Wayside Takeout & Catering

Best chicken, best mac and cheese, best cole slaw! Overall, the best chicken place in C’ville that I’ve tried. Also, extremely affordable and really generous serving sizes.

My son and I ate there. Some of if not the best fried chicken I have ever had. The sides were good but the chicken is the best. We wee checking out UVA but a lot of restaurants were closed. People kept telling us wayside chicken so we went. We were not let down.

If you’re looking for great friend chicken and the fixings, this is your one stop shop.
Them green beans will have you scooping even after they’re gone. Don’t forget to get yourself a order of that Mac and cheese too! That gooey cheese will have your taste buds thanking you for hours to come!
They even do it with a smile!

This is real deal fried chicken! Recommended by UVA student tour guide and he didn’t steer us wrong. Side of baked beans was excellent, slow-​cooked, sweet with chunks of bacon. Yum!

Wayside is too good to be true. Get the double cheeseburger and fries and call it a day, unless you want to throw a piece of pie on that order and call it a week. Good service. True to their roots. And delicious food consistently.

Really good chicken and sides and considering we didn’t eat it for 4 hours and it was still really good says a lot about the food! Prices are very fair and they have a great selection of dishes.
Mac and Cheese and Greens were great– Chicken was excellent!!!

The best fried chicken in Charlottesville (except homemade)!! This place is definitely a hole in the wall but the chicken is amazing.

Wayside is definitely a hole in the wall kind of place, so don’t go there expecting anything fancy. I would recommend getting it to go or eating outside because the interior is quick frankly a little depressing.
I’ve had Wayside takeout a few times, but most of my experiences with Wayside have been with catering at events. For some reason, I’ve always enjoyed it more through the catering option because the chicken has been fresher and juicy. When I’ve just gone in to order, the chicken has always been a bit drier, and it hasn’t impressed me as much. If you’re going to get friend chicken, go with the fried chicken – the broiled is okay, but it is definitely not their star of the show. The breading is crunchy and the perfect amount – it’s not overdone at all. The chicken tenders are also very good. They have decent sides as well, and I love their hashbrown casserole.

We hired Wayside Catering for an event for 140 people. They showed up on time, set everything up in a timely manner.
The food was delicious. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, pulled pork, variety of salads and desserts. I cannot say enough good things about their operation.
I would recommend it highly, both the catering and for lunch at their restaurant.

MAC. N. CHEESE.
The only 3 words you need. I always eat the fried chicken when it’s cold at UVA events so I cannot attest to the fresh hot kind, but I hear it is quite excellent. Seating is small, so beware but the cashier I had was super friendly!

Greasy dive, but awesome fried chicken. Perfect for takeout to a potluck or picnic. Service is very friendly.

Fried chicken «on fleek». Crispy and made just right. Always ask for the special spicy ranch sauce. Very similar to the special sauce they give at Raising Canes but a lot better. Side dishes like mac and cheese and beans are amazing too. Did a catering order for Foxfield through them. They forgot my meat lasagna and instead gave me veggie which is why I give them 4 stars. But otherwise, perfect southern comfort food.

Best fried chicken around! Our family has been coming here for over 30 years. Tender crispy and extremely tasty fresh chicken! But let’s not forget the side dishes: mashed potatoes with gravy, absolutely the best ever southern baked beans and homemade coleslaw. Yum yum!

We found Wayside via interstate signage leaving Monticello. A quick Unilocal check ensured this place was legit and we took a quick swerve away from the boring chain fast food options in favor of old school fried chicken.
Upon arrival we encountered our only challenge — parking. It was a tricky lot with crowded parking. But once we got that squared away, it was on to the real task at hand — getting some real deal fried chicken! Hubby and I both got two piece white meat with a side. The sides were okay. We thought the green beans were on the sweet side and the collard greens were not cooked to mush so that was good. The roll served with the meal is okay at best.
We grabbed one of the few tables (despite the name indicating take-​out, there are some indoor and outdoor seating options) and our food was out to us in less than five minutes. The chicken was definitely the star of the show! It has good seasoning, a thin crust, not too greasy and the meat was tender and juicy. I literally eat fried chicken maybe two to three times a year and I had no problem having Wayside be the place where I had my fried chicken itch scratched.

hmmm, just ok for me
The crispy skin is really good. I mean really good. But, I was disappointed in getting extra breasts when they were so dry (1.85 extra for each). The thigh is definitely the way to go, juicy, crispy and delicious.
Sides, like everyone else says, are nothing special. Hush puppies are not worth 2.50 for 6 or so. The roll they give you is even more dry than the chicken breast.
They don’t have biscuits past 11am
Good chicken, but if there’s nothing else I’ll just head over to canes.

I’m actually a fan of chicken tender or buffalo chicken type of salads, even though it seems contradictory, so I was happy to see that as an option here, while my friend went for the classic fried chicken meal (included two sides and a drink).
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what was actually going to be in the salad I ordered because when I asked the cashier to explain the ingredients, all she could tell me was that it was a «garden salad» with fried chicken tenders on top. Ultimately, I still enjoyed eating it as it ended up being a big portion with tons of fresh veggies — lettuce, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, black olives, red onion, shredded cheese and an ample amount of chicken that was crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and not greasy. Plus, I could top it with honey mustard dressing (not always an available salad dressing form in restaurants). An affordable, quick and filling yet not heavy meal — especially considering the quality.
As for the fried chicken meal, my friend (who was visiting from Chicago and came with preconceived notions) seemed so-​so about it as it didn’t have as thick of fried breading as she was expecting, but her baked beans on the side stood out as they were cooked in thick-​cut bacon. (I had a taste and can confirm the richness!)
We ate at the establishment, but just beat the rush, as there was a line out the door soon after us for dinner. It’s a bit small and divey, so takeout is probably the better choice. Will definitely return!

Great place! Chicken is awesome. Prices are amazing. Service is absolutely pleasant and chicken is better than drugs.

Awesome chicken.
I wish they had homemade hush puppies. I don’t think their biscuits are homemade either
Agree with others. Sides are okay, but chicken is amazing.

Best fried chicken in Charlottesville. We actually had a taste test last summer. The only other establishment that was close was Michie Tavern. Although Ace Biscuit and Barbecue was not open yet.
If you want fried chicken you can’t go wrong. They serve other food as well. None of the sides are amazing but it really doesn’t matter cause you’re there for the chicken.

This tiny place serves some very, very good Southern fried chicken, and some other decent items, as wel, and has been doing so for years and yearsl. The crust is thin, much like that at Price’s Chicken Coop in Charlotte, there is very little greasiness, and the taste is nice, though it is mildly seasoned compared to much fried chicken found in the South.
The 3 Wing Lunch comes with a roll and one side. The wings were perfectly fried, the roll was rather ordinary, as was the Mac & Cheese — cost was $ 4.39. W e ordered a single thigh, which also was perfectly fried, with very little grease, and cost $ 1.32.
I like that you can order individual pieces, which more chicken places did this because ordering plates or luchs forces you into getting side, and frankly most chicken places do not shine in this area, although the fries here (more of a steak fry) were absolutely excellent. Also ordered a foot long hot dog, but would not do so again, chili was nothing special, rather bland actually.
There is limited seating here, maybe 6 booths, a couple of small tables, and some stools along the front — most folks seem to get take out. We were there about 11 AM on Friday, and folks were ordering take out fot tailgating at the UVA game the next day. It is a little difficult to get to depending on the direction you are coming from because a part of Jefferson Park Avenue is close for bridge work, and will remain so for at least another year. But this place is worth finding, the fried chicken is great.