Beasley's Chicken + Honey

Beasley's Chicken + Honey is Ashley Christensen's ode to Southern fried chicken in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, located at 237 South Wilmington Street across from City Market. Christensen opened it in 2012 as a companion concept to Poole's Diner and Death & Taxes, and it occupies a distinct position within her group: a focused, unpretentious celebration of fried chicken, biscuits, and honey that is casual in format but precise in execution. The kitchen uses a buttermilk brine and a seasoned flour coating that produces a crust of striking crunch and color. Served over waffles drizzled with hot honey, the chicken and waffle is the signature plate and the one that draws visitors who have heard about the restaurant before arriving in Raleigh. The standalone fried chicken plate — dark meat or white meat, with sides — demonstrates the kitchen's fundamentals without embellishment. The chicken biscuit is a morning-adjacent option that appears throughout the day, built on a laminated, honey-buttered biscuit that earns attention in its own right. Honey butter biscuits alone are worth ordering as a side or start. The beverage program is built around craft beer, which pairs naturally with the food. The casual, counter-service-adjacent format and informal dining room on South Wilmington give Beasley's the energy of a neighborhood institution despite being located in the heart of downtown Raleigh. The restaurant is walk-in only and benefits from early arrival during peak lunch and dinner hours.