Ted’s Famous Kickin’ Chicken

Ted’s Famous Kickin’ Chicken is a casual, local chicken joint on Statesville Road in North Wilkesboro, NC — known for lightly breaded, pan-fried chicken and jumbo wings dipped in the house sauce, plus large burgers and a tenderloin sandwich. It’s a no-frills, order-and-go kind of place with dine-in and takeout, a jukebox in the corner, and cold beer to go with the wings.

The North Wilkesboro spot is the last operating location carrying on the old Ted’s Famous Chicken name — a brand built decades ago on the same pan-fried chicken and special-sauce wings that regulars still come in for. It’s the kind of straightforward, satisfying local eatery that anchors a small-town food scene.

Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for Ted’s Kickin’ Chicken before you go — or to relive the visit after.

The Ted’s Famous Chicken Tradition

Ted’s Kickin’ Chicken carries a name with real staying power in northwest North Carolina. The Ted’s Famous Chicken brand — known to regulars simply as “Ted’s Kickin’ Chicken” — was started by Ted Briggs Sr., and over the years grew to a handful of locations across the region, each built on the same formula: lightly breaded chicken pan-fried to order and jumbo wings dipped in a special sauce.

As the brand contracted over the decades, the North Wilkesboro location became the last to carry the Ted’s name and now operates under separate ownership. That makes it something of a keeper of the tradition — the place where the pan-fried chicken and special-sauce wings that built the Ted’s reputation are still served the way they always were.

For a small foothills town like North Wilkesboro, that kind of continuity matters. Ted’s isn’t a trend or a concept; it’s a longtime local eatery doing one thing well, and doing it the same way it’s been done for years.

The Food

The signature is right there in the name. Lightly breaded, pan-fried chicken is the centerpiece, joined by jumbo wings dipped in the house special sauce — the two dishes Ted’s has always been known for. The wings come in the classic style that built the brand’s following, and they’re the thing to order on a first visit.

Beyond the chicken, the menu covers the comfort-food range. Large, juicy hamburgers and a tenderloin sandwich are both longtime favorites, alongside sides and small plates for sharing. On the drink side, Ted’s pours beer — an easy pairing for a plate of wings — and the service is fast and casual, making it a solid pick for a quick lunch or an unfussy dinner.

It’s a dine-in or takeout operation with a TouchTunes jukebox that adds to the laid-back, local-joint atmosphere. Nothing here is trying to be fancy, and that’s the appeal — it’s a dependable, reasonably priced spot for chicken done the way this part of North Carolina likes it.

Good to Know

Location: 1007 Statesville Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Phone: (336) 667-7162
Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday, late morning into the evening — check with the restaurant for current hours
The specialty: Lightly breaded, pan-fried chicken and jumbo wings dipped in the house special sauce
Also on the menu: Large hamburgers, a tenderloin sandwich, sides, and small plates
To drink: Beer available
The vibe: Casual local joint with dine-in and takeout, fast service, and a TouchTunes jukebox
The name: The last operating location carrying on the old Ted’s Famous Chicken brand, started by Ted Briggs Sr.
Best for: Wings, pan-fried chicken, a quick casual lunch or dinner, and anyone who likes a no-frills local eatery
Pair with: The full North Wilkesboro food and beverage scene; a walk through North Wilkesboro’s historic downtown; or more of Wilkes County

A North Wilkesboro Highlight

Every small town needs a place like Ted’s. It’s not chasing a trend or reinventing anything — it’s a local chicken joint that’s been doing the same thing for years, and doing it well enough that the name has outlasted nearly every other location that once carried it. The pan-fried chicken and jumbo wings dipped in that special sauce are the reason it’s stuck around.

Order the wings first; they’re what built Ted’s reputation. If you’re hungrier, the large burgers and the tenderloin sandwich round out a menu that’s built for comfort rather than fuss. Grab a beer, pick something on the jukebox, and settle in — this is a straightforward, satisfying stop, and one of the anchors of the North Wilkesboro food scene as we get to know it.