Hey everyone 👋

I’ve been on a little food adventure lately and can’t decide which chicken salad deserves the top spot in the U.S.

Some people swear by the classic southern-style creamy ones, while others love the modern twists with grapes, almonds, or a bit of spice.

I’ve tried a few local spots that all claim to have “the best,” but honestly, every version feels completely different.

So I’m curious — what’s your favorite chicken salad?
Do you prefer something traditional and simple, or bold and creative?

Would love to hear your picks (and where to find them) for my next foodie trip 😋

{I’ve tried a few local spots}

Where? Where are you in the USA? This is one of those things that is regional, in addition to knowing who made it ("Who made the potato salad?" for a family picnic is a long-time joke!)

There is nothing modern about grapes, nuts or spice. You can find curried chicken salad all over the place.

Oh welcome to Fodor's travel forums! I see this is your first post here. WELCOME!

If you want great chicken salad, make your own. Use Ina Garten's recipe but cut down on the mayo. She's a bit heavy-handed at times.

Graul's on Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, Maryland.

Are you writing a story about this fro publication, or online?

There is no "best" chicken salad.
Let us know which places you've tried, and what you thought about their chicken salads..I'd love to know, as I love the dish, when well made.
I add chutney to mine.

My wife and I went to a hoity-toity wedding in Atlanta a few years back. My wife was invited to the bride's luncheon. When she asked what the mayonnaise-y salad was she was informed "Chicken salad is always served at the bride's luncheon." She said it was good, anyway.

I thought similarly: a blogger looking for material?

I also add chutney to my chicken salad; specifically the mango chutney from Trader Joe's.

Sorry, but chicken salad is such a personal preference! I haven't had a perfect one anywhere, except the one I make and that is just my opinion. DIL likes it with Vadouvan curry which I don't care for. DH likes chopped apples which I don't care for.

I like the chicken a little pulled apart and not hard cubes. I like mayonnaise and a dollop of sour cream. Seasoned salt, chopped celery, chopped toasted almonds, grapes cut into 8 pieces. I don't like it too gloppy, just enough mayonnaise to bind it together.

Good luck in your search! Even though, if you found the perfect one, it is probably going to be geographically too far from you to enjoy very often. Haha!

You said you want our picks for your next foodie trip. Are you such a fan of chicken salad that you're planning a trip around it? I think that's a very interesting basis for a trip.

I like the idea to search recipes and make it at home. It's a lot easier, cheaper and more convenient than traveling for a good chicken salad. I could tell you where to find my favorite chicken salad, but it's all so subjective that I don't think you should put too much weight into someone else's opinion.

If there are other reasons for your travels, and if you need advice on anything else, Fodors is a great resource.

Pretty much.
I'm not sure it's "always" but it is fairly traditional.

To P_M's and coral's point, there are so many variations on chicken salad. If you want to try out several (up to a dozen at a time) I highly recommend a chain called Chicken Salad Chick. They make all of their chicken salads from scratch every day - and the hoity toity persons mentioned above approve of their variations. Really. Serious. Very good. Here's a peek at their menu -
https://www.chickensaladchick.com/menu

Here's a map of their locations -


I'm not interested in a franchise, but if I were...

But to answer your question, the BEST chicken salad was my Momma's

I'll add that if you go to Atlanta, then I'd try the chicken salad at the Swan House -
https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com...ds/swan-house/

The restaurant -
https://www.swancoachhouse.com/restaurant

Here's the menu, including chicken salad
bf90f4_91d16f760ab94b8fb181c3a7f94fe4d0.pdf

There's a lot to see and do on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center if you visit -
https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com...nter-buckhead/

If the Swan House looks familiar and you've not been there, it serves as President Snow's mansion for The Hunger Games

https://www.southernliving.com/potat...-gumbo-8734018

Isn't chicken salad like potato salad in that there are a gazillion variations? There was a humorous article (I think also Southern Living magazine) called "Who Made The Potato Salad?" as being an important question at any family gathering.