6 oz of white gravy which actually was just chicken broth. Very disappointed to say the least. Will I go back? Probably. Will I order the mashed potatoes? Doubtful. Here's hoping next time I go back they are better though.
(3)
Mick B.
This place has great chicken and fish. The staff is friendly and the food even reheats well if you refrigerate it the day before a holiday they might be closed for and warm it in the oven. Fast service and they change the grease in their fryers regularly.
(5)
Andrew M.
Porter's is a tiny hole in the wall restaurant right off of Shrewsbury and Big Bend- across the street from the McDonalds and shares the strip mall with a laundromat. Inside the restaurant it's dim and dingy looking (it's dingy *looking*, not dirty!) reminding me of an old diner. BUT! I can't stress enough how EXCELLENT this place is! The receptionist is extremely friendly and helpful. The service is lightning fast. And the chicken is some of the finest fried chicken I've ever had! The outside is covered in crispy, delicious batter and the chicken inside is juicy and tender. I'm not sure how they season it, but everything just taste right- THIS. IS. FRIED. CHICKEN. PERIOD! I get the chicken dinner box which comes with a roll, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. I don't care for coleslaw so I never eat it. The mashed potatoes are your average fare with white gravy (white? yellow? I just know it's not brown gravy!) and the roll is probably store bought, but it's soft and (*INSERT A WORD MEANING THE OPPOSITE OF DRY HERE*). But if the chicken is the star of the show, the encore is the Corn Fritters. These are essentially hush puppies (deep fried breading) with corn inside them. They combine the texture of crispy breading with the (*INSERT ABOVE WORD*), creaminess of corn. For less than $10 bucks, you bet I'll be back the next time a craving for old fashioned fried chicken strikes. I may want to get it to go and eat someplace less drab, but I'll definitely be back! *NOTE: Sorry for the madlibs in this review. But the only word I could think of to describe what I felt is a word some have an aversion to. Sort of like how epileptics shouldn't be exposed to strobe lights. For those of you still curious, that word is moi##..
(4)
Fab S.
I have been at this place several times. When I feel like having fried chicekn, this is the only spot that comes in mind. I used to live closer to that location and patronized the place a lot. Since I moved over 2 yrs ago, I still am not willing to find a replacement, so I don't mind making the drive :). I usually get the chicken but also had the shrimp once. Too much breading on the shrimp, quality of shrimp is severely lacking straight waste of money, ugh! Tnis is a chicken place, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of having a diverse menu, but the seafood on the menu needs major improvement... Chicken never let me down though, it is so delicious and perfectly seasoned, my mouth is watering as I think about that chicken! The rolls served with each order are flaming as well! I would suggest they serve better fries, that ole crinkled, straight-out-of-a-frozen-bag, I-didn't-really-have-a-choice type of fries is not cutting it. Awful to say the least. But I am content with my wings and rolls, can't go wrong with those 2 items:))
(4)
Caitlin M.
The BF and I weren't in the mood to cook and we've been really indecisive lately, so we took to Yelp, found this place, and took your advice to get takeout from this place. Thank you, Yelp. This was an EXCELLENT decision. We called ahead to order a 4-piece special box (2 legs, a thigh, and a breast) and a chicken liver meal. When we arrive 15 minutes later to pick it up, it was ready to go. The parking lot was packed and there were other people waiting inside, as well. It only took a few minutes to get our food and get back out of the lot. If you've never been, the parking lot is a little weird and part of it is reserved for the nearby laundromat. We'd been referred to other local acclaimed fried chicken places that we weren't so impressed with. Within one bite, we immediately knew Porter's was giving us something much, much better. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The mashed potatoes, like another reviewer said, did have a school cafeteria quality, and by that I mean a really enjoyable denseness, but not in the way that instant mashed potatoes are dense. The gravy that came on them was delicious--great flavor and almost "light" tasting. Neither of us have ever had fried chicken livers before, so we aren't really sure how they rank up. They were a little dry and has an almost chalky texture (but is that how fried chicken livers always are?). The BF said the coleslaw was a little on the sweet side but good, and also enjoyed the potato salad. The price was good ($17 for two meals, no drinks), the location is very convenient for us, and the service was prompt. We didn't stand at the counter more than a couple of minutes, just long enough for us to pay the check and pick our bag up off the counter. If you are in the Richmond Heights/Maplewood area, this is definitely a place to check out. I'm sure we'll be going back. PS: There's also a pretty cool signed jersey from Wainwright calling this the best fried chicken in town.
(4)
Mindy P.
We are on a search for the best fried chicken place in St. Louis, what I dislike about our current favorite are the limited options outside of fried chicken. Porters brings a lot to the table, literally, I wanted to try everything on the menu it all sounded so good! The fried chicken itself was delicious and with our sides, we had leftovers for days, on top of the fast and friendly service Porters was well worth the drive from North county and we will be back.
(3)
Delilah M.
Great fried chicken. We will definitely go back. It is more of a take and go but the spicy chicken is the best I have had.
(4)
Peter B.
This has been my go to place for fried chicken since I was a little boy. In addition to fried chicken they have great fish (cod, jack salmon, catfish), shrimp, chicken tenders, and sides of mashed potatoes. It's all cooked to order and very reasonable. I suggest calling orders in ahead of time as you will wait about 10-20 minutes if you wait to order at the counter. My family has ordered 100 pieces of chicken at a time for parties and it's always a big hit. Porter's is located in a small strip mall next to a laundrymat and a billiard-themed bar.
(5)
Dave B.
The chicken here is great! However of note: do not ever call a carry out order in! The person on the phone every time I talk to, the female is extremely rude!! I have gotten nothing but a bad attitude from her every time She answers the phone. Very poor customer service... you're driving business away!
(1)
Steven B.
Porters does chicken well, but they lost a star for their Cod Fish. The pieces were square. I wanted the catfish, but was informed it would be a 20 minuet wait. To save time, I went with Cod. Big mistake, not only was it square, but had a greasy nasty taste. I've heard good things about the catfish, so next time I will order ahead, so I will not have to wait. We also enjoyed the Chicken Tender Dinner tonight and it was a winner. It included four huge pieces of white meat chicken, that were crispy and juicy. These tenders were way better then those you'd get at any other fast food type business. My bad choice of Cod Fish caused them a star, but I am confident once I experience the Catfish the stars will go back up.
(3)
Jamie R.
I've never been to this place in person, but I went to a barbecue catered by Porter's (well, "catered" as in the host purchased 300 pieces of fried chicken and set them out in giant boxes for everyone to eat). Even though it had been sitting out for awhile and so was not fresh or even hot anymore, this was hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. I will definitely be checking this place out in person soon.
(4)
S. W.
I love Porters Chicken!!!! You can't go wrong with the fried chicken........absolutely delicious!!! The fried gizzards, livers and okra are also very good. The coleslaw, mashed potatoes and gravy are OK, wish they would improve on those rolls.
(5)
Mark B.
I'm a Southerner and chicken connoisseur so let me start with that. Porters is my go to chicken spot in the Lou. Perfect..no but it's pretty good. Sometimes it's over cooked and dry so that makes me go a little heavier on the salad dressing (aka hot sauce). I say try for yourself though. I still go at least every other week. Solid place for good bird.
(4)
Alisa H.
We brought this chicken to a family gathering. We got a 20 piece chicken for $23.00. Best fried chicken that I have ever had. We ordered it and it was up in 2 minutes. Fresh, hot and crispy. The pieces look small but as you eat them you realize it's all meat and very little bones. I can't wait to go back and get some to bring home... That way we have left overs. Worth every penny!
(4)
Scott C.
I really don't understand all the good reviews for this place. We moved to Webster Groves from Phoenix about 4 years ago and I have eaten here like 4 times. I keep waiting to be impressed and it just hasn't happened. It is not terrible, but it is just bland, greasy food. Their breading has no special interesting flavor to it. My wife's is significantly better. I'm not a huge fried chicken fan so I usually get the fish. I honestly would rather go to Long John Silver.
(2)
Danny G.
This is quite simply for me so far the best fried chicken in the city hands down. Everything else there is pretty good too. My sister insisted the last time we went that we get the shrimp as well and I was skeptical being a fried chicken purist with this place. I gave in and did not regret it. I agree with the others that the corn fritters are amazing as well. Why bother with KFC when you can get amazing local recipes at just about the same price? And not to mention they chose the perfect hot sauce to go with everything
(5)
Lizzy L.
I'm embarrassed to say that yesterday was my first time ever trying Porter's Fried Chicken since my arrival in St. Louis 4 years ago. And boy do I wish that I had tried it earlier!!! I brought some leftovers back home and my husband has already requested that we go there, SOON! My meat-loving friend took me and another friend last night because he "only likes to spend money on delicious meat". My friend visiting St. Louis requested the best fried chicken in St. Louis and we ended up here. I was happy with the prices and the dinner sounds like a great deal, including rolls, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw along with fried chicken. A 2 piece chicken dinner is only $4. Next time I come I'm going to get a chicken dinner, but my friends wanted just the fried chicken buckets this time. The 3 of us shared a 16-piece bucket ($16.99) which included wings, thighs, breast, and drumsticks. If you want to be able to pick out your meat there's a small extra cost. And if you order "Special" instead of "regular" type chicken in the bucket it's a dollar extra. My favorite type in the bucket was the thigh, but even the chicken breast was juicy, tender, crispy, with the best breading I've ever tasted. I usually shy away from chicken breast but this one wasn't dry like others I've tried. The breading was crispy without being too overwhelmingly oily. The restaurant has hot sauce and ketchup for you to dip your chicken in but the chicken alone has good flavor too. I was full after 4 pieces of chicken and my friend ate 8 pieces. The individual size coleslaw that my friend ordered as a size looked pretty small but I think he enjoyed it too. The restaurant itself does have seating but it looks like most people take the chicken to go because there's only about 7-10 tables. We stayed there to eat and used lots of napkins as we dug into the chicken with our bare hands. I am definitely coming back here for delicious fried chicken at an amazing price!!
(5)
Anthony A.
This is the type of place every guy will like. It is a no frills, good tasting chicken shack. Sure, they have other options like burgers,shrimp, and fish; but make no mistake the folks cook chicken. Specifically, spicy fried chicken. It is worth driving to Webster Groves to get. The meal may take about 20 minutes to cook but that is enough time to call in the order and drive for pick up. There is nothing romantic about the shop, so get it to go. Tonight's side item was corn fritters. I was surprised to find them tasting like sweet hush puppies. There is a little bite back as real corn is used in the mash. The chicken is spicy and crisp. They offer mild chicken selections but I've never ordered it Don't look for health food here but of you want fried chicken, anything else is a wrong choice.
(5)
Sandra B.
When you drive 40 min just to get a taste of this chicken, its got to be guuuuud lol :)
(4)
Christian K.
Porter's Fried Chicken is a hidden gem. Fried chicken can be debated all day. We all have our favorite stops, but some of Porter's best qualities have little to do with chicken. If anything, the chicken is almost a sidenote. Don't get me wrong. Their fried chicken is delicious, not my favorite. I highly suggest trying it. However, their fried catfish is where it's at. My brother works near the place and would just rave about the catfish. I went in to check the place out, and what do I do? Buy the chicken! I was happy, for sure, but didn't know what I was missing. When I told him what I had done, I could tell he was disappointed and thought that I needed to have it right away. In fact, we stopped what we were doing and made a b-line for Porter's. My brother hooked me up! The fried catfish is to die for! Tender, juicy, flavorful . . . Mercy! Do yourself a favor and bypass the chicken. Get yourself some catfish. And have yourself a happy dinnertime.
(5)
Brett C.
Great fried chicken. Love the mashed potatoes because they remind me of grade school cafeteria mashers. You have to order the hot and spicy. Call it in and enjoy it -- hands down better than the normal. Pour some of their sketchily-packed hot sauce all over it. You won't regret it. This place is also always insanely busy whenever I'm in. I waited there for my chicken a few times and they're dishing out 100 piece catering orders like it's nothing, and they are always friendly.
(5)
Mike P.
Ugggghh - this is such a hard review to write because the place is so good that I want to keep it as my secret. Order the chicken hot and spicy - it usually take about 15 minutes - so spend that time smelling the delicious food and eyeballing the hot sauce to give a little extra kick. The meals come with cole slaw and mashed potatoes but I'm usually too busy trying to get every morsel of chicken off the bone to even worry about the sides which are also delicious. Get more than you think because I guarantee you will want more than you plan on eating. I have a tear in my eye because I'm all done and it's closed for the evening - didn't buy enough. Damn.
(5)
Scott S.
In a past review I stated that I had entered into a "Facebook official" relationship with King Edwards' Chicken. That relationship is now wide open as Porter's has become my sultry mistress. Forgive my polyamorous lifestyle. I have a weakness for the juicy and crispy. Choosing the better of the two is an arduous, if not impossible, task. Allow me to illustrate my indecision: A breast from each restaurant is rolling off a 500 foot cliff. Fortunately, I'm able to snag them before they fall to their demise. However, I'm not strong enough to pull both pieces up to safety. I have to abandon one and devote my arms to the other. A choice must be made. Life and death is upon us. My choice is actually easy: I plunge off the cliff with the chicken and try to eat both pieces before landing. Thus I enjoy the greatest last meal in history. Much like Edwards, Porter's offers great 4 piece meals at a steal of a price. I believe a four piece mixed dinner with two sides and a roll is $6.99. The cost is $7.99 if you choose your pieces, which I usually do. I often opt for three breasts and one wing, otherwise known as a mutant chicken, as well as crinkle cut fries and mashed potatoes sans gravy. If fried chicken didn't ooze satisfying saturated fat and excessive calories I would eat it everyday. Instead, I am forced to classify Porter's as a monthly delicacy.
(5)
Kristina C.
Their spicy fried chicken will be my last meal before I die. Best fried chicken in stl.
(5)
Alicia S.
Great chicken!! It survived the car ride home and still tastes like it was right out of the fryer. Definitely a go-to for great fried chicken.
(5)
Tera ..
Their chicken is fantastic - especially the spicy. Lots of breading, very juicy and good sized pieces. The corn fritters...honestly, I could make a meal out of them! I will have to agree with several other people out here about the mashed potatoes - they leave a lot to be desired and DEFINITELY taste like potatoes from a hospital cafeteria or in a public school lunch. But, the chicken and corn fritters are worth it! FAR better taste and quality than both KFC and King Edwards on Watson. Porters' chicken breasts are one and a half times the size (and taste) as King Edwards! You get a lot for your money here and to me, it's worth every penny!
(4)
Kimberly K.
This place is great! The fish is delish! I recommend!
(4)
Vik S.
A small update -- Porters has redone their interior and removed those old dingy booths. Now the entire place has tables and chairs and the space is much more modern, open and inviting. The chicken is still incredible, the 3-piece dinner is a fantastic deal at $6, The meat was golden fried, crispy, juicy, and delicious. And of course, you MUST remember to ask for it spicy. The regular version just doesn't compare.
(4)
Kai D.
Porters fried chicken(spicy) is absolutely amazing. It is the undisputed best fried chicken in st.louis. It is better than hodaks and sweetie pies because it is both crunchy and well seasoned; where sweetie pies is seasoned but not crunchy and hodaks is crunchy but not that well seasoned. You will not be disappointed! And the pricing is great too!
(5)
Tim T.
Not sure what these other reviewers saw. Breast pieces were pretty good but all the rest was KFC quality and, as hard as this is to believe, the pieces are even smaller the KFC. OK if you are next store doing your laundry but not worth driving to pick up.
(2)
Patt C.
Used an RFT Voice Daily Deal coupon tonight. Paid $10 for $20 of Porter's goods. I had to pay an additional $5.78 with the coupon. Skipped the dinner concept and went with: 10-piece bucket of chicken for $12.49, order of livers for $4.69 and six jumbo fried shrimp for $6.60. It all traveled well to the homestead. The shrimp were sooooo crispy and shrimp flavorful, but I didn't get any cocktail sauce. When I got home I found I didn't have horseradish to make my own. ICK! The livers were stupendous. I ate two. I really don't know how they sell so many chicken livers for just $4.69. The box was stuffed full, and liver has so much iron, it's a health food (maybe). I ate one thigh. It was crispy and tasty, yet a little greasy. So, for $15.78 (accommodating the coupon), I've leftovers of a boatload of chicken livers and 9 pieces of chicken. How many meals is that? I'm callin' this a value meal.
(4)
Patricia D.
It's June in St. Louis, on a Wednesday and you and your closest 5 friends are headed to Forest Park to watch the yearly installment of Shakespeare in the Park. You have your bottles of wine and your lawn chairs, but what are you going to eat? You eat Porter's Fried Chicken! It's October in St. Louis, on a Saturday and you and your closest 5 friends are meeting to watch the Cardinals play in the NLCS. You have your case of Busch, your bottle of Tequila and a bag of limes, but what are you going to eat? You eat Porter's Fried Chicken! It's April in St. Louis, on a Monday and you and your husband are feeling the coming summer as you have found a perfect spring day to enjoy on your back patio. You have fresh sangria and spring training baseball on the radio, but what are you going to eat? You eat Porter's Fried Chicken! All of these have been personal experiences of mine. Each moment we ordered buckets of chicken, pounds of sides, mountains of napkins. Every time the chicken was perfectly fried, the coleslaw crisp, the potatoes need more gravy, but you learn to order extra gravy on the side. You have Porter's number saved on your phone to call your order in ahead. You find yourself thinking about it as an option on those nights you don't want to cook. Family gatherings: suggest Porter's. Picnics and Free Outdoor Concerts: suggest Porter's. I am not kidding- it's perfect for any occasion! Love this place and will be back again sometime soon... what will I have for dinner tonight actually?
(4)
April B.
I was taken to the "secret chicken place" and it was soooooo good!!! We got the 16 piece, mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw and fried mushrooms. Wow!! I didn't have any of the cole slaw but I heard it was good. The chicken was juicy and the flavor was absolutely perfect. The mashed potatoes were good and the gravy was yummy too. I can't wait to go back. I was told that I need to try the catfish too. That may be on my list for this week!
(4)
Jon T.
Ms T, Aunt Annie and I used a purchased dining coupon at PFC for lunch. Our coupon was for $20 so we tried a good assortment of stuff. We had an eight piece bucket and paid the premium for legs and thighs. We added coleslaw, potato salad, fried okra, corn fritters and an order of lizards (half and half livers and gizzards). One thing I screwed up on was that I missed the fact that you can order the chicken "hot and spicy". I will have to go back and try that. Let's talk chicken. This was good straight-ahead fried chicken. It has a light coating with juuuust enough salt. It was hot and fresh and the fried just right. We did not tempt fate with breast meat, but the dark meat was juicy. I would rate it 3-1/2 stars. I tend to like black pepper in fried chicken coating and if it had a little more of such seasonings it could easily be 4 stars or better. I think it was a little better seasoned than Edwards, based on one visit there. (Man, I wish I would have noticed that hot and spicy option) The lady who helped us newbies order, let us know that she calls the half gizzard-half liver order, "lizards". This is a huge order, by the way. The gizzards, though not normally my favorite, were really good. They were reasonably tender and nicely salted. The livers tended to be a little over fried, which dries them out and makes them a little bitter. You don't want to over cook chicken livers and it is easy for that to happen. I can recommend the gizzards if you are so inclined. The corn fritters are also pretty good. They have good corn flavor, with whole kernel corn in the batter. This is the closest thing to a hush puppy I have had in St Louis. They are slightly sweet and a little heavy and greasy, but you have to have a few. Ms T likes fried okra and PFC does a very good job with it. It was freshly fried. It needed salt, but had good okra flavor and was tender. The potato salad is creamy and slightly sweet, with some yellow prepared mustard. I understand from one review it is from Sam's. OK, that may be, but the chicken is good enough not to worry about this. I always eat Louisiana hot sauce on my potato salad anyway and it was fine that way. The slaw is also slightly sweet, creamy style, but not too sweet and not too heavily dressed. These sides are pretty standard, not bad, not special. They are not the star. I would certainly go back for the chicken and try the hot and spicy. I would have okra and some gizzards. I could probably talk Ms T into trying the shrimp or fish. Those remain to be explored. PFC is a classic little neighborhood place and I'm glad we finally got there.
(3)
Prime L.
Great food, even better price - what more could one ask. I even liked the run-down diner ambiance :-) Ok. I wouldn't go there for a proper sit in dinner - but fun to eat in once in a while in what is primarily a take-out joint.
(5)
S R.
There are no words for the deliciousness of this place. Spicy. Two piece. Two mashed potatoes instead of coleslaw. All your dreams come true.
(5)
Mary Kate M.
Holy hot damn this place is good! Stewart P., Jason and I hit up Porter's last night for some chow down. How convenient that Stewart invites us while we are at the gym...... Gym work out then fried chicken? That seems a little backwards, I know, but how can you resist the idea of fried chicken? That's like going through a 40 day famine then not breaking the fast when you have a gourmet steak in front of your face! Jason and I were not totally bad or at least we didn't think we were. We ended up splitting a 2 piece chicken breast meal that included mashed potatoes, a roll, and some slaw. Turns out this was enough for both of us since we are stuffed once our meal concluded. All of this you can have for the very low price of $4.89. Not too shabby if you ask me. Stewart P. on the other hand -- the man went all out. I can't remember everything he got, but he was ever so gracious to share with Jason and I a couple of items he did order. He ordered the fried okra which I didn't particularly care for, and some corn fritters that were really good! I think the corn fritters almost tasted like a dessert more than an appetizer. The chicken we got was really good. I think the chicken itself was really nice.The breading was crispy good but seemed a bit too greasy than I would normally like it to be. Jason enjoyed adding hot sauce to add a bit of a kick to the flavor. Jason enjoyed the slaw. He normally doesn't care for it, but he ate majority of it. Kudos to Porter's for that! Stewart finished his meal off with getting their house made cheese cake. It is a bit different than what you would expect. It comes in a small cup that is a no bake dessert. You make it then let it sit in the fridge until it solidifies. I don't remember exactly how they made it, but the topped it off with gram cracker crumbs which I thought was a nice finishing touch. With the one little bite I had, it did taste good. Porter's, you did good. Now I have to go work off this one meal probably over the course of some days now. Thanks for that.
(4)
Lupe D.
This place is the true definition of a hole in a strip mall. I remember seeing it as we were driving around and not thinking much about it. When I looked at my list of "places to try" I realized that Porter's was on it. People, please don't judge a book by it's cover, this place makes some damn good chicken! While we were there, there was a non-stop stream of people, and the phone did not stop ringing - this place is really really popular. My son and I had the chicken tender dinner with mash/slaw and I also had an order of fried okra. My BF had a 3 piece dinner. What makes their chicken so good? Well, in my opinion, it's the light breading that is seasoned perfectly. Not to mention fried to a really nice crunch. YUM - I want some right now....until next time Porter's!
(4)
Nick And Shirley A.
We go here about once every three weeks or so. which means, we are not newcomers. last eve we called to order and without the person saying 'hello'. She just pick up the receiver and hung it back up. So, when I called the third time, she answered, I complained and order an eight piece 'bucket'! Well, that was the greasiest, salted, uncooked chicken we ever had from there. Needless to say, after going there for the past 20 years, they lost our business! The quality has gone down the drain and service sucks!
(1)
David B.
i've yet to try the spicy, but it's pretty good chicken, if you're not in the mood for the chain stuff and you want something local.
(3)
Marleigh R.
Porter's was the first fried chicken place I tried in the area, and it might be the last! I have gone a couple times and gotten both the regular and spicy chicken. I prefer the regular, since the skin seems to be a little crispier versus the spicy, but both are excellent. For the price, you get two sides, a roll, and chicken with a meal. The roll is okay, and so is the coleslaw. I like my slaw a little creamier, but it is still always crispy and fresh tasting. The mashed potatoes are delicious, and are similar to KFC in texture. I have also tried the corn fritters - has to be my favorite appetizer to date. Period. Another plus is that if you don't want to leave it up to luck which pieces you get with your meal, you can opt for a 'special' box and choose what type of pieces you get. Since I usually don't like the wing pieces, that is a good option for when I don't feel like eating them. If you love chicken and want a great price for great food, come here. It's all delicious!
(4)
Drew T.
I threw out a question to a couple of co-workers a few days ago. I wanted to know if there were any good places to get fried chicken livers around the Brentwood area. Instantly, their eyes lit up (they knew I was a bit of a foodie), and simultaneously exclaimed that Porter's carried them and they have the best fried chicken around. I definitely had to check this out, although, I was a bit skeptical. I've had bad experiences before with what STL calls 'the best.' This is a city that thinks the stink pit of El Maguey is some of the best Mexican you can get in the city, and that claim couldn't be farther from the truth. Following the restaurant reviewer's code, I decided to make multiple trips at different times, trying dishes across the board. Here's what was cooking: On my first visit, I decided to go for what I was craving and found myself staring at a pound of chicken livers and a small side of potato salad. A thin layer of breading coated each chunk of liver. They were really nice with the crispy, peppery breading complementing the creamy livers quite well. I grabbed a couple of tubs of hot sauce and proceeded to dunk away, finishing off the whole box. Then, I dived into the potato salad, which was a sweet mustard blend with perfectly cooked potatoes and crisp touches of onion. It wasn't bad, but I wasn't too keen on the sweetness of it. I prefer a little more savory in my tuber salad. The second visit was a trip down the river with catfish. I spotted the catfish nuggets on the menu last time I was in. I'm a huge fan of fried fish and the taste of catfish reminds me of Friday night's during lent back in Central Illinois. Just like the livers, it was a huge portion. This was served with a roll(pre-packaged and not worth discussing), cole slaw (which a yelper had raved about) and mashed potatoes with gravy. The catfish chunks were some of the best I had ever had. Unfortunately, about midway through my meal, I bit into a scale from improper cleaning and later a bone. It turned me off a little, and I cautiously finished off the rest of the fish. The slaw was up next for tasting as I was curious to see why this was considered someone's favorite. It was a finely chopped blend of carrots, onions, and cabbage that suffers from the same sweetness the potato salad did. The mashed potatoes were, also, quite unremarkable, and appeared to be an instant mix covered in a pre-packaged gravy. These sides were a little disappointing. Finally, I was on my third trip and this famous fried chicken was the obvious choice. I got the 2 piece, taking it easy as this was my third trip that week with deep fried fare and my body was starting to feel it. It came with the same sides as above, and since these were pretty unimpressive, I asked about getting another side. I questioned my cashier on a few of the other sides and was told that they were all frozen goods and not made in house. I wasn't about to review something that I could do just as well at home, and stuck with the chicken getting a side of fries to fill me up. I was served a wing and a thigh for my 2 pieces and each were blissfully greasy, moist, and crispy. This was probably what I should have been eating the whole time and I can understand why people rave about it. I'll definitely be back to take a stab at some more, and possibly go for the spicy breading on my next visit. That fried chicken was Porter's saving grace. It's probably the only thing that I would go back for, getting just the chicken and letting them keep those shitty sides. On the positive side, I never spent more than $7 on a meal there and was served a filling portion. But, that's probably because they save a whole bunch on frozen foods, pre-packaged sides, and sauces that come in packets. There's a bunch of flaws that Porter's needs to deal with, however, the staff was nice, the prices right, and the fried chicken delicious. Porter's will get my nod when it comes to chicken. Just don't expect too much out of the rest of the menu.
(3)
Derek E.
I am not a fan. If I could give this place zero stars, it would get zero stars from me. I don't know why this place gets good reviews. I had read some of the reviews on a different website and decided to try. I called my order in ahead of time, and the person on the phone was very curt and rude when I called. If she was having a bad day, okay, but don't take that out on other people--especially the customers. I read several reviews saying that Porter's was good. Since I didn't want to cook one particular day last week, I ordered two cod sandwiches and French fries. I didn't like either of them. The cod pieces were square and breaded with little flavor other than grease which didn't taste good; the pieces of onion and pickles didn't help it either nor did the commercially prepared packets of Tartar sauce; even the tartar sauce had an off-flavor, too, like maybe it was passed its expiration date or something. The French fries were typical commercial crinkle cut fries that were not crisp, nor were they completely cooked and a bit soggy with grease with little flavor. Adding salt and ketchup didn't help either. They may be known for their chicken, but I'm not sure that I want to try that after these unappealing cod sandwiches. I've got my antacid tablets ready just in case. This was the worst food that I have ever attempted to eat; it was truly nasty. We didn't finish eating the food, so I threw it out for the birds and squirrels to eat. At least that way, it won't go to complete waste. After I did that, I thought that maybe I should not have done that because I was afraid it would kill the birds and squirrels. The next time I want fish sandwiches similar to this, I'm going to White Castle up the street from them. I spoke to someone else who likes this place, and he implied to stay away from the other stuff and just order the fried chicken because he said that's always good. HHmm. One good thing about it was that the service was quick and easy, but when you dislike that food as much as we did, the quick service doesn't matter. Quick service doesn't compensate for the being curt and rude over the telephone either. It's going to be a long time before I consider going there again; in actuality, I probably will never go back again.
(1)
Monty M.
Call in ahead if you want the hot and spicy batter (at least 20 minutes). You won't regret it. One of my favorite places to get a good hot meal.
(5)
Stewart P.
A solid 4 stars. Good service, good food and great prices. I see Steven B. go here all the time and I thought I better check it out, and since I like a good fried chicken I was pretty hungry. I ended up ordering a 3 piece meal (with cole slaw and mashed potatoes). I really liked the slaw and while I liked the potatoes, those were just good (I'd buy them again though). I also had the corn fritters in mind (thanks to Stephanie S.) so I ordered those (my favorite) and fried okra (pretty good). The ladies behind the counter were very friendly and very helpful and fun to talk to. I will head back sometime to try the catfish and to see how it compares to my favorite place.
(4)
John B.
The chicken is always moist and full of flavor. The breading is delicious. I would have possibly given this place a 4.5...that is, until I decided to wait the extra 15 minutes and try their spicy recipe. It really blew me away, and is, hands down, the best fried chicken I've ever had. But call ahead if you want to try the spicy...they cook it made to order, so it takes about 15-20 minutes. Their mashed potatoes are a bit average, as is their cole slaw, but you come here for the chicken. Also, the price is fantastic. I'm a fan of dark meat, and can get a 4-piece chicken dinner here with sides for less than $6. Love it...wish I didn't have to move away.
(5)
Elaine S.
Finally tried this place after being told by a couple friends that Porter's has the best fried chicken in STL. I ordered a bucket of mixed fried chicken with corn fritters. I'm sad to report that the food was very disappointing =( The chicken was extremely dry (including the dark meat) and the breading was very very thin, as a result, there was no flavor whatsoever. i just had a hard time eating the chicken and i normally devour all my fried chicken since it is one of my top guilty pleasures. I'm hoping that i just got a bad batch or something. the corn fritters were nothing to write home about...just big fried doughs with maybe 1 or 2 corn kernels inside. for now, i will continue to stick with lee's or KFC =(
(2)
Caroline P.
I found Porter's to be delicious, crazy cheap and a really fun atmosphere. I love fried chicken, and this might be the best I have ever had. I will make it a point to return whenever I am in town. The corn fritters were delightful as well!
(5)
M A.
I thought I knew good fried chicken as a good little Southern girl. Then I stumbled upon this place and the world I once knew was shattered. Excellent batter and I loved that two legs was not extra. So when can I move this place to Atlanta?
(4)
Nicole M.
I ended up at Porter's on one of my first take-out runs in the city, and I plan on going back at least monthly. Their food reminds me of the food my Grandma used to make growing up- fresh, from scratch, delicious. I got the catfish nuggets & my husband got the chicken and we both LOVED our food. You might want to pass on the $5 cheesecake though. (Yes, $5 for an entire cheesecake is too good to be true)
(4)
Jimmy R.
The Battle Continues between King Edwards and Porter's. I never been to Porter's until couple days ago so here it goes on my opinion. Round 1: The ambiance King Edwards is cool, decorated, not over done but decorated none the less with pictures and I believe table coverings, and wooden chairs. Porters truly is a hole in the wall. I ate inside and wasn't inspired. But who cares! I want good chicken. Still, it can be a factor for some... King Edwards wins round 1! Round 2: The service At King Edwards, I had the gregarious owner talking and chatting me up. This place on that day should be called land of smiles and corny jokes! The service at Porter's was good. It wasn't bad at all. It was without all the extra happiness. King Edwards wins round 2! Round 3: The sides King Edwards has mash potatoes and gravy but tasted boxed. Hushpuppies were crispy with jalapeno goodness inside. Bread roll was tasty! At porters? Mash potatoes and gravy much better. The bread rolls tasted like from super market. This one's a tie. Finally, now...Round 4: How is the chicken?? King Edward is crispy, thin skin and its among the best I had. The meat is tender, juicy and filled with flavor. I love it. Great flavor. Porter's too is very crispy. It has a distinct, familiar flavor I cant' pinpoint. Their skin is not as thin and has more flour in it. Their meat too is juicy, tender, and rips easily off the bone. I could tell which is which if I was blinded between the two contenders. I vote for King Edwards because it has a thinner, crispier, deep deep fried quality to it I enjoy. However, I think alot of readers may prefer the slightly more flour filled skin of Porter's. Anyhow, I'd come back. The one thing Porter's has over King Edwards is damn good Shrimp. Crap, for Midwest joint, those 6 pieces of giant fried shrimp were soo fresh tasting, hot, and tender. Don't mind that their red sauce is in packets and not a sauce dipping container. Just enjoy the one-two combo punch that chicken and shrimp will have on you for lunch.
(3)
Allison B.
I am baffled at how this place has such high ratings. We had high hopes and finally gave it a try Friday night. For starters, when we first walked in one of the front counter girls was dishing out the potato salad into side cups. The potato salad is from Sam's. That right there didn't give me high hopes. I was disappointed you couldn't order one of their extras as a side for an up charge. Your only options are mashed potatoes, slaw, or potato salad. Fries you can add for 30 cents but nothing else. I went with the 2 piece special and got all breasts, mashed potatoes and slaw. The slaw was edible but nothing great. It tasted like it was probably bought at Sam's too. The mashed potatoes were instant and mine had globs where they weren't mixed very well. The gravy was just generic packaged chicken gravy. The chicken was decent, but the batter could use some more seasoning. I prefer a salty fried chicken though, so if you prefer a more bland fried chicken this might be for you. Whatever you do though do not eat there, take it to go. There were only a couple of tables and they were bare. No napkins or anything on the tables and no one checks on you or anything. All in all the one star is for the price. It is definitely a cheap meal. I would eat the chicken again but nothing else. My husband on the other hand would not. King Edwards is better, although Lemp Mansion's Sunday fried chicken dinner tops all.
(1)
Sheryl K.
Oh man. Going to Porter's Fried Chicken was the highlight of my day! Through snow and sleet, if I'm in the mood for fried chicken, this is where I want to be. Forget about Church's, forget about Popeyes, and definitely forget about KFC!! I ordered a special 3 piece combo that consisted of a breast and two wings. The batter was crispy and salted to perfection. The meat was juicy and went well with my mash potatoes and gravy. Mmm. I can almost still remember the taste now. The building was old, and I was freezing at the tables, but damn... that chicken was good!
(4)
Chris Z.
The chicken was good. I had legs and a bunch of wings. The okra was great. I liked the cole slaw too. However, just like eating at any establishment where 90% of their food goes into a deep fryer, I always feel like crap afterwards. Plus the grease stained to-go box after your done isn't a pleasant reminder of how you just treated yourself. I know this sounds corny, but have you ever tried the baked chicken at Dierbergs? It's so much better. Time to hit the gym.
(3)
Leslie S.
The fried chicken is greasy but very, very tasty! I like it better than the much-talked-about Hodak's but not quite as much as the Fried Chicken Sundays at The Boathouse. Definitely try the corn fritters - they remind me of hush puppies only more like corn bread. Sooo good. Porter Burgers are normal-sized and tasty chicken-fried steak sandwiches. Each order of fries gives you enough to share with a friend and then some. The restaurant isn't much to look at and it's very simple counter service and minimal basic seating, so try it for a quick fix or carry out. They also cater.
(3)
Tanica R.
Not the greatest chicken EVER but good enough to be a go to place every time you want some fried chicken. I got the 3 wing, mashed potato and coleslaw combo. It only cost me $5.29! Those are old school chicken shack prices! Service was good, got the food quick, I wish they had booster seats so I ended having to eat with my little one on my lap but that's no big deal. Place was clean, you can tell it's a popular place because there were constant people in and out and the phone constantly rung. Yummy and cheap! Couldn't ask for more!
(4)
Jen J.
As a hardcore fast-food fried chicken lover, I was not entirely impressed with this place. It makes no sense to come here when I could be getting the Spicy style three piece chicken combo + two side and a drink from Lee's for about the same price...especially since I could get that at pretty much every other street corner. Also, I was unimpressed with the batter-fried shrimp. I honestly could taste nothing but the fried dough.
(3)
Martha M.
I traveled across the midwest looking for fried chicken. Then we found Porter's. The chicken was juicy and amazing without being greasy. The mashed potatoes and gravy were smooth, creamy and flavorful and the coleslaw was some of the best I've had. And, hats off to Becky behind the counter. She hustled and seemed to really care about her customers and her restaurant.
(5)
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Address :3628 S Big Bend Blvd
Saint Louis, MO, 63143
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Adam C.
Let me give it to you straight, Porter's is, by far, the best fried chicken I've ever had (pft Sweetie Pies? Hudaks? garbage in comparison). However, if you make Porter's too much of a habit, your health insurance company will hate you. Dripping in grease, Porter's puts you on the fast track to Flavortown, USA and heart disease. As they say, good things don't come easy. One tip: Make sure you get it SPICY. Sure, it takes an extra 20 minutes to prepare, but I would wait a lifetime for their spicy fried chicken.
(5)Christine F.
Mmm, ghetto goodness. If you are craving fried chicken, no place does it better than Porters. Generous portions, absolutely delicious food. Simple, straightforward. Don't expect to dine in. It's takeout. Taking it next door to The Cue to add a beer and pool to the mix makes for a winning combo.
(5)Tuan L.
I tried this place cause my friend told me its similar to King Edwards chicken. They do have similar style. It was good chicken but living 40 minutes away is too far for me to drive. Maybe if I'm in the area again ill stop by. I recommend this place if your in the area.
(4)Mike U.
(Trumpets) *************************My 100th Yelp Review************************** I decided that my 100th review would be on a genre dear to my heart, fried chicken. A special shout out to Front Porch and San Tung in SF, for letting me know how good fried chicken can really be, in all it's different styles. Came here hearing off of yelp talk that porter's had some of the best fried chicken in all of st. louis. i don't know if it's a clear cut winner but porter's is up there for it's thin crispy skin and succulent meat, i think it could have been seasoned a little more, but delicious nonetheless. the corn fritters were little spheres of deliciousness and i'm looking forward to trying the okra fritters the next time i go back. and the underrated side dish award goes to the cole slaw, which my friend, a cole slaw connoisseur if there ever was one, declared the "best cole slaw of my life." it did have a nice sweetness to it. I finished it off with a slice of sweet potato pie which was fine, but not spectacular. i can see why it's been advised to get carryout, although the cashier was very nice and food was brought out to the table (in a white box) the inside has all the charm of a beatup corporate fast food joint without any of the familiar colors or logos. there's also a bar underneath the tables that makes it very uncomfortable to sit on the inside...just get it to go. i wish the pieces of chicken were bigger and i wish the mashed potatoes were better (next time i'll opt for the $0.40 french fry upgrade). other than that, it's cheap, tasty, and judging by the diversity of it's carryout clientele, way more popular and well known than the 8 reviews on yelp would have you believe.
(4)Katie C.
I sat through a three hour continuing education photography class on an empty stomach. After class I bolted to the car, fished my parents' GPS out of the console. With trembling hands, turned it on. Search. Restaurants. Fast Food. (It was an emergency, ok?) Burger King? No. Mc Donalds? No. Taco Bell? Hell no. Jack in the Box? Maybe. Hardees? No. Porters? Porters. Porters. That sounds familiar. I think I saw it on Yelp. I think it's local. I think it's fried chicken. Set as Destination. It was raining (I'm with you Craig B., what it is about rainy days and fried chicken?) but I got there in no time. I ran inside, elated to see that my subconscious had been correct, I had seen it on Yelp and it was indeed fried chicken. I asked the girl whether I should get the tenders or the pieces and she responded without hesitation, "tenders." Tenders it was, with fries instead of mashed, cole slaw, and Dr. Pepper (of course.) I sat shivering in a booth (it was freezing inside, but it's an old place and I like that) and waited for my food. When she brought it I wanted to hug her. I ate it as fast as my cold shaking hands would let me. It was delicious. I dipped my tenders in honey mustard but next time I will ask for gravy. It does not take the place of Bush's in Waco for me, but Porter's is a winner through and through.
(4)Mandi L.
I had the tender sandwich and potato salad. Both good. Nothing too special. Next to the place I do laundry so I will probably keep trying new things. Service was great though.
(3)MaryPat G.
Best fried chicken great service. Best to call ahead.
(5)Craig B.
I've read all eight reviews of Porters on Yelp and looked forward to visiting. My virgin visit came today as I decided to venture out in the rain for some chicken. It seems rainy days = fried chicken lunch in my brain. I found the restaurant easily and walked inside. The store was not busy, probably due to the rain. I ordered the three piece dinner which came with a leg, thigh and a breast. As I waited I spoke with the son of the original owner about the establishment. He was very friendly and customer service is definitely king at Porters. My food arrived in less than three minutes and I was back on the road heading to work to begin chowing down. For my money the chicken is just okay. The batter does not taste like much. I guess I prefer country picnic style chicken where you can taste the salt and pepper in the breading. It was not the chicken I read about in previous reviews. The mashed potatoes are instant and I do not fault a chicken joint for going this route. Potatoes take time and I prefer the time be spent on making great chicken. The coleslaw was good. It didn't appear to be creamy or overly drenched in a vinegar base. It was sweet and chopped fine. A nice palate cleanser. I got to tell you, this is the first review I have written where I feel bad for stating my opinion. The place seems very nice and I am a firm believer in supporting small independent stores over larger chains. I will definitely have to go back and see whether today's chicken is what is consistently served day to day.
(3)Ruben H.
If you want to know more about the FRIED CHICKEN from Porter's..this is not the review. This review is mostly based on one of the side dishes, the Gizzard! A dish that might be simple to execute but hard to acquire the degree of texture and taste. However, I believe that Porter's by all (comparing to 4 places) have one of the best taste in batter and deep fried of Gizzard. The Gizzard itself is crunchy to the bite, not talking about the batter but the meat itself, therefore indicating that it is fresh ingredient . I would totally recommend it if you prefer such a delicacy. Also the portions is extremely generous! Next time, I will try the fried chicken.
(4)Liz G.
It's just a little hole-in-the-wall place between a laundromat and billards bar, but the chicken is good. I mean, how can you not love some fried chicken?
(4)C B.
we ordered chicken and fish dinners tonight. we thought the chicken was tasty and crunchy but the pieces were small. We did not find it to be greasy. The fish was ok nothing special. Coleslaw was average and the potatos were from a box. But the real disappointment was the cheesecake dessert. it was not made from fresh ingriedents more like a box powder mix...the texture was meally and the taste was not that of cheesecake. I actually think over all i probably will not be back, there are better fried chicken establishments in STL....even KFC would be a better choice.
(3)Zach T.
Porters has always consistently been amazing. Just be sure to take a menu home and call ahead first. But even if you don't, it is ALWAYS worth the wait.
(5)Stephanie S.
I've said it a billion times, and I'm going to say it again: I LOVE YELP. Because without Yelp, there's no way I would have found this gem of a place. This place is definitely easy to miss; I can't remember how many times I've driven past the little strip mall that Porters is located in. Anyway, on to the food. It's GREAT. I ordered the regular fried chicken bucket and a side of corn fritters. It was ALL good. The corn fritters were like little bites of heaven in my mouth. Think hushpuppy, with little kernels of corn spread throughout. They were served piping hot, and they were just...wonderful. The star of the show, however, was the chicken. This is some of the best fried chicken I've had in St. Louis. MUCH better than the overrated-ness that is Hodak's. The breading was flour based, and it was just flavorful enough not to overpower the juicy, tender meat of the chicken. Adding a little bit of Porter's hot sauce on top just made it all the more delicious. I finished off my meal with a piece of sweet potato pie. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't anything to write home about, either. I'm so glad we have leftovers. I know what I'm eating for breakfast tomorrow morning!
(4)Lynn S.
Really good fried chicken. Always get it to go as the inside is not very conducive to enjoying your meal. They also have good fried shrimp, but I usually just get the chicken to go. Good fries, also. One they gave me a bun which had mold on it, so I always double check before gobbling down.
(4)Kellee F.
Eh. Now, be warned: This review is coming from a Popeyes devotee. I'll start with the pros: 1) Fast & friendly service. I went at noon on a Monday and I expected the place to be packed. It wasn't and we ordered & got our food within 15 minutes. 2) The actual chicken is juicy. Sometimes fried chicken can fry the juice right out of the chicken. I can deffo say that the chicken was succulent...yes, succulent. The biggest con is that it just wasn't all that like some here said it was. No shade, but the crust was paper thin and had no bang. I've heard that the spicy is what's hot so I may try it again before my vacay is over. For now, Popeyes should rest assured that my loyalty is with them.
(3)Meg M.
Okay, So for those whom know me know i may not be the best chicken fan in the world. With that said, i have to say that this may be one of the exceptions (there are a few here in st.louis!) to this rule! When i worked at one of the places close to there this was a staple for the week, usually on fridays would someone (sometimes myself, i'm a good drone when i need to be!) and this would be an awesome lunch. Now, i have to say that i am a true fan of the fish dinners they have here more then the chicken (please don't throw any bones at me!) I love, love love the friend shrimp (i'm a fan of most things from the sea in terms of food!). So yeah, as most of the other people say this is delish, and i DO agree with them.
(4)Matt R.
Let me first apologize to my mother for the hurt I'm about to cause her. Now. This is hands down the best fried chicken in St. Louis. In a nondescript strip mall, sitting between a laundromat and a small pool hall sits what is arguably the best fried chicken I've ever had. Being originally from the south I don't make that statement lightly. Crisp, thin, crunchy crust that is muy flavorful covering moist and tender chicken. The best part? It's that way each and every time. No inconsistencies here. Personally, we buy a box (yeah, I said a box) of plump drumsticks to bring home for guests and a handful of their homemade hot sauce. But if you're into white meat it's all good. By the way, it's also phenomenal cold and doesn't get soggy so for that next picnic outing you could do a hell of a lot worse. Chicken isn't the only thing they are rocking out, but it's hard to order anything else. The catfish is also ridiculous, and these little corn fritters they make are extremely addictive. Lots of other options, but chicken is king here. There are a few booths and tables inside if you desire to eat in. While there's certainly nothing special about the decor, it's always been very clean on my dozens of visits. The people who know about Porters, are religious about Porters. And to be honest I'm a bit hesitant to write this review since it's already busy enough and I don't particularly want to wait in line. It's easy to pass by this place and never notice it, it's just North of a KFC (which I find hilarious that the people going to that KFC don't know what is 100 yards away) and on the same side of the road. p.s. - They do make a "spicy" version of their chicken, but I'd advise against it since it's a different crust altogether (cornmeal based). And while very good, it really doesn't compare. So just get regular, slap some hot sauce on that bitch. Who needs Calgon to take you away when there's Porters?
(5)Lauren L.
DELISH! and SO cheap! I miss this place so much. It's the only fried chicken I'll eat. Soooooo good Perfectly crispy on the outside, moist on the inside. You get a little cup of mashed taters, coleslaw, and a roll. And it's like $6 for 3 pieces of white meat. There's a KFC practically next door. I hope when I come back to St. Louis that the KFC is out of business cause of Porter's delicious, homemade, non-genetically modified chicken.
(5)Chelsie M.
As advised by other yelpers we called this in for pickup. It was a very clean typical local chicken joint. Me and hubby ordered the 3 piece special (Special you get to pick your pieces). By default it came with a side of mashed potatoes, cole slaw and a roll. I don't like cole slaw so I asked to substitue with another mash, it was no problem. The chicken was GRRRRREAT, it tasted just like homemade...And that is where it ends, the potatoes were flavorless, with some weird looking white gravy (I guess) but the gravy was sort of a yellowish color so I don't know, but they were plain and bland, and the roll was hard and crusty. So all in all, I would go again only get chicken and make my own sides at home.
(5)R O.
Passed by twice while on a business trip out in the "LOU". It was a 50/50 deal for me. The first time I ordered the chicken wing combo. Man the wings were on hit. Crispy, juicy, hot, seasoning just right, even the skin had good flavor. Came with mash n gravy, nothing special, and cole slaw, nothing special again. I was impressed compared to the other fried chicken spot I tried in the area. Next visit though wasn't the same. I tried the mixed piece combo and they served me some oversized/undersized soggy/extra crispy pieces. When I bit into the breast it was borderline almost 99.97% cooked a.k.a raw. WHY ME! So looking forward to a good meal. BTW the fish is average. I can get this stuff down the street. I would come back for those wings anytime
(3)Noelle O.
Best fried chicken evahhh! Get the spicy recipe. Not a nice sit-down place, so best to get it to go.
(4)Josh D.
Good food at a fair price, I don't live in the area so the few times we have went we always eat inside. Seems like most people get to go orders as normally we are the only ones eating inside.
(4)Private M.
Very good fried chicken. My wife and I went here for the first time yesterday. We both got the 3 piece meal with mashed potatoes, slaw and a roll and a drink. Out the door it was only $13 total. My wife ordered the spicy chicken and they make you wait 15 minutes for it because they cook it fresh. I don't know if the regular chicken was cooked just then either, but either way you could tell both the spicy and non-spicy had been very recently cooked. Very good chicken. The meat was tender and the spices good. The breading had just enough grease to not make it flavorless and dry, which is. Remember folks, fried chicken is supposed to be a little greasy, otherwise it has no flavor. The owner was working the counter and was a really nice guy and struck up a good conversation as it was slow when we walked in (around 11:15 AM). We sat there for an hour and probbaly 2 dozen people came in for to-go orders, many buying huge buckets 'o chicken. Check it out. Good food, good prices, friendly service.
(4)Angela J.
I've gone to Porters for years and it's a steal for around $5 you get like 13- 14 good sized wings and a great buffalo sauce and a roll...The Chicken is by far my fave in STL...
(5)Jake S.
I'm gonna make this short and sweet. If you feel like clogging your arteries, there is no better place to do it. We got take out chicken strip sandwiches and onion rings. Well, I took the chicken strips off the bun because I didn't want anything to mask the delicious chicken I was eating. It is good frickin' chicken! Get take out, don't eat there. The clientele is a little shady...
(4)Kate L.
Having read all the great reviews about Porters on Yelp. We decided today was a perfect day to go grab some chickens to accompany the fresh batch of cheddar and apple biscuits we just baked. Our mission for chicken yielded enough foods for two more meals. We ordered: Chicken Meal with Mash Potatoes and Coleslaw, Porters Burger, Fried Gizzardss and Fried Okra. They don't lie when they say everything taste great when dip in batter and deep fried. The chicken was crunchy and oh soo juicy on the inside. The Porters burger is essentially a country fried steak on a bun. yumm. The fried gizzards is actually really good... don't get turn of by the word "gizzards" because chit'lin done right is a party for your taste buds...chicken gizzards is no exception. Fried okra yummy... my favorite! I didn't really care for the mash potatoes and coleslaw. One negative is the seasoning for everything was a little on the salty side for me. But next time we crave fried goodness, Porters is definitely worth the drive.
(3)Juan C.
This place is just ok. I would rather go to KFC.
(2)Bill C.
Best fried chicken and catfish in STL. I am not a huge fan of the cole slaw's but their other sides are really good. Corn fritters are excellent and the service is very friendly. It is actually easy to get to from I-44 if you are heading out of STL.
(5)Adam R.
Amazing fried chicken. Definitely the best I've had in a long time. The place is kind of a "hole-in-the-wall," but that actually adds to the charm. You can sit down (we did - there were 6 of us), but it seems most people take-out. Get the spicy fried chicken!!! It takes a little longer than the regular but it's totally worth the wait. Cole slaw is excellent too!
(5)Christal V.
The Catfish is delicious! Perfectly fried everytime! Staff isn't very friendly or helpful. Call in your order or you'll be waiting around, with the scowling staff for 15 minutes or more...
(4)David M.
Try the spicy chicken! It's excellent. I wish I had ordered more so I bought a bucket to take home.
(5)D P.
Based on the reviews we read here, we stopped by today for our first visit. The chicken is alright, but way to greasy and not very hot. This chicken is not near as good as Gus' Chicken in Memphis. We liked the sides, especially the cole slaw.
(2)Andee A.
I went to Porter's for lunch today based on the great reviews I read on Yelp. I was looking for a place to take my husband on his birthday (he loves fried chicken). Let me hasten to add that I am not a fried chicken lover, but I will have a piece every now and then when my husband brings it home from Dierberg's (his favorite). So take this with a grain of salt, OK? I thought it was greeeezy. Tasty. The chicken under the crust was delicious, but there was waaaay too much grease. Ick. The corn fritter? To die for.
(2)Leggs T.
Decided to visit Porters with my boyfriend. We arrived about an hour before they closed on a Saturday night. The place is tiny with limited seating. We ordered our food. It took about 20 minutes or so. There are only two available selections for sides but you can substitute for others for an additional charge. They also have Jalapeño poppers, fried okra, liver, gizzards etc. Although I realize some of these are not actual sides it would be nice if you could substitute for one of these options for $1-$2 more instead of having to purchase them separately. Or perhaps offer smaller portions. We wanted the full experience so I ordered the catfish meal which came with two sides and a biscuit. My bf got the chicken which included two sides and a biscuit. We also got a side of okra. I must say it was a lot of food. It barely fit on the table. I was not impressed with the chicken. It wasn't even seasoned. I've had better at Popeyes. However the fried gizzards were amazing and I was glad we splurged on them. You also get a huge box of them. While we were eating and while there were two other separate couples waiting on to go orders the cashier started stacking chairs. Then she proceeded to mop the floor. Really? She didn't even put down a wet floor sign. Ok I will give you a little bit of a pass and let you stack the chairs but you can't wait to mop until after we leave. It will take you 5 seconds to mop the tiny lobby. The restaurant didn't close for another half hour. We felt rushed. I will go back for the gizzards but pass on the chicken and perhaps go a lot earlier so I don't interfere with end of shift side work.
(2)Kristen M.
I have to say, this fried chicken was pretty good, and for the price, it was spectacular! We got two two piece meals, with mashed potatoes, coleslaw and a role for UNDER $10! The coleslaw was delicious and creamy, the fried chicken had just enough crunch. I don't eat fried chicken often, but I would definitely go back here!
(4)Joe R.
I decided to try Porter's because I wanted to try some place closer to my place in Franz Park. Of course I checked out what other Yelpers on here had to say about the place and then browsed over to their website to check out the menu. I thought it was interesting that they offered two different types of chicken boxes. A regular consists of their choice of chicken parts while a special means you get to choose. I went with a 4 piece regular box and subbed in french fries (no additional charge) and mashed potatoes as my sides. The girl taking my order was nice and said it would be ready in about 10 minutes. After setting out on my voyage for fried chicken and passing through the Manchester speed trap known as Maplewood, I arrived at the place that sits between a coin laundry and a pool hall. If you're heading south on Big Bend it will be on your left. The place was very bright, I arrived and the girl at the counter asked if I had a pick up order. She called back to the kitchen and a minute later my food was ready. The place is kind of on the small side, I don't think there were any tables larger than 4 top in the place which makes me think they get a lot of to-go business. They had stacks upon stacks of white boxes ready to go which I was thinking was in anticipation of a lunch rush. I arrived home after again making my way through the Maplewood car trap and settled down for my dinner. This time I got 2 thighs, a leg and a wing. The chicken was a little darker than golden brown in color and the breading was more flaky compared to Hodak's shake'n'bake breading. It was also, as others pointed out, very greasy but good. I was surprised at how much flavor the chicken had. The fries were great too, just the right amount of salt and were both perfect in color and crispness. Then I got to the mashed potatoes. This is where it went down hill. Now I like my mashed potatoes and I don't mind fake/boxed potatoes but these were the absolute worst potatoes I've ever had. The cup, which much resembled a coffee cup held one small ice cream scoop of mashed potatoes floating in about 6 oz of white gravy which actually was just chicken broth. Very disappointed to say the least. Will I go back? Probably. Will I order the mashed potatoes? Doubtful. Here's hoping next time I go back they are better though.
(3)Mick B.
This place has great chicken and fish. The staff is friendly and the food even reheats well if you refrigerate it the day before a holiday they might be closed for and warm it in the oven. Fast service and they change the grease in their fryers regularly.
(5)Andrew M.
Porter's is a tiny hole in the wall restaurant right off of Shrewsbury and Big Bend- across the street from the McDonalds and shares the strip mall with a laundromat. Inside the restaurant it's dim and dingy looking (it's dingy *looking*, not dirty!) reminding me of an old diner. BUT! I can't stress enough how EXCELLENT this place is! The receptionist is extremely friendly and helpful. The service is lightning fast. And the chicken is some of the finest fried chicken I've ever had! The outside is covered in crispy, delicious batter and the chicken inside is juicy and tender. I'm not sure how they season it, but everything just taste right- THIS. IS. FRIED. CHICKEN. PERIOD! I get the chicken dinner box which comes with a roll, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. I don't care for coleslaw so I never eat it. The mashed potatoes are your average fare with white gravy (white? yellow? I just know it's not brown gravy!) and the roll is probably store bought, but it's soft and (*INSERT A WORD MEANING THE OPPOSITE OF DRY HERE*). But if the chicken is the star of the show, the encore is the Corn Fritters. These are essentially hush puppies (deep fried breading) with corn inside them. They combine the texture of crispy breading with the (*INSERT ABOVE WORD*), creaminess of corn. For less than $10 bucks, you bet I'll be back the next time a craving for old fashioned fried chicken strikes. I may want to get it to go and eat someplace less drab, but I'll definitely be back! *NOTE: Sorry for the madlibs in this review. But the only word I could think of to describe what I felt is a word some have an aversion to. Sort of like how epileptics shouldn't be exposed to strobe lights. For those of you still curious, that word is moi##..
(4)Fab S.
I have been at this place several times. When I feel like having fried chicekn, this is the only spot that comes in mind. I used to live closer to that location and patronized the place a lot. Since I moved over 2 yrs ago, I still am not willing to find a replacement, so I don't mind making the drive :). I usually get the chicken but also had the shrimp once. Too much breading on the shrimp, quality of shrimp is severely lacking straight waste of money, ugh! Tnis is a chicken place, I appreciate the thoughtfulness of having a diverse menu, but the seafood on the menu needs major improvement... Chicken never let me down though, it is so delicious and perfectly seasoned, my mouth is watering as I think about that chicken! The rolls served with each order are flaming as well! I would suggest they serve better fries, that ole crinkled, straight-out-of-a-frozen-bag, I-didn't-really-have-a-choice type of fries is not cutting it. Awful to say the least. But I am content with my wings and rolls, can't go wrong with those 2 items:))
(4)Caitlin M.
The BF and I weren't in the mood to cook and we've been really indecisive lately, so we took to Yelp, found this place, and took your advice to get takeout from this place. Thank you, Yelp. This was an EXCELLENT decision. We called ahead to order a 4-piece special box (2 legs, a thigh, and a breast) and a chicken liver meal. When we arrive 15 minutes later to pick it up, it was ready to go. The parking lot was packed and there were other people waiting inside, as well. It only took a few minutes to get our food and get back out of the lot. If you've never been, the parking lot is a little weird and part of it is reserved for the nearby laundromat. We'd been referred to other local acclaimed fried chicken places that we weren't so impressed with. Within one bite, we immediately knew Porter's was giving us something much, much better. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The mashed potatoes, like another reviewer said, did have a school cafeteria quality, and by that I mean a really enjoyable denseness, but not in the way that instant mashed potatoes are dense. The gravy that came on them was delicious--great flavor and almost "light" tasting. Neither of us have ever had fried chicken livers before, so we aren't really sure how they rank up. They were a little dry and has an almost chalky texture (but is that how fried chicken livers always are?). The BF said the coleslaw was a little on the sweet side but good, and also enjoyed the potato salad. The price was good ($17 for two meals, no drinks), the location is very convenient for us, and the service was prompt. We didn't stand at the counter more than a couple of minutes, just long enough for us to pay the check and pick our bag up off the counter. If you are in the Richmond Heights/Maplewood area, this is definitely a place to check out. I'm sure we'll be going back. PS: There's also a pretty cool signed jersey from Wainwright calling this the best fried chicken in town.
(4)Mindy P.
We are on a search for the best fried chicken place in St. Louis, what I dislike about our current favorite are the limited options outside of fried chicken. Porters brings a lot to the table, literally, I wanted to try everything on the menu it all sounded so good! The fried chicken itself was delicious and with our sides, we had leftovers for days, on top of the fast and friendly service Porters was well worth the drive from North county and we will be back.
(3)Delilah M.
Great fried chicken. We will definitely go back. It is more of a take and go but the spicy chicken is the best I have had.
(4)Peter B.
This has been my go to place for fried chicken since I was a little boy. In addition to fried chicken they have great fish (cod, jack salmon, catfish), shrimp, chicken tenders, and sides of mashed potatoes. It's all cooked to order and very reasonable. I suggest calling orders in ahead of time as you will wait about 10-20 minutes if you wait to order at the counter. My family has ordered 100 pieces of chicken at a time for parties and it's always a big hit. Porter's is located in a small strip mall next to a laundrymat and a billiard-themed bar.
(5)Dave B.
The chicken here is great! However of note: do not ever call a carry out order in! The person on the phone every time I talk to, the female is extremely rude!! I have gotten nothing but a bad attitude from her every time She answers the phone. Very poor customer service... you're driving business away!
(1)Steven B.
Porters does chicken well, but they lost a star for their Cod Fish. The pieces were square. I wanted the catfish, but was informed it would be a 20 minuet wait. To save time, I went with Cod. Big mistake, not only was it square, but had a greasy nasty taste. I've heard good things about the catfish, so next time I will order ahead, so I will not have to wait. We also enjoyed the Chicken Tender Dinner tonight and it was a winner. It included four huge pieces of white meat chicken, that were crispy and juicy. These tenders were way better then those you'd get at any other fast food type business. My bad choice of Cod Fish caused them a star, but I am confident once I experience the Catfish the stars will go back up.
(3)Jamie R.
I've never been to this place in person, but I went to a barbecue catered by Porter's (well, "catered" as in the host purchased 300 pieces of fried chicken and set them out in giant boxes for everyone to eat). Even though it had been sitting out for awhile and so was not fresh or even hot anymore, this was hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. I will definitely be checking this place out in person soon.
(4)S. W.
I love Porters Chicken!!!! You can't go wrong with the fried chicken........absolutely delicious!!! The fried gizzards, livers and okra are also very good. The coleslaw, mashed potatoes and gravy are OK, wish they would improve on those rolls.
(5)Mark B.
I'm a Southerner and chicken connoisseur so let me start with that. Porters is my go to chicken spot in the Lou. Perfect..no but it's pretty good. Sometimes it's over cooked and dry so that makes me go a little heavier on the salad dressing (aka hot sauce). I say try for yourself though. I still go at least every other week. Solid place for good bird.
(4)Alisa H.
We brought this chicken to a family gathering. We got a 20 piece chicken for $23.00. Best fried chicken that I have ever had. We ordered it and it was up in 2 minutes. Fresh, hot and crispy. The pieces look small but as you eat them you realize it's all meat and very little bones. I can't wait to go back and get some to bring home... That way we have left overs. Worth every penny!
(4)Scott C.
I really don't understand all the good reviews for this place. We moved to Webster Groves from Phoenix about 4 years ago and I have eaten here like 4 times. I keep waiting to be impressed and it just hasn't happened. It is not terrible, but it is just bland, greasy food. Their breading has no special interesting flavor to it. My wife's is significantly better. I'm not a huge fried chicken fan so I usually get the fish. I honestly would rather go to Long John Silver.
(2)Danny G.
This is quite simply for me so far the best fried chicken in the city hands down. Everything else there is pretty good too. My sister insisted the last time we went that we get the shrimp as well and I was skeptical being a fried chicken purist with this place. I gave in and did not regret it. I agree with the others that the corn fritters are amazing as well. Why bother with KFC when you can get amazing local recipes at just about the same price? And not to mention they chose the perfect hot sauce to go with everything
(5)Lizzy L.
I'm embarrassed to say that yesterday was my first time ever trying Porter's Fried Chicken since my arrival in St. Louis 4 years ago. And boy do I wish that I had tried it earlier!!! I brought some leftovers back home and my husband has already requested that we go there, SOON! My meat-loving friend took me and another friend last night because he "only likes to spend money on delicious meat". My friend visiting St. Louis requested the best fried chicken in St. Louis and we ended up here. I was happy with the prices and the dinner sounds like a great deal, including rolls, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw along with fried chicken. A 2 piece chicken dinner is only $4. Next time I come I'm going to get a chicken dinner, but my friends wanted just the fried chicken buckets this time. The 3 of us shared a 16-piece bucket ($16.99) which included wings, thighs, breast, and drumsticks. If you want to be able to pick out your meat there's a small extra cost. And if you order "Special" instead of "regular" type chicken in the bucket it's a dollar extra. My favorite type in the bucket was the thigh, but even the chicken breast was juicy, tender, crispy, with the best breading I've ever tasted. I usually shy away from chicken breast but this one wasn't dry like others I've tried. The breading was crispy without being too overwhelmingly oily. The restaurant has hot sauce and ketchup for you to dip your chicken in but the chicken alone has good flavor too. I was full after 4 pieces of chicken and my friend ate 8 pieces. The individual size coleslaw that my friend ordered as a size looked pretty small but I think he enjoyed it too. The restaurant itself does have seating but it looks like most people take the chicken to go because there's only about 7-10 tables. We stayed there to eat and used lots of napkins as we dug into the chicken with our bare hands. I am definitely coming back here for delicious fried chicken at an amazing price!!
(5)Anthony A.
This is the type of place every guy will like. It is a no frills, good tasting chicken shack. Sure, they have other options like burgers,shrimp, and fish; but make no mistake the folks cook chicken. Specifically, spicy fried chicken. It is worth driving to Webster Groves to get. The meal may take about 20 minutes to cook but that is enough time to call in the order and drive for pick up. There is nothing romantic about the shop, so get it to go. Tonight's side item was corn fritters. I was surprised to find them tasting like sweet hush puppies. There is a little bite back as real corn is used in the mash. The chicken is spicy and crisp. They offer mild chicken selections but I've never ordered it Don't look for health food here but of you want fried chicken, anything else is a wrong choice.
(5)Sandra B.
When you drive 40 min just to get a taste of this chicken, its got to be guuuuud lol :)
(4)Christian K.
Porter's Fried Chicken is a hidden gem. Fried chicken can be debated all day. We all have our favorite stops, but some of Porter's best qualities have little to do with chicken. If anything, the chicken is almost a sidenote. Don't get me wrong. Their fried chicken is delicious, not my favorite. I highly suggest trying it. However, their fried catfish is where it's at. My brother works near the place and would just rave about the catfish. I went in to check the place out, and what do I do? Buy the chicken! I was happy, for sure, but didn't know what I was missing. When I told him what I had done, I could tell he was disappointed and thought that I needed to have it right away. In fact, we stopped what we were doing and made a b-line for Porter's. My brother hooked me up! The fried catfish is to die for! Tender, juicy, flavorful . . . Mercy! Do yourself a favor and bypass the chicken. Get yourself some catfish. And have yourself a happy dinnertime.
(5)Brett C.
Great fried chicken. Love the mashed potatoes because they remind me of grade school cafeteria mashers. You have to order the hot and spicy. Call it in and enjoy it -- hands down better than the normal. Pour some of their sketchily-packed hot sauce all over it. You won't regret it. This place is also always insanely busy whenever I'm in. I waited there for my chicken a few times and they're dishing out 100 piece catering orders like it's nothing, and they are always friendly.
(5)Mike P.
Ugggghh - this is such a hard review to write because the place is so good that I want to keep it as my secret. Order the chicken hot and spicy - it usually take about 15 minutes - so spend that time smelling the delicious food and eyeballing the hot sauce to give a little extra kick. The meals come with cole slaw and mashed potatoes but I'm usually too busy trying to get every morsel of chicken off the bone to even worry about the sides which are also delicious. Get more than you think because I guarantee you will want more than you plan on eating. I have a tear in my eye because I'm all done and it's closed for the evening - didn't buy enough. Damn.
(5)Scott S.
In a past review I stated that I had entered into a "Facebook official" relationship with King Edwards' Chicken. That relationship is now wide open as Porter's has become my sultry mistress. Forgive my polyamorous lifestyle. I have a weakness for the juicy and crispy. Choosing the better of the two is an arduous, if not impossible, task. Allow me to illustrate my indecision: A breast from each restaurant is rolling off a 500 foot cliff. Fortunately, I'm able to snag them before they fall to their demise. However, I'm not strong enough to pull both pieces up to safety. I have to abandon one and devote my arms to the other. A choice must be made. Life and death is upon us. My choice is actually easy: I plunge off the cliff with the chicken and try to eat both pieces before landing. Thus I enjoy the greatest last meal in history. Much like Edwards, Porter's offers great 4 piece meals at a steal of a price. I believe a four piece mixed dinner with two sides and a roll is $6.99. The cost is $7.99 if you choose your pieces, which I usually do. I often opt for three breasts and one wing, otherwise known as a mutant chicken, as well as crinkle cut fries and mashed potatoes sans gravy. If fried chicken didn't ooze satisfying saturated fat and excessive calories I would eat it everyday. Instead, I am forced to classify Porter's as a monthly delicacy.
(5)Kristina C.
Their spicy fried chicken will be my last meal before I die. Best fried chicken in stl.
(5)Alicia S.
Great chicken!! It survived the car ride home and still tastes like it was right out of the fryer. Definitely a go-to for great fried chicken.
(5)Tera ..
Their chicken is fantastic - especially the spicy. Lots of breading, very juicy and good sized pieces. The corn fritters...honestly, I could make a meal out of them! I will have to agree with several other people out here about the mashed potatoes - they leave a lot to be desired and DEFINITELY taste like potatoes from a hospital cafeteria or in a public school lunch. But, the chicken and corn fritters are worth it! FAR better taste and quality than both KFC and King Edwards on Watson. Porters' chicken breasts are one and a half times the size (and taste) as King Edwards! You get a lot for your money here and to me, it's worth every penny!
(4)Kimberly K.
This place is great! The fish is delish! I recommend!
(4)Vik S.
A small update -- Porters has redone their interior and removed those old dingy booths. Now the entire place has tables and chairs and the space is much more modern, open and inviting. The chicken is still incredible, the 3-piece dinner is a fantastic deal at $6, The meat was golden fried, crispy, juicy, and delicious. And of course, you MUST remember to ask for it spicy. The regular version just doesn't compare.
(4)Kai D.
Porters fried chicken(spicy) is absolutely amazing. It is the undisputed best fried chicken in st.louis. It is better than hodaks and sweetie pies because it is both crunchy and well seasoned; where sweetie pies is seasoned but not crunchy and hodaks is crunchy but not that well seasoned. You will not be disappointed! And the pricing is great too!
(5)Tim T.
Not sure what these other reviewers saw. Breast pieces were pretty good but all the rest was KFC quality and, as hard as this is to believe, the pieces are even smaller the KFC. OK if you are next store doing your laundry but not worth driving to pick up.
(2)Patt C.
Used an RFT Voice Daily Deal coupon tonight. Paid $10 for $20 of Porter's goods. I had to pay an additional $5.78 with the coupon. Skipped the dinner concept and went with: 10-piece bucket of chicken for $12.49, order of livers for $4.69 and six jumbo fried shrimp for $6.60. It all traveled well to the homestead. The shrimp were sooooo crispy and shrimp flavorful, but I didn't get any cocktail sauce. When I got home I found I didn't have horseradish to make my own. ICK! The livers were stupendous. I ate two. I really don't know how they sell so many chicken livers for just $4.69. The box was stuffed full, and liver has so much iron, it's a health food (maybe). I ate one thigh. It was crispy and tasty, yet a little greasy. So, for $15.78 (accommodating the coupon), I've leftovers of a boatload of chicken livers and 9 pieces of chicken. How many meals is that? I'm callin' this a value meal.
(4)Patricia D.
It's June in St. Louis, on a Wednesday and you and your closest 5 friends are headed to Forest Park to watch the yearly installment of Shakespeare in the Park. You have your bottles of wine and your lawn chairs, but what are you going to eat? You eat Porter's Fried Chicken! It's October in St. Louis, on a Saturday and you and your closest 5 friends are meeting to watch the Cardinals play in the NLCS. You have your case of Busch, your bottle of Tequila and a bag of limes, but what are you going to eat? You eat Porter's Fried Chicken! It's April in St. Louis, on a Monday and you and your husband are feeling the coming summer as you have found a perfect spring day to enjoy on your back patio. You have fresh sangria and spring training baseball on the radio, but what are you going to eat? You eat Porter's Fried Chicken! All of these have been personal experiences of mine. Each moment we ordered buckets of chicken, pounds of sides, mountains of napkins. Every time the chicken was perfectly fried, the coleslaw crisp, the potatoes need more gravy, but you learn to order extra gravy on the side. You have Porter's number saved on your phone to call your order in ahead. You find yourself thinking about it as an option on those nights you don't want to cook. Family gatherings: suggest Porter's. Picnics and Free Outdoor Concerts: suggest Porter's. I am not kidding- it's perfect for any occasion! Love this place and will be back again sometime soon... what will I have for dinner tonight actually?
(4)April B.
I was taken to the "secret chicken place" and it was soooooo good!!! We got the 16 piece, mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw and fried mushrooms. Wow!! I didn't have any of the cole slaw but I heard it was good. The chicken was juicy and the flavor was absolutely perfect. The mashed potatoes were good and the gravy was yummy too. I can't wait to go back. I was told that I need to try the catfish too. That may be on my list for this week!
(4)Jon T.
Ms T, Aunt Annie and I used a purchased dining coupon at PFC for lunch. Our coupon was for $20 so we tried a good assortment of stuff. We had an eight piece bucket and paid the premium for legs and thighs. We added coleslaw, potato salad, fried okra, corn fritters and an order of lizards (half and half livers and gizzards). One thing I screwed up on was that I missed the fact that you can order the chicken "hot and spicy". I will have to go back and try that. Let's talk chicken. This was good straight-ahead fried chicken. It has a light coating with juuuust enough salt. It was hot and fresh and the fried just right. We did not tempt fate with breast meat, but the dark meat was juicy. I would rate it 3-1/2 stars. I tend to like black pepper in fried chicken coating and if it had a little more of such seasonings it could easily be 4 stars or better. I think it was a little better seasoned than Edwards, based on one visit there. (Man, I wish I would have noticed that hot and spicy option) The lady who helped us newbies order, let us know that she calls the half gizzard-half liver order, "lizards". This is a huge order, by the way. The gizzards, though not normally my favorite, were really good. They were reasonably tender and nicely salted. The livers tended to be a little over fried, which dries them out and makes them a little bitter. You don't want to over cook chicken livers and it is easy for that to happen. I can recommend the gizzards if you are so inclined. The corn fritters are also pretty good. They have good corn flavor, with whole kernel corn in the batter. This is the closest thing to a hush puppy I have had in St Louis. They are slightly sweet and a little heavy and greasy, but you have to have a few. Ms T likes fried okra and PFC does a very good job with it. It was freshly fried. It needed salt, but had good okra flavor and was tender. The potato salad is creamy and slightly sweet, with some yellow prepared mustard. I understand from one review it is from Sam's. OK, that may be, but the chicken is good enough not to worry about this. I always eat Louisiana hot sauce on my potato salad anyway and it was fine that way. The slaw is also slightly sweet, creamy style, but not too sweet and not too heavily dressed. These sides are pretty standard, not bad, not special. They are not the star. I would certainly go back for the chicken and try the hot and spicy. I would have okra and some gizzards. I could probably talk Ms T into trying the shrimp or fish. Those remain to be explored. PFC is a classic little neighborhood place and I'm glad we finally got there.
(3)Prime L.
Great food, even better price - what more could one ask. I even liked the run-down diner ambiance :-) Ok. I wouldn't go there for a proper sit in dinner - but fun to eat in once in a while in what is primarily a take-out joint.
(5)S R.
There are no words for the deliciousness of this place. Spicy. Two piece. Two mashed potatoes instead of coleslaw. All your dreams come true.
(5)Mary Kate M.
Holy hot damn this place is good! Stewart P., Jason and I hit up Porter's last night for some chow down. How convenient that Stewart invites us while we are at the gym...... Gym work out then fried chicken? That seems a little backwards, I know, but how can you resist the idea of fried chicken? That's like going through a 40 day famine then not breaking the fast when you have a gourmet steak in front of your face! Jason and I were not totally bad or at least we didn't think we were. We ended up splitting a 2 piece chicken breast meal that included mashed potatoes, a roll, and some slaw. Turns out this was enough for both of us since we are stuffed once our meal concluded. All of this you can have for the very low price of $4.89. Not too shabby if you ask me. Stewart P. on the other hand -- the man went all out. I can't remember everything he got, but he was ever so gracious to share with Jason and I a couple of items he did order. He ordered the fried okra which I didn't particularly care for, and some corn fritters that were really good! I think the corn fritters almost tasted like a dessert more than an appetizer. The chicken we got was really good. I think the chicken itself was really nice.The breading was crispy good but seemed a bit too greasy than I would normally like it to be. Jason enjoyed adding hot sauce to add a bit of a kick to the flavor. Jason enjoyed the slaw. He normally doesn't care for it, but he ate majority of it. Kudos to Porter's for that! Stewart finished his meal off with getting their house made cheese cake. It is a bit different than what you would expect. It comes in a small cup that is a no bake dessert. You make it then let it sit in the fridge until it solidifies. I don't remember exactly how they made it, but the topped it off with gram cracker crumbs which I thought was a nice finishing touch. With the one little bite I had, it did taste good. Porter's, you did good. Now I have to go work off this one meal probably over the course of some days now. Thanks for that.
(4)Lupe D.
This place is the true definition of a hole in a strip mall. I remember seeing it as we were driving around and not thinking much about it. When I looked at my list of "places to try" I realized that Porter's was on it. People, please don't judge a book by it's cover, this place makes some damn good chicken! While we were there, there was a non-stop stream of people, and the phone did not stop ringing - this place is really really popular. My son and I had the chicken tender dinner with mash/slaw and I also had an order of fried okra. My BF had a 3 piece dinner. What makes their chicken so good? Well, in my opinion, it's the light breading that is seasoned perfectly. Not to mention fried to a really nice crunch. YUM - I want some right now....until next time Porter's!
(4)Nick And Shirley A.
We go here about once every three weeks or so. which means, we are not newcomers. last eve we called to order and without the person saying 'hello'. She just pick up the receiver and hung it back up. So, when I called the third time, she answered, I complained and order an eight piece 'bucket'! Well, that was the greasiest, salted, uncooked chicken we ever had from there. Needless to say, after going there for the past 20 years, they lost our business! The quality has gone down the drain and service sucks!
(1)David B.
i've yet to try the spicy, but it's pretty good chicken, if you're not in the mood for the chain stuff and you want something local.
(3)Marleigh R.
Porter's was the first fried chicken place I tried in the area, and it might be the last! I have gone a couple times and gotten both the regular and spicy chicken. I prefer the regular, since the skin seems to be a little crispier versus the spicy, but both are excellent. For the price, you get two sides, a roll, and chicken with a meal. The roll is okay, and so is the coleslaw. I like my slaw a little creamier, but it is still always crispy and fresh tasting. The mashed potatoes are delicious, and are similar to KFC in texture. I have also tried the corn fritters - has to be my favorite appetizer to date. Period. Another plus is that if you don't want to leave it up to luck which pieces you get with your meal, you can opt for a 'special' box and choose what type of pieces you get. Since I usually don't like the wing pieces, that is a good option for when I don't feel like eating them. If you love chicken and want a great price for great food, come here. It's all delicious!
(4)Drew T.
I threw out a question to a couple of co-workers a few days ago. I wanted to know if there were any good places to get fried chicken livers around the Brentwood area. Instantly, their eyes lit up (they knew I was a bit of a foodie), and simultaneously exclaimed that Porter's carried them and they have the best fried chicken around. I definitely had to check this out, although, I was a bit skeptical. I've had bad experiences before with what STL calls 'the best.' This is a city that thinks the stink pit of El Maguey is some of the best Mexican you can get in the city, and that claim couldn't be farther from the truth. Following the restaurant reviewer's code, I decided to make multiple trips at different times, trying dishes across the board. Here's what was cooking: On my first visit, I decided to go for what I was craving and found myself staring at a pound of chicken livers and a small side of potato salad. A thin layer of breading coated each chunk of liver. They were really nice with the crispy, peppery breading complementing the creamy livers quite well. I grabbed a couple of tubs of hot sauce and proceeded to dunk away, finishing off the whole box. Then, I dived into the potato salad, which was a sweet mustard blend with perfectly cooked potatoes and crisp touches of onion. It wasn't bad, but I wasn't too keen on the sweetness of it. I prefer a little more savory in my tuber salad. The second visit was a trip down the river with catfish. I spotted the catfish nuggets on the menu last time I was in. I'm a huge fan of fried fish and the taste of catfish reminds me of Friday night's during lent back in Central Illinois. Just like the livers, it was a huge portion. This was served with a roll(pre-packaged and not worth discussing), cole slaw (which a yelper had raved about) and mashed potatoes with gravy. The catfish chunks were some of the best I had ever had. Unfortunately, about midway through my meal, I bit into a scale from improper cleaning and later a bone. It turned me off a little, and I cautiously finished off the rest of the fish. The slaw was up next for tasting as I was curious to see why this was considered someone's favorite. It was a finely chopped blend of carrots, onions, and cabbage that suffers from the same sweetness the potato salad did. The mashed potatoes were, also, quite unremarkable, and appeared to be an instant mix covered in a pre-packaged gravy. These sides were a little disappointing. Finally, I was on my third trip and this famous fried chicken was the obvious choice. I got the 2 piece, taking it easy as this was my third trip that week with deep fried fare and my body was starting to feel it. It came with the same sides as above, and since these were pretty unimpressive, I asked about getting another side. I questioned my cashier on a few of the other sides and was told that they were all frozen goods and not made in house. I wasn't about to review something that I could do just as well at home, and stuck with the chicken getting a side of fries to fill me up. I was served a wing and a thigh for my 2 pieces and each were blissfully greasy, moist, and crispy. This was probably what I should have been eating the whole time and I can understand why people rave about it. I'll definitely be back to take a stab at some more, and possibly go for the spicy breading on my next visit. That fried chicken was Porter's saving grace. It's probably the only thing that I would go back for, getting just the chicken and letting them keep those shitty sides. On the positive side, I never spent more than $7 on a meal there and was served a filling portion. But, that's probably because they save a whole bunch on frozen foods, pre-packaged sides, and sauces that come in packets. There's a bunch of flaws that Porter's needs to deal with, however, the staff was nice, the prices right, and the fried chicken delicious. Porter's will get my nod when it comes to chicken. Just don't expect too much out of the rest of the menu.
(3)Derek E.
I am not a fan. If I could give this place zero stars, it would get zero stars from me. I don't know why this place gets good reviews. I had read some of the reviews on a different website and decided to try. I called my order in ahead of time, and the person on the phone was very curt and rude when I called. If she was having a bad day, okay, but don't take that out on other people--especially the customers. I read several reviews saying that Porter's was good. Since I didn't want to cook one particular day last week, I ordered two cod sandwiches and French fries. I didn't like either of them. The cod pieces were square and breaded with little flavor other than grease which didn't taste good; the pieces of onion and pickles didn't help it either nor did the commercially prepared packets of Tartar sauce; even the tartar sauce had an off-flavor, too, like maybe it was passed its expiration date or something. The French fries were typical commercial crinkle cut fries that were not crisp, nor were they completely cooked and a bit soggy with grease with little flavor. Adding salt and ketchup didn't help either. They may be known for their chicken, but I'm not sure that I want to try that after these unappealing cod sandwiches. I've got my antacid tablets ready just in case. This was the worst food that I have ever attempted to eat; it was truly nasty. We didn't finish eating the food, so I threw it out for the birds and squirrels to eat. At least that way, it won't go to complete waste. After I did that, I thought that maybe I should not have done that because I was afraid it would kill the birds and squirrels. The next time I want fish sandwiches similar to this, I'm going to White Castle up the street from them. I spoke to someone else who likes this place, and he implied to stay away from the other stuff and just order the fried chicken because he said that's always good. HHmm. One good thing about it was that the service was quick and easy, but when you dislike that food as much as we did, the quick service doesn't matter. Quick service doesn't compensate for the being curt and rude over the telephone either. It's going to be a long time before I consider going there again; in actuality, I probably will never go back again.
(1)Monty M.
Call in ahead if you want the hot and spicy batter (at least 20 minutes). You won't regret it. One of my favorite places to get a good hot meal.
(5)Stewart P.
A solid 4 stars. Good service, good food and great prices. I see Steven B. go here all the time and I thought I better check it out, and since I like a good fried chicken I was pretty hungry. I ended up ordering a 3 piece meal (with cole slaw and mashed potatoes). I really liked the slaw and while I liked the potatoes, those were just good (I'd buy them again though). I also had the corn fritters in mind (thanks to Stephanie S.) so I ordered those (my favorite) and fried okra (pretty good). The ladies behind the counter were very friendly and very helpful and fun to talk to. I will head back sometime to try the catfish and to see how it compares to my favorite place.
(4)John B.
The chicken is always moist and full of flavor. The breading is delicious. I would have possibly given this place a 4.5...that is, until I decided to wait the extra 15 minutes and try their spicy recipe. It really blew me away, and is, hands down, the best fried chicken I've ever had. But call ahead if you want to try the spicy...they cook it made to order, so it takes about 15-20 minutes. Their mashed potatoes are a bit average, as is their cole slaw, but you come here for the chicken. Also, the price is fantastic. I'm a fan of dark meat, and can get a 4-piece chicken dinner here with sides for less than $6. Love it...wish I didn't have to move away.
(5)Elaine S.
Finally tried this place after being told by a couple friends that Porter's has the best fried chicken in STL. I ordered a bucket of mixed fried chicken with corn fritters. I'm sad to report that the food was very disappointing =( The chicken was extremely dry (including the dark meat) and the breading was very very thin, as a result, there was no flavor whatsoever. i just had a hard time eating the chicken and i normally devour all my fried chicken since it is one of my top guilty pleasures. I'm hoping that i just got a bad batch or something. the corn fritters were nothing to write home about...just big fried doughs with maybe 1 or 2 corn kernels inside. for now, i will continue to stick with lee's or KFC =(
(2)Caroline P.
I found Porter's to be delicious, crazy cheap and a really fun atmosphere. I love fried chicken, and this might be the best I have ever had. I will make it a point to return whenever I am in town. The corn fritters were delightful as well!
(5)M A.
I thought I knew good fried chicken as a good little Southern girl. Then I stumbled upon this place and the world I once knew was shattered. Excellent batter and I loved that two legs was not extra. So when can I move this place to Atlanta?
(4)Nicole M.
I ended up at Porter's on one of my first take-out runs in the city, and I plan on going back at least monthly. Their food reminds me of the food my Grandma used to make growing up- fresh, from scratch, delicious. I got the catfish nuggets & my husband got the chicken and we both LOVED our food. You might want to pass on the $5 cheesecake though. (Yes, $5 for an entire cheesecake is too good to be true)
(4)Jimmy R.
The Battle Continues between King Edwards and Porter's. I never been to Porter's until couple days ago so here it goes on my opinion. Round 1: The ambiance King Edwards is cool, decorated, not over done but decorated none the less with pictures and I believe table coverings, and wooden chairs. Porters truly is a hole in the wall. I ate inside and wasn't inspired. But who cares! I want good chicken. Still, it can be a factor for some... King Edwards wins round 1! Round 2: The service At King Edwards, I had the gregarious owner talking and chatting me up. This place on that day should be called land of smiles and corny jokes! The service at Porter's was good. It wasn't bad at all. It was without all the extra happiness. King Edwards wins round 2! Round 3: The sides King Edwards has mash potatoes and gravy but tasted boxed. Hushpuppies were crispy with jalapeno goodness inside. Bread roll was tasty! At porters? Mash potatoes and gravy much better. The bread rolls tasted like from super market. This one's a tie. Finally, now...Round 4: How is the chicken?? King Edward is crispy, thin skin and its among the best I had. The meat is tender, juicy and filled with flavor. I love it. Great flavor. Porter's too is very crispy. It has a distinct, familiar flavor I cant' pinpoint. Their skin is not as thin and has more flour in it. Their meat too is juicy, tender, and rips easily off the bone. I could tell which is which if I was blinded between the two contenders. I vote for King Edwards because it has a thinner, crispier, deep deep fried quality to it I enjoy. However, I think alot of readers may prefer the slightly more flour filled skin of Porter's. Anyhow, I'd come back. The one thing Porter's has over King Edwards is damn good Shrimp. Crap, for Midwest joint, those 6 pieces of giant fried shrimp were soo fresh tasting, hot, and tender. Don't mind that their red sauce is in packets and not a sauce dipping container. Just enjoy the one-two combo punch that chicken and shrimp will have on you for lunch.
(3)Allison B.
I am baffled at how this place has such high ratings. We had high hopes and finally gave it a try Friday night. For starters, when we first walked in one of the front counter girls was dishing out the potato salad into side cups. The potato salad is from Sam's. That right there didn't give me high hopes. I was disappointed you couldn't order one of their extras as a side for an up charge. Your only options are mashed potatoes, slaw, or potato salad. Fries you can add for 30 cents but nothing else. I went with the 2 piece special and got all breasts, mashed potatoes and slaw. The slaw was edible but nothing great. It tasted like it was probably bought at Sam's too. The mashed potatoes were instant and mine had globs where they weren't mixed very well. The gravy was just generic packaged chicken gravy. The chicken was decent, but the batter could use some more seasoning. I prefer a salty fried chicken though, so if you prefer a more bland fried chicken this might be for you. Whatever you do though do not eat there, take it to go. There were only a couple of tables and they were bare. No napkins or anything on the tables and no one checks on you or anything. All in all the one star is for the price. It is definitely a cheap meal. I would eat the chicken again but nothing else. My husband on the other hand would not. King Edwards is better, although Lemp Mansion's Sunday fried chicken dinner tops all.
(1)Sheryl K.
Oh man. Going to Porter's Fried Chicken was the highlight of my day! Through snow and sleet, if I'm in the mood for fried chicken, this is where I want to be. Forget about Church's, forget about Popeyes, and definitely forget about KFC!! I ordered a special 3 piece combo that consisted of a breast and two wings. The batter was crispy and salted to perfection. The meat was juicy and went well with my mash potatoes and gravy. Mmm. I can almost still remember the taste now. The building was old, and I was freezing at the tables, but damn... that chicken was good!
(4)Chris Z.
The chicken was good. I had legs and a bunch of wings. The okra was great. I liked the cole slaw too. However, just like eating at any establishment where 90% of their food goes into a deep fryer, I always feel like crap afterwards. Plus the grease stained to-go box after your done isn't a pleasant reminder of how you just treated yourself. I know this sounds corny, but have you ever tried the baked chicken at Dierbergs? It's so much better. Time to hit the gym.
(3)Leslie S.
The fried chicken is greasy but very, very tasty! I like it better than the much-talked-about Hodak's but not quite as much as the Fried Chicken Sundays at The Boathouse. Definitely try the corn fritters - they remind me of hush puppies only more like corn bread. Sooo good. Porter Burgers are normal-sized and tasty chicken-fried steak sandwiches. Each order of fries gives you enough to share with a friend and then some. The restaurant isn't much to look at and it's very simple counter service and minimal basic seating, so try it for a quick fix or carry out. They also cater.
(3)Tanica R.
Not the greatest chicken EVER but good enough to be a go to place every time you want some fried chicken. I got the 3 wing, mashed potato and coleslaw combo. It only cost me $5.29! Those are old school chicken shack prices! Service was good, got the food quick, I wish they had booster seats so I ended having to eat with my little one on my lap but that's no big deal. Place was clean, you can tell it's a popular place because there were constant people in and out and the phone constantly rung. Yummy and cheap! Couldn't ask for more!
(4)Jen J.
As a hardcore fast-food fried chicken lover, I was not entirely impressed with this place. It makes no sense to come here when I could be getting the Spicy style three piece chicken combo + two side and a drink from Lee's for about the same price...especially since I could get that at pretty much every other street corner. Also, I was unimpressed with the batter-fried shrimp. I honestly could taste nothing but the fried dough.
(3)Martha M.
I traveled across the midwest looking for fried chicken. Then we found Porter's. The chicken was juicy and amazing without being greasy. The mashed potatoes and gravy were smooth, creamy and flavorful and the coleslaw was some of the best I've had. And, hats off to Becky behind the counter. She hustled and seemed to really care about her customers and her restaurant.
(5)