Beach Road Chicken Dinners

The food is good at a family friendly price and in a young family supportive friendly atmosphere. It is fun for the children to be able to get to share the same food. They provide a plate of different fried chicken pieces accompanied by sides. Some of the sides are creamed peas, mashed potatoes, gravy, French fries, cole slaw, and fluffy, soft biscuits. Their tea is good and I order the refreshingly iced fruit punch. The softly fried crinkle cut fries are amazing dipped in the creamy, light brown gravy. You do not need ketchup. There is nothing else like their creamed peas. The biscuits taste good on their own, but some people like to add honey to them to make it more of a dessert. They provide open dinner hours and serve the their traditional chicken dinner family style. Some of the tables are circular to make it easier to share around the table. The sides are all you can eat, but they provide large portions so you should hardly ever have to ask for more. Pay per person. The table clothes are white and red checked. They have comfortable wooden chairs. Sometimes there is a short line out the door.

Dining at Beach Road Chicken Dinners is comparable to stepping into yesteryear, specifically 1939. For those not versed, this is the oldest restaurant in Jacksonville and probably one of the oldest operating businesses in general. It's fascinating how this place is still standing, let alone still in business, and still boasting a crowded dining room during a weekday. Go for the 4 piece dinner. You can choose white or dark meat, and customize the pieces to your liking. It's served with six biscuits, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, gravy and creamed peas. Come hungry, leave way too full. The fried chicken is wonderful. Crisp edges and juicy tender meat underneath. It's not the best fried chicken I've ever had, nor should it be. They do it very traditional and very delicious. You'll be hooked. Taters, slaw and biscuits were all solid. However, for the life of me, do not the obsession with the famous creamed peas. I honestly thought they were kind of disgusting. Listen, I'm not Southern. It might just be one of those "agree to disagree" things, but these ain't for me guys. Round up the gang and take them out for a piece of history. Beach Road Chicken Dinners is a Jacksonville institution that needs to be celebrated for their unmatched longevity!

Beach Road is a taste of home for me and one that my wife and I both miss. If you ask her, the chicken is better than Price's here in CLT and if you ask me, it's every bit Price's equal and either one of those opinions means the chicken is darn good. If you eat in, you're getting delicious fried chicken served with family style sides which means things like coleslaw, fries, creamed peas, potatoes and gravy and to me the sides have always been as good as the chicken. They also do a brisk takeout business and I can only imagine how busy they get on Jaguar football Sundays cause that food is tailgating heaven! I've seen some reviews noting spotty service levels but I only have had good experiences both from my memory of past visits and the most recent one when back in Jax a few months ago. They've been open since well before I was born and I hope they stay in business for many more years to come.

Was a little disappointed in this place. Everyone who has lived here for years says it is good. I agree. It's good. Not great, but okay. Everything's fried, maybe that's why it's not for me. I'm trying to avoid lots of fried foods. Their chicken is the star, it's what all the old timers rave about. It's old fashioned, crispy and juicy. If you want old fashioned southern fried chicken, this place is what the locals recommend.

After reflecting over my meal and glancing over a few reviews, I feel I'm with the majority when I say Beach Road doesn't disappoint. With this establishment being the standard for chicken over a century, I wonder what it was like in 1939. I don't have anything to compare it to then for what it tastes like now but I will say my meal was enjoyable. It'd been about a year or so before I tried BR for the very first time. I recall some buddies telling me how they grew up on eating here. I had never heard of this place and I'm a local. I had the taste for some fried chicken and this spot came to mind. There are two entrances, one for dine-in and one for carry out. I decided I would carry out but I'm hoping to dine-in and experience these unlimited sides I've read about. When it comes to fried chicken, I love a breast and wing. It just so happens that BR caters to those who enjoy white meat. I saw there was a snack meal with just a breast and wing but I know me, that wasn't going to be enough food. I saw the white meat meal with two breasts/wings and the number of sides. The meal comes with three biscuits, French fries, slaw, creamed peas and the chicken. Out of the sides listed, I substituted and got the mash and gravy, fries and the biscuits. The fries weren't crispy but I'll contribute that to them being inside the box until I got back to my job. If there's one thing I don't like, that's soggy fries. The biscuits were fluffy and buttery. I don't think I had a chance to fully taste them, I just popped them in my mouth. Instead of using the gravy for the mash, which wasn't salted, I just dipped a biscuit in there and I'd do it again and again! I ended up having to season the mash with some salt and pepper, there were meh. That chicken, the chicken was the MVP, the Most Voluptuous Poultry. That chicken was crispy, juicy, hot and seasoned perfectly! The juices dripped all over my desk, I'm sorry if this sounds a tad past G-rated but if you haven't had the chicken, you'll see what I mean. It's said that dark meat is juicier but I'll beg to differ, BR has found the secret to making white meat the same. Maybe they brine it for a day or two, who knows. I'm trying my best to follow a healthier and sound lifestyle. Thanks to Beach Road Chicken Dinners, I've failed and yes, it's their fault. Stop by and bring a friend or family.

If you want an experience, go here. I am not going to tell you it's going to be a good experience, though. I must say that this is probably one of the worst restaurants I have been to in a VERY long time. This app forced me to give at least one star; my opinion is that it's about 2 -3 stars more than it deserves. My partner and I had seen this place listed on numerous lists as a good place to go in Jacksonville as we just moved here a few months ago. We arrived around 4:15 on a Sunday and their hours are listed as being open until 6. We were a little shocked to see the parking lot almost completely empty when we arrived. We went in and were seated. Yes, it was 99 degrees outside and it had to be a good 80 degrees inside with a thick heavy grease feeling in the air. We decided to order the breast meal and share it as it would be 2 breasts each. The server came back a few minutes later to tell us that they only had 2 breasts left. I said it was ok, and I could just take some chicken tenders. She then came back a few minutes later and said they only had 1 breast and asked if we'd like for her to put some wings on the plate as well. Our food arrived and let's just say it was some of the most unappealing food. The biscuits were like flat dense objects; the chicken was so dry that it would remind you of the turkey scene from the Lampoon's Christmas Vacation movie. As we were sitting there trying to eat the food, a different server came over and told us they were putting all the sides away in the back and asked if we wanted anything else and this was at 5pm. I noticed that a few more potential customers came to the door only to find it locked. Some of the servers were going to the door to presumably tell them they were closing soon and turned them away. I only wish someone would've turned us away!!! Fast forward to time to pay our bill. Everything was on it that we had ordered; however, I would've thought that since they were out of the item we had ordered and they just substituted some chicken strips that We wouldn't have gotten charged for an additional $13 order of chicken strips - especially since they were dry and tasteless. I had to dredge them in ketchup just to give them some flavor and lubrication to make it easier to swallow. Please don't take this as I am complaining about paying for chicken strips because I'm not. But my logic is if they were closing up shop for the day, those were going to have been trashed anyway (or at least I hope so). Needless to say, we will not be going back there. Yes, I realized it was a place serving fried chicken going in, but if you like your GI tract, I would implore you to keep on driving if you find yourself passing by this place!!!

Beach Road chicken is a staple diner here in Jacksonville with home grown service and even better home grown food.

A gem in Jacksonville! Like if there's anything you need to be doing.. you need to go here! Small mom and pops place.. so charming. Before I get to food, service here is so warm and on point! We ordered 3 chicken dinners (2 for 7.99 each dark, 1 for 8.99 white). Fried chicken was crispy and moist! Not too greasy which is perfect for me. Mashed potato by itself is very smooth and plain. You have to add the gravy for flavor. It is delicious. They give you unlimited sides (peas, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, fries, biscuits). Must try!

Haha! Just re read my post. I crack myself up. Need to revisit and update! Dang it's been awhile since I have been here! I guess it's under new ownership. On the list! Tune in later.

We ate here the other night (a Wednesday) because my husband was craving chicken livers - totally out of character and a surprise. This was the first restaurant that came to mind because if you want good chicken livers, this is the place. Of course, we also ordered fried chicken because it would be a crime if we didn't. Business was a little slow but the place started to fill up fast. I do not believe they have a slow night, so my advice is to just get here early. Nothing much has changed in the 3 years since my original review. We've been coming here for almost 2 decades and the place never changes. I went ahead and bumped my review up a star just for that. The chicken and livers came out of the fryer directly to the table, piping hot. The potatoes were real and creamy and the gravy was a hearty, thick brown gravy. The creamed peas are always enjoyable. Their biscuits are small but light and fluffy and the fries are perfectly fried. The coleslaw is consistently good, not sweet, not sour, but just the right tang and always fresh. We always stuff ourselves with the sides and take the majority of our chicken home for lunch the next day. What can I say, it's a tradition. On a side note, many years ago my uncle and aunt came to America on holiday from Australia. My father thought Beach Road Chicken Dinners would be a fun place for them to try. They were flabbergasted by it and had a wonderful time. They STILL, a decade later, talk about the great chicken place they ate at while in Florida.

Classic. Delicious, high quality tasting chicken with all the sides. The sides are also refillable. You're in for a treat, don't judge the place, until you take in the full experience.

We ordered through Grub hub and it was terrible We tracked the driver and he came straight to us. No condiments no to go silverware . Food was cold shrimp tough with no flavor We will not try again . Wasted money...

Best fried chicken I've had ever! Been coming here since I was born- the sweet peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits and honey the servers are always cheerful and understanding! The food comes out still hot. Everyone who works there has a huge heart and amazing work ethic. Amazing people and family dinner! This is the perfect place to take relatives to show some good ol southern hospitality

Beach Road Chicken is a great place to go when you are hungry. You can't find the family sides like that anywhere else in Jax. Try the Baked Chicken!! I like it just as much. Just call ahead before you go in bc it take 45 minutes. Desserts always good. Corn nuggets good. Just as good as it always has been.

Here at Beach Road having Sunday lunch on the last day that they are open as the original Beach Road Chicken Dinner place. As of this afternoon the new owner takes over he is the owner of the Seafood Kitchen restaurants at Neptune Beach and in Orange Park. He is changing a few things. The current owner came out to thank everyone for coming today and said that the takeout part of the restaurant would still be open for the next few weeks for take out as the new owner does remodeling to the inside and adds some of his own recipes to the menu. I had the traditional Fried Chicken with coleslaw, mashed potatoes gravy, cream peas, biscuits with honey, and iced tea. To me it was delicious. My friend had the fried shrimp with all the fixing. Our server is very knowledgeable and let us know that she was going to be working the takeout window in the next few weeks. I'm sad to see the current owners sell but time stops for no one and they were ready to retire. I hope the new owners too as well with their new venture and don't change too much.

Stoped by on a Wednesday afternoon for a take out lunch. They only do takeout for lunch on weekdays. Chicken was warm and moist but could use more seasoning(at least more salt). Fries were almost cold. The biscuit was semi-warm, but it was so nice and airy, not a dense biscuit. Decent food for a decent price.

I know this is a Jacksonville staple but I felt the chicken was eh. It wasn't gross but it wasn't better than Publix. However their creamed peas is the reason I'd go back. I love peas and eating them creamed YUM!!! This was the first time I'd ever been but it came highly recommended by my mother, who'd been eating it every time she comes back in town. For the price this place is definitely a bargain. I got an 8 piece box, a pint of creamed peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, and fries for $22. I don't know where else you can a fried chicken meal like that. The staff is friendly and the place is busy. The chicken is made to order and they had to divide the restaurant into 2 parts the dine-in and the to-go each have their own entrances and for good reason. There was a line out the door waiting on to-go orders and people coming in and out to pick up called in orders. Will I go back probably because they make the some of the best creamed peas and biscuits.

Deep Fried Soul Food! Okay, it's not the most romantic ambience in the world, or even in the neighborhood. But the southern fried chicken is to die for. Cooked up fresh, you get four pieces of juicy, crusty chicken and all you want sides including rice & gravy, creamed peas, cole slaw, fries, mashed potatoes and gravy, and homemade biscuits all for around $8. The chicken dinner hasn't changed since the 1930's when the restaurant opened, and that's just the way we like it. We know just what to expect, and Beach Road Chicken Dinners always delivers! And by the way, it's not on Beach Boulevard. So why is it named 'Beach Road'? When it was built, it actually was on the only thruway that went all the way to the Beaches. That's no longer the case. Eat in or take out, it's a Jax landmark!

This is the oldest restaurant in Jacksonville! I've been coming here all my life. In fact when I was a baby my grandmother tried to take me home after a family meal here and I threw a chicken bone at her! Service is hit or miss but you don't come here for the staff you come here for the CHICKEN.. No alcohol of any kind but you will get drunk off the chicken grease.. Food is always on point and never disappoints.. Come put some south in your mouth.

Having been born and raised in Mississippi, in my 13 years in FL, this is the only place I have yet to visit where I feel like I'm sitting back down at my Granny's table! Pure deep south, clog all your arteries food!! Yum Yum Yum!!! For about $9 bucks, you get your choice of chicken and then you get all you can eat side items which include fries, coleslaw, creamed peas, rice, and mashed potatoes which come with some of the most heavenly gravy I have ever tasted! You also get all you can eat mini biscuits which go great with their honey (free dessert)! I've never had to wait for a table and all the servers, even though rushed because they are very busy, have always been very friendly and have been very quick to keep the side items coming along with refills on drinks. Have never once been let down because of poor service. The atmosphere is definitely nothing fancy. Not only the food, but the atmosphere makes me feel as though I'm right back in Mississippi. Not somewhere to visit on a very regular basis just because it is loaded with so much grease and fat. But one should be allowed to indulge every now and again; so, if you are craving an indulgence, head to Beach Road Chicken!

This place gets four stars for novelty alone! If you want heaping piles of chicken, baskets of biscuits, and all-you-can-eat sides of creamed peas and mashed potatoes served in cereal-sized bowls then this is your new favorite spot. I can't even imagine how packed this place gets with the church crowd on Sunday! We were in the area running errands and Yelp led me to the suspicious looking chicken shack I've passed thousands of times but never thought about going into. Apparently I've been driving right by a Jacksonville landmark! You won't be wowed by the interior or exterior of this place. No, no, it's definitely nothing to look at. But head on in anyway. It's worth it. We grabbed a table and, after perusing our options of gizzards and chicken livers, decided to split the 1/2 Chicken meal. Normally this dish (um, spread) costs $9.50 but our waitress informed us that $5.99 split charge would be applied. It seemed a little steep, but once the food came out it made complete sense. How could anyone eat all this food by themselves? The table was completely covered with chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, creamed peas, french fries, and a BOWL of gravy. Good lord! Being the biscuit lover that I am, I immediately split one open and buttered it up before I noticed the honey already on the table. Yum! I poured a little on my biscuit and decided to go ahead and drizzle it on my chicken too. Why not? The chicken was delicious and grandma-approved. Well, not my Meme necessarily, she's pretty particular, but it was definitely homestyle. The sides were all delicious and so, so filling. But don't ask for a box for them because that's not how it work at Beach Road. It's all-you-can-eat which means none for later. In fact, they don't even have boxes. Just bags for the chicken you cant finish. Hey, when you're at Beach Road you play by Beach Road's rules. I'd love to say I'm trying the cobbler next time, but I don't know how you'd ever have enough room for dessert.

Recently a few newcomers I know have been raving about this local historic diner they found. I finally made my way to the other side of town and was unfortunately disappointed. The chicken is freshly cooked but definitely no different than something you can get at Popeyes or KFC. The portions are massive but if you want to share that will cost you - you're charged an extra $6 for sharing. The entrees automatically come with mash potatoes (bland), gravy (flavorful), and creamed peas (I don't do peas at all). The sides are unlimited refills but if you do have any leftovers to take home, don't think about taking any sides - that's not an option...seriously. Sorry to say but the serving bowls make you think that the unlimited sides are recycled. I hope not though. If you would like any sauce with your chicken, you are offered one packet of BBQ sauce, ranch or hot sauce. As for service, it was friendly but don't expect to be acknowledged until your entire party is seated. Although I didn't experience it directly, I watched it happen to the three tables around me and the waitress explained it that way verbatim. It was definitely an experience but I don't think I'll be going back.

I was really excited to finally try this place as I had heard about it many times from friends. I ordered the chicken dinner solely on the fact that the menu options didn't really have smaller white meat options. My server suggested getting a to go order instead. I was headed to a doctors appointment afterwards so that wasn't an option for me. The fried chicken breading was light, crunchy and not greasy at all. The meat itself was dry and the chicken was completely void of any additional flavor. I ordered the cream peas and I'll just say it's not for me whatsoever. I did enjoy the mashed potatoes and gravy in a nostalgic way, as they reminded me of the same I'd eaten in elementary school. I quickly realized the gravy was my favorite flavor of my meal and started dipping my chicken in it and the mini biscuits too. As a first timer I didn't realize I couldn't take my sides home. This is a horrible business decision in my opinion (which I'm sure they've practiced since the 30s). Unlimited sides? That makes sense as to why you can't take them home. In my case however I made the mistake of eating my chicken first and barely touching the mashed potatoes and gravy. Then I'm told I can't take it home and I get to watch the server throw it in the trash. Wasted food I'd barely eaten, wanted and was denied. So I bagged up the remaining chicken and biscuits I had without the gravy and left unhappy. I'm not really interested in the chicken or biscuits without the gravy so leftovers will probably not be eaten.

I honestly have never had worse service in a restaurant. They were clearly short staffed and one waitress looked harried as she scurried to every table but ours. Our waitress was either inexperienced or just clueless. We never got serving spoons for the communally served sides. We never got the mashed potatoes to go with the gravy, no onion rings and no lemon for our water. If. you are looking for a no frills fried dinner this is the place. Just have no expectations from the wait staff.

Absolutely AWFUL!!! The customer service was poor. The food wasn't tasty at all. I took one bite of my fried dry hard fish and I wasn't impressed. Pea soup was Peewhew. Perhaps I should of ordered the chicken ( my bad). Oh and you better not complaint about it because you will be accused of trying to get a free meal. If it was free I still wouldn't want it. I might have considered trying it again thinking maybe they were just having a bad day. However, the rudeness was truly unacceptable!!! After all was said and done I did pay for my drink (mediocre tea). I did have three sips of that, lol. Save your money!!! Or simply go someplace else. I wanted to give a zero rating but it's not an option too bad. *My visit was June 2013.

If you eat in, you get unlimited side! The only thing I do not like, is they cannot and will not split the checks what so ever. Just bring cash if you have multiple parties sitting together. If you don't want to wait in line, then get take out. I love to put the gravy on my chicken, fries, and biscuits!! Yummy! I have been eating here since I was a little girl! I dare you to try it!

So yeah showed up and was seated real quick and served even Quicker yes just that simple lolll But here is a independent place that the decore will make you say hmmmm for me its ok i like that the menu is precise and short yesss and not all over the place i think it makes it easier to decide yay or nay So i ordered fried macaroni never had it and loved it i mean who doesnt love stuff tbats not good for them right then i get me some sweet tea now i noticed this is fresh real tea maybe im wrong it tasted just right now lets get into how on earth does this place stay in business I order 5 wings and rice and they also give you creamed peas a (BIG BOWL) A (BIG BOWL) of gravy and a big bowl of rice and 3 biscuits oh and coleslaw all for 9.95 and free extra sides now how they can manage doing that beats me maybe its a illuminati thing lol but somehow they have lasted a long time doing it i applaud that Now on to the taste now yes good and bad the chicken was good yes one was a lil under cooked but mistakes happen its something with the grease though that upset my tummy but maybe its just me it was still good now the rice was well cooked the biscuits are small but good now the creamed peas i never had em before but with the rice it was ok but the thickner in em was overly used as with the gravy but i give it all a good A- for the gravy and peas the price and food is wow and im a fat guy obviously so i couldnt finish so go try it and enjoy this run on sentence lolllll

Winner winner chicken dinner! Beach Road is one of those 'classic' Jacksonville places every one has been to or must try at least once when they move here. The cream peas evoke memories of childhood sitting on the copper top bar at the original Homestead. The menu isn't too complicated and they have almost every combination you could think of. On my last visit there were three in our party, but we knew 2 half chicken meals would be more than enough. The sharing plate charge is a little higher than most places, but it's still cheaper than ordering another whole meal (that you don't need). The chicken was crispy on the outside and super juicy on the inside. The sides (mashed taters, peas, rice & gravy) gave everybody something they liked. And of course we all indulged in a biscuit with honey for dessert.

Not impressed: -Rice,mashed potatoes & french fries: plain and unseasoned, can't survive without gravy or hot sauce. Should at least be palatable on their own. -Coleslaw: Its not gross tasting or badly flavored....it's just like spooning chunky mayonnaise in your mouth which could be palatable to some people... -Biscuits: underwhelmingly small, not fluffy, some were hard on the bottom therefore I actually cut the roof of my mouth on a biscuit. Who cuts their mouth on a biscuit?? -Fried chicken wing dinner: small, hard, shriveled, dry, sad morsels. The kitchen over cooked the meat right off of the wings, we basically chewed crunchy batter off of bones. I feel bad for the chickens that gave up their wings for this travesty. -Even though it wasn't busy, we barely saw our waitress -Gravy: very good brown country gravy! Thick and flavorful. -Cream Peas: famous and delicious -Fried chicken breast: juicy, large and delicious skin! -Sweet tea: Fabulous southern sweet tea.

The last three times have been a disapointment. The great good chicken of days gone by are no more. On each of our recent visits found the chicken to be bloody near the bone and once the white meat not edible...The rice crunchy, the peas riddled with large lumps of thickener, the potatoes totally from a box and an inferior box brand...The wait staff very friendly & ready to replace your poorly cooked chicken, but is that really the point? I guess the good old days are long gone...Will think hard about attempting another visit

This is an excellent road house restaurant with down home southern comfort food. A lot of history behind this place and there's nothing else quite like it in Jacksonville. Established in 1939, looks like nothing much has changed and has retains its southern charm. The service was good, prompt and friendly. The prices are VERY reasonable. Fried chicken was absolutely the best we've ever had period! That's saying a lot since we have often eaten great fried chicken at Hodack's in St. Louis which has been voted #1 for he best fried chicken for years in that area. But this place had it beat hands down! All the sides were delicious, though nothing fancy here..just really good southern home cooking. And they refill any/all sides! A friend told us about this place and how good it was, so we just had to try it. Boy were we glad we did as we weren't disappointed. We will be back!

Really good food. I ate here as s teenager. Hasn't changed. Food excellent. Get the cream peas.

This place is a Jacksonville institution. I moved away in 1991 but I visit every time I'm back in town. There's nothing fancy about it but their fried chicken is old timey, old school delicious. The chicken is always moist and the crust is always crispy. The sides are your basic crinkle cut fries, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. but they have creamed peas which are actually quite good and not found in many places. If you live in JAX, you're lucky to have Beach Road Chicken. Don't pass it up.

Not what I expected.. Highly disappointed Place smelled and looked old and dirty, chicken wasn't good... Popeye's and KFC are way much better. Service not good..

Grimy, run down, loud, intoxicated guests seated nearby. It's amazing this dump is still in business. You can get fried chicken at Golden Corral that's better, with a great variety of sides, and it's all you can eat. Or, for a little more money go to Metro Diner and get a meal that puts Beach Rd. to shame. I'd even choose KFC over this sorry excuse for a restaurant...

The old cooks are gone and they're trying to sell the place the chicken has gone downhill and the sides to it is very sad

Been going since I was a little girl and luckily it has changed a bit. Best fried chicken ever and could eat the cream peas every day. Thanks for keeping it simple and authentic

This place has been there forever and is a Jacksonville institution. I have been going there since I was a little kid. Best chicken anywhere, and everything stays the same, year after year, decade after decade. Great sides, friendly folks. And good gravy, the gravy is the BOMB! Try the sweet tea, too! Delicious! I don't live in Jacksonville any more, but I travel through there frequently have been known to bring a cooler so I can stop by for takeout and keep it warm for the two hour trip to my current home. It's THAT GOOD. You haven't been to Jacksonville if you haven't eaten at Beach Road Chicken Dinners.

I grew up eating fried chicken, rice and gravy, biscuits with honey, creamed peas, and mashed potatoes. I love it and this place. My husband is from New York and he enjoys it, too. It's always good. It's an older restaurant, so don't expect a fine quality atmosphere. It has more of an "eating at your grandma's place" kind of feel. Our waitress was really great. We have three young kids in tow and we were about to over-order for them. She recommended we ordered a combo of chicken that worked better for the size of our family and it was the perfect amount. She saved us a little money by doing so. Great food. Great service. A Jacksonville staple and a must try.

I have been coming here since ive been a child. Excellent food. And the best sweet tea around!

If you haven't eaten here, what are you waiting for. A Jacksonville staple for fried chicken and creamed peas. All the sides you can eat and the biscuits with honey and great.

Best fried chicken in Jacksonville. Don't let the skeevy appearance fool you. This place keeps it simple and gets it right. The sides are better than most, but the star of the show is the Chicken. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and served with the kindness that makes you feel like you've eaten there 10000 times.

Reading the reviews of this joint would make you think it's the most hit or miss place on the planet. You really need to know what you're getting into before coming here, although you'd be hard pressed to find it unless someone has already told you about it. It's family style dining, where all the sides are brought out for self service. When you come here, come hungry, and order... CHICKEN. I can't speak for the other items on the menu because I only order the fried chicken. The place has chicken in the name, why you would order anything else is beyond me. Pro tip: If you come with one other person, you'll have to pick your sides, missing out on something. If you're with 2 or more people, you get it all. Mashed potatoes, biscuits and gravy, creamed peas, fries, the whole nine yards. The chicken is lightly fried and subsequently not too greasy. No real spiciness to mention but it definitely has it's own unique flavor. It's always consistent, so you know what you're getting. I read someone was complaining about the size of the chicken, saying it's not big enough. My thought is that because they use local live stock, hopefully they're this size because they aren't pumped full of hormones like what you would find in the grocery store. I'm not certain but I tell myself that to justify eating it. The service is pretty standard operation. Ensure that you'll get plenty of refills by ordering sweet tea. There's always a server walking around with a pitcher in the dining room 4/5 will raise cholesterol level again.

I came back to Jacksonville for a visit and was delighted to return to Beach Road Chicken Dinner. As I live in the midwest now, you can imagine sweet tea, creamed peas and good southern food is not plentiful. I was really looking forward to this. I gathered a group of 20 friends for a Southern Food Reunion. We made reservations over a week ahead of time, and even called to confirm them. We showed up for our lunch and they had no idea what I was talking about with my reservation. So, we all waited while they set up our table. Which, we were very understanding about and didn't really care as we were all excited to see each other. We finally get seated and it takes FOREVER to get our drinks and order. At this point, we're still okay with it. We were loving catching up with each other. I'd say we weren't even cranky about the service yet. We finally placed our order. The coleslaw came out first. My friend asked for a fork. Twice. On the third time asking for a fork, the server told him, "Why? You haven't gotten your food yet." He ended up using a friend's fork to eat his coleslaw as his never came. We waited and waited on the "unlimited sides". Most of us ordered the chicken dinner. And, we pretty much each got about a spoonful of mashed potatoes, and a spoonful of creamed peas. When you've got 20 people at a table, maybe bring out more than 2 bowls of each side and 1 basket of biscuits. Unless by "unlimited" you mean 1 tablespoon per person. The food was delicious. Not gonna lie. Then, came time for our checks. No exaggeration, it took us about an hour and a half to get our checks and pay. It was uncomfortably warm inside and we were all starting to get super cranky. Overall, the service was just awful. Which, if we had just surprised them with a party of 20, I would understand. But we had called. Twice. And, I understand if they're busy - but not bringing enough food plus denying my friend a fork? C'mon. To top it all off, out of the 20 people about four of us got horribly sick. I would have been more outraged had I not been surrounded by 19 of my favorite people in the world. However, I will never be going back.

If we're hungry for chicken and don't want the typical chain, then this is where we go! The chicken itself is yummy (with a capital YUM), as are all of the sides. One of the best things about this place is you can get more of the side dishes (you just have to tell them which you want) when you're finished with the initial serving. If you're anything like me you'll want and need more of the mashed potatoes and gravy and the rice and gravy!! The atmosphere here is pretty laid back and can and probably will be loud, as it does tend to be crowded. Each time we've gone here the service has been exceptional, with little wait for drinks and additional sides. So, if you're in the mood for some tasty chicken, at an affordable price then I suggest you give this one a try!!!

Beach Road Chicken dinners is another one of those places you have to appreciate for what it is. If you are looking for comfort food, and something that is so close to what your granny used to make, this is the place. I've never actually dined inside, we always order take out. And, it's always the same. No surprises. And consistently solid. A friend of mine had posed his review of Beach Road on Facebook a few days ago... and just looking at the picture, knew it would be a dinner destination this week. We called in an order last night, and it's typically only a 15-20 minute wait. The waiting area is small, with a counter to place your order and a few chairs to sit. The chicken is exactly how my granny used to make it. No 11 secret herbs and spices, (in our family, we always had someone that was allergic to something or didn't like pepper) but a basic fried chicken recipe. Now I do like a little heat sometimes, so I will add some hot sauce here and there, but last night I went without. The biscuits are mini biscuits... and again, taste just like home. The gravy has good flavor and is good on EVERYTHING. Mashed tates are solid too. I will normally dip my chicken and biscuits into the mashed potatoes and gravy and that, my friends, is the ultimate bite. My friend was also talking about the "famous" cream peas, and either you love them or hate them. I'll admit, I am not a fan. They taste like the mushy peas they used to serve in elementary school and the creamy part is kind of flavor-less. I tried adding salt and taking a bite with my mashed tates, and naw, still not a fan. My family in Kentucky was on my mind yesterday... and this was a great comforting meal for my thoughts of home. It reminds me of my granny every time, which is super sentimental since we lost her last year. So in the typical family visit fashion, I ate so much my stomach hurt and retreated to the couch to pass out in a food coma. PS. No pics cause I did not have the self control to wait.

This has been a family fav for at least 40 years I guess more . Give it up Paula Deen I have been to two of your locations 2 or 3 times and each time its like a want to be KFC with a higher price. This place is the tops in Jacksonville Florida . Mary Macs is the best in Atl.If you are in town go to where the locals have been going for like I said over 40 years. . Please do not let your tongue beat your lips to death when you see the pics.

Worst dining experience of my life! My husband and I decided to check out this "legendary" chicken place and, oh boy, were we disappointed! First, my chicken fried steak arrived with no white gravy. The brown gravy that came with the mashed potatoes was bland. The cream peas were disgusting. Biscuits were small and nothing special. The worst sweet tea I've ever had. We decide we're going to take our food home so I can make some gravy to go with my steak, and they REFUSE to let me take the sides I just paid for! So, for nearly $26, I came home with my untouched steak and the few livers my husband didn't eat. They were rude and will never see another dime of my money. If you choose to try their food, buy a take-out dinner so you'll at least get what you paid for.

Look up the word "Institution" and you'll find a reference to this joint, as it seems like the same people have been going there religiously for decades. Just don't look for Beach Road Chicken on Beach Road, 'cause it's really on Atlantic Blvd, east of I-95. Apparently when it opened back before your parents were born, it was on the only road that went out to the Beaches, which later became known as Atlantic Blvd. But I digress. It's no frills dining in this aged building that's been added onto a few times. You pay your $8 bucks and get your 4-pieces of wonderfully fried chicken and all the sides you can shove in your belly - slaw, crinkle-cut fries, mashed potatoes & gravy, rice, and creamed peas (must be a southern thing - hard to imagine what they cover the peas with to make it so tasty!), and fluffy biscuits. Forget about finger-licking good, it's bone-licking good. Maybe I'm not as traditional as some, but I'd like the option of a spicy batter. But as long as the hot sauce is on the table, I'm good to go! Not open for lunch except on Sundays, and closed on Mondays.