In celebration of National Fried Chicken Day earlier this summer, Yelp, the popular restaurant review platform, released its list of the best fried chicken spots in each state. The rankings were curated by Yelp’s “Elite Squad,” a group of top-tier reviewers on the platform. For Maryland, BRD was chosen as the standout fried chicken destination.
BRD was founded in 2017 by Baltimore native and former Federal Hill resident Alex Janian. The restaurant operates two locations in Baltimore: one at R. House (301 W 29th St.) and another at Federal Hill (1104 South Charles St.). Both locations are cashless establishments.
After working in finance in New York and San Francisco, Janian returned to his hometown to fulfill a childhood dream of opening restaurants. During his youth, he lived in Italy and frequented a rotisserie chicken spot twice a week. Those experiences inspired him to initially consider opening a rotisserie chicken restaurant, but his concept eventually shifted toward fried chicken—a comfort food he’s always loved.
At BRD, the star of the menu is the fried chicken sandwich, which features more than half a pound of seasoned, battered, and fried antibiotic-free chicken thighs, sourced from Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The sandwiches are served on a Martin’s potato roll. The fan-favorite sandwich, the Bmore BRD, includes local pickles, a house-made BRD sauce (often likened to Thousand Island), and a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning. Other notable offerings include the Japanese-inspired Katsu Ando, the Angry Buffalo, Hanoi Hen, and Jamaican Jerk sandwiches.
For sides, customers can enjoy fries that Janian describes as a “labor of love.” These fries go through a 24-hour de-starching process, are battered, double-fried, and then tossed in a signature seasoning. Another popular side option is Ma’s Carrot Slaw.
