Fancy Ranch Amish Fried Chicken

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of fried chicken, but this one is phenomenal. (I visit with a friend who eats fried chicken and he agreed.) From the people behind Navy Yard's Shilling Canning Company, they created this stand inside Union Market to sell their most popular menu item. Two options are on the menu for a smaller or larger plate of fried chicken with sides (baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad) and several sauces. It also comes with waffles and premium maple syrup. The chicken itself is full of flavor and perfectly fried. The aji verde sauce pairs perfectly with it.

The chicken is golden and crisp, with tender meat that suggests a well-executed brine—flavorful even in the thickest cuts. Each piece is finished with a light, sweet drizzle that enhances rather than overpowers. The corn waffle strikes a great balance—soft, sweet, and buttery without any grit, offering classic waffle texture with a pleasant corn-forward note. The potato salad stands out with its pale green hue, thanks to a blend with their aji verde sauce. It’s cool, herbaceous, and finishes with just a hint of heat. Next time, I’m definitely trying the made-to-order coleslaw—it seems to be crafted with care and pride. The fancy ranch that came with the chicken was spot-on. I'm partial to a thinner, more pourable ranch, and this one delivered, likely due to quality buttermilk. Even before ordering, the kitchen staff greeted me warmly while prepping—excellent hospitality from the start. This spot is absolutely worth visiting at Union Market while they’re around through September.

This place absolutely exceeded our expectations! As first-timers with Amish fried chicken, my husband and I weren't sure what to expect when we walked by. But the moment we saw that perfectly golden, crispy chicken in the serving area, we knew we had to try it – and we're so glad we did. The chicken was incredible – unbelievably tender and flavorful with the most amazing crispy coating. Even as someone who doesn't typically gravitate toward fried chicken, I was completely blown away by the quality and taste. And don't even get me started on the waffle – it was melt-in-your-mouth perfection that paired beautifully with the chicken. The food here doesn't just meet expectations, it surpasses them in every way. We'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu. Highly recommended for anyone looking for exceptional comfort food done right!

On my Eat, Pray, Love adventure in DC, I wandered into Union Market and found myself completely charmed by this little stand. Let's just say this fried chicken stand stole my heart (and my appetite). The staff was so sweet and welcoming, and John? He knew exactly how to talk chicken---sharing all the juicy details of their special process. I was already impressed before the food even hit the table. I went for the Chicken & Waffles family meal, and ohhh.... it was love at first bite. The Amish farm--raised chicken (no antibiotics, no hormones--just pure goodness) is brined for 12-24 hours, then fried to golden, crispy perfection. Tender, juicy, and downright irresistible. The meal came with six mouthwatering dipping sauces, paired with fluffy corn waffles and a maple syrup that was both sweet and unique. Add in the spicy potato salad and baked beans, and I was completely smitten. DC, consider me officially in a relationship with this chicken. 💞

I came to Fancy Ranch for the fried chicken, but I stayed because they held me hostage. When you first walk in, the place has potential. The menu is simple, the vibes are chill, and it smells like glory. You order and sit at the counter or order off to the side for to-go, and here’s where the trap is set: you pay immediately. No “pay after your meal,” no time to assess whether the chaos is worth it… just swipe and pray. Once you’ve paid, you’re locked in, financially and emotionally. We waited about 10 minutes to order, not because it was busy, but because the waitress was just standing there staring off into space. We had to get her attention and ask if we order with her or the manager. Then comes the waiting game. You will wait at least 30 minutes for your food. And then we watched them give our food to a couple who had just sat down. Like, still-zipping-their-jackets sat down. When they did this, neither the waitress nor the manager said a word. No heads-up. No “sorry about that.” We were left wondering if our chicken and waffles had somehow grown legs. Again, we had to get their attention to ask what was going on and why it was taking so long. The manager was just standing by watching the chaos unfold like a diner-themed episode of Survivor. When we finally got our food, I specifically requested dark meat, but what did I get? White meat. My friend ordered a mix and she got all dark meat. So instead of explaining this to them and waiting another 45 minutes, we just shared chicken and kept our sides. Listening isn’t part of the vibe here. Now, when the food finally arrives, it’s undeniably good. The waffle is crisp yet fluffy, and they don’t skimp on the butter. The chicken? Juicy, well-seasoned, and beautifully fried. They clearly know what they’re doing in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that knowledge did not extend to hospitality, organization, or basic restaurant logic. Let’s talk eggs. You get two options: fried hard or sunny side up and runny. That’s it. No scrambled, no over-easy, no middle ground. Eggs are no longer versatile, apparently. Now, prepare yourself for the hot sauce scam of the century. It costs $2. Not only is it wild to charge for hot sauce at a fried chicken spot, but they also don’t tell you when you order. So if you want it, you have to swipe your card again for a sad little ramekin that’s only half full. The card processing fee probably costs them more than the sauce. And at a fried chicken spot, too? That’s like charging extra for air at a yoga studio. This was all on a Saturday morning, with the restaurant about 70 percent full and only one waitress on the floor. She looked like she’d just been dropped into brunch service with no training, no support, and no chance. We made eye contact a few times, and I swear we were both blinking “help” in Morse code. But the part that really took me out was the cleanliness. Employee belongings were chilling near the food packaging. A customer sent back an incorrect order, and the staff placed the tray directly on a cutting board covered in chopped onions. And just kept chopping. No wipe down. Just a little bacteria with your brunch. And the manager? I watched this man touch the card reader, the fridge, his phone, someone’s receipt, and then reach barehanded into a tray of fresh waffles. No gloves. No handwashing. Just straight from capitalism to carbs. To be clear, the food is great. If they can tighten up operations, train their staff, and introduce soap to the kitchen, they could actually thrive. But right now, it feels like a fever dream with amazing seasoning and at least three health code violations. They just opened a week ago, so I’ll give them grace. Maybe I’ll be back… maybe. After I recover. And I’m definitely bringing my own hot sauce.

Amish Chicken is truly a hidden gem! The fried chicken is easily some of the best I’ve ever had—crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor. The baked beans are rich and smoky, the waffle is perfectly fluffy and melts in your mouth, and the homemade sauces take everything to the next level. You can tell there’s real care and quality in every bite. This place is a must-visit!

My friend and I heard good reviews about the pop up and wanted to give them a try. Before coming, we looked at the menu and saw the Lone Ranger meal was about $18-$19 before tax. Our server was attentive and enthusiastic, however, the way he upsold us was a bit deceptive. We did not want to commit to the Aji Verde sauce in case we didn’t like it. So our server said “I’ll just let you try it!” Which we thought would just be a little sample, however, he charged us an extra $2 for it like we requested it. And he asked if we wanted white meat or dark meat (which we thought was just a choice like most chicken places) however, it was a $5 charge to specify if you want white or dark (another $10 added). So by the time we finished ordering (2 Lone Ranger meals with no drinks) our total was $57. I felt cheated and had to ask multiple servers for a receipt. Another customer who sat next to us began to ask questions about the pricing and the server had to call the manager over. Overall, the food was good but it was not worth $57 for two people. We could have just gone to an actual sit down restaurant for that.

The food was absolutely excellent — some of the best chicken and waffles I've had. I would definitely return based on the food alone. As for the service, there were mixed experiences. Miguel stood out with top-notch customer service. He was attentive, professional, and made the visit more enjoyable. On the other hand, the older woman — who I believe may be the owner — seemed to be slowing things down. Food was left sitting out for a while because she appeared to be pacing herself. What really stood out, though, was her behavior toward the staff. She made faces when employees made even small mistakes (like dropping something), and although it might have seemed like a joke to her, it came off as condescending and unprofessional from a customer's point of view. There are also some hygiene concerns that should be addressed. I noticed staff using their fingers to wipe the waffle containers and placing tongs directly on the counter, which isn’t very sanitary. Wearing gloves and being more careful with food handling would make a big difference. Overall, the food is outstanding, but customer service and cleanliness need improvement. Thankfully, Miguel (or Nigel — apologies if I got the name wrong!) really carried the experience with his excellent service.

This is the best fried chicken in the DMV! Crispy and well seasoned. My only complaint is how long it takes to get your order and the cost 0 per additional sauce. I got the Lone Ranger that comes with: 3 pieces of mixed white meat & dark meat 1 side 1 sauce I wanted more maple syrup for my waffle and they charged me $2.50 for the smallest sauce cup. So I'll be bringing my own damn syrup next time! My friend got a side of the coleslaw and enjoyed it but said the potato salad was awful. It had a lot of pesto in it and tasted weird.

I finally tried this on the way to salsa dancing event. I walked by before and asked people if it was good and they said yes. Once again I should know better. Being southern and living in the DMV so many people here don't know what good food is. Yes, that's a shot. People just don't know how to do good fried chicken (or biscuits) outside of the south. The waffles were good and soft, but the chicken not so much. I can't recommend. The staff was friendly.

This is a new spot within Union Market. The service was lovely. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming and engaging. This spot is a seated restaurant within the market, so there is bar seating and a table reserved for those who purchase food from here. The food was good. The chicken was juicy and very crunchy. Not sure what type of breading is used, but it seemed like a tempura or something, especially since alot of the crunchy bits were falling off. The waffle was also good and a bit sweet but not overly sweet. I ordered the 3piece combo, which came with a side, 2 pc corn waffle and a sauce. All for about $20 bucks. These are a few negatives about the restaurant: Not sure if it was just me- but based on the wording, I was expecting 2 full waffles, however you only receive a half a waffle. I think that can be more clear. Also, I chose the potato salad as my side and was shocked that it was "non-traditional", I would encourage to have a description of what's in the potato salad so people are aware prior to making the selection. Also, i think it's quite odd for the sauces to be normal sauces like hot sauce and syrup. Those should be standard and not selective. All in all, I probably wouldn't go again, but for a first time try it was very decent!

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of fried chicken, but this one is phenomenal. (I visit with a friend who eats fried chicken and he agreed.) From the people behind Navy Yard's Shilling Canning Company, they created this stand inside Union Market to sell their most popular menu item. Two options are on the menu for a smaller or larger plate of fried chicken with sides (baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad) and several sauces. It also comes with waffles and premium maple syrup. The chicken itself is full of flavor and perfectly fried. The aji verde sauce pairs perfectly with it.

So good!! We got the Lone Ranger, none of that hot honey sauce. For $19 I left so full and didn't even finish my coleslaw. I also LOVE the corn waffles. We found the service mostly good, but did take a while to get refills in our water. It is a new place, and some of the service was a little uneven. Probably because our waiter was busy talking to the couple next to us for 20 minutes. This said, I don't find this to be normal. I think when business settles down, the service will also normalize. I'd be happy to come back just for the waffles alone.

I came to Fancy Ranch for the fried chicken, but I stayed because they held me hostage. When you first walk in, the place has potential. The menu is simple, the vibes are chill, and it smells like glory. You order and sit at the counter or order off to the side for to-go, and here's where the trap is set: you pay immediately. No "pay after your meal," no time to assess whether the chaos is worth it... just swipe and pray. Once you've paid, you're locked in, financially and emotionally. We waited about 10 minutes to order, not because it was busy, but because the waitress was just standing there staring off into space. We had to get her attention and ask if we order with her or the manager. Then comes the waiting game. You will wait at least 30 minutes for your food. And then we watched them give our food to a couple who had just sat down. Like, still-zipping-their-jackets sat down. When they did this, neither the waitress nor the manager said a word. No heads-up. No "sorry about that." We were left wondering if our chicken and waffles had somehow grown legs. Again, we had to get their attention to ask what was going on and why it was taking so long. The manager was just standing by watching the chaos unfold like a diner-themed episode of Survivor. When we finally got our food, I specifically requested dark meat, but what did I get? White meat. My friend ordered a mix and she got all dark meat. So instead of explaining this to them and waiting another 45 minutes, we just shared chicken and kept our sides. Listening isn't part of the vibe here. Now, when the food finally arrives, it's undeniably good. The waffle is crisp yet fluffy, and they don't skimp on the butter. The chicken? Juicy, well-seasoned, and beautifully fried. They clearly know what they're doing in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that knowledge did not extend to hospitality, organization, or basic restaurant logic. Let's talk eggs. You get two options: fried hard or sunny side up and runny. That's it. No scrambled, no over-easy, no middle ground. Eggs are no longer versatile, apparently. Now, prepare yourself for the hot sauce scam of the century. It costs $2. Not only is it wild to charge for hot sauce at a fried chicken spot, but they also don't tell you when you order. So if you want it, you have to swipe your card again for a sad little ramekin that's only half full. The card processing fee probably costs them more than the sauce. And at a fried chicken spot, too? That's like charging extra for air at a yoga studio. This was all on a Saturday morning, with the restaurant about 70 percent full and only one waitress on the floor. She looked like she'd just been dropped into brunch service with no training, no support, and no chance. We made eye contact a few times, and I swear we were both blinking "help" in Morse code. But the part that really took me out was the cleanliness. Employee belongings were chilling near the food packaging. A customer sent back an incorrect order, and the staff placed the tray directly on a cutting board covered in chopped onions. And just kept chopping. No wipe down. Just a little bacteria with your brunch. And the manager? I watched this man touch the card reader, the fridge, his phone, someone's receipt, and then reach barehanded into a tray of fresh waffles. No gloves. No handwashing. Just straight from capitalism to carbs. To be clear, the food is great. If they can tighten up operations, train their staff, and introduce soap to the kitchen, they could actually thrive. But right now, it feels like a fever dream with amazing seasoning and at least three health code violations. They just opened a week ago, so I'll give them grace. Maybe I'll be back... maybe. After I recover. And I'm definitely bringing my own hot sauce.

Not only did I just see this online which prompted me to try them out I just so happened to be really have been craving chicken and waffles. Their chicken is so juicy so crunchy as if someone's Amish grandmother was back there cooking it. The corn waffles are perfect amount of everything- sweet, salty, crunchy and soft all at once. Menu was small yet simple which gives you easier time to choose and probably better for them to perfect and give out the freshest of what they have to offer. Customer service was friendly and plenty of seating to enjoy all this goodness. Checking them out again for sure !

Amazing. I got the three-piece platter with baked beans. The chicken was well-seasoned, crispy, and packed with flavor. What really set it apart from other spots was how balanced it all was--the flavors complemented each other perfectly. The sauce to get: aji verde. I'd honestly pay for a bottle of it to take home. My only recommendation would be to increase the temperature of the baked beans, would have liked them to be a little hotter temp wise. Other than that service was warm, fast, and helpful. This experience makes me want to come back which I am looking forward to doing so.

Kind of thought this place would be a gimmick because of the caviar options, but I was pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality! I got the Lone Ranger with potato salad and fancy ranch. For the chicken, you can either have it plain for 18.50 or have it coated in a hot honey sauce for 19.50, so I went for the latter. The chicken is incredibly juicy and well-fried. While I sometimes find fried chicken to be too salty, or too sweet if it has a sauce, the fried chicken at Fancy Ranch hit the perfect balance! The waffle is soft but not soggy and pairs perfectly with the chicken. I also thought the potato salad was super unique with the aji verde. The only slight "disappointment" was the fancy ranch itself because I was expecting something different than just ranch. But it was just ranch. However, that was not a big deal because everything was already seasoned perfectly so I didn't even need a sauce. They have a counter as well as an extra table in front of the stall that you can sit and eat at. The service was super friendly although it did take them a little while to bring out our waters. Overall a great experience and definitely a spot I'll be coming back to!

Located in Union Market, Fancy Ranch Amish Fried Chicken serves up various fried chicken meats, brunch options, sides, and sauces. We ordered: +the Lone Ranger - this came with 3 pieces of fried chicken, 2 pieces of corn waffle, and a choice of side and sauce; we went for the cole slaw and their fancy ranch; we also added the honey mustard, the hot sauce, and the PA maple +the Caviar by Kaviari Fancy Waffle - you can opt for either 4 g or an ounce +a side of potato salad +and, a side of baked beans The chicken came out piping hot, and the batter is thick and crunchy - they are fried well and are super juicy inside. Staff were friendly, and they were more than happy to make side and sauce recommendations! Plenty of parking in the Market lot. +Amish fried chicken +various sides +caviar option! +friendly staff +located at Union Market +ample parking

Stopped by Fancy Ranch and it's easily a 5/5. Everything we had was fantastic. The fried chicken was super crunchy, perfectly cooked, and full of flavor. Waffles were just as good--light, fluffy, generously buttered, with solid syrup to tie it all together. The slaw and potato salad honestly could stand on their own--both were fresh, balanced, and surprisingly memorable for sides. Even the sauces were worth noting--clearly some thought put into all of it. Some of the lower-star reviews seem to focus on service, but that wasn't our experience at all. The menu is straightforward, we were greeted and served quickly, and our food came out in like 5 minutes. The manager stopped by more than once to check in and was genuinely friendly. The food here is so good that even the harshest reviews can't deny it--and if they do, either they caught the kitchen on a rare off-day or they just missed the point. We'll absolutely be back. Honestly, it'll take serious effort to choose anything else over this next time we're at Union Market.

slow and very underwhelming. limited menu, everything is sitting ready, but it still took 15 minutes for an order (wasn't very busy - maybe 3 or 4 orders ahead of me). The chicken is juicy, but lacking flavor and no texture/crunch on the skin - reminds me of kfc. the waffle I don't need, but you can only order the meal set that comes with it. Comes with one sauce but an extra is $2 (aji verde was the best thing here across the board). The potato salad was forgettable. Was excited to try but it's one and done for me

Came here on Sunday, the food was pretty good, and had gotten the Lone Ranger. The chicken was very crunchy and I like how you can watch the team making the food counter side so it's super quick and very fresh. I didn't love how only one sauce comes with the meal, it would be nice to provide at least a syrup and an additional sauce for three pieces of chicken and two waffle triangles. I also didn't love the coleslaw.

I was already a big fan of their first restaurant and loved the fried chicken there. I think it's great that we now have another location to order it and arguably the best value in the entire market. I love the fact that the sourcing on the chicken is thoughtful, and it means great quality, along with great execution. You can expect to pay a lot more for fried chicken in DC, so being able to get this quality of product at this price point, is pretty much unheard of. The aji verde and the potato salad are my two favorites to have with the chicken and it's a nice bonus to be able to add caviar. And that sandwich thing they make for brunch, with the sunny side egg, and the fried chicken cutlet on the waffle might be one of the coolest brunch items anywhere! I think it's amazing They can even cook eggs, because they don't have any traditional burners to do that. Good for them for trying, and even better for them for executing a perfectly cooked egg, even though they are limited with their equipment. They aren't even a couple of weeks old, so I'm excited to see how great it's going to be in a few more weeks

Just threw down the Lone Ranger (mixed white & dark) with the waffles and potato salad side. The fried chicken is damn good. I've been waiting for a casual place in DC that isn't fast food to offer quality fried chicken and this is it! The waffles were also perfect. The potato salad has pesto in it so isn't "traditional" but it was still very good. Will definitely come back for the chicken & waffles, although I'll probably go full dark next time. The heart wants what it wants.

In all sincerity, best fried chicken I've ever had in my life. The waffle with maple butter and the potato salad were equally as good. Great portions as well! What made the experience even more enjoyable was the staff - their pride in the product and how they interact with customers is a testament to the quality of this location. The location within Union Market is fun and provides ample seating too. Can't wait to come back!