Charles Pan Fried Chicken

Reviews

• Sojourner E.

  star star star star star 7 June 2026

  Iight so boom. At my tender age of 25 I've been enjoying Charles' since the even earlier tender age of 12 and honey IT GETS NO BETTER.
  
  The food, drinks, dessert, ALL OF IT! You're not finding better soul food in Harlem and I dare anyone to try and show me otherwise. Double doggy dare.
  
  And okay look here. It's soul food. AUTHENTIC soul food. So yes, it's not healthy. Yes, they cook with salt. But anyone who's eating soul food everyday has their own problems.

• Max K.

  star star star star_border star_border 29 May 2026

  Used to be better when it was on Lenox Ave (?) around 151st St. Lots of people waiting, lots of chicken straight out of the frying pan, moist meat with wonderful crunchy crisp skin and batter. Today's seemed like it had been made in the morning and put in a heating pan for the day, drying it out.
  
  But it is certainly still worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood. I was there in the early evening on a Monday, probably not the best time. Will have to drop in one Saturday night.

• Ginger L.

  star star star star star_border 22 May 2026

  First of all, I'm pissed off tonight because I couldn't order dinner. It's Sunday and I'm in the mood for Mr. Charlie's fried chicken, yams & greens. He makes some of the best okra I've ever had. I know this because I hate okra!
  
  I'm not sure where he puts the slime, but all that matters is it's never in my plate.
  
  But for some reason (& this has happened many times) door dash app will not let me place an order for a delivery tonight. It's trying to push me into tomorrow night. I called the restaurant & he's telling me they're open so he has no idea why this is happening. Very annoying.
  
  One star off for him not even trying to get me some food. Unambitious to say the least.
  
  I love Charles Pan Fried Chicken, though there is one thing missing - real lard. Back in the day my grandparents fried chicken in the right oils, rendered fat. No one died or had clogged arteries until vegetable, corn, and canola oils flooded the market. It's a shame really because the truth is coming out that pork fat is better for frying health wise and taste wise.
  
  Those synthetic oils are killing people & animal fats have been demonized for profits, not because there's scientific proof their bad for us. In fact, science proves the opposite is true - synthetic oils are bad.
  
  We would have far crispier and better tasting chicken if we used animal fat for oil... but of course no one is going to pay for organic animal oil now-a-days.
  
  Note: Most of what I've eaten here is salty, in a good soul food kind of way. Get over it. It's not meant for every day.

• kiton m.

  star star star star star_border 18 May 2026

  Okay hear me out. The chicken is just okay. Sometimes oily not very seasoned on some days. The skin is always crispy. But the sides! LAWD have mercy. The okra in tomato sauce is the best okra I've ever had. I don't really like okra. The black eyed peas are delicious. The cabbage and yams are all sooooo good. The cornbread is perfect.  Mac and cheese is just okay. Not great.
  
  The banana pudding is better than my auntie's.
  
  This is worth it. Delivery on Uber Eats is quick and well packaged.

• Ryan R.

  star star star star_border star_border 13 May 2026

  Went here to check out this classic spot in Harlem for lunch. It was a rainy day so there was only one person in there around 12:30pm when I arrived.
  
  After perusing the menu, I went with the thigh and breast fried chicken with cornbread, macaroni and cheese, and yams.
  
  I have to say that I was expecting a lot more from this place. The fried chicken was just okay and the macaroni was very meh. The cornbread was also pretty average. The only saving grace were the candied yams, which were easily the best part.
  
  Overall, this place is a classic, but it seems that they have sort of fallen by the wayside. The person working was very friendly and the portions were HUGE, but it just did not hit high enough marks for me to recommend.