The fried chicken sandwich is an unsung hero of American-invented cuisine. It’s believed to have been born somewhere in the late 1940’s and brought into the mainstream by Chick-Fil-A in the 1960s. Now I’m not knocking Chick-Fil-A here–you can find those bad boys dotting all over American highways—but this article is devoted to the fried chicken sandwiches that actually take a little seeking out to savor, and the ones that are well worth the trip.

Howlin’ Ray’s Hot Chicken | Los Angeles, CA
I stood in line for an hour and a half on a Tuesday afternoon to get my first Howlin’ Ray’s chicken sandwich (I actually bought two), and lemme tell you; it was worth it. Howlin Ray’s started as a roaming Los Angeles food truck run by a husband and wife, initially spending over four months covering every hot chicken joint they could find in Nashville. After each stop, they’d tweak their Nashville-style hot chicken recipe and try again. Their hard work paid off. Now they’ve landed at a location in downtown Los Angeles where they serve some of the very best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Wandering Goose | Seattle, WA
The Wandering Goose is all about community, from cooking classes to the bee hive on the rooftop, their ethos has brought in a unique crowd drawn not unsubstantially to their infamous “Auntie Anne’s Fried Chicken Sandwich.” Named for the chef’s actual aunt, this mouthwatering sandwich vibes your standard Chick-Fil-A situation, but with better ingredients: pickles, creole mustard and honey (from the hive) adorn a breaded, locally-raised chicken thigh served on a warm biscuit. The Wandering Goose also sports a “Fried Chicken Friday” that’s worth sticking around for.

Soul Groove Waffles and Chicken | San Francisco, CA
According to their own account, Soul Groove began, “in 2012 as a late night cathedral of sorts—delivering many a wayward soul from the evening's wickedness, to testify before the altar of Southern-fried glory.” They only make one sandwich: the Chicken Fried Soul, but not wanting to turn away their diverse community of food lovers, they also offer two variations for vegetarians and vegans. The Chicken Fried Soul’s chicken breast is wrapped in bacon before going in the buttermilk batter, and then finally served between maple infused waffles and topped with jalapeno cole slaw and spicy maple barbecue sauce. Have mercy.

Fuku | New York City, NY
Founded by food deity David Chang in 2015, Fuku has grown from a tiny chicken joint to a handful of hip locations all boasting the same fried chicken sandwich. Fuku’s chickens are raised on local farms before making their way to Fuku where they are coated in a habanero puree, dipped in buttermilk, covered in spices, and finally deep-fried. The tasty chicken breasts are then served with pickles and house-made butter on a Martin’s potato roll.

Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub | Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis is an amazing place and the Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub is no exception. Actually, it’s exceptionally amazing. Originally founded by a neighbor-driven, crowd-funding investment model that promised free beer for life to those who donated an initial $1,000 or more, Northbound expanded admirably into the fried chicken game—but with a twist. The chicken is deep fried in a homemade waffle batter with honey wheat beer then served with lettuce, tomato, and a unique garlic mayo on top of an egg bun. It’s a treat sure to warm that Minnesota cold right out of you.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken | Chicago, IL
Like The Wandering Goose, the Chicago-based Honey Butter Fried Chicken stands for two things: sustainable community living and damn good fried chicken. The “Original Fried Chicken Sandwich” has a number of unique features: using chicken strips instead of chicken breasts for added crispiness, and topping their sandwiches with a candied jalapeno mayo for a good kick that’s cooly tempered by the crunchy coleslaw on top.

Cutty’s | Boston, MA
Cutty’s is a normal restaurant on every day, but one, each month. On the glorious day deemed “Cutty’s Super Cluckin’ Sunday,” all Cutty’s restaurant serves is a single sandwich: the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Served from 10am until they run out, this Boston favorite boasts “crispity-crunchity chicken, zippy ranch dressing, tangy BBQ sauce, shredded iceberg + shaved sweet onion on a buttered-up sesame brioche bun.”