The National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane’s has announced an impressive lineup of nearly 40 restaurants, including a few legendary names in Louisiana’s culinary scene and new additions from across the country for its seventh annual event on the New Orleans Lakefront Oct. 5 – 6.
Several past winners will be back this year for a chance to compete in the festival’s food competitions, including “Best Fried Chicken,” “Best Use of Chicken in a Dish,” “Best Chicken Sandwich,” and the “People’s Choice Award.” FCF is proud to announce the re-entry of Willie Mae’s to the lineup following a hiatus after a fire nearly destroyed the iconic Tremé establishment last year. Previous FCF 2023 winners Redbird Fried Chicken and Bao Mi, and 2021/2022 winners Gus’s Fried Chicken, are also set to return to showcase their award-worthy dishes for another chance at the title. Another local powerhouse making a comeback this year is James Beard Award-winning Chicken’s Kitchen, which has become one of the most popular fried chicken spots on the Westbank, with lines often seen down the block.
A number of exciting new additions round out the lineup for the highly-anticipated event this fall, including Picnic Provisions & Whiskey, the casual dining concept best known for its Crawfish Boil Fried Chicken from esteemed Commander’s Palace restaurateur Ti Adelaide Martin, as well as other area favorites like social media sensation It’s NolaBaaaaby food truck, elevated downtown Indian restaurant LUFU NOLA, and inaugural Brews, Boils & Bubbles festival award winners, Mr. Shrimp’s Kitchen and the NOLA Chuck Wagon. Also making their New Orleans debut is Grippy’s Sauce Co. out of Ohio and the Slogar Bar & Restaurant out of Colorado.
True to its mission of bringing diverse groups of people together around a shared love of food, family and Louisiana culture, FCF will offer a wide range of culinary offerings with something for everyone—from gluten-free to vegan, vegetarian, and everything in between.
Following the success of last year’s event, FCF was ranked sixth “Best Speciality Food Festival” in the nation by the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Guests can expect all the things they’ve come to know and love at FCF 2024, including the return of the HEINZ® “Food is Culture” Stage, all-day entertainment, and various other activations and experiences on-site, including the Cane’s Block Party with DJs, games, prizes, and special performances throughout the weekend.
“Being ranked amongst the top 10 specialty food festivals in the country is not something we take lightly, and as such, we are always finding ways to elevate the overall culinary experience for our guests and elevate Louisiana’s rich culinary culture and traditions,” said Cleveland Spears, III, FCF organizer and President/CEO of the Spears Group. “With the return of local legends like Willie Mae’s and newly-added Picnic Provisions & Whiskey, this year’s lineup represents one of our most distinguished and dynamic to date, further solidifying the city’s reputation as one of the top food destinations in the world.”