Barberton Chicken

Barberton chicken or Serbian fried chicken is a regional specialty originating from Barberton. A whole, fresh chicken is cut into pieces that are dredged in flour, then eggs, and finally in a mixture of breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper before they are deep-fried in lard. It was Belgrade Gardens, a diner that was founded during the Depression-era by Serbian owners Manojlo Mike and Smiljka Topalsky, that first started offering this fried chicken specialty. The style of preparing and frying the chicken had its roots in Serbian cuisine and was handed down to Smiljka by her mother. The traditional way of serving crispy barberton fried chicken includes three side dishes: french fries, vinegar-based coleslaw, and a sort of spicy concoction made with rice, tomatoes, and hot peppers usually called hot sauce. Regarded as one of the best fried chicken dishes in the country by USA Today, this chicken specialty is a favorite in Barberton and the surrounding area.