Jane & Michael Stern

"Cooked in lard, it has an unspeakably luxurious red gold crust; and it differs from ordinary fast-food fried chicken not only by the dripping moistness its crust encases, but by its shape. Belgrade Gardens, since 1933, is the original source of this goodness."

The Daily Meal

"Belgrade Gardens may boast that it has the greatest chicken in the world — and with good reason. Located in Barberton and open since 1933, this spot serves a special style of fried chicken called "Barberton Chicken," which means that it is fried in lard and has a distinctive shape and color. They serve their chicken the old-fashioned way, with customers having the choice between wings, drumettes, breasts, legs, thighs, and backs. You can be sure none their precious chicken goes to waste."

Big 7 Travel

"Ohio Foodie Bucket List: 21 Dishes To Try Before You Die: Barberton-Style Chicken in Belgrade Gardens - Barberton-style fried chicken was created by a Serbian couple who opened Belgrade Gardens 80 years ago. The droolworthy chicken comes with French fries, vinegar-based coleslaw, and a fiery mix of rice, tomato, and hot peppers known as “hot sauce“.”

Douglas Trattner

"The success of Barberton chicken lies in its simplicity. The meat is not subjected to a buttermilk bath. There are no 11 secret herbs and spices. Finished pieces aren't drizzled with honey and truffle oil. When you fry each batch to order in pork fat, there is little need for paprika and Old Bay. What shines through is the taste of chicken — hot, juicy, and delicious chicken."

Larry Aylward

"What makes this chicken so special? It begins with the cut, which is based on efficiency more than anything. Then there’s a simple and not-so secret recipe. The chicken is also fried in lard, which may seem unhealthy to some, but it certainly adds to its taste, not to mention its tradition."

Tom Noe

"When I finally got around to trying the chicken at the Belgrade Gardens, I discovered that it was OUTSTANDING: I started with the lowly chicken wing (of which I am a huge fan). The coating was nice and crispy and the meat was hot and juicy. Between the way the crust looked and tasted, you could tell it had been fried in 100% lard. Which, to be honest, is a strange taste to me after having eaten food only fried in vegetable shortening/oil for the last thirty years of my life. After finishing the ... Read more

Amanda Tarlton

"What better place to sink your teeth into the crispiest, crunchiest chicken than the “Fried Chicken Capital of the World”? Belgrade Gardens not only lives up to its city’s nickname with its juicy pieces (the owner was the first to serve the chicken back), it also offers a hot relish for dipping unlike anything we’ve tasted."

Random Ohio Reviews

"The chicken is well known, but the sides are also great. They have a dish called hot sauce. We were expecting some sauce in a bottle, but were surprised when this dish came out. Their hot sauce has rice, tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers in it. It was very tasty and just the right amount of heat. In the area, or not, this is really worth the drive. The chicken is crisp, but not too crisp and very fresh. The breading has a nice chew to it and is not over hard. The chicken was very juicy and not ... Read more

John Petkovic

"For 80 years, the bird has been the word at this restaurant. But the hot sauce – a spicy mix of simmered vegetables and rice – is killer."