Fried chicken and beer is a pairing as classic as tacos with margaritas or steak with red wine. It’s a combination of historical and cultural significance (let’s all bow our heads in remembrance of Ludacris’ hit 2003 album Chicken-n-Beer, which helped cement the culinary duo’s place in the zeitgeist), which you can now find at Vine Street Chicken Co.
The chicken joint opened in February inside the popular Vine Street Brewing Co. Chef Justin Clark (also behind the restaurant Urban) partnered with brewery owner Kemet Coleman to deliver his well-seasoned flavors in fried chicken baskets (available as mixed or dark meat), tenders, mac and cheese, fried okra and funnel cake fries.
When you head into the brewery, turn right and place your order at a kiosk. Your chicken order will land juicy with a crisp crust that’s not too greasy thanks to the tallow fry. You can get it tossed with a dry “Urban” rub, which is a reliable choice, but the lemon pepper is the one to beat.
Vine Street Brewing Co. is where beer, chicken and hip-hop are given a space to thrive under one roof (Vine Street threw KC’s first hip-hop beer festival in 2024). As for pairings, Coleman suggests the Paper Bag Thin, a mexican lager, or East 71, a sparkling ale.
