The 15 Best Chicken-Fried Dishes In The US - Tasting Table
Located about halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis, in an area of the U.S. typified as "flyover country," the underrated city of Columbia proves its dining scene is worth a stop in and of itself — especially for the locally sourced, quasi-Southern cuisine served at the ironically named Flyover. Here, Midwestern and Southern staples like mac & cheese, meatballs, pretzels, and catfish are served alongside a standout vegetarian riff on chicken-fried steak. Plump cauliflower florets are seasoned, dredged, and deep-fried until crispy, golden, and reminiscent of veggie chicken nuggets. They're spread across a plate on a bed of smoked sweet potato puree, then topped with chimichurri sauce and fresh goat cheese. The result is a chicken-fried dish that, while utilizing the same techniques as deep-fried steak, veers as far from tradition as possible, with an impressive layering of flavors and textures along the way.